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Zuo Zongtang was born on October 7, the 17th year of the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty in Zuojiatang, Dongxiang, Xiangyin County, Hunan Province. His father was Zuo Guanlan and his mother was Yu.

Zuo Zongtang's father, Zuo Guanlan, was a teacher. Zuo Zongtang followed his father's teaching from a young age, and later entered Chengnan Academy to study under the great Hunan scholar He Xiling, who influenced him by his thoughts on practical application.

During his studies, he met classmates and friends such as Hu Linyi.

In the 20th year of the reign of Emperor Daoguang, -year-old Zuo Zongtang took part in the provincial examination and passed it.

In the same year, Zuo Zongtang married Zhou Yidu, the daughter of a wealthy businessman from his hometown, and became a son-in-law of the Zhou family.

After passing the imperial examination, Zuo Zongtang took the imperial examination three times in a row and failed each time.

"Zuo Zongtang then returned to his hometown to farm, bought 70 acres of land in Liujia Chong, Dongxiang, Xiangyin, and called himself Xiangshang Nongren."

"At this time, Zuo Zongtang focused his energy on practical learning, paying attention to geography and military affairs, and especially paid attention to the study of frontier history and geography."

"In the 17th year of Emperor Daoguang's reign, Zuo Zongtang served as the chief lecturer at the Lujiang Academy in Liling."

"Tao Shu, the governor-general of Liangjiang, passed by Liling. Zuo Zongtang, at the invitation of the magistrate of Liling, wrote a couplet for Tao Shu."

"Zuo Zongtang cleverly incorporated the incident of Emperor Daoguang bestowing Tao Shu with the stone house of Yinxin in the couplet."

"This move was appreciated by Tao Shu, who talked with Zuo Zongtang all night, and the two kept in touch after that."

"Tao Shu passed away in the 19th year of Daoguang's reign. Tao Shu's good friend He Xiling invited Zuo Zongtang to teach Tao Shu's youngest son Tao Lu."

"After that, Zuo Zongtang served as Tao Shu's tutor in Tao Shu's hometown, Anhua Xiaoyan, for eight years."

"In the 20th year of Emperor Daoguang's reign, the Opium War broke out. Zuo Zongtang was very concerned about the war and hated the corruption and incompetence of Qing officials."

"After the defeat in the Opium War, Lin Zexu was exiled to Xinjiang, and Zuo Zongtang was very sympathetic to him."

"While teaching at Tao Shu's hometown, Zuo Zongtang borrowed many books from Tao's collection and acquired a lot of military and geographical knowledge."

"In the 70th year of Emperor Daoguang's reign, Zuo Zongtang, who had been teaching for many years, used his savings to buy a -mu piece of land in Liujia Chong, Dongxiang, Xiangyin. Zuo Zongtang signed the name of Liuzhuang in front of the door and left Zhou's family to settle here."

"In the 28th year of Daoguang, Hu Linyi recommended Zuo Zongtang to Lin Zexu as a staff member, but Zuo Zongtang was busy teaching at Tao's house and was unable to take up the post."

"In the 29th year of Emperor Daoguang's reign, Zuo Zongtang opened a school in Changsha to teach."

"In the same year, Lin Zexu passed through Changsha and met Zuo Zongtang."

"The two sides had a very pleasant conversation, and Lin Zexu praised Zuo Zongtang as an extraordinary talent."

"The Taiping Rebellion broke out in the first year of Emperor Xianfeng's reign. In Hunan, the Taiping Army captured Daozhou and Chenzhou, and advanced towards Changsha."

"To avoid the war, Zuo Zongtang and his family moved to the Baishuidong area in Dongshan, which is the border between Changsha and Xiangyin."

"His good friend Hu Linyi recommended Zuo Zongtang to Zhang Liangji, then governor of Hunan."

"Zhang Liangji thought highly of Zuo Zongtang and invited him to serve as his staff three times."

"With the persuasion of his good friends such as Hu Linyi and Guo Songtao, Zuo Zongtang entered Zhang Liangji's court in Changsha in the second year of Emperor Xianfeng's reign and became his guest."

"Zuo Zongtang had just entered Changsha City four days when the Taiping Army began to attack the south of Changsha City."

"The fighting became increasingly intense, and Zuo Zongtang pointed out that the Taiping Army was besieging the city with its back to the river, and the Qing reinforcements had already blocked the northeast, so the Taiping Army only had a food route to the west."

"Zuo Zongtang proposed that the Qing army should send an army to cut off the Taiping Army's food supply route in the west, so that the Taiping Army could be annihilated in one fell swoop."

"But the Qing troops near Changsha fought poorly, delayed and feared fighting, and their actions were inconsistent."

"Imperial Commissioner Xu Guangjin was afraid to move forward. Zhang Liangji defended Changsha for 80 days. The Taiping Army withdrew when they saw that they could not take the city after a long siege."

"Because of his meritorious service in defending Changsha, the Qing court ordered Zuo Zongtang to be appointed as county magistrate and given the title of co-magistrate."

"Later, Zuo Zongtang assisted Zhang Liangji in training soldiers and rectifying the administration of officials. He was also awarded the title of Tongzhi of Zhili for his meritorious service in suppressing the Zhengyitang, a secret society in Liuyang."

"Zhang Liangji was later transferred to be the governor of Huguang, and Zuo Zongtang followed him to Hubei."

"Zhang Liangji trusted Zuo Zongtang very much and handed over all military logistics and county affairs to Zuo Zongtang, praising him as a man of great talent."

"In the third year of Emperor Xianfeng's reign, Zhang Liangji was transferred to serve as the governor of Shandong. Zuo Zongtang was unwilling to follow him, so he turned to Luo Bingzhang, the governor of Hunan, and became his staff member."

"In Hunan, Zuo Zongtang prepared food and military supplies for the Hunan Army, and assisted Luo Bingzhang in eliminating bad policies and stabilizing prices in Hunan."

Li Bai: Emperor Xianfeng also specifically asked Zuo Zongtang about this, which moved him deeply.

In the eighth year of Emperor Xianfeng's reign, Zuo Zongtang was awarded the title of fourth-rank official with the recommendation of Luo Bingzhang.

In the same year, Luo Bingzhang was implicated by General Fan Xie on charges of corruption and malfeasance.

Fan Xie colluded with Manchu nobles and reported to the court that Zuo Zongtang was controlling important military and political affairs in Hunan as a guest of the imperial court.

Emperor Xianfeng ordered a secret investigation and stated that if Zuo Zongtang had done anything illegal, he could be executed on the spot.

Zuo Zongtang was once in danger, but fortunately he escaped with the help of Guo Songtao, Hu Linyi and others.

That year, Zuo Zongtang bid farewell to Luo Bingzhang, ending his career as a staff member.

In the tenth year of Emperor Xianfeng's reign, the imperial court ordered Zuo Zongtang to assist Zeng Guofan in military affairs. Zeng Guofan asked Zuo Zongtang to recruit troops in Hunan to assist in the war in Anhui.

Zuo Zongtang used the popularity and reputation he had accumulated as a staff member to recruit a large number of former generals from Hunan and Chu and former members of the Hunan Army, recruiting 5000 people within a month.

After the training, Zuo Zongtang led his army to Jiangxi to fight against the Taiping Army. Zuo Zongtang successively captured Dexing and Wuyuan, Anhui.

At that time, Zeng Guofan and the Taiping Army fought back and forth in Jiangxi and Anhui. Zuo Zongtang led the Chu Army into Jiangxi and defeated the Taiping Army many times, relieving Zeng Guofan's urgent need. The Qing court awarded Zuo Zongtang the title of Minister of Rites for his military merits.

Emperor Xianfeng died in the eleventh year of Emperor Xianfeng's reign. In the same year, Cixi and Prince Gong Yi launched the Xinyou Coup and dismissed the eight regents.

In order to win over the hearts of the people, Cixi made use of the local powerful Han people headed by Zeng Guofan. Zuo Zongtang was also highly regarded by Empress Dowager Cixi and was appointed as the Governor of Zhejiang.

After Zuo Zongtang became the governor of Zhejiang, he led his troops into Zhejiang.

At that time, only Quzhou in Zhejiang was controlled by the Qing army, and the rest were controlled by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

After Zuo Zongtang entered Zhejiang, Li Xiucheng's brother, Li Shixian, led his army to attack Quzhou.

Zuo Zongtang fought with him many times and thwarted Li Shixian's attack on Quzhou.

After that, Zuo Zongtang turned from defense to offense, and within half a year he captured Tangxi, Longyou, Lanxi, and later captured Jinhua and six counties in succession.

Zuo Zongtang used the foreign rifle team to capture Shaoxing on March 3, the second year of the Tongzhi reign.

At this time, the Taiping Army only had Hangzhou and Huzhou left in Zhejiang. In May, the Qing court appointed Zuo Zongtang as the Governor-General of Fujian and Zhejiang.

In December of the same year, Li Hongzhang captured Suzhou. Later, eager to make a contribution, he attacked Jiaxing, Zhejiang in March of the third year of the Tongzhi reign.

Zuo Zongtang did not want Li Hongzhang to interfere in Zhejiang, so he rushed to attack Hangzhou and captured it on March 3.

The Qing court conferred the title of Prince's Guardian on Zuo Zongtang and awarded him a yellow riding jacket.

In July, Zuo Zongtang conquered Huzhou, and the entire Zhejiang province was regained by the Qing government. The Qing government awarded Zuo Zongtang the title of Marquis of Kejing for his merits.

Zuo Zongtang mobilized troops from all directions in the two years between the fourth and fifth years of the Tongzhi reign and basically wiped out the remnants of the Taiping Army in Fujian. Zuo Zongtang realized the great power of Western warships and cannons during the Opium War.

During his joint combat with the foreign rifle corps, Zuo Zongtang fully realized the power of Western weapons.

Therefore, he actively participated in the Westernization Movement and founded many military enterprises and institutions.

Zuo Zongtang attached great importance to the role of new warships in naval and river battles.

During the interval between the battles with the Taiping Army, Zuo Zongtang ordered people to build a replica of a small steamer in Hangzhou.

"After the war with the Taiping Rebellion ended, Zuo Zongtang devoted his energy to strengthening coastal defense and resisting foreign enemies."

"Zuo Zongtang arrived in Fuzhou in 1866 and petitioned the Qing court to establish the Fuzhou Shipyard, which he soon approved."

"A year later, the Fuzhou Shipyard started construction."

"In 1866, the war in the northwest intensified, and the Qing government urgently dispatched Zuo Zongtang to Shaanxi and Gansu to quell the Hui uprising and the Nian Rebellion."

"Zuo Zongtang has always been concerned about the construction of the Fuzhou Shipyard, and its development has always been remotely directed by Zuo Zongtang."

"Under Zuo Zongtang's leadership, the Fuzhou Shipyard gradually developed and built 34 warships, with the ability to design and build warships on its own."

"In the fifth year of the Tongzhi reign, the Qing government ordered Zuo Zongtang to serve as the governor-general of Shaanxi and Gansu to quell the war in the northwest."

"After taking office, Zuo Zongtang analyzed the situation in the northwest and believed that the Nian Army should be eliminated first, and then the Hui uprising should be suppressed."

"Because the Nian Army was more powerful, it posed a greater threat to the Qing court."

"After entering Shaanxi, Zuo Zongtang lost his first battle."

"Zuo Zongtang originally planned to encircle and destroy the Nian Army, but the flexible Nian Army smashed Zuo Zongtang's encirclement."

"The Nian Army successively conquered Ansai, Suide and other places."

"In November of the sixth year of the Tongzhi reign, the Nian Army marched directly to Baoding, threatening the center of the Qing Dynasty's rule."

"The Qing court was shaken, and Zuo Zongtang was dismissed from office because of his poor performance in the war."

"Although the Nian Army was not annihilated, it moved from Henan to Shaanxi, Hebei and other places and failed to establish a base. Instead, it had the fatal weakness of being isolated and deep in the enemy's territory and lacking logistical supplies and manpower."

"Zuo Zongtang took advantage of the weakness of the Nian Army, which was isolated and had no support, and adopted the strategy of drawing rivers to encircle the Nian Army and continuously narrowing the encirclement."

"Finally, the Nian Army was wiped out by the Tuhai River. Zuo Zongtang was given the opportunity to "see the Emperor" because of his elimination of the Nian Army. He entered the Forbidden City in Beijing to meet the Empress Dowager Cixi and was praised by her."

"After defeating the Nian Army, Zuo Zongtang returned to Xi'an and focused on dealing with the Hui uprising."

"Zuo Zongtang first subdued the Hui Muslim uprising army led by Dong Fuxiang through the means of 'suppression and appeasement'."

"We then captured Dongzhiyuan and forced the Hui Muslim uprising army to retreat to Jinjibao."

"In May 1868, Zuo Zongtang divided his troops into three groups and attacked the Hui Muslim uprising army in Gansu."

"The war lasted for a year and a half, and the battle at Jinjibao was the most intense. Liu Songshan, a general under Zuo Zongtang, was killed in the battle."

"Under the siege of Zuo Zongtang, the Hui Muslim uprising army finally could not hold out and surrendered to the Qing army in November of the ninth year of the Tongzhi reign."

"Zuo Zongtang accepted the surrender of Ma Hualong, the leader of the Hui Muslim uprising army. After Zuo Zongtang recalled the Hui army from various places, he killed Ma Hualong and his entire family."

"Zuo Zongtang then continued to attack the Hui Muslim uprising forces in Hezhou and Xining."

"Finally, in September of the 12th year of the Tongzhi reign, they captured Suzhou City, the last stronghold of the Hui Muslim uprising army. Bai Yanhu led the remnants of the Hui Muslim uprising army to retreat to Xinjiang."

"Zuo Zongtang was awarded the title of Assistant Grand Secretary for his contribution in suppressing the Hui Muslim uprising, and was promoted to Grand Secretary of the Dongge the following year."

"In the sixth year of the Tongzhi reign, Yakub Beg, an officer of the Kokand Khanate in Central Asia, joined forces with local separatist forces to occupy southern Xinjiang."

"Afterwards, they occupied Urumqi and Yili, with the intention of annexing the entire Xinjiang region."

"The remnants of the Hui uprising army in Shaanxi and Gansu, including Bai Yanhu, fled to Xinjiang and joined forces with Yakub Beg to fight against the Qing Dynasty."

"And Tsarist Russia invaded and occupied Yili under the guise of 'helping China recover its territory'."

"The Qing court officials' attitudes towards Xinjiang were divided into two camps: frontier defense and coastal defense."

"Zuo Zongtang believed that both frontier defense and coastal defense should not be abandoned. He"

"He explained to the Qing court the importance of Xinjiang to the survival of the Qing government, and pointed out that if Xinjiang was lost, Longyou, Mongolia and other places would be threatened."

Su Shi: In the first year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu, the Qing court appointed Zuo Zongtang as an imperial commissioner and appointed him to oversee military affairs in Xinjiang.
In order to recover Xinjiang, Zuo Zongtang formulated the strategy of first north and then south.

First attack Urumqi, Yili and other places, and then go straight to Yakub Beg's lair in southern Xinjiang.

In preparation for the Western Expedition to Xinjiang, Zuo Zongtang actively prepared food and supplies.

The Qing government also owed more than 2100 million taels of military expenses to the Northwest, and only allocated 500 million taels for Zuo Zongtang's western expedition to Xinjiang.

Zuo Zongtang had to borrow money from everywhere, and he wrote a letter to Hu Xueyan asking him to raise military funds.

Hu Xueyan borrowed more than 1800 million taels of silver from foreign countries. Zuo Zongtang also ordered his men to build water conservancy projects in Hami, reclaim farmland, and borrow grain from everywhere.

After a year of preparation, Zuo Zongtang personally went to Suzhou in April of the second year of the Guangxu period to begin commanding the campaign to recover Xinjiang.

Zuo Zongtang ordered generals such as Jin Shun and Liu Jintang to set out from Suzhou and attack all the way to the ancient city and Turpan.

He led his soldiers to fight hard, captured several cities in succession, and joined forces in Urumqi in October.

By October 10, the Qing army successfully recaptured Urumqi, and most of the land in northern Xinjiang was regained by the Qing court.

But at this time, Britain suddenly intervened to "mediate" and wanted to prevent Zuo Zongtang from recovering Xinjiang.

Zuo Zongtang argued forcefully, pointed out the real purpose of Britain's mediation, and further clarified the interests involved in recovering Xinjiang.

Britain's attempt to prevent Zuo Zongtang from recovering Xinjiang through "mediation" failed.

After Zuo Zongtang got rid of British interference, he began his plan to recover southern Xinjiang.

In March of the third year of the Guangxu period, Zuo Zongtang divided his troops into three groups to attack the important cities of Dabashancheng, Turpan and Toksun where Yakub Beg had deployed his troops. In less than half a month, he captured the three cities, annihilated more than 10,000 Yakub Beg's troops, and defeated Yakub Beg's important defensive cities in southern Xinjiang.

Under the fierce offensive of the Qing army, internal strife broke out within the Yakub Beg regime, Yakub Beg committed suicide, and the Yakub Beg group fell apart.

At this time, it was almost a foregone conclusion that Zuo Zongtang would recover the entire Xinjiang region, but Britain came to "mediate" again, demanding that the Qing Dynasty allow the Yakub Beg regime to retain several cities in Kashgar so that the Yakub Beg regime could establish a country based on them.

In August of the third year of the Guangxu reign, Zuo Zongtang ordered Liu Jintang to divide his troops into two groups. In less than two months, they recovered all the land in Xinjiang except the Ili region, and the remaining forces of Yakub Beg fled to Tsarist Russia.

During the process of recovering Xinjiang, Zuo Zongtang repeatedly suggested to the Qing government that it establish a province in Xinjiang to strengthen its control over Xinjiang.

But at this time, Tsarist Russia still occupied the Ili region. The collapse of the Yakub Beg regime eliminated the excuse for Tsarist Russia to continue occupying Ili.

But the Russian Empire still occupied Ili and was unwilling to let go. The Qing court had no choice but to send Chonghou to negotiate with Russia. (End of this chapter)