Chapter 47 Section 47 How officials are promoted

In the third year of Tongzhi (AD 1864), the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was destroyed. The court was overjoyed, and began to worry about Zeng Guofan, the commander of the Hunan Army who held a heavy army, and even more worried that Zeng Guofan and Zuo Zongtang would join forces... Zeng Guofan soon realized this. When he retreated, he took the initiative to ask the court to abolish the Hunan Army. Zeng Guofan's performance just catered to the court's psychology, so there was no reason why it should not be allowed.Zeng Guofan asked himself to abolish the Hunan Army, and went to the heart of the Qing Dynasty. Not only will the court no longer make things difficult for Zeng Guofan, but even the Hunan Army invaded and seized a large amount of gold and silver hoarded by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom in Jinling.

After Zuo Zongtang learned that Zeng Guofan had begun to abolish the Hunan Army, he couldn't help but sighed to the sky: "If you want to save your life, you can only do this!" After thinking for a long time, he suddenly said to himself: "If you can Preserving a bloodline for the Hunan Army is the best!" That night, he sent his subordinates Yang Changjun and Hu Xueyan into the governor's office, and the three discussed the matter together.Yang Changjun thought for a while and said: "Jiangxi is at peace, and all Hunan armies have been recalled to Jiangning to be abolished. Only Liu Shouqing's 40th Battalion with 20,000 people is still fighting in Fujian Province. Gong Bao wants to leave a banner for the Hunan Army , without being discovered by the court, we can only think of ideas from Shouqing."

Hu Xueyan nodded and said: "My lord's words are very true. There are some things that the palace guards don't want to say, and Prime Minister Zeng Jue can't say anything to the court. But how to deal with it, you have to think about it before you can play it. You can't let people gossip, and We can't give people an excuse, as if we are deliberately obstructing the disbandment of the Hunan Army." Zuo Zongtang pondered for a long time, gritted his teeth and said: "From this point of view, there is no chance, and this memorial is really not easy to take casually!" Several people chatted some more gossips, and then dispersed.

Shortly after breakfast the next day, the French Minister to China, Berthyme, arrived in Hangzhou to see Zuo Zongtang, with the counselor and military attache and other entourage.Bai Demi came to Hangzhou this time, adhering to the will of the country, and came to discuss cooperation with Zuo Zongtang on shipbuilding.The French cabinet analyzed the information collected by Baldmi, Riyig and others and believed that Zuo Zongtang would build a ship sooner or later. If France did not take the lead, this lucrative business might be taken away by Britain.Britain was the first European country to deal with the Qing Dynasty. It is conceivable that they would not let go of this best opportunity to make a fortune.

The French cabinet signaled Baldmi to take the initiative and do everything possible to persuade Zuo Zongtang to cooperate with France.Because they knew that before Hangzhou was recovered, Zuo Zongtang tried to build steamships in Quzhou, but unfortunately he failed; shortly after Hangzhou was recovered, Zuo Zongtang moved all the shipbuilders in Quzhou to Hangzhou, These craftsmen secretly studied the steamships purchased by Chang Jiejun from abroad, and decided to try again.How can Chinese craftsmen scrutinize parts over and over again on a foreign ship?Although Chang Jie's army insisted that most of them be laid off at this time, and some foreign soldiers have returned to their own countries with high salaries, Chang Jie's fleet is still there, and it is still composed of Dekebei, Riyige and Shi Zhier. The three manage together.

But Bai Demi's trip did not achieve the expected results. After listening to his words, Zuo Zongtang drank a sip of tea, and then said calmly: "This ministry thinks that your country's discussion is inappropriate. There are no craftsmen who can manufacture steamships, and you don’t have the financial resources to build large-scale shipyards. If your country sincerely wants to help our country, you can help us investigate the reasons for the failure of steamships, or hire a few foreign technicians who really understand for us. They can be offered high salaries and rewards."

Bai Demi had no choice but to leave Hangzhou in disappointment. Zuo Zongtang privately said to Yang Changjun: "The French proposed to cooperate with our country to set up a shipyard. In fact, they wanted to use our territory and money to do their own things. Cooperation like this , Even if we have cooperated for a hundred years, I still cannot build a ship by myself. This is not the way to a strong country, but the policy of a weak country. We will not do such a thing!" But Baldmi was not reconciled to his failure. After asking for instructions from China, he came to see Zuo Zongtang again, and said with a smile: "France decided to send Riyige and Dekebei to show their friendship with the Qing Dynasty." People, to help the Qing Dynasty trial-produce steamships, and lay a foundation for the construction of shipyards in the future."

Zuo Zongtang laughed and said: "Your country's idea is good, but the Ministry thinks that if Dekebei helps our country to trial-manufacture steamships, it will no longer be able to serve as the leader of Changjie's fleet, and Dikebei can serve as the governor's office. Riyi Ge can no longer serve as the Ningbo tax department, he, like Dekebei, can serve as the staff of the main hall, specializing in the trial production of steamships." Baldmi was stunned for a moment, but he didn't dare to refuse, let alone agree without authorization, so he asked the country again for an order.After discussion, the French cabinet agreed with Zuo Zongtang's proposal.Chang Jie's fleet was assigned to Liu Peiyuan's navy battalion, and Riyige and Dekebei continued to trial-produce steamships with Chinese craftsmen in Hangzhou as aides.

Soon, with the consent of Zuo Zongtang, Riyige successively hired more than a dozen shipbuilders from French domestic shipyards.After these technicians came to Hangzhou, they still settled in as staff. Chang Jiejun's entire bank was disbanded, and Zuo Zongtang followed Shi Zhier's request and asked to resign for him.The imperial court recited Shi Zhier's meritorious service in defending Ningbo, and rewarded him with original products for retirement.The imperial court then rewarded Lin Congyi with the rank of inspector of the third rank, and assigned him the title of Ning Shaotai Dao—after Zhongliang finally had a place to display his talents.

On September 10th in the third year of Tongzhi (AD 1864), after being chased and intercepted by various officials and troops in Anhui and Jiangxi provinces, Hong Tianguifu, the young master of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, and other kings below were all wiped out in Jiangxi; The rest of the army retreated to Fujian and the Shaanxi-Gansu area.The red flag victory report jointly titled by Zuo Zongtang and Shen Baozhen was sent to the capital quickly. At the same time as the imperial decree was issued, Zuo Zongtang began to arrange to leave Zhejiang and go to Fujian to take up his post. Hu Xueyan has brought some of his staff to escort Zuo Zongtang's family to board the ship and rush to Fuzhou.

Two months later, an imperial decree was delivered to the governor's office in Zhejiang.Zuo Zongtang hurriedly straightened his crown and dusted off his clothes, and took Yang Changjun and others to the official hall to kneel down to receive the imperial edict. The officer delivering the decree was full of joy, and walked briskly. Before delivering the decree, he whispered something to Zuo Zongtang: "Master Gongbao, you are always finished receiving the decree, so you should reward some low-level posts." After finishing the decree, he declared: "The cabinet issued an edict: the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang and the governor of Zhejiang Zuo Zongtang, the supervisor entered Zhejiang, restored the counties and counties in eastern Zhejiang, entered the west of Zhejiang, conquered the provincial capital of Hangzhou and Huzhou and other counties, cleared the whole of Zhejiang, and sent troops to intercept Suppress the bandits in southern Anhui and Jiangxi, wipe out the huge stocks, outstanding honors, I will be arrested when I was young against Hong Tiangui, wipe out the remnants, and the military affairs in the southeast will be gradually determined, and I should reward them. Zuo Zongtang is bestowed with a gift Earl, and reward Hua Ling. This time to intercept and suppress the young traitor Hong Tianguifu, we will contribute our personnel, Zuo Zongtang and Shen Baozhen will find out one by one, and the case will be guaranteed. This is yours." It's no wonder that the officials who delivered the decree asked for rewards without promulgating the decree. Zuo Zongtang was originally awarded the first-class earl by the court and rewarded him with a flower feather!Although before that, he was extremely eager to be promoted, but he never thought of becoming the fourth official to be awarded the earl after Zeng Guoquan, Li Hongzhang, and Guan Wen.On the night of receiving the order, Zuo Zongtang asked the court to take back the order according to the usual practice.On the same day, Shen Baozhen, the governor of Jiangxi Province, was also rewarded with a first-class top-ranking crown and a first-class light car captain. Zuo Zongtang's copy was handed into the palace, but the imperial court, as usual, refused to allow it, and made an exception to add the word Kejing in front of the earl.On the day Zuo Zongtang was granted the title of earl, a large-scale uprising broke out among the Uyghur people of various ethnic groups in Ili, Xinjiang, and soon spread to the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains.After various rebel armies fought each other, five local regimes that did not belong to each other emerged in Xinjiang and formed a state of separation and separatism. At the end of the year, with the direct participation of foreign craftsmen, the first steamship made by the Qing Dynasty itself was born in Hangzhou. At this time Zuo Zongtang had left Hangzhou for more than 80 li with his own military battalion, and was heading towards Fuzhou. After getting the news, he set up camp in Xindi, and then drove back to Hangzhou by sedan chair with only fifty soldiers and a few staff members. Ma Xinyi, the governor of Zhejiang who had just arrived, and Yang Changjun, the governor of Zhejiang, went to the riverside to watch the launch of the new boat. Seeing that Zuo Zongtang came to watch the steamship sailing in person, Ri Yige and De Kebei became more and more excited, and boarded the ship to direct a crew to drive it.First, a plume of thick smoke slowly rose from the boat, and then there was a sudden sound of a motor. Everyone watched the new boat leave the embankment and sail towards the center of the river. Ma Xinyi was so happy that he rubbed his hands together, he couldn't stop praising: "Je Shuai, I also have steamships in the Qing Dynasty! Good!" Yang Changjun had tears in his eyes, and he couldn't say anything other than saying yes. Character.Zuo Zongtang stroked his beard and stared for a long time, then suddenly said: "Send the order to Riyige to drive the ship to the maximum speed." The messenger quickly returned to the embankment and reported to Zuo Zongtang: "Report to Master Zuo, Lord Ri said that the speed of the ship has reached the maximum." Zuo Zongtang shook his head, and said to Ma Xinyi and Yang Changjun: "This kind of steamship is not much faster than the sailboats built in the Qing Dynasty, but the silver is extremely heavy, so it is not worthwhile. Yige and Dike Bei must find out the reason why the ship is not moving fast. It seems that this Japanese Yige is not very clear about the examination of the West Ship. If they really can't think of a way, they may as well write to Li Shaoquan Jueshuai , let him find a way with the British. If the British can figure out a way, we will quit Riyige and Deke stele, and ask British craftsmen to help. What do you two think?" Ma Xinyi smiled hurriedly: "Please don't worry Jue Shuai, the officer and Jiang Fangbo will play by ear."