but he actually planned to distribute foreign troops in China;the Foreign Powers could help to manufacture machines,but his plot was to put foreigners in China;and trains and rails are the best way to deliver these around China...If we sanction his proposal,foreigners could control the court and sabotage China.13 On23May1866 Guanwen(官文)14 On30July1866 Reilin(瑞麟)ls 13 Ma Xinyi(馬新貽)，奉陳洋人呈遞局外旁親論新議論略之用意並陳自強之策(Hart's Purpose of the Bystander's View and How to Self-Strengthen),27 November 1866.Quoted in Jindai zhongguo dui a美n实皮然2备見.73-74 15 Reilin,奏陳讀局外旁觀論及新議論略後疏陳自強之道，85-89. 6
6 but he actually planned to distribute foreign troops in China; the Foreign Powers could help to manufacture machines, but his plot was to put foreigners in China; and trains and rails are the best way to deliver these around China… If we sanction his proposal, foreigners could control the court and sabotage China.13 On 23 May 1866 Guanwen (官文) 14 On 30 July 1866 Reilin (瑞麟) 15 13 Ma Xinyi (馬新貽), 奉陳洋人呈遞局外旁觀論新議論略之用意並陳自強之策 (Hart’s Purpose of the Bystander’s View and How to Self-Strengthen), 27 November 1866. Quoted in Jindai zhongguo dui xifang ji lieqian renshi ziliao huibian, vol. 2.2, 687-92. 14 Guanwen, 奏陳對於局外旁觀論及新議論略之意見, 73-74. 15 Reilin, 奏陳讀局外旁觀論及新議論略後疏陳自強之道, 85-89
全文16 (一)矮人立於長人肩上’所見必遠於長人。廬山真面，惟在山外者得見其 全。旁觀敢抒所見，或效一得之愚。 A dwarf who stands on a giant can see further than the giant.The whole picture of the Lu mountain can only be perceived by a person who stands outside of the mountain.The viewpoint of a bystander who dares to express his opinions,sometimes, might be insightful because as an idiot can be correct if he guesses one thousand times. (一)立事必察真實·始能扼要·以虛為實，所議浮夸；以實為虛·所見無 確，况事之情與日變遷，勸行之道，貴因乎時。惟望當局者採聽焉。 The implementation of all affairs must be based on an understanding of truth in order to address essential issues.If falseness is considered as truth,opinions will be superficial and exaggerated;if truth is considered as falseness,the perception will be incorrect.Operations of all affairs change daily so the value of the way to convince people is to change daily as well.The authorities,hopefully,can adopt what they will hear. (一)立論貴乎實，自有記载以來·歷數千年，莫古於中國。而由四海各國 觀之·竟莫弱於中國。自古不通之外國·近數十年渐漸與中國往來。拒絕不得， 不此之計”立言施行，果何主哉。 Valuable arguments have to be based on truth.In all historical records,the Middle Kingdom is the most ancient country for thousands of years.However,from 16 Quoted from IWSM Tongzhi vol.40,10-38. 1
7 全文16 （一）矮人立於長人肩上，所見必遠於長人。廬山真面，惟在山外者得見其 全。旁觀敢抒所見，或效一得之愚。 A dwarf who stands on a giant can see further than the giant. The whole picture of the Lu mountain can only be perceived by a person who stands outside of the mountain. The viewpoint of a bystander who dares to express his opinions, sometimes, might be insightful because as an idiot can be correct if he guesses one thousand times.（一）立事必察真實，始能扼要，以虛為實，所議浮夸；以實為虛，所見無 確，況事之情與日變遷，勸行之道，貴因乎時。惟望當局者採聽焉。 The implementation of all affairs must be based on an understanding of truth in order to address essential issues. If falseness is considered as truth, opinions will be superficial and exaggerated; if truth is considered as falseness, the perception will be incorrect. Operations of all affairs change daily so the value of the way to convince people is to change daily as well. The authorities, hopefully, can adopt what they will hear.（一）立論貴乎實，自有記載以來，歷數千年，莫古於中國。而由四海各國 觀之，竟莫弱於中國。自古不通之外國，近數十年漸漸與中國往來。拒絕不得， 不此之計，立言施行，果何主哉。 Valuable arguments have to be based on truth. In all historical records, the Middle Kingdom is the most ancient country for thousands of years. However, from 16 Quoted from IWSM Tongzhi vol. 40, 10-38
in the points of view of all countries in the world,no one is weaker than the Middle Kingdom.Although they were isolated from the Middle Kingdom previously,all foreign countries started to have communications with the Middle Kingdom in the past few decades.拒絕不得，不此之計，立言施行，果何主哉。 (一)中華情事一日內情，一日外情。今日之外情，係由前日之內情所致， 而日後内情，亦必由外情所變。 The Chinese affairs consist of two parts:internal affair and external affairs.Past internal affairs result in current external affairs,and current external affairs will lead to internal affairs in the future. (一)內情局外難言·止可則傳。如律例本極允當·而用法多屬因循。制度 本極精詳，而日久盡為虚器。外省臣工，不能久於其任，以致盡職者少，营私者 多。寄耳目於非人，而舉劾未當，供貪婪於戚友，而民怨弗聞。在京大小臣工· 名望公正者，苦於管轄甚多，分內職分，反無講求之暇，部員任吏胥操權，以費 之有無定准駮，使外官清廉者必被駮飭·如是而欲民生安業，豈可得耶？各省等 劃款項，動逾萬萬，而兵丁欠的’竟致累月經年。兵勇之數，動稱千百萬’按名 排點，實屬老弱愚蠢’充數一成而已。平日挑抬营生，未經訓練’一旦令其戰陣， 實驅市人而使鬥，以刀矛為耒粗，駐防人等，平時拉弓舉石，祇講架式，股肱怠 惰，止得養烏消遣·賊至未決一死戰，而全家自盡請卹矣。對敵之時，賊退始肯 前進，贼如不退，兵必先退，带兵官且以勝仗俱報矣·及殺一二平民，或由贼去 而未遇未剃髮之村農’且以斬载髮逆無算，入告邀功矣·進經原為致用，而今之 士人·書籍非不熟讀，詩文非不清通’使之出仕·而於人所應曉之事，問之鞭不 能答，一旦身居民上，安能刷弊釐奸？定制為上下遵守，如居官者迴避本省一條， 係為防弊·然人品豈無正直？原籍情形既熟、言語皆通’名望素孚，乃格於成例· 8
8 in the points of view of all countries in the world, no one is weaker than the Middle Kingdom. Although they were isolated from the Middle Kingdom previously, all foreign countries started to have communications with the Middle Kingdom in the past few decades. 拒絕不得，不此之計，立言施行，果何主哉。 （一）中華情事一曰內情，一曰外情。今日之外情，係由前日之內情所致， 而日後內情，亦必由外情所變。 The Chinese affairs consist of two parts: internal affair and external affairs. Past internal affairs result in current external affairs, and current external affairs will lead to internal affairs in the future. （一）內情局外難言，止可則傳。如律例本極允當，而用法多屬因循。制度 本極精詳，而日久盡為虛器。外省臣工，不能久於其任，以致盡職者少，營私者 多。寄耳目於非人，而舉劾未當，供貪婪於戚友，而民怨弗聞。在京大小臣工， 名望公正者，苦於管轄甚多，分內職分，反無講求之暇，部員任吏胥操權，以費 之有無定准駮，使外官清廉者必被駮飭，如是而欲民生安業，豈可得耶？各省籌 劃款項，動逾萬萬，而兵丁欠餉，竟致累月經年。兵勇之數，動稱千百萬，按名 排點，實屬老弱愚蠢，充數一成而已。平日挑抬營生，未經訓練，一旦令其戰陣， 實驅市人而使鬥，以刀矛為耒耝，駐防人等，平時拉弓舉石，祇講架式，股肱怠 惰，止得養鳥消遣，賊至未決一死戰，而全家自盡請卹矣。對敵之時，賊退始肯 前進，賊如不退，兵必先退，帶兵官且以勝仗俱報矣。及殺一二平民，或由賊去 而未遇未剃髮之村農，且以斬馘髮逆無算，入告邀功矣。進經原為致用，而今之 士人，書籍非不熟讀，詩文非不清通，使之出仕，而於人所應曉之事，問之輙不 能答，一旦身居民上，安能刷弊釐奸？定制為上下遵守，如居官者迴避本省一條， 係為防弊，然人品豈無正直？原籍情形既熟、言語皆通，名望素孚，乃格於成例
而使官别省·俸漏即應升調，於地方公事，未及深究，胥史反得久踞衙署以售其 奸。年滿更换之說，盡屬虚語。比例所欲禁·弊即由例而生，禁止邪教’原為崇 正，乃各省以神靈顯佑·奏請匾額者屢屢·各省撥款叠催，而民言剝皮，及至大 內内所需，飭令捐備，例不准銷，是令人舞弊也。法本善而反惡，種種非是，以致 萬國之内，最馴順之百姓，竟致處處不服變亂吁！事不以實，而徒飭虚文可乎？ Outsiders can hardly understand any internal affair.The only possible channel is through alleged sources.If the law were appropriate,the operations would be muddled through;if the law were well designed,the regulations would be maintained for appearance's sake after a while.Civil Servants in provinces cannot stay on their post for long.Hence,this becomes that only a few of them fulfil their duties and most of them are only concerns about their private business.Inappropriate people are delegated to investigate,and impeachments will certainly become inappropriate People's complaints would not be heard if families and friends'greed is fulfilled. Officials (in Beijing with decent reputation have so many responsibilities that they cannot closely supervise these responsibilities so they let their civil servants ( operate.The standard that these civil servants decide whether or not officials in other provinces will be impeached is that if these civil servants receive briberies.Thus,the competent and clean provincial officials must be impeached.How can this be possible to let the people live in their properties safely and operate their business happily?The amount of every province's budgets is always over hundreds of thousands but the soldiers are always not paid for months or years.The number of soldiers is always millions,but if a roll call is called most of them are old,weak or stupid and the qualified ones are only ten per-cent.They only worry about earning their livings and they do not have military trainings.Once they are on battlefield,it is like sending civilians because the way they use spears and swords is like using hoes.Soldiers in 9
9 而使官別省。俸漏即應升調，於地方公事，未及深究，胥史反得久踞衙署以售其 奸。年滿更換之說，盡屬虛語。比例所欲禁，弊即由例而生，禁止邪教，原為崇 正，乃各省以神靈顯佑，奏請匾額者屢屢。各省撥款疊催，而民言剝皮，及至大 內所需，飭令捐備，例不准銷，是令人舞弊也。法本善而反惡，種種非是，以致 萬國之內，最馴順之百姓，竟致處處不服變亂。吁！事不以實，而徒飭虛文可乎？ Outsiders can hardly understand any internal affair. The only possible channel is through alleged sources. If the law were appropriate, the operations would be muddled through; if the law were well designed, the regulations would be maintained for appearance’s sake after a while. Civil Servants in provinces cannot stay on their post for long. Hence, this becomes that only a few of them fulfil their duties and most of them are only concerns about their private business. Inappropriate people are delegated to investigate, and impeachments will certainly become inappropriate. People’s complaints would not be heard if families and friends’ greed is fulfilled. Officials (官) in Beijing with decent reputation have so many responsibilities that they cannot closely supervise these responsibilities so they let their civil servants ( 吏 ) operate. The standard that these civil servants decide whether or not officials in other provinces will be impeached is that if these civil servants receive briberies. Thus, the competent and clean provincial officials must be impeached. How can this be possible to let the people live in their properties safely and operate their business happily? The amount of every province’s budgets is always over hundreds of thousands but the soldiers are always not paid for months or years. The number of soldiers is always millions, but if a roll call is called most of them are old, weak or stupid and the qualified ones are only ten per-cent. They only worry about earning their livings and they do not have military trainings. Once they are on battlefield, it is like sending civilians because the way they use spears and swords is like using hoes. Soldiers in
their bases only pretend that they can draw a bow or lift a stone dumbbell.Their bodies are so lazy that they only can take a walk with their fed birds.Before bandits come to fight,these soldiers'whole families commit suicide and apply for compensations.While confronting enemies,they march after bandits retreat.If bandits do not retreat,the soldiers must restart first.But the officers always report that they have a victory.Sometimes,if they accidentally kill on or two civilians and do not meet some peasants without shaved heads,they report to the court and apply for awards as they killed Taiping rebels.17 It was for practical operations to study the four books and five classics.Although they are still familiar with these books,classics and poetries,scholars now cannot answer any question concerning the real world.Once they become officials and rule people,how can they identify fraudulency and wickedness?Every regulation should be applied to the high-ranking and low-ranking officials.For example,the one that all officials have to excuse themselves on the posts of their native provinces is to prevent misadministration,but isn't there any officials with decent personalities?Officials on the post of their native provinces understand the situations and dialects and the people also know their reputations.However,this convention forces them to go to other provinces.俸漏即應升調，they do not have enough time to understand local affairs.Their civil servants can stay on their posts for a long while and they can sell their plots.The rotating of officials after their terms becomes nonsense.What a regulation is to address lead to the problem the regulation designed to address.The prohibition of cults is to esteem rightness but every province competes to apply for tablets for spiritual manifestations.各省撥款叠催，而民言剝 皮，及至大內所需，飭令捐備，例不准销，是令人舞弊也These laws are to protect rightness and eliminate evilness but all the said incorrectness cause that the most 17 The soldiers and citizens of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom did not shave their heads and did not have braids of hair.If the Qing troops meet any person without a shaved head,they would kill them no matter there were the Taiping people or not. 10
10 their bases only pretend that they can draw a bow or lift a stone dumbbell. Their bodies are so lazy that they only can take a walk with their fed birds. Before bandits come to fight, these soldiers’ whole families commit suicide and apply for compensations. While confronting enemies, they march after bandits retreat. If bandits do not retreat, the soldiers must restart first. But the officers always report that they have a victory. Sometimes, if they accidentally kill on or two civilians and do not meet some peasants without shaved heads, they report to the court and apply for awards as they killed Taiping rebels.17 It was for practical operations to study the four books and five classics. Although they are still familiar with these books, classics and poetries, scholars now cannot answer any question concerning the real world. Once they become officials and rule people, how can they identify fraudulency and wickedness? Every regulation should be applied to the high-ranking and low-ranking officials. For example, the one that all officials have to excuse themselves on the posts of their native provinces is to prevent misadministration, but isn’t there any officials with decent personalities? Officials on the post of their native provinces understand the situations and dialects and the people also know their reputations. However, this convention forces them to go to other provinces. 俸漏即應升調，they do not have enough time to understand local affairs. Their civil servants can stay on their posts for a long while and they can sell their plots. The rotating of officials after their terms becomes nonsense. What a regulation is to address lead to the problem the regulation designed to address. The prohibition of cults is to esteem rightness but every province competes to apply for tablets for spiritual manifestations. 各省撥款疊催，而民言剝 皮，及至大內所需，飭令捐備，例不准銷，是令人舞弊也。These laws are to protect rightness and eliminate evilness but all the said incorrectness cause that the most 17 The soldiers and citizens of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom did not shave their heads and did not have braids of hair. If the Qing troops meet any person without a shaved head, they would kill them no matter there were the Taiping people or not