左宗棠收复新疆过程中的军情传递

The Military Information Delivery during Zuo Zongtang’s Recovery of Xinjiang

左宗棠收复新疆事关西北边疆大计,军情十分紧急。按照定制,清廷与左宗棠前线采用了以400、500、600里加急并廷寄的方式进行军情传递。这种落后的通讯方式、迟缓的通讯效率直接影响了清廷、左宗棠对战争的指挥方式,确定了前方将领在西征过程中的重要作用,从另一侧面反映了交通运输在整个收复新疆过程中的关键地位,也产生了各军自主灵活性较强,而总体协调性较弱等作战特点。

Zuo Zongtang＇ recovery of Xinjiang concerned the northwestern China defense, so the military information delivery was especially urgent. As usual, the military information between the Imperial Court and General Zuo Zongtang was delivered in the form of 200, 250, 300 kilometer relay urgent court letters. This backward communication delayed efficiency and produced negative impacts on the command mode of the Imperial Court and General Zuo. This also indicated the key position of transportation in the recovery. As a result, each commanding officer was rather flexible in military actions but the overall concerted actions were rather weak.