Chapter 30 3. The Case of Cathay Pacific

Another major case that Emperor Qianlong handled in the Hall of Mental Cultivation was the Cathay Pacific corruption case. Cathay, a Manchurian inlaid white banner, Fucha family, was the head of the Criminal Department at first, then moved to Langzhong, and was later promoted to be the governor of Shandong.There is one thing that Cathay Pacific left a deep impression on Emperor Qianlong.When his father, Wen Shou, was the governor, he was ordered to investigate the case of Altai, the former governor of Sichuan, who indulged his son Ming Debu in greed and blackmailed his subordinates.Cathay immediately apologized and asked to follow his father to the Yili Garrison and make atonement on his father's behalf.Emperor Qianlong said: "You are innocent, why should you be afraid?" In the forty-two year (1777), he was promoted to governor of Shandong.

Cathay is a dude with lax family education.His father, Wen Shou, was the chief envoy of Shanxi, the governor of Henan, and the governor of Shaanxi, Gansu, Huguang, and Sichuan. ("Manuscripts of Qing History Wenshou Biography" Volume 332) Wenshou was an official outside Beijing all the year round, so he had no time to strictly teach his son.Cathay was born with three flags, and his father was a high-ranking official. He was proud and domineering in his youth.If he treats subordinate officials carelessly, he loses his temper and reprimands them.Here is a story.Yu Yijian, who is the chief political envoy of Shandong, met the governor of Shandong, Guotai, and actually "kneeled for nothing", that is, he knelt and talked about things.Who is Yu Yijian?He is the younger brother of Yu Minzhong, a scholar of the dynasty, minister of military aircraft, and number one scholar.University scholar Agui and others once thought Cathay Pacific was arrogant and perverse, so please change to be an official in Beijing.Emperor Qianlong knew a little about Cathay's arrogance, and once warned Cathay to "be lenient and strict" in treating subordinate officials, which made him vigilant and repent, but he was still obsessed with it.

In the forty-seventh year of Qianlong (1782), Qian Feng, the imperial censor, impeached Yu Yijian, the governor of Shandong, and the chief envoy, Yu Yijian.Emperor Qianlong ordered Shangshu Heshen and Zuodu Yushi Liu Yong to investigate and deal with it, and ordered Qian Feng to go with him.These three people have different attitudes: Liu Yong (a native of Zhucheng, Shandong), upholds justice, abuses his hometown with Cathay Pacific, and favors Qian Feng; Covering Cathay Pacific in secret, and disclosing the news in advance, Cathay Pacific has made preparations to make up for the shortfall of treasury bank under the guise of market bank (silver in circulation in the market).After Heshen arrived in Jinan, he immediately checked the money in the Licheng bank, and asked him to check dozens of letters in the bank, all of which were intact, and immediately got up and returned to the hotel. (Volume 319 of "Manuscripts of Qing History · Heshen Biography") Here is a story: "Fifty taels of money is a piece of silver, but not for market silver." That is to say, the specifications and packaging of money silver and market silver are different. .Some commentators said that Liu Yong first discussed with Qian Feng and decided on measures together.Therefore, Qian Feng acted according to the plan - please close the warehouse immediately and check again the next day.The next day they came to the bank and found that the bank was recharging the borrowed market bank.Qian Feng got the truth from the question, summoned the merchants, returned the loan, and the bank was empty.Liu Yong and Qian Feng checked the bank treasuries of Zhangqiu, Dongping, and Yidu counties again, and found that they were all short of money. ("Qing History Draft·Qian Feng Biography" volume 322) According to the investigation, the bank treasuries of the prefectures and counties in Shandong lost more than two million taels of silver, all of which were caused by Cathay and Yu Yijian when they were officials.During the interrogation of Guotai, Cathay scolded Qian Feng: "What are you, dare to impeach me!" Liu Yong said angrily: "The censor (Qian Feng) was ordered to rule you, how dare you scold the angel?" He ordered someone immediately Smoke Cathay's mouth.Cathay was frightened and knelt on the ground.He Shen looked at it, but there was nothing he could do.Cathay Pacific and other crimes are true, and He Shen cannot be sheltered.

After further trial of the case, Cathay Pacific admitted that it greedily extorted its subordinate officials, amounting to tens of millions.Yu Yijian flattered Cathay Pacific, and the governor was greedy.The prison was fixed, and all were judged to be executed. Emperor Qianlong ordered the prison to be executed instead of prison.Order Cathay to commit suicide in prison. (Volume 339 of "Manuscripts of Qing History Guotai Biography") In addition, two years later, Hao Shuo, the son of Hao Yulin, the governor of Liangjiang, and the governor of Jiangxi, was impeached.Emperor Qianlong ordered Hao Shuo to follow the example of Guotai, granting self-judgment, and issued an encyclical: "The governors of all provinces should hold the name festival, fear the constitution, and take Guotai and Hao Shuo as warnings!" Nine)

Here is the story of Qian Feng borrowing money.Before Qian Feng impeached Cathay Pacific, he knew that there were many dangers and dangers, so he prepared to be garrisoned by the border - he said to his friend Shao Nanjiang Hanlin: "The family is in urgent need, and I need ten thousand dollars, can I borrow it?" Shao replied: "The money can be transferred. What's the matter?" Qian said: "Don't ask what's the matter." After borrowing the money, three days later, Qian Feng published a memorial to impeach Cathay Pacific.Afterwards, Shao asked Qian: "My son told me that I needed ten thousand dollars. Is that why?" Qian Feng said: "Yes, I think I will be punished for impeaching Cathay Pacific, so I prepared some money for it."Shao said: If there is such a thing, ten thousand dollars is not enough!Qian said: "I like beef. I don't need servants on the road. I can buy beef with 5,000 yuan. I eat meat every day to satisfy my hunger. I will prepare the rest of the money myself. It's fine as long as I can reach the garrison."Everyone who heard these words was shocked.Chen Kangqi said about this: "Since Qianlong, many admonishing officials who dare to speak out have sought to be as honest and thrifty as the body of the general government, and upright for use. There are also countless straight ministers in this dynasty." 11) In the 60th year of Qianlong (1795), it is recorded in books that He Shen later poisoned Qian Feng to death.How difficult it is to be a spokesperson, uphold justice, and speak uprightly!

The above three major cases involved one scholar, eight governors, governors, and chief envoys.It can be said that their officials are not high-ranking, and their punishments are not heavy-the chief culprit was beheaded, his family property was confiscated, and his children and grandchildren were affected. The 339th volume of "Drafts of Qing History" is the biographies or attached biographies of 18 provincial and ministerial corrupt officials in the Qianlong Dynasty. For children and grandchildren. It is strict to treat the poor with no loans for all the tainted ones!" However, why is the trend of corruption not only repeated, but also intensified? The editor of this volume of "Drafts of Qing History" also commented: "It is the law of selfish sassafras (wei), looking back and forth, how can it be said that the rulers are still greedy and extravagant, and the source of turbidity cannot be cleared? Only when the crime is forgiven, is the law enforcement inexhaustible?" ("Drafts of Qing History" volume 339) That is to say, first, the source of turbidity cannot be cleared; second, law enforcement is interfered.However, historical experience can be summed up.The first thing Buddhists say is to avoid greed, and to avoid greed lies in contentment.Yinzhen's "Yue Xin Ji" recorded Anonymous's "Insatiable Poetry": running around all day just for hunger, and only when you are full can you think about clothes.I have enough food and clothing, and I want a charming and beautiful wife.Marry a beautiful wife and give birth to a child, but hate having no land and no foundation.The farmland is so rich and rich, and there are no boats and few horses to ride in and out.There are mules and horses in the trough, and I sigh that I am bullied without an official position.The county magistrate's book is still too small, and he wants to hang purple clothes in the court.If the world is satisfied, except Nanke Yimenghui.

The historical lessons of Qianlong’s punishment of corruption: 1. Severe punishments should be used in prosperous times.Corruption and perverting the law carry a heavy price: death penalty, loss of family property, wives and concubines as slaves, bringing disaster to children and grandchildren. "Look at what he killed, if you can learn from it!" Second, corrupt officials are mostly favored ministers.Parents and pets are in chaos, and people are hungry and chaotic.Corrupt officials are mostly favored officials, and riots are mostly caused by public grievances.It is said that "officials force people to rebel", in order to prevent people from rebelling, corrupt officials must be severely punished.

3. Governance against corruption starts from the high end.First clear the source, and then manage the turbid flow.The source is clear and the flow is not turbid, and the source is turbid and the flow is not clear.Emperor Qianlong's focus on punishing corruption was the governor, governor, and political envoy, but the bigger corrupt officials, such as He Shen, were missed.