After being trapped in Jiangkouwei for three months, with little food and drink, Hong Xiuquan was depressed and said to Yang Xiuqing: "With 20,000 troops, we must find a way out quickly. If we waste more time here, the enemy will not attack, and we will be in chaos."
Yang Xiuqing asked: "What does the leader mean?"
Hong Xiuquan said: "To the west, Jintian Zijing Mountain is not suitable for repeating. To the east, Zhang Zhao's navy blocked the way. To the north, there are mountains. To the southwest, the Xunjiang and Qianjiang rivers meet, and they are at a dead end. I intend to forcefully cross the Xunjiang River, occupy Xunzhou, and go straight to Nanning. "
Yang Xiuqing said: "Absolutely not. The river is wide and the water is fast. I have more than half of my family, young, old, women and children, and no navy warships. I am staggering across the river. If the monsters attack me, I will not be able to look at the head and the tail. I am in danger. I want to return. Jintian, cross the Fengmen Pass, go straight to Wuxuan, occupy Xiangzhou, and attack Guilin."
Hong Xiuquan said: "Going to the west, there are mountains and mountains, and the winding paths are winding. My women, children, old and young are accompanying me, and they are all stumbling."
Yang Xiuqing said: "It doesn't matter, we can let Xiao Chaogui quickly occupy Fengmen Ao. If we get Fengmen Ao, the chance of winning is 30%. Then let Luo Dagui break off the outline and ambush heavy troops on both wings. He is eager to attack the thieves. He will definitely fall into an ambush. If he is defeated again, he will not dare to pursue him. , the chance of winning is 60%. In this way, I am still calm even if I stagger, and the whole army crosses Fengmen'ao, and we are done."
Hong Xiuquan said: "Wuxuan, Xiangzhou, and Guilin are all important places for clearing monsters. There are even imperial governors stationed in Guilin. Not even a single land has been occupied. How can we say it's a success?"
Yang Xiuqing said: "The main force of the Qing demons are gathered here. Wuxuan, Xiangzhou and Guilin have only a thousand soldiers. When I arrive, the demons will be frightened."
Hong Xiuquan: "That's very good. Send my order. Xiao Chaogui will lead the front army, with Wei Changhui as the vanguard, and quickly occupy Fengmen'ao. Hu Yihuang and Meng De'en quickly prepare their boats and pretend to cross the Xunjiang River. Yang Xiuqing is in the middle, Feng Yunshan is on the right, and Shi Da is on the left. , after Qin Rigang and Luo Gang broke up, all armies quickly made preparations and moved camps at midnight."
On March 7, 1851, Hong Xiuquan personally went into battle, concentrated his artillery, and bombarded the military camp. Xiang was stunned and could not figure out Xiuquan's intentions. He discovered that there were more than a hundred bamboo rafts and boats hidden on the north bank of the Xunjiang River.
Xiang Rong said: "If you make counterattacks from the east and attack the west, you must cross the Yangtze River and run south. Send an order to the three armies to quickly deploy defenses along the Xunjiang River."
He Chun, the deputy general of Yongsui Xie, said: "We must guard against running westward to Jintian and climbing over the mountains into Wuxuan."
Xiang Rong said: "Back then, Liu Bei fled with his people, but his movements were slow and he was killed by Cao Cao's army. He rebelled and ran westward, but he couldn't get what he wanted. Our army of more than 10,000 people was determined to destroy the thieves in the high mountains."
It was night, the gongs and drums were noisy in Jiangkou, the cannons were roaring, people were roaring and dogs were barking, until half past four o'clock.
Xiang Rong gave strict orders to stick to the position and kill those who were arrogant in fighting. Unexpectedly, at the fifth watch, Jiangkou Wei was already empty. Hong Xiuquan's golden cicada escaped from its shell and walked west to the golden fields. Xiang Rong vented his anger and sent troops to burn, kill and loot, and then pursued him in a hurry. At noon, we finally saw the rear of the Hong army. Unexpectedly, gongs and drums sounded on both wings; Xiang Rongzhi was ambushed again and retreated hastily. When Li Nengchen and Zhou Fengqi's troops arrived, they would not dare to pursue them again, but only if they separated.
Hong Yang approached Wuxuan. Zhou Tianjue, the governor of Guangxi, told the imperial envoy Li Xingyuan: "Xiang Rong disturbed the people and allowed the thieves to lose their fighting opportunities, causing the thieves to flee to the west. The crime is unpardonable! Your Excellency is stationed in Guilin and strictly ordered Xiang Rong to advance quickly. I led my troops to gallop. If you go to Wuxuan, you must be there before the thieves. If Wuxuan is lost, there will be no barrier in Guilin, and you and I will die without a burial place!"
Li Xingyuan said: "How can one hundred personal soldiers defeat more than ten thousand tigers and wolves? There are eight hundred soldiers in the city, sir, take half of them. I will immediately issue a hundred thousand fire emergency order and order Xiang Rong and others to arrive in Wu within a time limit. Anyone who is late will come forward to see you."
Li Xingyuan was supposed to be sick, but now he was so anxious that he coughed out a mouthful of blood.
Zhou Tianjue said: "My lord is seriously ill! Doctor, where is the doctor?"
Li Xingyuan said: "It's okay. This situation has been recurring recently. Just rest for a while."
Zhou Tianjue said: "It is difficult to defend such a large provincial city with eight hundred soldiers. Sir, take care, I will go with all my strength!"
After Tianjue finished speaking, he ordered a hundred soldiers and galloped towards Wuxuan, recruiting a hundred more local warriors on the way. When he arrived at the Wuxuan County Government Office, he saw only Liu Zuosu, the county magistrate, sitting in the courtroom, crying silently.
Zhou Tianjue said: "Rebellion is coming, can we use defense?"
Liu Zuosu wailed: "There is no defense, no defense, only a rope to hang your neck."
Zhou Tianjue sighed: "There are only 800 inferior soldiers in the provincial capital, and Wu Xuan is an official who can't get involved. Could it be that God wants to destroy me?"
It is reported that there is no one with long hair within a hundred miles. Zhou Tianjue was temporarily relieved and left a hundred soldiers to guard the city bravely. He also brought his own soldiers to spread suspicion formations outside the city. Even if he used eggs to hit rocks, he still had to fight hard.
Tianjue made arrangements, and then sighed: "Three miles away, thirty miles away, it is easy to defend but difficult to attack. It is an excellent place. However, we lack soldiers and generals, so we can only pretend here."
The next day, Wei Changhui led two thousand right-wing troops to Sanliwei. Seeing Zhou Tianjue's menacing momentum, Changhui did not dare to act rashly and stationed himself on the spot, waiting for reinforcements.
Xiang Rong and others received Li Xingyuan's urgent order, galloped 200 miles a day and night, bypassed Hong Yang's main army, and finally arrived in Wuxuan on March 12.
When Zhou Tianjue saw Xiang Rong arrive, he was excited and tears filled his eyes. The next day, Li Nengchen, Zhou Fengqi, Liu Jizu and other troops arrived. On the third day, Zhang Jingxiu, the prefect of the revolution, and Qin Dingsan, the commander-in-chief of Zhenyuan Town, Guizhou, also led their troops to arrive.
On the 15th, Governor Hong Xiuquan led the main force to Dongxiang Town and immediately summoned Yang Xiuqing, Xiao Chaogui, Feng Yunshan and others to discuss strategies to attack the enemy.
Yang Xiuqing said: "If Xiang Yao Gu is guarding outside Wuxuan City, he will be surrounded and killed immediately!"
Xiao Chaogui said: "Why bother to surround and kill? I will lead an army and capture him immediately!"
Yang Xiuqing said: "In Wuxuan City, there are 200 Zhou Tianjue's personal soldiers, 4,000 Zhou Fengqi and Qin Ding's Guizhou Army, 300 Yue Yong from Zhang Jingxiu, and 700 Shui Yong from Liu Jizu. To the north of Sanliwei, Li Nengchen and 2,000 Dian demons are stationed in Yu. Lin. The demons are still far away from Xiangyao, and the soldiers are very fast. The whole army immediately poured out, surrounded and killed them."
Hong Xiuquan said: "Among all the demons, I particularly hate Xiang. I have hated this guy for a long time. I want to personally go into battle and kill this demon. Brothers, follow me and kill him immediately."
Hong Xiuquan, Feng Yunshan and others came to the battlefield in person, Xiang Rong did not dare to neglect, and personally and his lieutenants He Chun met the attack.
The Taiping army was like a hurricane, and the Xiang army collapsed at the first touch. Wu Yishu, the leader, was killed, Zheng Kuishi and Deng Shaoliang, the capital commanders, were seriously injured. Xiang Rong, He Chun and others were trapped in a tight siege.
Zhou Tianjue said: "My lips are dead and my teeth are cold. I order Zhou Fengqi and Liu Jizu to guard Wuxuan. Qin Dingsan and Zhang Jingxiu will follow me to rescue the army gate."
After Zhou Tianjue finished speaking, he drew his sword and charged forward.
Qin Dingsan said: "My lord, as the commander-in-chief, you must not charge into the battle; if there is any mistake, the three armies will be defeated. Furthermore, more than a thousand soldiers march into such a huge battlefield, fearing that the sheep will enter the tiger's mouth."
Zhou Tianjue said: "You are afraid, so you can retreat."
Zhang Jingxiu said: "Your Excellency, please rest for a moment while our three hundred Dongguan warriors roar in and roar out to rescue the admiral."
Zhou Tianjue said: "You are a good man from Nanyue! Sure enough! Remember, this battle is only to save Xiangjunmen. We are in front of you and behind us, hurry in and hurry out!"
Zhang Jingxiu led three hundred Dongyong with a fierce momentum, tearing apart the battle group in an instant and roaring in. Zhou Tianjue's two hundred soldiers were like eagles and sparrows, and no one dared to fight. Zhou Tianjue slashed the two men with his hands, and the soldiers just moved away.
Hong Xiuquan waved his flag, and in an instant, Zhou and Zhang were surrounded. Fortunately, Zhang Jingxiu was brave enough to save Xiang Rong and He Chun first, and then together with Xiang He, they found Zhou Tianjue. The four forces worked together to break out of the siege.
