Dong'e Eshuo

Eshu, courtesy name unknown, born in the year ?, died in 1658, was a general during the early Qing Dynasty. He was of the Dong'e clan, Manchu from the Plain White Banner, son of Xi Han. At the time of his death, he was posthumously awarded the title of Marquis with the posthumous epithet "Gangyi" (Fortitude and Perseverance); his daughter became the Dong'e Consort during the Shunzhi Emperor’s reign, later honored as Empress Xiaoxian Duanjing. His father’s and ancestors’ achievements are recorded in the family genealogy.

The Dong'e family resided in Dong’e (modern Huanren Manchu Autonomous County, Liaoning Province, during the Qing Dynasty under the jurisdiction of Jilin), belonging to the Manchu Plain White Banner. His grandfather was Lu Kesu, originally named Lun Bu, who early on defected to Nurhaci alongside his brother Tun Bu, and was given the name Lu Kesu, serving as a battalion commander (siliang). His father, Xi Han, was the eldest son of Lu Kesu, holding the hereditary official position of Escort (Qiduwei), and participated in the expedition to Korea at Aiyang City, leading twenty men into the city first. He later died in the Three Towers and was posthumously awarded the rank of Youji (Third Class Light Cavalry Captain).

In the first year of the Tiancong era, he inherited his father’s official rank and also managed the Niu Lu (cattle archives). In the ninth year of Tiancong (1635), he joined Dodo in attacking the Ming rear garrison at Qianyuan (modern Suihua County, Liaoning), and he also followed Dorgon in recruiting and pacifying the Mongol Chahar tribe of Ezh. He was promoted to the third rank of Jia La Zhangjing (A Class Lama Chief Counselor), and advanced to command the vanguard.

In the third year of Chongde (1638), he participated in the campaign into the Inner Pass under Yutuo. In the fifth year of Chongde (1641), he was part of Prince Regent Dorgon’s siege of Songshan and Jinzhou. In the eighth year of Chongde (1643), he accompanied Prince Aisin Gioro Aobao in capturing Fengrun County and Miyun County, receiving the first-rank Jia La Zhangjing and a half promotion in the pre-charge position. In the first year of Shunzhi (1644), he followed Dorgon into Shanhai Pass, and in the Battle of Yishi, defeated the Dashing army under Tang Tong, pursuing the enemy to An Su County and Qingdu County. He participated in Dodo’s southern expeditions, attacking Henan and Tongguan, and was promoted to the third rank of Meile Zhangjing.

In the second year of Shunzhi (1645), he was involved in campaigns against Nanjing and Huzhou, Zhejiang. In the third year of Shunzhi (1646), he was promoted to the second rank of Meile Zhangjing, responsible for managing the flag’s Meile Zhangjing, and promoted to the head of the vanguard.

In the fourteenth year of Shunzhi (1657), owing to his wife Dong’e, the daughter of the prince, being the father of Empress Dowager Dong’e, he was granted the title of third-rank Earl. In the fifteenth year of Shunzhi (1658), he passed away, and his son Fiyanggu inherited the peerage. His daughter, Xiaoxian Duanjing Empress (Dong’e Consort, 1639–1660), became one of the imperial consorts during the Shunzhi Emperor’s reign.

Regarding descendants, his son Fiyanggu (1645–1701) was appointed First Marquis of Xiangzhuang, and served successively as Minister of Guard, General of Anbei, General of Guihua City, and Yuyuan Grand General. He led Qing forces against Galdan and achieved success at the Battle of Zhaomoduo. His grandson, Chentai, inherited the title of First Marquis and held the post of Yunque (Imperial Cavalry). The deeds of his grandfather Lu Kesu and father Xi Han are also recorded in the family chronicles.

Source: Draft History of Qing (Qing Shi Gao), Volume 241.