Page:Eminent Chinese Of The Ch’ing Period - Hummel - 1943 - Vol. 2.pdf/53

 for a major campaign. Gathering his ships and men, he put out to sea on June 7 and, by holding the Pescadores, prevented the insurgent forces from sailing westward to the mainland. Meanwhile the governor-general of Chekiang and Fukien, Gioro Manbao 覺羅滿保, proceeded to Amoy to command the rear defenses. Lan T'ing-chên 藍廷珍, brigade-general of Namoa, was ordered to proceed with his men and ships to the aid of Shih Shih-p'iao. Lan joined Shih on July 4 at the Pescadores, their combined forces consisting of approximately 18,000 men and 600 ships. When they learned that the rebel forces were in confusion, owing to quarrels among themselves, they set sail, reaching the coast of Taiwan on July 10. They opened fire on a fort which guarded the entrance to the bay leading to the capital city. The magazine of the fort exploded and the rebels were forced to retreat. The government forces advanced, and on the same day took the town of An-p'ing. After several days of fighting the capital city of Taiwan was recovered. Shih Shih-p'iao entered the city on July 17, approximately thirty-eight years after his father had led his victorious troops into the same city. The leader of the rebel forces,, fled inland but was soon captured.

Shih Shih-p'iao, being the first to submit a report on the victory to the Court in Peking, was rewarded with garments of imperial design by Emperor Shêng-tsu. According to, author of a contemporary account, P'ing Tai chi (see under Lan), the recovery of Taiwan was due chiefly to the heroism of Lan Ting-chên, although most of the credit went to Shih Shih-p'iao. Early in October a hurricane struck the island, causing considerable damage. Occupied night and day in the task of directing relief, Shih Shih-p'iao became ill and died a month later. In deference to his request his remains were taken to his native place and buried near those of his father. He was canonized as Yung-kuo 勇果, and in 1723 was posthumously granted a minor hereditary rank.

[1/290/2b; 2/12/37a; 3/276/25a; P'ing T'ai chi; Fukien t'ung-chih (1922) 228/20b; China Review, XXI, 1894–95, p. 96.]

2em

 SHIH Ta-k'ai 石達開, 1821 or 1831–1863, June, general and leader in the Taiping Rebellion, was a native of Kuei-hsien, Kwangsi. He was born in a well-to-do peasant family and was versed in literature as well as in the military arts, but he belonged to the social class in South China known as Hakka—a class often oppressed by the dominant groups. In order to gain collective security against these oppressors and the local bandits who infested the region, he joined the religious movement of. Together with five other leaders he laid down the plans for the Taiping Rebellion which broke out in Kwangsi in 1850 (see under ). His property was sold and the proceeds given to the common military fund. When the government of the Celestial Kingdom of Peace was organized at Yung-an, Shih Ta-k'ai was made I-wang 翼王 or Assistant King, and was appointed commander of the left wing of the army. During the development of the Rebellion from Kwangsi to Nanking (1850–53) he participated in many battles, but was never defeated. Hence his antagonists had ample reason to respect his ability and prowess.

When in September 1853 he was stationed at Anking to quiet the people, he ruled them with justice and treated them with consideration. Men who commanded local respect were placed in positions of authority, bandits were suppressed, and peace and order were restored. The people of Anking not only respected his administration but praised him personally. Later he was recalled to Nanking to assist the Taiping government, and when mobilized his forces at Hêng-chou for the attack on Yochow (July 1854), Shih was sent to the relief of Hupeh. Learning, when he reached Wuhu, that Wuchang had fallen to the government forces, he set up his headquarters at Anking and prepared to make a strong defense at Kiukiang. He bottled up Tsêng Kuo-fan's flotilla in Po-yang Lake and by a sudden attack on the night of January 13, 1855, captured Tsêng's flagship—a signal victory that was followed by another (April 3, 1555) in which the Taipings retook Wuchang. Soon after, however, Shih was forced by and  to evacuate Hupeh and go to Kiangsi where, by skillful manoeuvers, he took most of the cities and towns. When a strong government force guarded Chang-shu, a town about 180 li southwest of Nanchang, capital of Kiangsi, Shih Ta-k'ai had only a few thousand men with whom to attack the town. By lighting many lanterns on the hills adjacent to Changshu and making a fierce assault at night, he 655