ter 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 ign