In the fifth year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty, in the spring bath in April, Beijing's Dongtangzi Hutong looked warm and warm, and Prime Minister Prince Gong looked at several folds on the official case and was silent for a long time.

One is from the west, the governor of Ganxi and Shaanxi, Zuo Zongtang, asked for a decision on whether Ili is fighting or peace, and asking the court to decide.

One was a report from the south, handed over by Zhang Shusheng, the governor of Liangguang, reporting that Feng Zicai, the governor of Guangxi, had exterminated the rebels in Annam, and had cooperated with friendly forces to repel the French.

A letter from the east, Li Hongzhang, the governor of Zhili and minister of Beiyang, asked the imperial court to approve the purchase of ironclad ships.

Another letter was received a few days ago, and the Qing envoy to Japan sent someone to send back to China, and the Japanese abolished the letter of state of Liuzhi County.

Yi Xun pressed his hand to his forehead, pointed to the fold in front of him, and asked the two most important political allies sitting on his left and right, Suo Xuanluo Baojun and Yan Za Jinglian, who were sitting on his left and right and working with him, "Two old brothers, help me come up with an idea!" ”

After Bao Jun looked around and saw that no one was waiting beside him, he pointed to the first fold and said, "Zuo Jigao's excerpt is not authentic, he is the governor of Ganxi and Shaanxi, the prime minister of Xinjiang affairs, he is obviously in charge of the matter, he is good, he turned around and kicked it back to the court, this Ili is beaten or should be he has the final say!" ”

"Ili is now occupied by the Russians, and Ji Gao's performance in the imperial court is an old move, brother, you are wrong to blame Ji Gao for this." Prince Gong justified his important supporters.

"The Russians occupy? I remember that Ji Gao handed over the news in private a few days ago, and said that he killed Aguba, all relying on the Russians to shoot and produce food in the back, why are the Russians coming to fight against the Qing Dynasty again? Bao Jun asked puzzled.

Fortunately, Jing Lian is much younger, with the position of the secretary of the Ministry of Household and the Ministry of Industry, and his brain is also good, looking at Bao Jun who looked confused and Prince Gong who was embarrassed and did not speak, he explained softly, "Baoshi, the news that Ji Gao handed over several times ago is indeed that the Russians helped him pacify Agu Bai, the reason behind it, Ji Gao said, Agu Bai was enshrined in Ultraman Turkey, and that country is a feud with Russia, so the Russians are willing to send guns and food to support Ji Gao." ”

"Since everyone is friends, what are you still doing with Yili, hurry up and leave!" Bao Jun said with a disgruntled face.

"Ji Gao's excerpt said that Russia agreed to leave Ili, but they didn't leave until I gave a return from the Qing Dynasty." Jing Lian added.

"That's why Ji Gao asked the court whether it was war or peace with the Russians." Prince Gong Yixun also has no way to deal with this Lord Baojun, who is the best at throwing treasures in the Qing Dynasty.

"Oh, I remember that Ji Gao's excerpt was not attached to a copy of the Ili strategy, saying that Liu Jintang's department and his pro-military camp were enough to defeat the Russians..... How many people are there in Jigao, Qiuping? Bao Jun asked towards Jing Lian.

"Ji Gao's pro-military camp plus the horse team has 2,000 people, and Liu Jintang's Hunan army has 10,000 people, according to the battalion head reported by Ji Gao, the two add up to less than 14,000 people. It's just the specific numbers of the Russian army on the opposite side, Ji Gao is not clear, but. Jing Lian hesitated for a moment and said, "According to the information provided by the British Minister Sir Wittoma, the Russians have 40 infantry companies, 44 Cossack cavalry companies, and 6 artillery batteries stationed in Ili, about 10,000 people. ”

"How can the British know so much about the Russians?" Bao Jun said even more curiously.

"According to the meaning of Wei Tuoma's visit to me and Jing Lian yesterday, it seems that they are about to fight with the Russians somewhere, so they are very aware of the Russian garrison in Ili." Prince Gong said disapprovingly.

"It's Kabul in Afghanistan." Jing Lian added softly.

"Fourteen thousand people against ten thousand people..... Bao Jun shook his head, "This battle is not easy to fight, I have been in the Jilin General's Mansion and know how powerful this group of Rakshasas is." ”

"Lord, treasurer, the British also say that the Russians actually have 20,000 people in Tashkent. The British meant that if the Qing Dynasty was going to war with the Russians, they advised me that the Qing Dynasty should prepare for a national war. The British will help us hold off the Russians in Afghanistan. Jing Lian lowered his head and added again.

"The British helped us hold off the Russians, Lord, in my opinion, the British are in that place..."Bao Jun turned his head to look at Jing Lian.

"Afghanistan."

"Yes, what is this frank, I think the British are trying to beat the Russians and want to drag us into the water. Lord, the British are far away from the Russians, as the saying goes, distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors, we can't fall for the bad of the British, sell ourselves and help the number of money, and the Russians This battle, we can't fight! Bao Jun said with a righteous face.

"Haha, don't look at Master Bao's age, but don't be confused when you encounter trouble, I also think it's best not to start a dispute." Prince Gong said with a smile.

"Lord Wang, Master Bao, what do you mean, are you still reconciled? However, there is another sentence in Ji Gao's excerpt, saying that the Russians used the rich land of Western Russia as a hostage and raised a national debt of 52 million taels of silver to the French, saying that the Russians were digging up meat to heal sores and helping the evil. Jing Lian looked up at the two adults and continued, "Ji Gao is actually reminding the imperial court that if there is peace, the Russians' appetite will not be small. ”

After Prince Gong was silent for a long time, he looked at Jing Lian and said, "If you want to fight, how much will the imperial court spend on Ji Gao's chewing grain and silver for the soldiers and horses?" ”

"If according to the eight years of Tongzhi, the imperial court agreed to Zuo Shuai's three batches of co-payment, it would be 9.5 million taels per year at that time. If it is now, counting the Henry rifle and ammunition that Zuo Shuai wants to rewear, plus military salary, horses, grain and grass, clothing, and labor all the way, the long journey from Gansu to Xinjiang will cost 15 million taels of silver (the Qing Dynasty literature general examination said that more than 70 million taels of silver were spent in four years). ”

"This silver Zuo Shuai also has to be carefully calculated, if the fight lasts for a long time, and you have to increase the army, Lord Wang, you should consider 20 million taels first." As a family member of the household department, Jing Lian always has an account book in his heart.

Prince Gong swallowed his saliva with difficulty, and pointed to the other folds on the table, "These are all goods that ask for money to kill people, and if you can fight this battle, you won't fight!" Find someone to talk to the Russians first! ”

"Who are you looking for?" Bao Jun asked?

"Let them choose someone?" Prince Gong Yixun looked east to Nunu's mouth.

"It's not proper, they all talk good about coastal defense over there, and they won't help Ji Gao in this matter of plugging defense." Bao Jun shook his head, "It's better to let Dishan go, he has done French errands and has experience in dealing with foreigners." ”

"Hmm!" Prince Gong nodded, "Just let Dishan go on an errand!" ”

After listening to the conversation between Baojun and Prince Gong, Jing Lian lowered his head and smiled secretly, "Brother Ji, you are really talented, as you said, the more you say that you want to fight, the more the court wants to make peace." ”

Prince Gong Yixun picked up the fold of Zhang Shusheng, the governor of Liangguang, and said with a sigh of relief, "If they are like the governor of Liangguang, guarding the vassals for the imperial court and repelling foreigners, why don't I stop here!" ”

"Zhang Shusheng and Feng Zicai are doing a good job, the old man thinks the court should be rewarded." Bao Jun twisted his beard and smiled.

"Lord Wang, Baoshi, the Governor of Liangguang still has Admiral Feng's Black Flag Army fold attached to this fold, what should I do?" Jing Lian asked.

"A group of heaven and earth will rebel against the party, and the remnants of traitors are just remnants." Baojun arched his hand towards Prince Gong and said, "Lord, how are the people below messing around, when the master can turn a blind eye, but if you come forward to reward the traitors against the party, it is a big deal, once you do it, what is the face of the court?" ”

"Master Bao, will this break the hearts of the loyal and brave?" Prince Gong asked.

"Lord, what do you mean?"

"Master Bao, this is not what I meant, Qiuping said something to me yesterday, and it is a little interesting." Prince Gong turned his head to look at Jing Lian, "Qiu Ping, tell the words of your two friends to Master Bao." ”

"Yes, lord." Jing Lian bowed his hand to Bao Jun, "Master Bao, these two friends of mine, one of them is Zhang Peilun, the left deputy capital of the Imperial Palace, and the other is unknown, but he is an alternate director of your old official department, called Tang Jingsong." ”

"Zhang Yushi's name is like thunder, and I also know a little bit about the backup Tang director in my yamen, and he is also a person who can talk clearly." Bao Jun said quietly.

"Baoshi, these two friends of mine think that the Black Flag Army is of great use, and the Black Flag Army is brave and good at fighting, not to mention that the Black Flag Army is brave and good at fighting, just to contain the French in Annan, I must support it." Jing Lian said with a smile.

"Where's that?" Bao Jun asked with a frown.

"First, whenever the Annam government encounters a problem involving foreign affairs, it never informs our Qing court in advance, if the negotiations are favorable, it is regarded as an opportunity to get rid of the relationship with our Qing dynasty, and if the negotiations are unfavorable, they will come to the Qing Dynasty to help solve it, such half-hearted vassals need someone to bond, and the Black Flag Army is just right."

"Second, the French have always had bad intentions towards the southwest of our Great Qing Dynasty, and if the French are allowed to take Annam, the French will inevitably covet our southwest of the Great Qing Dynasty." Jing Lian paused for a moment, looked at Bao Jun and said, "The long-haired bandit is not far away, Guangxi, where the long-haired thief started, is adjacent to Annam, and the God that the long-haired thief believes in is the same thing as the foreigners, if the French get Annan, the consequences will be worrying." ”

Bao Jun thought for a while and said to Prince Gong, "Does the one in the palace know?" ”

"Hmm." Prince Gong nodded.

"In that case, then take in that gang of thieves." Bao Jun said.

"Qiuping, you continue to talk to Master Bao about your friend's opinion." Prince Gong did not agree directly, but urged Jing Lian to continue.

"Baoshi, thirdly, if Annan provokes a national war between the Qing Dynasty and the French, it is very unwise. If the Black Flag Army, the rebel army of the Heaven and Earth Society, is allowed to deal with the French, and winning will be beneficial to our Qing Dynasty, and losing this matter has nothing to do with our Qing Dynasty on the surface, wouldn't this be able to attack and retreat and defend? Jing Lian said with a smile.

"First, I agree with the feudal vassals, and second, to prevent the resurgence of long hair, I also agree, but third, is it a waste of time, if it is discovered, won't it lose the face of my Heavenly Empire?" Bao Jun shook his head in disagreement.

"Alas!" Jing Lian lowered his head and sighed again, and said in his heart, "The last point is actually my favorite point, it doesn't matter, as long as you agree with the first two points, I can make Master Tang do a good job in the third point." ”

"Oh, Master Bao, I'll just agree with you about the Black Flag Army." Prince Gong said with a smile.

"Lord Wang, I have no objection to contacting the Black Flag Army in private, but I still have to find a safe way on the surface, after all, they are the Heaven and Earth Society that has plagued my Qing Dynasty for hundreds of years, first, to prevent the remnants of tigers, and second, not to leave a truth for others." Bao Jun arched his hand and said.

"Well, the words of the treasure master, this king knows it." Prince Gong nodded.

"Admiral Feng wants to shoot quickly, Lord Wang, do you promise him?" Jing Lian interjected and asked.

"Yes, meritorious service will be rewarded, this matter is the king's decision for the court! Since the fast gun is so good, tell Li Zhongtang that he is familiar with the gun factory in the land of Taixi, choose one, and let my army in the Qing Dynasty use the fast gun! Prince Gong nodded and said.

"Tell Feng Zicai and let him tell the Black Flag Army, as long as you give the Qing Dynasty to defend Annan, their fast guns, I will clear them!" Prince Gong said proudly.

Then he pointed to the two remaining folds on the table, "He Li Hefei knows that he needs money to buy ironclad ships, and he can't get any of the regulations for Japan!" Qiuping, you let people tell him Li Hefei, if you want me to agree to pay for the ironclad ship, first let him give a happy word on the Ryukyus, whether it is to fight or to fart, let the court also listen to it! ”

"If you can't come up with the charter, let Lao Tzu be scolded by those Qingliu every day, and this king also has a way to drag it out!"