Chapter 169 Lai Wenguang vs. Yin Longhe (1)
News of the defeat of the Song and Shu armies arrived in Beijing. The imperial censor Mu Jixiang'a impeached Zeng Guofan for being arrogant and willful, not doing well in suppressing bandits, and ineffective in supervising his divisions.
Empress Dowager Cixi said: For more than a year, the generals sent by Zeng Guofan have been driving through Lu, Henan, Chu, Anhui and other provinces, sparing no effort, and annihilating a lot of thieves. Although they have not been able to achieve full success, they will not be comparable to those who have hindered the military situation! The censor's performance is beyond debate.
Empress Dowager Ci'an said: Outside the east of Hubei, the Nian movement in Shaanxi is becoming increasingly rampant. Zhang Nian went west from Xuzhou, bypassed Tongguan, Shangzhou, and Qinling Mountains, and surrounded Huayin for more than forty days. Liu Songshan failed to pursue and suppress Liu Rong, and was defeated in Huazhou. After more than 700 casualties, he was defeated again in Baqiao. The 30th Battalion of Xiangyong lost most of it. Admirals Yang Desheng, Xiao Jishan, Xiao Changqing, The commander-in-chief Xiao Deyang and the alternate Xiao Degang both died in the battle formation.
Empress Dowager Cixi said: Now the Shaanxi army has been defeated and there are no more troops to mobilize. Nian bandits are roaming everywhere, and there is almost no land left for thieves. It is hereby proposed that Zuo Zongtang will go to Shaanxi and Gansu immediately. There is no need to come to Beijing for the time being. He will use the existing troops to enter the pass through the pass and make proper preparations to meet expectations. What does Mr. Liu mean?
Prince Gong Yixin said: Only when the power belongs to one person can he focus. With Zuo Zongtang's words, there is hope for Shaanxi and Gansu; Zeng Guofan quickly returned to Jinling to take charge, and Li Hongzhang had no constraints.
Empress Dowager Cixi said: The Governor-General of Shaanxi-Gansu is not able to control the governor, so Zuo Zongtang, the Imperial Envoy Minister, is hereby given the full power to oversee the military and political affairs of Shaanxi-Gansu. Immediately pass on the edict, Zuo Chen Zongtang must go all the way. In addition, since Zengchen Guofan has accepted the seal script of Liangjiang Governor, all the officials' salary collection and local affairs are of vital importance; and Jinling cannot be without honors and high officials sitting in charge. He immediately returned to the provincial capital to serve as a deterrent. The governor should be loyal to the country, and he should look up to the imperial court and rely on the emperor to promote the country. All military arrangements are still subject to Li Hongzhang's consultation at any time for his benefit.
Zuo Zongtang received the order and wrote: "The situation in the West is urgent now. We neither dare to stay in Wuchang and miss the military plane, nor do we dare to act presumptuously and regret it." A humble minister does not seek instant success, but seeks final victory.
According to the wishes of the minister, proceed slowly and quickly to fight, twist first and then mix, first Qin and then Long. The Nian bandits are erratic and quick, and they are also good at riding. They are very difficult to control. In the overall situation of the Western Expedition, there is no chance of winning unless we increase the cavalry team and focus on car camps. If the chariots and artillery are combined, the chariot camp and the troops are used to block the horse thieves, and the cavalry troops are used to copy behind, there may be a chance of victory.
In addition to bringing his own 3,000 soldiers, I also selected 3,000 from my old army in Hunan. I asked Liu Dian to be the envoy to Gansu and help with the military affairs of Shaanxi and Gansu. I quickly recruited 6,000 soldiers in Hunan. Gao Lian was promoted to an army of 6,000 and quickly moved north from Guangdong.
The soldiers and horses have not moved, but the food and grass go first. The minister went north to collect the salary and silver: Zhejiang was requested to pay 840,000 taels per year, and Guangdong and Fujian each gave 480,000 taels. For the remaining shortfall, Taoist member Hu Xueyan borrowed 1.2 million taels of silver from foreign merchants in Shanghai.
All the above items are necessary to suppress the bandits, and I beg the Empress Dowager and the Emperor for their approval. I would like to play.
The Empress Dowager Cixi took up the report and said: Zuo Chenzongtang is good at judging the opportunity when using troops, and will win every battle. This time, we will stop in Wuchang and advance slowly to fight quickly. It may be appropriate to follow the advice. Has Zeng Chenguofan arrived in Xuzhou to hand over and consult with Li Chenhongzhang? The Military Aircraft Department must urge you repeatedly. Zeng Chen Guoquan must quickly order the generals in Hunan and Huaihe to annihilate and let the thieves rebel between Tangbai River and Xianghe River.
Zeng Guofan continued his edict and set out on the road on the sixth day of the first lunar month without further delay, arriving in Xuzhou on the 15th.
Li Hongzhang came out to greet him and knelt before him. He said repeatedly: "My master is working hard. My master is working hard. Please go to the room and rest."
Zeng Guofan said: "The task of suppressing the bandits is heavy, but we have a lot of work to do. Is there any good strategy for killing the bandits?"
Li Hongzhang said: "Guo Songlin's army was defeated in De'an, Duke Zhang Shushan was killed in battle, and the traitor Zhang Yiyi was killed. Can my mentor order Ting's army to enter Hubei quickly?"
Zeng Guofan said: "When I heard that Duke Zhang Shushan had passed away, I immediately ordered Ting's army to come to Hubei to help."
Li Hongzhang said: Many thanks to my mentor, Liu Ming Chuan Department has joined forces with Lai Nian. Together with Ting and Ming, they will be invincible and will surely kill Canniu.
Zeng Guofan said: There is a popular rumor among thieves that Chief Lai is good at planning and Chief Ren is good at fighting; the soldiers of the Tang Chief are invincible. Chieftain Ren has the most powerful cavalry, and he is Xiang Yu's concubine, who is also a weirdo among people; Chieftain Rirong of Tang Dynasty, was originally a subordinate of Chief Shidakai, escaped to heaven, left Shu and entered Shaanxi, and became a demon in a hundred battles; these two chieftains, Does Shaoquan have any special plan to deal with it?
Li Hongzhang said: "To report to my mentor, Hongzhang found out that the Tang chieftains were powerful, but they still flaunted the banner of chieftaincy and were unwilling to surrender. Although chieftain Lai and chieftain Ren did not say anything, they were really jealous. I have given orders." Countermeasures. Although Chief Ren has a heart of stone, his subordinates are a mixed bag and are by no means monolithic. If a large army surrounds and kills him, and with both kindness and power, he will surely gain something.
Zeng Guofan said: I hope Yuanfu can integrate all the armies and punish Lai and let the thieves go against the mountains and rivers of Jianghan.
The Nian army defeated Guo Songlin on the first occasion and Zhang Shushan on the second, which greatly boosted their morale. The kings discussed where to go again, and King Tang Rirong of De said: There are two strong monsters, Ting and Ming, in the north, the Yangtze River in the south, and the Han River in the west. The only feasible way is to drive into Anhui from the east, then attack Tianjing, and transfer the monsters back to defend. Choose an opportunity to encircle and annihilate.
King Zun Lai Wenguang rejected it based on Zhuge Kongming's "Longzhong Dui".
Tang Rirong was indignant and said: The Han River is blocking the West Road, and our army of one hundred thousand cannot swim across it, and we must be driven by monsters! I remember that at the beginning, I was the vanguard of the Wing Palace and the commander of the central banner. I fought fiercely in Sichuan for two years, and I didn't know how difficult the road to Shu was!
That night, when Tang Rirong was sleeping, he was executed by Lai Wenguang.
The kings were puzzled, and Lai Wenguang said: "I have to intercept Tang Rong's money and clear the demon documents for the sake of the overall situation."
The generals under King De were not angry and discussed privately. A said: After the death of King Yi, King De did not surrender to Miliangba to invite Lingding's favor, and did not descend to Black Rock Crossing to protect the safety of his leader. It was not Zheng Yonghe. , Ma Ronghe and others.
Yi said: With our new victory, Jianghan is shaken, Bashu is frightened, everything is destroyed, and there is no victory without a battle. The most stupid person in the world will not surrender to the master and destroy the country, but to descend here?
Bing said: The Virtue Palace attaches great importance to the King of Wings, and still raises the flag of the King of Wings. He is jealous of him, so he kills him, and he has won us, killing two eagles with one stone, why not?
Ding said: If you want to inflict a crime, there is no need to hesitate. Lai can kill King De today, and he can kill us tomorrow. If the time is right, walking is the best.
Bao Chaoting's army and Liu Mingchuan's army were advancing day by day. Lai Wenguang summoned the kings again to discuss attack and defense.
King Renzhu of Lu said: The demon army is composed of 70,000 to 80,000 people, gathering on all sides. If I cannot completely annihilate one of them, it will be very difficult for me to swim across the Han River.
Lai Wenguang looked at the map, pondered for a long time, and said: Ukou Town is located between the Han River and the Yinlong River; in this section of the Han River, the river surface is narrow and the water flow is slow, so it can be crossed; here, the soil is fertile and the water is abundant, and the food is abundant. , the supply is abundant. Liu Yaoming has said that he is coming from the east. If he attacks, he will have to cross the Yinlong River. It is difficult for the artillery and baggage to accompany him. I can attack him while he is halfway across. Bao Yao's army can only be restrained by sending a strong force.
Li Yuntai, King of Wei, said: "If you divide your troops, your army will be single. It is better to join forces to defeat Liu Yao, and then defeat Bao Yao. It will be more stable."
King Lu Renzhu is also attached.
Lai Wenguang said: Bao Yao's Ting tribe and Liu Yao's Ming tribe are both the most powerful among the demons. If they attack from both sides, I have no chance of winning. I must plan a perfect strategy to separate and destroy them. After passing on my military order, the army rushed to the west bank of Yinlong River, built forts and dredged the river, and rested and prepared.
