Page:Eminent Chinese Of The Ch’ing Period - Hummel - 1943 - Vol. 1.pdf/486

 tsu a memorial, concealed in a wax ball and carried by a trusted servant, in which he reported that the Manchu army might easily invade Fukien by way of T'ing-chou-fu. The plan was never utilized but the memorial made a deep impression on Emperor Shêng-tsu who thereafter regarded Li as thoroughly loyal. When recovered Fukien (1676) and Kêng surrendered, Li went to Foochow where he learned that he had been raised to a reader of the Hanlin Academy (1677). He was about to set out for Peking when the death of his father made it necessary to observe a period of mourning. During that time the forces of made inroads on southern Fukien, but Li sent (1678) relatives of his to guide by little known trails the Manchu armies in the recovery of that region. When the region was pacified he was rewarded with the rank of a sub-chancellor of the Grand Secretariat and went to Peking with his mother in 1680 to assume the post. A year later, when the emperor inquired about affairs in Formosa, which was still held by Chêng Ch'êng-kung, Li advised the emperor to subjugate the island, recommending as the man to undertake it.

Early in 1682 the trial of Kêng Ching-chung and his followers took place and Ch'ên Mêng-lei, like them, was held for treason. Li Kuang-ti made no overt efforts to help Ch'ên and consequently their friendship was severed. Ch'ên maintained that the "memorial hidden in wax" was not the work of Li alone, but was drafted by himself and Li in collaboration. Though Kêng and other rebels were executed, Ch'ên was sentenced only to exile—saved, it is said, from a more severe fate by a secret memorial from Li begging leniency. Be that as it may, the two were never reconciled.

In June 1682 Li Kuang-ti was granted leave to accompany his mother back to Fukien. After remaining there four years, he returned to Peking and was granted several audiences. The emperor was still convinced of Li's loyalty and ability, especially since Shih Lang, whom Li had recommended, succeeded in conquering Formosa (1683). Li was appointed to a high office of Chancellor of the Hanlin Academy, but finding himself the target of jealous officials, he again asked for leave. At home scarcely a year, it was incumbent on him to return to Peking in 1688 to mourn the death of Empress. About this time several officials whom he had recommended as able administrators or as good writers were convicted on various charges. Li was reprimanded for these errors of judgment, but was pardoned despite the activities of his enemies, especially, to have him discredited.

Early in 1690 Li Kuang-ti was made junior vice-president of the Board of War and early in 1694 was given the concurrent post of director of education in Chihli. In April 1694 he was informed of his mother's death and asked for the usual leave for mourning. This was granted but he was ordered to observe the mourning in Peking. Many rumors were afloat as to why Li did not return to his home on this occasion, but for not doing so he was often accused of thinking more of his rank as an official than of the obligations of filial piety. These accusations dealt a severe blow to his aspirations to be known as a true follower of the Sung philosophers whose doctrines were much in vogue and were sponsored by Emperor Shêng-tsu. During the period of mourning Li Kuang-ti edited several works of Chu Hsi and the Ch'êng brothers (see under ), possibly to prove that he was still a loyal adherent of the Sung school.

After the mourning period, Li Kuang-ti was again appointed director of education of Chihli (1696–98) and in 1697 was concurrently made a vice-president of the Board of Works. Early in 1699 he was appointed governor of Chihli, a post he held until late in 1705. In the meantime he was given the concurrent post of president of the Board of Civil Appointments (1703–05). Late in 1705 he was made a Grand Secretary, in which capacity he served until his death in 1718. During this last term in office he headed several commissions for the official compilation of works expounding the Sung philosophy, namely: the complete works of Chu Hsi, 朱子全書 Chu-tzŭ ch'üan-shu, 66 chüan, the emperor's preface dated 1713, printed in 1714; annotations to the Book of Changes, 周易折中 Chou-I chê-chung, 22 chüan, printed in 1715; and a synthesis of the doctrines of the Neo-Confucian school, entitled 性理精義 Hsing-li ching-i, 12 chüan, printed in 1715, the emperor adding a preface dated 1717. Li Kuang-ti was known as having mastered the Book of Changes and was often asked by Emperor Shêng-tsu to explain that Classic to him. On one occasion. however, the emperor remarked that Li's interpretation left him in the dark. On another occasion the emperor requested Li to use the principles of that Classic to predict the outcome of a battle. When the prediction indicated a 474