Office Politics 101: The Queue Cutting Case in Qing Dynasty

The Witchcraft Case in Qing Dynasty

In 1768, Qianlong Emperor received a report from Shandong's Funi Canton. Many cases of queue cutting were occurring, perhaps incited by someone.

Qianlong immediately became alert. The braid was easily related to the rule of the Manchus. If rumors like this were being spread, it must be organized with premeditation.

Because of his valued attention, the governors below all personally took charge of this matter. However, since Funi Chan's report was an action to understand their thinking, the governors could not find the leader of this bandits despite their efforts.

Qianlong was very angry. He believed that his subordinates were deceiving him. In fact, subordinates had a whole set of deceptive methods. Let us take a few examples.

Advice from officials

Governor of Liangjiang, Gao Jin, saw through the case, and suggested registering all the monks and Taoists across the whole country.

Another suggestion came from the Zhejiang Censor was to check exit permits for monks and Taoists.

The Nanjing Provincial Administration was even more exaggerated, suggesting that it be rectified and checks made on every person in Nanjing.

Qianlong's Reaction

Qianlong's criticism was stern, saying, "Empty talk!"

Qianlong actually understood that these bureaucrats were accustomed to shirking responsibility. They could not solve the case, so they used some simple things to stall, pretending to be busy, like rectifying and registering monks and Taoists- these were familiar, safe, and easy daily tasks.

Bureaucratic thinking always converts all problems into administrative problems.

How to distinguish bureaucrats in the office?

There is nothing new under the sun. If you observe that your superior or subordinate values administration more than the business, there are two possibilities- firstly, the work cannot be carried out, and secondly, they are bureaucratic talents.

The Conclusion of the Witchcraft Case

Ultimately, all kinds of evidence showed that there was no major cross-provincial case involving Queue Cutting as Sound. However, Qianlong was already under the prestige of the monarch and the face of the dynasty. Qianlong began to complain about the testimony provided, saying "absurd," "floaty shadows," "real crimes could never be discovered, how can we solve important cases?" "If the clarification presents innocents, we must quickly release them." Finally, he awkwardly announced "this case no longer needs investigation."

Funi Chan, the initiator and liar, received Qianlong's stern criticism: "Although the handling of cases in the eastern provinces had some improper behavior, it's not fair to blame you for it. Since you were under strict orders, whoever would have acted otherwise. But this framing and torture is not the right way."

Those local officials who had failed to handle the case were handed over to the Ministry of Personnel for strict punishment, "to strictly discipline and correct discipline."

So now you know what to do, right?

Kong Rong wrote to Cao Cao: "When King Wu attacked King Zhou, he gave Daji to Duke Zhou." Cao Cao did not understand and later asked for a source. Kong Rong replied, "I merely guessed it to be so." This is about Cao Pi taking someone else's wife.