On December 15, 1852, Hong and Yang captured Yiyang without any effort. They laid out a plan to pacify the people, plundered the rich, opened warehouses to release grain, and gathered the poor. While they were drinking and eating meat, they reported that Xiang Rongyao's army had captured the outside of the city. Lu Jiashan.
Shi Dakai said: "Flying north and south towards the demon, traveling for days, hungry and tired, just in time to annihilate it in one fell swoop."
Yang Xiuqing said: "Brothers King Yi, let's drink this cup together and then go kill the demon; there is no need to spend any time with that demon. The most urgent task is to seize Linzikou in the northeast of Yiyang. This is where the Zishui River of the Xiangjiang River meets and leads to Dongting Lake in the north. If we capture this, we can follow the river and attack Wuchang."
After Shi Da had had enough wine and food, he went out of the city gate, set up artillery and bombarded him, and divided his troops into three groups to besiege Lu Jiashan. He killed Ji Guanjun, the deputy general of Dading Association, but Xiang Rong was afraid and had no fighting spirit, so he hurriedly evacuated.
When Hong and Yang arrived at Linzikou, they were horrified. The northbound channel had been firmly blocked.
As early as when the Taiping Army conquered Quanzhou, Zhang Yaosun, a co-president of Hanyang, told Gong Yu, the governor of Hubei: "Since Quanzhou is lost, the thieves will definitely enter Chu. If things are slow by land, if they can go down the Xiangjiang River, it will take ten days." It takes half a month to reach Wuchang from Changsha. Please prepare a defense strategy quickly."
Gong Yu asked for advice, and Zhang Yaosun said: "The situation in northern Chu is on the water, with Dongting in the south, Yangtze River in the north, and Wuchang in the middle. It is advisable to guard Yueyang in the south and Hanyang in the north to control the key points of water and land."
Gong Yu also knew that the military situation was critical, so he proposed a proposal to prepare for the defense of Hubei. He also consulted with the Governor of Huguang, Cheng Zicai, and the Governor of Hunan, Luo Bingzhang, and invited the Governor of Hubei, Bo Legong, to deploy troops to defend Yueyang. Soon, Hong and Yang invaded Hunan. Gong Yu was afraid and asked for a vacancy.
Chang Dachun took over as the governor of Hubei and went to Yueyang in person. He summoned the admiral Bole Gongwu, the prefect Lian Chang, and the Baling magistrate Hu Fanggu to discuss the defense. He also ordered Wu Shimai, a famous figure in Baling, to deploy defenses against Dongting Lake.
Wu Shimai acted at night and recruited more than a thousand fishermen to build a fence at Saturn Port. He also collected all the ships on the Dongting Lake and scuttled countless others. He added stones, wooden fences, etc., stretching for four or five miles, completely blocking the Zijiang River from entering Dongting. Lake Channel.
The defense was established, and Chang Dachun was content with himself, thinking that the sails could not fly across.
Zhang Yaosun disagreed and said: "Linzikou, without stationing troops to guard it, I can block it, and the thieves can also pass through. Yueyang, Nangshan and the Yangtze River, the meeting point of Ba, Shu, Jing, and Xiang, is the key point of Chu. The thieves can get it It is enough to capture Jing and Hubei. Bole Gongwu is frivolous and ignorant of military affairs, and the soldiers he leads are weak. How can he stop an army of more than ten thousand thieves?"
Chang Dachun said: "Does Tong Zhang know how to defend against the enemy? Admiral Bo Le Gongwu is seventy years old and has experienced hundreds of battles. He is an old man, so why worry about it? I am blocking the river, and the moon has not been completed yet, so thieves want to pass through it. It has to be the moon."
In this compartment, Yang Xiuqing met with a similar idea and said: "It will take time to clear the fortress. Attack Xiangyin from the east and attack from another way."
The officers and soldiers of Xiangyin fled early. There was a man named Yang Zaifu in the city who gathered the villagers and made a generous speech: "When the thieves come, all our property will belong to the thieves. I am attached, my wife and children are separated, I have left my hometown, and my life is in danger."
The villagers felt the same and enthusiastically attached themselves to it. Yang Zaifu then organized 500 local warriors to dig deep trenches and strengthen the city defense based on the natural dangers of the Xiangjiang River.
The Taiping Army attacked for many days, resulting in more than a hundred casualties, but Xiangyin City remained unmoved. Yang Xiuqing had no choice but to return to Linzikou, laughing at himself: "Little Xiangyin, I will not attack it unless I am the brother's life, my heart is my heart. People remove living trees and move dead ones, abandon living things in Xiangyin City, move Linzikou You can tell at a glance whether the dead body is easy or difficult. Linzikou is surrounded by water on all sides, and it is a desperate place. I order the officers and men of the three armies, starting from me, to come and clear the blockade and dig the road to the death."
A man named Zhou was from Xiangyin in the Qingyuan Dynasty. He secretly peeped at the Taiping Army personnel, grain, firearms, and boats for a long time, and quickly reported to Xiangrong: The rebel army has been severely damaged, and there are not many who can fight. Linzikou, the Xiangjiang River wraps around the southeast, the Zishui River surrounds the northwest, and is surrounded by plains for ten miles, with almost no cover. It is not advisable for the general to wait any longer. While the channel is still open, he quickly sends out elite troops to block his retreat, and then sets fire to his tents and ships, so that the thieves will be defeated.
Xiang Rong disagreed.
The Taiping Army worked together to dredge the river. After two days and nights, the river was finally opened.
Wu Shimai led the fishermen and fought hard to stop him.
More than 10,000 Taiping soldiers and civilians stood at Saturn Port, shouting to kill, kill, kill. Wu and Yuyong had never experienced such a battle before, and they collapsed at the first touch. The Taiping Army had more than a thousand ships at their fingertips, advancing both by land and water, aiming directly at Yueyang.
Hubei Admiral Bo Le Gongwu, General Akdong'a, Yueyang Magistrate Lianchang, and Baling Magistrate Hu Fanggu fled upon hearing the news, leaving behind five thousand boats, countless artillery, cargo and medicine, swords and guns, and food and wages.
Hong Xiuquan cried with joy: "I have a hundred thousand lions who have the convenience of boats and artillery fire, and can go down the river to defeat Wuchang!"
Yang Xiuqing said: "Yueyang is home to three Hunan and four rivers, and is rich in resources and people. It lives on the shore of Dongting, in the shadow of the Yangtze River. The defender can rely on the danger of Dongting, and the attack can take advantage of the water conservancy. Our army in the army is powerful, and if you want to achieve something, you must Assistant to the navy. Tang Zhengcai, who has been born on the water, knows water travel and shipbuilding, and will be the master of the navy in my heavenly kingdom, in charge of the operation of ships."
Tang Zhengcai said: "Most of the six thousand ships are Xiangchu charcoal boats and fishing boats. They have no guns or cannons. They are different from the demon warships. But my ship's planks are slanted, as high as the shed, and it can break through the wind and waves, and sail as fast as an arrow." If we encounter a demon ship, we will definitely be able to surround and destroy it."
Yang Xiuqing said: "When we set up artillery positions, the ships are all warships; when we are sailing in the water, we will go out when there is a battle."
Hong Xiuquan was very excited and said: "The army is about to rest and regroup. In half a month, I will have a hundred thousand soldiers, with whips banging on the golden stools and shouts of victory all the way, rushing to Wuchang!"
On December 17, Luo Gangyou, Lin Fengxiang, and Li Kaifang led the navy in six thousand boats and sailed down the Yangtze River. Thousands of strong men and sails covered the river. Wherever they passed, the Qing army was invincible.
By land, Wei Changhui led four thousand troops and rushed along the east coast, attacking Chibi first and then Xianning.
The Taiping army was as fast as the autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves. Chang Dachun, the governor of Hubei, and Shuangfu, the new admiral, were at a loss.
Shuangfu said: "There are a hundred thousand thieves, and we have four thousand men and horses, so we are outnumbered. In Wuchang City, the whole people are on guard, every household is equipped with knives and weapons, and every house hangs lights at night."
Chang Dachun said: "Thanks to Wang Jinxiu, the commander-in-chief of Yunyang Town, and Chang Lu, the commander-in-chief of Hebei Town, it would have been even worse! In extraordinary times, we must use extraordinary methods to burn down all the houses ten feet outside the city to prevent them." The thieves are relying on them to cover the way for our artillery. The four gates are blocked, and the entrance and exit are roped down. The walls of Wuchang City are thick and high, and our Yingcheng is standing firm and waiting for help. What can the thieves do to me! Now we have both good fortune and wealth, and beautiful things have entered the city, which is auspicious."
On December 22, Luo Gangxian, Lin Fengxiang, and Li Kaifang attacked Hanyang and Hankou. Wei Changhui came to Wuchang and captured Boyu Mountain, Hongshan Mountain, Xiaogui Mountain and Zijin Mountain.
Yang Xiuqing said: "Monsters often burn down people's houses, and everyone joins me. There are only four thousand demon soldiers in Wuchang City, and getting here is like searching for something. Tang Zhengcai is familiar with Jing'e, does he have any clever strategies for attacking the city?"
Tang Zhengcai said: "As the King of the East is a thousand years old, the Yangtze River and the Han River meet in the shape of a D, which divides Wuchang, Hanyang, and Hankou into three parts. Our boats and cannons are weak and cannot reach the Wuchang city wall. It is better to use the boats as a bridge to connect the two sides and set up cannons under the Wuchang city." "
Yang Xiuqing said: "Hanyang and Hankou have been taken by me, and the dangerous south of Wuchang city has been occupied by me. The isolated city is full of eggs and will be broken at a touch. I ordered Wei Changhui to dig trenches and build walls to block the monsters in the south; to find ladders and cannons, and to attack in the north. Wuchang. Tang Zhengcai built many pontoon bridges to connect the Wei troops in series, echoing the land and water, and defeated the city in one fell swoop."
It was a night filled with mist, and Wei Changhui ordered his soldiers to distribute smoke; the smoke melted in the mist and could not be seen within a short distance. The Taiping Army took the opportunity to attack the city, firing rockets first, and then climbed up the ladder. Shuangfu directed the Qing troops to pour boiling oil, throw down wood and rocks, shoot down arrows, and shoot down blunderbuss. The Taiping Army suffered numerous casualties and did not gain any advantage.
Taking advantage of the situation, Tang Zhengcai gathered hundreds of large ships across the river, locked each ship with iron chains, and laid boards and wooden strips on them, and built two pontoons in two days.
Yang Xiuqing nodded: "It's really fast, very good. I ordered Luo Gangyou, Lin Fengxiang, and Li Kaifang's troops to cross the Parrot Island in Hanyang to the pontoon bridge on Baisha Island in Wuchang, join Wei Changhui's troops, and attack from the southwest. Hu Yihuang and Zeng Tianyangshun Cross the river with a pontoon on the lower reaches, build forts along the river, and divide your troops to detour to the north of the city to prevent the demons from escaping. In the north of Wuchang City, you can see the Han Tower, which has a towering terrain, and many forts are built to bombard the city from a high position. The King of Wings opens the stone, and closely monitors the demons' movements, looking for opportunities to encircle and annihilate them."
In order to protect Wuchang, Hubei Governor Chang Dachun and Admiral Shuangfu personally inspected the city's defenses every day and offered heavy rewards: twenty taels of silver for catching a long-haired traitor; ten taels for short hair. If you destroy one pontoon bridge, you will be rewarded five thousand taels of silver; if you destroy two floating bridges, you will be rewarded ten thousand taels. Under the heavy reward, there are brave men everywhere. Although they were attacked from all sides and the commander-in-chief Han Dingbang was shot to death, no one said to retreat. Chang Dachun lamented that in a dead place, there are many people wandering around, money hangs on the edge of the knife, and the people's hearts can only be used.
On the 24th, Xiangrong's army chased to Baimuling and camped at Zhuodaoquan, ten miles away from Hongshan. Xiang Rong consulted and told Shuangfu: Cooperate inside and outside, kill the bloodshed, and the army enters the city to prevent the thieves together. Shuangfu thought about it again and again, fearing that thieves might enter once the city gate was opened, and refused to allow more than 10,000 troops to march outside the city.
Xiang Rong had no choice but to say to He Chun, Zhang Guoliang and Qin Ding: "The bandits are powerful, the city is vast and there are few soldiers. Chang and Shuang are young. If the thieves blow up the wall with goods and explosives, the city will be destroyed! We can only fight to the death with all our strength. Aid Wuchang."
On January 7, 1853, Xiangrong captured Hongshan, defeated fifteen Taiping military camps, and then attacked Xiaoguishan and Zijingshan.
The Qing army guarded Ye Chengqing, who led 500 brave soldiers and lowered the city to see the two armies converging. Unexpectedly, Shi Dakai shot out from the diagonal stab, and the three armies were mixed together. From morning to dusk, the victory was difficult to determine. Xiang Rong was afraid of being ambushed again, so he led his troops to retreat first.
On the 8th, Wei Changhui ordered Wei Jun to lead the earth camp to drill into the ground. When Chang Dachun heard about it, he ordered four hundred soldiers to dig the inner trench bravely and fill it with water. He also led hundreds of officials to gather at the top of the city to cheer up people's hearts.
Wei Jun spent four days digging a hole under the Wenchang Gate, stuffing it with goods and medicine, lighting the cannon, and with a roar, the city wall opened. Luo Gangyou, Lin Fengxiang, Li Kaifang and others swarmed in. Shuangfu, Chang Lu, and Wang Jinxiu led their troops to resist and died in battle one after another. Seeing that the situation was over, Chang Dachun drew his sword and committed suicide.
When Wuchang was defeated, Hong Yang immediately issued an edict: Leave no officers and soldiers behind, and do not harm the people. All the wealth in the city was put into the holy treasury. Anyone who hides one meter or one coin privately will be killed. The men and women of the whole city should enter the palace separately. Anyone who refuses to obey orders or trespasses without authorization will be killed.
People in Wuchang put the word "Shun" on their doors, set up tables and burned incense, and lined the streets to greet each other. The Taiping troops formed groups of three or five, holding open fires and holding sticks, and hunted them vigorously. More than a hundred civil servants and generals including the Inspector Ruiyuan and the Chief Envoy Liang Xingyuan were captured. Although they were killed one by one, they were not happy. They also killed the officials' families. The family members of the former Huguang Governor Cheng Zicai were also not spared.
Although the people of Wuchang were not harmed, they were divided into categories and gathered in groups. Men between the ages of 16 and 50, who are physically strong, can enter the Zhengpai Pavilion and serve as soldiers. The remaining men were organized into the Paiwei Hall to raise food and repair equipment. Women, enter the women's hall, dye and mend. Deaf, mute, blind and disabled people go to the old disease center to strengthen their body and mind. All museum residents receive four taels of rice per person per day and plenty of oil.
On the 15th, Hong Xiuquan, Yang Xiuqing and others each dressed in costumes and entered the city with high spirits, and thousands of people paid homage to them. Yang Xiuqing's heart was surging, and he issued an order: Girls between the ages of thirteen and sixteen should come together to listen to the laws of heaven, and any offenders would be killed without mercy.
Yang Xiuqing's eyes did not squint, and her eloquence was eloquent. She was connected to the Heavenly Kingdom, Heavenly Father, and everyone's brothers and sisters. She was famous for sharing joy with the people. She had strong eyebrows and beautiful eyes. Some of them were divided into the Heavenly King, the Northern King, and the Wing King.
Yi Wang Shi Dakai refused to accept the words and said: "I have been following the Kingdom of Heaven, fighting and killing people. Wherever I go, rivers of blood flow, fields are deserted and gardens are left, and people are in dire straits. If we attack from the north or conquer the east, it will still be the same miserable scene." It is better to move westward to Sichuan and Shu, occupy the country of Tianfu, retreat on the ropeway, and then achieve the great cause of Xuande!"
Yang Xiuqing smiled and said nothing.
Hong Xiuquan said: "The land of Wuchang, the thoroughfare of nine provinces, is rich in natural treasures, which are rare in the world. After ten years of tossing and rolling, I finally got this result, which is very good, very good. Live for a long time, recharge your batteries, and slowly travel north, vowing to take the head of a demon or a dog. .”
Yang Xiuqing said: "Wuchang is the gateway to the thoroughfare. It is the place where the four battles took place. You cannot stay there for a long time. Attack Sichuan and Shu in the west, and settle in a corner. Go north to Jingxiang, map out the Central Plains, and attack the Jingxu directly. This seems to be the foundation. But the northern land is barren and cold. The shuo wind is raging, making it feel like chicken ribs. There is no waterway, and all our ten thousand boatmen are just decorations! Go eastward along the river and go directly to Jinling. It is an ideal place; occupy the hub of the prosperous south of the Yangtze River, regard it as the foundation, divide the army into four attacks, and build a great country."
At night, the cool breeze blew, and Hong Xiuquan was about to sleep with his new wife. Meng De'en was sweating profusely and ran quickly to report: All the royal wives were making an endless noise, which was earth-shattering!
Hong Xiuquan said angrily: "How unbecoming is it to be jealous! If you don't fight for three days, go to the house and uncover the tiles. Tonight, it is decided that: 1. Beating if you are not reverent in your service; 2. Beating with a stiff neck; 3. Watching your husband take the beating; 4. , Asking the Lord and being beaten without piety, 5. Being angry and impure, beating quietly, 6. Talking loudly, 7. Beating with a mouth that does not respond, 8. Beating with an unhappy expression, 9. Looking left and right, 10. Talking. Don’t beat me casually. I’m grateful that I should be beaten ten times. Can you remember? What did you violate in what happened just now? Implement it immediately.”
