Anti-Qing: Starting from the Jintian Uprising

Chapter 166 Bao Chao: I really want to improve!
Well, Li Yi felt that it was better for the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom to be cheated by itself than by foreigners...

You have to know that in history, those unscrupulous foreign merchants dared to increase the cost of a foreign rifle by dozens of times, and sold it to the Taiping Army and the Qing Army for more than one hundred taels of silver each.

No matter how evil Li Yi is, he is not as evil as the foreign profiteers.

The reason why Li Yi was not afraid of being cheated when buying foreign guns from foreigners was that he could even get a premium when the middlemen resold them to the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

One reason was that, unlike the officials of the Qing army and the Taiping army, he knew the market price of foreign guns.

The foreign profiteers can’t fool him!
The second reason is that the Tang army has its own ability to produce foreign guns and cannons. If the foreigners ask for a random price, Li Yi can simply refuse to buy them.

The third reason is that the Tang Dynasty now does not buy foreign guns from foreigners from just one country, but from merchants from several countries together.

With more sellers, the price will naturally go down.

You don't want to sell? There are plenty of people who are selling!
Upon hearing this, Yang Yiqing said with a grateful expression.

"Thank you, Your Highness King Tang!"

The two sides talked for a while, Yang Yiqing took his leave, and Li Yi continued to deal with military affairs.

……

The sun was setting in the west, and the red sunset dyed the tall city walls of Hengyang red, as if they were soaked in blood.

The gap in the city wall that was created by heavy artillery is even more shocking, and one can't help but think of the fierceness of the battle at that time.

Bao Chao picked up a few bricks and stones and put them in his backpack. He filled the basket several times and then carried it towards the gap in the city wall.

After the Battle of Hengyang, prisoners of war such as Bao Chao were dispersed and used as laborers to repair the city walls.

It was midsummer at this time, and it was even hotter in the evening.

After Bao Chao took a few steps, sweat began to seep out of his forehead, and his military uniform was already soaked with sweat.

The shoulder straps of the backpack rubbed his shoulders so hard that they were red, swollen and painful, and seemed to have broken the skin.

Arriving at the gap in the city wall, Bao Chao put down the bricks and stones in the backpack, calmed down a little, and prepared to carry them again.

At this moment, a fast horse came galloping from outside the city, passed through the city gate, and rushed towards the Tang army training ground inside the city.

Under the glow of the setting sun, the rhythm of the galloping horses was obviously a little hurried.

Bao Chao narrowed his eyes and realized that something might happen.

But before he could do anything, the supervisor at the side whipped him.

With a crisp sound, the whip hit his back, making Bao Chao gasp and almost curse.

"What are you looking at, you street bastard? Are you waiting to die if you don't work hard?"

Bao Chao grinned, but did not dare to resist. He could only continue to carry the basket and load bricks and stones.

He secretly swore in his heart that he must change the current situation as soon as possible and not go on like this.

It really hurts when the whip hits your body!

He rode his horse quickly all the way to the parade ground and went to see Li Yiwen.

"Report!"

"Reporting to the Brigade Commander, our scout cavalry has discovered traces of the Qing monster fifty miles west of Hengyang City."

"This group of Qing demons is heading towards Hengyang."

The communications soldier saluted Li Yiwen and then spoke.

Li Yiwen's expression changed when he heard this.

He looked up and asked.

"What is the specific situation? How many Qing monsters are there in the invasion? Who is leading them?"

Upon hearing this, the communications soldier began to report.

"Reporting to the brigade commander, the number of the invading Qing monsters is about 5,000. Judging from their flags, they are Chu warriors led by the Qing monster leader Jiang Zhongyuan."

When Li Yiwen heard this, his expression was solemn at first, then a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, and he said with a sneer.

"Haha, interesting!"

"A mere 5,000 people dare to invade Hengyang?"

"This Qing demon Jiang Zhongyuan is really arrogant!"

"Pass the order down, the entire army is ready to fight, prepare to fight the invading Qing monsters under the city of Hengyang!"

Facing the oncoming Qing army, Li Yiwen was not afraid.

If he had not been worried that Hengyang City might be lost after he led his troops away from Hengyang, he would even be prepared to take the initiative to lead his troops to attack.

……

Snapped!
Jiang Zhongyuan slapped his brother in the face.

"You useless bastard! When you volunteered to be in charge of the army's scout work, you promised me that nothing would go wrong. Is this your promise to me that nothing will go wrong?"

"It's fine if we let the Tang bandits' scouts discover our army's tracks, but we also let them retreat safely?!"

"If this happens, our army's whereabouts will be exposed."

"How can we raid Hengyang?"

Jiang Zhongji was slapped by his brother, but he didn't dare to refute. He just lowered his head and said.

"Brother, it's my fault. I am willing to be punished!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhongyuan couldn't help but slap Jiang Zhongji in the face again.

"Be punished? What's the point of me punishing you?"

"If I punish you, will my army be able to quietly attack the city of Hengyang? If I punish you, will the Tang thieves be unaware that our army is going to raid Hengyang?"

"Now our army's purpose of raiding Hengyang must be exposed, and the Tang thieves in Hengyang must be on guard."

"What do you think our army should do now?"

"How should we fight this battle next?"

Jiang Zhongyuan is also extremely angry now.

The army had sneaked all the way here with great difficulty, but when they were about to arrive at Hengyang City, Jiang Zhongji's negligence allowed them to be discovered by the Tang army, causing the plan to raid Hengyang to fail. He was extremely angry.

If Jiang Zhongji wasn't his own brother, Jiang Zhongyuan would have even wanted to execute him in accordance with military law.

Jiang Zhongji gritted his teeth and said after hearing this.

"Brother, as far as I know, when the Tang thieves attacked Hengyang, they first used heavy artillery to knock down the Hengyang city wall, and then launched the offensive."

"It has only been a few days since the Tang invaders captured Hengyang, so the city walls must not have been repaired yet."

"If our army launches a strong attack from the gap in the city wall, we will be able to capture Hengyang City in one fell swoop."

"In this battle, I request to be the vanguard of the army. If I cannot lead the army to capture Hengyang in one fell swoop, please use my head to enforce military law!"

Jiang Zhongyuan's anger subsided a little after hearing this.

He said with a cold snort.

"That's pretty much it!"

After saying this, Jiang Zhongyuan gave instructions to a personal soldier beside him.

"It's getting dark. Tell the whole army to set up camp and rest."

"Since we have been discovered by the Tang thieves, there is no need to march overnight. Let the army rest for a night."

Upon hearing this, the personal soldiers clasped their fists and left.

Jiang Zhongyuan summoned his generals overnight to discuss the attack on Hengyang City.

……

Inside Hengyang City, the Tang Army Camp!
The Tang army was also conducting military discussions.

Li Yiwen spoke first.

"A group of 5,000 Qing demons are heading towards Hengyang. They are no more than a day's journey away from Hengyang."

"Generals, please tell us how our army should respond!" Li Shixian said after hearing this.

"Commander, in my opinion, our army might as well take the initiative to attack and keep the enemy outside Hengyang City to prevent Hengyang from being affected by the war again."

Li Shixian's attitude was somewhat radical. The reason was that since the Northern Expedition, the Qing army had performed too poorly and was almost defeated in one battle.

The Tang army's victory after victory on the battlefield boosted Li Shixian's confidence in facing the Qing army.

Hearing this, Liu Yongfu, who was standing by, couldn't help but speak up and remind him.

"Captain Li, I'm afraid this is inappropriate."

"The king has given me the task of garrisoning Hengyang and ensuring the safety of the army's food supply routes. We cannot leave Hengyang rashly."

Upon hearing this, Li Yiwen nodded immediately.

"Yongfu is right. Our army must not rashly leave Hengyang."

Li Shixian frowned when he heard this.

"What if this Qing demon army does not attack Hengyang, but instead sends troops to harass the surrounding areas of Hengyang, or cuts off the Xiangjiang River and cuts off our army's food supply?"

This group of Qing demons came rushing in, obviously intending to raid Hengyang and cut off the food supply of the Tang army.

But if we want to cut off the food supply, we don't have to attack Hengyang by force.

This Qing demon army can also set up camp and set up cannons at a narrow place on the Xiangjiang River outside the city of Hengyang to block the river.

In this way, the Tang army's food supply was naturally cut off.

Li Yiwen said with narrowed eyes.

"Then send a detachment to attack proactively, feign defeat to lure the enemy, lure the Qing monsters to the city of Hengyang, and then annihilate them in one fell swoop!"

After saying this, Li Yiwen looked around and asked.

"Who in the various units is willing to undertake the task of feigning defeat and luring the enemy?"

All the generals fell silent after hearing this. It was obvious that no one wanted to take on this mission of feigning defeat to lure the enemy.

Although the Tang army's current method of calculating merit is not the traditional method of calculating merit based on headcount, it is calculated based on the contribution made by each unit in the war.

However, the task of feigning defeat to lure the enemy is really thankless, so no one is willing to take it.

Seeing this, Li Yiwen made the decision.

"Since no one wants to fight, I will make the arrangements. Shixian, the task of feigning defeat and luring the enemy will be yours."

He did not show favoritism and directly gave this most difficult task to his younger brother.

Li Shixian's mouth twitched when he heard this. Although he was somewhat reluctant, he couldn't disobey the order, so he stood up, clasped his fists and said.

"The last general takes command!"

"But I have one condition that I hope you will agree to."

Li Yiwen nodded and said.

"Go ahead."

Upon hearing this, Li Shixian was no longer polite and spoke.

"Feigning defeat to lure the enemy will inevitably result in casualties. I hope to select a group of men from the prisoners of war to serve as the vanguard to reduce the casualties of our army's headquarters."

Everyone has their own value. In Li Shixian's eyes, the value of prisoners of war is far less important than that of his own soldiers.

Upon hearing this, Li Yiwen immediately nodded and agreed.

"can!"

Li Yiwen had a similar idea. The death of some prisoners of war was nothing. His superiors would not blame him for losing some prisoners of war on the battlefield.

But if too many of the Tang army's main soldiers died, then he, as the commander-in-chief, would definitely be in trouble.

……

On the second day, just after dawn, Chu Yong, who had rested all night, continued on his journey and headed towards Hengyang City.

On the other side, the Tang army in Hengyang City was also preparing for war.

The sound of footsteps could be heard as the entire Tang army assembled in the parade grounds and began to prepare for battle.

Bao Chao, who was carrying wall bricks, seized this opportunity, found the supervisor who was responsible for supervising his work, and asked for permission.

"General, the Qing monsters are invading. I also want to fight for the Tang Dynasty and go to the battlefield to kill the Qing monsters. Please give me a chance."

"I really want to make progress!"

The supervisor said impatiently.

"Go and build your wall."

"You want to improve? I also want to improve. I don't even have a part in killing the Qing monsters, so how can it be your turn?!"

This Tang army soldier was sent to supervise the work of the prisoners of war, and he was already annoyed that he could not go to the battlefield to kill the Qing monsters.

Bao Chao even dared to make noise in front of him, he was so annoyed.

I almost couldn't help but whip him!
However, Bao Chao's words were heard by Li Shixian who happened to be passing by.

Li Shixian stood where he was and ordered someone to call Bao Chao over.

"What's your name? Do you really want to go to the battlefield and kill Qing monsters?"

When Bao Chao saw a senior official calling him over, he knew his chance had come. He immediately puffed out his chest and protruded his belly, and spoke with a firm attitude.

"In reply to your words, my name is Bao Chao, and I really want to go to the battlefield to kill the Qing monsters and use their blood to wash away my past sins."

Seeing Bao Chao's sincere attitude, Li Shixian nodded immediately.

"Okay, since you have this intention, then I will give you a chance."

"It just so happens that the brigade commander asked this regiment commander to select a group of men from among the prisoners of war to serve as the vanguard, and you are one of them!"

Upon hearing this, Bao Chao immediately agreed with a happy face.

Although he also knew that the so-called striker might be cannon fodder.

But in Bao Chao's opinion, fighting on the battlefield is better than continuing to build the city wall.

Li Shixian patted Bao Chao on the shoulder and said.

"Perform well on the battlefield. If you perform well, I will personally recommend you to the brigade commander."

After eating the cake drawn by Li Shixian, a blush of excitement appeared on Bao Chao's face.

He seemed to see a bright future beckoning to him!
Li Shixian quickly selected enough men from among the prisoners of war and formed a vanguard battalion of about a thousand people.

Then he gave each of them a musket or a spear, and led them out of the city to fight the invading Qing monsters, and then pretended to be defeated to lure the enemy.

Soon, the Tang army led by Li Shixian encountered the Qing army vanguard led by Jiang Zhongji in the south of Hengyang City.

In order to attack Hengyang through the gap in the city wall, the Qing army took a detour from the south of Hengyang city.

Because the Tang army launched an attack on Hengyang City from the south of the city and used heavy artillery to blow down a section of Hengyang's city wall.

The Qing army's actions further strengthened the Tang army's speculation.

The Tang army was convinced that the Qing army had no intention of passing through Hengyang, but was instead planning to cut off the Tang army's food supply by cutting off the Xiangjiang River outside the city of Hengyang.

This also prompted the Tang army to take the initiative to go out of the city to fight before the Qing army came to attack Hengyang.

This made Jiang Zhongji feel extremely excited.

He was prepared to incur heavy casualties and attack Hengyang.

Unexpectedly, the Tang army in Hengyang took the initiative to attack!
If this isn't a surprise, then what the hell can be called a surprise?
"Soldiers, the Tang thieves have left the city, follow me and kill them!"

"Kill the Tang thieves, protect the Qing Dynasty, long live the Qing Dynasty!"

As soon as the two sides encountered each other, Jiang Zhongji could not wait to lead the Qing army's vanguard to rush towards the Tang army.

Jiang Zhongyuan, who was standing behind, was delighted to see his brother perform so bravely and stroked his beard with satisfaction.

However, he didn't know that his brothers and the Chu warriors under his command had long been abandoned by Zeng Guofan!
Everything they are doing now is simply seeking death, which has no meaning at all.

(End of this chapter)