The Guangfu Army was very benevolent and righteous, and sent a large ship to transport these tree-cutting bannermen back to the Liaodong Peninsula. Fearing that the gang would rob the ships, a considerable number of troops were keeping an eye on them. And the flag owners and flag men were also very worried when they saw so many soldiers on the ship, so when they received the money, they brought a flag man to put a wooden platoon to strengthen their momentum.

A loaf of silver and a stack of eagles were laid out on the ship. The eyes of the banner owners who came to receive the money reflected the glint of silver, they really had never seen so much money, and some of them threw themselves on the pile of money and just hugged the money. Some were simply frightened and stupid, staring blankly at the money, motionless.

Tailanhai was also stunned by so much money, thinking that he would be able to make a good life for his family after returning home, he couldn't help but think of his younger brother who fell into the water and died when he was putting the wooden raft, and his brother who was accidentally smashed while putting the tree and his right arm was crippled. It was true that the money could completely change the lives of the Tylanhai family, but for the money, the family paid a lot of price. Thinking of these relatives, Tailanhai suddenly burst into tears and choked up.

It is not far from the Bohai Sea to the Liaodong Peninsula, and it is transported in several batches, starting in the morning and arriving in the evening. When disembarking, the "foreign devil" lowered the flag owner to recommend a new logging axe. This axe is so good, there is still some wood on the shore at this time, and as soon as the axe goes down, it will be cut deep into the wood, and it will take a lot of force to pull it out. The price of this axe is indeed nothing compared to the money everyone makes, but the price of five taels of silver is also amazing.

The banner owner of Tailanhai didn't want to buy it, but when he saw that other banner owners had bought this axe, he immediately paid for it. Tailanhai didn't understand it at first, but when he saw that the other flag people were carrying this murderous guy in their hands, and then thinking of the money in his pocket, he also felt that he needed to buy these guys, and he had to buy these sharp guys.

The speedboat of the Liberation Army Navy to deliver the news quickly arrived at the destination, and when it arrived at the seashore to deliver the news to the telegraph station, the clipper began to rush to Shanghai. If a large fleet is assembled, it will have to be led by ships.

When Zuo Zongtang handed over the day's briefing to Wei Ze, he couldn't help but ask: "Your Majesty, is there any problem with the price of this wood?" The price is too low. ”

Weeser looked at the price of wood and said with a smile: "This is the problem of productivity level. In the past, it was necessary to put wooden rafts and walk sea rafts. Everyone's lives are gambled, so naturally they have to make a profit. We're just taking it not far from when they're putting the wood out to sea, and it's just that low. ”

Zuo Zongtang listened to this explanation and understood the truth. He continued, "Are we really okay then?" ”

Wei Ze looked at Zuo Zongtang's puzzled look, and he smiled: "Hmm...... If you want to open your eyes, you might as well go with the fleet to pick up the wooden platoon. Once you've seen our ships, you'll know why our costs are so low. ”

Zuo Zongtang was stunned, he was a little puzzled what Wei Ze meant. Is this an outgoing errand? But there is no such thing as an external release in the Liberation Army. The civil servants were all under one system, and the Organization Department, which was equivalent to the Ministry of Officials on the Manchu side, was responsible for the deployment of personnel. So after thinking for a while, Zuo Zongtang asked: "Does this have to be arranged by the Organization Department?" ”

"It's my private arrangement." Weese replied.

"Majesty, forget it." Zuo Zongtang replied. Of course, he was also considering whether he should officially join the new government at this time, but after all, he was the former governor of Zhejiang, and the minister of training and suppressing bandits. No matter who is in the Liberation Party, they have to start from scratch, so Zuo Zongtang still feels that he can't pull off this face and start from the grassroots. If you can have a grade of release this time, it is equivalent to having your own status when you enter the body. Private arrangements can only allow Zuo Zongtang to leave Wei Ze's side, even if his eyes are opened after the visit, it will not help him for promotion. Compared with the two sides, Zuo Zongtang would rather go more steadily.

Wei Ze was not reluctant, he smiled and said: "Comrade Zuo Zongtang, do you know the biggest difference between the new government and the Manchu Qing Dynasty? ”

"Is the new government more competent?" Zuo Zongtang replied uncertainly.

"No, if we're more capable than we're capable, we're not necessarily better than those guys. But our system says that everyone has to work, not be a boss. Do you understand what I say? Weeser asked.

Zuo Zongtang thought for a while, but still shook his head and said that he couldn't understand.

"The navy went to drag wood, and no one would say that my navy was saved for naval warfare. Let me do this wood-mopping job, it's not going to work. And the Navy will not ask for additional allowances, or ask for a share of the benefits. The reason is very simple, let other units mop wood, and other units do not have the equipment and ability. The work done by the Navy is part of the overall social operations. The navy did not establish a territory and feudal territory, but engaged in power feudalism. We, the Liberation Party, and the Liberation Army, are all laborers, and this has nothing to do with status. The level of status refers to the level of responsibility, not the level of privilege. Weser patiently explained.

Zuo Zongtang felt that he understood something, and he felt that he didn't understand anything. Zuo Zongtang is a very proud person, so he refuses to pretend to understand. He could also see that Weser had a lot of teaching, and he expected that what he said would be understood. Zuo Zongtang said: "Your Majesty, let me think about this, maybe I will understand in the future." ”

Zeng Guofan saw the fleet of "foreign devils" from a distance, and sighed in his heart. Those huge ships were several times larger than the largest ships Zeng had ever seen. On the periphery of the giant ships, all sorts of smaller ships with no sails cruised back and forth around the periphery, ignoring the direction of the wind. Seeing that there was no bright wheel, Zeng Guofan frowned. He had heard of this kind of ship, and it was the ship of the Liberation Army. In the Chaohu Water Battle, such a warship swept away the big ships of the Hunan Army's naval division.

After getting closer, Zeng Guofan became even more uneasy. Except for some foreign devils on the ship who came to negotiate, I couldn't see any foreign devils on other big ships in the telescope. And even if it is a negotiation, the number of Chinese on these ships is much larger than that of foreign devils. And the translators spoke a strange Mandarin with a rather strong southern accent. This qiē gave Zeng Guofan a feeling of incomprehension.

It's even stranger when trading goods. There really is no problem with the goods of these people. The rifles are fully equipped with accessories, and each one is brand new. It's oiled and looks good. The body, accessories, and bayonets are all available. This is completely different from the tattered second-hand guns of foreign devils when the Hunan army and foreign devils were doing business, and there were not fewer than that, but there were fewer accessories. Foreign devils are so benevolent and righteous in business, how do you look at it, something is wrong. But Zeng Guofan just can't use this as a reason to accuse there are ghosts here.

The prince of this trip was Prince Rui, and a large amount of rice was transported from the big ship to the Manchu merchant ship that came to receive the goods. And there are also some small boxes with unknown contents that are constantly hoisted onto the Manchu ships. Zeng Guofan felt that there must be some huge conspiracy here, but he never thought of any conspiracy, let alone tried to expose the conspiracy here. The current Hunan Army is already a thorn in the side of the Eight Banners Army, but Zeng Guofan doesn't know what to do, and his end will not be good.

When Zeng Guofan returned to Beijing, Prince Gong Yixun sent another batch of canned food to Zeng Guofan's mansion according to the agreement. In addition to canned food, there are also soaps, soaps, and other supplies. But Zeng Guofan was not happy at all, and the style of the princes and the way they traded with the princes made Zeng Guofan feel uneasy. The words "Liberation Army" swirled in Zeng Guofan's mind, but Zeng Guofan didn't dare to say it. Zeng Guofan couldn't see what was wrong with such a deal. But because of this, Zeng Guofan felt extremely uneasy.

Thinking about enjoying it before thinking, Zeng Guofan probably figured out an idea. The Guangfu Army hoped that the Qing Army would be able to fight with the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the Twist Army to the same end, so they borrowed the name of foreign devils to sell weapons and grain to the imperial court. When these parties drain their own blood, the Guangfu Army can easily reap the final fruits of victory.

But even if you figure it out, what can you do? Zeng Guofan knew very well that the Liberation Army did not necessarily care who the final enemy was. But if the final victor is the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom or the Twist Army, the Qing Dynasty will inevitably perish. Thinking about it carefully, the only thing that can be done now is to quickly prepare the imperial court to withdraw from the Guanwai. But this is something that Zeng Guofan is not qualified to intervene in at all.

After thinking about it, Zeng Guofan found that the only thing he could count on at this time was the Mongol cavalry of Seng Lingqin. If this elite of the Manchu Qing can wipe out the Twist army, there is still a chance.

"Dashuai, there is a decree from the father-in-law." The soldiers came to report it.

Zeng Guofan hurriedly greeted him, and the father-in-law who came served the will of the Empress Dowager Ci'an and announced that Zeng Guofan was in attendance. Zeng Guofan followed the eunuch into the imperial city, and after Ci'an met Zeng Guofan, he said calmly: "Zeng Guofan, I have embarrassed you in the past few months. ”

The Queen Mother's words said in Zeng Guofan's heart, and he felt the care of the Queen Mother, and Zeng Guofan knelt down and thanked the Queen Mother. Tears flowed uncontrollably.

"Zeng Guofan, the imperial court ordered you to be the governor of Henan, you can take office today." Ci'an said.

Zeng Guofan was overjoyed, he didn't get a chance to show his strength in the capital, and if he could become the governor of Henan, the Hunan army would be able to fight to the death with the Twist army. With such an opportunity to be loyal to the imperial court, Zeng Guofan felt that his heart was open. Kowtowing heavily, Zeng Guofan said categorically: "Please rest assured that the queen mother will do his best to eliminate the twisted bandits in Henan." ”

Ci'an asked, "Before you left Beijing, you didn't know what you had to do?" ”

Zeng Guofan was very embarrassed in her heart, but the Empress Dowager Ci'an had already shown considerable insight, if it weren't for her trust in Zeng Guofan, and seeing the situation that Zeng Guofan was facing, she would not let Zeng Guofan be the governor of Henan. Thinking of this, Zeng Guofan could no longer care about his favor, and he said in a trembling voice: "Queen Mother, the situation is critical at this time. He also asked the imperial court to prepare for the relocation of the capital. If the ministers can live up to the trust of the imperial court and eliminate the bandits in Henan, then the world can still be stable. If the minister is incompetent, he will eventually die in the hands of the bandits, and Shengjing outside the gate can also be the capital. ”

Ci'an was silent, she was born in a family of eunuchs, and she had seen her father handle government affairs since she was a child, and she was very familiar with this set in the officialdom. Therefore, if Zeng Guofan can say such things that should not be said in officialdom at all, it is enough to prove how critical the situation is. But Zeng Guofan could say this regardless of life and death, but Ci'an couldn't answer it at all. If Ci'an dared to make any response, there would be a great turmoil in the imperial court immediately.

Thinking of this, Ci'an said: "Zeng Guofan, you work hard, and you are also extremely loyal to the imperial court. Let you go to Henan to be the governor, and the court can trust you to exterminate the bandits. Do your best and don't disappoint the court! ”

Hearing this, Zeng Guofan could only kowtow heavily, "Please rest assured that the queen mother will also exterminate the bandits!" ”R1058