"
It must not be inferred that Gordon came into his high honors in China
easily. He was constantly beset by difficulties. His own men on more
than one occasion tried to start a mutiny, and it was only by a display
of his highest and sternest qualities of leadership, that he restored
order. The Chinese officials, also, had to be handled with diplomacy.
They were accustomed to bargaining, and could not believe at first that
Gordon was not working for selfish ends. It was only when they
realized the true character of the man, that their esteem and affection
were fully enlisted.
The Emperor wished to bestow on him a large sum of money, but this was
refused. The Chinese were nonplussed. Prince Kung reported to a
British official as follows:
"We do not know what to do. He will not receive money from us, and we
have already given him every honor which it is in the power of the
Emperor to bestow. But as these can be of little value in his eyes, I
have brought you this letter, and ask you to give it to the Queen of
England, that she may bestow on him some reward which would be more
valuable in his eyes."
The love of this strange race of people for a foreign officer was not
idly bestowed. They were the first to recognize his highest qualities,
and though he later won high rank under the Union Jack, it is as
Chinese Gordon that his name will most frequently appear in history.
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