There are so many civil and military officials in the Qing Dynasty, if they all give the emperor a fold, then the emperor doesn't have to do anything, and he can't watch the folds all night, so only some civil officials above the fourth rank and military attaches above the second rank can go up to the heavens.

Han Xiufeng not only did not have the right to perform the secret fold, but he was only a fellow acquaintance of the fifth grade, so he naturally did not need to put it in the secret folding box with a lock, so he presented it to the official of the General Administration. The result can be imagined, even the guards guarding the palace gate laughed, thinking that he was like an idiot who didn't know the height of the sky, and even wondered how he was doing it!

Han Xiufeng, who changed into an official uniform on the way here, turned a blind eye to the cynicism of the officials and guards, handed over the fold and dusted off his horseshoe sleeves and bowed respectfully.

It is said that it is better to come early than to come by chance, and rushed to the mouth of Mishi Hutong when Peng Yunzhang, a co-organizer of the university and a scholar of the Ministry of Engineering, happened to return home, and heard that Han Xiufeng came with a letter from Xu Naizhao, the acting governor of Jiangsu, so he asked his family to take Han Xiufeng to the Xiaohua Hall for a while. After changing into his official uniform, washing his face, and reading Xu Naizhao's letter, he took the old servant to the flower hall to meet him.

He was both the secretary of the Ministry of Industry and the minister of military aircraft, Han Xiufeng had never seen such a big official, so he couldn't help but be a little nervous, and quickly stood up as soon as he heard the footsteps.

The old servant followed Peng Yunzhang into the flower hall, and when Peng Yunzhang sat down, he bowed down and said, "Master, this is Han Xiufeng Han Tongzhi, who was ordered to return to Beijing to receive the certificate." ”

Peng Yunzhang is in his early sixties, and may have been in the center, unlike foreign officials who have to suffer from going back and forth, and he looks like he is in his fifties, not only not as old as Xu Naizhao, but also more spiritual than Xu Naizhao. Although he didn't wear an official uniform, he could really feel the official authority of the important ministers of the court.

Han Xiufeng didn't dare to be rude, and hurriedly dusted off his sleeves and knelt down: "Xiaguan Han Xiufeng meets Lord Shangshu!" ”

Peng Yunzhang knew that Han Xiufeng was not very old, but he didn't expect to be so young, so he put down his resume and said, "No courtesy, sit down and talk." ”

"Master Xie."

"When did you set off from Shanghai, by sea or by land, and the journey went smoothly?"

"Lord Yushangshu, Xiaguan Layue set off from Shanghai on the 27th of the month, and he walked by sea, and the road was quite smooth."

"When did you arrive in the capital?"

"Xia Guan just arrived this afternoon, went to Jingyun Gate to hand over the invitation, and went to the Ministry of Officials, it was already dark when he came out of the Ministry of Officials, so late he shouldn't have come to disturb the adults to rest, but before he came, Lord Xu asked him to bring a letter, and the officials did not dare to delay Lord Xu's official business, so they dared to come."

Peng Yunzhang thought to himself that if Xu Naizhao really had official business, he could go to the 600 miles of the military department to expedite, how could he use your help to carry the letter, but he felt that the young Zhengwupin Tongzhi in front of him was also decent, and he was stable, at least he knew that he would come to meet him as soon as he arrived in the capital.

Han Xiufeng was extremely nervous, and was wondering if the words just now were not decent enough, Peng Yunzhang said lightly: "Lord Xu is the same year as this official, his personality and official are very clear, and the person he recommends will naturally not be bad, otherwise this official will not guarantee that you will be transferred to the north bank of the Yongding River." ”

"Master Xie Shangshu is carrying." Han Xiufeng hurriedly stood up and bowed in thanks.

"Sit down and listen to what the official has to say."

"Yes."

"It's just that there have been some changes in this matter, and there are already people on the north bank of the Yongding River, but fortunately, the same knowledge on the south bank is also vacant, so don't patronize visiting relatives and friends these days, and don't always care about entertainment.

"Xiaguan Ming'er went to the Ministry of Officials early in the morning, and Xiaguan strictly obeyed the teachings of the adults!"

"Well," Peng Yunzhang nodded with satisfaction, and then changed his words: "Although this official and Lord Xu are the same year, no matter whether this official used to walk on the military plane Zhangjing or now walks on the military plane, he has never asked the official for any help or inquired about anything. I never thought that he would come to ask the official for you, and even sent his family to send a letter all the way to the letter. ”

"The errand of the subordinate official was not done, and Lord Xu still treats the subordinate like this, and the subordinate official is ashamed......"

"The past is all in the past, not to mention that the errand of Jiang Customs has not been done well, I can't blame you all, this official only looks at the future."

Han Xiufeng wanted to say that please rest assured, but the Yongding River Yamen official was not so easy to do, so he didn't dare to play that guarantee ticket and praise that Haikou, and he didn't know how to reply, Peng Yunzhang suddenly asked: "What military books have you read?" ”

Han Xiufeng was asked again, secretly thinking that "The Art of War" had been turned over, but he didn't understand its essence. The most familiar is "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", not only have I read it several times, but I have heard that Mr. Storyteller has said it many times, but is that a military book? Wei Yuan's masterpiece has been carefully studied, but he has just been impeached and investigated for dealing with foreigners, and now he can't even mention it.

Thinking that the dignified Ministry of Industry and the Minister of Military Aircraft are not people who can see them if they want to, they can't say a single thing, so they can only stubbornly say: "My lord, the lower officials have not read a few military books, and they can't train soldiers, let alone fight." ”

Peng Yunzhang thought that he would talk endlessly, but he never thought that he would say this, and couldn't help asking: "Since you can't train and can't fight, what's going on with the victory of Wanfuqiao, is it a lie about military exploits?" ”

"The lower officials don't dare."

"Why don't you dare?"

"Ten dares to borrow officials, and they don't dare to lie about their military exploits."

"How did you win the battle of Wanfu Bridge?"

"My lord, although the lower officials don't know how to train and fight, they understand that since they want the brave and strong to serve, they can't deduct the brave and strong's salary. If even the battalion officer is greedy for life and afraid of death, how can his soldiers bravely kill the enemy. ”

Peng Yunzhang was stunned, and was silent for a long time before asking, "Is there anything else?" ”

Han Xiufeng calmed down, and continued: "There is also the fact that words must be done, and rewards and punishments are clear. ”

"It sounds like it has nothing to do with the art of war, it may be not easy to do this, if all the civil and military officials of my Qing Dynasty can do it, why worry about the bandits!"

"My lord, the lower official ......"

"I can see that you are a sincere person, it is said that you are Duan Zhuoyun's nephew, I have always been good friends with your uncle, so I will shout at you."

"My lord lifts up, Xiufeng is ashamed."

"Zhixing, you led a thousand villagers to stick to Liaojiagou, beheaded more than 400 bandits, and saved the entire Tongtai, so there is no need to be ashamed, what should be ashamed are those who are greedy for life and afraid of death who are deeply favored by the emperor but flee from the wind!" Peng Yunzhang took a deep breath, stared at Han Xiufeng and continued: "Presumably you can also guess why this official will promote you to be transferred to the Tongzhi on the south bank of the Yongding River, since you are here, I will make it clear to you, let you be the Tongzhi on the south bank of the Yongding River, and let you lead the troops."

After you take office, you don't have to worry about other things, and you don't have to worry about food and salary, give the official a single-minded training of the troops, if there is really a war, you will hold the Yongding River for the official like sticking to Liaojiagou, and you must not let the bandits cross the river to the north to force the capital. If you let the bandits cross the river, don't blame the official for mercilessly letting you come to see you! ”

If you are an official who has never seen strong winds and waves, you may not dare to take this errand. But Han Xiufeng not only fought with the Taiping Army, but also experienced the chaos of the party, secretly thinking that if Lin Fengxiang and Li Kaifang really broke through the siege and killed the capital, who would take care of him, so he immediately got up and said: "Lord Peng, if there is really a war, Xiufeng does not dare to guarantee whether he can hold the Yongding River, but Xiufeng will never flee from the wind, even if there is only one soldier left, he will grit his teeth and hold on." ”

"Okay, that's what the official wants."

"Master Peng, Xiufeng still has something to say that I don't know if to say."

"But it doesn't hurt to say it."

Han Xiufeng said with a bitter face: "As far as Xiufeng knows, the battalions of soldiers in Yongding River are actually a group of coolies who dredge and build embankments. Counting on those coolies to fight, Xiufeng can't win even if he tries his best! ”

"Therefore, after taking office, we have to quickly recruit and train troops, and the food and salary will be supported by the grain road of Zhili, and the new Yongding River Wu Tingdong will find a way to raise it, and our Ministry of Industry will also vacate some of it. As for the original military attachés such as the commanders, garrisons, thousand generals, and generals, they can be used if they can be used, and they are not used if they are not of great use. ”

"What if you meet a treacherous man?" Afraid that Peng Yunzhang would not know the virtues of the green camp, Han Xiufeng said with a sad face: "Master Peng, you may not believe it, some military attaches live by eating the blood of soldiers, and even treat soldiers as slaves, Xiufeng is worried that they will ......"

Without waiting for Han Xiufeng to finish speaking, Peng Yunzhang said coldly: "You don't need to worry about this, if they dare not listen to you, it is difficult for them to dare not listen to Wu Tingdong." If anyone dares to disobey orders, you can report to Wu Daotai. What's more, it was not only Han Zhixing who was distributed to the Yongding River Yamen this time, not just a few civil officials, but also military attachés. ”

"It turns out that Master Peng has thought of it a long time ago, so Xiufeng has nothing to worry about."

"You just need to train the army wholeheartedly," Peng Yunzhang was tired after a busy day at the military aircraft, and was about to serve tea to the guests, thinking about it and asking: "Zhixing, you just arrived in the capital, have you found a place to stay?" ”

"If you say that your lordship, Xiufeng has a place to stay, and Xiufeng plans to live in Chongqing Hall."

"I almost forgot, you're from Ba County."

Seeing Peng Yunzhang picking up the teacup, Han Xiufeng hurriedly stood up, but he didn't rush to retreat, but said cautiously: "Master Peng, there is another thing that Xiufeng forgot to report just now." ”

"What?"

"You just said that Xiufeng should have guessed why you Baoju Xiufeng was transferred to the Yongding River Yamen, in fact, Xiufeng didn't guess, but Lord Xu said that it was nine times out of ten, so he scraped together some silver when he left, and bought more than 40 firebird guns from the foreign company in charge of the Shanghai Concession."

Peng Yunzhang thought to himself that this was a person who could fight and could fight, and couldn't help asking, "What about the gun?" ”

"All in the inn outside the city, Xiufeng let the accompanying townsmen watch at the inn, they are all with Xiufeng and private tyrants, all of them are although Xiufeng has fought with Changmao, and they are all military attaches who were promoted when Guo Peilin and Guo ordered Xiufeng to restore the salt fishing camp, among which there is a thousand generals, two generals, four foreign commissions Qianzong, and eight additional foreign commissions."

Peng Yunzhang didn't expect that Han Xiufeng not only brought more than 40 foreign guns but also more than a dozen fierce generals, and he was more confident in whether he could train the river camp into an elite division, and muttered: "Since you have brought them, you don't need to let them go back, anyway, there will be a lot of vacancies in the river camp in the future, so let them be on errands in the river camp." As for the foreign guns you bought with money, go back to Wu Daotai for reimbursement. ”

I just arrived home after attending the annual meeting, and the update is late, so please forgive me.

(End of chapter)