Cao Hongxun

Cao Hongxun (1846-1910), with courtesy name of Zhongming or Zhumin and literary name Lansheng was born in Weixian (today`s Weicheng District. He once obtained the degree of Zhuangyuan.

Born in a poor family, he studied hard and did excellent job in the imperial examinations. In 1876 (Guangxu 2nd year), he obtained the degree of zhuangyuan and worked in Hanlin Academy (an Elite scholarly institution).

In 1879 (Guangxu 5th year), he was appointed as vice examiner in Hunan and two year later he became an educational inspector. During this period, in order to improve education in the lateral area in Hunan, he opened a provincial academy and sent talented people to study there. In 1887 (Guangxu 13th year), he taught some princes in the Emperor`s house.

In 1896, he was appointed as a zhifu (prefect) in Yongchang, Yunnan. It was not easy to administrate Yongchang, a remote area of Yunnan with a lot of minorities. He dealt with every case with great care and charge strictly according to the laws. People all hailed him for his justice. He concerned a lot about people`s trouble and difficulties and tried every effort to help them out. He was promoted to zhifu (prefect) in Yunnan and in 1901 he became a provincial judge in 1901 (Guangxu 27th year). Each year in Yunnan many major cases remained unsolved. But several months after Cao took the post, 10 major cases had been solved. Then two years later, he was further promoted to be provincial treasurer in Guizhou. In 1905 (Guangxu 31st year), he was transferred to Hunan and then further promoted to be a xunfu (travelling inspector).