Page:Eminent Chinese Of The Ch’ing Period - Hummel - 1943 - Vol. 2.pdf/148

 against Nanking, as distinguished from the seven-year attempt of the imperialist forces which had ended unsuccessfully in May 1860 (see under ). Tsêng Kuo-fan and other imperialist generals looked with apprehension on his brother's deep penetration into rebel territory with so small a force, and made plans for the victorious troops under to aid in the final assault upon the city. But Tsêng Kuo-ch'üan desired to complete the campaign unaided, relying, for the accomplishment of this purpose, on the indomitable spirit of his soldiers. They had triumphed so far, and regardless of obstacles, they harassed the Taipings almost daily. By making use of deep trenches and other protective devices he not only defended his position from assault but, in one encounter, dealt the assailants such a blow that they dared not make another attempt. Instead, they closed the city gates to wait for reinforcements. Tsêng's own army was so terribly decimated by pestilence that he likewise welcomed a truce. However, before the epidemic could be stamped out the long-awaited reinforcements of the Taipings—said to number 300,000 under the command of Li Hsiu-ch'êng—arrived and encircled Tsêng's army. They attacked with explosive shells obtained from Western countries, with mines, and by every method available at the time. But with careful strategy and desperate fighting all their efforts proved fruitless. Though Tsêng himself did not ask for relief from other generals who were occupied elsewhere, some 200,000 rebel recruits are said to have arrived on October 25 to augment the enemy's forces. This enormous army then assaulted Tsêng's position in relays day and night, while Tsêng counter-attacked in the same manner. The rebels, too, in their over-crowded quarters, suffered greatly from epidemics and from hunger and cold. By November 26, 1862, after forty-six days of almost continuous fighting, their onslaught subsided, leaving Tsêng's forces still intact.

In view of this temporary success, Tsêng Kuo-fan urged his brother to retreat. The latter, however, not only refused to do so, but declined the aid of the "Ever Victorious Army" which Henry Burgevine (see under ) was then commanding. After strengthening his defense he decided to continue the attack, and after a personal inspection at the front, the senior Tsêng acquiesced in the undertaking. The favorable military developments of the following year (1863) deprived the rebels of almost every strategic point around Nanking, and the encirclement of the city was completed in the following February (1864). Chiefly by means of elaborate tunnels under the city wall, Tsêng eventually (July 19, 1864) recovered Nanking—it having been proclaimed the Taiping capital in March 1853. In the final encounters many rebel leaders and thousands of insurgents were mercilessly killed (see under ) and the city was looted and burnt. For his success, achieved after long and patient resistance, Tsêng was rewarded with the rank of Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent, the hereditary rank of an earl of the first class (1864) with the designation Wei-i 威毅, "Brave and Courageous" (1866), and the double-eyed peacock feather.

Because Tsêng Kuo-ch'üan mistakenly reported to the throne the death of Hung Fu, Hung Hsiu-ch'üan's successor (see under the latter), he was slandered by those who envied his achievements. Accordingly he asked leave to return home to recover his health. Though he declined in 1865 to be governor of Shansi, he did accept, in the following year, the governorship of Hupeh. As such it fell to his lot to suppress the Nien bandits (see under ) on the border of Honan. He fought them from time to time for a year and a half but in the summer of 1867 they gradually pressed through Honan to Shantung. Consequently he and other generals engaged in the task were degraded. He retired on the plea of ill health, remaining at home from 1867 to 1875. In the latter year he was made director-general of Yellow River and Grand Canal Conservancy. In June 1877 he became governor of Shansi where for four years he rendered excellent service, particularly in social relief during the terrible famine which afflicted that province in 1878–80. He raised large sums of money to help those who were in need, persuaded the metropolitan government to remit the usual taxes, distributed seed and animals for the cultivation of the soil, and strictly prohibited the planting of opium and the sale of children. When he was transferred to another post (August, 1880) the people of the province erected, at various places, temples to his memory.

In 1880 Tsêng Kuo-ch'üan was ordered to proceed with a large force to Shanhaikuan. At this time negotiations were in progress between China and Russia over Ili, and Tsêng was sent to the northern borders to reinforce the Chinese demands with a show of resistance, holding 750