On 21 September, the Wulidun battalion in the south of Wuchang City finally received an edict from the military aircraft department.

The meritorious soldiers who protected the performance were all rewarded, the civil and military officials who died in battle were all compensated, and the emperor who asked the three provinces of Sichuan, Hunan, and Shaanxi to help with gunpowder and asked Guangdong to purchase 200 foreign cannons to attack and suppress them was also gracious, and the imperial court could be said to be responsive to Hubei's needs, but looking at the edict "Han Xiufeng, the former counselor of the General Political Department, was the Shaoqing of Taichang Temple, and immediately returned to Beijing, and still left the military plane to walk on the capital for an extra walk", Hu Daren, Wang Jiabi, Fang Daxiang and Yan Shusen and other friends were all stunned.

"Directly conferring the title of Shaoqing of Taichang Temple is neither acting nor rewarding the title of Shaoqing of Taichang Temple. This is not an outgoing Taoist, but a direct promotion to the Sipin Jingtang, and his holy family is too graceful. Jin Guochen exclaimed as he watched.

Thinking of the soldiers who were born and died for the imperial court outside, Wang Jiabi felt very uncomfortable, stared at the edict and muttered: "Although Li Xubin is in the front, it only takes twenty-one words to reward Li Xubin." But because of him, Han Xiufeng actually used thirty-two words, and he didn't even mention why he was promoted! ”

"This is among the second in the Qing Dynasty, sure enough, Jane is in the emperor's heart, no wonder people don't even look down on Taoists." Fang Dayu couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Hu Linyi was just a little surprised, and he didn't feel that the court was unfair, let alone jealous.

After all, compared with other ministers and officials, especially compared to those who only know how to make money but can be in a high position, Han Xiufeng at least has military merits, at least he is able to do things. I know very well that the reason why the friends are not in their hearts is because Han Xiufeng is too young, and secondly, they feel that Han Xiufeng's background is not qualified to be the Shaoqing of Taichang Temple.

He didn't want to affect the morale of the soldiers because of this, so he sat down and said with a smile: "People are originally senators of the General Administration Department, and it is normal for them to be promoted from the General Administration Department to the Xiaosi Pin Jingtang, if it weren't for their background, it would be possible to be directly promoted to Xiao Jiuqing, so no matter where you are an official, it is very important to have a smooth promotion level." ”

"But he's only been a member of the General Administration for a few days!"

"He didn't do a few days before the General Administration Division, but he hasn't been idle in the past two years, supervising the training of the Eastern Sichuan Regiment, assisting in the suppression of bandits in Northeast Guizhou, and now he is leading the Eastern Sichuan Regiment to come to my Hubei to help suppress Changmao, compared to those who have not made an inch of merit and only know how to stay up, how can he not be qualified to be promoted?" Hu Linyi asked rhetorically, and then said: "Several adults in the Military Aircraft Department are still very thoughtful, and when drafting the decree, they only mentioned Han Xiufeng's previous official position, and did not mention why he was promoted, because they were worried that my Hubei soldiers would not accept it and affect the morale of my Hubei officers and soldiers. ”

"Don't you mention why you want to promote it, and the people below will obey it?"

"It's better than writing to help suppress the thieves in Wuchang, Hubei," Hu Linyi paused, and then changed his words: "You only stared at him to become the second king, but you didn't care about the last sentence." The emperor actually ordered him to stay on the military plane Zhang Jingshang to walk extra, I think this matter is not as simple as it seems. ”

Yan Shusen was confused when he heard this, and couldn't help asking: "He used to be a small military aircraft, and the emperor asked him to continue to be a small military aircraft after returning to Beijing, what's not so simple?" Anyway, Taichang Temple has no official business, and it is just a step for Hanlin officials. ”

Without waiting for Hu Linyi to speak, Wang Jiabi raised his head and said: "My brother doesn't know, although the rank of the military aircraft Zhang Jing is low, but he is on duty and the driver, and he has a slight affection and disadvantages, and the relationship is very good." Therefore, the imperial court was very strict on the recruitment and service of the military aircraft Zhang Jing. As early as the fifth year of Jiaqing, Jiaqing Ye had decreed that 'after the military aircraft Zhang Jing has been promoted to the deputy envoy of the General Administration Department and the young secretary of Dali Temple, there is no need to walk on the military aircraft Zhang Jing'! ”

"He has not been promoted in the department, and he is neither the deputy envoy of the General Administration nor the Shaoqing of Dali Temple."

"Taichang Temple Shaoqing is the same as the fourth product, and according to the rules, he should withdraw from the military aircraft department, and he is no longer allowed to walk on the military aircraft Zhangjing."

Yan Shusen reacted and couldn't help asking: "He was originally extra, and now he is extra, so the emperor broke the exception twice?" ”

Hu Linyi touched the corners of his mouth and muttered: "The extra walk before, although it was an exception, was harmless. He is now among the second kings, and the emperor also ordered him to walk extra on the military plane Zhangjing, which is not only an exception, but also violates the ancestral system. It stands to reason that Han Zhan Kedao should be admonished, and the ministers of military aircraft such as Wen Zhongtang, Peng Zhongtang and Bai Zhongtang will implore the emperor to think twice, but the edict is still clearly written, so this matter is not so simple. ”

"Master Hu, are you saying that Wen Zhongtang and Peng Zhongtang not only did not object, but instead helped the emperor deal with those imperial historians on the grounds that it was just 'extra walking' and not violating the system?"

"It should be, otherwise such a big event would never have settled so quickly."

"In this way, he is not only Jian Zaidixin, but even the ministers of military aircraft such as Wen Zhongtang and Peng Zhongtang value him."

Hu Linyi couldn't figure it out for a while, so he simply asked the guards to go to each battalion to summon the soldiers on the reward list first, and wait for Li Xubin, Han Xiufeng and others to arrive, and then put up an incense case to look at the bow and bow, and then announce the decree.

Li Xubin was originally very happy, but when he heard that Han Xiufeng, who had fought a small battle in Hubei, had become the second official of the Qing Dynasty, his heart suddenly became very uncomfortable.

Hu Daren and Wang Jiabi tacitly helped Hu Linyi to appease him, and when he learned that the emperor had already rewarded Han Xiufeng for wearing a yellow coat, and even allowed Han Xiufeng to pass on the reward on behalf of the sky, he realized that Hu Linyi had a good share of the credit. If you don't give Han Xiufeng and the Eastern Sichuan regiment led by him some credit, just let the surnamed Han stay in Hubei, God knows that the surname Han will give the emperor a few secret folds one day.

Just when he was glad that Han Xiufeng was about to get out, Hu Linyi was sitting in the handsome tent and invited Han Xiufeng to tea.

"Zhixing, I remember that when you led the eastern Sichuan regiment to come, you said that you would stay in my Hubei for a short time. It can be seen that you knew that the emperor would transfer you back to Beijing, and you knew that you would be entrusted with important tasks, regardless of whether you have made military achievements in Hubei. Hu Linyi smiled, and then said: "Although Shaoqing of Taichang Temple is not Xiao Jiuqing, he is also a small Sipin Jingtang that is extremely noble. But when I saw your expression just now, there was no outsider here, can you tell me what's wrong. ”

From the moment he heard that Zhang Jingshang, who was still staying in the military plane, walked extra, Han Xiufeng realized that the emperor planned to let him continue to be the treasurer of the "Houyi Hall". And Wen Xiang, the big treasurer, is doing a good job, why does the emperor want to change generals on the spot, it can be seen that the situation in Guangdong is imminent.

Han Xiufeng even imagined that not only did the emperor hope that he would bring good news like last time when he returned, but even Prince Zheng, Prince Yi, Peng Yunzhang, Mu Yin, Du Han and other princes and ministers hoped that they would be the same as last time, so that the foreigners who were planning to provoke would die down.

But this time is different from the last time, the battle for Crimea has been fought, England and France have freed their hands, they will either not go to war this time, and once the war starts, it will definitely not stop if the goal is not achieved.

war, it's hard to win.

And, not only will the civil and military ministers in the court not agree, but even the emperor will not be reconciled.

Looking at Hu Linyi's curious appearance, thinking that if he went to the capital to lose his reputation, Han Xiufeng said worriedly: "Because the time to come is here after all, because this official is not easy to do." ”

"It's time to come after all, Brother Zhixing, what kind of dumb riddle are you playing in the clouds?" Hu Linyi asked with a smile.

Houyitang is extremely low-key in the capital, because he is worried about being targeted by a group of corrupt Confucians.

Thinking of the feudal official in front of him, not only is he not pedantic at all, but he is also unscrupulous in order to achieve his goal. Thinking that Pan Er, Li Tianbao and other fellow villagers would be on errands under him in the future, and they would have to rely on him to support him in the future, Han Xiufeng felt that it didn't matter if he was hiding and tucking away, and said bluntly: "The foreigners are here, if nothing else, the two hundred foreign cannons that the adults played, Lord Ye estimates that it will be difficult to deliver them on time." ”

Hu Linyi was taken aback, stared at him and asked, "Brother is saying that foreigners want to provoke." ”

"It's not just a provocation, it's about going to war with us!" Looking at Hu Linyi's surprised appearance, Han Xiufeng smiled bitterly and said: "My lord must be strange, Xiufeng is such a donor, how could he be a member of the General Administration Department before, and he also walked extra on the military plane Zhang Jing under the name of Zhang Jing. How can he be the Shaoqing of Taichang Temple now, and even continue to walk on the military plane Zhangjing. Now Xiufeng can tell the adults, not just because the emperor values Xiufeng, not just because of the support of Wenzhongtang, Peng Zhongtang and Sushun, but because of the errand that Xiufeng did. ”

"Dealing with foreigners?" Hu Linyi asked subconsciously.

"It's a shame to say it, Xiufeng is deeply favored by the emperor, but not only is he a shallow learner, but he is also a clever woman who is difficult to cook without rice, so he can only inquire and sort out the situation for the emperor and the ministers of the Military Aircraft Department to consult, to put it bluntly, he is just a scout leader, and he can only inquire about the news of foreigners, where to deal with foreigners."

Thinking that his promotion path was a little unusual, Hu Linyi realized that his words would not be false, and asked, "But haven't you been worried about the township for the past two years?" ”

"Xiufeng has been worried about the township for the past two years, but the small yamen who specializes in exploring and sorting out the situation was set up by Xiufeng, and the people who inquired about the situation in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Macao, Xiamen, Fujian, Ningbo, Shanghai and other places were also sent out by Xiufeng before returning home, in short, this errand was not delayed by Xiufeng's return to his hometown."

"So although you have been worried in the township for the past two years, you have always been very well-informed."

"When it comes to the news of Yiqing, Xiufeng is indeed more well-informed than adults."

The imperial court is in an eventful season, can not fight with the more difficult foreigners while suppressing the thieves and quelling the chaos, the more Hu Linyi thinks about it, the more worried he becomes, and suddenly gets up and says: "Wang Dakui! ”

"Humble duty." The guards guarding outside the tent hurriedly said.

"Exit twenty steps, hold the big tent, no one is allowed to approach without the summons of the official!"

"Obedience!"

Hu Linyi still didn't feel at ease after thinking about it, so he went out to take a look, and then came back and said, "Brother, tell me what the situation is in Guangdong now." ”

The war situation in the two rivers has taken a turn for the worse, Yunnan, Guizhou, Shandong, and Henan are not peaceful, and now the foreigners are making trouble again, Han Xiufeng really doesn't know how long the imperial court can last, and he feels that he should have a good relationship with the feudal official in front of him who has a heavy army, and simply tell the 1510 he knows slowly.

Hu Linyi was frightened when he heard this, and he was silent for a while before he said solemnly: "Thinking about it, Ye Mingchen can't be blamed for this, does he dare to call the shots, and what can he do?" It's not easy for him, anyway, he has at least kept Guangdong in the past few years, and even has the spare strength to help the two rivers. ”

"Otherwise, the emperor wouldn't have known that he always lied about his feelings, and promoted him to a scholar of Tiren Pavilion."

Han Xiufeng rubbed his face, and sighed lightly: "But he can't be fooled all the time, and he won't have a good time at this level in front of him." If he can't pass this level, Xiufeng will have something to do. If the battle is decided, the emperor will definitely order Xiufeng to serve in front of the battle; If he decides to make peace, the emperor will order Xiufeng to talk to foreigners with which prince and minister; In short, these four products are not so easy to do. The emperor gave Xiufeng so much, Xiufeng should also be returned to the emperor, the only thing that is not worried is the brothers who have been born and died with Xiufeng in the past few years. ”

Hu Linyi couldn't hear the meaning of his words, stared at him very seriously and said: "Brother Zhixing, your person Hu will help take care of it, but Hu also has something to ask for." ”

"Your Excellency is serious, if there is anything your adult commands."

"If you can't start a fight with foreigners, don't start fighting, Hu can't speak, but my brother can, everything depends on my brother!" Looking at Han Xiufeng's appearance of wanting to speak and stopping, Hu Linyi arched his hand again: "Hu knows that once a foreigner has an incident, the ministers of civil and military affairs in the court will definitely play in unison to ask for a duel with the foreigners, and if anyone dares to play and ask for peace, they will definitely be pointed out by thousands of people." But for the sake of the world, what is the honor and disgrace of you and me? ”

Han Xiufeng thought to himself, you said it lightly, if you really go to that point, do you dare to play the excerpt of asking for peace, are you willing to leave a reputation for eternity knowing that you are powerless to return to the sky?

Thinking of this, Han Xiufeng shook his head slightly.

"My brother is not only deeply favored by the emperor, but also a person who has seen the world, won't he be so pedantic, right?"

"Xiufeng is not pedantic, but he doesn't want to do it knowing that he can't do it. To tell the truth, Xiufeng has already made up his mind, if he really wants to go that far, Xiufeng will never play a request for peace, nor will he ask to fight with foreigners, but listen to the emperor, the emperor asked Tan Xiufeng to follow the emperor's hand-picked messenger to talk to the foreigners, if the emperor lets go to fight, Xiufeng will follow the minister who led the army to fight to the death with the foreigners! ”

"Forgive Hu for speaking bluntly, brother, you are not pedantic, you are stupid!"

Han Xiufeng knew very well that he couldn't explain the truth, and said meaningfully: "The reason why Xiufeng plans to fight the main battle is not only because he is loyal, but also because he wants to fight a battle happily. ”

"What if we lose?"

"It's good if you can win by luck, if you lose, you lose, and sometimes defeat is not necessarily all bad."

How could Hu Linyi not hear the meaning of Han Xiufeng's words, because only when he was beaten and hurt by the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty would he know that the Qing Dynasty was no longer the kingdom of the Heavenly Empire, and he would really understand Lin Wenzhong's good intentions of "mastering the enemy's long skills to control the enemy", but he still stared at him and asked: "Did the old brother ever think that if he really started a fight with the foreigners, not only would he be likely to be defeated, but when the time came, he would not only have to agree to the conditions that the foreigners are proposing now, but even cut the land and pay compensation like the Daoguang Dynasty?" ”

"I've thought about it, but what's the use of just thinking about it?" Han Xiufeng asked rhetorically, and said helplessly: "So far, don't talk about Xiufeng, it's useless for you to speak out, adult." ”

"Also, Hu is a bit of a strong man."