太平天国北伐的两个问题研究

Two Questions Concerning Northern Expeditions of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom

准确地说,太平天国起义后有两次北伐。太平天国第一次北伐的目的地是哪?学界多认为是小天堂南京,笔者认为应是河南和北京,否则不能解释太平天国自广西出发后游行半个中国再到南京的问题。以往论者多采用罗大纲的供词论证太平天国第二次北伐的战略,笔者认为罗大纲供词不足为据。第二次北伐为什么不取最便捷的京杭运河而由浦口向北向西,经安徽、河南等数省取北京呢?笔者认为是杨秀清军事战略的失误,这导致了太平军北伐最终失利。

There were virtually two northern expeditions following the Taiping Uprising. But what was the destination of the first expedition？ The generally accepted view within the academia is ＂the small paradise＂ of Nanjing. However, the author believes that it should be Henan and Beijing, otherwise it can not be explained why the Taiping forces marched through half of China from the starting point of Guangxi before they settled in Nanjing. To prove their arguments about the strategies for the second Taiping Northern Expedition, scholars used to employ Luo Dagang＇ s statement, which the author thinks to be insufficient and unreliable. But why did the second expedition not follow the most convenient route of Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal to reach Beijing, but took the trouble to head north and west from Pukou, covering several provinces including Anhui and Henan？ In the author＇ s opinion, it was Yang Xiuqing＇s mistake in military strategy that led to the final failure in Taiping Northern Expeditions.