Shanghai in command of the English engineers who, with some French
troops, were to assist the Chinese army in clearing the district round
Shanghai of the dreaded Taepings. The nature of the country, almost
encircled by water, was such that the help of a good engineer was needed
if the expedition was to be successful, and Gordon was busy all day in
surveying the canals or moats outside the walls of some city they were
about to attack, to see at what point he could throw a bridge of boats
across, or where he could best place his reserves. At the end of six
months the enemy was forced back to a distance of forty miles; but the
French admiral Protet had been killed in action, and Ward had fallen
while leading an assault.
By this time the emperor and his ministers at Pekin understood that if
the Taepings were to be put down the Chinese army must be commanded by a
general capable of opposing Chung Wang, and a request was sent to the
English government that the post might be temporarily offered to major
Gordon. After some hesitation, leave was granted, and permission was
given to a certain number of officers to serve under him. The emperor
was overjoyed--much more so than Gordon, who was promptly created a
mandarin. He foresaw many difficulties in store before he could get his
'rabble' of four thousand men into order, and at the outset he had much
trouble with Burgevine, Ward's successor in command of the
Ever-Victorious Army, but a very different man from Ward himself.
However, by the help of the famous Li Hung Chang, Burgevine was
ultimately got rid of, but not before he had done a great deal of
mischief. Gordon was free to devote all his energies to building a
little fleet of small steamers and Chinese gunboats that could go down
the rivers and canals, and hinder the foreign traders from secretly
supplying the rebels with arms and ammunition.
The strict discipline enforced by Gordon made him very unpopular with
his little army, and they could not understand why he made the act of
pillage a crime, to be punished by death. But when we think how wholly
impossible it is for any European or American to guess what is going on
in the mind of any Asiatic, it is surprising, not that he met with
difficulties, but that he ever succeeded in obtaining obedience. As it
was, two thousand of his men deserted after some heavy fighting, and
Ching, the Chinese general, was jealous of him, and incited the troops
to oppose and annoy him in every way. Besides, Li Hung Chang was
behindhand in paying his army, and, as Gordon felt that his own good
faith and honour were pledged to punctual payment, he tendered his
resignation as commander. This frightened the emperor and his ministers
so much that the money due was quickly sent, and by the help of General
Staveley matters were arranged.
At the capture of Quinsan Gordon took prisoners about two thousand
Taepings, whom he drilled with care and enlisted in his own army,
turning them, he said, into much better soldiers than his old ones.
Eight hundred of them he made his own guard, and under his eye they
proved faithful and trustworthy. With the help of his new force he
determined to besiege the ancient town of Soo-chow, situated on the
Grand Canal and close to the Tai-ho, or great lake.
All around it were waterways leading to the sea, but the Grand Canal
itself, stretching away to the Yang-tse-kiang, was held by the Taeping
general Chung Wang.
* * * * *
Now the possession of Soo-chow was of great importance to both parties,
and Gordon at once proceeded to cut off its supplies that came by way of
the sea and the Tai-ho, by putting three of his steamers on the lake, so
that no provisions could get into the city except through the Grand
Canal. On the land side fighting was going on perpetually, and by the
help of a body of good Chinese troops Gordon gained a decisive victory
in the open field. We can scarcely, however, realise all the
difficulties he had to contend with in his army itself. General Ching
not only hated him, and always tried to upset his plans, but was quite
reckless, and if left to himself invariably got into mischief. Then the
minister, Li Hung Chang's brother, who had been given the command of
twenty thousand troops, was utterly without either instinct or
experience, and continually hampered Gordon's movements by some act of
folly. Worst of all, he could not feel sure of the fidelity of his own
officers, and during the siege he found that one of them had actually
given information of his plans to Chung Wang.
As soon as the man's guilt was certain Gordon sent for him, and in the
light of one whose soul had never held a thought that was not honourable
and true the traitor must have seen himself as he really was. We do not
know what Gordon said to him--most likely very little, but he offered
him one chance of retrieving himself, and that was that he should lead
the next forlorn hope.
In spite of his treachery the culprit was able to feel the baseness of
his conduct. He eagerly accepted Gordon's proposal, though he was well
aware that almost certain death was in store. And his repentance was
real, and not merely the effect of a moment's shame, for when, some time
after, a forlorn hope was necessary to carry the stockades before
Soo-chow, Gordon, whose mind had been occupied with other things, had
entirely forgotten all about his promise. But though he did not
remember, the officer did, and claimed his right to lead. He was the
first man killed, but the stockades were carried, and after two months'
siege Soo-chow was won.
* * * * *
Nowhere during Gordon's service in China was the difference between East
and West more clearly shown than in the events that happened after the
capture of Soo-chow. Gordon respected his enemies, who had fought
bravely, and wished them to be granted favourable terms of surrender.
Moh Wang in particular, the captain of the city, had shown special skill
and courage, and before the town fell Gordon had obtained a promise
from Li Hung Chang that the Taeping commander's fate should be placed in
his hands. At a council held inside Soo-chow, Moh Wang desired to hold
out, but the other Wangs (or nobles) all voted for surrender, and at
length they began to quarrel. Moh Wang would not give way, and then Kong
Wang caught up his dagger and struck the first blow. The rest fell upon
Moh Wang, and dragged him from his seat, cutting off his head, which
they sent to Ching the general as a gift.
* * * * *
As plunder had been strictly forbidden by Gordon, he was very anxious to
give his soldiers two months' pay to make up; but one month's pay was
all he could obtain, and that with great difficulty, while the troops,
angry and disappointed, threatened to revolt and to march against Li
Hung Chang, as governor of the province. This was, however, stopped by
Gordon, who then went into the city to the house of Nar Wang, another
Taeping leader, whom he wished also to gain over. On the previous day he
had heard from Ching that at twelve o'clock on the morning of December 6
the Wangs had arranged to meet the governor and surrender Soo-chow, as
the emperor had consented to spare their lives and those of the
prisoners; so Gordon started early in order to catch Nar Wang before he
left, reaching Nar Wang's house just as he and the other Wangs were
mounting their horses for the interview. After talking to them a little
he bade them good-bye, and they rode away.
The fate that they met with was the same as they had dealt to Moh Wang.
It seemed ridiculous to the governor to keep faith with men who had just
delivered themselves and their city into his hands, and almost every
Chinaman would have agreed with him. The Wangs were all taken over to
the other side of the river and there beheaded, their heads being cut
off and flung aside. But somehow, though the murder was committed in
broad daylight, it was kept a secret till the following day.
This breach of faith in murdering men who had surrendered might long
have remained unknown to Gordon but for a slight change in his plans. He
suddenly decided that he would embark on one of his steamers on the
Tai-ho, instead of leaving the city by another route. It was some little
time before steam could be got up, so he went for a walk through the
streets with Dr. Halliday Macartney, whose name will always be connected
with China. To his surprise, crowds of imperialists were standing about,
talking eagerly and excitedly, and it was clear to both Englishmen that
some sort of a disturbance had taken place. Turning a corner they
suddenly met General Ching, who grew so pale and looked so uncomfortable
that Gordon's suspicions were aroused, and he at once inquired if the
Wangs had seen Li Hung Chang, and what had taken place.
Ching replied that they had never been to Li Hung Chang at all, which
astonished Gordon, who answered that he had seen them starting, and if
they had not gone there, where were they? Then Ching said they had sent
a message to the governor stating that they wished to be allowed to keep
twenty thousand men, and to retain half of the city, building a wall to
shut off their own portion. Gordon was greatly puzzled by this
information, and asked if Ching thought that the Wangs could have joined
the Taepings again in some other place; but the Chinese general replied
that he thought most likely that they had returned quietly to their own
homes.
To all appearance Ching was speaking the truth, yet Gordon could not
feel satisfied. Turning to Macartney, who was standing by listening to
the conversation, he begged him to go quickly to Nar Wang's house and
tell him that the surrender must be unconditional, and then to return
to him at a certain spot. When Macartney reached the house where Nar
Wang lived he was informed by the servant who opened it that his master
was out.
'Will he be in soon, for I must see him,' inquired Macartney. 'I have
business of the greatest importance.'
The man looked at him silently, and then drew his hand slowly across his
throat. Macartney understood the ghastly sign, and went swiftly away,
but only just in time to avoid a crowd of pillagers, who poured into the
house and in a few minutes had wrecked or stolen all they could lay
hands on. He soon reached the spot which Gordon had appointed, but, long
though he waited, Gordon never came.
* * * * *
After Macartney had left him Gordon stayed some time talking with Ching,
and trying to find out what had really occurred, for that some dark deed
had taken place he became quite convinced. However, not even torture can
wring from a Chinaman what he does not choose to tell, and at length
Gordon gave up the attempt in despair, and hurried through crowds laden
with plunder to Nar Wang's house in order to see and hear for himself.
The door stood open, and he walked rapidly through the rooms. At first
the dwelling seemed as empty as it was bare, but at length he thought he
saw some eyes looking at him behind a pile of rubbish.
'Come out,' he said; 'I am alone, you have nothing to fear'; and then an
old man crept out, who, with many low bows and polite expressions,
explained that in his nephew's absence the Chinese soldiers had pillaged
his house, and begged the honourable Englishman to help him take away
the ladies, whom he had hidden in a cellar, to his own dwelling.
Gordon was furious at learning that his strict orders against pillage
had been disobeyed, but this was not the moment to think of that. With
some difficulty they all passed through the crowded streets, but when
they reached the old man's house they found a guard round it, and Gordon
was informed that he must consider himself a prisoner. Luckily for him
the Taepings had not yet learned the fate of the Wangs, or his life
would have been speedily taken in payment for theirs.
* * * * *
All that night Gordon remained locked up in one room, impatiently
chafing at the thought of what might be going on in the city. Early in
the morning he got leave to send an interpreter with a letter to the
English lines, ordering his bodyguards to come to his rescue, and to
seize Li Hung Chang as security for the Wangs. His first messenger was
stopped and his letter torn up; but in the afternoon he was himself set
free on a promise to send a guard to protect the Taepings in Nar Wang's
house. This he instantly did, and in his indignation at the permission
given in his absence to the imperialist soldiers to sack the city
refused to see or speak to general Ching.
On receiving Gordon's refusal Ching began to feel that he and Li Hung
Chang had gone rather far, and that the day of reckoning would be a very
uncomfortable one. Some explanation he must make, so he ordered an
English officer to go at once to Gordon and inform him that he knew
nothing of what had become of the Wangs, or whether they were alive or
dead, but that Nar Wang's son was safe in his tent.
'Bring him here,' said Gordon, and he waited in silence till a boy of
fourteen entered the camp at the east gate. From him he learned what had
happened in a few words. All the Wangs, his father among them, had been
taken across the river on the previous day, and there cruelly murdered;
their heads had been cut off, and their bodies left lying on the bank.
Speechless with horror, Gordon set off at once for the place of the
murder, and found the nine headless corpses lying as they had fallen.
Englishman and soldier though he was, tears of rage forced their way
into his eyes at the thought that by this act of treachery on the part
of the Chinese his honour and that of his country had been trampled in
the dust. Then, taking a revolver instead of the stick which was the
only weapon he carried even in action, he went straight to Li Hung
Chang's quarters, intending to shoot him dead and to bear the
responsibility.
But the governor had been warned, and took his measures accordingly. Li
Hung Chang had escaped from his boat, and was hiding in the city. In
vain Gordon, his anger no whit abated, sought for him high and low. No
trace of him could be found; and at last Gordon returned to Quinsan,
where he called a council of his English officers, and informed them
that until the emperor had punished Li Hung Chang as he deserved he
should decline to serve with him, and should resign his command into the
hands of General Brown, who was stationed at Shanghai. As to Li Hung
Chang's offer, sent by Macartney, to sign any proclamation Gordon chose
to write, saying that he was both innocent and ignorant of the murder of
the Wangs, he would not even listen to it.
* * * * *
As soon as General Brown received Gordon's letter at Shanghai he
instantly set out for Quinsan, where Gordon remained with his troops for
two months, while Li Hung Chang's conduct was being inquired into, or,
rather, while the government was trying to find out how the anger of the
English generals and the English envoy on account of the murder of the
Wangs could best be satisfied. For Li Hung had been beforehand with us,
guessing how much he had at stake, and had been much praised for his act
and given a yellow jacket, or, as we should say 'the Garter.' On Gordon
himself a medal of the highest class was bestowed, with a large sum of
money, and, what the imperial government knew he would value much more,
a grant for his wounded men and extra pay for the soldiers. Anything
that tended to make his troops more comfortable Gordon, who had already
devoted to their help his 1,200 l. a year of pay from the Chinese
government, gladly received, but for himself he would accept nothing and
keep nothing, except two flags, which had no connection with the Wang
massacre. Nor did he allow anyone to remain in ignorance of the motive
of his refusal, for he wrote a letter to the emperor himself, in which
he stated that 'he regretted most sincerely that, owing to the
circumstances which occurred since the capture of Soo-chow, he was
unable to receive any mark of his majesty the emperor's recognition,'
though he 'respectfully begged his majesty to accept his thanks for his
intended kindness.'
* * * * *
With the taking of Soo-chow the Taeping resistance was really broken,
and soon Nankin and Hangchow were the only important places left to
them, though plenty of fighting was still to be done. To the great
relief of the government Gordon was at length persuaded to resume his
command, more from the thought that he might be able to some extent to
check the cruelty natural to the Chinese than for any other reason. It
is amusing to watch the slavish behaviour of the emperor towards the man
whose help he so greatly needed, and whose anger he so deeply feared.
Once, when Gordon in leading an attack with his wand in his hand, the
only weapon he ever carried, received a bad wound below the knee, his
majesty promulgated a public edict ordering Li Hung Chang to inquire
daily after him, and the governor himself issued a proclamation, setting
forth all the circumstances of the massacre of Soo-chow, and declaring
in the clearest manner that Gordon had been totally ignorant of the
whole affair.
In June 1864 the British government sent an intimation to China that
they considered the country had no further need for Gordon's services,
and wished him set at liberty to return home. Gordon himself would
perhaps have preferred to remain a little longer, but, as he was given
no choice, he quietly disbanded the Ever-Victorious-Army, fearing that,
if led by unscrupulous men, it might become a danger to the empire. He
then visited the general besieging Nankin, whose name was Tseng-kwo-fan,
and gave him a little advice as to the training of troops, and even took
part in directing some of the assaults. Then he took leave of the
general, and a few hours later he had started on his journey. Tien Wang,
one of the Taeping commanders within the walls of Nankin, seeing that
the cause was tottering to its fall, committed suicide in the manner
proper to his rank by swallowing gold leaf. Shortly after the city
itself was stormed, and Chung Wang, whose presence among the rebels was,
said Gordon, equal to an army of five thousand men, fell into the hands
of the victors. He was sentenced to be beheaded, but was given a week's
respite in order to write the history of the rebellion of the Taepings,
who had invaded sixteen out of the eighteen provinces and destroyed six
hundred cities.
* * * * *
By this time Gordon and Li Hung Chang had begun to know more of each
other and to understand a little better the different views of East and
West. Gordon had gained the trust and respect of everybody, even of the
Taeping chiefs themselves, while the prince Kung, in the name of the
emperor, wrote a letter of the most hearty gratitude for Gordon's
services to the British minister at Pekin. The title of Ti-tu, the
highest rank in the Chinese army, had been conferred on him, and also
the yellow jacket, a distinction dating back to the coming of the
present Manchu dynasty in the seventeenth century, and only given to
generals who had been victorious against rebels. Gordon had besides six
dresses of mandarins, and a book explaining how they should be worn.
They were of course the handsomest that China could produce, and the
buttons on the hats alone were worth 30 l. or 40 l. each. From the two
empresses he received a gold medal specially struck in his honour; and
by this he set great store, though not long after, having spent all his
pay on his boys at Gravesend, he sold it for 10 l., and, smoothing out
the inscription, sent the money to the Lancashire Famine Fund.
His own government gave him a step in military rank, and it was as
'Colonel Gordon' that he returned home early in 1865.
* * * * *
The next six years of his life Gordon passed at home, and these years
were, he said, the happiest he had ever spent. He first visited his
family, who were living at Southampton, and to them he was ready to talk
of all that he had seen and done since they last parted. Invitations
poured in upon him from all sides, but he hated being fussed over, and
invariably lost his temper at any attempt to show him off. He was so
angry at a minister who borrowed from Mrs. Gordon his private journal of
the Taeping rebellion, and then sent to have it printed for the other
members of the Cabinet to read, that he rushed straight to the printers
and insisted that the type should at once be destroyed. It was a very
great loss to the world; but the minister had no business to act as he
did without Gordon's permission, and had only himself to thank for what
happened.
Delightful though it was to be back again, Gordon soon got tired of
being idle, so he was given an appointment to superintend the erection
of forts at Gravesend. His leisure hours he devoted to helping the
people round him, especially little ragged boys, whose only playground
and schoolroom were the streets or the riverside. And it is curious that
he, who amongst strangers of his own class was shy and abrupt, and often
tactless, was quite at his ease with these little fellows, generally as
suspicious as they are acute. About himself and his own comfort he never
thought, and if he was working would eat, when it was necessary and he
remembered to do so, food which he had ready in a drawer of his table.
But as he had carefully watched over the welfare of his troops in China,
so in Gravesend he looked after that of his boys. He took into his own
house as many as there was room for, and clothed and fed them, while in
the evenings he taught them geography, and told them stories from
English history and the Bible, and when he considered they had done
lessons long enough he played games with them. By-and-by more boys came
in from the outside and joined his classes. It did not matter to him how
many they were, they were all welcome, and he gave them, as far as the
time allowed, a training which was religious as well as practical,
hoping that some day they might turn out good soldiers and sailors, and
be a protection to the empire. Several of his boys were taken on board
some of the many ships off Gravesend, and the 'kernel,' as they called
him, kept a map stuck over with pins tracing their voyages all over the
world.
[Illustration: He told them stories from English history.]
Most people would have considered that between military duties and boys'
classes they were busy enough; but Gordon still found time to spare for
the ragged schools, and money to provide hundreds of boots and suits for
the little waifs, till he left himself almost penniless.
The large garden attached to his house was of no benefit to himself, but
was lent by him to a number of his friends, each of whom did as he liked
with his own portion, and either kept the fruit and vegetables for his
family, or else sold them. Of course, the 'kernel' was frequently taken
in, and spent his money on those who had no claim to it; but the boys he
helped were seldom a disappointment, any more than the boys of to-day
sent out from the Gordon Boys' Homes founded in his memory.
* * * * *
It must have been a black day indeed for many in Gravesend when Gordon
was despatched by his government on a mission to the Danube, and then
ordered to inspect the graves of those who had fallen in the Crimea
seventeen years before. So he said good-bye to his friends, young and
old, leaving to the ragged schools some gorgeous Chinese flags, which
are still waved at the school treats amidst shouts of remembrance of
their giver.
* * * * *
On his way back from the Crimea Gordon stopped at Constantinople, and
while there a proposal was made to him, on the part of the sultan, to
proceed to Egypt and to take service, with the queen's permission, under
his vassal, the khedive, or ruler, as governor of the tribes in upper
Egypt. Sir Samuel Baker had hitherto held the post, but now wished to
resign, and Gordon, who had always laid greatly to heart the iniquity of
the slave-trade, thought that, as governor of the provinces from which
the supply of slaves was drawn, he might be able to put an end to it.
Leave was granted in the autumn of 1873, and before Gordon returned to
London to make the necessary preparations, he proceeded to Cairo to see
the khedive, or, as he was still called, 'the lieutenant of the sultan.'
* * * * *