曾國荃 (沅甫)

TSÊNG Kuo-ch'üan 曾國荃 (T. 沅浦, H. 叔純), Oct. 12, 1824–1890, Nov. 13, a native of Hsiang-hsiang, Hunan, and younger brother of Tsêng Kuo-fan [q.v.], was the leading general in the taking of Nanking after it had been eleven years in the hands of the Taiping Rebels. He obtained a hsiu-ts'ai degree in 1847 and a senior licentiate in 1855, at the same time greatly assisting his brother, Tseng Kuo-fan, in organizing the "Hunan Braves". In 1856 he raised reinforcements and rescued his brother who was being harassed in Kiangsi. In the following four years he fought in various places in Kiangsi until the Taipings were fairly well cleared from the province. In May 1860 he left Kiangsi to take part in the advance on Anking, the capital of Anhwei province. This move was the first step in Tsêng Kuo-fan's far-sighted plan for the taking of Nanking. Though the imperialists had previously suffered a severe defeat at Nanking (see under Hsiang Jung) and though his brother was dangerously harassed at Ch'i-mên, Anhwei, in the winter of 1860–61, Tsêng Kuoch'üan held steadfastly to his policy of besieging Anking. In this campaign he had the help of Pao Ch'ao, P'êng Yü-lin [qq.v.], Li Hsü-i (see under Li Hsü-pin) and others. He had to defend himself not only against the rebels' sorties from the city, but also against the fresh Taiping relief forces brought from outside the region by Ch'ên Yü-ch'êng and Li Hsiu-ch'êng [qq.v.]. His campaign to take Anking was a prolonged one—lasting from May 17, 1860 to September 5, 1861—the city having been held by the strongly entrenched Taipings for nine years. For his prowess and his military strategy in this campaign he was given the title of financial commissioner (1861), was made an expectant provincial judge, and was allowed the privilege of wearing the yellow riding jacket.

Undeterred by other alluring appointments, Tsêng Kuo-ch'üan pressed on with the campaign to Nanking, the capital of the Taipings. With a force of about 30,000 veterans (including P'êng Yü-lin's marines) he fought his way from Anking down to Yü-hua-t'ai 雨花臺 under the very walls of Nanking where he encamped on May 31, 1862. This date marks the beginning of the great campaign which the Hunan Braves waged against Nanking, as distinguished from the seven-year attempt of the imperialist forces which had ended unsuccessfully in May 1860 (see under Hsiang Jung). Tsêng Kuo-fan and other imperialist generals looked with apprehension on his brother's deep penetration into rebel territory with so small a force, and made plans for the victorious troops under Li Hung-chang [q.%E2%80%AFv.] to aid in the final assault upon the city. But Tsêng Kuo-ch'üan desired to complete the campaign unaided, relying, for the accomplishment of this purpose, on the indomitable spirit of his soldiers. They had triumphed so far, and regardless of obstacles, they harassed the Taipings almost daily. By making use of deep trenches and other protective devices he not only defended his position from assault but, in one encounter, dealt the assailants such a blow that they dared not make another attempt. Instead, they closed the city gates to wait for reinforcements. Tsêng's own army was so terribly decimated by pestilence that he likewise welcomed a truce. However, before the epidemic could be stamped out the long-awaited reinforcements of the Taipings—said to number 300,000 under the command of Li Hsiu-ch'êng—arrived and encircled Tsêng's army. They attacked with explosive shells obtained from Western countries, with mines, and by every method available at the time. But with careful strategy and desperate fighting all their efforts proved fruitless. Though Tsêng himself did not ask for relief from other generals who were occupied elsewhere, some 200,000 rebel recruits are said to have arrived on October 25 to augment the enemy's forces. This enormous army then assaulted Tsêng's position in relays day and night, while Tsêng counter-attacked in the same manner. The rebels, too, in their over-crowded quarters, suffered greatly from epidemics and from hunger and cold. By November 26, 1862, after forty-six days of almost continuous fighting, their onslaught subsided, leaving Tsêng's forces still intact.

In view of this temporary success, Tsêng Kuo-fan urged his brother to retreat. The latter, however, not only refused to do so, but declined the aid of the "Ever Victorious Army" which Henry Burgevine (see under Fêng Kuei-fên) was then commanding. After strengthening his defense he decided to continue the attack, and after a personal inspection at the front, the senior Tsêng acquiesced in the undertaking. The favorable military developments of the following year (1863) deprived the rebels of almost every strategic point around Nanking, and the encirclement of the city was completed in the following February (1864). Chiefly by means of elaborate tunnels under the city wall, Tsêng eventually (July 19, 1864) recovered Nanking—it having been proclaimed the Taiping capital in March 1853. In the final encounters many rebel leaders and thousands of insurgents were mercilessly killed (see under Li Hsiu-ch'êng) and the city was looted and burnt. For his success, achieved after long and patient resistance, Tsêng was rewarded with the rank of Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent, the hereditary rank of an earl of the first class (1864) with the designation Wei-i 威毅, "Brave and Courageous" (1866), and the double-eyed peacock feather.

Because Tsêng Kuo-ch'üan mistakenly reported to the throne the death of Hung Fu, Hung Hsiu-ch'üan's successor (see under the latter), he was slandered by those who envied his achievements. Accordingly he asked leave to return home to recover his health. Though he declined in 1865 to be governor of Shansi, he did accept, in the following year, the governorship of Hupeh. As such it fell to his lot to suppress the Nien bandits (see under Sêng-ko-lin-ch'in) on the border of Honan. He fought them from time to time for a year and a half but in the summer of 1867 they gradually pressed through Honan to Shantung. Consequently he and other generals engaged in the task were degraded. He retired on the plea of ill health, remaining at home from 1867 to 1875. In the latter year he was made director-general of Yellow River and Grand Canal Conservancy. In June 1877 he became governor of Shansi where for four years he rendered excellent service, particularly in social relief during the terrible famine which afflicted that province in 1878–80. He raised large sums of money to help those who were in need, persuaded the metropolitan government to remit the usual taxes, distributed seed and animals for the cultivation of the soil, and strictly prohibited the planting of opium and the sale of children. When he was transferred to another post (August, 1880) the people of the province erected, at various places, temples to his memory.

In 1880 Tsêng Kuo-ch'üan was ordered to proceed with a large force to Shanhaikuan. At this time negotiations were in progress between China and Russia over Ili, and Tsêng was sent to the northern borders to reinforce the Chinese demands with a show of resistance, holding himself in readiness to fight, should the parley fail. Fortunately, the Russo-Chinese treaty concerning Ili was concluded February 24, 1881, and Tsêng and his troops withdrew. He was then appointed governor-general of Kansu, Shensi and Sinkiang, but he declined the post owing to ill health. After a few months' rest at home he was appointed (August, 1882) acting governor-general of Kwangtung and Kwangsi; and about a year later was called to Peking (1883) where, for a fortnight in February 1884, he was acting minister of the Board of Ceremonies. Thereupon he was made acting governor-general of Liang-Kiang (Kiangsu, Kiangsi and Anhwei) and concurrently superintendent of trade for the southern seaports.

When Tsêng Kuo-ch'üan assumed his duties at Nanking (April, 1884) one fleet of French warships was menacing Annam and another Shanghai. He was ordered to strengthen the forts along the Yangtze delta, and to dispatch warships to Formosa. On July 20, 1884 he served as imperial commissioner to negotiate terms of peace at Shanghai with Jules Patenôtre 巴德诺 (1845–1925), French minister to China. From July 25 to August 18 the parley at Shanghai was at a deadlock because of the indemnity the French demanded. Soon afterwards war between France and China was resumed at Foochow and Formosa (see under Chang P'ei-lun and Liu Ming-ch'uan). Tseng Kuo-ch'üan returned to Nanking to strengthen the defenses of Kiangsu. Finally the peace treaty was signed on June 9, 1885 (see under Li Hung-chang). Tsêng's able services in this critical period, and his wise middle-course policy in governing the LiangKiang, were praised by the emperor who rewarded him, in 1889, with the title of Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent. When Tsêng died in office in the following year he was posthumously elevated to the title of Grand Tutor and was canonized as Chung-hsiang 忠襄. His name was celebrated in the Temple of Eminent Statesmen. A complete collection of his writings, entitled 曾忠襄公全集 Tsêng Chung-hsiang kung ch'üan-chi, 67 chüan, including his nien-p'u, was published in 1903.

[1/419/1a; 2/59/18a; 5/30/1a; 8/10 hm/1a; Hsiang chün chi (see bibl. under Tsêng Kuo-fan) chüan 6, 9 (1889); Li Hsiu-ch'êng [q.v.], Li Hsiu-ch'êng kung-chuang; Hail, W. J., Tsêng Kuo-fan and the Taiping Rebellion, pp. 260–262 (New Haven, 1927); Morse, H. B., The International Relations of the Chinese Empire, vol. II, pp. 355–366 (London, 1918).]

Teng Ssŭ-yü

譜名傅恆 原名國蓮 字沅甫 行九

《清史稿》卷413

曾國荃，字沅甫，湖南湘鄉人，大學士國藩之弟也。少負奇氣，從國藩受學京師。咸豐二年，舉優貢。六年，粵匪石達開犯江西，國藩兵不利。國荃欲赴兄急，與新授吉安知府黃冕議，請於湖南巡撫駱秉章，使募勇三千人，別以周鳳山一軍，合六千人，同援江西。十一月，克安福，連破賊於大汾河、千金坡，進攻吉安，下旁數縣。七年春，丁父憂回籍。夏，賊麇聚吉安，周鳳山軍敗潰。時王錱、劉騰鴻皆喪亡，士氣衰沮。江西巡撫耆齡奏起國荃統吉安諸軍，軍復振。冬，敗石達開於三曲灘，吉安圍始合。八年春，克吉水、萬安。八月，督水師毀白鷺洲賊船，破城外堅壘，遂克吉安，擒賊首李雅鳳。以功累擢知府，撤軍還長沙。九年，復赴江西，率朱品隆等軍五千餘人援剿景德鎮。時諸軍與賊相持數月，莫肯先進。國荃至，乃合力敗援賊於浮梁南。三戰皆捷，火鎮市，追殲賊及半，克浮梁，擢道員。江西肅清。國藩出九江，至黃州，與胡林翼議分路圖皖。國荃留軍巴河，自還湖南增募為萬人。多隆阿、鮑超等既大破賊於太湖、潛山，十年閏三月，國荃乃進軍集賢關，規攻安慶。陳玉成來援，擊走之。十一年，陳玉成復糾捻眾至於菱湖，兩岸築堅壘，與城賊更番來犯。國荃調水師入湖，令弟貞幹築壘湖東以禦之。會陳玉成在桐城為多隆阿所敗，還趨集賢關，迎擊破之。玉成由馬踏石遁走，仍留黨踞赤岡嶺，與菱湖賊壘犄角。國荃困以長壕，鮑超來，合攻，悉破其壘，擒斬萬餘。進破安慶城外賊營，燬東門月城。惟北門三石壘堅不可下，令降將程學啟選死士緣砲穴入，拔之。陳玉成屢為多隆阿所創，收餘眾，糾合捻匪，復屯集賢關，襲官軍後路，城賊葉芸來亦傾巢出撲。國荃憑壕而戰，屢擊卻，仍復進，增築新壘，遣貞幹合水師扼菱湖，絕賊糧路。八月，以地雷轟城，克之，殲賊萬餘，俘數千。捷聞，以按察使記名，加布政使銜，賜黃馬褂。尋以追殄餘賊，賜號偉勇巴圖魯。於是國藩進駐安慶，國荃率師東下規江寧，克無為州，破運漕鎮，拔東關，加頭品頂戴。分兵守諸隘，自回湖南增募勇營。同治元年，授浙江按察使，遷江蘇布政使。詔以軍務緊要，毋庸與兄國藩迴避同省。三月，率新募六千人至軍，自循江北岸，令弟貞幹循南岸，彭玉麐等率水師同進，拔銅城牐、雍家鎮諸隘，復巢縣、含山、和州，克裕溪口、西梁山。渡江會攻金柱關，乘間襲太平，克之。回克金柱關，貞幹亦克蕪湖。令彭毓橘截敗賊於薛鎮渡口，大破之。五月，連奪秣陵關、大勝關要隘。水師進扼江寧護城河口，陸師逕抵城南雨花臺駐屯，賊來爭，皆擊卻之。國藩猶以孤軍深入為慮，國荃謂：「舍老巢勿攻，浪戰無益，逼城足以致敵。雖危，事有可為。」會秋疫大作，士卒病者半。賊酋李秀成自蘇州糾眾數十萬來援，結二百餘壘。國荃於要隘增壘，輔以水師，先固糧道。賊環攻六晝夜，彭毓橘等乘其乏出擊，破賊營四。賊悉向東路，填壕而進，前仆後繼。國荃督軍抵禦，砲傷頰，裹創力戰，賊始退。李世賢又自浙江率十萬眾至，與秀成合攻，屢掘地道來襲，燬營牆，百計攻襲，皆未得逞。蕪湖守將王可陞率援師至，國荃簡精銳分出，焚賊數壘，餘棄壘走，進擊，大破之。先後殲賊數萬，圍乃解。秀成、世賢引去。是役以病餘之卒，苦戰四十餘日，卒保危局，詔嘉獎，頒珍賚。　議者欲令乘勝退保蕪湖，國荃以賊雖眾，烏合不足畏，不肯退。二年春，國藩親至視師，見圍屯堅定，始決止退軍之議。詔擢浙江巡撫，仍統前敵之軍規取江寧。四月，攻雨花臺及聚寶門外石壘，克之。九洑洲為江寧犄角，賊聚守最堅。國荃偕彭玉麐、楊岳斌往覘形勢，合水陸軍血戰，克之，江面遂清。連克上方橋、江東橋，近城之中和橋、雙橋門、七甕橋，稍遠之方山、土山、上方門、高橋門、秣陵關、博望鎮諸賊壘，以次並下。國荃初至，合各路兵僅二萬，至是募圍師至五萬人。十月，分軍扼孝陵衛。李鴻章克蘇州，李秀成率敗眾分布丹陽、句容，自入江寧，勸洪秀全同走，不聽，遂留同城守。三年春，克鍾山天保城，城圍始合。賊糧匱，城中種麥濟饑。國荃迭令掘地道數十處，賊築月圍以拒，士卒多傷亡。會詔李鴻章移師會攻，諸將以城計日可破，恥借力於人，攻益力。鴻章亦不至。國荃慮師老生變，督李臣典等當賊砲密處開地道。既成，懸重賞募死士，李臣典、朱洪章、伍維壽、武明良、譚國泰、劉連捷、沈鴻賓、張詩日、羅雨春誓先登者九人。六月十六日，日加午，地道火發，城崩二十餘丈，李臣典、朱洪章等蟻附爭登。賊傾火藥轟燒，彭毓橘、蕭孚泗手刃退卒數人，遂擁入。朱洪章、沈鴻賓、羅雨春攻中路，向偽天王府；劉連捷、張詩日、譚國泰攻右路，趨神策門，朱南桂等梯城入，合取儀鳳門；其左路彭毓橘由內城至通濟門，蕭孚泗等奪朝陽、洪武門，羅逢元等從聚寶門入，李金洲從通濟門入，陳湜、易良虎從旱西、水西門入：於是江寧九門皆破。守陴賊誅殺殆盡，猶保子城。夜半，自縱火焚偽王府，突圍走。要截斬數百人，追及湖、熟，俘斬亦數百。洪秀全已前一月死，獲其屍於偽宮。其子洪福瑱年十五六，訛言已自焚死，餘黨挾之走廣德。國荃令閉城救火，搜殺餘賊。獲秀全兄洪仁達及李秀成，伏誅。凡偽王主將大小酋目三千餘，皆死亂兵，斃賊十餘萬，拔難民數十萬。捷聞，詔嘉國荃堅忍成功，加太子少保，封一等伯爵，錫名威毅，賜雙眼花翎。國荃功高多謗，初奏洪福瑱已斃，既而奔竄浙江、江西，仍為諸賊所擁，言者以為口實，遂引疾求退，遣撤部下諸軍，溫詔慰留；再疏，始允開缺回籍。四年，起授山西巡撫，辭不就。調湖北巡撫，命幫辦軍務，調舊部剿捻匪。五年，抵任，汰湖北冗軍，增湘軍六千，以彭毓橘、郭松林分統之。時捻匪往來鄂、豫之交，國荃檄鮑超由棗陽趨淅川、內鄉防西路，郭松林由桐柏、唐縣出東路，劉維楨向新野為聲援。賊折而北竄，詔郭松林越境會剿。是年冬，敗賊於信陽、孝感。賊竄雲夢、應城、德安，郭松林擊走之，克應城、雲夢，又敗之皂河、楊澤。松林追賊臼口，中伏受重傷，其弟芳鉁戰死。彭毓橘破賊於沙口，又敗之安陸。國荃以賊多騎，難與追逐，欲困之山地。毓橘偕劉維楨屢戰不能大創，賊竄去。總督官文與不協，國荃疏劾其貪庸驕蹇，詔解官文總督任。六年春，賊復犯德安，為劉銘傳、鮑超所敗，遁入河南境，尋復回竄。彭毓橘恃勇輕進，遇賊蘄州，戰歿於六神港。五月，捻匪長驅經河南擾及山東。詔斥諸疆吏防剿日久無功，國荃摘頂，下部議處，尋以病請開缺，允之。光緒元年，起授陝西巡撫，遷河東河道總督。二年，復調山西巡撫。比年大旱，災連數省。國荃力行賑卹，官帑之外，告貸諸行省，勸捐協濟，分別災情輕重、賑期久暫，先後賑銀一千三百萬兩、米二百萬石，活饑民六百萬。善後蠲徭役，歲省民錢鉅萬。同時荒政，山西為各省之冠，民德之，為立生祠。六年，以疾乞罷，慰留，尋召來京。七年，授陝甘總督，命赴山海關治防，復乞病歸。八年，署兩廣總督。九年，內召。十年，署禮部尚書，調署兩江總督兼通商大臣，尋實授。時法蘭西兵犯沿海，中朝和戰兩議相持。國荃修江海防務，知上海關繫諸國商務，法兵不能驟至，馭以鎮靜。詔遣文臣分赴海疆會辦，福建疆吏遂不能主兵。國荃言權不可分，朝廷亦以其老於軍事，專倚之。命遣兵輪援臺灣，原議五，實遣其三。坐下部議，革職留任。兵輪終不得達，其二折至浙洋，助戰鎮海有功，和議尋定。十一年，京察，以國荃夙著勛勤，開復處分。十五年，皇太后歸政，推恩加太子太保。國荃治兩江凡六年，總攬宏綱，不苛細故，軍民相安。十六年，卒於官，贈太傅，賜金治喪，命江寧將軍致祭，特諡忠襄，入祀昭忠祠、賢良祠，建專祠。孫廣漢襲伯爵，官至左副都御史