Surduhu

Overview

Surduhu, mentioned in Volume 52 of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, under the entry for the Merzhele clan, belonged to the Bordered Yellow Banner. His family had lived along the Songhua River for generations and submitted to the Qing dynasty during the Tiancong reign. Tiancong was the reign title used by Huang Taiji. The original text did not list the specific military positions held by his ancestors.

His descendants, Qishao and Bulebulda, served as zuoling (military officers); Wailu served as a Second-Class Imperial Guard, and Gangnu served as a Xiaoqi Xiao (cavalry captain). The original record states that his fourth-generation descendant, Norlierda, served as a Second-Class Imperial Guard under the command of the Imperial Guard leader, Seleng, and died in battle at the Karawusu Chahan Ebo region. He was posthumously awarded the title of Yunqiwei (a military rank), which was inherited by his elder brother's son, Futing'a. Other fifth-generation descendants listed include Guida as an Infantry Captain, Dexi as a Xiaoqi Xiao, and Huxinbao as an Assistant Commander.

Second-Class Imperial Guards were part of the emperor's personal guard. The Banling (military officer) was the leading officer in the Imperial Guard organization; Yunqiwei was a posthumously awarded hereditary title, and its inheritor did not automatically receive the deceased's position as an Imperial Guard. zuoling, Bu Jun Xiao, and Xiao Qi Xiao were different titles, respectively indicating their organizational management and military structure. The modern correspondence to the Tibetan battlefield and the genealogical connections between the fourth-generation descendant and other generations still need verification. The events of entering Tibet and dying in battle cannot be mistakenly attributed to Surduhu himself.