In modern Chinese history, Zeng Guofan is undoubtedly an unavoidable name. A mere scholar who took up arms midway, he raised a formidable Xiang Army and ultimately extinguished the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom movement that swept through half of China. People marvel at his achievements and are even more curious about how this seemingly 'clumsy' scholar managed to defeat the fierce and flexible Taiping Army using what 'magical tactics.'
The answer may surprise you: what he relied on was precisely what he summarized as 'building solid fortifications and fighting a dull war,' a 'clumsy' method. Why could this set of tactics, which sounds utterly unremarkable and even a bit 'foolish,' become a weapon for victory in an era that revered clever strategies?
——【·Main Text·】——
The predicament of a genius opponent and a 'clumsy' commander
To understand Zeng Guofan's tactics, one must first look at his opponent—the Taiping Army. Early leaders of the Taiping Army, such as Shi Dakai, indeed displayed astonishing military talent. They excelled in mobile warfare, appearing unpredictable, often able to seize the weaknesses of the Qing army, concentrating superior forces and achieving victory with lightning speed. Their morale was high, and they fought bravely, starting from a corner of Guangxi and all the way to Nanjing to establish their capital, relying on this momentum and flexible tactics.
And what about Zeng Guofan? He himself admitted to being of mediocre talent, and his style of action is known for being 'steady' and 'clumsy.' At the beginning of his command, faced with the fierce offensive of the Taiping Army, this scholar-general suffered repeated defeats and was even disheartened, nearly drowning himself in despair. The traditional Eight Banners and Green Standard troops were easily defeated, and although his newly trained Xiang Army was brave, they still lagged behind the battle-hardened Taiping Army in tactical literacy and battlefield experience. Using clever strategies? He felt he was no match for his opponent. Competing in bravery and ferocity? He initially gained no advantage. In this predicament, Zeng Guofan had to find a path that belonged to him and was suitable for the Xiang Army.
'Build solid fortifications and fight a dull war': the great wisdom in clumsy methods
After feeling deeply about the situation, Zeng Guofan tailored this seemingly 'foolish' tactical core for the Xiang Army:
Building solid fortifications: This is not merely setting up camp but constructing an extremely strict, standardized defense project. Every time the Xiang Army arrives at a location, regardless of weather conditions, they must leave half a day to build fortifications after marching for half a day. They first dig deep trenches (usually two), with specific regulations on the width and depth; then they build high walls (also two layers), with the height and thickness of the walls equally meticulous. The layout within the camp is orderly, with sentries in place, and night shifts ensure that the defense system is solid.
Fighting a dull war: it means not easily launching proactive attacks, not pursuing surprise attacks and clever strategies, but steadily advancing step by step. The Xiang Army was like a snail, marching only twenty to thirty miles a day, slowly but steadily moving forward. During an attack, they would first surround the enemy with fortifications and trenches, trapping them, and then gradually wear them down. They would never engage the enemy in large-scale open battles, maximizing the avoidance of exposing their own weaknesses.
What did this set of tactics sacrifice? Mobility! The marching speed of the Xiang Army was unbearably slow. Even his student Li Hongzhang once dismissively said, 'I thought the Xiang Army had some impressive tactics, but it turned out they just hid behind walls when the enemy came.'
But what did this set of tactics achieve? Survival! Zeng Guofan understood the essence of (Sun Tzu's Art of War): 'Those who are good at fighting first make themselves invincible and wait for the enemy to become vulnerable.' What he needed to do first was to ensure that his army stood on an invincible footing.
Why can 'dull warfare' restrain 'clever strategies'?
Zeng Guofan's 'clumsy' method precisely hit the 'vital point' of the Taiping Army:
Eliminate your 'lightning-fast legs': The Taiping Army excelled in mobile warfare... forcing the Taiping Army to abandon their most adept tactics and engage in positional and attrition warfare against the Xiang Army.
Reduce your own mistakes: The battlefield changes rapidly... as long as the fortifications are solid and discipline is strictly observed... it is not easy to be defeated by the enemy in one blow. This greatly improved the army's 'tolerance for error.'
Leverage your own advantages: The Qing court, though corrupt... engaging in attrition and siege warfare could better exploit this resource advantage, ultimately dragging the Taiping Army down and starving them out.
Psychological pressure: Imagine... that feeling of powerlessness and suffocation is enough to destroy the morale of an army.
From Anqing to Tianjing: The glorious victory of dull warfare
Practice is the only criterion for testing truth. The effects of 'building solid fortifications and fighting a dull war' quickly became evident on the battlefield.
Besieging Anqing: Anqing is the western gateway to Tianjing (Nanjing)... Ultimately, the city of Anqing fell, severely wounding the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.
Capturing Tianjing: The battle to attack Tianjing is a classic example of 'building solid fortifications and fighting a dull war'... In the end, the city of Tianjing fell, and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was declared extinct.
It was precisely with this seemingly 'clumsy' tactic that Zeng Guofan and his Xiang Army ground down the once invincible Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.
(——【·Epilogue·】——)
Zeng Guofan's 'building solid fortifications and fighting a dull war' is not some earth-shattering military invention... returning to the most fundamental military principles: first seek invincibility, then seek victory; advance steadily and firmly.
The success of this set of tactics, rather than being attributed to Zeng Guofan's 'clumsiness,' can be said to stem from his profound wisdom and practicality. He deeply understood the strengths and weaknesses of himself and his army, as well as accurately grasping the advantages and weaknesses of his opponent, eventually choosing a path that was most suitable for him and most capable of defeating the enemy.
In that turbulent era, Zeng Guofan used his 'clumsy' methods to teach a lesson to all those who were eager for quick success and superstitious about cleverness: sometimes, the simplest and most solid methods are the most effective. Laying a solid foundation and perfecting simple tasks is itself a remarkable wisdom. This may be the most valuable insight that 'building solid fortifications and fighting a dull war' leaves for future generations.