On December 15, 1852, Hong and Yang did not spare a single inch to capture Yiyang, put up a list of people, plundered the rich households, opened warehouses to release grain, collected the poor, and was drinking wine and eating meat, and reported that the Rong Demon Army had captured Lujiashan outside the city.

Shi Dakai said: "Galloping towards the north and south of the demon, accumulating for days, hunger and fatigue, just annihilated in one fell swoop." ”

Yang Xiuqing said: "Brother Yiwang, drink this cup together, and then go to kill the demon; With that demon, you don't have to be hard to consume. The top priority is to seize the northeast of Yiyang, where the Xiangjiang River flows and the water meets, and the Dongting Lake is connected to the north. ”

Shi Dakai was full of wine and food, went out of the city gate, set up artillery and bombarded it, and the troops were divided into three ways, besieging Lujiashan, and beheading the deputy general Ji Champion of the Great Dingxie, Xiang Rong was afraid, and his fighting spirit was completely lost, and he hurriedly evacuated.

When Hong and Yang arrived at Zikou, they were terrified, and the northward channel had been firmly blocked.

As early as when the Taiping army conquered Quanzhou, Zhang Yaosun, the same acquaintance of Hanyang, immediately said to Gong Yu, the governor of Hubei: "If Quanzhou is lost, thieves will enter Chu." If the land is still slow, if the Xiangjiang River is downstream, you can reach Changsha in ten days, and you can reach Wuchang in half a month. Plan your defenses quickly. ”

Gong Yu asked about the plan, and Zhang Yaosun said: "The situation in northern Chu is in the water, there is Dongting in the south, the Yangtze River in the north, and Wuchang is in the middle. It is advisable to guard Yueyang in the south and Hanyang in the north to choke the key pass of water and land. ”

Gong Yu also knew that the military situation was critical, so he made a proposal to defend Hubei, and consulted with Cheng Xucai, the governor of Huguang, and Luo Bingzhang, the governor of Hunan, and invited Bole Gongwu, the governor of Hubei, to defend Yueyang. Soon, Hong and Yang committed Hunan and Gong Yu were afraid and asked for a vacancy.

Chang Dachun took over as the governor of Hubei, went to Yueyang in person, summoned the governor Bole Gongwu, the prefect Lianchang, and the Hu Fanggu of Baling Zhixian to discuss defense, and ordered Wu Shimai, a famous man in Baling, to defend Dongting Lake.

Wu Shimai operated in the starry night, recruited more than 1,000 fishermen, built a gate in Saxing Port, and collected all the boats on the shore of Dongting Lake, chiseled and sank countless times, supplemented by stones, wooden fences, etc., stretching for four or five miles, completely blocking the channel of the Zijiang River into Dongting Lake.

The defense was established, and Chang Dachun was complacent, thinking that the sail could not fly.

Zhang Yaosun disagreed, and said: "Linzikou, if you don't garrison the army, I can plug it, and the thief can pass through." Yueyang, the mountain with the river, Ba, Shu, Jing, Xiangzhihui, the whole Chu of the important Jin. The thief obtained enough to regulate Jing and E. Bole Gongwu is frivolous and ignorant of military affairs, and the pacesetters led by him are weak, can they block more than 10,000 thieves? ”

Chang Dachun said: "Zhang Tongzhi can there be another enemy Gaofang?" Admiral Bole Gongwu, seventy years old, has experienced a hundred battles, and the old man is in waiting, so why worry. I am blocking the riverway, and the moon has not yet been completed, and the thief must not pass through the month. ”

At this time, Yang Xiuqing saw a little similar, and said: "It takes time to clear the plug, attack Xiangyin in the east, and attack in the other way." ”

The officers and soldiers of Xiangyin fled early, and there was a person surnamed Yang Zaifu in the city, who gathered the villagers and generously stated: "The thief arrives, and all our assets belong to the thief; I am attached, my wife is separated, I am uprooted from my hometown, and the day is not safe. ”

The villagers empathized and enthusiastically attached to it. Yang Zaifu then formed 500 townsmen, relying on the natural danger of the Xiangjiang River, digging deep trenches and strengthening the city defense.

The Taiping army attacked for many days, with more than 100 casualties, and Xiangyin City stood still. Yang Xiuqing was helpless, returned to Linzikou, and laughed at himself: "Little Xiangyin, if I don't attack, my brother's life, my heart." People move living trees to die, abandon the living creatures of Xiangyin City, and move the dead bodies of Zikou, which is easier and which is more difficult, you can know at a glance. Linzikou, surrounded by water, Jedi. I ordered, the officers and men of the three armies, from below me, to clear the blockage, desperately digging the way. ”

A Xiangyin person surnamed Zhou named Qingyuan, secretly peeking at the Taiping Army personnel, grain and grass, guns, and boats for a long time, and quickly became prosperous: the thief army has been hit hard, and there are not many people who can fight. Linzikou, the Xiangjiang River envelops the southeast, the Zishui surrounds the northwest, and the surrounding ten-mile plain is almost uncovered. It is not advisable for the general to wait any longer, and while the channel has not yet been opened, he quickly sends elite troops to strangle his retreat, and then burns his tents and ships, and the thieves will collapse themselves.

Xiang Rong disagreed.

The Taiping army worked together and tried their best to dredge, which lasted two days and nights, and the river was finally opened.

Wu Shimai led the fishermen and fought hard to stop them.

More than 10,000 Taiping soldiers and civilians stood in Saturn Harbor, shouting to kill and kill, Wu and Yuyong had never experienced such a battle, and they were about to collapse at the first touch. The Taiping army obtained more than 1,000 ships at their fingertips, advancing by land and water, pointing directly at Yueyang.

Hubei Governor Bole Gongwu, General Akdong'a, Yueyang Governor Lianchang, Baling Governor Hu Fanggu fled when they heard the news, leaving behind 5,000 boats, artillery, goods and medicines, knives and guns, and countless food and wages.

Hong Xiuquan cried with joy: "My 100,000 lions have the convenience of the boat and the benefit of the artillery fire, and go down the river to break Wuchang!" ”

Yang Xiuqing said: "Yueyang, Na three Hunan and four waters, Wufu and the people are rich; Living on the shore of Dongting, the yin of the Yangtze River, guarding the danger of Dongting, attacking can take advantage of water conservancy. My land division is mighty, and if you want to succeed, you must be assisted by a water master. Tang Zhengcai, born on the water, knows the water line and ship affairs, and is the sailor of my heavenly kingdom, in charge of the operation of the ship. ”

Tang Zhengcai said: "Six thousand ships, most of them are Hunan and Chu charcoal boats, no guns and no cannons, and the demon war ships are different from the clouds and mud, but my ship board is oblique, high and shed, rushing through the wind and waves, and sailing as fast as an arrow." If you encounter a demon ship, you will be able to surround and annihilate it. ”

Yang Xiuqing said: "Set up gun positions, and the ships are all warships; Sail in the water, and go out in battle. ”

Hong Xiuquan was excited, and said: "The army will rest immediately, and after half a month, my 100,000 male soldiers, whipping on the golden stool, all the way to Wuchang!" ”

On December 17, Luo Xuan, Lin Fengxiang, and Li Kaifang led a naval army to take 6,000 boats down the Yangtze River. Thousands of strong generals, sailing the river, where they passed, the Qing army was invincible.

By land, Wei Changhui led 4,000 people to march along the east coast, first attacking Chibi and then Kexianning.

The Taiping army was like the autumn wind sweeping away the leaves, and the governor of Hubei, Chang Dachun, and the new governor were at a loss.

Shuangfu said: "There are 100,000 thieves, and I have 4,000 people, and there is a huge disparity between the people." In Wuchang City, the whole people are on alert, every household is equipped with knives and weapons, and every household hangs a lamp at night. ”

Chang Dachun said: "Thanks to Wang Jinxiu, the chief soldier of Yunyang Town, and Chang Lu, the chief soldier of Hebei Town, who led the troops, it will be even more unbearable!" In extraordinary times, we had to use extraordinary methods to burn down the houses outside the city to prevent thieves from relying on and covering our artillery roads. All four doors are plugged, and ropes are in and out. Wuchang City has thick walls and high walls, and our infant city is holding on to help, and the thief can help me! Now the blessing is double, the splendid into the city, auspicious also. ”

On December 22, Luo Xuan, Lin Fengxiang, and Li Kaifang attacked Hanyang and Hankou. Wei Changhui's troops came to Wuchang and captured Boyu Mountain, Hongshan, Xiaogui Mountain, and Purple Mountain.

Yang Xiuqing said: "Often demons burn people's houses, and everyone is attached to me." Wuchang City, with only four thousand demon soldiers, is like finding a bag. Tang Zhengcai is familiar with Jing E, but can he have a strategy for attacking the city? ”

Tang Zhengcai said: "Qiyu Dongwang Chitose, the Yangtze River and the Hanjiang River meet, and it is divided into Wuchang, Hanyang and Hankou. Our ship's small cannon is weak, and it can't reach the Wuchang city wall. It is better to connect the boat as a bridge, connect the two sides of the strait, and set up artillery under the city of Wuchang. ”

Yang Xiuqing said: "Hanyang and Hankou have been obtained by me, and the south of Wuchang City is dangerous, and it has been occupied by me." The lonely city is tired of eggs, and it will be broken at the touch of a button. I ordered, Wei Changhui dug a trench to build a wall, and blocked the demon in the south; Looking for ladders and artillery, attack Wuchang in the north. Tang Zhengcai, a number of pontoon bridges, connecting Wei in series, echoing by water and land, broke the city in one fell swoop. ”

It was night, the fog was filled, and Wei Changhui ordered the soldiers to distribute smoke; The smoke melts in the fog, and you can't see it close at hand. The Taiping army took the opportunity to attack the city, and the rocket artillery fired first, and then climbed the ladder again. Shuangfu commanded the Qing army to pour oil, wood and stone were thrown, arrows were fired, and guns were shot. The Taiping army suffered numerous casualties and did not take advantage of it.

Tang Zhengcai took advantage of the situation, gathered 100 big ships across the river, and then locked each ship with iron chains, and spread plates and wooden strips on it, and set up two pontoon bridges in two days.

Yang Xiuqing shook his head: "It's really fast, very good." I ordered, Luo Xuan, Lin Fengxiang, Li Kaifang's troops, crossed the pontoon bridge from Hanyang Parrot Island to Wuchang Baishazhou, converged with Wei Changhui's department, and attacked from the southwest. Hu Yihuang and Zeng Tianyang crossed the river with a pontoon bridge downstream, built a camp along the river, and divided their troops to detour to the north of the city to prevent demons from escaping. Wuchang City north view Han Tower, the terrain is towering, build more forts, occupy high bombardment city. The winged king Shi Da opened, secretly focused on the demon's movement, and looked for an opportunity to encircle and annihilate. ”

In order to ensure Wuchang, Chang Dachun, the governor of Hubei, and Shuangfu, the governor of the city, personally inspected the city defense every day, and gave heavy rewards: catch a long-haired rebel thief and reward 20 taels of silver; Ten taels for short hair. destroyed a pontoon bridge, and rewarded 5,000 taels of silver; Two seats of 10,000. Under the heavy reward, brave men everywhere. Although he was attacked from all sides and killed the chief Han Dingbang, no one said goodbye. Chang Dachun sighed, in the place of death, there are many people wandering, money hangs on the blade, and the people's hearts are used.

On the 24th, Xiang Rong's army chased to Baimuling and camped at Zhuodaoquan, ten miles away from Hongshan. Xiang Rong consulted Shuangfu: the inside should be combined with the outside, kill the bloody road, enter the city with a large army, and resist the thieves together. Shuangfu considered it again and again, and finally feared that as soon as the city gate opened, the thieves or the thieves entered, and refused more than 10,000 troops outside the city.

Xiang Rong was helpless, and said that Hechun, Zhang Guoliang, and Qin Ding said: "The thieves are powerful, the city is wide and the soldiers are outnumbered, and the thieves blow up the wall with goods and medicine, and the city will be broken!" Our generation can only fight to the death and help Wuchang from afar. ”

On January 7, 1853, Xiang Rong captured Hongshan, connected 15 Taiping military camps, and then attacked Xiaogui Mountain and Bauhinia Mountain.

The Qing army garrisoned Ye Chengqing, led 500 soldiers, and went down the city to see the two armies converge. I don't want Shi Da to kill in the oblique stab, the three armies are mixed together, from morning to dusk, and the victory is inseparable. Xiang Rong was afraid of ambush again, and led the troops to retreat first.

On the 8th, Wei Changhui ordered Wei Jun to lead the soil camp to dig the ground. When Chang Dachun heard this, he ordered 400 soldiers to dig the inner trench together and fill it with water; And led hundreds of officials to gather at the head of the city to inspire people's hearts.

Wei Jun lasted four days, dug a hole to the Wenchang Gate, stuffed it with medicine, lit a cannon twist, roared, and the city wall opened. Luo Xuan, Lin Fengxiang, Li Kaifang and others flocked in. Shuangfu, Chang Lu, and Wang Jinxiu led their troops to resist and died in battle. Chang Dachun saw that the general trend had gone, and pulled out his knife to kill himself.

Wuchang was broken, and Hong Yang immediately issued an edict: the officers and soldiers should not stay, and the people should not be injured. And all the wealth of the city went into the holy treasury. Those who secretly possess one meter and one penny, kill. Men and women in the city shall enter the museum separately, and those who do not listen to the dispatch and trespass without permission shall be killed.

The people of Wuchang posted the word "Shun" on the door, set the table and burned incense, and greeted each other in the middle of the road. The Taiping army was in groups of three or five, holding sticks in open fire, and wantonly searched and arrested. More than 100 civil and military generals, such as Ruiyuan and Liang Xingyuan, the political envoy, were captured, although they were beheaded one by one, they were not happy, and the families of the officials were beheaded together; The former governor of Huguang, Cheng Zhicai's family, did not let go.

Although the people of Wuchang were not harmed, they were divided into categories and gathered in groups. Men between the ages of 16 and 50, who are strong and able, enter the main hall and fight as soldiers. The rest of the men were assigned to the Pai Wei Pavilion to raise food and repair weapons. Woman, entering the women's hall, dyeing and mending. The deaf, dumb, blind and disabled enter the elderly and disease hall to improve their body and mind. All the residents, each person per day rice four taels, more drops of oil.

On the 15th, Hong Xiuquan, Yang Xiuqing and others dressed up and entered the city in high spirits, and thousands of people bowed and worshipped. Yang Xiuqing's heart was surging, and the edict said: Girls between the ages of thirteen and sixteen will gather and listen to the principles of heaven, and those who violate it will be killed.

Yang Xiuqing's eyes do not squint, his mouth is like a river, and he is connected to the heavenly father of heaven and heaven, and everyone is full of brothers and sisters.

Wing King Shi Dakai insisted that he would not accept it, and said: "I have followed the kingdom of heaven, fought and killed, and everywhere I went, blood flowed like rivers, fields and gardens were barren, and the people were not able to make a living. If the northern attack or the eastern crusade is suppressed today, it will still be this tragic scene. It is better to move west to Sichuan and Shu, occupy the country of heaven, close the ropeway, and then become a great cause of Xuande! ”

Yang Xiuqing smiled and said nothing.

Hong Xiuquan said: "The land of Wuchang, the thoroughfare of nine provinces, the treasure of things, and there are very few in the world. After ten years of tossing and turning, the fruit was finally harvested, and it was very good. Live for a long time, recuperate, slowly map north, and swear to take the head of the demon dog. ”

Yang Xiuqing said: "Wuchang is the pass of the thoroughfare, the place of the four wars, and you can't live for a long time. Attacking Sichuan and Shu in the west, a corner of peace. Entering Jingxiang in the north, the Central Plains is slightly smashed, and it seems to be fundamental. But the north is barren and cold, and the wind is raging, like chicken ribs. There is no waterway, and more than 10,000 boat masters are all furnishings! Go down the river to the east, go straight to Jinling, the ancient capital of the six dynasties, and the people are rich and full of food. The land of Jinling, the river is horizontal, and the tiger is standing on the dragon plate, which is really an ideal place; Occupy the pivot of the rich Jiangnan River, think it is fundamental, divide the army into four blows, and the great country can have it. ”

At night, the cool breeze was blowing, Hong Xiuquan was about to sleep with his new wife, he was sweating profusely, and he was running fast: a group of royal wives, noisy and earth-shattering!

Hong Xiuquan said angrily: "Fighting for the wind and being jealous, what kind of system!" If you don't fight for three days, you will go to the house to uncover the tiles. Tonight, it is hereby determined, 1. Serve without piety, 2. Hard-necked and do not listen to teaching, 3. Look at the husband with the main fight, 4. Ask the Lord not to fight with piety, 5. Impatience is not pure and quiet, 6. Speak very loudly, 7. Have a mouth and should not beat quietly, 8. Fight with a face that is not happy, 9. Look left and right with your eyes, 10. Fight without speaking leisurely. Meng De, these ten should be beaten, can you remember? What did you violate just now? Implement it now. ”