Huihuaji 灰畫集

Huihuaji 灰畫集 "Collection on draft maps" is a book on military geography written during the Qing period 清 (1644-1911) by Li Peixun 李培訓 xxx. The book has a length of 20 juan and was finished in 1726. The book's title denotes the traditional custom of drafting maps during campaigns.

The downfall of the Ming dynasty 明 (1368-1644) was a reason to write a book about the importance of geography and topography in warfare.With many historical examples, Li Peixun explains the reasons for victory and defeat by analysing the topography factors. He stresses the importance of the regions of Shaanxi and Shandong for the heartland in the Yellow River basin and the relation between the area of northern Anhui and Jiangsu with the Yangtze valley. A capital city had to be protected with several layers of garrisons stretching over vast distances. Garrisons in north Shaanxi, Liaoning and Shandong were thus able to protect Beijing. Li Peixun was aware of the danger that the open flank to the west posed in Shanxi and hence anticipated the western campaigns during the Kangxi 康熙 (1662-1722) and Qianlong 乾隆 (1736-1795) reign-periods. He also suggests planting a belt of forests in the northwest to obstruct the cavalry armies of the nomadic tribes. The author relied on a large amount of older treatises, especially the books Dushi fangyu jiyao 讀史方輿紀要, Wenwuku 文武庫, Juzhupian 居諸篇 and Qinbian jilüe 秦邊紀略.

There is an edition in ten volumes from the Republican period (1911-1949) of an unclear date, published by an institution called Xunlian Zongjian Bianju Ju 訓練總監編輯局.