Zuo Zongtang really did not disappoint Wu Chaoyue, when the official sent his confidant Tang Shixi to Changsha to investigate the situation of money and grain in Hunan, Zuo Zongtang, who was arrogant and arrogant, really had a conflict with Tang Shixi, and he still made trouble soon after they met. Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info

No one is wrong about this, what is wrong is the habit that the Hunan Governor Yamen has cultivated for more than two years, knowing that Zuo Zongtang has a bad temper and knows that he can't offend the official at this time, Luo Bingzhang left Zuo Zongtang to meet Tang Shixi alone, and agreed to Tang Shixi's request to look at Hunan's money and grain accounts and the income and expenditure of the centigold, and he just wanted to please Tang Shixi and not let him run back to Hubei to make a small report.

However, what no one expected was that when Tang Shixi was reading the accounts in Luo Bingzhang's signing room, Luo Bingzhang temporarily left the signing room because he had to do other things, but Zuo Zongtang happened to enter the signing room at this time. So bold, who told you to move Hunan's money and grain accounts? Put it down, get out! ”

When he was in Hubei, for the sake of the official text's face, even Wu Chaoyue was polite to Tang Shixi, the official secretary's confidant secretary, and stuffed some small gifts from time to time, how could Tang Shixi endure such anger? So Tang Shixi immediately shouted at Zuo Zongtang: "Bold fanatic, what are you?" How dare you speak to me like that? ”

No one in Hubei dared to speak to Tang Shixi except for the official documents, and no one in Hunan except Luo Bingzhang dared to speak to Zuo Zongtang like this, and under the increasing anger, Zuo Zongtang simply roared again: "Lao Tzu doesn't care who you are!" Come on, throw this dog thing out of here! (Don't exaggerate, if you think it's exaggerated, you can read the history books yourself.) ）

Tang Shixiao hugged his chest and sneered, the other masters in the signing room didn't have time to stop and persuade him, and he had already regarded Zuo Zongtang as the governor of the Hunan Fu Bureau, and really threw the stammering Tang Shixi out of the signing room! And then ......

Then, of course, the sky fell, no matter how Luo Bingzhang bowed when he heard the news, Tang Shixi, who had suffered great humiliation, refused to give up, and had to deal with Zuo Zongtang to the end, although the arrogant Zuo Zongtang knew that he was wrong, he refused to bow his head to Tang Shixu to apologize. In the end, Luo Bingzhang had no choice but to ask Zuo Zongtang to leave temporarily, and it took a lot of effort to separate Zuo Zongtang, who was as proud as a bull, from the mad dog Tang Shixi, and then confessed all the good things to Tang Shixi.

It's useless to make amends, it's not too late for a gentleman to take revenge, it's not too late for a villain to take revenge, and Tang Shixi, who was insulted, in order to take revenge, of course, immediately searched for evidence that could kill Zuo Zongtang. However, I didn't know if I didn't check, and I was shocked when I checked it, and Tang Shixi soon found out extremely dumbfounded - in fact, the fugitive officer Wang Xun falsely accused Zhao Liewen of controlling the Hubei Governor's Yamen, and it was the most appropriate and appropriate to use it on Zuo Zongtang's body!

Tang Shixi's investigation found that Zuo Zongtang controlled the Hunan Governor Yamen to set up Luo Bingzhang to such a point, Luo Bingzhang's writing and replying to local letters, and the promotion and transfer of officials in the province were actually handled by Zuo Zongtang, and Luo Bingzhang didn't even look at it, just sign and use the seal! Whenever Hunan officials want to report to Luo Bingzhang on official business, they first have to pass the pass of Zuo Zongtang, Zuo Zongtang agrees with Luo Bingzhang, and Zuo Zongtang never nods once if he doesn't agree to Luo Bingzhang! The position of governor of Hunan is actually just a false name for Luo Bingzhang, and the real governor power is completely controlled by Zuo Zongtang!

What's even more exaggerated is that the people of the Hunan Governor's Yamen also quietly told Tang Shixi, saying that Zuo Zongtang also directly handed over the recital to the Manchu court in the name of Luo Bingzhang, and once Zuo Zongtang Yue Yue sent a military report on behalf of Luo Bingzhang, but did not tell Luo Bingzhang the content of the recital, but also directly represented Luo Bingzhang to exercise the governor's authority to set off a cannon outside the door of the governor's yamen and handed the excerpt, Luo Bingzhang still heard the cannon to know about it, and afterwards Zuo Zongtang also got a nickname - Hunan Taishang Governor!

The severity of Luo Bingzhang's complete elevation by Zuo Zongtang almost frightened Tang Shixi, so scared that Tang Shixu almost suspected that this was a trick set by Luo Bingzhang and Zuo Zongtang for himself, and he was forced to die if he wanted to repeat Wang Xun's mistakes. However, when he carefully investigated the truth of the situation, Tang Shixi was even more dumbfounded to find that these were actually the truth, and he hid in the dark and saw the flattering appearance of the Hunan officials nodding in front of Zuo Zongtang. At that moment, Tang Shixi didn't dare to hesitate, and he didn't care about investigating whether Hunan Chali should continue to be levied, so he got on the boat and returned to Hubei overnight with a lot of evidence, and ran to the official document to cry and complain.

At first, the official article thought that Tang Shixi was taking revenge for personal gain, and angrily scolded Tang Shixi for learning from others to make false accusations? However, when he heard Tang Shixi's gambling curse and swear and took the life guarantee of the whole family and did not tell a lie, and saw the confession of the person brought back by Tang Shixi, the official document also found that the situation was wrong, and quickly found the official documents that exchanged with Luo Bingzhang, and then found that Luo Bingzhang's official documents and letters were all ghostwritten by Zuo Zongtang, and there were no exceptions!

Becoming more and more frightened, the official document simply found Qincha Jingshou and Wu Chaoyue, who were investigating the case in Hubei, and let them know about the situation and discuss countermeasures. Then Jing Shou and Wu Chaoyue were also dumbfounded, and they both asked Tang Shixi: "Really?" Can it be such an exaggeration? ”

"Lord Qincha, Lord Futai, if the little one says half a lie, he is willing to accept Ling Chi's sin!" Tang Shixi swore again, and said: "Zuo Zongtang controls the Hunan Governor's Yamen, this matter is almost known to passers-by in Hunan officialdom, if the two of you don't believe it, just find a Hunan official to ask." ”

Wu Chaoyue is really a little dumbfounded, Wu Chaoyue, who has a sparse history, only knows that Zuo Zongtang is arrogant and has a bad temper, but he really doesn't know that Zuo Zongtang can bully Luo Bingzhang to this point, and he doesn't know that Luo Bingzhang can have such a self-cultivation and bearing, and he can still obey Zuo Zongtang so much if he is taken away by Zuo Zongtang! Frightened, Wu Chaoyue almost regretted secretly provoking the relationship between Guanwen and Luo Bingzhang - it would be a pity to pit Zuo Zongtang directly to death because of this.

Because of this, when Guan Wen and Jing Shou were nervously discussing how to further investigate this matter and collect evidence, Wu Chaoyue never opened his mouth to make peace, and all he was thinking about in his heart was to deal with this matter, whether he should lend a hand to Zuo Zongtang and Luo Bingzhang to help them escape this catastrophe.

Of course, Wu Chaoyue is a national hero Zuo Zongtang who does not want to die in the future, not only does he not want Zuo Zongtang to die, but Wu Chaoyue also very much hopes that such a person can be used for himself - although the current difficulty is extraordinarily high.

Wu Chaoyue is also unwilling to take the opportunity to kill Luo Bingzhang, not to mention that he admires Luo Bingzhang's character very much, after Luo Bingzhang is killed, Wu Chaoyue will have to deal with the pressure from the official document alone, and the official document without the fetters of political enemies will definitely increase the surveillance and constraints on Wu Chaoyue.

I don't want to return to it, but after thinking about it in the long run, Wu Chaoyue suddenly found that although the collapse of Luo Bingzhang and the official document at this time was a little unfavorable to him, it was very beneficial to his anti-Qing plan! Because the real leader of the Hunan army is not Zeng Guofan, but Luo Bingzhang, who single-handedly supported and established Chu Yong and the Hunan army, and Zuo Zongtang, who fully supported Luo Bingzhang behind his back!

Wu Chaoyue deduced that if he did not take the opportunity to destroy Luo Bingzhang and let Luo Bingzhang continue to do a good job of logistics for the Hunan army behind his back, then even if the Tianjing Incident would not be staged, it would be difficult for the Taiping Army, which had always been restrained and constrained by the Hunan army, to strike a more powerful blow to the rule of the Manchu court than in history, which was not conducive to raising his own self-respect, taking advantage of the chaos and waiting for the opportunity to raise troops. At the same time, if you don't take the lead in bringing down Luo Bingzhang, a hardcore supporter of the Manchu court, then when it is time for him to raise his own army, Luo Bingzhang and the Hunan army he supports will be like a sharp knife, and they may stab themselves in the back anytime and anywhere!

Wu Chaoyue also calculated that if he seized this opportunity to help the official document overthrow Luo Bingzhang, then he would indeed have to bear the pressure of the official document alone, but Luo Bingzhang fell, and the Hunan army had no reliable logistics base and food and salary sources, so the Hunan army, which was not as powerful as it was in history, would definitely not be the opponent of the Taiping army, even if it could still be dying and struggling, it would be difficult to form a strong containment of the Taiping army, and the Taiping army without the hidden danger of the Hunan army and Wei Changhui would definitely be able to shake the rule of the Manchu court more effectively. It is even possible to directly overthrow the Manchu court and directly change the dynasty - although this may be very small, Wu Chaoyue does not want to see Hong Xiuquan's god stick sit on the throne of the emperor.

In addition, Wu Chaoyue thought of two important questions, the first is that after Luo Bingzhang is gone, if Zeng Guofan, who has been touching his head recently and has always been suspicious of the Manchu court, has any mistakes, the remnants of the Hunan army have no leader, and it will naturally be much easier to appease him again. The second is that without Luo Bingzhang and the Hunan army's containment of the Taiping army, the Manchu court is likely to choose to rely on itself to exterminate the Taiping army, and highlight its important position even more, so that the wild boar skin IX and the Manchu court dare not mess with themselves.

There is also a small problem, Wu Chaoyue also found that it is not very difficult to clean up the official documents, the official documents are supported by the Manchu court, and if he is defeated, the Manchu court will definitely send Manchu ministers to monitor him, but no matter how good they are, can they beat their other backstage foreign foreigners? Just throw a problem related to foreigners to them, and worry that they won't cry and shout to beg for help?

I hope that there are many people and I don't want to see Yao Shun. There are saints in Manchuria, and the revolution is difficult! When he suddenly remembered Cai Yuanpei's famous sentence again, Wu Chaoyue also made up his mind in his heart - on the premise of saving Zuo Zongtang's life, it doesn't matter if he directly overthrows Luo Bingzhang! At the very least, we have to take this opportunity to break up the golden pair of Luo Bingzhang and Zuo Zongtang and weaken the logistics foundation of the Hunan army!

was too distracted, or under the repeated shouts of the official text, Wu Chaoyue came back to his senses, and hurriedly asked the official text and Jing Shou for the guilt, and said: "Uncle forgive the sin, Brother Jing forgive the sin, I was too engrossed in thinking about something just now, and I was completely distracted, where did you go?" ”

"What could make you so distracted?" The official reprimanded him dissatisfied, and then said: "I agreed with Lord Jing that we decided to go to Changsha to investigate the escape of the criminal Wang Xun, and personally go to find out whether the Hunan Governor Yamen is really controlled by a master, if so, we will take down that Zuo Zongtang on the spot and ask for the guilt, and then jointly impeach Luo Bingzhang for negligence and mediocrity!" ”

When Wu Chaoyue hurriedly went to see Jing Shou again, Jing Shou also nodded and said: "I and the official system have made up our minds, Luo Bingzhang let the governor's power given to him by the imperial court fall into the hands of his staff, and Zuo Zongtang dared to hold the governor's power, this matter must be strictly investigated and investigated, and an explanation must be given to the court and the emperor!" ”

Pursing his lips, Wu Chaoyue suddenly left the table, saluted to Guanwen and Jing Shou and said: "Uncle, Brother Jing, I know that once this matter is verified, Zuo Zongtang will definitely die, so I want to ask you for a favor, I hope you look at my thin face, spare Zuo Zongtang and let him live." ”

"Weiting, why are you interceding for Zuo Zongtang?" The official text and Jingshou are both the same.

"Because of Lin Wenzhong." Wu Chaoyue is very good at finding high-sounding excuses, and said sincerely: "The relationship between my family and Lin Wenzhonggong, you must all know it, but what you may not know about your uncle and brother is that Lin Wenzhong and Zuo Zongtang are also very familiar, and they can even be regarded as deep friends. ”

"Uncle, that's why my little nephew was distracted just now." Wu Chaoyue said more sincerely: "Lin Wenzhong is my grandfather's benefactor, Zuo Zongtang is his confidant, I should also call him an uncle in terms of seniority, so I dare to ask your subordinates to show mercy, even if it is found out that Zuo Zongtang is in control of the Hunan Governor Yamen, don't kill him, just let him leave Hunan, and give him a chance to reform himself." ”

Listening to Wu Chaoyue's sincerity, Guan Wen and Jing Shou were also a little shaken, and after a little calculation, Jing Shou, who had a good relationship with Wu Chaoyue, nodded first and said: "Okay, since it is a consolation pavilion for you to intercede, then as long as Zuo Zongtang does not abuse the governor's power to make an unforgivable death, you can spare his life and drive him out of Hunan." ”

Seeing that Jing Shou opened his mouth, the official document that usually received Wu Chaoyue's silver also nodded, and said: "Okay, for the sake of your face, nephew, as long as that Zuo Zongtang does not forgive the death penalty, then let him live and tell him to get out of Hunan." ”

Wu Chaoyue was overjoyed, and hurriedly thanked Guan Wen and Jing Shou again and again, and hummed shamelessly in his heart: "Zuo Jigao, I saved your life this time, if you have a little conscience, you will come to Hubei to work for me when you leave Hunan, and repay my kindness!" ”

…………

Let's take a look at Guanwen and Jingshou's side, they came to Hunan together under the sign of tracking down the case of the criminal Wang Xun escaping, and before they arrived in Changsha on the way, they already knew that Tang Shixi did not falsely accuse Zuo Zongtang - even the Hunan magistrate of Yuezhou Mansion knew that there was a governor named Zuo Zongtang in Changsha, and his words were more effective than the official governor Luo Bingzhang, and Hunan's government and military affairs could only be implemented after Zuo Zongtang nodded, and Hunan officials had to salute him when they went to the governor's yamen to do business!

In a rage, they asked the magistrate of Yuezhou Prefecture if they dared to sign and draw a pledge on the confession, but what made Guanwen and Jing Shou even more dizzy was that the magistrate of Yuezhou Mansion not only dared to sign and pledge on the confession and pledged not to tell lies, but also begged them to be transferred to other provinces as officials, so as not to be retaliated against by Zuo Zongtang and Luo Bingzhang -- because the golden pair had already overthrown many Hunan officials on various charges.

When he finally arrived in Changsha along the Xiangjiang River channel with even more anger, Goshha and the internal guards who had rushed to Changsha to investigate immediately presented all kinds of evidence, once again proving that Tang Shishu was really not falsely accusing Zuo Zongtang, and Zuo Zongtang was indeed tyrannical and lawless in the Hunan governor's yamen. As a result, they couldn't bear it, Guan Wen and Jing Shou simply broke into the Hunan Governor's Yamen, and happened to see Zuo Zongtang training Hunan officials like his grandson, Guan Wen and Jing Shou were even more furious, and ordered their entourage to take Zuo Zongtang down on the spot, and threw all kinds of evidence collected before in front of Luo Bingzhang, asking Luo Bingzhang to give them an explanation.

Luo Bingzhang, who was too indulgent to his secretary, could only immediately kneel down and plead guilty, admitting that he was negligent in disciplining his subordinates and willing to bear all the consequences caused by this. While ordering Zuo Zongtang to be imprisoned, Guan Wen and Jing Shou immediately began to investigate Zuo Zongtang's copywriting accounts to see whether Zuo Zongtang used the governor's power entrusted by Luo Bingzhang to seek personal interests for himself.

The result is not bad, although Lao Zuo is domineering and domineering, he is quite upright, he didn't use Luo Bingzhang's trust to make a penny for himself, let alone use the governor's power to do anything hurtful, and the anger of the slightly subsided Guanwen and Jingshou finally remembered their commitment to Wu Chaoyue, so when discussing with Luo Bingzhang about the disposal of Zuo Zongtang, Guanwen and Jingshou also directly told Luo Bingzhang about Wu Chaoyue's intercession for Zuo Zongtang, and then the official said: "Luo Futai, this official clearly tells you, if it weren't for Wu Futai's hard pleading, This time Zuo Zongtang is dead! For the sake of Wu Futai's face, this official will give you a chance, within ten days, Zuo Zongtang must leave Hunan, and he will not be allowed to return to Hunan one step before you step down as governor of Hunan! Would you like to? ”

Luo Bingzhang, who thought that Zuo Zongtang was going to die this time, was overjoyed when he heard this, and hurriedly thanked the official document again and again, promising to send Zuo Zongtang out of Hunan within ten days. Then naturally, the official document holding the handle in his hand of course forced Luo Bingzhang to cancel Hunan Chali immediately, Luo Bingzhang wanted to cry without tears, but in order to protect himself and Zuo Zongtang, he could only agree to cancel Hunan Chali for a year with tears in his eyes and help Hankou Port rapidly expand foreign trade.

Considering that Luo Bingzhang's ability to do things in Hunan will help him to sit firmly on the throne of the governor of Huguang, overthrowing Luo Bingzhang will not only have a huge impact, but the new governor may not be more obedient than Luo Bingzhang, but it is better to sell a favor and hold the handle to facilitate manipulation. And although Luo Bingzhang understood the intention of the official document, he didn't dare to say anything more, so he could only salute honestly and thank him, and swore to listen to the official text for the rest of his life.

Without the important income of Chali, Luo Bingzhang is still just a pain in his flesh, and being forced to expel Zuo Zongtang from Hunan will break Luo Bingzhang's heart, but what is the use of being heartbroken? The handle is in the hands of others, for himself and for the safety of Zuo Zongtang's life, Luo Bingzhang can only send Zuo Zongtang to the Xiangjiang Wharf with tears and hire a boat to send him out.

Zuo Zongtang, who knew that he was to blame, of course did not blame Luo Bingzhang for not trying his best to protect himself, and when Luo Bingzhang asked with tears what he wanted to go after leaving Hunan, Zuo Zongtang also said calmly: "Go to Jiangxi, go to Zeng Bohan and Hu Linyi, and help them kill thieves and quell rebellions on the battlefield." If they refuse to take them in or dare not take them in, I will wander the world to the ends of the world as my home, and I will just live the rest of my life. ”

Luo Bingzhang, who knew Zuo Zongtang's talents, was even more sad when he heard it, and after thinking for a while, Luo Bingzhang wiped away his tears, choked up and said: "Ji Gao, if you must want to go to Zeng Bohan and them, I won't stop you, but you and I both know that their situation there is also very bad, not only is the situation very difficult, but there is also the danger of annihilation, you may not even have a place to live." I think you might as well consider Wu surpassing Wu Futai. ”

"Him?" Zuo Zongtang laughed when he heard this, and said: "Not only does he already have a talented Zhao Liewen under his command, but he is also a loyal lackey of Guanwen, can he take me in?" ”

"Not necessarily." Luo Bingzhang shook his head, first told Wu Chaoyue about Wu Chaoyue's plea to the official document for Zuo Zongtang, and then said: "Wu Weiting is a delicate person, if he takes you in, he will naturally have a way to exonerate you in front of the official document, his situation and situation are much better than Zeng Guofan's and them, and when you come to his account, you will have more opportunities to show your talents and realize your life ambitions." ”

Zuo Zongtang pondered for a long time, and then smiled: "Let's talk about it then, I'm afraid that kid can't tolerate my left mule like you." (To be continued.) )