A Gui (17 17 ~ 1797), surnamed Zhang Jiashi, was originally from Zhenglan Banner in Manchuria, and later turned to Zhengbai Banner. In his later years, he became an official for a college student. The evaluation of A Gui in the Draft of Qing History is: "During the Qianlong period, (he) was open and honest, made a decision before moving, and shouldered the heavy responsibility of a scholar; As reliable as a graphical user interface. I also led the parliament, and I decided to make a plan. I am far-sighted, which is beyond the reach of ministers at the same time. " He is one of the few important officials in Qianlong dynasty who will enter the phase.
Twenty years after Qianlong (1755), A Gui was 38 years old. In his prime, he participated in the Qing government's war to pacify the rebellion in Junggar and Hezhuo and unify Xinjiang as a counselor. During the war, A Gui paid great attention to the production situation in various parts of Xinjiang. So, as soon as the war ended (1759), A Gui proposed to the Qing government that Uighur farmers and some local soldiers should be transferred from all parts of southern Xinjiang to Yili to resume agricultural production, and immediately made preparations in this regard.
After the Qing government approved his proposal, in the spring of the 25th year of Qianlong (1760), A Gui led soldiers and civilians of all ethnic groups, braved the snowstorm, crossed Musuer Bingdaban in Tianshan Mountain, and arrived in Yili from Aksu, sowing the first seed in the warm spring.
Yili is a beautiful and rich treasure in the northwest frontier of China. The branches of Tianshan Mountain, Mount Tawu in Jelke and Mount Nu in Borocco, stand tall like two barriers, which not only weakens the invasion of Siberian cold wave, but also prevents the harm of dry and hot wind in Taklimakan Desert. The Ili River and its upstream Kashi River, Gongnaisi River and Tex River run day and night. With mild climate, abundant rainfall and fertile land, it is an ideal place to develop agricultural production. However, due to the destruction of long-term war, Ili, which was ruled by the Qing Dynasty in the early days of Xinjiang, became a wilderness with few people and wild animals, and all production was at a standstill. In order to consolidate the rule in Xinjiang and maintain the security of the northwest frontier, the Qing government decided to build a city here to guard the border. To achieve this goal, we must first solve the problem of feeding the military and civilians. Ili is far away from the mainland and is cut off by the high mountains and Gobi. Of course, it is hopeless to transport grain from the mainland. Only land reclamation in the local area is the only way out. Gui shoulders the important mission of completing this work.
After A Gui led the soldiers and civilians of all ethnic groups to Ili, he seized the spring sowing season, cultivated land in Henuk and other places in Yili, Henan Province, and built houses and foundations at the same time, which quickly achieved results; Then, organize the military and civilians to dig ditches and build roads to prepare for further resumption of production. Thanks to Agui's organization and the efforts of soldiers and civilians of all ethnic groups, the reclamation in Yili was fruitful that year. Only 300 Uighur farmers have reclaimed the land. "The grain and stones they collected, the officers and men stationed before and after, and more than 2,000 Erut (Mongolian) and Hui (Uygur) people will last until May next year", which has solved the food problem of local soldiers and civilians at once.
After receiving the above report from A Gui, the Qing government was greatly encouraged and decided to expand the Yili reclamation area. In the spring of the 26th year of Qianlong (176 1), 500 people from green camp in Urumqi and 800 Uighur farmers from southern Xinjiang arrived in Yili. A Gui put these soldiers and civilians on both sides of the Ili River and immediately began to reclaim land and sow seeds. This autumn harvest, 800 Uighur farmers "each got a good harvest of 40 stones", and green camp people "cultivated 8,000 mu of land and harvested 27 100 stone barley, millet, millet and highland barley", which was another bumper harvest.
Later, A Gui served as general of Yili twice in the 29th year of Qianlong (1764) and the 32nd year of Qianlong (1767). At the same time, the president strengthened military and political affairs and actively prepared to reclaim Ili. During this period, the cultivated land in Yili mainly took the following forms: First, a large number of Uighur farmers constantly migrated from cities in southern Xinjiang to cultivated land in Yili. According to "A Brief Introduction to Xinjiang", "from twenty-seven years (1762) to thirty-two years (1767), a total of six thousand households were allocated to cultivate mu in Wushi, Yeerqiang, Hotan, Hami and Turpan". A large number of Uyghur farmers have reclaimed land and settled down in places such as Hojigir (Hojigen), Hainuke, Qitemu, Gurza (Yining City), Chahanwusu and Horgos on both sides of the Ili River. The grain they produce, except for their own consumption, is turned over to the authorities every year in the name of grain tax, which has become the main source of food supply for the military and civilians in Yili.
Second, continue to expand the area of soldiers' land reclamation. The number of green camp people transferred by the Qing government from the mainland to the Ili wasteland soon reached 2,500. A Gui divided the station troops into 25 villages, each with 100 people, and placed them in Suiding, Qingshuihe and Lucaogou (all in Horgos County) respectively, under the jurisdiction of 1 company commander. According to the regulations, each soldier will be provided with farm tools and farm animals for 20 weeks, and the annual food payment varies from 1800 to 2,800 stones. Later, the Qing government sent a large number of mainland prisoners to Yili for farming and handed them over to the garrison soldiers. Each person cultivates 12 mu and pays 6 stones a year. This is another important source of military and civilian food in Yili.
Third, the land-lost peasants in the mainland moved to Ili to farm. For mainland farmers who go to Yili to farm, the authorities "give 30 mu of land to each household" and provide farm tools, farm animals and seeds. So that they can work with peace of mind. Returning to the field after six years, the annual grain return is about 9 liters. We will also distribute the land to the families of soldiers sent to wasteland, and try our best to include them in the people's register and work with peace of mind.
In addition, Agui also made proper arrangements for Xibe, Suolong and other ethnic soldiers and civilians who moved to Yili during this period, so that they stayed on the defensive and cultivated land for production. These eight banners soldiers and civilians overcame many difficulties, reclaimed a large area of land, and soon achieved food self-sufficiency.
In short, under the leadership of A Gui and others, and with the joint efforts of the military and civilians of all ethnic groups, the reclamation in Yili has made remarkable achievements. The once desolate Ili Valley has become a granary, full of fertile fields, smoke curling up and chickens crowing livestock.
In the forty-seventh year of Qianlong (1782), according to the report of Iletu, the general of Yili, to the Qing government, the grain in the warehouse reached "more than 500 million mangokus" and "enough to last for more than three years" due to the bumper harvest in successive years, and Chen Xiangyin was responsible for mildew. The solution of the grain problem laid the foundation for the economic development of Yili, and the local animal husbandry and commerce also developed accordingly. The nine cities of Yili have also been built one after another, becoming the main stronghold of Yili military and civilians guarding the northwest frontier.
Ili, which is "inland, take Wan Li Road", has experienced unprecedented social stability and prosperity. In the task of building Ili into a political and military center in Xinjiang and a strong fortress against foreign aggression, A Gui is undoubtedly a "lesson from the past".