Page:Eminent Chinese Of The Ch’ing Period - Hummel - 1943 - Vol. 1.pdf/40

Rh defend the capital itself. Largely in consequence of this memorial Ch'ung-hou was handed over to the Board of Punishments and was made envoy to Russia to negotiate a new settlement. The more favorable terms of February 1881 were due more to the policy of the moderate group headed by than to the war party of which Chang was the voice. Nevertheless Chang emerged from the Ili affair with greatly enhanced prestige and received a series of promotions which culminated in his appointment, early in 1882, as governor of Shansi.

Chang found that province in an unhappy state because of famine and widespread corruption in the official service. He punished the principal offenders, and supported a number of reconstruction measures such as cancellation of delinquent taxes, encouragement of the local iron industry, and patronage for schools and scholars. He initiated a project for colonizing Inner Mongolia. He also tried to check the cultivation of the opium poppy and enjoined scholars and officials to give up the habit. However, many of his elaborate reform schemes failed in effect because of his promotion in 1884 to the governor-generalship of Kwangtung and Kwangsi. Chang had already shown great concern over the extension of French influence in Annam. In 1882 he had memorialized with characteristic bellicosity, recommending military action to maintain China's suzerainty there. When he proceeded to Canton in 1884 the chief problem which confronted him was the Annamese situation, which had now become critical (see under ). His strategy was to make use of Liu Yung-fu (see under ) and his "Black Flags", and to take the offensive against the French in Annam in the hope of drawing them off from an attack on Formosa. Chang worked heroically to raise supplies and to finance the campaign; and to these exertions he owed escape from serious punishment when some of his protégés proved incompetent. Discussions looking toward peace began early in 1885, but on March 29 Fêng Tzŭ-ts'ai, whom Chang had recommended, led the Chinese troops to a surprise victory at Langson (諒山 Liang-shan) for which Chang claimed and received a due share of the credit. But the battle of Langson did not affect the peace terms. These terms harked back to the Li-Fournier convention (1884), by which China renounced her overlordship in Annam. Chang, eager to push China's last-minute military advantage—and never predisposed to favor any arrangements in which Li Hung-chang had a hand—repeatedly memorialized against the settlement, but was finally rebuked by the throne.

During his six years as governor-general of Kwangtung and Kwangsi Chang Chih-tung was full of plans and projects, even if the fulfillment sometimes fell short of the intention. He turned his salary and perquisites back to the treasury, and attempted to reform the tax-collecting system in his provinces. The accruing funds he expended on a wide range of enterprises. In 1887 he established an arsenal which first manufactured shells and later small firearms. He added a number of warships to the flotilla which patrolled the coast of Kwangtung, and established (1887) a school for the training of military and naval officers. He also gathered as secretaries several young men who had been abroad, among them Ku T'ang-shêng 辜湯生 who in later years was generally known by his tzŭ, Ku Hung-ming. In 1889 Chang opened in Canton the first modern mint in China. He set up in 1887 the Academy, Kuang-ya shu-yüan 廣雅書院, which rivaled in scholarship the famous Hsüeh-hai T'ang (see under ). He began in 1886 to print books for the benefit of the local students, and in 1887 established the printing office, Kuang-ya Shu-chü (書局), with funds contributed by himself and several officials and merchants. Many scholars were engaged as editors or collators for this press which published over a period of about twenty years some 176 items, mostly composed by authors of the Ch'ing period. With the exception of seven items, all these works were collected and reprinted in 1920 under the title, Kuang-ya shu-chü ts'ung-shu (叢書) or simply Kuang-ya ts'ung-shu. A part of this collectanea, comprising works on history, was reprinted lithographically in Shanghai in 1902 under the title, 史學叢書 Shih-hsüeh ts'ung-shu. So spectacular were the achievements of the Academy and the Printing Office that Chang Chih-tung was often called Chang Kuang-ya in reference to his connection with these establishments. The people of the provinces were impressed by his energetic and honest administration, but a treasury deficit was generally expected as a result of his apparent extravagance. However, when his successor, Li Han-chang (see under ), took over the office of governor-general at Canton (1859) he was surprised to find the treasury in much better condition than it was six years earlier 28