Page:Eminent Chinese Of The Ch’ing Period - Hummel - 1943 - Vol. 1.pdf/428

Rh 南王. In 1673 the Manchu Court accepted the resignation of and decided to abolish his feudal powers in Kwangtung. This made Wu and Kêng fearful of losing their command too. They submitted resignations meant only as "feelers," and when these were accepted, revolted. It is possible, however, that Kêng's grudge against the Manchus dated further back, and was due to the temporary cancellation of his grandfather's princedom in 1649, by the Regent,.

That a certain amount of racial hatred was smouldering in the hearts of Chinese officials who served the Manchus was inevitable. Some Chinese sources ascribe Kêng Ching-chung's rash judgment in joining the rebels in 1674 to his “weakness and lack of understanding," and a proclamation by Emperor Shêng-tsu plainly states that he had been living on the reputation of his father and grandfather and had been given his high post purely in recognition of their services. The first reaction to the triple revolt— in the southwest, in Kwangtung, and Kêng in Fukien—was a flood of edicts denouncing Kêng and calling upon his supporters to surrender. Absolute amnesty and handsome rewards were promised for all rebels involved. There was naturally an appropriate show of force, and the first actual resistance offered by the Manchus was in Chekiang. Kêng had invaded this province and occupied Wenchow. The army sent by the Manchu commander  stormed the city with the help of, and elaborate campaigns were outlined in edicts commanding loyal Ch‘ing troops to advance into Chekiang, and ordering the Hangchow and Chinkiang admirals to the coast. High commands were handed out to Manchus, one to, cousin of Emperor Shih-tsu, and father-in-law of Kêng's younger brother, Kêng Chü-chung (see under ). Yolo was sent to Nanchang and from there wrote letters to Kêng pleading with him to surrender, but Kêng's answers were "angry and stubborn." The rebels, however, began to lose courage when their soldiers were defeated at many points.

Kêng, in desperation, even sought the help of, promising him certain districts on the mainland. But for some reason he did not keep his word, with the result that Chêng Ching, highly incensed, took Amoy and other towns in the years 1674 to 1676, and even raided Foochow. Giyešu attacked the rebels at Chien-yang and again offered Kêng a chance to surrender. Kêng replied that he was willing, but that his followers were not. Finally Giyešu camped outside the city of Yen-p'ing where Kêng was, and on November 9, 1676 obtained his surrender. At that moment it was far from opportune to have Kêng executed, but events show that the Manchus never abandoned the idea of revenge for all the anxiety he had caused them. Although Kêng now had his title restored to him, and took part in successful campaigns against Chêng Ching's forces at Hsinghua and elsewhere, he was constantly under surveillance by one Manchu or another. When Giyešu secretly addressed the throne in 1678, recommending that the time had come to arrest and execute Kêng, the emperor replied that a premature move of this sort might frighten the remainder of the rebels who were just then "stretching their necks" to be pardoned and taken back into the fold. A bit of trickery was suggested by Peking for luring Kêng Ching-chung to the Court, and once there he was sentenced to be publicly put to death by quartering (磔死). The emperor was in no hurry to have the sentence carried out, but Grand Secretary urged that his crime was too great to be pardoned. The point that was held most against Kêng was his "angry and stubborn" reply to Prince Yolo when he was first offered amnesty. Finally, in 1682, Kêng Ching-chung was executed. Eight of his followers were quartered; his son, Kêng Hsien-tso 耿顯祚 and a score of other rebels were decapitated, and the title, Prince Ching-nan, was abolished. Some of his followers escaped death and were sent into exile (see under ).

[1/480/12a; 2/80/19a; 四王合傳 Ssŭ Wang ho-chuan in 荊駝逸史 Ching-t'o i-shih; 閩難記 Min-nan chi in Chao-tai ts'ung-shu; 平定耿逆記 P'ing-ting Kêng ni chi in Ching-t'o i-shih; Haenisch, T'oung Pao 1913, p. 83; China Review, XXI, 1894–95, p. 94.]

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 KÊNG Chung-ming 耿仲明, d Dec. 30, 1649, a native of Kai-chou, Liaotung, was throughout his life closely associated with. When their superior,, was executed in 1629 they both fled to Têng-chou, Shantung, becoming lieutenant colonels under the governor,. When K'ung rebelled early in 1632, Kêng, with the aid of conspirators, took 416