At the end of July 1860, Elgin, the British plenipotentiary envoy to the Qing Dynasty, led 22,000 British and French troops and more than a hundred ships to arrive at the mouth of Dagu.
Russian Minister Ignatieff and American Minister Hua Ruohan heard about it and rushed there.
Elgin said: "I heard that you and others have exchanged contracts with the Qing Dynasty. Are you here to mediate?"
Ignatieff said: No! The Qing people have placed huge cannons on both sides of Dagu Port. When your warships sail in, the Qing people's artillery fires from the north to the south. We will definitely make the same mistakes as last year. The Qing Dynasty has almost no defenses at the Beitang fishing port north of Dagu mouth. Your Excellency, occupy Beitang first and attack the Dagu fort from north to south. The Qing people will be defeated.
Elgin said: Seriously?
Ignaev said: It’s absolutely true! I will keep my name anonymous and observe for a while, just waiting for your arrival. I am afraid that your fleet will make the same mistake again, so I came to tell you urgently.
Elgin said: I will send troops to investigate immediately. If this is true, your Excellency, the Minister, is indeed a nobleman of our British Empire.
When the Yi army approached the mouth of Dagu, Emperor Xianfeng ordered Seng Gegelqin and Hengfu not to persist in the intention of war and peace first, but to focus on pacifying the situation, so as not to end the war and lead to disaster.
Seng Gelinqin received the order and told Hengfu, the governor of Zhili, and Leshan, the admiral of Zhili, saying: Last year, more than a hundred barbarians were killed, and the grudges have been settled. It is destined to be difficult to open the war! Let us not relax!
Hengfu said: "My emperor is focused on the rebellion of Guangdong and has no intention of engaging in hard labor with the barbarians. I will immediately board the ship to inquire about business and exchange seals for contracts."
On July 29, Hengfu met with the British representative Park Li and said: According to my emperor's decree, the minister can go to Beitang to seal the contract to exchange the contract.
Bashali said: Bring two thousand troops and go to Beijing to exchange the contract; the compensation for military expenses and material casualties will be no less than 20 million taels. This is a necessary condition.
Hengfu said: "The compensation of silver can still be negotiated, but we must not allow him to bring troops to Beijing."
On August 1, 1860, the Yi fleet avoided the Dagukou Fort and sailed north to Beitang to land. Seng Gelinqin heard this and ordered Hengfu and Leshan to defend the north and south forts of Dagukou respectively. King Seng personally led the cavalry to Xinhe to intercept them. On the 12th, the two armies engaged in battle. 2,500 Mongolian cavalrymen fought fiercely for half a day, and only seven men and seven cavalry remained.
Seng Gelinqin was unwilling to give up and wrote: "The barbarians had more than 200 artillery vehicles and 5,000 or 6,000 barbarians. They were outnumbered, but they also killed countless thieves." Every time our soldiers fired a cannon, the barbarians fell dead in line, while the remaining thieves continued to advance regardless of their bodies. After the team was collected, in the evening, the slave Hengfu gave a note to the British and French barbarians, but he had not yet received a reply.
Two days after Monk Wang's memorial, the Yi army captured Tanggu.
Tanggu was lost, the road back was blocked, and the Dagu Fort was almost useless. Seng Gelinqin ordered Leshan to lead his troops to withdraw, but Leshan refused, saying: If the fort remains, Leshan will survive; if the fort dies, Leshan will die.
On the 15th, more than 10,000 barbarian troops advanced by water and jointly attacked the North Fort of Dagukou. Zhili Admiral Leshan Du led his troops bravely. After six days of bloody fighting, the artillery shells were all out, and he drew his sword in hand-to-hand combat. He was shot several times and died on the ground. Hengfu, the governor of Zhili, was so frightened that he abandoned the Dagu South Fort and followed Seng Gelinqin, fighting and then retreating.
Seng Gelinqin played again: Although the entrance to Dagu was lost, the slaves were watching from the fort. As soon as our soldiers fired their guns, the barbarians fell to death one after another. Three to four thousand barbarians were killed three times, with the most in the Shikai battle.
The Daku fort was lost. Emperor Xianfeng tried to calm down and said: The foundation of the world is not in Haikou, but in the capital. The defense troops from the capital rushed to Tongzhou and gathered with Seng Gelinqin, Shengbao and Ruilin to prevent the blockage.
Sushun said: "Twenty thousand barbarian bandits, armed with spears and cannons, and horses and steps, are very powerful. It is difficult for Seng Gelinqin, Shengbao and others to resist; the capital is in danger and is in urgent need of the world's diligent king." However, the barbarians are getting closer and closer, and the distant water may not quench the thirst of the nearby people. I thought that Mulan should also plan for the autumn.
Emperor Xianfeng said: Don't let others take advantage of you! My elite soldiers and generals have not yet been revealed. The generals of Heiji, Jilin, and Liao, the governors of Shaanxi, Gansu, Jin, and Shandong, the Mongolian alliances, and the towns in northern Zhili must do their best to mobilize elite troops and come to the capital to serve the king. I have appointed Zeng Guofan as the Imperial Envoy and the actual governor of Liangjiang. He will be responsible for controlling the land and water armies in the north and south of the Yangtze River. Military affairs in southern Anhui and Jiangnan will be supervised by him. Bao Chaoting's army under Zeng Zhi set off as soon as he received the order, traveling day and night, galloping to help. Xue Huan, the governor of Jiangsu, reported that he had joined forces with the Yi soldiers in Shanghai to curb the rebellion of Guangdong. The Yi people attacked Nanhe from the north. What is this and what?
Sushun said: "The Yi people have a watery character and are not worth a penny." Last year, we had a great victory in Dagongkou, and the barbarians were silent and ran away obediently.
Yixin said: The Yi people's mentality is not to plunder the people and occupy the land, but only to trade and establish envoys. The slaves thought that the Holy One would quickly send his important ministers and appoint them to Tianjin to discuss peace with the barbarians. If they reached an agreement, they would make an agreement. Even if they didn't, they would waste time and delay the barbarian army to wait for our army, King Qin.
Emperor Xianfeng said: Accurate! Guiliang, a scholar from Dongge University, rushed to Tianjin to discuss peace matters with the Yi people. The capital was in danger, so all the edicts from King Qin were rushed for eight hundred miles and circulated throughout the country.
On August 24, the imperial minister Guiliang arrived in Tianjin and negotiated with the British representative Parkes. Parkes insisted on leading 2,000 troops to Beijing to exchange the treaty. Guiliang refused, the negotiations broke down, and the British and French forces invaded Beijing.
On August 25, Zeng Guofan received the imperial edict from King Qin.
The edict said: "Today we are victorious and the barbarians are approaching Guanxia. Please call in foreign aid to defeat them in a flanking attack." It is said that the way to use the army is to use the long to attack the short. The Ni barbarians specialize in firearms. If our army can seize the body and rush in, with weapons aligned with each other, the thieves' guns and artillery are so close that they can't do anything, and we will definitely win a great victory. The soldiers of the Mongolian Beijing Banner cannot stand up to strike, but Chuan Chu is brave and can lean in to get close and fight with the thieves. The rebels will definitely be severely punished. Please order Yuan Jia and others to select a number of capable men from the Sichuan and Chu braves and send people to take charge. They will set off immediately and go to Beijing within a few days to resolve the crisis.
They rebelled against the barbarians and rebelled against the obedience, seizing our Daku fort and occupying Tianjin. The proposal has not been completed, and now he has led his troops to the west of Tongzhou, a short distance from Beijing. Seng Gelinqin and other soldiers suffered repeated defeats, the capital was under martial law, and the situation was extremely critical. Now the troops in Chuan and Chu are all brave, and they are all very effective. Zeng Guofan and Yuan Jiasan each selected two to three thousand brave men from Sichuan and Chu, and ordered Bao Chao and Zhang Desheng to take charge of them. Anhui Miao Lian Xiang praised them as brave, and Weng Tongshu passed the Zhenbang order to Miao Peilin to select thousands of trained men and assign them properly. Staff management. They all moved forward at the same time, and soon went to Beijing to be dispatched by Shengbao. Don't use words to delay your speech and sit back and watch the urgent needs of your country. Only Yin hopes that the troops will gather together, quickly eliminate the adverse atmosphere, and jointly hope for rewards, which is regarded as the most important thing. This will be known by urgent orders from six hundred miles away.
The vassal of the country looked at the edict and sighed: "This is Shengbao who used the emperor's life to plot to seize the Chu army. However, he did not obey the call, which is actually the crime of deceiving the emperor!".
All the staff are diligent and diligent, and the king's affairs are important and cannot be delayed.
Li Hongzhang argued against all the opinions and said: The barbarians are already under pressure, and entering the defense is really empty talk. The three kingdoms are in constant conflict, but there will be no other changes except for the peace talks with gold and silk. We should follow the orders of the troops and make no move. The Chu army is related to the safety of the world, so be cautious about the success or failure of your actions.
Zeng Guofan said: "If you negotiate peace with gold and silk, there will be no other changes." Why did Shaoquan say so?
Li Hongzhang said: "In the report of the battle in southern Jiangsu, it is said that the British, French and barbarian troops in Shanghai have joined forces with Xue Huan, the governor of Jiangsu, to jointly fight against the rebellion in Guangdong." Soldiers are important affairs of the country, life and death are at stake. The barbarians attack from the south and the north, and they regard it as child's play. Isn't this correct? In addition, since the 20th year of Daoguang, in addition to the Russians and barbarians, the British, French and barbarians have repeatedly raised armies, but only briefly, and they only stationed envoys for trade, and this is no exception. The foreign affairs in the capital will be resolved within two months. The students think that the teacher should follow the orders and wait for the changes.
Zeng Guofan said, "This is a very good strategy. Please report to Taihu Runshuai immediately. Bao will not move for the time being. Runshuai and I will choose a successor."
Hu Linyi received the consultation and hurriedly sent Li Xuyi, the Anhui inspector, to cross the river to inquire about business. Then he sighed to himself: "Cure the sores in front of the eyes, but cut out the flesh in the heart."
Li Xuyi led more than a dozen soldiers, marched under the stars and night, arrived at Qimen, and had an audience with Zeng Guofan. Li Xuyi said: "Commander Di, when he went to the army to ask for orders, Commander Run also felt that it was very appropriate; but the prose was about to be published. It was like going north to the king of Qin, Commander Run was worried, Su The war in the South is coming to an end, and within ten months, the Guangdong bandits will definitely rush to rescue Anqing. After half a year of sharpening the sword, what's the point?"
Zeng Guofan said: "I bet at most two months, the barbarian affairs in the capital will be decided. Neither I nor Duke Run will be diligent. However, just in case, we must make plans in advance. I would like to ask Xi'an to lead him if the Holy One sends Duke Run north. The army will accompany you; otherwise, I will go with Zuo Zongtang."
Li Xuyi said: "The left army has not yet taken shape, so there may be something wrong with going north."
Zeng Guofan said: "No problem, please lend Xi'an to become the Daji Ministry, and I can rest easy. If Xi'an goes north, I will send Bao Chao to Qingcao'an as a guerrilla to provide support in the center; I will also station in the north at Taihu Lake, with the right to do so. Dispatch. If I am the king of Qin, Zhang Yunlan will be stationed in Qimen, and Bao Chao will be stationed in Wuyuan, so that the overall situation is intact."
Li Xuyi said: "I think it is feasible for Marshal Di to plan the strategy. However, we must consult with Marshal Run again whether we can succeed in the adjustment of Daji's ministry."
After Li Xuyi said goodbye, Zeng Guofan suddenly felt depressed and could hardly speak. He sighed: "I have become the Great Ji Ministry, but I can't be transferred. It's really hateful!"
Li Hongzhang said: "If the commander is worried too much, he will become a great auspicious tribe. He is weak! To nourish the commander's virtue, he must order the Bao tribe to go with him. Li Xi'an is a warrior on the battlefield and talks nonsense."
Zeng Guofan pondered for a long time, and then drafted an essay: The emperor ordered Bao Chao to go to Beijing and hand him over to Shengbao for dispatch. The secret plan is to travel more than 5,000 miles from Huizhou to Beijing. The troops have to travel two months to reach the capital. It will take three months to reach the capital. However, it is only a few dozen miles to go to the capital. The chance of safety cannot be imagined within eight or nine months. Bao Chaoting's army was isolated, so he went north to the Qinwang, fearing that it would not help. In response to Tian's grace, Yu Chen and Hu Linyi ordered one person to lead the army to help defend the base. However, if the minister is sent by Qin to go north, he should accompany Zuo Zongtang. He will not march into southern Anhui for the time being and can only retreat to Jiangxi. If Hu Linyiqin sent troops to go north, he should accompany Li Xuyi. Northern Anhui could not advance troops for the time being and could only retreat to Hubei.
After the vassal plan was completed, Hu Linyi consulted again: The order for the Chu army to come in for reinforcements will be repeated today. Prince Gong's decree has also been copied and submitted for review, and the manuscript is now folded and presented to the table for reading. The idea was decided by Xi'an, and it was consistent with my original plan. However, after such an introduction, after the edict is sent out, there will be inevitable stagnation. I beg your Excellency to make advance arrangements for the armies on the north and south banks. As soon as the order is received, if you go north, I will move to northern Anhui. If I go north, I will ask you to take charge of southern Anhui. All of them are righteous. He has packed his luggage and will make plans within a few days, asking for detailed instructions.
Xue Huan, the governor of Jiangsu Province, heard of King Qin's edict and said to Wu Xu and Yang Fang: We joined hands with the Yi people and fought fiercely for more than a month before we drove the two bandits Li Xiucheng and Hong Rengan out of Shanghai. If Zeng Guofan and Miao Peilin went north to King Qin, how could they do it? If the barbarians turn against the enemy and join forces with the Cantonese bandits, Shanghai will not be protected.
Wu Xu said: Li Bandit Xiucheng has been wounded by the barbarian artillery. We will immediately supervise the troops to pursue him. The battle in Jiangnan has calmed down a bit, and even if the barbarians turn against each other, we will have the opportunity to turn things around.
Yang Fang sighed: Li Bandit showed off more than a thousand soldiers, but when he heard that the barbarians were coming, he put his hands down and waited to be killed. If it weren't for the help of the barbarians, Shanghai would have been defeated sooner or later. The barbarians and I must not be at odds with each other.
Xue Huan said: The barbarians have strong ships and powerful guns, just for trade and profit. I have thought about it again and again. Taking chestnuts from the fire can also satisfy hunger! When it comes to King Qin going north, we need to consider the long term and consider the long term.
Miao Peilin, the leader of the Fengtai training camp, accepted the order and said impassionedly: "There are no more righteous soldiers than King Qin. I have an army of one hundred thousand, and we will go all the way to the capital."
The next day, Miao Peilin had no intention of raising troops. His nephew Miao Jing asked why. Miao said: The barbarians and the emperor are both tigers. I sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight. Weng Tongshu, the governor of Anhui, asked himself to open a vacancy and went north to the Qinwang. He was really a docile person! Sun Jiatai and Xu Lizhuang, the leaders of Shouzhou, have repeatedly disobeyed. Given time, they will beheaded.
