Originally, it only took one day to ride horseback from Yangzhou to Dongtai, but Dong Shuheng was taken away for a week. It wasn't that he missed home, but it was because problems arose faster than his horse could run.
Mother, Hui'er was the first relative he saw when he came to this world and opened his eyes.
It was they who gave me a sense of belonging and attachment to this world. The team passed Xixi and passed the original Yanding village.
Most of the triangular sheds in the village have disappeared, and the few remaining ones have been converted into pig pens. Under the leadership of Dong Shuheng, salt households were allocated land, lived a normal life, and built new houses. There is a house at the entrance of the village.
There are two rows of tile-roofed houses in the large courtyard, which serves as the primary school of the nearby town and is also the headquarters of the militia team.
As the team passed the road next to the school, Dong Shuheng heard the loud sound of reading coming from the classroom.
There are no more children playing in the mud at the entrance of the village. They are probably sitting in the classroom reading.
Dong Shuheng's mood suddenly became happy. This is what a country and a nation should be like!
Children should go to school and enjoy the pain and happiness of growing up.
Adults should have their own jobs, earn money to support their families and contribute to the country and society.
The old people should squat by the haystacks at the entrance of the village to bask in the sun and talk to each other about their great achievements in their youth.
…
Unknowingly, the team had arrived at the city gate. The people standing guard at the city gate were soldiers from the Huaihai Navy Guard Regiment. They naturally recognized Dong Shuheng's guard company. Dong Shuheng's team returned home unimpeded.
The door creaked open. Old Liu, the gatekeeper, saw that the young master was back, so he ran to the inner house to deliver a message.
The soldiers standing guard on the wall also raised their hands and saluted Dong Shuheng at their posts. Dong Shuheng gave them a military salute in return.
These soldiers have protected their families in these months. Although they have not been able to go to the battlefield, they still have merit.
The little girl Hui'er ran out of the inner house first. This girl was wearing an armed belt and a pistol hanging on her waist. This girl said she would protect her mother, but she didn't expect that she actually carried a gun with her every day.
Dong Shuheng opened his arms and looked at the little girl running towards him with a smile.
After not seeing each other for a few months, Hui'er seems to have grown taller. But she has also become thinner, and the baby fat on her face is almost gone.
When Hui'er wasn't paying attention, Dong Shuheng picked up the girl's waist and spun her around twice in the air.
Seeing Hui'er's little face turning red with embarrassment, he put the little girl down. The guard behind him had already turned back automatically. Don't accept the president's dog food casually.
At this time, an angry voice came from behind: "Humph, you have been out for so long and you still know how to go home?"
Dong Shuheng looked back and saw that it was his mother, Mrs. Chen, walking out of the inner door. Although she said blaming words, there was a kind smile in her eyes.
Dong Shuheng ran over and bowed to Mrs. Chen: "Mother, my child is unfilial and makes my mother worried."
"Okay, get up. Mother, I don't blame you for doting on Hui'er. In the past few months when you were away, it was thanks to this girl who stayed with me and carried a gun to protect me every day."
"I feel distressed when I see her worrying about you every day and not thinking about food and drinks. You have to be nicer to Hui'er, otherwise I won't be able to forgive you. Okay, let's go into the house with me first."
Dong Shuheng hurriedly arranged for the security company to repair the front yard. He led Hui'er and followed Chen into the backyard.
"Heng'er, mother knows that you are now a high-ranking official outside. Mother is very happy. But mother doesn't want you to be too tired outside. Just follow your heart and don't wrong yourself." In the main hall.
Inside, Mrs. Chen spoke earnestly to Dong Shuheng, while the little girl Hui'er lowered her head and said nothing.
"Mom, please rest assured that the things your child is doing now are all things he likes to do, at least they are things that the child finds meaningful. Mother, don't worry, the child is very timid. You see, the child comes home with such a
There are so many guards, hee hee!"
"Don't be so playful with me. I don't know what kind of person you are. But when you go out, you have to be careful about everything, especially when you have to lead troops to fight. My mother is a womanly person, so it's not easy for me to say anything to you.
Dao Si, I just hope you will pay more attention to yourself."
"Yes, mother, I will definitely keep this in mind."
"Heng'er, if you are busy outside in the future, you don't have to come back to see your mother. She is still in good health! It's just that when you go out in the future, you have to keep Hui'er with your mother. It's best if you can give her some grandchildren.
Well, our Dong family is very thin, and there is no news about your eldest brother. Now that you are capable, you can find someone to inquire."
Chen's words left Dong Shuheng speechless for a moment. Hui'er next to him was also rubbing the corners of his clothes with his fingers. Dong Shuheng quickly picked up the topic about his eldest brother: "Mother, I never asked you, when did your eldest brother disappear?"
"It seems that at the beginning of last year, your eldest brother said that he had to go to Guangzhou for business matters, but then there was no news." Chen recalled.
"Okay, mother, I will send someone to find you as soon as possible."
"Heng'er, now that you are an official, you can be regarded as a proud ancestor. Go to the ancestral hall and offer incense to your father."
The most grateful thing in this life for Dong Shuheng is his father, who left him a great legacy.
He sincerely went to offer his father a stick of incense and patted his chest in front of his father, promising to make the Dong family shine.
After offering some incense to his father, Dong Shuheng enjoyed a rare moment of peace and quiet at home, with the beauty by his side and his red sleeves adding fragrance.
After dinner, Dong Shuheng hid in the study again and began to write and draw. At this time, Hui'er would be obediently beside him, watching the young master's serious look.
When Dong Shuheng looked up at her, she would cast an admiring look, which made Dong Shuheng feel satisfied. Huier would not read the content of his paintings. She couldn't understand those strange picture symbols anyway.
I had just finished the sketch in my hand and was going to tell a few jokes to the little girl to adjust the atmosphere. The housekeeper outside came over to report that someone wanted to see me.
Dong Shuheng could tell by pinching his toes that the person coming to see him at this time must be Director Ji Mingshan.
In order to avoid suspicion, Hui'er hid out. After a while, Ji Mingshan sneaked in with both head and head.
"President, you can't blame me. They don't dare to disturb you at night and let me report the news to you."
"Why did you, a member of the Intelligence Department, end up working as a secretary?" But it seems that Dong Shuheng didn't really have a secretary worth eight pounds.
"Okay, let's talk! What's the matter?"
"President, there are three things. The first thing is that there has been too much precipitation in the upper reaches of the Yellow River since the beginning of summer, and the southern section of the Yellow River has burst its banks. This burst is probably a once-in-ten-year event, and is expected to cause millions of refugees.
, I remember you told us to pay attention to this matter before."
"Well, you can send someone to Huaihai Academy in Gaoyou later, ask Mr. Xiyuan to come to Dongtai, and tell him that the big thing I promised him is about to start."
"The second thing is the recent movements of the Taiping Army. The Taiqing Army's Western Expedition has recently been based in Anqing and marching towards Nanchang to seize territory. Its Northern Expedition has crossed the Yellow River and is attacking Huaiqing City. It seems to be an anxious trend. Nanjing City
Zhang Dongxu has basically gained a foothold over there. Because of the previous incident with Zeng Lichang, Yang Xiuqing had many opinions on Hong Xiuquan, so he decided to cooperate with us unilaterally, and Yang Ximei approached us as a business representative to discuss business matters."
"Tell General Manager Liu about this matter and ask him to arrange trade matters with the Taiping Army. However, when arms transactions are involved, my consent must be obtained."
"The third thing is that the Qing court's decree came down, and Jiang Zhongyuan was appointed governor of Anhui. Marshal Chu Yong went to Luzhou to defend against bandits. Wei Yuan was appointed governor of Jiangsu, organized military affairs, and recovered Jiangning. The former governor of Jiangsu, Yang Wending, was dismissed and arrested and returned to Beijing. He was ordered to Guizhong
As the governor of Shandong, I am responsible for the military affairs of Shandong and I am aware of banditry. In addition, the other lists recommended by Lord Qishan have also been approved. Sir, you have also given birth to an official this time!"
"Oh?" Dong Shuheng didn't expect Qishan to take the initiative to help him get promoted.
"Your Excellency has been promoted to the rank of Admiral of Jiangsu and is in charge of the entire Jiangsu Province's army. Congratulations, Your Majesty. Congratulations, Your Excellency." Ji Mingshan said with a smile.
"Humph, the Qing government wants to take something but must give it first. They are afraid that Jiangnan cannot be defended, so they have given the Taiping Army tax and land, and they are anxious to send us to Jiangnan to fight with the Taiping Army." Dong Shuheng snorted coldly.
.
But this is fine. If it can control several prefectures in the south of the Yangtze River, the strength of the Huaihai Navy will increase exponentially.
"Go back and send an order to the Armed Forces Ministry to prepare for the formation of the Huaihai Navy 104th Regiment, 105th Regiment, 207th Guards Regiment, 208th Regiment, and 209th Regiment. The Armed Forces Ministry will select outstanding militiamen from the militia and send them to Gaoyou for training. Order Yan Shikun to fight in Yangzhou Battle
Select a group of those who have made meritorious deeds and send them to the Army Academy for further training. In addition, an order was sent to Cai Shusen to follow Gui Zhongxing to Shandong to form a Shandong regiment. I will transfer grassroots officers to him in the near future and ask him to recruit local troops to form Huaihai.
The 103rd Division of the Military Route Army, under the jurisdiction of the 106th Regiment, the 107th Regiment, and the 108th Regiment." These 104th and 105th regiments also have Huaer's 103rd Regiment. Dong Shuheng plans to place them in the south of the Yangtze River to prevent the Taiping Army from advancing eastward, and at the same time, he also needs to watch over the concessions.
foreigners.
Dong Shuheng rubbed his temples vigorously. He originally wanted Liu Qingnan to help set up the staff headquarters, but this guy obviously prefers to lead the army in combat. Fortunately, the members of the Tiandihui who joined the military room have almost adjusted to the army now, so they can
Use them as the basis to form the staff headquarters. In a few days, the foreign officer corps he hired from Prussia will arrive. At that time, he can also transfer a few professional officers to the staff headquarters. He can no longer manage the army by himself.
You also have to set up your own attendant's office, otherwise you won't even have a professional messenger every time. You have to deal with more and more official documents. Lao Zeng will be responsible for administration and will definitely be stationed in Yangzhou for a long time. Lao Liu will be responsible for business, basically
He stayed in Gaoyou, and later moved to Yangzhou. It was impossible for them to follow him. Ji Mingshan, an intelligence officer, was not suitable for running around in the open.
Thinking of this, he blamed himself for a while. He still lacked management ability and experience. He only thought of making corrections every time when he felt a headache.
"President, I have written down several things you mentioned. There is another thing Liu Qingbei asked me to bring here. The foreign missionary you made an appointment with will be arriving in Dongtai tomorrow." Ji Mingshan
added.
"Oh, we're here so soon. This missionary is quite active!" Dong Shuheng didn't expect that John Cena would be so eager to come over to him, but this is fine. It seems that he can squeeze more benefits from him.