10 – Ho-Shen
Our final corrupt individual in a position of power from history shows that corruption at the highest levels of power has always extended the world over. Ho-Shen was a Chinese courtier who was born in 1750. He became an imperial bodyguard at the age of 25. Records show that his good looks, wit and friendly manner made quite an impression on the then-emperor of China, Qianlong. Within a year, Ho-Shen obtained one of the most significant positions in the empire, gaining control of the disbursement of money and recruitment of people in the Chinese empire.
During the uprising of the White Lotus Society in central and western China in 1796, Ho-Shen was tasked with beating the rebels. Along with a number of his friends, he ensured the campaign lasted for a long time and diverted large sums of money originally intended to help fund the war to themselves. The troops accordingly resorted to looting ordinary people the emperor’s authority was seriously weakened.
Qinalong died in 1799 and Ho-Shen was removed from office. The new emperor, Jiaqing, had Ho-Shne arrested and made him commit suicide. While potentially unreliable because of exaggeration by his enemies, the value of Ho-Shen’s wealth on death is estimated to have amounted to 60,000,000 ounces of silver, 75 pawnshops, 70,000 furs, and a gold service of 4,288 pieces.
Where did we find this stuff? Here are our sources:
“Robert Mugabe: Is Zimbabwe’s ex-president a hero or villain?”. BBC News website. November 2017.
“Boss Tweed Biography”. Biography.com.
“How women politicians are becoming just like the guys”. The Christian Science Monitor. August 2016.