Tao Shu became a metropolitan graduate in 1802. He served as xunfu official of Anhui and Jiangsu and governor of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, among other positions he held. This book primarily narrates the political achievements of Tao Shu during his time as an official in the Jiangnan region (The area of China south of the Yangtse). Aside from analysis of his successes, it also goes into institutional and administrative history. Acting according to the guiding principle of being scrupulous in separating public from private interests, Tao Shu did not shy away from difficulty, enacting new administrative measures to benefit the nation and the people's livelihoods, such as using canals to ship grain and the Huaibei salt reform s, all of which were pioneering at the time. His style of action had a great influence on Ts'eng Kuofan, and the facilities he created when serving as the Governor Zhejiang-Jiangsu did not exceed those of Tao .