Lin Zexu's words clearly supported Chen Hongming to take over as the governor of Hubei, Xianfeng was silent, and glanced at Mu Zhang'a, for Chen Hongming, a naval general who was born as an important backbone of Yuanqi regimental training, he has a strong defensive mentality, and the two provinces of Nanyang are not counted, he doesn't want Yuanqi to get involved in the inland provinces, Hubei is in the heart, and Wuchang is known as the thoroughfare of nine provinces, he is really not at ease. Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info

For Xianfeng's thoughts, Mu Zhang'a naturally pondered thoroughly, however, he also put himself in Qi Shan's shoes in this matter, as the governor of Huguang, Qi Shan could not be unclear about the relationship between the imperial court and Yuan Qi, since Gu Zhi was recommended, it was obviously his reason, it was obvious that he wanted to borrow the navy to garrison Wuchang, and whether there were any other plans, he was not clear.

Seeing that Xianfeng was silent, he said slowly: "Your Majesty, Hong Yang's rebellion first fell into Yueyang, and then fell into Wuchang, and the one who relied on it was the sailor, and tens of thousands of Eight Banners Green Battalion could not pursue the encirclement and suppression in time, giving Hong Yang a chance to breathe and grow." Wei Chen secretly thought that the current priority was to encircle and suppress Hong Yang, and to encircle and suppress Hong Yang, it was necessary to advance by land and water, otherwise, it would be difficult to compete for complete success. ”

The meaning of this is also very clear, if you want to use the navy to encircle and suppress, give some benefits in general, and hint that the current state affairs should be the priority, Xianfeng naturally understands this, however, he is still a little hesitant, Yuan Qi is rich and strong in the world, once Yuan Qi is allowed to rule the officers and soldiers of the green battalion in Hubei Province, God knows if it will leave trouble?

After weighing and considering for a moment, Xianfeng spoke: "Jiang Zhongyuan is just a person, he was first appointed to know the county, in just three or four years, he was suddenly promoted to governor, and his seniority is weak, if Chen Hongming is the commander, I am afraid it will be difficult to control." ”

His worries are not unreasonable, although Chen Hongming is young, he follows Yi Zhizu to fight in the east and west, and his military achievements are impressive, and his prestige and qualifications are far from being comparable to Jiang Zhongyuan, and Chen Hongming has Yuan Qi behind him, if Jiang Zhongyuan is the governor and Chen Hongming is the commander, it is not only difficult to control, but may even be overlooked!

Hearing this, Mu Zhang'a and Lin Zexu were silent for a while, Xianfeng glanced at the two of them expressionlessly, and said thoughtfully: "The position of Hubei Admiral, I think Hechun is quite suitable, as for Chen Hongming, he will be promoted to the general army and added the rank of admiral." ”

Seeing that he had already considered it, Mu Zhang'a shut up with interest, but Lin Zexu said: "Up and down the Yangtze River, there is no water division that can compete with Hong Yang's rebels, can you prepare to build a Yangtze River water division ......?" ”

Preparing for the construction of the Yangtze River Water Division? Xianfeng's heart moved, this is a good proposal, take this opportunity to prepare for the Yangtze River Water Division, not only to encircle and suppress the Taiping Army at the moment, but also to prevent Yuan Qi in the future, when even the head of the jaw said: "Prepare for the establishment of the Yangtze River Water Division, as soon as possible." ”

Lin Zexu hurriedly bowed down and said, "Weichen obeys the order." ”

As soon as he heard about the preparation for the construction of the Yangtze River Water Division, Qi Liaozao hurriedly bowed down and said: "Your Majesty, the army has been prosperous for two years, and the salary has been as high as more than 18 million taels........ ”

At the mention of silver, Xianfeng's smile just now suddenly froze on his face, fighting is about money and food, and now he has a deep understanding of this, but no matter how difficult it is, he has to completely exterminate Hong Yang's rebellion, right? It costs money to prepare for the construction of the Yangtze River Water Division, and it also costs money for the new army to go south, and in the past, you could still borrow from Yuanqi, but now you can only think of it yourself.

After a little silence, he said in a deep voice: "I will take the inner court to check the bronzes and golden bells, send them to the money bureau, and drum and cast salaries. This can only be a temporary urgency, and the ministers of various ministries and departments are talking about how to raise salaries! ”

Inventory of Admiralty bronzes and melt down the fundraising? Mu Zhang'a couldn't help but be stunned, and hurriedly knelt down, kowtowed, and said: "The lord is worried about the humiliation of the ministers, the lord humiliates the ministers to death, and the ministers are incompetent to ......." ”

Xianfeng waved his hand impatiently, "Kneel down." ”

Hubei, Wuchang, Tianxingzhou.

There are two big sandbanks on the Wuchang Yangtze River channel, the upstream is Baishazhou, the downstream is Tianxingzhou, in terms of area, Tianxingzhou is several times that of Baishazhou, Tianxingzhou at this time has become a huge artillery position, a cannon is being transported to Tianxingzhou along the temporary pontoon bridge.

On the artillery position at the head of Tianxing Zhou, Monk Lingqin put down his binoculars, turned to Yi Zhizhi on his side and said, "How many days will the fleet arrive?" ”

"Arriving early tomorrow morning." Yi Zhizhi said and took out a box of cigarettes and said, "The monk is determined to cross the river to pursue?" ”

"I don't want to." Monk Greenqin sighed lightly and turned his eyes to Hankou on the other side, "If we don't pursue, we will inevitably be impeached." ”

Yi Zhishu affirmed again: "I have words first, and I only help to recover Hanyang Hankou, not pursue." ”

Monk Green said in a sullen voice: "What about the waterway? ”

"Waterways?" Yi Zhizhi laughed and said: "If the prince lends me another gut, I don't dare to pursue, I really think that the Taiping army will not attack?" ”

"This king is worried about the impeachment of the national city." Monk Lingqin said slowly: "Finally, this relationship has improved slightly. ”

The river wind was strong, and Yi Zhizhi struck three matches before lighting the cigarette and exhaling a puff of smoke, and he said nonchalantly: "I don't care about whether I love to play or not, encircling and suppressing the Taiping Army." After a pause, he continued: "What is the prince thinking about?" ”

After a while, Monk Greenqin said in a muffled voice: "There is always a good excuse not." As he spoke, he turned his head, "Guns and ammunition, you have to give me some supplements, right?" After repeated pursuits, the ammunition was almost exhausted, and more than 1,000 guns were lost. ”

Yi Zhizhi said happily: "There is no problem with ammunition, guns, if the prince can report the bill, he can provide 2,000 sticks." ”

Monk Greenqin was overjoyed in his heart, and was about to say a few polite words, when Jiang Zhongyuan trotted forward and reported: "Lord Yuqincha, Yi Junmen, the elite of the 50,000 Taiping Army stationed in Hanyang set up camp and marched north, and the leader was the puppet king Shi Dakai. ”

Northward? Yi Zhizhi was content, Shi Dakai led 50,000 troops to advance north, definitely not just to loot the surrounding prefectures and counties, what did the Taiping army plan to do? Two ways to divide the soldiers?

Jiang Zhongyuan said in a deep voice: "According to the humble opinion of the lower officials, the puppet king Shi Dakai can also be regarded as a fierce general, leading 50,000 troops to the north, and it is very likely that he will fight Xiangyang." ”

"Xiangyang?" Monk Greenqin's face was gloomy, although Xiangyang is a strong city, but the Taiping army can capture Wuchang within ten days, Xiangyang is afraid that it will not be spared, once the Taiping army captures Xiangyang, the consequences are really unimaginable! What made him even more embarrassed was that the Taiping army was divided into two routes, which undoubtedly increased the difficulty and danger of encirclement and suppression.

Xiangyang? Yi Zhishu was also a little shocked for a while, what does it mean for the Taiping Army to fight Xiangyang? Gu Zuyu's "Preface to the Minutes of Huguang Fangyu" He just read it, Huguang's shape is victorious, in Wuchanghu? In Xiangyang? Or is it in Jingzhou? Said: In the words of the world, the emphasis is on Xiangyang; In the southeast, it is important to focus on Wuchang; In terms of Huguang, the emphasis is on Jingzhou....... The husband of Xiangyang is also the waist of the world. Central Plains, can be merged with the southeast. The southeast can also map the northwest.

If the Taiping army really fought Xiangyang, it would not just occupy Hunan, the Taiping army coerced hundreds of thousands of people in the three towns of Wuhan, and after the strength increased greatly, the ambition also became greater! Or did he insist on conducting an arms deal in southern Shonan, which greatly disappointed the Taiping army and annoyed the Taiping army?

"Back to camp!" As he spoke, Monk Greenqin turned over his horse, waved his whip, and galloped away.

Seeing that Monk Greenqin was so anxious, Yi Zhizu glanced at Jiang Zhongyuan and said, "Xiangyang has always been an important place for soldiers to fight for, and it is also where the Yamen of the Hubei Admiral is located, so it should be stationed with heavy troops?" ”

Jiang Zhongyuan said with a wry smile: "On the surface, it is a heavy garrison, but there is actually a situation, but it is difficult to say, the situation of the green camp, Yi Junmen should also know ......" ”

The green camp is seriously empty-paid, and in this regard, Yi Zhixin is clear, and he groaned slightly, and then he said: "The Taiping army is cunning, you remind the monk and the king, the necessary precautions Shi Da is attacking the east and west, Wuchang is in hand, and the important military towns in Hubei are Xiangyang and Jingzhou." ”

Give the dummy? Jiang Zhongyuan paused for a moment before he said, "Yi Junmen won't return to the camp?" ”

"I'll arrange the river crossing as soon as possible." Yi Zhizhi said and waved his hand, "You go back first." Jiang Zhongyuan, who was waiting, saluted and retired, he found a stone and sat down casually, he didn't plan to pursue the Taiping army, nor did he plan to reinforce Xiangyang, so he naturally didn't bother to go back to discuss matters, but he still pondered the intentions of the Taiping army.

50,000 elites, with the combat power of the Taiping Army, it is not impossible to fight Xiangyang, if Shi Dakai goes to attack Xiangyang, it is enough to show that the Taiping Army wants to occupy Hubei, he has repeatedly applied to not let the Taiping Army entrench in Hubei, otherwise, it will join forces with the imperial court to encircle and suppress, even if the Taiping Army has greatly increased its strength, even if it is dissatisfied with the arms deal in southern Hunan, it will not be so risky, right?

"Huguang map!" He turned and shouted.

Listening to the order, the two guards hurriedly turned out the map and hurried to him to unfold the map in front of him, he did not go to see Xiangyang, but went straight to Jingzhou, with intuition, he thought that the Taiping army was more likely to fight Jingzhou, Jingzhou is near the river, which is conducive to the Taiping army to play the combat power of the water division.

After thinking for a while, he took out his red and blue pencils and drew circles in Jingzhou, Yuezhou, Changde, and Changsha, and then looked at it stunned with his chin in his hand.

At ten o'clock in the evening, he returned to Wuchang Aiyuan, and just after washing up and sitting down to prepare for dinner, he heard that the monks Greenqin and Qishan had come to visit, "Please let them in." After speaking, he took two bowls of rice like a whirlwind, and for most of the day outside, his chest was already hungry against his back, and he didn't have the energy to talk to them without eating.

Putting down the bowl, he stood up and was about to go out to greet him, not wanting Monk Greenqin to step into the door, "This king is also wondering that the shelves in the city are getting bigger and bigger, and he doesn't want to be dining, it seems that the time is not right for us to come." ”

Yi Zhizhi saw that there were not only Qi Shan behind him, but also Zeng Guofan, Luo Bingzhang, and Jiang Zhongyuan, and couldn't help but smile, arched his hand at everyone, and said with a smile: "Look at this battle, are you here to 'eat big households'?" ”

Qi Shan said with a smile: "Now in this Wuchang City, the food in the Mist Garden is the best. ”

Luo Bingzhang and Jiang Zhongyuan took a few steps closer, bowed down, and said in unison: "The grace of the Hou Ye is remembered by the lower officials. ”

The edict has come down? Yi Zhizu hurriedly helped the two of them and said with a smile: "Isn't this the wrong person, the two who recommended the two to the court were the monk king and Qi Zhitai." As he spoke, he smiled, "The joy of the two promotions, that's really congratulations." After speaking, he turned around and ordered: "Tidy up a table of banquets, and then find a jar of good wine." ”

After giving the order, he turned around, smiled and stretched out his hand to politely, "You are free." ”

Monk Greenqin reported the report to him, and then sat down and said: "The emperor has issued an order to prepare for the construction of the Yangtze River Water Division. ”

Flipping through the newspaper and taking a quick look, Jiang Zhongyuan moved to Hubei Governor, Luo Bingzhang took over as Anhui Governor, Chen Hongming was promoted to the general army, added the rank of Governor, and moved to Hubei in the spring, Beiyang Naval Division Chang Bao was promoted to the Governor of the Yangtze River Naval Division, in addition, Guiliang, the secretary of the Ministry of War, led 20,000 new troops of the Eight Banners to go south to Hubei.

Closing the newspaper, he smiled and said: "There are 20,000 new troops of the Eight Banners going south to encircle and suppress the Taiping Army, so there is no need to worry about the Taiping Army attacking Xiangyang." ”

Monk Greenqin groaned and said: "The situation of the Eight Banners New Army, Guocheng is very clear, the 20,000 army is going south, and the guns and ammunition have to rely on Yuan Qi ........ ”

Yi Zhixiang shook his head helplessly, and said: "When the prince led the troops south, I made it very clear that the factory output is limited, and 100,000 pieces of ammunition a month is the limit, and as for guns, the purchase of large quantities is also restricted by Citigroup, but since the army has gone south, I will immediately go back to Shanghai and try my best to negotiate with them." ”

Monk Greenqin said with his jaw: "Mini gun, this king is not extravagant, and it is okay to equip English guns." ”

Yi Zhixin said cheerfully: "Okay, no problem." ”

"Also, the Marine Corps used the ...... of the Marine Corps."

Yi Zhishu nodded and said, "As long as the prince has enough silver, this is not a problem." ”

Speaking of silver, Monk Greenqin couldn't help but laugh and said: "Deposit, can the city advance first, and after the goods arrive, pay and pick up the goods." ”

"No problem." Yi Zhi's content answer was very refreshing.

He was so refreshed, Monk Greenqin was a little bottomless, and hesitated: "This batch cannot be lost." ”

"I will go back to Shanghai in two days, negotiate with them, and give a specific reply to the prince as soon as possible." Yi Zhizhi said: "However, the prince should know that this batch of arms will not arrive until the summer and autumn of next year at the earliest." ”

"It's not too late." Monk Greenqin said: "This king doesn't expect to be able to exterminate the Hongyang rebels in a year and a half!" ”

Seeing that Yi Zhizhi was so refreshing, Jiang Zhongyuan couldn't help but be very moved, and said tentatively: "The bandits are entrenched in Hubei, can Master Hou purchase a batch of Western firearms for the Hubei Green Camp?" ”

"Absolutely." Yi Zhizu chuckled and said: "But I have to say it first, Yuan Qi doesn't have so much silver to pay a deposit, of course, it doesn't matter if the amount is small." ”

Jiang Zhongyuan was overjoyed when he heard this, and hurriedly said, "Then thank you first." ”

Yi Zhi's content turned his head and said, "Will you cross the river tomorrow?" ”

"Naturally, we want to cross the river." Monk Greenqin said: "The new army of 20,000 Eight Banners is going south, after Shi Dakai heard about it, it is unlikely that he will attack Xiangyang, but it is inevitable to sack the county and coerce the people. ”

Yi Zhizu nodded slightly, and said: "Yang Xiuqing and Shi Dakai are both good at ambushes, although the terrain in this area is a flat river, but now the Taiping army has an advantage in strength, crossing the river to pursue, you must be cautious everywhere." ”