over another brave but ill-prepared antagonist. Although vanquished, the Chinese may be said to have come out of this war with an increased military reputation. The dissension within the Empire-for, as we have yet to see, the revival of the foreign difficulty had led to increased activity on the part of the Taepingsprevented their utilising the one great advantage they might have possessed of superior numbers; and had the other conditions of warfare been more equal, the steadiness and stubbornness of the Chinese whenever encountered between the sea and the ramparts of Pekin were such as to justify the belief that with proper arms, and under efficient leading, they would have successfully defended the approach to the capital. The lesson of that campaign has been taken to heart; but after more than twenty years' re-organisation, the military progress of the main Chinese army remains more problematical than their best friend could desire. They have always been slow, painfully slow, to apply the lessons of their own experience. The war closed with a treaty enforcing all the concessions made by its predecessor. The right to station an ambassador in Pekin signified that the great barrier of all had been broken down. The old school of politicians were put completely out of court, and a young and intelligent prince, closely connected with the Emperor, assumed the personal charge of the foreign relations of the country. As one who had seen with his own eyes the misfortunes of his countrymen, he was the more disposed to adhere to what he had promised to perform. Under his direction the ratified treaty of 34 III. Tientsin became a bond of union instead of an element of discord between the cabinets of London and Pekin ; and a termination was put, by an arrangement carried at the point of the sword, to the constant friction and recrimination which had been the prevailing characteristics of the intercourse for a whole generation. The Chinese had been subjected to a long and bitter lesson. They had at last learnt the virtue of submitting to necessity; but although they have profited to some extent both in peace and war by their experience, it requires some assurance to declare that they have even now accepted the inevitable. That remains the problem of the future; but in 1860 Prince Kung came to the sensible conclusion that for that period, and until China had recovered from her internal confusion, there was nothing to be gained and much to be lost by protracted resistance to the peoples of the West. Whatever could be retained by tact and finesse were to form part of the natural rights of China; but the privileges only to be asserted in face of Armstrong guns and rifles were to be abandoned with as good a grace as the injured feeling of a nation can ever display. CHAPTER XIV. THE PROGRESS OF THE TAEPING REBELLION. The Moment of Weakness.-The Slowness of the Imperialists. -The Favourable Occasion lost.-The Assistant King goes away. His Fate.-General Paochiaou.-Li Hung Chang.Ganking.-Chung Wang raises the Siege.-Affairs at Nankin. Lord Elgin's Visit.-The lingering Siege. The inevitable End. A desperate Situation. Chung Wang's Decision. His Plan of Campaign.-Leaves Nankin.-His Difficulties. Successes.- Pressure on Nankin relieved. Another Idea.- Interview with Tien Wang. - Raid into Anhwui.-Seizure of Hangchow.-Chang Kwoliang to the Rescue. Chang Yuliang relieves Hangchow. — Chung Wang's Energy.-Suddenly appears before Nankin.-Great Victory. The Siege raised. Tien Wang's Behaviour. "The surrounding Aspect indicates great Signs of Peace." Changchow. - Chang Kwoliang's Defeat-and Death.-Defeat of Chang Yuliang.-Suicide of Hochun.Soochow.-Its Capture.-Appeal to the Foreigners.—The Taepings warned not to approach Shanghai. Further Taeping Successes.-Execution of a Viceroy.-Rising in Chekiang. Enlistment of Foreigners.-The Shanghai Merchants.-Ward and Burgevine.-The Attack on Sunkiang.— A Repulse.-Second Attack-and Capture.-The European Leaders.-Tsingpu.-Preparations to attack it.-Defended by an Englishman. - Ward's Defeat. - Heavy Loss. - Second Attack.-Chung Wang's Tactics.-Ward defeated.-Impe rialists defeated.-Attempt on Sunkiang.-Chung Wang approaches Shanghai.-Kan Wang.-Villages burnt.-Great Destruction.-French and English repulse Taepings.-Chung Wang's Account.-Tseng Kwofan.-Appointed Viceroy. --- Hoo Wang. Tien Wang's Conduct.-Chung Wang in DURING these years of foreign war and difficulty the Taepings had not been inactive. Repulsed in their first attempts to subdue the provinces north of the Yangtsekiang, their leaders had returned to Nankin only to indulge their antipathies and to decide questions of rivalry by the sword. Had the Emperor's officers been prompt in mustering their forces in the year 1857, they would have found the Taepings a com paratively easy prey. But the Chinese have always preferred the slowest method of proceeding, and it happened to be an occasion when every week was of importance. The favourable moment was permitted to pass by unutilised, and the main object with the officials became to conceal from Pekin the progress which the rebels were making in Central China. It was not until the end of the year 1860 that Prince Kung learnt from Mr. Bruce the rapid successes of the Taepings, and that they had established their authority almost to the sea. Then the Emperor's immediate advisers realised for the first time that, having adjusted their disagreements with the foreigners, they would have to achieve the not less difficult task of asserting their authority in the most populous and productive region of the Empire. The undertaking to be seriously commenced in 1861 promised to be all the more difficult and protracted because of the delay that ensued after the first check inflicted upon the Taepings in 1857. After the sanguinary events which occurred at Nankin in the year 1856, the E Wang or Assistant King* left to oppose Tseng Kwofan, who, with the * His own name was Shih-takai. He was a man of good family and education, having held several civil and military appointments. His fate was long uncertain; but it was believed at the time that he retired into Szchuen, and the supposition proved well founded. Mr. Colborne Baber, in his interesting Travels and Researches in Western China," gives an account of the later career and adventures of Shih Takai. In the spring of 1863 he made several desperate efforts to force his way through the south-western provinces, but he was baffled by the Szchuen Viceroy, Lo Ping Chang. He was frequently assailed by the Lolos tribes, and, not being able to cross the river, suffered severe |