Chapter 165 Zeng Guofan painted a river circle (3)
After the great victory in Caozhou, all the leaders of the Nian army wanted to cross the Yellow River north and march directly to the capital. King Lai Wenguang overcame all opinions and said: In less than a month, Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang's demon army will arrive; the monk demons are harassing them all the way, and they are brave but not wise. Zeng Yao is good at forging strongholds, Li Yaoyi is very powerful with weapons, we cannot take it lightly.
Zhang Zongyu, the king of Liang, said: "Your Highness, King Zun, is reporting from the front. The army of Yinghan Yao'er, Chief Secretary of Anhui Province, is now gathering in Bozhou." Our Eighteen Shops gathered together in Zhiheji, Bozhou. His Royal Highness King Wo was also betrayed by the demon and was killed by Yinghan Yao'er. Since it is impossible to cross north, why not rush south, surround and kill the heroic demon, and avenge King Wo and his brothers who died.
Lai Wenguang said: "Brother Liang's words are reasonable. After raising food and funds, the army quickly went south to encircle and annihilate Yinghan Yao'er; then quickly gathered at the Pheasant River to set up defenses and wait for Zeng and Li Yao'er."
On that day, the Nian Army led by Commanders Lai Wenguang and Zhang Zongyu crossed the Jiangsu-Henan border area and flew south. In one month, they arrived at Bozhou County in northern Anhui. King Renzhu of Lu fought with all his strength and captured Longshan Town.
Qiao Songnian, the governor of Anhui, rushed to Zhiheji to discuss defense with Yinghan, the feudal lord, and Shi Nianzu, a Taoist priest.
Qiao Songnian said: "After the death of Monk Di, the bandits became very powerful. We must make the worst plan."
Yinghan said: "Master Zhongcheng is the governor of the army in front of the formation. I am grateful for my humble position." After Miao Lian and Zhang Niu died, we all thought that Anhui was already peaceful. However, the powerful people insisted on their own opinions and left Han and others to garrison in Anhui. We are ashamed of the knowledge of Master Zhongcheng who has a commanding position!
Qiao Songnian said: The feudal lord was polite and rebellious. Miao Lian was extinct. Li Zhaoshou also relieved the military power. However, the remnant went to Hubei to invade Lu and Su, which gradually became a serious problem. In addition to recruiting brave men to protect themselves, I asked the Queen Mother again. Miao Peilin and the rest of the party have not committed evil, so please be merciful. Li Zhaoshou dismissed the brave men, fearing that they would become thieves, and asked Jizhou County to rectify the arrests to avoid future troubles. .
Yinghan said: "Your Majesty's memorial to ask for the construction of county officials at the intersection of Pheasant River is also forward-looking." From what I see, your Majesty, if Commander Zeng Di went north to suppress the bandits, would he be able to defeat them quickly?
Qiao Songnian said: The Holy Empress Dowager ordered Zeng Guofan to go north to suppress the banditry, which can also clean up the banditry. However, I think that the vassal state has been managing military affairs for a long time, and its spirit is worse than before. Moreover, it is accustomed to taking on strong strongholds and fighting dull battles, so it is difficult to suppress the bandits. Li Hongzhang's talent is inferior to that of the vassal state, and he is still very young. If he replaces the vassal state as the governor of Shandong, he will be able to quickly put an end to the situation. Furthermore, Li Hongzhang is also a native of Anhui, so how can he allow Sangzi to cause chaos?
Yinghan said: Mr. Zhongcheng has a great opinion, but it is a pity that things in the world are not as expected. However, the Nian bandits are swift and fierce, and the Zeng Di commander is hesitant and delayed, which may be a disaster for me. I would like to ask Lord Zhongcheng to retreat to the provincial capital as soon as possible and coordinate the overall situation. We will fight the Nian bandits here until death.
Qiao Songnian said: "Master Fantai, why do you say this? We are all closely related in life and death." All the brave men of the Eight Banners of Green Camp in Anhui Province are commanded by Lord Fantai. I will immediately consult with the training minister Zhang Yao, the commander-in-chief of Nanyang Town Song Qing, and the commander-in-chief Zhang Desheng of Jianning Town. They will lead various ministries and come to the rescue as soon as possible. Anyone who delays and disobeys the military order will be killed! Zeng Guofan has already sent troops to the north. I will immediately ask him to divide his troops and respond quickly. If he delays, I will impeach him.
Yinghan said: "Thank you Lord Zhongcheng for your care. The bandits have captured Longshan. We will set up a battle formation outside Beitaizi Temple and fight to the death with the bandits."
Qiao Songnian said: If we win this battle, we will not pursue it; if we lose, we will quickly retreat to Beitaizi Temple and resist stubbornly; if we lose again, we will retreat to Zhiheji and rely on the Guohe River to delay the rebels; then reinforcements from all walks of life will arrive. , attack from inside and outside, and win the battle.
While Qiao and Ying were talking, the Nian army had already attacked Beitaizi Temple. Yinghan bid farewell to Qiao Songnian and personally led the 17th battalion of the Qing army. They resisted to the death and fought fiercely for two hours, losing 2,000 troops. Yinghan did not dare to fight anymore. , withdrew to the Pheasant River Collection, took the city back to the river, and resisted stubbornly.
Lai Wenguang lacked boats and artillery and was unable to attack the fortress, so he had to force the city to camp and besieged it on all sides. He fought for thirty-five days without touching the city walls.
Yinghan stayed alone for more than a month, feeling uneasy and worried, saying: "The food supplies will be exhausted and reinforcements will not arrive. This place may be our death place."
Taoist priest Shi Nianzu said: Don't worry, Lord Fantai, quickly coordinate the food supplies. Within ten days, we will have enough food to support you; after ten days, reinforcements from all walks of life will arrive.
Yinghan said: Seriously?
Shi Nianzu said: Song Qing, Zhang Desheng, Zhang Yao and others will not dare to be lazy and will act immediately after hearing the news. Zeng Guofan had already stationed in Linhuai. With an order, Huai and Hunan troops came in droves.
Yinghan said: "Previously, Zeng Guofan first did not help Jiang Zhongyuan, secondly did not save Wu Wenrong, and thirdly did not help Wang Youling. I am a coward, and I am a Manchu, so it is difficult for me to get into the eyes of the Zeng family."
Shi Nianzu said: As the old saying goes, those who bravely shake the master are in danger, but those who have made great achievements will not be rewarded; Zeng Guofan has read history books, so he naturally understands it well. When Jinling was restored, the Zeng brothers cut down their troops and withdrew their generals in order to protect themselves. However, the remnants of war suddenly arose, and the Zeng family was caught off guard, and the troops under them were also a mob. If they don't save me today, there will be no one to help them tomorrow!
Yinghan said: Zeng Guofan has a far-sighted strategy and forgets his own interests. He must know the benefits and disadvantages involved. I will send another message immediately, pleading for the rapid dispatch of powerful troops.
When Zeng Guofan received the urgent document from Qiao Songnian and Yinghan, he did not dare to neglect it and gave urgent orders: The Zhihe camp was besieged and was in dire straits for a long time. The Huai and Hunan armies must do their best to rescue them.
Zhao Liewen said: Qizhen Shuai, why are you so urgent?
Zeng Guofan said: Previously we divided our troops for rescue, so we were cautious. Now that the flood has been destroyed, the general trend of the world has been determined. After sweeping away this group of rebel bandits, the rivers and seas will be clear, and I will completely conquer the Xiangyong and eliminate a huge trouble for the country.
Zhao Liewen said: Qi Dishuai, the so-called change of time is also easy. If you retreat bravely from the rapids, you will be unarmed and empty, but you will be controlled by others.
Zeng Guofan said: My life is not worth cherishing! During the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, all the princes were in charge of their own affairs; at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Liu Bei, Cao Cao, and Sun Quan supported their own troops; during the Tianbao period of the prosperous Tang Dynasty, the Anlushan and Shi Siming vassal towns were separated, which caused harm for thousands of years. I am from the territory of Xinjiang, I have financial power, and I am supplemented by military power. If I am not reserved, I should follow the mistakes of my predecessors. How happy it is to bravely retreat from the rapids, pick fences on the east mountain, compose poems and drink wine! Immediately pass on my order, Liu Mingchuan, Zhou Shengbo, Zhang Shiri, and Yi Kaijun immediately set out to Bozhou County to encircle and annihilate the Nien bandits.
Liu Mingchuan and others received the order and quickly moved from Linhuai to Zhiheji. Yi Kaijun, the commander-in-chief of Shouchun Town, entered the Zhaxi Yangji and left the battlefield without permission on the grounds of eye problems. Song Qing, Zhang Yao and others also refused to patrol. Liu Mingchuan was disdainful and took charge of the Huai army. He fired a hundred artillery salvos and launched an attack brazenly. .
The cannons roared and Yinghan wept with joy, so he ordered the militia to guard the city wall. Together with Shi Nianzu, he led 4,000 strong soldiers, poured out of the city gate, and attacked vertically and horizontally.
Being attacked from the front and back, with soldiers all around, Lai Wenguang and Zhang Zongyu did not dare to fight anymore, so they divided their troops into two groups, one to the north and one to the west, and retreated.
Liu Mingchuan, Zhang Shiri and others stopped after a brief pursuit, chatted with Yinghan, Shi Nianzu and others for a while, stationed troops at Zhiheji, and waited for Zeng Guofan's military order.
