Ding Bao Zhen

Plot Synopsis

"Ding Bao Zhen" revolves around the story of Ding Bao Zhen during his tenure as the Governor of Shandong and the Governor-General of Sichuan. It tells the stories of Ding Bao Zhen's slaying of Andehai, his two attempts at governing the Yellow River, his fight against corruption, the establishment of the Machinery Bureau, and the reform of the salt administration.

The drama focuses on four main events:

1. Fearlessly combating corruption: Andehai, a trusted eunuch of Empress Dowager Cixi, engages in corrupt activities while traveling to Su Hang on official business. Despite the risks to his own safety, Ding Bao Zhen takes immediate action and brings Andehai to justice.

2. Water management for the welfare of thepeople: When the Yellow River bursts its banks, millions ofpeople are displaced, and the appointed officials brought in from various regions offer no effective solutions. Despite being in his hometown of Guizhou recovering from an illness, Ding Bao Zhen disregards his own health and rushes back to Shandong to combat the flood. In just two months, he successfully controls the Yellow River. Later, in Sichuan, he raises funds and undertakes the massive restoration of the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, which becomes the largest-scale repairproject in the Qing Dynasty.

3. Benefiting thepeople through salt administration reform: Ding Bao Zhen initiates reforms in the salt administration to combat collusion between officials and merchants, address the financial deficit in SichuanProvince, and significantly reduce theprice of salt in regions such as Guizhou.

4.Promoting industrialization and national strength: Ding Bao Zhen establishes the Sichuan Machinery Bureau,promoting domestic industrial development without relying on foreign experts orpurchasing foreign weapons. Under his leadership, the bureauproduces a large quantity of firearms and ammunition, contributing to the strength of the nation and its military.

In the eighth year of the Qing Dynasty's Tongzhi reign, thepowerful eunuch Andehai engages in bribery, oppresses thepeople, and leaves thepalace without authorization. Ding Bao Zhen, serving as the Governor of Shandong at the time, is determined to uphold theprinciples of a clean and just administration and cunningly captures Andehai. This act of rectifying wrongdoing gains widespread support andpraise.

Returning to his hometown of Guizhou, Ding Bao Zhen confronts corrupt local officials, revealing the harsh reality of the deteriorating livelihoods of thepeople during the late Qing Dynasty. During his efforts to control the Yellow River, he uncovers a shocking conspiracy of embezzlement involving officials and gentry at both the central and local levels.

After being transferred to theposition of Governor-General of Sichuan, Ding Bao Zhen faces opposition from his colleagues and withstandspressure. He streamlines bureaucratic institutions by abolishing unnecessary offices and sheds light on the flaws within the imperial examination system used to select talents. Ding Bao Zhen initiates the reform of the salt administration in Sichuan, which challenges the interests of local officials at various levels. Despite being demoted three times, Ding Bao Zhen remains steadfast in his resolve, and the salt administration reform in Sichuan eventually succeeds. Ding Bao Zhen is reinstated to his formerposition.

However, he discovers a widespreadpractice of selling officialpositions and titles, which directly targets him. Collecting evidence of this corruption, Ding Bao Zhenpresents it to the imperial court and brings down theperpetrators. Sadly, Ding Bao Zhenpasses away during his tenure as Governor-General of Sichuan.

"Ding Bao Zhen" is a summary of his lifelong dedication to combating corruption and his commitment to integrity and serving thepeople, making him a treasured figure in the nation's history.

Episodes Recap

Zhong Fu Ren
(Liu Zhi Han)

En Cheng
(Hou Tian Lai)

Yi Xin
(Wang Hai Di)

Qi Song Ru
(Qi Hang)