Fall of Ming Dynasty

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THE FALL OF THE MING DYNASTY. 26 7

th e B a b y l o n i a n s s e e m s to s u p p o r t s t r o n g l yth e c o r r e c t n e s s o f t he s t a t e m e n t t h a t B a b y -

l o n i a n as t ro l o g y w as ac c ep ted a t t he sam et i m e in a n c i e n t I n d i a an d i n a n c i e n t C h i n a .J O S E P H E D K I N S ,

THE FALL OF THE M I N G D Y N A S T Y . *T h e a u t h o r i t y o n w h i c h I a m p r i n c i p a l l y

d e p e n d e n t f o r m y n a r r a t i v e , is a b o o k en -t i t l ed ' The s t o r y of the y e a r Chia S h e n ' (sc.the y e a r A . D . 1 6 4 4 , t he last y e a r o f t h eM i n g D y n a s t y ) . I ts w r i t e r , w h o w a s a t t h et i m e r e s i d i n g in P e k i n g , e s c a p e d f rom th ec i t y o n l y f o u r d a y s b e f o r e th e E m p e r o r ' sd e a t h a n d r e m a i n e d in h i d i n g f o r a m o n t h ,a f t e r w h i c h h e v e n t u r e d t o r e t u r n a g a i n .H e h u d t h u s p e r so n a l k n o w l e d g e o f m a n y o fth e fac t s t ha t h e r ec o un t s .

T h e P e k i n g g o v e r n m e n t w a s a l r e a d y r e -d uc ed to e x t r e m e w e a k n e s s w h e n 'Ch'ung

;C h e n g , th e l a s t M i n g E m p e r o r , a sc e n de d th et h r o n e in A. D . 16'27. W i t h i n tw o y e a r s o fhis access ion t o t he t h ro n e , t he f i r s t g rea t M an -ch u i n v as io n o f C h i n a t o o k p l ac e . Fo r sev era lm o n t h s t h e T a r t a r a r m i e s w a n d e r e d r o u n dP e k i n g , n o t a t t e m p t i n g a n a s s a u l t o n th ec it y , b u t h a r r y i n g t h e c o u n t r y a t t h e i r w i llan d a p p r o a c h i n g s o n e a r as to e n c a m p int h e N a n H a i - t z u o r S o u t h e r n H u n t i n g P a r k ,just o u t s i d e th e walls . Ti l l th e c o n q u e s t ,t h e y n e v e r a g a i n m a d e s o f o r m i d a b l e a n i n c u r -eion. B u t e v e r y y e a r t h e y b u r s t t h r o u g hth e passes a t s o m e p o i n t o r o t h e r a n d pi l l -aged a portion of N o r t h e r n C h i n a. D u r i n gthis per i o d they r epea t ed l y t r i ed to assu ret h e E m p e r o r o f their desi re for peace, andto se t fo r t h t o h i m the g r i ev an c es o f w hi c hthey c o m p l a i n e d . It is h a r d to say howfa r they w ere s i n c e re . With t he i r p o w e r f u larmy, w h i c h t h e y s u p p o r t e d b y p l u n d e r ,a n d w i th r i c h C h i n a l y i n g he l p l es s a t t he i rfee t , o n e c an see n o r ea so n w hy theysho u l d hav e p re fe r red peac e to w ar . B u t ,

* Read before th e Oriental Socie ty of Peki n g ,on 3rd February, 1888.

a n y h o w , t he i r p ro po sa l s w ere safe f r o m a llc h a n c e o f a c c e p t a n c e . E i t h e r t h e i r lettersw e r e n o t f o r w a r d e d t o P e k i n g , o r , i f t h e yw e r e , th e E m p e r o r t h o u g h t it b e n e a t h h imt o g iv e a r ep l y . T h i s ir r a t i o n a l p r i d e i n t hem i d s t o f e x t r e m e wea'kness h as a c u r i o u sp a r a l l e l j u s t tw o h u n d r e d y e a r s later i n t h eb e h a v i o u r of the M a n c h u E m p e r o r s of C h i n at o w a r d s w e s t e r n n a t i o n s .

B u t i t w a s f rom th e West n o t t h e Eastthat d es t ruc t i o n w a s t o c o m e to Peking.L i T z u-c h ' en g , a l so k n o w n a a L i C h ' u a n go r C h ' u a n g Wang, th e s u b v e r t e r of thed y n a s t y , w as b o r n in S h e n s i in 1606. H ewas the son o f a v i ll a g e h e a d m a n , a m a n o fs ome l i t t le p r o p e r t y . W h e n h e w a s n o tm o r e t h a n t w e n t y y e a r s o l d , h i s f a t h e r d ie d ,a n d h e b e c a m e h e a d m a n i n h i s t u r n . In1627 there w as a fa i l u re o f t he ha rv es t f r omd r o u g h t . I t w a s t h e y o u n g h e a d m a n ' s dutyto collect th e l a n d tax of his village. Th ef a r m e r s c o u l d n o t pay , b u t t he au tho r i t i e sg r a n t e d n o r em i s s i o n to the collector. H espen t a l l h i s o w n m o n e y an d b o r r o w e d m o r e ,b u t still c o u l d n o t f r e e h i m se l f . P res sed o nt h e o n e h a n d b y t h e au tho r i t i e s , o n t h eo t h e r b y o n e o f h is c r e d i to r s , w h o u n f o r t u n -a t e l y b e l o n g e d t o a n i n f l u e n t i a l f a m i l y , h elost h o p e , r a n a w a y f rom h o m e a n d t u r n e db r i g a n d . H e w a s a tall, p o w e r f u l m a n ,w i t h s h o r t, b u s h y h a i r , a s m a l l , a q u i l i n en o se an d y e l l o w t ee th . In h i s m o re f a m o u sdays, the loss of one eye f rom a n a r r o w -w o u n d g av e h i m a pec u l i a r l y fo rb i d d i n gaspect .

In 1629, with a sm a l l b o d y o f fo l l o w ers ,h e j o i n e d t h e s t a n d a r d o f K a o Y i n g - b s ia n g ,a po w er fu l ro b b er c h i e f , w ho w as r av a g i n g


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26 8 T H E C H I N A R E V I E W .Shensi f a r a n d w id e. T hey rem ained to -g et her till 1636, when K ao Y ing -hs iang wa sdefeated a nd cap t u red by the I mper i a l t roops .Li Tzu-ch'eng escaped w i t h a few com-panions ac ros s the f r o n t i e r into Szechuanan d la y concea led t he re . Whi l e t h u s h id ing ,he av a i led h im self o f h is le isu re to I m p r o v eh is ed u ca t ion , w hich ha d or ig ina l ly beenneglec ted . T here a re record ed o f h im inhis later days a few remarks in classicallanguage, which are still read wi th a smileof approval by C hinese men of letters. Fo rinstance, h e w a s told o n e d a y t h a t a certainvery d is t ing u ished scho la r w ished to desertt he o ld d ynas t y and t ake serv ice u nd er h im ;u p o n w hich he sarcastically quoted a l i n efrom th e classics, th e Chinese equivalentofou r ' dulce et decorum estpro patria mori,'an d suggested th e g en t lem an shou ld showhi s ability b y w r i t i n g an essay o n that

I n t h e fo l l o w i n g year h e em erg ed f romhis retreat and essayed to join C h a n g Hsien-C hang , w ho w as ensconced , w i t h severalo t her chief s , in t he tract of N o r t h e r n Hupei,which lies south o f th e H a n River an d n e a rth e Szechu an f ront i e r . This country, w hichis com p osed of a tangled mass of m o u n t a i n s ,is said at the p r e s e n t day to be so difficultof access t h a t it s only trade cons is t s in l ivepigs ; as no t h ing that requires car ry ing w il lp ay the cost of c o n v e y i n g it to a d i s t a n tmarket. C h a n g H s i e n - c h u n g is still r e m e m -bered w i t h hor ro r in w es t ern C h i n a . H isn a m e is a h o u s e h o l d w o r d to t h o u s a n d su p o n t h o u s a n d s wh o n e v e r h e a r d of Li T z u -ch ' eng , t hou g h he n e v e r a t t a i n e d to a pos i -t i o n n e a r l y s o h i g h a s t h a t m o m e n t a r i l yhe ld by t he la t t e r . A l l t he b r ig an d chief s o f

. the t im e w ere cru el , bu t in w an t on sav ag eryn o n e a p p r o a c h e d C h a n g H s i e n - c h u n g . O non e occas ion , at Ma- ch 'eng H s i e n , He cu t o f ft he fee t o f the w om en and m a d e a h e a p o ft h e m , a n d b e c a u s e h i s f a v o u r i t e m i s t r e s sha d m ore beau t i fu l f ee t t han any , he addedhers to crown th e pile. A t W u - c h ' a n g Fuhe lighted an i n c e n s e stick and bad e theinhabitants flee th e ci t y befo re th e stick

b u r n t d o w n . As soon as i t w as e x t i n g u i s h -ed , he g av e t he w ord o f com m and . H is m encharg ed t he s t ru g g l ing m ass w it h w hich t hes t r e e t s w e r e c h o k e d , d r i v i n g those t hey d idnot s l ay i n to the Yangts e c los e by. So greatw a s t h e s lau g ht er , t h a t t h e w at ers of ther i v e r w ere s t rew n w it h co rp ses as f a r a sthree h u n d r e d m i l e s b e l o w. In Szechuan hed e p o p u l a t e d th e c o u n t r y to s u c h a d eg ree ,that t h e m a j o r i t y o f th e p r e s e n t i n h a b i t a n t sof the p r o v i n c e ar e said t o be the descend-ants o f immigrants s ince hi s d ay .

Li T zu -ch ' eng , f i nd ing t h a t C h a n g H s i e n -chu ng d isp layed an u nf r iend l y d isp os i t iont ow ard s h im , sep ara ted an d concea led h im -self once m ore . In 1640, at the h e a d of asmall party of desperate m e n , he crossedin t o E a s t e r n H u p e i a n d H o n a n , F r o m t h i sm o m e n t hi s ca reer w as one o f a l m o s t un -in t er ru p t ed su ccess , H e w a s soon in com -m a n d of an a r m y superior to a n y t h i n gw hich cou ld be b rou g ht a g a i n s t i t . C hangH s i e n - c h u n g w a s n o w glad t o ente r into ana l l i a n c e w i t h h i m , a s h i s f l a n k a n d rearw ere t h u s p ro t ect ed f r om an y m o v e m e n t ofth e i m p e r i a l fo rces . In 1641 h e w a s s t r o n ge n o u g h t o com m ence t he firs t o f h is f a m o u s

' s ieg es o f Ka i-feng F u ; and t hou g h he f a i l -ed to take th e t ow n , he d efea t ed tw o a r m i e sin t he f ie ld . A t t he beg inn ing o f 1 6 4 2 heag a in inv es t ed t he p l ace , bu t was calleda w a y b y t h e a d v a n c e o f S u n F u - t ' i n g w i t han a r m y f r o m T ' u n g K u a n . S u n F u - t ' i n g ,o n e o f th e a b l e s t s e r v a n t s o f th e E m p e r o r , w a s the off icer w h o , wh en Go ver n o r o f Shens i ,ha d d e fe a te d a n d ca p tu r ed Li T zu -ch ' eng ' sol d leader K ao ying-hsiang. H e h a d a f t e r -w a r d s be e n r e mov e d to th e eas ' e rn f ron t ie r s ,in o r d e r that h e m i g h t t ake , com m anda g a i n s t th e M a n c h u s ; bu t m eet ing w it h t heill success which befel all the Chineseg e n e r a l s w h o w ere op p osed to t h e m , h e w a sdegr a ded an d c a s t i n t o p r i s o n . T h e E m -p e r o r no w res t o red him t o h is r a n k an d senthi m to quell t he s t o rm w hich w as t h r e a t e n -in g f ro m th e West. S u n F u - t ' i n g , a t t h ehead o f t he so r ry a rm y w hich he had beenable to g a t h e r together, marched south-


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THE FALL OF THE MING DYNASTY. 269w a r d s i n t h e d i r e c t i o n o f H s i a n g - y a n g F u .L i T z u - c h ' e ' ng , w i th th e r a p i d i t y a n d e n e r g yw h i c h s e e m to h a ve been h i s p r i n c i p a l c h a r a c-teristics, a t once ra ised the s iege o f K ' a i -f e n g a n d h u r r i e d to m e e t th e e n e m y . T h e ye n c o u n t e r e d e a c h o t h e r n e a r H s i a n g - y a n g ,a n d S u n F u - t ' i n g suf fered a t e r r i b l e d e f e a t .H is a r m y w a s s ca t t e r e d i n a l l d i r e c t i o n s ,th e s o l d i e r s t h r o w i n g a w a y t h e i r w e a p o n si n t h e i r f l i g h t . F r o m t h i s m o m e n t t h e f a t eo f t h e M i n g D y n a s t y w a s v i r t u a l l y s e a l e d .

L i T z u - c h ' e ng l o s t no t i m e i n r e t u r n i n gt o - K ' a i - f e n g a n d r e c o m m e n c i n g the s iege.S e ve ra l a rm i e s w e re o rde re d t o m a rc h t o t h ere l ie f o f t h e be l e a gu e re d t ow n . T h os e w h ov e n t u r e d w i t h i n r e a ch w e r e i n s t a n t l y c r u s h -e d . T he o t h e r s h o v e r e d a t a s a fe d i s t a nc eo r r e m a i ne d on t h e op p os i t e ba nk of theY e l l ow R i ve r . A s s a u l t a f t e r a s s a u l t w a sm a de u p on th e doom e d c i t y , b u t e v e r y a t-t a c k w a s r e p u l s e d b y t h e i n h a b i t a n t s , w h of r o m th e g r e a t e s t t o t h e l ow e s t w e rea n i m a te d ' w i th th e h i gh e s t s p i r i t o f c o u r a g ea n d e ndu ra nc e . I n a n y p e op l e w h i c h t h o u g h tm o r e o f m a r t i a l g l o r y t h a n th e C h i n e s e do ,th e heroism of the d e f e n d e r s o f K ' a i- f e n gF u w o u l d r e m a i n , as long as t h e na t i onex i s t ed , a fa vou r i t e t h e m e fo r s to ry - t e l l e r sa n d w ri t e r s o f ba l l a ds . A t l a s t , a f t e r f o u rm o n t h s o f i n c r e d ib l e h a r d s h i p s , c o m p a r e db y Pere Mail la in h i s h i s to ry w i th th e siegeof J e r u s a l e m , w h e n p r o v i s i o n s h a d r i s e n t oth e price o f m o r e than t h e i r w e i g h t o f gold,a n d c a nn i ba l i s m h a d b e c o m e a n o r d i n a r yp ra c t i c e , th e wall w a s w a s h e d d o w n b y aflood o f w a t e r f r o m th e Yellow River an dthus t h e city fe l l . I t i s sa id that th e r i v e rb a n k w a s p u r p o s e l y cu t t h r o u g h b y t h ebesieged, in o rd er to drow n th e c am ps o ft h e i r e n e m y ; b u t that t h e l a t t e r , w h i c h w e reo n h i g h e r g r o u n d , e s c a p e d , w h i l e t h e u n -f o r t u n a t e t o w n - f o l k w e r e o v e r w h e l m e d .

T h o u gh t e ns o f t h o u s a nds o f r e be l s h a dfa l l e n in t h e t h r e e sieges o f K ' a i -f e n g , re -cruits w e r e c o n t i n u a l l y p o u r i n g in to filltheir places. I f t he Im per i a l forces h a dth e g o o d f o r t u n e a t a n y m o m e n t to b r e a kup the r a n k s o f some of the lesser chiefs,

th e s c a t t e r e d b r i g a n d s i m m e d i a t e l y f l o c k e dto the s t a n d a r d of Li .U n d e r L i T z u - c h ' e n g ' s o rde r s w e re a b ou t

a dozen rebel chiefs , each at the h e a d of h i so w n a r m y , b u t g la d t o b e t h e l i e u t e n a n t o fs o p o w e r f u l a m a n . J e a l o u s i e s h o w e v e rw e re no t u n k n o w n . O ne c h i e f w a s s e i z e db y Li at a b a n q u e t . A n o t h e r s u s p e c te dt r e a c h e r y a n d de c l i ne d th e i n v i t a t i o n g i v e nto h i m . N e x t m o r n i n g a t daw.n th e t r a m -p l i n g o f h oofs w a s h e a rd i n h i s c a m p . L i ,w h o h a d r i d d e n i n a t t h e h e a d o f tw e n tyh o r s e m e n , se ized h i m a n d b e h e a d e d h i mi n s t a n t l y i n h i s tent. L i ' s l i e u t e n a n t s o ra l l i e s n o w h e l d t h e c o u n t r y a s f a r w es t a sI c h a n g , w h e r e a n a r m y w a s t h r e a t e n i n gW e s te rn Hunan. C h a n g H s i e n - c h u n g w a so v e r - r u n n i n g S o u t h e r n I l up e i an d N o r t h e r nH u n a n . I t w a s a t a b o u t t h i s p e r i o d t h a th e m a s s a c r e d t h e i n h a b i t a n t s o f W u - c h ' a n gF u in the m a n n e r d e s cr i b e d a b o v e .

E n c o u r a g e d b y h i s u n i n t e r r u p t e d c ar e erof success , Li T z u - c h ' i n g n o w be ga n to t a k es e r io u s m e a s u r e s f o r p e r m a n e n t l y e s t a b l is h -i n g h i s p o w e r . I n s t e a d o f p i l l a g i ng an d d e -s e r t i n g t o w n s w h i c h h e c a p t u r e d , h e p l a c edg a r r i s o n s w i t h i n t h e i r w a l l s . H e orga n i z e dh is a r m y o n a r e g u l a r s y s t e m , t r a n s f o r m i n gth e o ld c h i e f s i n t o L i e u t e n a n t s G e n e r a l . H es ty l e d h i m s e l f G e ne ra l i s s i m o ; a n d t h o u g hhe di d no t a s s e r t , s t i l l h e r e c e i ve d w i the v i d e n t gra t i f i c a t i on th e s u gge s t ion , t h a t h es h ou l d a s s u m e a loyal title. His nextm o v e was to m a r c h n o r t h w a r d s t o w a r d sS h e n s i , S u n F u - t ' i n g , a f t e r h is d e f e a t , h a dr e t u r n e d to T'ung K u a n , w h e r e h e w a soccupied in f o r m i n g a ne w a r m y o u t o fs uc h m a t e r i a l s as he could col lec t t o g e-ther. T'ung K u a n , which guards th e chiefroa d to P e k i n g f r o m th e west , lies c loseto the g r e a t b e n d i n the Yellow River , n e a rth e m e e t i n g p l a c e of the b o u n d a r i e s of thet h r e e p rov i nc e s o f Shansi, S h e n s i a n d H o -n a n . I t i s a t once a s t rongh o l d an d them o s t i m p o r t a n t s t r a t e g ica l p o i n t in N o r t hW e s t C h i na . S u n Fu-Ling w a s un w i l l i n gto leave such a f o r t r e s s u n g u a r d e d a n d w a se q u a l l y l o th to expose h is u n f o r m e d a r m y


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2 7 0 T H E C H I N A R E V I E W .in the open f ie ld . Bu t pressed b y ordersf r o m P e k i n g a n d t a u n t e d fo r h i s c a u t i o n b yth e G o v e r n o r o f S h e n s i , in the m i d d l e of thea u t u m n b e a d v a n c e d f r o m h is p o s i t i o n t oe n c o u n t e r th e r e b e l s . H is d i s t i n g u i s h e d r e -p u t a t i o n m a d e h is army more f e a re d t h a n i td ese rv ed to b e . L i T z u - c h ' e n g w r o t e fo rass i s t ance to C h a n g H s i e n - c h u n g , u s i n g th ec o m m o n C h i n e s e p h r a s e , ' w h e n th e l i p s a r eg o n e the t e e th a re co ld , ' th a t i s to say , i fLi we re de s t roye d , Chang wou ld be in d a n -ger. T h e la t t e r acce de d to the r e q u e s t a n dse n t a r e i n f o r c e m e n t o f 10,000 p i c k e d m e n .

I n t h e f ir s t e n c o u n t e r t h e I m p e r i a l i s tt r o o p s b o r e d o w n th e e n e m y , w h o a r e sa idh o w e v e r t o h a v e b e e n m e r e l y th e f e e b le s ta n d m o s t w o r t h l e s s o f t h e i r t r o o p s , p u r -posely p laced in f r o n t . S u n Fu-t'ing p r e s -s e d on t i l l h e f o u n d h i m s e l f in f r o n t o f t h e "e a r t h - w o r k s , b e h i n d w h i c h l a y t h e m a i nbody o f the rebels. T h r e e d a y s o f h e a v y rainp r e v e n t e d th e t r a n s p o r t of h i s p r o v i s i o n s . Al i ne o f carts, which stre tched half across th epro v i n c e , w a s s t r u g g l i n g i n t he d e e p m u d ,b u t n o n e o r a lm o s t n o n e r e a c h e d th e u n f o r -t u n a t e a r m y . T h e m e n w e r e s t a r v i n g , b u tth e Ge ne ra l da re d n o t retreat t o t h e n e i g h -bou rhood of his supplies. For such a m o v e -m e n t i n t he f ace o f t he e n e m y m u s t i n s t a n -t a n e o u s l y b e c o m e a hop e le ss rout.

A t l e n g t h th e re be l s a t t acke d. A t t h ef i r s t so un d o f t h e i r a p p r o a c h , th e I m p e r i a l i s ta r m y b r o k e a nd f led , each m a n p i tchinga w a y h i s a r m s . S u n Fu-t'ing h u r r i e d b a c kto T ' u n g K u a n , h o p i n g t o b e ab le to r e f o r mh is t roop s under th e p ro te c t ion of the wallso f th e fortress. B u t t h e re be l s e n te re d a tthe s a m e m o m e n t as the fugitives, disguisedit is said as I m p e r i a l i s t t roop s . He t u r n e dtowards the provincial ca p i ta l , S i-an Fu;but be f o re he could r ea ch it, Li Tzu-ch'eng,who se e me d ne ve r to l o se an i n s t a n t , h a dalready taken it without meeting with anyse r ious resistance.

The victorious rebel rested at Si-an Fatill the end of the year. In the m e a n t i m ehi s t roop s comp le te d the su b ju ga t ion o fthe province, and commenced over-running

S h a n s i . O n the f i r s t day o f the ne w year,t h e y e a r chia sheu (o r A, D . 1644), hea s s u m e d t h e t i t l e o f Y u n g C h ' a n g a s t h ef i r s t E m p e r o r o f t h e T a S h u n D y n a s t y .

W h e n t he n e w s o f t he loss o f T ' u n g K u a nr ea ched Peking, a ge ne ra l name d Y u Ying-k u e i w a s de sp a tche d to t a k e c o m m a n d o fth e f o r c e s i n the W e st wi th the title o fC o m m a n d e r - i n - c h i e f . T he o l d officer r e p r e -sen ted i n va in th a t i t was u se l e ss to se ndh i m , u n le ss h e were suppl ied with th en ec essa ry f u n d s . O n r e a c h i n g S h a n s i , h ew a s a f r a i d to f a c e th e re be l s a n d f e l l backs t e a d i l y a s t h e y a d v a n c e d . N e w - y e a r 's d a yw a s a s a d d a y i n P e k i n g . T h e E m p e r o rreceived h is p r inc ip a l M in i s te r s a n d drankt e a w i t h t h e m . T h e y r e p r e s e n t e d to h i mthat th e State t r e a s u r i e s a n d g r a n a r i e s w e r ee x h a u s t e d , a n d t h e r e w a s n o r e s o u r c e l e f te x c e p t H i s M a j e s t y ' s p r i v y p u r s e . T h eE m p e r o r , w i t h tears i n h i s eyes, replied thathe w as a s h a m e d to s p e a k o f t he p r i v y p u r s e , t h a t is t o s a y , i t w a s e m p t y al s o . O n t h e9th of the m o n t h a d e s p a t c h w a s receivedb y the B o a r d o f W a r , w h i c h , o n b e i n g o p e n -e d, p rove d to be a cartel o f d e f i a n c e f r om LiTzu -ch ' e ng , annou ncing that on the 10th o fthe 3 r d m o n t h h e wou ld ap p e ar to do battlefo r t h e E m p i r e . H i s c a l c u l a ti o n s w e re n o tfa r wro ng. W i th in a we e k o f the de s igna-te d day, h is armie s we re de scr ie d f rom th ew a l l s o f Peking. T h e b e a r e r of the letterh a d received it f rom a m a n a t C h o Chou ,w ho p r e t e n d e d to be a G o v e r n m e n t c o u r i e rand to ha ve f a l l e n s ick the re on the way .Instead o f being given th e re ward of tentaels w h i c h h e e x p e c t ed , th e u n f o r t u n a t em an w a s p romp t ly beheaded.

O n th e s a m e d a y , a s a f ina l effortto op p ose th e progress of the re be l s , LiChien-t'ai, a S e cre ta ry o f S t a t e , w a sde sp a tche d to S hans i , h is na t ive p rovince ,where he said he could raise an armya n d hold th e e n e m y in check. T h e E m p e r o rfeasted h i m o n t h e city wall beneath th etowe r which s t ands above th e c e n t r a l gate,a n d t h e n , amidst a violent storm o f w i n dand dust, escorted him a mile on his


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THE FALL OF THE MING DYNASTY. 271j o u r n e y . It m u s t b e se ldom that s u ch a nact of c o n d e s c e n s i o n a s t h i s h as b e e n p e r -f o r m e d b y a C h i n e s e m o n a r c h . F i v e t h o u -s and s o ld ie r s a c c o m p a n i e d L i C h i e n - t ' a i ,b u t a f t e r a d a y o r t w o , m o r e t h a n h a l f o ft h e m de s e r t e d . H e j o u r n e y e d s l o w l y b ys t age s o f t e n mi le s a day , in s t e a d o f h u r r y -ing to T a i - y u a n F u , a s he w as u r g e d t o d ob y t h o s e w h o f o r e s a w that wit h t h e lo s s o fS h a n s i a l l h o p e f o r P e k i n g v a n i s h e d a l s o .F o r a l l t he good it d i d , t h e e x p e d i t i o n r n i g h tas w e l l n e v e r h a v e b e e n d e s p a t c h e d . Pered e M a i l l a , in e x p l a n a t i o n o f the d i f f e r e n c eb e t w e e n th e Ge ne r a l ' s p r omis e s an d h i s p e r -f o r m a n c e s , s a y s t h a t i t w as a t an e a r l i e rp e r i o d , b e f o r e S h a n s i w a s o v e r - r u n , t h a t h eh a d v o l u n t e e r e d h i s s e r v i c e s ; w h e n t h e r ewa s really r e a s o n to h o p e t h a t , w i t h h isi m m e n s e w e a l t h a n d n u m e r o u s f a m i l y c o n -n e c t i o n s , h e m i g h t r a i s e a n a r m y p o w e r f u le n o u g h to d e f e n d th e p r o v i n c e . B u t n o wh is h o m e w a s c a p t u r e d , h is r ich e s gone , a n di t was b e y o n d h is p o w e r to effect a n y t h i n g - .

A f t e r this, a g e n e r a l a p a t h y f e l l u p o n t h eP e k i n g G o v e r n m e n t . I t m u s t h a v e b e e nm a n i f e s t to a l l that th e e n e m y w o u l d s h o r t -l y b e a t t h e i r gates. T h e o n l y p o s s ib l e p l a nw h i c h offered a n y h o p e s o f r e s i s t i n g h imwould h ave be e n to w i t h d r a w a l l t hea r m i e s f rom S h a n - h a i K u a n a n d t h e M a n -c h u r i a n f r o n t i e r , a n d a s s e m b l e t h e m a tP e k i n g . T h i s w o u l d h a v e l e f t t h e n o r t hop e n t o t he r avage s o f t he T a r t a r s , b u t i tmigh t h ave s ave d th e E m p e r o r a n d t h ec a p i t a l ; a n d , i n a n y case , th e c o u n t r y c o u ldh ave be e n h a r r i e d little wor s e t h a n i t w a syearly, in s p i t e of the p r e s e n c e of the gar -r i s ons . O r de r s to b r i n g u p t r oop s we r e in -deed sent later to the f r on t ie r ; but not tilli t was too late fo r t h e m to r e a c h P e k i n g b e -fo r e it s f a l l . S ix p r e ci o u s w e e k s t h u s p a s s -ed away, in w h i c h th e o n l y m e a s u r e takenw a s t o de s p a t ch e u nu ch s to a l l the p r i n -c ip a l camp s , not to take c o m m a n d of thet r oop s , but with the title of ' military in-spectors ' to act as s p ie s u p on th e generals.E u r o p e a n hi s to ry affords m o r e t h a n o n ee x a m p l e of the i l l r esu l ts of a l lowing any

Civil C o m m i s s i o n e r s to be p r e s e n t as a ch e cku p o n th e C o m m a n d e r o f a n a r m y i n t h ef i e l d . W e m a y t h e r e f o r e j u d g e w h a t w o u l dbe t h e effect o f p l a c i n g in s u c h a p o s i t i o nm e n l i k e t h e i g n o r a n t a n d f a i t h le s s s l ave sof the palace.

N e ar t h e e nd o f t h e s e cond m o n t h , th eE m p e r o r w a s c o u n s e l l e d b y h i s p r i n c i p a lM i n i s t e r s t o q u i t P e k i n g a n d e s t a b l i s h h i m -se lf a t N a n k i n g i n s t ea d . T h i s a d v i ce w a sproffered s e v e r a l t i m e s , an d w as m et a s r e -g u l a r l y w i t h a n u n f l i n c h i n g r e f u s a l - T h eE m p e r o r w o u l d n o t de s e r t wh at h e cons ide r -ed h is pos t , nor se t the e x a m p l e o f r u n n i n ga w a y . H e l o o k e d u p o n t h e m a k e r s o f t h es u g g e s t i o n a s l i t t l e b e t t e r t h a n t r a i t o r s ,a s k i n g t h e m s c o r n f u l l y w h e r e w e r e t h e i rf o r me r p r o f e ss io n s o f l o y a l t y , a n d w h e t h e rh e h a d n o t o n e f a i t h f u l s e r v a n t l e f t to h e l ph im be ar h is w o es . N o t w i t h s t a n d i n g thato n e m a y s y m p a t h i z e w it h t h i s f i r m r e s o lve ,o n e c a n n o t b u t a d m i t that t h e a d v i c e w a ss o u n d . P e k i n g w a s d o o m e d , b e y o n d p o s s i -b i l i t y o f p r e s e r v a t i o n . If the E m p e r o rw e n t d o w n i n i t s f a l l , a l l h o p e o f h i s d y n a s -t y w a s lost. T h e r obbe r s f rom th e Westa n d t h e f o r e i g n e r s f rom t h e E a s t w o u l df i g h t i t o u t b e t w e e n t h e m fo r t he l o r d s h i pof t h e wh o le cou n t r y , and t o one o f t h e t woit m u s t c o m e . If the E m p e r o r re t i re ds o u t h w a r d s , h i s retreat m e a n t a t l e as t at e m p o r a r y p a r t i t i o n of the l a n d ; b u t stillh e w o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n w i t h o u t h o p e s o fr e c o v e r i n g w h a t h e h a d lost; o r , a t t he wor s t ,he an d h i s s u c c e s s o r s m i g h t h a v e r e i g n e dfo r m a n y g e n e r a t i o n s , a s f o r m e r d y n a s t i e sh a d done , ove r a w i d e k i n g d o m i n t hes ou t h , a f t e r lo s ing h o ld u p on th e N o r t h . Itis needless to dwe l l long u p on s p e cu la t ionsas to w h a t m i g h t h a v e b e e n ; but it is cer-t a in t h a t th e conqu e s t o f S o u t h C h i n a w o u ldh ave p r e s e n t e d a ve r y d i f f e r e n t task t o t h eM a n c h u s , had t h e r e still existed an un-dou b t e d a n d a c k n o w l e d g e d E m p e r o r , w h o mall r e cogn ize d as the r igh t fu l l o r d . Whenit b e c a m e p l a i n that th e E m p e r o r c o u l dn o t b e i n d u c e d to quit P e k i n g , i t wassugges ted t o h i m to send h is e lde s t so n t o


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27 2 T H E C H I N A REVIEW.N a n k i n g t o e s t a b l i s h a G o v e r n m e n t t h e re .B u t t o t h i s p r o p o s a l h e r e t u r n e d th e s a m ea n s w e r a s t o t he f o r m e r o n e .

T h e t h i r d m o n t h o f t he y e a r , th e l a s t o f t heM i n g E m p i r e , c o mme n c e d . A p e r i o d o f f a s t -ing was p r o c l a i m e d and the officers of the Go-v e r n m e n t w e r e o r d e r e d to p u r i f y thei r l ives;b u t t h e y w e n t o n f e a s t i n g a n d w i n e - d r i n k -i n g , a s t ho ug h i t w ere a t i m e o f p r o f o u n dp e a c e . A n e n q u i r y w a s m a d e a s t o t h ea m o u n t o f f u n d s i n t h e t r e a s u r y . I t w a sf o u n d t o b e e i g h ty tho u san d t ae l s . T h i sth e E m p e r o r d i r e c te d to be r e t a i n e d f o r thedefence of the c i ty in case of s iege, and notto b e t o uc hed fo r an y o the r pu rp o se w ha t -ever . A t t h e s a m e t i m e v a r i o u s e x p e d i e n t swere t r ied to o b ta i n m o n ey . C er t a i n p r i -so n er s , officials o f r an k , w ere r e l ea sed o nth e p a y m e n t o f considerable sums. Anappea l was m a d e to p e r s o n s o f w ea l th , andp r o m o t i o n s o r ho n o ra ry po r t a l s w ere p ro -mised to those w ho would contr ibute. Afe w g av e l ib e ra l l y , o n e m an al o n e sub sc r i b -i n g t w e n t y t h o u s a n d t a e l s . B u t t h em ajo r i t y g rud g ed pa r t i n g w i th th e spoilsthey h ad am as sed i n t he se rv i c e o f t he S t a t e .Th e to ta l su m col lected w a s Tls. 200,000.It is specia l ly recorded that a n o l d c o u n t r y -m a n , l i v i n g j u s t o u t s i d e t h e C h a n g - i m e n ,b r o u g h t f o u r h u n d r e d taels , th e s a v i n g s o fh i s w h o l e l i f e , a n d p a i d i t i n t o th e t r e a s u r y .

M e a n w h i l e L i T z u - c h ' e n g w a s a d v a n c i n gf rom S h a n s i b y t w o r o u t e s . P a r t o f h i sf o r c e s t o o k t h e m a i n o r S o u t h e r n r o a d b yP a o - t i n g F u . T h e r e m a i n d e r m a r c h e d b ya m o r e n o r t h e r l y l i n e p a s t T a - t ' u n g F u a n dH s u a n - h u a F u , w h e r e t h e r e w e r e s t r o n g -holds, which i t was no t safe to leave u n -t a k e n . T h e n o r t h e r n a r m y w a s t h e fi r s t t oa p p r o a c h th e C a p i t a l . O n the 9 th o f t hem o n t h H s i i a n - h u a w a s c a p t u r e d . O n t h e1 4t h C h u - y u n g K u a n , w i t h it s w e l l - k n o w ng a te-w ay i n the m i d d l e o f t he N an k o wP a s s , sha red th e sam e fa t e , th e G e n e r a l inc o m m a n dfleeing, and the e u n u c h ' I nspec-t o r , ' T u H s u n b y n a m e , j o i n i n g th e rebels .T here n o w rem a i n ed n o o b s t ac l e b e tw eenth e e n e m y and the walls o f P e k i n g , Tw o

d ay s l a t e r t he i r ad v an c ed g ua rd wa s a l -r e a d y p l u n d e r i n g th e s u b u r b s , while f ro mth e w al l s the i r f i r e s were seen a t n i g h ts t u d d i n g th e w h o l e c o u n t r y b e t w e e n S h a - h oand the W e s t e r n H i l ls . O n t h e 1 7th th eH s i - c h i h M e n , o r N o r t h West G a t e , w a sa t t a c k e d u n s u c c e s s f u l l y . T h e t roops on thewa l l s w ere sc an ty in n u m b e r a n d su f f e r e dt e r r i b l y f r o m h u n g e r , n o o n e s e e m i n g t oc a re fo r them . B y the E m p ero r ' s o rd er s al a rg e body o f e u n u c h s - f r o m th e Pa l ac e w assen t t o sw el l t he i r n um b er .

In the course of the da y the revoltede u n u c h , T u H s u n , w a s ad m i t t ed i n to th ecity, b e i n g pu l l ed u p o v er th e w al l s w i t h ar ope . H e wa s received pr iva te ly b y t h eE m pero r i n t he p resen c e o f t he p r i n c i pa lSec r e ta r y o f State, W e i Tsao- t e . H e b r o u g h ta p r o p o s a l that Li Tzu- ch 'eng should b e r e -cogn ize d as k i n g o f n o r th -w es t C h i n a an db e g i v en a subsidy o f a million taels, u p o nw hi c h h e would retire to H o n a n . Th ee u n u c h s t r o n g l y u r g e d th e acceptance o fth e a g r e e m e n t . O n t h e o n e han d h e p o i n t -ed out the impossib i l i ty of successful re-s is tance, and on the o ther h e d w el t upo n th eaccess ion o f s t r en g th w hi c h the E m p i r ew o u l d r ec e i v e f rom th e s u p p o r t of so po w er -fu l a n . a d h e r e n t . L i w o ul d give h is assis-tance a s a n a l ly aga ins t th e M an c hus , b u the c o u l d n o t t ak e o rd er s f rom t h e E m -pero r or be s u m m o n e d as a va ssa l tocourt. T h e E m p e r o r , to o agi ta ted to r e -m a i n seated, s tood u p a n d l e a n t u p o n th eback of his c ha i r . H e asked th e o p i n i o no f Wei, bu t the o ld se r va nt b e n t h is h e a dan d spo ke no t a single word. T u H s u nw a s a t l en g th d i sm i s sed w i th th e p r o m i s et h a t a r ep l y sho u l d b e sent, a n d w a s l e td o w n o v er t he w a l l . A s so o n a s t hey w erealone, th e E m p e r o r a g a i n a d d r e s s e d W e iTsao- t e , w h o m ere l y c o n t i n ued to k n e e l insi lence. T h e E m pero r , v ex ed a n d w e a r i e d ,p u s h e d o v e r t h e cha i r o n w hi c h he w asl ea ning a nd w i thd rew in to a n i n n e r apa r t -m e n t .

N e x t m o r n i n g th e Ping-tse M e n w a sa t t a c k e d , a n d t h e G en era l in c o m m a n d


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T H E FALL O F T H E M I N G D Y N A S T Y . 273s l a i n . Th e C h a n g - i M e n , th e "West Gate o ft h e S o u t h e r n C i t y , w a s o p e n e d t h r o u g h t h et re ache ry of the e u n u c h s in charge and thee n e m y t h u s a d m i t t e d b e g a n to a t t ack th en o r t h e r n c i ty f r om t h e s o u t h . T h e E m -p e r o r did no t ap p e a r t i l l l a t e , w h e n h e w e n tto the top o f P ro sp e c t Hi l l , wh e re he cou ldsee h o w t h e c i t y w a s s u r r o u n d e d . A s e v e n -i n g d r e w o n , h e h e l d a l o n g c o n f e r e n c e w i t hW e i Tsao- te , a f t e r w h i c h he gave o rde rs f o rs e n d i n g a w a y th e t h r e e P r i n c e a i n t o p l a c e sof c o n c e a l m e n t . T h e n , n e r v i n g h i m s e l fw i t h a f e w c u p s o f w i n e , h e w e n t i n t o th ei n n e r a p a r t m e n t s a n d slew th e f e m a l em e m b e r s of h i s f a m i l y w i t h h is own h a n d ;th e E m p r e s s , a t h i s c o m m a n d , h a v i n g f i r s tp u t a n e n d t o h e r o w n life. W h e n thisS p a r t a n d e e d w a s done , h e w e n t w i t h th ee u n u c h W a n g C h ' e n g - e n t o t h e h o u s e o fth e l a t t e r . T h e r e h e c h a n g e d h is I m p e r i a lr o b e s fo r p r iv a te dre ss , and , e sco r te d b y afe w h u n d r e d e u n u c h s , h e e n d e a v o u r e d t om a k e h is e scap e f r o m th e city. First h et r i e d th e C h ' i - h u a M e n , o r East Gate; b u ti t wa s b a r r e d a g a i n s t h i m a n d cou ld n o t b eo p e n e d . T h e same f a te awai te d h i m a t t h eHa-ta M e n . F i n a l l y h e a t t e m p t e d to f o rceh i s w a y o u t a t t h e Ch' i e n M e n. B u t t h eg u a r d s , n o t k n o w i n g w h o h e w a s a n ds u s p e c t i n g t r e a c h e r y , f i r e d u p o n h i m fr o mth e wal l . In de sp a i r , h e ceased to m a k ea n y f u r t h e r effor t a n d r e t u r n e d t o t h ep a lace , which w a s b y this t ime e n t i re lyde se r te d , e ve n i ts ' doors be ing l e f t u n gu a rd-e d. A f t e r w a n d e r i n g t h r o u g h th e e m p t yhalls, h e asce nde d Prospect Hill a n d com-,m i t t e d 'suicide b y h a n g i n g h i m s e l f u p o n atree. O n e m a n a lone h a d k e p t h im c o m -p a n y , t h e e u n u c h W a n g C h ' e n g - e n , w h o s el ife less body w a s f o u n d n e x t da y n e a r thatof hi s mas te r .

T h e E m p e r o r C h ' u n g C h e n g h a s a l w a y sb e e n r e g a r d e d w i t h s y m p a t h y b y C h i n e s eh i s t o r i a n s . H e w a s a m a n o f good disposi-t i on , i ndu s t r iou s and o f f a i r ab i l i ti e s , andin h i s c h a r a c t e r a nd h i s f a t e h e r e m i n d s o n es t r o n g l y o f t h e u n f o r t u n a t e L o u i s X VI o fF r a n c e . H e s u f fe r e d fo r t he f a u l t s o f h i s

p re de ce sso rs . H e h imse l f wou ld ne ve r hav eb r o u g h t h is k i n g d o m to r u i n . B u t , i n d e -cisive a n d w a v e r i n g b y n a t u r e , h e l acke dth e s t e a d f a s t n e s s a n d e n e r g y to a r r e s t th eE m p i r e o n t h e d o w n w a r d c o u r s e a l o n g w h i c hi t wa s r u s h i n g w i t h r a p i d l y i n c r e a s i n g v e lo -city. I t wa s the w a n t o f m o n e y w h i c h w a sthe d i re c t cau se o f the ove r throw of thed y n a s t y . H a d f u n d s b e en f o r t h c o m i n g , m e nw o u l d easily h a v e b e e n f o u n d to withstandth e a r m i e s of L i T z u - c h ' e n g . N o t t o speakof o t h e r localities, th e t o w n s a n d vil lagesnear Peking c o n t a i n e d t h o u s a n d s o f r e ti r e dsoldiers , w h o h a d f o u g h t , a n d s o m e t i m e sf o u g h t well , a g a i n s t th e M a n o h u s , a n d w h owe re re ady to take u p a r m s a g a i n , if t h e ycould s e e a n y p r o s p e ct t h a t t h e y w o u l d b er e c o m p e n s e d fo r the i r se rv ice s , i n s te ad o fbe ing l e f t , a s in their p as t e xp e r i e nce , wi th-o u t p a y a n d w i t h o u t r e w a r d . T h e w a n t o fm o n e y came , o ne ne e d hard ly say , f r omp e cu la t ion a n d m a l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . Th e sil-ve r which shou ld have b e e n paid into th et re asu r i e s of the S t a t e f o u n d i t s wa y i n toth e pockets of the M a n d a r i n s i n s t e a d . T h e r ewe re of cou rse hon ou ra b le e xce p t ions , a st h e r e always have be e n in C h i n a , b u t t h em a s s o f t h e s e r v a n t s o f t h e G o v e r n m e n twe re hop e le ss ly co r ru p t . B u t worth le ss a swe re th e regular M a n d a r i n s , they we re stillsu p e r io r to the e u n u c h s of the Palace.Ignorant, u n e d u c a t e d , w i t h o u t h o m e s a n df ami l i e s , these c r e a t u r e s w e r e u n f i t t e d toth e last degree fo r posi t ions o f trust o rdif f icu l t y . Y e t C h ' u n g C h e n g , e v e n m o r et h a n h is p re de ce sso rs , de l ibe ra te ly f o l lowe dth e pol icy o f p lac ing in t h e i r h a n d s a n ever-i n c r e a s i n g a m o u n t o f p o w e r an d a u t h o r i t y .P e r h a p s h e t r u s t e d t h e m b e c a u s e t h e y w e r eth e p e r s o n s w i t h w h o m he wa s in m o s tf a m i l i a r i n t e r c o u r s e , o r p e r h a p s h e fo o l i s h lyt h o u g h t that those w h o h a d n o ties to b i n dt h e m to o the rs , w ou ld be more l i ke ly to bef a i t h f u l to h i m s e l f . A t a n y rate, w h a t -e ve r was the cau se o f h i s i n f a tu a t ion ,th e u n f o r t u n a t e m o n a r c h l i v e d l o n g e n -ou gh to di scove r that n o o n e desertedh i m so t r e a c h e r o u s l y o r w e l c o m e d h is


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27 4 T H E C H I N A R E V I E W ,e n e m y so shamelessly as did his owne u nu c h s .

At dayl igh t nex t morning the a t tack o nthe city was r esumed wi th v i g o ur , and in avery short t ime al l the gates h a d been t akenor sur rendered . Li Tzu-ch 'eng entered onhorseback an d proceeded s t ra ight to thePalace , at the por ta l s o f w h i c h t h r e e h u n-d red eunuchs were assembled to w e l c om eh i m . H i s fi r s t acts w e r e to fo rb id on painof death t h a t any of the inhabi t ant s shouldbe molested, and he inst i tu ted a search fo rthe l a te Emperor , whose fa te wa s no t ye tk n o w n . H e nex t p roceeded to examine theconten t s of t he t r easur i es . Th e v e r y sm a l lq u a n t i t y o f gold a nd si lver t h a t they con-ta ined was a cause o f grea t surprise an ddi sappointment . For he had hoped to findsufficient funds both for the immedia te needsof the govern men t and for the d i s t ri bu t ionof a largesse to hi s t roops . He was soonimpe l led by the wan t of mon ey to r esor t tomeans o f raising i t which brought gre a topprobr ium on h i s ru l e .

When a day or two had passed , not i cewas given to al l the o f f i c e r s of the la teg o v e r n m e n t to r epor t themselves at thepalace a t a given hour . Th e roll beingcal led , a smal l nu mb er were re ta ined forservice and the remainder r ejec ted wi thm u c h c on t u m e l y . Of t he l a t t e r class a largenu m be r w e r e h a nd e d ov e r t o t he merc ies o fLi's generals, in order that they might b em a d e to disgorge th e plunder , which theywere supposed to h a v e amassed at the ex-pense of the S ta t e . In the case of most ofthem, doubt l ess , th e supposi t i on w as perfect-ly cor rect . Those who were unab le or un-wi l l i ng to p r od u c e th e la rge sums demandedfrom them were puni she d and tor turedwi thout p i ty . Some weal thy merchant s ,an d other per sons who had be e n secretlydenounced to the government f rom privatesp i te , were subjec ted to t r ea tm ent of as i m i l a r na t u r e . L i remonst ra ted wi th h isgenera l s for thei r excessive c ruel ty , whichw a s creating g r e a t od i u m ; b u t they l aughedat him for hi s pains an d told him not to

t rouble himself with tr i f les. Th e t o r t u r i n gw e n t on f o r ne a r l y a m on t h , ti l l he f ina l lyreleased those wh o surv ived an d w e r e still inconf inement . Li's pr incipal genera l , LiTsung-m in, bro ught much d isc red it o n theG o v e r n m e n t . H e used to r ide i nto thepalace to see his m a s te r in private dress,and t r ansac ted publ ic business in h i s q u a r -ters with a cup of w i n e at his side and hi sa rm r ou nd a girl's waist . There was a gooddeal of distress in the ci ty , provisions of al lk inds being requi s i t i oned for t he u se of t hat roops. It does n o t seem t h a t there w asan y genera l i l l - t r ea tment of the popula t ion ;but a c e r t a i n nu m be r o f fami l i es commi t tedsuicide, in most cases, rather in anticipationof danger than on account of actual cruelty.Still, isolated instances o f out rage were no trare, and the publ ic execut ion of soldiersfo r plun dering wa s a dai ly spectacle at thepalace gates.When the two you nger sons of the Em -peror fled f rom th e palace, o n t he n i g h tbefore t he c a p t u r e of t he c i ty , they tookre fuge w i t h a nob l e m a n , na m e d C h ou K u e i ,th e h u s b a n d of one of t he I m p e r i a l P r i n -cesses. A day or two afte rwa rds they weresur rendered by h im to Li Tzu -ch 'eng , whotreated them kin dly, conversed with themon several occasions an d promised to confera small principal i ty on each of them. Thei re lder brother , the hei r apparent , l e f t th epalace on the same night as they d id. Buth e separa ted f rom t h e m , and h i s fa te w a snever ascertained with certa inty. Severa lmonths a f t erwards , when th e E m p e r o r S h u nChih was on t he t h r one , a boy c a m e secret lyt o t he h ou se o f C hou K u e i an d i n t r od u c e dhimse lf a s t h e P r i nc e, H e w a s u nh e s i t a -t ingly recognized by the Princes s, bu t wasdec la red an impostor by her husband anddel ivered by h im to the Manchu au thor i t i es .A special comm ission investigated the casewi th g r e a t care, b u t seemed unable to cometo a decided conclusion . The bo y disap-peared quiet ly f rom view. Th e Chineseh i s tor ian ref ra ins caut iously f rom any d i -rect expression of opinion, bu t seems cer-


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T H E F A LL O F T H E M I N G D Y N A S T Y . 2 7 5t a i n l y t o l ean t o w ard s a b e l i e f i n t he g en u i n e -n ess of the p r e t e n s i o n . J u d g i n g , h o w e v e r ,as well as I can f rom his n a r r a t i v e , I ami n c l i n ed to t h i n k th e case is m e r e l y a C hi -n e se p a r a l l e l to the stories o f P e r k i n W a r -b ec k an d L am b er t S i m n e l .

T h e o r g a n i z a t io n o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t w a sc a r r ie d o n b u s i l y i n P e k i n g . N e w titleswer e invented for the principal boards a n dd e p a r t m e n t s . T h e r e w e r e l i te r a r y e x a m i n a -t i o n s , t o w hi c h c an d i d a tes t h ro n g ed . M o -n e y w as c o i n ed w i th t he sup er sc r i p t i o n' Y un g -c h ' an g . ' Off icer s w ere sen t so u th -w ard , so m e to c o l lec t fu n d s , an d o the r s too c c u p y p e r m a n e n t p o s t s . T h e latter, ho w -ev er , w ere r eq u i red to leav e the i r fam i l i e si n Pek i n g a s ho s t ag es fo r t he i r f i de l i t y .An Im per i a l c ro w n w as t r i ed o n b y L i T z u-c h ' en g . At f i r s t i t was too sm a l l , a n d w h e nal tered w a s t o o b i g , and i t m a d e h is headac he ev ery t i m e he w o re i t . O n d ay s w h e n h ehad l e i su re , he i n d u l g ed h i s l o v e o f athleticexercises b y prac t i s i n g a rc hery i n the palacegrounds. A b o u t t h e m i d d l e o f t h e m o n t h ,a f t e r r epea t ed u rg i n g s an d sev era l po s tpo n e-m e n t s , a d a t e w as f i x ed fo r h i s fo rm a l i n -sta l la t ion o n t h e t h r o n e ; b u t b efo re th ed ay a r r i v ed , he had se t o u t f rom P e k i n g t om a r c h a g a i n s t a n e w e n e m y .A t t h i s m o m e n t t h e o n l y s p o t i n N o r t h -C h i n a w h i c h still held o u t ag a i n s t th e con-q u e r o r o f t he c a p i t a ] , w a s t h e little tractn e a r S h a n - k a i K u a n o n t h e M a n c h u r i a nf r on t ie r , w here the en d o f t he G rea t Wallr u n s d o w n to the sea . T h i s t e r r i t o ry w a soccupied b y t h e a r m y o f W u S a n - k u e i , a nofficer a l r e a d y o f so m e d i s t i n c t i o n , an d des-t i n ed a f t e rw ard s to b e c o m e th e m o s t r e -n o w n e d man in all C hi n a . It is said thath e h a d a c t u a l l y d e t e r m i n e d to give h i s a d -hesion to Li T z u-c h ' en g a n d h a d started fo rP e k i n g with that i n t e n t io n , w h e n h e t u r n e dback f u r i o u s o n h e a r i n g that a fav o ur i t ec o n c ub i n e , a b eau ty f ro m So o c ho w w ho m h ehad bou ght for -a large sum o f m o n ey , hadbeen seized an d appro pr i a t ed b y o n e o f Li'sg en era l s in Peking. T hi s s t o ry , ho w ev er ,m a y very possib ly have been an i n v en t i o n

of later d ay s , a f t e r h e h a d fa l l en i n to d i s -f a v o u r , w h e n a n y t h i n g to h i s discredi twould b e favourably received.

T h e a u t h o r i t i e s I hav e c o n su l t ed c o n ta i ngreat a n d i r reconci lab le differences i n theac c o un t s t hey g i v e o f the sho r t w a r b e tw eenL i T z u-c h ' en g a n d W u S a n - k u e i .Th e Sheng-wu-chi, o r m i l i t a ry h i s to ry o fth e M a n c h u E m p e r o r s , i s the so u rc e to w hi c ho n e naturally turns f o r i n f o r m a t i o n . B u twe m u s t r e m e m b e r th e C hi n ese say i n g thatth e t r u e h i s to r y o f a d y n a s t y is n e v e r p u b -l i shed till i t ha s ceased to r e i g n , a r e m a r kw hi c h w o u l d pe rhaps b e p e c u l i a r l y applic-able to the w o r k just m e n t i o n e d . I h a v et h e r e f o r e s h r u n k f r o m a t t e m p t i n g t o d e -sc ri b e t he c am pa i g n i n d e t a i l . Suffice i t tos a y that W u S a n - k u e i , j u s t l y c o n s i d e r i n gh i s a r m y n o t to b e a m a t c h f o r that o f h i sen em y , so ug h t t he a i d o f t he M an c hus ,w i t h o u t i n t e n d i n g t o d o m o r e t h a n t o u s ethem a s allies. T h e M a n c h u s s w o r e f r ie n d -sh i p w i th h i m an d i n d uc ed h i m to m ake h i sm en shav e the i r head s i n o rd er that theym i g h t b e d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e f rom t he o the rC hi n ese . In the t h i c k of a f ight b e t w e e nt h e t w o C h i n e s e a r m i e s , th e Tartars fel lu p o n the f lank of Li Tzu-ch'eng, whosem en f l ed , t e r r i f i ed b y the un ex pec ted a t t ac kan d the s t r a n g e a p p e a r a n c e o f t he n ew foe.A d ay o r tw o l a t e r L i r e -en te red Pek i n g ,fo l lowed by h i s draggled a n d w eary c av a l ry .T he pu r su i t had b een so ho t that n o n e o fthe i n fan t ry w e re ab l e t o e sc ape . S w i f t a sw as the f l i g h t , t he r um o u r o f d efea t hadtravelled y e t m o r e r a p i d l y , a n d r eac hedPeking b efo re L i's r e tu rn . Th e Generalsw h o m h e h a d l e f t in c o m m a n d w e r e m o r een erg e t i c o r m o re sk i l led i n the a r t o f w a r ,t han tho se w h o h a d charge of the city u n -d er th e late E m pero r . Im m ed i a t e l y theyh e a r d th e r epo r t , t hey h a d b e g u n to prepa refo r t he d efen c e o f t he t o w n b y pu l l i n g d o w nth e ho uses o u t s i de th e walls w hi c h m askedth e a p p r o a c h e s to the gates.

But t ho ug h Li had still a very largea r m y in Peking or its i m m ed i a t e neigh-b o u r h o o d , be d id no t m a k e a n y a t t e m p t


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276 THE C H I N A REVIEW.to h o l d the c i ty . He had lost h e a r ta n d d e t e r m i n e d to r e t r e a t w e s t w a r d . H ist r e a s u r e w a g g o n s w e r e s e n t of f and p r e -p a r a t i o n s m a d e f o r h i s d e p a r t u r e . H e tooka s a v a g e r e v e n g e u p o n his c o n q u e r o r WuS a n - k u e i , b y m u r d e r i n g a l l the m e m b e r s o fthe latter's h o u s e h o l d in Peking. The so l-d i e r s , s u l l e n a n d r e f u s i n g t o b e c o n t r o ll e d ,p l u n d e r e d a n d r a v i s h e d a s they p l e a s e d .T h e c e r e m o n y o f c o r o n a t io n w a s h a s t i l yp e r f o r m e d ; a n d t h e n , o n t h e 2 9 t h o f t h em o n t h , j u s t f o r t y days a f t e r h i s v i c to r i o usentry into Peking, he t u r n e d his back forev er o n t h e sc en e of h i s h o p e s w h i c h a s h o r tt i m e b e f o r e h a d a p p e a r e d t o b e a c t u a l l yrea l i z ed . H e h a d n o t g o n e fa r w h e n h ewas to ld that the peo p l e w ere k i l l i n g thestragglers who had remained b eh i n d in thecity. H e w a s o n t h e p o i n t o f r e t u r n i n g tot a k e v e n g e a n c e , but he heard that Wu S a n -k u e i h a d a l r e a d y o c c u p i e d th e t o w n . H ew a s p u r s u e d by that G e n e r a l as far as then e i g h b o u r h o o d o f C h e n g - t i n g Fu , a f e wd a y s ' j o u r n e y to the s o u t h - w e s t o f Peking,w h e r e a d r a w n b a t t l e , o n e o f ex c eed i n gf i e r ce n e s s , w a s f o u g h t . N e x t m o r n i n g n e i -

ther p a r t y s e e m s t o h a v e c a r e d t o r e c o m -m e n c e t h e f i g h t . W u S a n - k u e i r e t u r n e d t oP e k i n g , w h e r e h e f o u n d t h e y o u n g M a n c h uE m p e r o r , S h u n C h i h , a l r e a d y s e a t e d o n t h et h r o n e . L i T z u - c h ' e n g w i t h d r e w , f o r t h et i m e u n m o l e s t e d , t o S h e n s i ; h u t , a t t a ck e dthere next y e a r , h e r e t r e a t e d to Hsiang-y a n g , a n d t h e n c e f l e d to s o u t h e r n H u p e i ,w h e r e h e w a s slain b y t h e l o c a l m i l i t i a .T h e r e can be but v e r y little d o u b t , I im-ag i n e , that i t was f o r the good o f C h i n a thatL i T z u - c h ' e n g w a s d e f e a t e d a t S h a n - h a iKuan. He was a man certainly of v i g o u ra n d e n e rg y a n d a p p a r e n t l y m u c h s u p e r i o rb y n a t u r e t o t h o s e w h o s u r r o u n d e d h i m .T h e i n f u s i o n o f n ew b l o o d i n to t he a d -m i n i s t r a t i o n , w h i c h w o u l d h a v e a c c o m p a n i e dh i s a c c e ss i o n t o t h r o n e , c o u l d n o t h a v e f a i l -e d t o b e a n i m p r o v e m e n t o n t h e effe te a n di n c a p a b l e G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e M i n g s . B u tt h e r e is little l i ke l i ho o d that he or his de-s c e n d a n t s w o u l d h a v e e q u a l l e d i n k i n g l yq ua l i t i e s th e earlier m o n a r e h s o f t h e M a n -ch u D y n a s t y , i n t o w h o s e h a n d s th e e m p i r ef e l l w h e n i t d r o p p e d f r o m th e grasp w h i c hh a d c l u tc hed it for a m o m e n t .

T. L. B U L L O C H .

T H E M A R I T I M E W A R S O F T H E M A N C H U S .I.CHINA S FIRST N A V A L EXPERIENCES.A f t e r th e M a n c h u g r a n d - d u k e Polo's s u b -

j u g a t i o n o f C h e K i a n g in 1 6 4 6 ; t h e f l igh to f th e M i n g r e g e n t P r i n c e L u B S t o C h u -s a n ; the c r u s h i n g of P r i n c e T ' an g J||?i n Fu K i e n ; and the s u r r e n d e r o f C h e n gC h i h - l u n g jSlt jS? g. the M a n c h u a r m i e sr e t u r n e d n o r m , l e a v i n g g a r r is o n s i n certainc o m m a n d i n g s p o t s. T h e p i r a t i c a l c a r e e r o fC h e n g C h ' e n g - k u n g Ifjj' ~nj, K o x i n g a th es o n , a n d C h e n g Ts'ai 4f ; and C h e n g L i e nB&, th e n e p h e w s o f C h e n g C h i h - l u n g , b e-g a n f r o m this date. P r i n c e L u h a d f l e d i n

t h e f i r s t i n s t a n c e t o C h u s a n o r W e n g - c h o uI s f f i y ( the i s l an d to w h i c h in a n c i e n t?i4 Vit ^times K i n g K o u t s ie n o f Y u e h h a d t h o u g h to f e x i li n g K i n g Fuch'a o f W u ) , a n d t h e n c eh e was escorted to A m o y , or C hun g - t so So,FJ1 -^ fiff, by C h e n g Ts'ai and C h e n gL i en ; b u t C h e n g C h ' e n g - k u n g , w h o t h e noccu p ie d A m o y , h a v i n g i n m i n d t h e f e u db e t w e e n h i s late m a s t e r P r i n c e T'ang a n dth e P r i n c e L u , d e c l i n e d to r ec e i v e th e l a t -ter , w h o a c c o r d i n g l y t r a n s f e r r e d h i s c o u r tto C h ' a n g - y u a n ^| ^g, A n u m b e r ofF n K i e n c i t ie s h e r e u p o n d e c la r e d f o r t h eM i n g s , on w h i c h a new attack by the

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