The intelligence support is insufficient, and there is no God's perspective, I don't know that the reason why Shi Dakai gave up the third western expedition to Hubei was directly from Yang Xiuqing's order, and I don't know that Yang Xiuqing has already given birth to the idea of joining forces with himself, Wu Chaoyue did not order to summon Hong Renji, who is alias Shui Qianyi - secretly hooking up with Hong Xiuquan's clan brother is not a trivial matter. Pen ~ fun ~ pavilion www.biquge.info

Because of this, before deciding whether to summon Hong Renji, Wu Chaoyue first carefully understood the process and reason why Hong Renji came to Daye, and Rong Hong told the truth, saying that Shui Qianyi took a foreigner ship as a Hong Kong foreign businessman, and in fact, he had secretly arrived in Daye before Wu Chaoyue arrived in Tianjia Town, the primary purpose was to meet Wu Chaoyue, and the secondary purpose was to purchase a batch of wrought iron for casting artillery in Daye. He temporarily settled Hong Renji in Daye's church and waited for Wu Chaoyue.

When Wu Chaoyue asked Rong Hong if he had sent someone to spy on Hong Renji, Rong Hong replied: "Of course, I asked my entourage to monitor him day and night in the name of taking care of him, but he was also honest, basically never left the church, just begged me to take him to visit the iron factory and the gun bureau, I didn't dare to agree without your permission, he didn't insist, and he didn't play tricks to sneak into the iron factory and the gun bureau." Later, he asked to visit the literacy school you had established in Daye, and I agreed, and accompanied him for a walk. ”

Knowing that Hong Renji was quite honest in Daye, and had not come into contact with his industrial secrets, Wu Chaoyue was a little relieved, and after another calculation, he felt that Hong Renji could wait for his arrival so patiently, there must be important matters to interview him, and at the same time, only himself and Rong Hong knew Hong Renji's true identity in the entire Daye, and he had never poked Hong Renji's true identity in person, even if the secret meeting was known in the future, he could also push 625 under the pretext of not knowing, Wu Chaoyue also nodded, said, "Well, I have arranged to inform you and bring him to me." ”

For the sake of prudence, Wu Chaoyue arranged the meeting place in a large area of farmland with a wide field of vision, concealed his absolute confidant Zhao Liewen, and came to the meeting place in plain clothes in the name of distraction and agricultural inspection, and then asked Rong Hong to bring Hong Renji to the scene.

"Yo, isn't this Mr. Shui Qian Yishui? I haven't seen you for a long time, why did you come to Daye? ”

After meeting, Wu Chaoyue pretended to greet Hong Renji, and at the same time signaled Wu Dadao to search Hong Renji to check whether he had weapons, and only after confirming it did he let Wu Dada and other personal soldiers lead Rong Hong to a distance for a while, leaving no one by his side - of course, Wu Chaoyue, who was greedy for life and afraid of death, naturally kept his hand on the revolver. And after Rong Hong and the others left, Hong Renji, who had been pretending to greet Wu Chaoyue, smiled and said: "I forgot to congratulate Lord Futai on his promotion, congratulations on your promotion to the governor at the age of a weak crown, and the party of the frontier." ”

"Isn't it thanks to the long-haired bandits?" Wu Chaoyue smiled and said: "If it weren't for the long-haired bandits, they would have to find the official to fight hard, and the official would have so many opportunities to make meritorious contributions?" If the long-haired bandits still refuse to learn their lesson, they have to come and seek their own death, and the current coral top of this official may have the hope of being stained into a ruby top by their blood. ”

I never expected Wu Chaoyue to say it so directly, the muscles on Hong Renji's face couldn't help twitching, and he said with a sneer: "The long-haired bandit is indeed a little bit unbelievable, and he has touched your tiger power a few times, but the incident in Tianjin, it seems that the adult you took the initiative to invite the king of Qinwang to go north?" ”

"That time it was the official who took the initiative." Wu Chaoyue nodded, and then said: "But even if this official didn't take the initiative to ask for the king of Qin, would the long-haired bandits be sure to take the capital?" Trapped in the lonely city of Tianjin, there is no response in front, no reinforcements in the back, the Qing army does not need to attack the city, only need to dig the embankment of the Haihe River, and the long-haired bandits can be trapped alive by the flood, and the official broke through Tianjin and forced them to flee for their lives, Li Kaifang and Ji Wenyuan, the two thieves, can survive to this day, in fact, they should be grateful to this official. ”

I don't know the specific situation of the Northern Expeditionary Army of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom at that time, Wu Chaoyue's heartfelt words that changed tricks failed to impress Hong Renji, and after snorting twice, Hong Renji, who had completely integrated the role in the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, still muttered in his stomach, "Shameless! If it weren't for you, the Heavenly Army might have captured Beijing City long ago, and the National Sect would have been sealed ******** long ago! ”

Not wanting to be too entangled with Hong Renji on this issue, Wu Chaoyue took the initiative to ask: "Mr. Shui, I forgot to ask you, is there something wrong with coming to Daye to find me so far?" If you have something, just say it, it's okay, after all, we're old friends. ”

"Lord Futai is right, I came thousands of miles down from here, and I want to discuss something with you." Hong Renji nodded and said, "I have served ......." ”

"Mr. Water." Wu Chaoyue interrupted Hong Renji's words in time and said, "If I'm not mistaken, your relative's sworn brother sent you, right?" What's the matter with him? ”

glanced at the surrounding fields where there were at least a hundred steps away from cultivating the people, and secretly cursed that the little demon was really treacherous and careful, and then Hong Renji nodded again and said, "Yes, he called me here, he asked me to ask the adult, what do you think in your heart?" ”

"What do I think in my heart, can that sworn brother of your relative know?" Wu Chaoyue asked Hong Renji with some doubts: "That beautiful girl, didn't you tell your relatives' brothers?" ”

"That pretty girl? Master Wu, why can't you understand your words? ”

Hong Renji was confused by Wu Chaoyue, and Wu Chaoyue was even more confused, and hurriedly reminded: "The girl behind Zhao Qiansun? Didn't she tell my brother about my relative? ”

After pondering for a long time, Hong Renji suddenly remembered Zhou Xiuying mentioned by Yang Xiuqing, and hurriedly said: "Lord Wu, that beautiful girl didn't see my relative's brother, she disappeared halfway." ”

"Missing?" Wu Chaoyue's face changed - Wu Chaoyue didn't pay much attention to Zhou Xiuying's news, but the distance was far away and the road was impassable, but Zhou Xiuying had no news, and at the same time, Wu Chaoyue didn't dare to let the Taiping Army know how much he attached importance to Zhou Xiuying, and he never dared to inquire too openly about Zhou Xiuying's situation, so Wu Chaoyue really didn't know that Zhou Xiuying suddenly disappeared on the way to Nanjing, and then heard Hong Renji say that Zhou Xiuying disappeared halfway, Wu Chaoyue was of course surprised, and he was somewhat relieved while concerned- Don't worry about Zhou Xiuying being pinched as a hostage by Yang Xiuqing.

"yes, missing." Hong Renji nodded again and said: "She suddenly fell ill halfway, and then suddenly disappeared, but she had a female soldier who successfully met the brother of my relative, saying that Zhang Jigeng's matter was your kindness, and said that you want to be friends with my relative's brother, and also said that you have seen your lordship and that girl Zhou have been alone in the concession for a long time. My relative's brother was moved, first giving up and going east to Shanghai, and this time stopping Brother Shi from coming to Hubei for the third time. ”

Wu Chaoyue suddenly realized, but at the same time, he was somewhat disturbed, extremely worried about Zhou Xiuying's whereabouts and safety. And Hong Renji said: "But Lord Wu, are you too uninteresting? We have repeatedly tolerated it, why did you still ask the people from Hubei to go to Jiangxi, help those people in Hunan, and kill many of us? ”

Wu Chaoyue was silent for a moment, and then said: "First, the leader of the gang in Hunan is my teacher, and he asked me for help and made a lot of trouble in the whole city of Wuchang, so I have no other choice." Second, I also have mercy on my subordinates, if I send out the main force, you will die so many people? ”

"So, as long as we don't take the initiative to offend you, you won't take the initiative to send the main force?" Hong Renji asked directly.

Wu Chaoyue nodded very dryly and said, "I think you also know, I have withdrawn all the main forces from Tianjia Town this time, Mr. Shui, you should also understand my intentions, right?" ”

"Thank you Wu Futai, I understand." Hong Renji also nodded very dryly, and then said: "Wu Futai, my relative's brother asked me to ask you a question, please be sure to answer, what do you think in your heart?" What is your real purpose? ”

After carefully looking at the surrounding situation first, Wu Chaoyue replied in a low voice: "Expelle the Tartars." ”

Hong Renji stared at Wu Chaoyue in surprise, seeing that Wu Chaoyue's expression was serious, his eyes were calm, and there was no trace of falsification, Hong Renji asked suspiciously: "Lord Wu, then why don't you just do it?" ”

Wu Chaoyue smiled and said in a low voice: "Have you ever seen a seventeen-year-old young man who can afford to pull so many people to do such a big thing?" No strength, no status, no power, I'm looking for death? ”

Hong Renji stopped talking, and after a while, Hong Renji asked in a low voice, "Lord Wu, then what is your ultimate goal?" Sitting on that chair in the capital? ”

"As long as it's not someone with a non-Han surname, anyone can sit on that chair." Wu Chaoyue didn't think about it and said: "I have the opportunity and strength, of course I don't mind sitting on it, I don't have this opportunity and strength - two hundred years ago, there happened to be a person surnamed Wu, and he lived quite freely in the southwest." ”

Although he was still only skeptical, Hong Renji couldn't help but feel ecstatic in his heart, and hurriedly asked Wu Chaoyue in a low voice: "Lord Wu, then do you mind signing an alliance with my relative?" ”

"I can't sign it yet." Wu Chaoyue replied frankly: "Because I can't believe your relative for the time being, and my strength is not enough, if you shake it out, I won't even be able to keep my head." ”

The more direct Wu Chaoyue said, the more happy Hong Renji became, and he nodded again and again, and said, "I understand, I understand, but Lord Wu, what exactly are you going to do?" ”

Of course, Wu Chaoyue refused to answer this question, but suddenly changed his tone and said, "Mr. Shui, are you too stupid not to find out that Long Hair?" Why do you insist on fighting Nanchang? Nanchang is a good Jiangxi provincial capital, but what can you get if you take it down? If our Qing court is forced to be in a hurry, a decree will let this official personally lead the army to reinforce Nanchang, and the long hair in Jiangxi must not be killed by this official? ”

Hong Renji is a smart person, and he immediately understood what Wu Chaoyue meant, nodded and said: "What my lord said is extremely true, and I will definitely bring this to my relative and his brother in the future." ”

Wu Chaoyue didn't pay attention to Hong Renji, but said to himself: "It's also a loss that Changmao didn't return to the army to fight the Jiangnan camp and the Jiangbei camp, if our two main forces of the Qing Dynasty are finished, the Qing Dynasty will be in danger, and the official must be dike to prevent Changmao from advancing westward in Hubei, and my teacher's Hunan army has just been hit hard and weak, even if he reluctantly sends troops, it will be more auspicious." ”

"At that time, Changmao was completely unrestrained in the rich land of the two rivers, and he could grab the money, grain, and military salaries as much as he wanted, and even if he couldn't take Shanghai, he could seize the treaty ports of Hangzhou and Ningbo, and obtain tariffs, food, and foreigners' weapons and steamers. It's dangerous. ”

Hong Renji nodded again and again, remembering every word of Wu Chaoyue with his heart, and at the same time, Hong Renji naturally couldn't believe that this was really Wu Chaoyue's kindness, so he asked cautiously: "Lord Wu, although your words are reasonable, but if the main force of Long Mao leans eastward, what should you or your teacher do if you take the opportunity to send troops to Jiangxi?" ”

"Of course, what Mr. Shui said is also a good way to kill thieves and quell the rebellion, but it's a pity that the long hair has a big life."

Wu Chaoyue smiled and said: "This official is the governor of Hubei who focuses on civil affairs, and the soldiers and horses under his direct command belong to Fubiao, and his duty is mainly to defend Hubei. Moreover, even if the imperial court ordered Hubei to send troops, the first to dispatch should be the green battalion soldiers of the Huguang Governor's official system, and the official did not have many opportunities to make meritorious contributions. ”

"As for the official's teacher, his old man has this opportunity to make meritorious contributions, but with his current strength, hehe, forcibly sending troops to Jiangxi, I am afraid that it will be more than lucky."

When Hong Renji, who was still inexperienced in military affairs, was still pondering the deduction, Wu Chaoyue had already waved his hand and said: "Mr. Shui, it's not too early, let's get here today, don't you want to visit the Gun Bureau?" I'll ask Junfu to take you to visit the iron mold cannon, and after learning that method, you can cast as many cannons as you want. As for wrought iron, as long as you have the silver and have the means to transport it, you can buy as much as you like. ”

After that, Wu Chaoyue loudly beckoned Wu Dadao and Rong Hong and others to come over to rendezvous, during which he said to Hong Renji: "This official is going to Xiangyang to kill the twister in a few days, if the twist bandit is smart, it is best to run as far as possible as soon as possible." Otherwise, the official will not let go of any twist in the territory of Henan Prefecture, which borders Hubei! ”

After quickly ending this short conversation, Wu Chaoyue ignored Hong Renji anymore, and just asked Rong Hong to continue to entertain Hong Renji, and at the same time secretly instructed Rong Hong to allow Hong Renji to learn iron mold casting cannons. After Wu Chaoyue did not meet with Hong Renji again, and after carefully arranging the production plan of Daye Industrial Base and the development plan of safety explosives, Wu Chaoyue led four battalions of the Hubei New Army to set off again and returned to the provincial capital to personally preside over the military affairs of pacifying the northern border.

…………

Let's take a look at Hong Renji's side first, after getting Wu Chaoyue's tacit approval, Hong Renji quickly learned the uncomplicated iron mold casting method, and then left Daye on a British merchant ship, and returned to Nanjing smoothly by water, and also reported to Hong Xiuquan and Yang Xiuqing about his contact with Wu Chaoyue.

Hong Xiuquan, who hates Wu Chaoyue to the bone and has a slight neuropathy, still refuses to believe Hong Renji's report, and still insists that Wu Chaoyue is just rhetorical nonsense, and must not believe a word. But fortunately, the real power of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom is still in the hands of Yang Xiuqing, who understands, and after carefully tasting the suggestions made by Wu Chaoyue through Hong Renji, Yang Xiuqing also suddenly found that if he continued to storm Nanchang, it was indeed very unwise, not only was it very likely to force the Manchu court to send Wu Chaoyue's new army from Hubei to reinforce Jiangxi, even if it was defeated, it would not reap much benefit.

On the contrary, if the Taiping Army at this time transferred the main force of the Western Road back to the Tianjing battlefield, and killed the two main forces of the Qing army, Xiang Rong and Qi Shan, which were far less difficult than the Hubei New Army, and the Taiping Army would have no opponents in the most prosperous land of Liangjiang in the whole world. At that time, not to mention the Hunan army that has been disabled, even if Wu Chaoyue reneges on his promise and sends troops to save Liangjiang, the Wu Army Naval Division, which is still very weak, will never be the opponent of the Taiping Army's Naval Division, which has experienced a hundred battles - without a naval division to protect the water grain route, the Wu Army's land division, which is very dependent on logistics, will also die in vain if it goes deep alone on land!

After thinking about this, while quickly starting to consider the strategic plan of transferring the Western Route Army back to the main battlefield in Nanjing, Yang Xiuqing did not forget another major event, and instructed left and right: "Give Li Kaifang and Zhang Lexing orders to go to the Dao, just say that we have found accurate news, and we will soon send troops to Xiangyang beyond the little demon, and the farther away the army is from the Hubei border, the better, and we must not fight hard with the little demon, there is no chance of winning." (To be continued.) )