Page:Eminent Chinese Of The Ch’ing Period - Hummel - 1943 - Vol. 1.pdf/346

Rh combined forces made a desperate, though futile, attempt to take Wuchang. The death of Lo, his most indispensable general, on April 12, 1856, was a severe blow to Hu, but with a competent substitute,, Wuchang was eventually taken on December 19 of that year. As a reward for his achievements Hu Lin-i was formally installed as governor of Hupeh and was given the button of the first rank.

After the devastations of the long war round Wuchang it devolved on Hu Lin-i to rehabilitate the government of the province. He selected with care competent military and civil officials, encouraged incorruptibility and efficiency, prohibited lavish social entertainments, and established a bureau to scrutinize and check government expenditures. He disarmed improperly trained soldiers and strengthened those portions that were well-disciplined. He set up a commissariat for munitions and rations and strengthened the defense of Wuchang so that it would not again fall to the rebels. He also promoted commerce and industry and so laid the foundations for the modern development of Hupeh.

At the same time actual military operations were not neglected. The Taipings were driven eastward step by step; Hupeh was fairly free of them by 1857, and Kiukiang was recovered on May 19, 1858, after a long siege and desperate attacks. For this achievement Hu Lin-i received the title Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent, and later was granted one hundred days leave to mourn the death of his mother. Meanwhile Li Hsü-pin and his force were crushed near Lu-chou, the temporary capital of Anhwei, and Hu hurried back to resume his task in order to keep the situation from becoming worse. In June 1859 laid siege to Pao-ch'ing, Hunan, and Hu sent Li Hsü-i (see under ) to rescue the city.

At the close of 1859 Hu Lin-i and Tsêng Kuo-fan laid plans to take Anking, capital of Anhwei, by approaching the city from four routes. Hu was responsible for the third route, and labored as Tsêng's chief support in command ing troops and supplying provisions. Perceiving great ignorance of military tactics on the part of his co-generals, Hu, with the help of, and others, compiled (Mar. 5, 1859–Jan. 22, 1861) a handbook on the subject, entitled 讀史兵略 Tu-shih ping-lüeh, printed in 1861 in 46 chüan, and made up, as the title indicates, from accounts of battles which he had read in histories. At the beginning of 1860 the plan to take Anking met with serious obstacles. Though by February Hu Lin-i's third route army had advanced to T'ai-hu, and was therefore not far from Anking, the Great Camp at the walls of Nanking (see under ) was conclusively defeated. Tsêng Kuo-fan had, in the meantime, been appointed governor-general of the Liang-Kiang and was unable to take up his post at Nanking owing to the pressure on his forces at Ch'i-mên, Anhwei (1860–61). Moreover, in 1860–61, the Taipings were making counter-attacks on Hupeh from many sides in the hope of lifting the siege of Anking which was being pressed by. At this critical moment Hu strongly advised Tsêng Kuo-fan to continue the siege of Anking and to withstand the attack at Ch'i-mên while Hu himself went back to Hupeh to repulse the Taipings there. He gave to Tsêng all the financial aid he could, even to a part of his own salary. In order to raise more funds he repeatedly solicited the Emperor to approve a reduced rate for the sale of official titles. When Anking was finally taken, on September 5, 1861, Tsêng Kuo-fan recommended that Hu be given chief credit for the success of the campaign. Accordingly Hu was given the title, Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent, and the hereditary rank, Ch'i-tu-yü. But unfortunately he, worn out by his exertions, had already been spitting blood for four months, and died in office at Wuchang. He was canonized as Wên-chung 文忠, was posthumously given the title of governor-general, and in 1864 the hereditary rank of Ch'ing-ch'ê tu-yü of the first class. Later he was posthumously raised to the hereditary rank of a baron of the third class. As Hu had no son, he adopted a nephew to inherit the rank. Hu's wife was a daughter of.

Hu Lin-i was gallant and dignified and is said to have had a long face and penetrating eyes. He was quick in decision and persistent in action—an important factor in his success being also his ability to co-operate with both is superiors and his inferiors. He was versed in military lore and at the same time knew how to control his generals. His sayings and those of Tsêng Kuo-fan on military matters were brought together in a discerning work, entitled Tsêng Hu chih-ping yü-lu (see under ). Hu Lin-i,, and Tsêng Kuo-fan are recognized as the four outstanding leaders of this period—each contributing in his own sphere to the success of the campaign against the Taipings. 334