Zuo Zongtang knelt on the ground and carefully reported the details of the battle with the Taiping army to Zeng Guofan, who was silent for a long time after hearing it.

"San'er, you get up first." Maybe it was because he was too focused, and after a long time, Zeng Guofan said to Zuo Zongtang who was kneeling on the ground.

"Dashuai, you haven't punished Zong Tang yet, Zong Tang doesn't dare to get up." Zuo Zongtang Road.

"Punishment, let's talk about it later, let's talk about big things first." Zeng Guofandao.

"No, teacher, if you don't punish the student, the student won't get up." Zuo Zongtang is stubborn.

"Zong Tang, how can you play with the temper of a child, you get up first, your business will be talked about later, now let's talk about big things first." Zeng Guofan didn't expect Zuo Zongtang to be so persistent, his face changed, and his tone became stern.

"Dashuai, you just listen to Zeng Dashuai, let's talk about big things first." Luo Bingzhang, who was accompanying him, saw that the atmosphere was not right, and hurriedly persuaded him.

"Yes, San'er, the handsome man has spoken, you should hurry up and talk about big things, talk about big things." Li Hongzhang also persuaded on the side.

Zuo Zongtang, who was kneeling on the ground, saw Zeng Guofan's face was ugly, and he knew in his heart that the handsome man was really angry, but he couldn't get up like this, how bad it was, and this kind of pretending to be a grandson was not in line with his Zuo Zongtang's character, so when Zeng Guofan spoke, he still insisted on kneeling on the ground and not getting up, until Zuihou Luo Bingzhang and Li Hongzhang persuaded each other, his persistence began to loosen, and he understood that if he didn't take the opportunity to step down, it would be a bit too much to say.

"Yes, Dashuai, San'er obeys." Zuo Zongtang knelt on the ground and bowed to Zeng Guofan, and wanted to get up from the ground, but maybe it was because he had been kneeling for too long, his feet were unstable, and he almost fell.

Zeng Guofan waited for Zuo Zongtang to stand up, and then he spoke again: "Zongtang, as far as you see, is Shi Dakai still alive?"

Hearing Zeng Guofan's words, everyone finally understood that in fact, what Zeng Guofan really cared about was Shi Dakai.

"Dashuai, according to the analysis of the students and Mr. Luo, this Shi Dakai is still alive nine times out of ten, otherwise, who else in the Taiping Army besides Shi Dakai has such a plan to play us in the palm of his hand." Zuo Zongtang replied.

"Shi Dakai is still alive, is it possible? Strategist, what do you think, don't we have intelligence that Shi Dakai is dead?" Zeng Guofan asked Li Hongzhang.

"Based on the intelligence analysis of all parties, this Shi Dakai is really dead, but the students can't figure it out, the Weishenme Taiping thieves will suddenly come to such a hand, could it be that there is someone else who commanded their operation?" The meaning of Li Hongzhang's words is still inclined to that Shi Dakai is dead, and the reason why this happened is because there are other strange people in the Taiping army.

"No, there are still such people in the Taiping Army, why haven't you heard of them before?" Zuo Zongtang was a little unconvinced.

"San'er, you may have lived in the border for a long time, and you are not very clear about some of the things that are happening in the Central Plains now, it is like this, some time ago, there was a coup d'état within the Taiping thieves, and Yang Xiuqing and Wei Changhui, the head of the thieves, who will take the lead in opposing him, have been pulled up, and some of the talents who were subordinate to these two people in the past have been used by Hong Xiuquan, so it is very likely that it is these newly surrendered people who are now giving advice to the Taiping Army, but this is only my speculation, and it needs to be further confirmed." Li Hongzhang said.

"I'm still a little unconvinced, except for Shi Dakai, I don't believe that anyone else can do this." Zuo Zongtang still shook his head, saying that he didn't believe it.

"Okay, you understand what you mean, and what you say may be reasonable, but what method can we use to confirm such speculation now? That's the number one thing we should be thinking about." Zeng Guofandao.

"Commander, Zong Tang has a heavy trust, and he failed to confirm the fact that Shi Dakai died, but he was turned around, which caused our army to lose its spirit, please punish the commander." One of Zuo Zongtang's purposes in this army was to confirm whether Shi Dakai was still alive, but he messed things up, and obviously he was responsible.

"Okay, Zongtang, Ben Shuai has already said it, let's talk about this later, is that okay? We need to discuss how to do it now, and that's the right thing to do." Zeng Guofan saw that Zuo Zongtang mentioned the punishment again, and said a little unhappily.

"Yes." Zuo Zongtang didn't dare to mention it again.

"Zong Tang, you will tell Ben Shuai in detail about the battle with the thieves today." After a while, Zeng Guofan said again.

"Okay." Zuo Zongtang Road.

So, Zuo Zongtang carefully told Zeng Guofan about the battle with the Taiping Army today.

After Zeng Guofan heard this, he fell into deep thought again.

Li Hongzhang and the others didn't dare to disturb, they all stood aside quietly, waiting for Zeng Guofan's instructions.

"Strategist, have you noticed that all the failures we have suffered since this year are all due to the same routine, obviously all these schemes are from the same person's hands, it is safe to say that this person must not be Shi Dakai, but if this person is not Shi Dakai, who can it be? It's just puzzling." Zeng Guofan thought deeply and said.

"That's right, Dashuai, you are right, Shi Dakai fought with us, backed by military strategy, and was better than winning between two battles, and our failures in the past period of time mostly stemmed from the enemy's intrigues, obviously this is not what Shi Dakai is good at, this is certain, if you look at the defeat of San'er this time, it must be the same person who gives advice to the Taiping army." Li Hongzhang also feels the same way.

"The marshal and the military advisor mean that the defeat of San'er this time has nothing to do with Shi Dakai, but to others?" Zuo Zongtang Road.

"Yes." Li Hongzhang said.

"Who is that?" Zuo Zongtang looked puzzled.

"We'd love to know, too." Li Hongzhang said.

"In this way, it doesn't matter whether Shi Dakai lives or dies, the key is to find out who is behind the scenes." Luo Bingzhang interjected.

"No, it still matters whether Shi Dakai lives or dies, because the person we are talking about is only possible for a handsome person like Shi Dakai to train him and use his strengths. Therefore, Shi Dakai's huddle with this person is the most terrifying." Zeng Guofan's analysis is three points.

After Li Hongzhang and the others heard this, they gasped, if this is the case, then they are in big trouble.

"Dashuai, things shouldn't have developed to the point where you said they were, right?" Zuo Zongtang stabilized his emotions and said.

"Nothing is known, only when the truth really comes, everything will be seen naturally." Zeng Guofan didn't know what he was talking to.

"So what do we do now?" Zuo Zongtang was used to being in the northwest, and he never thought that he would meet such a strong opponent in the Central Plains, and he had no idea for a while.

"Haven't you made the right decision?" Zeng Guofan stared at Zuo Zongtang and said.

"Have we made a decision?" Zuo Zongtang looked at Luo Bingzhang a little blankly.

"Yes, Dashuai, Zeng Dashuai is right, we have made a decision." Luo Bingzhang nodded, affirmatively.

"You mean......." Zuo Zongtang thought about it and understood.

Luo Bingzhang nodded at Zuo Zongtang and affirmed Zuo Zongtang's thoughts.

"Dashuai, isn't this going back in vain?" Zuo Zongtang said to Zeng Guofan.

"That's right, but in the current situation, retreat is the best way to go." Zeng Guofandao.

It turned out that the most correct decision Zeng Guofan said was to retreat, which was also what Zuo Zongtang was doing just now.

Although Zuo Zongtang was unwilling, he knew that there was no other way.

"Is that going to go now?" Zuo Zongtang Road.

"When it gets dark, you can act, this time, you go first, and Ben Shuai will order Zeng San to break off with Guohua." Zeng Guofandao.

Zuo Zongtang also wanted to say that his Chu army would be broken, but Luo Bingzhang pulled his cuffs and signaled him not to object, Zuo Zongtang saw Luo Bingzhang like this, so he could only swallow back the words that had come to his mouth. He knew in his heart that this was Zeng Guofan's kindness, how could he refuse.

That night, the Qing army withdrew by night.

Just after they returned to the camp, the sentry came to report that the white sails were raised in the Taiping military camp, and the cries were everywhere, and Shi Dakai was really dead. (To be continued.) If you like this work, you are welcome to come to the starting point (biquge.info) to vote for recommendation and monthly pass. Your support is my biggest motivation ......)