After Li Zhen returned to his house, he summoned Huang Shihai, Huang Qiang, Li Xiucheng, Zhang Zhiping, Zheng Zaoru and others. Li Zhen's eyes fell on Huang Shihai and asked: "Shihai, tell me what happened when I left Nanjing." matter."
Huang Shihai said: "There are no big things, but there are some small things in the palace."
"Oh, about the two empress dowagers." Li Zhen asked.
Huang Shihai nodded and said: "After the commander-in-chief left Nanjing, the queen mothers of the two palaces did not do anything extraordinary, but they frequently summoned officials who came to Nanjing from other places, and awarded them rewards from time to time. Currently, Xu Naizhao, the governor of Jiangsu, He Guiqing, the governor of Zhejiang, and the governor of Anhui Li Xuyi has all stayed in Nanjing, while others such as Hu Linyi, the governor of Hubei, Luo Bingzhang, the governor of Hunan, and others have remained in their posts. There has been no movement for the time being. According to the information, the empress dowagers of the two palaces have already sent people to contact these officials."
Li Zhen asked: "Are they all at the governor level?"
Huang Shihai said: "At present, only the officials who serve as governors, such as the Governor of Huguang and the Governor of Liangjiang, are not in trouble. However, these people have also expressed their flag and are willing to respect us as the orthodox and commander-in-chief. The Queen Mother of the two palaces is unwilling to be trapped in the palace. , they definitely want to move from behind the scenes to the front desk to take charge. If they succeed, the commander-in-chief will definitely be in a difficult situation."
Li Zhen said: "I understand."
Huang Shihai was stunned, this was a threat, but Li Zhen didn't care.
Li Zhen continued: "To expand the army's establishment, you are already a commander-level figure, controlling tens of thousands of troops. However, my plan is far more than just one army. I want to form several major military regions with hundreds of thousands of troops. This is Our next goal, for now, your main focus is still on the army, supervising troop training and recruitment."
After a pause, Li Zhen continued: "Yang Banhou and Qi Zhenhai have both begun to expand their armies and strive to reach 10,000 men each. Smith and Zhou Xiuying will do the same. You control the overall situation and must adjust the situation of each division. We must look at the overall situation, and we cannot have a situation where we have numbers but no combat effectiveness."
Huang Shihai said: "Yes."
Li Zhen continued: "The guards at the palace gate must be in our hands. We must know who enters the palace and meets the two empresses, and record them every day. I need a place that is impregnable, not a palace with low control. "
Huang Shihai said: "Please rest assured, Commander, I have recorded everything one by one."
Li Zhen changed the subject and asked: "How has Li Xiucheng performed during this period?"
Huang Shihai said: "Since he defeated Hong Xiuquan, Li Xiucheng has been training his troops with all his heart. The soldiers in his battalion are extremely capable. This guy is a talent and deserves to be cultivated."
When Li Xiucheng heard Huang Shihai's words, he looked grateful. He was just a surrendered general, and what he feared most was the hostility of the generals. Huang Shihai supported him, which made him extremely grateful.
Li Zhen said: "Li Xiucheng, you temporarily act as commander of the Third Division."
"Thank you, Marshal."
Li Xiucheng raised his hand in salute, with an excited look in his eyes.
Although he was the temporary commander of the Third Division, being able to take charge of all matters of the Third Division where Lu Shaochuan was serving meant that he had gained Li Zhen's trust and had the opportunity to become the core of Li Zhen's army.
Li Zhen's eyes fell on Zhang Zhiping and said: "Zhang Zhiping, our army pays attention to fairness and will not bury any talent. You are new to the military camp. I hope you will work hard and become a member of the top brass of our army as soon as possible."
"yes."
Zhang Zhiping nodded, also very excited.
Li Zhen looked at Zheng Zaoru and said: "Mr. Zheng, you have been in the military camp for a while and have a detailed understanding of the situation in the army. Now you can work with me as a staff officer. Without an official position, Mr. Zheng is willing to submit." ."
Zheng Zaoru immediately said: "Commander, I am willing."
Of course he was willing, because Zheng Zaoru got the news from the south. Ye Chengzhong, who was following Li Zhen, became the prefect of Wuzhou Prefecture, Liu Taiping became the governor of Guangxi, and Wang Xiaoyang also became the governor of Guangdong. A series of personnel transfers were all He is Li Zhen's confidant. Now he is following Li Zhen. As long as he does well, he will definitely be promoted to an official position.
Li Zhen looked at everyone, waved his hands and said, "Everyone should perform their duties and do their own thing."
…
On the eighth day of September, Emperor Tongzhi, who was less than one year old, came to the court, and Cixi and Ci'an listened behind the curtain.
At the court meeting, Li Zhen stood first on the left side.
He was neatly dressed in first-class official uniform, and with the breath on his lips, he looked majestic. At the same time, He Guiqing, the governor of Zhejiang, Xu Naizhao, the governor of Jiangsu, and Li Xuyi, the governor of Anhui, were also among them, plus some from the court. Officials have reached a certain scale and no longer appear empty.
When I first arrived in Nanjing, there were eunuchs, maids, and very few officials.
Now, with the arrangements of Cixi and Ci'an, the officials in the court have gradually become fuller.
"The Emperor has arrived."
The eunuch's shout came, and Ci'an came holding the little emperor and Cixi together.
The two sat above them, and the people in the palace immediately kowtowed. After the salute, Ci'an said: "I have summoned all my dear friends for two things. One is that Mr. Li will send his army to destroy the rebels in Guangxi, and the Ai family will celebrate Mr. Li; The second is to read out some government decrees, hoping that all of you, dear ministers, will do your best and be loyal to the country."
After a pause, Ci'an said: "Xiao Anzi, declare the decree."
After the words fell, Ci'an lowered his head slightly, and the same was true for Cixi, who seemed helpless. Andehai immediately stood up, spread out the imperial edict, and read out: "By God's blessing, the emperor's edict said..., Li Zhen exterminated the bandits, and attacked Killed Hong Xiuquan; quelled the rebellion, and wiped out Xi Yinglong; his loyalty and bravery were unparalleled, and he was specially granted the title of King of Zhennan, and he will rule Guangdong forever. I admire this."
A decree granted Li Zhen the title of King of Zhennan.
"Wow,."
In the main hall, everyone's discussion immediately rang out.
He Guiqing, Xu Naizhao and others were talking about it, and they all looked at Li Zhen in horror.
Since the reign of Kangxi, apart from the clan princes, there has never been a king with a foreign surname in the court. Moreover, Li Zhen is still a Han Chinese, so it is impossible for him to be crowned king. This made the ministers feel incredible. They looked at Li Zhen and then at Gao The two women sitting above looked helpless, as if Li Zhen had coerced the two queen mothers to have today's decree.
"Queen Mother, you can't do that."
He Guiqing stood up with a straight face.
He Guiqing was a native of Yunnan and was a Jinshi during the Daoguang period.
In the fourth year of Xianfeng's reign (1854), He Guiqing was appointed governor of Zhejiang. During his tenure, he devoted himself to annihilating the Taiping Army. It was not until Li Zhen captured Nanjing and annihilated Hong Xiuquan that He Guiqing breathed a sigh of relief.
Historically, He Guiqing became the governor of Liangjiang in 1857. Because of Li Zhen, Xianfeng died in 1856. He is still the governor of Zhejiang to this day. Historically, this man left a lot of trouble in November 1858. In the pen, he, together with Gui Liang, the bachelor, and Huashana, the official minister, revised the tax rules and trade regulations with Britain, France, and the United States: the trafficking of opium was recognized as legal trade; imported and exported goods were subject to a 5% tariff at the current price, and foreign goods were far away. All exports to the mainland are subject to a sub-export tax of 2.5% on the current price; all taxes are handled uniformly, and British people are "invited" to help with customs and taxation, etc.
As soon as this move came out, China was pushed into the abyss.
Because of Li Zhen, these things did not happen at all. He Guiqing stood up and stared at Li Zhen fiercely, but faced Cixi and Ci'an head-on, and said loudly: "Report to the emperor, even if Li Zhen has made great achievements , and cannot be conferred the title of King of Zhennan, it is enough to ask the emperor to withdraw his decree and give Mr. Li an official title."
He kept talking about the emperor, but his words were addressed to Cixi and Ci'an.
