Chapter 4: Weize (Four)

As Longkedo rode forward on horseback, chatting and laughing with two other guards, he suddenly heard the sounds of shouting and killing from behind. Sitting on his horse, Kelongdu turned his head and, looking over the heads of dozens of Qing soldiers walking behind him, saw a dozen or so individuals armed with long spears rushing up the official road, shouting loudly. Seeing that there were only so few of them, Kelongdu did not feel particularly tense. What first caught his attention were the white cloth bands tied around the foreheads of those individuals, as well as their hairstyles with hair tied up in buns. He had seen Taoists in a Taoist temple in Beijing, and his first thought was, have even the Taoists mourning the dead started to rob people on the road in these times?

Hand-to-hand combat is a compulsory subject for modern military forces. Even during World War II, when aircraft and artillery were widely and extensively used, various armies frequently engaged in bayonet fights. On the Korean battlefield, the U.S. military, relying on heavy artillery to reshape mountains, bombarding the ground, and conducting saturation attacks, also clashed with the Volunteer Army in bayonet combat multiple times. As early as 1852, nearly 90 years before 1940, hand-to-hand combat was already a hallmark skill of modern armies. Weize firmly believed in this.

In the central army of the Qing forces, the officer leading the grain transport team was sweating profusely and trembling in front of three riders. The three individuals varied in height and build, yet they shared a common feature: they were all dressed in yellow silk uniforms.

"Damn it! It's just a shoe that got lost and cut my foot, right? Running slowly means losing my life, how could I be so foolish?" In that moment, Wei Ze understood this point clearly. He no longer cared about the condition of his shoes; he exerted all his strength in his legs and charged directly towards the dark muzzles of the Qing army's guns.

At this moment, Wei Ze and the others were still over thirty meters away from the Qing army's formation

Upon seeing the Qing army in disarray, Kolondo did not feel fear or panic. He was mounted on his horse, positioned at a higher vantage point. When Weize and the others charged out, Kolondo estimated that there were about twenty of them. Meanwhile, the Qing army's front and middle ranks still numbered at least one hundred, remaining in a disciplined formation.

Now, Wei Ze is left with only two choices: either to charge forward with all his might or to retreat immediately. If he were to pause now, allowing the Qing army to calmly form ranks and fire their rifles from a distance of over thirty meters, the result for the dozen or so Taiping soldiers armed with long guns would only be slaughter.

Weize's subordinates demonstrated exceptional combat effectiveness in battle. The Taiping Army soldiers, including Wei Changrong, charged into the ranks of the Qing army and immediately unleashed a fierce slaughter. Even Zhang Yingchen, who was not particularly reliable, engaged in the fray with a rather clumsy yet far more valiant and daring fighting style than that of the Qing troops

Wei Ze's core strategy formulated before the ambush of the Qing army's grain transport convoy was close-quarters combat. During this period, the quality of Chinese matchlock guns was very poor, and Wei Ze had only five of these low-quality, low-rate-of-fire matchlock guns. In contrast, the Qing army had at least 100 matchlock guns. To engage the enemy with one's own weaknesses against their strengths would be the most foolish choice

Regarding the safety of this journey, the third-ranked guard, Kolondo, who is the leader among the three imperial guards, had no concerns. Being a guard beside the envoy, he was well aware of the official documents that circulated. The Qing army had deployed 50,000 troops to encircle the Taiping army; even though many units had not reached the front lines, over 30,000 Qing troops were already pressing the Taiping forces within Yong'an City from the two large camps to the north and south outside the city. The official road leading directly to the northern camp had been tightly sealed off by the Qing army, making it quite safe at this moment. The Qing army had deployed 50,000 troops to encircle the Taiping army; even though many units had not reached the front lines, over 30,000 Qing troops were already pressing the Taiping forces within Yong'an City from the two large camps to the north and south outside the city. The official road leading directly to the northern camp had been tightly sealed off by the Qing army, making it quite safe at this moment. There were more than 100 Hunan green battalion soldiers escorting the grain transport convoy, whose combat effectiveness was quite formidable. Kolondo felt even more at ease.

Weize's mind was unprecedentedly clear at this critical moment. If he were to stab that fellow with his gun, it was highly likely that the Qing soldier's firearm would hit Weize, resulting in Weize's spear killing that individual. Weize released his left hand, which was tightly gripping the gun handle, took a large step to the left, seized the barrel of the quick-handed Qing soldier, and raised it high into the air

The facts soon proved that this group of people were not mourners but genuine bandits. Among the imperial guards, there were undoubtedly noble youths who had come to gain experience, but this did not mean that the imperial guards were incompetent. They were required to undergo various rigorous training sessions. The guards were divided into different ranks, and they could only earn the emperor's recognition through their martial skills. The lower-ranked guards also hoped to gain the emperor's favor through their bravery or military achievements.

I curse your mother! With this completely thoughtless roar, Wei Ze's ferocity surged. Since his left hand could no longer exert force, Wei Ze simply released the gun barrel in his right hand and drew out the single knife that served as a mountain-cutting blade. Without regard for the Qing soldier who had already fired, Wei Ze swung his right arm down with all his might, and the single knife struck fiercely into the forehead of the Qing soldier directly in front of him

The Qing army, just as Wei Ze had anticipated, was severely shaken by the fierce attacks on the junction between the rear and the central forces. The soldiers in the rear abandoned their rifles and fled in panic, while those in the central forces also made a hasty retreat forward

Under the constant urging of Emperor Xianfeng, the special envoy responsible for suppressing bandits, Saishang'a, finally made the decision a few days ago to personally go to the front lines to oversee the battle. Before departing, he dispatched three members of the Imperial Guard, including Kelongduo, to deliver a message to the northern camp of Yong'an City. The Imperial Guard had little interaction with the local officials, so sending them to deliver the message would also allow them to assess the situation at the front. This was the plan that Saishang'a had in mind.

With a stern expression, Colonel Du confronted Captain Liu, saying: "Captain Liu! There are at most twenty bandits. You claim to have fought alongside General Xiangrong and that you learned the skill of the volley gun from him. Now, take forty of your brothers and confront them, using the volley gun against those bandits! If any of those who escape dare to charge at our formation, they shall be shot on the spot. Go!"

Now, it is certainly possible to escape, but this hard-won situation would be equivalent to throwing away all previous efforts. God knows when the next supply convoy from the Qing army will arrive, and the food brought by Wei Ze and the others is running low; it is impossible to remain in ambush for more than ten days. Wei Ze is absolutely unwilling to spit out the meat that has already entered his mouth

The force of this strike was so great that an ordinary iron blade had cleaved off half of the Qing soldier's head. At the gap created by the broken blade, red and white substances were clearly visible. Wei Ze kicked the body of the Qing soldier, which had already turned into a corpse, in the chest and abdomen, sending the body flying backward

At this moment, Liu had already drawn his saber, shouting and intimidating the scattered Qing army's musketeers. This effort only temporarily halted the steps of a few around him. However, what followed was the charge of Taiping soldiers led by Wei Changrong, who ruthlessly thrust their long spears at the collapsing Qing army. Amidst the cries of agony, the emergency troops of the Qing army collapsed.

After stabilizing his emotions slightly, Wei Ze took two steps forward and swung his knife towards the bald head of a Qing soldier. During combat, the Qing soldiers would braid their hair and coil it on top of their heads. The braid on the crown of the Qing soldier's head was not severed by the dull iron knife, but rather the single blade penetrated into his skull. Like a frog struck by lightning, the Qing soldier trembled all over and then froze in place

Weize twisted the gun barrel, causing the gun tip to rotate and enlarge the wound, and then effortlessly withdrew the long gun. Facing the row of bald heads swaying in front of him, Weize instantly locked onto the easiest target to stab, and thrust the gun once more into the junction of the spine and skull.

Bang! The dull sound of the matchlock gun echoed from the upper left side of Weize's head. In the end, the quick-handed Qing soldier pulled the trigger. Weize's left hand, gripping the gun barrel, and his left forearm were completely numbed by the shock. The thrill of having narrowly escaped death brought only a momentary sense of pleasure, followed by an uncontrollable surge of anger that suddenly erupted from within Weize.

The imperial guards were certainly willing to take a stroll. In front of Sai Shang A, the imperial guards were merely guards. Once they stepped out, they immediately became prominent figures from the capital, whom local officials had to treat with utmost hospitality. According to the customs of the Manchu court, the tributes from localities along the way would naturally be plentiful. Moreover, the task of delivering messages, while seemingly trivial, was always significant. Once the Taiping Army was eradicated, even such a small matter could be counted as a merit for the guards. Since both substance and appearance could yield rewards, the imperial guards were naturally "more than happy to comply".

Seeing the single-edged sword pierce into the forehead of the Qing soldier, Wei Ze clearly understood that this man was already dead. Wei Ze attempted to tighten and then release his numb left hand; the numbness still lingered, but he could now exert strength with his left arm. He let go of the hilt of the knife in his right hand, allowing the body of the Qing soldier, still holding the single-edged sword, to fall to the ground. He then stepped on the central part of the gun barrel on the ground, rolling and flicking it, causing the long spear to fly into the air. Wei Ze caught the long spear that soared upward and thrust it into the bare back of the fleeing Qing soldier, precisely at the junction of the spine and the back of the head. That spot, when pierced by the sharp blade, would result in immediate death if severe, or permanent paralysis if mild.

The officer of the grain transport team was a commander surnamed Liu, who did not dare to neglect the three attendants dressed in yellow robes, serving them with utmost diligence. Colondo and the others were very pleased with this and expressed several times their intention to speak a few kind words about this commander in front of the esteemed envoy. Commander Liu, of course, was perceptive and respectfully presented a sum of silver, which Colondo and the others graciously accepted

The shoes that Wei Ze is currently wearing on his feet are neither Nike nor Adidas, nor are they Li Ning or 361 Degrees. However, these straw sandals are the result of over a month of careful research and continuous improvement by Wei Ze, with the load-bearing parts reinforced by rattan and hemp rope. Wei Ze is well aware that his ability to run so fast and charge so fiercely at the beginning is largely due to the merits of these shoes. Just now, he fought like a dragon and a tiger, killing more than a dozen Qing soldiers, and these well-fitting straw sandals exerted a great deal of effort, suffering considerable damage in the process. Wei Ze is very clear that if he continues to run like this, the straps of the straw sandals are bound to break.

Liu Bazong is not an incompetent person. After issuing several commands, his subordinates immediately obeyed the orders, advancing while shouting: "Brothers, take cover to the sides of the road!" "Brothers, take cover to the sides of the road!"

Even the worst matchlock gun is still a firearm, and Wei Ze's squad is armed with long spears. No matter how brave and skilled they are in battle, they can only exert their power when they confront the Qing army. Upon observing the changes in the Qing army, Wei Ze realized that the battle had deviated from the original plan

The front-line musketeers, despite their efforts to load ammunition, could not hide their growing expressions of terror as Wei Ze approached. Finally, some Qing soldiers, overwhelmed by fear, dropped the powder bags onto the ground. Some of the Qing soldiers glanced up at Wei Ze, then looked down at their muskets, repeatedly performing these two actions like a chicken pecking at rice. In such a distracted state, the preparation of the matchlocks came to a complete halt

Liu Bazong on the opposite side saw that Wei Ze not only did not stop but also quickened his pace, clearly intending to break into the Qing army's formation. His Hunan accent immediately rose by eight degrees, "There are only a dozen bandits, everyone, quickly fire your guns! Quickly fire your guns!" The Qing soldiers, urged by their officers, were also preparing to open fire. A quick-handed Qing soldier had even already struck a spark.

At this moment, Wei Ze and his companions were pursuing the fleeing soldiers of the Qing army. The group of Qing soldiers, upon hearing the shouts and seeing a well-ordered formation of their own troops ahead, hurriedly fled to the sides of the road. What was once a path filled with people quickly opened up a large space. The Qing soldiers clearly saw that the number of people charging towards them was merely around twenty, which immediately restored their confidence. With a command from General Liu, the Qing troops halted their advance and began to prepare to fire their volley guns. The Qing soldiers clearly saw that the number of people charging towards them was merely around twenty, which immediately restored their confidence. With a command from General Liu, the Qing troops halted their advance and began to prepare to fire their volley guns.

A non-human scream suddenly erupted, "Oh my God!"

This scream of agony seems to express the sentiments of the Qing soldiers. One after another, the other Qing soldiers let out their cries, then turned and fled. Those at the back reacted slightly slower and were met head-on by those in the front row, causing some to stumble. A few, in their haste, even knocked down the soldiers behind them. It was as if the gourd rack had tilted; the Qing soldiers collided with one another, creating a chaotic and disordered scene.

Wei Changrong is experienced in battle, and there is no doubt about that. Upon hearing Wei Ze's command, the soldiers did not pursue the group of Qing troops who had thrown down their rifles and fled; instead, everyone followed Wei Ze and charged fiercely towards the central forces of the Qing army

In the 21st century, Wei Ze could run 100 meters in under 12 seconds. The 30-meter dash could be completed in under 6 seconds. However, these figures are merely theoretical calculations. For Wei Ze to achieve these times, he would need to wear specialized running apparel, run on a rubber track, and don specially designed running shoes. In reality, on the so-called "official road," there is no relation between the term "official road" and flatness; it remains a surface riddled with potholes. It is already quite remarkable if he can run quickly without tripping or twisting an ankle. In reality, on the so-called "official road," there is no relation between the term "official road" and flatness; it remains a surface riddled with potholes. It is already quite remarkable if he can run quickly without tripping or twisting an ankle.

Weize caught up from behind with two quick steps, striking left and right, causing two Qing soldiers to scream and fall to the ground. Weize spat inwardly, realizing that although these two strikes appeared to inflict serious wounds and the injured Qing soldiers were bleeding profusely, he had not delivered a fatal blow to either of them. It seemed he had become overly excited, completely losing his usual composure.

However, among the entire row of Qing soldiers, there was always an outlier. Just as Wei Ze charged in front of the Qing army, he saw a soldier with the fastest hands, who, despite his face being filled with terror, managed to complete the loading of his matchlock gun. This fellow was to Wei Ze's left, with the dark muzzle of the gun pointed straight at him, sparks flying from the match, leaving only the trigger-pulling step remaining.

Liu, upon hearing that the troops were already preparing to confront the enemy halfway, was taken aback when he heard that they were to execute the fleeing Qing soldiers. At other times, Kolondo would have been furious, but with the bandits charging forward, he had no time to lose his temper. He shouted, "With us brothers here, what is there to fear? As long as we can kill these bandits, we will certainly support you! If you are defeated here and we brothers die, what will become of you? As long as we can kill these bandits, we will certainly support you! If you are defeated here and we brothers die, what will become of you? If we brothers survive, do you think we will let you off?"

If one does not wish to retreat, one can only charge forward. In that fleeting moment, without any hesitation, Wei Ze did not stop his pace at all. Exhausting all his strength to run, Wei Ze could not even muster the breath to shout out again.

However, these three imperial guards could not act with too much arrogance on the road, as they were assigned to a convoy transporting grain to the northern camp of Yong'an City. Additionally, a small detachment of personal soldiers was assigned to them.

"Chase! Don't let the Qing demon escape!" Wei Ze shouted, and then he rushed towards the center of the Qing army. The best candidates to disrupt the enemy's formation were undoubtedly the enemy's rout soldiers. If the ones driving the Qing army into a panic were to charge into the center of the Qing forces, it could easily create a snowball effect. Unconscious group actions have always possessed unimaginable coercive power. The rout soldiers, along with the bewildered troops, fled in a rush; as long as the Qing army's formation was completely thrown into chaos, this surge of people would desperately flee in a short time. After the Qing army fled, Wei Ze would be able to take the plundered spoils with his brothers. That would be the best outcome

This statement struck Liu like a whip, sending a chill down his spine. He could no longer afford to think too much and, using his native Hunan dialect, shouted at his already panicked subordinates: "Form ranks, prepare to face the enemy!" Once the more than forty subordinates were ready in formation, Liu commanded: "March forward fifty paces! As you walk, call out to the brothers running back and tell them to take cover by the roadside!"

These three individuals are the imperial guards assigned to the special envoy Sa Shanga, who is responsible for the eradication of the Taiping Army. They are here because the special envoy Sa Shanga ordered them to deliver a message. The Qing army, which has been relentlessly pursuing the Taiping Army, began besieging Yong'an City over four months ago. After dozens of battles, both large and small, the Qing army finally established a large camp to the north and south of Yong'an City. Along with the deployment of other troops, they have now completely surrounded Yong'an.

At this moment, Wei Ze was no more than half a meter away from the nearest Qing soldier, yet the soldiers stood there, dumbfounded, staring at Wei Ze without any reaction. Wei Ze swung his right arm and斜着斩开了 another Qing soldier's throat. The chicken-like scream lasted only an instant before abruptly stopping

With reservations in his heart, Wei Ze's charging speed noticeably slowed down. The Qing army opposite him, perhaps feeling less pressure upon seeing Wei Ze's reduced speed, began to move more swiftly. Loading the ammunition and filling the cartridges, although each person's pace varied, the actions of each Qing soldier imposed significant psychological pressure on Wei Ze.

At this moment, what both sides are competing in is proficiency and courage. Wei Ze observed clearly that more than thirty Qing soldiers were lined up in three rows, adopting a three-segment strike formation. Behind these soldiers, there were also over twenty Qing soldiers armed with long spears. The retreating Qing soldiers maneuvered around the advancing Qing troops and ran to the back of the Qing formation along both sides of the official road. According to the Qing army's calculations, they likely hoped to deliver a heavy blow to Wei Ze and his men through the three-segment strike, followed by the long spearmen charging in to finish the remaining battle.