Slaying the Qing: My Taiping Heavenly Kingdom

"Your Majesty, the 6th and 5th Armies of the Western Expeditionary Army have entered Fengyang Prefecture. The 6th Army is positioned along the Suzhou line in the north, and the 5th Army is along the Fengtai line in the south. The 8th Army has entered Yingzhou Prefecture, but has only advanced to the area around Fuyang, the capital of Yingzhou Prefecture. Furthermore, Fuyang is still under the control of the Nian Rebellion. We sent envoys to negotiate, hoping to occupy Fuyang, but the Nian Rebellion refused."

Given the current strength of the Nian Rebellion, it wouldn't be difficult for our three armies, totaling over 40,000 men, to defeat them. However, annihilating them completely would likely take a considerable amount of time.

In addition, part of the Nian Rebellion's controlled area was still within Henan Province.

At that point, it might provoke intervention from the Manchus. Or rather, a portion of the Nian Rebellion might very well defect to the Manchus.

Commander Shi Dakai of the Western Expeditionary Army reported this.

Hong Tian looked at the map hanging on the wall with a serious expression.

"If the Nian Rebellion is willing to accept the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's reorganization, that would be ideal. But if they are not, we can only prepare for the worst. The strength of the three armies is still a bit lacking. How many more troops can the Western Expeditionary Army spare for combat?" Hong Tian asked.

"Your Majesty, the Western Expeditionary Army consists of eight armies. Currently, three armies are in northern Anhui, and four are in Hubei Province. In central Anhui, there is only the 7th Army left. The 7th Army, like the 1st Army stationed in Wuchang, is undergoing reorganization," Shi Dakai replied.

Hong Tian nodded. The 1st and 7th Armies were undergoing re-equipment and reorganization. These two armies would be reorganized into standard infantry divisions.

Once the reorganization is complete, their combat effectiveness will be further enhanced.

However, due to the still significant shortage of weapons and equipment, it is estimated that it will take several more months for these two armies to complete their reorganization.

Or rather, the reorganization will not be completed until the end of the year.

"In that case, the 3rd Infantry Division of the Imperial Guard Corps shall immediately set off north to the Anhui region. If the Nian Rebellion refuses to accept reorganization, then we shall launch an attack on them with the 3rd Infantry Division of the Imperial Guard Corps as the main force."

In the shortest possible time, the Nian Rebellion was wiped out and all parts of northern Anhui were occupied!

All other units, prepare yourselves. If the Tartars get involved, we must crush them!

Hong Tian gave the order.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Shi Dakai and Chen Yucheng both replied.

The 3rd Infantry Division of the Guards Corps has only recently achieved combat readiness.

However, the entire infantry division is well-trained and well-equipped, possessing formidable combat power. Even without combat experience, their ability to effectively utilize their weapons and equipment constitutes a formidable fighting force.

Furthermore, the 3rd Infantry Division of the Guards Corps has just been formed and indeed needs to be tested and tempered on the battlefield before it can truly grow into an elite force.

After Hong Tian issued the order, the 3rd Infantry Division of the Imperial Guard Corps immediately began to break camp and head north to the northern Anhui region.

Meanwhile, envoys dispatched by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom also rushed to Bozhou to make contact with the high-ranking officials of the Nian Rebellion.

Because the Western Expeditionary Army had previously fought alongside the Nian Rebellion.

Therefore, the envoys of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom also came from the Western Expeditionary Army.

Ding Junxiong, deputy commander of the 4th Division of the 8th Army of the Western Expeditionary Army, was ordered to arrive in Bozhou and met with Zhang Lexing, the leader of the Nian Rebellion.

"General, our army has been ordered to garrison Yingzhou Prefecture. However, Fuyang, as well as the entire central and northern parts of Yingzhou Prefecture, are under the control of the Nian Rebellion. This undoubtedly prevents our army from completing its mission. We beg the General to show mercy and allow us to complete our mission!" Ding Junxiong said, clasping his hands in a fist salute.

"General Ding, although our Nian Army and the Taiping Army are not one entity, I was also appointed by the Heavenly King as the Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Expedition. In a sense, the Nian Army and the Taiping Army are also brothers."

Northern Anhui was originally the territory of our Nian Army.

The Taiping army's attempt to take over these territories was undoubtedly a blatant attempt to seize the very foundation of their brothers' territory!

In my opinion, the Heavenly Kingdom could completely entrust the northern Anhui region to us for defense.

This is highly beneficial for both of us!

Zhang Lexing expressed his attitude.

From the perspective of the Nian Rebellion's own interests, they naturally hoped to take over the entire northern Anhui region.

Some high-ranking members of the Nian Rebellion even suggested that the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom should have handed over Yingzhou Prefecture, Fengyang Prefecture, and Sizhou to the Nian Army.

If it weren't for the Nian Rebellion's assistance to the Taiping Army in previous battles, the Taiping Army would never have been able to defeat the Qing Army so easily.

Even if it was as a reward for their merits, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom should have given them some benefits.

Ding Junxiong shook his head: "General, the northern Anhui region will be the front line for the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom to fight against the Tartars. If we are to launch an attack on Henan and Shandong provinces, northern Anhui will be our forward base."

Furthermore, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom had already implemented land redistribution throughout Anhui Province. If the Nian Rebellion continued to occupy these prefectures, it would undoubtedly have a significant impact on the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's governance in northern Anhui.

"General Ding, our Nian Army has at least 100,000 soldiers. Moreover, we previously assisted the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom in fighting against the Tartars and made great contributions. Does the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom really refuse to give us even a few prefectures?" Zhang Lexing was somewhat displeased.

"General, if the Nian Rebellion is willing, they can accept the reorganization of the Heavenly Kingdom and join the Taiping Army."

His Highness the Wing King has already consulted His Majesty the Heavenly King.

The Nian Rebellion forces were strong and capable, and could be reorganized into two armies according to the Taiping Army's structure. The General could also serve as the deputy commander of the Northern Expeditionary Army. The other four banner chiefs of the Nian Rebellion could respectively serve as army commanders and deputy army commanders.

However, after reorganization, the entire army will be under the command and control of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Ding Junxiong said.

Zhang Lexing's expression immediately turned serious. He was a smart man; otherwise, he wouldn't have become the leader of the Nian Rebellion.

He knew very well that the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's proposal to reorganize the Nian Army was an attempt to absorb and assimilate the Nian Army. Or rather, to annex the Nian Army.

After defeating the Qing army, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom became too powerful to tolerate the continued existence of the Nian Rebellion.

The fact that the Nian Rebellion still occupied a significant portion of Huaibei was particularly unacceptable to the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

However, if possible, Zhang Lexing would naturally not want the Nian Army to be annexed.

As the leader of the Nian Rebellion, being in charge of his own affairs was naturally much better than having to obey the orders of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

But Zhang Lexing also knew that if the Nian Army refused to accept the reorganization by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom...

Then, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom probably wouldn't be so easy to talk to.

If things go wrong, the Taiping army's attack is imminent.

"General Ding, this is a major matter concerning the entire Nian Rebellion. How about this, please wait a few days, General. I will discuss this with the other high-ranking members of the Nian Army. After that, I will give you an answer," Zhang Lexing said.

Ding Junxiong nodded. He knew that the matter was of great importance and that the Nian Rebellion would not make a decision easily.

Furthermore, although Zhang Lexing was the leader of the Nian Rebellion, he could only truly control the Yellow Banner troops.

The other four banners will be affected to some extent, but they may not necessarily listen to him.

Especially if the Nian Rebellion were to be reorganized by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, it would clearly harm their own interests, so they would think it over carefully.

"General, I hope you will consider this carefully and make the right choice," Ding Junxiong said.

Zhang Lexing nodded without saying anything more.

However, Zhang Lexing then sent someone to invite the other four banner leaders of the Nian Army to discuss how to respond to the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

Besides Zhang Lexing, the high-ranking members of the Nian Rebellion included Gong Deshu, the chief of the White Banner; Hou Shiwei, the chief of the Red Banner; Han Laowan, the chief of the Blue Banner; and Su Tianfu, the chief of the Black Banner.

In reality, the Nian Rebellion was merely a coalition of multiple groups. For various reasons, it was rife with internal factions and even internal conflicts stemming from conflicting interests.

Under such circumstances, the difficulty of integrating the entire Nian Rebellion Army can be imagined.

"Brothers, the envoys from the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom have clearly stated their intentions. The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom hopes that the Nian Army can accept their reorganization. What are your opinions on this?"

After Zhang Lexing laid out all the conditions offered by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, he asked for everyone's opinions.

Unsurprisingly, almost everyone was against it.

They were used to ruling their own territories and acting arrogantly, so how could they possibly be willing to accept the command of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom?