Chapter 3 Section 3 Reassignment to a new position

Li Hongzhang's ancestor was originally surnamed Xu. During the Ming Dynasty, he moved from Jiangxi to Hefei, Anhui.Li Hongzhang's eighth ancestor adopted his son Xu Zhensuo to his friend Li Xinzhuang, and Xu inherited the surname from then on.The Li family has made a living by farming, studying and farming for generations, and has always missed the imperial examination. When Li Hongzhang's grandfather was in charge of the family, at the end of each year, there were as many people who came to Li's house to ask for debts as "like crucian carp crossing the river".Li Hongzhang's father, Li Wen'an, studied hard for many years. At the age of 35, he took part in the Jiangnan Provincial Examination. When he was nearly 40 years old, he passed the Jinshi examination.

Li Wen'an had been an official in the capital for decades, until he retired and returned to his hometown as a doctor of the Fifth Grade Criminal Department.Although the official position is not high, he has earned some family money. He has houses in the city and the countryside, and nearly a hundred acres of land. There are six men and two women under his knees. The two daughters have already married as wives, and the six sons are: the eldest son Hanzhang, whose style name is Xiaoquan; the second son, Hongzhang, whose style name is Shaoquan; the third son, Hezhang, whose style name is Jiquan; the fourth son, Yunzhang, whose style name is Hequan; Fengzhang, named Zhiquan; six sons, Zhaoqing, named Youquan.

Among Li Wen'an's six sons, only the eldest son Hanzhang and the second son Hongzhang have entered the officialdom.The other four sons, besides helping him with some housework, are still studying and making progress. In the twenty-ninth year of Daoguang (AD 1849), Li Hanzhang was admitted as a disciple of Zeng Guofan in the Bagong Dynasty. He is now the magistrate of Yiyang County, Hunan Province. He went back to his hometown to visit relatives a month ago, and he also visited Lu Xianji in Shucheng, Luzhou and Suzhou. , Fuji, and Zhou Tianjue, and had a brief meeting with his second brother Li Hongzhang for a few days, and left home to return to his post after the vacation was over.

Not long after Li Hanzhang left home, Li Hongzhang came back.Considering the continuous war in Anhui, the old family was frightened when they were young. With the consent of their parents, Li Hongzhang and his four younger brothers moved the family to live in the old Modian house in Dongxiang, more than 30 miles away from Hefei City. Not long after he was busy with the moving matters, his leave expired. Li Hongzhang did not return to Shucheng immediately. He sent a family member to Lu Xianji to send a note to continue his leave, saying that his father was suffering from the heat and needed someone to take care of him.

Li Hongzhang did this just to test whether Lu Xianji's attitude towards him had changed. But after reading Lu Xianji's reply letter, Li Hongzhang's heart was completely chilled.Lu Xianji not only allowed him to continue his leave, but also said that after the extension expires, "if your father's body has not recovered, he can still continue his leave." Li Hongzhang had no choice but to grit his teeth and endure his temper, while quietly watching the current situation, while studying hard, while thinking about his future way out. At noon that day, Fu Ji arrived in front of the Li family's mansion in a big green sedan chair unobtrusively.Hearing the news, Li Hongzhang was greatly surprised and hurried to inform his father.Soon, the elderly Li Wen'an, supported by Li Hongzhang, led a few servants out of the gate.

The second master who helped the sedan chair standing beside the sedan chair raised the curtain of the sedan chair, and Fuji stepped out of the sedan chair with a red face.Li Wen'an, Li Hongzhang and his son hastily gave a big gift.Li Wen'an said: "This old man has met Mr. Futai." Li Hongzhang said: "I greet Mr. Futai." Fuji took a step forward to help Li Wen'an, and then hurriedly helped Li Hongzhang, and said with a smile, "This department dare not accept the gift from Li Lao Jingtang. Lao Jingtang has always been in good health?" Li Wen'an replied "TOEFL", While asking the family members to open the middle door, they respectfully welcomed Fuji into the hall of the upper room, while Fuji's entourage was led into the lower room to rest by the butler of Li's residence.

Fu Ji took Li Hongzhang's hand, and said as he walked, "You Tai Shigong, my brother is so busy in Luzhou that the sky is dark, and your brother is hiding here to relax!" Li Hongzhang smiled and said: "Your Excellency, you are serious! I am not looking for leisure, I am serving the elders of the family!" After entering the hall, the three of them saluted again, and only then were the guests and hosts seated.Some family members hurriedly served tea.Li Wen'an knew that Fu Ji came here to discuss matters with Hong Zhang, so he resigned on the grounds that he was not feeling well, and arranged for someone to prepare meals by the way.

In a blink of an eye, only Fuji and Li Hongzhang were left in the room.Fuji asked: "Why don't you see Ji Quan and the others?" Li Hongzhang replied: "Ji Quan went to the city with the fourth and fifth sons, and the sixth son was practicing bravery in the county, and came back very late every day. Master Futai, how are you doing?" Fuji snorted, Casually said: "Okay... so bad! Brother may not know yet, brother, I will have no place to stand in the officialdom in Anhui!" Li Hongzhang was taken aback, and couldn't help but ask: "My lord, where did you start? My lord is an Anhui vassal, and he protects the governor's defense on his behalf. Anhui is almost my lord's Anhui. How can I say that there is no place for me? My lord has been too fond of it recently. Tell a joke!"

Fuji let out a long sigh and said, "Jiang Zhongcheng will take office soon, once the bid is handed over, what else do you have, brother? Isn't it true that there is no place to stand? I don't regret leaving Anhui, but I just don't want to part with you, brother! Brother, brother, I am here this time because I have something to discuss with you, so don't refuse me." Seeing the mystery in Fuji's words, Li Hongzhang couldn't help asking: "Master Futai, is he short of money?" Fuji smiled and didn't answer, but took out a sacred oracle from his sleeve and said, "Tai Shigong, look at it first." Watch this, then talk."

Suspiciously, Li Hongzhang accepted the imperial edict and slowly unfolded it, but it turned out that it was Fuji who was playing, and asked Li Hongzhang to help the governor's yamen practice bravery;Li Hongzhang closed the oracle and handed it to Fuji with both hands. Fuji rolled up the sleeves of the sacred edict, and said with a smile: "Yuan Wuqiao helped Master Zhou, and your younger brother came out to help my elder brother. This game of chess in Anhui will be alive. Shaoquan, brother, I just recruited another group of brave men." Ding, I'm just waiting for you to take over."

Li Hongzhang's heart moved, but he asked calmly: "I would like to thank Mr. Futai for your kindness and kindness. I just don't know. What does Mr. Lu say? You are always in talks with Mr. Lu, Mr. Lu Can you agree?" Fuji laughed and said, "Without the acquiescence of the servant minister, would I dare to come and disturb you? Shaoquan, can you still trust me? No one in Anhui knows that without your brother's persuasion to donate and raise money, he would Lu Xianji can have what he is today? Since he followed him, which one of his poor relatives has not been promoted? Which one has not made a fortune? Didn’t my brother make enough wedding dresses? He treats you like grass, but I think my brother is a treasure... Tsuen, why don't you speak?" "My lord, I have been thinking for the past few days that maybe Mr. Lu really has his own difficulties. Mr. Lu is an important minister of the court, and he has a clear reputation..." "He has nothing to do with this department. My brother just asks you, the imperial decree has been issued, do you obey it or not?" Li Hongzhang didn't dare to refuse any more because he was not good, and said, "How did your lord say this? Your lord praises the subordinates so much, how dare the subordinates disobey his orders? The subordinates have the courage to disobey orders and disobey!" Fu Ji smiled and said: "With my brother's words, my heart has finally come to the ground. Brother, can I go back to the province with my brother today? My brother has prepared all the horses and sedan chairs for you." Li Hongzhang asked to stay: "Why, Master Futai won't even take a simple meal?" Fuji said: "Even if you Tai Shigong doesn't reward me with meals, your lord Jingtang won't have the heart to let me go hungry. Hahaha!" After the meal, Li Hongzhang bid farewell to his parents and family, and rushed back with Fuji Luzhou.This day is the twelfth day of September in the third year of Xianfeng (1853 A.D.).Walking on the road, Li Hongzhang thought to himself, "Fu Ji transferred himself to help with the team training. It is probably because his reputation is too bad, and he really can't find helpers in Anhui. I just took this opportunity to leave Lu Xianji." The situation in Anhui became more and more serious. Shi Dakai, the winged king of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, led his army to Anqing, and together with Anqing guard general Wang Haiyang, set up the next target to seize, in an attempt to connect Tianjing and Anhui. Shi Dakai was born in a large Hakka family in Guangxi. Because of discord with the local aborigines, he joined the God Worship Association and formed brothers with different surnames with Hong Xiuquan and Feng Yunshan, calling himself the seventh son of the heavenly father.Shi Da has a good command of writing and understands military affairs. He is an all-rounder and fierce man among the kings of the Taiping Heaven.For several days in a row, the Taiping Army moved closer to Hanshan and Chaoxian County, with their troops pointing at Luzhou.Luzhou, which was already in panic, became even more panicked.Fuji invited Li Hongzhang into the signing room overnight to discuss the plan of defending the city.Li Hongzhang didn't find out the real intention of the Taiping Army, and he didn't dare to offer any advice. He just advised Fuji to transfer training regiments from various counties, rush to Luzhou as soon as possible, and rely on heavy troops to strengthen the city defense. Fuji pondered over and over again, but did not adopt Li Hongzhang's suggestion. He was afraid that the Taiping Army would take advantage of the loopholes after the regiments from all counties were concentrated in Luzhou.On the one hand, he ordered Li Hongzhang to lead a regiment to strengthen the city wall, and on the other hand, he sent Fubiao's battalions to garrison outside the city. He also wrote to Zhou Tianjue in Suzhou and Lu Xianji in Shucheng overnight, asking them to send reinforcements to help guard Luzhou. After Li Hongzhang learned of Fuji's deployment, he couldn't help but sighed to the sky: "If you want to rely on Zhou Tianjue and Lu Xianji to defend Luzhou, Luzhou will definitely be lost!" Take one step at a time. Eighty-one-year-old Zhou Tianjue finished reading Fuji's military report and casually threw it to Yuan Jiasan. Zhou Tianjue smoothed his shaggy white beard with his hands, and said with a sneer, "Isn't this Fu Yuanxiu trying to disappoint the grace? Before the long hair moved, he panicked like this! His thoughts can be hidden from others, but he can't even think about it." I can't hide it from the old man! He is not afraid of Luzhou's loss, but he is clearly afraid of his ten wives who are as beautiful as flowers and jades! The Qing Dynasty is ruined by these people! Changmao is now focused on dealing with my Jiangnan and Jiangbei. Battalion, where are the troops to come and take my Luzhou!" Yuan Jiasan put the quick report on the military situation on the table and said, "Marshal Zhi, according to your old opinion, Chang Mao is bluffing this time?" Zhou Tianjue laughed, and said: "The old man has fought battles for a long time, from Guangxi to here. Most of the long hairs are mobs. Taking my Anqing is already a dangerous move. They will never take the risk again. Suzhou has The two of us are here, and there is Lu Xianji in Shucheng. Even if you put aside these things, there are 3,000 people in Fuji's Fuji Army, and 2,000 new regiments have been recruited recently. There are also countless counties in Hefei Waiting to practice bravery, with these troops, still can't defend a Luzhou? What a joke!" Yuan Jiasan echoed, "What the Commander-in-Chief said is absolutely true, Fu Ji really scared Chang Mao." Zhou Tianjue hesitated for a moment, and said, "However, for Manchus like Fuji, you have to make a gesture to explain to your superiors. Wuqiao, from tomorrow onwards, you will send the Sixth Battalion under your command, Move towards Luzhou. Remember, you have to find a good place to camp about 50 miles away from Luzhou. The old man is here to repair the seal for Fuyuan, and wait for him to make up the owed food and salary, and then take it with him. Follow the road. The old man is going to watch the enemy for Fu Yuanxiu outside the city of Luzhou, and wave the flag to cheer for him." After Zhou Tianjue finished speaking, he laughed a few times, and Yuan Jiasan nodded knowingly. Li Hongzhang's former boss, Lu Xianji, did not delay after receiving Fu Ji's request for help, and immediately dispatched a battalion to rush over bravely.Although this battalion has been recruited for a long time, it has not been well trained.The battalion officer, Wei Demao, was Lu Xianji's cousin, he was born big and three thick, he could punch and kick, and he was a local tyrant.Knowing that Lu Xianji had returned to his hometown to practice bravery, he left behind his farm work and his blind old mother, and rushed over with a dozen or so cronies, claiming that he wanted to win a merit card and show it to the villagers.Lu Xianji was overjoyed when he saw that Wei Demao was strong and capable of punching and kicking, and soon appointed him to return to his hometown to recruit bravery. Lu Xianji finished reading the military newspaper that Fu Ji urgently handed over, and immediately passed Wei Demao into the signing room, and asked him to lead 300 soldiers under his command to set off quickly to help defend Luzhou.Lu Xianji said: "Cousin, Luzhou is in urgent need of the long-haired brigade. I don't want to give Da Zhuang and Er Zhuang the credit for this. I want you to go there. What do you think? If there is any difficulty, we can discuss it together." Seeing that Lu Xianji respected him so much, Wei Demao was very happy in his heart, but he didn't dare to show it on his face: "Cousin Rong Bao, at home, I am brother and you are brother; in the yamen, you are minister and I am general. Yuan Jiasan If you voted for Zhou Tianjue, you still have Da Zhuang and Er Zhuang; if Li Hongzhang followed Fuji, you still have me. With Da Zhuang Er Zhuang and me, you just wait to enter the cabinet to pay respects. I was born to be the nemesis of long hair , I can punch the old cow somersault. Is the long hair as strong as the old cow? If my cousin doesn't believe it, you can ask the third father." Seeing that Wei Demao's words were getting more and more outrageous, Lu Xianji sighed inwardly, and hurriedly said: "War is not about fighting with others. Yamen has its rules, military camp has its rules, and marching and fighting also have rules. Marching can't disturb the people, and fighting can't mess things up. I have told you these words before, and Li Shaoquan even wrote a pamphlet about it, so my cousin must be familiar with it by heart, right?" Wei Demao said disdainfully: "What is Li Shaoquan! I gathered and burned all the pamphlets he wrote before, and I only listen to you, my cousin. What other people say is fart. Cousin, I understand Let's get out of the camp early in the morning, so you can wait for the good news in Shucheng." After hearing his last words, Lu Xianji suddenly became happy and smiled from ear to ear.