Emperor Xianfeng responded to King Zeng Huqin's essay and sighed: This is extremely reasonable, but also extremely unreasonable. I am not playing tricks on the princes. Zeng Guofan seems to be wise but foolish, but in fact he is small-minded. If you fail to exterminate the Cantonese bandits and cannot invade Anqing, I will plan with you again. Su Qing thinks that my troops in Tongzhou can resist the barbarian invaders?
Sushun said: "My slaves have carefully investigated and found that reinforcements from Jingying, Chahar, and towns in northern Zhili have arrived one after another." The rest of the reinforcements are still on the way. There were 34,000 soldiers in Tongzhou area; among them, Seng Gelinqin commanded 20,000 troops and blocked Zhangjiawan, the front road to Tongzhou; Ruilin commanded 8,000 troops and stationed in Tongzhou; Shengbao commanded 6,000 troops and blocked Dingfuzhuang, the back road to Tongzhou. If we fight with swords, arrows, shields and spears, I will definitely defeat them; however, the barbarians' spears and cannons are indeed much better than mine.
Emperor Xianfeng said: The barbarians trade for profit, and the Guangdong rebels kill their tribes and destroy the country. I don't know which one is more serious! Yesterday, I received a report from Xue Huan, the governor of Jiangsu, saying that he had joined forces with the British and French barbarians to expel the Yue rebels from Shanghai. A war between the South and the North is ridiculous. With the British, French and foreigners, the most important thing is to pacify the situation. Prince Yi, Zaiyuan, and Minister of War, Mu Yin, rushed to Tongzhou to meet with the barbarians again. They gave up whatever money the barbarians offered. In addition, Seng Gelinqin is very powerful. The presence of Seng Qing can suppress the rampant energy and benefit the situation. The Cantonese bandits in the south of the Yangtze River are still raging. Zeng Guofan and Hu Linyi are not going north for the time being; however, if the situation is dangerous, they will set off immediately.
On September 12, 1860, the Qing, British and French parties held further negotiations in Zhangjiawan, Tongzhou. Zaiyuan argued over and over again, and finally received all the money proposed by Parkes.
When the peace was settled, Parkes, the chief negotiator of the British side, felt relieved and said: "This is a big deal. The three bows and nine kowtows required to meet the emperor of your country should also be abolished."
Zaiyuan said: It is difficult to agree.
Bashali said: I am a citizen of England. We and other people will not kneel down when we see the Queen of our country. How about you, the Queen?
Zaiyuan said: "This matter is related to the state of the Qing Dynasty. Please allow me to report it to my emperor. My emperor agrees, and you can act according to the etiquette of the country."
Bashali said: "I beg you to play quickly. I am Jinghou."
After Basha was waiting to say goodbye, Seng Gelinqin said: My emperor is destined not to allow it! War must begin! It is necessary to immediately sparse the emperor's garrison in Rehe to avoid the barbarian front.
Emperor Xianfeng took up the play and said: "The barbarians are trying to take advantage of them, but who can I endure?" This negotiation can be negotiated, but if the negotiation fails, we will fight each other!
Sushun said: "The war is about to start. The British and French planners, Park Li and others, must be detained in Tong." This Pashali is by no means a good man; he once served as the consul in Guangzhou and has brought disaster to Guangdong for many years. Ye Mingchen hated him so much that he once offered a reward of "tens of thousands for those who capture Pashali alive; tens of thousands for those who kill him".
Yi Xin said: "When the two countries are at war, we will not kill the envoys."
Sushun said: "Behead the envoys to encourage them, and detain Pasha Li. The barbarians will throw rat weapons at them, which will be more conducive to peace talks."
Emperor Xianfeng said: The whole world is not the land of the king, and the shores of the land are the ministers of the king; I am a big country in China, and it has lasted for thousands of years. How can I allow a small country to ignore the small barbarians, show their teeth and claws, and come and go as they please? Pashali, Wetomar and others were the barbarians who planned the master plan. They heard that Chang often followed them secretly. If the negotiation failed, they would immediately detain the barbarians and their entourage in Tong without ordering them to turn back. In order to eliminate treachery, they After the war, Japan negotiated and negotiated for his release. If Parkes and others cannot be imprisoned and all are ordered to return to the west of the river, that is fine, but they must not be allowed to leave or leave at will, which will hinder the war situation. This edict was kept secret and was quickly and secretly transmitted to the monks Gegelingqin, Zaiyuan and others. In addition, Prince Seng Gelinqin sent me a secret message to inform me that I am stationed in Rehe. What do you mean by your beloved ministers?
Sushun said: Before the troops of King Qin from each province arrive, they will make the worst plans.
The Minister of Military and Aircraft was walking up, and Wen Xiang, the right servant of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, said: "I think that my emperor's start of the chariot is of great importance to the overall situation and may shake people's hearts." And there is no danger beyond the fortress. I can go there as well as I can, but I can't hold on.
Emperor Xianfeng said: The emperor guards the gates of the country, and the king dies in the country. I sit in charge of the capital, and together with other families, I love you and guard against the barbarian bandits.
On the day they retired from the imperial court, Concubine Yi advised her privately: The emperor is in Beijing, and he can intimidate everything. If the sage is in command, the ancestral temple will be without an owner, and may be trampled and destroyed by the barbarians. In the past, the Zhou family moved eastward, and the emperor was covered in dust. He will always be a shame to future generations. If he suddenly abandons the capital and goes away, it will be a huge humiliation.
Emperor Xianfeng said "oh" twice, without comment.
On September 17, Zaiyuan summoned Pasha Li to discuss the matter of the audience. Pashali refused to kneel down, so Zaiyuan asked Seng Gelinqin to send troops to intercept Pashali and others halfway.
Parkes was panicked and asked Prince Gong Yixin for help.
Yi Xin said: "Your troops came to my city, and before the peace treaty was concluded, the two armies were at war."
Pashali and his party were anxious and held high the banner of peace talks, begging Senggelinqin to let them go.
The monk king smiled contemptuously and said: "Quickly order your soldiers to stop attacking."
Parkesli said: I cannot deceive you. I am a peace envoy and have no right to control the actions of the coalition forces.
Seng Gelinqin said: You will never repent! After the monk king said this, he detained Pasha Li and his party of 39 people for interrogation.
Prince Yi Zaiyuan reported: Immediately after checking the report, I learned that Pasha Liye has been captured. This barbarian is good at using troops, and all the barbarians obey his orders. He has been captured. The barbarian soldiers will be in chaos. Take advantage of this to suppress them. Liang Ke will definitely do it. confidence in the victory.
Elgin angrily rebuked Zaiyuan and Senggelinqin for their shamelessness, and ordered the coalition commander Grant to attack Zhangjiawan and march into Beijing.
Seng Gelinqin also knew that the Yi people had fast guns and powerful artillery, so he ordered the cavalry in front, and the cavalry followed, attacking the coalition camp with an overwhelming force, hoping to force a breakthrough and engage in close combat.
The Mongolian cavalry arrived at lightning speed, and suddenly, fireworks burst out from the coalition positions, the sound was loud, and countless rockets dragged red flames, roared down, and exploded. The horse was frightened, suddenly turned back, and charged into the procession. Horse and foot coordinated and collapsed towards Bali Bridge.
The British and French allied forces captured Zhangjiawan and Tongzhou City. Elgin happily said to the French envoy Grotto, the coalition commander Grant, and the French commander Montoband: Gentlemen, the Qing people's shotguns, cannons, swords, spears and arrows are no different from ours. Rifled rifles, breech-loaded artillery, and Congreve rockets are half a century apart. There is no doubt that we will prevail. However, the Qing Dynasty had 40,000 people, and the cavalry was particularly powerful. Relying on the Bali Bridge and backing on the canal, they were watching with eager eyes. A big battle was inevitable.
French commander Monttopin said: I can approach in advance, prepare defenses in advance, and destroy the enemy's artillery first. When the enemy comes, they will bombard them with artillery from afar, intercept them with rockets when they are closer, and fire their guns in turns when they are even closer. If the enemy makes a detour or breaks through, our cavalry will immediately take over. I use bullets and bullets to resist the enemy's flesh and blood body. If the stalemate lasts for a long time, the enemy will be defeated.
Seng Gelinqin retreated to Bali Bridge and said to Shengbao and Ruilin: "My emperor asked, after we retreated to Bali Bridge, have we ever seen another battle with the Yi in the future?" This place is backed by the canal, and the soldiers and horses can advance but not retreat, so it is not a battlefield. Our guns, artillery and arrows are not as good as those of the barbarians. The only feasible way is to break the cauldron, fight back, fight hand-to-hand, and use both swords and spears. I led the cavalry and resisted the enemy from the front. My two brothers lived separately in the east and west. As soon as my troops succeeded, I immediately rushed out with all my troops to surround and kill the barbarians. This is a short distance from the capital, and this battle is at stake in the fate of the Qing Dynasty! As per my general's orders, those who shrink from the battle and become too sluggish will be killed without mercy!
Shengbao said: "Weapons are not as good as humans, how about fighting at night?"
Seng Gelinqin said: The night battle is very good, but the barbarian momentum is like a rainbow, and there is no time to plan and deploy defenses. Our forty thousand people are in a hurry, traveling at night, and there are many mistakes. It is inevitable to focus on one thing and miss the other. My emperor decreed: The vanguard must copy and thwart the vanguard. If you can use shotguns, swords, spears, etc. to fight hand-to-hand, you can be sure of victory.
Shengbao said: The prince has fought with the barbarians several times, what are the chances of this victory?
Seng Gelinqin said: There is almost no chance of winning! The Yi people's artillery was very powerful. When a cannon flew, the cannon exploded and shrapnel shot out. More than a dozen warriors died. My intention is to charge thousands of horses together, one after another, fighting to the death to break through the barbarians' defense line. This battle will surely result in casualties and bloodshed. If I die in battle, my brother will take charge of the entire army.
In the early morning of September 21, the British and French allied forces arrived at Bali Bridge one after another. At 7 a.m., French commander Monttopan made a preemptive strike and divided his troops into three groups to attack the Senggelinqin, Ruilin, and Shengbao military camps.
The soldiers of Seng, Rui and Sheng met to fight. Seng Gelinqin jumped on his horse and raised his flag, standing at the edge of the formation. Where the yellow flag moved, more than ten thousand Mongolian cavalry came out overwhelmingly.
French commander Montauban gave an order, and Armstrong's field artillery bombarded them immediately. Wherever the sound of the cannon was heard, people fell over and their horses fell to the ground, and the Mongolian cavalry fell to the ground one after another.
Seeing this, Seng Gelinqin resumed waving his flag, and with a thousand more cavalry, their horses neighed and people screamed, and they attacked again.
Mentoban fought in front of the formation. After the field artillery bombardment was completed, he ordered the Congreve rockets to fire. Occasionally, the Mongolian cavalry approached, and the Enfield platoon guns were fired in turn.
Shengbao defended the Bali Bridge, and the battle was in full swing. A cannon flew and knocked his horse off his horse. Since Shengbao, the Japanese army had grown stronger and led his troops to retreat first. The Yi army captured the Bali Bridge and attacked Senggelinqin in a roundabout way. The Monk King divided his troops to resist. At noon, the barbarian cavalry with thousands of cavalry rushed forward in an awe-inspiring manner. The Mongolian cavalry was defeated and scattered in all directions. In this battle, the Qing army suffered more than a thousand casualties, including 5 Yi soldiers killed and 47 wounded.
After the defeat of Baliqiao, Emperor Xianfeng was trembling with fear. He ordered Prince Gong Yixin to be the imperial envoy. Together with Gui Liang, a scholar of Dongge University, and Wen Xiang, the admiral of Jiumen, he stayed in the capital to fuss over the barbarians and supervise the peace process. Emperor Xianfeng brought a group of imperial concubines and servants to ride in Rehe, and Mulan looked down in autumn.
