My Realistic Simulation Game

Chapter 270 Emperor Xianfeng's Players, Expelling the Tartars

July 30, 1858 (the eighth year of the Xianfeng Emperor's reign), Beijing, the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City.

Inside the solemn and majestic hall, civil and military officials lined up on both sides according to their rank, and there was not a sound.

Today is the Grand Court Assembly, a solemn ceremony held only three times a month. It should be a time to demonstrate the majesty of the Celestial Empire and for the emperor and his ministers to discuss state affairs. However, what permeates the air is an indescribable sense of oppression and anxiety.

The young Emperor Xianfeng, seated on the dragon throne, had a gloomy and cold expression.

Instead of listening to reports from various ministries as usual, he slammed a stack of memorials down on his desk, the crisp sound particularly jarring in the silent hall.

"In early July, the traitor Shi Dakai was surrounded by our army in Quzhou, Zhejiang, and was about to become a sitting duck!"

Emperor Xianfeng's voice was icy, suppressing his anger, "How come these stone bandits suddenly appeared in Fujian at the end of July?"

"Not only did they easily annex Yang Fuqing's troops, but they also successively captured Jianning Prefecture and Shaowu Prefecture! Now their military might is pointing directly at Funing Prefecture and Yanping Prefecture, and even threatening the provincial capital, Fuzhou!"

His icy gaze swept over the silent officials below: "At this rate, will the entire Fujian province fall into the hands of thieves next?!"

"Um?!"

This sudden, thunderous rage caused all the ministers to lower their heads, not daring to look directly at each other.

The situation has indeed taken a sharp turn for the worse recently.

First, the Jiangbei camp was breached by the rising stars of the Taiping Army, Chen Yucheng and Li Xiucheng. Now, Chen and Li's army is approaching the Jiangnan camp, and the siege of Tianjing is in danger of being broken again.

Although the Jiangnan and Jiangbei camps had been breached before, the Qing army was always able to quickly rebuild them by relying on the financial and material resources of several provinces in the rear, but it still tied up a huge amount of manpower and resources.

To make matters worse, Shi Dakai's troops, who were originally stuck in Zhejiang, were able to decisively break away and head south to Fujian before the Qing army could encircle them.

They swiftly integrated Yang Fuqing's forces and captured Jianning Prefecture and the strategically important Shaowu Prefecture, which the Taiping Army had previously been unable to conquer.

Tens of thousands of troops were deployed along the Xianxia Pass and Funing Prefecture line on the Fujian-Zhejiang and Fujian-Jiangxi borders, displaying a posture of defending Fujian to the death and keeping the enemy out of the province.

It would be extremely difficult for the Qing army to enter Fujian by land to suppress the bandits.

If Shi Dakai were to capture Fuzhou, the northern land route would be almost completely blocked.

At that time, the only options would be to rely on the extremely risky sea route or to advance from the equally turbulent Jiangxi and Guangdong directions, making the task even more difficult.

Furthermore, there are ongoing harassment efforts by the British in Guangdong.

It's truly a case of internal and external troubles, like adding insult to injury.

Seeing that no one answered, Emperor Xianfeng fixed his gaze directly on the prince at the head of the left row: "Prince Yi!"

Zaiyuan, whose name was mentioned, felt a chill run down his spine. This hereditary prince, who held an indefinite position, was now in charge of the Eight Banners military affairs and held a high position of power.

He quickly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your subject is here."

"You are my trusted advisor, in charge of the affairs of the Eight Banners. In your opinion, how should this traitor Shi be eliminated?"

Emperor Xianfeng's tone left no room for doubt and was filled with murderous intent.

Zaiyuan frowned slightly. He keenly sensed that the emperor today was completely different from the indecisive and sickly figure of the past.

His words revealed a long-lost sharpness and decisiveness, as if he had returned to the image of a young monarch eager to make a difference in the early years of his reign.

He carefully chose his words and replied cautiously:

"Your Majesty, please calm down. Matters have varying degrees of importance and urgency. For the court, the most pressing threat at present is still Hong Xiuquan, who has seized the pseudo-capital of Nanjing."

"According to reports from various parties, Shi Dakai has openly broken with the rebel Hong Xiuquan, and internal strife has already begun."

"As long as we concentrate our efforts to wipe out Hong Xiuquan, the other Cantonese bandits, such as Shi Dakai, will be like trees without roots, nothing more than a minor ailment. We can easily subdue them with a simple proclamation."

He paused, then continued his analysis: "Moreover, Fujian has always been a mountainous region with complex terrain, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. If the bandits were to hide in the mountains, it would be extremely difficult to wipe them out."

"I believe that we should follow the example of Emperor Kangxi's strategy of pacifying the Three Feudatories and taking over Taiwan. We should first stabilize the overall situation in the Central Plains and consolidate our foundations. As for Fujian, we should focus on encirclement, cutting off its supply lines, weakening its morale, and then gradually take it over."

"The most important matters at present are still the Taiping Rebels in Nanjing, the Russians in the north, and the British and French in the southeast."

His words were well-reasoned and supported by evidence, and they were immediately endorsed by many senior officials in the court.

Emperor Xianfeng looked at the crowd expressionlessly: "Is that what you all think too?"

The courtiers nodded and agreed.

Emperor Xianfeng's face betrayed no emotion; instead, he turned his gaze to another important minister at the front of the right rank: "Su Shun!"

Su Shun stepped forward in response.

Although he was not a prince, he was deeply trusted by Emperor Xianfeng and was known for his willingness to take on responsibilities and his determination to reform. In particular, he strongly advocated for the appointment of Han officials such as Zeng Guofan and Hu Linyi to form the Xiang Army and Chu Army. He was a representative figure in the court who "understood and employed Han people".

"Su Shun, Zeng Guofan, Hu Linyi, and others were strongly recommended by you. Now they have been suppressing bandits for several years. What are your views on the current situation?"

Su Shun bowed and said, "Your Majesty, what Prince Yi said is indeed a wise and prudent strategy, and I wholeheartedly agree."

"Back then, Zheng Chenggong commanded hundreds of thousands of troops and resisted the Qing Dynasty from Fujian and Taiwan, but ultimately he failed to achieve his goal."

"Times have changed, and even if Shi Dakai is temporarily rampant in a corner of Fujian, he can hardly cause a big wave."

He then changed the subject and offered specific suggestions: "However, Fujian is, after all, an important province in the southeast, and we cannot afford to lose it."

"I believe that Zhou Tianshou, who has made meritorious contributions in suppressing bandits in Zhejiang, should be reinstated to his post as commander-in-chief immediately. After he has wiped out the remaining bandits in southern Zhejiang, he should be appointed as the commander-in-chief of the Zhejiang troops. Together with generals such as Zhou Tianpei, Ming Antai, and Li Dingtai, he should quickly go to Fuzhou and join forces with the local Fujian troops. Following the precedent set in Quzhou, they should form an encirclement around the rebel Shi."

"Once Zeng and Hu's armies have wiped out the rebel Hong in Nanjing, they can march east and wipe out the Fujian bandits in one fell swoop."

Su Shun's strategy took into account both the immediate containment and long-term planning, giving local power players an opportunity while ensuring that the main strategic direction remained unchanged, which can be described as comprehensive.

However, Emperor Xianfeng, seated on the dragon throne, slowly shook his head, his voice low yet carrying a chilling undertone:

"Not enough... I feel that this is far from enough."

He looked around at his ministers and said, word by word, "Do you know what Shi, the traitor, renamed his bandit army after he broke away from Hong Xiuquan?"

The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; everyone held their breath.

Emperor Xianfeng practically gritted his teeth as he squeezed out three words: "Restoration Army!"

He abruptly stood up, picked up a secret report from his desk, and his voice rose sharply, filled with barely suppressed shock and anger: "According to an urgent report from our Fujian spies! This traitor has openly hung huge banners above the city gates of Pucheng and Chong'an, which he has captured, with eight large characters written on them—"

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the faces of every minister, especially the Manchu nobles, before declaring, word by word, in a stern voice:

"Restore China! Drive out the Tartars!"

"boom--!"

These eight words resounded like thunder above the Hall of Supreme Harmony!
Who are the "Tartars" referred to in the phrase "Expel the Tartars"?
Everyone present knew perfectly well what was going on, especially the Manchu ministers with their official hats and plumes. Their faces turned pale instantly, filled with shock and anger!
Although Hong Xiuquan's God Worshipping Society had previously bewitched people, its core doctrines were unclear and confused, and it was more of a religious fanaticism.

But the banner that Shi Dakai raised was completely different!
It was so clear and so sharp that it directly targeted the most fundamental weakness in the legitimacy of the Qing Dynasty's rule.

The word "Tartar" was like two poisoned daggers, piercing the most sensitive and painful spot in the hearts of all the Manchu nobles and even the Han officials who were attached to the Qing court!
Throughout the more than two hundred years since the Qing Dynasty entered the Central Plains, apart from Emperor Yongzheng who confidently declared "I am the Emperor of China" in his "Record of Awakening from Delusion," no other emperor dared to confront this sharp issue so directly.

These eight characters were the nightmare of all Qing Dynasty rulers!

Shi Dakai dared to hang it so openly on the city gate!
"Expel the Tartars... How... How dare he?!"

An elderly Manchu prince with white hair and beard was trembling with anger. He pointed south, his lips quivering, but he could not say anything more.

The hall instantly went from complete silence to a suppressed uproar.

Most of the Han officials lowered their heads and looked down, not daring to meet anyone's gaze, but their hearts were filled with turbulent emotions.

This slogan awakened something deep within their blood and cultural memory, causing them to feel a strange tremor and unease.

The Manchu officials, on the other hand, all had ashen faces, some shocked and angry, others terrified, as if their last fig leaf had been ripped off.

Prince Yi Zaiyuan's earlier remarks about "a minor ailment" and "taking things slowly" seemed so pale and powerless, even somewhat laughable, in the face of these eight words. These were no ordinary bandits.

This is a mortal enemy that will uproot the Aisin Gioro family and even the entire Manchu rule!

Su Shun's face also turned extremely ugly.

He knew full well that the slogan was far more powerful than an army of 100,000.

It could not only unite the Han people, but also fundamentally shake the Qing court's ruling authority.

On the dragon throne, Emperor Xianfeng took in the reactions of the crowd below. He sneered inwardly; this was exactly the effect he wanted.

He needed to use Shi Dakai as a weapon to severely punish these court officials who were becoming increasingly numb and indulging in power struggles.

He gave everyone no time to process their shock, his voice as cold as iron:

"Did you all hear that clearly? 'Restore China, expel the barbarians!' This traitor Shi's ambition is not to establish a separate regime, but to overthrow the very foundation of our Great Qing Dynasty!"

"It is true that he had a conflict with Hong Xiuquan, but the harm he caused was even greater than that of the rebel Hong!"

His gaze swept quickly over Prince Yi and Su Shun:

"Mature and prudent? Taking it slow and steady?"

"Once Shi Tu has established a firm foothold in Fujian and spreads these eight words throughout the country, the people will be in turmoil, and war will break out everywhere. How much 'slow and steady' time will our Great Qing have left?!"

Emperor Xianfeng's voice suddenly rose, carrying a hint of ferocity:

"Fujian must be recovered as soon as possible! Shi Dakai must be annihilated as soon as possible! I don't want to hear about difficulties; what I need is a strategy and swift and decisive measures!"

He directly appointed the general:
"Su Shun!"

"Your subject is here!" Su Shun's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly stepped forward.

"You are hereby ordered to draft an imperial edict immediately."

"First, Zeng Guofan is promoted to Governor-General of Liangjiang, with the additional title of Minister of War, to oversee military affairs in the four provinces of Jiangsu, Anhui, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang. All officials below the rank of governor, admiral, and general in these four provinces are under his command!"

"Tell him that I have given him power and a title, and that he must quickly pacify Nanjing and annihilate the rebel Hong!"

"Second, Zhou Tianshou, the Zhejiang Admiral, must immediately reorganize his troops and march on Fuzhou Prefecture without waiting to wipe out the remaining rebels! Tell him that if even a single soldier of Shi's rebellion is allowed to enter Fujian from Zhejiang, I will hold him accountable!"

"Thirdly, I hereby order Qing Duan, the Governor of Fujian, to gather all the Green Standard Army and local militia in the province and hold Yanping and Fuzhou firmly. If he loses another city, he shall bring me his head!"

"Fourth, issue an edict to the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, ordering a thorough investigation of the coastal areas and the complete severing of any possible sea routes for supplies to Fujian. Any omissions will be punished as if the land had been lost!"

This series of orders, like a violent storm, left no room for "gradual planning" and was filled with anxiety and a murderous atmosphere.

In particular, the appointment of Zeng Guofan granted him unprecedented power, demonstrating the court's determination to extinguish the most dangerous flames in the south at all costs.

"Your subject... obeys the decree!" Su Shun took a deep breath and bowed to accept the order.

He knew that His Majesty had been thoroughly enraged, or rather, awakened, by Shi Dakai's eight words.

The Qing Dynasty, like a giant ship, had reached a critical juncture where it had to fight desperately, even at the cost of robbing Peter to pay Paul.

The morning assembly ended in a tense and shocked atmosphere.

As the officials left the Hall of Supreme Harmony, many were still in a daze. The eight words "Restore China, expel the barbarians" echoed in their minds like a curse.

Emperor Xianfeng, seated on his dragon throne, gazed at the empty hall, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest, and whispered in a voice only he could hear:

"Shi Dakai... or rather, the unknown player... you have given me a reason to speed up the process."

"This game is getting more and more interesting."

His gaze fell on the void.
On that enormous map sandbox, various forces were scattered like stars.

While Emperor Xianfeng was raging in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Qin Yuan rode his horse into the city of Jianning Prefecture.

The streets of Jianning Prefecture were far less prosperous than later generations imagined. The roads were full of potholes, the houses on both sides were low, and most of the pedestrians looked malnourished and were dressed in rags.

They looked at the "Restoration Army" entering the city, their eyes filled with a mixture of fear, curiosity, and a faint, almost undisguised hope.

Qin Yuan rode on his horse, the horse's hooves making a crisp clattering sound as they trod on the bluestone slabs.

Looking at the sallow-faced, emaciated people before him, most of whom had long, thin braids hanging down their backs, and whose eyes were numb yet filled with surprise and doubt, he felt a surge of complex emotions that were hard to describe.

I had seen many Qing Dynasty dramas on screen in my past life, but only when I stood on this land in person and breathed the air mixed with the smell of gunpowder, dust and poverty could I truly feel the weight and sorrow of this era.

"This rat-tail braid is really ugly, and it is a symbol of humiliation."

He sighed inwardly.

When the Taiping Rebellion broke out, most of them did not shave their heads, nor did they tie them up, often leaving their hair loose. Therefore, the Qing government contemptuously called them "long-haired rebels".

The Taiping army responded by calling the Qing army "Qing demons".

Now that he has broken away from the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and established the "Restoration Army," he naturally needs to sever ties with the old system in every aspect.

This hairstyle is one of the most obvious signs.

Ordering the entire army to cut their hair into modern short styles would undoubtedly provoke enormous resistance in a time when the concept of "our bodies and hair are given to us by our parents" is deeply ingrained, and acting too hastily could lead to chaos.

However, continuing to let his hair down would appear too unruly and lack a fresh look.

After careful consideration, Qin Yuan decided to adopt a gradual approach that was more culturally compatible:

He ordered all officers and soldiers of the Restoration Army to resume wearing their hair in a bun.

The hair was tied up on top of the head and secured with a cloth or simple hairpin, which was neat and tidy, convenient for combat and labor, and in line with Chinese tradition. It was intended to awaken a national consciousness that was different from the Manchu Qing dynasty's policy of shaving the head and changing clothes.

This seemingly small change is of profound significance, marking the beginning of shaping a sense of identity and discipline within the military.

Upon entering the temporarily established "Restoration Army Commander's Office," Qin Yuan immediately summoned his core advisors and the newly appointed heads of various departments.

During his few days in Pucheng, he was not idle. With his knowledge far ahead of his time and Shi Dakai's own experience in governance, he drafted several outlines concerning future development.

The most important thing is medical and health care.

The wartime casualties were heavy, and the spread of disease was the main cause of non-combat attrition in the army.

Combining his memory of the "Barefoot Doctor's Manual" with the existing tradition of women's battalions in the Taiping Army, he ordered the formation of the "Restoration Army Health Battalion".

Recruit female relatives of soldiers and women willing to join the army, and provide them with centralized training by those with some medical knowledge, teaching them battlefield first aid, wound care, prevention and treatment of common diseases, and basic hygiene and epidemic prevention knowledge.

These "female medics" study in the medical battalion during peacetime and are assigned to various battalions during wartime to be responsible for treating wounded soldiers and managing camp hygiene.

This can not only effectively reduce the casualty rate, but also partially solve the resettlement problem of military dependents and stabilize morale.

Secondly, there is the modernization and reform of the military system.

Qin Yuan knew that although the current Restoration Army had been tempered by war, it was still essentially an armed force with strong characteristics of an old-style peasant uprising army, with loose organization, backward tactics, and outdated ideology.

He plans to use the "teaching team" that is being formed as a testing ground and incubator.

He selected 500 young, literate, and quick-witted key personnel from various armies, and personally participated in the development of the training syllabus, instilling new tactical ideas, disciplinary regulations, and organizational principles.

What he wanted to build was the prototype of a new type of army that knew why it fought, had ideals, was disciplined, and mastered modern tactics.

These seeds will be sown throughout the army as the backbone in the future, gradually transforming this force that originated from the old-style peasant army.

However, whether it is training the army, maintaining sanitation, or supporting these hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians, everything depends on the most basic support - money and food.

How to collect taxes from local areas has always been a difficult problem for rulers throughout history.

(Please vote for me next month. I hope to get over 3,000 votes by the end of the month. There will be an extra chapter if I do.)
(End of this chapter)