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In 1853, Vézé and Vézé went down the river and fought their way to Tianjing. However, Vézé quickly chose to retreat, retreating all the way to Anqing. At that time, Wei Changrong, who was in charge of guarding Anqing, felt that Vézé was too cowardly to give up such a great merit and run away.
Now, Wei Changrong finally understood that Vézé's actions back then were absolutely correct. As the commander of the First Army and one of Vézé's most trusted generals, Wei Changrong would never let off anyone who dared to take a share of the credit for conquering Guangzhou City. If he was like this to his colleagues in the army, then there was no need to talk about those Tian Di Hui people.
"I won't see you!" Wei Changrong said almost purely on instinct. However, after saying that, Wei Changrong regretted it a little. It wasn't that he found his conscience, but Wei Changrong felt that perhaps Heaven and Earth might have some value. Moreover, Luo Dagang was, after all, a famous leader of Tian Di Hui. In the process of occupying Guangdong and Guangxi, Luo Dagang definitely had to exert great strength. Thus, he quickly retracted what he had just said. "Have the Heaven Earth Association's people wait first, and invite Deputy Chief of Staff Luo over."
Very soon, Luo Dagang arrived at Wei Changrong's place. Wei Changrong said with a smile, "Big Brother Luo, there are people from Tian Di Hui outside asking to see you. I wonder what you think?"
Hearing this news, Luo Dagang completely understood Wei Changrong's thoughts. Luo Dagang was not angry at Wei Changrong for not allowing Tian Di Hui to intervene in the attack on Guangzhou City because he was previously the leader of Tian Di Hui. The fact that Wei Changrong had specially invited Luo Dagang to discuss this matter was enough to prove Wei Changrong's respect for Luo Dagang. Of course, Luo Dagang wouldn't reject this respect.
Luo Dagang said, "They must have come to us because they want to meddle in the attack on Guangzhou. Therefore, there is no harm in us meeting them. First we can stabilize these Tian Di Hui people, don't let them meddle. After we take Guangzhou City, we will officially meet with them. "
Wei Changrong had never had any dealings with Tian Di Hui. After hearing Luo Dagang's words, he felt that Luo Dagang's suggestion was more feasible. If he forcibly refused to see Tian Di Hui, it would be too disrespectful. Thinking of this, Wei Changrong smiled and said, "Brother Luo, it seems that you are very confident in our army's combat power!"
Luo Dagang laughed heartily, "I've personally witnessed the attack on Ganzhou City, what's there to be worried about? Right now we only need to delay Heaven Earth Society for two or three days. Once we take Guangzhou city, whether Heaven Earth Society runs over to join us or wants us to help them attack other places, it's all up to us. So, it's better to stabilize them now. "
Wei Changrong seriously said to Luo Dagang, "Then I ask Big Brother Luo to negotiate with these Tian Di Hui brothers. At least they know that you've returned to Guangdong and Guangxi. I'm sure many of them will be willing to follow you. "
Of course, Luo Dagang gladly complied. After meeting the people of Tian Di Hui, sure enough, it was as Luo Dagang had expected. Chen Kai, Li Wenmao, and Chen Xianliang, who had been forced to withdraw from the encirclement of Guangzhou, had originally planned to follow the Xi River into Guangxi and attack Wuzhou. Knowing that the Liberation Army had charged to the gates of Guangzhou with the speed of a thunderbolt, they naturally wanted to join.
Receiving Luo Dagang's response of "temporarily waiting for a few days," the emissary was somewhat surprised, but he didn't immediately join the Liberation Army's battle ranks. The two sides agreed to meet three days later with the leaders of both sides, and the emissary left the Liberation Army camp.
The next day, June 6, the Liberation Army officially began their attack on Guangzhou.
In the report sent to the British mainland by the British embassy in Guangzhou, it was written: "… after an army wearing European military uniforms suddenly arrived in Guangzhou on June 5, they immediately launched an attack on Guangzhou in the early morning of June 6 … They had extremely outstanding artillery and used very advanced artillery shells. When the shells landed, they immediately exploded … This army launched an attack on the west side of Guangzhou and used less than three hours to occupy the city walls and began to carry out a deep attack into the city … This army's infantry tactics were equally outstanding. They first occupied the main roads in the city and split the Qing Army defending Guangzhou into two parts. They continued to divide and surround the Qing Army … The numerous counterattacks of the Qing Army were all defeated by the fierce counterattack of this army's artillery and infantry. They used French made 12-pound howitzers. According to observations, their spears used fire hat technology and had an overwhelming advantage over the Qing Army. All the spears were equipped with bayonets instead of the spears commonly seen in the Chinese army. In addition to the spear technology, this army was also equipped with handguns and other close combat weapons. The cooperation between the troops was very smooth. By one o 'clock in the afternoon, this army had completely occupied Guangzhou's city walls and sealed off the city gates. They began to purge the Qing Army in Guangzhou … So far, we haven't found any heavy artillery used by this Chinese army attacking Guangzhou. Based on the battle that has been observed, the combat strength of this Chinese army is not inferior to any regular European army. From their military uniforms, it can be seen that they also use a military rank system. What can be confirmed is that this army has the same military system as the European army. We still need to continue to observe their origins … "
June 6. In half a month, it would be the summer solstice. Even though it was not the day when the day was the longest and the night was the shortest, at around seven o 'clock in the afternoon, the sun was still hanging brightly in the western sky. Of course, the General Staff of the First Army of the Liberation Army had learned basic geographical knowledge. They all knew that when the sun was good, it would not last for too long. The Qing Army's strongholds in Guangzhou had basically been purged or controlled. Ye Mingchen, the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, had gathered the troops he could still control near the Governor-General's Yamen to carry out the last resistance. Correspondingly, the Liberation Army's attack on the Governor-General's Yamen was also in full swing.
Liang Zhangtai, the artillery brigade commander, led an artillery company and dragged six 12-pound mountain howitzers to block the main entrance of the Governor-General's Yamen. The artillery company commander asked Liang Zhangtai if he wanted to cover the area with fire.
Liang Zhangtai, whose blood was boiling, couldn't help but curse in the roar of the cannons. "Cover the area with fire! Damn it, if it weren't for the commander-in-chief's order not to destroy the files in the Governor-General's Mansion of Guangdong and Guangxi, I would have flattened this broken place! "
After cursing the restrictions he had received, Liang Zhangtai turned to his subordinates and angrily scolded, "Don't use explosive shells! How dare you use explosive shells just a few dozen meters away? What if a shell bounces off the wall? Are we going to die together? What the hell did you guys listen to in class? More than a dozen of our brothers died in the artillery experiment. Are they going to die in vain? First use grape shells! First use grape shells! Then use solid shells to break the wall! "
Under Liang Zhangtai's angry rebuke, the artillery soldiers quickly understood. They hurriedly took out the explosive shells from the cannons and began to act according to Liang Zhangtai's instructions.
Although his mouth was not clean, Liang Zhangtai was not angry at all. As the artillery brigade commander, he knew all too well what role the artillery troops he led played in the battle and how much military service they had made. In the battle to capture Ganzhou, the artillery troops made the first contribution. In the attack on Guangzhou, the artillery troops swept away the Qing Army on top of the city wall like the autumn wind sweeping away the fallen leaves, allowing the soldiers to occupy the city wall without shedding a drop of blood. Facing the Manchu Qing strongholds, the artillery troops displayed their overwhelming combat strength, causing the Qing Army in the seemingly sturdy strongholds to pile up like mountains of corpses and rivers of blood.
The first merit of capturing Guangzhou in one day could not run away. Therefore, although Liang Zhangtai cursed, in fact, what he cared about was the lives of his subordinates. At this time, rash attacks were meaningless. If they fought step by step and did not make any mistakes, everyone would live to see victory.
Compared to the Liberation Army, who already paid great attention to casualties, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, Ye Mingchen, who was trapped in the governor's office of Guangdong and Guangxi, felt like dead ashes. He had long known about Vézé's bravery, but Ye Mingchen was not an immortal. Based on his experience in war, Ye Mingchen believed that Vézé's troops were not afraid of death. Such troops were indeed terrifying, but Ye Mingchen believed that as long as he rewarded the Qing Army in Guangzhou and strictly supervised the battle, they would be able to resist Vézé's attack. The sturdy walls of Guangzhou could still withstand Vézé's attack.
It was not until he personally fought with Vézé's troops that Ye Mingchen realized how wrong he was. The Qing Army did not have the ability to verify whether Vézé's troops were brave and unafraid of death. Under the accurate bombardment, the Qing Army at the top of Guangzhou's walls collapsed in a very short time.
The Qing Army in the city had no time to readjust their deployment and completely lost contact with Ye Mingchen. Ye Mingchen could only gather the surrounding troops in the governor's office of Guangdong and Guangxi to defend. Inside the city, there was the concentrated sound of cannon fire in the distance, and the concentrated sound of cannon fire nearby. All of Guangzhou seemed to have entered the Spring Festival. Explosions everywhere, the smell of gunpowder was everywhere, and people's shouts could be heard everywhere.
When the explosion came from the governor's office of Guangdong and Guangxi, Ye Mingchen was completely disheartened. The imperial court's report mentioned that the high-ranking Manchu Qing officials who fell into Vézé's hands did not have a good ending. The imperial envoys, commanders, and inspectorates all met a dead end. Ye Mingchen had tried to break out of the encirclement. Not long after, the soldiers had turned him into a corpse and had to carry him back. Ye Mingchen was quite honest. He knew that as governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, he would break a new record for the number of Manchu Qing officials killed by Vézé.
As a scholar, Ye Mingchen knew that what he should do now was prepare a cup of poisoned wine and calmly write his will. He opened his mouth several times to order people to prepare for his death, but no words came out. Perhaps the imperial court would suddenly send troops to rescue him, or perhaps the regimental armed forces of Guangdong would suddenly kill their way to the back of Vézé's troops and utterly destroy Vézé's troops. All kinds of thoughts came one after another. The British would send troops to fight against Vézé's troops. Normally, Ye Mingchen would never think of such a thing.
But the sound of the spear cannons outside grew louder and more frequent. The Qing Army officer in charge of defense reported in a sobbing tone, "The rebels have broken through XX" and "Our XX has fallen." Finally, the officer knelt in front of Ye Mingchen with blood dripping from his shoulder and cried, "Your Excellency, the rebels are about to break into the yamen!" At the end of the line, the situation that Ye Mingchen expected to reverse the situation did not happen.
The Qing Army officer in charge of defense did not appear for a long time, and the sound of the spear cannons gradually stopped. Ye Mingchen desperately tried to convince himself that the rebels had run out of ammunition and could not hold on any longer. But his body betrayed Ye Mingchen's thoughts and began to tremble uncontrollably. In fact, Ye Mingchen already knew in his heart that the Qing Army defending the Governor's yamen of Guangdong and Guangxi had probably been destroyed by now. But he refused to believe this idea. Because admitting defeat meant that it was time for Ye Mingchen to be loyal to the Manchu Qing.
"Those who surrender will not be killed!" "Capture Ye Mingchen alive!" Two kinds of slogans rang out in the courtyard of the Governor's yamen of Guangdong and Guangxi. At the same time, there were hurried footsteps.
All of Ye Mingchen's fantasies were completely shattered at this moment. He stood up shakily and knelt down in the direction of the city of Beijing. He lowered his head deeply to the ground. "Your Majesty!" Ye Mingchen cried.
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