Guaerjia Changshou

Chángshòu, a Qing dynasty official, was a Manchu member of the Plain White Banner, from the Gūwalgiya clan, son of Tāsihā, younger brother of Chángruì. His birth date is unknown; he died in 1852. His father, Tāsihā, served as acting grand secretary of Kashgar at the beginning of the Daoguang reign and was killed during Zhang Ge’er’s rebellion.

Chángshòu was appointed to a Blue Banner Guardsman courtesy of his father’s influence, with the rank of Qiduwu (Cavalry Captain), eventually becoming the General Principal of Liangzhou Garrison in Gansu. In the first year of Xianfeng (1851), he and his elder brother, Chángruì, accompanied the imperial envoy Sàishàng’ā to Guangxi to suppress the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, besieging Yong'an for several months.

In the second year of Xianfeng (February 1852), he urged the Taiping army to withdraw from Yong'an back to Guilin. Afterwards, he followed Ulan Tai in pursuing the Taiping forces to Longliao Ridge. The terrain there was highly strategic and difficult to defend; during the battle, thick fog and Taiping artillery fire caused the soldiers to go two days without food.

After the battle, Chángshòu’s troops were defeated by the Taiping army, suffering heavy casualties. During the fight, Chángshòu was wounded, fell from his horse, and was killed by the Taiping forces along with his brother. Ulan Tai was also wounded and later died in Yangshuo.

Emperor Xianfeng posthumously promoted him to the rank of Tídu (Admiral), appointing him as Qiduwu and Yunqidu (Imperial Cavalry), bestowed his mother with 300 taels of silver, and awarded him the posthumous title Qínyǒng (“Diligent and Brave”). The Yong'an region established the Shuāngzhōng Shrine to honor the two brothers.

Chángshòu's son was Ronglu, a prominent official in late Qing.

Reference: "Draft History of Qing" Vol. 402.