Chapter 4 In the fourth quarter, in the Bahe boat, Zeng Guofan secretly taught the generals of the Hunan Army the strategy of marching into central Anhui

For several days in a row, Zeng Guofan sat in a big green sedan chair and visited all the yamen in Changsha. He even visited the magistrates of the small Changsha and Shanhua counties in person.Commander Xiangyong, who holds a heavy army in his hand, acted so courteously and without forgetting the past, that everyone in Changsha official circles felt ashamed, and they all expressed that they would do their best to support the soldiers in winning battles and making military exploits. After discussing with Luo Bingzhang and Zuo Zongtang, Zeng Guofan decided to take 5,000 people from Zhang Yunlan's Laoxiang Camp and 4,000 people from Xiao Qijiang's Guozi Camp to Zhejiang.In August last year, Wang Wei led the old Hunan battalion to fight in Leping, Jiangxi. He died of illness in the barracks, and the old Xiang battalion was led by Zhang Yunlan.Soon, the old Hunan camp was transferred back to Hunan.Zeng Guofan's mind has a deep memory of Zhang Yunlan, who won the waist by shooting geese back then.Zhang Yunlan told Zeng Guofan that before Wang Chi's death, he left him the "Twenty-Three Histories" presented by Zeng, and told him that his former generation would be an example and lead the old Hunan camp into an invincible army.Zeng Guofan sighed after hearing this.A rare talent was gradually maturing under his encouragement, but unfortunately died suddenly at the age of thirty-three.Zhang Yunlan does not have the talent to be a general on his own, but he is eager to learn and dares to do things. Zeng Guofan thinks this is advisable;He encouraged Zhang Yunlan to inherit Pushan's legacy and not to disappoint, and ordered him to step up preparations. Ten days later, he led his troops from Liling to Jiangxi and assembled in Hekou Town, Guangxin Prefecture.Xiao Qijiang's name is Junchuan, and like Zhang Yunlan, he is also from Xiangxiang, and he was born in Jiansheng.Xianfeng came to Changsha for two years to join the camp. Seeing that he was solid and reliable, Zeng Guofan left him in the pro-barracks to cultivate him, and later recommended him to Jizi Camp as a battalion officer, and soon returned home because of his mother's death.He suffers from ear disease and is hard of hearing, so everyone calls him Deaf Xiao.This time, Zeng Guofan must also encourage him, asking him to lead Guoziying and Zhang Yunlan to enter Jiangxi together.

Liu Rong was attending her mother's funeral at home at this time, and did not want to follow Zeng Guofan into Zhejiang.Zeng Guofan also felt ill-treated because Liu Rong had been with him for several years and had not kept his official position.Not only Liu Rong, but also Kang Fu, Li Yuandu, Peng Shouyi, Yang Guodong and others have never sponsored.A few months ago, Li Yuandu's mother sent a letter asking him about this matter. Zeng Guofan had no answer, but he could only say some emotional words like "Three Never Forget" to prevaricate, and made an appointment with his son and daughter for comfort.In the past, he thought it was a pity for the imperial court. Through this self-examination, he also realized that this was also the reason why the previous war was not smooth.No big rewards and big guarantees, no wonder the subordinates didn't work hard.In this regard, Hu Linyi also did a good job.Since he took over Xiangyong in Jiangxi, he took Li Xubin's father to the Wuchang Fufu Office, treated him with respect as a father, and betrothed his younger sister to Luo Zenan's son, which made Li Xubin's brothers and Luo Zenan's old department grateful and motivated.Zeng Guofan is determined to change course in this regard in the future.For the past two years, Chen Shijie has run regiment training at home and built a battalion of his own, known as the "Guangwu Army". He is working hard and doesn't want to come out.Zeng Guofan then asked Uncle Wang Renrui of the Wang family to manage the business office, Prime Minister Li Hanzhang's Transit Bureau, Peng Wanggu's son Peng Shanqi to take care of the grain platform, old camp official Zou Shouzhang to manage the bank office, Guo Songtao's second brother Guo Kuntao to manage the official documents, and Jiangxi Juren Xu Zhenyi to manage the Shuqi , The armory and copywriting will be managed by Yang Guodong and Peng Shouyi who are still in the Jiangxi military camp.

Zeng Guofan met with Wang Renrui, Li Hanzhang, Guo Kuntao and others one by one, and made clear promises with great righteousness and secret promises with excellent guarantees. The listeners understood and were all enthusiastic.At the same time, they summoned in batches the generals above the sentry officers of the Laoxiang Camp and Guozi Camp, and their entourage who participated in the military, and talked with them individually.For those who have characteristics, record them briefly in the diary of the day for future use.Zeng Guofan started to keep a diary in the 19th year of Daoguang, and then stopped.In order to urge himself every day and record the main events of the day, after his comeback this time, he resumed the diary that had been interrupted for 13 years.Zeng Guofan also sent letters to Li Xubin, Zeng Guohua, Zeng Guoquan, Yang Zaifu, Peng Yulin, Bao Chao, Li Yuandu and others who were stationed in Jiangxi, ordering them to rush to Bahe to meet and discuss important matters after receiving the letter.

Although the weather was extremely hot, Zeng Guofan swept away the depressed mood of more than a year. He was busy from early morning to midnight every day, considering all the big and small things that should be done carefully, and handled them in an orderly manner. After being busy in Changsha for half a month, Zeng Guofan set off with a group of entourage and headed north.Luo Bingzhang, Zuo Zongtang and other officials and gentry went to Xiaoximen Wharf to see him off.Zeng Guofan stood on the deck with a smile on his face and a charming face. He repeatedly bent down and raised his hands to greet those who saw him off.

Changsha City is getting farther and farther away.The river wind blows the battle flag, and the waves beat the bow of the ship.Seeing it, Zeng Guofan felt comfortable all over.He walked into the cabin and was about to take a nap by the window when he suddenly remembered that he hadn't done a thing that should be done. How many times has Mrs. Ouyang mentioned that Ji Zeyuan's wife, Mrs. He, has been dead for a long time, and the wife of the grave is indispensable, and it is better to find a successor for him as soon as possible; the fourth daughter, Ji Chun, is thirteen years old and has not yet been engaged, so this matter cannot be delayed any longer.Qian Xiang was in a bad mood and didn't care to make arrangements.

On the day of departure, my wife repeatedly told me that before leaving Changsha, we must make arrangements for the marriage of our children and write a note to send back.Unexpectedly, as soon as he arrived in Changsha, he was very busy. Zeng Guofan felt guilty for not fulfilling his father's responsibilities.In fact, he had already considered it in his heart, but he hadn't made up his mind yet.In the past twenty years, the people who had the closest relationship with him and contributed the most to him in the past few years were Guo Songtao and Liu Rong, and neither of them had benefited from him at all.Now, one of them is in the capital and the other is in Xiangxiang, and it will be impossible to recommend them in the future. The only remedy is to get married.Zeng Guofan didn't hesitate any longer, and immediately took out three pieces of red paper, and wrote on them respectively: "Zeng Jize was born on the second day of Yinshi, the second day of the first month of November in Jihai, father Zeng Guofan", "Zeng Jichun was born on the eighteenth day of the ninth month of Bingwu, the father of Zeng Guofan". Zeng Jichun was born on the 18th day of the ninth month of Bingwu, when his stepfather Zeng Guobao was born."It turned out that Mandi Guobao had been married for many years and had no children. In the fourth year of Xianfeng, Zeng Linshu made the decision to inherit Guohuang's son Ji Qu, Guofan's fourth daughter Ji Chun, and Mann daughter Ji Fen to Zeng Guobao as children. Wrote two Geng posts for the four girls.He took out two more envelopes, and wrote on one: "Zeng Guofan would like to pay homage to Meng Rong and Liu Rong, boat trip to Changsha on June 27th in Wuwu", and put Ji Ze's Geng post into this envelope.One wrote: "Zeng Guofan would like to pay homage to Junxian Guo Songtao for a few times, on June 27, Changsha Zhouci", and put Ji Chun's two copies of Geng's post into this envelope.He also wrote a letter to Mrs. Ouyang, telling her that the Guo family must also send two copies of Geng Tie, one for his biological father and one for his stepfather; he will invite Peng Yulin and Yang Guodong as matchmakers for his son, and Li Xubin and Yang Zaifu as his son's matchmakers. Daughter's matchmaker.

After finishing this matter, Zeng Guofan felt a burst of relief.Two sons and five daughters, the only one left is the unmarried daughter Man, and this is the only family matter.In a place where soldiers are fierce and wars are dangerous, life is in danger at any time. It is necessary to find a good husband's family for Mannu as soon as possible. Even if he dies at that time, as a father, he has roughly fulfilled his duties. The journey was smooth, and the ship arrived in Wuchang after sailing for seven days.After some official entertainment, Zeng Guofan plunged into the governor's office.Zeng Guofan and Hu Linyi talked for three days and three nights, from personal acquaintances to state affairs, from the court to the local government, from Xiangyong to the Taiping Army, from past mistakes to future plans.On the way from Wuchang to Bahe, he had a well-thought-out plan for the future deployment of troops.

Bahe is a small town along the Yangtze River, fifty miles downstream of Huangzhou Mansion, where five battalions of Peng Yulin's Neihu Navy are stationed.The boat was not far from Huangzhou Mansion, and Peng Yulin personally came to greet him in a small boat. "Brother Di, Jiangxi Xiangyong looks forward to your old comeback, just like looking forward to Yunni in a severe drought, and looking forward to a loving mother for a baby!" Peng Yulin said in a voice full of emotion when he got on the big boat.It can be heard that the words of the strange man on Zhajiang Street back then and the prestigious commander of the navy today are from the heart.

Zeng Guofan held Peng Yulin's hand tightly, stared at it for a long time, and said emotionally: "Xueqin, you have lost a lot of weight this year!" After a pause, he suddenly asked with a smile: "I heard that after you conquered Xiaogu Mountain last year, you lost weight on the stone wall. wrote a wonderful poem?" "It actually spread to the lotus leaf pond?" Peng Yulin said happily. "It's called spreading like wildfire." Zeng Guofan read in a cadence, "Scholars laughed and led the warships to come, and the river's flags were unfurled. One hundred thousand troops marched together, and Peng Lang won the sister-in-law. Xueqin, this last sentence is really a witty phrase." Tian Cheng!"

Zeng Guofan's few jokes aroused Peng Yulin's deepest feelings again. "Later generations can only understand the words of this poem. As for the deep affection, they will never be able to understand it." Peng Yulin thought to himself.Zeng Guofan was about to ask about the situation of Guoxiu's mother and son when Li Xubin and Zeng Guohua's boat arrived.Zeng Guofan said goodbye to Li Xubin and his sixth brother affectionately, and they all sat in the same boat and went down together.When I was about to reach Bahe, I saw Yang Zaifu, Li Yuandu, Bao Chao, Yang Guodong, Peng Shouyi and others watching from the bow of the boat from a distance.Only Zeng Guoquan couldn't escape because the battle outside Ji'an City was in a fierce stage, and all the generals who should be there came.After being separated for more than a year, Zeng Guofan has mixed feelings when he sees these old departments who walked through the smoke together with him today.When he was in Heyetang, he heard others say: Xiangyong officers and soldiers are difficult to dispatch with imperial orders, and the generals of the green battalion cannot command, but Zeng Guofan can go thousands of miles to order with a letter from Zeng Guofan, regardless of fire or water.These words made him more worried than happy.Zeng Guofan was very pleased to see them warmly receiving each of them now.From this, he saw that his hard work was not in vain, and he also saw his own strength.

That night, Zeng Guofan summoned Li, Yang, Peng, Zeng, Bao and others.This was an unusually important military meeting, and the venue was chosen on Peng Yulin's capacious boat.In order to achieve absolute secrecy, the boat rowed to the center of the river.Several personal soldiers were arranged to patrol the bow and stern of the ship. Since the meeting, Li Xubin, Peng Yulin and others have asked Zeng Guofan a series of questions, such as: Will all the people currently in Jiangxi go to Zhejiang?What is the marching route of various people?How is the sailor going?etc.Zeng Guofan has been thinking about these issues since the day he received the edict.However, what he considered more was the idea of ​​the entire southeast war situation, how to fight steadily and push Jiang Ning step by step.From Heyetang to Changsha, from Changsha to Wuchang, from Wuchang to Bahe, he was thinking along the way, and the plan gradually changed from vague to clear, from fragmentary to complete.Tonight, he will tell all of these confidants and generals, and then listen to their opinions. "All of you will not go to Zhejiang for the time being." Zeng Guofan's opening sentence confused everyone: the imperial court clearly ordered Xiangyong to aid Zhejiang, why didn't they go? "The 9,000 people from Zhang Kaizhang and Xiao Junchuan have arrived at Fenyi, and they are responsible for aiding Zhejiang. Both Runzhi and I believe that Changmao will not stay in Zhejiang for too long. It is probably a trick to lure us. Go to Fujian and use the mountains and mountains of Fujian to go around in circles with us, trying to kill Xiangyong's fighting spirit in the mist and miasma." Li Xubin and others didn't think of this. Bao Chao stuck out his tongue and said, "The long hairs are all killed from the mountains, and they are the best at going around in circles. Our old Bao can't stand this kind of trick. Once we enter the mountains, we can't tell the difference." There are east, west, north and south." Everyone laughed. "That's why I didn't send you, Bao Chunting." Zeng Guofan also smiled lightly, and then continued, "However, we have to make two plans, and we have to send a team to Zhejiang. How many people does Pingjiang Yushi have? " "It is said to be five thousand, but there are actually four thousand one hundred people." Li Yuandu replied. "Pingjiangyong is in Raozhou Prefecture, which is the closest to Zhejiang. After you go back, you will lead him to the south and station in Yushan and Guangfeng. Kaizhang and Junchuan will arrive at Hekou in 20 days. Then you will contact them again." "Yes! When will you arrive?" "From tomorrow, I can arrive at Yushan within 12 days, can I do it?" "It's not a problem to prevent it, it's just that the officers and warriors have been short of pay for three months." Li Yuandu replied. The biggest problem is the payment!In the past, this incident caused Zeng Guofan the most headache.There is no real power of the governor, the guests are left in vacant positions, and they can't transfer any money and food. They beg from all directions like a beggar all year round.Now he is still only a servant with an empty title, and his situation has not changed.Along the way, Zeng Guofan was worried about it.This Li Yuandu asked for his salary in less than three sentences.Fortunately, with the generous support from Luo and Hu, they managed to get by in the past few months. "The imperial court has not allocated funds, and the funds are very exhausted. You should tighten your belts and start drawing first." He turned his eyes to look at Li Yuandu, "After Hu Zhongcheng gets the money, I will transfer 41,000 taels to you." Hearing the previous words, Li Yuandu was disappointed, but after the latter words, he turned his worries into joy, thinking: Zeng Disheng is so powerful, he counted ten taels per person.The prophet is like this, and one of my five thousand people will not be reduced! "What should we do? Still standing still?" Zeng Guohua, who had always been high-minded and irritable, couldn't help it, and asked anxiously. "This is the important matter we are going to discuss tonight." Zeng Guofan looked around seriously, "Everyone, when we first established Xiangyong in Changsha six years ago, everyone had an idea that we would fight in Jiangning in the future. Completely wipe out this group of giant bandits. I don't think you have forgotten this original intention!" "Where can I forget!" Yang Zaifu said. "Think about it every day, never forget it." Peng Yulin interjected. "It should be like this. Not only do you have to think this way, but you also have to warn your subordinates not to forget. Our tens of thousands of soldiers in Xiangyong must take this as the highest goal. If we don't achieve this goal, we will not give up!" After saying these words, Zeng Guofan Changing a calm tone, "Everyone knows that Hong Ni occupied Jiangning from the upper reaches of the Yangtze River to the east. Therefore, the upper reaches of Jiangning is where Hong Ni's luck lies. Now Hubei and Jiangxi are all recovered by me. Above Jiangning, Only Wan Province remains, and if Wan Province is restored, Jiangning will become an isolated city sooner or later." "Di Shuai means that we want us to enter Anhui?" Li Xubin, who has always been deep and reticent, has already glimpsed the key points of the next step from Zeng Guofan's words, and he asked tentatively. "Yes!" Zeng Guofan glanced at Li Xubin with admiration, "Di'an said it very well, it seems that you have thought about it on weekdays. As a general, stepping into the camp and attacking the village to calculate the distance is second. The important thing is It is the talent of a general to have the overall situation in mind and plan grandly. Di'an is slightly better than you in this regard." After boasting about Li Xubin, Zeng Guofan took out a map of Hubei, Anhui, Jiangxi, Jiangsu and Zhejiang from the bamboo box and hung it up, and began to get to the point.Everyone sat upright in horror and listened attentively. "All of my Xiangyong, except Yuanfu Jizi Battalion who will continue to attack Ji'an, will open up two new battlefields. One is to aid Zhejiang under the order, and I will lead it. The division was the vanguard, Ci Qingping Jiangyong was the backup, and the Hou'an Navy was the support. The first was to march into central Anhui. The waterways above Anqing strictly control the passing ships, especially foreign ships. The final foothold of the military in Anqing is in Anqing." Everyone nodded together.Li Xubin asked: "What about our marching route?" "You enter Anhui from Datong Town." Zeng Guofan picked up the ink brush and drew a circle on the three characters of Datong Town at the junction of Hubei and Anhui, "then crossed Dushan, conquered Taihu Lake, then conquered Qianshan, marched into Tongcheng and Lujiang, Surround Anqing from the northeast. Chun Ting stays in Fuliang for the time being, drags down the long hairs in Hui and Chi, and waits for Di'an and Wen Fu to surround Anqing, and then crosses the river from the south to support." "My lord, our Tingzi camp has been out of pay for a long time." Bao Chao also cried bitterly. "After Hu Zhongcheng's salary is settled, I will send you some. However, I heard that Tingziying has become more and more shameless in the past few months. Some people even robbed during the day. Is there such a thing?" Zeng Guofan Ask Bao Chao sternly. "It's been a long time since the payment has been cut off. It's possible that the brothers have done some deviant things." Bao Chao hesitated. "If you really don't have any money, you go and take down Wuyuan County, and you can take out some of the property that Changmao has amassed. Robbing the people's things is digging your own grave, understand?" Zeng Guofan gave Bao Chao a look. "Understood!" Bao Chao replied readily.With this sentence, he can justifiably rob Wuyuan County from now on.However, he also thought in his heart: Mr. Zeng has never been so kind before! "Although Chang Mao's garrison in central Anhui is not many, but Chen Yucheng's troops are gathered in the Liuhe area, and they can enter Anhui Province in a few days. The combined troops of Wen Fu and I are only 7,000, which is a bit weak. "Li Xubin said with concern. "Since ancient times, there have been elite soldiers but not many. Seven thousand soldiers are not too small; and Bao Chao still has four thousand elite soldiers, adding up to over 10,000. It is really too small. At that time, you can contact the local regiment for training. However, the Anhui soldiers Group training is very complicated, you have to proceed with caution." "We don't want group training. It's really not enough. I'll go back to Xiangxiang to recruit brave people." Zeng Guohua said carelessly, "Within one month, we must take down Taihu Lake and Qianshan Mountain, and march to the city of Anqing." "Wen Fu's spirit is commendable, but the enemy should not be underestimated." Zeng Guofan said, "Anhui Province has been in the hands of Shi Ni for many years. , Hong Ni will definitely resist desperately, and you must be prepared to fight evil battles." Li Xubin's expression was resolute, Zeng Guohua didn't think so, but he stopped talking. "As for the overall military strategy, what's your opinion?" Zeng Guofan looked around. Everyone was staring at the map, or resting their chins in thought, but couldn't come up with a better opinion for a while.Li Xubin stood up and said firmly: "Master Di, don't worry, Wen Fu and I will work together to regain the whole of central Anhui within three months, so as to comfort the souls of Luoshan and Pushan in heaven." "Okay!" Zeng Guofan said to everyone with a solemn expression, "I'm here to tell you the truth. The aid to Zhejiang was done according to orders. Once the movement of Changmao changes, we have to change accordingly, so this is not the case. It is not a fixed battlefield. But entering Anhui is our fundamental strategy at present. It is related to the overall situation of seizing the first victory in Jiangning. Go ashore and follow this deployment." As soon as Zeng Guofan finished speaking, several cooks filed into the cabin, bringing out fragrant chicken, duck and fish.This is the dinner that Peng Yulin prepared for everyone.Seeing the bright moonlight in the night sky, Zeng Guofan was overjoyed and stepped out of the hatch. On the moonlit night of the Yangtze River, the surface of the river is like a boundless ocean, which looks vast and magnificent, with a hazy and magnificent beauty that is very different from the daytime.Looking at the river scenery, Zeng Guofan casually recited Su Dongpo's Fu on the Red Cliff: "In the autumn of Renxu, when July is over, Su Zi and his guests are boating under the Red Cliff. Reciting the poems of the bright moon, singing the graceful chapters. Shaoyan, the moon rises above the Dongshan Mountain, hovering between the bullfights, the white dew crosses the river, the water and light meet the sky, as if a reed is vertical, and the vast expanse of Ling Wanqing is vast... " Suddenly, he stopped chanting, and unexpectedly found that there seemed to be a human head haunting the river about twenty feet away.He rubbed his eyes, then stared carefully: it was indeed a person, swimming downstream!Who is this?Is it the fisherman who keeps watch at night?Or a waver who has something urgent to cross the river?No, it should be said that it is impossible!Zeng Guofan thought in his heart, could it be a spy who eavesdropped on the military situation?When he thought of this, he was startled, and quietly called Peng Yulin to his side, pointing to the undulating black shadow in the river, he asked, "Xueqin, what do you think is that black round lump on the river?" Peng Yulin looked in the direction of Zeng Guofan's finger. "Oh! That's a Jiang pig." He said with a smile. "Jiang pig?" Zeng Guofan said suspiciously, "Look again, it looks like a human head." "No," Peng Yulin took another look and said with certainty, "it's a river pig. I've seen it a lot on the Yangtze River. Its book name is finless porpoise, and the common people call it a river pig. It looks like a small pig. The pig, with its dark back, bobbed up and down on the river waves, like a person swimming in water. There is a Jinling nostalgic poem by Xu Hun, a talented Tang Dynasty scholar, who also mentioned it." Peng Yulin thought for a while, and read, "Shi Yan When the clouds are blowing, it’s clear and it’s raining, and the finless porpoise blows the waves and returns the wind at night. This river pig likes to swim at night most.” "From what you've said, it's really Jiangzhu." Peng Yulin's well-founded answer dispelled Zeng Guofan's doubts.He looked into the distance again, and the black shadow had disappeared. "Di Zhang, let's have dinner in the cabin! I specially arranged the most delicious braised crucian carp from the Yangtze River for you." "Okay, let's try Chef Bahe's skills!" Zeng Guofan returned to the cabin excitedly.