原文

议建府县治

　　清远向称寇盗渊薮，庞惠敏公有疏，谓清远当萧梁时，尝建为郡，乃全省西北之要冲，而韶、广二州之襟喉也。据其形势，宜于此增设一府，而割广之连州、阳山、连山，肇庆之四会、广宁，梧之怀集隶之。又移连山一县于洸口，以扼上游，而堵截傜贼渡水之路，则南雄、韶可以无虞。如怀集有言，则以肇庆之开建易之。盖开建与贺切邻，去梧甚近，且田粮户口相当，宜无不可。夫惟设一府治，控山带江，与广、韶相望，势如常山之蛇，上足增西北之门户，下足树东南之屏蔽，斯亦久安长治之计也。又肇庆当两粤冲，大司马节镇之所，环郡阻山，独阳江一面濒海。西枕高凉，引四郡，通交南，孤悬海上，错列于神、电、广、海之间，去郡五六百里，议者亦欲别立郡治。又嘉桂岭去会城之北二百余里，当番禺、南海、三水适中，连接从化、清远山峒，为盗贼往来冲要。隆庆间，何端恪、王青萝同游中洞、王蕊诸山，见嘉桂双峰独秀，其地在万山之中，盘据五邑之界，云峦环抱，土田衍平，风气聚而海潮通，可以建城立县，控制要害，安戢峒蛮，为保障一方之利。昔人谓治广以狭，诚上策也。订议多年，以浮论而止。为剧寇巢穴，直至于今。又新会多盗，有议者欲因仓步旧城，益以新会之古博、平康，新兴之双桥，置县，招集流亡，复里甲。又有议者，欲复高凉旧县于电白废基，以控诸寨，卫府城。又谓博白县介高、廉二州之间，自石城至合浦，陆程五百余里，往来不易，欲以肇庆之开建易博白，在梧、肇庆不为损，在廉则甚利。此皆经略之上策。

白话

中文

讨论建立府、县治所的事宜。

清远一向被称为盗匪的老巢。庞尚鹏（惠敏是其谥号）曾上奏疏说，清远在南朝萧梁时期曾设立为郡，是全省西北方向的交通要道，也是韶州、广州的咽喉之地。根据它的地理形势，适宜在这里增设一个府，并将广州府的连州、阳山、连山三县，肇庆府的四会、广宁二县，以及梧州府的怀集县划归其管辖。再将连山县的治所迁移到洸口，用以控制上游，并阻断瑶族盗匪渡河的通路，这样南雄、韶州就可以没有后顾之忧了。如果对划入怀集县有不同意见，就用肇庆府的开建县来替换它。因为开建县与贺州紧邻，距离梧州很近，而且田地、税粮、户口数量也（与怀集）相当，应该是可行的。在这里设立一个府治，控制山脉，濒临江河，与广州、韶州遥相呼应，形成如同常山之蛇首尾相应的态势，向上足以增强西北方向的门户防御，向下足以树立东南方向的屏障，这也是长治久安的计策。另外，肇庆地处两广交通要冲，是总督驻节镇守的地方，郡城四周有群山阻隔，只有阳江这一面靠近大海。它西面连接高凉，牵引着（高、雷、廉、化）四个郡，通往交趾（越南），孤立地悬在海上，分布在神电（即电白）、广海（台山南）之间，距离肇庆府城有五六百里远，也有人建议应该另外设立一个郡（府）来管辖。还有，嘉桂岭距离省城（广州）以北二百多里，地处番禺、南海、三水的中间地带，连接着从化、清远的山区，是盗贼往来的交通要道。隆庆年间，何维柏（端恪是其谥号）、王渐逵（号青萝）一同游览中洞、王蕊等山，看到嘉桂岭双峰秀丽突出，这地方处于群山之中，占据着五个县（指番禺、南海、三水、从化、清远）的交界处，云山环绕，土地平坦开阔，地气汇聚且有水道可通海潮，可以在这里建城设县，控制这片要害之地，安抚平定山区的少数民族，这对保障地方安宁有利。前人所说“治理广东要靠划分细致”（把行政区域划小以便管理）的策略，确实是上策。这个建议讨论了很多年，因为一些不切实际的议论而中止了，（那些地方）至今仍是势力强大的盗匪的巢穴。此外，新会县盗贼很多，有人建议利用仓步旧城，合并新会县的古博、平康两地，以及新兴县的双桥地区，设立一个新县，招集流亡人口，恢复里甲户籍制度。又有人建议，在电白县的旧县城废墟上恢复高凉旧县的建制，用来控制各个村寨据点，保卫（高州）府城。还有人说，博白县位于高州、廉州两个府之间，从石城到合浦的陆路里程有五百多里，往来不便，建议用肇庆府的开建县与（梧州府的）博白县进行交换（即将博白划归廉州府管辖），这对梧州、肇庆两府没有损失，但对廉州府却非常有利。这些都是治理规划的上等策略。

英文

Discussion on Establishing Prefectural and County Seats.

Qingyuan has long been known as a den of bandits. Pang Shangpeng (whose posthumous title was Huimin) submitted a memorial stating that Qingyuan was established as a commandery during the Xiao-Liang dynasty and is a strategic pass in the northwest of the province, serving as a crucial link for Shaozhou and Guangzhou prefectures. Given its strategic position, it is advisable to establish a new prefecture here, incorporating Lianzhou, Yangshan, and Lianshan counties from Guangzhou Prefecture; Sihui and Guangning counties from Zhaoqing Prefecture; and Huaiji county from Wuzhou Prefecture. Furthermore, the county seat of Lianshan should be moved to Guangkou to control the upper reaches of the river and block the passage of Yao bandits crossing the water. This would secure Nanxiong and Shaozhou. If there are objections to including Huaiji, it could be swapped with Kaijian county from Zhaoqing Prefecture. Kaijian borders Hezhou, is close to Wuzhou, and has comparable amounts of farmland, grain tax revenue, and population (to Huaiji), making the swap feasible. Establishing a prefecture here, controlling the mountains and bordering the river, and coordinating with Guangzhou and Shaozhou would create a strategic formation like the "snake of Changshan" (reacting dynamically). This would strengthen the northwestern gateway and establish a barrier for the southeast, representing a plan for long-term peace and stability. Additionally, Zhaoqing is a major hub for Guangdong and Guangxi and the seat of the Governor-General. The prefecture is surrounded by mountains, with only the Yangjiang area facing the sea. To its west lies Gaoliang, connecting four commanderies and routes to Jiaozhi (Vietnam). It is isolated by the sea, scattered between Shendian (Dianbai) and Guanghai (Taishan), and is five to six hundred li away from the Zhaoqing prefectural city. Some have proposed establishing a separate commandery (prefecture) there. Furthermore, Jiagui Ridge, over two hundred li north of the provincial capital (Guangzhou), is centrally located between Panyu, Nanhai, and Sanshui, connecting to the mountainous areas of Conghua and Qingyuan, making it a key route for bandits. During the Longqing era (Ming Dynasty), He Weibei (posthumous title Duanke) and Wang Jiankui (style name Qingluo) visited the Zhongdong and Wangrui mountains. They noted the prominent twin peaks of Jiagui Ridge, situated amidst numerous mountains at the border of five counties (Panyu, Nanhai, Sanshui, Conghua, Qingyuan). It features surrounding peaks, flat and fertile land, concentrated "qi" (vital energy), and waterway access to the sea. A city and county could be established here to control this strategic point, pacify the mountain tribes ("Dong Man"), and secure the region. The ancient saying "govern Guangdong by dividing it" (making administrative units smaller for better control) is indeed a superior strategy. This proposal was discussed for many years but was halted due to impractical arguments, and these areas remain bandit lairs to this day. Moreover, Xinhui county suffers from frequent banditry. Some propose establishing a new county based on the old Cangbu city, incorporating the Gubo and Pingkang areas of Xinhui and the Shuangqiao area of Xinxing county. This would help resettle displaced people and restore the Lijia (local administrative and tax) system. Others suggest restoring the old Gaoliang county seat on the ruins in Dianbai county to control local villages/strongholds and protect the (Gaozhou) prefectural city. It is also said that Bobai county lies between Gaozhou and Lianzhou prefectures, and the land route from Shicheng to Hepu is over five hundred li, making travel difficult. It is proposed to swap Kaijian county of Zhaoqing Prefecture for (Wuzhou Prefecture's) Bobai county (transferring Bobai to Lianzhou's jurisdiction). This would not harm Wuzhou or Zhaoqing prefectures but would greatly benefit Lianzhou Prefecture. These are all excellent strategic plans for governance.

文化解读/分析

该条目集中反映了清代初期广东地方治理的核心思路与面临的挑战。广东地处边陲，地理复杂，族群多样（特别是存在被称为“傜”、“峒蛮”的山区少数民族），加之明末清初的动荡，导致盗匪活动猖獗，地方安全形势严峻。

1. 以行政区划调整强化控制： 文中提出的多项建议，如在清远设府、在嘉桂岭设县、恢复高凉旧县等，核心目标都是通过增设、调整行政建制，加密管理网络，将权力触角延伸到原本控制薄弱的“寇盗渊薮”和“冲要”地带。这体现了中央或地方政府试图通过精细化管理来加强对边疆地区的实际控制。
2. “治广以狭”的治理哲学： 屈大均引述并认同“治广以狭”的观点，即主张将广东这个广阔复杂的区域划分为更小的行政单元，以便于管理和弹压。这是一种针对大省治理难题的策略性思考，旨在提高行政效率和地方掌控力。
3. 军事与民政结合的考量： 设立府县治所不仅是民政管理的需求，更带有浓厚的军事色彩。例如，清远被视为“襟喉”、“门户”，嘉桂岭设县旨在“控制要害，安戢峒蛮”，恢复高凉旧县意在“控诸寨，卫府城”。这表明当时的行政区划调整与区域安全、军事布防紧密相关。
4. 对少数民族地区的管理策略： 文中提及“傜贼”、“峒蛮”，反映了当时主流社会对山区少数民族的看法以及潜在的冲突。通过设立行政中心、迁移县治（如连山移洸口）等方式，意图加强对这些地区的控制、监视和“安戢”（安抚平定）。
5. 现实困境与改革阻力： 尽管作者认为这些建议是“经略之上策”，但也指出如嘉桂岭设县等提议“订议多年，以浮论而止”，最终未能实施，导致问题持续存在。这揭示了地方行政改革可能面临来自各方的阻力，包括观念上的分歧（“浮论”）、利益冲突或财政困难等。

总而言之，“议建府县治”不仅记录了具体的行政区划调整建议，更折射出清初广东在国家整合、地方治理、区域安全、族群关系等方面的复杂图景和应对策略。

关键词

广东, 清代, 行政区划, 府县建制, 地方治理, 区域安全, 盗匪, 少数民族, 傜族, 峒蛮, 治广以狭, 清远, 肇庆, 阳江, 嘉桂岭, 新会, 高凉, 博白, 庞尚鹏, 何维柏, 王渐逵, 战略地理