An Unlikely Partnership Forms in Exile

The year 1845 found one of Qing China’s most distinguished officials traversing the most remote corners of Xinjiang under circumstances that would have broken lesser men. Lin Zexu, former Imperial Commissioner and architect of the famous opium destruction at Humen, now found himself serving as a disgraced official in China’s far western territories. His companion in this endeavor was Quan Qing, a respected official fifteen years his junior who would become his trusted partner in one of the most ambitious land reclamation projects in Qing frontier history.

Their mission came at a critical juncture in Qing border policy. Following the Altishahr campaigns that had consolidated Qing control over Southern Xinjiang, the court sought to strengthen its hold through agricultural colonization. The vast, sparsely populated territories required development to secure them against potential threats and to establish self-sustaining communities that could support military garrisons. This context gave birth to the Kara Shahr reclamation project that would occupy both men for months.

The Kara Shahr Expedition Begins

Practical considerations dictated their travel arrangements. With limited accommodations along the survey route, the two officials decided to travel separately to avoid overcrowding the sparse facilities available. Quan Qing departed first on the first day of the sixth lunar month, while Lin Zexu followed a day later on the second day. Their destination lay over two hundred li northwest of the main settlement, requiring careful planning and endurance.

Lin Zexu’s journey brought him to the Kara Bulak military post by the morning of the seventh day, where he reunited with his colleague. The two experienced administrators immediately began coordinating their approach to the land assessment, scheduling their joint survey for the following day, the eighth of the month. This meeting would mark the beginning of an intensive period of fieldwork that would test both men physically and professionally.

Assessing the Northern Foothills

The morning after their reunion found both officials traveling to the northern foothills of Kurla to assess nearly ten thousand mu of potentially arable land. Their systematic examination revealed both promise and challenges. The land showed excellent potential for cultivation, but the irrigation system presented significant problems.

Water supply originated from snowmelt collected at the mountain base, which provided adequate volume but suffered from severe seepage issues. Lin Zexu’s detailed notes recorded the necessity of extensive digging and filling to create functional irrigation channels. This careful attention to hydrological engineering characterized his approach throughout the expedition, reflecting his broader understanding that water management formed the foundation of successful agricultural settlement.

The Journey to Kara Shahr Proper

Following their initial assessment, the two officials faced a demanding journey of over two hundred li to reach the main Kara Shahr settlement. Recognizing the physical toll such travel would take, Quan Qing departed at the unusually early hour of 2 AM, with Lin Zexu following afterward. The staggered departures reflected both practical considerations and Quan Qing’s respect for his senior colleague.

Upon reaching the southern bank of the Kaidu River in the afternoon, Lin Zexu received a formal welcome from Quan Qing and Shu Yuan, the newly appointed Administrative Commissioner of Kara Shahr. The local military and civil officials accompanied them as Lin settled into the guesthouse located outside the eastern gate of the city. This formal reception, extended to an officially disgraced administrator, spoke volumes about the respect Lin Zexu continued to command among his peers.

Measuring the Nearby Lands

Quan Qing’s health necessitated a three-day recovery period before the land measurement could resume. When work recommenced, they focused on reclamation areas situated conveniently close to the city walls. The proximity allowed them to complete their assessment efficiently, measuring approximately thirty-six hundred mu of cultivable land in a single morning before returning to the city by afternoon.

It was upon their return that Lin Zexu received welcome personal news. A family letter brought word that his son, Lin Ruzhou, had achieved second place in his imperial examinations. Of the forty-nine candidates participating, thirty-eight received positions in the Hanlin Academy, while eleven received appointments to various ministries, with none assigned to county magistrate positions. Colleagues and local officials flocked to offer their congratulations, providing a rare moment of personal celebration amid the demanding expedition.

Drafting the Official Report

The following days saw intensive collaboration between Lin Zexu and Quan Qing as they prepared the official report for the Kara Shahr reclamation project. Southern Xinjiang presented unique challenges for agricultural settlement, but Kara Shahr stood out as the only location suitable for recruiting Han Chinese farmers. Authorities had already dispatched recruiters to Ürümqi and other settlements to attract settlers.

Because Quan Qing had originally been charged with the Kara Shahr reclamation, the court had specifically instructed him to submit the final report directly. He turned to his more experienced colleague with a revealing request: “Sir Lin, you have drafted all the land survey reports with me merely adding my signature. Previously, General Bu provided additional review, requiring little concern from me. This time, with the report submitted under my name alone, I must trouble you with this task.”

Lin Zexu accepted without hesitation, concerned that anyone else might fail to adequately articulate the complexities of their findings. He secluded himself from visitors and completed the draft in a single morning. True to form, Quan Qing submitted the document without altering a single character, sending it to the court that very day.

News from the Capital and a Change of Plans

A letter from General Bu Yantai soon arrived with significant news: the memorial regarding the Kucha land survey had been submitted to the relevant ministries for deliberation. As the first land reclamation project proposed for Southern Xinjiang, the Kucha proposal had been submitted to Bu Yantai in the third lunar month, with the general forwarding it to the court at month’s end. The delayed response suggested potential controversy within the imperial bureaucracy.

Lin Zexu, familiar with ministry procedures, understood that even straightforward decisions required at least ten days, while contentious matters could languish for a month or more. With their Southern Xinjiang surveys complete and no purpose served by remaining in Kara Shahr, returning to Ili or Ürümqi seemed equally unnecessary. Calculating that the memorial regarding the completion of the Aqi Wusu canal, submitted at the end of the fourth lunar month, would likely receive a response by late sixth or early seventh month, he decided to travel to Turpan to await the court’s decision.

A Bittersweet Farewell

On Lin Zexu’s final evening in Kara Shahr, Quan Qing, despite his own illness and exhaustion, hosted a farewell banquet with local military and civil officials in attendance. The gathering expressed collective hopes for Lin Zexu’s early restoration to official favor. The occasion prompted reflection on their shared experiences during months of surveying some of China’s most challenging terrain.

Their hardships had been both numerous and severe. Crossing the Tianshan Mountains through the Subashi Gorge , their carts navigated narrow ravines where wheels grinding against sand and stone produced constant roaring. The violent jolting aggravated Lin’s stomach condition, causing vomiting, while the noise left his ears ringing and produced dizziness and blurred vision.

Traversing the Gobi Desert presented water scarcity so severe they needed to carry supplies in gourds. Approaching Kara Bula Station , they anticipated available water and carried none, only to find the local source turbid, salty, and barely potable. The remote stations offered primitive facilities, with some lacking even basic cooking equipment. Lin and his son frequently borrowed pots from local residents to prepare noodles or porridge, or simply consumed cold biscuits in the open air.

Dust storms occurred with routine frequency, the yellow dust so thick it obscured vision entirely. On multiple occasions, powerful winds overturned their carts. The rugged mountain trails broke cart axles several times. During their surveys in Khotan and Kashgar, they slept in felt tents plagued by mosquitoes and fleas that made rest difficult. Strong night winds threatened to collapse their shelters, leaving them apprehensive and sleepless.

The Scope of Their Accomplishment

The lands surveyed throughout Southern Xinjiang typically lay significant distances from urban centers. The reclamation areas around Kucha, Yarkand, and Kashgar all fell seventy to eighty li from their respective cities. The Aksu reclamation land stretched 270 li south of the city, while the Khotan survey occurred 200 li to the north. These remote locations remained largely unexplored even by military commanders, yet Lin Zexu insisted on personal inspection regardless of distance.

His examination of water sources proved particularly thorough, reflecting his understanding that successful settlement depended entirely on reliable irrigation. Quan Qing, though fifteen years younger, struggled with persistent health issues that prevented him from personally inspecting the reclamation sites at Kucha, Khotan, Yarkand, and Kashgar. Despite this, Lin Zexu’s reports consistently credited both officials with conducting joint surveys, a generosity that earned not only Quan’s professional respect but his profound personal gratitude. Their shared challenges transformed them from colleagues into genuine friends and confidants.

Reflections on a Productive Partnership

Lin Zexu’s final reflections acknowledged Quan Qing’s significant contributions despite illness and hardship. His younger colleague had demonstrated remarkable perseverance, completing arduous journeys while unwell. More importantly, he had treated the disgraced official with consistent respect and deference throughout their partnership.

This mutual respect culminated in a farewell letter from Lin Zexu expressing gratitude for months of productive collaboration. The document symbolized not only professional courtesy but genuine affection between two officials who had faced extraordinary challenges together in service to their empire.

Legacy of the Western Frontier Surveys

Lin Zexu’s Xinjiang surveys represented both a personal redemption and a contribution to Qing frontier policy. His meticulous approach to land assessment and water management reflected the same systematic thinking he had applied to the opium crisis years earlier. The partnership with Quan Qing demonstrated how bureaucratic cooperation could transcend personal circumstances to serve broader state interests.

The Kara Shahr reclamation project specifically addressed strategic concerns about securing sparsely populated regions through agricultural settlement. By identifying suitable land and water resources, Lin and Quan provided the technical foundation for policies that would shape Xinjiang’s development for decades. Their work represented the intersection of personal endurance, technical expertise, and strategic vision that characterized the most effective Qing frontier administration.

Though Lin Zexu would not live to see the full impact of his surveys, his Western expeditions cemented his reputation as a dedicated official capable of exceptional service regardless of circumstances. The man who had confronted British opium traders now applied the same determination to conquering deserts and mountains, leaving behind a legacy that extended far beyond the political controversies that had temporarily sidelined his career.