however, Lin Tsêh-sü received orders to proceed to Chê Kiang, the Emperor having now formed changed ideas of the respective merits both of him and of K‘ishen from the reports received from the Nanking and Foochow authorities; and Yük‘ien,[1] Viceroy at Nanking, was ordered to replace Ilipu as Commissioner.
At first Yikshan was sensible enough to listen to Yang Fang's advice and not risk a second fight until the new forces should have arrived; but, yielding to a desire for glory, he at last secretly ordered a sudden night attack upon the fleet from three different quarters, and only informed Yang Fang when the men had actually left the city. Yang Fang stamped and swore; but it was too late. The attack was made by 400 braves from Sz Chi'wan and by 300 Cantonese, who, at a signal from a gun, rushed on the fleet in fire-boats carrying stink-pots, fireballs, and long boarding-pikes. A certain amount of injury was done to two ships, and five sampans and several hundred foreign soldiers were drowned. Elliot managed to effect his escape from the factory where he was, and after his departure the place was completely rifled by the Hu Nan and Sz Ch'wan soldiery. Several Americans were wounded by mistake. At daylight the fleet made a movement up to Canton, and all the combustible material, which
- ↑ 裕謙
