The matter of changing people was handed over to Liu Xunji, and Guan Zhuofan was very relieved. Calculate the time, if all goes well, then they should be able to return to Shanghai about today. Even so, he refused to wait, so he took advantage of this time to summon Yang Fang, Hua Er, and Libin to the Yamen of the Domain to discuss the matter of replenishing the ordnance.

After this battle, the Xuan army expanded again, and with some newly recruited warriors and selected Taiping soldiers, a new battalion was added to each regiment, and the chief husband who was a reserve soldier also filled up the establishment of each battalion.

In this way, the six battalions of the horse team had nearly 4,000 people, the fifth battalion of the Kezi regiment had a total of 3,000 people, the fifth battalion of the Xianzi regiment had a total of 3,000 people, and the Jianzi regiment and the German regiment were both four battalions, with 2,400 people each.

The 2nd Regiment of Foreign Guns was generously given to Li Hongzhang by him, removed from the structure of the Xuan Army, and only added the 1st Regiment of Foreign Guns to nearly 3,000 people in four large battalions, and Wall specially recruited more than 40 foreign officers from the concession to join them. The name is no longer called a foreign gun group, but directly changed to a foreign gun group, just waiting for Forrest to return.

Liu Xunjiao's central military camp and Tulin's pro-military camp remained unchanged, still receiving 500 men each.

It's not that I don't know, I'm shocked, in less than a year, the Xuan army has developed into an army of 18,000 people, and the city defense battalions and regimental warriors in various cities in Songjiang Prefecture are all under the control of Guan Zhuofan, and there are tens of thousands.

You still have to be rich, Guan Zhuofan thought to himself. He didn't think he was so great -- in fact, in addition to daring to appoint a large number of Western officers and integrate them into his own system, the Xuan Army had a great deal to do with the original edict that "the military expenses should be allocated by the Jianghai Customs." With the financial resources of Songjiang and Shanghai. will raise the Xuan Army, a strong force. It's already more than enough. If the whole territory of Jiangsu is in hand, what will it be?

But I can't say that at the moment. Guan Zhuofan thought for a while and asked Yang Fang: "Qi Weng, in terms of military supply, Wu Zirun's side, do you have any complaints?" ”

"Even if there is suffering, I can't tell it." Yang Fang had a sympathy for Wu Xi and sighed, "Since he was checked by Li Futai Yuexia. In addition to the military expenses of the Xuanhuai and Huai armies, 60,000 taels are now allocated to the camp of Zeng Commander every month. After all, it was originally only reported that the income of Guanyin was more than 200,000, but now it is found out to be more than 400,000, so what else can you say? Only obediently give money. ”

"I don't understand," Wall looked like that in a second-class uniform, "don't you have to give some of this money to the central government in the capital?" ”

"Haha, Yuancheng. You didn't understand these things. Yang Fang looked at his son-in-law. said with a smile, "The court also has rules and regulations, and you can't take it if you want to." The Beijing salary and the grain are both regular items that have long been established, and they are routinely dismantled by the feudal departments and yamen of the provinces. As for Guan Yin, the imperial court didn't take it seriously at first, a little miscellaneous silver, what's the big deal? How could I have imagined that there would be such a number today! Later, when the war broke out, even the military salaries in various places were not enough to pay, let alone relieve Beijing. ”

"Not the best. Let's use it to buy guns and cannons, and wipe out the long-haired 'Tianjing'! Wall said confidently, "Yixuan, what you asked to buy last time, I have already discussed it with Mr. Li and Jin Nengheng, especially the cannon, and I plan to buy our American ...... Ahem...... Although the price of the American rear-loading rifled gun is a little more expensive, the firing range and accuracy are much stronger than the French guns used now, and there is no need for firemen and skewers, not only is there less people, but the rate of fire is also much faster. ”

Guan Zhuofan was already very familiar with the operation of the French field artillery, and knew that the skewer mentioned by Wall was responsible for compacting the medicine bag, and the fire door hand had to use one hand with thick leather gloves to hold down the ignition port when ignition, so as not to let air pour into the gun chamber from the ignition port. Otherwise, if there is unburned gunpowder and residual sparks in the chamber, it will hurt the gunner who is working. Now if it is a breech loading, these processes are eliminated, and naturally it is a big step forward.

The power of artillery, he has long realized that in the two battles of Nanqiao and Qingshuikeng, the Taiping army was almost helpless against the fierce artillery fire of the Xuan army, so he made up his mind to give priority to the money he could get on the artillery.

"That's it! When Mr. Liu comes back, you will join him with the firearms that need to be replenished, and make a submission, and I will transfer it to Wu Zirun for the record and ask him to allocate funds. After thinking about it, he added: "There are also bullets, it is also important, don't make it like long hair, a gun only has ten or twenty rounds of ammunition, and the battle will not be easy to fight." As for the guns seized from Changmao, as well as the equipment that Xuan Jun himself had replaced, he distributed them to the city defense battalion and the regimental bravery-don't underestimate them, it turns out that Mr. Liu's training is much stronger than that of the green battalion soldiers! ”

This is another sum of money, but Guan Zhuofan thinks that Wu Xi can still afford it. And when the war subsides in the future, I am afraid that Shanghai's Guanyin will more than double.

Shanghai must grasp it in its hands, and Li Hongzhang must not be allowed to intervene! Kwan Zhuofan is more aware of the importance of this matter than ever before. He looked at Yang Fang, pondered and said, "Qi Weng, please pay more attention to the movement of the Provincial Department there." Li Hongzhang is eyeing the position of Shanghai Dao, and if he doesn't straighten out Wu Zirun, he won't give up. Cheap is not left behind, we don't want to get up early in the morning and catch up with the late market. ”

With his own son-in-law by his side, Yang Fang didn't want to say anything, just nodded silently.

Guan Zhuofan was about to say more, but when he saw Tulin, who had been waiting outside the yamen, he hurriedly walked in and saluted: "Lord, great joy!" People are all replaced. ”

"Yay! I knew that Liu Songyan would live up to his trust. Guan Zhuofan's eyes lit up and he said excitedly, "Where have they been?" ”

"I have already entered the city, and I am on my way to the Yamen, and I am about to arrive."

Guan Zhuofan groaned slightly, and raised his voice: "Fire!" Open the door to greet! ”

"Fire-" Guan Zhuofan's order, from the signing room to the lobby, from the lobby to the second hall, all the way out, "Open the middle door - the handsome welcome!" ”

*

*

Liu Xunji and Zhao Jingxian were personally escorted by Yixan, until they entered the territory of Songjiang Mansion, and then Liu Xunji's Chinese military camp picked them up and rushed to Shanghai. Among them, Zhao Jingxian's body was weak, especially his left leg was seriously injured, and he was lifted by a soft sedan chair, and eight sturdy soldiers took turns to serve as sedan chair drivers, running like flying, and in the afternoon, rushed into the city.

In the past few months that Zhao Jingxian has been locked up in Suzhou, no matter whether the "loyal king" Li Xiucheng treats him softly or adds a heavy sentence, there are always only four words in his mouth, "Jingxian will not descend!" ”。 With such a backbone, even the Taiping soldiers who were guarding him were secretly moved, although they did not dare to show favoritism, but the news from the outside could give him a little wind. Guan Zhuofan broke Li Rongfa in March and completely annihilated the Taiping army in Gaoqiao's battle, Zhao Jingxian already knew about it, and his heart was excited. This time, the 70,000 army led by Li Xiucheng returned in Shanghai again, which made Zhao Jingxian in ecstasy, and he had another desire, I really wanted to see with my own eyes what kind of person and what kind of army beat the powerful Li Xiucheng so embarrassed.

However, being in prison and having made up his mind to die, he knew that this thought was just a luxury after all. Who knew that in a few days, he was suddenly taken out of the prison barn, and together with a few foreign devils, he said that he was going to change people. It's okay to change people, the foreign devil named Forrest in it can actually speak Chinese official language; It is not enough to speak official words, but he actually claims that he is Chinese, an official of the imperial court, and a general of the three products, and he respects himself as a fellow official.

All this made Zhao Jingxian feel quite unreal - he was trapped in Huzhou for half a year and detained in Suzhou for five months, what has become of the outside world? It wasn't until he saw Liu Xunxian on the steamboat that Zhao Jingxian, who had been in the clouds, was a little more down-to-earth.

The Xuan army that followed along the way, the military appearance was solemn, the action was agile, and every time it was handed over, it was clean and neat, and there was no place to drag the mud and water, not only well-equipped to see the unseen, but also to see that it was disciplined and well-trained. Zhao Jingxian thought to himself, no wonder Long Hair was defeated at their hands, I'm afraid that even Lord Zeng's Hunan army was not necessarily their opponent!

And when he entered Shanghai City, Zhao Jingxian's mood changed again, not only finally believed that he had really escaped from the ghost gate, but also thought of meeting the Guan Dashuai, the excitement and urgency were almost irrepressible.

I saw the stone lion outside the yamen, and I had already heard the sound of the cannon, and the door of the yamen of the feudal division suddenly opened! This time, Zhao Jingxian couldn't sit still on the sedan chair, regardless of the injured leg, he insisted on getting off the sedan chair and walking over, Liu Xun couldn't stop him, so he had to let him.

Zhao Jingxian's actions are for a reason - Guan Zhuofan opened the middle door to greet him, which is a great courtesy.

At that time, the rules of officialdom were only when the Qin sent a decree or the official arrived at the house, the door would be wide open, which was called hard entry and hard exit. Zhao Jingxian's official is only a Taoist, although he has added the rank of political envoy, in front of Guan Zhuofan, he is still considered a subordinate. At this moment, Guan Zhuofan, who is the commander of the Xuan Army and the division of the Jiangsu Domain, opened the middle door and personally led more than ten officials and gentry to be demoted to greet him, naturally in order to express special respect for the character of this famous minister in the south of the Yangtze River.

At this time, people can't help but be emotional, Zhao Jingxian, a deep and dignified man, shook off Liu Xunjiao's hand, dragged a wounded leg, and limped to Guan Zhuofan under the attention of everyone, ignoring his uncle Zhao Binglin, who was so excited that his face was distorted, and did not wait for Guan Zhuofan to reach out to help him, push Jinshan, pour the jade pillar, kneel on both knees, and bow down.

"Xuan Shuai, Xiexie, your life-saving grace!"

*(To be continued......)