Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period/Shih Shih-p'iao
SHIH Shih-p'iao 施世驃, d. 1721, age 55 (sui), admiral, was a native of Chin-chiang, Fukien, and a younger brother of Shih Shih-lun [q. v.]. When his father, Shih Lang [q. v.], effected the surrender of Chêng K'o-shuang (see under Chêng Ching) in Taiwan in 1683, Shih Shih-p'iao, though only a lad of seventeen (sui), demonstrated his prowess in battle. In 1691 he was made lieutenant-colonel in command of the city guards of Tsinan, Shantung. In 1696 he served for a time under Yüeh Shêng-lung (see under Yüeh Chung-ch'i) in the war against Galdan [q. v.], but returned to his post at Tsinan after the war was over. He was made a colonel in command of the guards at Lin-ch'ing, Shantung, in 1698 and became a brigade-general stationed at Ting-hai, Chekiang, three years later. Because of his exploits in subduing pirates along the coasts he was, in 1708, made provincial commander-in-chief of Kwangtung.
In 1712 he became commander-in-chief of the naval forces of Fukien—a post his father had twice held, in the years 1662–68 and 1681–96. Stationed at Amoy, Shih Shih-p'iao constructed ships and otherwise increased his naval equipment. At the end of May 1721, report of a serious uprising in Taiwan (see under Chu I-kuei) reached him. As the rebels had already occupied the entire island, he at once prepared 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 (T. 鳧山, H. 九如, chin-shih of 1694, d. 1725), proceeded to Amoy to command the rear defenses. Lan T'ing-chên 藍廷珍 (T. 荆璞, H. 巖山, 1664–1730), 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, Chu I-kuei [q. v.], 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 Lan Ting-yüan [q. v.], 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.]