?
Vézé's troops weren't the only ones expanding in Jianghua and Yongming. Luo Dagang's troops also recruited many people. His troops, which were originally less than 500, had now expanded to more than 1,000. On August 8th, 1852, the two divisions, totaling more than 5,000 people, returned to Daozhou's Shuinan Gate and joined the Taiping army. The situation in Daozhou had completely changed.
After staying in Daozhou for almost two months, the Taiping army's main force had also recruited a portion of Xiangnan's commoners who had defected to the army. The fighting force had increased from nearly 10,000 to more than 12,000 people. Including the 5,000 people who had returned, the total number of young adults was nearly 18,000.
The Qing Army wasn't blind. With more than 5,000 people joining the Taiping army's main force, the Qing Army, which had been preparing to attack Daozhou, began to shift to defense. They were afraid that they would be ambushed by the Taiping army's main force if they rashly advanced. This kind of caution fell right into Yang Xiuqing's trap. In terms of misdirection, Yang Xiuqing was much better than Vézé. Seeing that the Qing Army had been intimidated by the troop movements, Yang Xiuqing ordered the Taiping army's troops to secretly leave Daozhou on the 10th and advance eastward.
During the military conference, Yang Xiuqing announced the battle plan. Just like the attack on Yongan, the army chose to march in the third watch period. As a subordinate of the Western Prince, Xiao Chaogui, Vézé was in the army's second formation. Xiao Chaogui's vanguard, Lin Fengxiang, was in the first formation.
Vézé was indescribably happy that he didn't have to wait on Hong Xiuquan in the main formation. However, this happiness only lasted for a moment. Hong Xiuquan said, "Prime Minister Wei, I heard that you brought back many mules and horses. These mules and horses will be transferred to the main formation. "
"The main formation? Not the rear formation?" Vézé asked tentatively.
"Yes, to the main formation." Hong Xiuquan answered, somewhat puzzled.
Motherf * cker! Vézé lowered his head and cursed in his heart. Vézé used these carts to transport artillery and logistical equipment. Naturally, he hoped that he could continue using them. Of course, on the way back, Vézé had also thought that his carts might be taken away. There was nothing he could do about it. Mules and horses were the most important means of transportation at the moment. It was impossible for his troops to monopolize such a good resource.
Since Vézé knew that he could not protect these means of transportation, he hoped that the carts could be used for the rear army. There were a large number of women, children, and elderly in the rear army. For the young people of China in the 21st century, it was the tradition of the new China to prioritize the protection of women and children. This was the glory of the great army that created the new China. If there was anything that could stop Vézé from complaining, it would be that these offerings were used to help the weak.
If he was in the Qing Army, Vézé would never have made such a suggestion. The feudal system of the Manchu Qing emphasized undisguised oppression and the sacrifice of the strong for the weak. In the Manchu Qing system, the strong had to oppress and devour the weak. Only those who did not do so would be different, and would be crushed by the Manchu Qing system.
However, Vézé still had some expectations for the Taiping Rebellion. In any case, this new regime was much stronger than the Manchu Qing. At the very least, it would be able to propose many proposals for equality.
After all, Vézé had experienced the rainy night of Yongan. After Hong Xiuquan deprived him of his straw cape, he had lost confidence in Hong Xiuquan. But this time, Vézé could not help but say, "There are many elderly and children in the rear army. If we use mules and horses to transport them …"
Hong Xiuquan frowned deeply. "The families of the princes are in the middle army. I'm afraid these carriages won't be enough to transport them. How can we give them to the rear army? "
Vézé could not help but frown. As a person of the 21st century, Vézé lived in China, which had experienced rapid industrialization and the destruction of the feudal system. It was an era where subordinates who served their superiors in a flood would be dismissed if they appeared on the news. Even if the remnants of feudalism were to surface, the privileged would not dare to openly claim that they were right.
If Hong Xiuquan had been born in Vézé's era, he would have run as far away as he could. Vézé hated people like that very much.
Hong Xiuquan was not stupid either. Vézé's expression was unsightly. This was not the attitude a subordinate should have towards a heavenly king. There was a chill in his eyes.
Vézé frowned and said awkwardly, "This subordinate feels that the rear army is moving slowly. If we can make them move faster, our main army will be able to move faster as well. Isn't this … "
"Vézé! The heavenly king wants you to hand over the mules and horses. Are you unwilling? "King Of The East, Yang Xiuqing, said in a very strict tone.
"This subordinate is absolutely not unwilling!" Vézé answered immediately.
"Since you are not unwilling, why are you so long-winded?" Yang Xiuqing scolded Vézé. "You only brought a few mules and horses. If you give them to the rear army, they won't be able to move faster! Your imagination is running wild. You are really childish! "
Yang Xiuqing was giving Vézé a way out of this embarrassing situation. Childishness and defying the heavenly king were two completely different concepts. A childish scolding would suffice. Defying the heavenly king was a capital offense. Vézé had already changed the direction of his speech. With Yang Xiuqing giving him a chance, he immediately replied, "This subordinate is wrong! This subordinate will immediately hand over the mules and horses to the central army! "
After listening to Yang Xiuqing's scolding and Vézé's response, Hong Xiuquan snorted and did not pursue the matter further.
When the meeting was over, Hong Xiuquan naturally left first. The North King, Wei Changhui, said to Vézé, "Wayne Brothers, if only you had brought some palanquins back when you were in Quanzhou. If you had brought some palanquins, you might have been able to persuade the heavenly king to leave some mules and horses for yourself. "
Vézé was disgusted, but a smile appeared on his face. Wei Changhui's words were not malicious. He was just reminding Vézé out of goodwill. After their defeat at the Battle of Coir Raincoat Crossing, the Taiping army abandoned all their supplies and marched into Yongzhou. When Vézé recaptured Quanzhou, he saw many captured palanquins by the Qing Army. Vézé had never thought of using palanquins himself. Furthermore, palanquins were of no help to the army, so he did not bring any palanquins with him when he retreated.
Vézé understood Wei Changhui's meaning. Wei Changhui thought that Vézé wanted to leave some mules and horses for himself. If Vézé had thought of this earlier, he would have brought back some palanquins from Quanzhou to make Hong Xiuquan happy. After all, Heavenly King Hong was someone who cared about extravagance. On the road from Quanzhou to Yongzhou, without the large number of palanquins, the heavenly king's 36 wives would not be extravagant. Vézé had seen with his own eyes that there were no large numbers of carriages, horses, or palanquins in Yongan. If Vézé could make Hong Xiuquan happy, he could easily gain Hong Xiuquan's approval when he requested to leave something for him.
However, knowing this had nothing to do with Vézé's decision. North King Wei Changhui was just reminding him out of goodwill. Vézé could not tell good from bad. After thanking Wei Changhui, Vézé brushed off the matter.
When they walked out of the meeting hall, Prince Xiao Chaogui and Wei Ze walked out side by side. They saw that there was no one else around. Xiao Chaogui laughed. "Wayne Brothers, a heavenly king should have some extravagance. The King Of The East said that you are right. You are still childish! "
Vézé was naturally unhappy. During the Long March, the leaders of the Red Army walked on their own legs. There were no mules and horses, and there were no palanquins. But that unprecedented march in human history eventually produced a team that could change China and shock the world. Vézé had seen an interview in which Zhang Wentian's wife talked about the Long March. Zhang Wentian was seriously ill, and then the old lady said, "The army asked a porter to carry him!"
After watching the documentary, Vézé finally knew why Zhang Wentian's wife was not welcomed in the party. How could there be a porter during the Long March! They were all revolutionary comrades. Premier Zhou was very grateful to the comrades who took care of him when he was seriously ill, but this revolutionary comrade became a "porter" in the mouth of Zhang Wentian's wife. It would be strange if this guy, who thought he was superior, could be liked!
Although he was unhappy, Vézé couldn't help but appreciate West King Xiao Chaogui's love for him. After all, Vézé was just a small Prime Minister. If the Heavenly King Hong Xiuquan dealt with Vézé, it would be very easy. Before Vézé had the ability to deal with Hong Xiuquan, he had to protect himself first.
Therefore, Vézé cupped his hands and saluted Xiao Chaogui. "This subordinate will never make things difficult for the West King again."
Vézé didn't have any good intentions. If he didn't implicate West King Xiao Chaogui, he would be unhappy in his heart.
Xiao Chaogui laughed. "Wayne Brothers! You, you are so childish! "
No matter how unhappy he was, he needed to do his best to leave Daozhou. Vézé arranged the troops, and specially arranged for the troops to carry the cannons. The cannons weighing dozens of kilograms were easier to carry, and four people were enough. But Vézé's troops still had some cannons weighing more than 400 kilograms. In the long march, it would take 12 people to carry them. It was not a small matter to make the tools to carry the cannons and arrange the manpower.
For the whole of September and October, Vézé spent all his energy on preparing for the march. At midnight on the 10th, Lin Fengxiang's vanguard troops set off. Not long after, Vézé received the military order to set off. Under the dim moonlight, Wei Ze thought of the night when they broke out of Yong 'an. It was a downpour of rain, but when the army marched in the mountains, when the rain occasionally stopped, there was actually a trace of hazy moonlight between the thinner clouds. Although it was half a year ago, Vézé couldn't forget the vague moonlight.
Withdrawing this thought, Vézé said, "Let's go!"
The goal of this march was to cross the Four Eyes Bridge, which was 40 kilometers southeast of Daozhou. Then, they would enter Ningyuan Army. After crossing the Seven Kilometers River and the Four Eyes Bridge, it was noon on August 11th. Lin Fengxiang, who was in front, sent back news that the Qing Army had set up defenses in Ningyuan County.
Vézé brought the cannons with him. He wanted to just attack Ningyuan County and be done with it. But very quickly, Yang Xiuqing gave the order that the troops would not attack Ningyuan County. Instead, they would set up camp in Xianguan.
As soon as Vézé's troops arrived at Xianguan, they received the order that Lin Fengxiang's troops and Li Kaifang's troops would be used as decoy troops. One would pretend to attack Ningyuan County, and the other would advance into the northern border of Lanshan to attack two local villages. This would create the illusion that the Qing Army was going to attack Lanshan. And Vézé's troops would be the vanguard to attack Jiahe County.
"The King Of The East's military strategy is better than ours!" Vézé praised the General Staff Headquarters.
Everyone in the General Staff Headquarters agreed with Vézé's point of view. Although the main force of the Taiping army was brave and good at fighting, such a clean and efficient arrangement was indeed commendable. Xianguan could lead to several places. The King Of The East, Yang Xiuqing, and the others could very effectively set up decoy troops and disrupt the pursuing Qing Army. If Vézé and the others were in charge of the battle, they would first think about how to annihilate the Qing Army in one fell swoop and then march forward with ease. There was indeed a considerable difference in the level of mobile warfare between the two sides.
The General Staff Headquarters had a war history section. This was one of the most important departments in the General Staff Headquarters. All battles had to be recorded and summarized. They also had to organize the documents for future discussions. This deployment of troops could be said to be a very important battle record for Vézé's General Staff Headquarters.
With good preparation of decoy troops, Vézé's advance was effortless. Other than the thirty or so Qing Army soldiers blocking the way at Miaotang Mountain Pass, the rest of the battle could only be called an armed march. The Qing Army chopped off the head of Chief Wang Wannian and took it away. The other Qing Army corpses were stripped naked and thrown into the mountain stream.
On the 13th, Vézé conquered the undefended Jiahe County. Then, he received an order to continue the attack and conquer Guiyang County. Amidst the singing and dancing of the local people, Vézé once again killed his way into the undefended Guiyang County. It was said that when Guiyang County's Governor Li Qizhao found out that the Taiping army was attacking, he was so scared that he jumped into the water and committed suicide!
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