The next day, the news of Takahashi's victory spread in the county seat of Shanghai and the concession. People rushed to tell each other, and many people took out the firecrackers that were not finished during the New Year, so the east also sounded, the west also sounded, and the whole city boiled, but it seemed to be more lively than the New Year. And at noon, when the Xuan army withdrawn from Gaoqiao disembarked at Xiaodongmen and passed through the city, the welcome they received was even more unexpected for them.

The Xuan army that entered the city, starting with the foreign gun team, and ending the artillery team, walked along the south street to the center of the city where the county government was located, and then turned north, went out of the north gate and entered the concession, and then continued to pass through the rental boundary to the north and march in the direction of Nanxiang. On the one hand, this was originally a shortcut, and on the other hand, Guan Zhuofan also intended to let the people of Shanghai and the foreigners in the concession take a look at this victorious army.

Wall walked at the head of the queue with his usual neat attire, carrying a civilized stick, and swaggering at the head of the queue. The battalions of the Xuan Army behind him, lined up as long snakes, also tried their best to get out of their spirits. Although the clothes could not be as neat and tidy as Wall's, and even tattered, because of this, the gratitude and love of the people increased. Some set up incense tables in front of their homes to pray for their blessings, some stuffed them with all kinds of food, and some hung them with all kinds of clothes, robes, fast boots, and cotton shoes, and more people rushed to hear the news and crowded on the side of the road to cheer for them.

In these years, it is almost a family of soldiers and bandits, and there is even a saying that "soldiers are worse than bandits", and those who are soldiers themselves know it. Today's scene is like a dream, where do you dare to think about it? And for the gentry and common people of Shanghai. The last military parade of the Xuan Army. It's just a matter of looking at their military appearance. This time, it was the troops who really won a big battle, and they rescued Shanghai from the power of the long-haired army, so the feeling was even more different.

Although the troops passed in front of the county office, Guan Zhuofan sat in the ya, but he never came out -- if he came out, the soldiers would definitely salute him, and it would become a review, which was the limelight. Not out as well.

Although he never came out, he heard the cheers of the crowd in his ears, and a strong pride and pride rose in his heart: This is my Guan Zhuofan's soldier! When the gun truck rumbled by, the sound of color outside was like thunder, and my heart was even more touched: everything must win the hearts of the people, and only then can something be done.

Wu Jianying's troops, because they were new anyway, arranged for them to get off the boat at Lingjiadu and go around the city, so as not to inconvenience each other. This army is very capable of fighting. Like Li Hengsong's Jiang Debu, he was determined to be incorporated into the sequence of Xuan Jun. But that's the next step. What he has to do now is to take advantage of the victory to pursue, first occupy Nanxiang, and then attack Jiading, cut off the retreat of the Taiping army on the North Road to Suzhou, and repeat the story of Gaoqiao.

This time, however, the Taipings moved faster than he expected. In yesterday's battle, the Taiping army in Wusong and Baoshan was almost across the river, and watched how the Eastern Route Army was ruthlessly exterminated. Therefore, as soon as Gaoqiao was defeated, the Northern Route Army immediately began to retreat, and by the time Huaer and Daniel Zhang and other troops recovered Nanxiang, Liu Zhaojun's main force had already passed through Jiading and rushed towards Suzhou.

On the first day of March, Jiading Kefu.

On the third day of the first month of March, Fengxian, Nanqiao Kefu.

On the fourth day of the first month of March, Qingpu Kefu and Tan Shaoguang's troops crossed the Wusong River and retreated to Suzhou.

From the first month to March, within 50 miles around Shanghai, there was no more thief atmosphere, and the whole territory had been cleared.

The flames of war were extinguished.

*

*

Now that the great work has been accomplished, it is natural that the time has come to reward the meritorious deeds.

The glory of reporting to the imperial court was left to Xue Huan, the governor of Jiangsu. Originally, logically speaking, this excerpt of the success should be played by Xue Huan and Guan Zhuofan, but Guan Zhuofan only has seven grades, a governor and a county governor, what kind of situation is that? There is no such rule. So I had to go to yours and I to mine, Guan Zhuofan, as the imperial guard, wrote another secret fold.

Although it is two folds, the caliber must be the same, otherwise it will be a joke if it is not stubble. Of course, this caliber was determined by Guan Zhuofan, so the envoy, Xu Changshan, the Jiangsu Gao Division, was instructed by Xue Huan and had to deign to come to the county government of Shanghai County again to discuss this matter with Guan Zhuofan.

"Yixuan," as soon as they met, Xu Changshan preemptively bowed his hand, "I'm here to make amends." ”

"Lord Xu, don't dare." Guan Zhuofan was also very polite, not like the one who attacked him that day, "It's still the same sentence, each other is for the country." ”

Among the things to be discussed, the most important thing is the number of enemies to be destroyed. In the first battle of Shanghai, the front and back combined, a total of nearly 10,000 enemies were killed, more than 3,000 were captured, and Wu Jianying was in front of him, and Ji Yuanqing was in the rear, a total of 6,500 people, so the total number was 20,000. According to Guan Zhuofan's idea, add 20% and report 25,000, which is very passable.

"Add two?" Xu Changshan smiled and said, "Yixuan, I have also rolled in the army, and I have never seen such a polite commander as you." ”

In his opinion, even if he doesn't do anything to kill one or ten people, at least he will turn it over and report it to 40,000, which should not be too much.

It is not surprising that Xu Changshan said such a thing. At this time, the officers and troops finally fought such a big victory, how could it be reasonable not to report a special report? Guan Zhuofan thought to himself that when he was fighting horse bandits in Rehe, the battle report written by Xu Zhisu for him was like this, which was similar to what Xu Changshan said.

"Yixuan, Xue Futai is just a reputation, but your benefits here are real." Xu Changshan added another sentence and whispered.

The advantage is that in addition to the corresponding rewards, if the surrendered and captured longhairs need to be dismissed, there is usually a fee for repatriation. The extra money can be included in private pockets.

Guan Zhuofan learned another good job, but he was not interested in this, and he reported too much, and he would give a very bad example to the officers below. Think about it and find a reason: "Since it is the meaning of Futai, I don't dare to rebel." However, Li Hefei's Huai army will arrive in Shanghai next month, and it is better to leave some room for others. In this way, within 30,000, let Lord Xu decide. ”

Xu Changshan was still not satisfied, but Guan Zhuofan said so, he was helpless, and Zuihou set a figure of 20,000. This time, there was quite a gap with what Xue Huan expected, Xu Changshan's errand was not completed successfully, and it was a little lazy to talk about anything else.

What Guan Zhuofan wants to talk about is the aftermath of the local area. As the saying goes, "bandits are like combs, and soldiers are like grates", and now it is the soldiers and bandits who have each passed through the entire territory of Songjiang, and the ravages suffered by the people are naturally not light. Guan Zhuofan hopes that Xu Changshan can report to Xue Huan, one is whether he can allocate a little money to compensate the locality, and the other is whether he can ask the imperial court to make a moderate reduction or exemption of the money and grain in Songjiang Mansion this year.

"Yixuan, why bother yourself with nothing?" Xu Changshan looked at his face, made a kind look and said, "Now that soldiers are being used everywhere, the imperial court is as anxious as a spark, Xue Futai is so worried that his hair is gray, he only hates the lack of money, what else are you talking about free money and food?" I don't have to mention this in my opinion. ”

The tone is quite cautious, but the meaning of the words is inappropriate. Xu Changshan made the same mistake again - Guan Zhuofan just asked him to convey it, where was his turn to say what "no need to mention"?

Guan Zhuofan shook his head in his heart, wondering if he should clean him up again, but after thinking about it, Xue Huan was originally such a person, so why bother with them? Anyway, a few of them won't be able to stay in Jiangsu for a few days, and as soon as Li Hongzhang arrives, there will naturally be some personnel changes. Li Hongzhang gets people up and never soft-hearted, and people like Xu Changshan are not a problem at all.

The words were not speculative, the guests and hosts felt it, and after a few perfunctory words to each other, Xu Changshan said goodbye and went to Wu Xu's provincial office to do a hook, and returned to Nantong by boat on the same day, and when he saw Xue Huan, he couldn't help complaining about Guan Zhuofan.

"This person is too arrogant." Xu Changshan said hatefully. He always regretted the last time he was reprimanded by Guan Zhuofan in public, and always looked for an opportunity to give him eye medicine, "I dare not even listen to Futai's words, I really should teach him a lesson." ”

"Forget it, forget it, why bother with him. He said that if he reported 20,000, he would report 28,000. Xue Huan said calmly, "It is inevitable that a young man will be crazy, not to mention that he has just won the battle." ”

"That's not going crazy. I think that since he arrested He Dushuai, he has never taken others seriously. ”

He Dushuai refers to Xue Huan's benefactor, He Guiqing, the former governor of Liangjiang who was arrested by Guan Zhuofan. This is also a painful thing in Xue Huan's heart, and he was picked out by Xu Changshan at this moment, and he was silent for a while.

Xu Changshan glanced at Xue Huan's face, knowing that his words had an effect, so he simply lit another fire: "I heard that the 'beautiful chef lady', Hu Qingqing, has already entered his ya." ”

"Hmm...... Not? Xue Huan only felt a sour and painful vinegar that rushed straight to his head. With the dignity of a dignified governor, he wanted to accept Qingqing as his aunt's wife, but now he was snatched away by a Qipin Zhi County, where to put this face? Imagining the white and tender Hu Qingqing being held in Guan Zhuofan's arms, not to mention how sad he was, he endured it, but finally couldn't help it, and sneered: "Military affairs are so busy, he still has this leisure." ”

"Well, I should teach him a lesson." Xu Changshan said, "Otherwise, one day, he will climb on the head of an adult." ”

Xue Huan was reminded - Guan Zhuofan no longer takes himself seriously, and it is unknown whether one day he will really seek the position of governor. However, after thinking about it again, he was deflated: "He is a popular person, and he has made great achievements, so it is not easy to get it." ”

"Futai, Guan Zhuofan is bold and reckless, there is one thing that is true." Xu Changshan whispered, "Take this matter to play, not to mention defeating him, at least let him take off a layer of skin." ”

"Oh? What's up? ”

"I heard a message from Wu Zirun in the Provincial Department," Xu Changshan said mysteriously, "Guan Zhuofan secretly sent a telegram. ”

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