China by Edward Rutherfurd (historical books to read TXT) 📕

But after these interruptions the West was ready, the troops were available, and the envoys had been about to sail up the coast from Hong Kong to the mouth of the Peiho River that led up to Beijing.

—

It was ten days before Lord Elgin was due to leave Hong Kong that Cecil, finding a chance to be alone with the envoy at a dinner, had raised his fears. “May I speak frankly to you, Lord Elgin?”

“You certainly may.” Middle-aged, balding, his intelligent eyes set wide apart, the noble diplomat was known as a good listener.

“You have seen how our missions are thriving here on the island, and how we and the Chinese get along. I am hopeful that, with patience, this kind of cooperation could spread throughout the Chinese empire.”

“The sentiment for patience is lacking in London.”

“I am aware. But here’s the thing. If we again impose our will by force of arms, then not only do we create enmity, but the only thing the Chinese will see is that our arms are better. They will therefore acquire similar arms, which is surely not our objective.”

“I’m hoping not to use arms.” Elgin paused. “I may have another card up my sleeve. Tell me your opinion of the Taiping and their so-called Heavenly King. Are they Christians?”

“They might become Christians in the future; but at present they are a cult, ruled by a man who claims to be the brother of Jesus, but who is certainly moody and possibly mad.”

“The Chinese, however, may suppose that we and the Taiping worship the same god.”

“They shouldn’t. But they may.”

“So if I indicate that we might consider joining forces with the Taiping, it’ll frighten the emperor. Make him more amenable.”

“You are devious.”

“That is my job.”

“Will you demand that our ambassador present his credentials to the emperor without performing the kowtow, face on the ground?”

“Of course. No kowtow. Not appropriate in the modern age.”

“I have a suggestion. Let the ambassador meet with a minister or a royal prince. Both men will be the representative of their monarch, but no kowtow would be called for.”

“Intelligent. But impossible. London won’t hear of it. Question of principle.”

“Damn the principle.”

“I didn’t think missionaries talked like that!” Elgin smiled.

“This one does.”

Elgin sighed. “I’m not sure,” he said quietly, “I can do that.”

—

It was a week after Lord Elgin and his party had departed, that early one morning, Cecil and Minnie heard someone hammering at the door—and were surprised to find Daniel there, apparently beside himself. “You’ve got to help me!” he cried as soon as they let him in.

“What’s the matter?” Minnie asked.

“I must go to Nanjing. I have to see the Heavenly King.”

“Nanjing’s surrounded by the emperor’s army,” Cecil had pointed out. “You’ll never reach it. And even if you did, whatever makes you think the Heavenly King will see you?”

Daniel looked at him, a little wildly, then shook his head. “You don’t understand, dear friend,” he said. “You see”—he took a deep breath—“the Heavenly King is my cousin.”

—

It did not take him long to tell his story. He hadn’t seen the Heavenly King for many years, since they had studied the Bible together. But they had been close. Legge knew about this, but thought it best for Hong to keep the matter secret.

And now Daniel had had a dream. A powerful dream, in which he’d been instructed to go to the Heavenly King, correct the errors in his cousin’s understanding, and bring the Taiping truly within the Christian fold.

“It’s my destiny,” he cried. “Suddenly my whole life makes sense.” He looked at Minnie earnestly. “I must do it. I must.”

By noon, Cecil had spoken to Legge, who confirmed the story. But the Scottish minister was dismissive. “If the imperial army doesn’t kill him, his own cousin will. The Heavenly King has built his rule on the basis of his own warped ideas of Christianity. D’you think he’s going to like it if his long-lost cousin appears and tells him it’s all wrong? He’ll murder him.”

“Hong understands that,” Cecil replied. “But he thinks it’s his mission, and he’s prepared to risk his life. What if he were to bring all those people to the true Christian faith? It’s not impossible. Who are we to tell him he’s wrong?”

“I’ll take no part in this,” Legge replied. “I’d restrain the man by force, if the law allowed.” He nodded grimly. “He’ll be needing money for his journey, which I’ll not give him. Not a penny.”

—

And so it was that Cecil Whiteparish took his chance. He knew it was a shot in the dark. Of course it might fail. One couldn’t be certain. “No one has put the Taiping on the right path before. But as a missionary, I cannot say that such a thing cannot be done. Perhaps Daniel is the one man who could pull it off.”

It took Cecil a week to get the money together. Many of the community supported Legge. Even those who contributed to the fund that Cecil raised—even these friends—mostly asked Cecil not to reveal that they’d contributed.

But what about Daniel’s wife and baby son? He could not possibly take them with him on such a dangerous journey.

“My wife insists she’ll look after the lass and the bairn,” Legge announced. “But don’t forget, Whiteparish, you’re sending the man to his doom.”

After Daniel set out, months passed. And nobody knew whether he had reached Nanjing, or even if he was alive.

—

Lord Elgin had done a good job that summer. His gunboats knocked the shore forts guarding the Grand Canal to bits; and after some brutal negotiations, he got everything he wanted.

A British ambassador would meet the emperor without making the kowtow. The opium trade was made legal. There was to be free trade. Christian missionaries could make converts all over China; the emperor would protect them. And the British, French, Americans, and other foreigners were not to be called barbarians anymore—at least officially!

Lord Elgin, praised