Dalanxia

Overview

Dalanxia was a member of the Ilari clan, belonging to the Plain Blue Banner. His family had lived in Heshi for generations and submitted to the Qing dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty. Volume 47 of the official Qing dynasty compilation, *The Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, lists him among the various local Ilari clans, primarily preserving the account of his great-grandson, Wu Shali, receiving his hereditary title. "Hereditary residence" indicates the family's place of origin as recorded in the genealogy, while "banner affiliation" refers to their affiliation within the Eight Banners organization; neither necessarily signifies that the family continued to reside in the same location.

Wu Shali originally served as an acting cavalry officer, participating in battles in Jiangxi and Huguang, and later fighting against Ma Bao's troops at Wumoshan in Yunnan, where he was awarded the title of Yunqiwei (a military rank). After retiring due to old age, the title was inherited by his younger brother's grandson, Suobentai, who is recorded as the successor in the genealogy. The title of cavalry officer was an official managing lower-level cavalrymen; "acting" indicates that Wu Shali was initially appointed but not officially appointed, and this cannot be omitted and later changed to indicate formal appointment. The title of Yunqiwei was hereditary, and the successor could be selected from a collateral branch through institutional approval, not necessarily the son of the previous ruler. Therefore, the relationship between Suobentai and Wushali should be preserved as that of a brother's grandson, and Dalanxia should not be written as someone who participated in these battles. The exact locations of Heshi and Wumoshan, as well as the dates of their appointments, still need to be verified.