雍正三(san)年(nian),特諭(yu)永(yong)斌(bin)(bin)(bin)才守俱優,授貴(gui)州(zhou)威寧知府。威寧界(jie)滇(dian)、蜀,諸土(tu)司虐(nve)使其(qi)(qi)(qi)眾,時出(chu)掠境外。烏蒙(meng)祿萬(wan)鍾(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)、鎮(zhen)(zhen)雄隴慶(qing)侯尤強(qiang)悍。永(yong)斌(bin)(bin)(bin)被檄定界(jie),單騎入諭(yu)其(qi)(qi)(qi)渠,陰(yin)使人偽為(wei)(wei)商賈,分道圖地形。鄂(e)爾(er)泰(tai)督云、貴(gui),永(yong)斌(bin)(bin)(bin)以圖上,且曰:“二酋不懲,終(zhong)為(wei)(wei)邊患(huan)。萬(wan)鍾(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)幼,諸土(tu)司未附。今四川(chuan)總督劾萬(wan)鍾(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)不職(zhi),請(qing)發兵(bing)壓境,召萬(wan)鍾(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)出(chu)就質。不出(chu),以兵(bing)入。烏蒙(meng)平(ping),鎮(zhen)(zhen)雄勢孤,亦(yi)且降。”鄂(e)爾(er)泰(tai)從(cong)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),召萬(wan)鍾(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)不至(zhi),令游擊哈元生與永(yong)斌(bin)(bin)(bin)督兵(bing)入。萬(wan)鍾(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)走(zou)鎮(zhen)(zhen)遠,與慶(qing)侯同詣(yi)四川(chuan)降。凡三(san)十三(san)日(ri)而(er)事定。米貼土(tu)婦(fu)陸氏為(wei)(wei)亂(luan),鄂(e)爾(er)泰(tai)遣兵(bing)討之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),永(yong)斌(bin)(bin)(bin)語元生曰:“賊(zei)(zei)以冕山、巴(ba)補為(wei)(wei)后路,事急則渡金(jin)沙(sha)江而(er)逸。以重兵(bing)扼其(qi)(qi)(qi)前,奇兵(bing)越(yue)江攻之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),賊(zei)(zei)可殲也(ye)。”元生用(yong)(yong)其(qi)(qi)(qi)策,克(ke)米貼。鄂(e)爾(er)泰(tai)疏薦永(yong)斌(bin)(bin)(bin)可大(da)用(yong)(yong),擢貴(gui)東道,旋(xuan)調糧(liang)驛道,署(shu)按察(cha)使。朝(chao)議加稅(shui)軍(jun)田(tian)(tian)畝五錢,永(yong)斌(bin)(bin)(bin)議曰:“軍(jun)田(tian)(tian)糧(liang)以屯(tun)租為(wei)(wei)準,已(yi)數倍於民田(tian)(tian)。且今轉相授受,與民田(tian)(tian)交易無異。名為(wei)(wei)軍(jun)屯(tun),實皆(jie)民產(chan),而(er)畝稅(shui)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),是(shi)重科(ke)也(ye),民必(bi)不服。當多事之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)秋,增剝膚之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)患(huan),驅之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)為(wei)(wei)亂(luan)耳。”鄂(e)爾(er)泰(tai)以聞,事乃寢。七年(nian),遷湖南布政使。湖南方(fang)議清察(cha)軍(jun)田(tian)(tian)計畝,未定,永(yong)斌(bin)(bin)(bin)援(yuan)貴(gui)州(zhou)議以請(qing),亦(yi)得免(mian)。
九(jiu)年,調廣東。十(shi)(shi)年春(chun),命署(shu)巡撫,是秋真除。廣東生齒繁,民(min)不(bu)勤稼穡,米(mi)值高(gao)。永(yong)斌飭諸州縣(xian)勸墾(ken)(ken),高(gao)亢(kang)不(bu)宜(yi)禾,令(ling)藝豆麥,諸山(shan)坡麓(lu)栽所宜(yi)木。又(you)以惠、潮兩府民(min)最(zui)悍(han),招墾(ken)(ken)官田(tian),租入充粵秀書院(yuan)膏火。奏(zou)(zou)聞,嘉獎,命勘(kan)明墾(ken)(ken)地畝數(shu)(shu)。尋又(you)奏(zou)(zou)言(yan):“勘(kan)明可(ke)墾(ken)(ken)地六(liu)千八百馀(yu)頃,此(ci)外或山(shan)深(shen)箐(qing)密,或夾沙帶(dai)鹵(lu),體察(cha)(cha)民(min)情(qing),恐磽(qiao)地薄收(shou),糧(liang)(liang)賦無(wu)出。臣思瘠田(tian)產谷雖(sui)少,若多墾(ken)(ken)數(shu)(shu)十(shi)(shi)萬(wan)(wan)畝,年豐可(ke)得(de)數(shu)(shu)十(shi)(shi)萬(wan)(wan)石(shi),即(ji)歉(qian)歲亦必(bi)稍(shao)有(you)所獲,事益於(wu)民(min)。察(cha)(cha)通省糧(liang)(liang)額,新寧(ning)斥鹵(lu),輕(qing)則畝徵(zhi)銀四釐(li)有(you)奇、米(mi)四合有(you)奇。擬請凡承墾(ken)(ken)磽(qiao)瘠之地,概準(zhun)此(ci)例(li),十(shi)(shi)年起科。”下(xia)部議行,於(wu)是墾(ken)(ken)田(tian)至百十(shi)(shi)八萬(wan)(wan)馀(yu)畝。
乾隆元年(nian),兼(jian)署兩廣(guang)總督。上命除(chu)落地(di)稅,因請并免漁課(ke)、埠稅,革(ge)粵(yue)海關贏馀陋例未盡汰者,上悉從(cong)之(zhi)。永斌在(zai)廣(guang)東(dong)數年(nian),坦(tan)懷虛己,淬(cui)厲諸將(jiang)吏。獲劇盜(dao)余(yu)猊、陳美(mei)倫數十輩置之(zhi)法,收曲江乳源(yuan)諸峒(tong)瑤歸化。西洋估舶(bo)互市至者,悉令(ling)寄椗澳門(men),不得泊會城下(xia)。粵(yue)民頌其績。
二年,調(diao)湖北,兼署湖廣總(zong)督(du)。令嚴(yan)保甲(jia),繕城堡(bao),課(ke)農桑,實社倉,興(xing)學校,諸政畢舉。未幾(ji),調(diao)江蘇。按行奉(feng)賢、南(nan)匯、上海、寶山(shan)(shan)四縣海塘,以(yi)(yi)筑塘取土成(cheng)渠(qu),塘根浸(jin)損(sun),議(yi)於塘內開河,南(nan)接(jie)華亭運河,北達寶山(shan)(shan)高橋。又察華亭金山(shan)(shan)嘴(zui)、倪家路,寶山(shan)(shan)楊家嘴(zui)地當沖要,議(yi)視地所宜,或增筑石壩,或就舊塘加(jia)筑寬厚,或改(gai)筑石塘。又請(qing)於寶山(shan)(shan)建海神(shen)廟。并從之。三年,以(yi)(yi)老病乞休,召詣京師(shi),署禮部侍(shi)郎。尋授吏部。四年,致(zhi)仕。五年,卒。