 However, before he could assume office, he was ordered to go to Sichuan instead to replace Kuijun () as the acting-Viceroy of Sichuan after the latter was dismissed from office for his failure to defeat Boxer rebels in Sichuan.While he was in Sichuan, he tightened and enforced government regulations strictly, set up a police force, and accused over 40 officials of corruption.He was nicknamed "Butcher of Officials" () – one of the "Three Butchers of the Late Qing Dynasty" () alongside "Butcher of Money" Zhang Zhidong and "Butcher of Scholars" Yuan Shikai.