Lord M'reng
The Honourable Dr Trjuk Krjên-magh MP, MPhD, OA | |
|---|---|
| Native name | 筑柬寞 |
| Born | December 30, 1812 |
| Died | May 2, 1881 (aged 68) Kien-k'ang, Themiclesia |
| Buried | c. 3 km south of Tubh Railway Station, Tubh County, Inner Region |
| Allegiance | Themiclesia |
| Service/ | Militia of Sjeh and Marines |
| Years of service | 1855 – 1858, 1863 – 1881 |
| Rank | MP & Second Class (rural election) Colonel-in-Chief (to 1858) Colonel (1863 – 1870) Brigadier (1870 – 1881) |
| Commands held | Marshal of Sjeh (汜尉, mhje′-′judh) 2nd Regiment of Marines (冗寺工乙校, njung′-lje′-kong-′rje′-krawh) Captain-General of Marines (冗人尉, njung′-njing-′judh) |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Liang-la |
| Awards | Order of Authors (posthumously, 1901) Doctor of Mathematics (posthumously, Academia Shinasthana, 1905) |
The Hon. Dr Trjuk Krjên-magh MP M.PhD (筑柬寞, Dec. 30, 1812 – May 2, 1881) was a Themiclesian legislator, administrator, and military commander. He was born to a gentle family in 1812 in the Inner Region and was a member of parliament between 1847 and 1854 in his home constituency of Tubh County, for the Conservative Party. The Conservatives in opposition, he lost his seat in 1854 without having entered the ministry. He became the Director of Education of Sjeh the following year then moved to the Marshal of Sjeh, managing the prefecture's militia forces. Remaining a staunch Conservative, he entered a prolonged feud with the Liberal Secretary of State for War over budget and was dismissed in 1858. He became a doctor of mathematics in 1860, working on discrete calculus. Through his connections in the Navy, he became the colonel of the 2nd Regiment of Marines, thereas famously surrendering to the Camians in the Battle of Liang-la. Shortly after a public inquiry into his surrender, he was promoted to Captain-General, where he entered another feud with the Admiralty and remained until his death in 1881, to food poisoning.
Quotes
- "Sir, you stench of verdigris." — to the Liberal prime minister in 1851. Themiclesian coins were made of bronze, and to stench of verdigris was to evoke the image of money.
- "Sjeh Prefecture is made more noble by the absence of a great amount of Liberals in its bosom, and its nonsensical expositions about equality in its mouth."
- "The first allegiance of the aristocracy is towards the little people in the streets and in the fields. By their vileness they ennoble us." — to fellow Conservative MP Hjen Gap, in a division.
- "With the prolongation of this Liberal government, we move from aristocracy to plutocracy, where power is measured by wealth and not merit." — to his constituents in the general election of 1854.
- "Sir, you commit treason if you fight this hour, and it is my unenviable duty to stop you." — to a fellow officer in the 2nd Regiment of Marines, before discharging a pistol on him.
- "I beg your pardon that I must shoot you. Please charge all convalescence costs to my estate agent." — to another fellow officer who wanted to engage the Camians, shooting him in the foot. The pistol flew out of his hand and left a scar on his left forehead.
- "This is a democratic isle, and we are a democratic force. Two commanders outweigh one." — to the commander of the 624th Signals Company and 81th Land Battalion of Naval Engineers, discussing whether they should surrender to the Camian forces.
- "Even if I surrender and soil your name a thousand times, I am the fittest man to be Captain-General, for I have been a member of parliament."
- "I am honoured to defend your pay-rise. To my mind there is no greater honour than to improve the condition of those who undergo the worst of conditions."
- "My lords and gentlemen, if each of you grant an amount equal to one percent of your personal income to my forces, they shall eternally be in your debt and thereof grateful to our high and august Parliament. At a stroke of your pen, you have power to improve their condition immesurably." — in his speech arguing for a 9-pence pay-rise for marines.
- "And because the populace continue to migrate to the coast, the cost of land continues to rise. Land being the source of many products, the cost of things in the vicinity also rises commensurately. The increase in the price of things is projected to be 13.2 per cent over the next six years; if nothing else, I ask humbly this house to adjust our salaries according to this figure."
- "The Master-General of the Ordnance: a pimp without a harlot, and so therefor his own harlot. And he is still worse than either, for he is of the middling sort." — on the Master-General of the Ordnance, who rejected one of his papers for new cannons.
- "The 20-year term of service must be abolished forthwith. It is cruel and drives recruits away, making the public gossip of innocent men as freaks of nature." — before the Council of Protonotaries, 1873, arguing that the standard 20-year term of service should be abolished.
- "I have lived an aristocratic life and done right things for lesser, lower individuals assigned to my custody. I think I may face my noble ancestors and friends with no shame." — on his deathbed.