IN THE DAYS OF THE TAIPINGS THE TRIADS AT SHANGHAI 9 many years past there has been one rebellion after another, and now I fear the greatest that this dynasty has ever seen my.friend Yang Tzetang,head of the Taki Bank at is making its way in our direction.The long-haired rebels, Shanghai.You might learn banking with me,but on the whose leader styles himself Emperor of the Empire of Eternal whole I think it better that you should enter the Taki Bank Peace,started in Kwangsi and marched victoriously through as my nominee;but first I wish you to learn English,which Hunan,their numbers increasing by thousands with every is the language also of the Americans;and then I think it day of their advance.Now only the day before yesterday I might be managed for you to take service with one of the heard that they have taken Wuchang,the viceregal capital of foreign firms.They will,of course,not teach you any of the Hukwang,and that they number ten myriads or more of their secrets,but you will doubtless be able to pick up some fighting men.” idea of their way of doing business.Now,my dear young "What will stop them,"I asked;"is there no hope?" kinsman,what say you to my proposal?" My uncle shook his head."I cannot say.You probably I was much impressed by what my uncle had said to me. know nothing of all this,but,as a banker,I receive reports I was,however,merely a young student,with no knowledge from my correspondents,and it is my business to sift the of the world and no experience of business or the art of true from the false.The long-haired rebels are said to be directing the work of others,and I shrank from an im- irresistible;and,even if they are dispersed,I foresee other mediate decision.I thanked him for his thought for me, rebellions in the future,while the Imperial rulers seem unable and said that,before deciding,I must consult my father,and to maintain order.Now to our business.I advise you not that it would probably be better if I also took the opinion of to enter official life.I might ask you to join me in the bank, our kinsman Wenkwang. where there is room for you and scope for your talents;but "Yes,"he replied,"you must of course do that and thereby I see an even better prospect for you.For ten years past the show your respect for your honoured father and the head of foreign merchants have been at Shanghai,and in that time our family;but ask them to treat the business as confidential they have developed a fourishing trade in shipping our tea and to keep it locked in their heart.Now I have only to add and silk to their own countries.They are almost all English that,if you accept my proposal,I wish you to start promptly and American,and,from what I hear,they have a reputation on the fifteenth day of the first month,when the bankers' for commercial honour quite equal to our own merchants New Year's moratorium is over and they re-open their and bankers.I wish to get into touch with that trade.I am d00I8.” undecided whether to open a branch of our own bank at I again thanked him and took my leave,with the proper Shanghai,or to form a connexion with one already estab- genuflexion;but,in order to establish for me a new prestige lished there;but,in either case,there is an opening for you, in the eyes of his household,who had only known me as a and the experience you will gain will develop:you in the youth in the house,he accompanied me quite to my chair, right direction,even if you ultimately decide to be your which he had ordered to be brought into the inner court- father's assistant.” yard.I went away with my head in a whirl from the honour "I thank you,uncle,for your thought for me,"I replied, shown me and the confidence reposed in me;but,within the "but how can I be a help?I know nothing of banking,I hour,my long coat and thick-soled boots thrown off,I was know nothing of the ways of foreigners or their language, a boy again,paddling with Cockeye down the Imperial and I am young and inexperienced." Canal,and so home to Tungli. "Yes,"he said,"I know all that,but we have time before Our cousin Wenkwang entirely approved the plan,when it us,I shall not be in a hurry for the bank,and at the outset and the reasons for it had been explained to him. shall content myself with making a business alliance with "I doubt,"he added,"if you would have been a thoroughly successful official.By that I mean that I doubt if you would
10 IN THE DAYS OF THE TAIPINGS THE TRIADS AT SHANGHAI 11 have acquired great wealth,for I fear that you have too And so it was settled;and my project of going to Shanghai delicate a conscience.As a banker you will probably not was settled too.I spent with my family the New Year, make so great a fortune,but the position is an honourable which that year was forty-nine days after the winter solstice; one;and,having official rank,fairly won by examination, and with my father I paid and received all the ceremonial and not obtained by purchase,your status will exempt you visits,and shared all the festivities,of the season.Quiet was from persecution by the minor officials and their subordi- restored to us by the tenth day of the month,and on that nates,and no magistrate will dare to threaten you with day I went to Soochow to pay my respects to Yaolin and his personal indignities or corporal punishment." family,and to receive his final instructions.He gave me a My father was just as positive that I should accept letter of introduction to Yang Tzetang and added- Yaolien's proposal,and he added two words of counsel. "I shall write to Tzetang and give him full details of my "My son,thanks to your open air life,you have a strong plans for you,so that he will be prepared to receive you on body;see that you keep it so.None of your fellows in.a a proper footing.Here is a cheque for one thousand taels bank will ever take any exercise;it is not our Chinese Tsaoping weight of the Treasury touch,which is my present custom;but I advise you to stipulate for some time free in to you.You may hand it to your father if you wish;but I every day,and some days in every month,to keep up your advise you to let me remit it by bank draft to Tzetang,to physical training.” remain on deposit with the Taki Bank as security for your "Now,"he added,"I have to speak of another matter. conduct.The bank will give you one-and-a-half per cent a You ought to be married,as you are already in your month interest,and this you can allow to accumulate to twentieth year,but I was reluctant to interfere with your provide increased security as you are entrusted with larger studies before.Now however,I shall take the matter in hand responsibilities.I will,of course,also sign your security at once.As soon as the New Year holidays are over,and bond which the bank will require." you have gone to Shanghai,I will see Liangshih,the go- The next day I returned to Tungli.The sixteenth day of between,.and set her to work to hunt up a suitable match.I the month was found to be one of bad omen;so I made a will let you know when it is all arranged,and then,when the pretence of starting my journey by leaving my father's house astrologers have selected a propitious day,you can come on the evening of the fifteenth,which was declared to be home for the wedding.” highly propitious.That night I slept at Cockeye's house on "My dear father,I cried,"is there any hurry?Could the shore of the lake,and the next morning at dawn we I not wait for a year or two yet?" started in my double slipper-boat,taking a direct route "Don't be a fool!You are my only son,and if anything through lakes and side canals,and arrived at Shanghai happened to you,where should I be?Who would offer the shortly after sunset. sacrifice to my tablet or to yours?Who would keep my grave in order?I don't wish to adopt a son,but what else could I do,if you don't give me a grandson "Don't be angry,my revered father,I will do as you say; but I hope you will select someone to be my wife who is young,pretty and amiable." "Again I say,don't be a fool!If only she is virtuous and well-connected,and provided her eight characters harmonize with yours,what possible difference can anything else make?
THE TRIADS AT SHANGHAI 13 deference not shown to me;but he estimated his purchased honours at their true value,and was not led into thinking that they represented more than money bags. The next day I spent with Yang Talaoyeh (such the CHAPTER III. address due to him from his rank)in the inner office of the I AM LAUNCHED AT SHANGHAI. Taki Bank.He was in his office soon after sunrise,and it did not seem to close much before midnight.There were of N the dusk of that winter evening of the Rain-water course,certain fixed hours for paying out money,and certain season I walked,with Cockeye carrying my luggage,to more elastic hours for receiving it;but,for sixteen hours,the the Taki Bank,situated in the Yungan-Kiai,the Street clerks were there,working in a leisurely way,moving of Eternal Rest,in the busy riverside suburb outside the languidly,stopping now for a few whiffs of tobacco,again for East Gate of the city of Shanghai.Yang Tzetang gave me a few sips of tea,eating their meals there,getting through a a hearty welcome,and a supper for which I was quite ready deal of work by reason of the fux of time,but never seeming after my long row down from Tungli. to get through with the day's work.Even then I could not "And how did you leave your honoured father,"he asked, help feeling that more might be done in fewer hours of “my old friend Minsien？Does he eat his rice well？And is greater energy,and,later on,when I had seen the foreign he still as strong on physical exercise?" merchants strenuously at work,I was sure of it. "The home father is fortunately pretty well,and asked me The next day he sent a clerk with me to call on Mr.Bates, to present his respects to his honoured friend.He is still an American missionary,who lived in a small house outside keen on physical training,and has brought my humble self the North Gate,between it and the Yangkingpang,a small up on those lines..” creek separating the French and the English residential "Yes,so Yaolin wrote,and I am to see that you have time quarters.It stood in the open country,with a few hovels in to keep it up,though it seems very strange for a young sight near the North Gate,and nearer to the river the scholar to do any work,except with his head.And how is French consulate and one other foreign house occupied by a my old friend Yaolien too?" dealer in watches.Mr.Bates was a tall,thin,dark man, "He also was pretty well,and bade me ask after your rest." speaking with a languid drawl.He spoke,badly,an Tzetang was of middle age,rather over fifty,very genial, inelegant Chinese,and that in the Shanghai dialect,further obviously of great intelligence,and with a face calculated to removed than even our Soochow tongue from the mandarin inspire confidence and respect.In that first evening I began language. to feel for him a liking which,in time,was to develop into The clerk explained our visit."This is the young friend deep respect and veneration.He fattered me by treating to-whom Yang Talaoyeh thought you might.be willing to me as if I were a man,and not merely a young scholar;and, teach English." in fact,as I discovered later on,he entertained a genuine "What is your honoured name,Sir ?he asked,turning to feeling of respect for me,because my rank,with its gilt me button,though very low,had been won by examination,and "Myunworthy name is Ting Meisun,"I replied.Tzetang at the first trial.He had rank much higher than mine;by had advised me to pass by that name entirely while in successive steps he had attained by purchase to the fourth Shanghai,as it would not be seemly to allow foreigners.to grade,and when he paid a visit in his official robes,his hat address me by my proper name." crowned with its opaque blue button,and his pusa blazoned "What is your honoured rank?"he then asked. with a wild goose,he was received by the officials with a "By examination I am a Siutsai,"I replied,"and there- 12
IN THE DAYS OF THE TAIPINGS THE TRIADS AT SHANGHAI 15 14 fore,though unworthily,I am a Shengyuen and of the ninth habits of application,and the retentive memory giyen me by civil rank.” our Chinese education,I made rapid progress,and devoted to "You are young to have the degree,and must be a my English studies every hour that I could spare. profound scholar;what is your honoured age?" Two hours in the afternoon were devoted to reading the "I was born under the Serpent,"I replied;but he did not Classics with Mr.Bates.This was a real pleasure;but how understand,and I had to state clearly that I was in my different from the same reading with my Chinese tutor in twenty-first year. Soochow!Then there was no questioning;the sacred text We then talked over the lessons to be given and it was and the commentaries were all in all.Now every sentence arranged that I should go to him for two hours in the morn- was punctuated by Mr.Bates'eager questions,"Why so?"he ing for my instruction in English,and for two hours in the would ask;and when I had silenced him with the dictum of evening,when he was to read our Chinese Classics with me; the commentator,it was "Why not?"I had never'been so but on one day in every seven there were no lessons,as that bothered in all my life.At first it made me angry,that any was the Holy Day of the Christians.He demurred to receiv- one should dare to question the accepted interpretation;but ing any payment for the lessons. in time I entered into the spirit of the game and began to "You will be giving me,young Sir,as much as you will be as critical as Mr.Bates.I may say we both enjoyed these receive,and the correct accent I shall gain from you,and the readings. knowledge of your Classics,will be of great value in my For two hours before sunset,if the weather was fine,I work of bringing the Chinese people to look with favouring went on the water:At first I tried the short lumpish mind on our Christian religion." Shanghai sampan,which I learned to yuloh by its single oar I could not accept such a favour from him,nor could I at the stern;but that was not satisfactory.Then I got a allow it to be thought that I was assisting him in his mission slipper-boat from home,and that was better.But one day I work,which,in so far as it was in accord with the precepts saw a young foreigner in a.narrow,sharp-bowed boat,rowing of our Holy Sage,was superfluous,and,in so far as it was in with his two arms,and sitting facing the stern.I thought contradiction,was obnoxious;and I prevailed on him to it looked ridiculous,but soon I noticed that his boat went accept such a monthly payment as 'would be paid for a through the water at a good pace,and he seemed to row with Chinese child to his tutor. a long and graceful swing.Through Tzetang I made the And so I settled down to a routine of study,which brought acquaintance of an Englishman who taught me this style of back to my mind my early schooling.Rising early,as is our rowing,and then I bought a foreign boat and after that I Chinese custom,I went out for exercise;a walk through the took my exercise in that way.When I felt idle,I would fields,heavy,according to the season,with rice or cotton, row lazily past the ships moored in the river,the Chinese cabbages or colza;or a row on the river;or,on a rainy day, junks in serried ranks abreast the riverside suburb,the huge practising with foreign implements,to which Mr.Bates in- foreign ships of the foreign quarter above Putung Point; troduced me and which he called dumb bells and Indian and I never failed to admire the stately residences lining clubs.Then after breakfast I went to Mr.Bates for my the Bund from the Yangkingpang to the Soochow Creek. lesson in English;but how different from my old "Three- Very curious these houses seemed to my eyes:no formal word Classic"which I learned without,at the time,much gateways;no inner courtyards;all the windows looking idea of the meaning.At first I thought the twenty-six outwards,as if inviting the world to inspect the life going letters of the alphabet ridiculously easy,but very stupid; on within;and all having a frank and open aspect which,.I but as I advanced to reading "I see a cat,"I began to realize was afterwards to learn,characterized their inmates. Truly that I had a master key to open the language;and with my they were eurious people,these foreigners!
16 IN THE DAYS OF THE TAIPINGS THE TRIADS AT SHANGHAI 17 One day at the end of the season of Awaking Insects,at intellect confess his fear,and I asked him what he thought the Spring equinox,Tzetang called me into his office. I had better do. "There is very serious news,"he said,"about the"long- "Your first duty is,of course,to your family.Go to haired rebels.They took Wuchang,as you know perhaps"; Soochow and consult Yaolien as to what he advises;but -I nodded assent-"from there they continued their ad- if it is that he,and Wenkwang,and your father Minsien, vance down the Yangtze,and took in succession Kiukiang, should come to Shanghai,you may assure him from me that, Anking,Wuhu and Taipingfu;and now I have news that if Soochow falls to the rebels,Shanghai will fall too." two days ago,after a siege of eleven days,they took He reflected for a minute or two,then he added:sThere is a possibility that Shanghai may prove a haven of refuge, Kiangning." "What!Taken Nanking,the old Imperial capital?" a bare possibility.The foreign interests here are enormous, and foreigners do not readily withdraw from any footing "Yes,they have taken the capital of the Sung,the early which they have made.It may be that the three powers capital of the Ming,and have made it the capital of their (England,France and America),some or all,will protect impious Empire of Eternal Peace.They are savages,these Shanghai against any rebel attack." rebels,cruel and devastating beyond even the armies of the “I will go to Soochow at once,”I said. old-time conquerors of China.At Nanking I hear that they "No,there is no.hurry.The rebels must first consolidate hunted out every single Manchu of the resident garrison, their position:Wait ten days yet,and then we can see and killed them every one,with every member of their fami- more clearly.” lies;and every male Chinese who would not join their ranks I wrote at once to my father to send Cockeye down ten they also killed..” days later.The next day I had a talk with.Mr.Bates. "But,"I cried,"I have heard that their leaders are Chris- "Master,"I said-I had already formed a real liking for tians,converted by the missionaries at Canton.Surely such him,and,although he was a foreigner,I showed him as deeds are not in accord with what I have heard of their much respect as a Chinese pupil would show his Chinese religion.” teacher-"Master,you have heard that Nanking has been "Yes,I too have heard that they are Christians;but per- taken by the long-haired rebels;tell me,please,is it true haps it is not true,perhaps their leaders cannot control their that they are Christians ? followers,perhaps the Christian is no more consistent than "I have heard that some of their leaders are,"he replied. others,perhaps and perhaps and perhaps.We know nothing "Their chief,Hung Siutsuen,who styles himself the Heav- certain about this.What we do know is that we are in a enly King,was much impressed by the teaching of Mr. position of great danger,we here and your kinsfolk at Soo- Roberts,a missionary at Canton;and Mr.Roberts declares chow.Nothing has withstood their advance;walled cities that he is convinced of his acceptance of the truths of Chris- have yielded without a blow,and armies have scattered even tianity.As a proof Mr.Roberts adduces his rigid prohibi- before the rebels came in sight.They have shown,too,wise tion of private murder,rape.and opium smoking,and even generalship in all their movements;and true strategy will of the use of spirits and tobacco." unquestionably impel them to advance on the wealthy city "Surely,"I said,"that indicates an upright heart,and of Soochow,and then on to Shanghai.Here,and here alone, shows that he is imbued with the principles inculcated by they can obtain a seaport,and here they can buy arms and your religion.They are in accord also with the teaching powder and even equip a fleet.I am afraid;I confess it of the Holy Sage..” freely,I am afraid.” "True;but we do not know how far his prohibitions are This filled me with fear,to hear one of such commanding mere lip service.Some of his followers are zealots,fully