Page:A wandering student in the Far East vol.1 - Zetland.djvu/311

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TREACHERY IN THE IMPERIAL RANKS.
239

and all concerned congratulated themselves on having honourably extricated themselves from an extremely unpleasant situation.

The insurrection, however, was far from being quelled, and fierce risings continued to take place—Ma Hsiu, who now took the name of Ma Ju Lung, becoming the champion of the Imperial forces.

A diversion was also caused about this time among the Imperial forces themselves by Ma Te Sing, who considered the time favourable to the prosecution of his personal ambitions, upsetting the Government and proclaiming himself Viceroy. He was speedily deposed, and order again restored within the ranks of the Imperialist party by his old colleague, Ma Ju Lung; but these happenings were little calculated to bring the real rebellion to a conclusion. With dissension in the ranks of his opponents, success continued to attend the armies of To Wen Hsiu, who now directed the affairs of the Mohammedan faction—so much so that the members of the British mission under Major Sladen, who had penetrated to Momein (T'eng Yüeh)