Calculating the time carefully, Li Zhen has been lingering in Beijing for a month and a half. The longer he stays in Beijing, the more uncomfortable Li Zhen feels. When he thinks of his woman staying in Beijing as a hostage, a raging anger rises in his heart. , the hatred for Xianfeng and the Manchu Qing Dynasty also became stronger and stronger.
On this day, Xianfeng personally received Li Zhen in Yangxin Hall.
In the hall, Xianfeng was sitting at attention.
Li Zhen sat below, his head slightly lowered, his eyes wandering, not knowing what he was thinking.
Xianfeng was immersed in his official duties and did not speak first. Under such circumstances, Li Zhen did not dare to speak. The two of them just remained silent and motionless.
Five minutes later, Xianfeng put down the brush in his hand.
He looked up at Li Zhen and said slowly: "Hongyi, when my father came to the throne, the country was peaceful and the people were living and working in peace and contentment. A few decades later, after I succeeded to the throne, I encountered rebellions one after another. I felt a lot of emotion in my heart. This The position of the Ninth Five Emperor should not be competed with the Sixth Brother, the Sixth Brother should be allowed to succeed."
"When I sit in this position, I have a burden on my back. I am worried all day long, and it is difficult to have peace for a day."
"Now there are bandits inside and foreign barbarians outside. I am restless day and night."
Xianfeng looked miserable and had a heavy face, as if he was really worried about state affairs day and night.
The corner of Li Zhen's mouth twitched slightly, and he shook his head repeatedly in his heart, thinking that you, Xianfeng, have begun to worry about national affairs. The sun must rise from the west. The reason why you, Xianfeng, are not peaceful is not because of the corruption of the situation, but because there are too many women in the backyard.
Of course, Li Zhen didn't dare to say that.
He raised his head, looked calm, and said in a neither humble nor arrogant tone: "The Sixth Prince is indeed talented. This is something everyone knows. All the Dukes of the dynasty acknowledge this."
When Xianfeng heard this, his expression suddenly froze, feeling very stiff.
Li Zhen saw it and felt even more amused in his heart.
Once you sit in the supreme position, how can you let go?
Li Zhen had already planned and continued: "The Sixth Prince is talented, but his position is not big. He can only serve as a wise king to assist the emperor. Just imagine, when I was still an unknown general, the Sixth Prince I cannot discover my talents, but the Emperor’s unique insight allows me to express my ambitions.”
"The Sixth Prince does not have such a method of identifying people."
"In the past, Liu Bang, the great ancestor of the Han Dynasty, talked about the world. He once said that he was not as good as Zhang Liang in strategizing and winning a thousand-mile victory. He was not as good as Xiao He in controlling the country, pacifying the people, paying and providing gifts, and other internal affairs. He was not as good as Han Xin in using troops to conquer the world. But Liu Bang conquered the world because he knew how to do it. When it comes to employing people, the emperor is not as good as the Sixth Prince in the details of governing the country, but he knows how to employ people, and that alone is enough."
"In the past, the six princes and the emperor competed for the throne and were political enemies."
"However, after the emperor ascended the throne, he boldly used the Sixth Prince. He was so ambitious that he deserved the title of Holy Lord. Under the emperor's painstaking management, there were Du Han, Su Shun, Zai Yuan and other old ministers in the court. These He is an old and prudent mainstay, and at the same time, he also has the Sixth Prince and other younger generation ministers with a wealth of talents, all of which are the Emperor's great contribution."
Li Zhen spoke with sincerity, as if every sentence came from his heart.
After hearing this, Xianfeng smiled happily.
He wiggled his butt as if he felt uncomfortable, so he waved his hands repeatedly and said: "Li Zhen, it's really unexpected that you, a lieutenant general who doesn't study much, can be so full of fallacies."
Li Zhen said solemnly: "Don't you, Your Majesty, hear that Wu Xia Amen, although I am stupid, is good at reading. Everything I say comes from my heart and I learned it from books."
"Good, good, a good general who likes to study."
Xianfeng praised him repeatedly and felt extremely comfortable.
In fact, Xianfeng was somewhat wary of Yi, but after listening to Li Zhen's words, his confidence became unprecedentedly strong. He thought that he could control Yi and was already a good emperor who knew and used people. After Xianfeng laughed, He said solemnly: "I came to you today because the bandits have sent bad news again."
Li Zhen asked: "I have lived in Beijing for a long time and do not know the news from other places. Please make it clear, Your Majesty."
Xianfeng said solemnly: "On February 12, Zeng Guofan and Shi Dakai fought. Shi Dakai destroyed more than a hundred Hunan warships. Zeng Guofan's ship was captured. Zeng Guofan escaped by chance, but lost his troops and generals. All documents and documents were also lost. This time the bandits suffered heavy losses, and Zeng Guofan was so angry that he wanted to commit suicide by throwing himself into a lake, but his subordinates dissuaded him, so he endured the humiliation and survived."
"In fact, the situation of suppressing bandits has not been good."
"Last year, Yang Xiuqing led his troops to attack the Jiangbei camp. Qishan was killed and the Jiangbei camp was destroyed. Although I wanted to rebuild the Jiangbei camp, I was unable to rebuild it. The Jiangnan camp was inactive and never won. This is worrying. I You are the only one in my command who is capable of fighting, and I wanted you to come forward, but Zhi Lan was pregnant, so I have been hesitant."
"It wasn't until Zeng Guofan's embarrassing defeat that I made up my mind."
"I ask you to rebuild the Jiangbei camp and wipe out the bandits."
"Li Zhen, in our Qing Dynasty, there has been no king with a different surname since our holy ancestor Kangxi. If you can wipe out the bandits, I promise to make you a king with a different surname, make you a wife and a son, and honor your ancestors."
Xianfeng stared at Li Zhen with stern eyes.
Li Zhen stood up, knelt down with a plop, and said loudly: "I have grown from an unknown soldier to an admiral. The emperor has been very kind to me, and I dare not ask for anything more. Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will go to Nanjing to rebuild the Jiangbei camp this time, and I will definitely wipe out the bandits. The bandits will not return to the court until they are eliminated."
He knelt on the ground, muttering secretly in his heart.
During the Kangxi Dynasty, the Qing Dynasty conferred the title of Wu Sangui, which was quite gratifying. None of the kings with different surnames such as Geng Jingzhong had a good end. If he had become a king with a different surname, he would probably immediately become the target of the hatred of the Manchu nobles, and he would die soon.
Li Zhen was not tempted and was extremely determined.
Xianfeng nodded and said: "You are good at not returning to the court. You have courage and courage. I believe you can annihilate the bandits. The promise I made to you is also in the city. I will not let you down. As long as your heart remains unchanged, you and I will be our kings and ministers." We must support each other and go on.”
Li Zhen changed the topic and said: "Your Majesty, if the Jiangbei camp is reorganized, the soldiers recruited will definitely have no combat effectiveness. Therefore, I must go to Guangzhou to mobilize 10,000 soldiers under my command, so as to wipe out the bandits."
Xianfeng laughed and said: "When you go to Nanjing this time, you are still the governor and admiral of Guangdong, but you have the title of an imperial minister and a first-class official position. After you return to Guangzhou, arrange things in Guangdong and then mobilize troops to go north. This Once, I will reward you with the Shang Fang Sword. You can take it out and use it. Anyone with a lower official position than you, who disobeys orders, can be killed first and then punished."
When Li Zhen heard this, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Sure enough, he was not transferred.
Li Zhen said: "Your Majesty, can I leave again tomorrow?"
Xianfeng immediately asked: "Why."
Li Zhen explained: "The child in Zhilan's belly is more than two months old and almost three months old. I want to stay and spend more time with Zhilan. I don't have much time. I only need one day today and I will leave immediately early tomorrow morning."
Xianfeng laughed and said proudly: "That's right."
Li Zhen kowtowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Xianfeng helped Li Zhen up and said: "Li Aiqing, the eternal foundation of the Qing Dynasty is in your hands. If we can't wipe out the bandits, the world will be incomplete and it will be difficult for me to face my ancestors."
Li Zhen said: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will definitely do it."
Xianfeng waved his hand and said, "Okay, let's go."
Li Zhen cupped his fists and saluted, then turned around and left the palace, running towards the Shangshu Mansion.