If the northwest wants to continue to expand uninterrupted and long-term, it is necessary to consolidate and stabilize the conquered territory as soon as possible, otherwise it will be suspected of being greedy for more than it can chew if it continues to expand.

Seeing Zuo Zongtang full of confidence, he is also quite relieved, Zuo Zongtang has been in the northwest for more than ten years, step by step to become the governor of Xinjiang, although thanks to his strong support, but Zuo Zongtang himself is also extremely competitive, Xinjiang's military and civil affairs are well organized under his governance, fully demonstrating his extraordinary talent!

Since he dared to reassure, Yi Zhixiang also believed that he could do what he said, and said with a smile: "One of the major principles of northwest expansion is to lay down a land, consolidate a land, and advance step by step, which requires both speed and stability!"

In terms of military affairs, I believe that with the combat strength of the Northwest New Army, it will be invincible and invincible, and in terms of governance, it can only rely on Ji Gao's careful planning. ”

Zuo Zongtang turned slightly sideways and arched his hand: "The prince has the grace of the subordinate officials, and the subordinate officials will govern Xinjiang for the Qing Dynasty and Yuanqi even if they have their livers and brains!" ”

For the Qing Dynasty to govern Xinjiang well for Yuanqi, I am afraid that ordinary officials will not say so, Zuo Zongtang can be said to be completely carried by Yi Zhizhi today, and his honor and disgrace are also all in the thought of Yi Zhi, with Yi Zhi's current status, to change the governor of Xinjiang, it is simply a matter of one sentence.

However, Yi Zhixiang didn't care at all, he knew that this guy had never lowered his voice when he was just a person, and he had always been above the top, not to mention that he was now the governor of Xinjiang, with his temperament, it was already rare to be able to say so.

However, Zhao Liewen frowned slightly when he heard this, and was a little dissatisfied in his heart, the imperial court did not pull out a dime for Xinjiang, and the taxes that should be collected were a lot, and the construction of the Northwest Railway, Xinjiang immigration, the promotion of cotton planting, relief, education, garrison and even the additional subsidies of Xinjiang officials were all paid by Yuan Qi, which is not wrong, but it is uncomfortable to hear.

Yi Zhizu nodded slightly: "The two of you have been on the train for more than ten days, and you are tired of thinking about it, so go to rest first, and tomorrow I will set up a banquet for the two of you to catch the wind and wash the dust." ”

Sending the two to the gate of the courtyard, Yi Zhizhi stood still, and Zhao Liewen watched Zuo Zongtang's slightly fat back leave, and then said softly: "The northwest continues to expand, and it will inevitably become the top priority, and the big shopkeeper ........" ”

Without waiting for him to finish speaking, Yi Zhixiang waved his hand and said, "It is precisely because the northwest is the top priority that Zuo Jigao is important." With that, he turned back to his study.

Zhao Liewen followed in, almost stubbornly said: "Zuo Jigao was able to give the governor of Xinjiang, not only the promotion and reuse of the big treasurer, but also the exceptional promotion of the imperial court, although there is a talent of warp and weft, but it is impossible to guard against it, and besides, the loyalty of the Northwest Army is not as good as the navy, and the imperial court has also installed many Manchu and Mongolian officials ......in Xinjiang. ”

The meaning of this provocation is extremely heavy, Zhao Liewen plucked up the courage to say it, the Northwest Army is actually composed of four parts, one is the Marine Corps, the foundation is the Huadi battalion trained by the Yuanqi regiment, the backbone of the army is the scholars of Guangdong, one is the Twist Army of Toucheng, and the other is recruited in the local area of the northwest, including Han Chinese, Uyghur people, Hui people and other ethnic groups.

Finally, the superintendent controlled by Zuo Zongtang was actually separated from the Northwest Army, and it was mixed with many Eight Banners Green Battalion stationed in Xinjiang, with a strength of up to 20,000 people, which had far exceeded the number of superintendents. Of course, this is to get the nod of contentment and permission, and it is out of practical necessity.

Yi Zhishu glanced at him, the Northwest Army is indeed very complex, and in terms of loyalty, it is naturally incomparable to the Navy, but Feng Renxuan is a good commander of the army, and he has a very high prestige in the Northwest Army, and he governs all the generals under his command obediently, and he has always carried out his orders to the letter.

After lighting a cigarette, he slowly spoke: "A telegram, the two of them rushed to Shanghai by car, is it not enough to explain the problem?" ”

"That's because the power isn't big enough." Zhao Liewen said in a deep voice, paused, and continued: "This northwest expansion is a rare opportunity. ”

Yi Zhishu nodded and said: "At present, there is no war in the southeast, and the continuous expansion of the northwest is the top priority. ”

"It turns out that the big shopkeeper has already made arrangements." Zhao Liewen secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The garden arranged for Zuo Zongtang and Feng Renxuan was near the Zhennan Palace, Feng Renxuan just squinted, and after dinner, he went out of the garden alone to visit the Zhennan Mansion under the pretext of watching the night view, he was very aware of his current situation, if Zuo Zongtang could be left and right between the court and Yuanqi, he could only hang himself on the tree of Yuanqi, and there was no other choice.

Over the years, the court has been wooing and lobbying him, but he doesn't dare to have any dissent, because he knows very well that he can't pull away the Northwest Army, and the Northwest Army is not something that the court can afford, and over the years, he can be regarded as having seen clearly, Yi Zhizhi has no intention of rebellion and self-reliance, besides, what the court can give, Yi Zhicontentment can give, what the court can't give, Yi Zhicontent can also give, he can't betray the Lord.

However, the northwest is too far away from Shanghai, he has led the army in the northwest for too long, and the Northwest Army is not easy to be content, even if Yi Zhixin trusts him, he also has to be careful, the Northwest Army is second only to the existence of the navy in Yuanqi, and there are 80,000 people under his direct command, it is inevitable that there will be rumors, and the imperial court may also sow discord.

Coming to meet him at night, this is not only a matter of attitude, he also knows that Yi Zhixiang needs to have a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of the situation in the northwest, although the northwest has already opened a cable telegraph, but many things can not be clearly said by telegram or letter, and many words can not be said in telegram or letter.

Yi Zhixiang also seemed to have expected Feng Renxuan to come to visit him in the evening, and stayed in Changle Book House after dinner, and when he heard the report, he directly ordered: "Please let him in." ”

Walking into the study, Feng Renxuan bowed slightly and said respectfully, "Headmaster——。 He liked to call Principal Yi Zhicontent, a title that not only brought them closer to each other, but also because only very close officers in the army could be called so, and he didn't change his mind until he led the troops to the northwest, which actually meant trust in him.

"Ji Rong doesn't need to be formal, sit." Yi Zhizhi stretched out his hand with a smile on his face to give up his seat, and then said kindly: "I haven't been home for more than ten years, this time it's rare to come back, I should also take the time to go home to see my parents, give you a few months off, spend the New Year at home this year, and then go back to the northwest after the beginning of spring." ”

It means that there are telegrams exchanged, and Feng Renxuan is very clear about the situation at home, but after more than ten years, he is indeed homesick, and he hurriedly bowed and said: "Principal Xie is compassionate." ”

"I'm ashamed of you." Yi Zhishu said slowly: "When the Northwest Railway is opened, the officers and soldiers in the Northwest will be given the opportunity to go home to visit their relatives once in three years, and the guards will be changed every six years. ”

A change of guard every six years? Feng Renxuan didn't dare to think about it, and hurriedly said: "As soon as some systems are announced, the officers and soldiers in the northwest will inevitably be overjoyed. ”

Yi Zhishu said with a smile: "I heard that you gave birth to a big fat boy, but you brought it back?" ”

Hearing this, Feng Renxuan was a little uncomfortable, and said in a low voice: "Please also forgive the principal, the woman the student married in the northwest is the daughter of Andijan Burke....... ”

Although Feng Renxuan did not report this matter, he didn't know the truth of Yi Zhicontent, and he didn't take it seriously at all, even if he chuckled: "Don't say that you just marry a Burke daughter, Ji Rong is to marry a princess of the Khanate, and it is no problem, the officers and soldiers of the Northwest must be encouraged if they are willing to marry in the Northwest, which is conducive to national integration and stability in the Northwest, and Ji Rong, as the commander of the Northwest Army, can be regarded as leading by example." ”

The senior general of the Northwest Army married a noble woman of the Northwest tribe, this matter should be placed in the imperial court, it is definitely a taboo thing, especially the Northwest Army has been stationed in the northwest for many years, it is even more taboo, Feng Renxuan did not take the initiative to report this matter, it is out of this worry, worried that Yi Zhizhi will not allow it.

But he never expected that Yi Zhishu didn't care about it, and he still had an encouraging attitude, he put down a heart that he was hanging, and said happily: "Because of the delay in the war, there are many older officers and soldiers in the northwest who have not married, and there are many immigrants in the northwest over the years, but there are not many marriageable women. ”

"This incident is not only my negligence, but also the dereliction of duty of you, the commander of the Northwest Army." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "This matter should be reported as soon as possible, the Northwest Army is a new army, which is very different from the Eight Banners Green Battalion of the imperial court, and there is no need to follow the rules of the Eight Banners Green Battalion for many things." ”

"The headmaster is teaching." Feng Renxuan nodded hurriedly and said, how could he not understand this truth, but he had been leading the army for a long time, so he had to be cautious, especially in this regard, he was most afraid of being suspicious.

After a slight hesitation, Yi Zhizhi continued: "Since it is to encourage the army to marry with various ethnic groups in the northwest, we have to consider the issue of the families of the soldiers, Yuan Qi plans to build a series of factories in the northwest, and the families of the troops can be given priority, but this will have to wait until the railway opens."

Before that, we can consider the appropriate placement of them in the branch of Yuanqi Bank, the business name, the railway company, the western hospital, the clothing factory, the military reclamation farm, etc., as well as the school, which cannot wait until the time when the child enters school, and the ....... are planned in advance. ”

Feng Renxuan nodded and said: "It's still the principal's thoughtfulness, once these measures are implemented, the officers and soldiers of the Northwest will inevitably be favored by women of all ethnic groups in the Northwest." ”

"Only when you become a family can you settle down." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "These measures also have the meaning of encouraging the officers and soldiers of the northwest to take root in Xinjiang, and now Xinjiang, as a large rear, should not only be consolidated, but also developed as soon as possible, and the officers and soldiers will be transferred to other jobs on the spot, which is conducive to promoting the rapid development of Xinjiang and is even more conducive to consolidating Xinjiang." ”

Listening to the tone of this, it should be to encourage non-northwest officers and soldiers to take root in the northwest, it seems that the continuous expansion of the northwest will draw a large number of officers and soldiers from the southeast, Feng Renxuan didn't dare to think about it, and hurriedly said: "The principal is far-sighted and thinks about the long-term ........ ”

Yi Zhizu waved his hand and said: "Yuanqi has been in the northwest for more than ten years, in order to consolidate the northwest and greatly expand, and the only border trouble in the Qing Dynasty in the future is the northwest." ”

After a pause, he continued: "Xinjiang is already vast, and the newly annexed land is also vast, I plan to ask the imperial court to establish another province, which is called Anxi Province, the newly built Anxi, the military and political affairs are greater than the civil affairs, according to the regulations of Xinjiang, a governor will be set up, and Ji Rong should be the best candidate." ”

The new governor of Anxi Province? Feng Renxuan's face suddenly swollen red, he didn't think about building a new province in the northwest, but he has always positioned himself as a military general, Xinjiang changed to a province, and the candidate for governor Yi Zhizhi recommended Zuo Zongtang instead of him, he had already extinguished the idea of being the governor, I didn't want to, the new governor of Anxi Province, Yi Zhixin was considering him, and he was the best candidate!

Suppressing the ecstasy in his heart, he hurriedly got up and bowed: "The principal's grace is unforgettable!" Even if you are broken, you will never live up to the love of the principal! ”

"Sit." Yi Zhizu stretched out his hand and pressed it, and when he sat down, he took a sip of tea and then said slowly: "What is the current situation in the northwest?" ”

"In accordance with the order of the principal, the Northwest Army captured the four cities of Andijan, Margalang, Namgan and Kokand in one fell swoop, and killed the Kokand Khan Hudayar Khan in Kokand City, completely destroying the Kokand Khanate, and being intimidated by the might of the heavenly army, the surrounding khanates of all sizes were annexed." Feng Renxuan pondered and said: "However, in the opinion of the students, those khanates are only afraid of the aftermath of the fall of the Kokand Khanate, and they are not sincerely attached. ”

The main thing that has disturbed the northwest for a long time is the powerful Kokand Khanate, and the Kokand Khanate has close contacts with Russia, and it is based on these two points that Yi Zhizhi ordered the Northwest Army to send troops to conquer, not only to destroy this source of chaos, but also to establish power in Central Asia! It is also aimed at completely cutting off the possibility of Russia's involvement in Central Asia.

The Northwest Army's conquest of Kokand can be described as devastating, conquering the four cities of Kokand one after another, almost not even encountering decent resistance, in front of the new rear-loading guns of the Northwest Army, the cavalry that the Kokand Khanate was proud of was completely sent to death, and the four cities known as the fortified cities were no different from the paper paste. It was precisely because of the destruction of Kokand in World War I that the Northwest Army erected a great prestige, and the large and small khanates near and far were frightened to join them.

"It is not the best policy to divide troops and garrison them for a long time." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "Since ancient times, Central Asia has been the focus of competition between several great empires of the East and the West, and the history of Central Asia is a history of wars.

Therefore, the countries of Central Asia have also developed the habit of relying on the powerful countries, seeking survival in the cracks of the major powers, going against the grain, and seeing the wind and steering, as long as we maintain strong military strength and do not need to divide troops to garrison, it is enough to deter them. ”