Wuchang, north of the city, Garden Mountain, Ai Garden. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

The garden covers a vast area, the scale is large, it is built on the old foundation of the palace of Zhu Mengwei, the king of Chongyang Jingjian in the former Ming Dynasty, it is one of the several famous gardens in the city of Wuchang, the Taiping army occupies Wuchang, organizes the poor to 'fight the vanguard', the wealthy families in the city, the gentry and businessmen are looted, and the suppression is innumerable, and the garden is not spared.

Yi Zhizhi entered the city, and he would not choose the official office to live in, and the scenery of the Mist Garden was good, and the scale was not small, so he set up the temporary headquarters in the Mist Garden.

After Monk Greenqin and Xiang Rong entered the city, they found out that Yi Zhizhi was in the Misty Garden, so they urged the horse all the way over, dismounted outside the gate, and saw Yi Zhifen walking out quickly, Monk Greenqin said heartily: "The Nanyang Navy is really worthy of its name, recovering Wuchang, like destroying the withered and decaying, this king must have a folded bow, this first merit, it is none other than the national city." ”

For the merits of the war, Yi Zhixiang really didn't pay attention to it, when he smiled and said: "The monk and the king strategized and deployed carefully, so that they could recover Wuchang in one battle. ”

Hearing this, Xiang Rong's heart was greatly relieved, and the unhappiness of entering the city was thrown aside, and he hurriedly smiled and said: "If it weren't for the sharpness of the naval artillery, we would really not be able to recover Wuchang ..... in a short time." ”

Yi Zhishu interrupted him with a smile and said: "Changsha and Yuezhou have fallen, and you have not been punished less, and you don't have to give in to this attack to recover Wuchang." ”

"Brother Guocheng Gaoyi!" Monk Greenqin hurriedly arched his hand and said, "This king will remember it in his heart." ”

Xiang Rong also hurriedly bowed his hand and said, "Don't thank you for your great kindness." ”

"Why are you two polite." Yi Zhishu stretched out his hand and said politely: "The two of you, please——。 ”

Slowly stepping into the garden, Monk Greenqin said: "Wuchang City was looted and now empty, a large number of gardens, houses, temples and Taoist temples are empty, why does the national city not allow the Eight Banners Green Camp to enter the city?" ”

In addition to suppressing a large number of gentry in Wuchang, the Taiping army captured Wuchang, and the temple also suffered from an unwarranted disaster, and a large number of monks and Taoists were killed, the reason is very simple, worship God will honor God alone, and all the temples and Taoist temples in the city are empty, suitable for garrisoning.

Yi Zhizu had expected that Seng Lingqin would ask, and immediately said nonchalantly: "The Eight Banners Green Camp is not allowed to enter the city in order to protect the people in the city, so that they will not kill the red eyes and kill the good and take the risk." ”

Xiang Rong couldn't help but say: "The bandits have taken the people in Wuchang City into nothing, and those who are left to defend the city are all bandits. ”

"It seems that it is right not to let you into the city." Yi Zhishu said slowly: "Who among the people wants to be a thief? We are all forced to be helpless, we are unable to defend the city, let the Taiping army break the city, the people have suffered a catastrophe, will we recover Wuchang, let the people suffer another catastrophe? Besides, they've all been killed, who will help us defend the city in the future? ”

Monk Lingqin hesitated and said, "Defend the city? Will the bandits attack Wuchang or not? ”

"The Taiping Army has tens of thousands of ships and 20,000 soldiers, which is enough to cross the Yangtze River, is it possible that it will be easily disbanded?" Yi Zhixin said without hurry: "If it is not bad as expected, the Taiping Army Water Camp will inevitably go up the river, occupy Dongting Lake, and threaten Wuchang at any time." ”

This is not unreasonable, it is indeed impossible for the Taiping Army to dismantle the naval division, and with such a large scale of naval divisions, even the South China Sea Navy fleet does not dare to take it lightly, how can the Taiping Army be easily disbanded? Tracing up the river and entrenched in Dongting Lake is extremely likely, so that Wuchang will indeed be at the forefront of the battle with the Taiping army.

"It's still far away from the national city." Monk Greenqin turned his head as he spoke, "After recovering Wuchang and taking it, what should I do?" ”

While talking, the three of them entered the courtyard, and after entering the room and sitting down, Yi Zhizhi said: "The two pontoon bridges, if we don't burn them, the Taiping army will also be removed, and now the river is full of Taiping army water camp warships, and the naval fleet does not dare to come to Wuchang at all, except for looking at the river and sighing, what else can it do?" ”

Monk Greenqin said: "With such a confrontation across the river, we can't explain to the imperial court." ”

Xiang Rong continued: "How about crossing the river from downstream? ”

Yi Zhizu asked rhetorically: "Crossing the river from the downstream, and then staging a chase and escape drama?" In this way, how many prefectures and counties will follow in the footsteps of Wuchang? ”

"There's no way to do it." Xiang Rong said in a deep voice: "The bandits are now the rogues, and the pursuit of the rogues cannot be interrupted, and the rogues cannot be given time to breathe......." ”

"This is no ordinary rogue." Yi Zhizhi glanced at him and said: "Hong Xiuquan and Feng Yunshan are originally scholars, and they can't be treated as ordinary rogues for the Taiping Army, now that the Taiping Army has begun to take shape, the imperial court must treat it cautiously and formulate a long-term encirclement and suppression strategy, and then such a simple encirclement and interception will only drag the imperial court down." ”

Monk Lingqin hit the snake with the stick, "What is the high opinion of Brother Guocheng?" ”

"I can't talk about it." Yi Zhishu said and took the cigarette on the table and let it go, lit one by one, and then said: "The Taiping Army has been so destructive, there is no need to say more, if it cannot be eradicated as soon as possible, it will inevitably shake the fundamentals!" In my opinion, we should use static braking, try to mobilize heavy troops to besiege the Taiping army on all sides, suppress the Taiping army within a certain range, and then gradually shrink the encirclement, compressing its flow and living space, so as to completely eliminate it, and at the same time minimize the damage caused by the Liukou, and do not rush it. ”

Hearing this, Monk Greenqin said: "Don't hide the national city, let's talk about it in detail." ”

Yi Zhifen smiled and said: "I have always focused on overseas, and I don't know much about the situation in China, so I won't be ugly about how to deploy a siege, but Wuchang is located in the Lianghu Plain, with intensive agriculture, if the Taiping army is allowed to wander, the losses caused will be difficult to estimate, and it is best to drive the Taiping army out of the Lianghu Plain as much as possible." ”

As he spoke, he glanced at the two of them and said, "Trailing pursuit, not the head of the Marine Corps, the artillery is bulky, not suitable for long-distance transfer, and the transportation speed is also slow, and the consumption of ammunition is huge, so it is not competent for long-distance pursuit, and there is no problem in containment." ”

Seeing him pick his son, Monk Greenqin said with a smile: "Even if there is no artillery, the combat power of the Marine Corps is not ..... comparable to the Taiping Army." ”

Yi Zhixiang glanced at Xiang Rong and said, "After recovering Wuchang, the monk king should also breathe a sigh of relief, in the evening, there will be a banquet below, let's have a good drink." ”

"It's time for a drink." Monk Greenqin glanced at Xiang Rong as he spoke, and said, "Pass on my military order, all the Eight Banners Green Battalion must not enter the city, and all departments must not relax." ”

Xiang Rong knew that this was clearly to find a reason to send him away, so he got up to receive the order and turned around to leave.

After Xiang Rong left, Yi Zhizhi said directly: "Don't fight the idea of the marines, Yuan Qi sent troops this time, just to prevent the Taiping army from going east to cause trouble in the south of the Yangtze River, and I am not interested in the drudgery of encircling and suppressing the Taiping army." ”

Seeing that he made his words clear, Monk Greenqin smiled bitterly and said, "Why bother with it, isn't it already recovering?" ”

"It's not a haunt." Yi Zhizhi said: "Can't the monk king see that the Taiping army has become a climate?" In a short period of time, it can't be eradicated at all! After a pause, he continued: "Listen to my advice, find an excuse to go back to Beijing, and don't wade into this troubled water." ”

Monk Greenqin stared at him for a long time before he said, "The 30,000 Eight Banners New Army is going south, and it can't be exterminated?" ”

"The sailor is the key." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "The sailors of the Taiping Army are so large-scale, entrenched in Dongting Lake, how can they be encircled and suppressed?" After a pause, he continued: "There are no outsiders, I might as well say something from my heart, the naval fleet does not dare to go up the river on a large scale, in a word, I can't afford to lose!" Without a powerful sailor, it would be impossible to exterminate the Taiping Army! Taking advantage of the opportunity to recover Wuchang and retreat bravely from the rapids is the best opportunity! ”

Hearing this, Seng Lingqin was speechless for a long time, this is indeed the truth, the Taiping Army is entrenched in Dongting Lake with a powerful sailor, even if all the 30,000 Eight Banners New Army goes south, it is useless, and the Taiping Army is becoming more and more difficult to fight, thinking of the fall of Yuezhou, he was picked Hualing, Wuchang fell, and he didn't know what kind of punishment it was, he was chilled.

Early the next morning, the new governor of Huguang Qi Shan hurried to Wuchang, originally Wuchang city of large and small civil and military officials were killed by the Taiping army, naturally no one greeted him, cold and deserted into the city, he did not go to the governor's palace, went straight to the governor Yamen to visit the monk Lingqin, and then rushed to the garden to meet Yi Zhi, Zeng Guofan, who entered the city with him, stayed in the governor's yamen, Luo Bingzhang followed him to the Misty Garden.

Yi Zhizhi was not in the Misty Garden, he went out early in the morning to survey the terrain inside and outside the city, and when he heard that Qi Shan had arrived, he hurried back, and as soon as he entered the room, he smiled and said: "Qi Zhitai didn't give a word in advance, and the lower officials and others should go to greet him." ”

Qi Shan waved his hand and said, "The military affairs of the national city are busy, how dare you disturb it." ”

Seeing that it was empty, Luo Bingzhang was also busy greeting each other, and after the ceremony was seated, Qi Shan said with a wry smile: "Fortunately, Guocheng recovered Wuchang, otherwise the old man would not even have a place to stay." ”

Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "Fortunately, the Taiping Army's damage to Wuchang City was not too serious, but it just took the people away. ”

Now Wuchang is almost an empty city, deserted and slaughtered, Qi Shan was indescribably bored in his heart, and said with a slight sigh: "There are still hundreds of thousands of Taiping soldiers stationed on the other side of the river....... ”

Yi Zhizu took over and said: "The Taiping army should not stay on the other side for too long, but Wuchang may become the front line of the war with the Taiping army from now on, and it is necessary to strengthen the defense in case the Taiping army captures it again. ”

Qi Shan heard Monk Greenqin mention this, nodded immediately, and said: "Wuchang defense, there is still Lao Guocheng to bother ......." ”

Yi Zhizhi smiled contentedly, "I don't have the time to live in Wuchang for a long time...... However, in order to prevent Wuchang from falling into the hands of the Taiping army again, and in order to block the way of the Taiping army to the east, the naval fleet could stay in Wuchang. As he spoke, he glanced at Luo Bingzhang and said, "In addition, I plan to recommend an official in the future." ”

Hearing this, Luo Bingzhang's heart jumped, could it be that he was content to recommend him to take over as the governor of Hubei? Qi Shan was stunned, and when he thought about it, he reacted, this is the condition, this is the condition for the Nanyang Navy fleet to be stationed in Wuchang, and even said: "Now that the Hubei people are killed and wounded, there are suitable candidates in the national city, although they are recommended." ”

"Thank you, sir." Yi Zhizhi arched his hand, and then said slowly: "At an extraordinary time, when you use talents in an eclectic manner, Hubei is now dominated by war, Jiang Minqiao, adults should have heard of it, Jiang Minqiao's talent is enough to serve as the governor." ”

Jiang Zhongyuan, Qi Shan naturally knew, he really didn't expect Yi Zhishu to recommend Jiang Zhongyuan, and after a little hesitation, he said: "Governor of Hubei, is there a suitable candidate for the national city?" ”

Yi Zhixiang smiled and said: "Thank you for your kindness, the admiral is not suitable for the post of governor of Hubei, even if the lord recommends, the imperial court will not agree, but my lordship can rest assured that the officers and men of the navy stationed in Wuchang will definitely do their best to defend Wuchang and the Yangtze River waterway." ”

Qi Shan really has the intention to sell him a big favor, after all, the current situation in Wuchang does rely on naval defense, when even said with a smile: "Guocheng Fang also said that Hubei is currently mainly war-oriented, in order to exterminate the bandits, at any cost, how can the admiral not be suitable for the post of governor of Hubei?" The old man recommended it, and the court may not agree, and now the local green camp is not used, and the old man is trying to use the navy to rectify the atmosphere of the green camp in Hubei. ”

"Since that's the case, the adults will recommend Chen Hongming." Yi Zhixiang said with a smile, "However, there is a sentence in the front first, it's no problem to help rectify the green camp, but Yuan Qi doesn't have any money." ”

"Stingy." Qi Shan said with a smile: "Don't worry, if you want to buy firearms and ammunition, let's buy them at market prices." ”

After chatting for a while, Qi Shancai got up to say goodbye, but Luo Bingzhang stayed, watching Qi Shan's sedan chair leave, Yi Zhicai smiled and said: "I didn't recommend Brother Humen, do you have ideas?" ”

Luo Bingzhang was indeed a little disappointed in his heart, but he forced a smile and said: "With Brother Guocheng, can you still have a chance without the closure of the territory?" ”

Yi Zhizu nodded with a smile, returned to the room, and after the two of them sat down, he said slowly: "Hubei is now a place of right and wrong, this governor is not good, and besides, I will recommend it, I am afraid that there will be some obstacles to my brother's career in the future, I have entrusted the monk king to recommend you to take over as the governor of Anhui, and wait for the good news with peace of mind. ”

Governor of Anhui! Luo Bingzhang's heart was hot, and he hurriedly got up and bowed respectfully, and said: "Brother Guocheng is so bothered, great kindness, and great kindness, it must be unforgettable." ”

"Why do you want to see the outside like this?" Yi Zhishu hurriedly gave a handful of help, and said: "If the Yangtze River is compared to a long snake, Anqing, the capital of Anhui Province, is the seven inches of this snake, if you have the opportunity to take over as the governor of Anhui, you must strengthen the defense of Anqing, once the Taiping army flees eastward, it will inevitably attack Anqing, and Anqing will not allow any mistakes." ”

Hearing this, Luo Bingzhang realized that this governor of Anhui was not so easy to do, and hurriedly said solemnly: "Brother Guocheng, rest assured, if you can take over as the governor of Anhui, you will not let the bandits succeed." ”

Yi Zhishu nodded and said: "Not only Anqing, but also Hefei, but there is no need to worry about it, if you can take over as the governor of Anhui, the Taiping army will go east, and the navy will definitely support it." ”