1848 Great Qing Charcoal Burners

Chapter 369 Silence is also a form of statement

There weren't many Qing troops left in Shaanxi and Henan. Even if the Qing troops from those two places went south to reinforce Xiangfan, Lu Qin was confident that he could intercept or even eliminate some of the Shaanxi and Henan troops coming to their aid.

Compared to the Qing troops from Shaanxi and Henan rushing south to provide reinforcements, Lu Qin was more worried about the Qing troops from Zhili coming south to provide reinforcements.

Although by the end of spring, these high-ranking officers of the Northern Palace had already learned that the Northern Expeditionary Army of Wei Changhui, Lin Fengxiang, Li Kaifang, and others had reached the gates of the capital and begun to attack the city.

However, they were unable to make any further progress in the Northern Expeditionary Army's attack on the capital.

It was uncertain how long the Northern Expeditionary Army led by Wei Changhui, Lin Fengxiang, and Li Kaifang could besiege and attack the capital, or how long they could fight the Qing army in the north.

No one could guarantee whether the Qing army loyal to the emperor in Zhili would send troops south to rescue Xiangfan.

After the debate subsided, Lu Qin slowly stood up and glanced at the generals: "A strong attack would indeed increase casualties, but a long-term siege is too risky and unpredictable."

The letter that Mr. Zuo and Liu Binghuai (Liu Qixian) entrusted me to deliver to Luo Raodian was not delivered to Luo Raodian before due to the urgency of the war.

We can try diplomacy first, then resort to force. Tomorrow, under the guise of delivering a message, we will send an envoy into the city to meet with Luo Raodian and his men, explaining the advantages and disadvantages and urging them to surrender. If we can take Xiangyang without a fight, that would be the best possible outcome.”

Luo Raodian was from Anhua County, Hunan Province. He was an honest and upright man with a good reputation as an official. He was well-known for his virtue and had a great influence in Hunan. Zuo Zongtang hoped that Luo Raodian could abandon darkness and embrace light like Liu Qixian.

Therefore, before setting off, Lu Qin wrote a letter to Luo Raodian and entrusted Lu Qin to deliver it to Luo Raodian.

Of course, Lu Qin also hoped that Luo Raodian would not put up futile resistance and would surrender voluntarily.

In this way, he could take Xiangyang City at minimal cost and quickly bring the current battle to a close, lest things get complicated.

Xie Bin nodded in agreement: "Give Luo Raodian and the garrison of Xiangyang three days. If they are sensible and surrender, they can save their lives and families. If they are not appreciative, we can launch a strong attack later, so that the people of Xiangyang will know that our army has done everything in its power."

Xie Bin thought it would be worthwhile to try to persuade Luo Raodian to surrender over three days. If Luo Raodian was unwilling to leave the city and surrender, then it would be fine to attack Xiangyang again.

Although Chen Miao was eager to attack immediately, seeing that the head coach and vice-head coach had reached a consensus, he could not continue to argue.

They decided to first try to persuade Luo Raodian to surrender, and if that failed, they would then attack. Lu Qin looked around at the generals and made the final decision: "Order all the armies to seize the time to prepare for war in the next three days, and build more siege ships, ladders and other siege equipment."

The generals had no objection to the decision to first persuade the enemy to surrender, and if that failed, then attack Xiangyang. However, the question arose as to who should be sent as an envoy to Xiangyang.

Many mid- to high-ranking military officers were willing to go to Xiangyang to persuade Luo Raodian to surrender.

After discussion and consideration, Lu Qin and Xie Bin finally decided to send Deputy Chief of Staff Zhang Ze to Xiangyang to deliver a message and persuade Luo Raodian to surrender.

Firstly, Zhang Ze is good at socializing, quick-witted, and knows how to act appropriately, so he won't make mistakes.

Secondly, Zhang Ze is a senior official and holds the position of deputy chief of staff, which gives him considerable influence.

Chen Miao, however, was worried about Zhang Ze's safety and felt that Zhang Ze's position was too high, making it inappropriate to send him to Xiangyang to persuade the city to surrender.

Chen Miao's words were exactly what Zhuo Huayu wanted to hear. Zhuo Huayu argued that Zhang Ze's position was too high and that going to Xiangyang City would be too risky, so he proposed that he go to Xiangyang City in Zhang Ze's place to persuade him to surrender.

Lu Qin agreed to let Zhuo Huayu accompany Zhang Ze as his deputy to help him, but the chief envoy still chose Zhang Ze, whom he trusted more.

Luo Raodian was a man who valued his reputation. Before the battle, Huguang Governor Bao Qibao suggested that soldiers burn down the houses outside the city walls to facilitate defense. However, Luo Raodian was reluctant to agree because he thought that too many houses would damage his reputation. In the end, Huguang Governor Bao Qibao bypassed Luo Raodian and burned down some of the houses.

Given Luo Raodian's character, he wouldn't stoop to beheading the envoy; at least on the surface, he wouldn't be detrimental to Zhang Ze.

At the beginning of the Chen hour (7-9 AM), the thin mist over the Han River had not yet dissipated.

Zhang Ze, Zhuo Huayu, and their group boarded a speedboat and slowly sailed towards the Han River outside Zhenhua Gate of Xiangyang City in the morning light.

The two stood side by side at the bow of the boat. Zhang Ze looked calm and composed, while Zhuo Huayu's eyes were warily scanning the Qing soldiers on the Zhenhua Gate tower.

The speedboat stopped about twenty feet from the shore, and the pilot raised his telescope to look up at the Zhenhua Gate tower.

On the Zhenhua Gate tower, banners fluttered and cannons stood in rows.

Upon hearing that a short-haired envoy had arrived outside Zhenhua Gate, Luo Raodian, the Hubei militia minister with a lean face, appeared on the city tower surrounded by a group of Xiangyang city officials and generals, his expression stern.

The eyes of Hai Ying, the prefect of Xiangyang, and Shao Heling, the general of Xiangyang, along with other Qing officers and generals from Xiangyang, who stood respectfully beside Luo Raodian, held a subtle, shifty glint.

"Who are you below the city? What brings you here?" Luo Raodian shouted sternly at Zhang Ze, Zhuo Huayu, and the others below the Zhenhua Gate tower.

Zhang Ze bowed respectfully and said in a clear voice, "Envoy Zhang Ze, on the orders of Commander Lu, has come to pay a visit to Lord Luo and presents with handwritten letters from Mr. Zuo and Liu Binghuai!"

Upon hearing the names Zuo Zongtang and Liu Qixian, Luo Raodian's brows twitched slightly, and he said coldly, "Since it's a letter, just leave it outside the city. I will send someone to retrieve it. You may go back."

Luo Raodian's aloof attitude made Zhang Ze's heart sink.

The wind was quite strong on the Han River. Zhang Ze hesitated for a moment, then raised his voice: "Lord Luo! Commander Lu and Deputy Commander Xie have long heard that Lord Luo loves the people like his own children and cannot bear to see the ancient city of Xiangyang destroyed by war and the people suffer the calamity of war. Therefore, they specially sent me here to negotiate peace. Does Lord Luo not even have the courage to talk to you face to face?"

Luo Raodian merely snorted coldly: "Eloquent words and flattery! I am ordered to defend this land, and I only know how to be loyal to the country. What is there to talk about with you traitors? Quickly put down the letter and leave, or don't blame the cannons on the city wall for being merciless!"

The atmosphere instantly became tense. Zhuo Huayu whispered to Zhang Ze from behind, "Chief of Staff Zhang, it seems that there is no way to persuade Luo Raodian to surrender. We should retreat for now and reconsider our options."

Zhang Ze shook his head slightly, moved the telescope in his hand, and glanced at Hai Ying, the prefect of Xiangyang, and Shao Heling, the general of Xiangyang, who had been silent beside Luo Raodian.

He had just noticed that when Luo Raodian spoke of being loyal to the country, Hai Ying and Shao Heling's bodies trembled slightly.

Luo Raodian, who was over sixty years old, cherished his reputation but did not want to ruin it in his later years, so he was willing to die.

This does not mean that the other Qing officers in Xiangyang City who were with Luo Raodian were willing to die alongside him to serve the Qing dynasty.

Luo Raodian lived to be sixty, which was enough for him, but the other Qing officials and generals in Xiangyang City were not.

Although Zhang Ze did not know exactly who the Qing officers and generals around Luo Raodian were, he could still guess the identities of some of them from the official robes they wore.

Standing to Luo Raodian's left, the one with the mandarin duck insignia on his official robe must be Hai Ying, the prefect of Xiangyang. As for the military officer on the right, since he was wearing armor and not official robes, Zhang Ze could not confirm his identity for the time being. He could only deduce that he was of a very high rank and should be a high-ranking Green Standard Army officer in Xiangyang.

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained." Zhang Ze lowered his voice, his tone resolute. "Luo Raodian is foolishly loyal, prepared to die, but others in the city may not feel the same way. I intend to enter Xiangyang City to investigate. Would you like to come with me?"

Zhang Ze wanted to enter Xiangyang City to create opportunities to contact other civil and military officials in Xiangyang.

Although he knew the trip was dangerous, Zhang Ze felt it was worth the risk if he could capture Xiangyang at minimal cost and reduce casualties among his comrades.

Zhuo Huayu was startled upon hearing this, and hesitated for a moment: "This is too risky. The situation inside the city is unknown. What if..."

“If you are worried or afraid, you can sail back now, and I will enter the city alone,” Zhang Ze said calmly.

Looking into Zhang Ze's resolute eyes, Zhuo Huayu took a deep breath and said with a wry smile, "What are you saying? Chief of Staff Zhang isn't afraid of death, and I, Zhuo Huayu, am certainly not one to fear death! Since you've made up your mind, I'll accompany you on this journey!" A relieved smile appeared on Zhang Ze's face. He then turned and called out loudly towards the city wall, "Lord Luo! Since you pride yourself on loyalty and righteousness, why fear to debate with us face to face? I am willing to enter the city alone and present you with this letter in person to show my sincerity. If you still insist on your opinion, we will leave without complaint!"

These words resonated deeply, immediately sparking a flurry of discussion on the city walls.

Luo Raodian was clearly surprised by the other party's audacity. After a moment of contemplation, he finally said coldly, "Fine! Since you've walked right into my trap, I'll grant your wish! Let them in! However, only two of them are allowed into the city; all their attendants must wait outside!"

Soon, two large bamboo baskets were lowered from the Zhenhua Gate tower. Zhang Ze and Zhuo Huayu personally rowed the boat ashore and stepped into the large bamboo baskets.

When the Qing soldiers on the city wall saw that Zhang Ze and Zhuo Huayu had entered the bamboo basket, they pulled the two of them up.

Upon reaching the top of Zhenhua Gate, Zhang Ze and Zhuo Huayu exchanged a glance, straightened their clothes, and calmly strode towards Luo Raodian.

Although Luo Raodian viewed the long-haired and short-haired rebels as traitors, he still greatly admired and secretly praised Zhang Ze and Zhuo Huayu for their calm and composed demeanor as they penetrated deep into the enemy camp. At least he would have had a hard time finding such courageous people under his command.

Luo Raodian and the Qing officers around him had to admit that there were indeed quite a few notable figures among the Taiping rebels.

Luo Raodian did not allow Zhang Ze and Zhuo Huayu to enter Xiangyang City, so as not to let the other side discover the true situation inside Xiangyang City. He only received the two of them in a relatively clean and bright side room on the Zhenhua Gate tower.

Inside the side room, Luo Raodian sat upright in the main seat, with generals standing on either side, their hands on their swords, exuding a murderous aura.

Zhang Ze and Zhuo Huayu entered calmly and bowed with clasped hands.

"Where is the letter?" Luo Raodian asked directly, getting straight to the point.

Zhang Ze took out two letters sealed with wax from his pocket and presented them personally: "These are handwritten by Mr. Zuo Jigao and Mr. Liu Binghuai. Please take a look, Lord Luo."

Luo Raodian opened the letter and quickly scanned it in front of everyone.

In the letter, Zuo Zongtang, out of their shared hometown, detailed the general situation of the world and advised him to assess the situation carefully. Liu Qixian, on the other hand, used his own experience of abandoning darkness for light to explain the inclusiveness and magnanimity of the Wuchang regime, saying that a good bird chooses a good tree to perch on, and a good minister chooses a good lord, hoping that Luo Raodian would take the initiative to surrender.

As Luo Raodian watched, his face grew increasingly gloomy.

"Absurd!" Before he had even finished reading the letter, Luo Raodian suddenly slammed it on the table, his hair and beard standing on end.

"Zuo Zongtang and Liu Qi have betrayed their emperor and the country, which is already the most shameless thing! Now they dare to come and persuade me? You rebels and commit treason, which is intolerable to Heaven! I have received the emperor's great favor and can only repay the country with my life. How can I follow your example of disloyal and unjust people?"

Zhang Ze remained calm and composed, replying, "Lord Luo, as the saying goes, a good bird chooses a good tree to perch on, and a wise minister chooses a good lord to serve. The current situation is clear: the Qing court is corrupt, and the people are suffering. The Northern King, acting in accordance with Heaven's will and the people's will, has driven out the Tartars and rescued the people from their misery. I have heard that you, Lord Luo, love the people like your own children. Can you really bear to watch tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Xiangyang City perish for that corrupt Manchu Tartar court?"

"Shut up!" Luo Raodian roared in anger.

"Stop spreading these lies! My mind is made up; I swear to live and die with Xiangyang! Considering you are envoys, I will spare your lives today. Leave now! Go back and tell Lu Ni and Xie Ni that as long as I am alive, Xiangyang will never fall into the hands of traitors like you! Goodbye!"

After saying this, Luo Raodian angrily turned and left the side room.

Seeing Luo Raodian's firm stance, Zhang Ze knew that further persuasion would be futile.

Zhang Ze glanced at Hai Ying, the prefect of Xiangyang, sitting below Luo Raodian. Throughout the entire process, Hai Ying kept her eyes lowered, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the cuffs of her official robe, appearing preoccupied.

Since Luo Raodian was so blindly loyal and beyond redemption, the only option was to settle for second best and target other important Qing officials in Xiangyang.

Just as Zhang Ze was about to ask Hai Ying to see him off, Hai Ying, who had been keeping her head down and silent, suddenly stood up and offered to see Zhang Ze and Zhuo Huayu off.

Haiying led Zhang Ze and Zhuo Huayu slowly toward the city wall. The three of them remained silent the whole way, without much verbal contact.

Zhuo Huayu cautiously observed his surroundings, while Zhang Ze walked side by side with Hai Ying. The two appeared casual, but in reality, their minds were racing and they each had their own thoughts.

As they rounded a corner, where the Qing soldiers in front and behind maintained a slight distance, Zhang Ze suddenly whispered in a very low voice, almost as a sigh, to Hai Ying beside him: "Lord Hai is a wise man. Xiangyang, an isolated city, cannot be defended for long. When the city falls, everything will perish. If you wish to find another way, Commander Lu and Commander Xie are waiting for you. They will ensure the safety of your family and allow you to continue in your post. Prefect Hai is welcome to contact us at any time."

There is a precedent in the North Palace where a prefect was entrusted with important responsibilities after surrendering, and Liu Qixian is the best example of this.

Haiying paused almost imperceptibly, her face expressionless, still staring straight ahead, as if she hadn't heard anything and made no comment.

A moment later, as they approached the city gate, Haiying stopped, cupped her hands in farewell, and said in a clear and normal voice, "You two should part ways here. Please forgive me for not seeing you off further."

Zhang Ze gave Hai Ying a deep look and returned the greeting with a cupped hand: "Thank you, Prefect Hai, for seeing me off. I will take my leave now."

The two turned and left the city, boarding the waiting fast boat.

Only after the boat left the shore and headed towards the middle of the river did Zhuo Huayu mutter under his breath, "That scoundrel Haiying didn't say anything. It seems Haiying is also a foolishly loyal person."

Looking at the receding Xiangyang city walls, Zhang Ze smiled and said, "Although Haiying did not express her opinion on the spot, she did not reprimand or report us, nor did she detain us. This in itself is a statement."

Back at the command post in Fancheng, Zhang Ze told Lu Qin and Xie Bin everything that had happened on the trip.

To be honest, Lu Qin and Xie Bin were both quite disappointed with this result.

They had prepared for the worst and launched a full-scale attack on Xiangyang.

That night, Lu Qin, Xie Bin, and others had not yet begun their attack on Xiangyang City.

The naval soldiers patrolling the Han River delivered two envelopes addressed to Marshal Lu and Staff Officer Zhang to the command post. It was unclear who had sent them.

One of the letters was written by Hai Ying, the prefect of Xiangyang, and the other by Shao Heling, the garrison commander of Xiangyang.

Zhang Ze's judgment was accurate.

Most of the Qing officers and generals in Xiangyang were indeed unwilling to die for the Qing alongside Luo Raodian.

Luo Raodian's rhetoric—that if he persisted, reinforcements from Shaanxi, Henan, and other northern regions would soon arrive in Xiangyang, and that the siege of Xiangyang would be lifted—might fool the lower-ranking commoners, but it wouldn't fool the mid- to high-ranking civil and military officials who knew a little about the situation.

To show their sincerity, Hai Ying and Shao Heling even told them specific details such as the main force of the Qing army in Xiangyang City being located on the north wall, focusing on guarding the Zhenhua Gate, Gongchen Gate and Linhan Gate on the north wall, while the defense of the other three walls was relatively weak, and that Luo Raodian himself was at the Gongchen Gate on the north wall.

This was largely consistent with what they had learned during the day: the density of Qing troops on the north wall of Xiangyang was indeed much higher than on the other three walls.

However, this news was of little use to Lu Qin, Xie Bin, and others.

The moat of Xiangyang City was too wide. Even if they attacked the other three walls, which were relatively weakly defended, Luo Raodian's reserve force would have enough time to react and reinforce them.

Furthermore, to prevent the Northern Navy's ships from infiltrating the moat and attacking the city.

After failing to relieve Fancheng, Luo Raodian's Xiangyang naval force used earth and wood to block the connection between Xiangyang's moat and the Han River, preventing the Northern Palace navy's ships from directly entering the moat to attack Xiangyang. This significantly increased the difficulty for Lu Qin and Xie Bin's assault on Xiangyang.

(End of this chapter)