Chapter 173: The Western Nian Army is at the end of its rope (4)
On May 21, 1868, Zuo Zongtang and Li Hongzhang had a great time drinking and chatting in Mulberry Garden, Dezhou, and met with businessmen for great speculation.
Li Hongzhang said: "Everyone was confused by the car in front of Sengdi, Zhang Gong Shushan and Peng Gong Yuju. But Zuo Gong led his troops to find the thief. He went forward without hesitation and dared to be the first. Hongzhang admired him very much." It's the rainy season, Zhilu Plain, thousands of miles of quagmire, and the advantage of the thieves' powerful cavalry is gone. My idea is to use the Yellow River in the south, the canal in the west, the sea in the east, and the Jianhe River in the north. We should set up a long siege to trap it and encircle it on the spot. Guo Songlin, Yang Dingxun, Song Qing, Zhang Yao and other troops can achieve great things if they follow them quietly.
Zuo Zongtang said: Brother Li has eliminated Lai Nian, so he is confident. In view of the destruction of Lai Ni, Zhang Ni was alert day and night. As soon as he heard about the siege, he clashed with all his strength, as fast as the wind, and disappeared in an instant. If we don't send out the troops to stalk and suppress them, the thieves will wait for the opportunity to harass the perfect area.
Li Hongzhang said: Zuo Gong is really as careful as his hair. Hongzhang intended that the northern section could be jointly guarded by Pan Ding's Xinding Army and Chonghou's Yangqiang Brigade. They could re-excavate Cangzhou's Jiedi Dam and divert the canal water into the Jiahe River. Both water and military forces should be used to strictly control Zhang Nian's movement to the north; In this section, all ferry crossings of the Yellow River were tightly blocked, and all ships on the north bank were transferred to the south bank, guarded by Shandong officials. In the eastern section, fishing boats were strictly prohibited from entering the sea to prevent thieves from crossing the sea. In the west, from Zhang Qiu, the Yellow River water was diverted into the canal, and the Huaihe River was also used. The army, Lu army, and Anhui army defended in sections; in order to prevent danger before it happened, Governor Zuo led Liu Songshan, Guo Baochang and others to strictly control the west of the canal and provide the strongest backup for our armies.
Zuo Zongtang said: Brother Li takes in the mountains, rivers and ravines with his chest, and Zuo will follow it carefully.
Li Hongzhang said: The quickest way is to ride the Yellow River to subdue the floods, shrink the land and encircle it, use the canal as the outer perimeter and the Majia River as the inner enclosure, and compress the west twist into the narrow strip south of the Majia River and north of the Tuhai River. If the walls are strong and the fields are cleared, thieves will have nothing to eat, and then they can be surrounded and killed, and great things will surely happen.
Zuo Zongtang said: It is a good thing to drive the thieves to the Majia River and Tuhai River, surround them and annihilate them. However, the area is too narrow, so we must prevent the thieves from overflowing again.
Li Hongzhang said: Don't worry, Mr. Zuo, the thief is at the end of a strong crossbow. He has no courage left, and has no fear even if it overflows. Marshal Di sent a letter saying that he had sent personnel to Hefei in accordance with the order, urging Liu Ming to sell the fake goods and quickly go to Zhili and Shandong military camps. And Li Chen: Among the divisions that suppressed Ni, Liu Mingchuan was the most courageous, but he was tired and tired, and Ming's army was the most powerful. Remembering the police in Jifu this year, if Ren and Lai Yiyi had not been eliminated first last year, the overall situation would have been disastrous. If you sincerely send an edict to reward someone for his meritorious deeds and to comfort him for his hard work, then one word of praise from heaven will be better than tens of thousands of letters from ministers. The third day of Liu Sheng's reign has come, and the time has come for Zhang Ni's death!
Zuo Zongtang said: "I heard that in the battle of Yinlong River, Liu Shengsan broke the promise first. Did Brother Li understand the details?"
Li Hongzhang said: "In the battle of Yinlonghe, I have consulted the two Dukes Dishuai and Yuanfu in detail. They all said that Ting's army was violent and Chrysostom's mutiny preceded it. The court also offset the merits and demerits without going into details. Bao Chunting volunteered to open the vacancy. What can be done?
Zuo Zongtang said: "Don't worry about other things. If the Ting and Ming armies kept pace, Nian Ni would have been completely destroyed long ago, and there would be nothing like what happened today."
Zhang Zongyu led the remnants of the Western Nian army to attack Tianjin but failed, so he went south again and entered Lu. It was late summer, with continuous rain, and the water in the Yellow River, Canal, and Tuhai River was swollen. Zhang Zongyu stopped in Gaotang, looked at the water and sighed: Ten years ago, brother Tian Kaifang failed in his Northern Expedition and died here in battle. Could it be that we are going to do this again? My fate is up to me and not from heaven. The army quickly crosses the Tuhai River and escapes to heaven.
Zuo Zongtang observed the battle situation and reported: The rebels are unable to succeed in the south, so they must still be determined to the north. If they wait quietly for the thieves to arrive, they will be caught off guard. Although the ministers, Liu Songshan, Guo Yunchang, and Xichang Mabu's troops temporarily shared the defense of the river and canal, and also provided for rest and recuperation, analyzing the situation of the thieves, they will definitely flee north in the near future, and they can also use the encircling army to intercept them. Not without help in suppressing the bureau.
When the Empress Dowager Cixi heard the memorial, she said angrily: The siege and blockade lasted for more than a month. The West Nian River has not yet been leveled. Now that the one-month limit has expired, she is still running freely. Zuo Zongtang and Li Hongzhang are unable to pursue them. The two sides have been strictly discussed with the Ministry of Justice, and they have been awarded the title of General Shengjing. Duxing Aqin sent ministers to guard the country, and Chiyi went to supervise the suppression.
Li Hongzhang accepted the order, but he didn't take it seriously and said: If the emperor's order is not accepted, the empress dowager will know about the war in Lu! The capital is six hundred miles away from here. Du Xing'a has not yet arrived. Zhang Ni may have committed suicide. I sent my military order. Liu Mingchuan, the president, pursued and suppressed the encircling army. He must destroy Zhang's thieves in the north of Lu.
The Western Nian Army was trapped in the north of Lu, with no food in the wild, and failed to make breakthroughs. After two months of wandering, its situation was extremely difficult. In early August, Zhang Zongyu and others broke through to Dezhou Mulangyuan, but failed to cross the canal by force, so they rushed to Dongchang from Gaotang and Boping. On the way, they encountered Liu Mingchuan, Guo Songlin, Pan Dingxin, Song Qing, and Zhang Yao. They fought several times and killed two thousand people. Most of the remnants of the West Nian army died in the battle. Zhang Zongyu quietly crossed the Tuhai River and broke out. After counting the men and horses, there were only eighteen battle cavalry left.
Zhang Zongyu sighed: We came from Qin to Lu to rescue King Zun! The power of the matter is one, and the camp is thousands of miles long. The autumn is high and the horses are fat. I just hope that I can cross the Yellow River with a call. Unexpectedly, it is blocked by the Yellow River, and the autumn rains will cause trouble again. The weather, time and place are all lost at the same time. This is a sudden event, and it is not due to the lack of planning. Preliminary.
Everyone shouted: This life is over. Eighteen years later, I will join Liang Dian again and kill demons.
Zhang Zongyu said: "The road is not exhausted, this life is not over yet, brothers, please follow me again, go to Henan and Sichuan, and rebuild the kingdom of heaven."
After Zhang Zongyu finished speaking, he led 18 war cavalry and ran all night. At three o'clock, they entered a village in the territory of Yiping and found a place to sleep soundly.
In the early morning of the next day, when everyone woke up from their dreams, King Liang was nowhere to be seen. He searched all over the countryside and found only his pair of shoes by the river.
The Western Nian army was destroyed, and Li Hongzhang immediately sent troops to report: The officers and soldiers had completely wiped out all the Western Nian bandits, and the bandit Zhang Zongyu had also committed suicide by drowning. I would like to give you an overview of the situation and play it first to comfort the deceased and to beg the emperor. The Holy Mirror of the Queen Mother and the Emperor.
Both Lai and Zhang were destroyed, and the two palaces wept with joy. They quickly ordered the cabinet to reward Li Hongzhang with his yellow mantle and flower feathers on both eyes. He was also awarded the title of Crown Prince and Taibao, co-organizer of the bachelor's degree, and was awarded the title of Governor of Huguang. Zuo Zongtang was awarded the title of Prince Taibao. All previous punishments were revoked and he, together with Ding Baozhen, Ying Han and others, were handed over to the Ministry of Finance for discussion of first-class military merit.
Zuo Zongtang received the order and was very angry. He did not regard the Huai army's annihilation of the thieves as a matter of course, nor did he go to the memorial to ask for merit. He wanted to see Zhang thief Zong Yu in life and death, but wanted to find Zhang thief Zong Yu's body. The governor's army went out in all directions to search. Tick.
Li Hongzhang was so angry that he wrote to Zeng Guofan: Zhang Ni was destroyed this time because of the favorable time, place and people. Zhuan Yizuo Gonglu will go to the end. His true nature as a man was revealed here. I wonder why Duke Hu Wenzhong held him in such high esteem.
After Hongzhang's letter, he wrote again: It has been more than ten years since the rebellion was launched. Although they have not occupied many cities, their attack and defense skills are not as good as those of the Cantonese bandits, but they are more fierce and good at fighting than they are.
Zeng Guofan, the current governor of Liangjiang, a bachelor, has been in charge for more than a year. He has planned a post-war war. Although he has not seen immediate results, the strategy of enclosing the long wall has actually got its key points. The ministers have to make every effort to make the best use of it. It has actually been started by Zeng Guofan. Of. Since returning to office, he has worked in harmony with his ministers in everything, spared no effort in raising pay and troops, and has been loyal and sincere.
I am now fortunate to be entrusted with the mighty spirit of the Holy Lord, and the Central Plains is determined. Can you please give me some grace to comfort the loyal people? In addition, all civil and military officials and various officials who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty, sacrificed their lives for the country, and were not involved in the king's affairs since the suppression of Ni can be ordered to find out and show favors, and use the emperor's benevolence to build morale.
Empress Dowager Cixi took up the report and said: Zeng Guofan prepared the arms for the Huai army's rear route, so that Li Hongzhang and others could defeat the enemy completely. Zeng Guofan was given a favor and the rank of Yunqi Lieutenant, and he was discussed with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Prince Gong Yixin said: "The flood has been poisoning the south of the Yangtze River for more than ten years, and there have been countless plunders. The city of Jinling has been destroyed, but there is no trace of wealth. Children in the market also know what is fishy."
The Empress Dowager Cixi said: The two rebellions of Fa and Nian were completely eliminated. In terms of rewards for merit, Zeng Guofan came out on top. He quickly ordered the cabinet, Zeng Guofan asked the governor of Zhili to make up for the situation, and the governor of Liangjiang asked Ma Xinyi, the governor of Zhejiang, to make the change. Li Hongzhang should go to Beijing to see your majesty as soon as possible. He took up the post of governor of Huguang.
Empress Dowager Ci'an said: "Although Ma Xinyi followed Yuan Jia in three campaigns, his military achievements were mediocre. Can he intimidate Fu Mang?"
Yi Xin also said: Ma Xinyi's qualifications are mediocre, so he may not be able to take up the post of Liangjiang. In the fourth year of Tongzhi, Zeng Guofan tried to prevent Wu Tang from taking over the post of Liangjiang. He will definitely stop him again this time.
Empress Dowager Cixi said: The direct governor is the head of Xinjiang. Zeng Guofan declined all difficulties; Ma Xinyi went to Liangjiang and threw stones to ask for directions. I will watch the competition between all parties. For the governorship of these two rivers, Peng Yulin was the best choice. Unfortunately, this man resigned as governor of Anhui, then as governor of water transportation, and then as minister of war. Peng started out as a poor scholar, and then returned as a poor scholar. He returned with the same intention. What can be done?
Empress Dowager Ci'an said: "In that case, I will issue an edict and watch the actions of various officials."
The Empress Dowager Cixi said: "Both hair and twist are destroyed. In a peaceful world, there is no need to fight and kill." Quickly tell Ma Xinyi to come to Beijing to see your majesty, and I want to give you a face-to-face instruction. In addition, Zeng Guofan was ordered to clear up all the troops in the east and west, so the armies in Hunan and Huaihe should be dismissed as soon as possible to save money and relieve the people's hardship. It was conveyed to Li Hongzhang that before going to Beijing to meet the emperor, he should first report the matter of abolishing Huai Yong.
When Zeng Guofan received the order, he also expressed many emotions and wrote to Li Hongzhang, saying: Since the end of the autumn, there have been waves one after another. I have never wavered in doubts and slanders, and I have never been surprised by favors and disgrace. I have been able to fight against all odds. I am gratified to have achieved this extraordinary feat, and my moral power is particularly respectable. This time we go north to Xinjiang, and we have huge responsibilities, worries and joys.
Li Hongzhang received the letter and replied: "It's like meeting my mentor. The hair and twist are all destroyed, and the bird is broken and the bow is broken. I hereby write to my mentor about the disarmament policy and pray for his correction." Most of the Jianghuai armies were disbanded, except for Liu Mingchuan's first army stationed at Zhangqiu Town in southern Ji to guard the capital. Guo Songlin's Wu Yi army was reduced to five battalions in preparation for urgent needs. Pan Dingxin and Zhou Shengbo both insisted on leaving the country by default. Pan Zhiding's army suppressed the bandits from Zuo Shuai, and Zhou's Sheng army followed me into Hubei. However, it is difficult to have both worldly affairs and the beauty of being a grown-up. The teacher warned that if a family is prosperous, profits will lead to losses. Hezhang and Zhaoqing retreated to their hometowns and retired to their hometowns. In order to achieve perfection, Governor Zhou Sheng led the Sheng and Chuan battalions to follow me into Hubei. They will pass through Jinling at that time, and I will ask my mentor for further information.
The Western Nian Army was completely destroyed, and the imperial court rewarded him very well. Zuo Zongtang was unhappy.
Liu Songshan and others repeatedly urged.
Zuo Zongtang said: "The eradication of Zhang Ni is a great and important task bestowed by our emperor. However, we have repeatedly missed the opportunity to fight, but in the end we have to make wedding clothes for others."
Liu Songshan said: "The troops are ruthless and the war is unpredictable. Commander Zuo has done his best."
Zuo Zongtang said: "I and Li Hongzhang have decided on the strategy of encircling the river and chasing the enemy. However, Li used the power of commanding the army to send all the Huai people to compete. Our army can only watch from the side and sigh at the sight of the thieves." I am not extending the Qin army and suppressing the Huai Yong. However, what Li did before and after was indeed a result of great achievements and pretentiousness.
On that day, Zuo Zongtang played again: Fu Si took the ice bridge against Shanxi and was to blame for his neglect of planning. He pursued the thief at the junction of Shanxi and Henan, but failed to complete the task as soon as possible. Waiting for the thief to harass Shandong, spy on him. In Tianjin and Zhigu, I both defended and suppressed the rebels, but failed to annihilate the rebels within the specified date. This can be seen from my lack of coordination. If I beg the Empress Dowager to withdraw my order, I will feel a little less worried and angry.
The two palaces received Zuo Zongtang's memorial and further said: Zuo Chen pursued and suppressed for thousands of miles, and his hard work has made great achievements. There is no need to discuss his achievements. The military affairs of Shaanxi and Gansu are urgent. Zuo Chen Zongtang must lead Liu Songshan, Guo Baochang, Xichang and other armies to cross the river from Jin to Qin and sweep away the bandits in Yanzhou, Yan'an, Suide, Yulin and other places. Before Zuo Chen enters Qin, he must first See you in Beijing.
