Anti-Qing: Starting from the Jintian Uprising

Chapter 202: Mr. Cai shows his magical power again

"Bao Chao!"

A shout was heard, and Bao Chao, who was wiping the rifle in his hand, subconsciously stood at attention and saluted, then responded.

"To!"

Li Shixian walked into the barracks, came in front of Bao Chao and spoke.

"The army has received an order and is about to set out on an expedition to the east."

"My troops have been ordered to be the vanguard of the army. I will order your troops, Bao Chao, to be the vanguard of the army and advance to the direction of Hanyang Prefecture to scout the enemy's movements. Is there any problem?"

Bao Chao was once a captain of the Qing army in Hunan.

During the Battle of Hengyang, Bao Chao surrendered to the Tang Dynasty, and was later promoted from a prisoner of war to a regular soldier because of his military achievements.

In the subsequent war in Hunan, Bao Chao fought bravely, made meritorious service many times, was promoted all the way, and is now a company commander.

And he is the company commander of the elite reconnaissance company in the Tang army!

When Bao Chao heard the order to promote his old boss, he immediately clasped his fists and said.

"Don't worry, Commander. I promise to complete the mission."

During the war in Hunan, Li Shixian was promoted from regiment commander, deputy brigade commander, acting brigade commander to brigade commander.

Li Shixian patted the shoulder of the reconnaissance company commander whom he had personally picked out from the pile of prisoners of war, and spoke.

"Do a good job. When this reconnaissance mission is over, I will personally ask for credit for you."

"The battalion commander has hope!"

Upon hearing this, Bao Chao immediately spoke up to express his opinion.

"I thank the Brigade Commander for the promotion. From now on, I will follow your lead. If you have any instructions, I will go through fire and water without hesitation."

Li Shixian patted Bao Chao's shoulder again and said.

"Don't be so confident. Even if I want to promote you, you have to make enough contributions first."

"If you mess up this reconnaissance mission, then even if I want to promote you, there's nothing I can do, right?"

Upon hearing this, Bao Chao nodded vigorously.

"Don't worry, Commander. I understand and will not let you down."

Li Shixian nodded and said.

"Very good, you will take people to get the equipment later."

"Once you have received the equipment, get on the road as soon as possible and conduct reconnaissance."

Bao Chao nodded immediately.

"Yes, I humbly obey my orders!"

After saying this, Li Shixian turned around and left to arrange the preparations for the rest of the troops before they set out on the expedition.

Bao Chao took his men to the military supply warehouse to collect equipment.

As elite scouts in the army, Bao Chao and others were well-equipped.

In addition to the steel helmets, breech-loading rifles, revolvers, leather bullet bags, bayonets, military daggers, grenades and other combat supplies.

There are also new rubber shoes, water bags, tin lunch boxes and other daily necessities.

It can be said to be fully armed!
After receiving all the equipment, Bao Chao officially led his men out.

……

As the war atmosphere on the south bank of the Yangtze River became increasingly intense, Cai Bingwen, the Minister of Jiangxi Militia in Nanchang Prefecture, also received the news.

"Master Cai, the situation is critical!"

"The long-haired bandits set out from Taiping Prefecture and fought from east to west, while the Tang bandits set out from Yuezhou and fought from west to east."

"They...they are going to attack Jiangxi from both sides!"

Zhang Fei, the governor and admiral of Jiangxi, approached Cai Bingwen in a panic to discuss the war.

Cai Bingwen also said with a worried look on his face.

"The Jiangxi side has a weak military force, and the militia has not yet formed. Facing the attack from two groups of bandits, I am afraid that the Jiangxi side will be unable to resist."

Cai Bingwen had no choice but to deal with the current situation.

The main forces of the Green Camp in Jiangxi, like the main forces of the Green Camp in Hunan, were all drawn away to form the Jiangnan Camp.

But after Yang Xiuqing broke into the Jiangnan and Jiangbei camps, they were now completely defeated.

Not to mention the militia training, Cai Bingwen had only been the Minister of Militia Training in Jiangxi for a few months at most, which was not enough time to do anything.

In addition, when the gentry and landlords in Jiangxi saw that the Tang Dynasty was holding imperial examinations in Hunan and handing out official hats, they became shaken and began to hesitate about spending money and effort to defend the Manchu kingdom.

All the gentry wanted was to be an official. It didn’t matter whose official they were.

Therefore, the formation of the militia was not smooth.

At present, we have just set up a framework and its combat effectiveness is quite limited.

Given the current dire situation of the Qing Dynasty south of the Yangtze River, it would be difficult to save it, not to mention a scoundrel like Cai Bingwen, even a god would find it difficult to save it.

Cai Bingwen asked with a bitter face.

"Master Zhang, didn't we write to the Governor-General for help?"

"What did Governor Yiliang say?"

Since Jiangning was captured by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, the Qing Dynasty has replaced the Governor-General of Liangjiang several times.

First, Lu Jianying was dismissed, followed by Hou Xiang, Yang Wendi and others, and finally it was the turn of the current Governor-General of Liangjiang, Guaerjia Yiliang.

Zhang Fei shook his head and said.

"The Governor General said that the imperial court will concentrate its forces to wipe out the Taiping rebels occupying Jiangning, and will not have the extra energy to send troops to reinforce Jiangxi."

"Not only did they ask us to find a way to defend Jiangxi, they also asked us to allocate as many troops as possible to reinforce the war in Jiangnan."

Upon hearing this, Cai Bingwen smiled helplessly.

"The state affairs are so difficult!"

Zhang Fei said with a serious expression.

"Master Cai, you have to think of a solution."

"Otherwise, Jiangxi will really be lost."

Upon hearing this, Cai Bingwen fell into deep thought.

He knew that given the current situation, no matter what he did, it would be difficult to keep Jiangxi.

Therefore, what he should do most now is not to think about how to keep Jiangxi, but how to reduce his own guilt after losing Jiangxi.

Thinking of this, Cai Bingwen subconsciously looked at Zhang Fei, and then a plan came to mind.

"Master Zhang, I have a plan that may work."

"But putting it into practice may be a bit risky."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fei seemed to have grasped a life-saving straw and spoke hurriedly.

"Master Cai, please speak!"

"The situation Jiangxi is facing now has reached the point where we have to take risks."

"If you don't take risks, you will die. If you take risks, you may have a chance of survival. If that's the case, why not give it a try?"

Upon seeing this, Cai Bingwen began to deceive...ah, rather, he gave a suggestion.

"Now, the main forces of the imperial court have gathered in Jiangnan, intending to concentrate their main forces to wipe out the Taiping rebels first, and then send troops to conquer the Tang thieves."

"That is to say, before the Taiping Rebellion was wiped out, the imperial court could not send reinforcements or send troops to reinforce the war in Jiangxi."

"So, my idea is that we might as well agree to the governor's request to mobilize troops, and I will lead the newly trained Jiangxi militia to reinforce the war in Jiangnan and help the court to wipe out the Taiping rebels as soon as possible."

"When the war in Jiangnan is over and the imperial court has wiped out the Taiping rebels, they will naturally send troops to rescue Jiangxi." "And Lord Zhang will lead the Jiangxi Green Camp to defend key areas such as Jiujiang and Nanchang, resisting step by step, waiting for the imperial court's reinforcements to advance westward after the Taiping rebels are wiped out."

"As long as the imperial court sends reinforcements westward, the situation in Jiangxi can be reversed!"

When Cai Bingwen said this, his eyes were bright and full of sincerity that was visible to the naked eye.

After hearing this, Zhang Fei thought for a while and then asked.

"Can you hold on?"

Cai Bingwen said.

"Jiujiang and Nanchang are both strong cities, and there are also Lushan Mountain, Poyang Lake and other strategic places in between for defense. If we resist step by step, we should be able to hold out for quite some time."

"If it really doesn't work, we can retreat to Ganzhou or Shangrao and wait until the war in Jiangnan ends and the imperial court's reinforcements arrive in Jiangxi. It won't be too late to counterattack then."

If they retreated to Ganzhou, with the support of the Jinggang Mountains, the Qing army could use the geographical advantage to resist the offensive of the Tang army.

If they retreat to Shangrao, it is because Shangrao is surrounded by the Huaiyu Mountains to the north and the Wuyi Mountains to the south. Shangrao is located in a narrow valley sandwiched between the two mountains.

The Qing army could directly retreat to Zhejiang through this valley, or obtain reinforcements from Zhejiang.

It can be considered a good retreat!
After saying this, Cai Bingwen asked further.

"What do you think, Master Zhang?"

Zhang Fei looked conflicted when he heard this.

After a moment, he spoke with a slightly emotional tone.

"Master Cai is really taking a risk."

"But I think it would be better for me to lead the troops to reinforce the war in Jiangnan, while Mr. Cai stays in Jiangxi to take charge of the defense."

Zhang Fu was not stupid. As soon as Cai Bingwen told him his arrangements, Zhang Fu immediately understood what was going on.

Although what Cai Bingwen said makes sense, to put it bluntly, isn't it that Cai Bingwen himself led his troops to leave the quagmire of Jiangxi and go to the south of the Yangtze River to make achievements?

Then will Zhang Fu be held responsible for the loss of cities and territories in Jiangxi?
Zhang Fei would not be fooled by this!

Even if he sent troops to reinforce Jiangnan in order to end the war there as soon as possible so that the court could reinforce Jiangxi, he would have to be the one to lead the troops to reinforce Jiangnan and gain credit.

Upon hearing this, Cai Bingwen nodded in agreement without any hesitation.

Then he said.

"can!"

"That's fine. I am the Minister of Jiangxi militia appointed by the emperor himself, so it is not right for me to leave my station without permission."

Although Cai Bingwen agreed readily, he left a hint in his words.

That is the last sentence, it is not good to leave the base without permission.

He said this specifically for Zhang Fu to hear.

It is not right for him, the Minister of Militia, to leave his station without permission, but it is even more ridiculous for you, the Governor and Admiral of Jiangxi, to lead your troops out of Jiangxi, okay?
Seeing Cai Bingwen agreed so readily, Zhang Fu couldn't help feeling guilty.

Do you wonder if you have wronged Lord Cai?
He might have really come up with this idea for the sake of the Qing Dynasty, rather than trying to shift the blame or take credit!

You are a piece of shit, judging others by your own standards.
In fact, Zhang Fei really thought too much.

Cai Bingwen is not as great as he thinks.

The reason why Cai Bingwen agreed to Zhang Fei's request so readily was actually because for Cai Bingwen, no matter who led the troops to Jiangnan to reinforce the war in Jiangnan, it would not prevent him from passing the buck.

It would be best if he went by himself. As long as he could make some contributions in Jiangnan, the emperor would not blame him too much even if Jiangxi was lost later.

Because Cai Bingwen already knew that the court’s strategic focus was now on Jiangnan, and the court’s first goal was to wipe out the Taiping rebels.

As for Jiangxi, it is secondary. It doesn't matter if we lose cities and territories temporarily. The court has been mentally prepared for this.

But if it was Zhang Fu, the governor and admiral, who led the troops to Jiangnan, it wouldn't matter.

It just so happened that Cai Bingwen could use a secret memorial to accuse him of leaving his post without permission in order to gain credit, which resulted in Cai Bingwen being unable to hold on alone and the fall of Jiangxi.

Finally, this blame can also be passed on!

As for Zhang Fu leading troops to reinforce Jiangnan, was it because of Yi Liang’s transfer order?
Let’s put it this way, Yiliang did not give a compulsory transfer order, but rather suggested that if Jiangxi had spare capacity, it should try to send troops to reinforce the war in the south of the Yangtze River.

There is room for wrangling here.

To put it bluntly, this matter has nothing to do with who is right or wrong. What ultimately matters is who has the final say in front of the emperor.

Whoever can speak in front of the emperor is right and reasonable.

As Cai Bingwen, the first meritorious official in overthrowing Zeng Guofan and the emperor's trusted confidant stationed south of the Yangtze River, his words in front of Emperor Xianfeng were definitely more effective than Zhang Fu's.

As for whether Cai Bingwen feels guilty about letting his teammates down?

Haha, if Cai Bingwen felt guilty, he would not have betrayed Zeng Guofan in Hunan.

As an official, you cannot talk about conscience. Cai Bingwen has already understood this most important way of being an official.

Zhang Fu looked conflicted, but finally changed his tone.

"Forget it. I will lead the troops to stay in Jiangxi, and Lord Cai will lead the troops to reinforce the war in Jiangnan."

"Lord Cai is the Minister of Jiangxi militia, so he can't leave his station easily."

"But as the governor and admiral of Jiangxi, I have the responsibility to defend the territory and cannot leave Jiangxi..."

The reason why Zhang Fu changed his mind was partly because he was moved by Cai Bingwen's "righteousness".

But more importantly, it was because of Cai Bingwen’s last words.

Don't leave the base without permission!

Strictly speaking, the Minister of Militia in Jiangxi's main task was to organize militia in Jiangxi and command them to suppress bandits.

This campaign to suppress bandits is dynamic, not static.

In other words, Cai Bingwen actually had no responsibility to defend the territory. He only needed to lead the militia to suppress the bandits.

But even so, the ministers of Jiangxi militia were not allowed to leave their garrisons without permission.

What's more, he was the governor and admiral of Jiangxi, who was responsible for defending the territory.
Once he led his troops away from Jiangxi and Jiangxi was lost, Zhang Fu would bear greater responsibility.

Under such circumstances, how could Zhang Fu dare to leave Jiangxi easily?

For this reason, he could only reluctantly give up the opportunity to make meritorious service to Cai Bingwen.

There is no fool among those who can serve as an official to the level of a provincial governor.

No matter how outrageous the decisions they make are, they must be the most beneficial choices for themselves after weighing the pros and cons.

Cai Bingwen breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this and nodded again.

"Okay, I'll listen to Master Zhang."

For Cai Bingwen, although he could always shift the blame for the fall of Jiangxi,

But it would be best if he could lead his troops to Jiangnan and gain some credit for the suppression of the Taiping Rebellion while shifting the blame to others.

……

Tianjing, the Heavenly King’s Palace!

Meng De'en and Hong Ren'gan hurried to the outside of the Heavenly King's bedroom and asked for a meeting.

"I am honored to be presented to you, Hong Rengan, to report something important to you, the Heavenly King!"

Queen Wang, who was standing outside the Heavenly King's bedroom, heard this and spoke.

"Please wait a moment, Prince Zan and Gan Tianyi. I will report to you right away."

Hong Ren'gan came to Tianjing with the Tang Dynasty's envoys to the Heavenly Kingdom years ago. After recognizing Hong Xiuquan, Hong Xiuquan, who had no one else to use after the Tianjing Incident, boldly used his cousin.

He was conferred the title of Gan Tianfu, and then promoted to Gan Tianyi, and concurrently served as the commander-in-chief of the Nine Gates of the Imperial Guard, which meant that the garrison work was handed over to him.

This shows how much Hong Xiuquan valued it!

Although Hong Rengan has only been in Heaven for a short time, he is already a well-known figure in the entire Heaven...

(End of this chapter)