Hong Xiuquan defeated Xiang Rong and felt proud.
The guards in the royal forest kowtowed when there was a flood and shouted: "King Hong Tian is mighty."
Feng Yunshan was interested in listening, so he ordered Zeng Shuiyuan to organize the enthronement ceremony of the Heavenly King, announcing Hong Xiuquan as the "Heavenly King" and Hong Tianguifu as the young master.
After the enthronement ceremony, Hong Xiuquan announced to the world in the name of the Heavenly King that the country was named the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom; the army was called the Taiping Army; Yang Xiuqing was named Zuofu Zhengjun, leading the central army; Xiao Chaogui was Youbi Zhengjun, leading the front army; Feng Yunshan was named Wei Changhui is the deputy military advisor of the rear guard and leads the general of the right army; Shi Dakai leads the left army and is the general of the left army.
Hong Xiuquan founded the Dongxiang Kingdom. Zhou Tianjue, Xiang Rong and others were filled with righteous indignation and decided to fight to the death.
Tianjue said: "The Hong rebels pretended to be the king and vowed to destroy them. From Sanliwei to Dongxiang, the rebels camped for fifteen miles. I can't eat a bite. We can concentrate our troops and attack Wei Changhui's bandits in Sanliwei first. In my opinion, the troops are divided into four groups. Attack separately. Attack directly from the front of Junmen; Liu Jizu and Zhang Zhao attack Dongling Village southwest of Sanliwei; Zhang Jingxiu attacks Taicun northwest of Sanliwei, and after winning, go south to Dongling, join Liu Zhang, and attack Sanliwei from the south; Qin Qin Dingsan led his army to attack Sanliwei from the north. Zhou Fengqi and Li Nengchen guarded Wuxuan and provided support."
Xiang Rong said: "There is no room for loss in this battle. Each army has set up a supervising team. Anyone who retreats before the battle will be killed!"
As soldiers pressed on, Wei Changhui urgently asked Dongxiang for help.
Hong Xiuquan said: "The water came and the earth covered the troops to stop them. I divided my troops into four groups and fought back."
Yang Xiuqing said: "To the Heavenly King, Qingyao is going to fight with all his strength. You can't underestimate it or fight head-on. The Dongling area is densely covered with hills and ravines. It is a good place to set up an ambush and can be the main battlefield. I will concentrate the main force and attack Liu Jizu and Zhang first. Zhao, surround but not annihilate. Zhou Tianjue and Xiang Rong will be rescued. I can take advantage of the trend to wrap Zhou and Xiang into the circle and annihilate them together. On the north road of Qin Ding's three troops, Luo Gang will block them. After saying this, I called Xiao Chaogui and Luo Outline, Zeng Tianyang, Shi Dakai, etc. all entrusted them one by one."
Liu Jizu's attack on Dongling was extremely smooth. When he realized something was wrong, Xiao Chaogui's army came out and surrounded Liu. Zhang Jingxiu came to help, but was outflanked by Zeng Tianyang. Xiang Rong learned that Liu Zhang was in trouble and rushed to rescue him, but was surrounded by Shi Dakai's 4,000 troops.
Xiang Rong sighed: "We have been trapped by thieves again! He Chun and Zhang Guoliang listened to the order and did not get into trouble. They found Zhang Liu and joined forces to break out of the siege."
In the battle of Dongling, the Qing army suffered more than a thousand losses. Xiang Rong shouted that the army's pay would not be continued. The soldiers were in an uproar and their combat power dropped sharply.
Zhou Tianjue said: "Every time your soldiers win, they will get one or two pieces of silver. Sanwen is hesitant! What's the punishment for losing the battle? Where will his troops be placed? Why don't they attack and defend according to the original plan, but they are influenced by others, resulting in this defeat? The battle is in vain." "
Xiang Rong said: "The war is a war, how can it be in vain? My soldiers' flesh and blood are scattered everywhere, and I have been wounded in two places, how can it be in vain? Your Excellency, you are an old man, and you are talking about war, and you are humiliating us!"
Zhou Tianjue was angry: "Xiang Rong established his son, in the thirteenth year of Daoguang, I have returned to the class to be elected, and you are just a son. Now that I am an old man, why do you have such rash words?"
Li Xingyuan heard that he was defeated again. Zhou Tianjue and Xiang Rong criticized each other, so they had to go back because of illness and compromise.
Li Xingyuan said: "Just one thing, if the thieves take over Guilin, everyone's heads will be at risk. Admiral, is there any way to defend against the enemy?"
Xiang Rong hummed and said nothing.
Zhou Tianjue said: "We have been unable to attack repeatedly and lost ground in advance and retreat. It is difficult to find a perfect strategy. I can dig wide and deep trenches around the thieves, build more forts, set up more artillery positions, and store more explosives. When the thieves arrive, fire cannons, and when the thieves retreat, Take a break. This is a situation where we are trapped. Our soldiers are trapped in the camp. If they live, they will all live. If the camp is broken, they will all die. Their lives are in his hands, and they can still be of the same mind."
Li Xingyuan said: "This method can be used. I will report to the emperor and quickly send out important ministers and elite soldiers. When the thieves' food is exhausted, we will annihilate them in one fell swoop."
Emperor Xianfeng heard that Zhou and Xiang were at odds, and that the thieves had become powerful, and he was heartbroken. Then he ordered Saishang'a, a bachelor of the Wenhua Palace and the chief military minister, to be the imperial envoy. He was specially given the Bilong knife to cut first and then to kill. In case of trouble, he cut himself off. He also allocated two million taels of treasury for immediate use. The deputy capital was Tongba. Qingde and Dahong'a led the Beijing troops to accompany them, while Yao Ying and Yan Zhengji participated in military affairs and food and salary respectively. They also dispatched Hunan's registered county magistrate Jiang Zhongyuan and Guangdong's deputy capital Wu Lantai to rush to Guangxi.
Saishang A knew that the Cantonese bandits were ferocious and their future was uncertain. He was afraid that they would never return, and he shed tears at the farewell banquet.
The sixth son of the emperor, Yi Xin, was his mentor and great scholar, Zhuo Bingtian, weeping and saying: "Sai Tang will soon be far away from the capital, and we will work hard together. We can't bear to think about it. We hope that we will defeat the enemy soon and return home early in triumph."
Zeng Guofan was disdainful and sighed: "Ba Qingde and Dahong'an are good at fighting, Yao Ying and Yan Zhengji are old and prudent, Jiang Zhongyuan's tender bamboo has taken root, and the admiral has been fighting for a long time to a stalemate, and Wu Dutong's violent spirit is flowing through the rainbow. This master of the game pays great attention to Wen How can a cowardly man coordinate an army of thousands? A crossbow worth a thousand gold is lighter than a single shot?"
Sushun said: "I am in a good mood."
Zeng Guofan said: "I'm scared to death. Fortunately, it's Yuting. Do you listen to my humble words?"
Sushun said: "This is great justice! My emperor ordered me to send you. Among all the people, Yao Ying and Dahong Ah Wai, I think Jiang Zhongyuan recommended by Di Sheng can be of great use. There are many bastards in our banner, Sai Shang Ahjia, the imperial edict has been I won’t leave for twenty days, regardless of the life or death of the country. I remember that during the reign of Emperor Taizong, our bannermen immediately shot arrows with perfect accuracy; we drove wild beasts into the forest, and the tigers saw Shang Li. Now, we are training soldiers in the training ground, with iron rods Carrying an eagle and playing like a child have become commonplace. Little do they know that if a country is destroyed, the whole family will be destroyed."
Zeng Guofan asked: "Can Jiang Zhongyuan be of great use?"
Sushun said: "Di Sheng once said that he has never seen such a talent in his life. I don't think Brother Di will make a mistake."
Zeng Guofan actually felt a little fond of this man who once "depended on him for death, and relied on him for death".
On that day, Zeng Guofan said: Whenever I look up at the emperor and Yue Suyong during the sacrificial ceremony, I must be careful with my steps. In ordinary affairs, I also strive to be meticulous. This is the virtue of respect and prudence. If it is not recognized early, the consequences will be trivial and must be prevented.
When ministers serve the king, the etiquette is of great importance and thoroughness. However, even if it is not a grand sacrificial ceremony, there is no guarantee that nothing will be missed. For example, in the case of Guangxi, the most important thing is the location and talent, the second is the consideration of geographical location, and the third is careful military supplies. Nowadays, there are not many people sent to Guangxi, and the location is not properly located. Yao Ying is nearly seventy years old and has been honored with honors. It is appropriate to give her a little prestige and make her counselor to the shogunate. If she is appointed as a general dispatcher, her full power cannot be used. A strict foundation governs the grain platform, but a low position makes it difficult to suppress, and a division of power can easily lead to constraints.
Knowing it but not using it is the same as not knowing; using it but not using it up is the same as not using it. Since there are many generals, it is appropriate to divide them into three routes, each with its own specific responsibilities; the middle route is responsible for Wuchang Dugu, the west route is responsible for Sizhen Nantai, and the east route is responsible for seven prefectures and one prefecture. As for the geographical advantage, the imperial ministers should be stationed in Hengzhou so that they can coordinate the three routes. The grain station should be specially set up in Wuzhou. Those who go from Hunan to silver rice should temporarily station in Guilin, and then lose to Wu; those who go from Guangdong should temporarily station in Zhaoqing, and then lose to Wu. Then the four conveniences will be able to support it, and bandits will not be able to plunder.
Now that the army has been in power for a year, no map has been presented to the outside world to plan the overall situation. However, the inner government has the Kangxi map and the Qianlong map, and no ministers have been invited to come out to inspect and audit the emperor. As for military supplies, the situation of donation and loss must not be opened between Guangdong and Guangdong. Those who donated their lives were all soldiers, and those who donated money were all borrowed money. They were moved here and there, but they were still collected from the food platform. All three of these are today's big plans as far as Guangxi is concerned. Even if there is nothing going on in Guangxi, all ministers should pay attention to talents, pay attention to geographical advantages, and plan national plans. If they are ambitious, they may not ignore the details.
Since ancient times, the importance of direct ministers is not just to make them famous. Gai Jiang will use his medicine stone to break the arrogant and extravagant appearance of the master, cultivate his character and strength, and nourish his majesty in case of trouble. It is said that the strong wind knows the strong grass. If you don't choose these, you will have to choose a kind of charming, soft-spoken person who will never dare to say a word that can offend your ears and touch your heart. If you are a little bit sharp, your strength will be dampened and your strength will be destroyed. gas. Once something happens, the whole court will be exhausted and helpless, unable to do anything.
The reason why the emperor asked Sai Shang A to look at his master today is because he didn't know that a thousand-gold crossbow was lighter than a single shot, and he also saw that he had no one to rely on in the court. I don't usually keep upright people, but cultivate their character and strength, and use them when emergencies arise. At present, the military alert is planned by one person, and it depends on the time. The emperor is solely responsible for his work, and the ministers and others do not share his concerns. In order to ensure that Guangxi does not suffer a sudden collapse, it is a matter of concern both at home and abroad. However, Guangxi has been brought to a sudden level, and the emperor may have said that nothing is difficult to do in the world, and there are people who are helpless in front of me. This is a thought of arrogance, which is especially fearful to the humble ministers.
The difference between the two is only a few minutes apart. If you wait until the disadvantages are already realized and then reverse them, it will be difficult to do anything. I have been fooled by you, but I am lucky enough to have a sage. How can I bear to use my foolish pillow to look up to you in case of disaster? Although what he said was inappropriate, he didn't dare to speak out loud with enthusiasm, and he didn't dare to just say it to please him. Fuwei Shengci is here to learn from you. I would like to play.
Emperor Xianfeng issued an edict: Zeng Guofan's articles are summarized in detail, and I will review them in detail. The purpose is to clarify the good censure and prevent abuses. Although it is pedantic and ill-informed, the meaning is still advisable. According to Yi's report, except for the fact that Guangxi's location and military aircraft have been investigated and dealt with, I may have been too extreme in my remarks and failed to maintain balance; or I may have only been partial and excessive in my arrest. I read it as a suggestion, and I will not reprimand him. It is very important to say that when a person thinks of himself, he will like flattery and hate being honest. Self-defeating, humble and virtuous, working hard day and night, always thinking that one is not up to the mark, if one or two inappropriate remarks are not taken into account and adopted widely, this is the beginning of arrogance. I think about the difficulty of being a king, and all the ministers should also think about the difficulty of being a minister. They should consult each other and take action, so that the country of the common people can achieve practical results.
