With the successive victories of Xiang army, Zeng Guofan's fame and reputation have spread far and wide. Ten years after Xianfeng (1860), Zeng Guofan was appointed as an imperial envoy and governor of the two rivers, in charge of military affairs in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui and Jiangxi provinces.
Under the leadership of Zeng Guofan, today's Xiang army has become the strongest force in the Qing Dynasty and the pillar of this crisis. Therefore, when Shanghai was in danger, Shanghai officials and gentry naturally turned their attention to Anqing and Zeng Guofan for help.
In the eleventh year of Xianfeng (186 1), Qian Dingming, the head of the household department, came to Anqing with a letter of begging for soldiers and worked as a lobbyist in Shanghai.
In order to borrow reinforcements smoothly, Qian Dingming followed the story of the doctor Shen of Chu in the Spring and Autumn Period, crying that Qin sent troops to fight against Wu, and kowtowed and wept bitterly in the Xiang army camp. Although what he did contained many elements of show, reading his "sentimental words" was beneficial and practical, and Zeng Guofan could not help but move his heart.
Shanghai is really rich! At that time, Shanghai had about 600 thousand tax revenue every month!
Anyone will be tempted by such a huge piece of fat. Zeng Guofan immediately agreed to Qian Dingming's request. But the question is, who will be assigned to undertake this important task?
It's easier to get the moon first, and the pie falling from the sky should be given to one's own people first.
In Zeng Guofan's earliest arrangement, he planned to let his ninth brother Ceng Guoquan lead ten thousand Xiang troops to save Shanghai.
But the order was given, and the tidbits appeared-Ceng Guoquan refused to accept the order.
On the issue of aiding Shanghai, Ceng Guoquan didn't want to go at all. He is more willing to lead the Xiang army to attack Tianjing and win the first place in Tianjing.
To tell the truth, Ceng Guoquan's excuse is of course a delay. You know, the wealth of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the people's wealth plundered by the heavenly kings are much more than that of Shanghai. Looking at such an endless "city of wealth", a fool went to that Shanghai.
In addition to lack of money, Ceng Guoquan has another concern. After all, helping Shanghai is too risky. Although the Taiping Army is weak in the west, it is still strong in the east.
Now these Taiping rebels, led by Li Xiucheng, have captured most of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. Shanghai at this time is simply an "island"! Isn't it a trick to ask me to rescue such an untenable "enclave"?
Seeing that his ninth brother refused to accept orders, Zeng Guofan could only choose other generals. Looking at the whole Xiang army, only Zuo He, a veteran of Chu army, and Bao Chao, commander-in-chief of Tingjun army, can undertake this important task. However, the former should take into account the war in Zhejiang, while the latter should cooperate with Ceng Guoquan to seize Nanjing, and could not get out.
Except for the two of them, Zeng Guofan was surprised to find that no one was under his command. Who should I send?
Li Hongzhang
Second, Li Hongzhang bravely took over the "big cake" and began the history of his life.
At this time, this opportunity finally favored another person, that is, Li Hongzhang, a core political figure in the late Qing Dynasty who was independent of the country for decades and had the most complex and multifaceted personality characteristics.
Where is the hometown of Li Hongzhang, the first minister of the late Qing Dynasty?
Today, 30 miles east of Hefei, there is an extremely ordinary small village workshop. This is the hometown of Li Hongzhang, an adult in the main hall, and is known as the "first prime minister" of the Qing Dynasty.
Li Hongzhang was born on the fifth day of the first month in the third year of Daoguang, that is, 1823, 15 February. This day is a day to greet the god of wealth in folklore, and the birth of the second son of the Li family adds happiness to the Li family.
Facts have proved that Li Hongzhang was indeed the God of Wealth in the Qing Dynasty, but that was another "aspect". He is a "god of wealth" who can't make money, but can save money.
Like Zeng Guofan's ancestors, Li Hongzhang's grandfather Li Huadian is also a rural scholar who is known as "not going to the city for fifty years". Although frustrated many times in the imperial examination, Li is full of energy, and he must let future generations study and be an official. To this end, Li spared no expense in hiring famous teachers as teachers to help his sons overcome the imperial examinations.
Under the careful cultivation of Li, his youngest son finally realized his dream. He took the provincial examination in Jiangnan and was admitted to Jinshi four years later. From then on, the Li family began to live a rich and brilliant life.
I dare not say that Li Hongzhang is a rich second generation who grew up with a golden spoon, but his career path is definitely much smoother than others.
In the twenty-seventh year of Daoguang (1847), Li Hongzhang, aged 24, was admitted to Dimedi 13, successfully became Jishi Shu and entered imperial academy.
In addition, under the recommendation of his father Li Wenan, Li Hongzhang met Zeng Guofan, a mentor who had a great influence on his life.
After being admitted to imperial academy, there is such a super teacher. At this moment, what is presented to Li Hongzhang is this Yangguan Avenue, a promising career path.
However, with the turmoil of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, Li Hongzhang finally deviated from this road and embarked on a completely opposite road.
Seeing the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom movement intensified, Li Hongzhang, like Zeng Guofan, is eager to make contributions and remember his ancestors! To this end, Li Hongzhang encouraged his fellow countryman and assistant minister Lu of the left Ministry of Industry to persuade him to go to the company to show his loyalty.
According to the current definition, the Assistant Minister of Industry is a contractor. As a contractor, how can Lu fight it! However, in spite of this, Li Hongzhang wrote a memorial request for Yong ying on behalf of Lu.
According to the idea, he just wants to show his loyalty, not really want to have it. The memorial written by Li Hongzhang is full of literary talent and passion. Emperor Xianfeng was moved to tears and immediately appointed Lu to go back to his hometown to organize.
Faced with this result, Lu was so angry that he hit his head against the wall.
According to historical records, on the night of Duke Lu's mansion, the whole family dressed in plain clothes and wept bitterly. Faced with this situation, I was incoherent with anger. He thinks he's asking for trouble, and when he's full, he goes looking for trouble!
Finally, the furious Ji Xian said to Li Hongzhang, "You curse me, I curse you." That is to say, "it's all your bad idea. If I'm okay, I'll tie you up and we'll go home together. "
In this way, when Zeng Guofan was in Hunan, Li Hongzhang also landed in Hefei, Anhui, and started.
Maybe this is exactly what Lu fulfilled. At the end of the same year, he was killed by the Taiping Army.
Although Li Hongzhang has Zeng Guofan's confidence, he has been running around and doing his best for his Yong ying, but he has never achieved the same achievements as Zeng Guofan.
Facing the main force of Taiping Army, Li Hongzhang was reckless and had no chance of winning. He once had an amazing record of being captured by the Taiping Army in one day. It was a debacle. Thanks to the timely rescue of Anhui Governor Fu Ji, Li Hongzhang saved his life.
Lihongzhangfu
Third, Li Hongzhang immediately realized that the opportunity he had been waiting for had finally come.
It is said that although Li Hongzhang had a narrow escape, he was stubborn and proud, and he still had to save face. He respectfully said to Fuji, "Prestige and prestige are the best." Faced with these words, Fuji responded maliciously: "Come first if you are afraid of fleeing."
This conversation not only became a stain on Li Hongzhang's life, but also became a joke of Anhui people after dinner.
Although he was hurt by good and evil, Li Hongzhang regarded him as his second backer. With such a Manchu official as the background, Li Hongzhang should not worry about eating and drinking now. Unfortunately, it was not long before Fuji was dismissed because of his ineffective suppression of the peasant army uprising.
A backer was killed and a backer was dismissed. Li Hongzhang is really unfortunate! But his misfortunes are still endless.
In the eighth year of Xianfeng (1858), Li Xiucheng led an army to capture Hefei (Luzhou), and Li Hongzhang's family was wiped out.
Facing the hometown destroyed by Taiping rebels and touching the cold bodies of relatives, Li Hongzhang really wanted to cry with pain. Now in Anhui, there is no place for Li Hongzhang to stand.
Just when Li Hongzhang was cornered, his brother Li Zhanghan wrote him a letter, hoping that he could come and work for the Xiang army.
In the face of this invitation, Li Hongzhang did not hesitate. He went directly to Zeng Guofan, and also opened a "golden partner" for teachers and students for more than ten years.
In the next four years, from government affairs to military affairs, Li Hongzhang benefited a lot from Zeng Guofan's training. Zeng Guofan also saw that Li Hongzhang was a good prospect and a master who could achieve great things. In addition, in terms of decision-making, Li Hongzhang's unique insights were appreciated by Zeng Guofan. So that in the end, when Zeng Guofan hesitated on some major issues, he would discuss with Li Hongzhang, and he was often able to "make a quick decision."
Such teachers and students, with their skills, are quick and slow, and urgent and slow, really complement each other. But there is a problem here.
You know, Xiang generals are mostly from Hunan, and their hometown friendship is deep, while Li Hongzhang is from Anhui. Even with Zeng Guofan's appreciation and reuse, he can't get the military power, and even cause jealousy and dissatisfaction of the Hunan gang. It is no exaggeration to say that Li Hongzhang was walking on thin ice during his days in Xiang Army barracks.
According to historical records, during Zeng Guofan's period, Li Hongzhang made enemies not only with Zuo, but also with Hu Linyi. He also wrestled with Peng Yulin. This unpleasant experience every day makes Li Hongzhang feel that he is a sponsor. He wrote in dismay:
Yesterday's dream of sealing Hou is no longer true, and it is difficult to go without home.
Why did Goma fall, and Qingshan fell for more than ten years.
So when Shanghai officials and gentry came to call for help, the sensitive Li Hongzhang immediately realized that the opportunity he had been waiting for had finally come.
Huaijun
Fourthly, the birth of Huai Army, on which Li Hongzhang created his brilliant life.
Although Li Hongzhang wanted this opportunity very much, he didn't have the impulse. After sitting tight and waiting patiently, after all the generals of Zeng Guofan refused to accept his orders, Li Hongzhang immediately volunteered. He is going back to his hometown to recruit soldiers and save Shanghai by himself.
In the face of this requirement of Li Hongzhang, Zeng Guofan felt that it was not bad. You know, since the Xiang army went out to fight in the province, the troops in Sanxiang area have dried up because of years of fighting. It is also a good decision if we can use the generals of the Huai and Huai Dynasties to form a new army and assist or replace the Xiang Army in some aspects.
But the question is, how to recruit? I worked hard to recruit this Xiang army. Where did Li Hongzhang recruit?
Faced with this problem, Li Hongzhang has his own coup.
Thirdly, Li Hongzhang's hometown is now Anhui.
Anhui, the province of China, has been a magical place since ancient times. This place, which consists of roads, mountains and radioactive rivers, connects the northern, central and eastern parts of China, and its geographical position is extremely important. No matter whether China is a confrontation between the North and the South, the East and the West are fighting for hegemony, or winning the Central Plains and unifying the world, Anhui is the place where these heroes fight it out.
Such a magical land is destined to have countless legendary figures.
What is even more amazing is that this land has cultivated two completely different people.
Southern Anhui and northern Anhui are basically two kinds of people.
There are many businessmen and literati in southern Anhui, such as the sophisticated Hu Xueyan and the gentle Hu Shi. There are many military talents in northern Anhui, namely soldiers and bandits, such as Liu Mingchuan, a soldier, and so on.
Why is there such a difference?
The reason is simple, because there is little arable land here. Even if there is cultivated land, it is relatively barren. You know, in ancient China, land was scarce, but it was fatal.
You can't grow food in the soil. At that time, tourism was underdeveloped, so you had to go out and find your way. There are only two choices when going out: working or being a soldier. Perhaps it is the relationship between mild and tough folk customs. In this choice, people in southern Anhui choose the former and people in northern Anhui choose the latter.
Finally, no matter which choice you make, people who grow up in a difficult environment will cherish life more.
Li Hongzhang's earliest training place is Hefei today.
In this place where he is good at learning, his Yingyong troops are almost wiped out. However, in Xixiang, northern Anhui, local Yong ying is booming. They not only wiped out many bandits nearby, but also completely scared off the Taiping Army.
In Li Hongzhang's eyes, this place in Xixiang, Hefei is really a magical land. The local folk customs are tough and everyone is brave and aggressive. These people can fight at the slightest sign of trouble, not to mention such a big powder keg of Taiping Army.
The belligerence, aggression and robbery of Xixiang people in Hefei are jaw-dropping. As long as the Taiping rebels dare to come, they will attack in droves. When the Taiping Army left, it had to fight for the distribution of stolen goods. The so-called "help each other when you come, and attack each other when you leave, which is regarded as normal."
In contrast, Zeng Guofan tried his best to choose the right soldiers, and the people in Xixiang, Hefei were born with weapons. What is even more frightening is that they actually have their own armed groups.
On the local Zhougong Mountain, Buried Hill and Zipeng Mountain, there is an Yingyong team, all of which are experienced and brave.
Zhang Shusheng and Zhang Shushan brothers on the Duke of Zhou Mountain, the elder brother is resourceful and the younger brother is good at fighting, and the two brothers cooperate tacitly and are invincible;
Zhou Shengbo and Zhou Chuanfeng brothers at the foot of Zipeng Mountain experienced more than 200 fierce battles. Six brothers directly killed four people and killed more than one thousand people.
zipeng mountain
Liu Mingchuan in Buried Hill is a legend. This man is lustful and loves wine, and he is brave and good at fighting. He smuggled salt, killed large families, robbed rich families, and did things like "killing the rich and helping the poor" every day.
Despite these great achievements, Liu Mingchuan did not take refuge in the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, but accepted the favor of the imperial court. He eventually became the first governor of Taiwan Province Province and was called "the father of modernization in Taiwan Province Province".
These mountain kings are the unique treasures of the Huai army. And these brave generals, they are also destined to become the main generals of the Huai army and become Li Hongzhang's right-hand man.
Three months later, when Zeng Guofan stood outside the north gate of Anqing, he was surprised! Like magic, Li Hongzhang conjured more than 6,000 officers and men from the 13th Battalion. Although these soldiers are disheveled and lean, their eyes are fierce and they are not good at first glance.
This army has a resounding name in history. One army did not lose to Xiang, and even completely replaced Xiang. They are called Huai Army.
In the future, they will become the most famous local armed forces in China's modern history, deduce the later Huai clan, and influence the politics, military, economy, diplomacy, culture and education in the late Qing Dynasty.
1March 4, 862, a day that will go down in history forever. On this day, the Huai Army was formally established.
After Li Hongzhang, relying on this Huai Army, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the Nian Army were wiped out and established.