Chapter 108: Zeng Guofan enters Qimen

Zeng Guofan took over the holy decree of the governor of Liangjiang and wept with joy.

When Hu Linyi heard this, he immediately wrote to him: Brother Governor of the two rivers, the whole world celebrates, this God-given opportunity, do not follow Zhuge Kongming's cautious steps and delay major events. It is imperative to be bold and let go, make an exception, boldly add troops, and do not recruit 40,000 people without merit, if there is a must, or you can pour out the farmers in Hunan Province; Zuo Zongtang, Li Hongzhang, Shen Baozhen, all three are rare talents, put Huaishang, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, can be independent.

Zeng Guofan received the letter, saying that Zuo Zongtang and Zuo Hongzhang said: Hu Runzhi's persistence, the work of reconciling the generals, and the talent of comprehensive verification are all beyond my grasp, and I am especially convinced of the fierceness of his progress. Zuo Gong, Shaoquan, Shen Baozhen's knowledge of talents, is really useful, rare in my eyes, Jiangxi is behind my Xiang, if it cares, perfect.

Zuo Zongtang said: It can be done for a long time, and then concentrate on it in one go, but Shen Baozhen is only. The rear is decided, and Digong urgently needs to plan the front line.

Zeng Guofan said: Su Chang has not been lost, that is, it is advisable to raise troops to help, hoping to protect the perfect area. Su Chang is lost, so he must coordinate the overall situation of all roads, choose the key to the next step, and seek the foundation of his foothold. The current trend is to surround Anqing and wait for the thief to come. The gains and losses of Anqing are the overall situation of Huainan, and the future will be the foundation of the restoration of Jinling, and we must go all out.

Li Hongzhang said: Anqing is the key to Jinling, and the thief Chen will fight to save him. Yang Zaifu, Peng Yulin, Wei Jun and others have conquered Zongyang, and the siege of Anqing has been closed; Duolonga and Li Xuyi were stationed in the green grass and trailer river in Tongcheng; Bao Chaoting's army is in the center, and he responds to all departments at any time. I will wait for work, encircle the point to send reinforcements, and this battle will be won.

Zeng Guofan said: I checked the history books, since the Han and Tang Dynasties, there has not been a fierce person like Chen Thief Yucheng. The outcome of this battle seems to be determined by heaven, and we can only do our best.

Zuo Zongtang said: Di Shuai is too worried, Di Shuai is hard and deep, and Chen Yucheng is erratic, and he is desperate. Chen Yucheng has a short acquaintance, and it is too late to save Anqing at this time. If I am Chen, I will gather all my strength and attack Zongyang to the death; Zongyang is passable, and Anqing will not die. I heard that Wei Jun was the first to attack the fir and the chief general of the right army of thieves, and he really lived up to his reputation.

Zeng Guofan said: The knowledge of Brother Zuo is what the so-called hero sees. Hu Runzhi said: Anqingzhi wants to be in Zongyang, not Zongyang, that is, in the next year or two of the Dun Soldier City, if the thief is free, he will come to fight when he is free, and if he is not time, he will march elsewhere, I can't be anyone!

Zuo Zongtang said: Runzhi is Hu Lian's vessel, Zuo is willing to bow down, but how can this bright be in vain!

Zeng Guofan smiled and said: Arrogant people must be arrogant; The arrogant will do something earth-shattering. Four products of Jingtang, one product of knowledge. Brother Zuo's latecomer is on top, and there will be earth-shattering moves, and neither I nor Runzhi are inferior.

Zuo Zongtang said: If you really add the blue top to the scarf, I should wear my hair into the mountain and swear not to come back!

Zeng Guofan said: Kill chickens with a knife, and the left brother will go to Chuxiang, recruit 6,000 soldiers, and form an army of his own, as a backup for me and Runzhi.

Zuo Zongtang said: Is there a turning point in God's will? The Jiangnan battalion will be defeated, and it is not enough to beg the thief, so it will be washed, and the latecomers can be taken by surprise.

Li Hongzhang said: However, the holy will is earnest, and it is bound to make a situation and support Su Chang to take care of the overall situation.

Zeng Guofan said: I will write to Shang Guanwen and Hu Runzhi, and I will take 10,000 people and set off first. Within ten days, I led my troops across the river and stationed on the south bank to consolidate the hearts of the people of Wuhui and support Huining.

Zuo Zongtang said: The battle of Anqing is imminent, and it cannot be transferred suddenly. Hu Runzhi was weak and unable to experience it in person. Once Di Shuai crosses the river, the battle in Anqing will inevitably lead to a collapse.

Zeng Guofan sighed: The saint is earnest, I will cross the river; Whether the GI is transferred or not, I will consider it with Hu Runzhi.

Li Hongzhang said: Yiren cantoned troops in Shanghai, and then started to go north, Beijing and Tianjin are in danger, and all localities are bound to go to King Jingqin, and Di Shuai needs to make plans as soon as possible.

Zeng Guofan said: Dagukou is impregnable, and it is very difficult to break through the people. Last year, Dagukou won a big victory, and I once consulted Guo Songtao for his help. Monk Greenqin is brave and brave, and people are sad.

Zuo Zongtang said: The soldier and the brave are the ones who narrate the merits, the strength is done, the territory is guarded, the constraints are clearly determined, and the Son of Heaven acts with the grace and power of the unexpected, and the Yi Kouyan can not be destroyed!

Zeng Guofan said: Brother Zuo quickly went to Xiangchu to recruit bravery, except for the bandits, it is none other than brother!

Zuo, Li Baifare, Zeng Guofan said: Since ancient times, the thieves in the south of the Yangtze River will be in the upper reaches, and they will succeed. Since the third year of Xianfeng, Jinling was trapped, Xiang Rong, Hechun and other overseers attacked from the east, originally wanted to shield Su and Zhejiang, but according to the time conditions, and repeatedly advanced and setbacks, so far they could not conquer Jinling, and turned to lose Su Chang. It is not a single force, and the actual form has not been obtained. Now the southeast is broken, and the thieves are getting stronger. If you want to recover and normalize, the southern army must enter from Zhejiang, and the northern army must enter from Jinling. If you want to restore Jinling, you must first Ke Anqing and Hezhou on the north bank, and you must first Ke Chizhou and Wuhu on the south bank, so that you can get the momentum of the above system. If you still start from the east road, the internal and external hosts and guests, the situation will be lost, and you will still make the same mistakes, and there will be no end to it.

Weichen has worked with Guanwen and Hu Linyi to order all armies to dig Changhao, deep ditches and fortifications, and encircle Anqing; Once the siege is withdrawn, the army of Duolong'a attacking Tongcheng must also be withdrawn, that is, the Yingshan and Huoshan defenses must retreat at their discretion, not only is it difficult for Hubei to protect itself, but also the armies of Yuan Jiasan and Weng Tongshu on the northern road also feel isolated and helpless. Whether Anqing is Ke or not, it is related to the overall situation of Huainan, and it will be the foundation of the restoration of Jinling in the future.

However, Weichen didn't know the overall situation, the siege of Anqing, and the minister entrusted Hu Linyi to handle it at his discretion; Weichen is now scheduled to camp and cross the river within 10 days and be stationed in Huizhou and Chizhou.

Weichen is foolish, and the troops marching from southern Anhui should be based on Jiangxi, and Jiangxi's troops are weak, so they must use Hunan's strong army to cross the border to assist in defense. Weichen immediately sent a letter to Shang Guanwen and Hu Linyi, on the one hand, he selected 10,000 people, and on the other hand, he sent people back to Hunan to recruit brave soldiers and replenish the allocated troops; It is planned to divide the troops into three routes on the south bank of the river, the first route is to enter Chizhou and return to Wuhu, and contact Yang Zaifu and Peng Yulin's sailors nearby; The second route was from Qimen to Jingtai to Liyang, and contacted Zhang Fu, Zhou Tianshou and other troops; The third route was divided into Guangxin, Yushan and Quzhou, and contacted Zhang Yuliang, Wang Youling and other armies nearby.

In the evening, Li Hongzhang came back, with a look of disgust, and said that Zeng Guofan said: Zuo Jigao has repeatedly resented his teacher, and this person has scale armor on his chest.

Zeng Guofan smiled and said: The left prince is above us. The second collapse of Jiangying, this prince predicted that the will of heaven would change; Sure enough, between the ten months, I became the acting governor. However, its temperament is arrogant, and the people of Hunan call it the left mule, this mule once slapped the second grade of Zhentai, and Shaoquan also beat each other with Xueqin, and the others are not kind-hearted, but they are all bright and impassioned.

Li Hongzhang said: Teacher Mingjian, I have a clear conscience! Lao Peng has many tricks, and has repeatedly said that the Anhui people are incompetent, and his father, my father, and I were all born and died in Anhui, how can I bear it?

Zeng Guofan said: Peng Yulin has led the army for many years, governed the army very strictly, and the soldiers are afraid of love, all because of the incorruptibility rate, not a penny. Today, due to the shortage of military salaries, I am willing to raise two incorruptible silver, all of which will be donated, and the military salaries will be paid by the provinces. My family's old nine, one has two silver, that is, spending all day and wine, building a house and land, I can bear it! Zuo Ji has been in charge of Xiang for ten years, and Chu Tianran is in order; Luo Bingzhang only gave a false name, and his heart must be ashamed; Ji Gao went to recruit bravery, and Luo will help. Shaoquan's talent is the closest to the public, less about the rights and wrongs of people, and he will make extraordinary achievements in the future, or it is unknown whether he will be blue. There are priorities, and the war is a little slow, so I will immediately ask Shaoquan and Huai to take the post of salt transport envoy.

Li Hongzhang said: The teacher teaches, and the students remember; The teacher's kindness is as heavy as a mountain, and the student will never forget it until he dies.

Zeng Guofan said: You and I agree with each other, and we don't have to be polite to each other. Su is often eroded, and it is urgent! Quickly pass my order, within ten days, pack up, cross the river and go south. In addition, I ask that the superior has granted permission to Zhang Yunlan and Shen Baozhen to be transferred to Jiangxi for my dispatch; Shaoquan pay attention, where are these two now?

Li Hongzhang said: Hunan to Jiangxi, Fujian to Jiangxi, all high mountains and long waters, the fastest calculation, should be between August and September. The students thought that Zhu Pinlong, Tang Yixun, Yang Zhenkui, Li Yuandu, etc., although they were war generals, they were not fierce generals; Bao Chao, Li Xuyi, and Duolonga, the three got one, and they were very fortunate.

Zeng Guofan said: Shaoquan joked that these three sons, all cultivated by Runzhi, can they win the beauty of people. The three sons and good generals all have the courage of ten thousand people. Bao Chunting, bravely at the head of it, I once wanted to kill him, I want to sigh.

Li Hongzhang said: "With the temperament of Runshuai, Bao and Li will send one of them." ”

Zeng Guofan said: "Runshuai came to consult, Yan Hui, Ning is still finished, the layout is rough, when the drum marches forward, and Huai, Tong's division, will be in Dangtu, and then the Huzhou army out of Su, Chang, Yangzhou horses drink in Jiangpu." I thought that Anqing was not obtained, and I rushed forward, and the three rivers overturned the rut. What does Shaoquan think? ”

Li Hongzhang pondered for a moment, that is, he said: "Soldiers, with the right fit, with the odd victory; Runshuai quickly cuts through the mess, hoping to win with wonder. However, if you want to hurry, you can't do it! ”

Hu Linyi received the advice of Zeng Guofan's Nandu, pondered for a while, and urgently summoned Bao Chao, saying: Di Shuai is about to cross to the south, the future is unpredictable, I want to send my brother to lead the Ting Department to protect him, how about it?

Bao Chaodao: Bao doesn't know a word, and Di Shuai is often responsible for chapters and sentences, which is not even related.

Hu Linyi said with a smile: If you speak out of the chapters and sentences, you only owe one disciple, and An Neng will not pull out a dime.

After Lin Yi finished speaking, he coughed wildly.

Bao Chao hurriedly said: The former is a joke, the order of Runshuai, Bao Chao will not give up!

In late July, Zeng Guofan led the general troops Bao Chao, Zhu Pinlong, deputy general Tang Yixun, and guerrilla Yang Zhenkui to enter Qimen.

Li Hongzhang checked the terrain, frightened, and hurriedly said that the terrain of Qimen is like the bottom of the kettle, and the so-called Jedi of the soldiers is not as good as moving the army very early, and the Shu can advance and retreat freely.

The staff also attached.

Zeng Guo said: My emperor two days three decrees, I take the road to Ningguo, from Zhejiang to the Soviet Union, the overall situation, Qimen for our temporary station, here, the east to the United Zhang Fu Huizhou support, the west to protect the right of the river, the gateway of Raozhou. When I was ordered to overthrow the army, I was under the jurisdiction of the superintendent, and I had already played the holy one. If you are afraid, you can disperse! I am brave in a hundred battles with a bloody blade, and those who are afraid of words will be killed without forgiveness! Huining Taiguang Road Li Yuandu, rate headquarters, gallop defense Huizhou, Huizhou is guaranteed, Qimen is unharmed.

Zuo Zongtang entered Hunan to recruit bravery, paid homage to Luo Bingzhang, the governor of Hunan, and talked about Zeng Guofan's entry into Qimen, Zuo Zongtang said: Although Qimen is a dangerous place, it is connected to Anhui, Jiangxi, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and Anqing is choked to reach Jinling, and Nanchang is to pass Chuxiang and Hunan, and Huining is connected to Suzhou and Hangzhou in the east. Dilao is far-sighted and has the overall situation in mind.

Luo Bingzhang said: Jiangnan erosion, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui and Jiangxi, only rely on the support of Zeng Hu Ergong. Zuo Gong's fundraising bravely consumes silver, and all the missing items are withdrawn faster than the treasury; Another 100,000 silver for Hu Zeng was taken away. Half a year later, I immediately led my troops into Sichuan to put down the chaos and bandits.

Zuo Zongtang said: Shi Dakai has already entered Sichuan?

Luo Bingzhang said: None! The stone bandits now live in northern Guibei and have been jointly suppressed by Liu Changyou, Jiang Yili, Chen Shijie, and Liu Kun. The stone bandits' hearts are scattered, and they may be destroyed or in the snap of a finger. Li Yonghe, Lan Chaoding two bandits, from Yunnan, with 100,000 troops, wreaking havoc on Yunnan and Guizhou, has now entered Sichuan, besieging Chengdu. It is imperative for me to join the Sichuan assistant military affairs decree.

Zuo Zongtang said: The difficulty of Shu Road is difficult to go to the blue sky, is it neat and tidy?

Luo Bingzhang said: Xiao Qijiang's department, more than 10,000 brave, plus Liu Yuezhao and Huang Yuxi's department; Liu Rong and Liu Mengrong recommended by Zuo Gong, Zhan Mo and Yan are respectful, familiar with soldiers and very ambitious; This public residence is dispatched, and the bandits may be promising.

Zuo Zongtang said: My lord Fu Xiang, ten years before and after, eliminate the evils, strike a lot of money, carry the Hunan people, divide the army and four aids, the virtue and politics are not good, and the martial arts are not short. Out of Hunan and into Sichuan, it will be successful.

Luo Bingzhang said: Born in troubled times, you should be diligent. After the infighting of the Cantonese bandits, the momentum has declined, and the sunset is no longer enough to fear. However, Britain, France, the United States, and Russia gradually became a big trouble. Four years ago, the Yi people entered Guangdong and occupied Guangzhou, Ye Mingchen was taken captive, and Bai Gui and Mukedena were coerced, and they have not yet been freed. Before the year, the Yi people attacked Dagu twice. Today, 20,000 British and French soldiers first occupied Dinghai and then to Shanghai; If the Yi people collude with the Cantonese bandits, the southeast half of the Qing Dynasty will be wiped out. I am a big patient in China, and I am also a real person. Xue Heji, the governor of Jiangsu, resisted the Guangdong bandits internally, and the imperial Yikou outside, and was attacked on both sides, and I was worried!

Zuo Zongtang said: Southern Jiangsu has been eroded, Xue Heji is difficult to support alone, and Shanghai will not be guaranteed sooner or later! The return of the Yi people to Dagukou is to take revenge. Monk Greenqin can block, everything is fine; can't be stopped, Beijing and Tianjin are in danger, and the whole country is in chaos.