Chapter 22 5. Zuo Zongtang Feasts Guests and Repels the Enemies

When Chen Yucheng attacked Huangzhou Mansion at night, Li Xiucheng was fighting Zuo Zongtang in Jiangxi. Li Xiucheng led 15,000 troops from Tianjing, along the south bank of the Yangtze River, passing through Dangtu, Wuhu, Fanchang, and Qingyang, all the way to Jiangxi.At this time, Zuo Zongtang led the Chu army to station in Jingdezhen.He didn't know that the purpose of Li Xiucheng's trip was to capture Wuchang, and the march into Jiangxi was just an excuse.He speculated that the purpose of Li Xiucheng's military actions was to disturb Jiangxi to relieve the siege of Anqing.The generals Zuo Zongtang relied on to build the Chu army were Wang Kailin and Wang Kaihua, two younger brothers of Wang Chi.The Wang brothers were deeply dissatisfied with the cold reception that their elder brother received from Zeng Guofan. They had long admired Zuo Zongtang, who had a similar personality to his elder brother, and devoted themselves wholeheartedly to Zuo Zongtang.The newly established Chu army has won several victories in Jiangxi in the past few months. Zuo Zongtang is full of confidence in this army's ability to make great achievements, and is determined to wipe out Li Xiucheng's troops in northern Jiangxi, so that everyone in the world Know the interests of the Chu army.

It was the cold winter season, with rain and snow falling, and the soldiers of the Taiping Army who had traveled long distances were cold and tired, and urgently needed to take a rest and replenish food and grass.When the troops arrived only 30 miles away from Shimen Town, Li Xiucheng's adopted son, Li Rongfa, a 20-year-old pioneer, said: "Father, my brothers' clothes are all wet, many of them are sick, and the food in the army is also scarce." Not much more, Shimen is a big town at the junction of Jiangxi and Anhui, why don't we encourage everyone to take down Shimen, go to the city to rest for a few days, prepare enough food and grass, and then march to Wuchang."

When the officers and soldiers around heard Li Rongfa's words, they all readily agreed. Mu Tianhou Tan Shaoguang also said: "Rongfa's words make sense, the prince will give you an order, and the stone gate will not only be of great benefit to the brothers, but it will also be of great benefit to the brothers. His Majesty is also an inspiration." Because the purpose of this military operation was to encircle Wuchang and solve the siege of Anqing, Li Xiucheng seldom attacked cities and territories along the way, so as not to delay time and lose strength.After the troops entered Jiangxi, he knew that Zuo Zongtang's Chu army was also in Jiangxi, and he didn't want to confront the Chu army head-on.However, as the commander of the whole army, Li Xiucheng saw the fact that there was not much food and grass but more sick people, and he couldn't ignore it.He thought for a long time, and then said to Li Rongfa and Tan Shaoguang: "I won't leave for the time being, I will stay here for the next two days, rest and recuperate, and send a few detectives to find out the situation. Is Zuo Zongtang's Chu army in the city, or Jiangxi's green battalion, and then go to Jingdezhen to find out Zuo Zongtang's strength."

That night, the detectives who went to Shimen reported that it was not the Chu army stationed at Shimen, but the green battalion under the jurisdiction of the governor and admiral. The leader was General Quan Kegang, who had two thousand soldiers under his command. The city was rich in food and grass. defense.The next day, five detectives went to Jingdezhen, and two of them came back to report: Zuo Zongtang's 5,000 Chu army is currently in Jingdezhen, and there is no movement out of the city.After Li Xiucheng learned about it, he made up his mind to attack the city and demanded a quick battle.

The next day, when the rain and snow stopped, the Taiping army, led by Li Xiucheng himself, launched a fierce attack on Shimen after a feast.Li Xiucheng adopted the usual tactics of the Taiping Army. Thousands of battle flags were waved everywhere, and hundreds of gongs and drums were sounded at the same time. Accompanied by the sound of guns and shouts, the momentum was very majestic and the scene was very spectacular. As soon as Quan Ke climbed to the top of the city, seeing such a huge and fierce attack by the Taiping Army, he was terrified. While arranging a defense, he galloped to Jingdezhen and asked Zuo Zongtang to send troops to rescue him.

Zuo Zongtang was looking for an opportunity to fight Li Xiucheng decisively and show off the prestige of the Chu army. When he learned of the critical situation, he immediately sent Wang Kailin and Wang Kaihua to lead all 5,000 Chu troops stationed in Jingdezhen to Shimen.Staff member Yang Changjun reminded: "Ji Shuai, if the Chu army is pouring out of the city, what will happen if Li Ni turns around and attacks Jingdezhen?" "It doesn't matter." Zuo Zongtang said with confidence, "Li Xiucheng is currently attacking Shimen with all his strength, and it is impossible to divide his troops; besides, how does he know that all the troops in Jingdezhen have been dispatched!"

"Nevertheless, we still need to make some arrangements to confuse Long Mao." Yang Changjun was always a little worried about Shoukongcheng. "Okay, you go and deliver my order: flags, swords and spears are planted all over the city walls, and the three hundred old, weak, sick and disabled who stay in the city, as long as they can walk, go to the top of the city, neatly dressed, and patrol day and night." On the second day after the Wang Kailin brothers led five thousand Chu troops out of the city, the three Taiping army spies who stayed in Jingdezhen heard everything in the city clearly.They were secretly happy, and immediately sent a person to tell Li Xiucheng about this important military situation, and suggested dividing troops to attack Jingdezhen.Li Xiucheng was overjoyed after receiving the intelligence, and ordered Li Rongfa to take three thousand people to Jingdezhen.

Jingdezhen in Jiangxi Province, Zhuxian Town in Henan Province, Hankou Town in Hubei Province, and Foshan Town in Guangdong Province are known as the four major towns in the country. Well-known at home and abroad.Li Rongfa was overjoyed after receiving the order, and immediately mobilized 3,000 troops in his headquarters, and was about to set off.Looking at the immature face of his adopted son, Li Xiucheng suddenly felt a little worried.He solemnly warned: "Zuo Zongtang is old, cunning and cunning. After you arrive at the city of Jingdezhen, you must observe carefully on the spot, and you must not act recklessly."

Li Rongfa nodded and remembered. When Li Rongfa led his troops to Lianglukou, fifty miles away from Jingdezhen, the city had already learned of this unexpected military situation. Yang Changjun was so anxious that he kept chanting, "What should I do! It's too late to dispatch troops. " Zuo Zongtang was also very anxious in his heart, but on the surface he remained calm as usual.He sat on the chair, rubbing his chubby chin, and nervously thinking about countermeasures: the enemy army is only fifty miles away from the city, and they can reach the city in an hour and a half. The 300 sick and disabled in the city must not be guarded. It is impossible to come to rescue, and it is even more impossible to abandon the city and escape.How to do it?Yang Changjun on the side spoke again: "It seems that there must be Li Ni's secret works hidden in the city. Otherwise, why did Li Ni send people to attack Jingdezhen as soon as Wang Kailin and the others left? What's more, he sent his young adopted son with him. There are only 3,000 people, doesn't this mean that we are an empty city?"

Empty city!Jin Liang immediately thought of the empty city plan sung by Gu Liang. However, people say that the empty city plan is a swan song, which can only be sung once, and cannot be sung a second time.Thinking of this, Zuo Zongtang couldn't help feeling depressed.But, is it just waiting to be caught like this?No matter how bad the song is, when things have come to this point, I have to sing it again.As long as you don't copy the stories of the ancients and come up with some new ideas, the twenty-year-old baby general in front of you may be deceived.Since his detailed works can spread the military power in the city, then my plays will definitely be spread.Zuo Zongtang made up his mind.He quickly sent someone to tell Wang Kailin to lead 3,000 people back to Jingdezhen for rescue, and at the same time, he sang about his empty city plan in the city.

All of a sudden, there was an uproar in Jingdezhen, all saying that Wang Kailin led his troops to success outside Shimen City, defeated Chang Mao, and captured Li Xiucheng alive.The yamen of the headquarters of the Chu army was decorated with lanterns and fireworks, and firecrackers were set off, and the strong smell of wine and meat came out of the kitchen.After a while, the civil and military officials in the city, the bosses of major companies, and celebrities all rode horses and sedan chairs, dressed up, and came to the headquarters office.Zuo Zongtang wore a fourth-grade court dress, and greeted all guests outside the gate with a smile on his face.The guests warmly congratulated the Chu army on their great victory outside Shimen City, and some rich bosses rushed to make horizontal plaques with eulogies on them.Zuo Zongtang happily accepted everyone's praise.In the flower hall of the yamen, twenty tables of banquets were set up at the same time.The host reported the battle situation to the guests, and confirmed again that the long-haired loyal king Li Xiucheng had been captured alive, and was being escorted by Wang Kailin, the sub-commander of the Chu army, on the road back to Jingdezhen.As soon as he arrives in the city, he will be displayed at the crossroads for three days, and then escorted to the capital to present prisoners to the emperor. Zhongliang, the Chenghu of Fuliang County who lives in Jingdezhen, expressed his thanks to Zuo Zongtang on behalf of all walks of life in the local area, and presented an extra-large yellow silk umbrella, held by a big man, to the commander of the Chu army on the spot.Zuo Zongtang took it without humility. Corresponding to the banquet in the yamen, the four gates of the whole city were opened, and the soldiers guarding the gates also touched cups and plates, drinking happily, completely unaware that Li Rongfa's 3,000 troops were approaching here. All these situations were seen by the two Taiping Army detectives who stayed in the city.They were surprised at first, then slightly skeptical, and finally, when they saw Zuo Zongtang and all the guests drunk in the flower hall with their own eyes, they had to believe it completely.They couldn't stay in the city for a long time. It was estimated that the men and horses attacking Jingdezhen were on their way, so the two detectives hurriedly slipped out of the city gate and ran towards the northwest. Just twenty miles outside the city, I ran into Li Rongfa.The detective told him the news he heard in Jingdezhen. "Really?" Li Rongfa was shocked when he heard this.He stared at the two detectives with tiger eyes, unable to believe it was real. "Major General, it's true. Zuo Zongtang set up twenty tables to celebrate. We sneaked into the banquet hall and heard Zuo Yaotou announce to the guests that King Zhong had been captured by them and was going to Jingdezhen is here." The two detectives affirmed unequivocally. Celebrate with wine?It seems that the father was really captured by the demon.The young pioneer suddenly felt angry.Li Rongfa was originally an orphan begging by the side of the road outside Yong'an City, Guangxi.He was only ten years old that year, and both his parents died of illness and starvation.Xiao Rongfa has no brother or brother.One day, he happened to see many children about his age among the Taiping Army rushing out of Yong'an City, so he begged to join the Taiping Army.He happened to find Li Xiucheng.Li Xiucheng saw that he was upright and smart, so he took him in the Boy Scouts.Rong Fa was smart and brave, and became the leader of the Boy Scouts three years later.Li Xiucheng's status in the Taiping Army also gradually increased.He had three daughters, but no son.Once, when Li Xiucheng came to inspect the boy scouts, he saw that Xiao Rongfa was tall and straight, outstanding among the many boy scouts. He was happy, touched his head, and said with emotion: "It would be great if I could have a son like you." .” The clever Rong Fa immediately knelt in front of Li Xiucheng and said earnestly: "If the general agrees, I would like to be the general's son." Li Xiucheng was overjoyed, besides, Rong Fa was also surnamed Li, so he didn't want to change his surname, so he smiled and said to him, "You are really a good son given to me by the heavenly father." From then on, Li Rongfa came to Li Xiucheng's side.Under Li Xiucheng's personal guidance, he made faster progress, and soon became an outstanding young general in the Taiping Army.Last year, it was promoted to the general system, and it has been able to stand alone and fight against the Qing army.Li Rongfa has a deep relationship with his adoptive father, and he respects and loves his adoptive father very much.After all, he was young and didn't have much experience. When he heard the unfortunate news, he was filled with righteous indignation. Before he had time to think about it, he immediately ordered the whole army to turn around and go back.He was anxious and furious, patting his horse and running at the front, wishing he could run into Wang Kailin immediately, kill him without leaving any traces, and save his father from Qing Yao. When the news that Li Rongfa led his troops back to Shimen reached the headquarters of the Chu army, Zuo Zongtang immediately ordered the city gate to be closed.After all, he was not at ease in his heart, so he sent Kuaiqi to inform Wang Kailin again, no matter how the battle progressed, he must rush back as soon as possible.He also ordered all the men over the age of fifteen and under the age of fifty in the city to take up sticks and go to the tower.In the evening, the scouts outside the city rushed into the city to report: Long-haired Li Rongfa has returned! Zuo Zongtang stumbled and complained: "It seems that this empty city plan can only be sung once!" It turned out that when Li Rongfa walked halfway, he suddenly remembered his father's teaching: "Zuo Zongtang is a treacherous and cunning old man with many tricks." Although he has never read a book, he has heard the story of Zhuge Liang retreating with an empty city strategy.I thought to myself: Could it be that I was fooled by this old monster! Li Rongfa called a second Sima beside him, and quietly instructed him a few words.The two Sima immediately turned their heads and galloped towards Jingdezhen.Nearly an hour later, the two Sima caught up with the team and reported to Li Rongfa: "The four gates of Jingdezhen are closed, and people walking around the city with sticks in their hands and panic-stricken faces." Yaotou really fell into his tricks. Brothers, fight back!" Panic reappeared in the yamen of the Chu army headquarters.Zuo Zongtang watched the sky gradually darken, and felt confident.He pressed his sword and shouted sharply: "Everyone, don't panic! The current situation is that I am the master and Chang Mao is the guest. It is already dark. Fighting in the dark, the master has an 80% advantage; what's more, the walls of Jingdezhen are so thick that there are many people on the towers. Gunpowder cannons. With the favorable time and place, one of me can defeat ten long-haired men. Immediately pass on my order: 100 of the 300 wounded and sick Chu troops will be selected as gunners; the people who go up the tower, When the only son returns home, the father, son, and brother stay with one person, waiting to be dispatched, to carry the gunpowder for the cannon. The long-haired cannons and guns are all ignored; Wang Fentong will lead the army back. Those who are brave enough to kill the thieves will be rewarded by the commander; if anyone escapes and shakes the morale of the army, he will be killed immediately!" After giving the order, Zuo Zongtang personally put on the city wall to command.The spirit of the coach played a great role in stabilizing the hearts of the people in the city, and the defensive team on the city wall was quickly organized.Li Rongfa, who was outside the city, saw that the order on the tower was serious and orderly in the dark, and that the city wall was thick, so he didn't dare to attack rashly. Just wait until dawn, then launch a fierce attack, must take down Jingdezhen, capture Zuo Zongtang alive, to wash away the shame of the wrong trick! The confrontation inside and outside the city is like this.It was midwinter, and the dawn was late.At the beginning of the morning, the sky gradually brightened.Just when Li Rongfa was about to blow the trumpet to attack the city, unexpectedly Wang Kailin led his troops to rush over.On the city tower, Zuo Zongtang saw that the rescuers had arrived, and a heavy stone in his heart suddenly fell to the ground. He hurriedly ordered cannons to be fired down the city, and he beat the drums himself.All of a sudden, the golden drums were beating, the artillery fire was loud, and the Chu army attacked from front to back, causing Li Rongfa's formation to become chaotic.After fighting fiercely for half an hour, seeing that they could not win, they led their troops out of Wang Kailin's siege and rushed towards Shimen Town.Wang Kailin didn't chase after him, so he withdrew his troops and entered the city. When Li Rongfa came to Shimen, Li Xiucheng took advantage of the golden opportunity of Wang Kailin's withdrawal and captured Shimen Town in one fell swoop, Quan Kegang fled in a hurry.Although Zuo Zongtang was not captured, the military operation had successfully achieved its goal, and Li Xiucheng did not condemn his adopted son. The Taiping Army took all the food in Shimen Town, and withdrew the whole army the next evening, and continued to advance westward along the Yangtze River according to the established goal.