Chapter 60 Section 60: Drinking and making trouble

An imperial decree quickly entered Fujian, at the request of Zuo Zongtang, ordering Premier Shen Baozhen to manage the ship; Hu Xueyan was dispatched by Shen Baozhen. At the end of the imperial decree, he added: "Zuo Zongtang asked Liu Dian to assist in military affairs in Gansu. Today, he sent an order to Liu Dianming to do as requested. He also ordered Li Hanzhang, the governor of Huguang, to urge Liu Dian to take the new post in Ganbei, while still listening to Zuo. Zongtang dispatched a few battalions to bring them into Gansu. Two of them, Zhang Shusu and Xie Weifan, also ordered Liu Rong and Qiao Songnian to go to Zuo Zongtang's military camp. Here you go."

Qiao Songnian mentioned in the imperial decree was originally the governor of Anhui. Qiao Songnian, styled Jianhou and named Hechai, was born in Xugou, Shanxi Province, and was a Jinshi of Daoguang.In the third year of Xianfeng (1853 A.D.), he was released to Jiangsu. Because he was not sharp and was always cautious as an official, he always bowed when meeting his superiors.Beginning in the sixth year of Xianfeng (1856 A.D.), he was stationed in Changzhou with Yiliang, governor of Liangjiang, and his waist became more bent.Every time I see Yiliang, not only dare not look up, but also never speak loudly.

At first, Yiliang mistakenly thought that he had a back problem, and advised him to find a good doctor to treat him.Yiliang once wanted to eat turtle fish, but he couldn't get it after buying it several times.It was only later that I learned that sea turtles are fished in different seasons, not in all seasons.This incident somehow reached his ears.It was late and he had already had dinner.Hearing that Zhitai wanted to eat turtle fish but couldn't buy it, he immediately changed his clothes, ran to a bend in a river, went down to touch it himself, his feet were stabbed twice in a row, and after a whole night of tossing and turning, he managed to find three turtle fish. Only turtle.

Early the next morning, he didn't bother to eat breakfast, and limped to see Yiliang with a turtle fish in his hand, sneezing.Yiliang was greatly moved, and from then on he became his confidant and tried his best to recommend him.Three years later, he recommended the Huaihe River Salt Transport Envoy, and also managed the Northern Jiangsu Liangtai, and the next year supervised the Jiangnan Jiangbei Liangtai.In the third year of Tongzhi (1864 A.D.), I don't know why he was awarded the second-rank Dingdai for some merit. He was appointed as the political envoy of Jiangning, and then the governor of Anhui, and finally became a senior official.After that, not only did Qiao Songnian no longer bend his waist, but he also spoke in a frighteningly loud voice to his subordinates.Others said that Qiao Songnian's governor was replaced by two bastards (the bastards are the folk name of turtle fish), but he laughed it off, neither anxious nor annoyed.In the fifth year of Tongzhi (1866 AD), he replaced Liu Rong as governor of Shaanxi.Qiao Songnian didn't have outstanding achievements, so he wasn't considered capable, but he wasn't too incompetent either, it's just that his method of seeking officials was a little different.

Qiao Songnian only arrived in Xi'an last month to serve as the governor of Shaanxi. After Liu Rong, acting governor of Shaanxi, handed over the customs, he was ordered to stay in Shaanxi to handle military affairs. On the second day after the decree arrived, I had just opened the Riyige and Deke monuments that the Ningbo Taxation Department had arrived in Fujian. I learned that the imperial decree had ordered Shen Baozhen to be the Minister of Shipping, Ma Xinyi Governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, and Zuo Zongtang went to Shaanxi and Gansu After that, they stopped asking about the shipping administration. Both of them were taken aback. They got together for a long time to discuss in secret, thinking that the Qing Dynasty's affairs were difficult to achieve, and there was no end, all because of their changing orders.They believe that if they do not protest at this time, the tragedy of the trial ship production in Hangzhou will surely be repeated in Fuzhou.After the two of them discussed, they sent people to buy food and drink, and started to drink until they were fearless. Then they smashed the wine jar, and went to the governor's office with red eyes to see Zuo Zongtang.

At this time, Zuo Zongtang, together with Xu Zongqian, Hu Xueyan, Fujian Buyongdao, Fujian Chief Envoy Zhou Kaixi, Fujian Yanfadao Xia Xianlun, Liangdao Yingpu, etc., were discussing and drafting the Charter of the Shipping Bureau and the Qiushi Hall in the signing room. Articles of association of art bureau, salaries of foreign teachers hired after school starts, etc. At this moment, Riyige and Dekebei came to the gate with a few entourages and accomplices.When the guards on guard saw it, they hurried forward to intercept it. It was nothing more than a matter of etiquette, not to mention that it is not allowed to let people into the yamen without authorization, and they must be notified in advance.This is the duty of a guard, and it is reasonable.

Riyige had already forgotten these rules because of drinking; the guard asked him to wait, but he ignored him, pushed the guard aside with his hand, and rushed in with big strides.The guard yelled anxiously from behind: "Quickly report to Master Jue Shuai that Master Riyi Geyang has broken in!" The guard guarding the gate heard the words and was about to go in to report when Ri Yige and the others walked in quickly and rushed straight to the signing room. Pushing open the door of the signing room, seeing people sitting in the room, Ri Yige was still not awake, waving his hands and shouting at Zuo Zongtang who was sitting on the kang: "Lord Zuo, your country has no promises. You are making fun of me and our craftsmen, I want to protest to you! Strongly protest! I want to invite our Minister to my country, Mr. Berdmi, to negotiate with the Prime Minister’s Office of your country and your Queen Mother! You must negotiate! You are too much! "

As soon as Hu Xueyan saw Ri Yige's expression, he knew that he must have drunk too much, so he hurriedly got up and came forward, pulled Ri Yige's sleeve and said, "Why are you always like this? This is the governor The yamen is not your office, you should take people out quickly, and come back when you are sober!" Ri Yige shouted: "Master Hu, don't stop me! You are a good man, I know it, but I must protest to Lord Jue Shuai!" Zuo Zongtang saw that Riyi was in a bad mood, so his face sank, and he shouted: "Hu Xueyan, sit down first, the main hall wants to listen, what is he going to protest to the main hall!"

Hu Xueyan glanced at Riyige, and muttered in a low voice: "You have caused trouble!" He sat back in his seat helplessly. Ri Yige didn't pay attention to what Hu Xueyan said, nor did he care about Zuo Zongtang's attitude. He stepped in front of the kang, waved his hands and said: "Master Zuo, I just don't understand why your country always has a beginning and no end? You know In order to hire technicians for the Shipping Bureau, De Kebei spoke so many good words to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of our country! Now that the machines have been purchased, and our technicians have left their wives and come here, what kind of Shaanxi and Gansu are you going to now? Be the governor! Your country is so dishonest, even if I, Japan and Italy Geken, handle it accommodatingly, His Majesty the Great Emperor of our country will still make representations to your country! You are going too far!" He stomped his feet and unbuttoned his clothes, revealing his thick chest hair.

Xu Zongqian said at this time: "My lord, why are you confused? Yes, Jue Shuai is about to go to Shaanxi and Gansu to become the governor, but the imperial court has ordered Shen Gongbao to be the Minister of Shipping. Our country has not said that we will no longer run the Shipping Bureau. What does it have to do with Jue Shuai not being able to arrive in Shaanxi and Gansu? Quickly fasten the buttons. If you look like this, let outsiders see it, what will you do?" Ri Yige shouted: "Xu Futai, you are using beautiful words to fool me, I know everything! At the beginning Zuo Da commanded me and Dekebei to try to manufacture a ship in Hangzhou, Ma Futai said the same. You guys None of the officials of the Qing Dynasty are willing to do practical things, all of them are obedient and obedient! I will not be fooled by you anymore! I just don’t allow Mr. Zuo to go to Shaanxi and Gansu!"

Hu Xueyan saw that Ri Yige talked more and more, and Zuo Zongtang's face became more and more ugly, so he couldn't help getting up again and said to Ri Yige: "The more you talk, the more outrageous you are! Jue Shuai is the majestic official of the Qing Dynasty. Listen Yours is still from the imperial court? You are here to discuss matters, what are you doing unbuttoning your clothes? Fasten them!" Ri Yige patted his chest hair with his hands and shouted: "Master Hu, you are the best person in the Qing Dynasty! But I can't listen to you. Your court is too much! That horse is very unfriendly to us, but he Come to be governor, what shall we do? That horse is too bad! I don’t agree! Firmly disagree! Master Zuo is not allowed to leave here!” At this time, Zuo Zongtang understood what Riyige wanted to say. He wanted to reprimand him a few words, but he was afraid that it would cause unnecessary negotiations, so he suppressed his anger and said in a calm tone: "Riyige Ge, the Motobutang already knows the reason for your visit. You are worried that after the Motobutang leaves Fujian and Zhejiang, the Shipping Bureau will not continue to operate, right?" Ri Yige hurriedly replied: "Your Excellency created the Ship Administration Bureau. Now that your Excellency is about to leave, but the horse is coming here, does the Ship Administration Bureau still want to continue? It's easy for me to return to the tax department. But what about the Deke stele and our technicians? He signed a contract with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of our country!" Zuo Zongtang smiled and said: "Riyige, you and Dekebei should go back to the director of the shipping bureau. The head of the department will ask for an order tomorrow, and promise to give you and Dekebei a satisfactory answer." You, fasten the buttons first. It’s windy outside, so don’t cause any problems. From now on, the Shipping Bureau will rely on you and Di Kebei to take care of it.” After Zuo Zongtang finished speaking, he picked up the teacup casually, and said in his mouth: "Come here, send the two adults, Riyige and Dekebei, back to your signature!" Riyige wanted to say something else, but two guards walked in and tried to persuade the group to get out.After Ri Yige and others withdrew, Xu Zongqian said angrily: "These foreign bastards are too presumptuous! They dare to do this in front of the Marshal! They even show their black hair to scare people!" Hu Xueyan also hurriedly said: "Si Li will go to the Shipping Bureau to settle accounts with this foreign bastard in a short while! If he refuses to apologize to Jue Shuai and admit his mistakes, Si Li will not give up. In a hurry, Si Li will go to Fuzhou Consul Bai Laini Let Belini teach him a lesson! This bastard is so uneducated!" Zuo Zongtang waved his hand and said, "The Benbutang thought about it just now, and what Riyige was worried about is not completely unreasonable. In the Qing Dynasty, there are indeed many things that have a beginning and an end. Regarding the Ship Administration Bureau, the Benbutang still has to deal with it." You must ask your superiors." That night, while Zuo Zongtang was writing a copy of "Detailed Discussion on the Establishment of Shipping Regulations, Purchasing Equipment, and Recruitment of Artisans" and "Secretly Presenting Shipping Administration Opportunities and Drafting the Regulations of the Art Bureau", he also attached "The Shipping Bureau Incident Will Still Come The title is "Chen Yizhao's Great Letter". Zuo Zongtang played the request in the film. In order to prevent foreigners from being suspicious, after he left, if there was an incident at the Shipping Bureau, could he jointly report it with Shen Baozhen? To say a thousand words and ten thousand, Zuo Zongtang is most worried about Ma Xinyi. After resting that night, Miss Xiang saw that Zuo Zongtang had been discussing the matter of the Shipping Bureau for more than ten days in a row, so she couldn't help asking: "My lord, the imperial court has issued a decree to let Mr. Shen be the Minister of Shipping, who is in charge of the Shipping Bureau. How do you respond?" Don’t let go? You are about to go out to supervise the army. I heard that the climate in Shaanxi and Gansu is unpredictable and extremely bad. You should take a good rest and regain your strength!” Zuo Zongtang touched Miss Xiang's hair with his hand, and sighed: "Xiang'er, master, I am only a few days away from being fifty-five years old this year. This Shipping Bureau may also be the biggest in my life. One thing. If it is done well, it may be famous for thousands of years. If it is not done well, it will be stigmatized forever! The imperial court sent someone else to governor Fujian and Zhejiang, but they just released Ma Gushan! How dare I let go so easily, sir! Xiang'er, Wu Zhongxuan is about to take office, and I am about to leave, and you and your wife are about to return to Xiangyin. My wife is sick, so don't get angry with her, and take good care of her body for me." Miss Xiang whispered: "I have made up my mind, I will not follow my wife back to Xiangyin. The master is already so old and going to such a far place, the servant will not rest assured that the master will go alone. The master will not care about it in the future. Wherever I go, my servants will follow me wherever I go, and I will never leave half a step away." Zuo Zongtang smiled and said, "You Xiang'er, the weather in Shaanxi and Gansu is bad, and you often fly sand and rocks. How can you go to your daughter's house? You have to be obedient and follow your wife back to Xiangyin to live. Master, I will be here in a few years." You can return to your post. At that time, you just want to leave me, and I'm afraid you won't be able to." Miss Xiang said resolutely: "I have made up my mind. Even if Shaanxi and Gansu are hell, I am determined to go. Unless the master asks the slave to be beaten to death with a stick, no one will want the slave to change her mind!" The next day, another decree was sent to the governor's office of Fujian and Zhejiang in a hurry: Ma Xinyi did not need to replace the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang.Zuo Zongtang breathed a sigh of relief after seeing off the messenger. The day after Shen Baozhen came to Fuzhou Shipping Bureau to pay his respects to India, Wu Tang also came to Fuzhou by boat with his entourage and his family. Zuo Zongtang first moved his family out of the governor's office, and then he handled the delivery with Wu Tang; the three imperial edicts were handed in to the governor's office at this time. Zuo Zongtang, Wu Tang and Xu Zongqian, the governors of Fujian and Zhejiang who had just taken office, and Bu and Zongsi hurriedly knelt down to accept the order. The first decree agreed to Zuo Zongtang's request, and Zuo Zongtang could be included in Shen Baozhen's report to the Ship Administration Bureau; the second decree ordered Zuo Zongtang not to come to Beijing for training, but to rush to Gansu to supervise military affairs; the third decree Zuo Zongtang was ordered to march from Hubei to Shaanxi, first to "conquer and suppress the thieves in Nanshan", and then go to Gansu after the situation improved. The three statements of the three imperial edicts show that the imperial court is also in chaos. Zuo Zongtang never expected that the situation in Shaanxi and Gansu would change so quickly. On the day he received the order, he hurriedly handed over to Wu Tang, Shen Baozhen and others. Hubei.Miss Xiang accompanied Zuo Zongtang on the expedition and took care of Zuo Zongtang's daily life along the way; Wu Tang sent people to hire a boat for Zuo Zongtang's family members to send them back to Xiangyin.