Luo Bingzhang 駱秉章

LO Ping-chang 駱秉章 (T. 籲門, H. 儒齋, original ming 俊), Apr. 28, 1793–1867, Dec. 12, was a native of Hua-hsien, Kwangtung. After devoting his early life to study, he obtained in 1832 the chin-shih degree, and in the following year became a compiler of the Hanlin Academy. In 1839 he was appointed a censor and achieved distinction by his memorials to the throne on domestic and foreign problems. After ten years in various metropolitan and provincial offices he was appointed governor of Hunan—a post he held (except for an interval of a few months in 1853) from July, 1850 to October, 1860. During this period he had to face the difficult problem of the Taiping Rebellion which harassed that region soon after he assumed office. In 1851 he was ordered to take steps for the defense of Hunan and was one of the commanders within the walled city of Changsha when it withstood the siege of the Taipings from September 11 to November 30, 1852. In the following year Nanking was proclaimed the capital of the insurgents, thus greatly strengthening their hold on South China.

At this critical moment, Tsêng Kuo-fan [q.v.] was placed in command of the "Hunan Braves," and Lo and Hu Lin-i [q.v.], governors of Hunan and Hupeh respectively, were ordered to direct the fighting against the rebels. Impressed with the simple, straightforward, and indefatigable characteristics of the Hunanese, Lo Ping-chang relied much on them for prosecuting the difficult campaign. He worked in close co-operation with them, selected and trained officers for them, and above all secured for them financial help. When Tsêng Kuo-fan's newly-created gunboat flotilla and army were disappointingly defeated at their first trial in 1854, high officials urged Lo Ping-chang to press the impeachment of Tsêng. Instead Lo did all in his power to supply Tsêng with munitions and provisions. Before long Wuchang was taken, and his faith in the Hunan Braves was justified. In 1855 the situation in Hupeh grew worse, and uprisings in Hunan also became serious. Lo Ping-chang lent his financial and military resources not only to Hunan, but also to Hupeh, Kiangsi, Kweichow, and Kwangtung. In order to raise funds to meet these extraordinary expenditures (1855) he adapted the likin system (see under Kuo Sung-tao) to Hunan. For the assistance thus given to other provinces in quelling the rebellion, he was rewarded in 1858 with the first rank official costume. After Shih Ta-k'ai [q.v.] had been driven (1859) by bloody battles from South Hunan to Kwangtung and Kwangsi, Hunan was fairly clear of the Taipings, but Szechwan was then harassed by bandits. In 1860 Lo Ping-chang was ordered to Szechwan to suppress the rebels, but he could not shift to the new scene of trouble until February 1861 owing to a return attack by Shih Ta-k'ai on Hunan. And even in Szechwan Lo had to quell several local uprisings before he could reach the capital of that province. In these operations and in his later political administration he was greatly helped by Liu Jung 劉蓉 (T. 孟容, H. 霞仙, 1816–1873), a native of Hunan who, as a capable secretary and counselor of Tsêng Kuo-fan, served Lo in the same capacity. On October 18, 1861 he was formally installed as governor-general at Chengtu and started to make an end of the insurgents. In 1863 he secured the submission and death of Shih Ta-k'ai who had been harassing Szechwan since the previous year. For this achievement he was given the title, Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent. After Nanking fell to the Imperial forces, in July 1864, Lo was rewarded with the hereditary rank of Ch'ing-ch'ê tu-yü of the first class. During the period 1864–67 he was often troubled with failing eyesight. Though he requested retirement he was urged to continue in office with special grants of sick leave, during which his duties were performed by Ch'ung-shih [q.v.], then Tartar General at Chengtu. In 1867 Lo, having somewhat recovered, resumed office and was made assistant Grand Secretary. The following year he died at his post in Szechwan. He was posthumously given the title Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent and was canonized as Wên-chung 文忠.

Lo Ping-chang was one of Tseng Kuo-fan's chief helpers in suppressing the Taiping Rebellion, and in his later years he was often consulted by the emperor about military matters in southwest China. His sagacity and far-sightedness are shown in the men of talent he recommended for office and in the detailed and carefully prepared memorials which he submitted to the throne. The latter were brought together in an undated work, entitled 駱文忠公奏議 Lo Wên-chung kung tsou-i, 27 chüan—his memorials from Hunan occupying 16 chüan, and those from Szechwan, 11 chüan. A supplement consists of biographies and elegies. Lo Ping-chang wrote his own nien-p'u, reprinted in 1895, under the title Lo Wên-chung kung tzŭ-ting nien-p'u (自訂年譜).

[1/412/1a; 2/45/24a; 5/5/4a; 8/14上/1a; Kuo Sung-tao [q.v.], Yang-chih shu-wu wen-chi 19/6a.]

Têng Ssŭ-yü

《清史稿》卷409

駱秉章，原名俊，以字行，改字籲門，廣東花縣人。道光十二年進士，選庶吉士，授編修。遷御史，稽察銀庫，卻陋規，嚴檢閱。吏不便其所為，欲齮齕去之，會發其奸，不得逞。歷給事中、鴻臚寺少卿、奉天府丞兼學政。二十三年，銀庫虧帑事發，坐失察，褫職，罰分賠。及讞定，宣宗知秉章獨持正無私，特旨以庶子用。尋丁母憂。服闋，補右庶子，先後命赴山東、河南、江蘇按事。詞臣奉使出異數，所治獄悉稱旨。二十八年，擢侍講學士。出為湖北按察使，遷貴州布政使，調雲南。三十年，擢湖南巡撫。咸豐元年，廣西匪熾，詔湖廣總督程矞采赴湖南督辦防務，秉章及提督余萬清副之。大學士賽尚阿督師過境，以供張薄，有嫌，密奏湖南吏治廢弛。二年，詔秉章開缺來京，而粵匪已由桂林北竄入湖南。矞采聞警，由衡州退長沙，尋復往駐。萬清守道州，被賊陷。江華、嘉禾、桂陽、郴州、攸縣相繼失，萬清逮治。秉章坐未能預防，革職留任。先議修長沙城，甫畢工，而賊由醴陵突犯長沙。秉章嬰城固守，悍賊蕭朝貴預詗城壞，故以輕軍來襲，未得逞，尋斃於砲。副將鄧紹良赴援最先至，入城任戰守。賊屢以地雷壞城，皆擊卻之。新授巡撫張亮基至，秉章奉旨暫留同守城。及賊首洪秀全大舉來攻，援軍向榮、和春、張國樑等亦並集，且守且戰，歷八十餘日。賊引去，陷岳州，趨湖北。賽尚阿、程矞采並坐失機罷譴。秉章以守城功，免議，召來京。尋命留湖北襄辦防守事宜，未至而武昌陷。三年春，官軍收復武昌，暫署湖北巡撫。詔赴徐州筦糧臺，未行，復署湖南巡撫，尋實授。在籍侍郎曾國藩奉命治團練，始立湘軍，秉章力贊成之。又延湘陰舉人左宗棠襄理戎幕，廣羅英俊之士，練勇助剿，軍威漸振。先清境內，遣軍分路破江西賊於桂陽，破廣西賊於永明、零陵、江華，破廣東賊於興寧，又破江西賊於茶陵，而常寧、永興土匪皆平。賊由湖北進陷岳州，令王錱、曾國葆水陸截擊，敗之，岳州遂復。令貴州道員胡林翼率黔勇追賊逼界口。四年，總督吳文鎔師潰黃州，漢陽復陷。曾國藩水師成，進援湖北，前敵失利，岳州復陷。賊犯靖港及樟樹港，距長沙數十里，並陷寧鄉、湘潭。秉章調撫標兵益塔齊布軍，令偕楊岳斌、彭玉麐同援湘潭。國藩親率水師戰靖港，復失利。布政使徐有壬、按察使陶恩培請奏劾罷其軍。秉章曰：「曾公謀國之忠，不可以一時勝敗論也。」會次日塔齊布等大破賊於湘潭，復其城，靖港賊亦遁走，長沙獲安。賊繞西湖陷華容、龍陽、常德，令胡林翼專剿此路。塔齊布、羅澤南進規岳州、崇陽、通城，未幾，各城皆復，而武昌再陷。國藩整軍東征，餉械悉力資之無缺，十月，遂克武昌。湘軍之名自此顯。五年，武昌三陷，胡林翼署巡撫，飛書告急。秉章令鮑超率水師先赴，彭玉麐募勇繼之。起楊岳斌於家，統其眾以固北路，而南路廣東、廣西群賊擾境，土匪紛起應之。令田興恕禦東路，王錱剿南路，先清土匪，克東安，斬廣西賊首胡有祿。餘賊復擾永明、江華，擊走之。克桂陽、永興、茶陵、郴州、宜章，斃廣東賊首何祿，南路遂定。貴州苗犯晃州、沅州、麻陽，並擊走之。當武昌陷後，總督楊霈奏飭胡林翼渡江上扼漢川，以固荊襄。秉章上疏爭之，略曰：「楊霈始終堅執防賊北竄，然以現在形勢論之，江西、湖南尚稱完地。若使湖北水陸兩軍移駐漢川，長江千里，盡委之賊，其將置東南於不問乎？未解者一也。移駐漢川，祗能禦上竄襄陽之路，其於荊州並無輕重。若賊水陸並進，荊州門戶，其孰當之？未解者二也。水陸兩軍相為依附，胡林翼既駐漢川，則水軍非退守監利，即移泊岳州，為湖南門戶計，尚未為失。然武漢門戶豈能度外置之乎？未解者三也。若謂賊眾兵單，不思廣濟失利之初，以總督萬餘之兵，不能當千餘之賊，乃退守黃州，未一日即退漢川，由此而德安，而隨州，今又退至棗陽。北竄者賊也，引之北竄者誰歟？未解者四也。扼賊北竄，必固荊襄，欲保荊襄，必守武漢，此一定之局。漢陽未復，不能繞至漢川，況武漢均為賊屯，胡林翼縱至漢川，以孤軍駐四面皆賊之地，又能為荊襄門戶計乎？未解者五也。」霈之專防北竄，原出迎合上意。疏入，詔斥所詆霈者過當。然上意開悟，未久罷霈，以官文代之，與胡林翼合規武漢。秉章悉力資給林翼軍，如所以助曾國藩者。洎林翼與羅澤南破石達開於咸寧，達開折入江西，連陷瑞州、臨江，而吉安、撫州、建昌屬城多被擾。國藩自上年九江之挫，久留南昌，孤軍難進展。秉章至是銳意東援，令江忠濟出通城以固岳州，令劉長佑、蕭啟江率軍分路入江西。六年，劉長佑等連克萍鄉、萬載，進攻袁州。江忠濟戰歿通城，以王錱代之，連克通城、崇陽、蒲圻、通山諸縣。至冬，長佑克袁州、分宜、新喻，趙煥聯自茶陵收永寧，余星元自酃縣收永新、蓮花廳。初議規江西分三路，北路出瑞州，中路出袁州，南路出吉安。劉長佑袁州一路兵逾九千，餉難再籌。至是始令周鳳山、曾國荃各募勇二千，合趨吉安。詔嘉秉章不分畛域，越境殄寇，賜花翎。七年，武漢既復，下游無警，湘軍乃四出。以蔣益澧率永州軍援廣西，以王錱軍增援江西，以兆琛等軍援貴州，需餉益鉅。湖南自軍興停漕運，米賤，而徵折猶沿舊價，民困賦絀。秉章減浮折，覈中飽，民減納而賦增。倣揚州例，抽收鹽貨釐金，歲入百數十萬，給軍無缺。王錱戰江西，屢破悍寇，克樂安，尋卒於軍，以張運蘭及錱弟開化分統其眾。劉長佑攻臨江，至十二月克之。八年，京察敘功，加頭品頂戴。劉長佑以疾歸，以劉坤一代領其軍。進規撫州、建昌，先後克復。八月，諸軍齊集，克吉安。石達開敗竄浙江，江西略定。秉章以兵合不易，應乘勝進取。疏請起曾國藩督師援浙，留蕭啟江、張運蘭兩軍隨征，餘軍盡撤。蓋自五年援江西，糜湖南餉凡二百六十萬，協濟之數不預焉。石達開由浙入閩、粵，徘徊五嶺之上。九年春，復由江西入湖南。秉章調魏喻義、陳士杰扼巋河，起劉長佑於家，令與劉坤一募勇四萬備迎擊。調蕭啟江、張運蘭於江西，調田興恕於貴州，未集而賊至，陷桂陽、宜章、興寧，窺衡州，為巋河之軍所扼，回竄嘉禾、新田、臨武、寧遠。達開大隊竄永興，以據上游。劉長佑出祁陽，與之相持。回犯東安、新寧，劉坤一再挫之，乃趨寶慶，眾號三十萬，多烏合。秉章下免死令，散數萬人。時趙煥聯、田興恕等軍先至，營城外。賊營環二百里，包諸軍於中。胡林翼遣李續宜率軍赴援，秉章令劉長佑、劉嶽昭、何紹彩分三路進。六月，戰寶慶城下，內外夾擊。賊人眾乏食，再戰再敗，遂東竄。蕭啟江軍遇於永州，又擊敗之。乃由全州竄廣西，啟江尾追，劉長佑繼進，敗之於大榕口，又敗之桂林，賊竄慶遠。秉章令長佑留鎮廣西，田興恕回貴州，蕭啟江出沅江，兼顧川、黔。時廣東賊又擾邊境，令張運蘭、黃淳熙分擊於江華、宜章，並殲之。十年，命赴四川督辦軍務。時左宗棠已奉命募勇援浙，聘湘鄉劉蓉贊軍事。湘軍名將多從曾國藩、胡林翼，惟劉嶽昭、黃淳熙在湖南。調兩軍隨行，受代將發，石達開復由廣東犯湖南境，吏民乞留。遣嶽昭、淳熙會剿，賊尋引去。十一年正月，始啟行，抵宜昌，聞陳玉成犯湖北，分遣嶽昭赴援，自率五千人入川。四川之亂，始於咸豐九年。滇匪藍大順又名朝柱，李短搭又名永和。結黨私販鴉片，其黨被捕，聚眾陷宜賓，攻敘州，擾嘉定，眾號十餘萬，群盜遂四起。總督有鳳、曾望顏等不能制，徵兵湖南，先遣蕭啟江一軍赴之。啟江尋病歿，詔曾國藩赴川督師，中止未行，成都將軍崇實署總督。秉章奉命後，慮客軍易遭齮齕，猶觀望。崇實馳書促行，開誠迎候，發夔關稅以給軍，軍至，乃出望外。時賊首李永和、卯得興踞青神，藍朝柱圍緜州，張第才、何國樑圍順慶，蹂躪四十餘縣，將逼成都。秉章至萬縣，即令黃淳熙援順慶，戰於定遠，陣斬何國樑，賊大敗。追至潼川二郎場，中伏，淳熙陣亡，然賊驚湘軍勇銳，引去。秉章由順慶進駐潼川，令胡中和、蕭慶、何勝必率蕭啟江舊部，曾傳理代領黃淳熙之眾，劉德謙率親軍，唐友耕率川軍，合萬九千人，援緜州，別以他軍綴青神，分扼東北。會穆宗即位，擢授秉章四川總督。八月，師會緜州城下，連破賊十餘壘，賊敗退，渡涪水屯守。官軍作五浮橋以濟，又擊敗之。賊遁走，由什邡、崇慶趨丹棱，秉章始入成都。蒞任，奏劾布政使祥奎、中軍副將張定川不職，罷之。薦劉蓉，詔超擢署布政使。軍事吏治，振刷一新，於是分剿諸賊，急攻藍、李二股。令唐友耕扼眉州洪堰，斷青神之援，胡中和等諸軍圍丹棱，作長壕木城，節節進逼。賊棄城走，追斃藍朝鼎於陣。餘賊分路逃散，為民團汛兵截殺幾盡。藍朝柱率二百人遁入山，尋出合諸匪陷新寧，復為官軍擊散。其後陝西盩厔匪潰走興安，為民團所獲，有自稱為藍大順及弟三順至九順，並戮之。李永和見丹棱已克，亦遁走，分軍追擊，圍之於鐵山。同治元年，京察，詔嘉秉章殄寇迅速，整頓地方，加太子少保。尋克青神，李永和、卯得興由鐵山遁走，追至宜賓，擒之。道員張由庚克新寧，賊分竄，張第才遁陝西，曹燦章入老林。總兵周達武解涪州圍，追擒周紹湧於大竹，又擒郭刀刀於巴州。周鹃钫拜鹃钫拜由雲南入岳池、合州、新寧，張由庚擊走之，諸城皆復。至冬，川南北一律肅清，詔嘉調度有方，予優敘。石達開見川中兵事方殷，屢由黔、楚窺伺來犯。是年春，陷石柱，撲涪州，為劉嶽昭軍所阻，竄黔境。尋又入敘永，攻江安，陷長寧，分擾珙、高、慶符，劉嶽昭、曾傳理等擊敗之。退滇境，分竄筠連、高縣，官軍扼金沙江以守。賊謀三路入川，秉章調諸將及土司兵分防。二年正月，賴裕新自寧遠犯冕寧，至越巂，為卭部土司嶺承恩擊斃。餘賊散擾川西十餘縣，多為官軍民團截殺，盡殲於平武山谷中。三月，石達開渡金沙江，為唐友耕等軍所扼，由小徑趨土司紫打地。大渡河水漲，官軍伺半濟擊之，退撲松林、小河，又為土司王應元所扼。嶺承恩夜襲破馬鞍山賊營，斷其糧道。復連撲兩河，皆不得渡，糧盡，殺馬採樹葉而食。唐友耕等漢、土官兵合擊，焚其巢，墮巖落水無數。餘七八千人奔老鴉漩，復為土兵所阻。達開率一子及其黨三人乞降，解散四千人，餘黨盡誅之。五月，檻送達開至成都，磔於市。捷聞，詔深嘉之，加太子太保，將士獎擢有差。李福猷為達開死黨，初約由黔入川。令劉嶽昭與黔軍合剿，尋於黔境就殲。達開餘孽遂盡。粵匪擾陝西，圍漢中，秉章令道員易佩紳率軍解其圍，張由庚駐防川境。至是復令蕭慶高、何勝必赴剿。詔擢劉蓉為陝西巡撫，督諸軍。秉章病目請告，命力疾視事。三年，江寧克復，詔錄前後功，予一等輕車都尉世職，賜雙眼花翎。四年，陝西粵匪為諸軍擊敗，竄甘肅階州，令周達武會剿平之。回剿南坪番匪，匪首歐利哇降。又剿馬邊，擒匪首宋士傑，邊境悉平。令劉嶽昭援黔，由綏陽抵遵義，道路始通，後由黔規滇，皆秉章遺策也。六年夏，疾愈視事，命以四川總督協辦大學士。十一月，卒於官，優詔賜卹，稱其「公忠誠亮，清正勤明」，贈太子太傅，入祀賢良祠，四川、湖南建專祠。賜其子天保郎中、天詒舉人，諸孫並賜官，諡文忠。秉章晚年愈負重望，朝廷要政多諮決，西南軍事胥倚之。所論薦人才，悉被任用，著勛名。川民感其削平寇亂，出於水火，及其歿，巷哭罷市。遺愛之深，世與漢諸葛亮、唐韋皋並稱云。