Chapter 32 Two reluctantly killed Jin Songling

After two months of rigorous training, most of this army was newly recruited. The formation was neat and the skills were relatively familiar. Zeng Guofan was quite satisfied. On this day, an urgent document was delivered from Changsha governor's yamen to Zhao Family Ancestral Hall in Sangyuan Street, Hengzhou.According to the document, Lai Hanying, deputy prime minister of Changmao Xiaguan, Lin Qirong, the eighth commander of Dianyou, and Bai Huihuai, the 12th commander of Dianyou, commanded 120,000 horses, set off from Jinling, went back to capture Hukou, entered Jiangxi, and surrounded Nanchang, the capital of Jiangxi province.Ma Jimei, the commander-in-chief of Jiujiang Town, was killed, and Fengcheng, Ruizhou, Raozhou, Leping, Jingdezhen, Fuliang, and Taihe fell one after another. The situation was very critical.Jiang Zhongyuan and Jiangxi governor Zhang Xiao, who had been appointed governor of Anhui but were still fighting Changmao in Jiangxi, asked Hunan for help.Therefore, Luo Bingzhang asked Zeng Guofan to send two battalions of Yongding to Jiangxi for help.

"Min Qiao asked for help from Luo Zhongcheng, why didn't he ask Admiral Bao to send troops there? He didn't think of us for the festival ceremony and the banquet, but he thought of us when he went to Jiangxi to die." It wasn't that Wang Kai didn't want to fight, he had long wanted to pull the troops out and compete with Changmao.Saying this is just to vent my grievances. "Master Zeng, although the warriors' formation and skills have improved a lot in the past few months of training, after all, it hasn't been long since they put down their hoes and picked up their swords and spears. I heard that the long-haired Lai Hanying is Hong Xiuquan's brother-in-law. He is the most ferocious and good at fighting, and the Yongdings are not his opponents. It is better not to go this time." Taqibu has been in the army for a long time and has rich experience, so Yongding's weaknesses can be seen clearly.

Wang Chi was making a fuss out of anger, and Tazib was the one to speak prudently, but Zeng Guofan decided to send two battalions to try after careful consideration.I have fought several battles before, and my opponents are small groups of bandits and gangsters. I have never fought against real long-haired people. I am not sure whether the scholar can kill the enemy and make meritorious service.Therefore, Luo Zenan's Zezi Camp and Jin Songling's Lingzi Camp were ordered to go to Jiangxi. A few days later, good news came from the front line in Jiangxi: the second battalion of Ze Zi Ling Zi had less than a thousand people, killed thousands of Changmao, recovered Anfu, and relieved the siege of Ji'an.The success of the first test made Zeng Guofan very happy. "Scholars are available!" He was full of confidence in this team.

But soon, bad news came from the front: Zeziying had ambushed in Zhongchangmao near Nanchang and was defeated.Yi Liangqian, Xie Banghan, Luo Xindong and Luo Zhennan, the sentry officers, were killed in battle.For several nights, Zeng Guofan was disturbed by the bad news and couldn't sleep peacefully.Psoriasis is back. Luo Zenan, who was recommended by Zhang Fu as the governor of Zhili Prefecture because of his achievements in regaining Anfu, felt very heavy on his way back to Hengzhou.This believer in Neo-Confucianism, with Wang Yangming as an example throughout his life, required himself to establish the virtues of sages and sages, and to build immortal merits.But the first time he fought against Long Mao, he lost the lives of more than twenty brothers, including his four outstanding disciples.The saddest thing is that Luo Zhennan is his younger brother who has not left the fifth service. After returning to Xiangxiang, how will he explain to his eighth uncle?In order to reduce his crimes, he tried his best to find the corpse of Yongding who died in battle, packed it in a coffin, and prepared to send someone back to Xiangxiang for burial.He hated himself for having little actual combat experience, so he fell into an ambush easily, and he also hated Jin Songling for not saving him at the most critical moment, otherwise, the loss would not have been so heavy.

In the evening of that day, Zeziying and Lingziying came to the southwestern suburb of Nanchang City at the invitation of Jiang Zhongyuan, full of victorious mood after regaining Anfu.Outside the Yonghe Gate, there are tents and flags flying around to cover the sky. About 10,000 Taiping soldiers are stationed here, and the Yonghe Gate is completely surrounded.In one of the big camps, on a huge flagpole in front of the camp gate, an apricot-yellow centipede flag with a black border embroidered with the word "Lin" waving in the wind. Ten miles away from Yonghe Gate, Luo Zenan and Jin Songling set up camp.

Luo Zenan was eager to win, and once the tent was pitched, he invited Jin Songling to discuss.He remembered that all kinds of military books said that stealing camps and robbing villages is a good way to win a quick battle, so he proposed to Jin Songling the strategy of robbing the camp at night.Jin Songling had fought with Jiang Zhongyuan for more than two years and knew how powerful the Taiping Army was.He said to Luo Zenan: "It's good to rob the camp, but when our army comes here, Changmao probably already knows that there are still shadows when birds fly, let alone more than 1,000 troops? If they are ready, it will be self-defeating."

Luo Zenan said: "At the second watch tonight, I will lead Zeziying to attack the big camp. Even if we lose, it will hurt their spirit. Lingziying will follow behind me. If they win, they will chase after them. If they lose, they will fight to the death to save them." Jin Songling knew that no matter the prestige, status, or relationship with Zeng Guofan, she could not compare with Luo Zenan, so she had to reluctantly agree. That night, the two battalions of Yongding did not sleep.At the second watch, the detective sent by Luo Zenan came back and said that Chang Mao was asleep, and there were not many guards on patrol.Luo Zenan was overjoyed, and personally led Zeziying to go ahead, and Jin Songling led Lingziying to follow.

Until the front of the Taiping Army camp, it was pitch black and there was no movement.Luo Zenan ordered to go straight to the camp.As soon as the order was issued, there was a commotion at the outpost.It turned out that they stepped on a trap, and a dozen Yong Ding fell into it.At this moment, only the sound of a cannon was heard, and the surrounding lights were brightly lit. A general of the Taiping Army, Hengdao, who was about twenty-eight or nineteen years old, immediately appeared in front of his eyes, and laughed at the startled brave men: "Grandpa Lin has already died!" Waiting here for a long time!" This young general is Lin Qirong, the eighth command from the right of the Taiping Army Palace who dominates Jiangxi.Although Lin Qirong is young, he is already a high-caliber general in the Taiping Army.Traps were dug around the camp of the Taiping Army, and it was not their own people who could not recognize them.This is the rule of the Taiping army camping, Luo Zenan does not know.When Luo Zenan set off from the station, Lin Qirong was told by a spies.In the next scuffle, Zeziying left more than twenty corpses.Seeing that the situation was not good, the Lingzi Camp changed from the back post to the front post and withdrew from the battlefield.Just when Lin Qirong was about to wipe out the Zezi Battalion, Jiang Zhongyuan's troops in the Yonghe Gate rushed out of the city after hearing the news, and Luo Zenan rushed out of the encirclement with the defeated troops in embarrassment.

When Luo Zenan reported the battle to Zeng Guofan, Zeng Guofan was deeply worried.Luo Zenan's failure is not terrible, what is terrible is Jin Songling's failure.This is the main reason for the failure of the green battalion to fight against Changmao on the Guangxi battlefield.If this matter is not severely punished, Xiangyong will follow in the footsteps of the Green Camp in the future, and the consequences will be disastrous.Luo Zenan's robbing of the camp was reckless, but his courage was commendable.The most fearful thing for a scholar to lead an army is lack of courage. Luo Zenan's courage cannot be thwarted; although Jin Songling disagrees with Luo Zenan's rash advances, he finally agreed to act together.Jin Songling's crime is unforgivable.

Zeng Guofan decided to exaggerate the rewards and punishments for the trip to Zeziying and Lingziying in Jiangxi. It is a sunny autumn day.Wild geese flying from the north fly in groups over Yanwuping, and sometimes they make a clear chirp or two, which reminds people of the famous saying "The geese are frightened by the cold, and the sound breaks Hengyang Pu".For thousands of years, people have believed in the legend that the geese fly from the north to the south, and after flying around Hengzhou for three weeks, they turn around and return.In fact, wild geese come from the north, cross Huiyan Peak, and continue southward until they find a place they think they are satisfied with, and then settle down in groups for the winter.

On the martial arts platform, five thousand Xiangyongs were neatly arranged in battalion, sentry, and team, facing the podium.Zeng Guofan came to Yanwuping on horseback, followed by Taqibu, Luo Zenan and other ten battalion officers.After dismounting, Zeng Guofan went straight to the podium, followed by several soldiers holding swords, and the battalion officers walked to the front of the main battalion queue.Some simple arrangements were made on the podium today.On the flagpole in the middle of the stage fluttered a long bright yellow flag with a huge "Zeng" character embroidered with black silk thread.Five long striped flags of different colors are planted on both sides, slightly smaller than the one in the middle, and the surnames of the battalion officials such as "ta", "luo", "wang" and "li" are embroidered on the top of the flag.There is a long table in front of the stage, covered with a white cloth.There are several benches on the left and right sides of the platform.Zeng Guofan stood behind the long table, all the benches were empty.According to the rules of Zeng Guofan's lectures in the third, sixth, and ninth lectures, before the lectures began, the battalion officers ran to Zeng Guofan to report the actual number of people present, the number of absentees and the reasons.When the ten battalion officers had finished reporting, Zeng Guofan cleared his throat and said loudly, "Brothers!" All the five thousand Xiangyongs on Yanwuping stood straight with their backs straight and their heels close together, making a heavy sound. "Brothers, this time Zeziying and Lingziying went out of the province to fight Changmao. This is the first time that Xiangyong has fought against real Changmao since the founding of Xiangyong. This time we won the victory and regained Anfu in one fell swoop. It is worthy of great congratulations. This proves that we are A team formed by scholars and farmers is capable of fighting. Brothers, today I will reward Zezi and Lingzi two battalions here. Battalion officers Luo Zenan and Jin Songling each rewarded fifty taels of silver, and the battalion sentry officers rewarded Twenty taels of silver, the whistle chief rewards fifteen taels of silver, the super chief rewards ten taels of silver, and each brother rewards five taels of silver." There was a commotion below, there were chattering sounds in the team, and soft discussions could be faintly heard: "It's really lucky, I got this much reward after taking a trip to Jiangxi." "You're jealous! Don't worry, there will be times when you will make a fortune." Zeng Guofan went on to say: "In the future, we will go to Hubei, Jiangxi, Anhui, and Jiangsu to fight against Changmao. As long as everyone is not afraid of death and wins the battle, the headquarters will give a lot of silver in every battle. After fighting a few battles, everyone will widen.” Zeng Guofan looked at the brave men under the podium, all of them were excited.He paused for a moment and changed his tone: "But unfortunately, we strayed into Changmao's ambush outside Nanchang City. The sentry chief Yi Liangqian, Xie Banghan, Luo Xindong, Luo Zhennan and twenty others Two brothers died for the country. We bow three times to the loyal souls of heroes." Zeng Guofan took the lead in taking off his hat, and all the officials in the audience took off their hats together.Every time Zeng Guofan bowed on the stage, the people in the audience followed suit.After bowing three times, Zeng Guofan went on to say: "For these heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country, a shrine will be built in their hometown Xiangxiang County to commemorate them, so that their names will last forever and will be remembered by future generations." At this time, a soldier stepped up to the podium and quietly told Zeng Guofan: "Jin Songling has been seen." Zeng Guofan nodded, and his Xiangxiang accent suddenly became very severe, "Brothers, I ask everyone to pay attention." Think about it again, what is the reason why everyone left their hometowns and came to Hengzhou to join the army?" Having said that, Zeng Guofan cast a majestic look at Yong Ding, but no one said anything.Zeng Guofan's speech today was like the weather in early spring, sometimes sunny and sometimes cloudy, everyone was puzzled, and could only listen to him silently. "Brothers, I can't see two things, one is to defend the village, and the other is to make military exploits on the battlefield, get promoted and get rich, honor your parents and ancestors at the top, and benefit your wives and children at the bottom. It is not in vain to become a man and walk in the world Once." Zeng Guofan used to speak with a country accent when speaking to the brave men.He doesn't use polite language, and he doesn't talk about the principles of self-cultivation, family governance, state governance and world peace.The few self-questions and answers just now made the atmosphere slightly more relaxed. Most of the brave men in the audience were nodding, and some people were whispering: "Master Zeng is telling the truth." "Yes! If you don't get rich for promotion, I vote What Zijun? Maybe one day his head will move." "Brothers!" Zeng Guofan continued, "Since everyone is here for these goals, then we must work hard to achieve these goals. Our ten battalion brothers are one family. In a few days, we will all go to the front to fight with the Longhair fights. As soon as the drum beats, you have to rush forward. That is a matter of life and death. Brothers, when you are at home, you see your parents and brothers fighting with others. If you lose the fight, will you just watch from the sidelines instead of fighting? How about rushing forward to help? I don’t think so. Maybe there are. They are unfilial and unfraternal sons who cannot enter the tombs of their ancestors after death. We are fighting with Chang Mao. We are all uncles and brothers, and Chang Mao is the enemy. We must unite to fight the long hair. Why did the officers and soldiers of the green battalion fail? It is that they strive for success when they win, and do nothing when they lose. Seeing their brothers being eaten by the long hair, they refuse to step forward to support them in order to preserve their strength. Brothers , this not only has no military discipline, but also has no conscience!" Having said that, Zeng Guofan paused for a moment. He saw that all Yong Ding were listening attentively, and he could tell from their eyes that they agreed.He knew his words had worked. In the past few months in Hengzhou, Zeng Guofan's lectures were more diligent and earnest than in Changsha.He trained Yong Ding in military discipline and military regulations, strictly abstaining from whoring, gambling, prostitution, laziness, and pride.Zeng Guofan understands the principle of emphasizing both kindness and prestige.He believes that the way to lead troops is to use kindness as benevolence, and to use power as courtesy.When dealing with the officers and soldiers in the camp, he often talked to them as a father and brother tirelessly about the principles of life, and his words were sincere.He often said that Shiying Yongding is a family, and he is the head of the family. There has never been a parent who does not want his children to learn well and become talents.Sometimes when it comes to emotion, Zeng Guofan can burst into tears, which deeply moves the officers and soldiers. Usually, Zeng Guofan used to lead his troops to show kindness with kindness such as encouragement, persuasion, and great rewards. Today, he decided to use courtesy—military discipline, to show his prestige. At this time, Zeng Guofan's brows frowned, and a cold light shot out of his triangular eyes.Yong Ding in the audience, seeing Zeng Guofan's expression, was like a sudden northwest wind blowing, goose bumps appeared all over his body, and his timid legs were already trembling.I only heard his mighty voice: "This time in the battle in Jiangxi, there are such undisciplined and heartless people. Zeziying is caught in an ambush by Chang Mao, and the entire army is about to be wiped out. Instead of going to the rescue, they withdrew from the battlefield instead. Everyone said, can our family tolerate such unfilial, disrespectful, wolf-hearted scoundrels? I don’t blame the brothers in the Lingzi Battalion, they obeyed the orders of the battalion officers. It was their battalion officer Jin Songling." Zeng Guofan suddenly raised his voice and shouted: "Bet Jin Songling up!" Jin Songling, who was still dreaming of getting rich just now, was pushed to the front by two soldiers.Jin Songling knelt down facing Zeng Guofan, and said: "The lowly job did not rescue in time, and the lowly job deserves death!" Zeng Guofan looked at Jin Songling who was kneeling at his feet, although he kowtowed and pleaded guilty, his expression was not nervous.Zeng Guofan remained silent for a while.I saw that his left hand was gradually clenched and squeezed tightly, and suddenly, he let it go suddenly, and shouted: "Push it down and chop it!" This is the first time Xiangyong has beheaded his own brother since the establishment of Xiangyong, and it was a battalion officer who performed the operation for the first time!The five thousand Yongding and the generals at all levels in the audience were all shocked for a while.Jin Songling's face turned pale immediately, and he collapsed, and it took him a while to wake up. With tears streaming down his face, he kowtowed again and again: "Lord Zeng, please forgive me. I am a first-time offender. Forgive me once. I would rather suffer a hundred military sticks." Zeng Guofan looked at Jin Songling indifferently, without saying a word, his long sallow face was gloomy and cold, like the face of a dying horse.Luo Zenan hurried out of the team and ran to the stage, knelt down, and kowtowed his head: "Master Zeng, Jin Songling deserves to be punished for his crime, but when I discussed with him at the beginning, he didn't agree with the idea. It's the first crime, and now it's time to employ people, so I beg your lord to spare him his death." It was the first time that Luo Zenan called Zeng Guofan "my lord" and called himself a "low job", which shocked him.Just relying on the deep friendship with Luo Zenan for many years and the face of pleading today, Jin Songling should be able to forgive Jin Songling's capital crime.Zeng Guofan hesitated for a moment, and immediately collected himself.no!If you can forgive Jin Songling today, you can forgive others tomorrow.People who have committed crimes are forgiven as soon as they intercede. Will the army still kill people in the future?Is military law still majestic?If the military discipline is lax, you can't do things in the future, and you have failed the court, who will forgive you?He clenched his left hand again, and said sternly to Luo Zenan: "There is no joke in the army. If you disagree, you don't have to agree. Once you agree, how can you not keep your promise?" Luo Zenan stepped aside embarrassingly.Jin Songling kowtowed again and said: "Master Zeng, it is not a pity to die in a humble position, but there is an old mother who is eighty years old, and there are young children who are waiting to be fed. I hope that for the sake of mother, father and children, I will forgive the death of humble staff, and Jin Songling The ancestors of the clan will definitely repay with the knot of grass." The muscles on Zeng Guofan's face twitched, his left hand was clenched tighter, and the sweat flowed from the palm of his hand. He gritted his teeth and said, "Mother, I, and child, I could have spared your death, but the military discipline and military style of five thousand Xiangyong can't." Because of your life, the emperor's holy order and the expectations of the elders of Sanxiang cannot allow me to show mercy outside the law. It is really helpless to kill you today. Since you were young, you read sage books, and since you were brave, I have enlightened you many times. You should understand the truth that a body is more important than the world. Now that the long hair is raging and the lives are dying, do I want a strong army to wipe out the giant bandits, or a loose loose sand? Don't worry about mothers, children, and children. " Zeng Guofan asked the soldiers around him to bring pens and paper, wrote a few lines and handed them to Jin Songling, saying: "After you read it, give it to a trustworthy person to keep, and go on the road with confidence!" Jin Songling took the paper and saw that it read: Jin Songling, the former Xiangyong battalion officer, was executed for violating military laws. His mother and child were helpless, and the battalion office sent him ten taels of silver every month until his mother passed away and his son became an adult. On October 21st of the third year of Xianfeng, Zeng Guofan performed Wuping in Hengzhou Knowing that there was no hope, Jin Songling handed the piece of paper to Luo Zenan with both hands, begging him to keep it and supervise the camp affairs office.Luo Zenan took the note, hugged Jin Songling's shoulders, bowed his head in silence, feeling extremely guilty.Jin Songling didn't wait for Zeng Guofan to speak again, so she walked off the stage by herself.Wuqian Xiangyong looked at this scene with shock and fear.The faces of all the brave men in the Lingzi Camp changed color and their hearts beat.Zeng Guobao, who was standing in the big team in the audience, wanted to intercede for Jin Songling a long time ago, but he never dared to come forward.Guobao is well aware of his eldest brother's temper. He hates interfering with official affairs with personal affairs in public, and is most afraid of others saying that he is favoritism.A few months ago, Guobao went home and recruited a thousand regiments, so he could be a battalion officer.Guobao himself thought that this battalion officer was secure, but Zeng Guofan refused to let him be, and he was very angry.Zeng Guofan called his younger brother into the inner room, and first explained the truth that one can be upright with one's self, and one can be strict with one's military order, and then one by one of the ten battalion officers was compared with Guobao, and Guobao also thought he was inferior to them, and finally He also told Guobao the story about the Empress Dowager Zhao, and told his younger brother that it is not a good thing to be in a high position without merit, so that Guobao calmed down.Zeng Guobao has been looking forward to Jin Songling's own defense and Luo Zenan's intercession, which will make the elder brother change his mind.Later, everything was invalid. If he didn't show up at this time, Jin Songling would die.Zeng Guobao bit the bullet, rushed out of the queue and ran onto the stage recklessly, knelt down in front of his eldest brother with a "plop", and shouted: "Big brother! Please spare Jin Songling's death for the sake of my mother." Zeng Guofan was taken aback. He didn't understand the relationship between Jin Songling, who should be killed, and his dead mother. "Brother, eight years ago, my mother had a sudden angina pectoris one day, and she passed out when she was carried to the town. Thanks to Brother Jin's father, Mrs. Jin, who tried his best to rescue her with the secret recipe passed down from the ancestors, she recovered. Mrs. Jin left her mother behind At home, I decocted the medicine and served it myself. I didn’t close my eyes for three days and three nights. Finally, my mother finally turned the corner. My mother is very grateful to the old man Jin for saving his life. Every three festivals, we ask our brothers to give gifts in person as a token of gratitude. Brother, if there is no old man Jin My mother passed away that year. I implore elder brother to forgive elder brother Jin this time for the sake of saving mother’s life. Brother, I beg you!" After all, he knocked his head on the ground vigorously, tears all over his face.Seeing this scene bravely, the officials on and off the stage were all sympathetic. Zeng Guofan was speechless for a while after hearing his younger brother's cry.When he mentioned his mother, he felt sad.Knowing that Jin Songling's father saved his mother's life, Zeng Guofan would never treat Jin Songling like this today anyway.Guobao had never mentioned this matter before, nor had Jin Songling himself said it. Zeng Guofan unconsciously felt respect for Jin Songling.But now in front of all Guan Yong, Jin Songling backed down and spared his death penalty just because Jin Songling had a personal favor for him, how would Guan Yong talk about himself?How can prestige be established?How can military discipline be rectified?It cannot be taken back!The mother is dead, and her old man can't blame himself for it.For the sake of Xiangyong's future combat effectiveness, and for the great cause of pacifying Hong Yang, Brother Songling, I have wronged you, and I have to use your head to order the three armies.Decades later, under the Nine Springs, I will apologize to you again!After a period of painful thinking, Zeng Guofan was relieved.He looked at Mandi coldly and reprimanded him severely: "Zeng Guobao, this place is the Xiangyong training ground, not Baiyangping Golden Hall. There are only distinctions between superiors and inferiors, and there is no brotherhood of brotherhood; there is only strict military discipline and military law, and there is no personal favor. The warmth of virtue. You keep calling me big brother, crying and telling about the old things, do you want me to destroy the court code with personal favor? Don't let me go down!" Zeng Guobao was so scolded that he dared not reply, so he had to walk down the stage with his head down.Jin Songling was completely desperate, closed his eyes, and let the execution team push him forward. In the end, Zeng Guofan announced: "As a battalion officer, Luo Zenan could not correctly judge the enemy's situation, and recklessly advanced, resulting in the defeat of the army. He should have been severely punished. Gu Nian, he dared to use 500 brave men to attack the old battalion of 10,000 long-haired troops for the first time. Courage is commendable. I am now resigned from the post of battalion officer, and stay in the battalion with guilt, so as to see the aftermath." Yanwuping was dead silent.All the officers and men of Xiangyong, only today can truly appreciate the majesty of the assistant regimental training minister and the awe-inspiring inviolability of military law. That night, Zeng Guofan summoned Jin Songling's cousin, Jin Guiling, in the Zhao Family Ancestral Hall, and asked him to select twenty members of the regiment to escort his brother's coffin back to Xiangxiang. He gave it to Jin Songling's mother as a token of his gratitude to the old man Jin for saving his mother.