Slaying the Qing: My Taiping Heavenly Kingdom

Late March 1858, Tianjing City, Heavenly King's Palace.

Military Minister Shi Dakai is reporting to Hong Tian on the Taiping Army's operations in Zhejiang Province.

"Your Majesty, our army has completed the occupation of the entire Zhejiang province. All the prefectures and counties in Zhejiang are now under our control. In this battle, our army annihilated more than 100,000 Tartars. In addition, a large number of Qing officials surrendered to the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom."

According to the plan, Zhejiang Province will be garrisoned by the Eastern Expeditionary Army. The 4th Infantry Division of the Guards Corps will withdraw to southern Jiangsu. The 1st Infantry Division and the 3rd Army of the Southern Expeditionary Army will also withdraw to Jiangxi Province.

Shi Dakai reported.

The 4th Infantry Division of the Imperial Guard was deployed to Zhejiang Province primarily to familiarize itself with the battlefield and, after being tempered by war, to grow into a powerful army.

The Southern Expeditionary Army's next task was to deal with the Hunan Army.

The Eastern Expeditionary Army's garrison in Zhejiang Province is sufficient.

"Alright, let the Eastern Expeditionary Army continue to garrison Zhejiang Province. However, let the Eastern Expeditionary Army continue to reorganize and prepare for a future attack on Fujian Province!" Hong Tian instructed.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Shi Dakai replied.

With Zhejiang Province falling under the control of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, only Fujian, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, and the three southwestern provinces remain under the control of the Manchus in the entire south.

Next, after the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom defeated the British and the Gauls again, it could launch a large-scale attack on these southern provinces and bring them completely under its control.

"Your Majesty, we have captured a large number of Qing soldiers and officials. In addition, after breaching the Manchu city of Hangzhou, we also captured a large number of Tartars. What should we do with these people?" Prime Minister Hong Rengan asked.

If Hong Xiuquan were to become the Heavenly King, these Qing army prisoners would typically all be executed.

Especially for the Tartars, there was only one path: death.

The Tartars treated the Taiping Army the same way. Captured Taiping soldiers were often all executed. Taiping generals, in particular, were subjected to the excruciating punishment of slow slicing. And the female soldiers of the Taiping Army, once captured by the Tartars, suffered a fate worse than death.

After Hong Tian ascended the throne, he no longer directly killed these prisoners. Even the Tartars were sent to construction sites and mines to do hard labor, making full use of their surplus value.

Another reason is the "censorship god".

"All prisoners, including the Tartars within the city, shall be sent to work on construction sites and in mines. Ordinary Green Standard Army soldiers will be released in three years. As for the Tartars, they will be released in ten years!"

Anyone who resists, tries to escape, or otherwise is to be executed!

But anyone whose hands are stained with the blood of my Heavenly Kingdom's soldiers, people, or even innocent civilians, shall be executed!

Hong Tian proposed a solution.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Hong Rengan agreed.

The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was developing rapidly at that time.

Infrastructure projects are underway as scheduled. In addition, various factories are being built and put into operation, naturally requiring a large workforce.

These prisoners of war were usually strong and healthy, making them an excellent source of labor, and naturally, they could not be wasted.

"The various prefectures and cities of Zhejiang Province have just been brought under the control of the Heavenly Kingdom. The Heavenly Kingdom must continue to promote various reforms, win the hearts and minds of the people, and make the people at the bottom realize that the Heavenly Kingdom is there to help them. Under the rule of the Heavenly Kingdom, they will all be able to live a better life."

"Let the people of Zhejiang Province become the most steadfast supporters of the Empire!"

Hong Tian then gave further instructions.

The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom had already implemented various reforms in Jiangsu, Anhui, and Jiangxi provinces.

Reforms were also being carried out in some provinces controlled by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, such as Hubei, Hunan, and Henan.

The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom established complete control over these regions.

This greatly enhanced the overall strength of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

Once the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom absorbed Zhejiang Province, its strength would increase significantly again. After all, Zhejiang Province was an extremely wealthy province.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Hong Rengan nodded repeatedly.

Implementing reforms in newly controlled areas to eliminate the Qing dynasty's foundation of rule and achieve complete control over these regions became a key development direction for the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

As the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom controls more and more provinces, it will soon be able to completely overthrow the Manchus, replace them, and thus achieve its goal of restoring the Han Chinese rule.

The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom controlled more and more provinces and grew increasingly powerful.

With this shift in power, the Tartars suffered a significant loss of strength.

The Jiangnan region, in particular, was originally the most important financial and tax base for the Tartars, as well as their main grain-producing area.

With the Jiangnan region completely under the control of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and no longer under the rule of the Manchus, the predicament of the Manchus was predictable.

Early April 1858, Yanjing (Beijing), the Forbidden City.

Emperor Xianfeng, whose health was deteriorating, summoned a group of court officials to discuss countermeasures.

As the situation worsened, Emperor Xianfeng was deeply worried. He spent his days drowning his sorrows in alcohol or smoking opium. At the same time, he indulged in a life of pleasure and debauchery.

Even the strongest body can't withstand it.

Not to mention that Emperor Xianfeng's health was already very poor.

With his pale face and emaciated appearance, Emperor Xianfeng looked like a demon.

It is only those Tartars and those Han officials who have forgotten their ancestors that continue to regard him as a sage ruler.

It must be said that the Qing Dynasty had far too many sage rulers.

Starting with Kangxi, emperors of all dynasties were given this title.

"My esteemed ministers, the Taiping Rebellion has attacked Zhejiang Province. In just over two months, the entire province has fallen. Our Great Qing has almost lost half of its territory."

I know that the Qing Dynasty is facing a life-or-death crisis.

What strategies do you all have to ensure the continuation of the Qing Dynasty's rule and turn the tide?

Emperor Xianfeng asked.

All the court officials lowered their heads and remained silent.

Everyone knew that the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was becoming increasingly powerful.

The Qing Dynasty suffered increasing losses and lost more and more territory under the attacks of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

As one side gained strength and the other lost strength, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom grew stronger and stronger, while the Qing Dynasty grew weaker and weaker.

If things continue like this, a change of dynasty will likely become inevitable.

Even though many ministers were extremely loyal to the Qing Dynasty.

But they were powerless to change the situation!

Seeing that his ministers remained silent, Emperor Xianfeng could no longer suppress his anger.

"Useless! Good-for-nothings! What use are you bunch of good-for-nothings that my Great Qing has raised? Once the Taiping Rebellion destroys my Great Qing, you will not have a good end either!" Emperor Xianfeng cursed.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger! We deserve to die!" The court officials all knelt down.

Seeing this scene only fueled Emperor Xianfeng's anger.

"Your Majesty, the Taiping Rebellion is powerful. The only course of action for our Great Qing is to prepare our army as much as possible to fight the Taiping Rebellion. In addition to the Xiang Army, the court should support as many local militias as possible to resist the Taiping Rebellion's attacks," Grand Councilor Peng Yunzhang suggested.

"Hmph! Wasn't the Xiang Army also defeated by the Taiping rebels in Yuezhou Prefecture?" Grand Councilor Bo Jun retorted.

Peng Yunzhang and Bo Jun are vying for the position of Chief Minister of the Grand Council.

As a result, the two were almost constantly at odds in the imperial court.

"Only one prefecture in Hunan Province has been occupied by the Taiping rebels; the other prefectures are still under the control of the Hunan Army. Compared to other provinces, this is already a remarkable victory!" Peng Yunzhang argued.

This was a point that Emperor Xianfeng greatly agreed with.

Compared to other provinces that almost all fell into the hands of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, Hunan Province only lost one prefecture, which is already considered quite good.

"Your Majesty, the Taiping rebels have inflicted a major defeat on the foreigners in Songjiang Prefecture. According to the intelligence we have received, the foreigners will definitely not let this go. They will certainly send even more troops to deal with the Taiping rebels. For the Qing Dynasty, this is undoubtedly an excellent opportunity."

Once the Taiping Rebellion is severely damaged by the foreigners, our Great Qing can then dispatch more troops to besiege and annihilate them completely!

The newly appointed Grand Councilor, John Duhan, offered his advice.

Clearly, with the Qing Dynasty's own army no match for the Taiping Rebellion, they could only place their hopes on the foreigners. They hoped that after the foreigners defeated the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, they could reap the benefits.