Slaying the Qing: My Taiping Heavenly Kingdom

Late July 1857, Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, Tianjing City, Heavenly King's Palace.

Heavenly King Hong Tian summoned Prime Minister Hong Rengan, Minister of Military Affairs Shi Dakai, and Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard Chen Yucheng to discuss relevant actions against the Nian Rebellion.

"Your Majesty, the Western Expeditionary Army reports that the Nian Rebellion has split. The Nian Rebellion leader and Yellow Banner Chief Zhang Lexing and the White Banner Chief Gong Deshu have expressed their willingness to accept the reorganization by the Heavenly Kingdom."

However, Han Laowan, the chief of the Blue Banner, explicitly refused and was unwilling to accept the reorganization of the Heavenly Kingdom.

As for Su Tianfu, the chief of the Black Flag, and Hou Shiwei, the chief of the Red Flag, they were also unwilling to accept the reorganization of the Heavenly Kingdom.

However, their attitudes were not as resolute as Han Laowan's.

Zhang Lexing believed that Su Tianfu and Hou Shiwei were still worth trying to win over.

Shi Dakai reported.

Hong Tian nodded: "It seems that among the Nian Rebellion troops, only the Yellow Flag and White Flag are willing to accept reorganization. The Black Flag and Red Flag can be won over. But the Blue Flag's attitude is already very clear."

"In that case, let's take action against Lanqi. We can use them as a warning to others, forcing Su Tianfu and Hou Shiwei to make a choice!"

Shi Dakai and the others nodded repeatedly, agreeing with this viewpoint.

"Where has the 3rd Infantry Division of the Imperial Guard arrived?" Hong Tian asked.

"Your Majesty, the 3rd Infantry Division of the Imperial Guard has entered Yingzhou Prefecture. It is expected that they will reach the Fuyang line in a few more days," Chen Yucheng replied.

"Very well, in that case, let the 3rd Infantry Division of the Imperial Guard Corps be the main force and launch an attack on the Nian Army's Blue Flag troops. The 8th Army of the Western Expeditionary Corps will provide support. In addition, the 5th and 6th Armies of the Western Expeditionary Corps will keep a close eye on the Nian Army's Black Flag and Red Flag troops. As soon as they make a move, launch an attack immediately."

At the same time, we must also be wary of the Nian Army's troops with yellow and white flags.

Furthermore, the 7th Army, currently undergoing reorganization within the Western Expeditionary Force, must also be prepared. If the Tartars seize the opportunity to intervene, further complicating the situation and potentially reigniting a major war between us and the Tartars, then we might need to commit even more troops.

Hong Tian gave the order.

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

"Have Anhui Province prepare. Once we have reorganized the Nian Rebellion, we will quickly send officials to take control of the government at all levels in northern Anhui. At the same time, we will swiftly begin implementing the various policies of the Heavenly Kingdom and win over the local people."

As long as the local people support the Heavenly Kingdom, it will be able to quickly establish its rule in northern Anhui.

Even if some members of the Nian Rebellion were unwilling to accept the rule of the Heavenly Kingdom, they couldn't do anything about it.

Hong Tian continued.

The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's policy of distributing land to the poor was virtually unbeatable in terms of winning over the hearts and minds of the people.

Other forces were simply unable to compete with the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom for popular support.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Prime Minister Hong Rengan replied.

After reaching a consensus on this issue, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's leaders acted swiftly.

The 3rd Infantry Division of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's Imperial Guard Corps is rapidly en route to Yingzhou Prefecture, preparing to engage in combat.

Other units were also preparing for battle.

Meanwhile, Kaifeng Prefecture, the capital of Henan Province.

Yinggui, the governor of Henan Province, and Shengbao, the deputy military commander assisting in the military affairs of Henan Province, are discussing the threat posed by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom to Henan Province.

The position of Provincial Commander of Henan Province was concurrently held by the Provincial Governor.

However, given that the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom had already controlled northern Anhui and posed a substantial threat to Henan Province,

Therefore, the Qing court dispatched Sheng Bao with the title of Deputy Commander-in-Chief to be in charge of military affairs in Henan Province.

Three garrisons were established in Henan Province, each commanded by a general.

They are Hebei Town, Nanyang Town, and Guide Town.

"Your Excellency, the Taiping rebels' army has already entered northern Anhui. This has undoubtedly put great pressure on Henan Province! General Qiu Lian'en of Nanyang Town has repeatedly petitioned for more silver to expand the army."

General Dai Wenying of Guide Town and General Cai Lu of Hebei Town also made the same request.

Sheng Bao said.

"Commander-in-Chief, the Henan Army has already expanded to 50,000 men. Should we expand it further? The silver allocated by the court is simply not enough! In addition, the Taiping rebels have occupied the entire Jiangsu, Anhui, and Jiangxi provinces, as well as part of Hubei province. This has caused the court to lose a lot of tax revenue! If we want to continue expanding the army, I'm afraid we'll have to find a way ourselves," Yinggui said with a sigh.

Sheng Bao nodded repeatedly; he understood this as well.

"Your Excellency, I propose that the landlords and wealthy merchants of Henan Province help the court out of its predicament! If the Taiping rebels attack, they won't be able to protect their own land and property. Rather than that, it would be better to donate money to the court to expand the army. Only if the court can withstand the Taiping rebels' attack and eventually wipe them out can they rest easy!" Sheng Bao suggested.

Yinggui nodded repeatedly: "I will consider it carefully and explain it to those landlords and wealthy merchants. I'm sure they understand these principles!"

"By the way, Your Excellency. General Dai Wenying of Guide Town reports that there's a situation with the Nian rebels. The Taiping rebels want to annex the Nian rebels, but the Nian rebels disagree."

In particular, Han Laowan, a member of the Nian rebels, has already sent someone to contact Dai Wenying, wanting to accept the imperial court's offer of amnesty.

Sheng Bao said.

"Haha, great news! This is undoubtedly a great thing for the imperial court! The Nian rebels have a considerable force. If they are swallowed up by the Taiping rebels, they will definitely pose a great threat to us."

If we can recruit them, it will undoubtedly greatly increase our strength. At the same time, it will weaken the Taiping Rebellion. With this shift in power, we will have enough strength to deal with the Taiping Rebellion.

Yinggui was overjoyed.

"Yes, Your Excellency, that's what I think too. In that case, let's agree to Han Laowan's conditions and accept them," Sheng Bao said.

"Not only that, let Han Laowan contact other Nian bandit leaders. If they are willing to abandon the darkness and embrace the light, the court will forgive and forget their past transgressions," Yinggui said.

Sheng Bao nodded repeatedly: "Your Excellency, I will make the arrangements."

Han Laowan, the chief commander of the Blue Banner of the Nian Rebellion, was greatly encouraged after receiving a reply from the Tartars.

This undoubtedly provides them with a way out.

If the Taiping army were to forcibly annex them, they could then defect to the Tartars.

In addition, the Tartars also demanded that Han Laowan contact other Nian rebel leaders and defect to the Qing court.

Han Laowan also did his best.

He naturally hoped that more Nian rebels would defect to the Tartars. That way, even if he ended up with the Tartars, he wouldn't be fighting alone; he would have others to help him.

However, when Han Laowan sent people to contact Su Tianfu and Hou Shiwei, he did not receive a clear reply.

Both claimed they needed to think it over carefully.

This greatly displeased Han Laowan, but there was no other way to resolve it.

As for Zhang Lexing and Gong Deshu, Han Laowan did not send anyone to contact them.

Han Laowan knew very well that Zhang Lexing and Gong Deshu both harbored extreme hatred for the Tartars and would never defect to them.

If he sends someone to contact Zhang Lexing and Gong Deshu, it will only expose the fact that he has already defected to the Tartars.

In that case, things will be harder to handle.

Meanwhile, the Taiping Army had already identified its target: the Nian Rebellion's Blue Banner troops.

1857年8月7日，太平军近卫军团第3步兵师抵达了阜城，同西征军团第8军汇合。

General Wu Dinggui, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Imperial Guard Corps, received instructions to launch an attack after consulting with Hong Tian via radio.

That afternoon, the 3rd Infantry Division of the Guards Corps launched an attack on Fuyang.

Fuyang, as the capital of Yingzhou Prefecture, was also the only capital controlled by the Nian Rebellion.

The Nian Rebellion had deployed tens of thousands of troops in Yingzhou Prefecture.

However, they were all troops under the Blue Banner of the Nian Rebellion.

The entire Blue Banner has a total population of nearly 30,000, and one-third of the troops are deployed here.

When the Taiping army appeared outside Fucheng, it immediately attracted the attention of the Nian army inside the city.

"Great Banner Master, the Taiping Army is at the city gates; they are about to attack us."

The Nian Army soldiers hurriedly reported.

"What? The Taiping rebels are going to attack us?" A burly middle-aged man immediately tensed up.

His name was Wan Feng, a high-ranking banner leader under the Blue Banner of the Nian Rebellion, and he enjoyed the deep trust of Han Laowan. That's why he was sent to Fucheng to command the troops there.

They originally thought that the Taiping army wouldn't really fight.

But unexpectedly, the Taiping Army clearly intended to use force to forcibly annex them this time!