Li Wei (mandarin)

Li Wei (mandarin)

Li Wei (Chinese: 李卫; Styled Youjie 又玠; Posthumous name Minda 敏达; 1687–1738) was a famous mandarin during the reign of the Yongzheng Emperor (1722–1735) of the Qing Dynasty, who was instrumental in carrying out Yongzheng's nationwide reforms in his role in various regional governing positions.

Li was a native of Tongshan, Jiangnan (present-day Xuzhou, Jiangsu), and was orphaned at the age of 10. He was not literate, but learned martial arts. He entered the Board of Finance as a regular accountant in 1719. After Yongzheng ascended the throne, he became the Governor of Zhejiang in 1727, where he carried out the policy of "returning soldiers to farms". In 1729, in a swift act, Li Wei led the efforts to stamp out Ming Dynasty-loyalists present in the Nanjing area. He was appointed the Viceroy of Zhili in 1732. Along with Tian Wenjing and Manchu Ortai, Li was one of the Emperor's most trusted officials. In September 1738, while visiting Qinling tombs with the Qianlong Emperor, Li Wei fell ill with a lung infection, and died at the age of 52. The Emperor commemorated Li.