Chapter 16 Victory in the first battle of the sixteenth quarter: 7,000 Huai troops defeated 20,000 Taiping troops

On March 20th in the first year of Tongzhi (1862 A.D.), banners and flags were fluttering outside Shanghai, and gongs and drums were blaring; three Huaiyong troops led by Li Hongzhang, with a total of 7,500 people, landed on the banks of the Huangpu River. They lined up on a lawn and were being inspected by Governor Xue Huan of Jiangsu. Xue Huan's face was radiant, he wore bright red on his top, and his brand-new official uniform was spotless. Xue Huan walked in front, followed by Li Hongzhang with a haggard face, Hua Er, the commander of the foreign gun team with sarcasm, and the generals under the command of Zeng Bingzhong, the admiral of Jiangsu.

Xue Huan sighed inwardly as he walked, the team in front of him, wearing sandals and short jackets, cloth handkerchiefs, sallow faces, and fierce eyes, seemed to be surrounded by hunger. The weapons in the hands of this team are also uneven, some are muskets, some are machetes, and there are two axes on their shoulders that are clearly used for chopping wood!Xue Huan sighed first, and after the sigh, he was extremely disappointed.He didn't know whether Zeng Guofan, governor of Liangjiang, sent him such a team to protect Shanghai or to eat Shanghai. Wall, the leader of the foreign gun team, walked all the way, watched all the way, and ridiculed all the way.He said to Li Hongzhang in blunt Chinese: "We have known for a long time that Master Zeng trained a team for Shanghai that can conquer battles. Now that we see it, it is really well-deserved! Master Li, are Master Zeng's other teams also like this? They seem to be very hungry, they must be able to eat, right?"

Wall was wearing a steel helmet, a military uniform, tall riding boots, a short musket in his waist, and a command knife slung across his shoulder. In addition to his tall stature, he looked extraordinarily energetic in front of Li Hongzhang. Li Hongzhang replied with a smile: "Commander Hua has been in the army for a long time, and he should know the rules of the military. To judge whether a team is good or bad, it should be on the battlefield, not on the playground." Hua Er shrugged his shoulders exaggeratedly, and muttered in a low voice: "These people don't even have the strength to walk, can they still kill the enemy? I have traveled to many countries, trained countless troops, and saw such troops This is the first time. Xue Zhongcheng's 180,000 taels of silver for chartering a boat is too unreasonable! Master Li, you really opened my eyes!" Hua Er intentionally called the eyes as eye sockets to strengthen the irony strength.

Li Hongzhang couldn't figure out the details of this American, so he smiled and didn't talk to him.In the afternoon of the same day, Li Hongzhang rushed to the governor's yamen with the grain platform to collect the payable grain.Before Li Hongzhang's arrival, Xue Huan had repeatedly promised that after Huaiyong's arrival in Shanghai, all the salary and food would be provided by the Jiangsu Fantai.Li Hongzhang did as promised. Unexpectedly, Xue Huan didn't want to keep the contract. He first excused that Shanghai's silver and grain were tight, and the amount of grain and grain that should be allocated to Huaiyong had not yet been paid. After Qingpu, the payment must be made according to the amount, and there will be no default.

Liangtai did not return to the camp but turned around to ask Qian Dingming for it.When Qian Dingming took over Huaiyong, he had vowed that as long as Huaiyong arrived in Shanghai, Fantai would pay the salary in time.At Qian Dingming's words, Liangtai vowed to get the salary.Qian Dingming was forced to have no choice but to come to the Governor's Yamen to intercede with Xue Huan. Qian Dingming soaked in the signing room for two full hours. Seeing the sun sinking to the west, Xue Huan issued a written receipt to Qian Dingming, asking him to hand over the written receipt to Huaiyong's Liangtai, and let the Liangtai go to Su Song Taidao The yamen went to Wu Daotai to get it.The Wu Daotai mentioned by Xue Huan is Su Song Tai Dao Wu Xu.

After receiving the voucher, Liangtai rushed to the Taidao Yamen of Su Song.But Wu Xu only allocated half of the salary to Huaiyong, and then refused to pay Huai Yong on the grounds that the co-pay had not arrived. Liangtai had no choice but to go back to the camp to report to Li Hongzhang.Liangtai thought that Li Hongzhang would be furious, but Li Hongzhang just smiled and asked Liangtai to distribute the salaries to the battalions as soon as possible. Li Hongzhang knew very well in his heart that Xue Huan was influenced by Huaer, and his idea of ​​relying on Huai Yong to protect Shanghai had been shaken in his heart. If Xue Huan wanted to support Huai Yong wholeheartedly, Xue Huan had to change Xue Huan's view of Huai Yong.Li Hongzhang stayed up in the middle of the night, thinking hard about the way forward.

The next day, the situation changed suddenly, and a bigger war approached Shanghai. First, when the foreign gun team recaptured Nanqiao Town in Fengxian, it encountered desperate resistance from the Taiping Army.That night, the Taiping Army mobilized heavy troops to rush to Taicang, and quickly occupied Taicang. Li Qingchen, the prefect of Taicang, and 5,000 defenders were all killed, and none of them survived.The Taiping Army approached Shanghai non-stop, trying to take advantage of Li Hongzhang's unstable foothold to break through Shanghai and divide the pressure from Tianjing. Xue Huan urgently summoned Li Hongzhang to the city to discuss matters.Li Hongzhang rushed to the Governor's Yamen in a sedan chair, and saw that Hua'er, Wu Xu, Jiangsu Admiral Zeng Bingzhong, and Fubiao Camp Deputy General Feng Rikun were all present, and the room was full.

Xue Huan looked flustered, and said: "Taicang City is broken, Bu Junmen died in battle, and Chang Mao is about to approach Shanghai. The headquarters summoned all the adults overnight to discuss how to retreat from the enemy. According to reports, Chang Mao The number of Mao's troops this time was no less than one hundred thousand, and it seems that the momentum is to destroy our Shanghai. The headquarters just thought about it in the heart, and really can't think of a better way. Master Li, tell me how we should meet the enemy this time Is that good?" Li Hongzhang stood up and replied: "Master Futai, Si Li (note: humble name) thinks that although Changmao is powerful, his army strength will not exceed 60,000. With the existing strength of my whole city, it is enough to fight."

Hua Er said: "Based on my ten battalions of firearms, it is enough to withstand the attack of 30,000 long-haired battalions. But can Mr. Li's fifteen battalions be able to withstand the attack of 10,000 long-haired battalions? I think it is unknown! " Xue Huan glanced at Hua Er, and said: "Master Hua, Master Li has not finished speaking, please don't interrupt casually. Master Li, the Ministry wants you to divide into several battalions to defend the city, and divide into several battalions to follow Master Hua and Fu. Biaoying goes out of the city to meet the enemy, do you think it is okay?"

Li Hongzhang thought for a while, and said: "Your Excellency, I have only fifteen battalions of Huaiyong. Before the departure, Mr. Zeng repeatedly emphasized that Huaiyong can unite but cannot be divided. Combining will lead to great power, and dividing will result in single strength. What's more, Chang Mao has not yet approached the city, so it is the best policy for us to go out to meet the enemy at this time. If we enter the city to defend at this time, Chang Mao will send heavy troops to trap me. After a long time, our army will not fight and will be chaotic. Isn't it right? ? Lord Wanwang think twice."

After listening to Li Hongzhang's words, Xue Huan pondered for a long time, and then said: "Master Li's words just now are also reasonable. The headquarters thinks that it is better for the Fubiao Battalion to accompany the headquarters to defend the city, and Master Li goes out of the city with Lord Hua to meet the enemy. , this should be the best solution for both worlds!" Hua Er jumped up with a cry, and shouted: "My Musketeer Battalion doesn't want to fight with a group of beggars! If you lose the battle, who will it be?" Li Hongzhang couldn't bear it anymore, pointed at Hua'er and said, "Lord Hua, please respect yourself! This is the Jiangsu governor's office under the governor of Liangjiang, not in your country!" Hua Er jumped up and said: "Master Li, you have to speak clearly. I was invited by you, and I am suppressing bandits for you." Xue Huan hurriedly waved his hands and said, "Okay, it's already this time, so don't quarrel. How about this, Master Hua leads the Musketeer Battalion to the west of the city to meet the enemy, and Master Li goes to the east of the city to meet the enemy. Central dispatching. Is this okay? Time is running out, so let’s go back to the camp to make arrangements.” Li Hongzhang returned to the camp quickly, and immediately summoned the battalion officials to discuss matters in the tent.He knew very well that Xue Huan, who was notorious, would have to hand over the governor's seal sooner or later. Whether he could succeed Xue Huan, this battle was crucial.He said angrily: "I, Huaiyong, came to Shanghai without a firm foothold. The foreign spear team looked down on me. Xue Zhongcheng was bewitched by others, and he didn't understand military affairs, so he also looked down on me. If this battle is not fought well, we will wait for you." The only thing left is to go back to the hometown and farm!" Zhang Shusheng said at this time: "Master Li, what do you always think, just do what you say. We are all at your disposal." Li Hongzhang said: "When I left the city, I already thought about it. Chang Maoxin took possession of me in Taicang, and then swooped in Shanghai. In fact, he wanted to drive me Huaiyong out of Shanghai. We might as well pretend to be deceived and make a plan." " Later, Li Hongzhang led Zhang Shusheng to lead the fifth battalion, together with the first battalion under Pan Dingxin, to fetch Taicang from the trail, and then return to aid.Li Hongzhang led the third battalion to set up a camp 30 miles outside the city, and Cheng Xueqi led the rest of his troops to defend the east of the city with bluff according to Li Hongzhang's instructions. Li Hongzhang said: "Whether we can stop in Shanghai depends on this battle!" The battalion officers are gearing up to leave.Zhang Shusheng and Pan Dingxin quickly took advantage of the night to leave the camp, but the flags of each battalion were still planted in place. After Cheng Xueqi and Li Hongzhang left with his troops, he led the soldiers to set up a camp for the boss again, with fake banners inside, very ostentatious, as if the entire Huaiyong army was here. In order to consume the artillery fire of the Taiping Army, Li Hongzhang set up three more empty battalions along the way.The Taiping Army brigade rushed over quickly, and whenever they saw a camp, they bombarded it with artillery, three in a row; Can rely on manpower to seize the camp.Li Hongzhang knew he had a plan, so he led Huaiyong to fight out. After half an hour of melee, he led the army to retreat, intending to let the Taiping army pass.The Taiping army soon came to the city. Most of them used muskets, with more than 10,000 people rushing to the west of the city to confront the foreign guns, and a group of nearly 20,000 people with lesser weapons rushed to the east of the city and went straight to Cheng Xueqi's camp.The Taiping army first fired muskets at Cheng Xue's opening camp for a while, and then swarmed up. Cheng Xueqi sent someone to deliver a letter to Li Hongzhang while meeting the enemy.After an hour of melee, gunshots erupted suddenly outside the Taiping Army, and Li Hongzhang and Zhang Shusheng surrounded the Taiping Army in two ways. Seeing the sudden increase in Huaiyong, the Taiping Army was not panicked. Li Hongzhang was anxious, but also to boost morale, he went into battle with a knife himself.Qiqian Huaiyong's morale increased sharply, and his eyes were almost red. In this battle, nearly 20,000 Taiping troops were defeated by 7,000 Huaiyong, and more than 10,000 Taiping soldiers died under Huaiyong's machete.The remnants of the Taiping Army in the east of the city hurriedly withdrew to the west of the city to join forces with the foreign guns. Although the foreign gun team was well-equipped, it was eventually outnumbered and suffered a lot of casualties.Li Hongzhang led the army to kill them quickly, the situation was reversed, and the Taiping army retreated. In this battle, Huaiyong not only won a big victory, but also recovered a city of Taicang.In front of Li Hongzhang, Hua Er had to lower his noble head, not daring to underestimate Huai Yong.Li Hongzhang wrote a letter to his mentor Zeng Guofan, detailing the battle.Zeng Guofan was overjoyed to read the letter, and went up all night to ask for credit.