Yeh Chih-chao submits a memorial in which he reports the result of certain operations conducted against the rebels at ishu-lin and the, despatch of reinforcements to protect the region under the Prince of the Ka-la-chin Mongols. After referring to the reports which he had forwarded on the 30th of November and on the 3rd of December, the memorialist acknowledges the receipt of an Imperial Decree, dated the 2nd of December, which had been transmitted to him through the Grand Council. In this the Emperor stated that a memorial had been received from 'Té Fu, the Lieutenant-Governor of Jeho, reporting the measures that had been taken for suppressing the rising and adding that the Prince of the Ao-han Banner had applied tu him for assistance against the rebels, On the same day the Mongolian Superintendency forwarded a representa tion which had been addressed to them by the Prince of the Kaluch in Mongols detail ing the outrages committed in that region Yeh Chih-chao were commanded to make by the marauders. Li Hung-chang and
immediate arrangements for despatching troops to crush the movement.
The Kalach'in country, the memorialist explains, is over 200 li to the north-west of Pting-ch'iian Chow, and the Ao-han Banner occupies a region some 500i to the north-east of that place. As soon as it was known that a disturbance existed in this locality, two battalions of troops were at once despatched by the Viceroy Li and they arrived at their destination on the 29th November. Two parties of mounted troops were sent to operate against the rebels, one under the command of P'an Wan-tsai proceeding by way of Wuhumaliang, and another under General Nieh Shih-ch'tng going by way of Yehposhou, In a report from the former officer bearing date the 30th November he states that when he had got half-way on his journey he was besieged by earnest. petitions-for assistance from the brother of Duke.A and a number of other infuential Mongols. Taking them as guides he continued his march to a place called Tien-t'u where he could descry the flames of burning buildings in the distance. He ascertained that the enemy were burning and plundering the country in the neigh-about 70 i. As the sun was setting, he ordered a halt and allowed men and horses to refresh themselves. The Mongols who accompanied him were sent forward as scouts and a quick march was maintained all night through. On the way three of the enemy's spies were caught and beheaded, and as day dawned Yiishulin was reached. The scouts rey that inside the tow the enemy had mustered 1,700 or 1,800infantry and over 200 cavalry, and that all the surrounding villages were full of them that the rebel leader was one Li Yao-shih, who styled himeelf a Prince, and that the second in command was Sun-hui, a soidisaut Marquis. On learning of the approach of the Imperialist force, they had blocked the ends of the street and had prepared to defend themselves to the death. The commander of the Impenalists immediately ordered his- men to make a rush on the town and engage the enemy with their short arms in hand-to-hand combat. After about a hundred of them had been cut down, the rebels retired in tothe large enclosure of a pawnshop which being surrounded by a double circuit of tuarauding hordes is pat all conception, and flicted upon the Mongolian country by these
expresses his belief that the complete defeat of the flower of the rebel force at Yiishulin and Yehposhou will have a powerful effect, in checking the movement. These two victories have re-established communication with P'iugehiian, Chiench'ang, and the surrounding country, and have restored comparative tranquillity in the south-west portion of the region under the jurisdiction of the Ka-la-chin Prince. The memorialist concludes by stating his intention ut making use of the present opportunity, when he has such a large force on the spot, to make. complete clearance of the marauders who have for years past infested the whole country north of the Great Wall.
19th December,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.