The Romance of Empress Dowager Cixi's Scandalous History [06]

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Chapter Six: The Bright Star Over the Sea, Officials Pay Homage, the Bloody Battle of Tianjin, and the Retreat of the Taiping Rebels
. The story goes that the eunuch An Dehai helped Lan'er into the palace, speaking very attentively and intimately along the way. Following An Dehai's wishes, they lingered there, but Lan'er, having suffered a great loss that day, couldn't refuse, saying, "My dear son, we have a long time together. Come visit me from time to time." She then took out a handkerchief and gave it to Dehai. Dehai accepted it, and from then on, they frequently visited each other, associating with Cui Changli and Liu Chengen. Time flew by, and Lan'er was full-term. On the third day of the sixth month, she gave birth to a true emperor. I need not elaborate on the tales of lightning flashing and the precious moon entering her womb. Emperor Xianfeng was naturally overjoyed upon receiving this good news. Empress Xiaozhen also rushed over, and when a palace maid held the newborn prince, she examined him. He had a full forehead, prominent temples, and a majestic face, resembling Emperor Xianfeng in every way. After stroking him for a while, she instructed Lan'er to rest well and ordered the palace eunuchs and maids to take good care of him before returning to the palace.
When the court officials learned of the prince's birth, they all came to court to offer their congratulations. At this very moment, two more victories were reported, and Emperor Xianfeng's joy was extraordinary. Gentlemen, do you know which two victories were reported? One was that Zeng Guofan's Xiang Army had recaptured Yuezhou and then captured Wuchang. Besides Ta Qibu and Luo Zenan winning some battles on land, and Yang Zaifu and Peng Yulin winning some battles on water, a new general named Bao Chao, courtesy name Chunting, had been acquired.
This Bao Chunting was not only highly skilled but also a brilliant strategist. He led troops with a large banner, white with black characters bearing the name "Bao," a single character of considerable size. A twelve-foot-long red ribbon hung from the banner. His officers and soldiers were all adorned with dazzling plumes, made of various materials including tridacna shell, crystal, bright blue, and dark blue—a truly captivating sight. This man surnamed Bao also had a particular quirk: he loved to be the first to charge into battle. Initially under Xiang Rong, he couldn't fully utilize his talents, but later, in Ta Qibu's camp, he began to distinguish himself. Zeng Guofan, seeing his extraordinary bearing and heroic prowess, assigned him five thousand Xiang Army soldiers. Surprisingly, these five thousand men proved as effective as fifty thousand. During Zeng Guofan's first campaign, he was trapped in Jinggang by Yang Xiuqing and, in desperation, attempted suicide by drowning, but Bao broke through the siege and rescued him. Later, in a fierce battle on Dongting Lake, he decimated the Taiping army, seized the opportunity to capture Yuezhou, and then, together with Ta Qibu and Luo Zenan, broke through Wuchang. Look at his military achievements, aren't they remarkable and great? This time, when the Red Flag reported victory, Zeng Guofan ranked Bao Chao's merits first. One place was Sheng Bao's camp. When Sheng Bao arrived in Huizhou, he set up camp at Zhengyang Pass, and Governor He Guizhen naturally sent troops to suppress him. At this time, Su Tianfu and Zhang Luoxing had already colluded with the Taiping Army, which had already dispatched three generals: one was the Prince of Ying, Chen Yucheng. With Chen Yucheng's arrival, the Nian army's momentum was exceptionally strong. They fought a battle with Sheng Bao, who was defeated and had already occupied Zhengyang Pass. Meanwhile, Jin Guangzhu of Shouzhou and Zhang Yao of Gushi County had already joined forces to launch a fierce attack on Zhishui Town. Zhishui Town was the Nian army's stronghold, where Su Tianfu and Zhang Luoxing had gathered seventy or eighty thousand troops, holding it to the death. Jin Guangzhu attacked by boat on the water, while Zhang Yao led his cavalry on land. Zhang Luoxing fought Zhang Yao, the battle fierce and evenly matched. Su Tianfu resisted Jin Guangzhu, but a mute under Guangzhu's command rushed forward and struck Su Tianfu on the head with a heavy iron hammer, weighing about forty pounds. The blow shattered Su Tianfu's brains. Seeing their leader dead, the Nian soldiers on the shore scattered in panic. This commotion, reaching Zhang Luoxing's ears, made him lose his will to fight. Needless to say, Zhang Luoxing fled, and Zhang Yao didn't pursue him. He quickly joined Jin Guangzhu, and together they advanced, destroying the Nian army's stronghold. With the Nian army defeated, Chen Yucheng, stationed at Zhengyang Pass, was isolated and couldn't withstand being encircled from both sides. Zhang Yao and Jin Guangzhu attacked from behind Zhengyang Pass. Sheng Bao sent a valiant general, dressed in a red coat and wielding two swords, to attack from the front of Zhengyang Pass. Chen Yucheng, attacked from both sides, led a fresh force, charging recklessly. Jin Guangzhu, the mute, leaped forward, wielding a large iron hammer with incredible skill, sending swirling snowflakes flying. Chen Yucheng, knowing the mute's prowess, commanded his entire force to surround him. At that moment, the Taiping formation shifted, and the man in the red coat, using his full strength like a tiger, encountered Wei Zhijun. He swung his sword, but Wei's hand lashed out, severing five fingers. Chen quickly spurred his horse and fled for his life.
Chen Decai, encountering Zhang Yao, was no match for him and also fled in disarray. With two of the three rebel kings gone, Chen Yucheng had no desire to continue fighting. He charged forward on his horse and met Jin Guangzhu head-on. Jin, now relaxed, swung his long sword, aiming a downward slash. After all, Chen Yucheng was a master. The battle took place on a large riverbank. With a sudden burst of strength, Yucheng swung his spear, catching Jin off guard. Jin's body jerked backward, his horse stumbled, and with a thud, Jin Guangzhu and his horse fell into the water. Chen Yucheng, seeing his opponent fall into the water, led many Taiping soldiers away, but that's another story. The mute man, trapped in the encirclement, suddenly let out a whistle, and the Taiping army retreated. He grabbed his iron hammer and rushed to find his master. Upon learning that his master had fallen into the water, he too jumped in and drowned. His master died for his country, and the mute man died for his master—truly a testament to loyalty and righteousness. In this incident, neither the government troops nor the Nian rebels had a Jin Guangzhu, but Su Tianfu was the first and most important figure in the Nian army, a renowned figure known throughout the country. When Sheng Bao recounted his military exploits, he placed the valiant general in the red coat first. He casually mentioned that the man in the red coat was surnamed Chen, named Guorui, from Yingcheng, Hubei. Because of his impressive performance this time, he was nicknamed "Red Boy" in the army. The second was Zhang Yao, and the third was Jin Guangzhu. However, Jin Guangzhu died for his country, and a request for posthumous honors was made. The mute's military achievements were also mentioned, and He Guizhen was briefly mentioned at the end of the memorial.
This time, the news of victory from the Red Flag arrived in Beijing on the same day as the news of victory from Zeng Guofan's side.
Emperor Xianfeng, with the newborn prince, received this double joy, a double celebration. Having been emperor for three or five years, today was the happiest day of his life. He smiled and said to his two brothers, "The Qing Dynasty's empire will not be shaken by any unexpected events." Emperor Xianfeng had two brothers: one named Yixin, enfeoffed as Prince Gong, and the other named Yixuan, enfeoffed as Prince Chun. Today, to congratulate the crown prince, the two princes led the court. There was also Prince Yixin, Zaiyuan, who was the emperor's nephew. They all knelt and kowtowed, saying, "This is all thanks to the blessings of our ancestors and the good fortune of Your Majesty." Emperor Xianfeng smiled happily and said, "The times and the people are finally showing signs of improvement. That bandit king is entrenched in Nanjing, the Eastern King is in Hunan and Hubei, the Iron Rooster is rampant in Jiangxi, and Chen Yucheng is causing trouble in Anhui. The vast Central Plains are being ravaged to the point of devastation. Although the Nian rebel Su Tianfu has been dealt with, there is still a bigwig named Zhang Luoxing who has joined forces with some religious rebels in Shandong and Henan, and his power is not weak again. My intention is to trouble a prince to go out and supervise the troops, to relieve my worries, and to be my assistant." As the emperor spoke, he glanced at Prince Gong Yixin with his dragon eyes. Duanhua and Sushun quickly understood and knelt down to report, "In our humble opinion, we request that Prince Gong command the troops, and that Prince Consort Senggelinqin be appointed to lead the Shenji Battalion, temporarily stationed in Tianjin. Tianjin is the throat of Beijing, and having a large force here serves two purposes: first, to prevent the Nian rebels from fleeing north; and second, since Hong Xiuquan has occupied Nanjing, it is possible that he might harbor ambitions and send troops directly to the capital. Currently, the Nian rebels and petty thieves are colluding, like playing chess. This northeastern corner must be properly prepared." Emperor Xianfeng praised them highly, saying, "Yes, your plan is excellent. With such thorough preparations, I can rest easy.
" Upon hearing this, Prince Gong declined, saying that the responsibility was too great and his abilities were insufficient. Emperor Xianfeng smiled and said, "I know your talent and your competence." As usual, he untied the imperial sword and handed it to Yixin, who then took command of the troops and stationed them in Tianjin, needless to say. Senggelinqin led the Shenji Battalion, which was also under the command of Prince Gong. For example, Prince Hong was a marshal, and the Prince of Khorchin was a deputy marshal. In the future, there will naturally be one or two earth-shattering battles in Tianjin, but we will not mention them for now.
After court that day, Emperor Xianfeng summoned Duanhua and Sushun to his study and said, "Let's set aside the formalities between ruler and subject. You two can think of some ways to enjoy yourselves." Before Duanhua could speak, Sushun said, "Now that Your Majesty holds the highest position, you are not like when you were a prince, where you could act as you pleased." Emperor Xianfeng scoffed and said, "You're so foolish! I've seen many emperors in history who frequently went on incognito trips. Emperor Wuzong of Ming even had a Leopard House, where I heard many beautiful women were kept. In my opinion, Manchu attire is inferior to Han attire. Just consider the women in Han attire—their hair styled in buns, adorned with fashionable flowers, their bound feet, some three inches, some four inches, their movements so graceful and alluring, revealing their slender figures." At this point, Emperor Xianfeng gestured wildly, his frivolity completely gone. Duanhua then leaned closer and said, "As long as Your Majesty is happy, there are plenty of people in Xuan Nan. However, Emperor Wuzong's Leopard House was built separately. Your Majesty's Leopard House can be decorated somewhat using the Yuanmingyuan Garden."
Emperor Xianfeng said, "Yes!" The emperor and his ministers talked intimately. He then summoned An Dehai, fetched a set of military officer's clothes, and urged Duanhua and Sushun to change into civilian clothes as well. They prepared three mounts and slipped out of the Forbidden City for a long detour. Initially somewhat hesitant on their first incognito trip, they spent the next three to five days either strolling through teahouses or taverns. People pointed and whispered among themselves. Emperor Xianfeng called himself a "wooden man from Jiangxi," or someone else said he was a "Chen Gongsheng from Sichuan." Sometimes he went with Duanhua, sometimes with Sushun, and sometimes he didn't even need Duanhua. Su Shun, sometimes with An Dehai, sometimes without, moved about freely. He did this for a year and a half, thoroughly understanding the customs of the marketplace and the gossip of the merchants. The Yuanmingyuan Garden was meticulously maintained, and some secret rooms were added. According to the old Qing dynasty custom, the emperor would move to the garden at the end of April and return to the palace in August to prepare for the autumn hunt at Mulan. But Emperor Xiancheng was different; except for returning to the palace in January and December, he resided in the Yuanmingyuan Garden for ten months of the year. He filled the green shade with his own warmth. Deep within, in a secluded and clean house, lived Empress Dowager Nara. The newborn prince, named Zaichun, was brought to the Kunning Palace by Empress Xiaozhen and placed in the care of a wet nurse.
This was the fifth year of the Xianfeng Emperor's reign, I recall it was around September. The Emperor was in high spirits when suddenly a thunderclap struck from mid-air. Where did this thunderclap come from? Don't panic, everyone. Let me fill in some gaps in my account of the Taiping Rebellion. As mentioned in the previous book, in the third year of Xianfeng's reign, the Taiping army captured Wuchang, and there was a… The scholar Qian Jiang, was he to march directly on Beijing?
Shi Dakai strongly encouraged this, but Yang Xiuqing disagreed. Therefore, the Taiping army did not advance north to Beijing, but instead took Nanjing to the east. Upon arriving in Nanjing, they continued their previous policies, assigning men to the men's quarters and women to the women's quarters. Hongying had already been taken by Wei Changhui, and Liu Yingyu and Hua Hanyan had already been taken by the Heavenly King. The Eastern King, favoring Fu Shanxiang, gradually neglected Hong Xuanjiao, the Heavenly Maiden of Jehovah—but that's another story. Let's just talk about... After Hong Xiuquan established his base in Nanjing, he resumed the bestowal of official titles and ranks. Xiang Daying was made Prince Han; Fang Chengzong Prince Lie; Hu Youlu Prince Zhennan; Zheng Guangming Prince Gui; Huang Zilong Prince Chao; Gao Yunguan Prince Na; Wu Guiwen Prince Bi; Wang Anjun Prince Kang; Liu Degong Prince Ting; Liao Fashou Prince Rong; Chen Kunshu Prince Hu; Tan… Shao Guang was enfeoffed as Prince Mu; Lan Chengchun as Prince Duan; Lin Caixin as Prince Lie; Liang Chengfu as Prince Qi; Zhang Dazhou and Wang Youwei were both enfeoffed as First-Class Marquises; Tao Jinzeng was enfeoffed as Prince Jiang; Zhang Xueming as Prince Ning; Wang Haiyang as Prince Kang; Chen Bingwen as Prince Ting; Tan Tiyuan as Prince Xie; Li Yuanji as Prince You; Chen Yucheng as Prince Ying; Yang Liugu as Prince Sui; Lan Rende as Prince Gen; Chen Decai as Prince Fu; and Hong Renzheng, the Heavenly King's cousin, was enfeoffed as... The title of Prince of Xu was bestowed upon Hong Rengan as Prince Gan and upon Hong Ronghai as Prince Bao. Yang Fuqing, a cousin of the Eastern King, was made Prince Fu. Li Xiucheng, a subordinate of the Northern King, was made Prince Zhong, and Li Shixian was made Prince Shi. Left Chancellor Qin Rigang was made Prince Yan, and He Zhenchuan was made a First-Class Marquis. Lai Hanying remained Duke of Huguo. Later, Qin Rigang relinquished his position as Left Chancellor to Lin Fengxiang. The rest who participated in the Taiping Rebellion were all granted official titles and promotions. In the Hall of Heavenly Kings, a couplet was hung that read: "Gained on horseback, governed on horseback, creating billions." The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, amidst the clash of swords and spears, was truly a force of nature.
Conquering the east and west, they rescued innocent people from twenty-one provinces from dire straits;
this was the mark of a benevolent ruler. But this grand display was not enough. It was time for the Left Chancellor, Lin Fengxiang, and the Right Chancellor, He Zhenchuan, to petition for the establishment of an imperial examination system. Hong Xiuquan, extremely pleased, hastily declared, “My intention is not only to examine men but also women, but the qualifications should be broadened, the rules relaxed, the methods simplified, and the time shortened. It will be divided into three sessions. Those who pass the first session will be called Xiucai (秀才); those who pass the second session will be called Juren (举人); and those who pass the third session will be called Jinshi (进士). Men and women will be ranked equally, with top scholars (Zhuangyuan, Bangyan, Tanhua). What do you two think?” The two chancellors replied in unison, “That is the way it should be.” "A decree was issued, appointing Lin Fengxiang and He Zhenchuan as chief and deputy chief examiners, respectively, effectively making them the main examiners. The examinations were conducted in separate halls for men and women, with the men's examination first, followed by the women's. But enough of that. Because Zeng Guofan was training troops in Hunan, and with Luo Zenan and Ta Qibu on land, Yang Xiuqing on water, and the Northern King Wei Changhui, Hong Xiuquan, filled with courage, led 300,000 Taiping troops, advancing by land and water. The Wing King Shi Dakai provided support in Jiangxi. This fierce battle trapped Zeng Guofan in Jingzhou..." The port was completely blocked. Thanks to Bao Chao's strong army, Zeng almost lost his life. Then Su Tianfu and Zhang Luoxing sent Li Zhaoshou and Ma Chaojiang to request reinforcements. According to the Heavenly King, the Hunan-Hubei war was urgent, and there was no way to send troops to provide support. However, the two prime ministers, Lin Fengxiang and He Zhenchuan, strongly urged: "Our Taiping Army's sphere of influence is expanding rapidly. This is a rare opportunity. If we succeed in the northern route, reach Beijing, and drive out Emperor Xianfeng, all his wealth, concubines, and beauties can be ours." Hearing this, Hong Xiuquan suddenly remembered something and hurriedly said, "Yes! I heard Huang Wenjin say that there is a former Guangzhou military commander Huizheng's daughter named Lan'er, a peerless beauty, who is now presumably selected for the palace. If we could break through Beijing and seize that Manchu woman, letting me taste her beauty, that would be perfect." "Therefore, I will send Chen Yucheng. He is highly skilled and resourceful; he will surely be successful!" Needless to say, Prince Ying, Chen Yucheng, led 100,000 Taiping troops, with Wei Zhijun and Chen Decai as his assistants. Li Zhaoshou and Ma Chaojiang, who had come to request troops, also hurriedly followed the crowd. Upon arriving in Anhui, they won several battles in succession. If it weren't for Jin Guangzhu and He Yao's troops breaking through Zhishui Town, how could Sheng Bao's camp have succeeded? How could Red Boy Chen Guorui have made such a great contribution? However, the Nian leader Su Tianfu died, and Zhang Luoxing wanted to gather the remaining forces. The strategist Miao Peilin was indecisive, always wavering. If the Nian army succeeded, he would side with them; if the government troops succeeded, he would side with them. Li Zhaoshou... Ma Chaojiang, along with Miao Peilin, was on the same side. This fact had long been exposed by Governor He Guizhen. He Guizhen and Sheng Bao had a mutual interest, but Sheng Bao, having gained military merit, was unwilling to back down. He sent men to offer amnesty to Miao Peilin, Li Zhaoshou, and Ma Chaojiang, a group of Nian rebels. The three Nian leaders then seized the opportunity. He Guizhen believed them and treated them sincerely. However, Ma Chaojiang incurred local resentment and was killed. Li Zhaoshou, with his wolfish ambitions, tricked He Guizhen into committing murder at Xiaochikou in Yingshan. It's pitiful that He Guizhen died for the country, while Sheng Bao, who commanded the main camp, went to the capital to accuse him of mishandling the situation and bringing disaster upon himself. Where did this accusation come from?
Leaving aside other matters, the Nian Rebellion and the Taiping Rebellion seemed to be united but remained separate. Zhang Luoxing, along with Ren Zhu and Niu Hong, had his own path to follow. Meanwhile, Prince Ying, Chen Yucheng, along with Wei Zhijun and Chen Decai, had seized control of northern Anhui, causing utter chaos. News reports reached the Heavenly King's Palace one after another. Hong Xiuquan said to his two prime ministers, "Our Taiping Army's sphere of influence has expanded to the north of the Yangtze River." He Zhenchuan said, "While the Qing Dynasty's army is stationed in northern Anhui, Beijing will inevitably be vulnerable. If we send a valiant general with 100,000 troops to catch them off guard, Beijing will be easily within our grasp!" Xiuquan said, "This matter should be discussed with the Eastern King. He has not yet returned from his campaign. How can we mobilize the entire nation's army?" Before He Zhenchuan could reply, Lin Fengxiang said, "The Heavenly Kingdom belongs to the Heavenly King. Everything must be reported to the Eastern King. I fear that before our Taiping Heavenly Kingdom can even unify the country, the Eastern King will turn against us and seize the throne. In my opinion, the Heavenly King should act decisively, display his divine power, and accomplish a great undertaking." Xiuquan's mind was stirred by these words. He said, “We have a considerable number of heavenly soldiers and generals here. Let alone 100,000, even 200,000 or 300,000 can be mobilized at once. However, finding a suitable commander to lead the troops is very difficult.” Fengxiang said, “Although I am not talented, I am willing to serve you.” Xiuquan laughed and said, “With your hard work, my dear minister, I will surely succeed. First, break through Beijing and bring back the Nala clan for me!” Fengxiang nodded repeatedly and said, “Of course.” Xiuquan then took out his personal magic weapon, the Demon-Slaying Sword, and handed it to Fengxiang, saying, “This journey is as if I were personally present. No matter how great or small the heavenly generals and soldiers are, if they violate the heavenly rules, you may cut off their heads and display them to the public!” Upon receiving this decree, Fengxiang immediately selected 200,000 troops, along with four valiant generals: Fan Qifa, Zhang Dazhou, Wang Huanwu, and Wang Youwei, as well as a cousin of the emperor’s brother, Lai Hanying, named Lai Wenguang, who was especially brave. They were to cross the river within a few days and set off from Pukou. On the way, they would meet with Chen Yucheng to discuss methods for attacking Beijing. Yucheng said, "I think this advance should be divided into three routes: the first, you, brother, will advance from Dezhou in Shandong to attack Tianjin, using a strategy of capturing the leader; the second, we must join forces with the Nian chieftain Zhang Luoxing, with Lai Wenguang holding Henan, both to bolster the vanguard and to prevent Sheng Bao and Duolonga from launching a counterattack; the third, brother, will be in Anhui, providing strong support. What do you think?" Fengxiang immediately nodded repeatedly, saying this plan was perfectly sound. He then allocated 50,000 Taiping troops to Lai Wenguang to hold Henan; another 50,000 to Chen Yucheng to remain in Anhui; and he himself would lead 100,000 Taiping troops, along with four valiant generals, Fan, Zhang, Er, and Wang, marching in a mighty force across Shandong, heading straight for Tianjin, crossing prefectures and counties in their advance, advancing with unstoppable momentum.
Consider this: if the Qing Dynasty hadn't made prior preparations, appointing Prince Gong Yixin and his son-in-law Senggelinqin as commanders-in-chief and deputy commanders-in-chief respectively, to lead troops to defend Tianjin, this chaos would have been truly immense. The book recounts a thunderbolt striking the sky in September of the fifth year of the Xianfeng Emperor's reign; this thunderbolt was none other than the arrival of a large army from Lin Fengxiang, the Left Prime Minister of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. The Xianfeng Emperor was greatly alarmed. He immediately dispatched Duanhua and Sushun to the front lines to provide personal instructions, while simultaneously rushing to the Yuanmingyuan Garden to seek out Empress Dowager Cixi (Nara) in the depths of the Green Sky Garden to discuss everything. Empress Dowager Cixi, however, was already confident, saying, "Your Majesty, rest assured, this time the bandits' invasion from the north will be without hindrance."
Emperor Xianfeng shook his head and said, "No, I've heard that the one coming is the Left Prime Minister of the Heavenly Kingdom, leading 100,000 troops. Our forces here, including the Divine Machine Battalion and the troops stationed in Tianjin, total only 50,000. With 50,000 against 100,000, I'm afraid our forces are no match." Empress Dowager Cixi said, "There's no need to worry. First, we can wait in comfort; second, the terrain around Tianjin is extremely dangerous, with artillery fortifications at every turn, no matter how many troops they have, they can't cross it; third, Prince Gong is loyal and courageous, and Senggelinqin is a hero, usually quite self-assured. I've only read a little history; Zhou Yu, with 50,000 troops, defeated Cao Cao's 830,000; Xie Xuan..." "With 50,000 troops, they defeated Fu Jian's 400,000. Lin Fengxiang, who came, may not possess the talent and strategy of Cao Cao or Fu Jian, and his army is nothing but a bunch of thieves and a rabble. With Prince Gong and Prince Seng, they could employ the methods of Zhou Yu and Xie Xuan, waiting in ambush and defeating the enemy with a small force." Upon hearing this, Emperor Xianfeng's heart blossomed with joy. He quickly kissed Empress Dowager Nala affectionately, patting her shoulder and saying, "I didn't expect you to have such a clear and insightful opinion. I'm delighted. I won't let that beautiful woman be enjoyed by that scoundrel.
" Empress Dowager Nala, upon hearing this, couldn't help but smile at Emperor Xianfeng with her bright, watery eyes.
Emperor Xianfeng was overcome with emotion; what happened next is left unsaid by the novelist. Enough of
this digression. Here the Emperor hid in the Yuanmingyuan, while Duanhua and Sushun had already arrived at the Tianjin camp. The enemy at the front had long since raised their guns and cannons, bombarding the area relentlessly. Senggelinqin, dressed in a yellow riding jacket, rode a tall horse. His height and the horse's size made him appear from afar like a seven-story pagoda. He brandished a precious sword in one hand and waved a command flag in the other. The Shenji Battalion's soldiers were all capable of fighting a hundred men each, their shouts like thunder. In this battle, the Taiping army was left with corpses strewn across the battlefield. Some of their generals died violently, while others fled wounded.
After the initial bombardment, Lin Fengxiang, enraged, urged his troops to surge forward again.
Gentlemen, you must know that the Taiping army fought to the death, always setting up camps and fighting to the death. As the saying goes, "The Miao and Man tribes are invincible." They marched from Penghua Mountain to the Hunan King, ravaging Anhui and Jiangxi, dominating Jiangsu and Zhejiang, leaving prefectures and counties in disarray, and provinces and counties trembling before them, all using their ruthless methods of killing. This time, leading his army deep into enemy territory, he disregarded the perilous situation and charged forward recklessly. Little did he know that what he usually enjoyed with the upper hand would turn into a disadvantageous one, and what he usually moved with ease would now be a series of setbacks. In this fierce battle, the Taiping army, originally numbering 100,000, was reduced to only 50,000 or 60,000 after the dead and wounded.
Lin Fengxiang, suffering this devastating blow, was unable to advance or retreat, and desperately hoped for reinforcements from Lai Wenguang, whose second army was stationed in Henan. However, Lai Wenguang's forces were surrounded by Sheng Bao and Duolonga's divided troops, preventing him from reaching Lin. With his supplies exhausted and reinforcements cut off, Lin Fengxiang was forced to fight desperately, but Senggelinqin's cannons inflicted heavy casualties on him. Seeing the unfavorable situation and realizing he could not muster his forces, Fengxiang fled that very night to join forces with Lai Wenguang.
This is just one part of the story. Leaving aside the victories of Prince Gong and Prince Seng, and the reports of Duanhua and Sushun's triumphant return to the palace, let's focus on the Eastern King Yang Xiuqing and the Northern King Wei Changhui. During the siege of the Xiang Army, the two had already developed a deep-seated animosity. Changhui had a subordinate general, a favorite male concubine named Wu Shouren. Because Wu Shouren deserted the battlefield, the Eastern King, falsely claiming it was a divine decree from Jehovah, summoned Changhui, had him bound and beaten with five hundred heavy rods until his skin was torn and his flesh ripped open, and then had Wu Shouren skinned alive, boiled in oil, and burned alive. Can you imagine how angry and resentful Changhui was? Coincidentally, Yang Xiuqing, supervising the battle at the front, also suffered several defeats, losing Yuezhou and Wuchang. Although Changhui remained silent, he was inwardly furious. Xiuqing, knowing his resentment, had no choice but to hastily retreat. Upon reaching Nanjing, he learned that the Heavenly King's Left Chancellor, Lin Fengxiang, had secretly planned to send troops, and he was immediately enraged and humiliated. One day, during the court audience, the Eastern King, standing on the throne, suddenly stumbled, foaming at the mouth, his eyes rolling back. He scrambled to his feet, rushed to the throne, and shoved Hong Xiuquan aside, saying, "The Heavenly Father has decreed! Kneel down and receive instructions!" Strangely enough, the supreme Heavenly King of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was now prostrate on the ground. Yang Xiuqing muttered incantations and shouted, "Remove the golden crown! Strip the dragon robe!" His men dared not disobey; some removed the crown, some loosened the belt, and some removed the robe, leaving Hong Xiuquan only in a short jacket and a single pair of trousers. Xiuqing then shouted, "Do you know your crime? Do you know your crime?
" Xiuquan repeatedly said he knew his crime. Xiuqing then shouted, "Men, drag this rebellious son away, tie him up, and give him forty lashes!" His men responded immediately, quickly binding him with ropes, pressing down his head and feet.
Think about it, Empress Xiaozhen beat Lan'er, but Emperor Xianfeng came to her rescue, and the storm subsided. Yang Xiuqing beat the Heavenly King, but no one came to his rescue. The Heavenly King of the Heavenly Kingdom was less fortunate than a concubine of the Qing Dynasty. As for the buttocks of ordinary people, they are a matter of luck or misfortune. The lucky ones are left with their skin intact, while the unlucky ones are left with their skin torn and bleeding. As I ramble on here, I'm already slapping the Heavenly King's buttocks into a fleshy drum. What happens next is yet to be seen; please read on.

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