Zuo, who was born in a famous family, was as patriotic and loving the people as many famous soldiers who were "physically strong" and had high martial arts in feudal society. However, he lived in a closed and backward rural society, lacked cultural knowledge and was inevitably influenced by feudal political culture. He only knows that "fame should be taken immediately" and he is loyal to the country. In order to maintain the feudal dynasty, during the period of 1856- 1868, he "fought in Chu, Huai, Anhui, Qi, Yan and Su" and participated in the campaign to suppress Taiping Army and Nian Army. When the Taiping Army besieged Yangzhou, he broke through and rushed to Liuhe Jiangbei Camp to deliver military books. In the battle with Nian Army, he led his troops to rescue Mengcheng County, Anhui Province.
1872- 189 1 year, successively suppressed the people's uprising in Donghuang district, Chaoyang county, Jehol, the lumberjack uprising in Dadonggou district, the gold worker uprising in Miaoergou district, the "horse thief" in Haritaogai district and the then uprising in Chaoyang district. In the process of suppressing the people's uprising, he "pushed forward, risked his life, and prepared to savor", bowed first in every battle, "took the lead", often "flew in, swayed from side to side, was seriously injured many times" and "was ordered at the critical moment", so he was appreciated by the upper class of the feudal ruling class and trusted by the Qing government. 1860, "Xue Zhengui, Governor of Liangjiang, took the general manager back to Jiangbei to woo, and took charge of six affairs." 1865, "An imperial envoy, the Prince of Horqin, went to the former enemy to take charge of Zhong Yongying". 1867, ordered to "manage and train the army in the river". 187 1 year, "Managing the Back Camp of Gubeikou Military Horse Training Team". 1872, "Du Tong Shi Chong Gui Bao trained the army horse team." 1876, he was ordered to "recruit Fengzi Army, take Bao as the wing leader ... re-recruit Guiziying and join the teams in Jingbian." Shengjing generals Shi Chong, Qiyuan, Qingyu, Zhili Governor and Beiyang Minister Li Hongzhang and others entered the imperial court with the words "serious business, brave and comprehensive", "diligent and loyal, diligent and hardworking, familiar with military affairs, brave and excellent" and regarded them as excellent military dry materials. Emperor Xianfeng, Emperor Tongzhi and Emperor Guangxu, the supreme rulers of the Qing Dynasty, successively awarded him six military feats, such as martial arts gold medal, white jade pipe, white jade fingering, big and small purse, Ming Batuluyong, yellow jacket, high hat and a pair of eyes, which gave him great honor. Cronyism became a town general, and his official title was "General Jianwei, prefect and commander-in-chief of Gaozhou Town, Guangdong Province." The guest army stationed in Fengtian (now Shenyang) is known as "an official is indispensable for a day outside the customs".
1879, Japan annexed Ryukyu, and at the same time expanded its aggression to North Korea, waiting for an opportunity to launch a war of aggression against China. 1In March, 894, the Dongxue Party uprising broke out in Jeolla-do, North Korea. On June 4th, at the invitation of the North Korean government, the Qing government sent troops to help suppress it. Japan took the opportunity to send 8000 marines to land in Incheon under the pretext of protecting the embassy and expatriates. 10 In June, Japanese troops occupied Seoul, the capital of North Korea. At the end of June, the number of Japanese troops invading North Korea soared to12,000. The Japanese government wantonly interfered in North Korea's government affairs, coerced korean king to break diplomatic relations with China, and war was imminent. At that time, the Qing army was stationed in Asan, North Korea, and only invited Ye Zhichao, governor of Zhili, and 3,000 people from six battalions led by Nie Shicheng, company commander of Taiyuan.
Zuo, who is stationed in Fengtian, has been keeping a close eye on the movements of the Japanese aggressors. He clearly saw that North Korea is the gateway to China, and China and North Korea are as close as lips and teeth. When the Japanese invaded Incheon, "Precious immediately sent personnel to Seoul to explore the map, which was a plan for invasion". And "please send more troops to set up guns and get ready." It is suggested to actively prepare for the war against aggression. At the end of July, the Qing government ordered Zuo to lead the army to aid Korea. At that time, Zuo was ready to go. He selected about 3,000 people from the lean sixth battalion of "Ma bu" or horse stance just look to go out with him and March in the starry night. Arrived in Pyongyang on August 6. As soon as Zuo arrived in Pyongyang, he immediately deployed, and at the same time sent detectives disguised as Koreans to go deep into 150 kilometers to collect enemy information. On the other hand, on August 24, another cavalry was sent to attack Yashan in the face of heavy rain.
Pyongyang is an important town of North Korea and the old capital of the royal family. Backed by mountainous mountains, facing the rolling Datong River. The situation is dangerous, easy to defend but difficult to attack. By the end of August, there were 35 battalions16,000 of the Qing army assembled here, namely, the left, the abundant Mukden, the Yijun of Ma Yukun, and the Wei, the so-called "four armies", and the Lu Fang army of Ye Zhichao who fled from Yashan. On August 25th, Ye Zhichao lied about his military situation, pretending that defeat was victory, and was appointed as the president of the Qing army in Pyongyang by the Qing government. His careless defense of Pyongyang made the Qing army miss the opportunity.
On September 10, Zuo learned that the Japanese army was approaching Pyongyang and rushed to Ye Zhichao to discuss countermeasures with the generals. "Left main battle, leaf main retreat, disagreement", the generals have different opinions. Ye Zhichao said, "The enemy's strength is growing, and its strength is sharp. Our army's medicines are uneven and the terrain is unfamiliar. It is better to rectify the team, temporarily retreat, and save your strength so that you can raise it again. " Left is firmly opposed. He said: "I was ordered to go on an expedition to the East, and I vowed to promote the strength of my country." "If you can't do it, you can't do it." Insist on strengthening the city. During the argument, he was "angry and his eyebrows stood up" and angrily rebuked "if the younger generation cherishes death, they can go by themselves. This city is my grave." Ye Zhichao's eloquence is poor, so he has to "thank you." So the army divided the defense zones and made a plan to stick to it. /kloc-on the evening of 0/4, the Japanese Shuoning detachment and Yuanshan detachment seized several hills in the north of Pyongyang, and Zuo personally led the army out of the city to meet. Because the Japanese army has an advantage in strength and equipment, it failed to win, but went into the city to attack with guns. That night, Ye Zhichao prepared to abandon the north and flee again. When Zuo knew it, he was sent to monitor it.
/kloc-in the early morning of 0/5, the Japanese army launched a general attack, and the battle of Pyongyang was in full swing. The Japanese mixed ninth brigade attacked the southeast of Pyongyang in three ways from the east bank of Datong River. Ma Yukun and his troops refused to defend the east bank of the Datong River, and launched hand-to-hand combat with the enemy, repelling the Japanese attack from early morning to afternoon. The Japanese Shu Ning detachment and Yuanshan detachment mainly attacked Peony Pavilion and Xuanwu Gate in the north of Pyongyang. Here, the Japanese army invested more than 7,000 troops, which is the most intense battlefield of this battle. It is Zuo and his army who are responsible for this line of defense. The Japanese army first launched an attack on the fort outside Peony Terrace, and the garrison of the fort stood firm and could not fight for a long time. "There were countless Japanese casualties", but in the end, because the enemy was outnumbered, at 8 o'clock, four fortresses outside the city fell one after another. Two Japanese detachments met and launched a general attack on Peony Terrace, the last fortress outside the city, from the east, north and west. Left ordered the officers and men to "hold it with all their might" and fired back at the enemy infantry with rapid-fire machine guns. The Japanese suffered heavy casualties and could hardly move forward. The breast wall of Houmudantai fortress was destroyed by Japanese shrapnel, and the defenders suffered heavy casualties. The Japanese infantry took advantage of the situation to launch a charge, Peony Terrace fell, and the Qing army retreated to Xuanwu Gate.
Zuo, who was commanding the battle at Xuanwu Gate, saw that the Peony Pavilion had fallen and was determined to die. Instead, he took a bath in advance in accordance with Islamic rules, wearing a royal yellow jacket and a coral coat, and "commanded". His men advised him to take off the top of his head so as not to attract the attention of the enemy. He said categorically, "I take the royal service. I want my soldiers to know me first, and I will die for it!" " Why should I be afraid of the attention of the enemy? "He personally command heavy artillery bombardment of the enemy. In the gunfight, he was hit in the leg first. He quickly bandaged the wound and stood up to continue to inspire his men to fight back. Soon the gunner was killed, left forward to personally measure the gun sight, holding the gun and bombarding from left to right. Yang Jianchun, the camp official, saw the dangers in the city and wanted to take him down to the city for a while, but refused to retreat half a step. Left was hit by a stray bullet in the neck again. He endured the pain and insisted on commanding in Chengtou. Encouraged by Zuo's heroic struggle and death, all his men and women were greatly encouraged, and they all fought bravely and resisted to the death. In the fierce battle, a Japanese artillery shell destroyed the cannon of the Qing army in the city. "Iron is worn under the precious threat", bleeding profusely and being seriously injured. The soldiers rushed to see, "I can still talk, and I died when I went down to the city." "Left heroic sacrifice, at the age of 57. Battalion commander Yang Jianchun tried to rush out of Xuanwu Gate with his body. Japanese troops have entered the city and filled the streets. Yang Jianchun also died in the disorderly army, and the whereabouts of his loyal minister remains are unknown.
After Zuo's heroic sacrifice, it caused great repercussions in the ruling and opposition circles. People praise and mourn the heroes in many ways, expressing their love and nostalgia.
News of the Left Sacrifice spread to Beijing, and Emperor Guangxu gave him "less protection for the Prince". He was loyal and strong, and was named the captain of the riding team and the captain of the cloud riding team, and delivered his deeds to the National History Museum for biography, so as to establish a special shrine in the province where he made meritorious service before his death to praise the loyal people.
When the news reached Fengtian, Fengtian people donated money automatically, built an ancestral temple outside the south gate of Shengjing, and carved a bronze statue of the left more than 2 meters high in Tongshan Hall. People spontaneously organized commemorative activities to express their deep nostalgia for Zuo.
The news reached his hometown Pingyi County, Shandong Province. 1895, a monument was built for him on the land of his ancestors, and a boot he wore before his death was buried. The left tomb is a large square vault tomb. There are stone archways, stone lions, huabiao and imperial monuments in front of the tomb. The north and south sides of Huabiao are engraved with elegiac couplets, and the south side is the elegiac couplet of Yang Yi, then the left assistant minister of the Ministry of War: "I was alone, my pillar was poor, and I died for my country, but Wan Li failed to accept the war bones; Generations have been at large at sea, and they hate hanging their heads in the street. Why does the Central Plains thank the loyal soul? " In the north is the elegiac couplet of Shang Xian, then assistant minister in Tibet, a cabinet university student and assistant minister of rites: "After many battles, I won the crown of all armies and will always be a wonder in the world. Defend the lonely city and fight to the death, Zhang Yuyang's brave man. "
In North Korea, the people of Pyongyang erected a monument near Xuanwu Gate, and there was also a story of "General Zuo appeared outside Qixing Gate on a rainy night". Legend has it that every September 15, if it rains, at night 10, you can see "a soldier riding a white horse, waving a saber with white light in the dim light, heading north". This general riding a white horse is the spirit of the left. Although this legend is covered with a layer of myth, it reflects the Korean people's nostalgia for the Left.