Reading guide: Zeng Guofan punched and kicked, stirring up a pool of stagnant water in Yueyang; The center of gravity of the Taiping army shifted, and 500 heavenly soldiers held on to Chibi.

Where to go, the opportunity is only in the breath.

Yueyang's popularity began to flourish day by day.

Zeng Guofan first encouraged some businessmen to open shops on the street. If there is no silver to purchase, as long as there are more than two gentlemen as a guarantee, they can borrow short-term loans from the grain station of the Issuance and Examination Bureau and the local yamen. In any case, shops on the street cannot be closed. In this way, it plays a role in stabilizing the people's minds.

The market became lively, and Zeng Guofan then ordered Peng Yulin to take people to the territory to inspect the wasteland and the borderless land.

Yueyang was originally the best county in Hunan, and after the Taiping army broke Wuchang and occupied Hubei, the merchants and large families here began to move to Changsha and Hengzhou with fine softness. After the Taiping army occupied Jiayu, they began to expand here, dreaming of occupying this place, and sent thousands of people to plunder here once every three or five days. The officers and soldiers were stationed here with only one battalion of troops, and they would never dare to confront the Taiping army; The exercises and drills of the officers and men here are also mainly based on running and foot training. It is always the people who suffer. Poor and wealthy Yueyang, when the officials and soldiers had not given up, the people had already given up here. This shows how much the soldiers have harmed people.

In just two years, 80,000 hectares of cooked land in the county have been abandoned and abandoned.

Zeng Guofan put a notice to the people in each township, and sent hundreds of people to check the number of acres of land in each capital and each A, but there were still more than 5,000 people who were not interested. Obviously, these heads of households have long since left the place, and it is a voluntary abandonment.

Zeng Guofan thought about it for a few days, decided to lease all these lands in the name of the government, and promised to exempt the grain land after receiving grain, and threatened that the official army had formed a siege of Wuchang, and Hubei would be recovered; The land gold is calculated by renting one acre of land and receiving one tael of silver, and 5,000 yuan of land is 50,000 taels. This should be a lot of income for Xiang Yong, who is short of food and salary.

Luo Zenan was also a little apprehensive about Zeng Guofan's actions at first, thinking that the people would not believe the words of the government. How do you know that only ten days after the land lease notice was posted, all the 5,000 acres of land were rented out.

At this time, there was news from Chibi that there were 2,000 Taiping troops stationed in Chibi, but due to the tight war, they had been transferred to support other places, and only 500 people were stationed at present.

Zeng Guofan, together with Peng Yulin, summoned Luo Zenan, Wang Zhu, Li Fuchao, Bao Chao, and the chief instructor Xi Fubiao and the general Taqibu, Jiao Xi Zhu Dianyuan, and Yang Zaifu to the county government's signing room that night to discuss the dispatch of troops.

Zeng Guofan asked everyone to sit down, and then said slowly: "Trapping and defending is originally a taboo for soldiers, and it is easy to train into a tired army if you often drill and do not fight the enemy. Now that Changmao has moved to Jiangnan, Zhejiang, and Anhui, Hubei must not have many troops. I expected that this was the best time to recover Wuchang. It's a pity that my number of Xiangyong is too small to dare to attack rashly. After Qi Shan left, there were only the 6th battalion of Zhang Zhijun's supervision, the 4th battalion of Qinglin's Fubiao, and the 5th battalion of Chu Yong of Jiang Zhensi. As far as the current situation is concerned, the recovery of Wuchang cannot be said to be insufficient. After I arrived in Yueyang, I have been confronting the long hair of Chibi. He does not come against me because he does not touch my reality; I didn't dare to attack, and that's why. How can it be done in the long run? You must know that he is a thief, and I am a soldier. I thought about it and decided to take a risk, and I would collect civilian ships tonight, and then send a letter to the governor's yamen to ask for a big official ship. Three days later, I went to Chibi by fishing boat and official boat to dig out the bottom of the long hair. What do you think? ”

After finishing speaking, his eyes fixed on Luo Zenan, hoping that Luo Zenan would speak.

Luo Zenan thought for a long time before he said: "Lord Zeng, the lower officials think that it is okay to dig out the bottom, but the lower officials are afraid that it will be thankless!" What's more, Lu Yong's boat crossing is a taboo for soldiers. Once intercepted by the long-haired warship, it's terrible! Also, you always know that the edict from the top to build a group practice was originally to ensure the safety of one party, not to go out of the province to kill the enemy. Now that I go out of the province without authorization, I naturally have nothing to say about success, what if I fail? Not only does Luo Futai blame you for being troublesome, but the green camp will look down on Xiang Yong even more. After I return to the provincial capital, I am afraid that the green camp will not be able to see you for a day. What do you think? ”

Taqi said: "The lowly post is in favor of Lord Zeng sending troops. We followed Lord Zeng's left and right, originally to build a great cause - not to send troops to suppress bandits, how to establish this meritorious cause? Xiangyong is despised by the green battalion, and it is unknown whether there may be a big turnaround in this dispatch! There is also the matter of Lu Yong's ferry, as long as the ferry is tightly sealed, thinking that the long hair does not have clairvoyance, how can he find out the truth? As long as we don't get out of the way, we can get it done! What's more, between Yueyang and Chibi, the waterway is not very long, and if the boat is fast, it will only take more than an hour. This risk is worth the risk. ”

Luo Zenan said: "What Shen Rong said is also reasonable. However, the lower officials thought that when Lord Zeng asked the governor's yamen for the transfer of official ships, it was best to find a different reason. The matter of attacking Chibi must not be known to the people of the Green Battalion! Last time I went to Hengyang, I was almost attacked by bandits on the way, and I can't help but learn a lesson! ”

Zeng Guofan nodded approvingly, and said categorically: "This minister's plan has been decided, and he will send a few people to issue a notice to solicit civilian ships in a while, only saying that the transportation of supplies is urgently needed." Three days later, the first battalion of Luoming Mansion stayed behind to guard Yueyang, and at the same time responded, and the other three battalions attacked in two ways. Wang Zhu walked all the way, led by Zhiting, and led by Zhudian Yuan; Li Fuchao and Bao Chao all the way, led by me. The battalions should carry enough marbles. Zhiting's all the way to the east road, along the river embankment; Li Fuchao and Bao Chao's two battalions took the west road and copied the small road. After crossing the river, I met at Chibi Chengguan. Someone asked, only said to go back to Changsha to perform exercises. Don't show a hint of your mouth. Xueqin, you follow me. ”

Luo Zenan and the others got up one after another, and Zeng Guofan reiterated again: "This minister can't stop saying it: this matter is only allowed to be known by the eight of us in the room. Before the pull-out, do not reveal a trace of wind to go out. Remember, everyone! Remember! ”

Three days later, the large official ship allocated by the provincial capital sailed to Yueyang, and the civilian ships were also collected.

In the evening, Xiangyong from all walks of life suddenly boarded the boat and slowly headed towards Changsha. Halfway through, the boats suddenly turned their bows and sailed quickly to Chibi, arriving at the other side without realizing it. It was a foggy night, and I couldn't see anything from ten paces.

The battalions went ashore in order, and quietly rushed to the city pass through the night and thick fog.

In addition to the waterway, Chibi is only half a day's walk from Yueyang. Zeng Guofan took a shortcut, so he went to the city first. Seeing that Wang Zhu had not yet arrived, Zeng Guofan sent the horse to hide in a forest. Taqib and Wang Zhu walked on the embankment, a little farther away, two quarters of an hour late.

The battalion officers all rode tall horses, and only Zeng Guofan sat alone in a sedan chair.

After Taqib arrived, Zeng Guofan, together with Peng Yulin, Taqibu, Wang Zhu, Bao Chao and others, began to scout the breakthrough point around the city wall. After inspecting for a long time, Peng Yulin finally proposed that the north city gate be chosen as the attack point, and the method adopted was to knock down the city gate with artillery first, and then carry out a personnel attack.

During the attack, Zeng Guofan specially ordered Wang Zhuyi's battalion to guard behind the earth mountain outside the city to prevent reinforcements from the enemy, in fact, he left a way back for himself.

This is the first time that Xiangyong has taken the initiative since its establishment, and success or failure is very crucial, and Zeng Guofan did not dare to be careless.

The distribution was decided, Zeng Guofan and Peng Yulin took Fu Si's personal military camp, and followed Wang Zhu's camp to the foot of the earth mountain to watch, and Taqibu was fully responsible for the siege.

The news that Zeng Guofan got this time was relatively accurate, and there were indeed only more than 500 Taiping troops in the city. Although these Taiping soldiers were also very brave in battle, they were soon killed by Xiang Yong because of their small numbers. (End of chapter)