Page:Tseng Kuo Fan and the Taiping Rebellion.djvu/345

322 A. When the prefect and magistrate left their posts there was no anticipation of their being criminals, so they boldly set out; then afterwards when men were sent to inform them that they had been degraded and reported to the Board of Punishments these officials were much surprised and started back from Hsünteh and Mihyun to T'ientsin. Q. Do you now have any sight in your right eye? A. My right eye is without light and I can see nothing, but my left eye still has sight. Q. Are your other ailments cured? A. The other things are much better. Q. From the way you stand and kneel your strength seems to be good. A. I have not regained all my former strength. Q. The affair of Ma Sin-yi, is it not strange? A. This affair is very strange. Q. Ma Sin-yi managed affairs very well. A. He managed affairs with skill and mildness.

The next day the interview was continued:

Q. How many soldiers did you drill in Chihli? A. Your servant drilled three thousand new soldiers; the former viceroy, Kwan Wen, drilled four thousand old-style soldiers, seven thousand in all. It is the intention to train three thousand more, making a total of ten thousand. I have already come to an understanding with Li Hung-chang to determine the regulations according to your servant's memorial and carry out the plan. Q. The training of soldiers in the south is also most important. You must manage this very efficiently. A. It is now quiet along the seacoast, but we must find means of guarding it. Your servant intends to establish fortifications at important places along the Yangtse River. Q. If you can defend this it will be very fine. These churches give us constant trouble. A. Of late years there have been many riots connected with churches. The church members are fond of imposing on those common people who do not "eat the religion"; the