If the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom can successfully attract the attention of the imperial court, it will naturally be a good thing for Yuan Qi, a rare good thing, of course, Bao Shichen knows this, but he has always been not optimistic about the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, in his opinion, the combat power of the Taiping Army may be remarkable, but the Heavenly King Hong Xiuquan is not worth mentioning, and he is not a person who has achieved great things at all. Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info

Seeing that Yi Zhishu was still optimistic about the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, he couldn't help but say: "The strength of the Taiping army has increased greatly, and now that it has captured Yongzhou City and officially established its political power, the imperial court will inevitably send additional reinforcements, and the Taiping army will be unable to support it for too long after completing its work in Yongzhou." ”

All in one battle? Yi Zhizu shook his head slightly, and said: "Sir, I underestimate the Taiping Army too much, and I overestimate the Green Battalion, if nothing else, the Taiping Army will definitely be able to break through from Yongzhou." ”

"Guangxi has been plagued by famine for many years, and even if the Taiping army breaks through from Yong'an, it will be difficult to gain a foothold in Guangxi, and it will inevitably become a rogue and difficult to cause trouble." Bao Shichen glanced at the other party as he spoke, and said tentatively: "The big shopkeeper doesn't plan to open the door and steal?" ”

Open the door and steal, this is to lead the Taiping army into Guangdong or into Jiangnan, Yi Zhizhi smiled, took out a cigarette and lit it, and then said in a relaxed tone: "Mr. is too worried, although Yuan Qi hopes that the Taiping Army will be as happy as possible, but he will never let the Taiping Army enter Guangdong and Jiangnan."

It is one thing for war to destroy the economy, but more importantly, the Taiping army respected the Allah, burned down Buddhist temples and Taoist temples, and also rejected Confucianism and the hundred schools of thought, which is not conducive to our encompassing ...... local gentry. ”

Hearing this, Bao Shichen was overjoyed, "The big shopkeeper is ready to start encircling the local gentry?" ”

"Haven't we been in a cage all the time?" Yi Zhizu chuckled and said, "Aren't most of Yuanqi's shareholders gentry and businessmen? ”

"That's not the same thing." Bao Shichen said: "The gentry and businessmen invested in Yuanqi, but it was just for profit, fame and fame, fame and fortune, fame in the front, profit in the back, for the gentry, fame is the most important thing." ”

Yi Zhishu glanced at him thoughtfully, and said, "What does Mr. mean, is it to imitate Wu Sangui?" ”

Seeing that he was a little thorough, Bao Shichen also smiled, "When Yun and Gui were first decided, the imperial court imitated the example of Yunnan Town, the Duke of Ming and Qianguo, and took Wu Sangui Shizhen Yunnan, and the civil and military generals under its jurisdiction were selected by themselves, and the members of each province were short, and they were also subject to the system, which was called 'Western Selection'."

Now Nanyang is a province, set up a government and a county, needs a large number of officials, the court whip is beyond the reach, the big shopkeeper can recommend and choose by himself, and then report to the court, think about it, the court will inevitably pinch its nose and admit the account, so fame and fortune are complete, and it will inevitably collect the heart of the southeast scholars. ”

Although Daoguang issued an order to establish a province in Nanyang, the governor, governor, admiral, and county officials of Nanyang have not been appointed for a long time.

This proposal is really good, the imperial court categorically will not let Nanyang become Yuanqi's territory, even if the Nanyang officials are recommended and selected by Yi Zhizhi, the imperial court will always have a great righteous name, which is better than directly throwing it to Yuanqi, and this move can also test the reaction of the imperial court by the way.

After a slight sigh, Yi Zhizhi smiled and said: "Discussing the Taiping Army, but transferred to Nanyang, Mr. proposed well, Nanyang Luzon, Java two provinces of large and small civil and military, if we recommend and choose, it is easier to attract the heart of the southeast scholars." ”

"The imperial court is not familiar with the specific situation in Nanyang." Bao Shichen said slowly: "The establishment of provinces in Luzon and Java was set by the first emperor, and the prefecture and county were set up, but it was not decided. ”

Yi Zhizhi nodded and said, "What Mr. said is extremely true, but there are few talents in my bag, and I hope that Mr. will recommend more." ”

Bao Shichen smiled when he heard it, "The Qing Dynasty lacks everything, but there is no shortage of officials, I don't know how many officials are waiting to fill the vacancy, waiting to fill the vacancy, as soon as the news spreads, Guangzhou and Shanghai must be crowded with officials, and the big shopkeeper can be selected slowly." ”

"I don't want those officials." Yi Zhishu shook his head and said: "It's all donated with money, and when I took office, I knew that the land would be scraped, and the immigrants and natives of Nanyang would not be able to withstand their scraping." ”

"You can't generalize, there are good officials." Bao Shichen said: "Choosing a batch is conducive to attracting people's hearts." ”

"That's what the gentleman said." Yi Zhi said contentedly: "The main fleet of the Navy has returned, and it will arrive in Guangzhou in a few days, they have been wandering around Nanyang for two years, they are familiar with the situation, and they must listen to their opinions more." ”

Jingshi, Qianmen, Yuesheng Zhai.

Yuesheng Zhai in the front door of the east road of Hubu Street, is a time-honored brand for some years, famous for the sauce beef, a small sedan chair at the door of the store sedan chair steadily, the sedan curtain opened, Jing Beizi Yizeng Ha waist drilled out, he is now the commander of the Beiyang Naval Division, this time the Beijing division into Beijing to see His Majesty, by the way to the household to urge the allocation of military expenses, Su Shun chose the nearest restaurant banquet.

Looking up at the signboard of Yuesheng Zhai, Yizeng was about to take a step, and a small guy greeted him in a slippery manner, and said neatly: "The little one asks for Bei Ziye." ”

Yi Zeng glanced at him, recognized Su Shun in front of him, and couldn't help but smile, "Your master has arrived?" ”

"Please Pei Ziye, naturally you have to arrive early." The little guy said obediently, bowed down and said, "Master Bei, please-." ”

Yizeng followed him into the restaurant, went to a private room on the second floor, and saw Su Shun getting up to greet him with a smile, and hurriedly smiled and said, "Brother Yuting-." ”

"Sit." Su Shun smiled: "There is no need for us to make those false courtesies. ”

The two have been familiar with each other and stayed together in the Dinghai Nanyang Navy camp for several years, the relationship is very close, it can be said that they are inextricably intersecting, and they have reached the point of being familiar with informality, but now Yizeng is the Jin Feng Beizi, and he is actually awarded the commander of the Beiyang Naval Division, but Su Shun is at home.

After a few words of greeting, Yi Zengcai said solemnly: "Now that the emperor also attaches importance to the Beiyang Naval Division, Brother Yuting might as well come to Beiyang." ”

Su Shun smiled disapprovingly, got up and closed the door of the private room, and then lowered his voice and said: "Before the conquest of Nanyang, Yi Guocheng considered that the new monarch ascended the throne, which might be unfavorable to Yuan Qi, and it was because I was impeached in the last chapter, and after returning to Beijing, I could exert influence on the present, and now that his worries have become a fact, how can I go to Beiyang, and I have to wait for the opportunity to get close to the emperor's ......." ”

Yi Zeng originally felt that Su Shun's impeachment of Yi Zhicontent had another hidden meaning, after all, among the children of the clan, Su Shun and Yi Zhi's relationship was the closest, and when he heard him say this, he was immediately convinced, to be honest, the relationship between Yuan Qi and the imperial court made him very worried, not only him, but also the Beiyang Naval Division.

The reason is very simple, if Yuan Qi rebels, the Beiyang Naval Division will not only have to bear the brunt of the battle against the Nanyang Naval Fleet, but may also be suspicious of the imperial court for no reason, and furthermore, the Beiyang Naval Division has just been established, and the imperial court is short of money, and many aspects, especially the warships, weapons and ammunition, will rely on Yuan Qi's support, and the relationship between the two will deteriorate, which will not be of any benefit to the Beiyang Naval Division.

After a slight groan, he said softly: "You are the most familiar with Yi Guocheng, will he ......?" ”

"Unless the court is forced to fight each other, otherwise, Yuan Qi will not rebel." Su Shun said in a firm tone: "If Yi Guocheng is sincere in rebellion, as early as when he founded the Yuanqi regiment, he could take advantage of the situation when the imperial court dealt with the British army, and at that time the Yuanqi regiment trained 10,000 elite soldiers, and even the British army was not its opponent, who could be the enemy of the Eight Banners Green Battalion?"

Besides, how many clan nobles and children of the Eight Banners have been trained by the Nanyang Navy for the imperial court? Jingshi's preparation for the establishment of the Eight Banners New Army, isn't it also the firearms and ammunition provided by Yuan Qi, if Yi Guocheng has the intention to rebel, will he be stupid to such an extent, and spare no effort to enhance the strength of the imperial court? ”

Speaking of this, he sighed lightly, "Actually, the imperial court can't tolerate Yi Guocheng to control the military power, but in fact, I don't want to think about it, Yuan Qi's family business is so big, and he doesn't have the strength to protect himself, isn't it to be slaughtered by others?" Big families still know to ask bodyguards to protect the hospital, not to mention Yuanqi? ”

Yizeng nodded approvingly, this is the truth, Yuanqi is rich and strong, the semicolon is all over the southeastern provinces, and the factories in Guangzhou and Shanghai are everywhere, if you don't have the strength to protect yourself, I'm afraid that you will have been eaten by the court and local officials long ago, and there is no slag left, so can it develop to this point?

After a slight sigh, he said: "Among the Jingshi, if you talk about Yuan Qi's understanding of Yi Guocheng, no one can match Brother Yuting, the emperor will inevitably summon him, and Brother Yuting can seize the opportunity." Saying that, he sighed lightly, "Falling out with Yuan Qi, the court can be said to have more gains than losses." ”

As he spoke, the wine and food had already been sent up, and when he saw a table of wine and food, Yizeng smiled and said, "Why do you need to spend so much." ”

"Although Tianjin is not far away, it is rare to see it now, so naturally it cannot be slow." Su Shun raised his glass as he said and said, "Come, today is considered to be for you in advance." ”

After three rounds of drinking, there was a knock on the door, and he said unhappily: "Come in." ”

The little servant in front of Su Shun gently pushed open the door, poked a head in, and said, "Sixth master, someone from the palace said that it was summoned by the emperor." ”

Summoned by the emperor? Su Shun shook his head, then put down the wine glass, and stood up suddenly, Xianfeng finally remembered him! Yizeng then got up and said, "Fortunately, I don't drink much, Brother Yuting will go by himself, let's drink again tomorrow." ”

Forbidden City, Qianqing Palace, Xinuan Pavilion.

Dressed in the yellow dragon robe of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Xianfeng paced back and forth in the hall with his hands on his back, the Son of Heaven kept filial piety with the day and the month, and kept filial piety for 27 days, he was already in addition to filial piety, twenty years old, in his prime, he was already the emperor of the Qing Empire, ruling over China, and had ten thousand sides, but his face was not colorless, his slightly frowning brows, and his fast and urgent steps all reflected that he had encountered troubles.

Xianfeng knew very well what kind of mess he had inherited, with years of famine, empty treasury, corrupt governance, frequent civil strife, and the biggest hidden danger - Yuan Qi.

The place is not quiet, civil strife is raging, he is not too concerned, for the imperial court, it is just a mustard problem, even if the Taiping army in Guangxi is getting stronger and stronger, he is not very worried, but it is just a group of cult fanatics, the rabble, not enough trouble, the green camp is not enough, the eight banners are transferred to suppress is, by the way, a group of generals can be trained, he is most worried about Yuan Qi.

Although Daoguang has an edict, Yuan Qi is not opposed, and it is not suitable to eradicate, but now Yuan Qi is riding to the head of the imperial court, Nanyang Luzon and Java established provinces, Yi Zhizhi actually recommended the governor of Nanyang, the governor of Luzon and Java and the governor of the two provinces, and even the two provinces set up a government and a county, and they also overstepped their responsibilities, and Yi Zhizhi still has the imperial court in his eyes? And he, the emperor?

Seeing Xianfeng was on the verge of anger, Mu Zhang'a, who was sitting on the small pestle, was very worried, he didn't know much about the temperament of this new master, he didn't know if he would lose his temper under his anger, and the silence he saw was not the way, so he had to bite the bullet and said: "Your Majesty, the first emperor promised when he was in power that Nanyang would establish a province, and the Xinjiang ministers would be recommended by Yi Zhicontent..... ”

Hearing him speak, he brought out the first emperor, Xianfeng stopped and looked at him coldly, and said almost word by word: "Wu Sangui's Western Election Officer is in front, and Nian Qianyao's Annual Election Officer is in the back, is it possible that my Qing Dynasty will now have a Southern Election Official, Yi Election Official?" The first emperor promised ......, which was based on the premise of being content to enter Beijing! ”

Mu Zhang'a said with a bitter face: "Now Yi Zhizhi controls the Nanyang Navy and sends officials to the two provinces of Nanyang, if there is no Yi Zhizhi nodding, it is impossible to take office, Yi Zhizhi recommends and selects officials, after all, the imperial court still has a righteous name, and the two provinces of Nanyang are considered to be the territory of the Qing Dynasty, if it is not allowed, Yi Zhizhi will also appoint officials on its own."

In this way, on the contrary, it will force Yi Zhizhi to stand on his own feet in Nanyang, although Luzon and Java are hanging overseas, but they are really as wide as a few provinces, and the slaves secretly think that whether it is the Nanxuan official or Yi Xuanguan, the imperial court will first occupy the name of righteousness, and Wu Sangui and Nian Qianyao will not and will not die well in the end. ”

What would it be like if it was easy to be content to stand on its own feet in the South Seas? Xianfeng had to force himself to calm down, the Nanyang Islands are not as vast as Taiwan, there are several provinces, and the climate is suitable, the land is fertile, once Yi Zhizhi is self-reliant in Nanyang, it will inevitably become a big disaster, Mu Zhang'a said it is reasonable, the court first stands in the name of righteousness.

After a slight hesitation, he asked rhetorically: "Why doesn't Yi Zhicontent occupy the Nanyang Islands by himself, but do more?" ”

This question really asked Mu Zhang'a, he really didn't think about it, after a little thought, he spoke: "With the humble opinion of a servant, Yi Zhi's contentment is to show his attitude to the imperial court, and there is no disobedience, and secondly, it may involve the Western Ocean, after all, the Nanyang Islands were taken from Spain and the Netherlands, and if there is no imperial court to rely on, I am afraid that Western countries will not give up." ”

Xianfeng glanced at him and said, "Why do Western countries take my Qing court in their eyes.....?" ”

"Your Majesty." Mu Zhang'a hurriedly said: "The Western countries are dominated by England, and the English Navy is known as the overlord of the sea, far from being the enemy of the Nanyang Navy, but the English need to trade with our Qing Dynasty, and build railways and factories in our Qing Dynasty, and occupy the South Seas in the name of the imperial court. ”