Anti-Qing: Starting from the Jintian Uprising

Chapter 150 Killing Prisoners

Zeng Guofan said coldly.

"In the prison of the capital, my Qing Dynasty has eighteen kinds of tortures waiting for you, a thief."

Upon seeing this, Zeng Guoquan put away his knife and spoke.

"What you say makes sense!"

"If we kill this thief now, it will be a bargain for her."

Zeng Guofan nodded and continued to pay attention to the war.

Now the fierce battle on the Yangtze River has reached its final stage. All the Qing army is doing now is cleaning up the battlefield and counting the results of the battle.

Soon, Luo Bingzhang, Jiang Zhongyuan and others came to report.

"Master Zeng, a great victory! A great victory!"

"This time, my imperial army wiped out almost a quarter of the long-haired bandits' forces in one go. We won big!"

"It's really a big win!"

Jiang Zhongyuan said with some excitement.

Although what he said was a bit exaggerated, to some extent, it was not wrong.

The main forces of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom are now divided into four parts: the East Palace troops of Yang Xiuqing, the East King, the West Palace troops of Xiao Chaogui, the West King, the North Palace troops of Wei Changhui, the North King, and the Wing Palace troops of Shi Dakai, the Wing King.

After the Battle of Luoyang, Xiao Chaogui was killed in battle, and the troops of the West Palace and the Wing Palace suffered heavy losses.

But it is undeniable that it is still one of the four major factions within the Taiping Army.

Today, the Qing army has annihilated the Western Palace troops led by Hong Xiujiao on the banks of the Yangtze River.

It is no exaggeration to say that a quarter of the Taiping Army was annihilated.

Historically, Jiang Zhongyuan became famous for setting an ambush at Suoyifur, inflicting heavy damage on the Taiping Army, and killing Feng Yunshan, the Southern King of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, in one battle.

And now, although under Li Yi's butterfly, Feng Yunshan died prematurely outside Yong'an City.

But Jiang Zhongyuan still showed up.

However, this time, the person he was defeating was not Feng Yunshan, but Hong Xuanjiao.

Luo Bingzhang also said with excitement.

"After this battle, no one in the world will dare to look down on us, Xiang Yong!"

Zeng Guofan was also excited when he heard this.

"Hahaha, okay!"

"With this great victory, I can now give an explanation to the court, haha..."

"I and all of you have lived up to the Emperor and the high hopes of the court!"

"Then I will ask the Emperor for your contributions. The court will certainly reward you generously."

Zeng Guofan was sent to Hunan by Emperor Xianfeng to supervise militia training, and he was actually under a lot of pressure.

He was afraid that he would mess things up and let down the emperor and the court's trust.

Now with the battle at Laohuling as a foundation, Zeng Guofan has finally proved himself.

This can shut up the gossips in the court.

When everyone heard this, they all bowed in admiration.

"Your Excellency is wise!"

After he finished speaking, Jiang Zhongyuan on the side asked.

"Master Zeng, our army has captured more than 6,000 prisoners of war in this battle. May I ask how to deal with these prisoners of war?"

"Do you want to offer prisoners to the capital as well?"

When they left Changsha and headed north, the total number of troops under Xiao Chaogui and Shi Dakai's command was only more than 20,000 but less than 30,000.

Although they expanded along the way, after a battle under Luoyang City, these subsequent expansion forces were completely lost and most of them were dispersed.

When Shi Dakai and Hong Xuanjiao fought the Battle of Bowangpo, the total number of troops they had was just over 10,000.

Although the two later led their troops to Nanyang to rest and expand the army, when Hong Xuanjiao left Nanyang, she only had about 10,000 troops at hand.

In the Battle of Laohuling, the Taiping Army suffered heavy losses, with about half of them due to combat casualties and rout.

Therefore, there were only six thousand people who surrendered and were captured!

When Zeng Guofan heard this, his face quickly turned cold and he spoke in a murderous tone.

"No need!"

"If you want to offer prisoners, just send the main bandit generals to the capital. As for the others, execute them on the spot."

"Save the imperial court's food and fodder from being wasted!"

Upon hearing this, Luo Bingzhang couldn't help but speak up to persuade him.

"It is unlucky for Lord Zeng to kill the prisoners."

"Instead of killing the prisoners, it is better to organize the captured bandits into an army, drive them as the vanguard on the battlefield, use them to fill the trenches and break through the enemy lines, and gradually wear them down."

Zeng Guofan waved his hand when he heard this.

"I have made up my mind. You don't need to persuade me anymore."

However, Zeng Guofan finally opened his mouth to explain.

"The militia I want to organize will be composed of the honest farmers of Hunan, with the friendship between clans and fellow villagers as the bond."

"If we reorganize these bandits, won't they be incompatible with our Hunan warriors?"

"Rather than waiting for these bandits to surrender and then rebel again, it is better to kill them immediately to prevent future troubles."

When everyone heard this, they were all shocked. Some secretly criticized Zeng Guofan's bloodthirstiness, but in the end they could only speak out.

"Your Excellency is wise!"

Only Zeng Guoquan spoke with great interest.

"Brother, let me supervise the execution!"

Zeng Guofan did not hesitate when he heard this, but agreed directly.

……

Zuo Zongtang was sitting in the carriage, and after the long journey, he felt a little tired.

The face doesn't look very good!
He leaned against the carriage and fell into a drowsy state.

After an unknown amount of time, the carriage stopped and Zuo Zongtang was awakened.

Soon, a voice was heard from outside the car.

"We've arrived. Mr. Zuo, Mr. Guo, please get out of the car!"

Upon hearing this, Zuo Zongtang took a deep breath, looked at Guo Songtao beside him, and then the two of them supported each other and got off the carriage.

What appeared before them was a magnificent mansion.

The vermilion lacquered gate was nailed with shiny copper nails, and two majestic stone lions were placed on both sides of the gate.

On the plaque at the gate are three large gold-plated characters: "Tang Palace".

However, the main gate of Prince Tang’s Mansion was wide open at this time.

A young man in military uniform, with a tall and straight figure and a look of heroism and nobility, stood in front of the door surrounded by a group of guards, looking at the two of them with a smile.

Li Yi took a few steps forward and took the initiative to speak.

"Mr. Zuo, Mr. Guo, I have heard of you two for a long time."

"That's why I ordered my men to invite the two gentlemen to Guangzhou."

"I wonder if you two are willing to serve me and contribute to expelling the Tartars and restoring China?"

Guo Songtao fell silent after hearing this.

If he was not Zeng Guofan's aide, he might have been tempted by Li Yi's recruitment.

But the fact is that he is Zeng Guofan's aide, so how could he easily betray his master for fame and fortune?

Well, you have to pay more!
After all, Guo Songtao was just an aide, had never held an official title, and had never eaten the emperor's food. He was just like that to the Qing Dynasty.

Not a die-hard fan!
It was Zuo Zongtang on the side who spoke up.

"I am not talented enough to take on this important task..."

"Please choose someone more capable, Your Majesty!"

Literati are all like this, even if they are tempted, they have to be reserved. Although Zuo Zongtang may not be willing to serve the Tang Dynasty, he actually has no choice now.

When the Tang people abducted him, they also took his family with them.

What could Zuo Zongtang do?

He was a failed juren who had never received any benefits from the Qing court. Why would he sacrifice his entire family for the Manchu dynasty?
The journey from Xiangyin to Guangzhou was enough for Zuo Zongtang to prepare himself mentally.

When Li Yi saw that Zuo Zongtang only asked him to choose another capable person instead of rejecting him outright, he knew that Zuo Zongtang was moved.

Immediately give the steps.

"I have heard of the talents of the two gentlemen in Guangzhou."

"If you two are willing to work for the Tang Dynasty, I will certainly not be stingy with high positions and generous rewards."

"My secretariat has just been established recently and is in need of staff. I wonder if you two gentlemen would be willing to join me and help me with my work?"

Li Yi has so many things to do recently that he is almost busy like a spinning top.

I felt that I did not have enough energy to handle so many military and government affairs.

Therefore, he ordered the establishment of a secretariat, intending to have it help him share some of the minor military and government affairs.

We are short of people now!

Li Yi was still thinking about who to hire in the secretariat.

Now that’s good, Zuo Zongtang and Guo Songtao are here.

Also, although Li Yi valued Zuo Zongtang and the other man, he had just arrived after all. It would certainly be difficult to convince the people if he directly put them in the Ministry of the Interior as senior officials.

Even if his subordinates were intimidated by his power and didn't say anything, they would definitely have their own thoughts in their hearts, criticizing the injustice of Li Yi.

But if he just gave them both a small official position and then kept him by his side as a secretary, no one would have any objection.

Moreover, Li Yi could also use this opportunity to keep these people by his side and observe them more to prevent them from still having old feelings towards the Qing Dynasty.

Zuo Zongtang heard this and asked in doubt.

"Secretariat?"

Li Yi smiled and said.

"Mr. Zuo can be understood as the Grand Council of the Qing Dynasty, or the Cabinet of the former Ming Dynasty."

"If Mr. Zuo is willing to serve me, then you will be the first director of this secretariat."

Zuo Zongtang became a little upset when he heard this and his eyes widened.

An impulse arose in my heart to die for my friend!
He knew that since Li Yi specially ordered someone to invite him from "Xiangyin", he must value him.

But I didn’t expect that it would be valued to this extent!
The Director of the Secretariat, according to Li Yi himself, is the head of the Grand Council of the Qing Dynasty, or the Prime Minister of the Cabinet of the former Ming Dynasty!
An existence second only to one person and above ten thousand people!
For Zuo Zongtang, it was a step to success!
It's a really good feeling to be valued and trusted by others.

Taking a deep breath, Zuo Zongtang bowed deeply as if he had made up his mind, and then spoke.

"The king values ​​you so much, how dare I disobey your orders?"

"Zuo is willing to serve the king and the Tang Dynasty!"

Li Yi laughed out loud when he heard this.

"Hahaha, okay, okay!"

"Having Mr. Zuo's help is like adding wings to a tiger!"

After he finished speaking, Li Yi turned his gaze to Guo Songtao, who was standing silently by the side, and spoke.

"I hope Mr. Guo can come to my side to assist me. I will make use of him."

Seeing that Zuo Zongtang had surrendered, Guo Songtao couldn't help but waver in his heart. Seeing that Li Yi was trying to persuade him to surrender again, he still spoke with reserve.

"I am an aide to Zeng Guofan, the Hunan militia commander, and I am deeply trusted by Zeng. How can I just defect to another boss?"

"If I am so disloyal and unrighteous, Your Majesty would not dare to employ me, right?"

Li Yi heard this and shook his head.

"Highly valued? I don't think so."

"Zeng Guofan was the Minister of Hunan Militia during the Qing Dynasty. He must have the power to recommend officials to the Qing court. If he really valued Mr. Guo, why would he let Mr. Guo remain a commoner?"

"Is it difficult to recommend an official position for Mr. Guo?"

"He says he is trustworthy, but he doesn't show it. He is so greedy, stingy, mean and ungrateful. Why should Mr. Guo serve him?"

"A good minister chooses his master to serve, and a good bird chooses the tree to roost in. With Mr. Guo's talent, he will not be valued. Why should he hang himself on the tree of Zeng Guofan?"

Li Yi's words went straight to Guo Songtao's heart.

Although Guo Songtao also knew that it was normal for Zeng Guofan not to recommend him for an official position since he had just joined Zeng Guofan.

However, when people think about things, they often do not think objectively, but will involuntarily think from their own standpoint.

He also values ​​her, so let’s see what conditions Li Yi gave him?
He directly entered the Secretariat to take up an important position. If he were in the Qing Dynasty, he would have directly entered the Military Affairs Council.

But what did Zeng Guofan give him?

But he just has the empty title of a staff member, nothing else.

How big is the gap between the two?

I’m just afraid of comparing products!
Hearing this, Guo Songtao took a deep breath.

"If I surrender, will the king really trust me? Aren't you afraid that I am just pretending to surrender and have ulterior motives?"

Li Yi smiled and shook his head.

“Don’t trust those you employ, and ignore those you doubt.”

"I still have some courage."

Of course, this is impossible.

Li Yi was just talking.

We must still take precautions!
At the beginning, the two of them would definitely not be allowed to access any confidential information, and they could just be used as ordinary secretaries.

It’s not too late to reuse them once their loyalty is proven.

Also, when the people from the Military Intelligence Department kidnapped Zuo Zongtang's family, they also brought Guo Songtao's family along.

The families of the two are still in Li Yi's care, so Li Yi is not really worried that the two will have other intentions.

Upon hearing this, Guo Songtao took a deep breath and bowed.

"I am also willing to serve the Tang Dynasty and the king."

Hearing this, Li Yi's smile grew wider, and he reached out his hand to lead the two of them into the palace.

"Haha, I am very proud of the fact that you two gentlemen can make such a wise choice."

"Come on, gentlemen, please come in."

"I will host a banquet for the two gentlemen."

"The families of the two gentlemen should also come along to welcome them and relieve their fears."

"It's not easy to go south. I'm sorry for the hardship, gentlemen."

When the two heard this, they did not agree immediately, but spoke.

"Your Majesty, please order someone to cut our braids first!"

Since Li Yi values ​​them so much, they naturally have to show their loyalty.

The pig tail behind their heads is their token of allegiance.

Given the Qing Dynasty's custom of keeping the head but not the hair, or keeping the hair but not the head, once they cut the braids, they would have cut off their own retreat.

Hearing this, Li Yi's smile became more obvious and he nodded.

"Good good!"

"Since the two gentlemen said so, there's no need to look for anyone else. I'll come here myself!"

"Someone, bring me a pair of scissors."

The two of them couldn't help but feel moved when they heard this.

Li Yi personally cut their braids, which was equivalent to Li Yi personally bearing witness for them and bidding farewell to the past.

In the future, in the Tang Dynasty system, no one can use their past to make excuses.

Otherwise it would be a slap in Li Yi’s face!

How could they not be moved by such generous treatment?
(End of this chapter)