After Zheng Caisheng and Fushun received the report of the port soldiers, they hurriedly came to the port in person, and took Zhang Peilun and Li Jingfang into the Admiral Yamen of Shanhaiguan, although the four of them did not have any friendship before, but the Qing court had its own set of formed rules for the exchange of officialdom, so the four of them sat down separately, and after making a noise with each other, they also got some closer, Zheng Caisheng said: "Brother Zhang, Brother Li, brother received a telegram from Li Zhongtang the day before yesterday. Bayi Middle School?wen network? (1) (8) 8 1 (1) Z (8) The .COM brothers also told the truth, yesterday the brothers received an emergency from Jinzhou, the Russian army dispatched more than 70,000 troops, more than 300 artillery pieces, has launched an attack on Jinzhou, it is estimated that at this time, the Russian army has captured Jinzhou. As soon as Jinzhou is lost, the next target of the Russian army is Shanhaiguan. ”

Fushun continued: " Don't look at our Shanhaiguan still has more than 16,000 troops, there are dozens of artillery, but half of them are defeated troops from Beijing, and the ammunition is not sufficient, if the Russian army really hits Shanhaiguan, it is really difficult to resist, just three days ago, Zheng Junmen and I jointly sent a telegram to Xi'an, asking the Queen Mother and the emperor how to deal with the Russian army, but until now we have not received the express indication of the imperial court, even if Zheng Junmen and I did not hesitate to die and die in the city, but I am afraid that there is a major event in the wrong court, fortunately I received a telegram from Li Zhongtang, otherwise Zheng Junmen and I really don't know how to do it。 Since the two of them came to Shanhaiguan, they must have a plan to defend the city. ”

Li Jingfang smiled and said: "This is natural, although the state affairs are difficult and the imperial court is turbulent, but I have been blessed by the Qing Dynasty for more than 250 years, how can these small turmoil be shaken, not to mention that Li Zhongtang supports the overall situation, and finally uproot the chaos and set things right, the day when the imperial court regains stability, and guards Shanhaiguan, Li Zhongtang has already made a plan, and I ask the two of you to read this letter first, it makes sense." Saying that, Li Jingfang took out Li Hongzhang's letter and handed it to Zheng Caisheng.

After receiving Li Jingfang's letter, Zheng Caisheng opened it and watched it with Fushun, Li Hongzhang's letter was much more detailed than the telegram, saying that now he could only ask the overseas Chinese for help in order to hold Shanhaiguan and resist the Russian army, so he asked Zheng Caisheng and Fushun to hand over the defense of the city to the overseas Chinese after the overseas Chinese army entered the customs, and fully assisted the overseas Chinese to hold Shanhaiguan, and also emphasized that this was the only way to hold Shanhaiguan.

After reading Li Hongzhang's letter, the two of them hesitated a little in their hearts, although Li Hongzhang's telegram said that they would rescue the overseas Chinese, but it has not yet come true, and now Li Hongzhang is tantamount to the two of them to hand over the city defense power of Shanhaiguan to the overseas Chinese, this is not as simple as asking the overseas Chinese for help, although the two do not know how Li Hongzhang got along with the overseas Chinese, but until now, the Qing court has not officially sealed the overseas Chinese, so the Guancheng is handed over to the overseas Chinese, is it reliable?

Strictly speaking, overseas Chinese, as descendants of Chinese who have returned overseas, attack cities and plunder land in China, and even recruit troops and horses, seal officials and set up posts, which are all great rebellions, if it is in the Taiping period, the imperial court will send troops to fight, but now the Qing court has been beaten by the Eight-Nation Alliance to abandon Beijing and flee, becoming a government in exile, naturally unable to restrain overseas Chinese, but after the court settles down, what should I do if I pursue it?

After a while, Zheng Cai Shengcai said: "Dare to ask the two of you, please ask overseas Chinese to send troops to reinforce Shanhaiguan, but the imperial court instructed you." ”

Zhang Peilun shook his head and said, "Without the instructions of the imperial court, this is still Li Zhongtang's opinion." ”

The two of them listened, and their faces couldn't help but change, Li Hongzhang privately asked overseas Chinese for help, this is a taboo thing for the imperial court, of course, Li Hongzhang has deep qualifications, even if the imperial court investigates it, there will be leeway, but he does not have Li Hongzhang's qualifications, but Li Hongzhang will put all the responsibility on the two of them at that time. Unfortunately, it was the two of them.

Although theoretically speaking, the two can not obey Li Hongzhang's orders, but although Li Hongzhang has lost his position now, his power is far from being comparable to the two, if he offends Li Hongzhang, but there is no good fruit to eat, and now that the Russian army is about to advance south, I am afraid that before Li Hongzhang retaliates, he will die in the hands of the Russian army. Therefore, Zheng Caisheng hesitated for a moment before he said: "This matter is very important, should you first call the imperial court to ask for instructions, and the imperial court will give instructions and act according to the orders of the imperial court?"

Zhang Peilun said with a smile: "If the court is in power, the world is peaceful and should first ask the court for instructions, and then act according to the orders of the court, but the two of you should know that now is not the time of peace, if the court tour west, the two palaces move to Xi'an, this is an eventful autumn, we as courtiers, we should do our best to solve problems for the court, for the two palaces to share worries, how can these things disturb the court, let the two palaces worry, we are ministers, how can we be at ease? ”

Zheng Caisheng smiled bitterly, Zhang Peilun was indeed right, in the officialdom, he really pays attention to concealing the upper and lower levels, reporting good news and not bad news, it doesn't matter if the procedure is just or not, as long as the result is good. And once it is reported to the imperial court, then the matter is not controlled by the two, three days ago, the two reported to Xi'an, telling the imperial court the news of the southward march of the Russian army, but until now there has been no reply, and this time it will be reported again, who knows how long it will take to wait for the imperial court's reply. And if there is any action during this period, it is a big crime, so it is better not to say anything, cut first and then play, invite overseas Chinese to guard Shanhaiguan and repel the Russian army, as long as you hold the city, then it is easy to say anything.

Although the two did not dare to suspect that Li Hongzhang had any selfish intentions, who knew what private transactions Li Zhongtang had with overseas Chinese, a few years ago, Li Zhongtang sent an envoy to Russia, participated in the enthronement ceremony of the Russian emperor, and signed a [mutual assistance treaty against the enemy] with Russia, but when the news came back to China, some people said that Li Zhongtang accepted a bribe from Russia and signed a traitorous treaty. The water here is too deep for the two of them to dare to wade lightly.

So Zheng Caisheng thought about it for a while, and then said tentatively: "I don't know how the two of you reached an agreement with the overseas Chinese, the overseas Chinese sent troops to help us guard Shanhaiguan, I don't know what benefits we want, and I ask the two to make it clear, and the brothers should prepare early." ”

Although Zhang Peilun has not been an official for a long time, he has never left the officialdom, so he naturally knows what Zheng Caisheng is worried about, and said with a smile: "Although Zheng Junmen is relieved, the two of them have probably heard that overseas Chinese were originally remnants of the previous dynasty, descendants of China, and have always stayed overseas, but they have always been concerned about China, and now they have returned to Middle-earth. Qingdao and other places, if it weren't for them, I would have done a lot of state affairs in the Qing Dynasty, and this time they only wanted to defend the land and prevent the Russian army from invading the land of Beijing, without any compensation. "And this time, it is not easy for Li Zhongtang to invite overseas Chinese to send troops to guard Shanhaiguan, so please Zheng Junmen not hesitate. ”

Fu Shun said: "We have the duty to defend the land, so we are naturally duty-bound, but if there is no order from the imperial court, we will ask overseas Chinese to help Shanhaiguan, if the imperial court will be held accountable in the future, how will it be good?"

Li Jingfang was a little annoyed at this time, and said: "The court is accountable, and Li Zhongtang is on top, so what do you two have to worry about." ”

Zheng Caisheng and Fu Shun glanced at each other, but they were all thinking in their hearts, it sounds good now, but when the court is really held accountable, who knows if Li Hongzhang will be on top or not, in case Li Hongzhang leaves it alone, who will he go to, but he can't say this to Zhang Peilun and Li Jingfang, so the two of them are also very embarrassed.

At this time, Zhang Peilun said: "Although the hearts of the two are not unreasonable, but they are really unnecessary, now that the overseas Chinese have recovered Beijing, they will welcome the Queen Mother in the near future. The emperor drove back to the palace, overseas Chinese made such a great contribution to the Qing Dynasty, and they will be reused by the imperial court.

Both of them shook their heads again and again, saying that they could only defend Shanhaiguan with their own strength.

Zhang Peilun said with a smile: "That's it, once the Shanhaiguan Pass is lost, the two of them, as the main generals guarding the customs, will have the responsibility of losing their land, and they will be heavily responsible by the imperial court, but if they can hold the Shanhaiguan Pass, even if the imperial court is really accountable in the future, the punishment will not be too heavy, and there may not be a day of repetition in the future, so the only way to do it now is to invite overseas Chinese to enter the customs and preside over the plan to guard the customs, do you have to hesitate?"

After listening to Zhang Peilun's words, the two suddenly realized that for the two of them, guarding Shanhaiguan was the overriding matter, so other things could be put aside. On the contrary, if it is really as Zhang Peilun said, if the overseas Chinese are really reused by the imperial court after holding the Shanhaiguan Pass and defeating the Russian army, they can also take the opportunity of jointly guarding the Shanhaiguan Pass this time to establish a relationship with the overseas Chinese, maybe they will really be able to achieve it in the future. And Li Hongzhang is working so hard for overseas Chinese, it is estimated that he also takes a fancy to the potential of overseas Chinese, since Li Hongzhang is optimistic about overseas Chinese, then what else is there to say.

Zheng Caisheng and Fushun Bi Jing are only local guards, although they have a certain understanding of the routines of officialdom, but after all, they are not as sophisticated as Li Hongzhang, that is, compared with Zhang Peilun and Li Jingfang, they are far inferior, so it is impossible to see that overseas Chinese are not likely to be reused by the Qing court. But even after calculating the stakes, the two did not hesitate, and immediately asked Zhang Peilun and Li Jingfang to accompany them, and then rushed to the dock to welcome overseas Chinese ashore.