It is said to be eating, but in fact, there is something to discuss. When Guan Zhuofan arrived, the two met the courtesy, and Li Hongzhang invited him to the side room, and Zhang Shun waited to change into civilian clothes.

Although it is only June, it is already quite hot, and the official uniform is not so comfortable on the body, now change into a light gauze robe, and sit in the flower hall with the long window and four open, which is cool and comfortable, and it is much more comfortable.

At this time, Li Hongzhang's living was not as luxurious as later, and the dishes on this table were exquisite and not extravagant, and Zhou Fu in the scene was invited as a companion.

After a few words of greeting, Li Hongzhang cut to the chase: "Yixuan, I received a letter from the teacher yesterday, my ninth uncle's soldiers have already reached Jiangning and set up camp in Yuhuatai outside the south gate. ”

Li Hongzhang saluted Zeng Guofan's disciples, so he called the teacher's ninth brother Zeng Guoquan "Ninth Uncle". Zeng Guoquan's soldiers were the main force of the Hunan army, their combat effectiveness was very strong, and they were extremely fierce in the battle; since they broke Anqing in August last year, they went down the east of the Yangtze River, cooperated with Peng Yulin's sailors, and fought very smoothly, all the way down to Wuwei, Chaoxian, Hezhou, Taipingfu, Jinzhuguan, Wuhu, Dashengguan and other places, and now they have finally hit the foot of the "Tianjing" city.

"What my teacher means is that I hope we can make a difference in the southeast, so that Li Xiucheng can have a vision, and he can't go all out to help Jiangning."

"Yes, of course you have to listen to Governor Zeng's words." Guan Zhuofan said, "However, the detailed work of our faction in Suzhou and Hangzhou has been rewarded, saying that there have been a lot of changes in Changmao recently, and the army is being reorganized, which means to invade the east again, please pay attention to Futai." ”

"I also expected that Li Xiucheng would definitely use a knife against Shanghai before the western aid. So we don't have to go to him. He's coming to us. Li Hongzhang nodded. smiled: "But fortunately, my Huai army is roughly trained." This time, you can share the burden on your shoulders for Yixuan, all the way to Suzhou, the Huai army can bear it, and the Xuan army can hold the southern line as long as it can hold the southern line. ”

The Huai army that rushed to Shanghai one after another was a total of 9,000 people, and during this time, Li Hongzhang imitated the Xuan army. Many new warriors were recruited, reaching the scale of 16,000 people, which has surpassed the Xuan army in terms of numbers alone. In addition, the number of green battalions and regiments that he could command as governor was already 30,000, so he was full of confidence not only to hold Shanghai, but also to regain the lost territory to the west.

The meaning of Li Hongzhang's words, Guan Zhuofan could naturally hear it. If there is to be a war, then the Taiping army all the way to Suzhou. It was Li Xiu himself who led it, and Li Hongzhang wanted to stand alone in this way. It is said that in the future battle, it is planned to use the Huai army on the northern front as the main force, and the Xuan army on the southern front to defend the Taiping army from Hangzhou. Once Li Xiucheng's offensive fails, most of the Huai army will take advantage of the situation to counterattack.

Guan Zhuofan thought to himself: It seems that Xuanjun's merits are "enough", and now it is his turn to make meritorious contributions. But I thought so, but I refused to show it in my words, and said happily: "That's great, if you fight like this, I don't have to be as frightened as I was last time." Please rest assured that the Xuan army will firmly hold the southern front. ”

Guan Zhuofan's attitude made Li Hongzhang very satisfied, and Li Hongzhang's Jihua was also expected by Guan Zhuofan. In this way, the Xuan army basically only needs to defend Songjiang, Nanqiao, and Fengxian, which is not only less stressful, but also a very good opportunity to use this battle to train troops!

After this important matter was discussed, the two of them discussed the details again, and agreed that the generals of the two armies would meet tomorrow to negotiate the arrangements for the joint department, and Li Hongzhang inadvertently changed the topic.

"On the battlefield, the liaison between the two armies is a big deal. Yixuan, I heard that you used 'telegram' last time? ”

"Yes. For this matter, I was also included in a copy by the original Xue Futai, and the imperial court sent Chongdi Mountain to strictly investigate, so that I could hardly get off the stage. Guan Zhuofan responded on his lips, but he was wondering in his heart what Li Hongzhang meant when he mentioned the telegram.

"So this thing, in your opinion, is it good?"

"Dissatisfied with Futai said, this thing of foreigners is very easy to use! Even if the military report is intensified for 600 miles, it will take a day and a night to run fast, and if it is by telegraph, it will be there in a moment. Futai is a person who is proficient in military affairs, and naturally knows the situation on the battlefield, which is ever-changing. Speaking of this, Guan Zhuofan deliberately sighed, "It's okay, it's definitely haode, but there are always people who come up with Huayi's defense to say something, and I can't do anything about it." ”

"It's always the military that matters! The defenders of the DPRK and the Central Committee are incapable of eating the ancients, and they only know how to sit and talk about the Tao every day, but in fact, they are useless. Li Hongzhang leaned forward slightly and said, "Yixuan, I also tell you bluntly, in the will given to me by the imperial court, I was ordered to investigate the matter of the telegram nearby." What I mean, the telegraph is not only used in military affairs, but also in civil affairs. ”

"Futai Mingjian!" This sentence is of course to be praised. Guan Zhuofan thought to himself: Li Hongzhang has never done foreign affairs, but with this insight alone, he is beyond the reach of others. "I still have a telegraph machine available, and I'll ask someone to bring one over when I go back, and ask Futai to appreciate it."

"Good, good, very sincere." Li Hongzhang said, "But I think it's not just a matter of a telegraph. I heard that the telegram in your hand now, the corresponding line, are all served by the company? ”

"In fact, it was requisitioned, but it was all because they knew the general situation and were willing to repay, so there was no diplomatic dispute." Guan Zhuofan didn't know what Li Hongzhang was thinking, so he first laid the groundwork for this sentence, lest he want to draw a scoop according to the gourd again.

"Yixuan, if you want to do a telegram, you naturally have to do it, but if you are serious about it, you can't rely on foreigners to repay it again and again." Li Hongzhang muttered, "I plan to play the Ming Imperial Court and try to run a telegram, and you will take charge of it, and the Sihe Company will undertake it, and pay the funds as usual, which can be regarded as compensation for their last service." ”

What a joy from heaven! Guan Zhuofan always had to find an opportunity to do this, but he didn't expect Li Hongzhang to propose it first. Of course, Li Hongzhang has not really realized how much of the benefit of the telegram will be, otherwise he may not be willing to let go like this, but it is also very rare for him to have such an expression.

However, for what is the purpose of giving such a gift to yourself?

"The younger brother is a shallow learner, and I'm afraid he won't be able to do it." Guan Zhuofan was humble first.

"You don't have to be humble, you must be competent, in the end, only you have done it." Li Hongzhang shook his head and said, "It's just that when it comes to funding, there is a bit of a headache, and now even the salary of the Huai Army is still in trouble." ”

Oh-Guan Zhuofan suddenly realized, his heart said that he was coming, looked at Zhou Fu next to him, and said: "I didn't know that the Huai Army still had such difficulties - the telegram can be delayed, how can the military salary be delayed?" I heard that Mr. Zhou had set up a General Administration of Contributions in Jiangsu, and I told Jin Yulin to hand over all the tax cards north of Shanghai, which would be somewhat beneficial. ”

"What's so embarrassing?" Li Hongzhang said in surprise, "Xuanjun is not rich!" ”

"At the moment of the war, if you want to resist Li Xiucheng, it all depends on the Huai army, please Futai don't have to be polite." Kwan Cheuk-fan also said very sincerely.

"Then ...... It's hard to resist the hospitality. Li Hongzhang thanked him, also glanced at Zhou Fu, and said: "Yushan, Jin Yulin Master Jin, don't treat others badly." ”

"Yes." Zhou Fu thought to himself, it turned out that Master Li took a telegram to exchange land with Guan Yixuan, "Futai rest assured, I will go to connect with Master Jin, there will definitely be a proper arrangement." ”

The transaction was completed, each had its own gains, and both parties were relaxed, Li Hongzhang was very polite, and while persuading the wine and cloth dishes, he talked to Guan Zhuofan about some gossip, but when it came to it, it was inevitable that he would have to talk about money.

"Naturally, he is the richest in customs." Li Hongzhang said with emotion, "Although I don't know about foreign affairs, I also know that most of Shanghai's financial resources are still in the hands of Wu Zirun. ”

"Yes, Xuan Jun's salary mostly depends on him."

"Yixuan, do you know how much customs duty is in a month?"

"It's not clear, I heard that there are nearly 300,000, and if you want to count them, you can only ask him yourself."

"Hey, a Shanghai Dao, running a party, intertwined, those accounts, only he knows." Li Hongzhang raised his eyebrows and sneered, "Three hundred thousand, I don't see it, but I guess even the household department may not be able to figure it out." ”

Guan Zhuofan felt the same way about Li Hongzhang's words - he and Li Hongzhang were both outsiders, and only Wu Xu was considered a local snake. It's not wrong to say that he is intertwined, even the last time I wanted to "hold" him and leave, I didn't succeed.

As for the number of 300,000, of course, there is a lot of trickery, and it is certain that Wu Xu underreported. However, Guan Zhuofan only needs to worry about Xuanjun's military expenses, and the rest is "none of his business, hang high".

"I haven't been in Shanghai for a long time, but I've already heard about some of his bad deeds, and I don't care about anything else, but I actually set up a private money bank called 'Yuanfeng', and anyone who donates officials dares to refuse to accept it without his family's ticket -- isn't this a joke?" Li Hongzhang was a little excited, "His bad scenes, like Min Zhao, Jin Hongbao, Yang Fang and others, are all from Zhejiang, and I heard that they are also complicit in him, so they should all be done!" Yixuan, you have been in Shanghai for a long time, you must have heard of it? ”

Li Hongzhang suddenly made such a fierce statement, which Guan Zhuofan did not expect, but Li Hongzhang couldn't get along with Wu Xu, it was something that could not be sought, and he was naturally optimistic.

"Wu Xu is Xue Huan's person, and I am usually busy with military affairs in Shanghai, so I don't know much about these things. However, since Futai said so, there must be all of them. Guan Zhuofan said with a smile, "It's just that I heard that Yang Fang has a private disagreement with Wu Xu, and it doesn't seem to be all the way." He is Wall's father-in-law, and I know a little about him, so I can't help but say a fair word for him in front of Futai. ”

"Oh, there are sludge that are not stained, and there are those who are clean." Li Hongzhang smiled on his face and said slowly, "But other people, when I verify it, I will name Yan Shen." ”

Wu Xu's Shanghai Dao could not be preserved -- Guan Zhuofan knew that this was Li Hongzhang's usual routine, first removing his wings, then knocking on the mountain and shaking the tiger, and finally replacing him with his own people.

What Guan Zhuofan wanted was just to take Yang Fang out, and he didn't ask. So he nodded very deeply, but thought in his heart: You Li Hongzhang want the position of Shanghai Road, but I am afraid that it may not be satisfactory.

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