points of usefulness, but in delicate and dangerous situations like these their childishness and misunderstanding did more harm by far than good.[1] By good fortune the Chungwang, during August, moved to Shuichow, and Pao Ch'ao went to attack him. The Chungwang was pursued as far as Fêngch'eng and there met defeat in battle August 29, making it necessary to retreat to Fuchow, and from thence out of the province.[2]
This was the final attempt to relieve Anking, which fell, after nearly two years of siege, September 5, 1861. The same evening Tsêng wrote to his brother:[3]
Koh Shing has arrived and I have received the joyous message and learned that today at the Mao hour (5-7 a.m.) Anking was re-taken. Opportunely it happens that the sun and moon rise together and the five planets are strung together. The Board of Astronomy memorialised the Throne in the fifth moon that it portended unusual fortune. Anking's capture duly fulfills this. There is probable hope for the nation's renewal. Just now the silver at hand does not amount to quite six thousand taels. I should like to distribute ten thousand taels in rewards to the officers and men. Can my brother find some way to arrange for the needed four thousand there?
Two days later T'ungch'eng was captured by Tolunga, and on the ninth Ch'ichow by Yang Tsai-fu's water forces.[4] Hupeh and Kiangsi were now quickly pacified and the retreating rebels were thrown back into the three provinces they controlled, Anhui, Kiangsu, and Chekiang. To those captured at Anking and T'ungch'eng death was meted out, some twenty thousand being massacred at Anking and half that number at T'ungch'eng.[5]
- ↑ Dispatches. XIV, 1-4.
- ↑ Nienp'u, VII, 9b, 11a.
- ↑ Home Letters, September 5, 1861. The Chinese always regarded the grouping of sun, moon and the five planets as a fortunate omen, and note such occurrences in their annals and histories.
- ↑ Nienp'u, VII, 10; Dispatches, XIV, 18 ff.
- ↑ Ta Shih Chi, II, 6a.
