Chapter 23 Section 23

Wu Xu came to the governor's yamen full of anger, and was told before he got out of the sedan chair that Mr. Li was not in the yamen and had gone to Qingpu for a few days; It was a discussion with Zhang Shusheng, Liu Mingchuan and others about the restoration of Qingpu. All business matters must wait for him to come back. Wu Xu had no choice but to divert to meet Xue Huan at the Commercial Yamen.While Wu Xu and Xue Huan were drinking tea, Chang Sheng's military commander, Yang Fang, was receiving a military bulletin from Li Hongzhang from the Qingpu camp: Jinling was under siege for a long time, and Governor Zeng Guofan asked to send troops to help the siege, and the imperial court urged Li Hongzhang to deploy troops as appropriate Fly to Jinling for reinforcements; Li Hongzhang told Yang Fang to turn Bai Qiwen, the ever-victorious army, and Bai Qiwen led the army to quickly reinforce Jinling.

Before Yang Fang finished reading Li Hongzhang's letter, he was already trembling all over. He knew that Bai Qiwen was losing his temper because of the lack of money, so asking him to go out at this time was obviously going to hit a wall? Yang Fang dared not go outside the city to meet Bai Qiwen.He sent someone to prepare the sedan chair, and decided to go to Xue Huan for an idea.Sitting in the sedan chair, Yang Fang couldn't help sighing: "Li Hefei, Li Hefei, Shanghai has been messed up by you! Even if you let Lao Xue come out again at this time, I'm afraid there will be no way to recover!"

Xue Huan invited Yang Fang into the signing room.When Yang Fang walked in, he saw Xue Huan sitting and drinking tea with Wu Xu, he was startled again, and asked involuntarily, "Hasn't Uncle Fang seen Hefei yet? Bai Qiwen was gnashing his teeth anxiously, why are you always hiding in this place?" here?" Wu Xu didn't answer, but asked instead: "Did Yang Jietai suffer from the wind and cold? Why is his face black and blue?" Yang Fang sat down, took out a letter from his sleeve and threw it on the table, saying: "The Changsheng Army recruits bravery. Li Hefei asked Bai Qiwenfei to go to Jinling to help the siege, and you said, isn't this forcing me to death?"

Xue Huan didn't say anything, just picked up the paper and looked at it.Hearing this, Wu Xu rolled his eyes and said, "Brother may not know yet, I'm afraid the Ever Victory Army will be disbanded in the future!" Yang Fang was startled and said, "Why did Fang Bo say that? You can't talk nonsense if there are some irrelevant things!" Wu Xu sneered and said, "My brother is really good at talking. You and I have been together for more than a day or two. Is my brother a nonsense person? Think about it before, brother, you were a comprador (comprador) for the British. Brother, I’m American Combat. Let’s talk about ocean wax. I said three taels of silver per box, that’s three taels of silver per box. There’s no negotiating, even my own brother. But what about you, brother, which box of foreign medicine has no water? One of my relatives knew that I had some friendship with my brother, so he asked me to find you. What I gave was 30% off. My brother, do you dare to say that you have the same price as you say?"

Yang Fang was robbed by Wu Xu so much that he couldn't hold back his face. He straightened his neck, his skin was swollen, and he was about to explode. You two are still arguing for no reason. You two are really playing tricks. If you don’t see each other, you still think about it. When you meet, you always talk about the past. I’m not talking about you. The future is different. If you go on like this, even if the top is red, sooner or later you will have to be a Kangbaidu!" Both of them bowed their heads when Xue Huan said it.Xue Huan went on to say: "Bai Qiwen is a Yankee, you don't know him, but I know him. This bastard was not a quiet person when he was in the United States. He took advantage of the chaotic timing of my Qing Dynasty and sneaked into the army to go on an expedition. Here. The official recommended him to be the leader of the Ever Victorious Army through the British, not because he can fight, but because he wanted to cause some trouble for Li Hefei. Now it seems that Li Hefei's trouble is really not far away!"

Yang Fang hurriedly asked: "Master Xue, you have always made such a big detour, but you still haven't gotten to the point. What Si Li wants to know is, what should Si Li do if Li Hefei wants to send the Chang Sheng Army to help suppress Jinling?" Woolen cloth?" Xue Huan glared at Yang Fang, and said angrily: "You have lived to this age, and you are still so confused! Don't forget, you are the commander of the Changsheng Army, and you are also the official of Jiangsu! Li Hefei is now It’s the governor of Jiangsu, you’re from Taiwan, if you resist, you’re not afraid that he will accuse you of disobedience to the army’s order? At that time, even if you want to go back to be your Kang Baidu, it’s impossible! You, you can’t Always dial your little Jiujiu, read more when you have time. Things in the official world are not as simple as you think. When I was a Futai, I thought that my merits outweighed my mistakes. Didn't Zeng Xiangxiang get involved? This official is now in Shanghai, nominally an imperial envoy, but in fact, isn’t he dealing with a few foreigners?”

Wu Xu said at this time: "Master Yang probably didn't understand what your lord said, but Si Li did understand it!" Xue Huan stroked his beard with a smile and said: "After all, the Buyuan is one level older than the Yongyuan, and the understanding is different. I finally got it right." According to the Daqing official system, the chief envoy is from the second rank, and the inspector is from the third rank, so Nominally, the chief executive is one level older than the procurator, but in fact the chief minister and the procurator are in a parallel relationship, but the division of labor is different.

Yang Fang asked Wu Xu in a low voice: "Uncle Fang, is the Chang Sheng Army going to Jinling or not?" Wu Xu said: "Your Imperial Envoy's words were very clear just now, why can't your brother understand?" Yang Fang looked blankly at Wu Xu, then at Xue Huan, even more at a loss. Xue Huan sighed and said, "Brother Wu, according to what you said before Yang came to the court, I think you should delay the payment allocated to Zeng Laojiu of the Jinling Camp, and first send the Changsheng Army this month. The three of us are all paid by foreigners, and if we offend foreigners, we are ruining our own jobs!"

Wu Xu said: "Your Excellency is right. When Sili returns, he will send the silver bill to Master Yang, and ask Master Yang to transfer it to Marshal Bai." Then he turned and asked Yang Fang, "Brother, you are going back to Songjiang for a while. Yamen, or to find Marshal Bai?" Yang Fang thought for a while and said: "Li Hefei urgently recruited the Changsheng Army to Jinling to help the suppression. I will not tell Bai Qiwen about this. If I miss something, not only Li Hefei will not be able to let me go, but even Xiangxiang will punish me." I’d better go to the barracks to meet Bai Qiwen first, and then I’ll go back to Songjiang after explaining the military affairs. The salary of the Changsheng Army for this month is delayed anyway, so I won’t fight for this day.”

Xue Huan thought for a while and said: "Yang Yinyuan, I see, I think you should go back to Songjiang with Wu Buyuan first, get the Changsheng Army's salary for this month, and then go to see Bai Qiwen. Changsheng Army is different from Green camp, without money, he won't listen to what he says!" Yang Fang said: "Sili would like to ask another question. What if Bai Qiwen asks about Zhaoyong's salary? Fang Bo has already agreed to him, but Sili only gives him one month's salary. Seeing Bai Qiwen's posture, if you take If it is less than five hundred thousand taels, I will never give up!"

Xue Huan said: "You, why don't you get the hang of it? If you have a head, you won't be able to eat, right? Don't think about it. Wu Buyuan agreed to him at that time, but it was just a way to fool him. He is willing to give Bai Qiwen 500,000 taels of silver? He sent Hezhang and Yunzhang back to his hometown one after another. Why? Isn’t it recruiting Yong to expand his strength! If Bai Qiwen asks you what? Five hundred thousand taels, you just push it to Li Hefei and tell him to make trouble with Li Hefei. As long as he is willing to go to Li Hefei, whether he succeeds or not, he has nothing to do with you, the supervisor! This method, You can think of it with a long head, why can't you think of it?" Yang Fang lowered his head and thought for a while, he thought it was really good, only then did he see Kai Qing on that face. Two days later, with bank notes tucked in his waist, Yang Fang brought a group of subordinates to Changsheng Army's camp in sedan chairs.Bai Qiwen had already got the news in advance, and he brought a group of general Li Hengsong and other subordinates to greet him outside the gate. When Yang Fang got off the sedan chair, the Changsheng Army fired a salute to welcome them as usual.Yang Fang smiled and got off the sedan chair, holding the big shelf he supervised to greet the group of people. After the ceremony, Bai Qiwen said to Yang Fang: "Master Yang, I have recruited two thousand people according to your order. If you don't come today, I will go to Songjiang with General Li Can. Master Yang, you Give me the banknote now." Bai Qiwen put a big hairy hand under Yang Fang's nose. Yang Fang walked towards the big tent and said: "Marshal Bai is really impatient, I have been driving for a long time, and I didn't even drink my saliva." Bai Qiwen said: "Your Master Yang came to us just to beg for saliva? I can ask someone to carry the water tank for you, so that you can drink enough at once! You should take out the silver ticket. Just recruited The 2,000 people are still waiting to get paid." Bai Qiwen stretched out his big hand in front of Yang Fang for the second time. General Li Hengsong said at this time: "Commander, Master Yang has come, the matter must have come to an end, why are you in such a hurry?" Bai Qiwen then put down his arms and led a group of people into the tent of the Chinese army.Everyone saluted again and sat down. Yang Fang opened the protective book, took out the letter from Li Hongzhang, put it in front of Bai Qiwen, and said, "Marshal Bai, this is the letter that Li Futai sent to you before he went to the army. Please read it first. Then we can discuss when to leave." Bai Qiwen casually pushed the letter to Li Hengsong, but glared at Yang Fang and said, "Master Yang, where is the five hundred thousand taels of silver from Chang Shengjun? Why don't you take it out together? Do you want to embezzle?" Yang Fang was dumbfounded by Bai Qiwen's words, but he couldn't get angry, so he kept saying, "Marshal Bai is so impatient! Marshal Bai is so impatient!" After reading the letter, Li Hengsong said, "Commander, Li Zhongcheng hastily dispatched me to Jinling to assist in the suppression. Li Zhongcheng said that Jinling's recovery was only a matter of time, and he always decided to give the Changsheng Army this rare achievement in a hundred years. Li Zhongcheng ordered me to The army will pull out the battalion within ten days. Marshal Bai, let's set up the humble post now!" Bai Qiwen widened his eyes and said: "General Li, I haven't spoken yet, what are you going to arrange? I am the leader of this army, not you!" Then he looked at Yang Fang and questioned: "Master Yang, you promised to give Where's my silver? I have recruited soldiers and bravery according to your instructions, so you should give me the silver!" Yang Fang opened the book, rummaged through it, and finally found a bank note, he smiled and handed the bank note to Bai Qiwen and said: "Marshal Bai, I have said that what is yours is yours. Is it time to arrange a departure?" Bai Qiwen can read Chinese.He took the bank note, looked at it carefully, and shouted: "Master Yang, what are you doing? This is obviously 40,000 taels, not 500,000 taels at all! You promised to give 500,000 taels, but Not forty thousand taels! Why are you embezzling my money?" Yang Fang laughed and said: "Master Bai, don't worry, listen to me. The 40,000 taels of silver are just the salary allocated by the treasury to the Changsheng army for this month. Wu Fangbo, the treasury, is preparing for the Changsheng army's salary next month. For the salary, the money must be delivered before the Changsheng Army sets off to Jinling. As for the remaining 400,000 taels, Wu Fangbo has already sent a letter to Futai, and Futai has already given a reply, saying the size of the Changsheng Army It is already big enough, and there is no need to recruit another soldier. This is what Master Fang told me personally, and I told the commander in the same way. If the commander does not believe it, you can ask Fang Bo or Futai!" Bai Qiwen stood up suddenly in anger, pointed at Yang Fang and said, "You Qing Dynasty is full of unfaithful people! What do you think I will do with the two thousand soldiers I recruited for you? Are you disbanding on the spot?" Yang Fang pretended to be calm and said: "Marshal Bai is worthy of being a Marshal, he is so smart! There are more than two thousand people, even if they don't pay and only provide food, no one can afford to support them!" Bai Qiwen stomped his feet angrily: "When Hua Er was here, you never defaulted on the salary of the Changsheng army; when I just became the team leader, you not only delayed the salary again and again, but were also not allowed to make up the shortfall. Are you looking down on me? what?" Yang Fang hurriedly said: "Marshal Bai is serious! Marshal Bai is a person who has become my Qing nationality and is already a compatriot of mine. How dare we look down on him?" Li Hengsong said at this time: "Marshal, since this month's salary has been paid, let's arrange for the camp! Recovering Jinling is a great contribution, since Futai has the intention to fulfill, we can't let others!" Bai Qiwen said angrily: "You are all talking nonsense! Fasil has to be stationed in Ningbo now. If he doesn't bring him back, how are we going to march? Please tell Mr. Yang to Li Futai. I will personally go to Ningbo to transfer Fasil tomorrow. We have to go back to the camp, and when the two roads merge into one road, we will move out to Jinling to help Zeng Jiushuai. Please rest assured, I, Bai Qiwen, will not let anyone else take the great credit for recovering Jinling!" Yang Fang got up from his side and said: "Bai Dashuai can speak like this, I and Fang Bo will be relieved. As long as the Changsheng Army has made great achievements in Jinling, the court will definitely reward Bai Dashuai! I will resign now. As long as the commander-in-chief decides on the date of pulling out the camp, I will definitely send you next month's salary!" Bai Qiwen suddenly smiled and said: "Okay, when Mr. Yang goes back, let's rent the ship that will pick up the army. Also, the bullets of the artillery team have been used up, and the gunpowder for the muskets has to be replenished. All these are ready, and we will wait for Fa Si After Erde arrived here, the brigade boarded the ship and set off. This time, you should be satisfied, right?" Yang Fang said with a bitter face: "Marshal Bai, you should tell me in advance about such things as cannons without bullets and muskets without gunpowder. Ships are easy to talk about, and you can rent them after paying the money, but bullets and gunpowder, how about it?" Can it be ready soon?" Bai Qiwen sneered and said: "Master Yang, you still talk like this now! If you sent the five hundred thousand taels of silver early, would you still have to worry about these things? It is really difficult for you to be an official in the Qing Dynasty. This team leader, you should hire another master! I can’t do this anymore!” After speaking, he walked out of the big tent with a wave of his sleeves. Yang Fang hurriedly said to Li Hengsong: "General Li, why are you still in a daze? Hurry up and persuade Bai Dashuai to come back! Futai Master Li enlisted the Changsheng Army to go to Jinling to aid in the suppression, but at this moment Bai Dashuai fell down. Print handle, isn't this embarrassing this official?" Li Hengsong got up helplessly and chased after him.Seeing Li Hengsong go out, Yang Fang whispered to the subordinates beside him: "These foreign soldiers are barbaric by nature, who can take them away from foreigners!" None of the subordinates dared to speak. Yang Fang stood up, looked out of the tent with his eyes, and said to himself: "This Li Canjun, I don't know if he can persuade Marshal Bai to come back?" It took a full quarter of an hour before everyone saw Bai Qiwen walking in accompanied by Li Hengsong.Bai Qiwen was no longer what he was before. He sat down in his original position as soon as he came in, stared at Yang Fang and said, "Master Yang, I didn't mean to be angry with you on purpose, but you really despised me too much. Well, the former I won’t mention the matter anymore. To kill the enemy, you need gunpowder and bullets; if you want to go to Jinling to aid in the suppression, you need a ship. We went to Jinling to fight for our lives, not to enjoy ourselves. I’ve finished my words, you see Let's do it!" Yang Fang happily sat down and said: "It's nothing to say! As long as Commander Bai is willing to continue, the gunpowder, bullets and ships will all be covered by the officer. When will the Commander leave for Ningbo? Send a quick report to Farsell. Can’t it? It’s time-consuming to go back and forth!” Bai Qiwen said: "I can't trust your station, I have to go in person. I will leave overnight tonight. You don't have to worry about my affairs, Mr. Yang, I will take care of it. Mr. Yang should go back and do what you should do as soon as possible." !" Seeing that Bai Qiwen didn't intend to keep food, Yang Fang had no choice but to get up from his side and say, "Marshal Bai made sense, I'll do it when I get back. Marshal, the road from here to Ningbo is not very peaceful, you should bring more Manpower, don't let the hairy way!" Bai Qiwen stood up and said coldly: "Master Yang, I won't send you off!"