Dong Shuheng led the guard group all the way north along the passage on the east side of Taihang Mountain.
We came to Jingxing again and entered the Taihang Mountains from here.
It was already the end of March in the lunar calendar. The snow on the mountains had already melted, and the melted snow water flowed into the river through the mountain streams.
At this time, the water in the Tao River surged and was no longer as docile as when Dong Shuheng came last time.
This river, which has no name in China, showed Dong Shuheng an indomitable momentum at this time.
"President, this river has become so big now. When we came here a few years ago, it looked like a creek." Pan Qiliang said at the side.
"Yes, the Taihang Mountains are not hibernating in winter, but are accumulating strength. Now it's time to release this power."
"Yuxiang, is there any latest news today?"
Wei Yuxiang had just gone to hand over the information to the confidential correspondent, so Dong Shuheng asked him this.
"Oh, President, my subordinates are about to report to you." Wei Yuxiang said quickly.
"I have some important news. Let me report it to you first. The first one is that the siege of Yangcheng in eastern Guangdong has been relieved. Fortunately, the fleet arrived in time. It is said that the Americans are preparing to intervene with arms."
After hearing this, Dong Shuheng's face suddenly turned cold.
"Hmph, these American elders, let them live freely for a few days, sooner or later they will be punished." Dong Shuheng snorted coldly.
"However, they backed down in the end. The report said that the two sides were already facing each other at that time," Wei Yuxiang added.
"The Nanyang Navy did a good job and did not embarrass the Renaissance Army." Dong Shuheng nodded.
"The Southern Route Army in the hands of Commander Yang has broken through the defense line in northeastern Guangdong. There are no decent Qing troops behind. The next step is to encircle and suppress Wu Jianzhang's troops outside Yangcheng."
"The second thing was sent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The British, French and American joint forces issued a note, asking the Nanyang Yamen to explain the current war in the Qing Dynasty and expressing their position of serious concern."
Dong Shuheng had already been mentally prepared for this. He knew very well that the great powers would not just watch the Renaissance Army destroy the Qing Dynasty.
But now they can only express their concern. Soon the rice will be cooked, and they will have to eat it even if they don't want to eat it.
"Call the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and tell Britain, France and the United States that I am not in Jiangning at the moment. I will explain to them in person when I come back. Stabilize the other party first."
"The third thing is that the reception work in Xianghu is almost over, and Commander Peng is preparing to continue the attack to the southwest. He wants to ask the president how to deal with the Taiping Army in western Guangdong."
Dong Shuheng's attitude toward the Taiping Army, especially the current Holy King, was indeed somewhat unclear before.
It's no wonder that Peng Yulin doesn't know how to deal with it.
Peng Yulin's report stated that he was preparing to march to Guizhou and western Guangdong at the same time.
Several prefectures in Guizhou have been occupied by the Renaissance Army. There are three points in the flower planting plan: one in Yun Province, one in Qianzhou, and one in southern Sichuan.
These three points have started to take action in advance. The Longkaiyun tribe in Yun Province has developed the best and has occupied the four prefectures in the southwest of Yun Province. However, it has not broken through Kunming's defense line, and now it has formed a confrontation with the Qing army.
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These three independent columns still lacked heavy firepower. At the beginning, the offensive was fast and fierce, but it was weak in the later stage. After the local officials reacted and deployed heavy troops in important city passes, it was difficult for them to break through.
However, they attracted a large number of enemy troops, creating conditions for the main force to quickly recover the area after entering.
As for the Taiping Army, Dong Shuheng originally asked Wen Qing to send a letter to the Holy King.
I don’t know if Saint King Shi Dakai can listen to it.
In this letter, Dong Shuheng persuaded Shi to go to Nanzhang or Myanmar to develop, and he also gave Shi a map.
It focuses on describing the richness of the lower reaches of the Ganges River.
He made an agreement with Shi Dakai that if the Renaissance Army reached western Guangdong, Shi Dakai could choose to go south or have a showdown with the Renaissance Army.
If Shi Dakai goes south, the Renaissance Army will provide necessary support.
However, Dong Shuheng felt that this suggestion was a bit whimsical.
Shi Dakai should be a very conceited man.
It was impossible for him to just follow Dong Shuheng's arrangements.
Forget it, do your best and listen to fate!
"The fourth thing is from Zuo Jigao. He wants to persuade Luo Bingzhang, the governor of Sanchuan, to surrender. He may promise the other party some conditions." Wei Yuxiang said again.
Regarding Luo Bingzhang, Dong Shuheng still had a good impression, and he could be regarded as a relatively pragmatic scholar-bureaucrat.
Although he is not that innovative in thinking, he is still a person who is able and willing to do things, and his character is not bad.
"Tell Zuo Jigao that you can agree to allow him to continue to be the commander-in-chief of the Sanchuan Military Government, but the officials in the various prefectures and counties in Sanchuan must accept the restructuring of the Fuxing Military Government."
"In addition, tell Zuo Jigao that the two divisions of the Hunan Army can be used with confidence and that he can move faster."
Dong Shuheng listened to Wei Yuxiang's report and told him his thoughts.
Wei Yuxiang used a pen to quickly record in a small book while reporting. He used a pen.
Dong Shuheng learned this novel pen from foreigners and improved it.
At the beginning, it was just to cover up the embarrassment that I was not good at using brushes.
But the convenience and efficiency of this pen made it spread quickly.
Some people even tried to trace the origin, saying that this kind of pen is very similar to the carving knife used by scholars in the pre-Qin Dynasty. It gave those literati who were anti-foreign a perfect fig leaf. Some people even pioneered hard-pen calligraphy.
Wei Yuxiang prepared the documents and handed them to the confidential personnel to escort them to the nearest telegraph station for dispatch.
The telegraph lines of the Renaissance Army have been being set up, but they simply cannot keep up with the advancement of the Renaissance Army.
At the beginning of the year, the Renaissance Army established a new department called the Postal Department. Now the telegraph business has been transferred to the Telegraph Office under the Postal Department, and the telegraph stations in various places are basically in the same place as the Postal Office.
The Renaissance Army abolished the original and abandoned postal system, and handed over all communications and mailing matters to the Post Office.
Postman has become a new profession. Of course, there is a special type of postman, they are confidential personnel.
Correspondence between governments, letters and items involving secret matters must be transmitted confidentially.
For example, the people who deliver letters to Dong Shuheng now are exclusive confidential personnel, and these people are also under the jurisdiction of the Attendant's Office.
After handling this wave of orders, the team has also rested. This time, no one is needed to lead the way. The guard group already knows the way.
Dong Shuheng and his party continued to move forward, with the goal still being that warm little valley. There was also Dong Shuheng's small home there.
In the valley, life has also revived at this time, which is completely different from that in winter.
Lu Feiyan took Dong Hua, who was five months old, for a walk in the courtyard. Some of the flowers and plants in the courtyard were sprouting buds.
The plum blossoms have withered and now only the new leaves can be seen.
Only the peach blossoms were in bloom. Lu Feiyan held the child's creaking nest and moved Hua'er towards the peach blossoms.
Children like bright things. Their little hands quickly reached out to the nearest peach blossom, and their white and tender hands twisted off a small pink flower.
Immediately afterwards, the child will put the flower into his mouth.
Fortunately, Lu Feiyan reacted quickly and grabbed Hua'er's hand.
"You brat, just like your father, he is a flower-picking thief."
Lu Feiyan gently patted her son's round and fat butt, and did not forget to scold Dong Shuheng.
Recently, Lu Feiyan has returned to work. The Taihang Column was undergoing reorganization, and the headquarters is extremely busy.
Thanks to Lu Feiyan coming to help, she considers things much more carefully than a group of men at the headquarters.
At the same time, after the Taihang Mountain army was reorganized, she no longer served as commander.
"Commander, this is a telegram from Jingxing." At this moment, a dashing and handsome man in military uniform walked in, holding a telegram in his hand.
Taihang Mountain has already built its own telegraph network, but it has not yet been integrated with the Fuxing Army's network.
But it played an important role in internal communication on Taihang.
Although there are roads here, they are winding and winding. If you walk to two places that are not far apart in a straight line, it may take a long time because you have to go around the mountains.
However, as long as the mountain is not too high, telegraph lines can be pulled over it, which plays a huge role in the internal transmission of information on the Taihang Mountains.
"Don't call Commander again, why did you forget it again?" Lu Feiyan reminded her as she glanced at Juan'er. Then she read the telegram.
When reading the telegram, her eyes showed uncontrollable joy.
"Humph, Sister Feiyan, isn't it because he is coming? Are you laughing like this?" Juan'er said angrily from the side.
"Okay, Juan'er, we will overthrow the Manchu Qing Dynasty soon. Then I will help you get married. How about marrying and sleeping? How about that big man Pan?" Every time Juan'er wants to criticize Dong Shuheng and Lu Feiyan
He would make a fuss about her marriage.
"You don't want to marry that stupid big man?" Juan'er's Qiao face turned red under the brim of her hat and pretended to leave.
Dong Shuheng had already sent an order before he arrived, and the 17th and 18th divisions that had just been reorganized were sent to the front line.
The Seventeenth Division assembled in Laiyuan County, with their target being the capital. The Eighteenth Division assembled in Pingding County, preparing to attack Taiyuan Prefecture.
The commander of the 17th Division was Peng Shucai, and the commander of the 18th Division was Yan Feng. The original column headquarters was also disbanded.
After this arrangement, Lu Feiyan officially withdrew from the army. Juan'er's female barracks was included in the guard force of the Presidential Palace and is still with Lu Feiyan.
"Da da da..." The sound of horse hooves echoed in the valley.
Lu Feiyan carried Hua'er to the intersection of the town.
The last time Dong Shuheng came over, she was still in confinement and could not leave the room to meet her husband.
This time, she has returned to her original state.
She was wearing a plain long skirt with pink peonies embroidered on the skirt. She was like a pretty little daughter-in-law, waiting for her husband at the entrance of the town.
Dong Shuheng ran at the front of the team on horseback, wearing a close-fitting military uniform and a black horse's head. Under the brim of his hat was a sharp-edged face with sharp eyebrows and starry eyes.
While still a young man, he reached heights that many people never reach in their lifetimes.
Since ancient times, beauties have loved heroes. Lu Feiyan stared closely at her husband who was approaching on horseback. The sense of loss that she had just become "unemployed" was completely gone.
She suddenly felt that it was good to stay by her husband's side.
People change. In the past, she liked freedom and had her own ideal revenge.
Now that she has a child, she wants to stay with the one she loves and raise her children.
In Dong Shuheng's eyes, Lu Feiyan used to be like a proud snow lotus, but now she is more like a mature peony, becoming more attractive.
"Feiyan." Dong Shuheng flew off his horse, trotted to Lu Feiyan's side, grabbed her hand, and took Hua'er from his arms.
"Ah, this child grows up so fast!" Dong Shuheng sighed.
"That's how children are. They eat, sleep, eat, and naturally grow up quickly." The child was obviously not used to it when he was in Dong Shuheng's arms. He probably felt that he was far away from the taste of breast milk. He opened his mouth and was about to cry.
Dong Shuheng quickly returned the child. The child returned to Lu Feiyan's arms and immediately returned to its original state, as if it had its own emoticon. Sure enough, she is a mother if she has milk.
"Juan'er, go and arrange the security team." Dong Shuheng ordered. Then he took Lu Feiyan's family of three back to the small courtyard.
Juan'er was left standing there pouting her little mouth.
Pan Qiliang looked at her from his horse. He thought that this girl was so handsome.
"What are you looking at? Don't you know where the military camp is?" After saying that, Juaner walked away, and Pan Qiliang quickly followed with his people.
Dong Shuheng stayed in the valley for a day and made final arrangements for the officers of the two divisions before the war.
Dong Shuheng was not very worried about the 18th Division attacking Shanxi. There were almost no Qing troops in Shanxi that could be defeated.
As long as the Eighteenth Division fights steadily from city to city, there will be no surprises.
Dong Shuheng was preparing to set off with Peng Shucai's 19th Division. Their goal was to penetrate directly into the capital.
The reason why the army gathered in Laiyuan County is because Laiyuan County is due west of the capital and has a direct road to the capital.
The final decisive battle is about to begin. At this time, a huge conspiracy is brewing in the Central Plains.
In the Kaifeng Prefecture Governor's Yamen, Yinggui sat anxiously behind the desk.
Most of his important generals are here.
The Seventh Division of the Renaissance Army in the north has captured Weihui Mansion and may cross the river southward at any time. The First Division of the Renaissance Army in the south has already captured Xuzhou and Chenzhou.
The Kaifeng Mansion could no longer defend itself. Yinggui knew very well that he was preparing to withdraw to the west, but how to withdraw under the current situation?
If we just withdraw like this, our men may not be able to outrun the Renaissance Army.
In Ying Gui's study room, his trusted generals and civil servants were all discussing, but no one could get to the point.
"Sir Governor, I have an idea, but I don't know whether to talk about it or not?" Huang Hao stood up and said.
Ying Gui had already withdrawn all his troops to Kaifeng. Huang Hao naturally also withdrew his troops.
"Admiral Huang, please tell me. Now is the time when we are all in the same boat. Is there anything difficult to say?"
Huang Hao stood up and cupped his hands and said: "Sir, have you ever thought about attacking with water? The Yellow River is melting and entering the spring flood period."
As soon as Huang Hao clicked, everyone looked shocked.
This idea is too vicious. If it is really done, it may be infamy for thousands of years.
Seeing the weird expressions on everyone's face, Huang Hao felt very disdainful. These people had never done any bad things, but now they were pretending to be saints.
So he added: "Sir, there have been many cases of water attacks since ancient times. I have only seen people comment on Zhuge Kongming as an unparalleled counselor. I have never seen anyone say that water attacks harm the peace of heaven."
Ying Gui was really moved, but he didn't agree to Huang Hao in front of everyone.
Instead, after everyone left, he asked someone to recruit Huang Hao back.
Then the two discussed the details of exploding the Yellow River.
Maybe it was in the fifth year of Xianfeng that the Yellow River finally suffered a disaster and could not escape.
On April 1, the fifth year of Xianfeng's reign, Dong Shuheng led the Nineteenth Division to attack the capital from the west.
Yi Xin led the five battalions of the capital and surrendered after the city was broken. Dong Shuheng commanded the army to control the capital.
Huangcheng Zaiyi's leadership was immediately defeated.
The Renaissance Army implemented martial law in the capital, prohibiting all personnel from entering and exiting.
The next day, news of the Yellow River burst reached the capital.
Yinggui led his troops to escape westward. Before leaving, his general Huang Hao simultaneously blew up the river embankments at Tongwaxiang on the north bank of the lower reaches of Kaifeng and Zhaopi Village on the south bank.
The raging river water is raging everywhere like a wild beast that has escaped from its cage. Because the terrain on the north bank is lower, the water on the south bank gradually slows down, and all the river water flows to the north bank, and the original river channel is cut off downstream.
Damingfu in Zhili on the north coast and northern Shandong were the most severely affected.
Dong Shuheng was extremely shocked after receiving the news.
Immediately, the local authorities in Shandong were ordered to make every effort to provide disaster relief. At the same time, the left-behind government in Jiangning was ordered to organize a fleet to transport supplies from the canal to the north to support the disaster area.
At the same time, the Ministry of Water Resources was ordered to send people to investigate the situation after the Yellow River burst and whether there was a possibility of containment.
After the order arrived, old Mr. Feng Daoli dragged his sick body and insisted on personally leading the team to take a canal speedboat to explore.
The military government headquarters made a comprehensive response, and various departments put disaster relief first, and the offensive of various armies also slowed down.
Guizhong Bank has not slept a wink for two days, and Shandong was the most severely affected.
Preliminary statistical results have come out. Shandong has the largest area affected by floods. Caozhou, Jinan, Dongchang and other three prefectures and more than ten prefectures and counties have been seriously affected. The number of refugees in the worst-hit areas of the province alone has exceeded 60%, with more than 3 million people.
This is still spring, and there is not much rain upstream. If it were summer, the disaster would be even more serious.
This is the result of a large number of immigrants from Shandong in recent years.
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