Chapter 35 Section 35 Confidential

At the beginning of the first month of the third year of Tongzhi (1864 A.D.), heroes from all walks of life under Zuo Zongtang's command gathered in the official hall of the governor's office in Wuyuan.They were ordered to come to Wuyuan from various battlefields to discuss the next step of the Hunan and Chu troops in Zhejiang. A military aircraft bulletin from Quzhou came in quickly.Zuo Zongtang's heart skipped a beat, he quietly unpacked the letter and quickly browsed through it.All the generals held their breath and looked at the commander extremely nervously. Zuo Zongtang put down the letter and said with a smile: "This department wants to report good news to all my brothers. My Quzhou Naval Battalion has been completed! Yesterday, all the warships of our Naval Battalion supervised by General Liu have been launched. The foreign cannons bought by Riyige and Dubuyi were also installed on the ship. Mr. Liu is intensifying his drills on the Quzhou River and is ready to go to war at any time!"

Jiang Xingli said happily: "It's great now, you don't have to worry about the road on the water when you get back to Hangzhou!" Liu Dian said at this time: "My lord Futai, Yan Zhou has recovered, and Shuiyong has achieved success. Isn't this a double happiness for us? Si Li wants to make a request to Futai on behalf of the younger brothers. I wonder if Futai can agree?" Zuo Zongtang stroked his beard and smiled and said, "If Liu Jiesi has something to say, just say it, don't cover it up." Liu Dian said: "Please tell me. The battalions have been out of pay for eight months, and now they are going to besiege Tangxi. Can you repay the pay for a month or two? There is only food but no pay, and the subordinates are arguing about it!"

Zuo Zongtang picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea, then suddenly smiled and said, "You, Liu Nietai, must have ambushed the spy beside the headquarters! Jiangxi's 100,000 taels of financial aid was only delivered yesterday afternoon, and your brother is asking for it today Brothers, now the officers and soldiers of the Qing Dynasty, which one doesn’t owe their salary? What’s the big deal? What’s yours is yours, and you can’t procrastinate. How nice! Come on, let’s go, this department will give you a face. The battalions of Shouqing’s military sect will give you two months’ salary first, and the others will temporarily pay one month’s salary. I have raised 80,000 taels of salary for our troops, and it is estimated that it will be delivered next month. Liu Mengrong has helped me several times, he is the benefactor of this department, and also the benefactor of all brothers!"

Zuo Zongtang's eyes turned red, and he couldn't continue. An alternate Taoist priest who had just arrived in Zhejiang said at this time: "I have heard in Beijing that the 'San Liang' in Hunan did not form an alliance and swore an oath, but they cooperated tacitly in doing things. There is a word of righteousness on their heads! They are all moving! Now it seems that the rumors are true! Only then do I know why Hunan's "three brights" can shake the world! Ask all the people here My lords, is what you said about the profession right or wrong?" At this moment Liu Dian answered, "What my brother said, I think it's right or wrong."

The alternate Taoist immediately asked: "What do you mean by the adults in Taiwan? How can you call it right? Why can't you call it wrong? I am confused about the profession." Liu Dian laughed and said, "Brother, what you just said about Hunan's 'Three Brights' cooperating tacitly, with the word "Yi" on their heads, is not bad. But my brother forgot that Hunan's 'Sanliang' can shake the world, It's also because everyone is a rare talent with good plans and a strategy in mind!" Liu Songshan nodded at this time and said: "What Liu Jietai said is very true, and this town also feels the same. If Xiaoliang and Meng Rong Fangbo hadn't been clever, how could the bandit chieftain Shi Dakai be defeated and surrender? As far as this town knows, Shi Chieftain is the long-haired prince The most loyal person among them is also the best at using soldiers. If he refuses to accept Fang Bo Meng Rong, even if he cuts off his own neck with a knife, he will not bind his arms and surrender willingly. This town was thinking just now, old Liang Luoshan Fang Bo Ruofei was killed in the war when he regained Wuchang, and his fame and future may be closed to the frontiers of a province! Now it is good, Hunan's "three brights" have become the brightest today!"

Zuo Zongtang saw that a group of civil and military officials were talking more and more, so he waved his hands and said, "Don't talk about it. If you don't say a thousand things and ten thousand things, if it wasn't for the birthday party, I would go out to practice bravery, and I, Hunan's 'Sanliang', would have all It won’t light up! The headquarters has already arranged a few tables of good food in the dining room, and everyone’s complimenting Hunan’s “three brights” is also a little tired, let’s eat first, and then we will have the strength to continue the praise, right?”

Jiang Yili got up from his side and said: "Si Li really believed in the old saying of the old ancestor: 'Praise is always worthless.' Isn't that true? After boasting, good wine and good meat will be served. After dinner, The Secretary should also give a good compliment to Hunan's "Sanliang", maybe he will make Futai happy, and if he is confused, he can pay two months' salary to the battalions of the headquarters!" Zuo Zongtang laughed and said: "You people, you are always counting the little money in the hands of the Ministry! Although the Ministry is old, but you are not confused! The old saying in the Ministry is still the same, this salary, It doesn't matter if it's delayed for a few days, but there are some things that can't be delayed. The headquarters is now raising funds from all directions, just want to do some big things!"

Liu Dian was taken aback when he heard the words, and couldn't help but stop walking and asked in a low voice, "Jigao, do you have some new plans in mind?" Zuo Zongtang smiled mysteriously, and said in a low voice: "This department has not matured the matter, so I can't tell you right now." Liu Dian bowed his head and pondered for a while, and said to himself, "The foreign guns and cannons have been purchased, and the naval battalion has been completed. What else do you want to do?" The generals from all walks of life discussed in Wuyuan for another two days, and each returned to the camp and was ordered to set off in the direction of Tangxi.This time, Jiang Yili, Zuo Zongtang's special committee, took charge of the recovery of Tangxi, with Liu Dian as the supervisor and Liu Songshan as the pioneer.

That night, Zuo Zongtang sent an express letter to Li Hongzhang, the governor of Jiangsu, inviting him to go to Quzhou to watch the exercises at the Navy Camp; . Li Hongzhang was very happy after receiving Zuo Zongtang's letter, and immediately set off from Shanghai to Quzhou by water.Zeng Guofan couldn't get away from his busy military affairs, so he only appointed an alternate priest to congratulate Zuo Zongtang. Knowing that Li Hongzhang was coming to Quzhou, Zuo Zongtang deliberately put on a brand-new official uniform, and let Xianger wipe the red top. Then he selected five top-notch staff around him and brought two hundred relatives. The soldiers came slowly to Quzhou by land in sedan chairs.

Because the order was placed early, there were local officials to pick up and drop off along the way.On the second day after Zuo Zongtang arrived in Quzhou, the official ship of Jiangsu Governor Li Hongzhang also arrived.When Zuo Zongtang heard the news, he brought local officials of all sizes from Quzhou to the wharf to greet him. Li Hongzhang was helped out of the boat, first dusted off his clothes, then straightened his hat, and then yelled at Zuo Zongtang: "Ji Weng!" Zuo Zongtang laughed and took a step closer, and said involuntarily, "Shaoquan!" The two met with a parallel salute.Zuo Zongtang took Li Hongzhang's hand, and said as he walked, "Shaoquan, Zuo Lao San misses you! Your younger brother opened a Cantonese dialect center just after he was appointed Minister of Commerce and Industry. I am so happy for you!"

Li Hongzhang said humbly: "Ji Weng won the award! Ji Weng didn't know something. The successful establishment of the Cantonese Dialect Hall was all thanks to the strength of my mentor. He always told the Zongli Yamen how much he always wanted the Cantonese Dialect Institute to start classes as soon as possible. Good words, I almost rushed into the capital and kowtowed to some elders next to each other! Ji Weng, I want to accomplish something in the Qing Dynasty, it is so difficult!" In a word, Zuo Zongtang's eyes turned red suddenly, and he couldn't help saying emotionally: "Disheng is a great talent in governing the country. Except for his lack of talent in military affairs, he is better than Zuo Laosan in everything else! " Li Hongzhang's expression sank when he heard this, but he quickly hid his displeasure, and said with a smile: "Ji Weng, it's just the right time for the naval camp to be built, and it's really a blessing for the country!" Zuo Zongtang was taken aback for a moment, and couldn't help asking: "Shaoquan, what do you say?" Li Hongzhang said with a smile: "Ji Weng asked the question knowingly. Jiangning has been surrounded by our army, and the Jiushuai's auspicious battalion has camped in Yuhuatai. But Hong Nishui is strong, and there are several Western-built iron-clad warships among them. It's amazing! Our Hunan Army navy has suffered repeated setbacks, but we can't do anything about it. Even if my mentor is rushing to build warships for days, he can't be in a hurry! But at this time, you have built a navy camp in Quzhou. If these boats are sailed to the surface of Jiangning, isn’t Jiangning’s recovery only a matter of time?” Hearing this, Zuo Zongtang slapped Li Hongzhang on the shoulder suddenly and said: "Shaoquan, thanks for reminding me! The imperial court repeatedly ordered our army to send troops to Jiangning to help the suppression, and my brother is worried that he has no soldiers to dispatch! Okay, let's go As my brother said, after a short rest, let Liu Peiyuan lead the army to help Zeng Laojiu conquer Jiangning and take away Hong Ni's lair! Cut off his dog's head and use it as a chamber pot!" That night, Zuo Zongtang prepared several sumptuous banquets to entertain Li Hongzhang and his party.Li Hongzhang stayed in Quzhou for three days before rushing to Anqing by boat. On the day Li Hongzhang left Quzhou, Zuo Zongtang sent Liu Peiyuan and his ship to Jiangning to assist in the suppression. Zuo Zongtang rested in Quzhou for another day, dealt with a few local matters, and was about to set off to rush back to Wuyuan, but Ri Yige took a copy, a general, and a dozen personal soldiers, and took Chang Jiejun's Western Build a steamer and a fast boat, and rush over like flying. The boat was docked at the pier, and Riyige didn't need anyone to support him. He strode forward and jumped onto the shore with a bow. The soldiers were so scared that they shouted "brave".Ri Yige rushed into the city, went straight to the Governor's Xingyuan, and bumped head-to-head with Zuo Zongtang who had just stepped out of the gate. When Ri Yige saw Zuo Zongtang, he didn't care about saluting at the moment, he grinned and shouted, "Master Futai, where are you going?" Zuo Zongtang was stunned for a moment, and seeing the aggressive manner of Japan, he couldn't help asking: "General Japan, you don't work in the Ningbo Taxation Department, and you don't go with Chang Jie's army to fight Changmao. What are you doing here?" Riyige gasped and said, "Thanks to my coming in time!" Zuo Zongtang knew that foreigners were disrespectful, so he didn't blame him, so he said, "General Japanese, don't worry, please go inside if you have something to say. How about Leborough Dongxie Taiwan?" Ri Yige walked and said: "It is good to fight with Master Futai! Futai is the famous Liang Zhuge in the Qing Dynasty. Whoever dares to say no, I will fight him first!" Ri Yige always It has become a habit to say Chinese people's first and last names upside down. After arriving at the official hall and sitting down, the Japanese guards were not as good as they were when they served tea, and said straight away: "Master Futai, what is the speed of the warship built by the navy? Can it compare with the iron-clad warship made in our country?" Zuo Zongtang replied truthfully: "The Japanese generals are poor. The Japanese generals have been working in our tax department for a long time. You should know that the warships built by our country are not comparable to those made by Western countries. The ships are all pulled by steam turbines, and they run fast and stable, while the warships built in our country are all drawn by manpower, and cannot move without rowing or raising the sails. Japanese generals, why do you ask this for nothing?" Ri Yige nodded, and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, Futai. I heard in Ningbo that the imperial court has authorized you to start a rice donation in Zhejiang Province. This is why I came here. My lord, Futai, why haven't you seen me?" To observe Hu? Could it be that he has been sent out by your old servant to persuade him to donate?" Zuo Zongtang stroked his beard, and said slowly: "General Japanese, if you have anything to say, just say it directly. Why did you come in such a hurry this time?" Riyige said: "Master Futai, I came here this time just to help you build a batch of warships like ours. My lord knows that most of the warships built by your country are made of wood. Not only is the speed slow, but it is also inconvenient to engage in battle, and it will sink in one hit. Since your lord has already spent money, why not build some warships that are the same as those of Western countries? Wooden warships can deal with long hairs. If we deal with Britain, Russia and other countries, it will not work!" When Zuo Zongtang learned of Riyige's intentions, he couldn't help letting go of his heart immediately. He smiled and said: "What the Japanese general said is very true, and it is very reasonable. But now Jiangning is not conquered, and most of Zhejiang Province Still in Changmao's hands, even if the headquarters wants to do this right now, they don't have the financial resources. However, the headquarters is still grateful to the Japanese generals from the bottom of their hearts." Ri Yige hurriedly said: "Master Futai, hasn't the imperial court approved you to advocate rice donations? If you donate money, you will get money. With money, your lord can not only build iron-clad warships, but also guns and cannons." Make it! My lord, listen to my words, I know the secret of shipbuilding, my lord buys a ship from the West, and you can build three or four of the same ship! Also, guns and cannons, really make them It also saves money. I can buy the best shipbuilding equipment for my lord, and I can poach the best technicians from our country's shipyards for my lord! "My lord, I have been doing things for your country for many years. You don't need to trust others, don't you believe me? Last time, the price of the guns and artillery I bought through Mr. Du Buyi was the lowest? Is the quality top-notch? If you don’t believe me, you can ask Mr. Zeng, Governor of Liangjiang, or Li Futai of Jiangsu!” Riyige became excited while talking, and suddenly raised his fist, hitting his chest with a "bang bang bang". Zuo Zongtang waved his hand to signal Riyige to stop, and said in a deep voice: "General Japanese, the headquarters understands what you said. In fact, it is not as easy as you said to build a shipyard. Iron Armor If boats, guns and cannons can be made so easily, why should our country buy them from other countries? There are some things that your Japanese generals only know about one, but not the other. About things about our country, you are even worse than the headquarters The court understands it clearly. My family, Mr. Zeng Jue, set up a firearms repair shop in Anqing, and hired foreign technicians to manufacture some firearms, but do you know how much silver is needed to manufacture a gun? It costs two The silver of a gun!" Ri Yige widened his eyes and asked: "Master Futai, how is this possible? I know the secrets of making guns, how can it be more expensive to make a gun than buying a gun? Master Futai is telling a joke, isn't that true?" possible!" Zuo Zongtang stroked his beard and smiled and said, "General Japanese, once the headquarters settles accounts with you, you will know the reason. First of all, there are no technicians who make guns in our country, and they need to be hired in Western countries with high salaries. Iron and steel, coal, produced in our country are not up to standard, and you have to hire a ship to go to a foreign country to buy. I won’t talk about other things, but just the above items, how much money is needed! "Of course, the headquarters is not here to slander the Anqing Firearms Institute. The significance of the Anqing Firearms Institute does not lie in whether it is a loss or a profit, but that this is a necessary path for a strong country. Not defending yourself is self-protection. Buying guns by ship is not a long-term solution. But we are in the middle of suppressing thieves in the Qing Dynasty, and the military pay is in arrears. How can we have such financial resources? General Japanese, you can come to discuss the matter of shipbuilding with the Ministry. The Ministry is very happy , the headquarters will definitely recommend you to the imperial court when looking for an opportunity." Ri Yige rolled his eyes three times, and said again: "My lord Futai, I have already taken care of your lordship. Your country is currently short of money. I know the inside story. It is really not easy to build a shipyard all at once. My lord So I discussed it with Mr. Bodemi, our country's minister in your country. By the way, I didn't make my words clear. The minister of Bodemi rushed to Ningbo to discuss with you. Lord Bodmi passed me. After the persuasion, he said that he can persuade the domestic capital to build a shipyard in Ningbo in cooperation with the adults. All the raw materials and technicians can be provided by our country. I just saw a piece of land in Ningbo for my lord. It is not too far from the pier, and it is not too close. It is very suitable for building a shipyard. If your lord has no objection, I will write to Lord Bordemi right now and ask him to come here or to Ningbo. , to have further discussions with your lord. My lord, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!" After finishing speaking in Japanese and Italian, he motioned to the copywriter beside him to open the cover (file folder), and he wanted to write a letter to Baldmi himself. Zuo Zongtang said with a wry smile: "The headquarters can't see that the Japanese general is impatient. Japanese general, please don't rush to write letters to the minister. What you said is not feasible. The shipyard Our country will definitely be built, but not now, and will not partner with other countries. General Japanese, the kindness of you and Minister Baldmi is appreciated by the Ministry. If you see Minister Baldmi again, please represent the Ministry The hospital greeted him. Japanese general, you have been in Ningbo for a long time, you should know that Ningbo is too small to build a shipyard. Even if one day, our country really wants to build a shipyard, the site will not be in Ningbo. You, just Don’t look at the land there. There are still some things to do in Wuyuan of the Headquarters, so you have to rush there. If there is anything, the Headquarters will let you know.” After Zuo Zongtang finished speaking, he stretched out his hand to pick up the tea bowl on the table.Riyige has been in China for many years, and he knows the rules of the officialdom of the Qing Dynasty, and knows that Zuo Zongtang is serving tea to see off guests, so he stood up reluctantly, and said sullenly: "My lord, if you are in a hurry, I will not be good." What to say more. I would like to remind my lord that if you want to build a shipyard, you must tell me. I am familiar with several shipyards in our country. Anyone who likes me, as long as my lord likes you, I will send you a message. Believe it, he will come over immediately, and never dare to bargain! There is one more thing I want to report to my lord, the observation history has owed Chang Jiejun two months of military pay. I was ordered by General Le Boledong to find him Go ask for it, but he not only refuses to give it, but also said that it is being prepared! The observation history is too unfriendly to Chang Jiejun, General Le Boledong asked me to tell the adults, please dismiss the observation history, and let the observation Hu go to Ningbo. Observation Hu is the richest man in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and he is very familiar with General Le Boledong and my humble servant." Zuo Zongtang did not move his hand while holding the tea, but replied in his mouth: "General Japanese, what you said, Shi Dao, has been reported to the governor's yamen. Shi Dao is a relatively capable official in the Qing Dynasty. The Ministry believes that In a few days, he will raise the payment owed to Chang Jie's army. Your country has done a lot to train this team for our country, and we will not be in arrears for a long time. Japanese general, do you have anything else to say? Want to talk?" Riyige finally let out a long sigh, bowed out in disappointment. Looking at the back of Riyige, Zuo Zongtang said to an aide beside him: "Borrowing the help of teachers to help the suppression, although the effect is remarkable, but the salary is too heavy. Chang Jie's army of 2,000 people has to pay a few dollars a month. I have twice as much as the three thousand Chu army! The headquarters had a very good talk with Li Shaoquan Zhongcheng this time. Shaoquan has a true biography, a quick mind, young and promising, and he is starting to rectify the Changsheng army. About Chang Jiejun, the headquarters The court should also look for opportunities to eliminate them. Once the funds are available in the future, try to imitate steamships, warships and iron-clad ships. After Zuo Zongtang finished speaking, he got up and led a group of officials to leave Quzhou on the same day and rush back to Wuyuan by land.