Chapter 60 Chapter 8 Tianzhen Great Victory Zhou Guoyu horizontally set up six iron locks, firmly locking the Tianjiazhen River

When Wuchang City was captured by the Hunan Army, Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Emperor Shi Xiangzhen, Wei Jun, Chunguan and Deputy Prime Minister Lin Shaozhang, Dianzuo 1st Commander Luo Dagang, Dianzuo 7th Commander Zhou Guoyu led their troops to the lower reaches of the Yangtze River overnight.In the afternoon of the next day, in the area of ​​Fankou, I met the rescue vanguard led by the inspector Chen Yucheng.Chen Yucheng told Shi Xiangzhen and others that King Yi was in Jiujiang, and the reinforcements led by King Yan Qin Rigang were currently in Qizhou. Everyone discussed it, and they all agreed that it is not appropriate to counterattack Wuchang at this time. It is better to retreat to Qizhou and join the reinforcements before deciding on countermeasures.After two days of marching, the 20,000 troops retreating from Wuchang and the 30,000 troops led by Qin Rigang joined forces in Qizhou.That night, under the auspices of Qin Rigang, they discussed the next military action.Shi Xiangzhen painfully reviewed his mistakes at the meeting, and asked King Yan to transfer to King Tian for punishment.Qin Rigang was relieved.Then Wei Jun, Lin Shaozhang, Luo Dagang and others all fell to Wuchang and each took responsibility.Chen Yucheng said: "You don't need to review any more. There has never been a general who has not lost a battle. Wuchang is lost at this time, and it will be regained soon. Zeng Yaotou will definitely take the opportunity to capture Wuchang and lead the demon to the east. Offend Tianjing. Our army currently has 50,000 people, which is enough to occupy the passes on both sides of the Yangtze River and prevent others from committing crimes."

Chen Yucheng is only twenty years old this year.He joined the army at the age of fourteen. He was brave and resourceful, and made many military exploits. The king of heaven personally promoted him as a checkpoint. He was the youngest senior general in the Taiping Army.He is not tall, but his voice is like a bell.Suffered from an eye disease when he was young, his family was poor and had no money for medical treatment, and he died for several years, leaving a deep scar on each eyelid. The army jokingly called him the Four-Eyed General.Zhou Guoyu agreed with Chen Yucheng's opinion very much, saying: "General Chen's analysis is right. Zeng Yaotou will definitely go down the river soon, and his total force will not exceed 30,000. As long as we revive the army, we will be able to fight against the enemy." It can be subdued. From Qizhou to Wuxue, there are quite a lot of passes. This is the advantage of heaven for our army, and our army should make full use of it."

He walked to the map hanging on the wall, pointed to the map and said, "Generals, please see that there is a place fifty miles below Qizhou City called Tianjia Town. Tianjia Town is in the north of the river, facing Banbi Mountain across the river. This place has always controlled the water and land routes from Hubei to Jiangxi and Anhui, the river is swift and the terrain is dangerous, as long as a team is stationed here, Zeng Yaotou will not be able to fly over." Luo Dagang said: "What General Zhou said is very true. Last year, the Qing monster Jiang Zhongyuan was defeated by our army here. This Tianjia Town is the most dangerous place."

Everyone believed that it was the best strategy to station the army on both sides of Tianjia Town to prevent Zeng Guofan from going east.In the end, Qin Rigang decided that Chen Yucheng would lead 10,000 troops to station in Qizhou as the first line of defense, and the remaining 40,000 people would all be stationed in Tianjia Town, where Xiangyong would be gathered and wiped out. Tianjia Town is a large market town with a population of 5,000. Due to the convenient water and land transportation, it has been a prosperous market on the north bank of the Yangtze River since ancient times.On the opposite side of the river is Banbi Mountain, which stands tall and straight on the south bank of the river.At the bottom of the mountain is a road leading to Ruichang, Jiangxi.Originating from Mufu Mountain, Fushui flows through Tongshan and Xingguo Prefectures and flows into the Yangtze River from the southern foot of Banbi Mountain.There is also a town at the entrance, named Fuchi Town, although the population is small, it is also lively.Thirty miles down, there is Wuxue.In the first month of last year, Dong Wang Yang Xiuqing defeated Lu Jianying's defense army here, and the mighty town of the Yangtze River thousands of miles away.Qin Rigang and Shi Xiangzhen came here, checked the terrain on both sides of the strait, and were very satisfied. Qin Rigang and Shi Xiangzhen led 20,000 troops to station in Tianjia Town, and Wei Jun, Luo Gang, Zhou Guoyu and others led 20,000 people to guard Banbi Mountain.

Wei Jun, the younger brother of the Northern King Wei Changhui, was only twenty-six or seven years old, but because of his wealthy family, he had read poetry and books when he was young, so he appeared to be mature and stable in dealing with affairs, and his insight was better than other young generals.He has dealt with Xiangyong several times in Hunan and Hubei in the past year. He already knows that Zeng Guofan is different from other officials in the Qing Dynasty.Dealing with Zeng Guofan and Xiang Yong must not be taken lightly.Wei Jun made careful arrangements for the garrison on the South Bank.He ordered Luo Dagang to lead 8,000 people and set up camp at the foot of Banbi Mountain, Lin Shaozhang led 5,000 people to station in Fuchi Town, Zhou Guoyu led 6,000 people to collect ships and guard the river, and he took 1,000 soldiers to set up camp in Banbi. Halfway up the mountain, so that all parties can take care of it.Wei Jun ordered the camp to be tight and the river to be strangled.

The Taiping Army has accumulated a set of successful experience in building camps in the battle with the official army.At the foot of Banbi Mountain, there are six camps: one big camp and five small camps.A ditch more than one foot deep and three to four feet wide was dug around the camp to draw water from Wanghu Lake five miles away from Banbi Mountain.Ten forts were erected in the ditch, which were then surrounded by wooden fences.Rows of bamboo sticks and wooden stakes five feet wide are densely nailed outside the ditch.Lin Shaozhang set up four camps in Fuchi Town, the layout of which is roughly similar to that of the Banbi Mountain Camp.On the top of the mountain, a watchtower was set up. Soldiers stood on it all day long. On the opposite bank of Tianjia Town and downstream Fuchi Town, you can clearly see the signal flag on the mountain.On the river, more than 300 warships under the command of Zhou Guoyu gathered and patrolled the north and south banks every day, ready for battle.The north bank is also connected with camps and forts.Tianjiazhen set up a big battlefield, preparing for a fierce battle with murderous intent.

One day, Zhou Guoyu came back from inspecting the warships by the river, and said to his younger brothers Guocai and Guoxian, "I think the defense on the river is still weak. Zeng Guofan's navy is strong, so we have to find a way to control the river." Guocai said, "I've been thinking about this a lot these past two days. It would be great if the river could be sealed off." Guoxian said: "There is a way. When the Eastern Wu blocked the Jin army, and the Later Jin blocked the Later Han, they both used iron locks to block the river. Why don't we follow the example of our predecessors and lock the Yangtze River with an iron lock."

Guocai said: "This method is not effective either. Haven't you heard the poem 'Wang Junlou's boat went down to Yizhou, and Jinling's royal spirit was sadly taken away. Qianxun's iron locks sank to the bottom of the river, and stones came out of a piece of flag'?" After reciting a few lines of Guocai's poem, Guoxian became dejected.Guo Yu thought for a while and said: "Guo Xian's idea can also be considered. The iron locks of the Eastern Wu and the Later Jin were not supported by boats, but only one. Let's improve it. You see, we can block the river like this."

Guoyu took out two wooden sticks, and took out five or six bowls, put the sticks side by side on the mouth of the bowls, and said: "We use two iron locks, place a boat every ten feet, and put the iron locks on the boat. , so that it is firm. In order to prevent the boat from being washed away by the water, the bow and stern of the boat are fixed with big anchors. The iron locks are attached to the boat with iron codes." Guoxian said happily: "This method is the best. To be on the safe side, add a large wooden raft every third boat, which will be more secure." Guocai also agreed and said, "Let's add two more, so there are four in total."

"Two more!" Guoxian shouted. "Yes! Use six sticks to securely lock the Yangtze River, and tell Zeng Guofan's sailors to be buried here." Guo Yu slapped the board heavily, and five or six bowls jumped up together. Qin Rigang and others agreed with the idea of ​​the three Zhou brothers.The blacksmiths accompanying the army worked day and night.Ten days later, Liugen Tiesuo was connected to Banbi Mountain in the south, Tianjia Town in the north, and crossed the Yangtze River.There are more than 20 warships and eight wooden rafts under the iron locks, and they are like six belts tied on the Yangtze River, just waiting for the arrival of Zeng Guofan's navy, so that they can be buried at the bottom of the river.