Peng Yulin 彭玉麟

P'êng Yü-lin 彭玉麟 (T. 雪琴), 1816-1890, Apr. 24, admiral, was a native of Hêng-yang, Hunan, but was born and reared in Anhwei where his father held a government post. When he was sixteen he accompanied his family to Hêng-yang where soon thereafter his father died. The family lost much of its property to rapacious neighbors and as a youth P'êng had to support his mother as a copyist in the imperial regiment of his native city. By chance, his skill in penmanship came to the attention of the local prefect who took him under his personal tutelage, so that after a few years P'êng obtained a hsiu-ts'ai degree.

In 1850 P'êng Yü-lin accompanied the imperial regiment when it suppressed a riot and was offered the rank of sergeant, which he declined. Soon thereafter he became treasurer of a pawnshop in the neighboring city of Lei-yang. He was generous in his treatment of the poor and at one time by a loan from the shop gave financial aid to the local magistrate who was organizing the militia against a threat of the Taipings. In 1853 his liberality caught the attention of Tsêng Kuo-fan [q.v.] who was then at Hêng-yang building gunboats and enrolling troops to man them, and Tsêng placed him in command of a portion of the newly-organized river patrol. Both P'êng and Yang Yüeh-pin 楊岳斌 (original ming Tsai-fu 載福, T. 厚庵, 1822-1890), a native of Shan-hua, Hunan, were fitted by temperament and education to initiate plans and prepare reports for the naval forces. On February 25, 1854 Tsêng Kuo-fan led the newly-built flotilla in a punitive attack on the Taipings who had made Nanking their capital and were pressing upstream on the Yangtze to Hupeh and Hunan (see under Hsiang Jung). Unfortunately Tsêng's first effort met defeat at Yochow, making necessary a retreat to Changsha, the capital of Hunan. The Taipings followed him to a place sixty li north of Changsha, and after a detour, captured Hsiang-t'an. T'a-ch'i-pu [q.v.] then led a strong detachment to retake the latter city and dealt the rebels a crushing blow-aided by the naval craft of P'êng Yü-lin who set fire to much of the enemy's cargo-and compelled them to flee eastward in great confusion (May 1, 1854). The menace to Changsha was thus averted, and the disheartened Tsêng Kuo-fan was much encouraged. Following this victory P'êng Yü-lin was promoted to the rank of magistrate.

After reassembling his forces Tsêng Kuo-fan again attacked Yochow, with the result that this city fell into his hands (July 25, 1854). Wuchang having been taken by the Hunan forces on October 14, 1854, the Taipings concentrated at T'ien-chia-chên, a strategic point along the Yangtze about forty miles above Kiukiang, where they built a strong defense on the river in anticipation of a decisive battle. The Yangtze was blocked by a pontoon held together by a heavy iron chain fastened to Pan-pi-shan, a steep slope on the river's bank opposite Pien-chia-chên. It was guarded by a flotilla of gunboats, timber rafts, junks and sampans, giving it the appearance of a town on the river's surface. Assisted primarily by the land force of T'a-ch'i-pu and Lo Tsê-nan [q.v.] which attacked the hillside, P'êng Yü-lin and Yang Yüeh-pin stubbornly assaulted the flotilla in an effort to break the chain. Yang led a dare-to-die fleet in tactical formation which dashed through the enemy's position. Yang and P'êng attacked and set fire to the vessels from both sides, winning the engagement after a furious battle (December 2, 1854). The Taipings were forced to retire to Kiukiang, which they held for several years. Detailed plans of this engagement were brought to the attention of the Emperor, who caused them to be distributed as a model to naval circles within the empire. But the renown which the Hunan naval forces thus achieved and the successive victories which they won on their advance to Kiukiang, made them over-confident. Their flotilla of 120 boats and 3,000 marines went as far as Po-yang lake but there they were bottled up by the rebels, who then proceeded to attack with fire-boats, even capturing Tsêng's flagship. Thereafter the flotilla was divided, one part being stationed in Po-yang lake, the other outside of it. The latter had to withdraw from Kiukiang to a place near Yochow for necessary repairs while Tsêng went to Kiangsi to reorganize the forces within the lake.

On April 3, 1855 Wuchang again fell to the Taipings. The flotilla inside Po-yang lake was also harassed. Tsêng urgently called P'êng to Kiangsi, but the latter found all routes controlled by the enemy. Disguised as a merchant speaking the dialect of Anhwei, P'êng walked the long distance to Nanchang, where he was ordered by Tsêng to take command of the navy. While Hu Lin-i [q.v.], Lo Tsê-nan, Yang Yüeh-pin, and others attacked Wuchang (1856), Tsêng and P'êng fought in Kiangsi. But in the following year Tsêng had to return home to mourn the death of his father and Yang was made commander-in-chief of the navy with P'êng as associate commander. When the navy and the army advanced on Kiukiang, P'êng fought desperately to effect a reunion with the marines outside the [619] lake. His efforts were eventually successful and Kiukiang was taken on May 19, 1858 by the combined forces.

After the capture of Kiukiang, P'êng Yü-lin and Yang Yüeh-pin encountered the Taipings in the next few years along the middle course of the Yangtze. When Anking, the capital of Anhwei, was retaken (see under Tsêng Kuo-ch'uan), P'êng was rewarded for his naval effort in the campaign with the governorship of Anhwei, which he declined. To facilitate his command of the river forces he was, however, promoted in 1862 to the rank of junior vice-president of the Board of War, after which he co-operated with Tsêng's land forces then fighting their way from Anking to Nanking. In 1863 P'êng and Yang crushed the important Taiping base at Chiu-fu-chou opposite Hsia-kuan (Nanking) on the Yangtze. The Taiping onslaught was furious, but the result was a victory for the Ch'ing forces and ww the turning-point in the siege of Nanking. When another detachment of Taipings came from Fukien to Kiangsi to attack the rear of the government forces, Yang Yüeh-pin was placed in command of these government troops. But soon thereafter he was appointed governor-general of Shensi, Kansu, and Sinkiang, and command of the flotilla devolved upon P'êng Yü-lin.

After the taking of Nanking in 1864, Yang Yüeh-pin and P'êng Yü-lin were each rewarded for their share in the naval operations with the title of Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent snd the hereditary rank of Ch'ing-ch'ê tu-yü of the first class. Yang was installed in his position as governor-general in 1865 and retired in 1866. Peng was made (1865) director-general of grain transport. But true to his professed intention not to be hampered by any official post, nor to be dependent on a government salary, he declined the office. Appreciating the sincerity of his motives, the Emperor acquiesced, but ordered him to discuss with Tsêng Kuo-fan the organization of the Yangtze flotilla. Detailed regulations were drawn up in 1868 and printed as a supplement to the Chiao-p'ing Yüeh fei fang-lüeh (see under I-hsin). The greater part of the surplus funds which P'êng had raised, through many hardships, to meet the military needs of the government he utilized to reward meritorious generals and for the welfare of his native district. In a memorial to the throne requesting leave to retire to observe the customary mourning period for his mother who had died in 1853, he asserted that he had willingly joined the service empty-handed and was content to retire the same way. In nearly twenty years of service with the navy he had never accumulated property, had not asked leave for a single day, and had never gone ashore for self-enjoyment. His simple request was granted and his self-effacement was suitably lauded by the throne. From 1869 to 1872 he lived at home.

But while P'êng was living a life of austere retirement the morale of his marines was beginning to deteriorate. He was recalled in 1872 to resume his task and it was not long before a number of officers were dismissed or punished. After he had revived good order and spirit among his forces he was granted an audience with the Emperor and was appointed acting senior vicepresident of the Board of War. This appointment, too, he declined in repeated memorials. He was authorized instead to inspect the Yangtze and was allowed the privilege of reporting directly to the throne. His opinion about important national affairs was consulted, and he was deputed to investigate cases affecting high local officials. Not only did the naval officers fear his careful inspection but local officials stood inawe of his coming. During this period he maintained peace and good order in the Yangtze Valley, though he opposed the introduction of railways, whose future importance he did not perceive.

In 1881 P'êng Yü-lin again declined the post of acting governor-general of Kiangsu and Chekiang. But two years later he was appointed president of the Board of War and this time was unsuccessful in declining the post. This was the year of the Franco-Chinese imbroglio over Annam. P'êng Yü-lin and Yang Yüeh-pin (then retired) were ordered to the front. Though ill and aged, P'êng proceeded to Kwangtung with 4,000 Hunan veterans, prepared to carry on a defensive campaign. Protesting in vain at the proposed negotiations with France (1884), he begged leave to retire on grounds of illness, after the signature of the treaty on June 9, 1885. Despite his illness his frequent entreaties to retire were unheeded until the close of 1889. One year later both P'êng and Yang died and both were posthumously rewarded with the title of Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent. P'êng was canonized as Kang-chih 剛直; Yang as Yung ch'üeh 勇愨.

P'êng Yü-lin was one of four outstanding leaders among the Hunan Braves (see under Hu Lin-i) and was a man of unquestioned integrity. [620] Though his energies were devoted to military affairs he found time to achieve some distinction as a calligrapher, and as a painter-particularly of the prunus. His poems were collected under the title P'êng Kang-chih kung shih-chi (公詩集) and his memorials to the throne under the title P'êng Kang-chih tsou-kao (奏稿)—both collections in 8 chüan, published in 1891.

[1/416/la; 2/54/30a; 58/10a; 5/14/la, 30/llb; 8/7 shang la, 7 hsia 1; 19 hsin-hsia 27; 26/4/16a; Hsiang-chün chih, chüan 6, (see bibliography under Tsêng Kuo-fan); 湘綺樓文集 Hsiang-ch'i-lou wên-chi, chüan 7, 8 (1900).]

TÊNG Ssŭ-yü

《清史稿》卷410

彭玉麐，字雪琴，湖南衡陽人。父鳴九，官安徽合肥梁園巡檢。玉麐年十六，父卒，族人奪其田產，避居郡城，為協標書識以養母。知府高人鑑見其文，奇之，招入署讀書，為附生。新寧匪亂，從協標剿捕。敘功，大吏誤以為武生，拔補臨武營外委，不就。至耒陽，佐當商理事。粵匪至，罄所有資助縣令募勇籌防。賊知有備，不來攻，城獲全。玉麐不願敘功，但乞償所假錢，以是知名。咸豐三年，曾國藩治水師，成十營，辟領一營。其九營多武員，白事悉倚玉麐，隱主全軍，草創規制多所贊畫。四年，初出師規岳州，不利，退長沙。玉麐偕楊岳斌援湘潭，會塔齊布陸師夾攻，賊舟連檣十里，分三隊合擊，同時縱火焚其輜重皆盡。賊棄城走，復湘潭，敘功以知縣選用。六月，再進岳州，賊據南津以拒。玉麐伏君山，岳斌伏雷公湖，遣小舟挑戰，賊舟爭出，兩翼鈔之，燬百餘艘，賊來，迭敗之。進攻擂鼓臺，賊舟多於官軍十倍。玉麐偕岳斌各乘舢板冒砲煙衝入，燒其坐船，賊還救，陣亂，大破之，玉麐傷指，血染襟袖，軍中推二人勇略為冠。既而總兵陳輝龍至，率新軍出戰，軍容甚盛，玉麐偕諸營從觀戰，拕罟膠淺，為賊所乘，急往救，水急風利，陷賊屯中，遂大敗。輝龍等戰歿，玉麐單舸退，自是水師專任彭、楊。時陸軍累捷，賊退走，水師並進。八月，屯沌口，規武昌。玉麐與諸軍議，請渡江先破城外賊屯。賊自塘角至青山，緣岸列砲，丸發如雨。將士皆露立舢板，櫂船徐進，無一俯側避砲者。賊望見奪氣，沿江賊屯盡潰，悉燒屯壘及其舟。武昌、漢陽同日皆復，論功擢同知。群賊麇聚田家鎮，夾江為五屯，依半壁山，連舟斷江，纜以鐵索，布竹木為大筏，施大砲。筏外護以舟，後列輜重，望之如大城。武昌既克，水師欲下攻，而為蘄州江岸賊所撓。玉麐掠江直下，十月，進逼田家鎮。與楊岳斌議分四隊，約陸師同時合擊。頭隊皆小船，具鑪鞴椎斧，融炭以待。順流急趨，至筏下，斷鎖纜得隙，擠而過，後者從之。大呼曰：「鐵鎖開矣！」賊驚噪，爭走相踐墮水。玉麐率二隊順流而下，岳斌率三隊乘風而上，風起火烈，燒毀賊舟四千餘艘，奪獲五百餘艘。玉麐慮軍士互爭，盡焚之。捷入，以知府記名。詔采其戰法頒下江南北諸水軍。遂會諸軍進攻九江，連破賊於小池口、湖口。賊於九江夜襲水師大營，帥舟被燔，曾國藩移駐陸軍。玉麐部將蕭捷三追賊入鄱陽湖，賊斷湖口。玉麐往救不利，乃還新隄籌濟師。五年，武、漢復陷，玉麐更募士造船，立新軍，合三千人，與楊岳斌分統之。胡林翼約同攻漢口，玉麐自金口進，敗賊 魚套；北岸陸軍為賊所挫，玉麐率眾登岸截擊，破之，攻塘角，焚賊船二百餘：授浙江金華知府。七月，自沌口進拔蔡店，及南北兩岸石城。五顯廟者，賊堅巢也。阻湖而屯，玉麐攻之不下，曰：「已入虎穴，非血戰不能成功。」張兩翼急槳而進，衝賊船尾，摧其卡，奪其船。復督隊徑越賊船，循兩岸包鈔。出襄河口，斷鐵鎖浮橋，毀北岸火藥庫，仍入襄河。乘夜撲漢陽，擒賊酋蕭朝富、吳會元。麾軍攻拔五顯廟，毀晴川閣木城，又破之葉家洲，燒賊船二百餘。初由沙口移軍沌口，過經賊壘，砲如雨下，所乘船桅折覆水。玉麐援橫枚漂江中流，楊岳斌舟掠過，掉舢板拯之還。胡林翼疏陳稱其忠勇冠軍，膽識沉毅，詔以道員記名。

時曾國藩在江西，水軍頻挫，迭召往助。玉麐乞假回長沙，急赴之。袁、瑞兩郡並陷賊，水陸道絕，易衣裝為賈客，徒步數百里達南昌。重整內湖水師為十營，船六百艘。六年，擢廣東惠潮嘉道。敗賊樟樹鎮，又連破之於臨江吳城、涂家埠，克南康。七年，國藩還籍治父喪，玉麐與楊岳斌同領其軍。其秋，武、漢再克，水陸並下，圍九江。玉麐約岳斌夾攻湖口，賊扼石鐘山、梅家洲，力遏內湖軍不得出。玉麐分軍為三以進，賊穴山腹置巨砲，直船衝，舢板先出，前鋒中砲，後船繼進，傷十餘艘。玉麐憤曰：「此險不破，萬不令將士獨死，亦不使怯者獨生！」鼓櫂急赴，賊砲忽裂，船銜尾下，與外江水師合，歡聲雷動。陸軍由城背山下應之，賊大奔，乘勝奪小孤山，加按察使銜。八年，連破樅陽、大通、銅陵、峽口賊屯，合圍九江，克之，晉布政使銜。楊岳斌進軍黃石磯，自九江至武昌，置十二屯。十年，玉麐移營與合屯。賊復上犯彭澤、湖口，分兵赴援，克都昌。十一年，授廣東按察使。賊犯蘄、黃、德安，玉麐會陸軍克孝感、天門、應城、黃州、德安，擢安徽巡撫。命幫辦袁甲三軍務，潁、壽各軍悉歸調遣，累疏固辭，謂：「久居戰艦，草衣短笠，日與水勇、舵工馳逐於巨風惡浪之中。一旦身膺疆寄，進退百僚，問錢穀不知，問刑名不知，勉強負荷，貽誤國家。」又謂：「從軍八年，專帶水師，棄舟而陸，無一旅一將供其指揮，倉猝召募，必致僨事。」詔嘉其不欺，以李續宜代之，改職水師提督。

同治元年，授兵部右侍郎，節制鎮將。軍中重文輕武，玉麐與楊岳斌威望久埒，一旦名位超越，而相處終始無間，論者謂其苦心協和不可及。別立太湖水師十營，倂歸統轄。曾國荃由安慶進規江寧，水師助之。克銅城閘，復巢縣、含山、和州，襲破雍家鎮、裕溪口，奪東西梁山，進攻采石，又克金柱關。諸將衝鋒，玉麐每乘小船督戰，以紅旗為識，或前或後，將士皆惴惴盡力。間入陸軍察戰狀，往來飄忽無定蹤，所經行軍民莫敢為奸宄。二年，與楊岳斌合兵攻九洑洲。賊於洲築壘數十，外作大城，眾舟環之，與江寧相犄角；而攔江磯、草鞋峽、七里洲、燕子磯、中關、下關皆賊屯。玉麐列舟上流，南隊向下關，北隊向草鞋峽，岳斌攻燕子磯，破之。陸軍亦分三隊，掘洲埂攻中關，舢板環洲而陣。賊以槍砲相持，不能進。玉麐督諸軍更番夜攻，下令曰：「洲不破，不收隊。」選死士從火叢登岸，噪曰：「洲破矣！」諸軍歡呼，騰踔而上，立破洲邊屯舟，賊爭潰走。自田家鎮以來，是戰為最烈。於是賊黨由江西犯池州，謀撓官軍。玉麐還救青陽，解其圍，復高淳，克東壩，倂論九洑洲功，賜黃馬褂。會楊岳斌赴江西督師，自是玉麐專統水師。三年，江寧復，論功，以創立水師為首，加太子少保，予一等輕車都尉世職。四年，命署漕運總督，再疏辭，允之，命籌商水師善後事宜。

七年，會同曾國藩奏定長江水師營制，自荊州至崇明五千餘里，設提督一員、總兵五員，以六標分汛；營、哨官七百九十八員，兵丁一萬二千人，歲餉六十餘萬兩，以長江釐稅供支，不煩戶部。初，軍事未定，軍餉奇絀，而淮鹽積滯。玉麐議定捆鹽自賣，供水師月餉。及江路大通，曾國藩設三省督銷局，招商領票，水師鹽票大小數百，至是軍餉有額支的款。餘銀及票本巨萬，玉麐一不私取，以五之一取息，助水師公費，且備外患倉猝之需。餘分解雲、貴助餉二十萬，甘肅助餉二十萬，以十萬廣本縣學額，而以鹽票犒諸將有大功者。事既竣，疏請回籍補行終制，略曰：「臣墨絰從戎，創立水師，治軍十餘年，未嘗營一瓦之覆，一畝之殖；受傷積勞，未嘗請一日之假；終年風濤矢石之中，未嘗移居岸上求一日之安。誠以親服未終，而出從戎旅，既難免不孝之罪，豈敢復為身家之圖乎？臣嘗聞士大夫出處進退，關繫風俗之盛衰。臣之從戎，志在滅賊，賊己滅而不歸，近於貪位；長江既設提鎮，臣猶在軍，近於戀權；改易初心，貪戀權位，則前此辭官，疑是作偽；三年之制，賢愚所同，軍事已終，仍不補行終制，久留於外，涉於忘親。四者有一，皆足以傷風敗俗。夫天下之亂，不徒在盜賊之未平，而在士大夫之進無禮，退無義。伏惟皇上中興大業，正宜扶樹名教，整肅紀綱，以振起人心。況人之才力聰明，用久則竭，若不善藏其短，必致轉失所長。古來臣子，往往初年頗有建樹，而晚節末路隕越錯謬，固由才庸，亦其精氣竭也。臣每讀史至此，竊歎其人不能善藏其短，又惜當日朝廷不知善全其長。知進而不知退，聖人於易深戒之，固有由矣。臣本無經濟之學，而性情褊躁，思慮憂傷。月積年累，怔忡眴暈，精力日衰，心氣日耗。若再不調理，必致貽誤國事。懇請天恩開臣兵部侍郎本缺，回籍補行終制。報國之日正長，斷不敢永圖安逸也。」優詔從之。

八年春，還衡陽，作草樓三重，布衣青鞋，時往母墓，廬居三年不出。自設長江水師，東南無事，將士漸耽安逸，事多廢弛。十一年，詔起玉麐簡閱，疏陳整頓事宜，諷提督黃翼升自退，薦李成謀、彭楚漢二人，即以成謀代之，劾罷營哨官百數十人。入覲，命署兵部侍郎，復陳請開缺，仍命巡閱長江，專摺奏事。別飭兩江、湖廣為籌經費，玉麐力辭不受。自築別業於杭州西湖，曰退省庵。每巡閱下游，事畢，居之。自是水師皆整肅，沿江盜蹤斂戢，安堵者數十年。朝廷有大政，及疆吏重案，輒諮詢，命按治。

光緒七年，命署兩江總督，再疏力辭，乃以左宗棠代之。留督江、海防如故。言者議長江提督宜駐吳淞口外，玉麐疏言：「江南提督責在海防，請多畀兵輪，使立一軍於海上。長江提督責在江防，請仍由臣督同巡閱，改駐吳淞，會操兵輪，以通江、海。」九年，擢兵部尚書，以衰病辭。

會法、越搆兵，命赴廣東會籌防務。玉麐募四千人從行，駐大黃 。遣部將王之春、黃得勝等防瓊州、欽州、靈山，婁雲慶、王永章等駐沙角、大角，與粵軍聯合。增兵設壘，編沙戶漁舟，分守內沙港汊。法兵竟不至。十一年春，粵軍大捷於鎮南關，進攻諒山。和議旋成，停戰撤兵。玉麐疏請嚴備戰守，以毖後患，陳海防善後六事。是秋，以病乞休，溫詔慰留。十四年，扶病巡閱。至安慶，巡撫陳彝見其病篤，以聞，詔允開缺回籍，仍留巡閱差使。十六年，卒，年七十五，贈太子太保，依尚書例賜卹，建專祠立功地，諡剛直。

玉麐剛介絕俗，素厭文法，治事輒得法外意。不通權貴，而坦易直亮，無傾軋倨傲之心。歷奉命按重臣疆吏被劾者，於左宗棠、劉坤一、涂宗瀛、張樹聲等，皆主持公道，務存大體，亦不為谿刻。每出巡，偵官吏不法輒劾懲，甚者以軍法斬之然後聞，故所至官吏皆危慄。民有枉，往往盼彭公來。朝廷傾心聽之，不居位而京察屢加褒敘，倚畀蓋過於疆吏。生平奏牘皆手裁，每出，為世傳誦。好畫梅，詩書皆超俗，文采風流亦不沫云。