Berhetu

Overview

Berhetu was a member of the Yehe Nara clan of the Plain White Banner during the early Qing Dynasty. He was of the same clan as Jintai Shi and submitted to the Qing Dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty. Volume 22 of the official Qing Dynasty clan genealogy, *The Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, records that he participated in the battles of Jinzhou and Ningyuan as a vanguard commander. After the Qing army entered the pass, they pursued them to Ansu and Qingdu, where he was awarded the rank of Qiduwei for his merits. He subsequently fought in Henan, Jiangnan, Fujian, Huguang, Shandong, Yunnan, and Burma, gradually rising to the rank of First-Class Baron. He once served as Vanguard Commander and concurrently as zuoling. Vanguard Commander and Vanguard Captain were actual military positions, while Qiduwei, Qingche duwei, and Baron were hereditary titles for meritorious officials. Their promotions corresponded to military achievements or imperial decrees, and the two should not be confused as a single set of official ranks. The original genealogy records that he was convicted of a crime, but later it was confirmed that he was wrongly accused and his hereditary title was restored. He was posthumously awarded the title of Zhongyong (meaning loyal and brave). His third son, Berken, inherited the title and, in recognition of his father's military achievements, was awarded the rank of Third-Class Viscount. Berhetu's eldest son, Seheling, died in battle in Huguang and was awarded the title of Yunqiwei, a military honor bestowed by another branch. When compiling this family history, the father's own military exploits and posthumous commemorations should be treated separately from the son's independent military achievements.