Wei Yuan

A scholar-official of great renown, he has composed great writtings regarding the need to reform the Qing, taking from the Western powers what is convenient, and leaving what is not. He is an ally of He Changling and Tao Zhu, as well as many other scholars who believe in the need to make the Qing a modern state.

He led a small meeting with the tributaries on regard to their defense against barbarians, granting him prestige among other officials.