Chapter 88 Section 88: Overlord Carrying the Coffin

On November 29th in the third year of Guangxu (AD 1877), Kashgar, which was originally a world of ice and snow, suddenly experienced a warming phenomenon that had not happened in a century.For a while, the sun was surprisingly hot, and the ground began to melt, as if spring had arrived. Liu Jintang firmly seized this golden opportunity, ordered the whole army to gather quickly, and left Kashgar in the afternoon of that day, heading for Khotan at high speed.The Khotan garrison was preparing for the New Year, when the officers and troops suddenly arrived, they were really caught off guard, and there was no other way to go except to raise a white flag at the top of the city to ask for surrender.

So far, except for Yili which is still in the hands of the Russian army, all the North and South Roads in Xinjiang have been recovered. When the good news was delivered to Suzhou, it was already the seventh day of the first lunar month in the fourth year of Guangxu (1878 A.D.). After reading the news, Zuo Zongtang was full of joy, and immediately passed the copy in, dictating the "Whether Xinjiang should be changed to a province and set up counties and counties to ask for an edict meeting", and solemnly proposed to the imperial court to change Xinjiang to a province and set up counties and counties suggestion.

Zuo Zongtang wrote another letter to Liu Jintang, asking Liu Jintang to write a letter to Kaufman, Governor of Turkestan, Russia, asking Kaufman to hand over Burke Houri, the imperial convict of the Qing Dynasty, and others to flee to Russia The bandit leader of the border. Zuo Zongtang believes that according to common sense, Russia should be able to return the fugitives to China when they ask Russia for imperial convicts at this time. Zuo Zongtang's letter stated: "Ask for the first rebellion, and see how he answers. In common sense, the governor of Turkestan has no excuses for his poor words."

After Liu Jintang received Zuo Zongtang's letter, he immediately sent a letter to Kaufman, asking him to convict Burke Holly and others, but Kaufman ignored it at all. At this time, Zuo Zongtang sent his staff to the area of ​​Huzhou, recruited a large number of silkworm workers from Huzhou, sent silkworm workers to bring mulberry seedlings and silkworm tools to Gansu, and the local government issued corresponding silver taels, and taught a large number of apprentices to raise silkworms in Gansu.Zuo Zongtang decided to develop the silk weaving industry in Gansu. Another committee member Zuo Zongtang raised funds to set up a weaving bureau in Lanzhou.On the ninth day of February in the fourth year of Guangxu (AD 1878), the imperial decree was delivered to Suzhou.

Zuo Zongtang brushed off his clothes, stepped into the official hall and knelt down to accept the order. This is naturally another award-giving edict: "The imperial envoy, grand scholar, and governor of Shaanxi and Gansu, Zuo Zongtang, raised troops and raised wages. Waiting. The third-rank Jingtang Liu Jintang, who is a candidate for the third-rank Jingtang, is wise and brave, and he wins by surprise. He also especially emphasized this sentence: "Burke Houri and others, the minister and others are still in charge of ordering Liu Jintang and others to try to capture them, so that they will not slip through the net." To show that although Xinjiang has recovered, it is not yet perfect.

Zuo Zongtang finally became another Han marquis after Zeng Guofan; Liu Jintang was also promoted to a baron because of his recovery of Xinjiang. At the same time as the imperial decree was issued, the Zongli Yamen began to negotiate with Kai Yangde, Russia's acting minister in China, for the return of Yili through diplomatic channels.At this time, Liu Dian, the deputy in charge of military affairs, fell ill in Lanzhou and was unable to be a member of the board of directors. In desperation, Zuo Zongtang had no choice but to ask Yang Changjun, the reformed governor of Zhejiang, to go to Lanzhou to help with the aftermath of Gansu and Xinjiang on the grounds that "it is difficult to take care of both due to old age, infirmity and illness".Why is Yang Changjun the retired governor?This is also because of the involvement in the Yuhangcheng Ge Bishi case.The so-called Ge Bishi case is the well-known case of Yang Naiwu and Xiaobaicai.Yang Changjun, then the governor of Zhejiang, was dismissed and demoted to four ranks for the crime of negligence.Zuo Zongtang privately believed that if Yang Changjun was not supported in time at this time, Yang Changjun might not have a bright future in his life.After all, Yang Changjun is Zuo Zongtang's life and death brother who has been with him for many years.

On June 21 of the same year, the Prime Minister’s Yamen had no choice but to send Chonghou, Minister of the Ministry of Officials and the former Minister of Commerce, to Russia to negotiate the recovery of Yili and other matters when negotiations with Kai Yangde, the acting minister of Russia in China, were fruitless. . When the news spread to Suzhou, Zuo Zongtang immediately ordered Jinshun and others in the northern Xinjiang to order his military governors to rush to the surrounding area of ​​Ili, preparing to take back Ili by force if negotiations failed. Jinshun didn't dare to be negligent after receiving the order, so he quickly dispatched troops and generals to arrange quietly; Liu Jintang, who was taking care of the aftermath in Kashgar, also transferred the old Hunan army's horses and step battalions, left southern Xinjiang, and quietly drove to Yili.

At the end of the year, Zuo Zongtang ordered Liu Jintang to set up a manufacturing bureau and a Kuqa gunpowder bureau in Aksu, Xinjiang, and resume production at the Xinjiang Iron Works.After Zuo Zongtang invited the imperial court, Xinjiang Iron Works was allowed to invite investment. Soon, Liu Dian died of illness in Lanzhou. At the beginning of the fifth year of Guangxu (AD 1879), Zuo Zongtang ordered Hu Xueyan of the Shanghai Transit Bureau to order machines and hire German technicians in Shanghai, and planned to test gold, oil and other mines in Suzhou. Zuo Zongtang pointed out: "Mining affairs must be run by the government, but government-run operations are not as good as contractors, so the government-run operations must be started first, and commercial operations must be followed."

Zuo Zongtang decided to use his lifetime to do as many things as possible for the country. On August 17 of the same year, Chonghou, the first-class minister of the Qing Dynasty in Russia and plenipotentiary negotiator for Ili, signed a treaty in Russia with Gilles, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, regarding the return of Ili.Because it was signed in Livadia, Russia, it is also called the Treaty of Livadia.The treaty has 18 articles in total, and there are 17 articles in the "Aihui Special Articles", "Military Expenditures and Remuneration Special Articles" and "Regulations on Overland Trade".The main contents of the treaty are as follows: 1. China only took back the city of Ili, but Russia cut off the land west of Ili to the west of the Horgos River, the south of Ili to the Tekes River, and the land to the east of Zaisang Lake in the Talbahatai area; 2. Russia can trade tax-free throughout Mongolia and Xinjiang; 3. China will pay Russia five million rubles for military expenses (equivalent to 2.8 million taels of silver).In addition, there are provisions such as expanding trade routes, opening up the Songhua River, and adding consulates in Jiayuguan, Urumqi, and Hami.

When the treaty signed by Chonghou and Gilles was sent to Suzhou in the form of imperial decree, Zuo Zongtang was so angry that he was so angry that he trembled and cursed: "Chonghou made a mistake. The country! Chonghou wronged the country! I want to go up, the treaty signed by Chonghou is a traitorous treaty! It is a treaty that harms the country! The imperial court cannot approve it! If this treaty is ratified, the nine cities of Ili will no longer exist, and the country will suffer greatly. .” Zuo Zongtang did what he said, and quickly issued the "Report on the Handover of Ili by Fuchen", insisting: "If the decree is allowed to be carried out, it will be harmed by it, and we should try to recover it to maintain the overall situation."

Zuo Zongtang had already made up his mind that if the imperial court really approved the treaty, he would return to Beijing to present his different opinions to the Empress Dowager Cixi in person, and regain Yili by force. After Zuo Zongtang, there were memorials from Liangjiang governor Shen Baozhen and other governors, saying: "The Russians threatened too much, and Chonghou's proposal should be discarded." However, Li Hongzhang, the governor of Zhili, a university scholar, and a few people thought: "It's up to me to agree first and then turn it over." They agreed to approve the contract signed by Chonghou.What Li Hongzhang was most worried about was "starting the provocation". On the day of receiving the decree, Li Hongzhang once said to Sheng Xuanhuai: "Signing and breaking the contract, no country has settled the case. If Russia contacts Western countries to attack me, how can my Qing Dynasty stand up to it!" When Li Hongzhang's book was handed over to the capital, it immediately attracted a lot of scolding. All of a sudden, memorials and papers were flying in the sky above the Qing Dynasty. The public said what was right, and the mother-in-law said what the mother-in-law said. Not long after, Zuo Zongtang received another decree: "Liu Jintang will make up the appointment of the general administration envoy." On the fifth day of November of the same year, Zuo Zongtang received the imperial edict.Because Chonghou was about to return to the country to return to his command, the imperial court ordered Zuo Zongtang to make arrangements in advance for the northern and southern borders.Although the imperial decree did not specify whether to approve the contract signed by Chonghou, Zuo Zongtang realized by feeling that his notes had played a role. Zuo Zongtang's expectation was right, his notes did play a decisive role.Because at the same time when the imperial decree was issued, the Prime Minister’s Yamen, adhering to the imperial decree of the Empress Dowager Cixi, sent a note to the Russian embassy in China, claiming that the contract signed between Chonghou and Gilles was "unsolicited", "many violated the authority of the overseer", The treaty was declared invalid and not ratified on the grounds that "too many things hindered the progress". Soon, the imperial court of the Qing Dynasty made an announcement at home and abroad, declaring: "Chonghou will be dismissed from his post and will be executed as a prisoner. He has been escorted back to the capital and will be executed after the autumn. In addition, Zeng Jize, the minister in Britain and France, will be appointed as an envoy. The Russian imperial envoy is focusing on negotiating and signing an agreement with Russia on the handover of Ili." The imperial court quickly issued an order to Zuo Zongtang, fearing that the contract would not be rescheduled, and thus started a big quarrel, ordering Zuo Zongtang to make specific military deployments for the recovery of Ili by force, and at the same time appointed Liu Jintang to assist in military affairs in Xinjiang.The imperial decree also ordered Zuo Zongtang to transfer the second army of Liu Jintang and Jinshun outside the pass to pay close attention to the movement of the Russian army stationed in Ili to prevent accidents. At this time, it was the middle of April in the sixth year of Guangxu (AD 1880), and Zuo Zongtang was already sixty-eight years old.When receiving the imperial edict, Zuo Zongtang had been ill for many days in Suzhou.This time, in addition to the relapse of the old disease, hemoptysis was added to this illness. Now he is relying on ginseng to support his spirit every day.He has already made his own birthday material and has painted it three times.In view of the lessons learned by the eldest son Xiaowei, although he fell ill several times, he did not dare to say a word in the letters to his son and Mrs. Zhang.He was afraid that his sons would come to see him together after they heard the news that he was seriously ill.Xiaowei died prematurely because of his visit to Lanzhou, which became his lifelong regret.He had already lost one son, and he couldn't let the other sons do the same.Although he can dream of his sons every night, he dare not miss them too much.Most of the old friends are dead, and it's his turn.But because the matter of Yili has not been resolved, he died, but he is really worried.He has made up his mind that even if he persists, he will persist until the day when Yili returns from the hands of the Russians. When he was sick, he asked for a discount on "Fuchen Arrangement".In a compromise, he supported resending Zeng Jize to Russia for re-discussion, thinking that "putting Guyu first" also pointed out: "If Russia is cunning and provocative and initiates a provocation, it has already combined the north and the south with all its strength to plan it carefully. "Based on the existing troops in Xinjiang, he deployed three routes of defense: "North route, Jinshun guards Jinghe; middle route, Zhang Yao stationed in Aksu; west route, Liu Jintang stationed in Kashgar, and entered Yili by way." It was only a month since this booklet was released, and he published the booklet "Handling the Aftermath of Xinjiang", emphasizing the dredging of rivers and canals, the construction of castles, the reclamation of Guangxing, the establishment of private schools, and the change of currency.He also proposed that in Xinjiang Qingzhangmu, the taxation should be divided into three levels: upper, middle, and lower, and the taxation should be reduced after imitating the ancient system, and one of them should be selected according to the tenths of the grain collected by the people. On the fifth day, Zuo Zongtang went to "Resume that it is appropriate to open a province in Xinjiang, please first brief the governors and ministers to make it happen".With this announcement, Zuo Zongtang's condition suddenly worsened due to being overworked for several days. Zuo Zongtang complained incessantly in his heart, thinking that the deadline had come, so before the imperial decree arrived, he ordered his own barracks to gather, and in the afternoon he led his own barracks, horses, and infantry teams to leave the customs and head for Hami.Any group of staff tried to persuade and stop him in every possible way, but he couldn't listen to a word, and he was extremely stubborn. Two quarters of an hour before leaving Suzhou, Zuo Zongtang sent the "Supervisor out of Tun Hami" brochure to the imperial court. At this time, Zuo Zongtang was weak and sick, and could no longer ride a horse. He could only ride a sedan chair with a stick, or lie in a car. However, he still decided to go to Hami to supervise the army nearby to add weight to the continued negotiation; He personally commanded the war to recover Ili by force in Xinjiang. Considering that he is old and sick, leaving the customs this time is likely to be on the road of no return. At the same time, in order to express his determination to regain Ili by force, Zuo Zongtang specially ordered eight soldiers to carry his coffin and leave the customs with the camp. It shows the soaring arrogance of a generation of famous ministers who regard death as home. Zuo Zongtang said to the accompanying staff: "Without a strong military guarantee, it is impossible for our country to return to Ili from the negotiating table! The old man decided to go out to supervise the army, just to let the Russians know that no matter what method they use, they must Return Yili. If not, I'll beat him to hell!"