"The front line reported that the alliance of all tribes went north along the Selenge River to clear many bazaars on the south bank of the Beihai Sea, but it was only the first important town in Beihai that was surrounded for a long time, Ulan-Ude, which was built by the Russians with frozen soil and rocks for more than ten years, and could not be easily conquered."

"Can't conquer it?" Emperor Tongzhi said indifferently, "It has only been more than a month since the Ministry of Mongolia left, and it has already achieved such results, which is not easy, and you can't be too demanding of anything else." ”

Prince Gong disagreed, "Your Majesty, if only the Mongolian tribes come out, we don't care about anything, just disrupting the deployment of the Russians is enough, but Yang Yuebin led the general troops of Kobdo and Wulianghai to the north one after another, ten days ago, the people who went north from the twelve towns have also joined the large army, and Boyan Nemohu pressed the formation in Kulun, and the continuous supplies on the official road were transported to the north, such a big formation, although on the surface it seems that it is not as good as Zuo Zongtang in Xinjiang to go out in person, But it's almost all on the inside. Prince Gong said, "Now the progress is a little slower, if it is delayed any longer, it will make the Russians see a joke, thinking that China has no strong troops." ”

"It's just a joke, the most important thing is that it's already May, the northern Xinjiang is already in autumn, and it is already autumn at the end of August, and the autumn is already cold, not to mention the winter land, all the Mongolian tribes have to go south to winter, not to mention the general soldiers who are not good at the cold, sooner or later at the end of August, we must capture all the land south of the North Sea, and destroy all the Russian military facilities, so as to avoid the Russians from coming back next year."

The emperor nodded, "In terms of military performance, the situation in northwest Xinjiang is better than that in the north, why is this, could it be that the elite of the Russians are here?" ”

Cézanne hesitated. He looked a little annoyed, "The person sent by the Imperial Court reported that because of the frequent transactions with Russia, many people from many tribes were close to the Russians, and they did not take the orders of the imperial court seriously, and some even disobeyed the yin. The emperor's eyebrows rose, and Cezanne hurriedly said, "The Imperial Court has issued an order to remove these titles that he wants, or to reduce the pastures and distribute them to other tribes as punishment. ”

"There has been no war for many years, and the north is indeed quite closely connected with the Russians," said Prince Gong, "and Siberia is very remote. Unlike Turkestan Governor's Palace, which has to fight on three sides, he can drive all his troops out of the North Sea and fight with China, so he can hold Ulan-Ude. ”

"So what's next?"

"It is still mainly to sweep all places and clear military installations," said Prince Gong, "and the general army of Wulianghai is going north from his own jurisdiction. The destination is the city of Erkou, which faces Ulan-Ude across the North Sea. It is also very important, when the time comes, the encirclement point to send reinforcements, Hu, or flowers on both sides, can take advantage of the situation, and let the troops attack freely. After the acquired pasture has been registered, all the meadows are owned by each department. ”

"What is the attitude of the Russians?" The emperor asked, and he laughed as he spoke, "Just like us, the court doesn't speak." Do the people under it do it themselves? ”

Speaking of which, the military dispute between China and Russia in the thirteenth year of Tongzhi is very paradoxical, not only did the Qing Dynasty not declare war, but also Russia, it seems that the Russian-Turkish war occupied most of the time of the heroic tsar, and the serf riots that became peasants one after another in the country made him have no time to look eastward, only the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister Yamen kept fighting, and the exchanges between the two countries continued, and even the ambassadors of the two countries were still on errand in the Chinese and Russian embassies, and were not expelled, which had to make Prince Gong feel very lucky, I have never seen the Russians swallow their anger so much. However, he also knows that such luck is not always available, and he must hurry.

"Weichen thinks that he should quickly issue an order and order the general troops of each town to attack immediately, not to occupy many cities, but to eliminate the Russians' forces in this place, so as to lay a good foundation for the Mongolian tribes to gradually encroach on the land of Beihai in the future, so it is not appropriate to delay for a long time, we are going to other countries, there is no example in more than 100 years, and the experience is not enough, now the army is a little stronger, if there is a setback, I am afraid that this morale will go down quickly."

"Okay, send it by telegram, it's May now, and I'll work hard for a few more months, and I'll return to Beijing when it's cool in autumn, but before that, I can't see a single Russian around Beihai," Emperor Tongzhi said with a smile, "Except for Beihai, all the grassland and land will be given to the various departments that contribute together, and it will be regarded as their reward." ”

"Yes."

"There are also the merits of the Great Lama of Chenghua Temple and the White Lotus Sect, and they should also be rewarded." The emperor decreed, "The Ministry of War said that the commander-in-chief of each town should send the elites of all provinces and towns to Mobei to observe, and it was also approved, and no more than 500 soldiers could be brought there." ”

"Huh." ……

"Yes, I'm going to Beihai!" The Empress Dowager Cixi heard Gui Xiang's inquiry, and couldn't help laughing, Gui Xiang stood on the ground with his hands hanging down in embarrassment, and the Empress Dowager Cixi laughed for a while, and then stopped laughing, "The Son of Heaven is rich all over the world, and I am the mother of the Son of Heaven, and it is nothing to ask for a Beihai." ”

Gui Xiang said with a smile, "The Queen Mother is joking, it's okay to joke with her brothers, but the people outside sound like they think that the Queen Mother is going to raise troops." ”

"You asked me this yourself? Or is it someone else? The Queen Mother took a sip of tea and glanced at Gui Xiang.

"The Empress Dowager is wise," Gui Xiang said with a smile, "It's not that it's anyone else, it's just that the martial arts of a few Eight Banners are quite good, and I have learned a lot in the martial arts hall, and I think about it, thinking that if the center has an opinion, it is to fight with the Russians, then apply to go to the north to earn some military merits." If it's just a drizzle in the place, then it won't move. ”

"This matter is naturally the decision of the center," the Queen Mother pondered, "Why did someone say drizzle?" ”

"Isn't this a declaration of war?" Gui Xiang said with a smile, "In the past, when we fought against Britain and France, we issued an edict, and this is known to the whole country. ”

The Queen Mother played with Qianlong's pastel and blue painted red longevity without borders, thoughtfully, "That's right." The teacher is unknown, but speaking of which, I don't know how these people can spread it, saying that I want lion oil from the North Sea...... If you are for something, the prawns and fatty fish in the North Sea are worth it. ”

"Is that also the emperor's filial piety, for the sake of the queen mother, he raised troops to the north and begged for Beihai lion oil, which is also a good story." Gui Xiang said with a smile, "Although it is a rumor, but the newspaper says it clearly, the importance of this place near the left side of the North Sea, everyone must know the deep meaning here, a little rumor, harmless, but there is no need to linger." (To be continued.) )