Chapter 28: The Death of Xiao Chaogui

  The Taiping Army's headquarters, Hong Xiuquan and Yang Xiuqing, Xiao Chaogui discussed whether to advance on Changsha or not.

  Yang Xiuqing said: "When I was in Jintian, I heard that Li Yunzhong could use gunpowder to blow down the city gate and city wall. Now even the provincial capital Changsha has been occupied by him. Is there really no one in my heavenly army who knows how to use gunpowder?"

  Xiao Chaogui said: "Gunpowder is useful only for blasting, but it can't bring down the city walls. Li Yunzhong must have other means."

  After Feng Yunshan's death, Hong Xiuquan spent most of his time with a gloomy face, only listening to them talk about explosives, and became less concerned about whether to advance on Changsha. He wanted to decide for himself to go to Changsha, but he was not good at military affairs after all, so in the end he still had to listen to their opinions. He couldn't help but say: "Are we going to merge with Li Yunzhong or not?"

  Xiao Zhaogui angrily said: "That traitor is now pleased, I am willing to lead the army to Changsha, take his dog head, and his subordinates dare not resist."

  Yang Xiucheng waved his hand and negated, "Now Li Yunzhong's power is great, we can't act rashly. We must get Changsha in our hands, so that we can open up the situation in Hunan. I will send someone to contact Li Yunzhong in Changsha immediately."

  Hong Xiuquan thought: "Will Li Yunzhong let us have Changsha? Last time in Guilin, he disobeyed my order to attack the city."

  Yang Xiuqing said: "Now that Li Yunzhong has established his own country, what he fears most is that we will unite with the Qing dynasty to attack him. We can use this as leverage to force him to give up Changsha."

  Yang Xiuqing still had a bottom line, that is, to recognize Li Yuncong's Great Han Kingdom and allow the Heavenly Kingdom of Eternal Peace and the Great Han Kingdom to form an alliance. However, considering Xiao Chaogui's constant opposition to Li Yuncong, during the enthronement ceremony in Yongan, he forced Hong Xiuquan to list Li Yuncong's Han King as second only to the Western King, which ultimately led to Li Yuncong leading his troops out of the kingdom.

  Yang Xiucheng didn't know that Hong Xuanjiao had repeatedly praised Li Yunzhong in front of Xiao Zhaogui, making Xiao Zhaogui think he was wearing a green hat. Not only did he scold and beat Hong Xuanjiao from time to time, but also competed with Li Yunzhong everywhere.

  Meng Shangsheng brought Li Yunzhong's secret letter to the Taiping Army's camp and first found Yang Xiuqing, presenting the letter before retreating. All of this was arranged by Li Yunzhong beforehand.

  Yang Xiucheng opened the envelope, expressionless, and remained silent for a long time, pacing back and forth in the camp. It was as if he had a very difficult decision to make. An hour later, he called Hong Xuanjiao over and they had another long, confidential conversation. With complex emotions, Hong Xuanjiao went to find Xiao Chaogui.

  Xiao Chaogui wiped the big knife in his account, Hong Xuanjiao came in to see that there was no one around, and said: "I just saw Li Yunzhong's sworn brother Mong Shangsheng go find Dong Wang."

  Xiao Chaogui felt annoyed as soon as Hong Xuanjiao mentioned Li Yunzhong, and he heavily put down his large knife, saying: "What would a woman know? Anyway, the Eastern King will definitely summon me to discuss later."

  Hong Xuanjiao hesitated for a moment, then said: "I unintentionally overheard Li Yunzhong saying that he wants to hand over the city of Changsha to Yang Xiuqing, and asked him to immediately dispatch a large army to accept it."

  Xiao Zhaogui exclaimed, "What! Is this really happening?" A moment later, he sneered, "Li Yunzhong is still sensible after all." In his heart, he thought that Li Yunzhong must have been surrounded in Changsha City and was intimidated by the Qing army.

  Hong Xuanjiao said: "I'm afraid that Dong Wang will secretly send someone to occupy Changsha, and establish such a great merit. The Heavenly King will surely trust him even more." After finishing speaking, Hong Xuanjiao left.

  Xiao Chaogui fell silent. Since Feng Yunshan's death, Yang Xiuqing had been suppressing him everywhere. Even the "Heavenly Brother" descending to earth couldn't suppress Yang Xiuqing. If things continued like this, he would eventually become like the Northern King and Wing King, only able to follow the Eastern King's orders.

  Yang Xiuqing summoned all the kings to Hong Xiuquan's place for a discussion

  Xiao Chaogui saw that Yang Xiuqing would not mention the Changsha matter, and could not help but say: "I am willing to lead 2,000 men to break through the Qing army's defense line and enter Changsha." He thought that since Li Yunzhong was going to give up Changsha, he himself would lead the troops there, and the merit would be his own.

  Yang Xiuqing was already waiting for him and volunteered to take the lead, disregarding Hong Xiuquan's opinion, saying: "Since the Western King is willing, then go ahead."

  Xiao Chaogui led Li Kaifang, Lin Fengxiang, Ji Wenyuan and Lu Xianba with 2,000 elite vanguard troops rushing towards Changsha. By dusk, they arrived at the outer camp of the Qing army. Unprepared for getting lost in the night, Xiao Chaogui planned to attack Changsha again the next day.

  Sai-shang-a also received a secret letter, he saw the content of the letter was very strange, so he summoned Xiang Rong, Luo Bingzhang and He Chun to discuss it. Xiang Rong was appointed as the general-in-chief, leading the northern route army, Sai-shang-a was demoted four ranks but remained in office, and He Chun was newly appointed as the assistant minister.

  Xie Xiangya showed the secret letter to Lai Bingzhang, Xiang Rong and He Chun. After they finished reading it, he asked them if they believed it. He Chun said: "This letter is absurd, it must be fake."

  Rong said: "The letter says that the fake Southern King Xiao Chaogui wants to enter Changsha, and we should strike down Xiao Chaogui, let the defeated army into the city. After entering the city, we will ambush and kill Li Yunzhong. Such a vicious plan is probably thought up by the fake Eastern King Yang Xiuqing, who wants to kill two birds with one stone, get rid of these two people, and then monopolize power. It seems that the fake Southern King Feng Yunshan was also designed and killed by him at the beginning." He has always been resentful of Jiang Zhongyuan for killing Feng Yunshan, thinking that he had fought against the Taiping Army for over a year, during which he was demoted and dismissed several times. Jiang Zhongyuan, on the other hand, achieved such great merit as soon as he fought against the Taiping Army, doesn't this show his incompetence?

  "If the secret letter is true, then Changsha will be in great chaos. We can take advantage of this to retake Changsha."

  Zhai Zhong decided: "It's better to believe it exists than not, all the artillery and firepower are aimed at the must-pass road into the city. If Xiao Zhaogui comes, I'll aim at him and hit him hard. According to the letter, let the defeated troops enter the city. As soon as Changsha City is in chaos, attack the city immediately."

  The next morning, Xiao Chaogui led the army to launch a fierce attack on the Qing army's main camp, breaking through seven or eight camps in a row. The Qing army was defeated and fled in disarray. Later, the Green Standard Army would flee as soon as they encountered them, not daring to engage in battle with the Taiping Army.

  Xiang Rong furrowed his brow, staring at the green camps below where they were fleeing in all directions, and said with hatred: "A group of government troops, not as good as a bunch of mud-legged soldiers."

  Xie Xiangya also said: "It seems that we must report to the Emperor, and it's better to organize a large-scale training session. The Green Standard Army and the Eight Banners are really rotten."

  Jiang Zhongyuan panted and came before Sai Xiang'a, pointing to the battlefield below and said: "I am willing to lead the army into battle, please allow me, sir."

  Xiang Rong interrupted Jiang Zhongyuan with a strange and eerie tone, saying: "No need for Lord Jiang to worry, this is our plan to lure the enemy."

  Jiang Zhongyuan said: "I don't think so. The enemy is clearly in a strong position, how can it be an ambush?"

  "You'll know soon enough what it means to plan in secret and win from a thousand miles away. This is why the Imperial Envoy and I deliberately let Xiao Zhaogui get close to Changsha." Xiang Rong forced himself to cover up for the Green Camp.

  Xiao Chaogui led by example, holding the flag and charging forward, the Taiping Army gradually approached Changsha.

  Xiang Rong saw that Xiao Chaogui had entered the range of the cannons and fire, so he hastily waved a large flag to signal the troops below to open fire.

  "Boom" "Boom" sounds were endless, Xiao Chaogui was hit by the cannon and fell to the ground, the soldiers beside him rushed to help him up.

  Xiao Chaogui endured the pain and said to Lin Fengxiang: "Don't stop, stopping means death, hurry into the city."

  Lin Fengxiang shed tears and carried Xiao Chaogui to continue killing towards the city gate. Li Desheng, who was defending at the foot of the city, hurriedly launched a counterattack and escorted Lin Fengxiang into the city.

  Sai Shangya saw the great cannon's achievement, dancing with joy, and shouted to the clerk beside him: "Quickly write a memorial, report the victory to His Majesty. Our army has killed the fake Western King Xiao Chaogui under Changsha City, killed more than 20,000 rebels, captured 10,000, and beheaded them all."

  Jiang Zhongyuan reminded: "Xiao Chaogui is seriously injured and may not necessarily die."

  Rong Dao said: "Hit by several large cannons, how can there be a reason for not dying?"