"Lay down the village and eat meat together!" Lai Wenguang shouted in front of the seven or eight thousand twisted army brothers.

Of course, it is impossible for seven or eight thousand brothers to hear Lai Wenguang's voice alone, and the leaders of the various teams who have long known this slogan also shouted. ”

Theoretically, the Twist Army was also part of the Taiping Army at this time. Three years ago, the Twist Army had nominally become Lai Wenguang's subordinate. It's just that the Twist Army doesn't believe in any worship of God at all, so there is this difference.

Lai Wenguang, who led the Twist Army, was also an old brother of the Taiping Army during the Jintian period, and Lai Wenguang had been a civilian official before the Tianjing Rebellion. After the Tianjing Change, Lai Wenguang abandoned Wen Congwu and went to Li Kaifang's men. Li Kaifang led his troops to break through after the loss of Luzhou, and Lai Wenguang built a yì Li Kaifang did not go south, but went north. The Hunan army surrounded three and left a gap in the north. However, the Hunan army did not expect that the Luzhou Taiping Army would carry out the north to the end with a strong will.

Of the more than 10,000 people who broke through the siege, although more than 6,000 were lost during the pursuit, Li Kaifang also died after being wounded by a gunshot. The remaining 5,000 men and horses went north from the river and ran to the area of the Huaibei Twist Army. The Twist Army was also beaten enough by the Huai Army, and when they saw the Taiping Army coming, they naturally merged with the Taiping Army, and the two sides immediately went north to fight in Henan and other places. Knowing that the battle between the Hui and Han in Shaanxi was fierce, Lai Wenguang led his troops into Shaanxi. He also sent people to contact the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

After the main force of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom arrived in Shaanxi, Lai Wenguang was awarded the "Respect for Heavenly Righteousness" second only to the prince. And there is a saying that if it weren't for Lai Wenguang not really supporting Hong Xiuquan in the Tianjing Change, then he could be crowned king this time. This time, the Twist Army was ordered to go east, and as the respect for heaven recognized by everyone in the Twist Army, Lai Wenguang personally led a force to merge with the more independent East Twist Army.

The Twist Army also brought artillery. When the Taiping army retreated from Tianjing City, of course, those huge cannons could not be taken away. Wei Ze and the others "replaced" an artillery gun for the Taiping army. These artillery pieces included smoothbore guns and rifled guns, all of which were cast iron cannons, and gun carriages were also provided for the Taiping army. The British designed and produced a Wetworth breech-loading rifle for the Yankees, which is considered the ancestor of the mountain gun, a steel cannon. In the era of 186X, when the technical blockade was not a matter at all, the technicians of the diplomatic team led by Hong Renji were very keen to discover this artillery. In addition to the purchase of twelve such guns and their return to the country as samples, design drawings were also purchased.

The replacement of cast iron cannons with steel cannons is the direction decided by Wei Ze, and after this kind of steel cannon, the three-inch cast iron cannon has inevitably entered the ranks of elimination. Therefore, the Guangfu Army "exchanged" its three-inch cannon to the Taiping Army.

Lin Fengxiang is not a stingy person, since he wants to let the Twist Army completely disrupt Hebei, Henan, and Shandong, in addition to 5,000 quasi-head guns, the Taiping Army also allocated 50 artillery pieces to the Twist Army. The three-inch cannon that is convenient for action is a backward weapon here in Weize, but it can face the enemy of Heze, this is the king of war.

Zhuangzhai is a grain-producing area, relatively wealthy, with its own parapet wall, and its own group training. At present, even if most of the team training team was taken away by Liu Heiqi, there were still one hundred and ten left. Although they heard the roar of the Twister, they felt that the Twister was wandering everywhere and it was impossible for them to carry artillery. Zhuangzhai's regimental training's understanding of artillery is the kind of thing that can easily cost hundreds of pounds and is extremely difficult to carry.

Gun holes were opened in the rammed earth wall, from which the regimental trainers could shoot outside. Just when the regimental trainers were nervously waiting for the Twist Army to approach and use the wall to resist, a few shells came and blew up the earthen wall for a long time. In the flying dust, the twisters swarmed through the gap. In less than two hours, Zhuangzhai was conquered by the Twist Army.

The people who escaped from Zhuangzhai ran to Heze three days later, and Zuo Zongtang learned the news that Zhuangzhai was conquered by the Twist Army. More than two months ago, Zuo Zongtang brought 20,000 Chu troops to Shandong to participate in the war. Now, more than two months later, after more than a dozen battles back and forth with the Twist Army, Zuo Zongtang not only did not achieve any victory, but also lost more than 2,000 soldiers and horses.

What made Zuo Zongtang even more unhappy was that the Guangfu Army actually sent someone to contact Zuo Zongtang and wanted to talk to him once. Unlike those loach-like treacherous twist army, the Guangfu Army gave Zuo Zongtang the impression of a powerful army like a hammer. Not only is the Qing army not enough to see in front of the Guangfu Army, but even the foreigners are not the opponents of the Guangfu Army. What does the Guangfu Army want to do when it comes to Zuo Zongtang?

Receiving the news that Zhuangzhai was lost in the hands of the Twist Army and that the Twist Army had received food supplies, Zuo Zongtang's sad and indignant heart suddenly gave birth to a strong impulse. He wants to meet the people of the Liberation Army, and he wants to humiliate the people of the Liberation Army. With Zuo Zongtang's cleverness, how could he not see the situation that appeared, once the Guangfu Army went north, Henan, Hebei and Shandong, which had no danger to defend, would fall into the hands of the Guangfu Army. At that time, Zuo Zongtang was a dead end. Because of this, Zuo Zongtang felt that he didn't have any need to be afraid of death. It's also refreshing to vent the anger in your chest at this time.

After agreeing to the request of the Guangfu Army to meet, Zuo Zongtang began to prepare a plan to recapture Zhuangzhai. At this time, the summer harvest was almost completed, and there was a large amount of grain in the village. If left unchecked, the Twist Army will only get stronger and stronger.

Lei Hu quickly got the news, the candidates had already been prepared, and the political commissar Xu Kaiwen had some opinions, "Comrade Hei Chenggang is not a person who can speak well." ”

Hei Chenggang is not only not a man who can speak well, this Zhuang is not even a Han Chinese. Of course, as far as the Chinese nation of the Republic of China is concerned, the Zhuang people have officially become a part of the Chinese nation in the official statement, and they are no different from the Han people. This man who came out of the mountains of Guangxi is a political commissar, and he is also a political commissar with an extremely firm principled position.

Loyal to the governor of Wei Zedu, loyal to the Liberation Party, he has a deep hatred for bullying people, and is extremely disgusted with all kinds of old societies that artificially distinguish between high and low, and can unswervingly confront them. This is the characteristic of Hei Chenggang.

Such a person is of course valued within the organization. But as a messenger, it inevitably seems too blunt. The purpose of this trip was to persuade Zuo Zongtang to surrender, not to accuse the Manchus of their crimes, and to accuse Zuo Zongtang of following the Manchus for being a big mistake.

"I think Comrade Hei Chenggang is very suitable, Du Du said clearly, Zuo Zongtang is a more capable person in the Manchu Qing Dynasty. If such a person is willing to surrender, the capable people in the Manchu Qing will see a way out. Besides, since we can't really kill all the people who have been officials in the Manchu Qing Dynasty, we can also kill all their families. Then you have to reassure the other party. Lei Hu relayed Wei Ze's statement.

Wei Ze did not compare Zuo Zongtang with the Liberation Army at all, but also said a humanitarian and righteous viewpoint. The Guangfu Army will not compare the glorious Guangfu Army with the Chu Army, and recruiting Zuo Zongtang has become a job. The discussion is just about how to do the job well.

"Comrade Hei Chenggang went to criticize Zuo Zongtang violently, what if Zuo Zongtang didn't surrender?" Xu Kaiwen was very worried.

"Political Commissar Xu, what is the person of the officer?" Lei Hu asked, "Don't tell me about the results of the officer's figure." During our combat training, we repeatedly said that bullets have ballistics and trajectories. Just thinking about killing the enemy, and then you take a straight aim, then you can hit the hell. Is there a reason to do things? ”

This kind of simple example has been said countless times in the army, the more you want to kill the enemy on the battlefield, the more you want to complete the result of killing the enemy at once, not only can you not kill the enemy, but you can also easily be killed by the enemy because you are in a hurry. Xu Kaiwen didn't want to argue with Lei Hu about this kind of ordinary truth, he asked, "And then?" ”

Lei Hu said calmly: "If Zuo Zongtang is really a person who does things, he must have a pursuit." He pursues achievement in order to make him a person who is recognized by everyone. This is true of all outstanding cadres. They know what they want, not be fooled by the results of the moment. If Zuo Zongtang is also such a person, he only has two choices when he encounters problems. Either he died for the Manchu Qing Dynasty at any cost. Either they recognize the shape and know that they should follow us. And at this time, you send a person who can speak well and follow Zuo Zongtang to speak. Is that the surrender of Zuo Zongtang? That just made Zuo Zongtang think that he should be loyal to the Manchus. We must let Zuo Zongtang figure out that this allegiance is wrong. Then I don't think anyone is worse than Comrade Hei Chenggang. ”

"Tiger, you're right. But what I'm worried about now is what if Zuo Zongtang dies and doesn't repent? Yes, I'm looking for results, but that's what the governor meant, so we have to work hard to do it. Xu Kaiwen replied.

Lei Hu replied calmly: "Why do we want to save the person who is looking for death? Zuo Zongtang isolated himself from China, then let him die. ”

In the end, the result of the discussion was to do his best and see Zuo Zongtang's own consciousness. If Wei Ze heard this, Wei Ze would definitely wipe a cold sweat, if he said that Zuo Zongtang was a very good talent according to his original idea, so that the people of the Guangfu Army thought that Wei Ze felt that Zuo Zongtang was stronger than the soldiers of the Guangfu Army, then the current discussion would never be like this.

It took four days to deliver the news from Heze to Huai'an, and when the Guangfu Army determined the representative candidates, Zuo Zongtang had already led more than 15,000 Chu soldiers to go straight to Zhuangzhai in two ways. Zuo Zongtang did not dare to delay time, he thought that it would take four or five days for the Twist Army in Zhuangzhai to collect grain, and it was difficult to move with a large number of baggage Twist Army. If you can block a big battle with the Twist Army, that's the best. Even if the Twist Army escapes again, as long as it can seize the grain and baggage of the Twist Army, it will be a great success. At least these burdens can also reduce the logistical pressure on the Chu army.

And Zuo Zongtang came out of Heze less than a day ago, and news came from Tanma that a brigade of the Twist Army appeared in front. The main force led by Zuo Zongtang had 10,000 people, and he ordered the detachment to continue to attack Zhuangzhai, and he led the main force to the side of the Twisted Army Brigade. R1058