Although he had long expected that troops would be sent after the beginning of spring, Feng Renxuan was still very excited after listening to the telegram, and after receiving the telegram to confirm, he smiled and said, "I'm afraid I won't be able to drink this wine today." Pen ~ Fun ~ Pavilion www.biquge.info"

Tang Bingcan said: "Hasn't the battle plan been discussed a long time ago? ”

"That's just a rough plan, and some details still need to be finalized, especially in terms of logistics." Feng Renxuan said: "The big shopkeeper is not easy to confuse, and if such a plan is reported, it must be criticized." As he spoke, he instructed: "Send someone to inform all the ministries of the nine cities of Ili, and the chief officials of the ministries and regimental level and above will come to the meeting." ”

Chang Kunning said: "Ili General Zalafentai, do you want to tell me, they are also eager to send troops to share some war exploits." ”

In recent years, the Northwest New Army has received the help and support of local officials in Xinjiang, whether it is resettlement or recruitment and garrisoning, it can be said that in all aspects, the two Ili generals, Yishan and Zarafentai, have given great support.

Feng Renxuan pondered for a while before he said: "We don't care about the rewards of the imperial court, they care a lot, let them share some of their military exploits, it can be regarded as a return for the peach, and the good people will do it to the end, prepare a telegram for the big shopkeeper, and say a few good words to them." ”

Tarbagatai, Counsellor's Office.

After reading the telegram, Zuo Zongtang took out his own proposed troop dispatch plan and carefully examined it, he knew very well how much Yi Zhixiang attached importance to the expansion of the northwest, and also knew that Yi Zhixiang himself was a great commander of the army, and he also knew the situation in the northwest well, and he didn't want his troop dispatch plan to be faulty.

Seeing him so cautious, staff member Wang Baixin secretly laughed in his heart, I don't know how many times this plan for sending troops has been deliberated back and forth, he coughed lightly, and said: "Dong Weng has ever thought about sending troops to the northwest this time, who is the commander?" ”

Commander? Zuo Zongtang glanced up at him and said, "Who else can there be?" Naturally, it is Feng Jirong, even if the Eight Banners Green Battalion will follow the troops, but it is still dominated by the Northwest New Army, and the Northwest New Army is based on the old foundation of the Yuanqi Huadi Battalion back then, in terms of prestige, title, talent and qualifications, no one can compare with him Feng Jirong. ”

"If the Eight Banners Green Battalion follows and sends troops, I'm afraid it may not be." Wang Baixin said slowly: "When the troops were sent to Annan, it was Prince Hui who was the general, and the Taiping Army was conscripted and suppressed, and it was also Prince Hui who was the general, and the troops were sent to Tibet, and the monk was the general, which shows that Zhenhai Gong has always taken care of the overall situation, and he attaches great importance to the expansion of the northwest, so he may not care about this false ......." ”

With the Ili general Zarafentai as the commander? Zuo Zongtang pondered for a while, the more he thought about it, the more likely it was, he couldn't help but be very excited, if Zalafentai was the general of the expedition to the west, he and Feng Renxuan would each lead an army, not under each other, and if they succeeded in a battle, he might have the hope of being knighted!

After calming down, he said: "Forward the original telegram to Jingshi and Gongningcheng." ”

Gongning City, General's Mansion, Signing Room.

Zarafintai paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back in annoyance, the war in the northwest was imminent, but he couldn't make up his mind, whether to let the imperial court put pressure on the Xinjiang Eight Banners Green Battalion to send troops to participate in the war, or he lowered his body and pleaded with Yi Zhicontent.

Obviously, this time the troops in the northwest will definitely be able to achieve a great victory, and it is easy to recover the territory occupied and annexed by the Russians, and what makes him more concerned is that the expansion in the northwest is the work of opening up the territory and expanding the territory.

Let the imperial court exert pressure, he is worried that Yi Zhixin will not sell it, with Yi Zhi's relationship with the imperial court, the strength of the Northwest New Army in Xinjiang, such an obvious matter of grabbing credit, no one will be happy, not to mention that Yi Zhixin is definitely not a good stubble.

If you lower your body and plead with you, it is not a matter of not being able to erase your face, but you will be in a passive subordinate position, even if you follow the troops, the merit is limited.

After a long while, Zaraphentai stopped and looked at his master Deng Changyu and said, "What do you think, sir?" ”

"Yuan Qi has been preparing for several years to send troops to the northwest, troops, equipment, food, logistics supplies, etc. do not need the assistance of the Eight Banners Green Battalion, Russia has suffered a new defeat in Crimea, and has suffered heavy losses, and Zhenhai Gong is determined to expand in the northwest." Deng Changyu slowly stroked his chin and beard and said unhurriedly: "In this battle, the imperial court can't interfere at all, Dong Weng still calls Zhenhai Gong in person, as long as he can send troops, Dong Weng's exploits are indispensable." ”

Zarafintai said in a sullen voice: "This is obviously a profit sharing battle, how can you open your mouth?" ”

In recent years, with the relocation of the new army in the northwest to the north road, the strength of the Eight Banners Green Battalion began to gradually move southward, and the large-scale continuous migration of Yuanqi has led to the comprehensive reclamation of cities in southern Xinjiang, but after all, the time is too short to completely stabilize the situation in southern Xinjiang.

If the southern Xinjiang is unstable, it will affect the overall situation, why not Dong Weng used this as an excuse to call Zhenhai Gong, begging to stay in the first brigade to guard the southern Xinjiang, and the insufficient troops will be filled by the Eight Banners Green Battalion. In addition, on the side of the imperial court, Dong Weng may also wish to actively ask for war. ”

"That's a high-sounding reason." Zarafintai nodded, and then commanded, "Someone——。 ”

Jingshi, Forbidden City, military aircraft duty room.

After receiving telegrams from Zuo Zongtang and Zarafentai, he wanted to submit it directly to the king, but when he heard that Xianfeng was entertaining several Mongolian princes, he could only wait patiently and sent a telegram to Manila to inquire about the situation.

Just received a call back to figure out the situation, Su Shun hurried into the palace, seeing him coming, Bai Ye secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but pretended to say: "Why did the sixth master enter the palace?" Something Important? ”

Su Shun didn't go around in circles with him, and said straightforwardly: "The Crimean War is coming to an end, and Brother Jingtao hasn't received a telegram?" ”

"Just got it." Bai Ye said slowly: "The northwest is about to send troops after the beginning of spring. As he spoke, he handed over a few telegrams.

After a few glances, Su Shuncai said, "The banquet hasn't been dispersed yet?" ”

"It is estimated that there is still half an hour, and the sixth master will hand over the sign first." Bai Ye turned his head as he spoke, "Zarafentai asks for battle, will Yuan Qi agree?" ”

This is not a trivial matter, how dare Su Shun talk nonsense, but Xianfeng must have asked about this matter, and he said after a little muttering, "Why don't you go straight to the meaning of Yi Guocheng?" ”

Bai Ye smiled bitterly and said, "What kind of temptation is this? ”

What's not to be tempted? Su Shun picked up Zarafentai's telegram and looked at it, called a little Zhang Jing, and said, "Forward it to Manila." ”

Although Xianfeng is good wine, he also knows how much he drinks, and he knows that he is easy to lose his temper after drinking, and he is very reserved at the banquet, and he stops after tasting it. ”

Got a military intelligence? Xianfeng didn't hesitate, and said straightly: "Let them go to the Heart Cultivation Hall and wait." But I secretly sighed in my heart, with this telegram, I couldn't even live in peace during the Spring Festival.

After a little washing, Xianfeng went to the Palace of Nourishing the Heart, and recruited Bai Ye and Su Shun into the Warm Pavilion, and after the two of them saw each other, he said: "Is it the military situation in the northwest?" Or Southwestern? ”

"Back to the emperor." Bai Ye said: "Yuan Qi plans to send troops in the northwest after the beginning of spring. As he spoke, he handed over a few telegrams.

After flipping through a few telegrams, Xianfeng felt a little relaxed in his heart, tens of thousands of soldiers and horses of the Northwest New Army were stationed in Xinjiang, and he had always had a feeling of unsteadiness in his heart, and now he saw that he was really preparing to send troops to expand in the northwest, he was naturally relieved, but when he thought of Yi Zhi's contentment to mention that after the Crimean War, Britain and France might launch a war against the Qing Dynasty, his heart sank again.

He was a little puzzled for a while, and since he guessed that Britain and France might start a war against the Qing Dynasty, why did he continue to expand in the northwest? However, Yuan Qi's northwest expansion was obviously extremely beneficial to the imperial court, and he did not plan to do much.

After pondering for a while, he picked up the electric music of Zarafintai's request for war and looked at it, Zalafintai's thoughts, he naturally knew it, however, he did not object, to recover the territory in the northwest that was annexed by Russia, and expand the territory in the northwest, this matter has the participation of the Eight Banners Green Battalion, which can greatly improve the prestige of the imperial court.

After glancing at Bai Ye and Su Shun, he said, "What do you think about Zarafintai's request for war?" ”

Su Shun forwarded Zarafintai's telegram to Manila, but he didn't receive a callback, he didn't know if Yi Zhishu didn't receive the telegram or deliberately didn't reply, when he said: "Your Majesty, the northwest sent troops, mainly to the northwest new army, this matter, must test Yuan Qi's attitude." ”

This is not a tactful at all, although Xianfeng does not like it in his heart, he also knows that this is the truth, and even said: "You can test this matter as soon as possible." ”

"The minions obey." Su Shun said and stood up, "Your Majesty, the Crimean War is coming to an end, and the missions to European countries must also leave for ....... as soon as possible. ”

The mission to the West is related to the Crimean War? Xianfeng reacted when he turned his mind, Yi Zhizhi was content that he hoped to send the West to ease relations with Western countries and avoid wars with Western countries. Of course, it was also a rare opportunity for the imperial court to send missions to Western countries, and he did not object to it.

Moreover, he also did not want a large-scale war to break out in the Qing Dynasty, with the help of Western forces to eliminate Yuan Qi, he did not think about this, but repeatedly thought about it, Yuan Qi is hateful, Britain, France, the United States, Russia and other countries are equally hateful, before the imperial court does not have enough strength to protect itself, the outbreak of a large-scale war will only worsen the situation.

Not only may the imperial court completely lose control of the southeastern provinces, but the Qing Dynasty frontier will also be full of smoke, not to mention, he does not think that the Western countries can completely eliminate Yuanqi's forces, at least Yuanqi's forces in the northwest cannot be eliminated, if Yuanqi is forced to rebel, then it is really internal and external troubles, and it is precarious!

The most prudent strategy is to win the support of Western countries, set up military factories, purchase arms, train the new army of the Eight Banners, and accumulate strength to protect itself.

After a slight groan, he spoke: "Draft, send missions to Western countries, and after the opening of the government, go to Shanghai to go to the sea." ”

"Your Majesty." Su Shun hurriedly bowed and said.

"Kneel down." Xianfeng said softly, the two of them saluted, bowed and withdrew, and he suddenly said, "Su Shun stays." ”

Hearing this, Su Shun's footsteps paused, and hurriedly stepped forward and knelt down, but Xianfeng was silent for a long time, and he was in favor of sending envoys to Western countries, but he was hesitant about the choice of team leader, Yi Zhizhi proposed to form a mission to go abroad after Yixun was dismissed, he didn't think it was just a coincidence.

But with Yixun as the team leader, he was always a little worried in his heart, worried that Yixun and Yuan Qi would collude, after all, when they were competing for the reserve, Yixun and Yi Zhizhi had close contacts.

After pondering for a long time, he asked directly: "Yi Zhizhi hopes that Yixin will go overseas?" ”

Hearing his question so direct, Su Shun hurriedly kowtowed lightly and said: "Back to the emperor, it is true, Yi Zhizhi thinks that among all the princes, Prince Gong Yixun is the most suitable candidate." He was well aware of Xianfeng's worries, paused, and said softly: "Your Majesty, the slave ........" ”

Xianfeng glanced at him and said, "Don't talk about it, just say it." ”

Su Shun was not a timid person, and when he heard this, he immediately said bluntly: "Your Majesty, Prince Hui Mianyu is the identity of the emperor's uncle. ”

Do you need to be reminded of this? Xianfeng turned his mind to reflect the meaning of these words, and couldn't help but be surprised, indeed, Prince Hui Mianyu is his own uncle, and the relationship with Yi Zhixiang is also extraordinary, not to mention that the two had contacts when they were in Beijing, conquering Annam, conquering the Twist Army, and the Taiping Army, the two of them have cooperated several times, if Yi Zhicontent wants to collude with the clan, why bother to seek the near and far? Directly joining forces with Mianyu is, why bother to join forces with Yixun?

Thinking of this, Xianfeng has already made up his mind, no one in the princes and princes is willing to take a great risk to go to the West, it is rare for Yi Xun to have this ambition, go to the West to experience and practice, after coming back, he can become a big help for himself, besides, this time to go to the West, not only to help the court win the support of Western countries, but also to eliminate the purpose of potential wars, let other princes go, he may not be at ease.

After a slight sigh, he said, "Go and pay a New Year's greeting to Prince Gong." ”

Prince Gong's Mansion.

This year's Chinese New Year, Prince Gong's Mansion is contrary to the previous door, the gate is deserted, Su Shun got off the sedan chair outside the gate, and swaggered into the gate under the greeting of the porter, and entered the study, Yi Xun did not wait for him to salute, and said: "I don't know how many pairs of eyes are staring at this mansion, and you came in so swaggeringly?" ”

Su Shun said with a smile: "I came to pay New Year's greetings to the prince by order, is it possible to come secretly?" ”

"Ordered?" What does it mean that Su Shun is now the Minister of Military Aircraft learning to walk? Reacting, he said happily: "Your Majesty, has you allowed me to go to the West?" ”

"After the opening of the government, we will rush to Shanghai, and the prince has to prepare early." Su Shun smiled and arched his hand: "Congratulations to the prince first." ”