Across the Grand Canal--The Viceroy’s Yamên--Important documents--Arms destroyed--The Viceroy’s apartments--The War Office--Drill-books--Scientific books--The Foreign Office--Foreign treaties--Documents referring to the Boxer movement--The Female Boxer Society--Captured guns--The value of two heads of foreigners--Rewards for facing the enemy--Fighting in the day and cash payments at night--Articles supplied to the Boxers by the Government--A much-rewarded lieutenant--Receipts growing bigger as the Allies advanced--By the Viceroy’s command--Rewards to Boxers and their families--The last entry in the Viceroy’s day-book.

Across the Grand Canal, outside the city wall, on the north-east corner, a bridge led to the Viceroy’s Yamên. One would have thought that, as the military operations of the Chinese were directed mainly from this point--the “War Office,” as it were, of China--our Intelligence Department, with the aid of interpreters, who were plentiful, might have paid a visit to this place, where documents of no mean importance might have been discovered, and much information obtained which might have proved useful. But no. On the contrary. They seemed to experience difficulty in distinguishing between what was really important and what was not. Here is an instance.

A missionary gentleman, who was as conversant with Chinese as he was with English, having prowled into the Viceroy’s buildings and discovered some papers of great value, immediately went to notify the British authorities, to whom he generously offered all the documents with the annexed translations. He was in return treated far from civilly.

Previous to the occupation of the Palace by the Russians, the Chinese mob was allowed to do all the looting it liked inside, and at last orders were given to clear out all the papers in the offices, as the buildings were to be used for barracks. Some eighty coolies with as many brooms were despatched with instructions to sweep out into the canal all that there was in the Yamên.

I thought it might prove interesting to go and see the place before the order was entirely carried out.

The Yamên was approached by a short, narrow road along the canal, upon which some four or five bomb-proof shelters, well sandbagged, had been constructed. The entrance was through a court with the usual wide-open-mouthed, curly-tailed sea-lions at either side of the gate, and in one corner one’s attention was at once drawn to a heap of Mannlicher, Mauser and Winchester rifles, which had been captured and rendered useless by the Russians. A pretty cannon with its breech broken lay on one side, and close by another heap of single and two-handed swords, spears, and tridents, as used by the Boxers. The Russians were in temporary possession of the premises, and they readily gave me permission to enter and inspect anything I chose.

Court after court was entered, the apartments and offices of the Viceroy and officers standing around the various courts, which were handsomely ornamented with quaint plants, bronze vases, high lanterns, and incense-burners.

Let us enter the part of the building which was used as the War Office. A pile of large books thrown on the floor caught my sight. I opened them. They were drill-books for the Chinese army, some for the artillery, some for the infantry, others for the cavalry. The various exercises and drills were fully demonstrated in coloured pictures, a few of which I have reproduced on the fly-leaves of this book.

[Sidenote: SCIENTIFIC BOOKS]

Further on was another neat pile of smaller volumes. They were the log-books of the various men-of-war, kept in the most accurate fashion day by day, according to European fashion, and up to the day of the capture of Taku.

There were also foreign scientific books on explosives, on navigation, on gunnery, on chemistry, on machinery of all kinds, and endless photographs of big guns, rifles and projectiles of every possible pattern. Maps and charts in Chinese were lying pell-mell everywhere, and beautiful models of warships were smashed and thrown into one corner.

I passed on through court after court into the Foreign Office. The confusion here was even greater than in the previous department, as all the papers of minutes, mainly consisting of correspondence, in long white and red envelopes sprinkled with gold, were here. These envelopes lay about a foot deep all over the floor. Coming from the brilliant sunlight, I had not seen what I was treading on. Under my feet were some handsomely bound books. I stooped and opened one. It was nothing less than the original treaty between the Chinese and British Governments, and bore the signature of Li-hung-chang and Sir Thomas Wade.

I picked up the next. The treaty of Tonkin between the French and Chinese. A third. A treaty between Japan and China. And so on.

A number of coolies entered and began to sweep all these valuable papers into the canal.

In the Viceroy’s rooms were found the most astonishing documents referring to the Boxer movement.

We have seen how Mr. Carles telegraphed to Lord Salisbury that the Viceroy’s conduct had been very correct, and how thereupon instructions were at once sent out to afford the worthy gentleman all help and protection. It is possible that he may have been dragged into infamy by others, and by Imperial orders; but here let me give you the translations and one or two photographs of documents which speak for themselves.

Probably more curious and the most revolting of all was the receipt by which it appeared that the “Female Boxer Society” had presented the head of a foreigner to the authorities, for which gift the Viceroy had handed over 50 taels.

This receipt was written on a yellow paper slip, and had been given by some old medicine woman--a kind of witch--who lived in a junk on the river.

[Sidenote: TWO HEADS OF FOREIGNERS]

Captured guns were each apparently reckoned at half the value of foreign devils’ heads.

“June 19. Reward to Major Cheng-kuo-Chun for capturing two guns (American), 50 taels.”

“June 19. Reward to Lien Chun for fighting at Tientsin. Three ying, forty-six officers, 10 taels each; 1455 men, 4 taels each. Total, 6280 taels.”

Here is another document showing that the decapitation of foreigners was encouraged:

“June 21. (5th moon, 25th day.) Document written on red paper. Receipt given by Colonel Wan-Yi-T’sai, of the Lien Chün Chili field forces, for two heads of foreigners (American marines), 100 taels.”

The largest rewards were paid for any trifling victory scored by the Chinese, or even for the display of courage enough to meet the enemy. Many of these rewards, it will be noticed, were paid to officers in the Imperial army.

“Reward to Lieutenant Hu-Tien-Chia (7 yings) for their victory over the enemy for three successive days, June 21, 3500 taels.”

“June 22. Reward to Colonel Han, 500 taels.”

“Reward to one of Nieh’s men for capturing a foreign rifle, 6 taels. Paid on June 23, by order of General Hsü.”

“June 23. Receipt from General Nieh, dated 5th moon, 27th day. Taels 8000.”

This document, like many others, had several drops of candle-grease on it, and by its date fully proved that fighting was done in the day, and immediate cash payment made at night.

“June 24. Reward to Lien-Yang-Liang-Hui, 210 taels.”

“June 24. 5000 dragon dollars borrowed by Hu-Tien-Chia (General in General Nieh’s army), of the Wu-Wei-Chün.”

“June. Paid to the transport agent, U-Kui-Ch’a (2 ying, 1020 men), 400 taels.”

“June 29. Receipt from General Nieh for 60,000 taels to pay the allowance for the 5th moon to the Wu-Wei-Chün (name of the corps).”

A list of articles supplied to the Boxers by the Government and paid for by General Chü:

“Yellow and red silk, 60 pieces; red foreign cloth, 22 pieces; best satin for jackets, 10 pieces; red crape, 4 pieces; white crape, 1 piece. Dated 6th moon, 3rd day (or June 29).”

This was a white document with a red strip on the right corner, and stated that money had already been received for the above goods to the sum of 600 taels.

Judging by the amount of cash that passed through his hands, Lieutenant Hu-Tien-Chia seemed to have distinguished himself on many occasions. Two further large payments were registered in his name.

[Sidenote: REWARDS]

“July 1. Reward to Lieutenant Hu-Tien-Chia, of the Wu-Wei-Chün (5 yings), for a victory over the foreigners, 2500 taels.”

“July 2. Reward to Lieutenant Hu-Tien-Chia, of the Wu-Wei-Chün, 5 yings (a camp of 500 men), 10,000 taels.”

This document, too, had several drops of candle-grease on it, showing that these transactions were carried on at night, when ready money was paid.

Such receipts as the following could leave little doubt in the minds, even of the most sceptical, that Boxers were from the beginning supported by the Government.

“Receipt from the Prefect of Tientsin given to the Viceroy for 24,066 katties of best white flour supplied in 26th year of Kwang-su, 6th moon (July 1900), to Wang-Cheng-Teh, the general leader of the Boxers (_Tung-dai_), _a military organisation_ of volunteers.”

“July. Receipt from General Chou-Ting-Ch’en for pacifying money to the Viceroy, 7000 taels.”

A receipt from General Ma for an unspecified sum to reward soldiers who had fought in Tientsin.

Also another receipt from the same General for 40,000 taels for rations for soldiers.

“July. Reward to General Chi’s men (artillery), 200 taels.”

“Reward to the police at the Viceroy’s Yamên, also spies, &c., 50 taels.”

“Reward to Lien Chün cavalry, 2 ying; 9 officers, 11 taels each; 206 sergeants and men, 5 taels each.”

“Receipt for the money to be paid to 210 men (70 to be added to each ying) of the Lien Chün for carrying communications, despatches, &c., and for artillery work, 609 taels.”

“Reward for digging trenches outside the South Gate, 300 taels.”

“July 4. Reward to Major Chiang-Shun-Tah’s men, 500 taels.”

“July 4. Reward for bravery in facing the enemy to the ever-victorious General Pien, 500 taels.”

“Also to two subordinates, Huai Lien (belonging to Huai Lien army), 200 taels.”

“July 4. Reward for bravery in facing the enemy to General Chou-T’ing-Ch’en, commanding three yings, 1500 taels.”

It is to be remarked that rewards grew bigger as time went on and the Allies were gaining ground.

“July 4. Reward for bravery in facing the enemy at Ma-Chia-k’ou (a place near Tientsin), to Major Wan-Yi-T’sai (Lien Chün), 500 taels.”

This is the same man who, in June, received a reward for the heads of two American marines.

Then I saw a most interesting record of orders issued by the Viceroy. The document ran:

“The Viceroy has verbally commanded that the following Generals are to rewarded for courage in meeting the enemy: General Pien (ever victorious), 500 taels; Major Jang, 500 taels; Major Joe, Major Wang, and Major Lu, 500 taels each; General Doh (in charge of three camps, 1500 men), 500 taels for each camp, or 1500 taels in all; Major Jih, 200 taels; 7th moon (July), 8th day.”

A list was found of Boxers killed and wounded in their encounters with foreigners. This document was on red paper, and appended was the receipt for 3550 taels paid by the Government as a reward to those injured, and to the families of the deceased--100 taels for each man killed, and 30 for each wounded. This document bore the date of the 6th moon (July), 15th day, or three days before Tientsin was taken. Other documents found showed that the sum of 100 taels for each man killed, and 30 for each man wounded, was the recognised reward paid by the Government, through the Viceroy, to the Boxers.

[Sidenote: DOCUMENTS]

A great many similar documents were found, bearing the date of the 11th of the same moon.

“July 9. Reward to General Chi-Ying-Shan’s men (artillery), 200 taels and 50 taels.”

All these orders were recorded in the Viceroy’s book as having been verbally given during the night by the Viceroy himself to his Military Secretary.

頃奉 帥即面諭前派各營具賞

卞統領 長... 賞銀伍百兩 蔣營官 ...... 賞銀伍百兩 周營官 行超 賞銀伍百兩 王營官 ...才 賞銀伍百兩 劉營官 昌... 賞銀伍百兩 周統領 昆白 每營賞銀伍百 李鶴山 丙作 賞銀...百兩

營務處備知 六月初八日

DOCUMENT FOUND IN VICEROY’S YAMÊN]

Another document showed that, on petition, a sum of 100 taels was granted to the families of two men killed by British shells while guarding the armoury in the city, and 30 taels each to three men who were wounded on the same occasion. (This document was dated 6th moon, 14th day, or four days before Tientsin was taken.)

It would take too long to reproduce here the hundreds of such papers found. I have limited myself to giving a selection of representative ones.

Interesting was the last entry in the Viceroy’s day-book, showing that the last payment made by him--the handsome sum of 10,000 taels, to the head Boxer, Chang-Teh-Cheng--occurred only on the day before the city of Tientsin was captured by the Allies. The entry bore the date 6th moon, 16th day (July 12).

Evidently matters were getting desperate, and there was no more time to keep accurate accounts of moneys disbursed on behalf of the Government.