1848 Great Qing Charcoal Burners

Chapter 162 The Fate of the Whole Situation

"Father!"

"Mr. Lin!"

Lin Zexu coughed up blood and closed his eyes, which terrified everyone in the West Flower Hall of the government office.

After catching his breath, Lin Zexu slowly opened his eyes and said in a weak voice, "Bring me the map."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they heard Lin Zexu speak again.

Lin Congyi brought a map of Guangxi to Lin Zexu.

Lin Zexu stared at the map for a long time, and then said with difficulty to everyone: "Wuxuan has fallen. There is no need to defend Longshan and Lianhuashan on the south bank of Qianjiang anymore. Let's send troops to escort Peizhai (Zhang Bilu) back to Guiping."

Although they had never directly fought against the short-haired cult bandits, they could rely on past battle reports.

Lin Zexu had figured out to some extent the fighting tactics of the short-haired rebels.

The short-haired cult leaders never dwell on the gains or losses of a single city or territory.

In the first attack on Wuxuan and Sanlixu, the short-haired cultists withdrew from Wuxuan and Sanlixu on their own initiative after capturing them.

The short-haired cult bandits have two operational objectives.

The purpose was twofold: first, to secure provisions for the army; and second, to annihilate the government troops' manpower.

The short-haired rebels were winning battle after battle on the western front and had no shortage of military supplies and provisions.

Not for military supplies or provisions, the only purpose of the short-haired rebels' second attack on Wuxuan was to annihilate the government troops.

The flanks and rear of Zhang Bilu's Qing army were completely exposed to the advance of the short-haired rebels.

If the short-haired Maoist regime takes any further action, its target will undoubtedly be the Qing army under Zhang Bilu on the south bank of the Qian River.

The Qing army on the western front was already rendered useless; the Qing army on the southern front could not afford any more mistakes.

Lin Zexu knew his days were numbered and that he needed to make arrangements for his affairs after his death as soon as possible.

Guangxi needs someone capable of taking on the overall task of suppressing bandits.

Neither Xiang Rong nor Zhou Tianjue is capable of this task.

After much deliberation, Zhang Bilu was the only option left to take on the responsibility of suppressing bandits in Guangxi after his death.

Lin Zexu decided to protect Zhang Bilu and his Sichuan and Guizhou armies.

However, it was too late.

Shi Dakai led his army across the Qianjiang River at Bitanxun and entered Lianhua Mountain on the south bank of the Qianjiang River to fight a fierce battle with Zhang Bilu's Qing army.

Zhang Bilu's main force is tightly bound by Shi Dakai's First Army and Luo Dagang's two boat battalions, making it difficult for him to break free.

Qin Richang had been fighting and retreating northwards to cover the new followers he had recruited from Guixian County over the past few months as they evacuated northwards and crossed the river.

After Shi Dakai crossed the river and entered the south bank, the two armies of the Central Army joined forces in one place.

The First Army abandoned its usual conservative fighting style and took the initiative to charge against Zhang Bilu's Qing troops.

The Shi family army was fierce and skilled in battle, and they managed to drive back Zhang Bilu's elite Qing army for a full two miles.

The Taiping Army thus regained a foothold in the area south of the Qianjiang River.

"Among the religious bandits, there are many skilled commanders. Who is the leader of this newly arrived group of religious bandits?"

Qin Richang and Luo Dagang, who were fighting against Zhang Bilu, were already quite formidable.

Now, a new force of cult members has joined the fight.

This newly arrived religious bandit force had only been in the battle for a day when the government troops were forced to retreat a full two miles before they could regain their footing.

Zhang Bilu couldn't help but sigh that there were far too many God's Society leaders who were knowledgeable about and skilled in warfare.

In the west, south, and east, none of the cult leaders are pushovers.

"The new bandit leader's surname is Shi, he must be Shi Dakai, the former leader of the Qishixu gang in Guixian County!" Li Dianyuan, the deputy commander of Xunzhou, raised his binoculars and saw the character "Shi" clearly visible on the bandit's military banner, and then made his guess.

"Shi Dakai and Peng Gang, the leader of the cult, were classmates and had a close relationship. Shi Dakai must have been Peng Gang's confidant."

Although Lin Zexu did not believe that the wealthy households of Jintian Village, Wei Zheng, and Peng Gang, a student from Guixian County, were the leaders of the God Society, he believed that the leaders of the sect were someone else.

However, Li Mengqun's analysis revealed that the God Society bandits mainly consisted of two groups: one group led by Wei Zheng from Jintian Village, who were from Guiping County, and the other group led by Peng Gang from Qingfeng Village, who were from Guixian County.

This statement was accepted by most Qing army officers, including Li Dianyuan, the deputy commander of Xunzhou.

“With Peng Gang’s trusted men all so brave and skilled in battle, it’s no wonder that General Xiang has suffered repeated defeats at Peng Gang’s hands,” Zhang Bilu sighed. “It’s just a pity that I haven’t had the chance to fight him yet.”

In fact, Zhang Bilu need not feel regretful about not being able to fight against Peng Gang's left wing.

The Left Army and the Rear Army left behind four battalions, seven provisional battalions, and eight provisional battalions in Wuxuan City to handle the aftermath.

The remaining troops marched by both land and water towards Yaoquchong, where the main Qing army under Zhang Bilu was stationed. Along the way, they swiftly eliminated more than a dozen small outposts that Zhang Bilu had set up in the Longshan area to guard the area.

They achieved the victory of killing or capturing 200 Qing soldiers.

Half of them were local militia recruited by Zhang Bilu in Guixian County, and the other half were former Guizhou Army troops and Sichuan Army troops that Zhang Bilu brought from his hometown in Sichuan.

When Zhang Bilu learned from the scouts that a large number of rebel troops were heading towards Yaoquchong from the direction of Wuxuan.

Even Zhang Bilu, a veteran general of the Green Standard Army who had fought in the southwest for many years during the Jiaqing and Daoguang reigns, couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.

At this moment, Zhang Bilu finally understood why Shi Dakai, Qin Richang, Luo Dagang, and others had recently launched unusual attacks on his troops, entangled with the Qing soldiers and local militia in the area south of Qianjiang.

It turns out they were buying time for the rebel army in the Wuxuan direction, intending to encircle and annihilate 5,000 Green Standard Army militia in the south bank of Qianjiang!
Zhang Bilu secretly cursed Xiang Rong and Zhou Tianjue's ancestors for eighteen generations.

The God Society rebels had only been in rebellion for less than ten months when they dared to surround and annihilate more than 5,000 government troops.

Just how fat did Xiang Rong and Zhou Tianjue feed the short-haired cult bandits?
"Break camp and return to Guiping City immediately after nightfall!"

Zhang Bilu hastily ordered his troops to return to Guiping under the cover of night.

Now that things have come to this, Lin Zexu's plan to trap and kill the God Society bandits in Zijing Mountain and level the mountain has failed.

Zhang Bilu no longer hoped to continue trapping the God Society bandits; he only wanted to preserve his troops.

The Sichuanese and Guizhou soldiers in his ranks had come to Guangxi to make a name for themselves and their families, not to die there.

"The Qing demons are about to break camp and flee eastward!"

That evening, Shi Xiangzhen, who was in charge of monitoring the movements of the Qing army, quickly noticed their movements and reported them to Shi Dakai.

Guiping City is located east of Yaoquchong.

The Qing army broke camp and fled eastward, naturally intending to escape back to Guiping.

"We can't let the Qing demon escape! Otherwise, Military Advisor Peng's plans will all be in vain!" Shi Dakai quickly made the deployment.

"Xiangzhen, Zhenlun, you two take 1,500 regular troops and make sure to block the Qing demons' escape route eastward."

After making the arrangements, Shi Dakai borrowed one hundred veteran soldiers from Qin Richang who had long fought in the area south of the Qianjiang River and were familiar with the surrounding mountain terrain as guides.

Shi Xiangzhen and Shi Zhenlun accepted the order and withdrew, leading their troops to intercept the Qing army that attempted to flee east to Guiping Prefecture.

"Zhang Bilu's Qing forces are easy to block, but what if the Qing forces in Guiping send troops to support Zhang Bilu's forces?" Qin Richang said worriedly.

His Central Army and Luo Dagang's two boat battalions had been fighting Zhang Bilu's 5,000 Qing troops for months and were already exhausted.

The interception of Zhang Bilu's eastward escape relied entirely on the fresh troops brought by Shi Dakai.

The half-army and one half-army brought by Shi Dakai were composed of Shi family members and villagers from that village, who were experienced in battle and brave in fighting.

It shouldn't be a problem to stop Zhang Bilu's five thousand Qing troops.

Qin Richang was worried about the Qing army reinforcements coming from the direction of Guiping City.

Lin Zexu was not Li Dianyuan. It is said that Lin Zexu and Zhang Bilu had a good relationship; Lin Zexu would certainly send reinforcements to help Zhang Bilu.

It can't be like when Li Dianyuan rescued Min Zhengwen, just for show.

"We will meet force with force and water with earth. If the Qing forces in Guiping City advance westward to aid Zhang Bilu, I will personally lead the troops to fight them!" Shi Dakai said resolutely.

"No matter what, we must hold out until the Left Army and the Rear Army reach Yaoquchong!"

Shi Dakai had a keen military sense.

He knew exactly what it would mean for the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom if, after defeating the Qing army on the western front, they could press their advantage and defeat Zhang Bilu's Qing army on the south bank of the Qian River.

If Zhang Jun were allowed to escape and return to his residence, the Qing army would still be able to regroup and contain the Taiping army in a relatively short period of time.

This battle is not just about success or failure; it concerns the very lifeline of the entire operation.

Even if the central army is decimated in this battle, Shi Dakai will grit his teeth and hold on until the main forces of the left and rear armies arrive.

The vanguard of the Qing army emerged from the mountain pass near Yaoquchong, armed with guns and muskets, with swords and shields in formation, and banners fluttering in the wind.

As a battle-hardened elite force from the southwest, Zhang Bilu's Qing army maintained a relatively disciplined military appearance even after four or five months of fierce fighting.

This is why Lin Zexu, even if he had to abandon the strategic plan of trapping the religious rebels on three sides, still wanted to preserve Zhang Bilu's Qing army.

Zhang Bilu personally led his personal guards of 500 battalions as the vanguard. He rode his horse to a high slope and, by the moonlight, looked into the distance. In the dim light, he could see that the valley was covered with dense forests and heavy mist.

He spent many years suppressing bandits and local chieftains in the southwestern mountains and was well-versed in mountain warfare.

The God Society bandits had guns and cannons, and the mountains and valleys near Yaoquchong were steep and narrow, making it easy for them to be ambushed and intercepted by the bandits.

Zhang Bilu was worried that the God Society bandits might ambush and intercept the government troops ahead, so he summoned his staff and gave them instructions in a low voice.

"The mountain wind is still, and the birds do not fly. This place is densely wooded and overgrown with grass, with rocky cliffs and ravines along the roadside, making it an excellent ambush site."

The entire army marched slowly, spreading out in a dispersed formation, with artillery in the center, shield bearers on the flanks, and musketeers guarding both sides. Three hundred men were sent ahead to scout two li ahead, with sentries every ten paces, and no slackening of vigilance was to be observed.

Following Li Dianyuan, he said with surprise and doubt, "General Zhang is right... but if the cultists did not set up an ambush, wouldn't that be a waste of time?"

With Wuxuan lost, the short-haired cult bandits crossed the river and advanced eastward, attempting to launch a pincer attack on them from both sides, together with the cult bandits led by Shi Dakai and others.

Li Dianyuan didn't want to stay in Yaoquchong for even a moment longer; he wished he could grow wings and fly back to Guiping Prefecture immediately.

Zhang Bilu said solemnly, "The cultists are cunning and adept at taking advantage of the terrain. Qin Richang, Luo Dagang, and Shi Dakai are as swift as water in their military maneuvers, and they will certainly not let us return to Guiping so easily."

Zhang Bilu was willing to sacrifice some marching speed to ensure the army remained in good order.

This was so that they would have the ability to defend and counterattack if they encountered an ambush set by the Taiping Army, thus preserving their own safety.

Zhang Bilu's three hundred vanguard soldiers marched along the mountain path. They had only been in the valley for half an incense stick's time when a startled cry suddenly arose from ahead!

boom--!
Ahead, thunderous cannon fire shook the valley, followed by the sound of drums and horns in the forest, and hundreds of muskets fired bullets that rained down like drops of water.

The scouts quickly reported that over a thousand cult members had ambushed them on their way back east.

"As expected, there was an ambush!" Zhang Bilu, who was prepared, showed no fear. He drew his long sword and shouted sharply, "Form a long snake formation! Rear guards, move forward! Artillery, move forward to provide cover! Do not retreat even a step!"

With a large army unable to deploy in the valley, Zhang Bilu's few options were to form a long, serpentine formation along the narrow mountain valleys for self-preservation, advancing while fighting.

Zhang Bilu's three hundred vanguard soldiers quickly rode back to their positions, avoiding any engagement with the Taiping army that had ambushed them.

Although more than a dozen personal guards were lost in the process, most of the vanguard guards were able to survive and rejoin the battle.

Shi Xiangzhen took the lead and personally led four hundred of his Shi family soldiers in an attempt to cut off the head of the Qing army's long snake formation.

Unfortunately, the snakehead was personally overseen by Zhang Bilu.

Zhang Bilu calmly and collectedly directed the Guizhou army's arquebusiers to fire volleys of gunfire to counter the enemy.

After fighting the Qing army for more than nine months, Shi Xiangzhen had become a seasoned veteran on the battlefield.

He could roughly judge the quality of the Qing army just by listening to whether their volleys were well-organized.

Seeing that the vanguard Qing troops remained calm in the face of danger and showed no signs of collapsing, and that their volleys were fired in a relatively orderly manner.

Based on this, Shi Xiangzhen judged that the Qing troops in front of him were elite Qing troops, and that he might not be able to break through them by force. He quickly gathered his troops and stopped charging.

On both sides of the mountain road, the Taiping Army ambushers under Shi Zhenlun's command surged towards the Qing army from all sides like a tide, their battle cries shaking the heavens.

They once defeated part of the local militia and the Xunzhou Left Battalion.

However, Zhang Bilu reacted quickly and urgently mobilized the Sichuan army to stop the decline.

Unable to expand his gains, Shi Zhenlun had no choice but to lead his troops to join forces with Shi Xiangzhen and continue to block the Qing army's escape route to the east.

Seeing that Shi Xiangzhen and Shi Zhenlun had failed to defeat Zhang Bilu's Qing army, they drove the Qing army back to Yaoquchong.

Shi Dakai and Luo Dagang then led the reserve force to the front line to cut off the Qing army's escape route to the east.

If Zhang Bilu's soldiers were all elite Sichuan and Guizhou troops brought from his hometown.

Zhang Bilu was naturally not afraid of Shi Dakai and others' obstruction, and he was determined to break through the blockade of the Shi family army.

Unfortunately, only slightly more than half of Zhang Bilu's troops were former elite Sichuan and Guizhou soldiers.

The other half consisted of the Xunzhou Xiezuo Camp and local militia recruited by the local government.

After this ambush, the Xunzhou Left Battalion and more than 2,000 local militia were already in a state of panic and fear, and were no longer able to fight.

Shi Dakai has led his reserve troops to the battlefield, and the mountain valleys where the Qing army is currently located are not conducive to defense.

Being trapped in the valley for too long is not a good strategy.

"The enemy soldiers are few in number and fear that our weapons are superior, so they are trying to ambush us!"

Zhang Bilu gritted his teeth and roared, boosting the morale of his troops. He spurred his horse and tightened the reins, pointing towards a bare hilltop to the left.

"Seize the mountain and establish a camp! Vanguard, follow me and seize the high ground!"

As he spoke, Zhang Bilu drew his sword, spurred his horse, and led two hundred personal guards to follow closely behind, observing the situation on the hilltop ahead.

The hilltop was sparsely covered with miscellaneous trees and jagged rocks. The enemy had not yet set up defenses, and only a few cult scouts were active.

Zhang Bilu dismounted and personally charged forward, seizing the hilltop. His shouts were like a tiger's roar: "Those who stand still shall die! Those who wish to live, follow me and fight your way up the mountain!"

Upon hearing the order, the Qing soldiers' morale improved slightly, and they staggered after Zhang Bilu as they rushed towards the hilltop.

Enemy troops continued to block their path, and Zhang Bilu personally covered their retreat, wielding his sword to charge and kill the Taiping soldiers who were blocking his way. Despite his advanced age, he killed four or five Taiping soldiers in succession.

During the battle, two of Zhang Bilu's personal guards were shot and fell to the ground, their blood staining the rock face, but the mountaintop was already in sight.

Upon reaching the summit, Zhang Bilu stood atop a giant rock and looked back. He saw flames soaring into the sky and billowing smoke rising from the foot of the mountain. Below, the Taiping army was forming ranks, with rows of swords and shields and a forest of spears.

"Cut down trees, erect palisades, and bury cannons! Form a circular camp, with archers in the innermost position and pikemen in the front! Musketeers should be positioned behind the pikemen."

Zhang Bilu made a decisive decision, ordering the local militia to dig trenches and form a wall with artillery and musketeers in a circle.

As the Qing army's drums on the hilltop grew louder and louder, the various Qing troops gradually gathered on the hilltop and restored order.

Zhang Bilu, fully armored, stood in the center of the hilltop, methodically setting up the defensive line, waiting for dawn before continuing his eastward advance back to Guiping Prefecture.

Soon, the local militiamen who had dug trenches and set up camp were pleasantly surprised to find that there were already trenches and densely packed tombs on the mountain.

Upon seeing the still clearly legible inscription on the tombstone, Li Dianyuan shuddered and suddenly realized something.

No wonder this is the only exposed hill in the vicinity, with ready-made trenches and so many tombs.

This is the burial place of former Guangxi Governor Min Zhengwen and Liu Yongqing, the Assistant Commander of Liuzhou, several months ago!
Li Dianyuan didn't know what magic this mountain possessed that caused both the previous and current Guangxi governors to halt their troops there.

Li Dianyuan felt that this place was very unlucky, so he hurriedly informed Zhang Bilu about the situation.

He didn't want Zhang Bilu to repeat Min Zhengwen's mistakes, and he certainly didn't want to become Zhang Bilu's Liu Yongqing.

(End of this chapter)