Chapter 129 Hua Erlianzhanlianjie
On January 9, 1862, Liu Zhaojun and his 2,000 military commanders rushed from Suzhou to Jiading and attacked from the north. In four days, they captured Jiangwan and Wusong from Jiangqiao and Jiwumiao, and besieged Baoshan. The British and French Concession was less than nine miles long.
On January 10, Liu Zhaojun's army of more than 5,000 people also arrived at Qingpu west of Shanghai from Suzhou. They built forts in Zhujiajiao and Guangfulinguang and peeked at Songjiang.
On January 13, Tan Shaoguang, together with Wang Gao Yongkuan, His Royal Highness Zhong Er Li Rongfa, and Fu Chaotian Army general Ji Qingyuan, led 60,000 troops and attacked from the south. On the 16th, they captured Fengxian, an important town in southern Shanghai. After a short rest, they marched eastward to Pudong. In five days, Nanhui, Chuansha and other counties were captured. Tan's troops forwarded Ji Qingyuan's troops to the north of Gaoqiao, and the troops advanced towards Wusong; they faced Liu Zhaojun's troops across the river.
Tan Shaoguang was overjoyed and reported to Xiucheng: The army has arrived at the mouth of Shanghai City. They built camps and communicated for dozens of miles to capture the demon cave. I hope this group of demon bandits will be killed soon.
All units of the Qing army in Shanghai were desperate, but the Hua Eryi Spear Corps and Li Hengsong Cavalry were fearless in the face of danger. They marched out of Songjiang and fought fiercely throughout the day, breaking through the four strongholds of the Taiping Army and regaining Guangfulin. After that, they fought four bloody battles in the suburbs of Songjiang, winning all four battles.
Tan Shaoguang had no choice but to temporarily abandon Baoshan and Wusong, gather the main force, move into Songjiang, and besiege the Hua Eryi Gun Corps.
In half a month, almost all the counties and towns around Shanghai were lost. Xue Huan, the governor of Jiangsu Province, urgently warned: Tan Shaoguang rebelled against the bandits and divided his troops into three groups, attacking from the north, west and south. The team fought a bloody battle in Guangfulin, annihilated more than a thousand enemies, captured 800, and temporarily suppressed the fierce flames of the bandits. However, the remaining units collapsed immediately after the battle, and the situation in Shanghai was indeed extremely critical. Su Songtao, Wu Xu, reported that you are an American from China. You have lived in China for a long time and love China deeply. You wish to become our nationality. Please respectfully request the Holy See.
Cixi took over the performance and held court discussions again.
Prince Gong Yixin said: "The north and south of the Yangtze River and along the Huaihe River are wreaking havoc, which is a serious problem." Britain and France are committed to trade, but the current plan is to follow the treaty, avoid any slight intrusion, maintain good faith with foreign countries, and hint at restraint. Over the past few years, even if there were occasional requests, it would have been a great harm if they had not been fulfilled. The day before yesterday, we had negotiated with the British and French envoys to help suppress the bandits, and the British and French had no objections.
Empress Dowager Cixi said: The two powers are harming each other, whichever is the lesser, so she ordered Xue Huan to negotiate with the British and French consuls in Shanghai quickly and borrow troops to help suppress the rebel bandits. According to Su Songtai Dao Wu Xuchen, American Wall, who wanted to be a Chinese citizen, was sent to Yusong County to teach soldiers bravery and gun formations, and was asked to be rewarded with a fourth-grade military rank. Can Hua Er become my Qing nationality?
Yi Xin said: "Hua'er is determined to kill thieves and try to reverse the decline of Shanghai. This slave thinks it is feasible."
On the same day, Cixi issued another edict: borrowing the help of teachers to suppress one section, it had been discussed by the Prime Minister's Yamen and the British and French envoys in Beijing. All matters concerning the suppression of the enemy with the help of his master will be discussed quickly between Xue Huan and the British and French, and will be handled as soon as possible. However, it will be helpful to suppress the bandits, and I will not control it remotely. If there is any need for reward afterwards, we can also make a decision at our discretion to facilitate contact.
At the same time, British Consul in Shanghai Maihua Tuo, French Consul in Shanghai Eden, British Navy Commander Robert Ho, and French Rear Admiral Brod gathered together for urgent consultations.
Maihua Tuo said: "I have sent a letter to Foreign Minister Russell. The bandits are approaching the concession. If we don't send troops, we will all be destroyed."
Aiden said: "When troops come to the city, we must defend it immediately." However, our army only has more than 1,500 people. The city walls of Shanghai and the concessions of various countries must be guarded. There are not enough troops. What should we do?
British Navy Commander Robert Ho said: Dear gentlemen, please don't panic. I have just received news that the 99th Regiment of the Royal British Empire is arriving from Tianjin for reinforcements. The American Wall, and the foreign gun team under him, have won consecutive battles, and I can use them.
McWatt said: At this moment, the American Civil War is in full swing. Mr. Wall supports the United States of America in the north. The British Empire and the French Empire both support the Confederate States of America in the south. Based on this calculation, Mr. Wall and we are not Deadly enemy! There is sufficient evidence to show that once our British Empire goes to war with the United States of America in the north, Mr. Wall's foreign gun team will definitely attack us.
He Bo said: If there is civil strife among us, we will be taken away by the bandit army. I immediately went to visit Mr. Wall and explain my interests.
The next day, Ho Bo and French Major General Brod met with Wall.
He Bodao: Mr. Wall led the foreign gun team and repeatedly defeated the bandits. I admire him very much.
Waldow: The bandit army numbered more than 100,000 and launched a series of attacks. Our army suffered heavy casualties. We urgently need to replenish our gunnery and artillery personnel.
Bo Dao: Enfield rifles, rocket launchers, and howitzers will arrive tomorrow.
Waldo: Thank you very much for your help. I formed this team the year before last and offered you soldiers with high salaries. You and I are like fire and water. Why are you helping me today?
He Bodao: The bandit army conquered Shanghai and we all perished. Rather than sit back and wait for death, it is better to fight to the death. The British and French allied forces are now at war with the bandits. Mr. Wall doesn't want to work together in the same boat?
Waldo: I can't get it. Tan Shaoguang's bandit army has approached Songjiang. After this battle is over, I will form a coalition with you and others to attack the bandit army together.
In late January, King Mu Tan Shaoguang gathered 100,000 troops to besiege Songjiang.
Na Wang Gao Yongkuan said: "The foreign monsters' guns and artillery are extremely powerful. Our army's shotguns, cannons, broadswords and spears are really no match for the foreign monsters."
Tan Shaoguang said: Therefore, by gathering an army of 100,000, encircling and killing the enemy, and annihilating the foreign demon army, Shanghai can be defeated in a day. Guangfulin in the northwest of Songjiang is actually a transportation hub. If we want to defeat Songjiang, we must first attack Guangfulin and Tang. Qingyao camp on the bridge. Next to Guangfulin there is Yingqibang, which is a channel for demon grain supplies. Brother Gao led 10,000 troops to attack this place quickly and cut off the connection between Songjiang and Guangfulin.
On January 25, it snowed heavily and lasted for five days. The river was frozen and the ground was freezing. The Taiping Army took the opportunity to surround Guangfulin and Tangqiao. Nawang Gao Yongkuan led his troops to capture Yingqibang and built four strong fortresses. They then divided their forces to attack Baijia Village and blocked the Qing army's retreat in Tangqiao.
Huaer specialized in one corner and personally led the foreign gun team and Li Hengsong cavalry to besiege Yingqibang. Just following Wall's order, hundreds of rocket launchers, howitzers, and field artillery fired, and thousands of shells struck together, all of which hit the Taiping Army camp at Yingqibang.
The Taiping Army's swords, spears, and guns were unable to fight back and suffered heavy losses.
Weapons were inferior to men, so Tan Shaoguang did not dare to fight anymore, so he ordered his troops to withdraw from the siege and advance separately, then attack Shanghai County. He also ordered Gao Yongkuan's troops to withdraw to Tianma Mountain and Chenshan Mountain, and built eleven forts to resist the Huaer Foreign Gun Corps.
On February 5, the Huaer Foreign Gun Corps merged with the Li Hengsong Cavalry Corps and attacked Tianma Mountain and Chenshan Mountain. Gao Yongkuan was defeated and retreated to Chenfang Bridge.
Wall was winning consecutive battles. Xue Huan, the governor of Jiangsu, couldn't help but go to Songjiang in person. He said happily to Wall: "The general can turn the tide, which is a blessing for Shanghai." I have asked the Holy One to rename the heroes led by the general to the Ever-Victorious Army. I have asked the general to reward the general with three ranks of top hats, and to allow the addition of brave coaches, and tentatively designate ten battalions. Su Songtai Dao Wu Xu served as the supervisor, alternate Dao Yangfang and Huaer served as the supervisor, and Li Hengsong, the general of the Zhongying camp, coordinated the management.
Waldao: Thank you, Mr. Futai, for your concern.
Xue Huandao: The siege of Songjiang is solved, and the situation in the west of Shanghai is settled. However, Pudong and Punan are becoming increasingly tense. Against Ji Qingyuan's command, he led an army of 10,000 bandits and took up residence in Gaoqiao Town, Pudong. Our troops, Liu Xun's Gao Division and Zhou Shilian's Division, crossed the river to attack, but were ambushed. The defender Zhang Xiangcui and General Yi Zhengxi were killed in the battle, and the county magistrate Zhou Shilian was injured. The war in Pudong was a complete mess. Thanks to the Huangpu River, Shanghai would have been destroyed long ago.
Waldorf: Britain and France have formed a coalition, how can they stand idly by?
Xue Huandao: The British naval commander Uncle Ho and the French major general Brod have sharpened their swords, but they are waiting for the general to arrive.
On February 16, Wall and British naval commander Robert Ho rowed across the river and entered Gaoqiao Town, Pudong, to have a peek at the war situation.
On the 21st, more than a thousand people from the Ever Victorious Army and the British and French forces crossed the Huangpu River and besieged Gaoqiao. Bai Qiwen, the deputy leader of the Ever Victorious Army, personally led a team to sneak attack on the Taiping Army's central camp.
Futianzhu general Ji Qingyuan was unprepared and entered the battle hastily. He was injured and retreated, and Gaoqiao was lost.
Ten days later, more than 2,000 people from the Ever Victorious Army and the British and French coalition forces, armed with one field gun, six howitzers, and several rocket launchers, crossed the Huangpu River from Min and captured Xiaotang, an important town in Punan.
Both Pudong and Punan suffered heavy losses, and Tan Shaoguang was unable to take care of both. He led the Chinese army to besiege the Qing army camp in Sijing, west of Shanghai, hoping to break through in the middle of Hebei and attack Shanghai. After half a month of continuous attacks, Sijing was in danger.
Li Hengsong, the guard general of Sijing, informed Huaer: Our army fights every day and defends itself every night. Although we have defeated the thieves many times, it will only get worse every day. Sijing is in danger and urgently needs the general's rescue.
On March 14, the victorious army rushed to Sijing and fought fiercely for a day, defeating Tan Shaoguang's Chinese army again.
Tan Shaoguang was defeated in consecutive battles and had no intention of fighting again, so he informed King Zhong that he had suspended his troops and waited for reinforcements.
