The main force of the Rebel army, which is in decline and disadvantage, is working hard for its future destiny.
In Gangneung City, when the battle of the Outer Guos came to an end with the surrender of many unscrupulous officers and soldiers, the raiders launched later by the inner city also ended in a very short time. In this way, the ultimate goal of Zhou Huai'an leading the army out this time can be regarded as basically achieved and initially completed after many twists and turns.
According to preliminary statistics after the event, the total number of beheadings before and after the Battle of Gangneung reached more than 10,000, and there were more than 8,000 officers and soldiers of various colors who were surrendered and captured; hundreds of them were regarded as elite officers and soldiers. The Xichuan (sacred machine) crossbowmen, and half of the battalion of Golden Merchants cavalry; most of the rest are also the official army.
In this way, whether it is used to supplement the high-intensity labor posts in those mines, quarries, and salt pans, or to absorb and transform a part of it to enrich the imaginary enemy force organization and tactical content in the Taiping Army, it is a very beneficial thing.
The corresponding price paid by the Taiping Army for this is the number of casualties of nearly 6,000 people; but compared with the tragic battle of Yuezhou, the casualty rate this time is relatively normal; the number of soldiers killed and the casualties The ratio is about 1:3 to 1:4; among them, at least half of the lightly injured people who can return to the team after short-term training.
Of course, this is mainly due to the general improvement of the Taiping Army’s protective measures and corresponding equipment, which reduces the probability of collateral damage; coupled with the fairly skilled battle formation cooperation, most of the wounded in the battle can be removed and replaced. Come down to get help, instead of throwing on the ground and letting people trample on it or bleed slowly and wait for the result of death.
Although many shortcomings and problems were exposed in this series of battles, it was the result of the victory. The summation and summarization of the experience and lessons afterwards is of great benefit to the growth and construction of this army; and As long as they are good at learning from experience and lessons, whether it is the experience of victory or defeat, it can become an important nourishment for the Taiping Army to become stronger in the future.
Of course, because of the rapid expansion along the way and the absorption of a large number of soldiers from the old Rebels, the overall physical fitness and physical fitness of the soldiers have generally declined. This can only be achieved through consistent nutritional intake and conditioning, and reasonable exercise intensity. Slowly completed.
In addition, most of the baggage and equipment brought by the officers and soldiers this time were left in the inner city. Although An had sent manpower to set fire to them, the person in charge was not very concerned, so he was rushed to light the fire. It was quickly extinguished. So now these equipment and materials, as well as other property and goods raided and looted along the way, have all fallen directly into the hands of the Taiping Army.
Also on the list of rewards and awards after the event, Zhou Huaian found that the one who rushed out of the camp outside the city at a critical moment to entangle the officers and soldiers was actually Zhu Cun, who had just joined the Taiping Army and retained his status as a general. ; This point is quite inspiring and exciting.
And here is another good news and a bad news.
The good news is that Cao Shixiong, one of the main targets for the rescue of Jiangling, is still alive. Although only three or four hundred people are left in the repaired and extraordinarily strong tooth city, almost everyone is wounded when the Taiping army finds them. Most people are skinny and hungry, only the strength to barely pick up weapons to resist.
But as far as Zhou Huaian was concerned, as long as one of them could survive, the main purpose of sending troops this time was still a perfect and satisfactory closing of the palace.
The bad news is that this Jiangling siege was too intense and painful. Not only did the rebels, who originally claimed to be fully equipped with two military prefaces, have basically been defeated, they were also lost in the war as a registered permanent residence in the city of Jiangling, which was originally a Fuhua Dayi;
In particular, Ding Zhuang in the city was either pulled up to the top of the city and consumed, or was slaughtered indiscriminately by the officers and soldiers after the city was broken. In addition, he died of starvation and disease during the siege. Now it can be said that there are no three or four in ten, and even the work of street cleaning and aftermath in the city can only be counted by the old and weak women and children.
In this case, the function of Gangneung itself as a transshipment hub connecting and traveling to and from various places will basically be abolished in the future; after all, no matter how much material and property you have, you will have to rely on sufficient manpower for the entire age. To be circulated. If there is not enough external input and interference.
Zhou Huaian thought about it this way, and saw that as one of the survivors of Jiangling after the war, Cao Shixiong, with a haggard face and a dark complexion, was drawn in and sat in front of him.
"Brother Old Xu, it's really a great kindness to say no thanks; in the end it was you who led your troops to rescue..."
Then, he touched his face and smiled bitterly.
"But now, I can't think of anything else I can show to thank you... in this city..."
"Why do you want to thank me as much as you can,."
Zhou Huaian was a little surprised, and interrupted him somewhat disapprovingly.
"Aren't we brothers who are the same volunteers? Is it right to keep watch and help each other and communicate with each other? Right now, you and I are only at stake..."
"But I was really uneasy in my heart if you made you come far away, wasting money, food and materials, and hurting the manpower, but in the end you got nothing."
Obviously, the difficulties and setbacks during this period of time have made this rather outrageous and cheerful man become a little incomprehensible.
"Now I have nothing, and this city is the only one I can tell..."
"You can survive, it's the best reward for me..."
However, Zhou Huaian sighed secretly and spoke earnestly.
"Is it possible that in your eyes, I waited for the long journey just to map this city... Of course I have a more long-term plan and desire..."
"I understood from the beginning. The rebels are determined to seek justice for the poor in the world and fight for survival; what they do is to kill officials and rebel and overthrow the court. What is the gain or loss of a Jiangling city in this district? , It's not in my eyes yet..."
"In fact, compared with the gains and losses of this city and place, I value Brother Cao you more than you... I definitely can’t just sit back and watch your troubles."
Having said that, Zhou Huaian continued to encourage him.
"Besides, if you didn't stand here in Jiangling to block most of the threats of the officers and soldiers going south, how could I calmly communicate with the rebels in Canton and exchange what is needed..."
"So the rescue of Jiangling is not a whim, but a long-term plan for the cause of our rebels. As the so-called is a matter of public and private matters, you should not have too much baggage..."
"But I was thinking a lot... I was confused by the gains and losses in front of me."
Cao Shixiong shook his head in surprise and sigh.
"But I don't know what plans and plans the virtual brother has for the next step..."
"Of course I fully support you, Brother Cao, and continue to maintain Jiangling's victory key and hub for a long time..."
Zhou Huai'an had a clear mind; in fact, he had already thought out a specific plan before that.
"In the city..."
Cao Shixiong hesitated to speak but stopped.
"It's not a problem in the city. Then I will divide the troops to recover the counties in Jingzhou, and then recruit the corresponding population to fill the Jiangling city..."
Zhou Huaian comforted him.
"Then gather in exile on the spot and recruit a group of new pawns, and I will assign a man to you from the subordinates; accordingly, you will select and appoint yourself;"
"After the city defenses in Jiangling are fully enriched, I will hand over the counties in the surrounding areas to you...it is necessary to manage well as the source of subsequent wealth..."
"However, I want to leave a garrisoned navy army to ensure the safety and proper transportation along the route..."
"This is what it should be... I also hope that you can stay more people to share one or two for me."
Cao Shixiong couldn't help but nodded quickly.
"From now on, I should follow the Cantonese side to act as one unit..."
"Brother Cao,"
Zhou Huai sighed when he said this.
"What our rebels do is to fight against the government for a long time. What we rely on is to fight and go. If we always stay in one place, our gains and losses will be at a disadvantage..."
"If you want to deal with the officers and the army for a long time, it is not enough to just defend the city. The so-called is the basic principle of keeping land and losing people, losing people and land, keeping people and losing land, and keeping people and land..."
"We also need to train a good soldier to come, relying on its quick feet and the wind-like geographical position, relying on Jiangling water and land... The long-term and the invading officers and soldiers can't get a foothold in the place... "
"But it is necessary to mobilize the local people as eyeliner, eyes and ears, so that they can't be plundered and nuisance them wantonly, and they must be comforted and protected in a good way..."
"Since we are the volunteers who are asking for life for the people, we must reflect the fundamental righteousness and the bottom line of the situation, and cannot be like an official dog for the immediate convenience and profit of the moment, even if the subordinates want to do it recklessly... "
"The four fields of Jiangling are empty and fertile for thousands of miles, but the people's livelihood is declining and the villages are deserted. It is perfectly possible to do the things of farming and arranging households; it is also a place for enough food and soldiers..."
"And Jiangling is at the forefront of land and water. As long as you can concentrate on protecting the environment and the people, attracting and gathering business travelers, it will be a matter of time before returning to the prosperous city..."
"At least after this defeat, it is impossible for the officers and soldiers of the Eastern Shannan Province to come back in a short period of time. On the contrary, the situation is quite vacant; you can send a small amount of manpower to disturb it."
"It can kill and plunder big households, and then distribute money and food to help the hungry, encourage the refugees or recruit people to invest... It can not only make the place uneasy, but also weaken the source of its soil output..."
"Please be imaginary... the leader didn't hesitate to teach me..."
At this moment, Cao Shixiong seemed to have many touches and feelings, and he changed his title without hesitation.
"Now that the military mansion has abandoned me like my generation, but you are not far away to save and plan these for me, so even if the kind lion is a fan, it is difficult to report.. Please let me be brazen and lead the army. Under the banner of Taiping, drive the forefront..."
. . . . . . .
In the Poyang city of Raozhou, the town has been moved to the local Huai army recruiting camp.
Zhang Lin, who was the head coach and the capitalist soldier, was also dazzled by many bright, golden reflections, illuminating his bronzed face on the spot.
(End of this chapter) (End of this chapter)