Chapter 48 Chapter 7 Captured Wuchang, Qinglin cried and complained about the fall of Wuchang

As soon as Qinglin entered the governor's yamen, he was going to salute Luo Bingzhang, Zeng Guofan and others, and Luo Bingzhang panicked and said repeatedly: "Brother Mo Qing, it's impossible, sit down and talk about the Wuchang war." "Qinglin is guilty, Wuchang is lost." Qinglin shed tears as soon as he opened his mouth. He is a native of Zhengbai Banner and was born in Hanlin. Last year, he was sent by the Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Households to Hubei Xuezheng. This year he has been transferred to the right servant of the Ministry of Rites, but he is still in Hubei.In February, Hubei governor Chonglun Dingmu worried about dismissal, and Qinglin, who had made great contributions in defending the city of De'an, was appointed governor by Emperor Xianfeng.Due to the urgency of the war, Chonglun did not leave the city, but stayed in Wuchang to assist in military affairs.General Tai Chung of Jingzhou was appointed governor of Huguang to replace Wu Wenrong, who died in the battle and blocked the city.The arrival of Qinglin has already explained the fact that Wuchang was captured by the Taiping Army, so his words did not arouse the shock of Luo Bingzhang, Zeng Guofan and others.Qinglin continued with a choked voice: "Qinglin failed the emperor's grace, and his crime is unforgivable, but the loss of Wuchang and the disastrous defeat in the war in Hubei were entirely caused by Chonglun, Taiyong and others. There is nothing more hateful than that."

Qinglin was too painful to speak.Zeng Guofan asked the soldiers to bring a basin of water and a bowl of fragrant tea. He asked him to wipe his face and drink some tea, and comforted him and said, "Brother Mo Qing, the three groups of Xiangyong and Xiangyong have left for Hubei. The turning point has come, so please calm down. Before Wu Wenjie died for his country, he sent me a letter. The letter was full of grievances, but he did not express it clearly. Guofan is grieving over the death of his mentor. Please speak clearly, I want Report to the emperor." Qinglin was encouraged.He was full of worries and unable to go to the court, so he poured out all his grievances: "Mr. Wu Wenjie will not die, it is completely the result of Chonglun's exclusion. Chonglun is ignorant and narrow-minded. He climbed to the high position of governor because of his military exploits and speculation tactics. But he was not satisfied. Since Cheng Yucai was dismissed from the military, he has been moving around in the court to seek the post of governor of Huguang. He couldn’t achieve what he wanted, so he hated it He slandered Zhang Shiqing's army. The battle in Tianjia Town was delayed for two days on purpose, which delayed the opportunity of the battle, and Zhang Zhijun was defeated. He added fuel and vinegar to his complaint, and then ordered Zhang Zhijun to be transferred to Shandong."

Zuo Zongtang said angrily: "It is said that when Zhang Zhijun left Hubei, 3,000 soldiers who had won military honors took off their hats and knelt down in front of the road, complaining for Zhang Zhijun's grievances." "Yes." Qinglin went on to say, "Chonglun thought that after pushing Zhang Shiqing away, he would sit firmly on the throne of Governor of Huguang, but he was not the one who took over, but Wu Zhenfu's army. As soon as Wu Zhijun came, he regarded it as a A thorn in his side, he urged Wu Zhijun to send troops three times a day. Wu Zhijun planned to defend Wuchang firmly and wait for an opportunity to attack. Chong Lun went to the court to ridicule Wu Zhijun's cowardice. The court did not know the truth and strictly ordered Wu Zhijun to leave Wuchang and go to the front line."

Zeng Guofan said: "Master Zhen Fu wrote to say that he was harmed by villains, so that's how it is." Qinglin said: "After Wu Zhi's army sent troops, Chong Lun used the excuse of blocked roads to not send food and grass, and secondly not to send reinforcements, and pushed Wu Zhi's army to a dead end." "Chonglun is so immoral, and the laws of heaven and the state will not tolerate it!" Thinking of Wu Wenrong's kindness back then and the sadness expressed in his letter before his death, Zeng Guofan hated Chonglun deeply. "Heaven has eyes. Chonglun resigned because of his mother's death, but he did not leave Wuchang, and still secretly controlled the civil and military personnel. I said a few words to him because of Wu Wenjie's tragic death, and he blamed me and ordered his subordinates I don’t listen to orders. Changmao besieged the city for more than three months, but the civil and military inside the city have different ambitions. Think about it for me, how can this Wuchang be defended?”

Everyone sighed. "Governor Tai Chung was also fearful of the enemy, so he did not send a single soldier to Wuchang for reinforcements. Food and aid were exhausted, and there were complaints in the army. On the night of the 15th, when Chang Mao stormed Wushengmen, Chonglun led his own soldiers and disguised himself. The common people went out of the city to flee for their lives. On the early morning of the 16th, Li Wenguang, the general soldier, rushed into my house and shouted: "Zhongcheng, there are only a thousand hungry and tired soldiers left in the city. If they don't leave the city, the whole army will be wiped out." ’ I said: ‘As a governor, the city is here and the people are here, and the city is broken and the people are dead. You seized a lot of soldiers, but didn't send a single soldier. Zhong Cheng, you defended Wuchang for three months, drank vegetable soup with the soldiers, and went up the tower, but you ended up like this. The court does not distinguish between loyal and evil, and it is frustrating. Even if Zhongcheng didn’t think about himself, he still had to think about the thousand brothers who survived all the battles. They are all tough guys loyal to the court.” As he spoke, he knelt down, pulled my sleeve and kowtowed and said, “ Zhongcheng, I beg you to save this thousand good people for the country!' I was told by Li Zongbing that I had no choice. Suddenly there was a cannon, Wenchang Gate was breached, and long hairs poured into Wuchang. Li Zongbing pulled me Get on your horse, leave the city from the Wangshan Gate, and run all the way south."

When Qinglin said this, he lowered his head, showing a look of shame and shame.At this moment, Liu Rong winked at Zeng Guofan and left the table.Zeng Guofan cupped his hands to Qing Lin and said, "Brother Mo Qing, sit still, I'll come back as soon as I go out and change."