Ibali

Overview

Yibali was a member of the Hesheli clan of the Plain Blue Banner of the Manchus during the early Qing Dynasty. His family had lived in Zhaigu for generations and submitted to the Qing Dynasty at its inception. Volume Nine of the official clan genealogy, *The General Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, compiled during the Qianlong reign, records that Nurhaci appointed Yibali as a deputy general during his campaign against the Yehe, due to his father Baisiha's meritorious service. Later, Yibali served as the Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Department and a Minister of State Affairs, listed among the Sixteen Ministers, and managed a Zuo-ling (military unit) composed of over a thousand Han Chinese.

The Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Department handled the internal affairs of the imperial court, the Ministers of State Affairs participated in important political affairs in the early Qing Dynasty, and the Zuo-ling managed the grassroots military households. The origin of the households under their jurisdiction was different from their own clan and banner affiliation; Yibali cannot be simply changed to a Han surname based on the fact that the Zuo-ling was composed of Han Chinese. Early official titles such as deputy general must also retain the context of the system at that time.

His Zuo-ling was later divided between his second brother Yibai and his fourth brother Kuerchan, each managing half of it, indicating changes in the division of responsibilities at the grassroots level. Zi Namu served as Chief Secretary, and Sun Shantu was awarded the title of Yunqiwei (a military rank) during the campaign against Chahar and Burni. His nephews and grandnephews held other positions in the vanguard, cabinet, and ministries; these should all be attributed to their respective clansmen. The Yunqiwei position was a hereditary military rank held by the grandchildren, not a continuation of the Yibali Imperial Household Department position. The modern location of Zhaigu, the time of its jurisdiction as a Zuo Ling (a military officer), and the original text's "over a thousand" character still require verification from the original inscription.