1848 Great Qing Charcoal Burners

Chapter 118 Who exactly is the bandit? [Third update! Please subscribe!]

I have met Hong Xiuquan, the Taiping Master.

He visited old friends from Guixian County, including Shi Dakai, Shi Xiangzhen, Shi Zhenlun, and Shi Zhenji.

After being received by the branch leaders, Peng Gang accompanied Feng Yunshan to the Wei family's residence in Jintian to attend a high-level meeting.

This was Peng Gang's first time attending a meeting of the decision-making level.

The group discussed their next move.

Whether it was Peng Gang, Xiao Chaogui, or Yang Xiuqing, they all achieved great victories in their debut matches and fought relatively smoothly.

The Qing government must now know about the God Worshippers Society at Zijing Mountain.

The decision was made to mobilize troops to deal with the dire situation in Guangxi.

It takes time to mobilize troops.

The southwest and Lingnan regions are mountainous and have inconvenient transportation.

Given the Qing Dynasty's mobilization and organizational capabilities, it would take at least one or two months for reinforcements from the four provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou, Hunan, and Guangdong to arrive in Xunzhou Prefecture.

It also takes time to coordinate payments and procure supplies.

Moreover, Peng Gang and others did not know how Zheng Zuchen explained the God Society to Emperor Xianfeng.

If Zheng Zuchen continues to cover up the truth and deceive his superiors and subordinates, it will naturally be in their best interest.

Of course, this possibility is very small.

The God Society is so powerful that even Ling Shiba is still fighting hard against the Qing army's Green Standard Army in Xinyi, Guangdong.

The tide of resistance from the God Society has spread beyond Guangxi.

Zheng Zuchen wanted to cover up the matter, but the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, Xu Guangjin, certainly wouldn't be willing to clean up Zheng Zuchen's mess.

After all, Xu Guangjin only needed to manage Guangdong. No matter how bad the situation in Guangxi was, it didn't concern him much. He didn't need to get involved in the crime of deceiving the emperor to help Zheng Zuchen cover up the truth about Guangxi.

The only threat they can pose now is the local Green Standard Army militia in Guangxi.

To be precise, it was the most elite and capable Green Standard Army militia that Guangxi's governor, Min Zhengwen, brought from Liuzhou and Guilin.

The local pro-independence forces in Xunzhou do not pose a significant threat to the God Society.

If it weren't for the fact that the Xunzhou Green Standard Army has now all retreated into the county and prefectural cities...

With the current morale and military strength of the God Society, they are fully capable of defeating and eliminating them one by one.

Xiao Chaogui's confidence soared after he captured Jiangkouwei.

Xiao Chaogui wanted to take advantage of this window of opportunity to capture Pingnan County, and then Teng County, in order to support Ling's Eighteen Tribes.

Feng Yunshan, however, had doubts: "Pingnan County is relatively wealthy, and its wealth and provisions must be greater than those of Wuxuan County. It would be best if we could take it. But we don't have cannons, so how easy is it to capture a heavily fortified city?"

"We can take it, but we don't know if we can capture Pingnan County before the Qing demons' reinforcements arrive in Xunzhou Prefecture." Yang Xiuqing already has experience attacking fortified towns three times.

He had considerable experience in this area, believing that the question of whether or not Pingnan County could be taken was not whether it was possible, but rather how long it would take.

Yang Xiuqing reviewed the process of Peng Gang capturing Wuxuan County.

There are many reasons why Peng Gang was able to capture Wuxuan County in a short period of time.

They had more than a year to prepare, had someone in the county town to meet them, were familiar with the defenses of Wuxuan County, had the full support of the submarine force, and Wuxuan County was unprepared, etc.

Besides the possibility that they might be able to secure support from the two boat corps of Tian Fang and Li Guanbao, who have been stationed nearby for a long time,

Other conditions are not met.

"Qing general Min Zhengwen has transferred a thousand Green Standard Army soldiers from Liuzhou and Guilin, and an unspecified number of local militias are heading towards Guiping City along the Qianjiang River," Peng Gang reported.

"The Green Standard Army in Liuzhou and Guilin is the best equipped. Perhaps Min Yaotou's Qing army has heavy artillery. If we can ambush and capture Min Yaotou's Qing reinforcements and seize his guns and powder (fire is a taboo word for the God Society, so powder is used instead), it will be much easier to attack Pingnan County or other cities."

"Is this news reliable? Where did you get this information from?" Yang Xiuqing's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

They are not good at attacking cities, but they are good at ambushes.

During the Hakka-Tujia armed conflicts, he often organized young Hakka men to ambush the Tujia armed forces, and he was already very skilled in ambush warfare.

Peng Gang carefully explained the source of the information to them.

After discussion, even Xiao Chaogui felt that the news should be reliable.

The Green Camp in Xunzhou has been terrified by their defeat, so there's no reason to deceive them with such important false information.

"When will Min Yaotou's men arrive? Where should we set up an ambush?" Wei Changhui asked.

Now that we've reached a consensus on whether or not to fight, the next step is to discuss how to fight.

“Liuzhou has no naval camp. The troops brought by Min Yaotou are all land troops. My Zuo Jun’s old boat troops are well-versed in naval warfare, and I have been managing the Bitan Floodplain on the Qianjiang River for a long time,” Peng Gang said.

"We can play to our strengths and avoid our weaknesses, taking advantage of the terrain of the Qianjiang River where we are at peace and waiting for the enemy to arrive. As for when Min Yaotou will arrive, I think even if he drags his feet, it shouldn't be more than twenty days before he reaches Qianjiang."

"Are you so sure that Min Zhengwen will take the Qianjiang waterway? What if he doesn't? Wouldn't our Heavenly Army have made a wasted trip?" Wei Changhui was worried that Min Zhengwen would not take the Qianjiang waterway to Guiping, but instead take another route, thus making all our efforts futile.

Feng Yunshan also expressed concern about this.

After all, preliminary assessments indicate that Min Zhengwen's Qing army force numbered at least three thousand men.

To wipe out Min Zhengwen's Qing army, they were practically going to mobilize their entire force, sending out all their capable Heavenly Army soldiers.

"Hahaha, the Qing army will definitely take the Qianjiang waterway." Yang Xiuqing seemed quite confident.

"We know what kind of people those Qing soldiers in the Green Standard Army are. They can travel by water, but can they endure the hardships of traveling by land?"
From Liuzhou to Guiping, without traveling by water, they could only traverse mountain paths. Supplies and provisions had to be carried by people and horses, a time-consuming and laborious process; when would they ever reach Guiping?

"In that case! Our Taiping Heavenly Army's first battle since its formation will be against Min Zhengwen, this Qing devil admiral!" Hong Xiuquan made the decision with great enthusiasm.

Two flowers bloom, one branch each.

Urged by Zheng Zuchen, the governor of Guangxi, Min Zhengwen hurriedly went to Liuzhou to mobilize troops to suppress the "God Society bandits" in Xunzhou Prefecture.

In addition to the half-camp of the Guilin garrison and the central camp of Liuzhou, totaling nearly a thousand Green Standard Army soldiers, Min Zhengwen also transferred five hundred local soldiers from Liuzhou, formed two thousand five hundred militia, and coerced three thousand laborers and requisitioned boats.

Min Zhengwen's team of 7,000 people gathered near Luobozhou on the Liujiang River and boarded the boat.

Before the bugle sounded, the ship had already set sail.

More than a hundred wooden boats, bow to stern, flags fluttering, swords and spears gleaming, surged forward with overwhelming force, heading straight for Xunzhou Prefecture.

Min Zhengwen, the nearly fifty-year-old governor of Guangxi, wore neither heavy armor nor official robes, but only a clean white long gown. He sat on the central military ship, looking around at the pleasant scenery of mountains and rivers, and felt refreshed and relaxed.

"General Min, the brothers haven't received their full pay and rations for a whole year. What do you think of this campaign to suppress the bandits?"

Under pressure and coercion from his soldiers, Liu Yongqing, the Assistant Commander of Liuzhou, reluctantly went to Min Zhengwen's boat to demand payment.

Although the Green Standard Army (Green Camp) forces in Liuzhou and Guilin are the strongest among all Green Camp guilds in Guangxi.

However, Guangxi's military pay could not be self-sufficient every year and required subsidies from other provinces. Underpayment was the norm, and many Green Standard Army soldiers never saw a full paycheck from birth to death.

Distracted by Liu Yongqing's words, Min Zhengwen instantly lost interest in admiring the scenery and said impatiently, "We'll talk about the provisions and pay once we leave Liuzhou."

Need payment?

Before leaving Guilin, Zheng Zuchen didn't give him a single coin.

Surely Min Zhengwen, a provincial governor, couldn't possibly pay salaries out of his own pocket?

If his officers and soldiers cause trouble and immediately hand over money, once this precedent is set, other Green Standard Army units will follow suit, and what kind of order will that create! How will he then be able to manage his subordinates and lead his troops?

This precedent must not be set!

Min Zhengwen glanced at Liu Yongqing's burly back as he turned and left with disgust.

I thought to myself.

These soldiers are truly vulgar; all they talk about is food and pay.

Unlike the gentry in Guilin, who either strolled among the mountains and rivers or sat discussing philosophy, composing poems and painting.

That's what a refined life should be like. Isn't that how one should live one's life?

Besides, no matter how much the Guangxi Green Standard Army owed wages, could they owe you the wages of a mere military commander?

Liu Yongqing didn't care what Min Zhengwen thought of him.

Liu Yongqing was well aware of Min Zhengwen's preferences.

Min Zhengwen had always disliked this illiterate, uncouth warrior.

Hoping for Min Zhengwen's support is nothing short of wishful thinking.

With Min Zhengwen's words, he could go back and give his brothers in the camp an explanation.

Min Zhengwen has made it very clear that the issue of provisions and pay can be resolved once the area outside Liuzhou is reached.

As for how to solve it, how could Liu Yongqing, who has been involved with the pro-independence camp for so many years, not know?

Since the Green Standard Army soldiers, local soldiers, and militia were all from Liuzhou.

Within the territory of Liuzhou Prefecture, the Green Standard Army soldiers, local soldiers, and militia members in this force were relatively well-behaved.

Amidst the lingering chill of early spring in southern Xinjiang, the convoy finally sailed from Liujiang into the Qianjiang River, its waters a deep, iron-gray hue.

The river lapped against the boats, flags fluttered, and when they reached Qianjiang territory, the soldiers and laborers on board had already emptied their food bags.

The grain and provisions collected along the way were insufficient, and local wealthy households refused to donate grain.

The bureaucratic system in Wuxuan County had been purged by Peng Gang not long ago and was already paralyzed and unable to function properly. It had no ability to raise funds and pay for Min Zhengwen.

Min Zhengwen then issued an order: "In villages along the river, anyone who sees smoke rising from chimneys may go ashore to inspect the grain. Better to incriminate than to let the guilty go free."

Food shortage?

Aren't the villages along the Qianjiang River ready-made granaries?
Having received Min Zhengwen's secret order, Commander Liu Yongqing and Colonel Li Chengbiao issued orders to their Liuzhou soldiers: "Search for grain on the shore! Any unruly civilians who hide grain and refuse to hand it over will be treated as traitors to the God Worshippers!"

No sooner had the words been spoken than a dozen impatient light boats came to a stop close to the shore, and Green Standard Army soldiers jumped out of the boats and filed into the village, breaking down doors and kicking down doors, like wolves entering a sheepfold.

An old man in the village, leaning on his cane, tried to speak, but was slashed on the shoulder and fell to the ground. A woman, carrying her child, tried to escape, but heard loud laughter and shouts all around her. Young men who tried to stop the government soldiers from giving them money and supplies were either stabbed to death by gunfire or hacked to death by knives.

"In chaotic times, when food is scarce, we rely on our swords for sustenance. Anyone who blocks our path is a traitor."

"General Min has given an order! Check the granaries in every village along the ten-mile stretch of the river. Anyone who resists must be killed without exception."

"The God Society's bandits are growing increasingly powerful, but they lack food and weapons. How can they form an army? These unruly people haven't seen blood in a long time."

"Hand over the grain! Hand over the grain!"

"The porridge is still warm in the pot—take it!"

"There's rice in the granary! There's rice!"

"This woman is quite pretty..."

The noise and screams mingled together, like the underworld demanding souls.

The soldiers and local militia in Liuzhou skillfully wielded knives to pry open doors, unload grain and carry away jars; they looted everything that could be eaten, worn, or sold.

Pigs, chickens, ducks, and dogs were all tied up, and even the young seedlings that hadn't yet grown tall were either pulled up for fodder or trampled into mud.

After looting the village, the Liuzhou soldiers and local militiamen drank heavily in the village. The women who were hiding behind the houses were also dragged out and ordered to slaughter chickens and ducks to cook.

After they finished cooking, they dragged him into the inner room and raped him in turns.

For a time, the people on both sides of the Qianjiang River in Wuxuan County lived in fear and suffered greatly.

Wherever the Qing army passed, villages were destroyed, chickens and dogs were silent, and corpses littered the paths.

When many villagers downstream heard that Min Zhengwen's troops were about to arrive at their village, they all carried their grain and fled to avoid the ravages of war.

Those who couldn't carry the food away would dig a hole in their own land and bury the life-saving rations to avoid being found by the government troops.

Before Min Zhengwen's team even reached Wuxuan County, many villages had already abandoned their villages.

When the Qing soldiers landed and found the houses empty, they were furious. They smashed altars, burned houses, burned temples, and threw excrement at the houses, acting like barbarians entering the country.

The people of Wuxuan were astonished to hear of the "illustrious reputation" of Governor Min's army, and they didn't know whether they were there to suppress bandits or to become bandits themselves.

Only after Min Zhengwen's army had gone far away did the people on both sides of the Qianjiang River in Wuxuan, who had suffered from the ravages of war, dare to start talking about it.

Even many wealthy landlords couldn't stand it anymore and complained.

"This battle doesn't seem like it's about suppressing bandits; it's more like it's about robbing civilians."

"How is this act of burning and killing any different from that of bandits?"

"Damn it, I think they're the ones who look like bandits!"

"When Minister Peng came to our village a month ago, he didn't rob us! He paid twice the market price to buy grain from us!"

"That's right. The wealthy households in Wuxuan County said that, apart from the six major households whose property was confiscated, the other major households only asked them for half of their grain!"

"These government troops are even stealing our crops!"

"The government officials and soldiers do not care for the people, but instead become bandits! If Lord Peng's righteous army comes to our Wuxuan again, I am willing to offer my hut as a camp!"

"If Minister Peng won't come to Wuxuan, we can go to Pingzaishan and seek refuge with him!"

"That's right! I heard the rebel army eats from communal pots!"

"Yes, yes, yes! Join the rebel army! Joining the rebel army might not kill you, but if you don't, you'll starve to death!"

(End of this chapter)