Qing court, Forbidden City. A eunuch wielded a whip made of yellow silk and twitched it three times on the ground, reminding the ministers that the emperor was about to arrive. The vermilion gate of the Qianqing Palace inlaid with ninety-nine eighty-one golden nails opened, and Xianfeng entered the main hall with a golden chariot.

The front guide welcomes the music, first with two bamboo plays, six pipes, four rings, two shengs, two cloud gongs, one guide to welcome the drums, and one clapper. The second royal battle four, my battle four, standing melon, lying melon, star, Yue each four, the second five-color golden dragon flag ten, five-color dragon ten. The second double dragon yellow group fan ten, yellow nine dragon umbrella ten. The second Kowloon crank yellow canopy one. All in front of the emperor's steps. Ten saber ministers were introduced, two saber ministers were introduced, and the foot was in the middle, and the second leopard tail guard held ten guns, ten people wore swords, ten people wore bows and arrows, and the palace was dominated by the Yellow Dragon. In addition, there are ten gold nine dragon umbrellas, ten gold dragons, ten gold dragon flags, ten double dragon fans, four gold Yue, four stars, four royal battles, four I fights, four standing melons and four lying melons. This is the honor guard of Emperor Xianfeng of the Qing Dynasty.

Emperor Xianfeng sat on the dragon chair very angrily, and glanced at the ministers with an extremely stiff gaze, "You told me that this bandit is vulnerable, and as long as the imperial army goes, it can be quickly wiped out, but now? As soon as the imperial court's Qincha arrived, he was killed by this gang of bandits, this is a slap in the face! Tell me, what's going on? ”

The ministers knelt under His Royal Highness, and they didn't dare to make a sound, you look at me, I look at you, no one dared to answer the emperor's words.

When Xianfeng saw that no one spoke, he became even more angry, and patted the dragon chair and said, "What's the use of the imperial court raising your wine bags and rice bags?" No one speaks up at a critical moment? Then kneel, I see how long you can kneel? "Xianfeng is so angry, usually there is nothing to do, and the ministers below are all able to speak, as if they are all capable ministers who govern the world. This encounter with specific things, all of them have become shrinking turtles, and they have no idea at all.

The hall was silent for a long time, Prince Zheng Duanhua, who was deeply favored by Emperor Xianfeng, couldn't be so stiff all the time, and the emperor's face couldn't get off the stage if he went on like this. The minister suggested that he should first seize his military power, escort him back to Beijing, and then hand him over to the Criminal Department for conviction. ”

Usually, when there is a problem in the imperial court, the Han people are always used to carry the black pot, and this time Duanhua also plans to throw Xiang Rong out.

"Prince Zheng's words are unfair, this Li Qincha died in the ambush of the bandits, if Xiang Rong also came to save him according to his orders, I am afraid the end will not be much better." Prince Yi Zaiyuan hurriedly defended Xiang Rong, who was recommended by him to the emperor. Xiang Rong has a problem, and he can't escape the crime of negligence.

"Prince Yi, what did you say about this, if Xiang Rong was saved in time, maybe Li Qincha would not have given his life." Prince Zheng was displeased when he saw that his words were rejected.

"Long live, Xiang Rong has also made a contribution, exterminated more than 4,000 bandits, and killed one of their leading generals surnamed Qin. This meritorious man cannot be disposed of at will, otherwise it will hurt the hearts of the front-line soldiers and shake the morale of our army. "Prince Yi Zaiyuan is ready to die to protect his glory. (Here Xiang Rong exaggerated his exploits, the Taiping army only lost more than 2,000 men in the Battle of Dongling, and Qin Rigang did not die.) ）

"Don't fight, when the court is employing people, although Xiang Rong has had it, but he also has merit, it's better not to move at this time." Xianfeng's mind was still clear, he knew that Li Xingyuan had fallen for the Taiping Army's plan to encircle and send reinforcements, and Xiang Rong was not responsible. But after all, Li Xingyuan has died on the battlefield, and he is loyal to the country, and it is not easy to hold him accountable, so he can only be with the mud.

"Sai Aiqing, let's talk about it, what should I do with this bandit now?" Xianfeng adjusted the topic, and now it is useless to hold him accountable, the most important thing is what to do next, how to exterminate this gang of bandits is the most important thing.

Saishan'a, a native of the Mongolian Zhenglan Banner, fifty-eight years old, a person in Jiaqing for 21 years, has repeatedly won the grace of God, promoted all the way, and has been a veteran of the three dynasties here in Xianfeng. After Xianfeng came to power, he also valued him very much, and awarded him a scholar of the Wenhua Palace, the chief minister of military aircraft, and the management of the household department.

Sai Shang'a was a little anxious at the moment, he was a civil servant and didn't understand military affairs, but Xianfeng asked by name at the moment, and he, as the first assistant, couldn't help but answer. Fortunately, he has always been diligent in political affairs, and a few days ago he saw a copy of the book handed over to Xiang Rong, and the above words are just right to use at this moment. He thought for a while, and hurriedly stepped forward to reply: "Back to the words of the Long Live Lord, the minister thinks that the terrain of Guangxi is complicated, and the bandits have taken advantage of the geographical advantages to win many battles, and their morale is high, so they should avoid large-scale battles with them at this moment." ”

"Aiqing is reasonable, but how can you exterminate these bandits without a fight?" Xianfeng asked.

"I think the best way now is to take the method of sitting on the battlefield." Cézanne replied, generally recalling Xiang Rong's words.

"Oh? What is a sitting war? Xianfeng felt fresh when he heard it, and he was interested.

"To sit in battle is to besiege without attacking, to dig long trenches, build thick walls, build high fortifications, cut off the supply of food, especially salt, to the blockade bandits, and consume them alive. Guangxi is not rich in products, and the area around Bauhinia Mountain is not a land of fish and rice, as long as we blockade them and slowly narrow the encirclement, we can strangle these bandits alive like pythons. "Sai Shang Ah is actually talking about the method suggested by Xiang Rong, Xiang Rong is worthy of being an old fox, he has suffered several losses of the Taiping Army, and finally came up with such an idea, which is indeed vicious enough, and it is the weakness of the Taiping Army.

"Brilliant plan!" Xianfeng also thought that this plan was very good.

When all the ministers saw the emperor, they all praised it, and hurriedly saw the wind and rudder, and said that this was a very good way to deal with the bandits. There was a sound of praise in the court.

Saishana enjoyed the honor of holding the moon like the stars, and when he was proud, he offered advice: "The minister heard that there seems to be a discord between General Xiang and General Ulan, and it is difficult to reconcile. The imperial court must also deploy a highly respected and preferably non-Han Qin to coordinate the cooperation between the front-line soldiers in order to ensure the smooth implementation of the battle strategy. ”

Xianfeng nodded again and again, feeling very reasonable, this Ulantai is indeed arrogant as a Manchurian, and Hanchen is afraid that it will be difficult to control, who is the most suitable to choose? Xianfeng thought as he glanced at the ministers below with his gaze. Finally, his gaze stayed on Sai Shang's body, "I think Sai Aiqing is the most suitable, I'm afraid I'll have to bother Aiqing to go to Guangxi this time." ”

Saishan'a immediately made a bitter face, he couldn't say what he was suffering, he really wanted to slap himself a few big mouths, he was a Wenchen, how could he know how to fight. Guangxi is a land of thousands of miles, and the bandits are so powerful, it is difficult to lose his head like Li Xingyuan. He is now living happily in Beijing as the first assistant, why should he go to Guangxi to live and suffer, even if he hides in the rear, if the war is unfavorable, he will be dismissed from office and dismissed, and his whole family will be imprisoned.

"Long live, the minister is a civil minister, and he doesn't understand military affairs, and he asks the emperor to take back his order." Saishana hurriedly excused himself.

"Why should Sai Aiqing be too modest, the method of sitting on the war just now is quite methodical, how can he not understand military affairs? This time, only Aiqing can share my worries. "Xianfeng thinks about it, only Sai Shang'a is suitable, he is a veteran of the Three Dynasties, and he is in the high position of the first assistant, this prestige is unmatched; The Mongolian people are born in the blue flag, and they can also be impartial, which can play a balancing role among the Han and Manchu generals; This method of sitting on the battlefield was also proposed by him, who will go if he doesn't go?

Cezanne really wanted to weep bitterly in his heart, which is typical of moving a stone and shooting himself in the foot. The emperor has said everything about this, and it seems that this time he has to go.

At this moment, the ministers also spoke one after another, saying that the emperor was wise and wise, and indeed only Sai Shoufu was the most suitable.

"Long live, I'm afraid that the current strength of Xiang and Wu is not enough to besiege the bandits, and I'm afraid it will be useless for the minister to go." Seshana began to make excuses.

Emperor Xianfeng knew that Sai Shang'a was asking for someone from him, so he turned his face and asked Kuang Yuan, the squire of the military department, "How many people in the imperial court are there near this bandit?" ”

Kuang Yuan stood up and replied: "Long live, at present, there are more than 10,000 people around the bandits, such as Li Rui, the chief soldier of Guzhou Town, Chonglun, the chief soldier of Weining Town, and Wen Wendai, the general soldier of Zhaotong in Yunnan, who can be dispatched. ”

Xianfeng did not hesitate to say to Saishan: "You also heard, these horses are under your command." In addition, I ordered the Eight Banners to lead Ba Deqing and lead 6,000 Beijing soldiers to escort you to Guangxi to quell the chaos. ”

Saishana still didn't let go, and continued: "Long live, there are so many people and horses, the military budget has not yet been settled, and the soldiers are working hard for the imperial court, so this military salary cannot be in arrears." ”

Emperor Xianfeng is usually most afraid that his courtiers will ask him for money, and this character is a virtue with his father Daoguang, and he is very picky, but at this time, he also gritted his teeth, "I allow you to allocate 3.6 million silver as military expenses in the household department." "You must know that Li Xingyuan Xianfeng only promised to give 1.3 million taels of silver, and in the end, he has not fulfilled it, which is already a great favor from Xianfeng.

Emperor Xianfeng also gave it, and the money was also given, but Saishan'a was still twisting and pinching, and he didn't seem to be satisfied.

Xianfeng was a little angry, "What are you worried about?" I have given you all the men and the money. Are you worried that the front-line soldiers will not listen to the dispatch? I will give you another sword to curb the waist of Bilong, and grant you the right to cut first and then play. ”

The scabbard of this sheath is 94 cm long, and the knife is 60 cm long. The scabbard is wooden, covered with green shark skin, and the purple tweed knife sleeve. The handle of the knife is tied with an ivory card made in the year of Xianfeng, and one side is engraved: "Curb Bilong Linglong knife one, Qianlong gave the scholar Fu Heng Pingding Jinchuan used"; The other side is engraved with "Xianfeng" on one side, and the words "Shenfeng wins".

The earliest holder of this knife was one of the four auxiliary ministers in the early years of Kangxi, and the knife was named after the person. After the death of Suppilon, the knife entered the palace. This knife was only used once, in the twelfth year of Qianlong (1747), the first battle of Jinchuan broke out, the grandson of Curb Bilong, then the scholar of the Baohe Temple, the secretary of the Ministry of Shangshu and other important positions of the relatives led the army to the expedition as the minister of economic strategy, the army was defeated, Qianlong angrily seized his position, sent the university scholar Fu Heng to replace him, and gave the curb Bilon knife. In the fourteenth year of Qianlong (1749), Emperor Qianlong ordered Fu Heng to use the Curb Bilong knife in front of the army to correct the law.

Emperor Xianfeng even handed over this treasure knife to Sai Shang'a to use, which shows the importance and hope for him, and also shows the urgency of exterminating the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

Sezanne really couldn't find any reason to shirk it, and if he didn't agree, he was afraid that he would suffer the wrath of the emperor, that is, he was very ignorant. He had to smash his teeth and swallow it in his stomach, "The minister will live up to the emperor's entrustment and exterminate the bandits as soon as possible to thank God." ”