1848 Great Qing Charcoal Burners

Chapter 191 True Level
Unable to buy boats and rafts, Chen Ajiu could only purchase some planks, door panels, wooden planks, and bamboo to build his own raft for crossing the Li River.

At the same time, Chen Ajiu also brought several locals to Peng Gang for questioning.

Having learned from Chen Ajiu that a large number of Qing troops had passed through the Li River section near Daxu the previous night, Peng Gang confirmed with the local ferrymen and fishermen who had been brought before him: "Qing troops passed through the Li River last night?"

"Two or three hours ago, several high-ranking officials passed through this area, and the raft I use for ferrying people was forcibly requisitioned by those officials," a ferryman replied resentfully.

"How many of these government troops are there? What kind of accent do they have? Can you see and hear them clearly?" Peng Gang continued to ask.

"It was too dark, and the men passing by were in a hurry and looked fierce, so I didn't dare to look too closely or ask too many questions. I did recognize their accents, though; they were from the Yongzhou area of ​​Hunan." The one who answered was still the slightly bolder ferryman.

Daxu is a commercial market and an important node on the Lijiang River waterway, with many merchants passing through it every day.

After so many years of ferrying, the ferrymen can tell the accents from different places.

He was certain that the Green Standard Army officers who had passed through here last night, without explanation or paying him a single penny, and who had forcibly requisitioned his boat and raft, were from southern Hunan.

We were still a step too slow. That old bastard Xiang Rong, he's a real runner.

Fortunately, Xiang Rong's troops did not completely escape.

Peng Gang's gaze swept over the Chaozhou and Fujianese soldiers on the Li River, and then over the Daxu market on the opposite bank where the thin mist was gradually dissipating. He asked, "Is it possible to wade across the Li River near Daxu?"

Although the Chaozhou and Fujianese soldiers on the Li River were not afraid of the Zuo army, they continued to row northward.

However, they still subconsciously distanced themselves from the left wing on the south bank and drove along the north bank.

At a distance of over a hundred meters, it would be difficult for muskets to hit them.

To increase the marching speed, Peng Gang only brought one day's worth of rations.

Whether considering the need to annihilate the Qing army's manpower to the greatest extent possible or for resupply, it was necessary to cross the Li River and capture the large market town on the north bank of the Li River.

Peng Gang noticed that the poles used by the Qing soldiers on the boats and rafts did not penetrate deep into the water, and it was currently the dry season for the Li River.

Based on this, he concluded that the Li River was not deep, and it might be possible to wade across it.

"The Li River should not be crossed lightly; even shallow shoals can hide dangers," the ferryman said, shaking his head.

“The Li River has a complex bottom, with not only deep pits of silt and sand, underground currents, but also many sections of shoal water. If you are not familiar with the river conditions and try to cross it rashly, you may get injured or even drown.”

Knife-slab water refers to the sharp limestone reefs at the bottom of the river, which can easily cut the soles of the feet when wading through, hence the name knife-slab water.

“It will take at least an hour for my men to finish building the rafts. In that time, I’m afraid many of the Qing soldiers’ local militia will escape. Besides, the rafts can’t carry too many people at once. It would be better to cross the river directly.”

Chen Ajiu glanced at the Qing soldiers and local militias who were constantly fleeing north on the Li River, and whispered in Peng Gang's ear.

"How about I lead two companies of sailors to swim across the river? The water is less than three feet deep, it won't be a problem for the brothers in the boat battalion."

Just then, Liang Zhen, the company commander of the mountain-splitting artillery company, ran up to Peng Gang, panting, and reported to him.

Upon seeing Liang Zhen, Peng Gang's eyes lit up, and he asked Liang Zhen, "Has the mountain-splitting artillery company arrived?"

With the mountain-splitting cannon blocking the Li River, Peng Gang was able to cross the river and attack Daxu with ease.

“No, most of the artillery crews of the mountain-splitting artillery company are still following the Provisional 7th Battalion. Only four artillery crews can keep up with me. These four artillery crews are carrying small mountain-splitting artillery weighing around 100 pounds, so they are moving faster than the other artillery crews,” Liang Zhen replied, shaking his head.

Four mountain-splitting cannons weighing around 100 pounds each—that's a bit lacking in firepower.

However, it was enough to intimidate and scare away the Qing army, letting them know that they had cannons.

Peng Gang pointed to the Qing army militia traveling along the north bank of the Li River and asked, "Can you hit those Qing army militia?"

"Yes!" Liang Zhen estimated the distance and said confidently.

Seeing Liang Zhen's confidence, Peng Gang ordered Liang Zhen to lead four artillery crews, who were still catching their breath, to set up mountain-splitting cannons on the south bank of the Li River, driving the Qing army's local militia down the Li River to cover the infantry's crossing.

Building rafts on the spot is indeed too slow. By the time the rafts are finished, who knows how many Qing troops will escape.

Moreover, the number of people that a raft can carry at one time is also very limited.

Speed ​​is of the essence in war, so Peng Gang decided not to build rafts, but to have local people familiar with the conditions of the Li River act as guides to lead the First and Fifth Battalions across the Li River.

Peng Gang paid each of the four ferrymen and fishermen who were willing to act as guides ten taels of silver as a deposit, and promised to pay one qian of silver as a reward for each person he brought across the river.

With the generous reward, the attitudes of the four ferrymen and fishermen completely changed. They stopped making excuses and became enthusiastic and proactive.

Even the ferryman who had previously warned that the Li River was dangerous and should not be crossed lightly stopped mentioning the dangers of the Li River.

He patted his chest and assured Peng Gang that he had been a ferryman on this river for more than 30 years and knew the Li River like the back of his hand. No one knew the Li River better than him.

He assured that he could bring the militia safely to the north bank.

The silence of the Li River was broken by four cannon shots.

Four cannonballs swept across the river, one of which struck a large bamboo raft carrying more than twenty brave men.

The shell grazed the thigh of a Chaozhou soldier, severing both legs before smashing a crack in the bamboo raft.

"Damn it! These cult bandits have cannons!"

"That was a perfect shot!"

"Abandon the raft and take the land route!"

"Get ashore! Get ashore! Get ashore now! The river is not safe!"

Faced with the sudden artillery barrage, the Qing soldiers and local militia on the Li River, who were traveling on boats and rafts, were no longer as calm and composed as before, and immediately became agitated.

When the Chaozhou and Fujian guerrillas were suddenly bombarded, their first thought was not to retaliate, but to change their approach and take a different route to continue their advance.

Seeing that the Qing soldiers and local militia on the Li River had been thrown into panic and disorder by the four mountain-splitting cannons, it was difficult to organize an effective force to stop them from crossing the river in a short time.

Led by their respective company commanders, the First and Fifth Battalions quickly waded across the river with the help of guides, preparing to seize the north bank and prevent the Qing army militia from escaping towards Guilin City.

The soldiers of the Fifth Battalion were good swimmers and did not need to carry guns. They waded and swam, and quickly left the First Battalion behind.

The first battalion was the musket battalion. The musket battalion needed to carry muskets, and to avoid the gunpowder and matchlock getting wet from the river water.

The soldiers of the musket battalion had no choice but to wrap ammunition pouches around their necks, hold their muskets high above their heads, and wade across the river, which was sometimes up to their hips, sometimes up to their bellies, and sometimes up to their waists, under the guidance of their guides.

They watched helplessly as more than a thousand Zuo Jun soldiers upstream waded across the river, getting closer and closer to the north bank.

The Qing army's local militia and militia were thrown into a panic.

More and more Qing soldiers abandoned their boats and rafts and fled ashore.

Only a few regimental leaders, regimental directors, and training commanders hastily organized their local militia to form ranks on the north bank and fire their guns at the Left Army soldiers crossing the Li River from a distance, attempting to intimidate them into retreating.

The local militia did not take good care of their muskets and neglected their maintenance.

Many of the muskets had just been taken off the wet rafts.

The Qing army's local militia had an exceptionally high rate of misfires with their muskets.

Of the more than two hundred muskets, including matchlock muskets and homemade muskets, that the Qing army had on the north bank of the Li River, only seventy or eighty of them were actually fired.

Although several soldiers of the Left Army were unfortunately shot during the crossing, the blood gushing from their wounds instantly stained the clear waters of the nearby Li River red.

The few casualties had little impact on the more than 1,500 soldiers of the Left Army who were crossing the Li River.

The Qing soldiers and local militia on the north bank barely managed to fire four volleys of gunfire, while the faster-moving soldiers from the Fifth Battalion, led by Chen Ajiu, had already taken up their swords and gone onto the shallows.

Chen Ajiu took the lead, leading about a hundred soldiers from the Fifth Battalion who had already landed, and charged at the Qing army's musketeers with their swords raised, attempting to break up the Qing army's formation of local militia musketeers.

The Qing army's musketeers were afraid of close combat, but they saw more and more soldiers from the Left Army's Fifth Battalion rushing towards them from the shore, getting closer and closer. The short-haired soldier at the forefront was only about twenty paces away from their formation.

The Qing arquebusiers' legs and hands trembled uncontrollably, like sieves. Before the soldiers of the five battalions could reach the front lines, the Qing militia leaders, captains, and commanders could no longer control the situation and stabilize their ranks.

Whether they were musketeers, spearmen, or shield bearers, they all rushed and scattered towards the large ruins behind them, fleeing in all directions.

Five or six hundred Qing soldiers and local militiamen on the shore were chased and killed by more than one hundred soldiers from the Fifth Battalion of the Left Army.

Peng Gang and others witnessed this scene firsthand on the south bank.

Peng Gang was used to it, after all, he had fought against the Qing army for more than a year and had seen even more outrageous Qing troops.

The fact that the Qing soldiers and local militia on the opposite bank were able to organize themselves into formation and fire several volleys of gunfire before engaging in battle and fleeing was already a remarkable feat.

Chen Shiqing and Qu Zhenzu, however, were secretly alarmed.

This was the first time they had ever seen more than a hundred people dare to chase and kill five or six hundred government troops.

Chen Ajiu pursued the Qing army all the way to Daxu. The soldiers of the five battalions chased and killed more than 40 or 50 Qing soldiers and local militiamen along the way. When they reached Daxu, the local militiamen retaliated with homemade cannons. Only then did Chen Ajiu reluctantly escort the dozen or so captured Qing soldiers to the riverbank to help the soldiers of the first battalion cross the river.

Before long, the soldiers of the first battalion waded across the Li River and established themselves on the north bank.

The First and Fifth Battalions completely controlled the north bank of the Li River.

The Qing army and local militia abandoned their boats and fled, leaving a large number of unattended boats and rafts floating on the Li River. The soldiers of the Fifth Battalion took over the boats and rafts abandoned by the Qing army and local militia, rowing and navigating between the north and south banks of the Li River to transport people and supplies across the river.

With boats and rafts available to ferry them across the river, more and more soldiers of the Left Army on the south bank of the Li River crossed the not-so-wide Li River in a short period of time.

After crossing the river, Peng Gang commanded the First and Fifth Battalions to attack the Qing army troops that had retreated to the Daxu area.

As the army of short-haired cultists pressed down on the market, more and more short-haired cultists arrived on the south bank of the Li River in succession, quickly taking boats and rafts across the river to the north bank, heading straight for the market.

The number of short-haired cult members has suddenly surged from a few thousand to two or three thousand, and the number continues to increase.

When the Qing soldiers and local militia in Daxu saw the large number of Zuo army soldiers coming towards Daxu, they had no will to resist.
From the moment the first soldier of the Left Army crossed the river and set foot on the north bank, the outcome of this battle was already decided.

These Qing soldiers and local militia were actually fleeing to Guilin, the provincial capital, not seeking to fight the Taiping Army.

Xiang Rong led his Chu army and Zhengan soldiers at breakneck speed, riding his horse like the wind towards Guilin City, leaving the Chaozhou and Fujian soldiers behind.

The Chaozhou and Fujianese militias in Daxu had long harbored resentment, believing that Xiang Rong did not treat them, these out-of-province militias, as his own.

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, and that the Great Ruins were a Shang Dynasty ruin with no city walls to defend, they realized that the situation was hopeless.

The Chaozhou and Fujianese soldiers inside the Great Ruins either fled or surrendered, handing over the Great Ruins.

In less than three hours, Zuo Jun captured Daxu, an important shipping node on the Li River, with minimal casualties.

"The Chu army's combat strength has declined too drastically."

After easily capturing Daxu and controlling the Lijiang River waterway, Lu Qin lamented that the Qing army was becoming increasingly vulnerable.

Lu Qin had clashed with the Chu army twice before; the Chu army was not so easy to defeat in the past.

“They are not Chu troops, but Chao and Min troops,” Peng Gang said as he walked toward the ruins that had changed hands.

The boats and rafts seized from the Qing army and local militia on the Li River were used to transport people and weapons. The horses had not yet been transported across the river, so Peng Gang could only walk on the muddy dirt road to enter the market.

The Chao and Min troops were placed under Xiang Rong's command. Although they were nominally part of the Chu army, they were not the same as the Chu army under Xiang Rong's command before.

“Even the Chaozhou and Fujian cavalry were formidable enemies of the main force in Guiping, having besieged the main force of the Tianjun army in the east for almost a year.” Lu Qin was still puzzled.

“Things are different now. In the past, the Chaozhou and Fujian militias relied on Ulantai’s artillery battalion for battle. The Qing army was numerous and powerful, with a full complement of guns and cannons, so they fought with the wind at their backs and had the upper hand,” Peng Gang said with a smile.

"Besides, it was Lin Zexu who led them in battle before. Can Xiang Rong be compared to Lin Zexu?"

During Lin Zexu's tenure in Guiping, the Qing army had a full complement of all military branches, a large number of soldiers and generals, and ample supplies of food and ammunition.

The numerical advantage and systematic combat raised the ceiling of these local militias, which in fact represented the true level of the Qing army's elite local militia training.

Lu Qin thought about it again and realized that this made sense, especially when their left army was fighting.

With the support of artillery units, they are more confident and more daring in battle.

The Chaozhou and Fujian militias may have found it too cumbersome to retreat to Guilin with cannons, or perhaps these militias simply didn't have cannons at all.

From the start of the battle until the capture of Daxu, Lu Qin never saw the Chao and Fujian troops fire a single shot.

Only the local militia stationed at the market fired a few homemade cannons.

After Zuo Jun occupied Daxu, the Qing army and local militia that had not yet managed to retreat to Guilin, the provincial capital, saw that Daxu had changed hands and dared not continue to retreat northward via the Lijiang River. They abandoned their boats and rafts, went ashore, and took the land route to bypass Daxu and head north.

In order to expand the results of the battle and eliminate as many Qing troops as possible, Peng Gang left only one battalion and the artillery company that had arrived at Daxu to guard Daxu and watch over the prisoners.

The remaining troops, carrying rations purchased from the Great Market, pursued and annihilated the Qing army that was fleeing by land.

When Peng Gang captured Daxu, Xiang Rong led more than two thousand Chu and Zhengan soldiers, along with a small number of Chao and Min soldiers who could keep up with him, to the Wenchang Gate of Guilin City and shouted to the city wall, demanding to enter the city.

The one guarding the Wenchang Gate is Xiang Rong's son, Xiang Jixiong.

When Xiang Jixiong saw his father return, he was overjoyed and immediately ordered the drawbridge to be lowered and the city gates to be opened to welcome Xiang Rong into the city.

“The short-haired cultists are the most cunning. Xiang Durong, shouldn’t we first make sure we’ve identified the visitor as General Xiang and ask the provincial governor for permission before opening the city gate?” Guilin’s assistant commander, who was guarding the Wenchang Gate, hesitated.

As the God Society bandits approached Guilin, the city's garrison was already on high alert, seeing threats everywhere.

The county seat of Luorong was lost because the east gate of Luorong County was tricked open by short-haired cult bandits who impersonated government troops.

Lao Chongguang, who was stationed in Guilin, had already issued an imperial edict, strictly ordering the Green Standard Army officers at all gates not to open the city gates lightly.

No matter which gate to open, one must ask for his permission before opening the city gate.

"Do you think I'm blind? That I could admit my own father's mistakes in broad daylight?!"

Xiang Jixiong glared at the oblivious gatekeeper and ordered the gate to be opened, welcoming Xiang Rong into Guilin City.

Helpless and under pressure from Xiang Jixiong's tyranny, the gatekeeper had no choice but to cautiously lower the drawbridge and open the Wenchang Gate.

Xiang Jixiong was the son of Xiang Rong and had a close relationship with the deputy general He Chun. Although Xiang Jixiong was only a nominal commander, he was a very influential figure in Guilin.

Fortunately, the visitor was indeed Xiang Rong.

Xiang Rong had experienced many things since entering Xunyang. He was pursued by the Taiping Army several times and was in danger. If he hadn't run fast, he would have almost lost his life.

Upon seeing Xiang Jixiong, Xiang Rong burst into tears.

Although he had been in a terrible state along the way and had long lost the demeanor that an admiral should have, at least he had survived.

The father and son, who hadn't seen each other for months, embraced and wept.

They learned that Xiang Rong had led his troops into Guilin City.

The Guangxi Provincial Governor, who was stationed in Guilin, was overjoyed. He left his office and personally went to the vicinity of Wenchang Gate in the south of the city to welcome Xiang Rong.

"With Xiang Rong here, Guilin City is safe!" Lao Chongguang said, his excitement overflowing, as he tightly gripped Xiang Rong's arm.

There are many soldiers in Guilin, but there is a lack of generals to command them. The arrival of Xiang Rong, a general from the southern frontier, can fill this gap.

"Lord Lao, you flatter me too much," Xiang Rong replied indifferently.

Xiang Rong missed a golden opportunity to encircle and annihilate the short-haired cult bandits, and had no choice but to abandon Pingle and Lipu, and rush north to Guilin City, ending up in such a sorry state.

All thanks to Lao Chongguang and Li Xingyuan.

Lao Chongguang's words were not so easily enough to dispel Xiang Rong's resentment.

(End of this chapter)