Shaanxi-Gansu Rebellion: A Documentary of the Counterinsurgency of the Gongzuo Chu and Xiang Armies
The first rebel Wu of Yunnan conspired with Hemingtang to use bamboo as a fuse to ignite the smoke of Shaanxi, Gansu, and Gansu. Originally defeated in Yunnan, they harbored the ambition of establishing a Muslim kingdom and tried in vain to wash Shaanxi, Gansu and Qinghai.
They gathered blacksmiths and bought bamboo for **, but because of the bamboo shortage, they caused a conflict with the Han people. This unexpected move turned out to be an opportunity for them to provoke rebellion. Chopping bamboo and crossing the border, the conflict escalated, and Ren Wu and He Mingtang used this to incite the congregation and slaughter Huazhou under the banner of revenge.
Weinan and Tongzhou were moved, innocent people were tragically destroyed, and villages were in ruins. Cixi was shocked by the atrocities and sent Zhang Fu, the minister of Shaanxi regimental training, to quell the rebellion, but he was full of self-confidence, but he did not expect to become a victim.
Ren Wu and He Mingtang took the opportunity to kill Zhang Fu, fabricated the lie that "Qin will not return", and incited the rebels to further brutalize civilian officials, and the situation deteriorated suddenly. Zhang Fu's death detonated even greater turmoil, and the chaos swept through Shaanxi and Gansu, resulting in the tragic fate of 20 million people.
This storm, which bears the name of bamboo, has left a heavy historical mark.
In-depth analysis of the differences between Duolonga and Zuo Zongtang's response strategies for the Shaanxi-Gansu Rebellion (Historical and Cultural Exploration: Interpreting the Wisdom of Famous Generals) On the battlefield of quelling the chaos, Duolonga and Zuo Zongtang showed completely different tactics.
Duolonga firmly implemented the policy of annihilation, and even went down to the three cities of Gaoling, Sujiagou and Weicheng, and the rebel marshal Ren Wu was unfortunately killed in internal strife after the defeat, and Bai Yanhu and others were forced to flee to Gansu.
Despite the initial victory, there were still sporadic rebels in Shaanxi. Unfortunately, Dolonga was killed in the pursuit, and his mission was transferred to Zuo Zongtang.
Zuo Zongtang took over the heavy responsibility, relying on the well-formed Chu army and the Hunan army of the Liu brothers, with a total of 80,000 elite soldiers, to start a comprehensive encirclement and suppression of the Shaanxi-Gansu rebellion.
This heroic action marked a new chapter in the counterinsurgency of the Zuo Zongtang era.
After Zuo Zongtang put down the rebellion in Shaanxi, he skillfully incorporated Dong Zhiyuan's people's army and surrenderers. Then he marched to Gansu, inflicted heavy losses on Ma Zheng and the rebels, and brought their leaders to justice.
He treated Cui Wei and Ma Fushou with leniency, allowing them to fight side by side to quell the rebellion. The goal is directly aimed at Jinji Fort, where Ma Hualong has ** in his heart and has become Zuo Zongtang's primary target.
Liu Songshan heroically acted as a pioneer and led the Hunan army to regain the lost land, but unfortunately he was defeated and died heroically. Zuo Zongtang lost his beloved general, was filled with grief and indignation, and vowed revenge.
He personally led a large army, conquered Jinji Fort strongly, and almost annihilated the rebels, Ma Hualong's trick failed to succeed, and was finally severely punished. The remnants of Bai Yanhu fled to Xining and defected to Ma Guiyuan and Ma Benyuan.
In the end, Zuo Zongtang pacified Jinjibao with an iron fist, and the rebellion was swept away.
After Zuo Zongtang conquered the Jinjibao rebels, his next challenge came from the rebels in Hezhou. However, in a fierce battle with the rebels in River State, the counterinsurgency generals died heroically, including 21 people.
In the face of Ma Zhanao's resourcefulness and "black tiger heart-digging" tactics, Zuo Zongtang's army suffered heavy losses. Ma Zhanao was well versed in the war situation, foresaw Zuo Zongtang's strength, and chose to surrender to protect himself in the long run.
Although his ideas were opposed, such as Hemingtang's resistance, Zuo Zongtang, with his broad-mindedness and insight, accepted Ma Zhanao and let him join the ranks of counterinsurgency.
The fate of Hemingtang was to be executed, and Ma Zhanao's troops became a separatist force in the northwest. Zuo then turned his attention to the Xining rebels, but his resolve remained unwavering in the face of resistance from the local converts to Islam.
Through a series of battles, Zuo Zongtang completely defeated Ma Guiyuan and Ma Benyuan, while Bai Yanhu fled overseas. The Ma Guiyuan brothers were eventually captured and executed, marking the end of the rebels in Xining.
After pacifying Xining, Zuo Zongtang ushered in the climax of the pacification of Shaanxi-Gansu rebellion. In the face of Ma Wenlu's stubborn resistance, Zuo Zongtang adopted a strategy of outwitting, and through a long-term siege and psychological offensive, the Suzhou rebels ran out of food and grass, and Ma Wenlu was forced to surrender.
Zuo Zongtang severely punished the remnants of the rebels and ensured the stability of Suzhou. In this protracted battle to quell the turmoil, Zuo Zongtang spent ten years and at the cost of the sacrifices of more than 20 generals, and finally succeeded in quelling the Shaanxi-Gansu rebellion and ending this historical turmoil.
The bronze statue of Zuo Zongtang symbolizes his unyielding protection of the northwest land. In the controversy in the capital after the Shaanxi-Gansu Rebellion, Zuo Zongtang opposed the abandonment of the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains with firm convictions, and resolutely promoted the westward expedition to revitalize the country.
The brave soldiers under his command, such as Liu Jintang and Dong Fuxiang, accompanied him on a glorious journey and followed"First the north and then the south, slowly advancing and fighting"'s wisdom strategy, conquer one by one, and regain lost territory.
Agu Bai's desperate suicide and Bai Yanhu's defeat and exile marked Zuo Zongtang's great achievements in recovering the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains. Although the remnants of Bai Yanhu fled as far away as Central Asia and became a branch of today's Dungan people, scattered in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, the deeds of Zuo Zongtang and other counterinsurgency heroes are like historical treasures and worthy of praise from generation to generation.
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