The Romance of Empress Dowager Cixi's Scandalous History [17]

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Chapter Seventeen: One Mistake After Another - The Golden Wheel Empress, the Reincarnation of the Sleeping Dragon Zhuge Liang. It is said that after Emperor Tongzhi developed syphilis, Empress Dowager Cixi reprimanded Empress Xiaozhe and had already planned to have a child. Later, upon hearing that her daughter-in-law was pregnant, she worried that if the child were a boy, it would hinder their plans, causing her great unease. Then Li Lianying explained: "The syphilis is poisonous; even if a boy is born, he won't grow up, let alone whether it's a boy or a girl. My idea is to send people to secretly monitor the Emperor's movements every day. Currently, Li Hongzao of the Grand Council is very popular; we should win him over." Cixi repeatedly said, "That's right..." So, when Emperor Tongzhi summoned Hongzao to the inner palace, Cixi also summoned him. Cixi used a few sweet words, and Li Hongzao seemed to be under a spell, becoming completely obedient. While the Tongzhi Emperor was suffering from smallpox, Empress Dowager Cixi seized control of the court, issuing an edict stating that "Li Hongzao, a seasoned and experienced Grand Councilor, is hereby appointed to handle all matters, large and small." This was a tactic to win over the hearts and minds of the people; how could Li not be utterly disloyal? The poor Tongzhi Emperor, delirious with illness, was still treating Li as a confidant, even secretly discussing the succession plan with him. On a moral note, Li Hongzao was also somewhat distressed, and upon leaving the palace, his heart began to stir. While pondering the implications, someone suddenly tapped him on the shoulder. Turning around, he saw none other than Cui Changli, Cixi's trusted confidant.
Needless to say, Cui Changli was a secret agent. Hongzao's feet felt slippery, as if he had stepped on sesame oil, and he involuntarily followed Cui Changli to see Cixi. Empress Dowager Cixi greeted him with a smile, saying, "What urgent matter has His Majesty summoned you to the palace today?" Li Hongzao, knowing he couldn't hide it, had no choice but to present the Emperor Tongzhi's handwritten edict with both hands. Cixi took it, glanced at it, and coldly laughed twice, saying, "How is His Majesty's health now?" Hongzao replied, "I fear he is not well." Cixi nodded, immediately tore the edict into several strips, and hurriedly called Cui Changzha, saying, "Quickly summon Ronglu to the palace; I have urgent business with him." In no time, Ronglu arrived. Cixi asked, "How many troops are currently stationed in Beijing?" Ronglu replied, "Less than five thousand." Cixi said, "Assign them to the various cities for me to guard strictly." Ronglu agreed several times and hurried out to make the arrangements. Empress Dowager Cixi then said to Hongzao, "Now that you are the head of the Grand Council, I need your help with this important matter." Hongzao replied, "Whatever Your Majesty commands or methods you have, this old minister will obey." Cixi said, "This matter only needs to be done as follows..." Hongzao readily agreed. With
Cixi's instructions finalized, Princess Changshou, the daughter of Prince Gong, came to speak. Gentlemen, since Princess Changshou is Prince Gong's daughter, how did she come to be in contact with Cixi? It should be understood that at that time, both the Eastern and Western Palaces, lacking suitable daughters, chose princesses, noblewomen, or imperial relatives from the imperial clan as adopted daughters. The Eastern Palace's Empress Dowager Ci'an's favorite was her niece, the Seventh Princess; the Western Palace's Empress Dowager Cixi's favorite was Prince Gong's eldest daughter, Princess Changshou. Princess Changshou, whose husband had died young due to his studies, was a widow. She was intelligent and well-read, and often discussed classics and court anecdotes with Cixi, to which the princess answered fluently. While Cixi was known for her cunning and shrewdness, she was also discerning. She knew Prince Gong was loyal and patriotic, but their political views clashed. She, however, admired Princess Changshou's talent and frequently summoned her for serious discussions. Cixi had two pleasures in the palace: one was chatting frivolously with Li Lianying, finding amusement in the conversation; the other was discussing serious matters with Princess Changshou, using classical allusions – a blend of humor and seriousness.
Princess Changshou's arrival was secretly orchestrated by her father, Prince Gong: firstly, to observe Cixi's movements, and secondly, because the Emperor's demeanor was unfavorable, and she hoped the princess could maintain order. Cixi, being a perceptive woman, was certainly aware of this intention. After a brief exchange, she rose and said, "Why don't we go and see the Emperor?" The princess readily agreed, "Yes! Yes! Yes!" and followed Cixi to the Emperor's palace. However, upon entering the palace gates, they found it in chaos, filled with the sounds of weeping. It turned out that the Tongzhi Emperor and Empress Xiaozhe, after Li Hongzao's departure, had been anxiously awaiting news, but had received no word. Knowing something was amiss, and that the Emperor, already weak and frail, was in a state of imbalance, had suddenly changed his condition. Empress Xiaozhe was lying in a daze when she suddenly heard the Emperor cry out, "Oh dear!" followed by shortness of breath and delirium. He became unresponsive and immediately ordered two palace eunuchs to fetch Cixi, Consort Hui, and Consort Yi, but not to send any message to the Western Palace. A short while later, the Empress Dowager and two concubines arrived. The Emperor opened his dragon eyes wide, wanting to cry but unable to shed a tear. Empress Dowager Ci'an had already begun to sob and weep. As soon as the old lady started to cry, Empress Xiaozhe and Consort Hui and Consort Yi could not hold back any longer. Their wailing was truly heart-wrenching and heart-wrenching. Just then, Princess Changshou arrived, supporting Empress Dowager Cixi.
Given the natural bond between mother and child, naturally, aside from anything else, a good cry would suffice. But the old woman, confident in her plan, first pulled Empress Xiaozhe aside, saying, "Now that the Emperor is in this state, what are your plans?" Empress Xiaozhe cried, "I'd rather die." Cixi sneered twice, saying, "I know your plans. It's already dark! Even though the Emperor isn't dead, you already look down on me. What will you do now that he's dead?" Knowing her scheme had been exposed, Empress Xiaozhe used Li Hongzao as a pretext to launch into a scathing attack, saying, "That Li fellow is a beast in human clothing! A shameless scoundrel! The Emperor treated him..." "He's been so kind, treating me like a teacher and even requiring my students' wives to pay their respects. He shouldn't have abandoned the Emperor and become so fickle. This cunning old fox, I fear he might just hand over the Qing Dynasty's throne!" Empress Dowager Cixi sneered again, "You can insult that Li fellow to me, I don't care. I want to ask you, what are you here?" Empress Xiaozhe, disregarding the retort, hurriedly said, "I am the Empress appointed by the Emperor, and my carriage entered through the central gate, unlike others who enter through a side gate, which is considered improper." "According to the national system, the Empress is appointed through the main gate, while other concubines always enter through side gates." These words clearly struck a nerve with Cixi. Upon hearing this, Cixi's anger flared, and in a flash, she slapped Empress Xiaozhe twice across the face. Princess Changshou rushed over to pull her away, and the pitiful Empress Xiaozhe's face, streaked with tears, immediately flushed red. Empress Dowager Cixi kept yelling, "Shrew!"... Just as Empress Xiaozhe was about to fight back, Empress Dowager Ci'an cried out, "Don't make a scene! The Emperor has already passed away." Only then did Empress Dowager Cixi come over, feigning grief.
Empress Xiaozhe, who had intended to die for her husband, didn't have time to turn around and aimed at a pillar, charging headfirst into it. Princess Changshou, quick-witted and agile, saw Empress Xiaozhe's body bend and her head lower, and caught her around the waist. The princess fell to the ground first, and Empress Xiaozhe then fell onto the princess. After catching her breath, Princess Changshou cried out, "My stepmother, my sister-in-law, please don't do this! You are a neuter, and if you give birth to a prince, he will be the Emperor's legitimate son. I will go back and tell my father about your suffering, and ask him to make a decision so that you will not be humiliated." Empress Xiaozhe, hearing these heartwarming words, quickly gasped and said, "My life or death depends on my uncle's actions. I beg my sister for everything." With that, she stood up, and Princess Changshou also rose, leaning on a pillar. They went over the imperial bed, but the Emperor's spirit was still present; he had already passed away peacefully. At this time, Prince Gong Yixin, Prince Chun Yixuan, Prince Li Shiduo, Grand Councilors Li Hongzao and Weng Tonghe had already entered the palace upon hearing the news. Gentlemen, other emperors, on their deathbed, always left a will and appointed two or three regents. But when the Tongzhi Emperor passed away, the palace was in complete chaos, with several Manchu women weeping amidst the smoke. If we're talking about regents, then Li Hongzao is the one to consider. However, this Li Hongzao was blinded by greed and self-interest, always hesitant and timid. He could never fulfill the Emperor's requests, and not only that, he also had to curry favor with Empress Dowager Cixi. This kind of opportunistic tactic appears twice in my novel: this time Li Hongzao betrayed the Tongzhi Emperor, and later Yuan Shikai betrayed the Guangxu Emperor. Following the same pattern, it's a perfect match, isn't it?
Enough of this digression. Seeing the group of princes and ministers weeping, Cixi hastily forced out tears and cried out in anguish: "The dynasty is in decline, the imperial family is unfortunate. His Majesty is in his prime, and this great upheaval has befallen us. Today, in this haste, no decision can be made, and it's getting late. Everything is chaotic. Tomorrow morning, all officials, both Manchu and Han, civil and military, must gather at the Yangxin Hall. No one can avoid it." Prince Gong Yixin and the others repeatedly agreed. Princess Changshou, taking advantage of the grand funeral, chatted with her father, secretly discussing important matters, to which Prince Gong merely nodded. A short while later, the princes and ministers withdrew, and Empress Dowager Cixi and Empress Dowager Ci'an returned to their respective palaces. Empress Xiaozhe, along with Consort Hui and Consort Yi, remained to keep vigil over the coffin, while Princess Changshou stayed behind, without needing further explanation.
By dawn the next day, the Hall of Mental Cultivation was already packed with people—princes, dukes, princes of the second rank, princes of the third rank, princes of the fourth rank, dukes of the fifth rank, along with the Grand Councilors, the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers, and the Hanlin Academy and the Censorate—all were calmly awaiting the meeting. Before long, Empress Dowager Ci'an and Empress Dowager Cixi arrived. After exchanging the usual courtesies, the two empresses sat side by side. Ci'an pondered for a moment, intending to bring up Prince Gong's son, Zai Shu. Ladies and gentlemen, I must take this opportunity to explain: Prince Gong originally had three princes of the third rank: Zai Run, Zai Shu, and Zai Cheng. Zai Cheng, because of his association with the Tongzhi Emperor and his fondness for wearing embroidered black clothes, was punished by Prince Gong and chained. Later, he also died from smallpox caused by syphilis. Zai Run was one year older than the Tongzhi Emperor. Zai Shu was a year younger than the Tongzhi Emperor. Empress Dowager Ci'an intended to make Zai Shu the heir apparent, which was considerate of her daughter-in-law. However, before she could finish speaking, Cixi quickly cut her off, loudly proclaiming, "Although the Empress is currently pregnant, the date of her birth is unknown. Today's meeting is to discuss the issue of the heir apparent." Prince Gong, who held a very high position and had close connections, was the first to speak. Last night, he had overheard his daughter, Princess Changshou, speaking, and was furious at Cixi's excessive treatment of the Empress. He immediately raised his voice and said, "The late Emperor was a wise and capable ruler who restored the dynasty, and the Empress was extremely virtuous. Since the Empress is not pregnant, she should naturally seek the heir apparent elsewhere. I have heard that the Empress is pregnant and will soon be full-term. We should keep this a secret until the Empress gives birth. If she gives birth to a prince, he should be the legitimate heir. If she gives birth to a daughter, we can then discuss the adoption of a collateral branch." Before he finished speaking, everyone, in their hearts, unanimously agreed. At this moment, Empress Dowager Cixi remained calm and composed. She raised her hand and waved it, saying, "Prince Gong's suggestion is not without merit. The late Emperor was my son; how could I not wish for the direct line of succession? However, Zuo Zongtang's suppression of the Hui rebellion is not yet complete, and in the Yunnan-Guizhou region, there are Hui bandits such as Du Wenxiu and Ma Liansheng who have gathered to start an uprising. You are all experienced; if the court were to keep the death a secret, how could a single piece of paper possibly conceal the truth? Furthermore, the Empress's delivery date is unknown, and the sex of the child cannot be predicted. In my opinion, this proposal is absolutely unacceptable." Grand Councilor Li Hongzao, immediately agreeing with Cixi's wishes, quickly said: This empty and untrue matter may fool people for a while, but it won't last. It's best to settle the matter of the heir apparent as soon as possible. "At this point, Empress Dowager Ci'an couldn't bear it any longer and muttered, "In my opinion, Prince Gong is loyal to the country, the closest in seniority, and has made great contributions. Among the direct descendants, it would be best to establish his son, Zai Shu." Before she could finish speaking, Prince Gong had already knelt down and kowtowed, repeatedly saying that he dared not... Gentlemen, if Ci'an had made up her mind and presented a reasonable reason for the succession, no matter how cunning or shrewd Empress Dowager Cixi was, this proposal would not have been easily dismissed. However, Ci'an lacked eloquence and was clumsy in arguing. Prince Gong simply kowtowed, while Ci'an remained silent. Empress Dowager Cixi immediately waved her hand and said, "This matter cannot be forced. Since Prince Gong is unwilling, we must propose another one." As she spoke, she looked at Zai Qi. Empress Dowager Cixi then seized the opportunity to speak, saying, "I think Zaiqi's son, Pulun, is also very good. According to the order of succession, it is not unreasonable to make Pulun the heir of the late emperor." When Zaiqi heard this, he knelt down and kowtowed, saying that he dared not. At this moment, Empress Dowager Cixi, displaying her full strength and shrewdness, immediately darkened her face and said, "The imperial throne and the Qing Dynasty's empire are not to be casually given away as a gift. Pu Lun is the son of Zai Qi, who was adopted by Yi Hui. He is considered a family heir. If we simply accept Pu Lun as heir, wouldn't Yi Hui be left without an heir? This is inappropriate." Prince Gong quickly retorted, "In my opinion, it is perfectly appropriate. Throughout history, succession from brother to brother has always been forced; succession from father to son is the proper way. If Pu Lun has already been adopted out of the family and should not inherit the throne, then wasn't Emperor Yingzong of Ming also adopted out of the family? How could he inherit the throne? We need to establish a precedent so that we can..." Following suit. "Empress Dowager Cixi, trembling with anxiety at Prince Gong's rebuke, cleverly thought to herself, 'Since he uses historical facts to refute me, I can use historical facts to counter him. Did Emperor Yingzong of Ming really suffer the Tumu Crisis and be captured by Esen? I'll use that to refute him and see how he responds.' She then waved her hand and hurriedly said, 'Uncle, let's not mention Emperor Yingzong. Today, we need to find a successful emperor as a benchmark. The precedent of someone who surrendered and fell into foreign hands cannot be used. In my opinion, Prince Chun Yixuan's son, Zaitian, is very suitable.' Prince Gong, hearing this, already knew Cixi's intentions, already knew that this whole drama was meticulously arranged by this old woman. If he fell into her trap, she would inevitably have to resume her regency, and Empress Dowager Xiaozhe would be unable to rise to power. Not only would Empress Dowager Xiaozhe be unable to rise to power, but Empress Dowager Ci'an would also be in great danger." At that moment, he couldn't care less about anything else. He clenched his fists and said angrily, "The country is in turmoil now. My draft of keeping the death a secret can't be used. Does this mean that a young emperor will rule while the Empress Dowager governs? Is this a foolproof policy? Zaitian is only five years old this year. By the time the throne is returned to him, he will be at least thirteen or fourteen. His future is uncertain." Seeing Prince Gong's furious outburst, Cixi just laughed coldly and said, "The late Emperor has not yet died in peace. The matter of establishing an heir must be resolved immediately. You have your reasons, and I have mine. Your opinion is that an heir should be established..." "Pulun, my proposal is to establish Zaitian as the heir. Why don't we use a voting method? Here, regardless of whether we are Manchu or Han, everyone has the right to vote. Both Zaitian and Pulun have the right to be elected, based on their own feelings; we won't interfere. Is this method feasible?" Before Prince Gong could answer, Grand Councilor Li Hongzao said, "This method is perfectly fair and straightforward." It turned out that those who had participated in the discussion had already been influenced by Li Hongzao. Yesterday, Empress Dowager Cixi whispered in Hongzao's ear, instructing him to do this… this is the purpose of the vote. At this time, most of the Manchu and Han officials were eager to try, and upon hearing about the election, they all vehemently supported it. Empress Dowager Ci'an, unaware of the situation, said, "If you all do it this way, I'm completely confused and don't know what to do." At this point, Prince Gong was isolated and powerless; only two or three confidants followed his lead and voted for Pulun. The rest, having been influenced, were all aligned with Empress Dowager Cixi. The tickets were opened, and Li Hongzao began to call out the names, one Zaitian on the left and one Zaitian on the right. It was troublesome to call out, and it was also troublesome to listen to. Prince Gong was extremely saddened, while Empress Dowager Cixi was extremely happy. Upon hearing of Zaitian's selection, Empress Dowager Cixi smiled and said to Empress Dowager Ci'an, "Sister, this matter must be handled according to the principles of Heaven, the law, and human sentiment. I will inevitably have to trouble you again.
" Empress Dowager Ci'an replied, "My talents are insufficient; how can I compare to you? Please draft this edict." Empress Dowager Cixi readily agreed and quickly prepared a draft, saying, "The late Emperor has passed away suddenly without an heir. The two palaces have summoned Manchu and Han officials, and all agree that Zaitian, son of Prince Chun Yixuan, is the closest to the throne. Following the ancient system of succession by a younger brother, Zaitian is permitted to succeed to the throne. The two palaces will temporarily govern. This edict is to be known throughout the country." Once the edict was drafted, the two palaces affixed their seals and summoned Zaitian to the palace. At this time, Prince Chun's concubine, Lady Nara, received this wonderful news and, naturally grateful to her elder sister, hurriedly carried Zaitian into the inner palace. Empress Dowager Cixi personally received him. They carried the child to the bedside of the late Emperor to pay their respects. First came the edict of joy, then the edict of sorrow; all the procedures were virtually identical to those for the passing of Emperor Xianfeng. Those of you who have read chapters nine and ten of my novel will naturally understand the court etiquette; there's no need for me to elaborate. However, while the etiquette is the same, the circumstances are different. When the two empresses dowager ruled from behind the curtain, it was perfectly legitimate and inescapable during Emperor Xianfeng's passing. But today, with Emperor Tongzhi passing away, there is clearly Empress Xiaozhe, who is pregnant with the emperor's child. Although the sex of the child cannot be predicted, and keeping the death a secret is not a good example, the fact that she is not choosing a son but a brother, and that Cixi is only concerned with her own rule from behind the curtain, is like the Jinlun Zetian (Empress Wu Zetian) using her methods. Isn't this tantamount to causing the late Emperor to die without an heir and putting Empress Xiaozhe to death?
Empress Xiaozhe had attempted suicide by striking her head against a pillar the day before, but Princess Changshou stopped her. She anxiously awaited Prince Gong's intervention, but upon learning of his weakened state and seeing Empress Dowager Cixi carrying Zaitian in, she made up her mind. She secretly cut up some gold dust and, amidst the chaos of the funeral arrangements, swallowed a large amount of the gold dust. Poor Empress Xiaozhe, in her resolute act, ingested a considerable amount of the gold dust, and within half a day, her intestines were ruptured. By the time Princess Changshou arrived to comfort her, she was already lying on the imperial bed, on the verge of death. A hasty message was sent to the two palaces, but all efforts to save her were in vain. Empress Dowager Ci'an wept bitterly, deeply saddened by the loss of her beloved daughter-in-law; Empress Dowager Cixi, secretly pleased, removed her eye studs and even commented on the Empress's fate, saying she could no longer be a model mother to the nation—how could she be so heartless! While busy with the funeral arrangements, she naturally issued another edict of mourning, proclaiming it throughout the country.
From then on, the two empresses dowager once again ruled from behind the curtain, and the following year was designated as the first year of the Guangxu reign. This Guangxu Emperor was raised by Empress Dowager Cixi. As a young child separated from his birth mother, he wept day and night, completely unaware of what it meant to be an emperor, to live in luxury, or to ascend the throne. Empress Dowager Ci'an feigned ignorance in all matters, and Prince Gong, due to disagreements, resigned in despair. Only Li Hongzao, a Grand Councilor, held real power, and Weng Tonghe and Sun Yuwen were appointed as the young emperor's tutors. Among the relatives of the empress dowager, Ronglu was the most favored. Ronglu had served as the Commander of the Infantry for many years, and while he was eager for promotion, there was no immediate replacement for this important position. Taking advantage of Cixi's return to regency, Ronglu coveted the position of Minister of Beiyang, but Li Hongzhang was an important figure; how could he change his mind when the new emperor ascended the throne? Ronglu frequently visited Empress Dowager Cixi privately, becoming increasingly close to Li Lianying, whom he treated like a brother and sister. Not only were palace eunuchs in league with him, but even Consort Hui, Consort Yi, and the palace maids and servants all favored him because Ronglu was Cixi's nephew and a favorite of the "Old Buddha." Gentlemen, why was Cixi also called the "Old Buddha"? Because she held unparalleled authority and was a devout Buddhist, this title was bestowed upon her within the palace. At this time, the palace was even more corrupt than before. This "Old Buddha" practiced unorthodox Zen and chanted the mantras of the "Joyful Buddha," and with Ronglu, neither male nor female, involved, the situation became even more chaotic, a veritable breeding ground for evil.
During the first two years of the Guangxu Emperor's reign, the power of these internal demons had become deeply entrenched. If there is a cause for evil, there will inevitably be a consequence; wouldn't external forces seize this opportunity to stir things up again? Ironically, Empress Wu Zetian also experienced immense fortune. The Hui Muslims Bai Yanhu and Ma Hualong of Xinjiang, and Du Wenxiu and Ma Liansheng of Yunnan and Guizhou, were all defeated by government troops at this time.
The military governor in Yunnan and Guizhou was Cen Yuying; the military governor in Xinjiang was Zuo Zongtang.
Victories were reported from both places around this time, but unfortunately, I cannot write about both simultaneously in my next post. I must first recount Zuo Zongtang's campaign to recapture the Nian Rebellion. I remember in the seventh year of the Tongzhi reign, Zuo Zongtang and Li Hongzhang joined forces to suppress the Nian Rebellion. At that time, they achieved great success, and the court urged Zongtang to go to Shaanxi and Gansu to seize the opportunity to bring the rebellion back. The army totaled 100,000 men, including numerous generals. Some had distinguished themselves in the campaigns against the Taiping Rebellion in Zhejiang, others in the suppression of the Nian Rebellion in Zhili and Shandong, and still others who joined the army midway. Among them were Gao Liansheng, Zhou Shaolian, Wei Guangtao, Liu Duanmian, Huang Ding, Lei Zhengwan, Tao Maolin, Li Yaonan, and Li Huiwu—all experienced and tactically astute individuals.
Four men were particularly valuable: Liu Dian, already acting governor of Shanxi; Zhang Yao; Liu Songshan; and Liu Jintang. Jintang was Songshan's nephew, and the uncle and nephew had already accumulated considerable military achievements during the suppression of the Nian Rebellion. Zhang Yao was a seasoned and capable general, having fought in dozens of battles, large and small, including campaigns against Zhang Luoxing and Zhang Zongyu, eventually rising to the rank of general. This man surnamed Zuo, with his formidable army and military prowess, possessed an unbridled arrogance, considering himself akin to Zhuge Liang. His seals, sometimes bearing the inscription "Old Liang," sometimes "Ancient Liang is not as good as today's Liang," were used to describe him. Upon arriving in Shaanxi, he had already devised a three-pronged attack plan: the northern route, sending Liu Songshan and his nephew Jintang via Suide and Huamachi to directly attack Jinjipu's stronghold; the southern route, sending Zhang Yao from Qin to Gong to sweep away the Hui people of Gongchanghe; and the central route, led by Zuo himself and Liu Dian, to drive all the Shaanxi Hui into Gansu. With the plans finalized, the three routes advanced simultaneously. They were not afraid of the Hui people, who usually relied on the Taiping and Nian armies for prestige, but at this point, their support was ineffective, and they retreated step by step. You will surely ask me, why did the Hui people Bai Yanhu and Ma Hualong take advantage of the chaos to invade the interior?
Bai Yanhu from Xinjiang was a distant nephew of Zhang Geer. During the Jiaqing and Daoguang reigns, Zhang Geer was captured and beheaded twice. The first time, he was led by Changling and Yang Yuchun, and the second time by Na Yancheng and Yang Fang. The campaign lasted from the seventh year of Jiaqing's reign until the eighth year of Daoguang's reign.
This time, Bai Yanhu sought revenge for his uncle. Taking advantage of the large-scale Taiping and Nian rebellions in the interior, he contacted Ma Hualong, a Hui Muslim from Gansu. Ma then contacted Dong Fuxiang, a Hui Muslim from Shaanxi, who in turn contacted Lan Dashun and Lan Ershun, two Taiping generals. Dashun and Ershun had previously served under Lai Wenguang and were also Muslims. At that time, there were many Hui Muslims among the Nian rebels in the east and west. Of China's 400 million people, 20-30% were Muslims, with the Yellow River basin being the most prominent. Before the seventh year of the Yuan Dynasty's reign, the interior was embroiled in war, and the Hui people were extremely arrogant and domineering. Seven years later, after Zuo Zongtang's campaign against the Hui people, a three-pronged attack strategy was devised, and the Hui people's sphere of influence gradually shrank. However, the three-pronged attack was also hierarchical. Let's first discuss the northern route, led by Liu Songshan and his nephew Liu Jintang, who marched towards Huamachi and attacked Jinjipu. Jinjipu was Ma Hualong's stronghold, its terrain treacherous, similar to Penghuashan of the Taiping Army and Zhishuizhen of the Nian Rebellion. The main force attacked outside the fortress, while the Hui people defended it fiercely. Five hundred li from Jinjipu was Gaojiapu, a key stronghold of Bai Yanhu, and several smaller forts along the way. The Hui people advanced steadily, with ammunition and provisions flowing in continuously. Liu Songshan fought from the eighth to the ninth year of the Tongzhi reign, winning many battles, but Jinjipu was an impregnable fortress, impossible to breach quickly.
That day, Songshan selected three thousand daredevils and personally led the charge, with his nephew Jintang as backup. At the sound of the trumpet, they charged forward like dragons and tigers, approaching the earthen fortress and hastily setting up ladders. However, Ma Hualong was prepared. Six cannons were mounted on the fortress, and rolling logs and stones were arranged. With coordinated movements, the soldiers were shot down as soon as they climbed the ladders.
Liu Songshan, preoccupied with supervising the battle, was unaware that a cannonball was aimed at him, and the pitiful commander, known for his divine might, was killed by the cannonball. As the saying goes, a snake cannot move without a head; the three thousand daredevils retreated in disarray. Liu Jintang arrived with his troops and learned of Songshan's death. Suppressing his grief, he quickly collected the body, raised a white flag, and called upon the masses to wail in despair. The first watch had passed, and it was now the second watch. Darkness enveloped the sky. He hurriedly led three thousand elite troops, bypassing the fortress from behind. With a whistle, they swarmed up the earthen fortress. Some of you may question me: Liu Songshan's earth-shattering attack failed, yet Liu Jintang's unexpected move succeeded? Just as the military classics say, strike unexpectedly, attack where unprepared. Jintang had already anticipated Ma Hualong's victory and was now lax in his defenses. Therefore, he immediately raised a white flag and ordered all the soldiers to cry out loudly. This chorus of cries reached Ma Hualong's ears, and he was overjoyed, thinking that with a formidable enemy eliminated, he could finally rest easy. But his joy was short-lived; disaster struck. Ma Hualong and a few others were reciting the Quran in the chapel when suddenly a battle cry erupted. Countless troops, seemingly collapsing from the heavens, surrounded them. Well done, Liu Jintang! As soon as he breached Jinji Fortress, he ordered a grand celebration, scattering fire everywhere. Fire crows and fire rats filled the sky, fire dragons and fire horses littered the ground, and with a deafening roar, muskets and cannons roared, sending the Hui people flying in a chaotic frenzy, their heads and foreheads scorched, trampling each other, piles of corpses. Ma Hualong, consumed by rage, mounted his fiery steed and fled east and west through the burning fortress. Unexpectedly, he encountered Liu Jintang, the Fire God. His men lit torches, and someone fired muskets, sending fireballs flying. Ma Hualong, engulfed in flames, immediately jumped off his fiery steed and was bound by several firemen. At this time, all the houses and camps of Jinji Fortress were engulfed in flames, burning fiercely and relentlessly. When the fire died down, the ground was completely leveled. How Liu Jintang vented his anger after capturing Ma Hualong remains to be seen; read on for more.

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The Romance of Empress Dowager Cixi's Scandalous History [17]

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