Chapter 197 Zuo Zongtang prepares to invade Xinjiang (2)
Zuo Zongtang received the order, knelt down and recited it again and again. He was overjoyed and ordered Liu Jintang to quickly move the 25th camp from Liangzhou to Suzhou on horseback to get ready for departure. Zongtang sat alone in Lanzhou, waiting only for Liu Dian to come to Ganzhou.
On March 3, 1876, Liu Dian, the former governor of Shaanxi Province, arrived. Zongtang held his hand to welcome him and said happily, "Brother Hou'an has arrived, and Zuo Mou has the ear of Longwangjiang."
Liu Dian also sighed and said: I left Long because I was physically and mentally exhausted; now I feel refreshed and will definitely help Brother Ji Gao.
Zuo Zongtang said: "Liu Jintang's army has set off, and after handing over to my brother, I will go to Suzhou to supervise the war. Brother Laohou'an will take care of the military affairs, peace of the people, army support, farming, grain transportation, and pensions in Shaanxi and Gansu."
Liu Diandao: "Now that I have come to Ganlong, I have no choice but to shoulder my responsibilities." In the expedition into Xinjiang, military affairs and pay are all fundamental. Does Zuo Shuai have enough money?
Zuo Zongtang said: The empress dowagers of the two palaces have specially allocated ten million taels of silver, and the salary and silver are abundant; the salary and silver are abundant, the food supplies are abundant, and the firearms are sufficient. Krupp breech-loading cannons, mountain-splitting cannons, and large and small trumpets are in bloom. Breech-loading cannons, frog cannons, seven-shot breech-loading guns, rapid-fire guns, etc. have all been equipped in all armies. Liu Jintang, Jin Shun, Zhang Yao, Xu Zhanbiao, Jin Yunchang and other powerful soldiers have been ready to make a move for a long time. I would also like to warn the generals that the main force of the suppression must move forward step by step and look back step by step to conquer and recover a city and a fortress. It is advisable to divide the troops and garrison them. At key points and roads, they must set up defenses and use clear roads to report quickly. As the journey progressed further and further, the troops became more and more divided and thin, so they had to prepare in advance and increase their deployment. The main defense army should coordinate the key passes of the castle based on the terrain, and determine the number of troops based on the danger and remoteness of the terrain. Do not prepare guerrilla divisions to prepare for emergencies. The defensive troops should have more steps and fewer cavalry; the supporting troops should have fewer steps but more cavalry. The land has a certain shape, and the number of soldiers can be determined.
Liu Diandao: "Unfortunately, Commander Zuo is already in his sixtieth year and cannot supervise the battle in front of the formation. Are the arrangements for the front camp in place?"
Zuo Zongtang said: Liu Jintang, Xining Road, Xining Road, the Prime Minister's Camp Affairs Office has been given face-to-face instructions for the advance and arrival of the army, and he has been ordered to take care of it. I will not control it remotely. In the military affairs ahead, everything should be adapted to the situation, and the priorities, divisions, and combinations should only be decided by the president at his own discretion.
Liu Diandao: Liu Jintang is the Prime Minister in charge of camp affairs, and Jin Shun is in charge of military affairs. Their positions are compatible, and Commander Zuo is firmly in the army. Everything will be solved easily. However, Commander Zuo is still thousands of miles away. Liu and Jin have different opinions. What should they do?
Zuo Zongtang said: It is difficult to predict military victory or defeat; however, they must understand each other, the battle situation is without pretense, and the generals in charge of the troops can arrange at any time to overcome and coordinate the situation. I have warned Jintang that if Jin Shun insists on doing it, he must give him good advice. However, Jintang said, the victory of ten thousand soldiers is enough to run rampant; with sufficient pay and silver, even without gold and banner troops, the old Hunan army can also control the border areas. Jintang is arrogant, but Jinshun occasionally has small setbacks, and Jintang can save it alone.
Liu Diandao: It is not easy to raise grain, and it is especially difficult to transport grain to Xinjiang. Can Zuo Shuai find a road for grain?
Zuo Zongtang said: Xinjiang uses troops to set up fields everywhere. This has been the case since ancient times. It is just to save the cost of food transportation. Zhang Yao's army set up fields in Hami, and last year they got more than 5,000 shi of food. However, it was too late to help. I have found four places, 1. From Gansu and Hexi from Jiayuguan and Yumen to Hami. 2. From Baotou, Mongolia, to Guihua, via Ulyasutai, Khovd, to Barkol. 3. From Ningxia across the Mongolian grassland to Barkol. 4. Purchase Russian food supplies and transport them directly to the ancient city.
Liu Diandao: Commander Zuo is marching westward, so he can just borrow foreign money from the British. Commander Zuo also accepts the grain and supplies sold by the Russians. Little does he know, the Russians have already taken over our Ili. The Rakshasa people are ambitious, and there must be deceit in them.
Zuo Zongtang said: The more the British and Russian barbarians give me, the better it will be for me; on the contrary, if they look at me with eager eyes, like enemies, they will interfere with my recovery of lost territory. To put it bluntly, all the bustle in the world is for benefit, and all the hustle and bustle in the world is for benefit. The British lent me a huge sum of money for a huge profit. The Russians are willing to sell our grain because the Ili Valley is rich in grain and grass. When Ili transports grain to Urumqi, the profit is twenty times higher than in the customs. I lament that the great rivers and mountains of Ili have been seized by outsiders for profit. If we don't fight to the death, we will regret it forever!
Liu Diandao: Zuo Shuai's courage will be admired forever; Zuo Shuai's gaze is like a torch or lightning. I worry too much!
On April 7, Zongtang and his troops arrived in Suzhou. He summoned the generals and said: To attack and suppress the Xinjiang bandits, in short, we must advance slowly and urgently, first to the north and then to the south. My Lord, Minister of the Cabinet, said last year that although there are orders for the deployment of troops inside and outside the Pass, the planning and layout must be carried out in one go. Taking the overall situation into consideration, if the Pass is purged, the Governor should move to Suzhou and arrange military food to regulate the northern border. Taking southern Xinjiang and then returning Ili is a way of devoting oneself to the north and reaping the rewards in the south. The army attacked Gumudi, Hongmiaozi, and Urumqi. If the bandits from southern Xinjiang dared to go to the north to help, the officers and soldiers would fight fiercely to defeat their fierce front. In the future, they would send troops to the south, and their prestige would be established, making it easier to start. Liu Jintang has been preparing for more than a year. Does he know the bandit's deployment clearly?
Liu Jintang said: Report to Commander Zuo, there are more than 60,000 Agubai bandits, most of them are stationed in southern Xinjiang, Kashgar is their home base, with 15,000 troops; there are 15,000 bandits in northern Xinjiang, most of them are stationed in Manas, Urumqi, and Hongmiaozi. Three cities; Dabancheng, Tuokxun, and Turpan are connected to the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains. The bandits in this area are heavily armed. Turpan has 5,000 infantry, 3,500 cavalry, and 10,000 Tufen; Tuokxun has 2,000 infantry and 4,000 cavalry; Dabancheng has 1,000 infantry. , cavalry 5,000. The army captured northern Xinjiang and regained control of these three cities, thus establishing Xinjiang.
Zuo Zongtang said: Where is our army now?
Liu Jintang said: Report to Commander Zuo, the 16th battalion of Zhang Yaosong's military army is stationed in Hami, the 23rd battalion of Jinshun is stationed in Guchengzi, Qitai, and Jimusa, the 7th battalion of Xu Zhanbiao is stationed in Balikun, and Xu Xuegong, Kong Cai, and Zhang He's militia are on the march. He has been in Northern Xinjiang for more than ten years and has been a useful teacher.
Zuo Zongtang said: The former imperial minister Jing Lian and the common man Xu Xuegong fought hard for more than ten years before they won Guchengzi, Qitai, Jimusa, Hami, Barkol, Shashanzi, Fangcaoyuan, Nanshan and other places. Only when we reach the frontier can we gain a foothold. They can be role models for our generation! Immediately pass on my order, from Suzhou and Jiayuguan to Hami and Barkol, we are all defensive troops; from Barkol to the ancient city and Jimusa, we are to defend and fight; from the ancient city and Jimusa to the ancient pastureland , Hongmiaozi, and Urumqi are the main battle armies. Liu Jintang from Xining Road led the 25th battalion of troops and advanced slowly. They arrived in the ancient city in March, joined Jin Shun's army, and first attacked the ancient pasture land. After withdrawing the fences of Urumqi and Hongmiaozi, they dug holes and plowed the nests, and accomplished it in one go.
Liu Jintang and the generals shouted: I will obey Commander Zuo's military orders! Suppress and purge the traitors, no matter how hard they die!
Zuo Zongtang said; Wang Changling said: Qinghai is covered with long clouds and dark snow-capped mountains, and the isolated city looks at Yumen Pass in the distance. Yellow sand can wear golden armor in a hundred battles, and Loulan will never be returned until it is broken. Loulan is gone, and the soldiers conquered the western frontier, which is a comfort to their lives.
