44-year-old Zeng Guofan was tied to 24-year-old Shi Dakai. If you take him in, not only will the subsequent battles be easier to fight, but now is the time to employ people.
"Rebels, I swear not to surrender, but I want to die!" Zeng Guofan stared angrily.
"Brother Bohan (Zeng Guofan), you said that I am a rebel. If it weren't for the corrupt dynasty you are loyal to that makes it difficult for the people to live, who would rebel?"
"It's useless to talk too much." Zeng Guofan said coldly.
"Well, let's make a deal."
Although this person couldn't listen to anything he said at this time, Shi Dakai was still confident that he could be included.
"After this battle, the Hunan Army captured more than 10,000 prisoners. These are the soldiers you brought from your hometown. You don't want them to go back alive."
"What do you want?"
"Is it okay to trade one of your lives for the lives of ten thousand people?"
Shi Da thought happily: A Neo-Confucian master like this who talks about benevolence, justice and morality every day is most suitable for using moral kidnapping.
"What are your conditions?"
Finally there are some signs of persuasion.
"You stay with me for one year, and you can leave after one year. You don't have to offer any advice during this year. As long as you agree, I will release all the surrendered troops immediately."
Zeng Guofan closed his eyes for a long time and said with tears in his eyes: "Deal."
After this battle, the Hunan Army lost its backbone and was no longer a great weapon.
Recruiting prisoners is an important task because it is an important way to replenish the manpower of the army.
The Taiping Army ensured the safety of the surrendered soldiers and provided them with food. In today's troubled times, even if you escape back to your hometown, you may end up starving to death. If you continue to serve as a soldier, you will not only have food and salary, but also ensure that you will not starve to death. If you are lucky, He can also be an officer.
After this battle, a large number of surrendered troops joined the Taiping Army, with the total number of troops reaching 120,000.
To conquer the world, you must first win the hearts and minds of the people.
Shi Dakai further asked the four generals to emphasize military discipline. Soldiers should not take a piece of the common people's needles, nor rob the common people. Anyone who disobeys the order will be killed.
After fighting this battle, Shi Dakai had time to slowly understand the current situation of the army.
The biggest problem we face now is the backwardness of weapons and equipment.
Most of the soldiers were armed with spears and broadswords, and the number of artillery pieces was pitiful.
Many of the Qing Army will be equipped with guns and cannons, not to mention the Western powers. Almost all the troops are equipped with guns.
Now to solve the problem of weapons, the key lies in money.
Shi Dakai has already figured out how to make money.
In the villages outside Nanchang City.
"Please, please let us go." An old farmer was beaten and kicked by the landlord.
"Your land has also been sold. Use your daughter to pay back the money you owe me."
"Don't hit my dad, help me!" The girl next to her kept crying and was grabbed by two big men.
The old man was already lying on the ground dying.
The fat landlord set his sights on the girl again.
After letting the two big men leave, they held the girl down on the ground and tore her clothes.
boom!
The landowner fell to the ground.
"We're still late, damn it!"
The girl had been ruined, her eyes were blank, and she stared blankly at the dying old farmer on the ground.
Shi Dakai put his coat on the girl.
"Who are you?" the girl asked coldly
"It's okay, we are farmers' soldiers!"
All the peasants were asked to assemble in the landlord's mansion. They were trembling with fear, thinking that the outcome waiting for them would be massacre and robbery, because the Qing Army had always preached that the Taiping Army was very cruel and would kill everyone on sight.
"From today on, no one can bully you anymore, and the landlord's land will be distributed to each of you!"
The farmers present could not believe their ears. In this troubled world, owning a piece of land was their greatest wish in their lives.
"Is this true?"
A young farmer asked despite his fear.
"Seriously, the land will be divided equally among each of you. Just register here."
Shi Dakai pointed at Zhu Yidian. He had already counted all the landlord's assets.
"Can I join you!"
"I want to protect the land I was assigned!"
continued the young farmer.
“Infinitely welcome!”
During the half month they went south, the Taiping Army defeated many landlords who oppressed the people and harvested nearly two million taels of silver.
Unexpectedly, these landowners are really fat. However, many landowners also fled to Nanchang.
Many ordinary people also sent their children to serve as soldiers, for no other reason than to protect the land they were assigned and to prevent their children from starving to death in these troubled times.
The people under the rule of the Qing Dynasty were in dire straits, which was in sharp contrast to the prosperous scene after the Taiping Army was stationed.
Zeng Guofan's impression of the Taiping Army also changed greatly.
The 10,000 defenders in Nanchang City did not escape, but instead had high morale.
The scouts reported that it was Luo Bingzhang's department from Hunan who came to support him. The leader of the troops was a guest minister of the shogunate named Zuo Zongtang.
Well, now, if we capture Nanchang, we can kill two birds with one stone.
According to the routine of Sun Tzu's Art of War, 10 against 1 should be surrounded, but in order to reduce casualties, it cannot be fought like this.
Shi Dakai ordered the soldiers to collect all the artillery and muskets and concentrate their superior firepower to attack the city. The remaining troops ambush the enemy on the way back.
