The Life of the Characters in Yaoguang Xu's Works
When Yaoguang Xu was five years old, his parents hired a teacher to supervise his class. His elder brother and second brother often bought books to urge him to study. He and his third brother entered the Bauhinia Mountain House in the southeast of the provincial capital after being admitted to the scholar (extra points). The school is located in Guli East Road, facing Zhou Xiaoying, with an elegant environment. A scholar enjoys grain and is exempt from grain tax, but he doesn't kneel when he sees a magistrate.
In the 21st year of Daoguang, Yaoguang Xu's father died. Twenty-four years of mourning, just riding a cross-provincial exam, and mistakenly taking the exam. Imperial examinations in the Qing dynasty, those whose mourning period is less than three years, may not take the exam. He felt sad and melancholy. Twenty-five years, at the age of forty, I tried the poems of Forty Sages and Qiu Lan, and got Nanpi Zhang Zhenzhi (Chi Ming) to study politics, and was promoted and proliferated. The following year, he took the exams of "Ancient" and "Quasi-Western Cliff" and won the first place in Changsha. He became a student and enjoyed the "lingering sound" (four taels of silver can be withdrawn from the national treasury every year). His three brothers became first-class students at the same time. He is eager to win the prize. Someone told him that your literary talent and star are good, but you can't do it three times in a row. By the end of the year, when you get an official position because of the Ming Dynasty (that is, the Ming and Qing Dynasties recruit talents from all over the world, and every 12 years, the provinces select tribute students, whether or not they are commissioned, sent to the capital for trial, and appointed by the emperor), you can expect to be at leisure in this life; When you are forty-five, you should guard against great difficulties. He doesn't believe it. After graduating from Chengnan College, he was appreciated by his teacher Chen Yaonong () and won the first prize for poetry every year. In the 28th year of Daoguang, Panyu Liang Juting (whose real name is Tongxin) selected Gong Sheng for political studies and won the first place in the exam of "Zhuan Zhu as a candle". In the second year, the second interview was the first. Sure enough, people have been outstanding for 29 years. His third brother was also recommended to go to Kyoto with his hometown.
That year, Emperor Xianfeng ascended the throne, and the title has not been changed. His third brother failed the second interview before the exam, so he went back first. At that time, due to Xue Zhizhong's heresy, Shi Jing made a case. In July, the title of the exam was "Serving the people and staying away from ghosts and gods", and the title of the poem was "Inspiring the Spirit of Yu Qi". The examiner approved his paper, which was "shocking". According to the custom of the capital at that time, the examiner paid more attention to poetry than literature. After Yaoguang Xu finished the exam, he paid tribute to all the teachers with poems. Everyone believed that he would be elected, but he said with a smile that there were too many words he dared to say in the poem, and I was afraid he would be demoted to a county magistrate. Later, an imperial examination was held in Baohe Hall, with the poem "Qiu Guang goes to the wild family first". In the end, I introduced the emperor to Qin Zheng Hall with the first place and the seventh place in the imperial examination. As expected, I was appointed as the county magistrate and sent to Zhejiang (ten first-class * * * in this branch). Those who won the first and second honors in the imperial examination were selected and introduced to the emperor, and they could be employed as Beijing officials, local officials or Confucian officials like those who won the Jinshi examination. Other second-class and third-class, * * * hundreds of students were sent to imperial academy to study as candidates.
Money and grain in Zhejiang ranks first in the world. Because foreigners made huge profits by selling opium at will, domestic silver flowed out and the price of silver suddenly became expensive. Counties collect Xiaoding tax, and all they get are copper coins, which are cheap. After changing into silver coins, there were many losses, and even the funds of the state treasury were misappropriated. In the twenty-ninth year of Daoguang, the court ordered Ji Xianjiu, the minister of the Ministry, to conduct an inventory. Dozens of people were raided and more than 400 people were investigated. Liang Juting, a native of Hunan (edited by Hanlin Academy), was appointed as the examiner and examiner at that time. He was worried that being an official in Zhejiang would be trapped in the price of silver, and advised him to be a cabinet minister instead of going to Zhejiang. Zeng Guofan, a scholar in the cabinet, was short of officials at that time. Yaoguang Xu owes it to his mother.
When I am old and my family is poor, there is no other way, so I will improve the Hanlin Academy and the Chinese Book Department in the Chinese Book Cabinet first. In the autumn of the second year of Xianfeng (1852), Yaoguang Xu went to Zhejiang and became the magistrate of Tonglu County. Two months later, I unloaded Tonglu affairs and went to Hangzhou, where I was honored as the provincial examiner. In the same year1February, he went to Chun 'an County as the magistrate. For six years, he served as the magistrate of Changshan County. He served as the magistrate of Zhuji County for seven years and spared no effort to preserve his health. In March of nine years, he was transferred to Renhe County. In the same year 1 1 month, he was appointed as the magistrate of Zhuji County.
During the Xianfeng period, it was the Taiping Army and the Second Opium War. In the first year of Xianfeng (185 1), Hong Xiuquan was in jintian uprising. In three years, the Taiping Army conquered Nanjing and established the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. In the sixth year of the Republic of China, Neijiang occurred between Hong Xiuquan and Yang and began to decline. Ten years (1860), loyal Li Xiucheng marched into Zhejiang to solve the siege of Tianjing.
On the fourth day of July in the tenth year of Xianfeng, Li Xiucheng attacked Zhuji. At that time, the defenders were guarding the city, and the county magistrate was in charge of logistics out of the city. Li Xiucheng bypassed Zhuji and plunged into Xiaoshan. The Qing soldiers surrendered to Hangzhou, and Zhong Wang returned to Zhuji. On September 26th, a fire broke out in the countryside. Yaoguang Xu thought the garrison "Yong" was still there, but in fact all the troops of Fujian and Chu have been deleted. At the east gate, I met three cavalry, each with a long knife. Yaoguang Xu suffered seven injuries to his left and right forehead, hairline, right ear root and right arm, and then fainted. Suddenly he woke up and an old woman helped him across the stone bridge. When I met Huang Yibing again, I saw him dripping blood, so I made way for him. A man named Ma carried him to Shaoxing after being injured. On the 29th, Fucheng fell. At Yongjiangkou, Hu Xueyan bought a boat and sent him to Zhoushan.
In July of Tongzhi Year (1862), I visited Zuo in Quzhou, and they hit it off. Zuo visited Zhejiang people and knew that he had no bad behavior in office. 1February 28th, a special performance was performed "The accident was identified, but the original members begged to stay in the camp without guilt". Yaoguang Xu has been a saint in Zhejiang for many years. Please stay at the camp and help with business. On January 13, the second year of Tongzhi, the emperor gave an order: dismissal, exemption from punishment, and permission to stay in the camp.
In February of the same year, he followed the left back to Zhuji for rectification. When there was no food in the city, Yaoguang Xu went to Jinhua to transport 3,000 stones to Zhuji people. "Borrow cattle ploughing valley to help farmers. Businessman Jia trade. Order gentry and directors to persuade them to raise rice and donate rice. Take a college class. ..... Simin Xinxin is full of vitality ". Thirty years after his death, in the second year of Xuantong's death (19 10), Yaoguang Xu was listed as a famous minister, but his two terms in Zhuji were not described.
During the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom War, Yaoguang Xu had a lot of discussions on the use of foreign soldiers by the Qing court to attack the Taiping Army. "Ming used a Flemish (Portuguese) firearm, but it was not his own." (On Foreign Soldiers). "Borrow foreign troops, greedy for profits and achievements. Shanghai profaned first, Zhejiang followed suit. Coastal habits. It's amazing. Non-racial differences will eventually make you self-reliant. " "The West is the enemy of China, and I am desperate to help me find my own way." (Foreign Soldier)
During the Opium War, British troops invaded Zhejiang and attacked Dinghai, Zhenhai, Ningbo, Zhapu and other places. After the Second Opium War, Jardine Matheson, a British businessman, illegally opened a warehouse in Jiaxing, and someone from the Presbyterian Church of the United States came to Jiaxing to preach and make trouble. Yaoguang Xu stepped in and stopped to negotiate. All this happened after he went to Jiaxing. On April 18th, the third year of Tongzhi, the Governor of Fujian and Zhejiang left the tune "Please entrust Jiaxing and other government affairs", but he was only good at incorruptibility, so he should entrust Jiaxing with government affairs. The emperor said, "I know". Xu went to Jiaxing to take office. On the fifth day of October, before entering Fujian, Zuo once again made a "special protection contribution discount". Since the arrival of special protection Yaoguang Xu, he has been committed to managing disaster relief and grain clearing. He is honest and diligent, loves the people and has outstanding achievements, so he stays in Zhejiang as a magistrate to make up for it. 1October 13, the imperial edict said: "Yaoguang Xu tried to stay in Zhejiang as a magistrate to make up for it." . Zuo was appointed before he took office in Zhuji County, and then he was granted special protection. It was not until February 20th, the fourth year of Tongzhi that he was awarded the magistrate of Jiaxing Prefecture in Yaoguang Xu. Three questions, fill the way. Jurisdiction over Jiaxing, Xiushui, Jiashan, Haiyan, Pinghu, Shimen and Tongxiang.
Tongzhi three years (1864), April 28th, Yaoguang Xu from Hangzhou to Jiaxing. At that time, farmers in Jiaxing fled the war, the land was barren and the seawall was in disrepair. Jiaxing, a famous city in the past, is now in ruins, and wrote a poem of "sighing over the nest";
Swallows in the lake came into my house in May; Re-nesting around the beam seems to be a new nest.
Do not hesitate to swallow without a nest, inhabit the treetops; What I cherish is Li's return, and a storm has been thrown away.
Wounded by a boxing city, he was a thief colt for four years; Master in the city, the world flies.
In February this year, officers and men came to chase thieves; When I got back to the city, China people's houses were burned down.
A torch can't burn, and veterans can live; The veteran r 1 is lying inside, and the master is outside the boat.
What is outside the door, I can't bear to return to lust; The vicissitudes of life leave the old merchants, and the alleys ask the oblique light.
Knowing the axe of the army is not a teacher; The long rope dragged the problem and swept away the east wind.
Confucianism will make great contributions to bamboo silk, but it will not delve into it; He Cheng is hard to say today.
Just ask Liang Jianyan.
Although the poem called the Taiping Army a thief, it still rebuked the Qing army for burning houses when it entered Jiaxing, and even lamented the people's fear of officers and men. After Yaoguang Xu took office, he first settled the people's hearts, rectified the military discipline, and withdrew the Xiang army; Call on entrepreneurs who fled abroad to return to their hometowns, recruit farmers from their hometowns to reclaim land and gradually resume production.
At that time, bandits around Jiahu used sharp boats to set guns on them, and the number of gunboats increased. Bandit sticks, strong wins; Sail and paddle to become party member; Gambling during the day and robbing at night are great disasters for the people. According to Zuo's instructions, he killed his leader and seized more than 1000 guns; The disintegration of gunboats greatly improved the local public security.
West Zhejiang (referring to Xin 'anjiang, Fuchunjiang, west of Qiantang River and Hangzhou, Jiaxing and Huzhou) had large families before the war, and small families after paying taxes. Small household tax is heavy, while large household tax is light. Its grain collection is called three households: Red, Record and Reading. Hong is an official gentry, Ji is a non-official household, and studying is a lawsuit. The litigant, also known as Gong Hu, has many shortcomings. Taking advantage of weak women has aggravated the shortage of tax and grain, so it is difficult for public and private. In order to get rid of weeds and reduce the floating income of families, Yaoguang Xu decided to increase the consumption of large households, and the irrigation policy was clear, which changed the past situation that "the strong are full and the weak women complain", promoted the development of production and won the villagers' love.
Yaoguang Xu attaches great importance to education. After his arrival, he rebuilt Hongwen Fuxue Museum and Academy, and raised funds to rebuild Yuanhu Academy. Yuanhu Academy was founded in the fifty-fifth year of Kangxi, and was governed by the government (now the Invalides Sanatorium) in the north (now in the municipal government). At that time, the satrap presented a chestnut to Liu Qing in Dunsu Qilou. Yaoguang Xu is the most famous scholar in western Zhejiang. Considering Zhang Yangyuan's knowledge is also very good. He also inspected outstanding literati in Jiaxing in the past dynasties, especially Lu in the Tang Dynasty. Therefore, the positions of Lu and Zhang Yangyuan were added, and the "Three Sages Hall" was established, with three gentlemen as the role models for students. In order to show respect for the sages, please write the Classic on the left.
There is a plaque in the hall that says "Hang first". In addition, he also led the gentry to rebuild Jiaxing, Xiushui and other county schools, all of which were inscribed by Yaoguang Xu. In this way, education in Jiaxing was quickly restored. In the second year, more than 100 people took the county, government and college exams in seven counties of Jiaxing, ranging from 30 to 40 people. The number of participants in nearby counties such as Huzhou and Hangzhou is very small, only one or two. Since then, Jiaxing area and seven counties have been among the best in the province.
Yaoguang Xu is in Jiaxing and has always been concerned about agricultural production. There are many poems about agriculture and farmers in his poems. Yaoguang Xu said in the poem "The City": "If you are burned by war, you should attach the outline first, and then take care of the aftermath. The group said that it is appropriate to revitalize the city first, and the rest do not agree. " He said, "The battle has been decided. Let's talk about farming and mulberry."
Yaoguang Xu dredges rivers, builds bridges, roads and ponds in urban and rural areas to develop agriculture, industry and commerce. 52 bridges were built and rebuilt, and Pinghu and Haiyan seawalls with dam-break gaps were also repaired. At that time, Xiushui, Shimen, Tongxiang bridges along the river and across the river all had their inscriptions.
Yaoguang Xu set an example and corrected bureaucracy. In the "Ugly Official Sigh", the description of bad officials is:
Clever officials love Wei Lu, and sellers keep their word. Gold in the sleeve makes the boudoir strong in the middle of the night.
Moxibustion gestures are spicy, and plasters are fat. To reach the top of Tianjin, who dares to be wrong?
Good progress is also good retreat, goshawk flies empty. Seeing the sparrow from the side, I climbed the green.
Can't usurp the payment, General Kong. Once the autumn air clears up, it's like being hungry.
Spiritual practice is still a person, the grass has withered, and the old prestige has improved. Poor Geng Jie pheasant, avoid this opportunity first.
Civilization is a disaster, so you should wear splendid clothes. Since ancient times, the official has been so clumsy, the sea is vast and empty.
After ten years of management, "weeding and weeding, closing the wasteland and drying up." Seven city officials, Xianjiao. Where the Preface Academy belongs, the act of supporting the elderly and loving the poor will be revived and carried forward. People are rich in years, department stores have scales, farmers are in the wild, and business songs are in the city. "Yaoguang Xu has done a lot of practical things for the development of Jiaxing. In the 12th year of Tongzhi (1873), on October 20th, Yaoguang Xu's term of office expired, and he will report to the emperor in Beijing. According to Mr. Wu Yixian's record in Jiaxing County Records, "... our city is a scholar and its business trip is also famous. The pavilion was built on the left side of Nanhu Yanyu Building in advance. On June 3, Xiang helped the old and carried the young, built a road and climbed the iron, and extended it to the pavilion. As far as wine is concerned, Robb said: ... we little people are given by the government, and we are as close as fathers and brothers. How can we have the heart to leave the public for a day? Do not give up on my people. Who invited Yu Chao and borrowed Koujun? All the words are sad. If there are people who don't explain, the public will comfort me. I'll come to you. National stories, comprehensive newspaper politics. Lead to the end, and treat things as before. I set sail today, going back and forth for ten days. Do you want me to find you? So everyone said happily that since the public allowed me to come, the pavilion became unknown and its name was' Xu Lai'. I will lean against the pavilion every day, craning my neck and hoping that the public will come ... ". I've been in Lee for ten years, but I can't go to March ... Yuanyang has an appointment before leaving. It's the theme wall of Long song. "Both Li and Yuanyang mentioned Jiaxing in the poem. Acer truncatum is the ancient name of Jiaxing, and it is also a precious fruit of Jiaxing specialty with a long history. Yuanyang Lake is the Yuanyang Lake in Jiaxing, also known as South Lake. When they left the next day, Jiaxing elders lit silver candles, hung pearl lanterns and sent them to each other with floats.
Jiaxing people built "Xu Laiting" to commemorate his hard work and ten years in this city; Praise him for being fair and upright and doing things for the people; I hope he will go back to Jiaxing and treat things as before. I am deeply disturbed that Yaoguang Xu is so respected and loved. Leave a message, please build a "pavilion". "Pavilion" as "example" means "correct handling". It is a self-written book "The Inscription of the Pavilion", and the inscription is placed in the "Pavilion" in front of "Xu Laiting". Yue Ming:
"... this island is in the middle of the water. Immortality leads to eternal life. People with good intentions have been silent for a long time. A gentleman should learn from it, but indulge in it to keep healthy. This pavilion is spacious (tall and open) and has no fiber barrier (shelter). The sky is high (covered) and the moon sets (outside the beam). There is a wise man who can see everything. A gentleman should learn from it, cheat it and expand his knowledge. The lake under the pavilion seems to flow. Breathing in the stream, both ancient and modern. Those who are brave are constantly striving for self-improvement. A gentleman can learn from it and learn from it. Surrounded by pavilions and plants, spring glory and autumn Xie. Prosperity and wealth make Xie feel at ease. Those who are similar (those who understand things) have changed things. A gentleman should learn from it. Give up and hide. If you get it, you will drive. Sakazaki ancient stone is located in the east of the pavilion. Thin appearance cold (poor) gas, edge (edge) wind Some are like pure people, but they are different from ordinary people. A gentleman should learn from it and sharpen his honesty (cleanliness) and modesty (modesty) to show his loneliness (lofty state of mind). Open and close in the morning, and (deal with) yin and yang (the contradiction of things) in the pavilion. Rainy and sunny, the pavilion is soft and rigid. Cold comes and summer goes, and the gazebo is cold. ……"
The "Five Lessons" and "Three Pavilions" in the mirror are the epigrams that Yaoguang Xu used "Pavilions" to sum up lessons, take warning and treat the world correctly.
During the Tongzhi period, the Japanese began to invade China with the intention of occupying Taiwan Province Province and annexing Ryukyu. Zuo proposed to the court that officials with "strict conduct, diligence in prevention and control, commitment to public welfare and dare not relax" should be appointed as important military and political posts in Taiwan Province Province, and they should be transferred to Taiwan Province provinces and cities. COSCO (Governor) Ma Gong (? Shan) Zeng mian stayed in office. Yaoguang Xu sighed: "I was born weak, how dare I be a country of iron pillars and dragon balls?" Hu Lian even moved thousands of miles away, which made me look at Xianxia South. Therefore, when Yaoguang Xu reports to Beijing this time, the emperor may send him to Taiwan Province Province.
Yaoguang Xu went to Beijing by boat via Shanghai and Tianjin. On June 25th, I was told that it was raining, so I was ordered to reschedule. On the 29th, it was introduced at Yangxintang. On the first day of July, Emperor Tongzhi summoned Yaoguang Xu to Xige, hall of mental cultivation, and returned a council member (minister of military affairs) to ask about his life and local people's feelings. On the sixth day, I was introduced again On the eighth day, the emperor promised him to return to Jiaxing. Since ancient times, Yaoguang Xu has served as two Jiaxing prefects.
On the way to the north, Yaoguang Xu saw that Shanghai had become "prosperous and smart" after thirty years of foreign trade, and he felt that he should learn from the west. After returning to my post, I "listened to Fang Bo and Jiaxing Du Xiaofang talking about Catholicism and Westernization" and "made me see a Huo Ran from Huyuan in front". We have a positive attitude towards the Westernization Movement of "resisting aggression", "striving for self-improvement" and "seeking wealth", such as setting up a navigation and naval division in Fujian, setting up a machine bureau in Hangzhou, "studying according to the age of a scholar and establishing a sophisticated machine system in the armory". In order to prevent the "Taiwan province from suffering from the sun", Yaoguang Xu has built new batteries in Jiaxing Prefecture in Zhapu, Chen Shan and Changqiang Mountain in Ganpu. In the first year of Guangxu (1875), the road expansion from Jiaxing to Suzhou and Hangzhou was completely repaired, and Jiaxing's economy was developed and invigorated. South Lake, south of Jiaxing Fucheng and outside Chunbomen, is also called the three famous lakes in Zhejiang with West Lake in Hangzhou and East Lake in Shaoxing. The misty rain building on the island northeast of Nanhu Lake is surrounded by water, and Tsinghua, Shui Mu, is called Yingzhou Scenic Area.
During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period and the Tianfu period at the end of Jin Dynasty (around 940 AD), King Guangling of Wu Yue built terraces on the east bank of Nanhu Lake. In the third year of Xichun in the Southern Song Dynasty (1 175), Yuyan Building was built by the lake. In the 28th year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty (1549), Zhao Ying, the magistrate of Jiaxing, built a misty and rainy building facing south with dredged river mud on an island in the middle of the lake. In the tenth year of Wanli (1582), Gong Mian, the magistrate of Jiaxing, built the "Carving Aoji" in the south of Lounan; Extending the release pond to the north, it is called "the country of fish and music"; Also built the "Taishi Pavilion". In the second year of Qing Shunzhi (1646), Yuyanlou was destroyed in the anti-Qing struggle. Reconstruction in the 20th year of Kangxi (168 1). In the sixteenth year of Qianlong (175 1), before Emperor Qianlong's southern tour, the Yuyan Building was rebuilt, so that it faced south. In the tenth year of Xianfeng (1860), Yuyan Building was destroyed by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom War.
Yaoguang Xu is very concerned about historical sites. In the fourth year of Tongzhi (1865), I visited the former site of Yuyan Building in Nanhu and planted peaches and plums on the lake embankment, intending to rebuild Yuyan Building. Later, due to physical difficulties and worship of cymbals, it was impossible to rebuild. Create more than ten scenes around the construction site, decorate the scenery of South Lake, and achieve "replanting lotus and delaying egrets, and pre-planting willows as orioles".
In the sixth year of Tongzhi, Yaoguang Xu built a "qinghui Hall" on the pier of Yanyulou, facing the lake, with three trees. The plaque of "Six Dragons Used to Stay" says that the emperor used to stay here. He also wrote the poem "qinghui Hall was completed when visiting South Lake in early autumn".
Yaoguang Xu thought that "the earth is full of scenery" and "the question of the old cloud, there were eight scenes in the previous generation, and the flat chapter was not allowed, and the ambition was not contained". Then I took eight scenic spots in Jiaxing at that time and named them "Eight Scenes of South Lake". In the eighth year of Tongzhi, Yaoguang Xu wrote "Poems on Eight Scenes of South Lake": "The South Lake in Jiaxing, surrounded by numerous flowers and battlements, is also an ancient Olympic area. He Zhi only painted the misty rain on the first floor, and there were few Range Rover. ..... Yu Shoujia has been leaning on Kawahara for five years, and what is the purpose? There is a chance in his heart. It varies from lake to mountain, and there are eight scenic spots in South Lake, which also adds good words to poetry. " Yaoguang Xu's eight landscape poems are: misty rain in the South Lake, dawn in the East Tower, sunset in tea meditation, sailing in Bai Qing, spring mulberry in Wutang, autumn harvest in Hedun, bright moon in Jiuxi and snow in Bottle Mountain. A year later, Qin was asked to draw eight scenes of the South Lake and carve eight poems and eight pictures. In addition, a pavilion was built in the south of Yanyulou. On the platform of the former site of "Carving Aoji", a monument was built in the pavilion, named "Eight Odes Pavilion".
In eight years, the "Dashige" built three rooms, which were named "Yifang Lake" according to the sentence "No Penglai Island is a square pot" in the imperial poem. He also wrote "Build a square pot on the edge of Yuyan Building with poems on the wall". A poem says, "Where is Penglai? This is elusive. If you go to the lake, you can see Weizhou at your fingertips. "
In the 12th year, a perfume pavilion was built on the right side of Fang Yi pot beside the Qinghui Hall. On both sides of Yaoguang Xu is the same stone with the words "Fu" and "Shou" engraved on it.
In the same year, Yaoguang Xu won the original Mifei. Mi Fei, Su Shi, Huang Tingjian and Cai Xiang, four great calligraphers in Song Dynasty, once lived in Zhejiang. In the 13th year, the original tablet of Mi Fei was carved on the opposite side of the Ming tablet of Jianting, and the tablet was exposed outside the wall of Jianting, facing the Xu Lai Pavilion for public viewing.
In the first year of Guangxu (1875), Peng Xueqin "resigned to visit Zhongshan, Zhejiang". Peng Xueqin is Peng Yulin, a native of Hengyang, Hunan Province, a general of Xiang Army, and a minister of the Ministry of War. He is good at poetry, especially painting plum blossoms. Yaoguang Xu invited Peng Xueqin to swim in the South Lake and asked him to draw plums. Peng Xueqin painted plum blossoms vertically and horizontally on two stones and wrote poems. Appreciating Peng Xueqin's plum blossom paintings, I asked Zhong to carve a tablet. In the same year, Yaoguang Xu built "Baomei Pavilion" in the former site of "Ningbi Pavilion" on the right side of "Fang Yi Pot", and kept two stone tablets in the pavilion. He also wrote the poem "Built in Meiting" and stone carving notes.
Yaoguang Xu's favorite Yuan Dynasty painter Zhenwu (Jiashan)' s "Wind Bamboo Map" was copied by Tongzhi for six years, and then moved to Baomei Pavilion.
During his tenure in Jiaxing, Yaoguang Xu built many scenic spots on Yanyulou Island. The locals also built Xulaige and Jiantingge, and the monks rebuilt the Dashidian (Guanyin Pavilion). But in the end, it failed to rebuild Yu Yan Tower. After the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom War, the population of Jiaxing dropped from nearly 3 million before the war to less than 12 years of tongzhi 1 10,000. Rural land is barren and serious, and about half of the land is uncultivated. By the sixth year of Guangxu (1880), there were three or four wasteland.
On the eighth day of March of the same year, Governor Tan of Zhejiang sent Taoist Wang to Jiaxing to "check the shortage" and forcibly increase the grain levy. Except Yaoguang Xu and other local officials, provincial officials will not go to the countryside for investigation. From 16, Zhuang Shu (grain carrier) assembled in Hong Wen Pavilion, and all the main wasteland was requisitioned by criminal law, so that the ownerless wasteland was increased to cultivated land. As soon as the news came out, the villagers went to town, knelt down at the Hong Wen Pavilion and invited provincial officials to visit the wasteland in the countryside. Provincial officials came out to reprimand them, and their followers whipped them with whips. Some even threatened them with knives, arousing public anger. Suddenly, provincial officials were surrounded by villagers and left the south gate to explore the wasteland. Yaoguang Xu listened to the news, rode away and came back with provincial officials. Members of this province returned to the province overnight, claiming that they were beaten by villagers instigated by Liao Anzhi, the magistrate of xiushui county. The governor of Zhejiang immediately hit it, blaming the villagers, the village books and the county magistrate. And transferred eight hundred Chu troops, rushed to Jiaxing overnight to suppress and arrested dozens of people. After hearing about it, the Qing court issued a decree on April 16, ordering that "the first offender should be arrested and reported to the provincial authorities." If they dare to resist violations, they should be severely punished and set an example for them. "
In this case, Yaoguang Xu sympathized with the villagers, protected the people, investigated right and wrong, and safeguarded the people. In the process of replying to Zhejiang's letters and visits, Li Chen was badly handled by the provincial staff, which aroused the people's resistance. The blame was not on the people, so he urgently asked for a rest. Because he didn't follow the instructions of the governor and told the truth, he was listed for appointment in June 13. On July 23rd, Shanghai Shenbao published the news that Jia Shou was dismissed from office:
"Jiaxing Xu Xuemen observation, since the appointment, so far ten for seven years. The soldiers who came here just settled down, the people were depressed and the city was desolate. It is extremely difficult to deal with the aftermath. Satrap is vigorous and generous, never demanding and leisurely. Keep it first and then bury it. Gather residents and attract investment. Pity the poor and eliminate evil. Set up nurseries to protect young children, return to colleges and promote cultural education. At all these points, the county people have benefited widely, and those who feel virtuous are also deeply impressed. On March 25th, I knelt down for Jia Min Hong Wen Pavilion and begged for a whip to stir up trouble. On June 13, I was put on the list and appointed by another committee. ... 14 night, rumors kept secret, the county was crazy. Someone is knocking at the door. Stay if you want to go. The satrap said, "Don't be new and treat me. I admire it. My people have no fear. ".Think back, think and feel, feel and send it, which is too kind and cannot be forgotten. That is, in the west of Xiliqiao, the land of Dong Ze in Tea Temple, the pavilion is named Xu Gongting. Gaizhi's morality is immortal, and the people's hearts will not forget it. Unpack it on the 25th. ..... At the dawn of the third day in July, dozens of old people were delivering water to a jar and looking at the mirror. Join the company to contribute, saying that the mirror is hanging high and the ice is clear, praising morality and respecting the Constitution. After that, there were 50 Mongolian children in Yi school, who knelt down with schoolbags and incense. The prefect went out of the department, and the men and women in the nursing home had no eyes, and they also came to kneel and bid farewell. The streets in Shi Si are very crowded. From Xixian Bridge to North Pier, every household has a high supply of fragrant flowers and many colorful lanterns. There are more than ten people eager to climb the iron on their foreheads. As far as Beiwu Temple is concerned, there are old people who offer wine, take off their boots and shed tears. The satrap has a sore nose, too. Please disembark. At that time, the gentry prepared two big floats, and the gentry sent them by boat, more than one hundred. Look at the ships moored in four or five miles on both sides of the strait. There are thousands of ships, and towns are one of them. The ships arrive at Xugong Pavilion. ..... At that time, the gentry took a float into the Taishou to drink, and the villagers along the pond knelt down and made incense. On this day, dozens of villages were all transferred to Xiushui. That night, the old monk knelt down at Benjue Temple in Wanshou Mountain with incense ... The next day, the gentry politely sent them to the disciple's door to say goodbye. After Shimen Bay in the afternoon, the flowers are still overflowing. Alas, it's a hundred miles from the city, not close. Inspired by the wind, it is good to see the sky; Not because the people are affectionate, but because of this ... "
At that time, Jiaxing started from the "famine investigation", and the major civil unrest shocked all parties. Shanghai Shenbao has published more than 20 related editorials, manuscripts and news articles since it published the news of Jiaxing's "famine seeking chaos" on March 28th. For example, about the case of the Jiashi villagers' resistance to exploration and wasteland reclamation, about the mutiny in Hangzhou, about the people's feelings in Hangjiahu County, about Gong Luyu, about Liao An's mission to Jiaxing County, about Jiaxing House, and about Fu Zhefu and Tan Zhongcheng's mission to Jiaxing House. The article criticizes Zhejiang authorities and sympathizes with Zhejiang villagers.
On July 25th, Shen Bao published an editorial "After Shu Jiashou's Dismissal from Office", calling Yaoguang Xu one of the few virtuous satrap in modern times. The editorial said:
"... near the satrap, such as tan, in suzhou at the beginning, ZongJun in ningbo, its most also. However, there are also cases of coexistence. Twenty years in Jiaxing, Xujun, Renhe. The reason why the record of dismissing an official recorded in "Yesterday's View" is well-known and won the hearts of the people is that when he was an official, he was familiar with all kinds of local diseases and the people's feelings were ups and downs, so he was tried. In other words, this time, because of the investigation of the wasteland case, the villagers made trouble and insulted the Constitutional Commission. Not suitable for cosco, obviously you are in a hurry to ask for leave. That is, on the day of the accident, the Committee members cried and accused the county magistrate. The satrap sets an example and cannot but observe. But euphemistic words don't hurt, without adding whether or not. There is no need to investigate the facts one by one and do nothing. In Zhong Cheng's anger, if the committee members cry their words, and give priority to their ancestors, then the American people will really be restored, and the grievances will not be delayed. This matter is the most serious, but it can also be untrue. Its usual dedication to civil affairs, Xu aside to see it ... "
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the magistrate retired to the ranks of local officials, and everything had to be inherited by superiors. Bad habits in officialdom, everything follows the rules and everything is shirking. However, Yaoguang Xu is an official, and the local government should be responsible for this. Although college teachers are jealous of talents, it's nothing. Therefore, his political achievements are outstanding and supported by the people.
In the seventh year of Guangxu (188 1), he was transferred to the governor of Zhejiang. Later, out of public opinion and sentiment, Yaoguang Xu was appointed as the magistrate of Jiaxing. The elders in Jiaxing built the "Xu Gong San Zhi Ge" on the expansion of the Three Pagodas, and a pair of "tide boots" that Yaoguang Xu took off from Jiaxing before boarding the ship were placed in the box in the hall niche. But Yaoguang Xu still lives in the Youth Gate in the west corner of Caishi Bridge, and Marceau Lane's home is "Changyuan".