1848 Great Qing Charcoal Burners

Chapter 367 The Ironclad Xiangyang, the Paper-thin Fancheng
"With the fall of Anlu Prefecture, the gates of Xiangyang are wide open!" Upon hearing this news, Bao Qibao broke out in a cold sweat, his face filled with panic.

"What Jiang Minqiao said back then has come true! Peng Ni... Peng Ni's target is indeed my Xiangfan!"

At the beginning of the year, high-ranking military and political officials in Hunan, including Jiang Zhongyuan, Luo Bingzhang, and Zhang Liangji, wrote to remind them that the Mao Zedong had been recruiting laborers in Huangzhou Prefecture at the beginning of the year, which was obviously in preparation for the upcoming war.

However, Bao Qibao did not take the matter too seriously at the time.

It was believed that since the short-haired Maoist forces were recruiting laborers in Huangzhou Prefecture, they were planning to wage war against the more distant downstream regions of Anhui and Jiangxi.

Unexpectedly, the short-haired leader bypassed the nearby city and attacked Xiangfan instead.

Bao Qibao now regrets it, but he doesn't regret not listening to the advice of Jiang Zhongyuan, Luo Bingzhang and others earlier.

Because even if Bao Qibao listened, there was nothing he could do. Given the current financial situation in Hubei, where income was insufficient to cover expenditures, supporting several thousand battalions was already the limit, and many Hubei soldiers were afraid of Mao Zedong.

Even with prior precautions, they couldn't stop the attack of tens of thousands of short-haired soldiers.

What Bao Qibao regrets is that he didn't make arrangements and schemes in advance to be transferred away from Hubei, this troublesome place, earlier. Even if it was a bit of a hardship, being transferred to Jiangnan to deal with the Taiping rebels would have been better than sticking his neck out in Xiangyang City, waiting for the Taiping rebels to turn the tables and cut him down.

Luo Raodian's face turned ashen; he understood this better than Bao Qibao, a mere brute.

Xiangfan was a strategic location fought over by military strategists because it controlled the Han River and connected the north and south.

If Xiangyang and Fancheng fall, the short-haired rebels can use the Han River to cut off Hubei. Their military might can reach Nanyang in the north, threatening the heart of the Central Plains and shaking the capital region; they can go upstream in the west to spy on southern Shaanxi and eastern Sichuan; and the south and east are already under their control.

Thinking of this, he felt a chill creeping up his spine, and even in the sweltering heat of summer, he shivered.

Luo Raodian forced himself to remain calm and said in a deep voice, "General Bao, things have come to this point, it's too late to say anything now! The most urgent thing is to immediately discuss with the Governor-General Chongfu and submit a memorial to the Emperor requesting reinforcements. Xiangfan is a high-lying city with deep moats, and we still have tens of thousands of soldiers at our disposal. If we hold our ground and do not venture out, we may still be able to fight the enemy!"

Xiangyang is indeed a city with high walls and deep moats. Compared to ordinary cities, Fancheng can also be considered a city with high walls and deep moats.

However, the claim that Xiangfan had tens of thousands of soldiers was purely a self-deceptive statement made by Luo Raodian to bolster his courage.

Even if Luo Raodian and Bao Qibao were to transfer all the Green Standard Army militias around Xiangfan to Xiangfan, the two cities still wouldn't be able to muster enough soldiers to number over ten thousand.

If you pull together the local militia, you can gather about ten thousand men to defend the city, but a hastily assembled militia is not capable of fighting a tough battle.

Not all local militia are as brave and obedient as the militia of Changsha.

Of course, the Hubei Green Standard Army militia was not really capable of fighting tough battles, but they were still better than the militia who had not received much military training.

Luo Raodian's idea was to use the pretext that Duanmao's northward expedition to Xiangfan was to flee to the capital, and he persuaded Chonglun of Hubei to submit a memorial together, hoping that Shaanxi, Henan and other places in the north could send some troops to aid Xiangfan.

After all, the short-haired Maoist forces were coming on strong, and it was uncertain whether they would only attack Xiangfan or continue north after taking Xiangfan.

Bao Qibao couldn't help but compare the defense of Xiangfan this time to the defense of Changsha the year before last, and he also hoped that Xiangfan could be defended just like Changsha the year before last.

After Zhu Xikun surrendered to the Qing, the Qing court confirmed that the leader of the rebels who was killed at Miaogaofeng, south of Changsha, two years ago was the self-proclaimed Western King Xiao Chaogui.

Although the credit for killing Xiao Chaogui was attributed to Bao Qibao and Jiang Zhongyuan, Bao Qibao would often use this as a bragging point, boasting everywhere that he had killed the leader of the Taiping Rebellion.

But he knew in his heart that the greatest credit for killing Xiao Chaogui in Changsha belonged to Jiang Zhongyuan, and he, Bao Qibao, was just basking in the glory.

The situation in Xiangfan was much worse than in Changsha. When the rebels first attacked Changsha, they had no more than 3,000 soldiers. Moreover, after the rebels' failure to attack Changsha, the morale of the soldiers and civilians in Changsha was high. The morale of the army and the people was high, and the gentry in Changsha were much more united than those in Xiangfan. Many gentry even participated in the defense of the city.

Furthermore, the rebels didn't have many heavy artillery pieces when they attacked Changsha, and the Changsha defenders' heavy artillery had an overwhelming advantage over the rebels.

Bao Qibao and Jiang Zhongyuan corresponded. Jiang Zhongyuan once told Bao Qibao in a letter that when the short-haired rebels launched their western expedition last year, their firepower was already more formidable than that of the government troops. They even used foreign cannons that were incredibly accurate, hitting almost exactly where they were pointed.

It seems that the short-haired people have no shortage of heavy weapons for sieges.

Seeing that Bao Qibao was in a daze, Luo Raodian, without saying a word, directly pulled Bao Qibao to the temporary office of Chonglun, the governor of Hubei.

However, when they arrived at the Hubei governor's office, they found a scene of chaos and panic.

Inside the governor's yamen, Chonglun's servants were in a panic, running around with packages of all sizes, while several of his advisors, pale as ghosts, whispered among themselves in the corridor.

"Where is the Chongfu Terrace?" Luo Raodian's heart sank upon seeing this, and he grabbed a servant who looked like the manager and asked sternly.

The servant was so frightened that he knelt down with a thud and stammered, "Reporting to Lord Luo, General Bao... Governor... he... he left last night!"

“Gone?!” Bao Qibao’s eyes widened, and he grabbed the servant by the collar, still clinging to a last glimmer of hope.

"Where did you go? Did you go to Fancheng to inspect the defenses?"

"No...no..." The servant, whose collar was being grabbed by Bao Qibao, was almost crying.

"Yes...yes, they took a dozen or so Goshha and headed north! They said...they said they went to...to Henan to urge for reinforcements..."

"Bullshit!" His last vestiges of hope shattered, Bao Qibao roared in fury, shoving the servant to the ground. "You want to sneak out of the city tonight to call for reinforcements? Without even a word?!"

Although Bao Qibao looks like he's not very smart or quick-witted, that's just an appearance; Bao Qibao is not stupid.

Needless to say, that bastard Chonglun has definitely run away.

Luo Raodian felt an inexplicable karmic fire surge from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. He pushed aside the obstructing Goshha and barged straight into Chonglun's inner quarters.

The room was in complete disarray, with chests and trunks wide open. All valuables had been looted, leaving only heavy furniture and scattered documents.

Chonglun's several concubines, who were usually pampered and delicate, were now gathered in a side room, weeping bitterly with tears streaming down their faces.

This scene completely confirmed Luo Raodian's worst suspicions: Chonglun, the Manchu Plain Yellow Banner Governor who was usually dignified and always talked about loyalty to the emperor and the country, had abandoned the city and fled before the enemy's troops had even reached the walls of Xiangyang. He had disappeared without a trace, not even taking his family and concubines with him!

"You bastard! You shameless scoundrel!"

Luo Raodian, who always valued official etiquette and cultivated his manners, could no longer contain his raging anger. He trembled with rage and pointed in the direction Chonglun had gone to the north, cursing loudly!

"You eat the emperor's food, and you bear the emperor's worries! Chonglun! As a high-ranking official in charge of Hubei Province, in this time of crisis, instead of thinking of serving the court and protecting the people, you dare to be cowardly and abandon the city to flee! Do you deserve this official robe? Do you deserve the emperor's trust? Do you deserve the people of Hubei?! You are a parasite of the nation! A disgrace to the Qing Dynasty!"

He cursed so fiercely that he almost vomited out his heart and lungs.

Bao Qibao, standing to the side, also had a livid face and gritted his teeth.

If the commander-in-chief flees first, how can we fight this battle? The morale of the troops will suffer a devastating blow!
However, Bao Qibao and Luo Raodian were angry about different things.

What's infuriating is that Chonglun had absolutely no sense of shame or responsibility; the short-haired rebels ran away before they even reached Xiangfan.

Bao Qibao was angry because Chonglun was a jerk. After all, they had been drinking buddies for over a year. If he was going to run away, he should have taken him with him.

The imperial court was much more lenient towards Manchus than towards Han Chinese when it came to officers and generals who deserted their posts.

Zhang Guoliang deserted during the Battle of Yuezhou, but he's still alive and kicking and doing very well in Anhui. That's because he ran away with He Chun. If he had run away alone, he would have been beheaded long ago.

Luo Raodian cursed for a while, and the anger that had been building up in his chest was somewhat released, but what followed was a deeper sense of powerlessness and despair.

He slumped into a grand chair, looking as if he had aged ten years in an instant, and stared at the gray sky over Xiangyang City outside the window, remaining silent for a long time.

No matter how incompetent and despicable Chonglun was, he was still the nominal supreme commander of the remnants of Hubei. If Chonglun fled, the morale of the Xiangfan garrison would inevitably collapse.

Chonglun has fled, but Xiangfan still needs to find a way to defend it.

After regaining his composure, Luo Raodian, together with Bao Qibao, arranged the defenses of Xiangfan.

Luo Raodian was in charge of defending Xiangyang, while Bao Qibao was in charge of defending Fancheng, north of Xiangyang.

In just two days, the three paddlewheel warships of the Northern Palace, belching black smoke, sailed arrogantly on the Han River between Xiangyang and Fancheng, blocking the river and severing the connection between Xiangyang and Fancheng.

The soldiers and civilians in Xiangfan had never seen such a frightening ship before, both in appearance and in sound, and were terrified.

An elderly gatekeeper on the Zhenhua Gate tower of Xiangyang's outer city saw a paddlewheel warship approaching the gate with an overwhelming sense of oppression. He was so frightened that he died of palpitations on the spot.

The advance naval force that arrived in Xiangfan first blocked the Han River, cutting off the connection between Xiangyang and Fancheng. After that, they only conducted reconnaissance of Xiangyang and Fancheng and did not attack the cities.

Compared to the vanguard of the navy, the main force of the land forces arrived near Xiangfan a full ten days later and set up camp there.

After Lu Qin and Xie Bin arrived in Xiangfan, Chen Miao reported to them on the situation in Xiangyang and Fancheng.

Compared to Fancheng, Xiangyang was more heavily fortified.

The city walls of Xiangyang are roughly square, with an outer city and walls on all four sides. The moat is extremely wide, with some sections reaching about twenty zhang (approximately 33 meters) in width.

In fact, compared to Xiangyang during the Southern Song Dynasty, the present-day Xiangyang is much more favorable to the attacking side.

During the Southern Song Dynasty, Xiangyang was bordered by the Han River to the north and Yahu Lake and Huihu Lake to the east and west, almost surrounded by water on all sides. While protecting Xiangyang, Yahu Lake and Huihu Lake also served as training bases for the Song army's navy.

Such impregnable fortresses were a nightmare for the northern armies, who were not adept at naval warfare, in the era of cold weapons.

In the third year of the Xianchun reign of the Song Dynasty, the Mongol army marched south and took six years to capture Xiangyang. Afterwards, the Yuan army was able to advance unimpeded, and the Song Dynasty soon collapsed. This demonstrates the importance of Xiangyang to the southern regimes.

The city of Xiangyang that lay before Lu Qin, Xie Bin, and the others was larger than the city of Xiangyang during the Southern Song Dynasty. It was expanded at the end of the Yuan Dynasty and rebuilt by Deng Yu in the early Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty. The outer city in the northeast of Xiangyang was expanded in the early Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty.

Although Yahu Lake and Huihu Lake have been largely filled in over the centuries due to land reclamation, the wide and deep moat of Xiangyang City has been preserved.

The moat of Xiangyang, which was at least twenty zhang wide, was the most outrageous artificial moat that Lu Qin, Xie Bin and others had ever seen.

There were even Qing Dynasty naval camps along the moat, and Qing naval ships were moored directly on the moat, suggesting that the moat of Xiangyang was normally navigable by boat. It was truly a case of "Xiangyang as solid as iron, Fancheng as fragile as paper."

Compared to Xiangyang, the city walls of Fancheng to the north of Xiangyang are much less impressive.

Fancheng is roughly long and narrow. The side facing the Han River has no city wall for protection, only a few hastily dug moats and hastily rammed earth walls that are chest-high.

Moreover, these trenches and earthen walls, perhaps due to time constraints or other reasons, were not connected in a straight line, appearing discontinuous, haphazard, and unsystematic.

Looking out from the command deck of the Baling at the chaotic defense line along the river in Fancheng, Lu Qin, Xie Bin, Zhang Ze, and others couldn't help but lament that in such a large province as Hubei, the Qing court couldn't even find a single person knowledgeable in military affairs. No wonder that last year, when the main force of the Northern Army marched west, Luo Raodian and Bao Qibao launched a surprise attack on Hanyang, but were utterly defeated at Yukou by the detachment led by Zuo Zongtang and Peng Yong.

Although Fancheng had the Fengjiang Fort to block the Han River, there was even a Qing Dynasty naval camp near the fort.

However, the old cannons at the Qing army forts in Fancheng did not pose a significant threat to the Northern Navy, while the cannons of the paddlewheel warships could suppress the Qing army forts in Fancheng.

As for the Qing navy in Fancheng, the vanguard of the Northern Palace navy has not dared to engage in battle in the ten days since it arrived in the waters near Xiangfan, let alone pose a threat to the Northern Palace army.

After some discussion, Lu Qin, Xie Bin, Chen Miao, Zhang Ze, Zhang Handai, Zhuo Huayu, and other staff officers decided to attack Fancheng first, where the defenses were weaker and the city walls were relatively more fragile.

After capturing Fancheng, establish a foothold there and then attack Xiangyang.

Fancheng has existing infrastructure such as docks and warehouses along the river. Taking Fancheng would make loading, unloading and storing supplies more convenient.

Everyone agreed to attack Fancheng first, and they quickly reached a consensus to take advantage of the navy's superiority and land on the Han River side of Fancheng.

The Han River sobbed, carrying silt and the lingering scent of war from upstream, crashing against the dilapidated banks of Fancheng.

Fancheng, which faces Xiangyang across the river, is now completely exposed to the onslaught of the Northern Palace army.

Lu Qin and Xie Bin's troops had already spread out their camps in the northeast of Fancheng, their banners covering the sun, stretching as far as the eye could see, which was quite frightening.

The three paddle steamers under Chen Miao's command that managed to barely sail upstream—the Baling, the Pingjiang, and the Linxiang—swam in the middle of the river like three ferocious water monsters, their dark cannons occasionally spitting out tongues of fire as they bombarded the outer fortifications on the riverside, clearing obstacles for the upcoming attack.

The three paddle steamers were accompanied by hundreds of colorful oared sailboats.

Some of the large ships loaded with cannons, along with three paddle steamers, fired their cannons at the outer fortifications on the riverside of Fancheng.

Although Luo Raodian was a traditional civil official, not a soldier.

However, Lu Qin, Xie Bin and others' actions clearly indicated that they wanted to attack Fancheng first, and Luo Raodian also realized that the short-haired army wanted to attack Fancheng first.

Xiangyang and Fancheng are inseparable; if one falls, the other will suffer.

Facing the bombardment of Fancheng by the Northern Navy's warships, Luo Raodian, who was standing on the Gongchen Gate tower of the northern wall of Xiangyang City and could see it clearly from across the river, did not sit idly by.

Luo Raodian ordered the Xiangyang naval force to launch an attack, harassing the short-haired navy and bombarding Fancheng.

Luo Raodian was well-versed in history and knew that the Song army's ability to hold Xiangyang for six years was largely due to the advantages of its navy.

However, Luo Raodian still overestimated his Xiangyang naval camp.

Even though Luo Raodian didn't have high hopes for the Xiangyang naval force, and didn't expect it to be able to confront the short-haired navy head-on, he only hoped that they could harass and annoy the short-haired navy, preventing them from bombarding Fancheng at will.

However, even with such low requirements, the Xiangyang Naval Camp could not meet them.

The short-haired Qing warships fired only a few shots at them, and the Qing soldiers and naval troops from Xiangyang who had launched the attack, whether Green Standard Army sailors or local militia, were immediately frightened and turned back to the Xiangyang naval camp. Even Luo Raodian himself personally came forward to supervise the battle, but to no avail.

Luo Raodian was so angered by the Xiangyang naval forces that he vomited blood.

Meanwhile, in Fancheng, across the Han River.

Hubei Governor Bao Qibao paced anxiously back and forth inside the governor's residence.

Every cannon shot that came from outside the window made his overweight body tremble involuntarily.

Faced with such a large-scale, conventional offensive and defensive battle involving both land and sea forces, especially since the enemy possessed steamships and powerful artillery that he had never encountered before, the military strategies and practical experience he had in his mind were no longer sufficient.

Dig trenches? Can trenches stop artillery shells?
A surprise attack outside the city? The enemy army is powerful and has fierce artillery; wouldn't that be like throwing an egg against a rock?

Hold your ground and wait for reinforcements? That scoundrel Chonglun has escaped, and Luo Raodian is barely able to protect himself in Xiangyang. Where would reinforcements come from?
Thoughts flashed through his mind, only to be ruthlessly shattered by reality.

Bao Qibao felt a splitting headache, a tightness in his chest, and an unprecedented sense of powerlessness gripping him.

Bao Qibao looked around and saw that his staff were all bowing their heads and remaining silent, while the generals' eyes were shifting uncertainly. He spat out a few curses, saying that all the money he had spent on them over the years had been wasted.

Human effort has exhausted all; we can only place our hopes on ghosts and gods!

This thought, like the last spark of a firefly in the darkness, suddenly ignited in Bao Qibao's mind.

He recalled that last year when he was defending Changsha, facing an attack from both the Taiping and Maoist forces, in a moment of desperation, he had bathed and changed his clothes, devoutly worshipped the City God of Changsha, and made a solemn promise. In the end, the Taiping rebels retreated. Bao Qibao was thus credited for defending the city.

"Yes! The City God! We can still rely on the City God!"

Bao Qibao grasped at this last straw, and his cloudy eyes regained their bright light.

"The City God of Fancheng will surely protect us and help us defeat the short-haired rebels!"

Just do it.

Bao Qibao immediately ordered that an incense table be set up in front of the City God Temple in Fancheng, and that sacrificial offerings of three kinds of animals be prepared. He himself even fasted and bathed, which was unusual for him, and changed into a relatively clean set of official robes before going to worship to show his piety.

During the worship ceremony, banners fluttered and soldiers lined up in front of the City God Temple.

Bao Qibao personally led a group of civil and military officials in the city, who were both amused and exasperated, to kneel solemnly before the incense table.

Incense smoke curled and candlelight flickered.

Holding incense sticks, Bao Qibao knelt and kowtowed three times and nine times before the clay sculpture of the City God in the City God Temple, his movements meticulous, even more respectful than when he met the Emperor.

He took a deep breath and began to loudly recite the eulogy that he had already asked his advisor to write. He cleared his throat and read aloud: "I humbly beseech the City God of Fancheng, who oversees this region and protects the people. Now, the rebellious bandit Peng Gang from western Guangdong has sent his treacherous army to invade my Fancheng. His troops are at the city gates, cannons are roaring, the people are terrified, and the soldiers are in grave danger..."

Bao Qibao first lamented the rampant banditry and the perilous situation within the city, his tone sorrowful, as if he were truly a loyal minister concerned for the country and its people.

The latter half of the article is often the most important part. Immediately afterwards, Bao Qibao changed the subject and began to make a wish, his voice becoming increasingly loud: "I, Bao Qibao, as the Governor of Hubei, have the responsibility to defend this land. I am willing to lead the soldiers and civilians of the entire city, relying on divine power, to jointly resist the evil rebels! I earnestly request the venerable gods to manifest their divine power, silently use their divine strategies, and assist my officers and soldiers to break through the enemy's advance and protect the city!"

He paused slightly, his Adam's apple bobbing involuntarily. After a pause, he continued, "If we are blessed by the gods and Fancheng is preserved, when the enemy troops retreat, I, Bao Qibao, will surely... I will surely give my all to rebuild the temple for the revered deity and recast the golden statue! May the revered deity have a solemn appearance, abundant incense offerings, be revered by all people, and be worshipped for generations to come!"

The moment the words "re-molded golden body" left his mouth, Bao Qibao felt a sudden chill in his heart.

To gild the statue... How familiar that promise sounds!

His thoughts involuntarily drifted back to Changsha two years ago.

At that time, facing the fierce offensive of the Taiping rebels, he also made almost the exact same vow in front of the City God statue in Changsha City God Temple: once the Taiping rebels retreat, he will definitely replace the statue of the revered god with a golden one!

Later, the Taiping rebels withdrew their troops due to a strategic adjustment, and the siege of Changsha was lifted. Bao Qibao was rewarded by Emperor Xianfeng for his meritorious service in defending the city, and was very honored.

However, he had long forgotten his promise to replace the statue of the City God with a golden one!

Occasionally, when I think of it, I just scoff at it, thinking it's just a rash statement made in a moment of panic. How can such things about ghosts and gods be taken seriously? That City God of Changsha probably still looks the same old clay statue!
At this moment, in front of the City God Temple in Fancheng, the old story repeats itself, and the promise is made again.

Bao Qibao was filled with anxiety: Last time he broke his promise to the City God of Changsha, and this time... this time, will the City God of Fancheng still believe him? Will he still bless him?

He seemed to sense that, from the depths of the sky, a pair of cold and mocking eyes were looking down from the direction of Changsha, piercing through time and space, landing on his back, making him feel as if he had thorns in his back.

But he couldn't show weakness! Especially in front of the entire army and the city's officials and civilians! Bao Qibao forcibly suppressed his unease, forced a devout, almost fanatical expression on his face, and continued to preside over the ceremony.

After the worship ceremony, Bao Qibao, following the old story of Changsha, ordered dozens of strong soldiers to carefully remove the heavy clay statue of the City God from its throne and place it on a specially made, red-decorated, eight-bearer sedan chair.

"Get up the sedan——!"

With a loud shout, gongs and drums resounded, and firecrackers crackled. Bao Qibao personally supported the sedan chair, walking at the very front of the procession, leading this strange parade slowly along the main street of Fancheng.

"The City God is on patrol! May he bless Fancheng!"

"General Bao, please pray to the City God for divine intervention; he will surely defeat the short-haired thugs!"

"Everyone, kneel down and pray! Beg the City God for blessings!"

Some soldiers and civilians who were forced to come and watch knelt down on both sides of the street under the coercion and intimidation of officials, numbly kowtowing and shouting slogans.

The clay statue of a god being carried through the streets still had a blurred face, appearing somewhat absurd and laughable amidst the booming cannons of Fancheng.

Bao Qibao walked at the front of the procession, listening to the scattered cheers behind him and the increasingly close cannon fire in the distance, feeling the cold sweat seeping from his palms as he gripped the sedan chair tightly, and feeling the guilt in his heart stemming from his previous broken promise.

He knew this was self-deception, but he had no other choice but to place this last bet on these ethereal spirits, hoping to maintain the already crumbling morale of his troops and hold onto a miracle to protect the precarious city of Fancheng.

As for the golden body... he dared not think any further, and could only silently repeat in his heart, "This time... if we can hold on this time, we will... we will..."

However, even he himself felt that promise was pale and powerless.

On the Han River south of Fancheng, the city was bombarded for a full day. More than 700 infantrymen of the Northern Palace Navy, who were in charge of the attack, boarded light boats and fast ships to rush ashore and launched an assault on Fancheng under the cover of various naval cannons.

(End of this chapter)