The rebellion ravaged Guixiang, Hu Linyi, the prefect of Liping, Guizhou, was restless, and Zhang Liangji went to Hunan to take up the post of Zhang Liangji, and he was anxious: Zhongcheng Lord Mingjian, Xiangyin filial piety and honesty Zuojun Zongtang has a different talent, and his character and learning are the first in the Hunan sergeant category, and he is superb. The ancestor Tao Gong was a genius at first sight, and he talked about the past and the present, in order to stay overnight. The ancestor Lin Wenzhong fell when he saw it, and he was surprised to be a peerless person; When Lin Gong crossed the lake, he summoned him to the boat and talked about the night. Lin Yi once recommended Lin Wenzhong to Gong Wenzhong, but because Wenzhong was ill, he failed to do it. I have repeatedly recommended the submission, but it was all due to the accident and was not incurred. This person is honest and tough, has a good temperament, is loyal to the liver and courage, and is proficient in current affairs, which is very different from the customs. Its chest is based on the ancient and modern map art of war, the rules and regulations of this dynasty, and it is really exquisite. After the visit, it will be appreciated.

Zhang Liangji wanted to transfer Hu Linyi to Xiangchu to save the emergency, but the officials in Guizhou all took Hu as the guide and refused. Zhang Liangji was helpless, Sherin looked left, and Xiangyin three times.

Zuo Zongtang was puzzled by the current situation and hesitated again and again.

Hu Linyi consulted Zuo Zongtang again: Zhang Zhongcheng asked Mr. three times, saying "Sijun is like hunger and thirst". Zhongcheng liver and gallbladder blood, no two for a while; Lin Wenzhong recommended it to Emperor Xuanzong, thinking it was of great use. Mr. Lin Wenzhong is the most convinced, and Zhongcheng is a first-class person of Lin Gong. Last winter, he recommended Cheng Zhijun with a big name, but he didn't tell Mr., and Gu Zhizhi was disdainful. Lin Yi didn't want to be public, but the disaster of Sangzi was very clear, and he couldn't say anything, which was not Lin Yi's intention. Set up Mr. to bend himself to save the Chu people, the compensation is especially big, and the loss is especially small. It is only foolish and sincere, not deeply observed, and let it be conceded, and it will be merged into the mountain from now on, which is strange! Zhang Zhongcheng is not a strange person, he humbly extends his visit, and he is a master of luck, so why is it ridiculous!

Zuo Zongtang received Hu Linyi's letter and sighed.

Zuo said: "Hurun's words are chiseled. Family affairs are big, national affairs are big, leisurely and leisurely, and there is an urgent need for my brother to come out. ”

Guo Songtao also said: "You and I are always friends, I should speak up." The secretary of state is not a corporal for a long time, Zhang Gong and Hu Gong's move should be made beautiful, don't make a mistake in this store. ”

Zuo Zongtang said: "Woohoo! With those who cannot be covered by themselves, and the so-called capable ones who are able to help them and save them, mourn. The fate of the world seems to start here, and it's just that. ”

On October 2, 1852, Zuo Zongtang climbed into the city. Zhang Liangji was overjoyed, and talked all night, so he entrusted the defense of Changsha City to the left.

Zuo Zongtang said: "Lord Zhongcheng, the current situation, there is one word!" In Changsha City, a deputy minister, two governors, four commanders, eight general soldiers, more than a dozen provincial governments, and deputy generals are a number of generals, and adults may be restrained? Xu Guangjin, the minister of the Qin Mission, received the order for more than a month, but his action was slow, and he has not yet left Guangdong, so he cannot be counted on; Chang Dachun, the governor of Hubei, has been appointed again, and he is afraid that he is not in Chu. Annihilation against Xiangchu is full of difficulties. For the present, only the city is protected to wait for the times to change. At the south gate, Bao Qibao brought the city god to defend against the enemy, guarded the experience, and added the fierce general Deng Shaoliang, which can be continued. The north gate, the only channel for the entry and exit of my troops and materials, I grasp it. On both sides of the Xiangjiang River outside the city, Luo Zenan and Wang Xinbu must be filled in again. Lord Zhongcheng should also give an order as soon as possible to secondment regimental training from Xiangxiang and Xiangyin, as well as cannons, flowering cannons, Hongyi cannons, along the Xiangjiang River, Changsha Chengtou, the more the better. The east gate is okay for the time being, the tomb of Cai Gong in front of Tianyin Pavilion, must be guarded, if this is lost, Changsha is difficult to protect. I heard that Xiang Junmen also entered the city today, and tomorrow I will see its formation against the enemy. ”

Xiang Rong soldiers to Changsha, rest for a day, that is, the soldiers are divided into three routes, storm Miaofeng, Turtle Mountain Temple Taiping military barracks, do not gram, the general Zheng Kuishi was wounded, more than 100 soldiers died.

Zuo Zongtang said: "Xiang Xinran's repeated combat skills are dull, and his skills are only this ear!" Jiang Minqiao is a person, a talent that has been applied to the world, the power of stability and stability, the rain of swords and arrows, never avoids, and grits his teeth and hatred, such as revenge for his own personal revenge. It's a pity that the day of the surrender was not launched. ”

Zhang Liangji said: "If there is no Jiang prefect to fight Tianyin Pavilion and Cai Gong's tomb, Changsha has fallen. Mr. Ji Gao, let's not talk about the army for the time being. At present, there is little money in the treasury, and the imperial court has not yet received money, so where is the emergency? ”

Zuo Zongtang said: "Lord Zhongcheng is worry-free, set up a banquet tonight, I invite three or five broad people, at least 100,000 silver!" ”

That night, Zong Tang had a banquet at home, and after three rounds of wine, Changsha's wealthy Huang Mian, He Ming, Sun Guanchen, Ouyang Zhaoxiong, etc., looked at each other speechlessly, this soldier came to the city, even if it was not Hongmen, there was no good banquet.

Sure enough, Zhang Liangji said earnestly: "Rebelling against the siege, our emperor urgently transferred 8,000 men and horses into Hunan Province, and Lord Pan has been on the left and right for more than 20 days, and there is not much money left. If the silver is not sustainable, the morale of the army will be weakened, and the consequences will be unbearable! Today, in the name of the governor, Liangji implored the princes to raise 100,000 yuan of silver, and to kill and retire the long hair, Liangji immediately reported to the saints, burning the hearts of the princes to be patriotic and loyal to the king, and the borrowed silver taels, with interest, were repaid together. ”

The political envoy Pan Duo said: "Lord Zhongcheng is telling the truth, and I hope that the princes will help." ”

The four riches are silent, and no one is generous.

Zuo Zongtang implored Zhang Liangji and Pan Duo to take a break; Suddenly, he slapped the case and said, "Is Zuo's personal soldier available?" Before the words fell, the sword and axe hand hulala poured out, surrounding the four rich people. ”

Mr. Zuo said sharply: "I am Zuo, born crazy!" This matter has nothing to do with Zhang and Luo, they are all Zuo's scoundrels. If you are wronged, you can report it to the court. The rebels committed Hunan Province, the lives were devastated, the city of Changsha was broken, the jade was burned, the gold and silver were all captured by the long hair, and the bodies of the people were all lost and had no land. Quanzhou, Daozhou, and Chenzhou, the precedent of crying blood is vivid. The princes here, who are not the officials of the previous time, that is, the heirs of the eunuchs, are honored by the world, the world is favored by the country, and the family and the country are in trouble, and their bodies and wealth are burned in an instant, and they are not fully committed? Leave it with the long-haired butcher, scrape the bones and suck the marrow? A farmer on the left, pledged the house and land, and the silver he carried was all donated as a salary! ”

The four wealthy merchants were intimidated by Zong Tang's grace, and in an instant, they gave 120,000 taels of silver.

The king of the West, Xiao Chaogui, was killed in battle, Changsha was in an emergency, and Yang Xiuqing urgently ordered the army to march north. On October 5, the 5,000 Taiping Army arrived in advance, Zeng Shuiyuan, Lin Fengxiang, and Li Kaifang doubled their confidence, and the troops divided into three routes and stormed Cai Gong's tomb.

He Chun, Qin Dingsan, and Jiang Zhongyuan led their troops to counterattack. Cai Gong's cemetery is narrow, and the 4,000 Qing troops are surrounded by Yiyu, which is very difficult to unfold. Staff General Ren Dagui was shot and killed, Deputy General De'an was wounded, Jiang Zhongyuan was injured and fell from his horse, and Cai Gong's grave was in danger.

On the Tianyin Pavilion, Xiang Rong looked eagerly, found more than 5,000 catties of old cannons, risked activation, and bombarded blatantly. The Taiping army did not support and retreated.

On October 10, Hong Xiuquan and Yang Xiuqing led the main force to.

Yang Xiuqing said: "Cai Gong's grave, the cardinal of attack and defense, must be taken!" Hu Yihuang and Luo Outline attacked from east to west, and Shi Dakai attacked from the south, so he must fight to the death. ”

Shi, Luo, and Hu jointly attacked Cai Gong's tomb for three days, but they were all suppressed by the artillery fire of Tianyin Pavilion, and suffered heavy casualties and made little progress. Yang Xiuqing was helpless, bypassed Cai Gong's tomb, and attacked Liuyangmen and Xiaowumen to the east, fighting fiercely for ten days without results. The rear army came to report: "Zhang Guoliang's demon army is serving the tiger and wolf, and he is like a shadow." ”

Yang Xiuqing was overwhelmed, divided the two armies, and set up an ambush at the Danling Bridge in Youxian County, wanting to annihilate Zhang Zhi's pursuers and clean up the back road.

Zhang Guoliang saw the flaw, and planned to plan 2,000 elite soldiers in the woodland, and ordered 100 people to call for battle, feigning defeat and retreating.

The Taiping army did not know that there was a deception, and entered the ambush circle, losing most of the soldiers, and retreating in embarrassment.

The Qing troops from all walks of life took the opportunity to chase and intercept them, and surrounded the Taiping army on the front line of Xinkaipu, Jinpenling, Loess Ridge, and Cai Gongfen.

Shi Dakai said: "All the demons are united, the city is indestructible, my 50,000 soldiers and civilians are gathered in this Yu, with water on both sides, and the enemy on three sides, and there are dangers everywhere, so it is urgent to find another way out!" ”

Yang Xiuqing pondered for a long time and said: "The Yiwang brothers can be the vanguard, rush to cross the Xiangjiang River, occupy the water and land continent in the heart of the river, set up a pontoon bridge, run through the east and west, and my army can give up Hunan into Hubei and point to Jinling." The besieging army, do your best; The city is broken, that is, it is not broken, and the demons who defend the city do not dare to take care of him. ”