Chapter Thirty-two: Advancing into Hubei

  Jiao Liang saw Gao Jizuo being taken away and said to Li Yunzhong: "Your Highness, I know this person."

  Li Yunzhong didn't think much of this bookworm and casually asked: "What's his background?"

  Jiao Liang said: "This man is called Zuo Zongtang, styled Jigao, a native of Xiangyin County..."

  Li Yunzhong exclaimed: "He's Zuo Zongtang! A Hunanese, Zuo Zongtang! ... Why didn't you say so earlier? Quick, catch up to that scholar and bring him back!" Li Yunzhong was unclear about others, but as for Zuo Zongtang, Zeng Guofan, and Li Hongzhang, he had a deep impression. In the future, if he wanted to escape and form a "government in exile", he would have to pay special attention to these three men, and it would be best to recruit them; if not, he would have to eliminate them directly.

  Jiao Liang didn't understand why Han Wang had such a big reaction to Zuo Zongtang, and continued: "He doesn't like the eight-part essay, but is instead interested in practical applications, and has read 'Du Shi Fang Yu Ji Yao'...".

  Li Yunzhong interrupted again: "What book is 'Du Shi Fangyu Ji Yao', can make Zuo Zongtang become so powerful?"

  Jiao Liang explained: "This book records the strategic importance of mountains and rivers, as well as the tactics for defending against invaders throughout history."

  "This isn't just a history textbook, I've read over twenty of them."

  Jiao Liang stood up solemnly and said with respect: "Your Highness is indeed a genius. I have been searching for this kind of book for several years, but to no avail."

  Li Yunzhong seemed to understand Zuo Zongtang very well and turned the topic around again "Let's continue talking about Zuo Zongtang."

  Jiao Liang, who was not reconciled, continued: "Zuo Zongtang was so infatuated with this book that at the age of 20, he had not yet passed the imperial examination to become a xiucai. He had to spend money to buy the title of jiansheng in order to continue taking the exam to become a jinshi. In the twelfth year of Daoguang's reign, his paper was favored by the chief examiner and he was admitted as a jinshi. Later, he took part in the metropolitan examination three times, but each time he failed to pass. The examiner even bluntly said that his handwriting was ugly."

  Li Yunzhong said: "So miserable, just a bit luckier than Hong Xiuquan. Logically speaking, he should be disappointed with the imperial court."

  Jiao Liang said with envy: "He has the help of a noble person, the famous scholar He Xi Ling and Lin Zexu accepted him as a disciple, and they all attach great importance to him. Through introduction, he studied hard in the city's south book institute, reading books such as 'Sun Tzu's Art of War' and 'Wuzi'. When I entered Gui, he and his family fled to avoid disaster in Zimu Cave, but somehow managed to escape and persuade General Zhang to surrender."

  At this time, Zuo Zongtang had been pursued back, he thought Li Yunzhong agreed to surrender, overjoyed, followed Huang Jinwen and Bai Yinwu two people back to see Li Yunzhong.

  Li Yunzhong excitedly looked at Zuo Zongtang and said: "Zuo Zongtang, you've been hiding this from me for so long."

  Zuo Zongtang said: "My name is Gao Jisa, who is Zuo Zongtang?... Who is Zuo Zongtang."

  Jiao Liang stepped forward and said to Zuo Zongtang, "Qigao, do you still remember me?"

  Zuo Zongtang looked at him and exclaimed: "Foolish Jiao Liang? You... you have defected, I... I knew this day would come."

  Jiao Liang was arrogant about his talent and intelligence, repeatedly responded to the imperial examination, but failed every time. He often used wine to drown his sorrows, gradually becoming resentful of the court, frequently seeking out military books, and criticizing government policies. He compared himself to Zhuge Liang, earning him the nickname "madman" in his hometown.

  Li Yunzhong burst out laughing and pulled Zuo Zongtang over, saying: "Sir, are you willing to help me sweep away the Hu barbarians and restore the great Han dynasty's dominance?"

  Zuo Zongtang declined, saying: "I am a student with shallow learning and fear that I am not sufficient to take on the task."

  Li Yunzhong smiled and said: "Sir is just my Zhuge Liang, Liu Bowen, don't be modest."

  Zuo Zongtang saw that things could not be settled amicably and spoke bluntly: "I, the humble one, have read the books of sages and worthies; how can I join with rebels?"

  Li Yunzhong didn't get angry either, he understood that persuading Zuo Zongtang to surrender couldn't be rushed, in case he pretended to surrender and escaped, it would be a disaster. As the saying goes, "time will reveal a person's heart", once Zuo Zongtang understands the power of the Han army, it will be easy to handle, if not, they can just keep him for life, Li Yunzhong didn't lack that bit of food, if it were Zeng Guofan, he would have chopped him off early.

  Li Yunzhong said: "Sir can consider carefully, the person who came will take Mr. Zuo away and treat him well, don't let him run away, this one man is worth a hundred thousand fine soldiers."

  Li Yunzhong ordered the troops to continue marching, and when everyone returned to their respective armies, he came before Hong Xuanjiao, grasping her hand: "Are you going to leave? I promised Xiao that I would take good care of you."

  Hong Xuanjiao heard Xiao Chaogui and choked with sobs: "It was me who wronged him, the East King only told me to discipline Chaogui, I didn't expect..."

  Li Yunzhong patted Jiarong's back lightly and comforted her: "I was also calculated by him, if it wasn't for that day... I would have really been killed by him."

  Li Yunzhong said, "Now we are marching towards Hubei, you go to the Fourth Army as deputy army commander first, San Niang always complains that no one helps her, after things settle down, I will..." Then he started kissing Hong Xuanjiao.

  January 28, 1851, the Taiping Army occupied Xiangyin. Sai Shang'a was worried and anxious. The rebels in Changsha had not been eliminated yet, and another group of rebels was going to attack Hubei. He hastily wrote a memorial to Beijing: The original rebel forces were divided into two groups, which cooperated with each other. Every time the government army fought, they would lose on one side while gaining on the other, and could never achieve complete victory in one battle. He hoped that the Emperor would send another large army to suppress the bandits, so that the two armies could join forces and fight together to succeed.

  The imperial edict came down quickly, dismissing Sai Shang'a from his post and investigating him, escorting him back to the capital for trial. His three sons were also implicated and dismissed from their posts. Xu Guangjin was appointed as the Grand Protector of the Crown Prince, Imperial Commissioner, and Governor-General of the Two Lakes, leading troops to rush to Hunan Changsha to stop the Taiping Army from spreading chaos in Hunan. Xiang Rong was appointed as the Acting Commander-in-Chief of Hubei, specifically handling military affairs, with all military camps in Hubei under his command, stopping the Da Han Army from moving northward.

  Li Yunzhong received the news in Xiangyin County, and Rong led six provinces with 30,000 Green Camp soldiers, Jiang Zhongyuan's Chu Brave 2,000, Zhang Guoliang's Chao Brave 3,000, and Li Xubin's Tuanlian 1,000 left Changsha and headed north, needless to say they were coming after him.

  Li Yunzhong's kindness to the Tiandihui has borne fruit, and in just one day, several thousand boats, tens of thousands of sailors and their families joined the Great Han Army. On February 3rd, the Great Han Army set sail from Xiangyin, crossed Dongting Lake, and arrived within the borders of Yuezhou.

  Toward the glorious tens of thousands of troops, looking at Lake Xingtan, they wrote a letter to the prefect of Yuezhou, asking him to hold on for a few more days, deceiving him that reinforcements would arrive soon. Meanwhile, they went to a slightly farther place to collect and build ships, preparing to pursue the Great Han army.

  Under the city of Yue, Jiao Liang said to Li Yunzhong: "When I was in the Taiping Army, the government army only dared to follow from a distance and did not dare to fight with us. But when it became the Great Han Army, the government army pressed very urgently. Although they were defeated every time, they did not change their ways. What do you think is the reason for this?"

  Li Yunzhong didn't understand this either and said in a bad temper: "You mean to say that the Great Han army is easy to bully, right?"

  Jiao Liang said: "Every time the Taiping Army arrives at a place, they must burn down houses, and the people lose their livelihoods and have no choice but to follow the Taiping Army in order to survive. The number of Taiping Army soldiers often increases to tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people. When the government army sees this from afar, they are intimidated by the sea of flags and immediately lose heart. And yet, our own army has only 30,000 to 40,000 old, weak, women, and children...

  Li Yunzhong suddenly said: "Wrapping up refugees still has this benefit, are you going to make me learn from the Taiping Army? That would be harmful to heavenly harmony!"

  Zhang Sui said, "General Jiao's words make a lot of sense. When the Taiping Army and the government army clashed, they would use their lures to entice the enemy, then ambush them with elite troops from behind, resulting in a crushing defeat for the government army every time. Although many civilians fled, it was like separating sand from gravel - only those who remained were truly willing to rebel."

  Jiao Liang said: "Please think thrice, Your Highness."

  Just then in Pingnan County had done once, facing Zhang Suimou lightly nodded, Li Yunzhong also no longer speak, concentrated attention to watch Yuezhou City.

  Zhang Suo pulled back Jiao Liang, who still wanted to persuade him, and whispered something in his ear. Only then did Jiao Liang suddenly realize what was going on, and he ordered his men to set the fire.