Chapter 156 Zeng Guoquan retreats bravely from the rapids (3)
Not long ago, Zeng Guofan laid down the Hunan army, built a full camp, prepared for the imperial examination, and went to Beijing. Empress Dowager Cixi looked at it and sighed: "After success, fame and retirement, who did it?" Zeng Qing and Guofan were truly perfect people.
Prince Gong Yixin said: "I am reporting to the Empress Dowager that the three departments of Zeng Guofan, Li Hongzhang and Zuo Zongtang have nearly 100,000 people. We will abolish 30,000 to 40,000 people to save money." Jinling has been captured and most of the Guangdong rebels have been destroyed. It is more than enough for Li Hongzhang and Zuo Zongtang to wipe out the remaining bandits.
Empress Dowager Cixi said: "The Guangdong rebellion will be destroyed, and the Xiangyong will withdraw. This has been defined by the late emperor." However, he responds as soon as he is called, which may be suspected of killing the donkey. The chieftain Chen Decai was assisted, and he supervised and led 300,000 people. He gathered at the junction of Anhui and Hubei. If Seng Gelinqin could not control him, he would definitely return to Xiangyong. An edict was quickly passed on to the north and south of the Yangtze River. The bandit troubles have not ceased. Zhejiang Governor Zeng Guoquan must supervise and lead the Xiangyong to make persistent efforts to kill the remaining evildoers and make more meritorious deeds.
Yi Xin said: Zeng, Li, and Zuo are all from the same lineage. Zeng Zuo's memorials came one after another. Have they already exchanged tunes?
Empress Dowager Cixi said: Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai are adjacent to each other, and it is normal for Zeng, Li and Zuo to communicate with each other. Zuo Zongtang issued this memorial, but Zeng Guofan did not stop him, and the left army seemed to be standing alone. This is a great joy for the Qing Dynasty. Zuo Chen's memorial must be forwarded to Jinling for circulation.
After the Empress Dowager Cixi finished speaking, she sent an order to the military base and sent another edict: Zeng Chen, the vassal state, had to withdraw its troops. Although it was for the sake of saving money, they suddenly withdrew 30,000 to 40,000 people. I was afraid that these people had been in the army for a long time and could not save trouble. They would be everywhere. Howls gathered into chaos.
From Sichuan and Chu, it took several years to clean up the aftermath, which can serve as a lesson for Yin. It would be better if we first eliminate the old and weak, and then send the strong and strong troops to Jiang and Chu. After Jiang and Chu are all cleared, we can then discuss how to disband them and return them to the countryside, or to recruit more troops in each camp to prevent the recurrence of branches.
Zeng Guofan and Zeng Guoquan watched Zuo Zongtang's memorial. They were still angry and the imperial edict came back. After Zeng Guofan read it, he drafted the essay again and said: On the 24th and 5th of July, I was in the boat and sent the imperial edict to the emperor on the 11th and 14th of July. An edict was sent on the fifteenth day, and there were many matters to be disciplined, but the matters of dismissing the brave men and investigating the whereabouts of the false young master were particularly urgent.
At the beginning of Xiangyong's recruitment, he chose farmers in the countryside. There were many people who were prosperous and few without roots. However, if he had the unpaid wages, he could return home quietly without causing any problems.
As for the idea of increasing the number of troops, many people have proposed this idea recently, but I don't think so. Gai Yongding's ration is twice as much as that of the horsemen and three times that of the garrison. The shortage of horse rations is very small. The rations for the garrison are one or two per month, which is not enough to meet the needs of food and clothing. Who is willing to travel thousands of miles away to make up for the lack of food and clothing?
If you want to use the simple courage of Hunan to supplement the troops of the Green Camp of Sanjiang, you will be reluctant. Those who are willing to make up for it are all lazy and homeless. If the ministers think they are brave, they will be sent back to their place of origin, and the soldiers will recruit new natives. Each will return to his roots and start again. This is a long-term and feasible way.
In addition, the city of Jinling was destroyed, and only a few hundred people escaped. There is no doubt that the pseudo-young master, at the age of sixteen, would have died in the rebellion even if he had not died in the fire.
Moreover, when the provincial capital of Hangzhou was restored, Wang Haiyang, the puppet king of Kang, and Chen Bingwen, the puppet king of Ting, had two hundred thousand troops, all of whom escaped and had not yet been corrected. Since hundreds of people escaped from Jinling this time, they should also postpone their participation in the event.
Zeng Guoquan read the article and said: The tone of this article is so strong that my brother is really the master of the southeast!
Zeng Guofan said: Zuo Zongtang claimed that the climate was complete and the golden rooster was independent! It took Brother Yuan two years of bloodshed to defeat this fortified city; no one can challenge this feat! Zuo Zongtang used the pseudo-young master's name and made a few remarks, which is really asking for boredom. Just because the gold and silver are exhausted, we have repeatedly given in and retreated, thinking that retreat is an advance and to please others. If the two palaces continue to threaten, the army will not be reduced and they will support themselves to protect themselves. What can be done?
Zeng Guoquan said: "My brother Shuwen is so upright and offensive. If the two palaces use force, what should they do?"
Zeng Guofan said: "Relaxation is the foundation of one's life." I think that as a young master who has not yet matured, the two palaces do not need to use force; to divert the rebellion and divide our hundreds of thousands of Hunan troops is what the two palaces must strive for. If nothing unexpected happens, the disarmament decree will arrive in the near future. I can prepare for a rainy day and do a trial first. I will go to Anqing immediately to settle everything and return to Jinling at the beginning of the month.
Empress Dowager Cixi was overjoyed when she accepted the report. She ordered the military plane to copy Zeng Guofan's poem and send it to Hangzhou. He also ordered: Zeng Chenguo Fan, the three tasks of disarmament, building camps, and opening schools were implemented as soon as they were written; Zeng Chen Guoquan, for two years, conquered and restored Jinling, and achieved outstanding achievements. However, after many years of military service, Zeng Chenguo was suffering from ailments and was eager to retreat. I thought about it again and again and immediately agreed. I sent Zeng Chenguo Tsuen Liu and two ginseng to take slowly and drink regularly to cure the stubborn illness.
Zeng Guoquan accepted the order and cursed for three days.
Zuo Zongtang read Zeng Guofan's memorial, and sighed and said: Zeng's fallacies are not worth reading; conquer Huzhou, and then compete with each other.
Jiang Yili said: Report to the Commander-in-Chief Zuo, the blocking chief Huang Wenjin was extremely fierce. In the battles of Sixi and Shuangfu Bridge, the Chinese and foreign forces suffered 700 casualties. In the following three battles, they were all defeated. We must prepare a strategy of encirclement on all sides, as in Anqing and Anqing. Jinling will be besieged for a long time, and we will wait for the thieves to run out of food before attacking again.
Zuo Zongtang said: "The encirclement of Tietong was only done by Yuanfu's army and not by my troops." Sixi and Shuangfu Bridges are difficult to attack. We can divide one army and go around to Digang to flank the bypass, which may help. Deng Guangming's foreign gun team is not needed at this time, but when will they all come forward and fight to the death to block the chieftain.
Jiang Yili said: Reporting to Commander Zuo, after Deng Guangming heard that Hong Xiuquan, the rebel leader, had died, he became depressed and took opium all day long. He was already in ruins.
Zuo Zongtang said: Deng is a man of temperament! He quickly consulted Li Hongzhang and asked him to send more troops and horses to attack Huzhou together. The soldiers and horses have not yet moved the food and grass. Brother Xueyan is responsible for the food expenses.
Hu Xueyan, the general manager of the grain station, said: "I have informed Zuo Shuai that we have already raised enough gunpowder, grain and rice, and military pay, but we are waiting for Zuo Shuai's order."
Zuo Zongtang said: Brother Xueyan is a talented person, Zuo is very grateful.
Jiang Yili said: "I heard that Bao Chao asked for pay at the banquet in Jinling last month, and Mr. Zeng Di was very unhappy."
Zuo Zongtang sighed and said: There are many unhappy things in the world of life. I and Di Lao have been involved in each other and have almost become enemies with each other. This is not my intention!
Jiang Yili said: "Xiaohong Ni is indeed an escapee. Zuo Shuai reports according to the facts. What's wrong? Zuo Shuai sent someone to explain it clearly."
Zuo Zongtang said: No!
Hu Xueyan said: Zuo Shuai is a ruthless soldier and doesn't care about the Xiaoxiang family. Why don't you take him over and stay here temporarily? Mrs. Zuo passed by Jinling and had a small talk with the wife of the governor of Liangjiang. What happened was unsolvable!
Zuo Zongtang clapped his hands and said, "Brother Xueyan has a great idea. I will send people to Hunan immediately."
Hu Xueyan said: "To Commander Zuo, Hu has admired the scenery of Chutian for a long time and is willing to do my best."
Li Hongzhang received Zuo Zongtang's message asking for help and said: Huang Wenjin, Yang Fuqing, and Li Yuanji are indeed fierce bandits. They will be difficult to eradicate without concentrating all their efforts. Immediately pass on my order. Pan Dingxin and Li Chaobin will attack Shengshe again and cut off the thieves' retreat route to the southeast. Liu Mingchuan, Guo Songlin, Zhang Shusheng, and Liu Bingzhang will immediately move out and focus on Si'an to completely cut off the connection between Anhui and Zhejiang and cut off the thieves. The road to the west.
When the city of Jinling was destroyed, King Qian Hong Rengan and his young master Hong Tianguifu fled to Huzhou, where they discussed the affairs of the Kingdom of Heaven with Huang Wenjin, Yang Fuqing, Li Yuanji and others.
Hong Rengan said: Huzhou is adjacent to Linghu Lake in the north and is surrounded by enemies on all sides. It may be difficult to establish a capital.
Yang Fuqing also attached, saying: "Of course, abandon this city quickly, move to Anhui and Jiangxi, join up with Li Shixian, Wang Haiyang, Chen Bing and the Ministry of Culture, then march to Hubei, join the 200,000-strong army of King Fu Chen Decai, occupy Jing and Xiang, and then plan Central Plains.
Huang Wenjin said: "Brothers Qian and Fu are right, but the two monsters Zuo and Li are surrounded by heavy troops. It will be difficult to retreat." My intention is to send a strong force to escort the young king out of the city first. We will gather a hundred thousand people and use the power of thunder to fight to the death with the two demons Zuo and Li. We will win and then retreat.
Hong Rengan said: "Brothers Du and Fu have been in the army for many years and are good at attacking and defending. Please coordinate the war in Huzhou as soon as possible."
Yang Fuqing said: I have about 100,000 troops in and around Huzhou. The outskirts of Linghu Lake in the north of Huzhou are our first line of defense, which has been defeated by demons; Digang and Yuanjiahui in the northeast are our second line of defense. Sixi, Shuangfu Bridge, Shengshe, and Changchao in the southeast, and Si'an, Meixi, and Anji in the northwest are all guarded by our troops. The thieves are surrounding us from all sides. Where should we go? Brother Du, please tell me quickly.
Huang Wenjin said: "Brother auxiliary has repeatedly defeated the enemy, so I will do it."
Yang Fuqing said: "The king of heaven issued a decree before his death, saying that Huang Wenjin, the king of Du, should be the way out. Please give the order immediately, Brother Du."
Huang Wenjin's eyes were dim with tears, and he cried: Since the King of Heaven has called me to support the Kingdom of Heaven, I will not give up even if I die. Immediately pass on my order, the first king Fan Ruzeng, the Yang Wang Ji Qingyuan, and the Zhao Wang Huang Wenying will each lead their own troops to escort the young king to Guangde for a temporary rest. Immediately, I and my auxiliary brother supervised the main force and gathered the generals from various places. We fought first at Diggang and then at Sixi. Then we marched westward to Meixi and Si'an, and then retreated slowly.
On August 8, 1864, Huang Wenjin and Yang Fuqing gathered their main forces and defeated Jiang Yili's troops in Diggang. On the 14th, they resumed fighting against Cai Yuanlong's rebels in Sixi. They fought fiercely for one day and killed more than 6,000 guerrillas under Yang Yinglong. On the 20th, Huang Yang's army marched westward and attacked Meixi, injuring more than 3,000 people under Admiral Guo Songlin.
On the 28th, Huang Wenjin, Yang Fuqing, and Hong Rengan led an army of 100,000 people, abandoned the city and headed west. They arrived in Guangde on the 29th and joined the young king Hong Tianguifu, Zhao Wang Huang Wenying, Yang Wang Li Mingcheng, Kai Wang Tan Tiyuan, the first king Fan Ruzeng, and Yang. Wang Ji Qingyuan and His Highness Zhong Er Li Rongfa and other troops marched south to Ning Kingdom.
