生平

赵尔丰最初在山西历任静乐、永济知县，后由时任四川总督的锡良推荐，出任永宁道道尹。1905年5月，时任清驻藏大臣的凤全在巴塘遇害，赵氏被调任建昌道，并受命募兵，平定土司的反抗，这也是其参与和川边藏区相关的事务的开始。当时，由于清政府和驻藏官员对藏区事务处理不力，致使原本反英的西藏高层统治者转而成为亲英势力，而得到英国支持的藏军也经常在西康和川边地方与清军发生军事冲突。根据这一情况，清政府制定了在川边实行改革藏政和改土归流的政策，意图平定川边局势。赵尔丰「剿办巴塘七村沟，搜杀藏民达数百人，尸体抛入金沙江，而且将其中七个暴动首领，剜心沥血，以祭凤全」。紧邻乡城人准备支援巴塘，赵尔丰又围剿乡城，包括喇嘛与檀越的1,210人罹难。清兵将「乡城桑披寺、巴塘丁林寺焚毁，将寺内佛像铜器，改铸铜钱，经书抛弃厕内，佛绫罗彩衣，均成为军人的绑腿。惨杀无辜，不知凡几。以致四方逃窜者，流离颠沛、无家可归。」

赵氏平定康区土司的反抗。1906年8月22日，清廷置川滇边务边务大臣，派赵尔丰充任。并开始在康区进行改土归流的政策。

1907年，锡良离任，赵氏一度代理四川总督一职。其呈上《川滇边务奏摺》，提出在川滇藏边区组建西康省的完整方案。

1908年又升任驻藏大臣兼任川滇边务大臣，在打箭炉驻兵，改设打箭炉为康定府后又设登科等府，加强清政府对康区的控制。1909年，赵氏挫败进攻巴塘的藏军，并乘胜入藏（川军入藏），收复江卡、贡觉等四个部落地区，更越过丹达山向西，一直到达江达宗，此时距离拉萨只有六天的路程，达赖喇嘛逃往英属印度。赵氏上书请求乘胜征服西藏全境，并建议在藏区推行革教易俗政策，由于担心其举措过激，为避免事端，清政府没有允许。之后赵氏又攻占了三岩。

1911年4月被朝廷任命为四川总督，到任前由王人文署理。因保路运动起，四川局势动荡。8月2日，赵氏赶到成都，为稳定局势，赵氏曾联名地方各级官员请求清政府改变铁路收归国有的政策，但没有得到允许。之后局势升级，不但出现罢市、而且发生保路同志会会员冲击总督府的事件，引发大规模流血冲突，称为辛亥保路死难事件，也称成都血案，此事件引发全省乃至全国的骚动。后赵氏被认为迫于政府命令在不得已的情况下进一步实施镇压，逮捕保路同志会领袖蒲殿俊等9人，导致同志会的成员和反对势力围攻成都，川军不愿意接受命令继续镇压，清政府于是派湖北新军入川平定动乱，导致武昌兵力空虚，因此该事件也被认为是辛亥革命的导火綫，赵氏也因此事件被免去四川总督一职，留任边务大臣。

不久武昌起义爆发。11月22日和25日，成都召开四川官绅代表大会，宣布脱离清朝，自行独立，成立大汉四川军政府，原谘议局议长蒲殿俊任军政府都督，陆军第十七镇统制朱庆澜任副都督。赵氏随即将政权移交蒲殿俊。后来发生兵变，蒲殿俊出逃，赵氏一度重新掌握政权，但随后标统尹昌衡率兵进攻总督府，赵氏被擒，后被押至贡院明远楼斩首，终年66岁。

评价

近代中国对赵氏的评价多有争议，有人认为赵氏在历任各地方行政长官过程中实行严厉和强硬的统治，比如在永宁地方镇压苗民起义，以及镇压保路运动，对平民进行了屠杀，民国与中国共产党官方对其评价极为负面，其中均称赵氏是一个「屠夫」、「刽子手」或「杀人王」。

也有学者（如章士钊等）提出应该全面公允评价赵氏，在揭露其罪行的同时，应该注意到他在历任地方长官过程中的确也对地方的治安稳定和民生发展起到了一定的正面影响，特别是在对川边的事务处理方面有不可以磨灭的贡献，据统计赵氏所收复的川边土地东西约三千馀里，南北约四千馀里，赵氏在其中设立行政单位有三十馀个，这也成为后来民国西康省设治的基础。这也使得清末的西藏局势没有向更坏的方向发展，某种程度上维护了国家的统一。

瓦弄勒卡玛坝子西南角峰顶积雪的大山之下，在那峭崖上勒石镌刻著每个有八仙桌面大小的十个汉字：「有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎 」，巨大的刻石下方留款：「大清国一品顶戴、双眼花翎、钦差大臣赵尔丰，亲临勘界、刻石、……」

1927年，章士钊创作诗卷《将军叹》中，对赵尔丰的军事才能及整治川边的功绩给予了肯定。「晚清知兵帅，岑袁最有名；岂如赵将军，川边扬英声。」，「政变始辛亥，全川如沸羹；纵贼舞刀来，丧此天下英。」

尚秉和在其《辛壬春秋》一书中说：「尔丰自光绪三十一年以次，勘定康地，驰驱劳瘁，至是凡七年，共用款六十馀万，部拨经费尚馀三分之一，而西康全域皆定。尔丰之治康，以傅嵩谋。狎其人，并知其山川扼要形胜」。断言：「自清以来，治边者无有著功若此者」。

贺觉非在《西康纪事诗本事注》中的《赵尔丰经历情况及其永世》注中也说：「尔丰之治边也，先与兵威，……边地既定，即从事各种建设。……但奠定西康政治之始基，宜为赵氏。……赵本人亦明敏廉洁，办事公正。犯法者虽近亲不稍恕，康人多信服之」。

锡良对赵尔丰极尽推重之词：「忠勤纯悫，果毅廉明，公尔忘私，血诚任事。」

赵尔丰曾在路途发现一家百姓无隔夜之粮，而地方官不知，即以严惩。「知县是知一县之事，即知人民事也。故勤政爱民者，因爱民而勤政。非勤政为一事也，爱民又为一事也。凡民有疾苦，而官不能知之，不能救之，是贼民者也。」

家人

• 高祖：赵洵，兄弟有赵淳、赵濂。

• 曾祖：寅宾。

• 祖：（赵）达纶，取满名，不冠以汉姓。其弟达禄。达纶堂亲有阿林 (乾隆进士)、（赵）珠敦、寅亮、寅羲、达诚、达瀛等。达瀛娶道光帝和妃亲侄女（父延昌），达瀛的兄弟和子女同贵族多有联姻。

• 父：（赵）文颖和堂弟(赵)文起是道光25年同科进士，文荣，同治戊辰进士。文起女婿正黄旗汉军衡州府知府曹裕庆，侄女曹氏嫁山东巡抚文彬之子进士延燮。

• 兄弟：赵尔震、赵尔巽、赵尔萃。

• 孙：赵守俨，中华书局原副总编辑。主持「二十四史」及《清史稿》的点校工作。

• 曾孙：赵珩，原北京燕山出版社总编辑、编审，作家。

• 同族赵氏：众多，列举几例姻亲如下。一赵氏，乃进士承龄（裕瑚鲁氏）之母，其父正蓝旗汉军赵寅亮，胞叔乾隆辛丑科进士阿林 (乾隆进士)，堂姊赵氏嫁正蓝旗满洲、嘉庆辛酉科进士他塔喇氏秀堃，胞姊赵氏嫁内务府正白旗汉军李氏舒辰，父内务府六库郎中兼骁骑参领恒林，嫡堂弟道光九年（1829年）己丑科进士舒贵。一赵氏，进士承龄（裕瑚鲁氏）之妻，父正蓝旗汉军赵达诚，祖父赵寅亮；承龄的妻、母均属正蓝旗汉军、清末东三省总督赵尔巽家族。一赵氏，父正蓝旗汉军赵达瀛，祖伯父乾隆辛丑科进士阿林 (乾隆进士)，曾祖乾隆癸酉科举人赵淳。赵氏，阿林 (乾隆进士)侄孙女，嫁山东巡抚文彬之子延照。一赵氏，阿林 (乾隆进士)孙女，嫁礼部尚书贵庆子吏部郎中宝源局监督浙江嘉兴府知府瑞琇。一赵氏嫁杨佳氏锺祥 (嘉庆进士)堂兄弟浙江嘉兴府知府进士锺裕。一赵氏嫁将军明谊。一赵氏，阿林 (乾隆进士)侄孙女，嫁徐桐之子徐承熊。一赵氏嫁英廉后代（冯氏）巴扬阿。一赵氏嫁总督柏贵。一赵氏嫁张氏保淳。一赵氏嫁李质颖曾孙、安龄侄进士(李氏)丰安。一赵氏嫁道光帝和妃侄子湖北按察使福珠隆阿。另有赵氏女子和宗室爱新觉罗氏联姻较多。

相关条目

• 巴塘事变

• 川军入藏

延伸阅读

Amban of Tibet

Zhao Erfeng crushed the Tibetan Lamas and their monasteries in the 1905 Tibetan Rebellion in Yunnan and Sichuan, he then crushed the rebels at the siege of Chantreng (now Xiangcheng County, Sichuan) which lasted from 1905 to 1906. The Tibetan Lamas had revolted against Qing rule, killing Chinese government officials, western Catholic Christian missionaries and native Christian converts, since the Tibetan Buddhist Gelug Yellow Hat sect was suspicious of the Christian missionary success.

Zhao Erfeng extended Chinese rule into Kham, and was appointed Amban in 1908. Zhao had successfully dismantled the powers of the tribal chieftains within the region of Kham. Initially he worked with the 13th Dalai Lama, who had returned after fleeing from the British expedition to Tibet. But in 1909, they disagreed with each other strongly and Zhao Erfeng drove the Dalai Lama into exile. The Dalai Lama was installed at the palace and monastery of Potala amid popular demonstrations. The ruler, who was again given civil power at the head of their hierarchy, pardoned all the Tibetans who had given an oath of loyalty to Colonel Francis Younghusband, the leader of the British expedition. Things went well for a month until the lama protested to the Chinese in charge of military affairs because of the excesses of the Chinese troops on the Sichuan frontier, where they were sacking the monasteries and killing the monks. This protest served to stir up the whole question of the status of Tibet. The Amban declared that it was a Chinese province, and said he would deal with the rebels as it pleased him to do.

Other questions of authority arose, and finally the Amban sent orders to 500 Chinese troops who were encamped on the outskirts of the capital, Lhasa.

A few companies composed of the Dalai Lama's followers were hastily enrolled under the name of 'golden soldiers'. They tried to resist the Chinese soldiers, but, being poorly armed, were quickly overwhelmed. Meanwhile, the Dalai Lama, with three of his ministers and sixty retainers, fled through a gate at the rear of the palace enclosure, and were fired upon as they escaped through the city.

In January 1908 the final instalment of the Tibetan indemnity was paid to Great Britain, and the Chumbi valley was evacuated. The Dalai Lama was now summoned to Peking, where he obtained the imperial authority to resume his administration in place of the provisional governors appointed as a result of the British mission. He retained in office the high officials then appointed, and pardoned all Tibetans who had assisted the mission. But in 1909 Chinese troops were sent to operate on the Sichuan frontier against certain insurgent lamas, whom they handled severely. When the Dalai Lama attempted to give orders that they should cease, the Chinese amban in Lhasa disputed his authority, and summoned the Chinese troops to enter the city. They did so, and the Dalai Lama fled to India in February 1910, staying at Darjeeling. Chinese troops followed him to the frontier, and he was deposed by imperial decree.

A former Tibetan Khampa soldier named Aten recounted Tibetan memories of Zhao, calling him "Butcher Feng", claiming that he: razed Batang monastery, ordered holy texts to be used by troops as shoeliners, and mass murdered Tibetans.

Capture and death

In 1911, Zhao Erfeng, then viceroy of Sichuan, faced rebellion in Sichuan. In May 1911, Qing officials agreed to European demands to rescind Sichuan province's ownership of a railroad concession and sold it to a European consortium. The sale infuriated gentry and merchants in Sichuan who lost considerable investments and resulted in the formation of a broad opposition movement, the Sichuan Railroad Recovery Movement.

On 7 September 1911, Zhao ordered the arrest of the Pu Diajun (the movement's leader and president of Sichuan's constitutional assembly), Luo Lun (president of Sichuan's student assembly), and others. At a protest on 8 September 1911, Zhao ordered soldiers to fire on the protestors, which they did, killing 26 people during the Bloody Chengdu Incident.

Authorities closed the Chengdu city gates and had them heavily guarded. Protestors created "water telegrams" by carving a message on to oiled boards, which were smuggled out and floated downriver:Opposition fighters, primarily composed of Gelaohui militants, besieged Chengdu. On 18 and 19 September, Zhao's modernized New Army soldiers, armed with repeating weapons and artillery, pushed back the siege. Fighting continued in the area for two months.

Zhao summoned troops from Wuchang, leading rebels there to see it as an opportunity to rebel. This was the background to the Wuchang Uprising, the official start of the Chinese Revolution of 1911, and the diversion of troops to Sichuan was major factor in its success.

After battling the rebels on 22 December 1911 Zhao was captured and beheaded by Chinese Republican Revolutionary forces who were intent on overthrowing the Qing dynasty.

Before his death, Zhao attempted to convene frontier Qing troops on the Sichuan-Tibetan border to Chengdu. He himself, on the other hand, made compromises to the republican forces as if he would concede his power without violence. When the Qing reinforcement from Ya'an approached Chengdu, the head of the republican forces Yin Changheng ordered Zhao's execution.

Zhao Erfeng was the younger brother of Zhao Erxun, who was also an important figure in the final years of the Qing Empire.

Controversies

Zhao's ruthless rule was criticized by later generations. He played an antagonistic role during the Railway Protection Movement and the Miao rebellion in Yongning. Like in Tibet, he massacred unarmed civilians. Both Republic of China and People's Republic of China had fairly negative official comments about Zhao Erfeng, naming him a butcher and homicidal maniac.

Zhao's personal conviction was to transform the region of Kham into a province directly administrated by central government. He planned to unify Sichuan, Kham and Ü-Tsang into a single administrative district in order to counter British influence in the region as well as on the Dalai Lama. In Kham, Zhao employed the bureaucratization of native officers, more commonly known by its Chinese name of kai-t'u kuei-liu, which was a policy carried out by Later Ming dynasty and Qing dynasty depriving local native chieftains, or t'u-ssŭ of their political power. Consequently, an elimination of Tibetan native rulers in Batang and Litang was implemented. By the end of his Tibetan campaign, China was able to seize the region of Kham. However, the control established by Zhao was only temporary. After the fall of Qing dynasty, Tibetans regained the control of most of the lands conquered by Zhao Erfeng. In 1912, after Zhao's death, Chinese troops were removed from Tibet in the face of a Tibetan rebellion.

Some historians consider Zhao's Tibetan years as the first Chinese attempt to assimilate Tibet into a regular Chinese province. This means a removal of the Tibetan clergy class from their powerful status and a Han Chinese colonization of Tibet.

The aftermath of Zhao's Tibetan expedition caused the region of Kham to become a centre of Tibetan nationalism. In the following years, Lhasa's attempt of unifying Amdo, Kham and Ü-Tsang into a greater Tibet stagnated due to Kham's demand for more power in the Tibetan regime.