When Emperor Xianfeng heard that Hechun and Shengbao had been defeated repeatedly, he told Sushun and Yixin that the war in the south of the Yangtze River could not be decided in a day; the most urgent task was the "Strong War" concluded last year by the imperial ministers and the barbarians from Britain, France, the United States, and Russia. "Treaty of Tianjin", after my ruling, a peace treaty shall be concluded and the documents shall be exchanged in Beijing before it can take effect. I sent Guiliang to Shanghai to exchange the contract, but the Yi people refused and insisted on going to Beijing. Now that the barbarians have arrived at the mouth of Dagu, what do you think? Should the article be replaced? Is the effect still alive?
Yi Xin said: Except for the Russian barbarians, all the barbarians are doing business and seeking profit; the exchange of documents should be allowed to take its course.
Emperor Xianfeng said: Last year, you had a single title and a broken body, and you strongly opposed the peace negotiation. He said that the barbarians dared to land ashore, so he ordered his troops to attack together bravely. He also said that Luo Dunyan attacked Guangzhou and Lian Zhaolun made trouble.
g Hong Kong; your courage last year is gone!
Yi Xin said: When the late emperor was dying, he also hated the Nanjing treaty; the hatred between the slaves and the barbarians was as deep as the sea, and he had no intention of appeasing the barbarians. However, the situation is changing and the battle cannot be fought on both sides. The barbarians have strong ships and powerful artillery. If there is a loss, they will inevitably lose sight of one thing and lose the other. The barbarians kept their treaty, and although the Treaty of Tianjin was harsh, it was also a way to suppress the barbarians.
Sushun said: The Yi people brought troops to exchange contracts, used force to intimidate, and showed no sincerity. The contract was signed last year, but due to the poor facilities of the Daku fort, it suddenly fell, resulting in an alliance under the city. Since last year, Seng Gelinqin has been ordered to handle coastal defense, working hard day and night, and devoting all his energy; in the first month of this year, he personally went to Dagu Haikou to station himself. He and his soldiers have shared the joys and sorrows, and have endured hardships and hardships to this day. A total of six forts were built on the north and south sides of Dagukou, with 60 artillery pieces, 11 10,000-jin cannons, two 5,000-jin steel cannons, and 23 Western iron cannons. When the Yi ships arrived, they could face each other from the north to the south. Shoot, there are no blind spots. Three iron chains were also set up at the mouth of the river, supplemented by iron bars and wooden fences. It would take a lot of trouble to just break this barrier. Our coastal defense in Daku is truly impregnable.
Emperor Xianfeng said: Prince Seng Gelinqin is the pillar of the country. What can we do about the alliance under the city? The country is in trouble, but people have the ambition not to be in trouble. How can you be an ally under the city if the king and the people die in service and the city is shattered? According to my decree, the envoys of the Yi Kingdom and the accompanying civilian personnel can land at Beitang. Afterwards, my Eight Banners generals will escort them to Beijing to exchange the contract. The officials along the way will prepare supplies and take good care of them. Three spacious rooms are prepared outside Zhengyang Gate. Houses are specially provided for barbarian envoys to live in. If the barbarians are rebellious and cannot go up from Daku, Seng Gelinqin can make a decisive decision at the opportunity to put an end to their delusions. The monks' troops are single, and I want to control the victory to ensure the northward advance. However, the land thousands of miles away from the Yangtze and Huaihe rivers is empty!
Sushun said: Shengbao repeatedly said that Hechun repeatedly failed to support him, which wasted the opportunity to fight; Hechun also repeatedly thought of Jinling and vowed not to send troops; the two of them were jealous of the wall, which was of no benefit to the country.
Emperor Xianfeng said: "I have ordered He Chunxun to mobilize elite soldiers from the north of the Yangtze River to join forces with Shengbao to completely block the thieves' northward advance." If Hechun and Shengbao are victorious, the victorious troops can send reinforcements from the north. The only way for Yi to go to Beijing to exchange the contract was Beitang.
Yi Xin said: "When the barbarians go to Beijing to exchange the treaty, does it make any difference whether they march from Beitang or Daku?" Simply let go and let the barbarians go. The Seng Gelinqin tribe immediately went south to compete in the Jianghuai River and annihilate the Hong and Nian Ni bandits. Furthermore, the Yi people came here just to exchange the treaty. It was enough for the emperor to sign and pledge it and personally accept the "Tianjin Treaty". There was no need to fight with each other.
Sushun said: "I am fighting with the Cantonese bandits, and I don't want to fight again. However, if the barbarians destroy Guo in a false way, won't our Qing Dynasty be destroyed?"
Yi Xin said: The false way will destroy Guo, the country will be destroyed and the species will be destroyed; alarmist talk! In the previous year, the barbarians occupied Guangzhou, but no harm was done; last year, the barbarians occupied Tianjin, and the treaty was withdrawn. The slave thinks that Britain, France, and the United States have no intention of occupying the city and occupying the land, but only want to trade!
Sushun said: That Yingyi's divination
What should be said about Hong Kong and the Russian barbarians seizing territory?
Emperor Xianfeng said: Last year, the news of Dagu was lost, and the British and French troops came to Tianjin. I had no choice but to grant permission. I now order the Yi people to land from Beitang and go to Beijing to exchange the treaty. This means no war! I have shown my goodwill, but if the barbarians refuse to accept it, gunboats and gunboats are marching side by side, using both swords and guns, and threats of force. How can I sit back and watch unless we march from Taku? Seng Gelinqin is in charge of Dagu, and the coastal defenses of Tianjin are impregnable. If you and I continue to wait for death, wouldn't it make us laugh forever!
In late June 1859, the British Minister Prussia, the French Minister Bourblon, and the American Minister John John each led their fleets to arrive at the entrance of Dagu; later, the Russian Minister Ignatieff only brought five or six followers with him. , took a small boat and arrived slowly.
The French minister was unhappy and said to the British and American ministers: We sent out ships and cannons to kill people, but the polar bear came to share the meal with only a solitary man! Last year, we suffered many casualties and only received the Treaty of Tianjin, which was not signed by the Qing Emperor. However, the Russians did not lose a single soldier, but obtained a land of 400,000 square kilometers and a river like the Danube for nothing.
The British minister said: We are of the same clan and we work together with one heart and one mind. The Russians are just like the people of the Qing Dynasty, but they are actually foreigners.
Hengfu, the governor-general of Zhili, received the order from Emperor Xianfeng and immediately sent a note to the ministers of Britain, France and the United States: no more than twenty attendants should be brought; all persons should not bring weapons. They landed from Beitang and went to Beijing via Tianjin to exchange the contract.
The British Minister Prussia said: How could the Qing emperor be so happy without naval guns as a shield? The appointments in Nanjing, Tianjin, Wangxia, and Huangpu were never without troops approaching the city! The British frigate "Chesapeake" and the French cruiser "Dushayla" both have a draft of 1,000 tons and carry half a hundred guns. They are our most powerful backing. I'll wait for the battle and won't go to Beitang!
He Bu, commander of the British and French coalition forces, said: Although we have 22 warships, unfortunately, the river is too shallow and it is difficult for giant ships to enter. Only steam gunboats are feasible. Our ship must break through the iron chain across the river and enter the mouth of Dagu. The naval guns suppress the Qing's firepower, cover the landing of the land force, and wait for the opportunity to seize the Qing's fort.
French Minister Blomble said: The wooden-hulled gunboat "Cormorant" has a displacement of 860 tons, the latest breech-loaded cannon, a 178 mm caliber, and 110 heavy shells, which is enough to kill the enemy!
The Russian minister Ignatieff proposed himself and wanted to go to Beijing in person to mediate, but the British and French ministers ignored him. Ignatieff worked non-stop and went straight from Beitang to Beijing to meet with Sushun, the Minister of Household Affairs and the co-organizer of the university.
Ignatieff said: Your Excellency, please report to your emperor as soon as possible and quickly approve the various terms of the "Sino-Russian Aihun Treaty". Otherwise, Russia will be more likely than any other powerful country to strike the most powerful blow to China at any time and at any time.
Sushun was furious and immediately threw the text of the "Aihun Treaty" on the table and said: This is a piece of paper with no meaning.
Emperor Xianfeng resented the arrogance of the Russians and ordered him to leave the capital within a few days. He ordered Monk Gelinqin to guard the mouth of Dagu. He also ordered Guo Songtao, the editor of the Hanlin Academy, to go to Dagukou to help with the defense. If there were any flaws, he would immediately report them.
Seng Gelinqin received the order and ordered all ministries: Our army is currently guarding the Dagu coastal defense. All ministries must wait for the enemy in cover and watch for provocations. If the barbarians dare to break in, they will immediately launch artillery bombardments.
On June 25, 1859, the British and French allied forces commander Herb led 13 steam gunboats to approach the mouth of Dagu. On both sides of Dagukou, all the forts were silent. There was no one around, and there was no sound.
Hengfu, the governor of Zhili, sent another official to persuade them to march from Beitang, but the British and French ministers completely ignored them.
At three o'clock in the afternoon, Governor He Bu led the warships to tow the iron garrison to block the river and clear the obstacles at the river mouth. The 13 steam gunboats all entered the waters of Dagukou and immediately began shelling the coastal forts.
Seng Gelinqin gave an order, and all the large and small artillery positions on the north and south sides of Dagukou immediately removed their camouflage and immediately launched a ring bombardment.
The British and French combined fleets were immediately enveloped by artillery fire. The artillery battle lasted until 4 p.m., when the gunboat "Cormorant" ran aground first, and the gunboats "Falcon" and "Asylum" subsequently sank. The flagship "Plover" was hit by three consecutive guns. Captain Lasan died on the spot, fleet commander He Bu was seriously injured, and the other gunboats were also damaged. He Bu did not dare to fight anymore and ordered the remaining ships to hoist the white flag and withdraw from the battlefield.
Shi Rongchun, the governor of Zhili, and Long Ruyuan, the deputy general of Dagu Association, were eager to chase him.
Seng Gelinqin said: The barbarian only injured his skin, but he will definitely come back. Our navy is weak, don't act rashly! First let go of the squeamishness of the foreigners, and then store up the hatred and anger of me. After the water battle, the barbarians may land, so the firearms battalion and cavalry must prepare quickly! When the barbarians come ashore, don't attack lightly. Wait until the ditch is climbed in front of the formation. Firearms will be fired first. The cavalry will make a roundabout way and attack in a big way! We demonstrate our national prestige at the top and show our popularity with the people at the bottom; this battle must not be lost!
The fleet retreated, and the British, French and American ministers were all panicked. The commander of the combined fleet, He Bu, said: If we retreat like this, it will be a shame that has never happened in more than ten years! We have three thousand soldiers, but the main force has not been lost. My order: Avoid the Dagu waterway, the frigate USS Chesapeake, cruiser USS Dushaila, etc., immediately cruise the waters south of Dagu Port, fire with naval guns, and cover the landing of the army to kill the enemy.
At five o'clock in the afternoon, after the naval bombardment was completed, the British Colonel LeMont led an army of 1,000 troops, divided into more than 20 sailboats and sampans, and forced a landing from the south bank of Dagukou. The road was muddy, and they ignored it and approached the south fort of Dagukou. .
Seeing that the barbarian soldiers were approaching the shooting range, Shi Ronchun gave an order and raised his gun and shotgun in a series of bombardments. The British and French troops were unprepared and fell to the ground one after another. Colonel Lemon quickly ordered to hide in the reeds and lay down to fight back.
It was getting dark, and Governor Seng Gelinqin rushed over with his cavalry. He used fire bombs to defend them. Whenever the fire was bright, and he caught a glimpse of the barbarians, he immediately fired guns and artillery.
The Mongolian cavalry was eager to take a roundabout way, but Seng Gelinqin refused to allow it, saying: The barbarians have strong guns and cannons, and our birds, lifts, and spears are not as good as one, let alone arrows, swords, and spears. If they rush forward rashly, they will only increase casualties; cover the enemy and kill them, and wait for the barbarians. Exhausted, they surrounded and chased them away.
The two armies fought until early in the morning. Seng Gelinqin ordered the entire army to attack. The British and French forces were defeated and retreated in a panic. In this battle, 4 British ships were sunk, 6 were seriously damaged, and more than 400 British and French troops were killed and injured. 38 people including Shi Rongchun, the commander-in-chief of the Qing army, and Long Ruyuan, the deputy general of Dagu Association, were killed in the battle.
Seng Gelinqin and Hengfu reported: The reason why Gaiyi was defeated this time was because he was proud and bullied the enemy. The idea is that the forts and fortresses are easily accessible, and if the water battle is defeated, the infantry will follow. It's the foreigners who don't believe that China dares to fight. However, the artillery fire of the barbarians was indeed fierce; I asked my emperor to send important ministers to Tianjin quickly to replace the covenants and seals in Tianjin to avoid future troubles.
Emperor Xianfeng ordered Hengfu, the governor of Zhili, and Wen Yu, the chief envoy of Zhili, to take care of the matter. He also ordered: Shi Nida Kai, with more than 100,000 troops, is wreaking havoc in southern Hunan; Guan Wen, Hu Linyi, and Zeng Guofan must allocate their troops to assist Hunan; in addition to Zeng Guofan's aid to Hunan, they also need to attack Jingde and Jiande to divide the thieves' power. The camp in the south of the Yangtze River is well-paid and has many soldiers. Don't ask for help from others in the spring. Don't listen to the soldiers' words and divide the territory a little. Follow the previous decree and quickly dispatch the elite soldiers from the north of the Yangtze River to Tianchang. Together with the victory, the rebels can completely stop the rebels from the north. The way forward.
Hengfu accepted the order and had a long discussion with the American Minister Hua Ruohan, and exchanged the seal in Beitang.
The defeat at Dagukou was reported to the UK. The British Times reported: This was a terrible defeat. The Chinese fought brilliantly and we were indeed defeated.
The British Prime Minister was furious and summoned the cabinet ministers. On the 8th, the Parliament decided to send more troops to China and capture Beijing in retaliation. After the meeting, the British Prime Minister ordered Elgin, the postmaster general and former minister to the Qing Dynasty, to quickly prepare for war; France also followed England's steps and moved its cameras.
