Hundreds of thousands of Taiping soldiers began to line up in an orderly manner to board the boats, and boats of all sizes began to trace the river, and on the bank of the river, a large group of people and horses slowly went up the river. Pen % fun % Pavilion www.biquge.info

Wuchang Wenchang Gate Tower, Yi Zhizu looked at this scene from the telescope, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief, the Taiping army finally began to retreat, to be honest, he was really worried that the Taiping army would not know whether to live or die to hold Hanyang Hankou, which would force the naval fleet to fight with the Taiping army sailors.

"Count them as acquaintances." Monk Lingqin snorted coldly, and then said, "Can the fleet arrive at Tianxing Continent in the morning?" ”

Yi Zhishu put down the binoculars and said, "The prince wants to take the plane to chase?" ”

"It's best if you can chase it." Monk Greenqin said: "Traditionally, the rogues have only chased and not stopped ....... ”

"There are 50,000 elites of the Taiping army on the other side, and the old and weak are all traveling by boat, how can they be so easy to pursue?" Yi Zhizu said slowly: "The fleet is going up, and you can't hide it from the Taiping army, otherwise they won't be so calm." ”

"It's impossible for us to pursue." Monk Lingqin said: "The naval fleet has many steamers, can't it be pursued along the river?" ”

Yi Zhishu shook his head and said, "They are all old and weak women and children, what is the difference between killing good and risking merit?" Not interested! ”

Seeing that he was unwilling, Seng Lingqin was not reluctant, and turned to say: "How much can Yuan Qi make in a year of this kind of firewheel gunboat?" ”

"Guangzhou and Shanghai combined, there are only twenty or thirty ships a year." Yi Zhixiang glanced at him and said, "The Yangtze River Water Division should form a scale, let alone three or five years. ”

Three or five years? Monk Greenqin sighed secretly, three or five years later, I am afraid that the daylily will be cold, the imperial court is preparing to build the Yangtze River Water Division, and appointing the Chang Bao of the Beiyang Water Division as the Admiral of the Water Division, this matter is easy to be content and not mention a word, obviously he has complaints, he doesn't want to talk about this topic, so as not to be embarrassed, when he said: "We should also go." ”

With the evacuation of the Taiping Army in Hankou in Hanyang, and with the pursuit of the Eight Banners Green Battalion led by Seng Lingqin across the river, the gunpowder smoke over the three towns of Wuhan completely dissipated, however, because a large number of people were coerced by the Taiping Army, the entire three towns of Wuhan were extremely deserted and empty.

Yi Zhizhi was also idle at this time, wandering around the city and outside the city all day long, Wuchang City was broken, and a lot of wealthy families and gentry and businessmen in the city were killed, and many people could be said to have been wiped out, he was thinking about whether to take this opportunity to take down some houses and garden shops, of course, this matter is not in a hurry, after all, there are many clever gentry and businessmen who escaped from the city before the war, whether there is no owner, and it will take some time to determine.

With the 20,000 Eight Banners New Army moving south, as long as the Taiping Army is a little more sensible, it will be impossible for the Taiping Army to go out of Henan, and the biggest possibility is to rely on the water division to occupy Dongting Lake and the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, and the river basin around Xiangshui and Zishui.

In this way, the strategic location of Wuchang will be more important, and a large number of Eight Banners Green Battalions will be stationed, and the Taiping army will stir up wind and rain in the two lakes, which will prompt a large number of gentry and merchants to move to Wuchang, and a large number of fleeing people will also come, and they will soon be able to return to their previous prosperity, and may even be more prosperous.

The current situation in Wuchang can be said to be extremely rare, if you don't take this opportunity to make some money, Yi Zhixin is really unhappy in her heart, this time to appease the people of Wuchang, the expenses are not small, no matter what, you have to fill this gap back.

Early in the morning, the guards sent an invitation, Hubei Governor Jiang Zhongyuan set up a banquet in the Yellow Crane Tower, for the Yellow Crane Tower, Yi Zhicontent can be said to have been admiring for a long time, and is planning to take time to go to a special trip in the next few days, Jiang Zhongyuan to see the banquet, immediately gladly go.

The Yellow Crane Tower has a great reputation, but all the literati come to Wuchang, they must visit the Yellow Crane Tower, but in recent days it is deserted, and it is difficult to see a few figures all day, however, today is particularly lively, the reason is very simple, Jiang Zhongyuan, the governor of Hubei Province, has a banquet here, heard the rumors, many officials have come one after another, and for a time the Yellow Crane Tower is brilliant up and down.

The large and small civil and military officials in Wuchang City were killed by the Taiping Army, and these officials who suddenly appeared were naturally well-informed alternate officials, and now there are not many things in Wuchang City, that is, there are many official vacancies, although it is risky to be an official in Wuchang, but I missed such a rare opportunity to fill the vacancy, and I don't know that I will have another chance to wait until the Year of the Monkey.

Jiang Zhongyuan has not arrived, a group of alternate officials are idle and bored, while enjoying the scenery and chatting, the topic is naturally Jiang Zhongyuan, for this rapid rise, can be called the legend of the Qing Dynasty officialdom of the new governor, everyone is envious and jealous, in just three or four years, from the prefect of the county to the prefect and the governor, it is really unheard of, how can the thirty-year-old feudal officials not make people blush.

Near noon, a green cloth sedan chair stopped in front of the Yellow Crane Tower, Jiang Zhongyuan, who was dressed in a micro suit, came out of the sedan chair, and when he saw the situation in the Yellow Crane Tower, a pair of thick eyebrows were erected.

"Check! Thorough investigation! Who leaked the news? Jiang Zhongyuan said in a deep voice, as he spoke, he took out a post and ordered: "With the clearing of the shopkeeper, all the irrelevant people will be driven away." ”

Without waiting for the shopkeeper of the Yellow Crane Tower to clear the scene, a group of alternate officials saw Jiang Zhongyuan coming, and greeted them in a swarm, listening to everyone's messy name, Jiang Zhongyuan arched his hand and said: "Everyone, this official is here today to feast Zhenhai Hou, you must also know that Zhenhai Hou likes to be clean, you leave the post and go to the office tomorrow." With that, he parted the crowd and went straight into the Yellow Crane Tower.

Such a rare opportunity, how can a group of alternate officials leave easily, anyway, they are idle, even if they are waiting outside to discuss, but the focus of this discussion is that the Marquis of Zhenhai is easy to be content, and he is even more fond of the 'easy election official'.

Yi Zhishu arrived at the Yellow Crane Tower at noon, he also came in micro-suit, accompanied by only two personal guards, all the way on foot, saw so many officials outside, couldn't help but be quite surprised, a turn of mind to understand what was going on, seeing him coming, a group of alternate officials hurriedly surrounded to greet him.

"You're really going to die." Yi Zhifen quipped in a relaxed tone: "Now that the war in Huguang is raging, those who are short are eager to resign, you are good, and you can catch up." ”

Seeing that he was easy-going, someone boldly said: "Master Hou, is there still an official shortage in Nanyang...... ”

Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "There are many shortages of officials in Nanyang, but if you want to be young, talented, honest and love the people, I can't look down on ordinary officials." ”

"Master Hou, the lower official is eligible."

"Master Hou, the lower officials are also in line."

"If you meet the conditions and are willing to go, send the post to the Misty Garden." Yi Zhixiang raised his eyes as he spoke, and Jiang Zhongyuan greeted him, and immediately separated everyone.

"The leaked news ...... made Master Hou smile." Jiang Zhongyuan smiled and stretched out his hand to give in, "Master Hou, please——。 ”

"Look at this posture, there will never be a shortage of officials in the Qing Dynasty." Yi Zhizu said and walked in, the two went up to the second floor, sat by the window, Jiang Zhongyuan knew Yi Zhi's contented temperament, and the bartender who was waiting for the tea to retreat, he said straightforwardly: "Encirclement and suppression of bandits, from Guangxi to Hubei, I have also seen the green battalions of the Eight Banners in several provinces, except for the New Army of the Eight Banners, the others are no longer ..... use." ”

Yi Zhisuff said casually: "Brother Minqiao plans to rectify the Hubei Green Camp? ”

"No, I'm going to set up a large-scale team training in the next place." Jiang Zhongyuan said in a deep voice: "The green camp is incorrigible, instead of wasting time, energy and money to rectify the green camp, it is better to form a group training!" ”

Forming a team practice? Jiang Zhongyuan is now the governor of Hubei, and he formed a regiment as the governor of a province? Yi Zhishu was secretly surprised in his heart, he knew that Jiang Zhongyuan was not a person who followed the rules, and he was bold, but he didn't expect him to be so bold, could this guy be planning to follow Yuan Qi's group practice?

After a slight groan, he said, "Brother Minqiao is not optimistic about the Eight Banners New Army? ”

"Not really." Jiang Zhongyuan said: "The New Army of the Eight Banners is indeed extraordinary, but there are only 30,000 people, the Taiping Army has now become a climate, and it is not easy to exterminate it. ”

Sure enough, it was far-sighted, Yi Zhizhi nodded, but he didn't say anything, Jiang Zhongyuan continued: "Lianghu may become the main battlefield for the encirclement and suppression of the Taiping army, and I hope to order a large number of Western firearms and ammunition. ”

"Yes." Yi Zhizhi said cheerfully: "From next year, we can continue to provide Hubei with Western firearms and ammunition, but arms sales have always been both silver and goods." ”

Jiang Zhongyuan said with a smile: "Although Hou Ye can rest assured, don't let Hou Ye be embarrassed." ”

After drinking tea, enjoying the scenery, and resting for a while, Jiang Zhongyuan asked very abruptly: "Will the naval fleet be stationed in Wuchang for a long time?" ”

"No, it won't." Yi Zhishu said without hesitation: "The imperial court is preparing to build the Yangtze River Naval Division, and the naval fleet has been stationed in Wuchang for a long time, isn't it hated?" When the New Army of the Eight Banners arrived in Hubei, they withdrew. ”

Jiang Zhongyuan shook his head slightly, and said: "The preparation for the establishment of the Yangtze River Naval Division is not like encircling and suppressing bandits, but rather to guard against the Nanyang Navy, and the next firewheel gunboat will not be sold to the Yangtze River Naval Division." ”

Yi Zhizhi smiled contentedly, "I'm afraid that only Brother Minqiao dares to say this." After lighting a cigarette, he said slowly: "It is a good thing to prepare for the construction of the Yangtze River Naval Division, which is not only conducive to preventing the Taiping Army from moving east along the river, but also to quickly mobilize troops. ”

Jiang Zhongyuan looked at him and said, "This is not like Hou Ye's style of acting. ”

"The damage to the local economy is devastating, and it will also cause a large number of casualties, the two lakes are important grain-producing areas, and the war between the two lakes has a huge ......impact on the southeastern provinces and Yuanqi." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "In terms of exterminating the Taiping Army, the interests of Yuan Qi and the imperial court are the same. ”

Hearing him say this, Jiang Zhongyuan was quite surprised, Chen Hongming failed to take over as the governor of Hubei, even the commander of the Yangtze River Navy Division did not mix, the court was clearly guarding against Yi Zhicontentment, the monk king, Qi Shan and he were worried that Yi Zhizhi would pick a child, but the other party seemed to be like no one else, and he didn't seem to care at all, so he just looked for an opportunity to probe the tone, the other party's words, he didn't dare to believe it, and he didn't dare to believe it all, but the naval fleet waited for the reinforcements to arrive before withdrawing, which made him secretly relieved.

For a while, a steady stream of wine and food was delivered, Jiang Zhongyuan held the pot and poured the wine, but said politely in his mouth: "Wuchang is extremely depressed now, there is a shortage of materials, there is no food, and I hope that Hou Ye Haihan will be one or two." ”

"Brother Minqiao doesn't need to be polite." Yi Zhishu said and picked up the wine glass and sniffed, "Good wine." ”

"This is extremely fragrant and extremely fragrant Lu Xian drunk." Jiang Zhongyuan raised his glass as he said and said, "If there is no recommendation from the Hou Ye, there will be no ...... today." ”

Yi Zhizu stopped him and said: "I am just recommending it to Qi Zhitai, recommending it to the imperial court, and it is the emperor who is promoted unusually, the relationship between Yuanqi and the imperial court is not comparable to the past, Brother Minqiao acts eclecticly, and I will try to mention this stubble as little as possible in the future." As he spoke, he clinked his glass and drained the wine in one gulp.

"Cheng, don't mention it later." Jiang Zhongyuan drank it all in one go.

Before pouring the second glass of wine, I heard the sound of the stairs, turned my head to look, and saw a four-grade military attache coming quickly, and reported: "Fu Zhongcheng and Yi Junmen, send the bandit Shi Da to open the city to break the city, and coerce 50,000 people to turn to the northwest and go to Jingshan." ”

Listening to this, Yi Zhizhi and Jiang Zhongyuan are all the same, Jingshan used to be Anlu Mansion, Shi Dakai did not fight De'an Mansion, but transferred to Anlu Mansion, what is the purpose? Waving his hand to retire the military attaché, Jiang Zhongyuan said with a solemn expression: "One hundred thousand people, the prefectures and counties along the way, will inevitably flee from the wind, and if this continues, it is not impossible for Shi Cheng to attack Xiangyang." ”

Whether Shi Dakai will attack Xiangyang or not, Yi Zhishu does not dare to assert, but he knows that if this continues, Hubei will be over, like Shi Dakai all the way to attack the county and plunder the government, coercing the people, it is a typical rogue style, the troops will roll bigger and bigger like a snowball, and it will also be like locusts crossing the border, and the places they pass through will be looted.

The two of them didn't have the heart to drink, they dispersed hastily, Yi Zhizhi returned to the Misty Garden to check the map carefully, and he couldn't figure out what Shi Dakai's intentions were, if the team continued to grow, it was not impossible to fight Xiangyang, he secretly thought to himself, if Shi Dakai really captured Xiangyang, what should he do?

Allowing the Taiping army to occupy Hubei will not only pose too much threat to the southeastern provinces, but also the power of the Taiping army will increase greatly, which is not a good thing for Yuan Qi, but he really wants to send troops to Hubei to assist the imperial court in encircling and suppressing the Taiping army, and he is worried that the Taiping army will be greatly damaged.

Report ——。

"Come in." Easy to know content and respond casually.

Chen Hongming said loudly at the door: "Principal, Mr. Bao is here." ”

Bao Shichen is here? Yi Zhixiang was surprised, and hurriedly got up and asked, "What about people?" As soon as the words fell, Bao Shichen walked in slowly, and arched his hand: "Master Hou——。 ”

"How did the gentleman come here?"

Bao Shichen said with a smile: "The old man is idle in Shanghai, and when he heard that a steamer was coming to Wuchang, he took a boat to take a look." ”