Chapter 163 Zuo Zongtang cleanses the Kingdom of Heaven (6)
When Meizhou fell, Ruilin, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, and Guo Songtao, the governor of Guangdong, were all panicked. They immediately announced: the Guangdong army was outnumbered in defense, and only Fang Zhaoxuan and others, together with the ministers Gao Liansheng, Liu Qingliang, and Kang Guoqi's army, were dedicated to the pursuit and suppression. However, there were too many diseases and epidemics in each camp, and they were driven through the miasma of mountains and rivers every day, traveling for hundreds of miles at a time, in the desert, with no food supplies, hunger and disease, and the situation was really difficult.
After Wang Haiyang's defeat, Ni Yan had faded, and he took advantage of any opportunity, aiming to escape death. Regarding the current situation, we are not worried about the gathering of thieves, but about their fleeing. If they gather together, they can be annihilated in one corner, but if they spread out, they may spread to all directions.
Wang Haiyang entered Meizhou. Zuo Zongtang was worried and happy, so he immediately sent an order. The Guangdong army's Zhaoxuan and Deng Anbang troops rushed to the south entrance to camp. Li Futai, the commander of the army, must rush to the west of Meizhou City to command the troops on the west route. Bao Chao led Ting's troops and various units of the Gan army to the Xianggong Pavilion in the northwest of Meizhou, on the west and south wings of the president. Kang Guoqi was stationed in Jiaoling, Gao Liansheng and Liu Qingliang were jointly stationed in Kuiling to control the northeast; Liu Dianchi went to Songkou to defend the southeast; alternate Taoist Zhu Mingliang immediately entered Sanheba to stop the thieves from invading Chaozhou City.
Before the armies are gathered, divide the ground and build a siege. If the thieves arrive, do not fight with the waves. Guard the passes carefully and do not allow them to escape. Each military camp should be separated or separated, so that thieves will not notice it. Once all the troops are gathered together, they can advance in parallel. On one side, they can move out, while on the other side, they can build a camp and retreat to form a siege. This can trap the remaining bandits.
Zongtang ordered him to stop and repeat: The thieves were trapped in Lianping Shang and Xiaping, but they were still dying. Because the Jiangxi Long and Ding armies failed to encircle them, and the Guangdong Lianping army failed to intercept them, they were defeated within ten days. Walking through Meizhou, fierce flames suddenly appeared. The Guangdong bandits and those who were demobilized bravely followed. If it is allowed to surge and scurry around, the war will be in vain.
The generals of the Qing army received Zuo Zongtang's military orders and rushed to the surrounding areas of Meizhou. They divided the area and built a siege to prevent them from getting out. The two armies were in a stalemate for more than a month. Gao Liansheng and Liu Qingliang took the lead in moving out of Kuiling, hoping to force the city to camp at Fengzhai. They just built a fortification. Tens of thousands of Taiping troops filled the mountains and fields, with the gun team in front, the cavalry team in the middle, and the cavalry team in the middle. After that, he killed them brazenly.
Supervisor Wang Haiyang led thousands of troops and charged directly at Liu Qingliang's army more than ten times, killing six sentry commanders, a county magistrate, a county magistrate, and countless soldiers.
Gao Liansheng hurriedly faced the battle and quickly mobilized his foreign rifle team to counterattack. The Taiping army was not afraid. The front team rushed to the ground and the rear team advanced one after another, killing more than a thousand people including guerrilla Zhu Tisheng and rebel general Qian Guiren on the spot.
Gao Liansheng and Liu Qingliang did not dare to fight again, so they retreated to their old nests and reduced their camps to protect themselves.
When Zuo Zongtang heard about it, he ordered Huang Shaochun and Wang Debang to gallop into Tazi'ao from Songkou, connect with Gao Liansheng, Kang Guoqi, and Liu Qingliang to jointly control Wang Haiyang.
Liu Diandao: Since then, the long siege of Meizhou East Road, Southeast Road, Northeast Road and North Road has gradually taken shape.
Zuo Zongtang said: Only the west road is empty, waiting for Bao Chao to come. After Bao Chao arrived, he divided the armies on the east and west routes and deployed them evenly, gradually approaching. If there are many troops close to the ground and they are sufficient for defense and suppression, then we can divide our troops to cross the river and encircle the southern road, thus forming a siege on all sides.
Liu Diandao said: "Before Bao arrives, you can order Governor Li Futai to lead the Guangdong army to intercept him first."
Zuo Zongtang sighed and said: This is the only way!
Li Futai, the governor of Guangdong, was hesitant when he received the order.
Zhu Yongfu, the guest in charge, advised: Although the thieves are poor and exhausted, there are tens of thousands of them, and they all have the determination to die. It is good for them to be trapped, but not suitable for attacking. If you block the attack, you will flee, and the good land will be ravaged by it, and our division will also be tired of running for its life. If you encircle it and cut it, trapping animals and trapping fish, it will be of no use. Zuo Jue commanded Zongtang to divide the land and build a siege. This strategy was the best.
Li Futai said: "If Bao Chao doesn't arrive, the Fujian army will be at the east end. We are outnumbered. If thieves find an opportunity to sneak into the perfect area in western Guangdong, our sin will be unpardonable." Zuo Shuai's strategy seems to be excellent, but in fact it has loopholes in the west. Our troops will not move for the time being and wait for Bao Chaoting's army.
