Chapter 55 Section 55: Mass emergencies

After breakfast the next day, Li Hongzhang took a team of his own soldiers and decided to visit Xue Huan, a former minister of the Prime Minister's Yamen, who had returned home to recuperate; Waiting for others, by the way, also browse the customs of the countryside in Shudi.Li Hongzhang believes that no matter how much he and Xue Huan had a feud before, Xue Huan has now changed from a tiger to a sick cat, and he should take the initiative to shake hands with Xue Huan to make peace.After Li Hongzhang arrived at Xue's mansion, Xue Huan was really moved. He not only entertained him warmly, but also persuaded Li Hongzhang to stay in the mansion for three consecutive days.During the three days, Xue Huan and Li Hongzhang had many heart-to-heart talks.

Two months later, Li Hongzhang believed that the time had come to close the case, so he swore his life to state the investigation process and results of Wu Tang's involvement in the case. In the middle of the compromise, Li Hongzhang reported six things to the imperial court: 1. After investigation, Wu Tang’s family was only about 50 people on the way to his post, and he did not blackmail the local officials along the way; All members are members of the staff, that is to say, there is no gray income; 3. The addition of buckets is not used to hold silver, but to carry water; 4. Admiral Hu Zhong and the entire garrison army to withdraw are pure nonsense; 5. Cen Yuying sent officials to Sichuan to collect wages, not to give gifts; 6. Sichuan gentlemen and officials recuperating from illness all said that Wu Tang was a good official, not a corrupt one, and praised Wu Tang for his good governance and good people, which would benefit Sichuan Province.

The excerpts were handed in on the same day and issued on a six-hundred-mile fast ride. In fact, in Li Hongzhang's view, he did not intend to clear Wu Tang's charges by doing this, but because what Wu Tang did was nothing compared to the old Anhui governor Fuji.There are people who want to participate in this kind of thing, obviously it is not right for people.What's more, using Wu Tang to protect Ding Baozhen is also a good deal. Li Hongzhang imagined that the imperial decree would be delivered in one month, and if there was no delay in the journey, he would be able to rush to Wuchang to celebrate the New Year.But at this time, in Youyang Prefecture, Shunqing Prefecture, Sichuan Province, a case of mutual killing occurred between the Tuanmin and the religious people.

When Governor Wu Tang revealed the news to Li Hongzhang, Li Hongzhang was taken aback for a moment, and then he said to himself: "Based on this, this department hall will not be able to celebrate the reunion year with the family this year! I don't know how Lianer is doing now." gone?" Within a few days, the imperial decree was delivered to the governor's yamen as expected.The imperial decree first expressed satisfaction with the results of Li Hongzhang's investigation and handling of Wu Tang's participation in the case, and then asked him to go to Youyang Prefecture as soon as possible to investigate the teaching case together with Chongshi and Wu Tang without delay.

Li Hongzhang heaved a long sigh, packed his luggage, and set off for Youyang Prefecture that day. Li Hongzhang lived in Youyang Prefecture for four months, and when all the teaching plans were completed, it was March in the ninth year of Tongzhi (1870 AD). Li Hongzhang set out for Sichuan, wishing he could reach Wuchang in one step. On the way, Xu Qian smiled and said to Li Hongzhang: "My lord, since the day I received the imperial decree, the subordinate officials have been worried that you will not get things done on both sides of this old errand. I really can't imagine that there will be such a result! Your superiors Satisfied, Wu Zhishuai has nothing to say, and indirectly saved Ding Gongbao."

Li Hongzhang smiled and said: "I know this matter well in my heart. Those who are satisfied are few, and those who are dissatisfied account for the majority. Wu Zhongxuan is not very popular." A month later, Li Hongzhang and his party arrived at the governor's office in Wuchang smoothly. Zhao Lian had added a young master to Li's family years ago, the delivery was extremely smooth, both mother and child were safe.Li Hongzhang's heart, which had been suspended for a long time, finally fell to the ground.The son was named after the scriptures. Li Hongzhang's investigation into Shu this time not only saved Ding Baozhen's future, but also gained an unknown gain: he had an extra 10,000 taels of silver in his account.

At this time, in the Qing Dynasty, internal strife was gradually eliminated, all industries were about to prosper, customs clearance was frequent, and Westernization was promoted, which seemed like a revival. And Zeng Guofan, Li Hongzhang, Zuo Zongtang, Ding Baozhen and others were also called ZTE famous ministers by the people at that time, and their reputation spread far and wide. In May of the ninth year of Tongzhi (AD 1870), after nearly a month of recuperation, Li Hongzhang decided to re-start the preparations for the mill manufacturing bureau.But almost at the same time, a massive Miao uprising broke out in Guizhou.In just a few days, some prefectures and counties in Guizhou were occupied by rebels.

The imperial court felt that Guizhou's military strength was weak, so it urgently issued an imperial edict to grant Li Hongzhang the title of imperial envoy, and led the former Huai army to go to Guizhou to supervise the military affairs of Yunnan and Guizhou. . Knowing the urgency of the matter, Li Hongzhang had to put aside the affairs of Huguang and arrange his family members properly. Without waiting for his eldest brother to take office, he handed over the seal to the governor of Hubei to take care of him, and hurried to Guizhou with his entourage.On the way, he received another order, telling him not to go to Guizhou, but to quickly change his route and go to Shaanxi to supervise military affairs.Because Liu Songshan, the giant general of the Hunan army who fought against the Hui people's rebels in Shaanxi, died in battle, Zuo Zongtang's Chu army was unable to support him.

Li Hongzhang complained endlessly after receiving the imperial decree, but he had to bite the bullet and fly all the troops to Shaanxi, while he himself marched slowly with his entourage. It was at this time that the largest religious case in history broke out in the Qing Dynasty—the Tianjin religious case.With the development of the situation, the Tianjin teaching case quickly became the focus of attention of the Qing Dynasty. The cause of the matter is this: After the "Beijing Treaty" was signed, French Catholic missionaries set up a church in Wanghailou, Tianjin, and there was a nursery hall in the church.

In June of the ninth year of Tongzhi (AD 1870), more than 30 or 40 babies adopted by Yuyingtang suddenly died within a few days. At this time, there was another large-scale abduction of young children in Tianjin.The local people suspected that it was the church. At this time, there were rumors that the church abducted children for the purpose of gouging out eyes and dissecting their hearts for medicinal purposes. The people were even more convinced. On this day, the people caught Wang Sanyi, who had kidnapped the child, and immediately turned him over to the Tianjin County Yamen.After being interrogated by Liu Jie, the magistrate of Tianjin County, Wang San admitted that his act of abducting children was indeed instigated by a cook in the church.When the news came out, the people were immediately outraged and condemned.

Liu Jie then personally escorted Wang San to the church to testify, and nearly ten thousand people also gathered in front of the church to demand that the murderer be handed over.The door of the church was closed and ignored. Feng Daye, the French Consul in Tianjin, heard the news, and rushed to the Yamen of the Minister of Trade and Commerce with his secretary, Simon, to ask Chonghou to send troops to suppress it.However, Chonghou didn't take this matter too seriously, he didn't even send troops, and only sent a few Wu Bian to the church to find Liu Jie to understand the cause of the incident. Feng Daye saw Chonghou like this, so he was furious, immediately destroyed the utensils in the government office, and drew his gun to threaten Chonghou, Chonghou was so frightened that he hid in the inner room and did not dare to show his face. Feng Daye had no choice but to leave the government office and go straight to the church.On the way, Feng Daye and others met Liu Jie and Wang San and came to meet him. Feng Daye immediately drew his pistol and fired a shot, killing Liu Jie's entourage, Gao Sheng.At this time, Feng Daye's secretary, Simon, also drew his gun to threaten the onlookers. Seeing this, the onlookers were furious at the time and beat Feng Daye and Simon to death on the spot. Then they rang the gong and gathered the crowd to burn down the French church, the nursery hall, the French consular office, and the British and American churches. There are more than 20 priests and businessmen of seven nationalities.