The camp in the south of the Yangtze River was in emergency. He Guiqing, the governor of Liangjiang, told Wang Youling, the governor of Zhejiang: In the sixth year of Xianfeng, the minister Xiang Rong retired to Danyang. At that time, the hinterland was said to be perfect. He was able to stop the fierce attack with the former governor Yi Liang, and the people still cherish his benefits. . This time the atmosphere of adversity is fierce. Changzhou is blocking three routes of thieves. It will be particularly difficult to deal with it in six years. If the camp is slightly sparse, will the southeastern half of it be safe again? Although Jiangying is in a hurry, Sunan is also in a hurry every day. The soldiers in Jiangying are well-paid and can handle it.
Wang Youling said: "Six hundred miles has been rushed. The British, French and barbarians have more than a hundred warships and 30,000 soldiers. They captured Zhoushan yesterday." If the barbarians move up the river, where can we live?
He Guiqing sighed and said: "The internal worries have not been eliminated, but the external ones have returned; the wars have continued and the disasters have continued. When will this be stopped?" Last year, in the battle of Dagongkou, more than a hundred barbarians were killed; no, revenge is here! Is there any difference between the journey from Dagukou to Beijing and the journey from Beitang to Beijing? The seal is exchanged for the contract, and that's it, why go to war! The barbarian affairs are urgent, so we have to hurry up for eight hundred miles and report to my emperor as soon as possible; regarding the war and peace, we will wait for the imperial edict. In addition, everyone along the river must be quickly ordered to start a war with the barbarians. They must not attack rashly. If the barbarians land, they must be able to stop them with force. Our top priority is to wipe out the Cantonese bandits.
Wang Youling said: Around Changcheng, the thieves are in a daze. If the Holy One orders the killing of the barbarians, will we fight?
He Guiqing said: Are you stupid? If you don't obey the imperial edict, you will be punished by the nine tribes! The Cantonese bandits are approaching the city, and the Yi bandits are erratic. There are more than 40,000 Hechun soldiers. How many are we? The troops assisting Jiangying stayed behind and did not attack. I immediately consulted Hechun, saying that the Cantonese and Yi bandits were raging, and Changzhou's soldiers were less than ten thousand, and there were no soldiers to mobilize.
He Chun received the consultation and sighed again: In order to protect the overall situation in the southeast, I sent soldiers and generals to do whatever I wanted and pruned my own branches. I really brought the blame on myself!
Zhang Guoliang said: "Don't be angry, commander-in-chief. You can quickly order Zhang Yuliang and others to make clear the interests and dangers, and Zhang and others will return their aid." However, Li Xiucheng's more than 40,000 troops, Chen Yucheng's 30,000 troops, and Yang Fuqing's 30,000 troops all arrived at the outskirts of our camp. He and the commander must make plans in advance.
He Chun said: "Outside Ande Gate, Huang Jing has more than 10,000 soldiers. Relying on Changwei, he is resisting Chen Ni. The west road is safe for the time being." Li Xiucheng stationed troops in Chunhua, but hesitated to advance. The most urgent task is to attack the enemy at Yuhuatai and Gaoqiao Gate on the middle road. The bandits from Jinling have also added camps at Gaoqiao Gate and the back road of Xiaoshuiguan Camp. If the thieves cooperate inside and outside, and succeed from now on, my Xiaoshuiguan Camp and Shangfangqiao Military Camp will be Completely disconnected. If the east and west cannot respond, they will be defeated by thieves one by one!
Zhang Guoliang said: "The last general is about to go and kill the enemy." Then he returned, gathered reinforcements from Zhang Yuliang, Liu Jisan, and Ma Dezhao, and then attacked Chunhua.
On May 2, Zhang Guoliang, together with his wing commander Wang Jun, supervised the generals and attacked in the Qingbomen and Chenjiaqiao areas. From morning to dusk, they fought dozens of rounds of bloody battles, temporarily blocking the offensive of Yang Fuqing and Liu Guanfang.
At that time, there was heavy rain, which continued for three days without stopping. Chen Yucheng was not afraid. He set up pontoon bridges from Maogongdu, Shanghe Town, Xiaohang and other places, and 30,000 troops crossed together and surrounded the Qing army camp outside Ande Gate. Artillery fire was flying in Tianjing City, and the Qing camp's cargo and medicine depots were exploded. The Qing army In the chaos, Huang Jing, the commander-in-chief of Yansui Town, was unable to do what he wanted and urgently asked Zhang Guoliang for help.
Zhang Guoliang received the report and led an army of three thousand, galloping over. However, the circle is so heavy that you can't break through it repeatedly. Guoliang saw that all fifty barracks were destroyed, and the general Huang Jing, the deputy general Ma Dengfu, the guerrilla Wu Tianjue and three thousand soldiers were all killed among them.
Guoliang was trembling with fear and heartbreak, and the governor blew up the upper bridge, hoping to hold on to the northeastern half. He Chun agreed with his intention and immediately informed all camps to strictly guard it.
That night, the wind and rain became heavier and heavier, and there was also snow and hail. The coldness of the beginning of summer was no different from that of the beginning of winter. At midnight, the rain stopped. Suddenly, gongs and drums roared all over the fields, and shouts of killing broke out everywhere; fire broke out all over Zhongshan Mountain, and the camps in the north and south, as well as the camps in Xiaoshuiguan, also broke out. In the sound of fire, Li Xiucheng, Chen Yucheng, Yang Fuqing, Li Shixian and others were galloping around, killing wantonly. Zhang Guoliang knew that the situation was over, so he personally led an army to defeat the enemy, protected Hechun from Xianhemen, and fled to Zhenjiang from Longtan.
It was already late at night when Zhang Guoliang's troops arrived in Zhenjiang; He Chun sighed and lost all his arrogance and violence.
Zhang Guoliang said: "The soldiers of my camp have only lost three thousand, and their vitality is not damaged. With time and hard work, we can fight again." In the sixth year of Xianfeng, the general and Xiang Shuai retreated to Danyang in an effort to curb the rebellion. Now they can do it again! According to reports, Xiong Tianxi's troops are rushing to help.
He Chun said: Brother Zhang is here, even at the end of his life, he can still make a comeback!
He Chun regained his strength after hearing the words, and Shangshu said: Although the slaves were defeated, their vitality was not damaged. I would like to rely on Zhenjiang and Danyang to defeat Jurong and Liyang one by one, then leave Chunba and join forces with southern Anhui. First, leave Huining and even Chitai. , and then gather troops from all walks of life to fight against Jinling.
Zhang Guoliang went to Danyang, personally surveyed the terrain, and beat the horses in the rows. Unexpectedly, the road was full of rain for a long time, and he jumped on the ground on horseback, crushing his waist and legs. Guoliang ignored it and concentrated on planning defense and setting up forts.
He Guiqing, the governor of Liangjiang, was furious when he heard about the defeat. He consulted Hechun and asked Commanders He and Zhang to take charge of military affairs above Danyang. Below Changzhou, the governor and Zhang Yuliang supported him. I will immediately march into Liyang to divide the thieves' power.
Wang Youling, the governor of Zhejiang, said: "Su Chang is one body, and the palace guard must not be artificially separated."
He Guiqing said: "He Chun has 40,000 powerful soldiers under his command, and they will collapse at the first touch. I am the governor of Liangjiang, how can I not be angry?" If the world is not broken, it will not be established. The warlord Hechun is unable to fight, and the governor will defend the enemy on his own. The war in southern Jiangsu was imminent, and the Zhejiang region was also inevitable. As the governor of Zhejiang, you rushed to Hangzhou to assemble the army and prepare for the war.
After He Guiqing finished speaking, he immediately reported: Changzhou has been preparing for the defense for the whole month, everything is well prepared, and there are famous generals and elite troops, and the army is very powerful.
When Hechun received the consultation, his energy and blood surged, and he returned to the consultation angrily: The battle of Danyang is related to the life and death of the armies in the south of the Yangtze River. If I die, can you be alone? Zhang Yuliang, Ma Dezhao, and others are all our powerful generals, and they have come to help you! Why do you want to seize my powerful army in an idle place and sit back and watch my defeat? Danyang is adjacent to Changzhou. You can ride quickly to get there in half a day. If you still have some conscience, please send our troops back to the city as soon as possible!
Wang Youling rushed to Hangzhou and informed Hangzhou General Ruichang about the situation of the battle between Su and Chang.
Ruichang said: "In this case, Su, Chang and Zhejiang are all hopeless. I will report to the emperor and quickly order Zeng Guofan to follow the waterway and join with the admiral Yang Zaifu to quickly divide Wuhu from Dongliu and Jiande areas and merge into Ningjing to divide the thieves' power." And Gu Su Chang.
Wang Youling said: Zeng Guofan may not listen to the tune, but even if he does, it will be too late to help the emergency. To our east, the barbarians have invaded Zhoushan again. Real disasters never come alone.
Ruichang said: "Su Changzheng has left two gates, and his troops are scattered and in danger. We must prepare for a rainy day."
Wang Youling thought about it again and again, and said to He Guiqing: Brother Cong Shan, we have known each other since childhood, and we have never guessed until we are old. Now that we have something to say to each other, please listen carefully. Things are difficult and dangerous, and as a minister, all eyes are watching, watching for movement and stopping. One move is sufficient and people's hearts will collapse.
When Emperor Xianfeng heard that Jiangying was defeated, he urgently summoned Sushun and Yixin and said: Hechun was defeated and Jiangying was not safe; the British and French barbarians came back and occupied Zhoushan. The second minister may have a good strategy to defeat the enemy.
Sushun said: The army was defeated like a mountain, and the morale of the Jiangnan army was gone. He Chun, Zhang Guoliang and others could no longer fight. They retreated to Zhenjiang quickly, relied on the navy, and resisted with the city. They would be safe; He and Zhang occupied Zhenjiang, and Guangdong rebelled. Don't dare to offend Su Chang lightly. The barbarians came here, either for revenge or to exchange contracts. They are still far apart, so we will explore again when we get closer.
Yi Xin said: In the sixth year of Xianfeng, Xiangrong also suffered a defeat. However, he relied on Danyang, fought to the death and turned defeat into victory. He Chun, He Guiqing, Zhang Guoliang, etc., worked together to achieve success. In August and September of last year, the Holy Emperor had already exchanged contracts with the American and Russian barbarians. The British and French barbarians were slightly restrained or might withdraw immediately.
Emperor Xianfeng said: Although Hechun was defeated, he still had the heart to attack Jinling and was full of courage. He Guiqing also reported that everything in Changzhou was well prepared and the army was very powerful. I immediately ordered He Gui, Qing, Xu Youren and others to raise funds and mobilize troops to quickly reinforce them. Ruichang reported that he wanted to mobilize Zeng Guofan to assist. Can Zeng Guofan leave Anqing? I immediately ordered Zeng Guofan to consider the situation, deal with it promptly, and report it quickly. The land of Anqing, where the Yangtze River of thousands of miles is blocked, is the first continent that divides the river between Wu and Chu. It has always been a must-have for military strategists. Zeng Guo's camp with 10,000 people in Jizi camp had already occupied Jixian Pass on May 17 and strangled the northwest of Anqing; Duolong Ah, Li Xuyi also marched into Tongcheng; Yang Zaifu and Peng Yulin's troops controlled the Yangtze River waterway. As soon as Songyang was broken, the siege of Anqing was closed; Zeng Guofan withdrew his troops at this time, which I really couldn't bear.
Yi Xin said: Hu Linyi has excellent talents and knowledge, and has long been on his own.
Sushun said: "Hu Linyi reported that Zuo Zongtang was famous all over the world and he was slandered accordingly." Zeng Guofan reported that Zuo Zongtang was strong and endured hardships, and knew how to maneuver military aircraft. He was talented enough to take charge of his own role. He had already experienced many battles, his thinking was professional, his vision was far-reaching, and he had real experience in military affairs, which could be of great use. When there is an urgent need for talents, the slaves are asking for help, and the sage should use them according to his talents.
Yixin said: If Zuo Zongtang really has this ability, he can also use Zeng Guofan's method to train another army and fight on the battlefield to make up for Zeng Guofan's shortcomings in the east.
Emperor Xianfeng said: He Chun, He Guiqing, and Zhang Guoliang are all here, and Jiangnan has not yet reached its end. The barbarians have strong soldiers and horses, strong ships and powerful artillery, and they only seek profit from doing business. I am really worried about this.
