Xilai

Overview

Xilai was a general of the Hesheli clan of the Manchu Plain Red Banner in the early Qing Dynasty, and the nephew of Wu Bahai. Volume Nine of the official clan genealogy of the Qianlong era, *The General Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, records that he participated in battles in Henan and Jiangnan as a cavalry officer, leading the charge in the attack on Jiaxing Prefecture, and later died in battle during the attack on Kunshan County. He was posthumously awarded the title of Yunqiwei (a military rank), which was passed down to his son, Sele. This entry belongs to the local clan branch of Heduomuhalian.

The cavalry officer was in charge of the basic personnel, training, and camp affairs of the cavalry battalion, while Yunqiwei was a hereditary military rank; posthumous conferment signifies a posthumous title. Jiaxing and Kunshan were battle locations and should not be used to infer the individual's original place of origin or family migration. Sele was promoted to Third-Class Light Cavalry Captain by imperial decree, later passed to Xilintai via Shitu. When Xilintai inherited the title, the imperial decree was revoked, and he reverted to the rank of Yunqiwei.

My nephew Wu Li also served as a cavalry officer in the campaigns in Huguang and Yunnan. He was first awarded the rank of Yunqiwei, and later died in battle, but was posthumously awarded the rank of Yunqiwei again, thus becoming a Qiduwei. His descendants included Zhuqiba and Yiling'a, forming an independent hereditary lineage. My cousin Meng Geli was a student of the Imperial Academy, and some of his descendants served as Xieling and Zuoling, etc. The title of Imperial Academy student was merely a school qualification, not an official position. Xi Lai's pioneering spirit, his death in battle, and the subsequent military achievements of his nephews should be described separately. The specific dates of the battles and the connection between the succession of the family branches still need to be verified by the original record.