When Wuchang was lost, Yang Xiuqing beheaded Shi Fengkui and Huang Zaixing for the great crime of losing the city. He also ordered the generals: Tianjia Town, the throat of Tianjing, the upper and lower thoroughfares, the gateway to Jingchu, and Suoyin of Wuhan are the most important places. Yang Qin Rigang's brother built a strong camp, prepared enough military equipment and artillery, and defended it with all his strength. Downstream of it, facing half of the mountain on the south bank, there are iron chains connected to each other, which form horns. They are anchored in the river and blocked by boats. From Tianjia Town upstream to Qizhou in the west, many artillery forts and earthen cities were built along the coast, and heavy artillery was prepared. Five camps were set up at Banbi Mountain and Fuchikou on the opposite bank, with 20,000 troops stationed there. Wei Jun, Shi Zhenlun, Prime Minister, Wei Yide, and Lin Shaozhang were stationed separately. In the important area of Qizhou, at the corner of Tianzhen, Chen Yucheng, the thirty-one checkpoint on the right side of the palace, and Zeng Fengchuan, the thirty-one checkpoint on the left side of the palace, guarded it. In addition, Hu Yihuang, the Heaven Protector, Chen Chengrong, the Zuotian Marquis, Luo Gangyou, the Prime Minister of Dongguan, and Hou Kuanyu, the Second Minister of Hubu in the East Palace, are ready to fight at any time. Wing King Shi Dakai was waiting to observe the battle situation and send reinforcements at the right time.
Not long ago, Yang Xiuqing issued another edict: Today, our military advisors have reconsidered that although Wuchang was defeated, their vitality was not damaged, and there were many soldiers returning from Hubei. There was no need for Wei Jun and others to lead the troops there. Only Zhang Zipeng and Xu Zongyang were ordered to go to the eighth superintendent ship to kill them. Demon. I have 100,000 heroes and 10,000 pure monsters. Ten against one, how can we not win!
Zeng Guofan served as the governor for half a month and was dismissed from his post. The latter laughed and said: "Wuchang was restored, Enpei took over the governor, the official document was excellent, and Yang Pei was in charge. Oxen plowed the fields, horses ate the grain, and the doves occupied the magpie's house. For eight years, , I have the fifth and fourth ministers. The minister is in the field, his name is not right, his words are not smooth, and it is very difficult to raise food and pay."
Chen Shijie said: "Commander Di, don't be upset, it's as expected! However, Commander Li Mengqun was captured by the river. Commander Di reported his outstanding achievements and was promoted to the rank of envoy by the Holy One. Meng Qun has been very talkative recently; Yang Zaifu and Peng Yulin disagree."
Zeng Guofan said: "Li Shaoqiao was the first to join the army. He fought in the south and fought in the east. He is familiar with water and land, and it is natural to be arrogant. I am like Li, and I am arrogant. However, the thieves have not been eliminated, and the wind will not stop; the trees are beautiful in the forest, and Shaoqiao is short!" The happy thing is that Hu Gong Runzhi was promoted to Hubei Province as the Inspector. This Duke is talented, thoughtful, moral and upright, unparalleled in the world! This Duke is more than just an arm! Tao Enpei is incompetent in everything. Even though he was promoted to Hubei, he did nothing. "
Luo Zenan said: "Between Qizhou and Tianjia Town, the thieves have camped for dozens of miles, and the troops are spread thinly. They can be defeated one by one. In Tianjia Town and Banbi Mountain, there are chains in the natural chasm, and the thieves rely on them. The chains are made of iron and cut with fire axes. , will be broken; if the chain is broken, the thieves will be in chaos. The wooden circle barracks at Banbi Mountain and Fuchikou are not like the thick walls of a strong city; and most of them are the defeated soldiers of Wuchang, who are still in shock and are easy to attack. Recently, the thieves' generals have rotated, like a revolving lantern. This is a taboo for military strategists. I have rebelled against Qin Rigang, and I have just arrived. Everything is unclear. I have a sure chance of victory."
Zeng Guofan said: "I have discussed with Yang Zhitai. On the north route, Gui Ming, the governor of Guyuan, and Wang Guocai, the deputy general of the Chinese army who supervises Biao, will jointly attack Qizhou and advance towards Tianjia Town. On the middle route, Yang Zaifu and Peng Yulin will rush along the river to break the enemy's chain. Block the enemy's north-south alliance and destroy the enemy's navy. On the south road, Brother Luo Shan and General Ta jointly attack Banbi Mountain and seize this important pass. The roots on the south bank should be easily removed. Our three armies will fight together with the Yangtze River as the axis. Advancing on land and water together, like a dragon holding a pearl, it suppresses rebels and rebels in the Tian family."
On November 3, 1854, the Hunan Army set off from Wuchang and marched eastward.
On the 9th, the navy's vanguard arrived at the Qizhou River. Yang Zaifu defeated the Taiping Navy, abandoned the ship and landed, attacking Qizhou. Chen Yucheng defended the city and shot Bai Hu, the Hunan army camp officer. Lieutenant Yang Zai attacked fiercely for ten days, but failed.
Zeng Guofan arrived and said: "On the north road, Gui Ming, the governor of Guyuan, and Guo Cai, the deputy governor Biao, were nowhere to be seen. These two people were either Eight Banners or Green Camp. I had no control over them. They passed through the city and went straight to Tianjia Town to fight to the death with the Qin thieves. "
On November 18, Taqibu led the land division to capture Daye and advance to Fuchikou; Lin Shaozhang was defeated after the battle. Luo Zenan Kexingguo, Zhumalingao, three miles away from Banbi Mountain. Li Xubin insisted on attacking forcefully.
Luo Zenan said: "Cao Gui's argument was that one drum was rousing, the other drum was weakening, and then it was exhausted. I hide and accumulate strength, waiting for the opportunity to attack."
Li Xubin said: "Banbishan and Fuchikou are the horns of each other. Now Taqibu has captured Fuchikou. The thieves have not responded, so I am also fighting to be the first."
Luo Zenan said: "Half of the mountain stands with its back to the river, a desperate place; facing the river is a cliff, a dead mountain; there are no horns, and everyone is a dead soldier. The trapped beasts are still fighting, not to mention tens of thousands of dead soldiers! There is a river between me and the tower, so it is difficult to come to rescue. .At the third watch tonight, I will lead a small team to explore the bandit camp at night to find out what is going on."
When the Hunan army approached Banbi Mountain, Shi Zhenlun and Wei Yide sighed.
Shi Zhenlun said: "Fuchi lost his word, and I was left alone. Lin Shaozhang, in the battle at Xiangtan, there were only four horses left; he should have died! Now he is here to harm people again!"
Wei Yide said: "Although Wuchang is lost, the main force is still there; the second minister of the East Palace, Hou Kuanyu, slandered, which led to the death of Shi and Huang. The Luo demon has a trick, and I have disappeared three times. Be careful of night attacks."
That night, Yang Changjun, a student general, led his troops to make a surprise attack. Many of the defenders on Banbi Mountain were soldiers who had retreated from Wuchang. Crossing the river and returning to the north, he met the king of Yan and Qin Rigang.
Qin Rigang said: "Have you met Shi Fengkui or Huang Zaixing?"
Shi and Wei were speechless.
Qin Rigang said again: "Half of the mountain is lost, and the Xiang demon is condescending. I have failed in this effort! I will gather my troops and horses, cross the river tomorrow, and fight to the death."
As he spoke, Guozong Wei Jun arrived with his army.
Qin Rigang said: "Brother Guozong is here, I feel at ease!"
Wei Jun said: "His Royal Highness the King of the East heard that the Tian family town was in danger and ordered me to help."
Qin Rigang sighed: "Not long ago, I fought fiercely with the Xiang Yao for half a year, and now we have a decisive battle in Tianjia Town. How brave are you?"
Wei Jun said: "The Xiang Yao is decisive in killing and able to attack and defend with ease. We are a powerful enemy and must not be underestimated."
Qin Rigang said: "I have an army of 30,000, against 5,000 monsters, surrounded by six. There will be no great victory, and we will never be defeated. We will cross the river tomorrow and fight to the death."
Wei Jun said: "Don't make a big show of force and attack the demon half way across."
Qin Rigang said: "We are all generals who have fought hundreds of battles. Our energy should not be wasted. Our soldiers are very fast. We will cross over tomorrow morning and attack them unprepared."
In the early morning of November 26, 1854, Qin and Wei sent 20,000 troops to cross the river by force. The soldiers and horses were halfway across the river, but they were surrounded by Taqibu, Luo Zenan, and Li Xubin. Qin and Wei hurriedly attacked, and the two armies fought fiercely throughout the day and dispersed at night. Qin Rigang took stock of his troops and found three thousand soldiers dead. The generals Shi Zhenlun and Wei Yide were killed in the battle. Qin Rigang was worried and retreated to Tianjia Town.
In this battle, the Hunan army also lost two thousand people. Before the navy arrived, Ta and Luo were unable to cross the river. Only half of the six chains at the foot of the mountain were cut off.
Li Xubin said: "Qianxun's iron lock sank to the bottom of the river, and a banner fell out of the stone. Capture Tianzhen and continue to attack Jinling!"
Luo Zenan looked at the river and sighed: "How can such a good thing be possible! The thieves used the boat to drag the rope, and also used iron anchors and wooden rafts to secure the boat. It is extremely strong. I only removed one and a half of it, but it will not help the situation. Arrange the military equipment and wait quietly. Navy."
Taqi preached: "In the current situation, only by using both water and land can we completely annihilate the rebels."
On December 1, Yang Zaifu and Peng Yulin's navy arrived. Halfway down the mountain, Ta, Luo and Li lined up to fire off cannons and cheer.
Peng Yulin relied on the power of the long dragon and the powerful cannon of the fast crab body to first hit the wooden boat that took the chain, and then hit the thousands of sailing boats behind the chain. The Taiping warships had weak artillery and could not approach for a while. Even if there were ships approaching, they were stubbornly rejected by the Hunan Army's sampans and small boats.
Yang Zaifu led another team and rushed to the cross-river cable, started a fire and melted the chain. When the chain turned red, he cut it with a giant axe. Then he sent another army to the lower reaches and set fire to it. At that time, the southeast wind started blowing, and the sparks of the fire slowly grew stronger. In half a day, the river twenty miles away became a sea of fire and hell.
Qin Rigang gave one order to put out the fire, another to attack, then another to hold on, and then another to attack to put out the fire, focusing on one but not the other. Seeing that the situation was over, he simply fanned the flames and burned the camp and left.
In the battle of Tianjia Town, although the Hunan army won, it suffered nearly 3,000 casualties.
Zeng Guofan looked at the river and cried, and said: Since the rise of the army, there has never been such a tragic loss of troops! I, a descendant of Hunan, have a record of great achievements throughout the ages.
Li Mengqun felt unhappy and thought to himself: There are children in Huxiang, but there are no warriors in Guangdong and Guangxi?
