Magistrate Li returned to the government office and was about to cross the threshold when suddenly a series of thunderous explosions came from the city wall. The sounds continued one after another, as if a divine beast was going through a calamity.
Magistrate Li was so frightened that he stumbled on the threshold and stumbled to the ground. The guards at the side quickly stepped forward to help him up.
"Quick... hurry up and invite Magistrate Liu!" Magistrate Li was so frightened that he stammered.
On the cruiser Suzhou, Dong Shuheng was admiring with interest the shocking scene of a salvo of naval guns firing at the city wall.
The Haihe River is less than a thousand meters away from the south wall of Tianjin City, which is exactly within the range of naval guns. Shooting at the city wall from this distance is like target shooting for the gunners of the Nanyang Navy.
"Dear Governor, why did you attack your own city?" Navy consultant David asked Dong Shuheng carefully. He already knew that the general had been promoted to the most powerful governor in the country. But when he saw Dong Shuheng ordered the attack on Tianjin
City, David wondered if this was the beginning of a new civil war in China.
"Oh, David, relax, it's just that there are rebels in this city. We are going north this time to help our government destroy the rebels." Dong Shuheng said seriously, as if what he said was the truth.
"David, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your contribution to the Nanyang Navy. I also admire your personal professionalism very much. If you are willing, I would like to hire you to our Navy after our contract expires.
Serve as the chief teacher of the school."
"Thank you, Mr. Governor, I am very happy." David said. He basically has no future in returning to the UK now. It is better to stay in the Huaihai Navy to earn more money, and then return to the UK to buy a manor for retirement.
After sending David away, Dong Shuheng could finally enjoy the roar of naval guns with peace of mind. The shells exploded on the city wall, like huge flowers competing to bloom. Except for those who were killed by the bombing, most of the Qing troops on the wall
Have escaped from the city wall.
They had never withstood this kind of violent artillery fire with explosions. This was different from the battle of the Taiping Army. The two sides fought together, causing casualties to each other.
The current situation is that they can only see artillery shells flying from all over the sky from a distance. The artillery on the city wall was destroyed immediately, and there is no way to fight back. In this case, except for escaping from the city wall, the Qing army
Nothing can be done.
The generals guarding Tianjin City have disappeared, and it is not known whether they were killed in the bombing.
"Commander Liu is almost here. We can't waste any more artillery shells. Just concentrate on blowing up the city gate. Arrange the infantry to start landing."
Liu Dahai still had some unfinished ideas, but he didn't know enough about food, rice, oil and salt before he became a rich man. Dong Shuheng knew how much money the navy spent on him. If so much money was invested in the army, he could support several divisions.
Army soldiers wearing yellow-green camouflage were transported by landing craft and slowly landed ashore.
Huai Haijun's camouflage is dyed by overdying. The fabric used is cotton blended with twine. The twine can enhance the strength of the fabric.
Of course, it is not as good as the military camouflage uniforms of later generations, or even the ones often worn by workers on construction sites in later generations. But its concealment and practicality are still much better than the mainstream military uniforms in Europe today.
Especially the British lobster uniform, which made the soldiers look like ballet dancers. Wearing such military uniforms, soldiers walked as slowly as penguins on the battlefield.
The infantry who landed first quickly occupied the city gate facing the Haihe River, and then cleaned up the remaining enemies on the city wall. At this time, the remaining Qing troops on the city wall were basically injured and had long lost their fighting spirit.
"President, are you ready to end this? If not, you may fall out with the Qing court." Liu Dahai asked worriedly.
"Don't be afraid, we are barefoot now, the Qing court is the one wearing shoes." Dong Shuheng said.
Including a regiment that Dong Shuheng later brought out, this time the Huaihai Navy had three infantry regiments and an artillery regiment, as well as a marine regiment, but one battalion of the marine regiment stayed at Dagukou to guard the fort.
In this way, the Huai navy and army together had nearly 10,000 men. These 10,000 men were densely packed in the open space between the city wall and the Haihe River.
Magistrate Li finally met Magistrate Liu with a pale face in the government office.
"Master Magistrate, what should we do? The Huai Navy's artillery is sharp. I heard from the soldiers who escaped that the Huai Navy has captured the city gate." Magistrate Liu asked first when he saw Magistrate Li.
As soon as Magistrate Li heard this, he knew that he had asked the wrong person for advice.
"In this way, we will find all the wealthy merchants and gentry in the city and ask for countermeasures." Magistrate Li said. When he rejected Huai Haijun, he did not think of asking the wealthy gentry and merchants next to him. Now that something happened, he thought of them.
"Where is General Sun Shen? Let him stop Huai Haijun quickly." Magistrate Li asked.
"Reporting to the magistrate, someone came just now to report that General Sun Shen has disappeared." A yamen servant reported.
Magistrate Li almost fell to the ground, what should he do? The government officials went to invite the gentry and wealthy businessmen, but the doors of every house were closed. At this time, no one wanted to mess around with the magistrate anymore.
"Tap-tat-tat..." The rapid sound of horse hooves sounded, and a cavalry company of Huai Haijun quickly surrounded the prefect's Yamen.
"Are you going to rebel?" Magistrate Li continued to shout, shouting at the Huai Navy soldiers who had blocked the magistrate's office.
However, he was the only one shouting at this time. The government officials had already fled away when they saw so many fierce soldiers surrounding the magistrate's office. Magistrate Liu hid aside and shivered, not daring to make a sound.
No one said anything, and two soldiers ran forward, tied up the prefect, and gagged his mouth.
Like most people, Liu Jinwen stayed behind closed doors when he returned home. He was thinking about what he should do. But his long-standing fear of the court and the government made him hesitant.
It wasn't until the cannons outside the city fired that he finally made up his mind to choose a side. The Qing court? Of course not. Those civil servants in the court would only use themselves, but they would not think highly of themselves. After using themselves, they would definitely abandon them.
It's like worn out shoes.
So he could only choose Dong Shuheng. For some reason Liu Jinwen vaguely felt that Dong Shuheng was on the warship outside the city.
If it was just a subordinate of Huai Haijun, how could he order the firing of the cannon so decisively? The words were just finished here, and the shells were fired so quickly on the other side, indicating that it must be Huai Haijun and the person involved was on the ship.
It is self-evident who this person is.
"Hurry and prepare a sedan chair to take me to the city. In addition, notify the wealthy merchants and gentry to follow me outside the city to greet Huai Haijun." Liu Jinwen ordered a steward.
Liu Jinwen didn't know that Dong Shuheng only let people occupy the prefect's Yamen instead of directly leading the army into the city, because he was waiting for him.
Dong Shuheng did not want Huai Haijun to enter Tianjin City as an occupier, but wanted to enter as a savior.
Tianjin City is an important commercial center in the north, where a large number of wealthy businessmen live. Dong Shuheng does not need their money, and of course Dong Shuheng will not refuse their offer.
What Dong Shuheng values most is the connections of these people and the business network they control. The connections mentioned here are not connections with local officials, but connections with the power of local subordinates.
Dong Shuheng remembered that someone said in the late Qing Dynasty: "Since the Han and Tang Dynasties... the Western Han Dynasty shared the world with the prime ministers and relatives, the Eastern Han Dynasty shared the world with the eunuchs and celebrities, the Tang Dynasty shared the world with the concubines and feudal towns, the Northern Song Dynasty shared the world with the treacherous ministers, and the Southern Song Dynasty shared the world with foreign countries.
In the Yuan Dynasty, they shared the world with traitorous ministers and monks; in the Ming Dynasty, they shared the world with prime ministers and eunuchs; in the Qing Dynasty, they shared the world with subordinate officials."
In the Qing Dynasty, the power of subordinate officials was deep-rooted in local affairs. Many local officials were ousted by subordinate officials' staff. It should be said that these people were the real people in power in local states and counties.
But it cannot be said that the subordinate staff are bad. There are many capable people among them. The reason why there are many criticisms of subordinate staff in history is because history is recorded by officials. In addition, the treatment of subordinate staff is very low, so it is inevitable that they will use
There are some ways to make money, but the fundamental reason is that their treatment is not guaranteed.
The military government of the Huaihai Navy recruited a large number of subordinate staff and transformed them, so that the military government of the Huaihai Navy operates efficiently. The way the military government of the Huaihai Navy transformed them was to use training and treatment.
Zeng Xianfeng himself is an old staff member, so he knows these people very well and knows their psychological needs.
Therefore, the military government of the Huaihai Navy gives them a salary package that is comparable to that of officials. It is smoother than officials and has a more predictable upward path. As the Huaihai Navy expands, the upward path for these people will be higher.
At the same time, Huai Haijun gave them the most important thing - respect. Under Huai Haijun's rule, they were military government officials. Even military government officials in a township were the same officials. They were also included in the internal hierarchy of Huai Haijun government and were no longer
He is a petty official who is lower than the county magistrate and will never join the mainstream.
This allowed these people to unleash all their governance abilities after entering the Huaihai Navy. In addition, the Huaihai Navy has a relatively fair assessment system and a strict supervision and review system. The military government of the Huaihai Navy is, at least for now, an incorruptible one.
, efficient, proactive government.
Dong Shuheng met Liu Jinwen on the cruiser Suzhou. He was a middle-aged businessman who looked very ordinary. He was wearing a long cotton coat and a brocade robe. He was not tall and had an air of loyalty between his brows.
"Common man Liu Jinwen, please see the Governor!" Liu Jinwen looked very respectful and recognized Dong Shuheng at a glance.
"Oh, please get up quickly, Mr. Liu, how do you recognize me?" Dong Shuheng asked with a smile.
"My lord, you are like a dragon or a phoenix among men, and your heroic spirit is revealed. Even though ordinary people have poor eyesight, they can still recognize you."
"You are very good at talking. How many businessmen can't talk?"
"Executive member Liu, why are you here to see me?" Dong Shuheng asked.
"The grassroots people represent the gentry and merchants in the city and come to welcome you to lead the army into the city." This was Liu Jinwen's letter of surrender, which allowed Huai Haijun to be accepted by the gentry and people of Tianjin.
"Can you represent the gentry and businessmen in Tianjin?" Dong Shuheng stared at Liu Jinwen and asked seriously.
"The common people are not talented, but they still have some prestige among the gentry and merchants in Tianjin." Liu Jinwen was showing his value to Dong Shuheng.
"Well, Liu Yuanwai is a cheerful person, but to be honest, I, Huai Haijun, are just passing through Tianjin. Liu Yuanwai, you stand up first to welcome our Huai Haijun, aren't you afraid that the court will hold you responsible afterwards?"
"Liu Jinwen is willing to follow you, sir, and will never regret it." Liu Jinwen bowed deeply.
Liu Jinwen is making another gamble in his life. If he wins, he may become famous, but if he loses, his family may be ruined.
Most successful businessmen are out-and-out gamblers. But they do not gamble blindly. They make their own analysis and judgments based on various conditions.
Now Liu Jinwen is comparing Dong Shuheng and the Qing court. One is small but prosperous and full of vitality, while the other is large and increasingly bloated and lifeless.
He also knew something about the Qing government's actions against the Huaihai Company this time. Anyone with a little bit of intelligence could guess that this was a retaliation against the Huaihai Navy.
Considering the Taiping Army's previous robbery of Huaihai Company's supplies, he was probably able to clarify this matter. Combined with Dong Shuheng's sudden promotion to governor, it is not difficult to guess that the imperial court lost this time, which means that the Huaihai Navy returned the favor with a small bounty.
Won.
This was a turning point for the Huaihai Navy, which was growing day by day, a turning point that surpassed the Qing court.