Jiang Zhongyuan

Jiang Zhongyuan

Jiang Zhongyuan (1812-1854), a famous general in the late Qing Dynasty, was born in Xinning, Hunan Province (now Shaoyang).

Jiang Zhongyuan was born in Zhejiang Province. Later, he set up regiment training, suppressed Lei zaihao's uprising, and was promoted to the magistrate of Xiushui County, Zhejiang Province. After the Taiping Rebellion, Jiang Zhongyuan organized Chu Yong to fight in Guangxi, and killed Feng Yunshan in the battle of suoyidou. After that, Jiang Zhongyuan moved to Hunan, Hubei and Jiangxi, and rose to governor of Anhui.

In 1853, Jiang Zhongyuan arrived in Luzhou and was surrounded by the Taiping army. In December of the same year (January 1854), the city of Luzhou was destroyed, and Jiang Zhongyuan committed suicide by drowning himself. He was only 42 years old. He was posthumously awarded to the governor.

Life of the characters

Early deeds

Jiang Zhongyuan was upright and forthright, and attached great importance to the study of statecraft. In 1837 (the 17th year of Daoguang), he won the examination. Later, he entered Beijing to take part in the examination. Unfortunately, he did not win the list. In 1844 (the 24th year of Daoguang), Jiang Zhongyuan was appointed as a teaching official through the system of selecting officials. He returned to his hometown and trained his children with the art of war.

In 1847 (the 27th year of Daoguang), Lei zaihao, a Yao nationality, gathered in huangbeidong of Xinning to make trouble. Jiang Zhongyuan organized regiment training to suppress the rebellion, broke through the rebel nest, captured and killed Lei zaihao, and was promoted to the county magistrate, and went to Zhejiang to replace him. In 1849 (the 29th year of Daoguang), Jiang Zhongyuan served as the magistrate of Xiushui county. Due to his outstanding political achievements, he was appreciated by Wu Wenrong, governor of Zhejiang Province, and later served as the magistrate of Lishui County.

In 1850 (the 30th year of Daoguang), Emperor Xianfeng ascended the throne and ordered nine ministers of the Ministry to recommend talents. On the recommendation of Zeng Guofan, the Minister of rites, Jiang Zhongyuan went to Beijing to see the emperor, but he soon resigned because of his father's death.

Go to Guangxi

In 1851 (the first year of Xianfeng), Sai Shanga, a bachelor, went to Guangxi to suppress the Taiping army. Jiang Zhongyuan was also enlisted in the army, and was highly valued by Vice capital Tong ulantai. Later, Jiang Zhongyuan returned to his hometown and gathered 500 soldiers to form Chu Yong, who was led by his younger brother Jiang Zhongjun and went to Guangxi.

At that time, the Taiping Army repeatedly broke through the Qing army, and the troops were very powerful. Seeing that Chu Yong had just become an army and had few troops, they sent out troops to attack. At first, Jiang Zhongyuan couldn't get out. Later, while the Taiping army was approaching, he suddenly attacked and beheaded several hundred people. Later, he worked to Tongzhi Zhili Prefecture and was granted Hualing.

Later, the Taiping army captured Yong'an (now Mengshan, Guangxi), and was soon besieged by the Qing army. At that time, governor Xiang Rong advocated the strategy of encircling the city, while ulantai believed that the method of locking the city was applied, and they could not dispute. Jiang Zhongyuan's mediation failed. Knowing that the Qing army would be defeated in this war, he called himself ill and returned home.

In 1852 (the second year of Xianfeng), the Taiping army broke through the encirclement and went north to invade Guilin. After hearing the news, Jiang Zhongyuan recruited 1000 soldiers again and went to Guangxi with Liu Changyou day and night. At this time, wulantai died, and Jiang Zhongyuan was able to lead the army alone. He also defended cormorant Island, defeated the Taiping army three times, broke the siege of Guilin, and was promoted to magistrate.

In April, Jiang Zhongyuan pursued the Taiping army to Quanzhou. At that time, the Taiping army occupied the whole Prefecture and planned to advance along the Xiangjiang River and attack Changsha in the north. Jiang Zhongyuan set up ambush in suoyidou, cut down trees, blocked the river, and fought with the Taiping army for two days and nights. Feng Yunshan, the king of the south, died of gunfire, and the Taiping Army fled in disorder.

Help to defend Changsha

At that time, Jiang Zhongyuan asked to guard the East Bank of Xiangjiang River, but it was not accepted. The Taiping army was able to enter Hunan from the east coast and capture Daozhou (now hunandao county). Fearing that the Taiping army would coerce the people, Jiang Zhongyuan thought that "joint suppression is better than separate defense, and close attack is better than far blocking". So he attacked Daozhou together with the Qing army, contacted the city's insiders, and agreed to attack the city.

At this time, the Taiping army retreated from Daozhou, then occupied Guiyang and Chenzhou, invaded Changsha, and its power expanded again. When Jiang Zhongyuan and general Hechun went to rescue, the Taiping army had occupied the south of the city and attacked Changsha day and night. Jiang Zhongyuan saw that the Taiping army occupied the Tianxin Pavilion on the high ground, and said, "the thief army occupied here. Changsha is in danger." So he led the dead to recapture Tianxin Pavilion.

Later, when Jiang Zhongyuan saw his younger brother Jiang Zhongji arriving in Changsha from Chenzhou, he agreed to attack the Taiping Army and was wounded in the leg by ambush. Zhang Liangji, governor of Hunan Province, welcomed Jiang Zhongyuan into the city and asked about the strategy of guarding the city. Jiang Zhongyuan said: "the officers and soldiers are gathering on all sides, only Hexi is empty. Heavy troops should be sent to guard huilongtang to prevent the thieves from fleeing. " Zhang Liangji thinks so. But at this time, there were more than a dozen people in Changsha City, such as governor, governor and general, who were not under the control of each other, so it was difficult for Zhang Liangji to dispatch.

In November, the Taiping army broke through from huilongtang and captured Yuezhou (now Yueyang, Hunan Province) and seized Wuchang in December. Jiang Zhongyuan hated that his ideas had not been adopted and he didn't want to go east, so he was left in Hunan by Zhang Liangji. After that, Jiang Zhongyuan suppressed the bandits in baling, and then transferred to Liuyang to suppress Zhou Guoyu, a bandit of Zhengyi hall, and promoted him to a Taoist priest.

Stick to Nanchang

In 1853 (the third year of Xianfeng), the Qing government ordered Zhang Liangji to act as governor of Huguang, and appointed Jiang Zhongyuan as the inspector general of Hubei. Relying heavily on Zhang Liangji, Jiang Zhongyuan successively suppressed the rebels in Tongcheng, Chongyang, Jiayu and Puqi, and captured the rebel leaders Liu Lijian, Chen Baidou and Xiong Kaiyu alive. Emperor Xianfeng thought that Jiang Zhongyuan's loyalty and bravery could be relied on, so he sent him to Xiangrong's Jiangnan camp to assist in military affairs.

In June, Jiang Zhongyuan traveled to Jiujiang. Hearing that Nanchang was besieged, he went to the imperial court to ask for help from Jiangxi, and led 1300 people to Nanchang. Zhang Fu, the governor of Jiangxi Province, awarded the banner of Wang's life to Jiang Zhongyuan to direct all wars. Jiang Zhongyuan burned down the houses outside the city, killed the deserters, and personally stationed in zhangjiangmen to supervise the war day and night.

Later, the Taiping Army dug tunnels to attack the city, making the city collapse tens of feet. Jiang Zhongyuan killed the rebels in Dengcheng and ordered people to use earth bags to block the gap. Later, he sent the dead soldiers to burn down the Taiping Army's barracks many times. Soon after, Hunan reinforcements arrived. Jiang Zhongyuan divided his forces to guard Zhangshu Town, and sent Luo Zenan to suppress the bandits in Taihe, Wan'an, Anfu and other counties.

At that time, Jiang Zhongyuan stayed in Nanchang for more than 90 days and repeatedly broke through the barracks of the Taiping Army and sank enemy ships. In August, the Taiping army withdrew. Emperor Xianfeng, in order to commend Jiang Zhongyuan for his contribution, specially gave him the second grade crown.

Rush to Luzhou

Later, the Taiping army retreated to Jiujiang, divided troops to disturb the Xingguo in Hubei, and invaded Tianjia town (now Wuxue in Hubei). Jiang Zhongyuan led 2000 troops to help, and led dozens of his relatives to Tianjia town first. The next day, the Taiping Army stormed Tianjia Town, and Taoist Xu Fengyu and others died. Jiang Zhongyuan, who was impeached, was demoted to four ranks and was later promoted to governor of Anhui.

Soon after, the Taiping army captured Huangzhou and Hanyang and besieged Wuchang. Jiang Zhongyuan attacked along the Yangtze River, defeated the Taiping Army and broke the siege of Wuchang. Later, Jiang Zhongyuan's troops were left in Hubei, and he led only 2000 troops to Luzhou (now Hefei, Anhui). At that time, Jiang Zhongyuan marched in the rain, all the soldiers were tired, and he could not afford to get sick. At Lu'an, the Taiping army had captured Tongcheng and Shucheng.

Hu Yuanwei, the magistrate of Luzhou, sent an emissary to report an emergency and falsely claimed that there were enough troops and military salaries in the city. Jiang Zhongyuan left 1000 soldiers to guard Lu'an and went to Luzhou with illness. When Jiang Zhongyuan arrived in Luzhou in November, he realized that there were no more than 3000 people in the city, and there was a shortage of food, grass and ammunition, but he was heavily besieged by the Taiping army.

Although Jiang Zhongyuan knew that he had been cheated by Hu Yuanwei and Luzhou was difficult to preserve, he still refused to abandon the city. He thought that Hu Yuanwei could not arrange defense, and lied to delay the fight. He reprimanded him many times, and personally stationed at Shuiximen to repel the attack of the Taiping army. In order to reward Jiang Zhongyuan, the imperial court gave him huolongwu Batu luyong.

The city broke and committed suicide

At that time, shuxing'a, governor of Shaanxi and Gansu, was afraid of the power of the Taiping army. Jiang Zhongjun and Liu Changyou, the younger brothers of Jiang Zhongyuan, were also blocked five miles outside Luzhou City, making it difficult to rescue them. In December, Hu Yuanwei had an affair with the Taiping army. The Taiping army, knowing the reality of the city, attacked the city more fiercely.

Soon after, the Taiping Army blew up Shuiximen and stormed into Luzhou city. Jiang Zhongyuan draws a sword to commit suicide, and is stopped by his relatives. Du Sima Liangxun runs away with him on his back. Jiang Zhongyuan bit Ma Liangxun's ear, struggled to break free, and continued to fight with the Taiping army. When he arrived at the sluice bridge, Jiang Zhongyuan had seven wounds, so he had to plunge into the ancient pond and commit suicide by diving. He was 42 years old.

At that time, the chief envoy Liu Yuzhen, Chizhou magistrate Chen yuanyan, Tongzhi Zou Hanxun, Hu Ziyi and others died together, and Hu Yuanwei surrendered. Eight days later, Jiang Zhongyuan's body was carried out by Zhou Changji, a member of the army. He still looked as if he was alive. When the Qing government learned of this, it gave Jiang Zhongyuan a posthumous title as governor, commander of Qi and commander of Yun Qi, and placed his throne in Zhaozhong temple.

In 1864 (the third year of Tongzhi), the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom perished. In recognition of Jiang Zhongyuan's contribution, the Qing government also granted him the post of third-class light truck captain, and built special temples for him in Hunan and Jiangxi.

Anecdotes and allusions

When he was young, Jiang Zhongyuan asked Zeng Guofan to meet him in Beijing. Zeng Guofan saw his famous assassin and said unhappily, "this is Jiang Zhongyuan, a scholar in Xinning. He is a rascal. Drive him away." Menzi then said to Jiang Zhongyuan, "the master asked me to apologize to you. He said that you are a rogue scholar in Xinning. You only know how to gamble and have no time to associate with you." Jiang Zhongyuan said: "I really like gambling, but how can anyone refuse to change Zeng Guofan?" The door had to report again.

Zeng Guofan was very surprised and welcomed him into the mansion. At that time, the world had been peaceful for a long time, but Jiang Zhongyuan thought that there would be a great chaos soon. He talked about the affairs of the world with a loud voice, shaking the roof and tiles, and blowing the tea cups to the ground, still talking and laughing. Zeng Guofan changed his outlook greatly. After sending him away, he said to humanity, "I've never seen such a talent in my life." He sighed: "although this man can be famous all over the world, he will eventually die of chastity."

Character evaluation

Zeng Guofan: I have never seen such a person in my life. I should be famous all over the world, but I will die in chastity.

Zhu kongzhang: since Jiang Zhonglie advocated with righteous voice, his ambition was to kill thieves, but his brothers in the same robe had many generals and talents, and their achievements in war and martyrdom were rare in forever and treasure

Chinese PinYin : Jiang Zhong Yuan