Wensiyang 文祥

Wên-hsiang 文祥 (T. 博川 H. 文山), Oct. 16, 1818-1876, May 26, official, came from the Gûwalgiya 瓜爾佳 clan in Mukden. His family belonged to the Manchu Plain Red Banner, he being born in Liaoyang while his father was serving as clerk in the military commandant's office. He had a wealthy father-in-law by whose assistance he purchased, in 1837, the rank of a student of the Imperial Academy. In 1840 he went to Peking to take the provincial examination, and became a chü-jên. In 1845 he became a chin-shih and was given the rank of an expectant secretary in the Board of Works, but waited four years before receiving appointment. In 1853, when the Taiping armies took Nanking and pressed northward, Peking was alarmed; banks were closed and many officials in the capital asked leave to remove to other places. But Wên-hsiang remained at his post, and for this was highly regarded by his superiors. He was named concurrently chief of the secretariat under the emergency committee for the defense of Peking, and also inspector of the armories. In 1854 he was promoted to be an assistant department director and a year later a department director. In the meantime he served as a secretary to the mission sent to Szechwan under Ch'ung-shih [q.v.] to investigate a case of corruption (1854), and again as a secretary to the commission sent to Tientsin to receive the grain transported by the sea route. His services were appreciated by his superiors and he was awarded the rank of an intendant of a Circuit. Late in 1855 he was given the higher rank of an official of the third grade.

At this time many officials in the central government preferred to take provincial posts because of the higher stipends, but Wên-hsiang expressed a desire to remain in Peking in order to be near his aged mother who was then living with him. In 1857 he was promoted to the post of junior director of the Court of the Imperial Stud and was sent to Jehôl to represent the Emperor in offering sacrifices to a deceased Mongol prince of the Barin 巴林 tribe. Early in 1858 he was named chief supervisor of Imperial Instruction and in the same year was promoted to be junior vice-president of the Board of Ceremonies, and concurrently a Grand Councilor. In 1859 he became a vice-president, first in the Board of Civil Office, then in the Board of Works, and finally in the Board of Revenue. In 1860, when the British and French Allies occupied Tientsin (see under Kuei-liang), he repeatedly urged Emperor Wên-tsung to stay in Peking, but before long the Emperor fled to Jehôl, entrusting the peace negotiations to I-hsin [q.v.], Kuei-liang and Wên-hsiang. For about a month Wên-hsiang was concurrently in charge of maintaining order in Peking, as commandant both of the Gendarmerie and of the guards of the Yüanming Yüan; but in order that he might devote his time to peace negotiations, he was relieved, early in October, of his concurrent duties which were then given to Jui-ch'ang (see under Su-shun), Pao-yün 寶鋆 (T. 銳卿 H. 佩蘅, 1807-1891), and others.

After the Allied troops had left, Wên-hsiang, I-hsin and Kuei-liang submitted a joint memorial in which they recommended the establishment of the Tsungli Yamen for the conduct of foreign affairs, and the T'ung-wên Kuan (see under Tung Hsün and Li Shan-lan) for the study of foreign languages. Early in 1861 the Tsungli Yamen was created, with I-hsin at the head and Kuei-liang and Wên-hsiang as his assistants. Later. in 1861 Wên-hsiang recommended the training of a corps of Bannermen in the use of modern firearms. This suggestion was also approved, and the army thus created was given the name, Shên-chi ying 神機營, Wên-hsiang being named one of the supervisors.

Early in 1862 Wên-hsiang was made president of the Censorate and, later in the same year, was transferred to the Board of War. When Nanking was recovered in 1864 he was given the title, Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent. In 1865, when bandits from Manchuria were nearing Peking, he was ordered to command the newly-trained riflemen to cope with the situation. He and his men pursued the bandits beyond the Great Wall. While on this assignment his wife died in Mukden, leaving his aged mother there alone. Late in 1865, after repeated requests, he was given short leave to go to Mukden to bring his mother back to Peking, but as banditry on the western borders of Manchuria had grown to large proportions-beyond the power of local officials to handle--he was empowered to lead the Shên-chi ying troops to that area. He chose only about 2, 500 men, among them 1, 000 riflemen and 300 cavalry. Being informed, after he had set out, that the bandits numbered thirty thousand, he requested a reinforcement of 500 foot soldiers and 1, 000 riflemen, trained in Tientsin under the direction of Ch'ung-hou [q.v.]. Finally, with 4, 000 men, he reached Mukden and saved that city from threatened looting. Under his direction, these men succeeded in defeating the bandits in a number of engagements. In mid-year 1866, after the bandits were nearly subdued, he returned to Peking with his mother, and assumed the new post of president of the Board of Civil Office. In 1867 he was made concurrently chancellor of the Hanlin Academy, and in that year, on his fiftieth birthday, he was honored with special presents from the Dowager Empresses (see under Hsiao-ch'in) who were then joint regents. In 1869 his mother died and he retired for the mourning period. When he resumed his offices in the following year, he was stricken with apoplexy. He was given a brief leave and was released from several concurrent posts. Nevertheless, in 1871, he was made concurrently an Associate Grand Secretary, and in 1872 was promoted to be a Grand Secretary. But he never entirely recovered from his illness and died four years later. He was posthumously given the title, Grand Tutor, and the name, Wên-chung 文忠. His memory was celebrated in the Temple of Eminent Statesmen and he was further awarded the minor hereditary rank of Ch'i-tu-yü 騎都尉.

As an assistant to I-hsin in conducting foreign affairs from 1860 to 1876, Wên-hsiang won the respect of foreign diplomats by his straight-forwardness and honesty. Among his admirers were Sir Frederick Bruce (see under Wang Yao) and George F. Seward 西華文, 1840-1910). He took an active part in 1871 in negotiating the first treaty with Japan, and in 1874 in settling the dispute relating to the murder of Loochoo Islanders in Formosa (see under Shên Pao-chên). He was one of the enlightened officials of the time: he at least believed in trying out measures for the modernization of China. One of the firct students in the T'ung-wên Kuan reports that when he and others arrived in Peking Wên-hsiang received them personally and showed them about the grounds. W. A. P. Martin testified that Wên-hsiang "took a pride in living poor and dying so." Martin also asserts that Wên-hsiang once told him, "We shall learn all the good from you people of the West." It was Wên-hsiang who sponsored China's first national institution of Westernized education; who took charge of the training of a contingent of riflemen, and demonstrated its usefulness in suppressing bandits; who initiated the idea of sending Burlingame (see under Tung Hsün) to Western countries as China's representative; and who helped I-hsin to-steer the country out of civil and foreign wars to an era of peace and prosperity.

Wên-hsiang wrote a modest and truthful autobiography, entitled 文忠公自訂年譜 Wên Wên-chung kung tzû-ting nien-p'u, 2 chüan, printed in 1882 in the collectanea, Wên Wên-chung kung shih-lüeh (事略), 4 chüan. This collection comprises, in addition, a series of biographies and eulogies, and two records of his travels: one to Szechwan in 1854, entitled 蜀軺紀程 Shu-yao chi-ch'êng; the other to the Barin Mongols in Northern Jehôl in 1857, entitled Pa-lin chi-ch'êng.

In the last years of the Ch'ing Dynasty Wên-hsiang stood out among Manchu ministers as capable, conscientious, and not given to corrupt practices. Another Manchu of this type was the above-mentioned Pao-yün who, however, was discharged in 1884 along with I-hsin and several other officials of the Tsungli Yamen. Pao-yün left several collections of poems; the largest one, 寶文靖公集 Pao Wên-ching kung chi, 12 + 1 chüan, being printed in 1895 and reprinted in 1908. In the latter year were also reprinted four smaller collections under the collective title, Pao Wên-ching kung shih-ch'ao (詩鈔).

[ 1/392/2a; 2/51/48b; 5/7/la; 張文襄幕府記聞 Chang Wên-hsiang mu fu chi-wên, shang /2b in 清人說薈 Ch'ing-jên shuo-hui; Morse, H. B., The International Relations of the Chinese Empire, vol. 2, p. 53; Martin, W. A. P., The Lore of Cathay (1901), p. 17; idem., A Cycle of Cathay (1896), pp. 36 (1-63); Chin-shih jên-wu chih (see under Wêng T'ung-ho), p. 50.]

FANG CHAO-YING

《清史稿》卷386

文祥，字博川，瓜爾佳氏，滿洲正紅旗人，世居盛京。道光二十五年進士，授工部主事，累遷郎中。咸豐六年，京察，記名道府，因親老，乞留京職。歷太僕寺少卿、詹事、內閣學士，署刑部侍郎。八年，命在軍機大臣上行走，授禮部侍郎，歷吏部、戶部、工部侍郎，兼副都統、左翼總兵。

十年，英法聯軍犯天津，僧格林沁密疏請幸熱河。文祥以搖動人心，有關大局，且塞外無險可扼，力持不可，偕廷臣言之，復請獨對；退偕同直侍郎匡源、杜翰具疏請罷所調車馬，明詔宣示中外。八月，敵氛益熾，車駕遽行，命文祥署步軍統領，司留守。從恭親王奕訢議和，出入敵營，於非分之求，侃侃直言，折之以理。尋以步軍統領難兼顧，疏辭，改署正藍旗護軍統領。十月，和議成，疏請回鑾，以定人心。偕恭親王等通籌全局，疏上善後事宜，於是設立總理各國事務衙門，恭親王領之，滿、漢大臣數人，文祥任事最專。

時和局甫定，髮、捻猶熾，兵疲餉竭，近畿空虛。文祥密疏請選練八旗兵丁，添置槍砲，於是始立神機營，尋命管理營務。又疏言僧格林沁兵力單薄，勝保所部新募未經行陣。既恃僧格林沁保障畿輔，必得良將勁卒為贊助，薦副都統富明阿、總兵成明隸其軍；又薦江西九江道沈葆楨、湖北候補知縣劉蓉堪大用。疏上，並嘉納焉。 十一年，文宗崩於熱河行在，穆宗即位，肅順等專政，文祥請解樞務，不許。十月，回鑾，偕王大臣疏請兩宮皇太后垂簾聽政。同治元年，連擢左都御史、工部尚書，兼署兵部尚書，為內務府大臣，兼都統。二年，管理藩院事務。東南軍事以次戡定，江蘇、浙江省城克復，議加恩樞臣，固辭。三年，江寧復，首逆就殲，捷至，加太子太保，予姪凱肇員外郎。四年，署戶部尚書，辭內務府大臣，允之。

是年秋，馬賊入喜峯口，命文祥率神機營兵防護東陵，督諸軍進剿，賊遁灤陽。疏陳：「地方官豢賊釀患，請除積弊，清盜源。馬賊巢穴多在奉天昌圖廳八面城、熱河八溝哈達等處。請購線偵察，調兵掩捕，庶絕根株。」事定，回京。文宗奉安山陵，賜其子熙聯員外郎。尋以母病請假三月，回旗迎養。奉天馬賊方熾，命率神機營兵往剿，增調直隸洋槍隊出關，約東三盟蒙古王公由北路夾擊，破賊於錦州東井子。諜知賊將劫奉天獄，約期攻城，兼程馳援，賊退踞城東南，圍撫順；令總兵劉景芳夜擊破之，賊遁出邊。遣軍趨吉林，五年春，解長春廳圍，追賊至昌圖朝陽坡，分三路進擊，十數戰皆捷，擒斬三千餘。賊首馬儍子窮蹙乞降，磔之；留兵餉授將軍都興阿，俾清餘孽。請蠲奉天地丁銀米，停鋪捐。回京，調吏部尚書。文宗實錄成，賜子熙治員外郎。

八年，丁母憂，特賜諭祭。百日假滿，病未出。天津教案起，力疾還朝。十年，以吏部尚書協辦大學士。十一年，拜體仁閣大學士。文祥自同治初年偕恭親王同心輔政，總理各國事務，以一身負其責。洋情譸幻，朝論紛紜，一以忠信持之，無諉卸。洎穆宗親政，臚陳歷年洋務情形，因應機宜甚備，冀有啟悟。既而恭親王以阻圓明園工程忤旨斥罷，文祥 涕泣，偕同列力諫，幾同譴。恭親王尋復職，而自屢遭挫折後，任事不能如初。文祥正色立朝，為中外所嚴憚，朝局賴以維持，不致驟變。十三年，病久不瘉，在告，會日本窺臺灣，強出籌戰守。疏請：「敕下戶部、內務府寬籌餉需，裁減浮用，停不急之工作，謀至急之海防，俾部臣、疆臣皆得專力圖維。皇上憂勤惕厲，斯內外臣工不敢蹈玩泄之習。否則狃以為安，不思變計，恐中外解體，人心動搖，其患有不可勝言者。」言甚切至。

是年冬，穆宗崩，德宗繼統即位，晉武英殿大學士。以久病請罷，溫詔慰留，解諸兼職，專任軍機大臣及總理各國事務。時國家漸多故，文祥深憂之，密陳大計疏曰：「洋人為患中國，愈久愈深，而其窺伺中國之間，亦愈熟愈密。從前屢戰屢和，迄無定局，因在事諸臣操縱未宜。及庚申定約，設立衙門專司其事，以至於今，未見決裂。就事論事，固當相機盡心辦理，而揣洋人之用心，求馭外之大本，則不係於此，所係者在人心而已矣。溯自嘉慶年間，洋人漸形強悍，始而海島，繼而口岸，再及內地，蓄力厲精習機器，以待中國之間，一逞其欲。道光年間，肆掠江、浙，自江寧換約以後，覬覦觀望。直至粵匪滋事，以為中國有此犯上作亂之事，人心不一，得其間矣。於是其謀遂洩，闖入津門，雖經小挫，而其意愈堅，致有庚申之警。然其時勢局固危，民心未二，勤王之師雖非勁旅，而聞警偕來；奸細之徒雖被誘脅，而公憤同具，以是得受羈縻，成此和局。十餘年來，仰賴皇太后、皇上勵精圖治，宵旰勤勞，無間隙之可尋；在事諸臣始得遇事維持，未至啟釁，偶有干求，尚能往返爭持，不至太甚，非洋務之順手，及在事者折衝之力，皆我皇太后、皇上朝乾夕惕，事事期符民隱，人心固結，有以折外族之心，而杜未形之患也。然而各國火器技藝之講求益進，彼此相結之勢益固。使臣久駐京師，聞我一政之當則憂，一或不當則喜，其探測愈精。俄人逼於西疆，法人計占越南，緊接滇、粵，英人謀由印度入藏及蜀，蠢蠢欲動之勢，益不可遏。所伺者中國之間耳，所惎者中國大本之未搖，而人心之難違耳。說者謂各國性近犬羊，未知政治，然其國中偶有動作，必由其國主付上議院議之，所謂謀及卿士也；付下議院議之，所謂謀及庶人也。議之可行則行，否則止，事事必合乎民情而後決然行之。自治其國以此，其觀他國之廢興成敗亦以此。儻其國一切政治皆與民情相背，則各國始逞所欲為，取之恐後矣。如土耳其、希臘等國，勢極弱小，而得以久存各大國之間者，其人心固也。強大如法國，而德國得以勝之者，以法王窮侈任性，負國債之多不可復計，雖日益額餉以要結兵心，而民心已去，始有以乘其間也。夫人必自侮而後人侮之，物必先自腐而後蟲生焉。理之所在，勢所必至。中國之有外國，猶人身之有疾病，病者必相證用藥，而培元氣為尤要。外國無日不察我民心之向背，中國必求無事不愜於民心之是非。中國天澤分嚴，外國上議院、下議院之設，勢有難行，而義可采取。凡我用人行政，一舉一動，揆之至理，度之民情，非人心所共愜，則急止勿為；事係人心所共快，則務期於成。崇節儉以裕帑需，遇事始能有備，納諫諍以開言路，下情藉以上通。總期人心永結，大本永固，當各外國環伺之時，而使之無一間可乘，庶彼謀不能即遂，而在我亦堪自立。此為目前猶可及之計，亦為此時不能稍緩之圖。若待其間之既開，而欲為斡旋補苴之法，則和與戰俱不可恃。即使仍可苟安，而大局已不堪復問，則何如預防其間之為計也。咸豐六年王茂蔭奏陳夷務，謂：『海外諸國日起爭雄，自人視之，雖有中外之分，自天視之，殆無彼此之意。』引書言『皇天無親，惟德是輔』，及大學平天下章三言得失，首人心、次天命、而終以君心為證。何其言之危且切歟！欲戢夷心，莫要於順民心，能順民心，斯足以承天心，固不待蓍蔡而昭然若睹耳。臣受恩最重，辦理洋務最久，實有見於洋人居心積慮之處，而現時尤為迫切緊要之關。外國之求間在此，中國之彌間亦在此。在事諸臣，僅謀其末，我皇上實操其本。用敢直陳，伏乞俯鑒芻言，將此摺時置左右，力求端本之治，以迴隱患之萌。天下幸甚！」

先是，當臺灣事平，文祥即偕恭親王議興海防，條上六事：曰練兵，曰簡器，曰造船，曰籌餉，曰用人，曰持久。各具條目，敕下中外大臣會議。至光緒二年，疆臣覆奏，將復下廷議。文祥已病不能出，自知且不起，乃密疏上曰：「馭外之端，為國家第一要務。現籌自強之計，為安危全局一大關鍵。臣衰病侵尋，心長智短，知不能永效犬馬以報主知。恐一旦填溝壑，則平生欲言未言之隱，無以上達宸聰，下資會議，何以對陛下？此心耿耿，有非總理衙門原奏所能盡者，敢竭誠吐赤，為我皇上敬陳之。夫敵國外患，無代無之，然未有如今日之局之奇、患之深、為我敵者之多且狡也。果因此患而衡慮困心，自立不敗，原足作我精神，惺我心志，厲我志氣，所謂生於憂患者正在於此。至此而復因循泄沓；一聽諸數而莫為之籌，即偶一籌念而移時輒忘，或有名無實，大局將不堪設想，而其幾不待智者而決矣。從前夷患之熾，由於中外之情相隔，和戰之見無定，疆吏又遇事粉飾，其情形不能上達於朝廷。坐是三失，而其患遂日久日深，無所底止。泰西各國官商一氣，政教並行，各商舶遠涉重洋，初至中華，處處受我侮抑，事事被我阻塞，其情鬱而不能不發者，勢也。繼而見中國官之阻之者可以通，抑之者可以伸，必不可破之格，或取勝於兵力之相迫而卒無不破，此中國之為所輕而各國漸敢恣肆之機也。迨至立約通商已有成議，而在內無深知洋務之大臣，在外無究心撫馭之疆吏，一切奏牘之陳，類多敷衍諱飾。敵人方桀驁而稱為恭順，洋情方怨毒而號為懽忭，遂至激成事端，忽和忽戰；甚且彼省之和局甫成，此省之戰事又起，賠款朝給，捷書暮陳。乘遭風之船以為勝仗，執送信之酋以為擒渠，果至兩軍相交，仍復一敗不可收拾。於是夷情愈驕，約款愈肆，中外大臣皆視辦理洋務為畏途，而庚申釁起，幾至無可措手。自設立總理衙門，其事始有責成，情形漸能熟悉，在事諸臣亦無敢推諉。然其事非在事諸臣之事，而國家切要之事也。既為國家切要之事，則凡為大清臣子者，無人不應一心謀畫，以維大局。況和局之本在自強，自強之要在武備，亦非總理衙門所能操其權盡其用也。使武備果有實際，則於外族要求之端，持之易力，在彼有顧忌，覦覬亦可潛消，事不盡屬總理衙門，而無事不息息相關也。乃十數年來，遇有重大之端，安危呼吸之際，事外諸臣以袖手為得計；事甫就緒，異議復生，或轉託於成事不說；不問事之難易情形若何，一歸咎於任事之人。是從前之誤以無專責而仔肩乏人，今日之事又以有專屬而藉口有自。設在事諸臣亦同存此心，爭相諉謝，必至如唐臣杜甫詩中所謂『獨使至尊憂社稷』矣。夫能戰始能守，能守始能和，宜人人知之。今日之敵，非得其所長，斷難與抗，稍識時務者，亦詎勿知？乃至緊要關鍵，意見頓相背，往往陳義甚高，鄙洋務為不足言，抑或苟安為計，覺和局之深可恃。是以歷來練兵、造船、習器、天文、算學諸事，每興一議而阻之者多，即就一事而為之者非其實。至於無成，則不咎其阻撓之故，而責創議之人；甚至局外紛紛論說，以國家經營自立之計，而指為敷衍洋人。所見之誤，竟至於此！今日本擾臺之役業經議結，日本尚非法、英、俄、美之比，此事本屬無名之師，已幾幾震動全局，費盡筆爭舌戰，始就範圍。若泰西強大各國環而相伺，得中國一無理之端，藉為名義，搆兵而來，更不知如何要挾，如何挽回？言念及此，真有食不下咽者，則自強之計尚可須臾緩哉？此總理衙門奏請飭令會議諸條，實為緊要關繫，不可不及早切實籌辦者也。今計各疆吏遵旨籌議，指日將依限上陳，如飭下廷議，非向來會議事件可比，應由各王大臣期定數日，詳細籌商，將事之本末始終，一律貫澈，利害之輕重，條議之行止，辦法切實，折中定見，無蹈從前會議故習。如今日議之行之，而異日不能同心堅持，則不如不辦。如事雖議行，而名是實非，徒為開銷帑需，增益各省人員差使名目，亦不如不辦。度勢揆時，料敵審己，實有萬萬不能不辦之勢，亦實有萬萬不可再誤之機。一誤即不能復更，不辦即不堪設想。總理衙門摺內所謂『必須上下一心，內外一心，局中局外一心，且歷久永遠一心』，即此意也。而大本所在，尤望我皇上切念而健行之。總理衙門承辦之事，能否維持，全視實力之能否深恃。必確有可戰可守之實，庶可握不戰之勝。惟我皇上念茲在茲，則在事諸臣之苦心，自能上邀宸鑒。凡百臣工亦人人有求知此事共籌此事之心，其才識智力必有百倍於臣者。否則支持既難，變更不免，變而復合，痛心之端，必且百倍今日，非臣之所忍言矣。」疏上，未幾卒。溫詔賜卹，稱其「清正持躬，精詳謀國，忠純亮直，誠懇公明，為國家股肱心膂之臣」，贈太傅，予騎都尉世職，入祀賢良祠，賜銀三千兩治喪，遣貝勒載澂奠醊，諡文忠，歸葬盛京，命將軍崇實往賜祭。十五年，皇太后歸政，追念前勞，賜祭一壇。

文祥忠勤，為中興樞臣之冠。清操絕人，家如寒素。謀國深遠，當新疆軍事漸定，與俄國議交還伊犂，大學士左宗棠引以自任，文祥力主之，奏請專任。文祥既歿，後乃遣侍郎崇厚赴俄國，為所迫脅，擅允條款，朝論譁然。譴罪崇厚，易以曾紀澤往，久之乃定議，幸免大釁。法越事起，和戰屢更，以海防疏，不能大創敵，遷就結局。及興海軍，未能竭全力以成之，卒挫於日本。皆如文祥所慮，而朝局數變，日以多事矣。子熙治，以員外郎襲騎都尉世職。