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he was able gradually to force back the rebels； to cut them off
piecemeal in the field； and to seize upon their cities。
But； brilliant as these operations were； Gordon's military genius
showed itself no less unmistakably in other directions。 The Ever
Victorious Army； recruited from the riff…raff of Shanghai； was an
ill…disciplined； ill…organised body of about three thousand men；
constantly on the verge of mutiny； supporting itself on plunder；
and； at the slightest provocation； melting into thin air。 Gordon；
by sheer force of character； established over this incoherent
mass of ruffians an extraordinary ascendancy。 He drilled them
with rigid severity； he put them into a uniform； armed them
systematically； substituted pay for loot； and was even able； at
last； to introduce regulations of a sanitary kind。 There were
some terrible scenes； in which the General； alone； faced the
whole furious army； and quelled scenes of rage； desperation；
towering courage； and summary execution。 Eventually he attained
an almost magical prestige。 Walking at the head of his troops
with nothing but a light cane in his hand； he seemed to pass
through every danger with the scatheless equanimity of a demi…
god。 The Taipings themselves were awed into a strange reverence。
More than once their leaders； in a frenzy of fear and admiration；
ordered the sharp…shooters not to take aim at the advancing
figure of the faintly smiling Englishman。
It is significant that Gordon found it easier to win battles and
to crush mutineers than to keep on good terms with the Chinese
authorities。 He had to act in cooperation with a large native
force； and it was only natural that the general at the head of it
should grow more and more jealous and angry as the Englishman's
successes revealed more and more clearly his own incompetence。 At
first； indeed； Gordon could rely upon the support of the
Governor。 Li Flung Chang's experience of Europeans had been
hitherto limited to low…class adventurers； and Gordon came as a
revelation。 'It is a direct blessing from Heaven；' he noted in
his diary； 'the coming of this British Gordon。 。。。 He is superior
in manner and bearing to any of the foreigners whom I have come
into contact with； and does not show outwardly that conceit which
makes most of them repugnant in my sight。' A few months later；
after he had accompanied Gordon on a victorious expedition； the
Mandarin's enthusiasm burst forth。 'What a sight for tired eyes；'
he wrote； 'what an elixir for a heavy heart to see this
splendid Englishman fight！ 。。。 If there is anything that I admire
nearly as much as the superb scholarship of Tseng Kuofan； it is
the military qualities of this fine officer。 He is a glorious
fellow！' In his emotion； Li Hung Chang addressed Gordon as his
brother； declaring that he 'considered him worthy to fill the
place of the brother who is departed。 Could I have said more in
all the words of the world？'
Then something happened which impressed and mystified the
sensitive
Chinaman。 'The Englishman's face was first filled with a deep
pleasure；
and then he seemed to be thinking）； of something depressing and
sad； for
the smile went from his mouth and there were tears in his eyes
when he
thanked me for what I had said。 Can it be that he has； or has
had； some
great trouble in his life； and that he fights recklessly to
forget it； or that Death has no terrors for him？' But； as time
went on； Li Hung Chang's attitude began to change。 'General
Gordon；' he notes in July； 'must control his tongue； even if he
lets his mind run loose。' The Englishman had accused him of
intriguing with the Chinese general； and of withholding money due
to the Ever Victorious Army。 'Why does he not accord me the
honours that are due to me； as head of the military and civil
authority in these parts？' By September； the Governor's earlier
transports have been replaced by a more judicial frame of mind。
'With his many faults； his pride； his temper； and his never…
ending demand for money； （for one is a noble man； and in spite of
all
I have said to him or about him） I will ever think most highly of
him。 。。。 He is an honest man； but difficult to get on with。'
Disagreements of this kind might perhaps have been tided over
until the end of the campaign； but an unfortunate incident
suddenly led to a more serious quarrel。 Gordon's advance had been
fiercely contested； but it had been constant； he had captured
several important towns； and in October lice laid siege to the
city of Soo…chow； once one of the most famous and splendid in
China。 In December； its fall being obviously imminent； the
Taiping leaders agreed to surrender it on condition that their
lives were spared。 Gordon was a party to the agreement； and laid
special stress upon his presence with the Imperial forces as a
pledge of its fulfilment。 No sooner； however； was the city
surrendered than the rebel 'Wangs' were assassinated。 In his
fury； it is said that Gordon searched everywhere for Li Hung
Chang with a loaded pistol in his hand。 He was convinced of the
complicity of the Governor； who； on his side； denied that he was
responsible for what had happened。 'I asked him why I should
plot； and go around a mountain； when a mere order； written with
five strokes of the quill； would have accomplished the same
thing。 He did not answer； but he insulted me； and said he would
report my treachery； as he called it； to Shanghai and England。
Let him do so； he cannot bring the crazy Wangs back。' The
agitated Mandarin hoped to placate Gordon by a large gratuity and
an Imperial medal； but the plan was not successful。 'General
Gordon；' he writes； 'called upon me in his angriest mood。 He
repeated his former speeches about the Wangs。 I did not attempt
to argue with him。。。 He refused the 10；000 taels； which I had
ready for him； and； with an oath； said that he did not want the
Throne's medal。 This is showing the greatest disrespect。'
Gordon resigned his command； and it was only with the utmost
reluctance that he agreed at last to resume it。 An arduous and
terrible series of operations followed； but they were successful；
and by June； 1864； the Ever Victorious Army； having accomplished
its task； was disbanded。 The Imperial forces now closed round
Nankin； the last hopes of the Tien Wang had vanished。 In the
recesses of his seraglio； the Celestial King； judging that the
time had come for the conclusion of his mission； swallowed gold
leaf until he ascended to Heaven。 In July； Nankin was taken； the
remaining chiefs were executed； and the rebellion was at an end。
The Chinese Government gave Gordon the highest rank in its
military hierarchy； and invested him with the yellow jacket and
the peacock's feather。 He rejected an enormous offer of money；
but he could not refuse a great gold medal； speci