After Xiang Rong died, Emperor Xianfeng ordered He Chun to serve as an imperial envoy to assist Jinling and build a large camp in the south of the Yangtze River. When Anhui Governor Fu Jiyi and his ministry left, the Anhui region became empty, so he stayed there exclusively. Emperor Xianfeng refused.
Fuji said to Hechundao: "We have besieged Sanhe Town for two years, and we may be able to defeat it in just a moment. Once the commander-in-chief leaves, we will lose everything!"
He Chun said: "The Holy Will is difficult to deny. The commander-in-chief of Shouchun Town Zheng Kuishi is brave and the Fujian Admiral Qin Dingsanduozhi can take on the important task. I am not stubborn. I will make a surprise attack tonight, and I may send Sanhe to your lord."
It was the first watch of the night. He Chun ordered the sergeants to stop their troops, carry ladders and attack tools, sneak in, secretly cross the Haonei ditch outside Sanhe Town, reach the street entrance barracks and the stone wall, set up four ladders, climb over the wall into the town, shoot arrows and fire cannons. Cast fire.
Lan Chengchun was caught off guard and retreated towards Jiao Lake.
At the second watch of the next day, the autumn rain was pouring, and He Chun led his troops to march in, running through the night, and at dawn the next day, they surrounded Lujiang River. The defenders were frightened and wanted to break out at night. He Chun found out and attacked immediately. The defenders had no intention of fighting and fled from the east and west gates.
He Chun left Anhui and went to Suzhou and arrived in Danyang. After pondering for several days, he wrote: Jinling is the leader of the rebels and they are fighting each other. This is a rare opportunity. As soon as Jurong and Lishui succeed, they should march to Jinling. Check the situation. If there is an opportunity to take advantage of it, you must try to draw up the scriptures, or send troops to Zhenjiang to help suppress it. If they can be overcome as soon as possible and remove their horns, the Jinling thieves will be alone. If we encircle again, we can clear them out one by one.
Zhao Yuanmo, the censor of Shanxi Province, was dissatisfied with He Chunyi and wrote to Shanxi: Although the terrain of Jinling is in the upper reaches, the success of Zhenjiang and Guazhou in the lower reaches is particularly important. Guazhou overlooks the entrance of Jingkou, Jinling, the Canghai Sea and the Yangtze River. On the south bank of Zhenjiang, Jinling Lips and Teeth, Su Changmen Gate, and the throat of seven provinces, it is known as a dangerous and important place. It is said that the lips are dead and the teeth are cold. Since the rebels have been wreaking havoc, they have not dared to stay in Yangcheng for a long time. Those who are trapped in Gua and Zhen and cannot leave will consolidate their nests in Jinling internally and harass Suzhou externally. After repelling the bandits in Danyang, Jintan rescued the siege and Gaochun recovered. The soldiers advanced to Jurong and Lishui, and the south road was blocked as usual. Why? It's just scratching the surface.
Emperor Xianfeng sighed: "I originally defeated Luzhou, Sanhe, and Lujiang with Hechun, and I am a handsome man. Looking at his performance now, the main army is off-target, and I am helping the general!"
Sushun, the Minister of Household Affairs, said: "Xiang Rongzu, He Chun, Zhang Guoliang, and Yu Wanqing are like three giants. One mountain cannot accommodate two tigers, let alone three."
Emperor Xianfeng said: "The bandit war in Jinling is not related to the injustice of the Guangdong bandits today. Zhang Jiangguo Liang has lost his way and found his way back. However, he was once a bandit in heaven and earth, and his foundation is not correct. Zeng and Hu Zhixiang bravely cleared the outskirts of Anhui and Jiangxi, and my Eight Banners Jinling Qing The merits of this method are perfect. However, Zeng and Hu could not monopolize the merits of the periphery. They promoted Fuji in Anhui and immediately eliminated the remaining bandits. They went south to Chaoxian, Tongcheng and Anqing, strangled the river waterways, flowed straight down the river, gathered together with the army of spring, and defeated them in one fell swoop. Jinling.”
The war situation in Anhui Province is still in dire straits after the Spring Festival has passed.
Governor Fu Ji said: "We have been besieging Sanhe Town for two years, but we have been unable to defeat it. We have touched the military gate twice, and I am puzzled. Now I have received the order, and the thieves rebelled against Jinling and started fighting. The river overflowed with blood, and the river was filled with corpses. It turns out that the river was filled with corpses. It was a God-given opportunity. With the Holy Will, the army poured out and immediately attacked Chaoxian and Tongcheng. The overall situation of northern Anhui was decided in one battle. Wuwei Prefecture is bounded by Jiangbian in the east, Lujiang River in the west, Tongcheng in the south, and Chaoxian County in the north. Dongguan The town connects Luzhou and Beihu of Chaoxian County at the top, and connects Wuwei and Hehan at the bottom. It is surrounded by mountains and rivers, and the situation is dangerous. It is the first important pass out of Chaohu Lake. If these two places are broken, Chaoxian County and Tongcheng will be left alone! I order: Li Yuanhua attacked Wuwei, Li Hongzhang attacked Dongguan, Zheng Kuishi attacked Chaoxian, Qin Dingsan attacked Tongcheng, and divided his troops into four attacks that day."
The prefect Li Yuanhua led the order and led 2,000 soldiers to practice bravery and sneaked to Wuwei City at night. At Yinke, Li ordered his soldiers to make noise at the south gate and set fire to the east gate. Waiting for the defender Xian to come to rescue, they entered from the west gate of the ladder city.
Hanlin editor Li Hongzhang had been stationed in Dongguan and was familiar with the terrain. Hongzhang used rattan cards as the front team, stepped up the ring attack, and captured the inner hao; he also ordered the rear team to dig through the outer hao and empty the accumulated water; he also ordered Lian Yong to burn the wood. Piles, bamboo sticks, and flames spread fiercely, burning the northwest gate tower. The defenders were panicked as they had no water or resources to save them. Hongzhang took the opportunity to lead a brave attack on the city.
Qin Ding failed to attack Tongcheng three times. He quickly reported: Tongcheng has been occupied by thieves for a long time. It is bordered by a river in the southeast and backed by mountains in the northwest. It stretches for more than 200 miles. It is connected in all directions, with thoroughfares to seven provinces, and thieves on land and water gather in great numbers. In Songyang Town, Chanan Township, close to the river, there were two bandit camps set up, thinking that they would be supported by land and water. There are three bandit camps in the northeast corner of the city and one bandit camp in the northwest corner. It runs directly to Anqing in the southwest and Qianshan in the northwest. The thieves from both groups came and went and gathered here, thinking that there was immediate reinforcement in the city. When attacking a city, you must first mobilize the four camps outside the city and remove their horns. Second, if we increase our military strength, it will be difficult to break into the hole and capture the canal.
The next day, Dingsan made another report: He found Anqing, Qianshan, and Taihu to help the thieves, and they all rushed into Tong, intending to defend Anqing's retreat. The reinforcements of thieves in Tongcheng are getting larger and larger. If we don't add more troops at this time, it will be difficult to dispatch the enemy. Fusi Anqing is close to the river, which is the key to Anhui Province, and Tongcheng is the first gateway to Anqing. The general thought that it would be difficult to relax the force by attacking Tongcheng, and it would be difficult to add troops later. The last general led only a thousand Guizhou soldiers, who were dispatched according to the order, but only five to six hundred soldiers. They were volunteers and strong supporters, so they were practical in times of difficulty. Our troops feel extremely weak, and it will be difficult for them to recover even if they reach Chao County.
Here, Zheng Kuishi stormed Chaoxian County for a month, destroying only three Hao roads and capturing five forts outside the city.
Fuji personally visited Chaoxian County to direct the attack.
Zheng Kuishi said: "The walls on all four sides are made of bricks and stones, which are extremely strong; the three outer roads are very wide and deep, with bamboo sticks arranged like a forest, and there are many gun holes inside. Yaomiao Gang and Fangwang Gang in the southeast of Chao County are very thick. Wherever the aid comes in, the food will come in. Confining its path will prevent the thieves from entering and leaving the area, so they can make a quick move."
Fu Ji said: "According to the general intention of the town, Yao and two posts will be captured quickly. When Chao County is successful, the army will quickly surround Tongcheng and then Anqing. The Anhui situation is decided! Send my order quickly to Lieutenant General Jiang Zhongxin, opposite Yao Miao Gang. Set up three camps at the mouth of the East River. Then hire fishing boats, loaded with saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal, and arrange them near the shore. I will lead the main force to attack the Xiaoximen, Northmen, and Xiaodongmen. The town will attack the Dadongmen, Southmen, and Daximen. .”
Chaohu was in danger, and the Anqing Taiping Army navy actively responded with lights and sails and cicadas flying down.
Qing soldiers burned boats and sailed them in the wind, blocking the waterway. Jiang Zhongxin led his army to conquer Yao Miao Gang and entered the city with great momentum. Fuji and Zheng Kuishi gathered tens of thousands of people and ran around the city, holding their breath and beating gongs and drums. That night, Qing troops from all walks of life set up ladders, climbed up to the top of the mountain, and destroyed the city in one fell swoop.
Chao County was defeated. Zheng Kuishi and Jiang Zhongxin rushed to Tongcheng without stopping for a moment. Jiang Zhongxin led a night attack and captured 16 Taiping military camps outside the city. The momentum of the Qing army suddenly increased, and the troops divided into four groups to attack the city wall. Jiang Zhongxin took the lead, advancing over Hao, charging forward with his life, and a bullet flew straight into his chest; Zhongxin's body shook three times, and then disappeared suddenly.
Zhongxin died, and both Qin and Zheng were afraid and did not dare to attack again. They urgently reported to Fuji: Tongcheng is a strategic location along the South Road and along the river, and the surrounding area is a bandit area. Shi Dakai, who was against the throne, guarded Anqing, relying on Tongcheng as a shield. We tried our best to attack the outer city, but the thieves' nest was extremely strong and difficult to defeat completely. After finding out that the rebels were defeated and fled back to the city, they mobilized all the people in Jiang and Chu to support the thieves and defended to the death. The breathing of the four directions should be open, but our army only has this number. We have discussed over and over again, but we can only proceed step by step, advance towards the city's roots, and fortify key passes in order to quickly attack and defeat them.
Fuji ordered Jishun and Zhalongwu to occupy Dongguan, Yinde to guard Hezhou, Bi Chengzhao and Enxi to station in Luzhou, and Jinguangjin to control Chaoxian County to secure the rear. He led the main force from Shucheng to Tongcheng and joined the Qin Dynasty. Dingsan and Zheng Kuishi moved their camps and set up separate camps. They were gradually trapped and forced to sit back and wait for the defenders to become exhausted. Li Yuanhua was also ordered to leave a small number of troops to defend the city, while a large number of troops attacked Qianshan and attacked the west of Tongcheng.
Li Yuanhua gathered 7,000 warriors and attacked Qianshan in three directions. He also had people sneak into the city, colluded with wealthy gentry, and set fire to the enemy.
On December 30, 1856, fireworks were everywhere in Qianshan County, and the defenders were in chaos and chaos. Li Yuanhua ordered a general attack, practiced the courage to set up four ladders, marched over the city, and massacred.
Fuji Xishu: Qianshan was restored, more than a thousand thieves were killed, and thousands of stones of food were obtained. This was actually a turning point in the military affairs and the first move to conquer Tongcheng.
Emperor Xianfeng was very comforted and ordered: Fu Ji and Prince Shaobao will be rewarded with top titles and crowns; Zheng Kuishi will be granted the title of Commander-in-Chief of Shouchun Town, and he will supervise the military affairs of Anhui together with Fu Ji; Li Hongzhang, editor of the Imperial Academy, will attack Dongguan and assist in the attack on Chaoxian County. , Hezhou, for their outstanding achievements, were rewarded with the title of inspector; that is, the prefect Li Yuanhua was selected to defeat Wuwei and Qianshan, and wrote a good report.
