Zhenzhuken

Overview

Zhenzhuken was a member of the Zhasihuli clan of the Plain White Banner. Volume 42 of the official Qing dynasty compilation, *the Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, records that his family had lived in Guarchahelun for generations. At the beginning of the dynasty, he led forty able-bodied men to surrender, earning him the title of Qiduwei and the position of zuoling (military officer). The forty men is the number explicitly stated in the original entry and cannot be expanded to forty households. Qiduwei was a hereditary title, while zuoling involved additional grassroots organizational and management duties within the banner.

Zhenzhuken participated in the campaign against Heilongjiang, and later in the battles of Jinzhou, Songshan, Xingshan, Jielingkou, and the pursuit of Qingdu after entering the pass. His military achievements led to his promotion to Second-Class Qingche duwei, and he was further promoted to Third-Class Baron by three imperial edicts. Qingche duwei and Baron were hereditary ranks; the imperial edicts should not be entirely attributed to new military achievements.

His son, Keyaoertu, served as Commander-in-Chief and zuoling, and his grandson, Warda, served as Deputy Commander-in-Chief and zuoling. His great-grandson, Uyatu, inherited the title of Second-Class Qingche duwei, but the imperial edicts deducted the portion awarded by the imperial edicts. Later, it was passed down through Suozhu and Moluhun to Zhemukeni. The positions of Commander-in-Chief and Deputy Commander-in-Chief were high-ranking military posts in the banner system. The hereditary titles and concurrent positions as zuoling (military commanders) must be recorded separately; it cannot be assumed that each generation automatically assumed the position of Commander-in-Chief. Details of each battle, the dates of succession, the locations of Guarcha and Lun, and complete kinship records need to be verified against the original printed text and archives.