1848 Great Qing Charcoal Burners

Chapter 120 The advantage is mine
“Even if we include the civilian laborers who accompanied Min Zhengwen’s army, this battle is still 14,000 against 8,000, so the advantage is on our side.” Peng Gang said, his hands behind his back, staring at the sand table in the middle of the room.

The sand table centers on Bitanxun on the Qianjiang River, roughly displaying the topography and landforms on both sides of the Qianjiang River.

The sand table was simple, but it was just enough.

Guangxi is characterized by its folded mountains, making it difficult to create a model of Guangxi with current technology.

However, simple sand table models of the areas on both sides of the Qianjiang River can still be made.

After all, there were many locals in his team.

Especially the local boat people and boat dwellers of Bitan, who have lived here for generations, making a living by farming the mountains and rivers.

To welcome Min Zhengwen, the Taiping Army deployed its elite forces.

Apart from Xiao Chaogui's four vanguard battalions, which could not be mobilized any further, all the capable units of the Taiping Army had gathered here to participate in this grand undertaking.

In terms of troop strength, the Taiping Army did indeed have a clear advantage in this wave.

"Where should we ambush and intercept Min Zhengwen? Should we wait in comfort at Bitanxun?" Feng Yunshan asked.

Feng Yunshan is adept at organizing and mobilizing resources and formulating rules and regulations.

Military tactics were not Feng Yunshan's forte.

"The river near Bitan Xun is too wide and the banks are relatively flat, making it difficult to block Min Yaotou's army on the Qianjiang River."

Min Yao was equipped with heavy artillery, and some of our food and military supplies were stockpiled at Bitan Xun.

"The heavy cannons that Min Zhengwen set up on the ship can directly hit Bitanxun." Peng Gang shook his head, then pointed to Datengxia, downstream of Bitanxun.

"The best ambush location is Dateng Gorge. The Qianjiang River near Bitan Xun is more than a mile and a half wide, while the Qianjiang River near Dateng Gorge is less than a mile wide. We can fire cannons directly on both banks and get our hands on the Qingyao boats."

During the Chenghua era of the Ming Dynasty, the Yao and Dong people in the vicinity also thwarted the Ming government troops who came to suppress them three times at Dateng Gorge.

Today, I will turn this Dateng Gorge into the burial ground for Min Zhengwen and his Liuzhou soldiers!

The Qianjiang River originates in Shilong Town, Xiangzhou, Guangxi, and merges with the Yujiang River at Guiping City to form the Xunjiang River, with a total length of about 244 li.

The Qianjiang River flows through a karst landform area, with many canyons on both banks and the river surface varying in width.

Dateng Gorge is the most dangerous and narrowest section of the gorge.

Local legend has it that there is a giant vine as big as a bucket that spans the river, sinks during the day and floats at night, and is used by people to climb across the river, hence the name Dayeng Gorge (Great Vine Gorge).

Of course, this is just a legend.

However, this also indirectly confirms the perilous nature of the Datengxia section of the Qianjiang River.

“Just because Min Zhengwen is an incompetent doesn’t mean all his men are incompetent and won’t send troops to scout for ambushes on both sides of the strait,” Yang Xiuqing said, pointing to the sand table, agreeing to set up an ambush at Dateng Gorge.

"The terrain on both banks of the Qianjiang River in the upper reaches of the Bitan River is relatively gentle, so soldiers can be sent ashore in light boats to conduct reconnaissance. If an ambush is set up upstream, it will be difficult to hide many of our soldiers."

The Dateng Gorge is characterized by its high cliffs and steep banks. Even if they intended to send troops ashore for reconnaissance, it would be difficult to scale the gorge. Even if they did manage to, it wouldn't matter; they could simply engage Min Yaotou's Qing army near Bitanxun.

Yang Xiuqing's analysis also makes sense.

Min Zhengwen's lack of knowledge about military affairs does not mean that the Green Standard Army and militia leaders under his command were ignorant of military matters.

Sending out scouts to conduct reconnaissance before an army marches is a basic skill of a commander.

Although the Guangxi Green Standard Army is rotten, it is hard to guarantee that the Liuzhou Association will produce a few middle and lower-ranking Green Standard Army officers like Xie Bin who are not completely rotten. We should be lenient in our assessment of the enemy but strict in our defense against them, and we should not be careless.

"What if Min Yaotou has no intention of fighting and insists on running downstream? We can't possibly chase him all the way to Guiping City," Wei Changhui expressed his concern.

"I have already instructed the craftsmen at the arsenal to put aside their current work and focus all their efforts on forging the iron chains that will block the river. When the time comes, we will use the iron chains to block the river and cut off Min Yaotou's route to Guiping City." Peng Gang had already prepared a solution.

Min Zhengwen's boats were mostly large boats with a deep draft. He would stretch several iron chains on the Qianjiang River. Small boats might not be able to stop him, but large boats could be stopped with ease.

Before the uprising, Peng Gang had stockpiled a large amount of iron, more than enough to make several ropes to block the river.

"Iron chains to block the river! Brilliant!" Shi Dakai exclaimed, clapping his hands. "This is equivalent to closing the water gates of the Qianjiang River, giving Min Zhengwen, that drowning dog, a good beating!"

With the ambush location agreed upon, the meeting essentially achieved its objective.

Before the meeting adjourned, Peng Gang said to Yang Xiuqing, "Fourth Brother, we recommend you as the commander-in-chief for this battle to coordinate the operation and deploy the army."

Peng Gang is now a member of the Shentian family, so his way of addressing Yang Xiuqing should naturally change.

In official history, the members of the Shentian family addressed each other in two ways: one was as "Brother So-and-so" or "Brother So-and-so," and the other was as "Companion So-and-so" (such as "Qing-companion" or "Da-companion").

In more private settings and during the early stages of the Kingdom of Heaven, the terms "brother" or "younger brother" are more commonly used, while in relatively public settings, the term "compatriot" is preferred.

However, after taking control of Tianjing, perhaps due to the weakening of the bond between brothers after the success, the historical records of the Heavenly Kingdom show that the kings addressed each other as "Brother So-and-so" and "Younger Brother So-and-so" less and less in the surviving records.

The biggest taboo in joint operations of large armies with different deployments is inconsistent authority and multiple orders. Peng Gang set an example by taking the initiative to recommend Yang Xiuqing as the commander-in-chief.

Apart from Hong Xiuquan and Xiao Chaogui, all the Taiping Army's decision-makers went to Bitanxun.

Although Peng Gang has entered the decision-making level, his position is only higher than Shi Dakai and Qin Richang, and about the same as Wei Changhui.

Yang Xiuqing and Feng Yunshan both hold a higher position than Peng Gang within the association.

It's pointless to compete with them for supreme command; even if you do, you might not be able to command the other five armies.

After weighing the options, Peng Gang still proactively recommended Yang Xiuqing, who had higher prestige within the Taiping Army, as the commander-in-chief of this campaign. Min Zhengwen was about to arrive in Wuxuan County, and Yang Xiuqing understood that now was not the time for feigned politeness or refusal. Peng Gang's recommendation of him as commander-in-chief was exactly what Yang Xiuqing wanted.

Yang Xiuqing readily accepted, and then looked around to ask, "What do the other brothers think? If there are no objections, I will command this battle."

Shi Dakai and Qin Richang were the first to stand up and express their support for Yang Xiuqing.

In terms of merit and status, none of them are as good as Peng Gang.

Peng Gang, as the host, voluntarily relinquished command, so even if they tried to seize command, they couldn't.

Unable to go against the will of the people, Wei Changhui and Feng Yunshan hesitated for a moment before agreeing that Yang Xiuqing would be in charge of commanding the battle.

Yang Xiuqing reciprocated, saying, "It's too much for me to manage the tens of thousands of Heavenly Army soldiers alone. My third brother (Feng Yunshan) and seventh brother (Peng Gang) can be my deputies and help me share some of the pressure."

After the meeting, Luo Dagang learned that Peng Gang had taken the initiative to recommend Yang Xiuqing as the commander-in-chief of this battle, rather than actively seeking this power. He was somewhat dissatisfied and went to Peng Gang to complain: "We are the host, and tens of thousands of holy soldiers eat and wear our food. They are obliged to follow our orders and deployments. Why did you recommend Yang Xiuqing as the commander-in-chief, Commander?"

Peng Gang did not give a direct answer, nor did he argue with Luo Dagang. Instead, he asked in return, "Why are the submarine force and the Heaven and Earth Society unable to achieve their goals?"

Luo Dagang was speechless when Peng Gang asked him the question, but he still had concerns: "What if Yang Xiuqing gives orders haphazardly?"

“If even Yang Xiuqing, the leader of the Taiping Army, doesn’t know how to use troops, then no one else in the Taiping Army knows how to use troops,” Peng Gang replied.

"That's true, but Yang Xiuqing is proficient in land warfare, not necessarily in naval warfare," Xie Bin said after a moment's thought.

"What if, I mean, what if, they use this opportunity to weaken us and deploy our troops in the most dangerous places?"

"If that's really the case, this battle will be our last one in cooperation with the Taiping Army," Peng Gang reassured Luo Dagang and Xie Bin.

"Am I still his deputy? If he makes a big mistake in his military strategy, or tries to weaken us by using Min Zhengwen, how could I sit idly by? Everyone, rest assured and prepare."

Min Zhengwen's men dragged their feet all the way before finally arriving at the dock outside Wuxuan County.

The plan is to make a short stop and rest in Wuxuan County.

On the river surface anchored at the South Gate Wharf of Wuxuan, Min Zhengwen, dressed in a white long gown and covered with a dark blue cloak, stepped out of the cabin and stood on the deck.

Liu Yongqing, the Assistant Commander of Liuzhou, standing behind Min Zhengwen, asked in bewilderment, "Min Zhengwen, Li Mengqun is merely a seventh-rank county magistrate, while you are a first-rank official. What merit or ability does he possess? Why would you need to treat him with such respect and caution?"

Min Zhengwen chuckled and shook his head, saying, "What do you know? Although Li Mengqun is only a seventh-rank county magistrate, he is the son of Li Qinggu, the grain commissioner of Hubei. Putting aside his family background, he passed the imperial examination at the age of twenty and was officially appointed as a county magistrate at the age of twenty-one. His future is limitless. It would be very beneficial to befriend him."

As he spoke, he turned and asked, "Have those two boxes of gifts been prepared?"

Liu Yongqing replied in a low voice, "They are already hidden in the auxiliary ship's hold; they are all gold and silver ingots and jade ornaments."

"Pick the best quality ones for me, wipe away the bloodstains and dust, and don't let him see that you're unlucky or rude," Min Zhengwen instructed earnestly.

After Liu Yongqing and his personal guards had finished packing and inspecting the two boxes of gifts, Min Zhengwen finally stepped off the boat.

Li Mengqun was already dressed and ready, standing outside the South Gate to wait for Min Zhengwen.

Although Li Mengqun was only in his early twenties, he had a composed demeanor and an imposing presence, quite different from the typical local magistrate.

He was the son of Li Qinggu, the current governor of Hubei and acting provincial inspector. Born into a scholarly and official family, he had followed his father in officialdom since childhood. Naturally, his vision and temperament were superior to those of ordinary county magistrates.

"Lord Li." Min Zhengwen cupped his hands, addressing him as "Lord Li" instead of "Magistrate Li" to show his obsequiousness to Li Mengqun. "This is just a small gift, nothing more than a token of my respect for your esteemed father."

A first-rank military commander was humble and obsequious to a seventh-rank county magistrate.

Min Zhengwen's behavior truly opened Li Mengqun's eyes.

Upon hearing this, Li Mengqun neither moved nor smiled, but merely frowned slightly. He had long heard that the Governor of Guangxi liked to curry favor with civil officials, and seeing it today, he found it to be true.

Li Mengqun knew all too well that the civil officials in Guangxi were only superficially polite to this Southern Xinjiang Governor, while privately they were all mocking him.

If Min Zhengwen is truly a learned and cultured general, he wouldn't mind befriending him.

However, Min Zhengwen was far from possessing the cultural refinement of a scholar-official; in the end, he was merely a military man with a rudimentary understanding of literature.

Min Zhengwen's aloof and unapproachable behavior did not win Li Mengqun's favor; instead, it aroused Li Mengqun's disgust.

Despite his thoughts, Li Mengqun still had to maintain a certain level of courtesy and respect for Min Zhengwen, who was, after all, a provincial governor: "General Min has come from afar, and the people have already been disturbed. Why do this again?"

Min Zhengwen smiled without saying a word, only waving his hand to signal Liu Yongqing to open the wooden box.

The lid of the box was opened, revealing the gold, silver, and jade artifacts inside.

"The unruly people in the villages along the river have many connections with the God Society rebels and boat bandits. The people have hidden gold and grain and refused to pay. I, the official, have acted on behalf of Heaven to punish them and have confiscated several boxes. Considering Lord Li's outstanding reputation, I have expressed my gratitude."

Li Mengqun lowered his eyes slightly and remained silent. Min Zhengwen's flattery was truly clumsy.

A distinguished reputation? He's only been in Xunzhou Prefecture for a little over three months, and he's been busy pacifying Zhang Jiaxiang for those three months. The God Society rebels started under his rule; he should be grateful if the higher-ups don't punish him. What kind of distinguished reputation is that?!
If Li Mengqun hadn't known Min Zhengwen's character beforehand, he would have thought that this guy was deliberately mocking him.

He knew that the gold and silver before him were not the wealth of any rebels, but rather looted from the villagers along the river.

After a moment's hesitation, Li Mengqun finally decided not to turn down the gold and silver and nodded slightly, saying, "Since General Min is so kind, I dare not disobey. However, these items must not be put into private storage. I will report to the Ministry of War that they were obtained during the bandit suppression and the inventory will be kept in the Wuxuan County government treasury."

Although Li Mengqun disliked Min Zhengwen's character and disdained associating with him.

However, he did need money to rebuild the militia in Wuxuan, so Li Mengqun accepted the two boxes of gold and silver through official channels.

Min Zhengwen's smile faltered slightly, but he immediately nodded: "It was my oversight that I didn't think it through. Lord Li is indeed impartial and selfless, just as he should be."

(End of this chapter)