Imperial Household Department
In the early years of the Tongzhi Emperor's reign (early 1860s), he set up the Firearms Division and was rewarded with the position of a "jingtang" (京堂; fifth-grade magistrate). He was also appointed as a flank commander (翼長) and "zhuancao dachen" (專操大臣) before being transferred to be a "zongbing" (總兵) of the left flank. Through Wenxiang's recommendation, he became the Vice Secretary (侍郎) of the Ministry of Works. Later, he was reassigned to the Ministry of Revenue and concurrently appointed as Minister of the Imperial Household Department.