书城外语AShortHistoryofShanghai
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第20章 SHANGHAI DURING THE TAIPIN GREBELLION–(Continued)(

Foreigners Adopt an Aggressive PolicyMore and more it became apparent that the policy of defensiveneutrality was futile, and that the safety of Shanghai could only besecured by aggressive measures in co-operation with the Imperialistforces. Admiral Hope permitted the transport in British steamers of9,000 troops of Tseng Kuo-fan"s army, from Anking to Shanghai, andafter consultation with his French colleague, Admiral A. L. Protet,it was agreed to clear the country of the Taiping marauders within athirty-mile radius of Shanghai. This was approved by the British andFrench authorities, and it was decided to transfer the British troopsin garrison at Tientsin to Shanghai. For the Carrying out of the newpolicy, the assistance of Ward"s unit was sought. Admiral Hope inwriting to Mr. Bruce said, “in the force organized and led by Mr. WardI see the nucleus and beginning of a military organization, which mayprove most valuable in the distracted state of China.“The Thirty Mile RadiusBy the arrival of the garrison from the North, the Allied force wasincreased to 2,824 men, and these with the 1,000 troops under Wardwere thought sufficient for the carrying out of an aggressive campaign.

The command was exercised jointly by Admiral Hope, AdmiralProtet, General Staveley, who had come with the troops from Tientsin,and General Ward, but the general direction of operations wasentrusted to Admiral Hope.

Victories were gained over the rebels at Waykiatze, Tsipao,Nanziang, Kiating, Tsingpu, Nankiao and Tselin (Cholin)。

Admiral Protet, a man of remarkable bravery, was killed in theassault on Nankiao. His remains were taken to Shanghai and hisfuneral was attended by many influential Chinese. An Imperial decreewas issued, extolling the Admiral and commanding that a sacrifice beoffered to his spirit.

The Summer of 1862

The gains made by the allied troops were not retained for anylength of time, as the Imperialist garrisons proved unable to holdthem. Owing to the oppressive heat of the summer weather, and tothe prevalence of cholera, the troops retired to Shanghai and for a timethere was a cessation of hostilities.

During this period, the Volunteer Mounted Rangers, a forceconsisting of about twenty young men of the Settlements, were of greatservice, reconnoitring the country and bringing back reports of themovements of the enemy.

Chung Wang, the rebel leader, exasperated by frequent defeats,In the grounds of the French Town Hall in Rue du Consulat stands a bronzestatue on a granite pedestal erected in honour of Admiral Protet, and the Frenchtroops who lost their lives in China during the Taiping Rebellion.

was stirred to greater activity, and with a large force penetrated as faras the Bubbling Well, within two miles of the Settlement boundary,which at that time was at Defence Creek. Refugees, in great numbers,flocked into the Settlements, increasing the Chinese population to500,000.

Only Sungkiang and Nankiao remained in the hands of the alliedtroops, and the outlook was serious.

Although the foreign Powers had now espoused the cause of theImperialists, the rebels continued to obtain large supplies of guns andammunition from foreign firms in Shanghai and undoubtedly theywere thus enabled to prolong the rebellion.

Death of General WardNingpo fell into the hands of the Taipings on December 9th,186 1, and from that centre a campaign was directed against thesurrounding towns. General Ward"s help was solicited to resist theadvance of the rebels. In an attack on Tzeki, a town about ten milesnorth-west of Ningpo, on September 21st, 186 2, he was killed by astray bullet.

Thus ended the adventurous career of one who had provedhimself a loyal servant of the Imperialist cause. General Gordon paidthe following tribute to his memory, “He was a brave, clear-headedman, much liked by the Chinese Mandarins, and a very fit man for thecommand of the force he had raised.“Later, on March 10th, 1877 , a Memorial Hall was erected byImperial order at Sungkiang, containing a spirit tablet before whichincense was burnt. In recent years an annual pilgrimage has been madeto this shrine by members of the American Legion of Shanghai, andmeasures have been taken to keep the place in repair.

Appointment of BurgevineAfter the death of General Ward the “Ever Victorious Army” camedirectly under the control of Li Hung-chang. The question arose as towho should be put in command, and it was finally decided to appointBurgevine, one of Ward"s faithful lieutenants.

At about this time the Russian Government proposed to come tothe help of the Imperialists with a force of 10,000 troops, but this offerwas refused by Li Hung-chang. The Russian fleet, however, was allowedto co-operate with the British and French against the rebel forces.

After the summer, there was renewed activity on the part of theallied forces. The city of Kiating was retaken and victories were gainedat Huangtu and Paohokiang (Paokong), and in January, 1863, GeneralStaveley was able to announce that the country within the thirty-mileradius had been entirely cleared of the Taipings.

Dismissal of BurgevineBurgevine did not have Ward"s faculty of getting on with theofficials, and was never popular with Li Hung-chang. The paymentof his troops fell into arrears, and he refused to carry out the ordersto assist in an attack on Nanking until his army had been paid. Hequarrelled with the banker Ta Chi in an attempt to extract moneyfrom him and in consequence was dismissed from the Imperial service.

His later career darkened his reputation. He went over to the sideof the rebels, and was finally taken prisoner by the Imperialist forcesin Fukien, and was drowned (whether accidentally or not was neverdetermined) while being conveyed as a prisoner to Soochow.