Slaying the Qing: My Taiping Heavenly Kingdom

On the Jiangbei battlefield, the Taiping army decisively defeated the Qing army's Jiangbei camp, inflicting heavy losses on the Qing army once again.

This made the overall situation increasingly favorable for the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

Through wireless telegrams, Hong Tian was also fully aware of the situation at the front.

It can also respond promptly to changes in the battle situation at the front.

"Your Majesty, the 1st Infantry Division of the Imperial Guard and the Northern Expeditionary Army have won the battle north of the Yangtze River. The Tartars have suffered another heavy blow, losing nearly 40,000 men, including tens of thousands of elite cavalry," General Zhou Yufeng, the Minister of Intelligence, reported.

Hong Tian was very satisfied with the victory achieved by the soldiers on the front lines.

"I have long said that as firearms become increasingly sophisticated, cavalry has begun its decline. This is an irreversible process. However, the high mobility and striking capabilities of cavalry still play a significant role on the battlefield."

"How many warhorses did we capture after annihilating the Tartar cavalry this time?"

Hong Tian asked.

The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was relatively short of horses.

Therefore, it is relatively difficult for each infantry division to form a cavalry battalion.

"Your Majesty, we captured more than six thousand warhorses in this battle," Zhou Yufeng replied.

Hong Tian nodded repeatedly: "Very good, this is enough for us to form six cavalry battalions!"

The Qing army's captured cavalry were of little importance to the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. They were merely free laborers on construction sites and in mines. However, their warhorses were crucial, allowing the Taiping army to build more cavalry battalions to be attached to their various infantry divisions.

The cavalry of the Taiping Army were very different from traditional cavalry.

To be more precise, the Taiping cavalry were essentially mounted infantry. Their equipment was almost identical to that of the army.

However, the Taiping cavalry also needed to master the skill of horseback combat.

This was so that after defeating the enemy, one could ride a horse to pursue the routed enemy.

"Your Majesty, the Qing troops deployed in Jiangpu and Pukou have also fled to Chuzhou in Anhui Province. The blockade north of Tianjing City has been lifted," General Zhou Yufeng continued.

"Order the Northern Expeditionary Army to dispatch two corps to recapture the rest of Yangzhou Prefecture. Then, continue the offensive northward and take control of Huai'an Prefecture."

"The Qing army has suffered heavy losses. If we can capture Huai'an Prefecture in one fell swoop, and even Haizhou and Xuzhou Prefecture further north, the entire Jiangsu Province will fall under our control."

Hong Tian gave the order.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" General Zhou Yufeng replied.

"In addition, have the 1st Infantry Division of the Imperial Guard Corps and the 3rd Army of the Northern Expeditionary Corps prepare to invade Anhui Province. Contact the Western Expeditionary Corps so that we can launch a counterattack on the Anhui battlefield." Hong Tian then issued the orders.

The Western Expeditionary Army fought against the Hunan Army, the Anhui Army, and the Hubei Army in the Anhui and Hubei provinces, and was under tremendous pressure.

Now, the Taiping army has won a victory on the battlefield in Jiangsu Province.

They also have enough strength to launch a counterattack in other directions.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" General Zhou Yufeng nodded.

"By the way, Your Majesty. His Highness the Prince of Yan has sent a telegram requesting the reorganization of the Northern Expeditionary Army," Zhou Yufeng continued.

"Agreed! However, once they take Huai'an Prefecture, they will begin to reorganize the 1st Army of the Northern Expeditionary Force!" Hong Tian said.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" General Zhou Yufeng replied.

Through wireless telegram, Hong Tiantong contacted Shi Dakai, the Minister of Military Affairs and Commander of the Western Expeditionary Army, to discuss plans for the Taiping Army to launch a large-scale counterattack in Anhui Province.

Southern Anhui Province, or the area along the Yangtze River, had become the core area controlled by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

However, the central and northern Anhui regions were still under the control of the Qing army.

In particular, Luzhou Prefecture has now become the temporary residence of the Anhui Provincial Governor's Office.

The main force of the Western Expeditionary Army consisted of eight corps, two of which were stationed in Wuchang. Of the other six corps, one was stationed in Hezhou, one in the southern part of Luzhou Prefecture, and the remaining four were assembled in Anqing Prefecture.

After receiving Hong Tian's order, Shi Dakai quickly made the corresponding arrangements.

"Gentlemen, the Imperial Guard Corps, together with the Eastern Expeditionary Corps and the Northern Expeditionary Corps, achieved major victories on the southern and northern Jiangsu battlefields respectively, severely damaging the Tartars. More than 100,000 Qing soldiers were annihilated or captured."

His Majesty the Heavenly King has issued an order that we launch a large-scale counterattack against the Tartars on the battlefield in Anhui Province, and strive to control the central and even northern Anhui regions in one fell swoop.

In this battle, in addition to our Western Expeditionary Army Corps, there will also be an army corps from the Northern Expeditionary Army Corps and an infantry division from the Imperial Guard Corps participating in the operation.

In this battle, we must defeat the Tartars and take over the entire Anhui province!

Shi Dakai addressed the crowd.

"Yes, Your Highness!" all the military commanders of the Western Expeditionary Army replied.

The Western Expeditionary Army was the largest of the Taiping Army's several corps.

However, since the outbreak of the war, other legions have already achieved significant victories on the battlefield, while they have not yet made any significant contributions, which has left these military commanders feeling frustrated.

"Now, I will announce the battle plan." Shi Dakai glanced at everyone.

This made these military commanders straighten their backs and puff out their chests involuntarily.

"The 1st and 2nd Armies held their ground in Wuchang, resisting the Tartar attack. Although the Tartars were numerous and powerful, Wuchang was a well-fortified city. The Tartars had already suffered heavy losses under the walls of Wuchang."

Wuchang can continue to hold out without any problems.

After we've dealt with the Tartars in Anhui Province, we'll then march west and launch a full-scale attack on Hubei Province.

Shi Dakai said.

"Yes, Your Highness!" the military commanders replied in unison.

"The 3rd Army will launch an attack from Anqing Prefecture towards Lu'an Prefecture, cutting off the connection between the Tartars in central Anhui and Hubei and Henan provinces. The 4th and 5th Armies, along with the 6th Army in the south of Luzhou Prefecture, will launch a full-scale attack on Luzhou Prefecture. The 7th Army will launch an attack from Hezhou towards Luzhou Prefecture."

At that time, the 3rd Army of the Northern Expeditionary Corps and the 1st Infantry Division of the Imperial Guard Corps will attack Chuzhou and then launch an offensive towards Luzhou Prefecture.

The 8th Army served as a reserve force.

In this battle, we deployed as many as six corps and one infantry division, totaling nearly 100,000 troops.

We must take over the entire central Anhui region. Even better, we can march north and conquer the entire northern Anhui province, bringing the whole province under the rule of the Heavenly Kingdom!

Shi Dakai gave the order.

"Yes, Your Highness!" everyone answered loudly.

On March 19, 1857, the Taiping Army launched a large-scale counterattack against the Qing Army in Anhui Province.

The Western Expeditionary Army, consisting of as many as five corps, launched an attack on the Qing army within the territory of Luzhou Prefecture from all directions.

Meanwhile, the 3rd Army of the Northern Expeditionary Corps and the 1st Infantry Division of the Imperial Guard Corps also entered Chuzhou and joined the offensive.

The Qing army forces within Anhui Province mainly consisted of over 40,000 Anhui troops under the command of Bi Chengzhao, the governor of Anhui Province, and over 6,000 cavalry led by Li Xubin, a general of the Hunan Army.

Although the fighting strength of the Anhui Army could not compare with that of the Taiping Army.

However, the Xiang Army cavalry was still very powerful.

Li Xubin, in particular, was a renowned general in the Hunan Army.

As a result, the Taiping Army's Western Expeditionary Army had been at a disadvantage in previous battles.

Now, the Taiping Army has assembled a large number of elite troops to launch an attack on the Qing Army, determined to annihilate the Qing Army in one fell swoop and take over the entire Anhui Province.

On March 23, the 1st Infantry Division of the Imperial Guards Corps inflicted heavy losses on the Qing army in Chuzhou, annihilating over 3 enemy troops and capturing the city. They then advanced eastward towards Luzhou Prefecture. The 3rd Army of the Northern Expeditionary Corps followed closely behind, cooperating with the 1st Infantry Division of the Imperial Guards Corps.

On March 25, three armies of the Western Expeditionary Army fought a fierce battle with the Qing army in the southern part of Luzhou Prefecture.

Although the Xiang Army cavalry relied on their strong mobility and assault capabilities to rampage across the battlefield and cause considerable losses to the Taiping Army's Western Expeditionary Corps.

However, as the Taiping army occupied Liuan Prefecture, the 7th Army of the Western Expeditionary Force, which was advancing north from Hezhou, also threatened the flank and rear of the Qing army.

This forced the Qing army to abandon the southern part of Luzhou Prefecture and retreat to Luzhou Prefecture city and the surrounding areas.

However, the Taiping army advanced towards Luzhou Prefecture from multiple directions.

This put both the Anhui army and the Qing army in a precarious situation of being surrounded.

The situation on the battlefield throughout Anhui Province was becoming increasingly unfavorable for the Qing army.

If reinforcements are not received soon, the central Anhui region, and even the entire Anhui province, may fall into the hands of the Taiping army.