Failure Lessons: Ten Commandments for Understanding Hu Xueyan's Downfall

Author: Shangguan Hongjun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: The officialdom was the primary target of Hu Xueyuan's "public relations." As long as something was connected to officials, whether they were () or in office, Hu Xueyuan would work tirelessly without hesitation. Wang Kangnian's Selected Records of Humor and Wisdoms: "Hu later worked as an accountant for a money exchange. There was a Li Zhongcheng who was () for a certain official position and was struggling and unsuccessful. One day, he visited the store, and the others treated him with indifference, but Hu was exceptionally warm and generous, even lending him private funds. Li was deeply moved and wanted to repay him. When Hu later rose to prominence and became the governor of Zhejiang, as soon as he took office, he issued an edict to all counties: 'All grain and salary payments must be remitted through Hu's exchange; otherwise, they will not be accepted.' The officials subtly understood the reason and thus entrusted all grain and salary payments to Hu. As a result, Hu became wealthy." This is likely a detailed account of Hu Xueyuan's support for Wang Youling. While others looked at Wang with disdain, Hu Xueyuan responded with warmth and generosity, lending him private funds, demonstrating considerable political foresight. On Wang Youling's side, encountering Hu was like finding sweet rain in a drought. He never forgot Hu's "insight in recognizing talented individuals." Later, Wang Youling was promoted to prefectural magistrate for his contributions to the grain bureau and was soon appointed to Hangzhou. Within a few years, he became the governor of Zhejiang, and Hu Xueyuan's earlier investments in goodwill paid off in countless ways, earning him the reputation of the "Great () of Southeast."
As dedicated as Hu Xueyuan was to () officials, he was even more so in cultivating connections with officials in office. He also understood how to tailor his approach to different people. When Hu first met Zuo Zongtang, Hangzhou had already been captured by the Taiping Army. At the time, public opinion in Zhejiang accused Hu of being disloyal and unrighteous, abandoning his close friend Wang Youling to save himself, all for personal gain. Some even claimed he embezzled public funds while secretly leaving Hangzhou to purchase grain and salary in Shanghai. At the time, Zuo Zongtang had recently taken over as governor of Zhejiang after Wang Youling's suicide following the loss of the city. Upon hearing the rumors, he developed a strong dislike for Hu and even "wanted to bring him to justice." However, Hu Xueyuan, with his () shrewdness, recognized that a Han scholar like Zuo Zongtang, who had been specially appointed to serve in the Qing court, needed the support of all parties to achieve lasting glory and fame. Therefore, after entering Zhejiang, Hu raised 100,000 shi (a unit of grain measurement) of grain within three days, which undoubtedly brought timely relief and successfully demonstrated his capabilities to Zuo Zongtang, turning the situation from passive to active. Later, Hu assisted Zuo Zongtang in managing foreign affairs, served as the grain bureau manager for the Western Expedition, and raised funds to purchase weapons. He performed exceptionally in every task, earning Zuo Zongtang's praise as someone "though from the merchant class, possessed the spirit of a ()," and as an "extraordinary man among merchants," solidifying his position as a trusted right-hand man in Zuo's mind.
In addition to cultivating connections with Wang Youling and Zuo Zongtang, Hu Xueyuan also built relationships with high-ranking officials in the capital, such as Yi Xin and Wen Yu, through his money exchange business. Of course, having more friends meant more opportunities. Hu Xueyuan also made great efforts to win over lower-ranking officials, clerks, and scholars. Li Ciming's Diary of the Yue Mountain Studio describes him as: "At the time, he often offered small profits to tempt the scholars of Hangzhou. The scholars of Hangzhou revered him as their father, with even academicians referring to him as their mentor." Hu's great-grandson Hu Yaguang, in Reminiscences of Anping, records: "A high-ranking official, General Wang, presented a screen worth over a thousand taels to him. While placing it in the hall, a servant accidentally broke it. All the guests were shocked, but he remained composed and even went out of his way to comfort the servant." This story speaks of his great-grandfather's kindness to others. However, from this historical record, we can learn that Hu Xueyuan had exchanges of gifts with officials of the rank of military commanders, and the (), the (), often became his honored guests.