But he cared to be remembered only for conduct, and set little store by his literary ability. He desired a friend to write of him as of one who had a great reputation but who felt that he had not succeeded in achieving anything, great or small. He foretold the date of his death many years before it occurred, and made every preparation, even to the inscription on his tombstone. Canonised as 文清.
1382
Liu Yung-fu (T. 淵亭). Born A.D. 1835. A native of Kuangsi, who was captured by the T'ai-p'ings at an early age but in 1862 joined the Imperial army. Subsequently he crushed the rebel 李揚材 Li Yang-ts'ai, and took command of his forces which he established on the Tongking border. When the French proceeded to conquer Tongking, Liu and his so-called Black Flags joined the Annamite government and offered a strenuous resistance; but in March 1884 they were driven, from Sontay and Bacninh, and enlisted in the cause of China. In July 1885 he was honoured with the title of baturu and was received with honour at Canton in the following January. In 1887, on the disbandment of his Black Flags, he was appointed Brigade General at Namoa and was ordered to aid in suppressing the Hainan rebellion; and the same year he had audience at Peking. He remained at Namoa as Commodore and General until September 1894, when he volunteered against the Japanese, and was sent to Formosa. But the Japanese were too much for him, and in spite of his prestige he accomplished nothing. At length he was glad to escape, disguised as a woman with a child at the breast, to the mainland. He was subsequently offered a post as Brigade General in Kuangtung, which he declined.
1383
Lo-ch'ang Kung Chu 樂昌公主. 6th and 7th cent. A.D. The Princess of Lo-ch'ang, daughter of the last Emperor of the Ch'ên dynasty. She was married to a man named 徐德言 Hsü
