Page:Eminent Chinese Of The Ch’ing Period - Hummel - 1943 - Vol. 1.pdf/573

 alty for interference in court politics. In that year Yin-jêng, the heir-apparent, was deprived of his status, and a conference of high officials was called to recommend one of the emperor's other sons. Much to the disgust of the emperor, the conference unanimously recommended. Maci had been warned by the emperor to stay away from the conference, but it is said that he secretly divulged his preference for Yin-ssŭ before the members conferred. Sensing a plot to put Yin-ssŭ on the throne, the emperor took occasion early in the following year, to rebuke Maci for his share in the affair. When Maci showed impatience, and angrily left the court, the emperor was infuriated and ordered the arrest of his entire family, not even sparing Mawu (see under ) and Li-jung-pao, his brothers. Maci was tried before the emperor for improper conduct and was sentenced to death, but was granted a special pardon. He was delivered to the home of Yin-ssŭ to be there confined under the surveillance of his host, it being a practice of the time to entrust a criminal to a prince and co-plotter—in case the one escaped the other was held responsible. All the members of Maci's family who held offices were discharged. In addition to other posts, Maci was deprived of his captaincy of the company of Russians and their descendants (see under ) who lived in Peking. This company had had, since 1683, two Russian captains: the Russian who surrendered in 1648 and his son. After the death of the latter Maci was placed in command of this company, perhaps because he was concurrently in charge of dealings with the Russian merchant-caravan which after 1698 had the privilege of trading every two or three years in Peking at a large compound known as the Russian Hostel (俄羅斯館 Ê-lo-ssŭ kuan). Early in 1710 such a Russian caravan arrived in Peking and, because of his familiarity with Russian affairs, Maci was freed and again placed in charge of the caravan trade. In 1712 he was made an acting minister of the Imperial Household, and the two hereditary captaincies held by himself and his brother, Mawu, were restored to them. In 1716 Maci was again made a Grand Secretary and concurrently placed in command of the company of Russians. This captaincy remained in the family for many years (see under ).

Having assisted Emperor Shih-tsung to ascend the throne (see under ), Maci was rewarded with the hereditary rank of Ch'ing-ch'ê tu-yü of the first class and, as he also inherited the rank of baron (see under ), the combined ranks were changed to an earldom of the second class. In 1725 he was praised for his loyalty and diligence and rewarded with the minor rank of a Ch'i-tu-yü which was inherited by his eleventh son, Fu-liang 富良. Maci retired in 1735 because of old age, and died four years later, receiving the posthumous title Wên-mu 文穆. His twelfth and youngest son, Fu-hsing 富興, succeeded to the earldom of the second class which, however, was taken from him in 1748 and given to Fu-liang. The latter's rank was then raised to earl of the first class to which in 1750 was added the appellation, Tun-hui 敦惠.

Although Maci was repeatedly rewarded by the Manchu Court for his "loyalty", he is referred to in Russian accounts as having been paid 1,000 roubles by the Russian envoy, Savva Lukich-Vladīslavīch (d. 1738), to enable the latter to conclude successfully the Treaty of Kiakhta in 1727. It may be added that the French missionary, Dominique Parrenin 巴多明 (1665–1741), who acted as interpreter, is reported in the same account to have received 100 roubles (see under ).

[1/293/2a; 3/9/36a; 34/140/9b; 34/2/29a; 34/3/11a;, Shuo-fang pei-shêng, chüan 47; Cahen, Gaston, Histoire des Relations de la Russie avec la Chine sous Pierre le Grand, pp. 215, and LXI–LXV.]

2em

MAN Kuei 滿桂, d. 1630, Jan. 29, Ming general, was born a Mongol. He came to China in early life and made his home in Hsüan-hua, Chihli, where he took great delight in the border warfare that went on about him. He was serving as second captain in a garrison along the Great Wall when the defeat of by the Manchus in 1619 awakened China to a realization of the menace from the northeast. Transferred to the Shanhaikuan region, he was rapidly promoted to major and then to lieutenant colonel. In 1622 he attracted the attention of, was promoted to colonel at headquarters, and in the following year was put in charge of defensive operations at Ning-yüan. After driving away certain Mongol tribes who were occupying the region of Ta-ling-ho he was promoted to the rank of brigade general. Together with Sun's successor,, he repulsed, early in 1626, the Manchu attack on Ning-yüan, but was recalled shortly after. Before the end of the year he was stationed at Shanhaikuan. While bringing relief 561