After listening to Zheng Jian's report, everyone gasped.
I have to say that this move of the Qing court was very poisonous.
When Dong Shuheng first received the news, he felt that this response was very generous.
"Humph, it's just a little trick left over from the previous generations." Dong Shuheng snorted coldly.
"President, although these are some unflattering little tricks, our main force is now in Zhejiang and Fujian to stabilize the place. Hunan and Guangdong are adjacent to our Huaihai Navy, so we have to be on guard." Yan Shikun said worriedly.
"Yes, President, my subordinates also feel that they cannot be careless. Zeng Guofan is not an easy person to deal with. Ye Mingchen, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, is also a loyal dog of the court." Zeng Xianfeng also reminded.
"Well, Lao Yan, you may have to work overtime."
"Zheng Jian, go back and compile a report on the military strength in Guangdong and Hunan and send it to the General Staff." Dong Shuheng turned to Zheng Jian and ordered.
The Ministry of Intelligence has spies in each province, and the Huai Navy has always been in control of the deployment of troops in each province under the control of the Qing court.
"Yes, President."
"Old Yan, thank you for your hard work in arranging the defense work. I will ask Yang Bingkun to return to Jiangxi first to take charge of the defense work. There should be no problem with Gu Keli taking charge of the defense in Fujian." Dong Shuheng told Yan Shikun.
At least within a month, he will not be prepared or able to use force again.
The Huai Navy will temporarily shift to the defensive stage.
"Yes, President, our defense force is originally the largest in Jiangxi. If we don't attack the two provinces, the defense should be more than enough." Yan Shikun said.
"Zheng Jian, is there any reaction from Hunan and Guangdong?" Dong Shuheng asked.
…
Wuhan is located at the confluence of the Yangtze River and the Han River, including Wuchang, Hanyang and Hankou, forming the three towns of Wuhan.
This place has been a transportation hub between the coast and the southwest inland since ancient times, and commerce and trade is very developed.
Wuchang City is located on the east bank of the Yangtze River and is the largest of the three towns.
Facing the river on its west side, there are Hanyang Gate, Pinghu Gate and Wenchang Gate, and Wusheng Gate on the north side faces Shahu Lake.
On the east side are Zhongxiao Gate, Binyang Gate and Tongxiang Gate.
To the south are Zhonghe Gate, Baoan Gate and Wangshan Gate.
There is Snake Mountain running east to west in the city.
The Hubei Governor's Yamen is located at the southern foot of Snake Mountain.
Now it is the political center of Hubei.
Since taking office, Zuo Zongtang has created the Hubei Army. He has placed his cronies extensively in Hubei and has basically controlled the military and political power in Hubei.
Zuo Zongtang naturally cannot do this by relying on his own strength.
But he has the Huaihai Navy as foreign aid and is connected by the Yangtze River waterway.
Various materials from the Huaihai Navy were continuously transported to Wuchang. Of course, Zuo Zongtang also paid, but only part of it was paid each time.
With soldiers and food in hand, Zuo Zongtang was naturally confident.
Zuo Zongtang, who had just turned forty, was at the peak of his youth and energy.
In the governor's office, Zuo Zongtang held a secret document from the imperial court in his hand, half-squinting his eyes and pondering it carefully.
Zhu Mingliang stood beside Zuo Zongtang. Zuo Zongtang tilted the secret fold slightly so that Zhu Mingliang could see clearly.
"Ji Gao, it seems we can't hide it anymore." Zhu Mingliang couldn't help but said.
"Huh, if you can't contain it, you can't contain it. It's too late for the imperial court to control the Huai Navy at this time. Let's develop ourselves first. This guy Dong Shuheng has given our Hubei army a hard bone."
"That guy gave me a timetable last time."
"What timetable is it?" Zhu Mingliang asked curiously.
"Timetable for the destruction of the Qing Dynasty." Zuo Zongtang said loudly.
Zhu Mingliang showed a surprised expression.
Just two years after starting the business, he was ready to destroy the Qing Dynasty.
This Dong Shuheng is so courageous.
"Haha, Maoxun, do you think this guy is arrogant?"
Maoxun is the nickname of Zhu Mingliang, a good friend of Zuo Zongtang and a core member of the Hebei Renaissance Association.
"This is indeed a bit faster. Dong Shuheng's rise took less than two years. I think Hong Xiuquan prepared for ten years to start the uprising, but it failed in the end." Zhu Mingliang said.
"Haha, that was also a defeat at the hands of Dong Shuheng, not the imperial court."
"There are some things you don't know about Maoxun. The court may have misunderstood. Maybe we can enter the capital next year."
"What about the court's order?" Zhu Mingliang asked.
"What the hell, what we need to do now is to expand the army. We will send people to Jiangning later and tell Dong Shuheng to repair the telegraph line quickly. Our Hubei army will expand by 50,000 troops and provide us with equipment and other supplies."
"I don't want flintlock guns this time. I want the equipment of the Huaihai Navy's regular army. I want to go to Xinjiang and let me use this kind of junk. Then I will fight with Mao Zi on what I can do."
Zuo Zongtang lost his temper without thinking.
Zhu Mingliang knew that Zuo Jigao had a bad temper, but he seemed to be talking nonsense today. He was obviously in Hubei, so why did it involve Xinjiang?
Lotus Leaf Pond in Xiangxiang, Changsha, Hunan. Zeng Guofan has lived here since Ding You.
He reads and writes every day and lives a very leisurely life.
Only Zeng Guoquan, who served in the Hunan Army, knew that his eldest brother had always been thinking about the outside world.
Every time Zeng Guoquan came back from outside, his eldest brother would ask about the situation outside.
The Zeng family's house was extremely lively today.
It turned out that a group of confidants who followed Zeng Guofan gathered here, most of them served in the Hunan Army.
"Congratulations, sir, the court has finally appointed you." All the confidants stood up and congratulated.
Zeng Guofan finally got the position of governor of Hunan that he had always wanted.
But Zeng Guofan couldn't be happy at all.
Because the court had another appointment behind the appointment document.
Oh, the governor-general of the two provinces sounds more majestic than the governor, but Zeng Guofan would rather not have it.
"Lao Jiu, you have been to Yangzhou, do you know the combat power of the Huai Navy?"
"Uh...brother, you have stopped me in my tracks. I only know that Huai Haijun's weapons are really good."
"Look at the flintlock guns we bought. They are many times better than the weapons of the imperial court."
Zeng Guofan knew that his younger brother was good at fighting, but in other aspects he was just like a fool.
I guess he has tendons in his brain.
Let's go to Luo Bingzhang first and hand over the affairs in Hunan.
Zeng Guofan thought in his mind that the imperial court asked him to attack the Huai Navy.
Zeng Guofan felt that the imperial court must have ordered this matter from him alone.
Let’s see what others do?
Zeng Guofan is no longer a junior brother who just entered the officialdom. Nor is he the kind of stupid young man who helps others in the center when he gets a little praise.
"Meng Rong, you go to Guangzhou, take my post to see Ye Mingchen, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, and say that I will attack the Huaihai Navy with him. See what he says, and if possible, see if you can buy foreign guns from him
Foreign artillery?"
"There are many foreign merchants in Guangzhou, so Governor Ye must have connections there."
"Brother, don't we buy the weapons from Huaihai Navy?"
Zeng Guofan glanced at his silly little brother, sighed and said nothing.
Guangzhou City is located on the north bank of the Pearl River and forms an irregular circle.
It reaches Guanyin Mountain in the north and the Pearl River in the south. There are twelve gates in the outer city and four inner city gates.
Outside the bamboo fence gate in the southwest corner of the city is the famous Thirteen Lines. This is also where Guangzhou's foreign merchants live.
Guangzhou began as an important city in the Qin Dynasty and has since been the political center of Lingnan. It is now the governor-general of Guangdong and Guangxi, the governor of Guangdong and the seat of Panyu and Nanhai counties.
The Governor-General's Palace of Guangdong and Guangxi is located in the north of Guangzhou City, at the southern foot of Guanyin Mountain. It is not together with the General's Palace, the Governor's Yamen and the Magistrate's Yamen.
However, this governor's office occupies a very large area and has beautiful scenery.
Today, six or seven round stools were placed in Ye Mingchen's study, and soon all the guests arrived.
These are all Ye Mingchen's confidants.
The chief envoy Wu Jianzhang was prominently among them.
Ye Mingchen passed the secret decree in his hand to the confidants sitting below.
Everyone took a breath after watching it.
After so many days, the news of the Huai Navy's invasion of Zhejiang and Fujian has already reached Guangzhou.
Even though the Huai Navy has blocked the creek on the road, there are still many sea ships going north and south from Guangzhou every day.
The Huai Navy cannot block all the seas.
"Master Wu, you know the Huai Navy best. What do you think of the Huai Navy's invasion of Zhejiang and Fujian?"
"Back to the Governor, I believe that the Huai Navy has really rebelled. Although they have made various excuses, the occupation of Zhejiang and Fujian is a fact of rebellion." Wu Jianzhang said.
"Then Mr. Wu thinks why the Huai Navy did not take advantage of the victory to march to Guangdong?" The Huai Navy occupied Zhejiang and Fujian so quickly.
But it stopped in Guangdong, which is strange.
When most people rebel, they try to occupy as much territory as possible.
Wu Jianzhang pondered his thoughts and said: "I believe that the Huai Navy seems to be beyond its capabilities."
"You mean the Huai Navy doesn't have enough troops?"
"Exactly, your Excellency, you should know that the Huai Navy has just sent eight thousand troops to help Britain and France fight the Russians. I think they must have made some kind of deal with the foreigners. That's why they dared to invade Zhejiang and Fujian."
"They sent so many troops out, which will inevitably affect their total strength. Therefore, after they conquer Fujian, they will be unable to follow up."
"The lower official feels that their troops in Jiangxi must be empty at this time."
"Well..." Ye Mingchen stroked his beard and nodded.
"Master Wu, do you think we should attack the Huaihai Navy according to the imperial court's wishes now?"
Ye Mingchen also felt a little embarrassed. He had learned about the Huaihai Navy's occupation of Fujian before and quickly divided the Zhenxin Army in his hands into two parts.
Some were sent to Chaozhou, and some were sent to Shaozhou to prevent the Huai Navy from going south.
There is also a town in Guangdong where the New Army is confronting the Taiping Army in Guangxi.
Now Ye Mingchen can only defend, and also has no ability to launch an attack.
"Sir, now is indeed the best time to attack the Huaihai Navy, but we seem to be unable to do it!"
"Alas..." Ye Mingchen took a deep breath.
"Master Wu, I have decided to build a new army in this town."
"This... Governor, we have no money in Guangdong. Unless..." Wu Jianzhang hesitated.
"Master Wu, if you have any ideas, just tell me. This is the Governor's study, we are just chatting."
"Governor, unless you can borrow money from foreigners."
"Lending money, how could this foreigner lend us money?"
Naturally, foreigners would not lend them money in vain, they would definitely want benefits.
"How specific is it? You will have to go down and talk to the foreigners before you know." Wu Jianzhang said.
He already had a plan in mind. He learned from businessmen traveling to Ryukyu and Japan that the Americans seemed to be at odds with the Huai Navy.
It seems like you can start from here.
Guilin, Guangxi, which is now the provincial capital of Guangxi, is famous for commerce and trade, not tourism.
Lingqu, also known as Qin Zhuqu, Lingqu, Douhe, Xing'an Canal, and Xianggui Canal in ancient times, is a great project created by the working people of ancient China.
It is located in Guilin Prefecture, Guangxi, and was built and opened to navigation in 214 BC.
The Ling Canal flows from east to west, connecting the Haiyang River in the east of Xing'an County, Guilin Prefecture (the source of the Xiang River, flowing from south to north) and the Darong River in the west of Xing'an County (the source of the Li River, flowing from north to south).
Therefore, Guilin is an important waterway for Guangxi to communicate with the outside world.
This is the most convenient of all passages. You must know that at this time, Guangxi had no railways or roads connecting it to the outside world.
That’s why Guilin became the provincial capital and the richest prefecture in Guangxi.
After Shi Dakai occupied this place, he focused all his energy on military expansion and preparation for war.
Having just repelled the Hunan Army's attack, Shi Dakai was about to continue his southern expedition, but Guangdong's new army had already arrived in Wuzhou.
Although the Guangdong New Army has just formed an army, its equipment is not comparable to that of the Taiping Army.
The French rifle it is equipped with has an extremely long range, almost the same as that of the Huaihai Navy.
Shi Dakai sent people to attack several times but returned with great defeat. So much so that Shi Dakai even suspected that the Huai Navy had sold equipment to the new army in Guangdong.
But whether it makes sense or not, Huai Haijun seems to have no good impression of the Qing army.
Later, Shi Dakai tried every means to capture prisoners of the Guangdong New Army, only to learn that the Guangdong New Army was trained with the help of foreigners and used foreign equipment.
Shi Dakai could only retreat into Guilin to guard the main road in the mountain.
Fortunately, the terrain in Guangxi prevents the power of rifled rifles from being fully unleashed.
The New Army in Guangdong was not in a hurry to attack after repelling the Taiping Army.
Shi Dakai still has time to lick his wounds in Guilin City.
Shi Dakai lived a very frugal life. After arriving in Guilin, except for a concubine, he had no other women in his house. He lived in the backyard of the former governor's Yamen.
The front yard of the yamen was used for working. Most of the time, Shi Dakai stayed in the study in the front yard.
Although Shi Dakai came from a rough background, he was extremely eager to learn. He became Queen Yi and looked for someone to teach him how to read and write.
Now he spends most of his free time reading by himself.
"Holy King, there is important news!"
Shi Dakai has been elected as the "Saint King of Taiping", and his subordinates generally call him "Saint King".
The person who came in to report was a middle-aged scribe. This person had been working under Shi Dakai for many years and had been helping Shi Dakai collect and organize information.
"Wen Qing, why are you so anxious?"
"Holy King, this is a good thing!" The scribe named Zuo Wenqing handed the information in his hand to Shi Dakai and said, "The Huai Navy has rebelled and has captured Zhejiang and Fujian."
"When has everything been captured? How did we know?" Shi Da happily wondered.
Wen Qing made it clear that it had already been captured, so the war between the two sides must have happened a few months ago.
The speed at which my subordinates collect information is too slow!
"His Royal Highness the Holy King, according to the news, the Huai Navy captured the two provinces in half a month. Moreover, the Huai Navy newspaper we bought from the caravan also said that it was completely occupied in half a month. It doesn't seem to be the case.
How many battles broke out."
After hearing Wen Qing's words, Shi Da's jaw dropped in shock.
Fifteen days? That’s almost as fast as the road team moved in. Are there no Qing troops stationed in Zhejiang and Fujian?
Why wasn't it so easy for the Taiping Army to attack the city?
It’s so irritating that people are so different from each other!
But this is indeed a good thing. Now the Qing army should not care about themselves anymore.
The Huaihai Navy occupied the five richest provinces in the Qing Dynasty.
Good news is good news. Why does Shi Dakai feel a little sour in his heart?
ps: It’s more than 4,000 words again. I will try my best to write larger chapters in the future, so that at least the average number can be more readable.