Page:Eminent Chinese Of The Ch’ing Period - Hummel - 1943 - Vol. 2.pdf/17

 lake. His efforts were eventually successful and Kiukiang was taken on May 19, 1858 by the combined forces.

After the capture of Kiukiang, P'êng Yü-lin and Yang Yüeh-pin encountered the Taipings in the next few years along the middle course of the Yangtze. When Anking, the capital of Anhwei, was retaken (see under ), P'êng was rewarded for his naval effort in the campaign with the governorship of Anhwei, which he declined. To facilitate his command of the river forces he was, however, promoted in 1862 to the rank of junior vice-president of the Board of War, after which he co-operated with Tsêng's land forces then fighting their way from Anking to Nanking. In 1863 P'êng and Yang crushed the important Taiping base at Chiu-fu-chou opposite Hsia-kuan (Nanking) on the Yangtze. The Taiping onslaught was furious, but the result was a victory for the Ch'ing forces and was the turning-point in the siege of Nanking. When another detachment of Taipings came from Fukien to Kiangsi to attack the rear of the government forces, Yang Yüeh-pin was placed in command of these government troops. But soon thereafter he was appointed governor-general of Shensi, Kansu, and Sinkiang, and command of the flotilla devolved upon P'êng Yü-lin.

After the taking of Nanking in 1864, Yang Yüeh-pin and P'êng Yü-lin were each rewarded for their share in the naval operations with the title of Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent snd the hereditary rank of Ch'ing-ch'ê tu-yü of the first class. Yang was installed in his position as governor-general in 1865 and retired in 1866. Peng was made (1865) director-general of grain transport. But true to his professed intention not to be hampered by any official post, nor to be dependent on a government salary, he declined the office. Appreciating the sincerity of his motives, the Emperor acquiesced, but ordered him to discuss with Tsêng Kuo-fan the organization of the Yangtze flotilla. Detailed regulations were drawn up in 1868 and printed as a supplement to the Chiao-p'ing Yüeh fei fang-lüeh (see under ). The greater part of the surplus funds which P'êng had raised, through many hardships, to meet the military needs of the government he utilized to reward meritorious generals and for the welfare of his native district. In a memorial to the throne requesting leave to retire to observe the customary mourning period for his mother who had died in 1853, he asserted that he had willingly joined the service empty-handed and was content to retire the same way. In nearly twenty years of service with the navy he had never accumulated property, had not asked leave for a single day, and had never gone ashore for self-enjoyment. His simple request was granted and his self-effacement was suitably lauded by the throne. From 1869 to 1872 he lived at home.

But while P'êng was living a life of austere retirement the morale of his marines was beginning to deteriorate. He was recalled in 1872 to resume his task and it was not long before a number of officers were dismissed or punished. After he had revived good order and spirit among his forces he was granted an audience with the Emperor and was appointed acting senior vice-president of the Board of War. This appointment, too, he declined in repeated memorials. He was authorized instead to inspect the Yangtze and was allowed the privilege of reporting directly to the throne. His opinion about important national affairs was consulted, and he was deputed to investigate cases affecting high local officials. Not only did the naval officers fear his careful inspection but local officials stood in awe of his coming. During this period he maintained peace and good order in the Yangtze Valley, though he opposed the introduction of railways, whose future importance he did not perceive.

In 1881 P'êng Yü-lin again declined the post of acting governor-general of Kiangsu and Chekiang. But two years later he was appointed president of the Board of War and this time was unsuccessful in declining the post. This was the year of the Franco-Chinese imbroglio over Annam. P'êng Yü-lin and Yang Yüeh-pin (then retired) were ordered to the front. Though ill and aged, P'êng proceeded to Kwangtung with 4,000 Hunan veterans, prepared to carry on a defensive campaign. Protesting in vain at the proposed negotiations with France (1884), he begged leave to retire on grounds of illness, after the signature of the treaty on June 9, 1885. Despite his illness his frequent entreaties to retire were unheeded until the close of 1889. One year later both P'êng and Yang died and both were posthumously rewarded with the title of Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent. P'êng was canonized as Kang-chih 剛直; Yang as Yung-ch'üeh 勇愨.

P'êng Yü-lin was one of four outstanding leaders among the Hunan Braves (see under ) and was a man of unquestioned integrity. 619