论太平天国时期的周庄枪匪集团

:以费秀元、费金绶父子为首的周庄枪匪集团 ,是清末太湖地区众多枪匪中势力较大的一支。费氏通过捐输取得官衔、功名 ,约束土匪劣性 ,获地主士绅和清政府的支持。太平军攻占苏州后 ,该集团负隅顽抗 ,继而被迫假意受抚 ,最终公开投降清军。在李鸿章率淮军攻占太平天国苏福省的战斗中 ,周庄枪匪绘呈地图、担任向导、随军作战 ,出力颇巨 ,后为李鸿章收编。

Bandits in the Village of Zhouzhuang during the Period of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom

After the Taiping Army seized the City of Suzhou, the bandits headed by Fei Xiuyuan and his son Fei Jingshou put up a stubborn fight against the taiping Army, and soon played allegiance to the Qing governent. When Li Hongzhang led his Huai(north Jiangsu) Army in venturing a battle for the possession of Sufu province of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, the bandits offered him the local map , served as guides and even joined the battle themselves. They were later incorporated into Li Hongzhang's own armed forces.