In January 1851, Yang Xiuqing sent troops to Shanren Village to invite Hong Xiuquan and Feng Yunshan back, and then launched an armed uprising in Jintian Village, establishing the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. At the beginning of the Jintian Uprising, including the family, the total number of the Taiping Army was 20,000, while the Qing army encircled and suppressed about 60,000, and the balance of forces was very large. Even so, in February of 2 years, the Taiping Army killed all the way from a small mountain village in Jintian to Nanjing, facing off the Qing Dynasty across the river.
With only 20,000 soldiers and horses, or carrying their families, why was the Taiping Army able to invade Nanjing? The reasonable explanation is that the Qing Dynasty was decaying and declining, and the Eight Banners and the Green Camp had long been vulnerable. The weak combat effectiveness of the Eight Banners and the Green Battalion, the contradictions between the generals, and the demolition of each other were important reasons for the Taiping Army's achievements. The Qing Dynasty was weak, and Yang Xiuqing saw the hope of victory, so he dared to send Lin Fengxiang to lead 20,000 soldiers and horses to the Northern Expedition and kill all the way to the city of Tianjin.
Relying solely on the Eight Banners and the Green Camp, the Qing Dynasty could not defeat the Taiping Army, and it was only a matter of time before the Xianfeng Emperor fled back to his hometown in the northeast. The Eight Banners and the Green Camp could not do so, and Xianfeng could only give it a go, encouraging local officials, landlords, gentry, merchants, and so on to set up "regimental training" armed forces to defend the townships and assist the Qing army in extinguishing the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Among them, the Xiang Army had the greatest influence and the strongest combat effectiveness, and was a fierce enemy of the Taiping Army.
In March 1853, Zeng Guofan was in his hometown to handle regimental training, and under various coincidences, Zeng Guofan became the nominal leader of the Xiang Army, with the largest number of soldiers and horses. Compared with the Eight Banners and Green Battalions, the Xiang Army is more powerful in combat, mainly because of the generous treatment, and the monthly salary of ordinary soldiers of the Xiang Army is 3 times that of the Eight Banners Cavalry. If there is a battle merit, you can also get a reward. In addition, Zeng Guofan connived at the plundering of soldiers, and the Xiang army was highly motivated to fight.
In April 1854, Taqibu defeated the Taiping Army at Xiangtan and killed them all the way to Jiujiang City, and the Xiang Army became famous and became a fierce enemy of Taiping. If the Xiang Army could be eliminated, the Eight Banners and the Green Battalion would not be a problem, and the Taiping Army would have a chance to win the final victory. Unfortunately, Yang Xiuqing made a mistake in decision-making and was transferred back to Shi Dakai from Jiangxi, and the Taiping Army had no chance of victory.
In November 1855, Shi Dakai led 15,000 soldiers and horses to the west and fought fiercely with the Hulin Wing Army in Wuchang, but failed to open up the situation. At this time, the defensive strength of the Qing army in Jiangxi was weak, and more than 10,000 Xiang troops under Zeng Guofan stayed in Jiangxi to fight, but Zeng Guofan's command ability was average, far inferior to Hu Linyi. In this way, Shi Dakai decided to start from Jiangxi, first get Zeng Guofan, and then turn back to deal with Hu Linyi.
Jiangxi, the grain transportation channel of the Qing army's "Jiangnan Camp", is also the hub connecting the bases of Hubei, Anhui and Jiangsu of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, and its strategic position is very important. In order to successfully capture Jiangxi, Shi Dakai left 4,000 soldiers and horses to Wei Zhijun to assist him in defending Wuchang, and personally led the main force into Jiangxi to fight against Zeng Guofan.
Fighting Zeng Guofan, Shi Dakai was very confident, almost winning consecutive battles. In March 1856, Shi Dakai beheaded more than 2,000 Xiang troops in Zhangshu Town, and the main general Zhou Fengshan fled in a panic, and the Taiping Army took advantage of the victory to capture all parts of Jiangxi, occupying eight provinces and forty-seven counties, and controlling almost all parts of Jiangxi.
The disastrous defeat at the Battle of Zhangshu Town was a heavy blow to Zeng Guofan. It should be known that when Zeng Guofan founded the Xiang Army, Taqibu was an absolute concubine and also the family foundation of Zeng Guofan; although Luo Zenan was brave and good at war, he followed Hu Linyi to fight at this time, and he was a family of his own. The reason is very simple, Luo Zenan founded the Xiang Army earlier than Zeng Guofan, and later followed Zeng Guofan, which can only be regarded as an alliance.
Zeng Guofan encountered difficulties in Jiangxi and wanted Luo Zenan to lead his troops south, but was refused. At this time, Taqibu had already been "killed" alive by Lin Qirong under Jiujiang City, and his troops were commanded by Zhou Fengshan. It can be said that Zhou Fengshan is the hope of Zeng Guofan and the object of key cultivation. Unfortunately, Zhou Fengshan did not argue with each other, repeatedly defeated, and as a result, he was left behind by the rising stars Bao Chao and Zeng Guoquan.
In Jiangxi, the Xiang army was about 10,000 people, and the troops of Zeng Guofan were about 5,000, and they had suffered heavy losses. The Taiping army took advantage of the victory to attack and formed a siege of Nanchang, and Zeng Guofan sat in the ancient city of Nanchang. At this time, Liu Changyou sent troops from Hunan and was blocked by Hu Yihuang in Pingxiang; Hu Linyi was too busy to take care of himself, Luo Zenan was unwilling to come, and Zeng Guofan was in a critical situation.
Zeng Guofan said bluntly in his family letter: "When you hear that the thief ship is coming, and the wind and grass are moving, the liver and gallbladder are broken." Not surprisingly, Shi Dakai would conquer Nanchang and seize all of Jiangxi, and Zeng Guofan would either commit suicide or be captured. Zeng Guofan, who handled regimental training as a waiter, had the highest prestige among the Xiang army and was the link between the unity of the Xiang army. Without Zeng Guofan, the Xiang Army would be scattered and scattered, and it would be difficult to make great achievements.
Compared with Zeng Guofan, Hu Linyi's military and political ability is strong, and he is also very good at governing civil affairs. However, Hu Linyi has a shortcoming, that is, his health has not been good, and it is difficult to bear the "great cause of Zhongxing" of the Qing Dynasty. It can be said that the key to the victory of the Xiang Army is Zeng Guofan. At this time, Zeng Guofan was besieged in an isolated city, and the internal and external ties were severed, which can be said to be called heaven and earth.
Who knows, Yang Xiuqing "saved" Zeng Guofan's life at a critical moment, transferred back to Shi Dakai from Jiangxi, and let the Taiping Army rub shoulders with victory. Yang Xiuqing ordered The King of Yi to return to Tianjing and participate in the battle to destroy the "Jiangnan Camp", the Jiangxi Taiping Army turned to the defensive, and Zeng Guofan escaped the disaster.
Letting the Wing King Shi Dakai return to Tianjing to participate in the battle was a mistake in Yang Xiuqing's decision-making, and the Taiping Army had the opportunity to capture Zeng Guofan alive, but let the other side escape the disaster. At this time, Qin Rigang, Li Xiucheng, Chen Yucheng, and others had already destroyed the "Jiangbei Camp," the Taiping Army had opened up the Yangtze River channel, and the food crisis in Tianjing had been resolved. The Beijing division is stable, Yang Xiu should first eliminate the strong opponent, and then deal with Xiang Rong's "Jiangnan camp", who knows he has reversed.
Yang Xiuqing wanted to take advantage of the victory to destroy the "Jiangnan Camp" and let Qin Rigang, Li Xiucheng, and Chen Yucheng attack first, and the two sides won and lost each other and formed a state of stalemate. At this time, Yang Xiuqing should abandon the attack on the "Jiangnan Camp", first seize Nanchang, capture Zeng Guofan, and then attack the "Jiangnan Camp" on both sides to solve the two fierce enemies in one fell swoop.
Shi Dakai returned to Tianjing from Jiangxi, and the Taiping army that remained in Jiangxi was almost all armed with the Tiandihui, far from being an opponent of the Xiang army. In July 1864, Zeng Guofan led the Xiang Army to conquer Tianjing, and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom collapsed. If Yang Xiuqing had known about the underground, would he regret his original decision?
Bibliography: History of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom