Late Qing (Biographical Account of Wen Tingshi)

Author: Xiao Maqing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: Wen Tingshi was personally appointed by Emperor Guangxu as a court official and served as a teacher to the Empress Zhen. He thus developed a special relationship with this historically renowned, talented yet tragically fated woman. As a representative of the "post-Qing stream," a staunch advocate of the war faction, he was fearless and bold in criticizing Li Hongzhang, opposing the signing of the treaty to cede Taiwan, organizing the "Strong Society," promoting the "Public Carriage Petition," and becoming an for the late Qing court. He was dismissed by Empress Dowager Cixi and barred from ever serving again. Comparing Wen Tingshi, a man who was both scholar and knight, to Wen Tianxiang of the late Song Dynasty, one can discover astonishing similarities between them: both lived during times of declining imperial power and foreign invasion, harbored great ambitions, excelled in poetry and prose, entered government early and were highly valued by their contemporary rulers, dared not fear power or tyranny, and were unafraid to fight; both suffered tragic fates, their ambitions unfulfilled, and died young. However, their posthumous reputations differed greatly. Wen Tianxiang became a household name, a celebrated national hero in China and abroad, while Wen Tingshi remained largely unknown, even becoming a controversial figure. This book, written with the author's heartfelt passion and rigorous academic approach, vividly portrays the corruption and darkness of late Qing governance under Empress Dowager Cixi's rule, as well as the highly legendary life of Wen Tingshi.
Zhang Jianqi's "Dashing Off the Great River Eastward"
The song "Dashing Off the Great River Eastward" by Wen Tingshi:
"High-spirited Zhang Jianqi sang of the great river eastward,
Awakening dragons and fish in the night.
Who wielded the sword too hastily?
Unlocked the Copper Roosts, yet that hardly makes a hero!
Drinking wine to the vast sky, I still drift like a cloud.
Unbuttoning my robe to embrace the 'Great King's wind.'
When will the long sword be leaned against the heavens?
Straight up to the Mountains!"
This was the late winter of the ninth year of the Xianfeng era. In Jiaying Prefecture, a southern city that should not have been too cold, a sudden chill swept through the region. The prefecture was filled with a deeply tragic atmosphere. A fierce battle was about to descend upon this place. The Taiping Army's Shiguozong division, numbering tens of thousands, had occupied Dapu from Longyan and Yongding in Fujian, entered Songkou, and now lay siege to Jiaying Prefecture, completely surrounding it for three days. In the dim night outside the city, flames flickered, and shouts echoed, as the Taiping Army seemed poised to overwhelm the city.
On the city walls, a man stood grimly watching the outside for some time—Wen Sheng, the acting prefect of Huizhou, now in charge of Jiaying Prefecture. His face was ashen, his heart burning with anxiety. Jiaying Prefecture was strategically located at the junction of Fujian, Guangdong, and Jiangxi provinces. Three days earlier, the Taiping Army had sent a letter to Prefect Wen Sheng, claiming to seek passage, asking them to open the gates, supply provisions, and everything would be fine. Otherwise, they threatened to raze the city to the ground! Wen Sheng believed the request for passage was merely a pretext. Once the Taiping Army entered the city, how could Jiaying Prefecture escape disaster? He ordered the messenger to return and tell Shiguozong: "As long as I Wen Sheng am alive, the gates will never open. Please take a detour!" He also instructed his son, Xingrui, to leave at once and seek reinforcements from Governor Huang Shouchen.
The messenger returned with Wen Sheng's words, and Shiguozong flew into a rage. With a single command, tens of thousands of Taiping soldiers began scaling the city walls. Wen Sheng had initially thought he could hold out for some time, waiting for reinforcements to arrive and turn the tide. But he never expected an unexpected turn of events to catch him off guard: the city's commander, Pan Fayan, a cowardly man who feared death, pretended to "defend against the enemy" and led six hundred soldiers out, only to disappear without a trace. With this, the city was left with only the elderly, the weak, and the remaining troops. Wen Sheng had no choice but to rally the remaining forces and defend the city, using stones and boiling water to repel the Taiping Army's attacks. Day after day, they fought with all their might. But Wen Sheng increasingly felt that, outnumbered and outmatched, the city's fall was inevitable.
By the fifth day, the siege tightened, and the situation grew desperate. Wen Sheng, along with the soldiers and civilians, was already fighting with his last ounce of strength.
"Grandpa—" Suddenly, a child's voice called out. Wen Sheng froze at the sound. The caller was his beloved grandson, Yunge, the third son of Xingrui, who was only four years old.
"Grandson!" Wen Sheng, already frantic, broke out in a cold sweat. The battle was so desperate, yet his daughter-in-law, Peng, was still in the city with their son. He couldn't bear for the child to suffer if the city fell—even if he himself perished, it didn't matter! Besides, Wen Sheng believed this grandson was extraordinary.
Several years ago, during an early winter, when Peng was nine months pregnant, she had a strange dream. She found herself on an unknown mountain, shrouded in mist and clouds, breathtakingly beautiful like the legendary Penglaishan. A winding path was covered in exotic flowers and grasses. Amid the mist, a immortal drifted over, holding a dazzling white treasure—a jade qilin. With a gentle smile, the immortal lightly took Peng's hand and placed the qilin in her palm.
To dream of a qilin was auspicious! Before giving birth, Peng had dreamed of the immortal bestowing a jade qilin, foretelling that her newborn grandson would be extraordinary. Moreover, the day after his birth, the Crown Prince Zai Chun was born. That same year, the Empress Dowager Nala was enfeoffed as the Yi Concubine—later to become Empress Dowager Cixi. These imperial events happening simultaneously filled the family with joy, and they felt that this child would achieve great things and be connected to the capital.
After his birth, Wen Sheng named the boy Qisheng, in line with Peng's dream.
He couldn't let his grandson die for him! The thought made Wen Sheng even more agitated. He called Peng before him and said loudly, "The city will fall soon. You must take your son and leave Jiaying Prefecture at once!"
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