Ruyi's Rebirth: Ruyi's Disease Retreat Retreat

Chapter 213: Water Control Achievements; Making Good Use of Talents

In order to make water management in Yunnan Province more efficient and stable, the imperial court agreed to the arrangement proposed by Ortai, "all officials in charge of water conservancy in the province, such as Tongzhi, Tongpan, Zhoutong, Zhoupan, Jingli, Limu, Xiancheng, Dianshi, etc., will be given water conservancy titles."

Although this move did not establish a dedicated position for water conservancy officials, the establishment of a system in which local deputy officials serve as the highest water conservancy administrative chiefs in various places greatly increased the attention paid to water conservancy by local officials, thereby enhancing their sense of responsibility and mission in water management.

In terms of personnel, it laid a good foundation for local water management and effectively developed the water management capabilities and agricultural productivity in Yunnan's ethnic minority areas.

The construction of the above two systems both reflect Ortai’s rational thinking of promoting water conservancy through systems.

In the early and middle Qing Dynasty, officials who attached great importance to water conservancy and used scientific methods to control water were rare.

Especially in the remote minority areas in the southwest, the economic and human resources for water control are far inferior to those in the Central Plains, Jiangnan and other places.

Ortai was a politician and a close minister of Yongzheng. He often discussed with Yongzheng the way to employ people, emphasizing the importance of valuing talent over mediocre ones, and preferring to employ talented but unworthy people rather than virtuous but untalented ones.

In his memorial dated August 6, the fourth year of the Yongzheng reign, Ortai emphasized the importance of employing people properly, saying: "Political matters may be urgent, difficult, or easy; people may have strengths and weaknesses, and strengths and weaknesses. If you employ people inappropriately to their abilities, even capable people will find it difficult to be effective, and even virtuous people may lead to mistakes. If you employ people appropriately to their abilities, even mediocre people can be effective, and even unworthy people can often be helpful.

According to talent, location, matter and time, no one will be abandoned in the official position and no matter what is done is wasted.

Ortai also said: "You can't be confused about big things, but you can be confused about small things. If you are not confused about small things, you will definitely be confused about big things."

"Those who are honest, sincere, and yet lack any talent are trustworthy but cannot be employed. Those who are intelligent and capable but act beyond their means are employable but cannot be trusted. As long as they can get things done, they are all employable, and even those of humble character should be cherished and taught. However, those who cannot get things done are all useless, and even those of good character should be removed."

He stressed that people must be employed appropriately, and the right people should be used for the right positions and tasks. Only when people and positions match can their talents be brought into play and things can be done well.

He believed that the appointment of officials should be suitable for their positions, and the ultimate goal was to get things done well - "no government wastes time", and the country can be governed well. This was his starting point for considering personnel issues.

During the reform of the land-based system, he promoted and employed people like Ha Yuansheng and Zhang Guangsi, making them important figures in carrying out the reform.

Based on his understanding of his subordinates, Ortai promoted a group of people and impeached some people, basically knowing people and assigning them to the right positions.

Ortai's flattery of Emperor Yongzheng was further reflected in his unwillingness to help Emperor Yongzheng create auspicious signs.

Emperor Yongzheng believed in auspicious signs, and Ortai catered to his wishes, always reporting auspicious signs to please Emperor Yongzheng.

He frequently reported the appearance of such places as Jiahe, Ruihe, Qingyun and Liquan in Yunnan and Guizhou.

In December of the sixth year of Yongzheng's reign, Ortai reported: On the day of the Wanshou Festival, "five-colored clouds, shining brightly holding the sun" appeared in the four prefectures and three counties of Yunnan, and the next day "the scenery was more gorgeous than usual."

In the seventh year of Yongzheng's reign, in the intercalary seventh month, Ortai reported again that auspicious clouds appeared seven times in succession in Sizhou and Guzhou, Guizhou Province within a month.

Some officials disapproved of Ortai's flattery. For example, Liu, the magistrate of Dali County, said, "Why can't I see Qingyun? Is there sand in my eyes?"

Emperor Yongzheng was very dissatisfied with these officials who made sarcastic remarks. He said that governors-general like Ortai reported auspicious signs out of their strong love for the emperor.

In order to support Ortai, Emperor Yongzheng promoted the officials of Yunnan and Guizhou by giving them a report on Qingyun. For example, Ortai was promoted from the first-class light cavalry captain to the third-class baron, and the Yunnan governor Hao Yulin was promoted from the Yunqiwei to the cavalry captain. Other governors, governors-general, and generals were promoted by two levels, and county magistrates and captains and above were promoted by one level.

It can be seen that Ortai’s report of “Qingyun” was unusual.

When Ortai reported "Qingyun", Zeng Jing's letter-surrendering case had just occurred.