Chapter 167 Zeng Guofan wants to give up
Empress Dowager Cixi received Li Hongzhang's memorial, thought about it again and again, and re-transmitted the edict: Zeng Guofan has returned to his post as governor of Liangjiang and will postpone his visit to the capital for the time being. Li Hongzhang, the governor of Jiangsu, was appointed as the Imperial Envoy, specializing in the suppression of bandits. Zhang Zongyu rebelled against the bandits and invaded Huayin. Zuo Zongtang and Qiao Songnian must quickly enter Shaanxi.
Zeng Guofan received the order and wrote: "I will hand over the Imperial Envoy to the Imperial Guard immediately, send him to Xuzhou, and hand him over to Li Hongzhang for camp." The emperor ordered me to return to my post. I am recovering from my illness and cannot be appointed as the governor of Liangjiang. If I leave the camp and return to my post, I may be afraid of being ridiculed. Please stay in the camp to take care of everything and maintain the morale of the Hunan and Huai army. , the ancients used the meaning of exhaustion if they are not obedient.
Cixi took over and ordered: Zeng Guofan asked the scattered soldiers to remain in the military camp where they can perform their duties, with the intention of working hard and not avoiding hardships and dangers. However, the governor-general of Liangjiang had heavy responsibilities. The Hunan and Huai army pay especially required Zeng Guofan to organize and provide relief. Like the former enemy governor, the imperial court relied on him. The governor is loyal and diligent in his work, and he is a special official of the imperial court. There is no need to worry about avoiding work and taking it easy.
Zhao Liewen observed the edict and said to Zeng Guofan: "Commander Di has not returned to his office for a long time, and it is difficult for Li Shaoquan to appoint him. Please think twice before proceeding; if Yuanfu impeaches the official document, Commander Di must not stand idle."
Zeng Guofan said: Xuzhou is six hundred miles away from here. If I retreat suddenly, this place will be empty. Let's wait until there is a slight chance of victory ahead, and then we will discuss whether to stay or go. Whenever a powerful person is powerful and powerful, I should not attack him, nor should I quarrel with him. I should respect him and keep him at a distance. This is the way to keep my name. Yuanfu was confused. Although Zuo Shuai was acting rampant for a while, he had not yet impeached someone as dignified as Guan Wen and Hu Jiayu. I immediately went to Shu, and while praising the officials and governors, I severely reprimanded Brother Yuan for being arrogant, thinking that I had turned a corner.
After Lai Wenguang said goodbye to Zhang Zongyu, he crossed the ancient Yellow River Road and returned to southwest Shandong. From Yuncheng to Peixian County, from north to south, spanning 400 miles, he attacked the canal defense line back and forth. After more than a month of fierce fighting, he was unable to break the defense.
Lai Wenguang said to King Renzhu of Lu: "The demon army is scattered in all directions. The demon was once stationed alone in Zhoukou. Why not quickly encircle it, take the demon dog's head, and kill them all."
Ren Zhu said: "To capture the thief, capture the king first, it won't be too late."
After Lai and Ren spoke, they immediately gathered the entire army and rushed thousands of miles to attack, arriving at the gate of Chenzhou City in five days.
Zeng Guofan rushed his troops to attack.
Zhao Liewen said: "Commander Qi, the bandits are so powerful that they should not be allowed to leave lightly. They must hold the city back and resist, waiting for reinforcements."
Zeng Guofan said: Bao Chaoting's army was stationed at Jingzi Pass to prevent Zhang Nian from returning; Liu Songshan's Hunan troops advanced from Ru and Luobei, trying to protect the Yellow River and choke Zhang's invasion of Jin; neither of the two troops could withdraw. The Ming Army's artillery team was heavily loaded and difficult to reach in ten days. Zhou Shengbo's and Zhang Shushan's armies also traveled in one or two days. If I show weakness, the bandits will be rampant; if I pass on my military orders, my soldiers will rush out of the city, the gongs and drums will be loud, and the artillery will be arrayed to frighten the enemy.
Once the army was full of energy, Lai Wenguang did not dare to fight, so he swam across the Shahe River and drove all the way south, heading straight for Hubei.
Zeng Guofan urgently ordered Zhou Shengbo and Zhang Shushan's troops to pursue and suppress them.
At the beginning of December, Liu Mingchuan led the Ming army to pursue him to Zhoukou, where he paid an audience with the vassal state and was polite. Ming Chuan was eager to enter Hubei.
Zeng Guofan refused and said, "Mingjun has been tired from traveling back and forth for too long. He needs to rest for three to five days. It's not too late to go to Hubei." Since last year, the province has defeated and restored Huangpi three times, and fought fiercely in Jining, Zhihe, Fuyang, and Fugou. The battle achievements are the greatest, and the labor is especially heavy. I secured five cases simultaneously, and asked for awards for the province's third case.
Liu Ming preached: Qi reported to Dishuai that Liu was incompetent and unable to suppress the bandits, which resulted in the failure of Dishuai.
Zeng Guofan said: It has nothing to do with the three things. The so-called temple has a legacy, and if the good plans fail, it is useless to reduce the age! Lai twists into the Hubei, and the energy is exhausted! Sheng's and Shu's armies have gone ahead to pursue and suppress; Guo Songlin's and Peng Yuju's two armies are intercepting De'an; Liu Bingzhang's army has arrived, and the three provinces have joined forces with them to march into Hubei; if Zhang Niu does not return, Bao Chaoting's army will also They can go to Hubei to support them; in addition, Li Zhaoqing's army also went to Hubei from Anhui to attack the bandits.
After Liu Ming's farewell message, the vassal state was again sparse: the emperor received the edict, respectfully reported it, and again reported it, and still asked the governor of Liangjiang to co-organize a vacancy for university scholars...
Not long after, the attached film of the vassal state read again: Lai and Ren were harassing Xiaogan, and the Hubei army won the battle. They called on Liu Bingzhang and Liu Mingchuan to join forces to track down and suppress them. Qian Yingpu, the head of the Ministry of Personnel, is serving in the camp. Please add the title of Fourth Rank Minister. Last year, Liu Songshan, Zhang Shiri and other troops won great victories in Xihua, Shangcai, Xinye and other places, and they submitted their cases to ask for awards. Consider mentioning Dingcao in Anhui and increasing the pay for the province's brave soldiers...
The Empress Dowager Cixi took over and said angrily: Zeng Guofan was unable to suppress the bandits, and he was talking about trivial matters. Quickly pass on the edict: Zeng Guofan should look up to the imperial court and share the worries of the country. How can he have any doubts and stubbornly insist on his own opinions! Immediately he complied with the previous decree and returned to his post in due course, so that Li Hongzhang could concentrate on suppressing the thieves and quickly perform his skills.
Zeng Guofan had no choice but to obey the edicts of the two palaces. After thinking about it again and again, he wrote: I will obey the order and return to Xuzhou to temporarily take charge of the governor of Liangjiang. Although I haven't recovered from my illness, I still beg to appoint him as the governor of Jiang, and I will serve as a scattered member of the army. When it comes to foreign affairs, I have never paid attention to it. I have asked Ding Richang, the Secretary of Transportation between the Huaihe River and Huaihe River, to take care of the Minister of Trade and Imperial Envoy for customs defense. This will definitely be beneficial to the current situation.
Zhao Liewen again advised: Report to Commander Di to investigate. Zhang Zongyu rebelled against the bandits and besieged Huayin for more than a month. They have now crossed Weibei. Bao Chao asked himself to move to Hubei to wipe out Lai and Renyi first. The war is urgent. Please hand over to Li Hongzhang as soon as possible.
Zeng Guofan said: How can I ignore the danger ahead? Immediately pass on my order, Liu Songshan, Zhang Xirong and others will quickly enter the Qin Dynasty from Tongguan to pursue and suppress Zhang Ni. If Zhang Ni does not return, Bao's troops will go to Hubei immediately.
Zhao Liewen said: Commander Di has resigned from his post. If there is a victory, the credit will be in Li Shaoquan's name; however, if the war goes wrong, Commander Di will make wedding clothes for others.
Zeng Guofan said: Don't you know that as the New Year is approaching, it is inconvenient to act rashly? As soon as the New Year is over, I will go to Xu. Bao Chaoting's army went south and joined forces with Ming, Sheng, Shu, Guo Songlin, and Peng Yuju. The Hunan and Huai armies totaled more than 70,000 people. They gathered in eastern Hubei to suppress the Lai and Ren rebel bandits. Experienced it personally, very shocked and regretful!
The Empress Dowager Cixi took over and said angrily: Zeng Guofan didn't know what was good or bad, and he repeatedly rejected the offer because of his illness. If the Ai family was appointed governor of Jiang and given to others, his wrath would definitely reach the sky.
Empress Dowager Ci'an said: If you reject someone once or twice, you are a humble gentleman; if you are stubborn over and over again, you are a rotten scholar and blunt person. Zeng Guofan annihilated Hong Ni and successfully disarmed the army. He did not suffer any loss. The so-called cunning rabbit will not die but the lackey will not be cooked! The Nian bandits have not been eliminated, so we must wait patiently for them. After Zeng Guoquan, Zuo Zongtang also impeached Guan Wen for not having a decent person on both sides. Mian Sen and Tan Tingxiang verified that Guan Wen was indeed guilty of misusing donated money.
The Empress Dowager Cixi said: "I have worked hard in the official position. It turns out that it is not corruption and deception. I will give him an advantage and save him. I will release the governor and still retain the bachelor and earl with a ten-year salary." The post of Lake Governor is temporarily filled by Tan Tingxiang. Immediately pass on the edict, Li Chenhongzhang and Zeng Chenguoquan must do their best to eliminate Lai Nian at the beginning of their entry into Hubei, and do not allow the thieves to overflow again and wreak havoc on the two lakes.
