Ep. 177 | William Mesny (Part 1)
In this first part of a two-part series, we examine the forgotten life of William Mesny. Drawing from author David Leffman’s 2016 book The Mercenary Mandarin Laszlo discusses an unknown character from the days of late Qing Dynasty China. Though he never made it to the history books, he nonetheless witnessed and took part in a lot of it. Through Mesny we can once again wander through some of Imperial China’s worst years.
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Terms in Episode
| Pinyin/Term | Chinese | English/Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Bǎinián guóchǐ | 百年国耻 | China’s Century of Humiliation |
| Bǎoyīng | 宝应 | County in central Jiangsu |
| Cháng Shèng Jūn | 常胜军 | The Ever-Victorious Army |
| Chóngqìng | 重庆 | Used to be part of Sichuan, now a municipality |
| Chóng’ān River | 崇安河 | River in Guizhou where Mesny’s bridge still stands |
| Dungan Revolt | 同治回辩 | Tóngzhì Huí Biàn Another in a long line of Muslim wars , this one against Yaqub Beg in the northwest of China. |
| Dīng Bǎozhēn | 丁宝桢 | Governor of Sichuan Province |
| Guìzhōu | 贵州 | Mountainous interior province in West China |
| Guǎngxī | 广西 | Province in Southwest China |
| Gōng Bǎo | 宫保 | Palace Guardian |
| Gōng Bǎo Jī Dīng | 宫保鸡丁 | Kung Pao Chicken |
| Hànkǒu | 汉口 | City in Hubei who puts the “Han” into Wuhan |
| Hànyáng | 汉阳 | City in Hubei, part of Wuhan |
| Hóng Xiùquán | 洪秀全 | The head of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom |
| Húguǎng | 湖广 | Hubei – Hunan and surrounding areas |
| Húnán | 湖南 | 湖南 |
| Jiāngsū | 江苏 | Coastal province in China |
| Jìnán | 济南 | Capital city of Shandong |
| Liǎngguǎng | 两广 | Guangdong – Guangxi |
| Lǐ Hóngzhāng | 李鸿章 | Famous Chinese military man and diplomat |
| Miáo Rebellion | 苗民起义 | Three different rebellions share this name |
| Màishìní Huá-yīng Huìtōng | 麦士尼华英会通 | “Mesny’s Chinese Miscellany” |
| Niǎn Jūn Qǐyì | Niǎn Jūn Qǐyì | The Nian Rebellion lasted from 1851 – 1868. |
| Nánjīng | 南京 | Capital city of Jiangsu |
| Qīng | 清朝 | The Qing Dynasty 1644-1911 |
| Shāndōng | 山东 | Coastal province in China |
| Sòng | 宋朝 | The Song Dynasty |
| Sūzhõu | 苏州 | City in Jiangsu, called the Venice of China |
| Tàipīng Tiāngguó | 太平天国 | Taiping Heavenly Kingdom |
| Táng Jiǒng | 唐炯 | Governor of Sichuan and early benefactor of Mesny |
| Wǔchāng | 武昌 | City in Hubei, the “Wu” of Wuhan |
| Wǔhàn | 武汉 | Capital City of Hubei Province |
| Xīnjiāng | 新疆 | Province in northwest China (actually an autonomous region, like Guangxi but you know what I mean.) |
| Yángzhōu | 扬州 | City in Jiangsu |
| Zhènjiāng | 镇江 | City in southwest Jiangsu |
| Zhìlǐ | 治理 | Old province of China that no longer exists |
| Zuǒ Zōngtáng | 左宗棠 | Famous and very successful general during the Qing |
| Zūnyì | 遵义 | City in Guizhou |
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