Xifo

Overview

Xifo was a member of the Manchu Suochuoluo clan, belonging to the Plain White Banner. His family had lived in Yehe for generations and submitted to the Qing dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty. He originally served as a zuoling (military officer). Volume 45 of the official Qing dynasty compilation, *the Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, records that his grandson, Balson, was originally a Langzhong (a mid-level official), and his great-grandson, Waiyinbu, was also originally a Langzhong. Another great-grandson, Saiyinbu, was an eighth-rank official who participated in the Battle of Yanshanling in Huguang and died in battle against Ma Bao's troops, receiving the posthumous title of Yunqiwei (a military rank).

The Yunqiwei title was inherited by Saiyinbu's son, Ge Boli; after Ge Boli retired due to old age, it was inherited by his son, Akdong'a. The original text uses "retired due to old age" to indicate the reason for the successor's retirement, and should not be changed to death in battle or being convicted of a crime. Military merits and posthumous titles belong to Saiyinbu and cannot be transferred to Xifo's own experience.

A zuoling managed the bannermen and soldiers under his jurisdiction; a Langzhong was an official in ministries and departments, whose duties were determined by the division of labor within the government; information about an eighth-rank official only provides rank information and is insufficient to determine Saiyinbu's actual position at the time. The title of Yunqiwei was a hereditary post for meritorious service, and inheriting this position did not equate to inheriting the father's original eighth-rank official post. The genealogy also records that the great-grandson Erhetu served as a Xiaoqixiao (a military officer in charge of cavalry) and the fourth-generation grandson Garhatu served as a Hujun Canling (a military officer in charge of the guards). The Yehe region can be understood by referring to the Yehe area of ​​Siping, Jilin, but the exact location of Xifo's former residence and the exact year of the battle still need verification.