听众信箱：美国冒险家和中国军事现代化

choi

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VOA Chinese, May 6, 2010.
http://www1.voanews.com/chinese/news/war/AMERICAN_SOLDIER_20100505-92972189.html

Note:
(a) Frederick Townsend Ward
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Townsend_Ward
(1831-1862; born in Salem, Massachusetts;

(i) salt (n): "SAILOR <a tale worthy of an old salt>"
(ii) Songjiang/Sung Chiang 上海市松江区 (a county until 1998)
(iii) Chingpu Wade-Gile spelling for 上海市青浦区 (pinyin: Qingpu)
(iv) Li Xiucheng, called Zhong Wang or “The Faithful King" 忠王李秀成
(v) billet (n): "2a: an official order directing that a member of a military force be provided with board and lodging (as in a private home) b: quarters assigned by or as if by a billet"

Both English definitions are from www.m-w.com.

(vi) Guangfulin 松江区广富林遗址
(vii) Quote:  In February, 1862 "Li Xiucheng, enraged at this foreign irritant, had a force of 20,000 attack Songjiang, defended only by Ward's force of 1500 men (or less). Upon approach, [Taiping] rebel forces came under the fire of camouflaged artillery and lost over 2000 men. Immediately thereafter infantry struck out of the city at the rebels, and cut off and captured another 800, while capturing a large number of boats bearing Taiping supplies and arms."

(viii) 4th-rank mandarin 四品顶戴花翎

(b) 大副 first mate (right under the captain)
(c) 雇佣兵 mercenary
(d) 孔子号 Confucius
(e) 杨坊 Yang Fang
(f) 上海外籍军团 Shanghai Foreign Arms Corps
(g) 常胜军 Ever Victorious Army
(h) "了却君王天下事，赢得生前身后名" originates from

[宋]辛弃疾, 破阵子:

"醉里挑灯看剑，梦回吹角连营。八百里分麾下炙，五十弦翻塞外声。沙场秋点兵。

"马作的卢飞快，弓如霹雳弦惊。了却君王天下事，赢得生前身后名。可怜白发生！

I will say few Taiwanese know of this poem.

My comment: Another American fought--and eventually die from wounds--for China was Philo McGiffen, who was not naturalized to become a Chinese, though.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philo_McGiffen
(1860-1897)

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