Agūi 阿桂

A-kuei 阿桂 (T. 廣庭, 雲巖), Sept. 7, 1717-1797, Oct. 10, official and general, was a member of the Chang-chia 章佳 clan and of the Manchu Plain Blue Banner. He was the only son of A-k'o-tun [q.v.] and for a time (1736) studied under Shên T'ung [q.v.]. Owing to his father's merits, he was awarded an honorary licentiate and was appointed (1736) a secretary of the Court of Judicature and Revision. But he was not satisfied with the appointment. In 1738 he passed the examination for chü-jên, and a year later was made a second class secretary in the Board of War. In 1743 he rose to a department directorship in the Board of Revenue, but was degraded three years later to an assistant department directorship in the Board of Civil Office. In 1748 he was given his first border assignment, as a secretary in the army sent to pacify the aborigines of Chin-ch'uan in Szechwan. Unfortunately he reached his post just when the commanders, Chang Kuang-ssû [q.v.] and No-ch'in (see under Chang Kuang-ssû) were impeached for imputing to each other the blame for failure to conquer the aborigines. A-kuei, accused of taking the part of Chang Kuang-ssû, and of deceiving No-ch'in, was forthwith ordered to Peking for trial. Although Chang and No-ch'in were executed, A-kuei was pardoned (1749) in consideration of his lack of experience, and as a favor to his aged father. In 1750 he was reinstated as assistant department director in the Board of Civil Office. Elevated to the post of a department director in 1752, he was sent to Kiangsi as provincial judge, but was recalled in 1753 and made a reader in the Grand Secretariat. As a sub-chancellor in the latter office he was sent in 1755 to Uliasutai as quartermaster for the armies under Bandi [q.v.] which were then in the newly conquered Ili valley. For a time in 1756 A-kuei was in Peking to mourn the death of his father, but in the middle of that year was again sent to Uliasutai where he became assistant military governor. He arrived in time to take part in the subjugation of a Mongolian prince who, after Amursana [q.v.] had rebelled in Ili (see under Bandi), attempted to revolt in Mongolia. In 1757 after the rebellion of Amursana was suppressed, A-kuei was given the rank of junior vice-president of the Board of Works and sent to Khobdo to stabilize western Mongolia and prevent the Eleuths from escaping to Siberia.

In 1758 A-kuei was recalled to the capital because of Imperial dissatisfaction at his failure to prevent the escape of an Eleuth chief. During this time a rebellion of Mohammedans broke out in Eastern Turkestan and Chao-hui [q.v.], who was detailed to suppress it, was beseiged while camping before Yarkand. A-kuei was ordered to join Fu-tê [q.v.] in effecting Chao-hui's release. Early in 1759 the siege was raised and within the year the rebellion was crushed. After the armies withdrew A-kuei supervised the colonization of the Ili valley with Mohammedans from Aksu and other nearby cities, in order to provide the garrison with food. The land was fertile and, under A-kuei's able management, crops in the first year (1760) were abundant. Thus the Ili valley was made self-supporting for the garrison and for the colonists, and it remained peaceful for more than a hundred years. A-kuei returned to Peking in 1763 and began to serve as president of the Board of Works, a post to which he had been promoted two years earlier. He was also appointed to the Grand Council, and his family was enrolled in the higher Plain White Banner.

In 1764 A-kuei served for a time as acting governor-general of Szechwan to investigate disturbances among the aborigines. In the following year he was again dispatched to Turkestan to direct the subjugation of the Mohammedans of Wu-shih (Ush) who had rebelled. After a siege of more than half a year the city was taken and the revolt suppressed. Nevertheless A-kuei was reprimanded for not prosecuting his campaign with more vigor and was ordered to assist the military-governor of Ili, Ming-jui [q.v.], in systematizing colonial affairs. When Ming-jui was recalled (1766) and sent to Yunnan (1767) in command of an army that was to subjugate Burma, A-kuei succeeded him as military-governor. In 1768 Ming-jui's campaign into Burma met with overwhelming defeat and a new army was assembled in Yunnan with Fu-hêng as commander-in-chief and A-kuei and A-li-kun (see under Fu-hêng jointly second in command. A-kuei hastened back to Peking in the middle of 1768 and, now president of the Board of War, proceeded to Yunnan where for a time he served as governor-general, a post he relinquished in 1769 to devote himself to military matters. Emperor Kao-tsung was determined, despite the previous disaster, to bring Burma to terms and therefore authorized a new expedition in 1769 under the three commanders. But climate and tropical diseases proved inhospitable to the armies which, while victorious in several engagements, had finally to withdraw. With the death of A-li-kun and the retirement of Fu-hêng on account of illness, A-kuei was left in supreme command. A truce was arranged with the Burmese who promised tribute, and A-kuei returned to Yunnan. But soon (1770) the truce was broken, for the officer sent by A-kuei to demand the tribute was detained. Held responsible for this turn of events, A-kuei was deprived (1771) of his rank and offices, and was ordered to serve in the army under his successor, Wên-fu 溫福 (T. 履綏, d. 1773) who had been detailed to guard the Yunnan border. That border, however, was comparatively quiet, owing to the fact that the Burmese were then concerned with nearer neighbors, the Siamese.

Even before the above-mentioned retreat from Burma, uprisings took place among the aborigines of the wild and almost inaccessible part of western Szechwan, known as Ta Chin-ch'uan and Hsiao Chin-ch'uan. The chieftains of those regions were powerful, and knew how to make the best use of their advantageous locations which they defended with stone forts at strategic passes in the mountains. About the close of the year 1771 Wên-fu was ordered to transfer his forces from Yunnan to Szechwan to subdue these regions. A-kuei accompanied the army and, by dint of vigorous fighting, was made second in command to Wên-fu. While the latter attacked (1772) Hsiao Chin-ch'uan rebels from the east, A-kuei led an army against them from the south. By the close of that year Hsiao Chin-ch'uan was virtually subdued, but the chief rebel of the region took refuge in Ta Chin-ch'uan, and the campaign had to be pushed on into the latter area. In the middle of 1773 a new rebellion broke out among the Hsiao Chin-ch'uan aborigines, and in the engagement Wên-fu's army at Mu-kuo-mu was almost wholly annihilated. Wên-fu himself and many other generals forfeited their lives. A-kuei retreated to safer zones and evacuated most of the conquered area, taking care to leave strong garrisons at strategic points for use as bases in future operations. Soon he was made commander-in-chief with orders to operate from the east, his former army on the southern route being left to the command of Fu-tê and Ming-liang [q.v.]. Within the year (1773) Hsiao Chin-ch'uan was recovered, but Ta Chin-ch'uan, while defended by only a few thousand men, withstood the attack for three years, every mountain and every pass being relinquished only after the most severe fighting. Their stone forts would perhaps have been impregnable had A-kuei not made use of cannon, constructed under the direction of the Portuguese missionary, Felix da Rocha (see under Ho Kuo-tsung), who reached A-kuei's headquarters in the autumn of 1774. The rebel capital was finally surrounded and So-no-mu chief of Ta Chin-ch'uan, surrendered (Mar. 23, 1776). According to a prearranged plan a select group of captives was escorted to Peking where A-kuei arrived two months later at the head of his victorious army. He was personally welcomed by the emperor outside the gates of the capital, and was feted in the Palace.

The conquest of Chin-ch'uan was completed after five years of fighting and at the expenditure of seventy million taels of silver—more than twice the sum consumed in the conquest of the Ili valley and Turkestan, although the latter comprised an area twenty times that of Chin-ch'uan. Only by patient and laborious fighting with the aid of cannon, and by cutting off the supplies of both food and ammunition could the inhabitants of Chin-ch'uan be subdued. The conquered territory was re-peopled with loyal tribesmen and military colonists, and did not cause trouble again.

For his exploits A-kuei was handsomely rewarded. Early in 1776 he was raised to Duke of the first class with the designation Chêng-mou ying-yung 誠謀英勇公. He was also made assistant Grand Secretary, president of the Board of Civil Office, and was concurrently in charge of other offices. In 1776 he was once more dispatched to Yunnan to prepare for another expedition into Burma. While there he was elevated to the rank of Grand Secretary, and in 1777 was recalled to Peking. Burma, having in the meantime been weakened by internal strife and by conflict with Siam, began in 1788 to send tribute to Peking—a relation that existed until 1886 when that country was absorbed by Britain.

A-kuei led troops in two more campaigns against rebellious Mohammedans in Kansu. Both disturbances were caused by a new sect of Mohammedans which rose against the old order recognized by the government. The first rebellion took place in 1781, in the Ho-chou and Lanchou region, and was suppressed in six months. Remnants of the new sect revolted three years later (1784), but were put down in four months (see under Li Shih-yao). For the latter victory, A-kuei was given the additional hereditary rank of Ch'ing-ch'ê tu-yü.

From 1779 to 1789 A-kuei, though a senior member of the Grand Council and the Grand Secretariat, spent most of his time in the provinces, repairing broken dikes along the Yellow River in Honan, inspecting conservancy on the waterways, or investigating cases of official corruption in the provinces. At the same time he directed the above-mentioned Mohammedan campaigns. During these and the ensuing years of active service in Peking (1789-96), he was usually entrusted with affairs in the capital while the emperor was in Jehôl or on other tours. This responsibility naturally came to A-kuei in view of his unquestioned integrity. But it is probable also that the powerful Ho-shên[q.v.] fearing, on his own account, to have such a trustworthy official near the emperor, saw to it that he was sent away from the capital as often as possible. Nevertheless, A-kuei continued to hold his posts, and with them the esteem of the emperor, until his eightieth year (1796) when he was relieved on grounds of illness. After his death in the following year, he was posthumously given the title of Grand Guardian, the designation Wên-ch'êng 文成 and the right to have his name celebrated in the Temple of Eminent Statesmen. For his share in the four major military achievements of the Ch'ien-lung period—the conquest of Ili and Turkestan, the pacification of Chin-ch'uan, the stabilization of Taiwan, and the campaign in Nepal—his portrait was hung in the Tzû-kuang ko (see under Chao-hui). The last two campaigns—the ones in Taiwan and Nepal—were conducted in the field by Fu-k'ang-an [q.v.], but A-kuei was given credit for the assistance he lent the emperor in directing the operations from the capital. Following the example set after the conquest of Ili and Turkestan, sixteen scenes depicting memorable events of the Chin-ch'uan war were painted on the walls of the Tzû-kuang ko and were later engraved. A complete set of these sixteen engravings, known as P'ing-ting liang Chin-ch'uan chan-t'u, is preserved in the Library of Congress. The engraving was done in China some time between 1776 and 1786.

Of the descendants of A-kuei the most illustrious was Na-yen-ch'êng [q.v.] who, in the course of his official career, won the rank of viscount.

[ Na-yen-ch'êng [q.v.], A Wên-ch'êng kung nien-p'u; l/324/1a; 3/27/23a 補錄 ; 7/18/7a; 18/16/10a; Chao-lien [q.v.], Hsiao-t'ing tsa-lu and Hsü-lu, passim; Shên T'ung [q.v.], Kuo-t'ang chi 6/5a, 8/15a; Yung-yen [q.v.], Chia-ch'ing ch'ung-hsiu i-t'ung-chih, chüan 423; P'ing-ting Chun-ko-êr fang-lüeh chêng-pien, and hsü-pien (see under Fu-hêng); P'ing-ting liang Chin-ch'uan fang-lüeh (see under Wang Ch'ang).]

KNIGHT BIGGERSTAFF

字廣庭 號雲嚴 諡文成 一等誠謀英勇公 乾隆戊午科舉人

《清史稿》卷318

阿桂，字廣庭，章佳氏。初為滿洲正藍旗人，以阿桂平回部駐伊犂治事有勞，改隸正白旗。父大學士阿克敦，自有傳。阿桂，乾隆三年舉人。初以父廕授大理寺丞，累遷吏部員外郎，充軍機處章京。十三年，從兵部尚書班第參金川軍事。訥親、張廣泗以無功被罪，岳鍾琪劾阿桂結張廣泗蔽訥親，逮問。十四年，上以阿克敦年老，無次子，治事勤勉；阿桂罪與貽誤軍事不同，特旨宥之。尋復官，擢江西按察使，召補內閣侍讀學士。二十年，擢內閣學士。時方征準噶爾，命阿桂赴烏里雅蘇台督台站。逾年，父喪還京。旋復遣赴軍，授參贊大臣，命駐科布多，授鑲紅旗蒙古副都統。二十二年秋，授工部侍郎。輝特頭人舍楞約降，唐喀祿以兵往會，為所襲，阿桂率兵策應，上嘉之，賜花翎。上命阿桂與策布登扎布合軍擊舍楞，毋使逃入俄羅斯。阿桂言：「得降賊，謂舍楞將逃土爾扈特；或不達，且復回準噶爾。邀之中路，可擒獻。」上責其觀望，召還京。是年準部平，復命赴西路，與副將軍富德追捕餘賊。

霍集占叛，二十四年，命赴霍斯庫魯克從富德進討。八月，逐賊至阿勒楚爾，又至伊西洱庫爾淖爾，回眾降。霍集占走拔達克山。是年回部平。上以阿克蘇新附，為回部要地，命阿桂駐軍綏撫。二十五年，移駐伊犂。阿桂上言伊犂屯田、阿克蘇調兵諸事。上嘉其勇往，命專司耕作營造，務使軍士、回民皆樂於從事。時西域初定，地方萬餘里，伏莽尚眾，與俄羅斯鄰。上詔統兵諸大臣議，咸謂沙漠遼遠，牲畜凋耗，難駐守。阿桂疏言：「守邊以駐兵為先，駐兵以軍食為要。伊犂河以南海努克等處，水土沃衍，宜屯田。請增遣回民嫻耕作者往屯；增派官兵駐防，協同耕種；次第建置城邑；預籌馬駝，置台站；運沿邊米赴伊犂；簡各省流人嫻工藝者，發備任使。」又奏定山川、土穀諸祀典，上用其議。阿桂 造農器，督諸屯耕穫，歲大豐。

二十六年，疏言：「伊犂牧群蕃息，請停內地購馬駝。增招葉爾羌、喀什噶爾、阿克蘇、烏什回民詣伊犂，廣屯田。」皆稱旨。迭授內大臣、工部尚書、鑲藍旗漢軍都統，仍駐伊犂。奏瑪納斯庫爾、喀喇烏蘇、晶河三地屯田，人授十五畝。二十七年，疏定約束章程，建綏定、安遠二城，兵居、民房次第立，一如內地，數千里行旅晏然，予騎都尉世職。召還，賜紫禁城騎馬，命軍機處行走。調正紅旗滿洲都統，加太子太保。二十九年，命署伊犂將軍。尋調署四川總督。時金川土司郎卡與綽斯甲布等九土司搆釁，阿桂巡邊，盡得郎卡狡獪怙惡狀，並悉其山川形勢，入奏。是冬，召還京。三十年，上南巡，命留京治事。

烏什回賴黑木圖拉作亂，詔馳赴烏什與將軍明瑞攻之，賴黑木圖拉中矢死，眾伯克復推額色木圖拉抗我師，自三月至八月，攻城不下。明瑞軍其北，阿桂軍其南，作長圍困之，絕其水道。賊糧盡，內訌，沙布勒者擒額色木圖拉以獻，烏什平。上責其遲延，示怯損威，部議奪官，命留任，駐雅爾城。旋復奪尚書，命還伊犂助明瑞治事。阿桂疏請移雅爾城於楚呼楚，從之。三十二年，授伊犂將軍。請自楚呼楚至烏爾圖布拉克設三臺，以通雅爾，下部行。

緬甸擾邊，總督劉藻、楊應琚先後得罪去，上命明瑞率師討之，至猛育，糧盡，戰沒。大學士傅恆自請行，三十三年，以傅恆為經略，阿桂及阿里袞為副將軍，仍授阿桂兵部尚書、雲貴總督。三十四年，以明德為總督，令阿桂專治軍事。阿桂請由銅壁關抵蠻暮，伐木造舟，俟經略至軍，進攻老官屯，且言軍糧不給。上以為畏怯，罷副將軍，改授參贊大臣。九月，舟成，傅恆亦至，分三路進：傅恆出萬仞關，由大金沙江西經猛拱、暮魯至老官屯；阿里袞率舟師循江下；阿桂率蠻暮新舟出江會之，先伏兵甘立寨。緬人從猛戛來拒，寨兵出擊，沉三舟，舟師噪應之，緬人大潰，殲其渠，遂與西岸軍合。老官屯守禦堅，軍士多病瘴，阿里袞卒於軍，復授阿桂副將軍。傅恆亦病，上命班師，而緬酋懵駁亦懲甘立寨之敗，遣使議受約束，乃召傅恆還。命阿桂留辦善後，授禮部尚書。

三十五年，兼鑲紅旗漢軍都統。命赴騰越待緬人入貢。遣都司蘇爾相齎檄至老官屯，緬人拘之，索還木邦等三土司。疏入，上命罷尚書、都統，以內大臣留辦副將軍事。三十六年，疏請大舉征緬，入覲陳機密。上手詔詰責，命奪官留軍效力。是時金川酋郎卡已死，其子索諾木及小金川酋澤旺子僧格桑擾邊，四川總督阿爾泰征之無功，上命阿桂隨副將軍、尚書溫福進討。十二月，署四川提督，克巴朗拉、達木巴宗各寨。三十七年二月，克資哩山，進克阿喀木雅。松潘總兵宋元俊亦復革布什咱。兩金川勢日蹙，合謀抗我師。上命溫福等三路進討，阿桂出西路阿喀木雅攻喇卜楚克，克之，奪普爾瑪寨，進逼美美卡。澤旺為子謝罪，索諾木亦代僧格桑請還侵地，上不許。時侍郎桂林代阿爾泰為總督，並領其眾，至墨隴溝，失利，副將薛琮死之，阿爾泰劾罷桂林。上授阿桂參贊大臣，命赴南路接剿。僧格宗者，小金川門戶也。甲爾木山梁為僧格宗要徑。阿桂乘賊怠，潛赴墨隴溝，夜半大霧，襲據之，進逼僧格宗，突入毀其碉，殲賊無算。上授溫福定邊將軍，豐昇額、阿桂俱授副將軍，分道取美諾。阿桂克美都喇嘛寺，俯瞰美諾。僧格桑遁布朗郭宗，而溫福亦克西路來會，進剿布朗郭宗。僧格桑送孥金川而遁底木達，求見父澤旺，澤旺不納，渡河走金川。澤旺降，械送京師，小金川平。於是議討金川，金川賊巢二：曰噶拉依，曰勒烏圍。溫福由功噶爾拉，阿桂由當噶爾拉，合攻噶拉依；豐昇額由綽斯甲布徑攻勒烏圍。復授禮部尚書。

三十八年正月朔，冒大雪，進奪當功噶爾拉諸碉，而溫福至木果木，索諾木誘降番叛襲軍後，斷登春糧道，我師潰，溫福死之。小金川與美諾等相繼陷。阿桂悉收降番械，毀碉寨，分置其人章谷、打箭爐，斬其桀驁者，親殿軍退駐達河。事聞，上怒甚，命發健銳、火器兩營，黑龍江、吉林、伊犂額魯特兵五千，授阿桂定西將軍，明亮、豐昇額副將軍，舒常參贊大臣，整師再出。十月，攻下資哩。用番人木塔爾策，分師由中、南兩路進，潛軍登北山巔，遂取美諾，明亮等亦克僧格宗來會，凡七日，小金川平。

三十九年正月朔，阿桂抵布朗郭宗，人裹十日糧，分三隊進，轉戰以前，克喇穆左右二山，贊巴拉克山、色依谷山。二月，克羅博瓦山，勒烏圍門戶也。賊退守喇穆山。部將海蘭察從間道破色漰普寨，繞出山後，賊退守薩甲山嶺。海蘭察奪其峭壁大碉，諸寨奪氣，同時下，乘勝臨遜克爾宗。僧格桑死於金川，金川酋獻其尸，而死守遜克爾宗。十月，阿桂用策先克默格爾山及凱立葉，於是日爾巴當噶諸碉反在我師後，遂悉平之。賊退守康薩爾山。時豐昇額出北路，師至凱立葉，望見煙火，以師來會；而明亮出南路，阻於庚額山；阿桂令移軍，冒雨破宜喜，與明亮軍隔河相望。十一月，克格魯克古丫口，金川東北之賊殆盡。

四十年正月，克康薩爾山梁。二月，克沿河斯莫思達寨。四月，克木思工噶克丫口。五月，克下巴木通及勒吉爾博山梁，進據得式梯，復克噶爾丹寺、噶明噶等寨。進攻巴占，屢攻不下。分兵從舍圖枉卡繞擊，牽賊勢。七月，克昆色爾及果克多山，進克拉栝寺、菑則大海山梁，旋克章噶。八月，克隆斯得寨，遂克勒烏圍。捷聞，上遣阿桂子阿必達齎紅寶石頂賜之。九月，克當噶克底諸寨。十月，克達木噶。十一月，克西里山雅瑪朋寨。十二月，克薩爾歪諸寨，進據噶占。四十一年正月，克瑪爾古當噶碉寨五百餘，遂圍噶拉依。索諾木母先赴河西集餘眾，大兵合圍，與其子絕，遂降。阿桂令作書招索諾木，而其頭目降者相繼，索諾木乃率眾降。金川平，安置降番，設副將、同知分駐其地。詔封一等誠謀英勇公，進協辦大學士、吏部尚書、軍機處行走。四月，班師。上幸良鄉城南行郊勞禮，賜御用鞍馬。還京獻俘，御紫光閣，行飲至禮，賜紫韁、四開褉袍。

初，阿桂去雲南，緬甸遣使議入貢，械送京師下獄。至是誅索諾木母子頭人，上命釋緬使令觀，譯告以故，縱之歸，冀以威武風動之。四十二年，署雲貴總督圖思德奏：「懵駁已死，子贅角牙立，輸誠納貢，願歸中國人。請開關通市。」上以事重，當有重臣相度受成，命阿桂往蒞。五月，授武英殿大學士，管理吏部，兼正紅旗滿洲都統。緬甸使不至，遣蘇爾相等歸，遂召阿桂還。未幾，緬甸內亂。又十餘年，國王孟隕具表祝上八旬聖壽，定十年一貢。南徼始安。

四十四年，河決儀封、蘭陽，奉命往按。阿桂令開郭家莊引河，築攔黃壩；又於下流王家莊，築順黃壩：蓄水勢，逼溜直入引河。四十五年三月，隄工蕆，還京。兼翰林院掌院學士。旋命勘浙江海塘，築魚鱗石塘、柴塘，及范公塘。四十六年，工成，命順道勘清江陶莊河道高堰石工。

甘肅撒拉爾新教蘇四十三與老教仇殺，戕官吏。總督勒爾謹捕教首馬明心下獄，同教回民二千餘夜濟洮河犯蘭州，噪索明心。布政使王廷贊誅明心，賊愈熾。上命阿桂視師，時阿桂猶在工。命和珅往督戰，失利。賊據龍虎、華林諸山，道險隘。阿桂至，設圍絕其水道，進攻之，賊大潰。殲蘇四十三，餘黨奔華林寺，焚之，無一降者。甘肅冒賑事發，命按治，盡得大小官吏舞弊分賕狀，讞定，疏請增設倉廒，廣儲糧石，以濟民食。

秋，河決河南青龍岡，命自甘肅赴河南會河道總督李奉翰督塞河。故事，河決，當決處兩端築壩，漸近漸合，謂之「合龍」。十二月，兩壩將合，副將李榮吉謂水勢盛，宜緩，阿桂督之急。既合，屬吏入賀，榮吉獨不至，召之，則對使者曰：「為榮吉謝相公，壩不可恃，不敢離也。」越二日，果復決，阿桂馳視。榮吉已墮水，懸千金賞救之起，解御賜黑狐端罩覆之。因上疏自劾，請別簡大臣董其役，上詔答，略曰：「近年諸臣中能勝治河任者，舍阿桂豈復有人？惟當安心靜鎮，別求善策。」四十七年，奏請於下游疏引河，上游築大隄，並於北岸建壩，迫溜南趨。四十八年，工始竟，詣熱河行在，復命仍赴工次，審定章程。

浙江布政使盛住疏論總督陳輝祖籍王亶望家有所私，命阿桂如浙江按治。還，又命勘江南鹽河水道，又命勘河南蘭陽十二堡隄工，並於戴村建閘。四十九年，甘肅鹽茶廳回民張阿渾據石峯堡以叛。上遣福康安、海蘭察等討之，復命阿桂視師。兩月餘，破堡，戮張阿渾等，加一等輕車都尉世職。又命督河南睢州隄工。五十年，舉千叟宴，阿桂領班。又命勘河南睢州河工，並察洪澤湖、清口形勢。五十一年，又命勘清口堤工，並如浙江按倉庫虧缺，勘海塘；又命勘江南桃源、安東河決。再如浙江按治平陽知縣黃梅重徵，論如律。

五十二年，又命督塞睢州十三堡河決。時臺灣民林爽文叛，上命福康安討之，諮阿桂軍事。阿桂疏論師當扼要害，分道並進，先通諸羅道，廓清後路，自大甲溪進兵。諭曰：「所見與朕略同，已諭福康安奉方略。」睢州工竟，又命勘江南臨湖磚石隄工。五十三年，又命按湖北荊州水災。請疏窖金洲以導水，修萬城隄以護城。五十四年，命再勘荊州隄工。嘉慶元年，高宗內禪，阿桂奉冊寶。再舉千叟宴，仍領班，於是阿桂年八十矣，疏辭領兵部。二年八月，卒，仁宗臨其喪。贈太保，祀賢良祠，諡文成。

阿桂屢將大軍，知人善任使。諸將有戰績，獎以數語，或賚酒食，其人輒感激效死終其身。臨敵，夜對酒，深念得策，輒持酒以起，旦必有所號令。方溫福敗，受命代將。一日日欲暮，率十數騎升高阜覘賊砦。賊望見，獷騎數百環阜上。阿桂令從騎皆下馬，解衣裂懸林木，乃令上馬徐下阜。賊迫阜，從落日中睹旂幟，疑我師眾，方遣騎出偵，阿桂已還軍矣。師薄噶拉依，索諾木約以明日降，城柵盡毀。日暮，諸將謁阿桂，謂：「今日必生致索諾木，不然，慮有他。」阿桂不答，入帳臥。明旦，索諾木自縛詣帳下。阿桂謂諸將曰：「諸君昨日語，蓋慮索諾木他竄，或且死。我已得險要，竄安之？且能死，豈至今日？故吾以為無慮。」諸將皆謝服。及執政，尤識大體。康熙中，諸行省提鎮以次即有空名坐糧，雍正八年著為例。乾隆四十七年詔補實額，別給養廉。阿桂疏言：「國家經費驟加不覺其多，歲支則難為繼。此新增之餉，歲近三百萬，二十餘年即需七千萬。請除邊省外，無庸概增。」上不從。是時帑藏盈溢，其後漸至虛匱。此其一端也。乾隆末，和珅勢漸張，阿桂遇之不稍假借。不與同直廬，朝夕入直，必離立數十武。和珅就與語，漫應之，終不移一步。阿桂內念位將相，受恩遇無與比，乃坐視其亂政，徒以高宗春秋高，不敢遽言，遂未竟其志。

高宗圖功臣於紫光閣，前後凡四舉，列於前者親為之贊。

定伊犂回部五十人：大學士傅恆，將軍兆惠、班第、納木札爾，副將軍策布登扎布、富德、薩拉爾，大學士總督黃廷桂，參贊大臣親王色布騰巴爾珠爾，貝子扎拉豐阿，郡王羅卜藏多爾濟、額敏和卓，尚書舒赫德、阿里袞，總督鄂容安，侍郎明瑞、阿桂、三泰、鄂實，領隊大臣內大臣博爾奔察，提督豆斌、高天喜，副都統端濟布，護軍統領愛隆阿，前鋒統領瑪瑺，副都統巴圖濟爾噶爾，散秩大臣齊凌扎布、噶布舒，郡王霍集斯，貝子鄂對，內大臣鄂齊爾，散秩大臣阿玉錫、達什策凌，副都統鄂博什、溫布、由屯、三格，侍衛奇徹布、老格、達克、塔納、薩穆坦、璊綽爾圖、塔瑪鼐、富錫爾、海蘭察、富紹、扎奇圖、阿爾丹察、五十保。

定金川五十人：將軍阿桂，副將軍豐昇額、明亮，大學士舒赫德、于敏中，尚書福隆安，參贊大臣親王色布騰巴爾珠爾，都統海蘭察，護軍統領額森特、舒常，領隊大臣都統奎林、和隆武、福康安，副都統普爾普，荊州將軍興兆，參贊大臣提督哈國興，領隊大臣提督馬彪、馬全、書麟，副都統三保、烏什哈達、瑚尼爾圖、珠爾格德、阿爾都、阿爾薩朗、舒亮、科瑪、伊蘭保、佛倫泰、富興、德赫布、莽喀察，總兵海祿、敖成、官達色、成德、欽保、曹順、保寧、特成額、烏爾納，總兵敦柱，侍衛額爾特、托爾托保、泰斐英阿、柏凌、達蘭泰、薩爾吉岱，佐領特爾惇澈，副將興奎。

定臺灣二十人：大學士阿桂、和珅、王杰，協辦大學士福康安，領侍衛內大臣海蘭察，尚書福長安、董誥，總督李侍堯、孫士毅，巡撫徐嗣曾，成都將軍鄂輝，護軍統領舒亮、普爾普，提督蔡攀龍、梁朝柱、許世亨，總兵穆克登阿、張芝元、普吉保，散秩大臣穆塔爾。

定廓爾喀十五人：大學士福康安、阿桂、和坤、王杰、孫士毅，領侍衛內大臣海蘭察，尚書福長安、董誥、慶桂、和琳，總督惠齡，護軍統領台斐英阿、額勒登保，副都統阿滿泰、成德。

功稍次者列於後，儒臣為之贊，惟阿桂與海蘭察四次皆前列。阿桂定金川元功，定臺灣首輔，皆第一；定廓爾喀以爵復第一，讓於福康安。道光三年二月，宣宗命配饗太廟。子阿迪斯、阿必達。

阿迪斯，初以三等侍衛坐阿桂征緬甸無功，奪職，發遣廣西右江鎮。逾年赦復官。累遷兵部侍郎，襲一等公。復累遷成都將軍。以川西盜發，逮問，發遣伊犂。赦歸。卒。

阿必達，初名阿彌達，高宗命更名。阿桂得罪，奪藍翎侍衛，發遣廣東雷瓊鎮。赦歸，復官。擢二等侍衛，命赴西寧祭告河神，探黃河真源，上命輯入河源紀略。累遷工部侍郎。卒。阿必達子那彥寶，官至成都將軍；那彥成，自有傳。

論曰：將者國之輔，智信仁勇，合群策群力冶而用之，是之謂大將。由是道也，佐天子辨章國政，豈有二術哉？乾隆間，國軍屢出，熊羆之士，因事而有功；然開誠布公，謀定而後動，負士民司命之重，固無如阿桂者。還領樞密，決疑定計，瞻言百里，非同時諸大臣所能及，豈不偉歟？