Chapter 131 Chinese and Foreign Plans for Defending Shanghai

On March 4, 1862, the British Minister to China, Bruce, wrote to British Foreign Secretary Russell:

Shanghai is in danger, supplies are cut off, and the rebels will be even more rampant because of our unexpressed passivity and their success in Ningbo. I have told Sir Uncle Ho my opinion that we are perfectly justified in taking offensive action against the rebels.

On March 11, British Foreign Secretary Russell sent a letter to British Minister to China, Mr. John McWarto, British Consul in Shanghai, and Commander of the British Navy in China, Dr. Hobert:

In view of the occupation of Canton and the rumors of the intention of the Taiping army to attack Shanghai, it seemed appropriate for the Queen's government to give the Vice-Admiral Ho Bo a directive to give him wider powers, and there was no ensuing atrocities as a result of the occupation of other cities by the Taipings, and the fall of Ningbo had paralyzed all commerce, had driven out all or a large part of the peaceful inhabitants, and had destroyed a large area. The interests of humanity and commerce also demanded that the city and port of Shanghai, with its innumerable indigenous population, should not suffer the same fate, and the interests of Great Britain demanded that the other treaty ports should be accorded the same protection as far as possible. Accordingly, I inform you of the Queen's order, that Deputy Commander Hobber should be instructed to defend Shanghai and to protect other treaty ports that are not in the hands of the rebels, as far as the Royal Navy is capable of.

He Bo and others received the letter and negotiated immediately.

The British consul in Shanghai, Mai Huatuo, said: The rebels are besieging Shanghai, commerce is stagnant, and supplies are cut off, so they must immediately counterattack.

Navy Commander He Bodao: I must immediately urge the Qing Dynasty government to immediately increase the strength of Huaer's victorious army, which is one of them. 2. The Anglo-French coalition army, the victorious army of Wall, and the army of the Qing Dynasty must work together to annihilate the rebels. The rebels camped dozens of miles in Wangjiasi and Longzhu Nunnery in order to capture Sijing and Qibao and break the connection between Songjiang and Shanghai. In the first battle, our army first attacked Wangjia Temple, then attacked Longzhu Nunnery, and then attacked Qingpu and Jiading, and completely expelled the rebels from Shanghai.

Su Song Taidao Wu Xu said: When will your army attack?

Ho Bodao: General Deavery, commander of the British Army in China, will arrive in Shanghai at the end of the month, and the coalition forces will be able to attack in early April. Until then, your country should also engage in combat to contain the rebel offensive.

Mai Huatuo said: I should take my strengths and build half an artillery squadron. I will urge all parties to ensure that the necessary artillery and its parts arrive in Shanghai within 10 days or two weeks.

Wu Xu said: My emperor ordered Zeng Guoquan to lead Xiangyong to Shanghai, please ask Mr. Consul for help.

Mai Huatuo said: What is the difficulty, the land route is not smooth, the Yangtze River waterway from Anqing to Shanghai, my British Empire merchant ship will arrive in four days. Ten ships and 5,000 soldiers were transported to Shanghai in January.

Wu Xu said: Within ten months. Guangdong repeatedly attacked Sijing and Qibao, and our army was difficult to support, and its strength was overwhelming.

He Bodao: Wall's ever-victorious army and your department, the right to deal with it; When our army arrives in Shanghai, it will be able to counterattack in an all-round way.

Zuo Zongtang's soldiers entered Zhejiang, that is, the second city of Ke, Zeng Guofan's heart was relaxed, and Li Hongzhang said with a smile: Zuo Gong's military strategy, strong Zeng Jiuniu.

Li Hongzhang said: Di Shuai is polite, Zuo Gong's achievements today are all thanks to Di Shuai.

Zeng Guofan said: Is the young Quanjun trained?

Li Hongzhang said gratefully: Qi Yu Di Shuai, Hongzhang raised 6,000 bravery, please Di Shuai to observe.

Zeng Guofan said: Six thousand less, I will send six more camps, talk about the gift of marriage. My emperor once again sent an edict to help Shanghai, Zeng Guoquan and Chen Shijie were short-sighted, and they were all tired of going to Shanghai.

Li Hongzhang hurriedly knelt down and said: Thank you for the grace of the teacher's reconstruction.

Zeng Guofan flew Hongzhang, smiled slyly, and said: "Last month, Li Yuandu returned to the company, what does Shaoquan mean?" Annoyed?

Li Hongzhang laughed silently.

Zeng Guofan said: Li Yuandu didn't listen to my orders, Huizhou was lost, I was in danger of dying, how can I have no hatred! Moreover, after Li Yuandu was blamed, he returned to his hometown without waiting for the end of the news, and went to Zhejiang without waiting for approval. All kinds of paradoxes are incomprehensible. This person is both responsible for me in the front and the king in the back, and the law is difficult to forgive, and the feelings are also unforgivable.

Li Hongzhang said: The teacher is on the top, and Li Ciqing's life is difficult to protect!

Zeng Guofan said: Without him, how can national affairs be lost in personal friendship? Refer to Weng with the book, and I also sent it. This is the original manuscript of the excerpt, Shaoquan may wish to take a look.

Li Hongzhang hurried to watch.

Zeng's Shen Weng Tongshu said: The former governor of Anhui Weng Tongshu, in July of the eighth year of Xianfeng, the orchard was frustrated, and he retreated to Dingyuan. Wei Shi has not been in office for a long time, and he can still pass the buck.

It was stationed for a year, and in June of the ninth year, the city of Dingyuan fell. The civil and military officials and gentry were martyred. The governor abandoned the city and fled to Shouzhou, exhausted, reverted to Miao Peilin as support, repeatedly neglected sponsorship, raised carbuncle relics, and the gentry were resentful, so there was a vendetta between Sun Jiatai and Miao Lian. When Miao was caught against the siege of Shou, he killed Xu Lizhuang, Sun Jiatai, and Miao Shizhong to charm Miao, but did not break the siege. Shoucheng is broken, then Bo Chongwu, Qingrui, and Yin Shanting will pass through the seedlings, and get out of here.

Miao Peilin attacked the city and fell to the ground, the killing was very miserable, the encroachment was widespread, Weng Tongshu could not be martyred, but he had the strength to protect Miao from rebellion, and the regimental training was guilty. At first, it was said that Miao Lian entered the city and did not kill civilians, and then it said that the victims of Shouzhou and the martyrs of women were innumerable, and asked Peng Yulin to find out that it was a contradiction.

In the first month of last year, Miao Peilin was called "Miao Peilin's Bingying", which was popular among the people. There are provinces that are feudal officials, and they should be the system of the imperial court, and they are also the eternal rules.

Today is not a loyal word, what kind of language has been learned all his life, and he "swears to defend this territory for the country and protect this remnant", as if he is upright and unyielding, and the words are coercive. In September, Shouzhou City was broken, and Weng played two pieces with a book, which showed Miao Peilin's loyalty. Seeing the first month of the first month is sparse, it is not particularly contradictory, and it is also like an abyss, reversing right and wrong, confusing the saints, and corrupting the discipline, nothing more.

If Weng Tongshu claims that he has unloaded the seal and should not defend the city, he should lead himself away as soon as possible, and should not be in a place of suspicion; As the lord of a city, it is not appropriate to kill more group training, so as to rebel against the power of Miao.

If Weng Tongshu has been ordered to defend the city, then he should die with the people, and should not be patient and indecisive; and should not be coerced and sloppy, Duwan turned to steal his life. After the matter was decided, Weng Tongshu sent three letters to his ministers, without any words of blame, and he was completely ashamed, and Tian was not surprised.

Since the rise of the army, the governor has been severely punished for the loss of the defenders and escapes, and Weng Tongshu has lost in Dingyuan and Shouzhou twice, and it has caused the disaster of Miao rebellion, so it is not advisable to get away with it! At the request of the order, Weng Tongshu was dismissed from his post and questioned, and his subordinate minister Jiuqing was asked to discuss the crime with the Criminal Department, so as to enforce military discipline and show his violation.

Where the ministers are located, they should be corrected, and they dare not accommodate because of the prosperity of Weng Tongshu. Whether it is appropriate or not, bow to the emperor and beg for the holy instructions. I would like to enclose the piece of music.

After watching Hongzhang, he praised and said: Only this film, every word is beautiful, refreshing!

Zeng Guofan said: Refer to Li Yuandu's fold, and there are many pearls; The family affection of the world is easy to obstacle. Shaoquan went to Shanghai this time, and he has a long way to go, and he must do his best to eradicate the rebellion in Guangdong. Hanlin edited Feng Guifen, served Tao Gong and Lin Gong, saw far away, and went to Shanghai as a young man, so he must bow down to seek advice.

Li Hongzhang said: The teacher taught, Hongzhang is unforgettable. Feng Gong's name, admired for a long time, after arriving in Shanghai, he will look at it three times. Xue Huanjuan, the governor of Jiangsu, asked to borrow troops from Britain and France to help suppress the Cantonese bandits, and the two palaces have also been gracious, does the teacher think it is appropriate?

Zeng Guofan said: Shanghai is a trade wharf, and the people of Yi share the same interests with me, and we should fight together and defend it together. However, borrowing the Yi soldiers, if the climate becomes large, the tail will not fall, and it will not be a blessing in the end. It is the best thing to master the long skills of the thieves to control the rebellion. Shaoquan to Shanghai, the use of Yi soldiers, must be cautious. Duolong'a, Li Xuyi, and Yuan Jia are surrounded by three layers, and Chen Thief Yucheng is alone in Luzhou, and he is already a turtle in the urn. The fierce thief, but Li Xiucheng is also a bandit; Shaoquan is in danger alone, but I really can't bear it; Yuanfu Xiangxiang recruits bravery, and it will come soon, I will negotiate again, and then send strong generals to help Your Excellency.