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 bad old 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.   TERMS FROM THIS EPISODE Qīng 清朝 The Qing Dynasty 1644-1911 Bǎinián guóchǐ   百年国耻 China's Century of Humiliation Lǐ Hóngzhāng   李鸿章  Famous Chinese military man and diplomat Màishìní Huá-yīng Huìtōng   麦士尼华英会通  "Mesny's Chinese Miscellany" Sòng 宋朝 The Song Dynasty Tàipīng Tiāngguó   太平天国 Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Hóng Xiùquán   洪秀全 The head of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Guǎngxī   广西 Province in Southwest China Húnán   湖南 Province on Central China Cháng Shèng Jūn   常胜军 The Ever-Victorious Army Zhìlǐ   治理 Old province of China that no longer exists Húguǎng   湖广 Hubei - Hunan and surrounding areas Liǎngguǎng 两广   Guangdong - Guangxi Wǔhàn   武汉 Capital City of Hubei Province Zhènjiāng   镇江 City in southwest Jiangsu Sūzhõu   苏州   City in Jiangsu, called the Venice of China Bǎoyīng   宝应 County in central Jiangsu Jiāngsū 江苏 Coastal province in China Yángzhōu   扬州 City in Jiangsu Nânjīng   南京   Capital city of Jiangsu Hànkǒu   汉口 City in Hubei, the "Han" in Wuhan Wǔchāng   武昌 City in Hubei, the "Wu" of Wuhan Hànyáng 汉阳 City in Hubei, part of Wuhan Chóngqìng 重庆 Used to be part of Sichuan, now a municipality Niǎn Jūn Qǐyì   捻军起义 The Nian Rebellion lasted from 1851 – 1868. Miáo Rebellion   苗民起义 Three different rebellions share this name Guìzhōu   贵州   Mountainous interior province in West China Zuǒ Zōngtáng   左宗棠 Famous and very successful general during the Qing 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. Xīnjiāng   新疆 Province in northwest China Zūnyì   遵义 City in Guizhou Táng Jiǒng   唐炯 Governor of Sichuan and early benefactor of Mesny Chóng'ān River   崇安河 River in Guizhou where Mesny's bridge stands Shāndōng   山东 Coastal province in China Jìnán   济南   Capital city of Shandong Dīng Bǎozhēn  丁宝桢 Governor of Sichuan Province Gōng Bǎo Jī Dīng   宫保鸡丁 Kung Pao Chicken Gōng Bǎo   宫保 Palace Guardian