Third Battle of Nanking - Prelude

Prelude

In June, 1863, Imperial Chinese army General Bao Chao (鲍超) took Jiufu Island (Jiu Fu Zhou, 九洑洲) and the Taiping Army had lost the control of the entire northern shore of the Yangtze River, and Imperial general Bao Chao (鲍超) subsequently led his force across the Yangtze River and camped on the southern bank of Yangtze River outside the Shence (神策) Gate of Nanking. In September, 1863, Zeng Guofan's younger brother, a general of Imperial Army, General Zeng Guoquan (曾国荃) led his force attacked and took Upward Bridge (Shangfangqiao 上方桥) region to the southeast of the city and Eastern Riverine Bridge (Jiangdonqiao 江东桥) region to the southwest of the city. General Zeng Guoquan (曾国荃) continued his quest in the suburbs of Nanking and by early November, 1863, he had succeeded in taking regions including Upward Gate (Shangfangmen 上方门), High Bridge Gate (Gaoqiaomen 高桥门), Twin Bridge Gate (Shuangqiaomen 双桥门), Seventh Bridge Jar (Qiqiaoweng 七桥瓮), Muling (秣陵) Pass, and Central Peace Bridge (Zhongheqiao 中和桥). The Taiping Army had therefore lost all of its positions in the southwestern part of Purple Gold (紫金) Mountain. By mid November, regions including Chunhua (淳化), Jiexi (解溪), Longdu (龙都), Hushu (湖熟), Tree Branches Town (Sanchazhen 三岔镇) had fallen under the Imperial Chinese army's control. At the same time, the Imperial navy commanded by Imperial admiral Peng Yulin (彭玉麟) and his deputy, Yang Yuebin (杨岳斌, also known as Yang Zaifu 杨载福) took important regions including Gaochun (高淳) and Eastern Dam (Dong Ba 东坝) with the help of Imperial General Bao Chao (鲍超)'s forces. By late November, the Taiping garrison at Lishui (溧水) had surrendered to Imperial Chinese army. As a result,the Taiping army was evicted from the vast region within 50 miles of Nanking. On November 25, 1863, General Zeng Guoquan (曾国荃) and his subordinate, general Xiao Qingyan (萧庆衍) deployed troops at Piety Tomb (Xiaoling 孝陵). The only links to the outside left were the Shengce (神策) Gate and Taiping (太平) Gate.

On December 20, 1863, Li Xiucheng returned to Nanking from Danyang and urged Hong Xiuquan to abandon the Taiping capital the very next day. However, this suggestion was not accepted by Hong Xiuquan, who took overall command of the operation. Hong declared that anyone who disobeyed him and God would be immediately executed. This doomed the Taiping army and Nanking by creating widespread discontent, and coupled with other factors, eventually, over 200,000 Taiping troops went out of Nanking and surrendered to the Imperial Chinese army during the entire course of the battle. For those who refused to surrender but were also upset by Hong's decisions, chose to break out while they still could, when the siege was still incomplete. Hong, Li and others were unable to stop such acts. On February 28, 1864, Tianbao (天保) Castle at the highest peak of Purple Gold (紫金) Mountain fell under the Imperial Chinese army's control. On March 2, 1864, Imperial general Zeng Guoquan (曾国荃) deployed his troops to Shengce (神策) Gate and Taiping (太平) Gate, the siege of Nanking was completed.