| dc.description.abstract | Li Wei (1688-1738, courtesy name as Youjie; posthumous title as Minda) was a capable official deeply trusted by Yongzheng. In the fifty-sixth year of the Kangxi period(1717), he became an official through the subscription system. After attaining an official position during the Yongzheng period, from the salt official of Yunnan to the governor of Zhejiang and finally the governor- of Zhili as ＂the leader of local governors,＂ he had had a meteoric rise. In the third year of the Qianlong period (1738), he died as the governor of Zhili. The rise of Li Wei in the Yongzheng period was rapid as a whirlwind. He employed active and strict administrations, which made a huge impact on the officialdom during the Yongzheng period.
When Yongzheng became the emperor,he focuse
dparticularly on employing local officials to carry out his new policies. This article will discuss Li Wei′s governing performances to emphasize his attitude of conscientious administration, so as to discuss how he related to Yongzheng′s principles of employment. First I will describe Li Wei′s background and his characteristics, and how he earned Yongzheng′s trust through his outstanding performances while being the salt official of Yunnan. What follows is an exploration of his achievements such as the reformation of salt regulations, the investigation on financial deficits, the system of sharing man taxation in fields, the repelling of the bandits, and the development of the Yuhuan Island. Finally I will elaborate his efforts as governor of Zhili.In the matter of military consolidation, water regulation, relief management, etc. All those achievements as well as Li Wei′s upright and outspoken attitudes while standing out to impeach Fan Shiyi, E Er Qi and Chu Zao have made Qianlong trust him deeply.
The political atmosphere went corrupted in the last few years of Kangxi Emperor, therefore Yongzheng Emperor found it imperative to reform. Yongzheng had unique principles toward officials employment and that made great opportunities for Li Wei′s promotion. In return, Li Wei showed his gratitude through his brilliant and trustworthy governing ability. While he worked hard in response to Yongzheng′s trust, he was also criticized as being presumptuous and barbarous. With his personality defects, Li Wei was still a person fond of and trusted unduly by Yongzheng since the emperor saw Li Wei as an incorruptible and responsible subordinate. It is understandable why Yongzheng viewed Li Wei as a model official.
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