ABSTRACT
During the first Jinchuan war a highly experienced commander named Zhang Guangsi was executed for treason and wilful waste of public funds. Although this case is occasionally cited as an example for wartime corruption the facts show that Zhang was actually involved in personal intrigues harming his rival, a senior Manchu official named Nocin, and had neglected precautions against inimical espionage. The Zhang/Nocin case is therefore reinvestigated in this chapter to find out about the Qing central government’s stance on high officials neglecting their obligations for private interests.
