"Weiting, the teacher said that you were a hedgehog, but in fact, he was only half right, it should be that you and he are both hedgehogs. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 info can look at each other when you're far away, and you can work together to hate the same enemy, but when you're close, you two haven't waited for someone else to tie up, so you have to prick each other first. ”

After listening to Wu Chaoyue's introduction of a series of secret battles with Zeng Guofan after he came to Hubei, Li Hongzhang shook his head and sighed, completely seeing the true colors of his teacher and junior brother - they are not good things!

Listening to the ridicule of his good brother Li Hongzhang, Wu Chaoyue immediately ridiculed him, "Shaoquan, you can't get any better, don't think I don't know, you are famous in Anhui for turning into a green forest, and you like to take the initiative to provoke long hair to set yourself on fire, especially good at sneaking around to sneak up on small long hairs to continuously expand the battlefield, wherever your regimental training goes, there is no local official who does not hate you to the bone." This time, the Anhui magistrate impeached you for focusing on wave warfare, isn't it because you usually offend them too hard? ”

"I was killed by you!" Li Hongzhang angrily condemned Wu Chaoyue's shameless framing, and said angrily: "It's because of you, I offended Weng Xincun's family, this time Weng Xincun took office as the head of the Anhui Inspectorate, can his protégés and disciples not clean me up and give him anger?" If it weren't for your involvement, do you think I would be willing to leave my hometown and run thousands of miles to join you? ”

"Defect to me? All right! Wu Chaoyue took the opportunity to take over the conversation and said quickly: "Okay, since you think I cheated you, then okay, pull your regiment to practice, I will immediately give you a Quanzi battalion, and then ask the court to give you a four-grade top, and you will mix with me in the future!" I will give you whatever treatment I give to my Hubei New Army! ”

Li Hongzhang was speechless, and said depressedly for a while: "I don't count this matter, my father has the final say, even if our father and son handle the group training separately, but I, who is a son, can't even listen to my father's words, right?" ”

"That's okay, when you get to the banquet in a while, you will encourage your father to make it clear on the spot, saying that you came to Hubei this time to defect to me, not to the teacher!" Wu Chaoyue said with a big face.

Li Hongzhang was speechless again, and said after a while: "It depends on the situation, my father and the teacher are on the same list, and I am a protégé who handed over the post. ”

Wu Chaoyue and Li Hongzhang, who had been reunited for a long time, had a private conversation, and the Chinese army came to report that Zeng Guofan had led Li Hongzhang's father Li Wen'an back.

It is not an exaggeration to say that the banquet held in the camp of the new army in Hubei is called the late Qing Dynasty version of the group of heroes, among the people present, among the four famous ministers of Tongzhi Zhongxing, there are Zeng Guofan, Li Hongzhang and Hu Linyi, and the well-known famous military generals of the late Qing Dynasty are countless, what Liu Rong, Zeng Guoquan, Guo Songtao, Yang Wending, Zhao Liewen, Liu Mingchuan, Peng Yulin, Yang Yuebin and Li Xubin, etc., the famous figures can not be counted in two slaps. If you add Zuo Zongtang, who had a temper and didn't come to the banquet, Liu Kunyi, Rong Hong, Xu Shou and other cattle people who were close at hand, all twisted together to form a team, there was absolutely no problem in overthrowing the brutal rule of the Manchu Eight Banners.

However, it is a pity that only a small number of these civil and military cattle people obey the orders of the little comprador Wu Chaoyue, and not only can they not be twisted into a rope, but when they arrive at the banquet, the little hedgehog Wu Chaoyue and the old hedgehog Zeng teacher can't wait to start a hook and fight, fighting for the control of Li Wenan and Li Hongzhang's father and son, the Anhui team - to be precise, Wu Chaoyue actually only wants Li Hongzhang alone.

The first to make a fuss was of course the host Wu Chaoyue, taking the opportunity to toast Li Wen'an, Wu Chaoyue said sincerely: "Uncle, the little nephew and Shaoquan are like brothers, he has always been like a brother, you are Shaoquan's father, that is, the uncle of the little nephew." Uncle, don't worry, since you have led the army thousands of miles away to defect to the little nephew, the little nephew must not let you down, when the little nephew returns to the provincial capital in a few days, he will invite you back to meet the official and civil officials, and ask him to join the little nephew to protect you, and will never let you live a life of exile again. ”

Before Li Wen'an could say thank you, Zeng Guofan had already grabbed the conversation and said with a smile: "Weiting, with your friendship with Shaoquan, it is natural to welcome Shihe's family to the provincial capital for settlement, but as a junior, you can incorporate the group training that your uncle has worked so hard to establish as soon as you meet?" ”

"The teacher misunderstood, the student didn't want to be co-opted." Wu Chaoyue immediately said: "Teacher, the student wants his uncle to be like Liu Kunyi, to organize the Anhui regimental training he worked so hard to build, and the uncle and Shaoquan will jointly command, so that they can enjoy the battlefield and kill thieves to serve the country." ”

"That's great." Zeng Guofan was very happy when he heard this, and said with a smile: "On the way here just now, the division has already agreed with Shihe, and this time our pair will join forces to fight and kill the enemy side by side." In the opinion of the division, there is a half battalion of regimental training under Shihe, and you might as well take Shihe and his old pawns as the core backbone, and expand the regimental training into three or four battalions for Shihe, so that he can go to Jiangxi again for the division, first break Jiujiang, and then save Nanchang, and then wave the division to the east, go straight to Jinling, and capture the two thieves of Hong Yang and eliminate harm for the country! ”

Wu Chaoyue can be regarded as convincing his teacher, not only to the eloquence of Mr. Zeng, but also to the teacher's face. At that moment, Wu Chaoyue didn't argue with Teacher Zeng, but just turned to Li Wenan and asked, "Uncle, you and the teacher have already made up your mind?" ”

In fact, when he was on the road just now, Zeng Guofan did invite Li Wenan to lead the Anhui regiment to join the Hunan army, and Li Wenan wanted to directly refuse at that time -- Li Wen'an and his son came to Hubei directly for Wu Chaoyue's money, food, and equipment, but because of the friendship of the same year and the old friendship for many years, Li Wenan could only agree to consider it. Now that Zeng Guofan has mentioned that Li Wenan has directly said goodbye, and Wu Chaoyue has asked Li Wen'an's attitude in public, Li Wenan really doesn't know what to do -- choose one of the two, no matter which one you choose, you will offend the other party.

Fortunately, Li Wen'an's baby son Li Hongzhang is quite competent, and when he saw his father's embarrassment, he immediately jumped out, and smiled at Wu Chaoyue: "Weiting, can we talk about this later?" We haven't seen each other for almost four years, so we have to drink today without getting drunk, walking, drinking, we'll talk about this later. ”

Forced Wu Chaoyue away from Li Wen'an, Li Hongzhang cried and whispered with a sad face: "Comfort Ting, don't force my father here, okay?" He is the same year as our teacher, can he say in public that he doesn't want to join forces with the teacher? ”

Wu Chaoyue also knew that it was difficult for Li Wenan to express his position directly on this matter, so after sighing secretly, he could only give up temporarily, and went to Zhao Liewen's table to drink with Li Hongzhang. Zeng Guofan, on his part, continued to stay by Li Wen'an's side, and some people only talked and laughed about the plan to join forces with Li Wen'an, and at the same time kept mentioning the issue of Li Wen'an's and Wu Chaoyue's generation, and induced Li Wen'an to consider such a face--can he accept the order of a junior to be sent?

In fact, there is no need for Zeng Guofan to be so instigated, on the way to Hubei when he was forced to leave Anhui and come to Hubei, Li Wen'an and his son had already discussed in private whether to accept Wu Chaoyue's incorporation, at that time Li Wenan felt that it was too embarrassing for him to accept the orders of his juniors as an elder, and it was even more difficult to speak if something went wrong under Wu Chaoyue, so the best treatment that Li Wenan expected before was to form an army of his own and not be directly absorbed by Wu Chaoyue. Now although Wu Chaoyue took the initiative to make concessions and allow Li Wenan to form an army of his own, Zeng Guofan's side took the initiative to join forces with Li Wenan to fight, so that Li Wenan could sit in an equal position with Zeng Guofan, and Li Wenan was of course a little shaken.

Li Wenan was not shaken because of his treatment, but because of his face -- Zeng Guofan's ability to move seven times in ten years during the Taiping period was because he was thick-skinned and hugged Mu Zhang'a's thighs, Wu Chaoyue was able to get mixed up today because he was completely shameless and hugged Su Shun's thick waist, and Li Wenan was always depressed because he suffered too much on his face.

Under Wu Chaoyue's forced forbearance, this late Qing version of the group meeting finally broke up happily, and Wu Chaoyue, who was in good health, was still drunk because of too much drinking, and relied on the support of Wu Chaoyue and other soldiers to return to the sleeping tent to rest. Li Wen'an and Li Hongzhang's father and son rested overnight in the camp left by Huang Dasha and others after the withdrawal of the Hubei New Army, but that night, the Li family father and son naturally also had a discussion that decided the fate and future of the old Li family.

The discussion did not take place in the dormitory, and at the suggestion of Li Hongzhang, Li Wen'an and his son walked in the empty camp to sober up, while discussing in a low voice whose invitation they should accept. During this period, Li Hongzhang took the initiative to ask Li Wenan: "Father, did you really agree to your mentor on the road and want to join forces with him?" ”

"Of course not." Li Wenan said with some dissatisfaction: "I just promised him that he could consider it, but I didn't expect to say no words in front of the comfort pavilion, directly blocking my retreat, otherwise, I would be so embarrassed and embarrassed at that time?" ”

"Just as I expected." Li Hongzhang sighed and said: "But I really didn't expect that the secret battle between the teacher and the comfort pavilion had reached this point, and the teacher even made such a means in order to overwhelm the comfort pavilion in order to strengthen his strength. ”

Li Wenan was shocked when he heard this, and hurriedly asked his son how he knew that there was a secret battle between Wu Chaoyue and Zeng Guofan, and Li Hongzhang also whispered a description of the shrunken version of the secret war process that Wu Chaoyue told him, Li Wenan was stunned when he heard it, and said in surprise: "I didn't think that teachers and students could toss to this point, why don't they want to take a step back and work together?" ”

"They are all ambitious and want to be in the limelight, who wants to let whom?"

Li Hongzhang pointed out the fundamental reason why Wu Chaoyue and Zeng Guofan could not coexist, and said with a sneer: "The master wants to swallow the world's miracles of pacifying the long-haired bandits, and wants to comfort the pavilion to serve him like a slave son, and let him send him to enslave." In order to use the hands of the Hunan army to expel the long hair in Hubei and help him sit firmly in the position of the governor of Hubei, Wei Ting tried his best to tolerate it at first, but then with a little strength, he immediately turned his face and didn't recognize people, and just wanted to use the teacher as a watchdog. Each other is strong and domineering, and they will never waver in their own opinions, such people get together without directly meeting each other, and they can already be regarded as being able to maintain their sanity. ”

"It makes sense, they are all stubborn donkeys, and it is impossible to really work together." Li Wenan nodded with a wry smile, and also admitted that there was no possibility of coexistence between Wu Chaoyue and Zeng Guofan, and then Li Wenan sighed again: "It's a pity that their master and apprentice are fighting, and our father and son are unlucky, and they will immediately offend the other party when they stand on that side, and they are in a dilemma, and they are not human beings inside and outside." ”

"Father, have you ever considered accepting the solicitation of the comfort pavilion and obeying his command under his command?" Li Hongzhang asked tentatively.

Li Wenan clasped his hands to his chest and remained silent, and replied after a while: "In the current situation, the best choice for our father and son is, of course, to take refuge in the comfort pavilion, but it is really ...... to ask me, an uncle, to obey my nephew's orders, and I am really a little embarrassed and shameless." ”

"I was guessed by the child, father, you really can't pull your face."

Li Hongzhang smiled, and suddenly said in a shocking voice, and said in a low voice: "Actually, the child can't pull this face, I am the senior brother, the elder brother, asked me to listen to the orders of the junior brother and brother, I also feel shameless." ”

Li Wenan was taken aback again, and hurriedly asked Li Hongzhang in a low voice: "Hongzhang, you don't want to accept the solicitation of the comfort pavilion?" ”

Li Hongzhang nodded, and finally said what was in his heart in front of his father, and said in a low voice: "Before coming to Hubei, there was really no way out. But since I happened to meet my teacher here, and the teacher tried so hard to win over our father and son, and I felt a little unwilling to be a child, why are our father and son destined to accept the command of others? Why can't you be like your teacher and comfort pavilion, lead an army by yourself, and create a land by yourself? ”

Speaking of this, Li Hongzhang gritted his teeth and added: "After the chicken head cow, I would rather choose the chicken head!" The teacher promised to fight hand in hand with us and get along with you as an equal, father, and I think it is the most suitable for us father and son to accept the teacher's solicitation! ”

Li Wenan opened his mouth and stammered, and for the first time found out that his precious son was also a careerist who was unwilling to be subordinate, and would rather suffer more hardships and sins than be independent. After the shock, Li Wenan thought about it for a while, and hurriedly reminded his son in a low voice: "But Hongzhang, don't forget, your teacher Zeng Bohan's current situation is very bad, and even the military salary and grain and grass have to rely on your junior brother Wu Chaoyue, and we are very risky to work together with him." ”

"It is precisely because the teacher's current situation is not good that the child is more willing to work with him hand in hand!" Li Hongzhang said categorically: "We accept the solicitation of the comfort pavilion, which is just the icing on the cake for the comfort pavilion, and accepting the teacher's solicitation is a relief for the teacher!" The world knows how big the difference is. ”

After that, Li Hongzhang pointed to the empty camp left behind after the Wu army withdrew, and said: "Father, you see, Weiting only withdrew half of the garrison, and such a camp was vacated. Our father and son accept his solicitation, even if Weiting sees my friendship with him and lets us be alone and fight alone, our limelight will always be suppressed by the elite of his lineage, and we will not have many opportunities to show our talents. But on the teacher's side, it is the opposite, he is now asking for us, he is in urgent need of our help, when we go to him, what kind of treatment and opportunities will he give us? ”

Speaking of this, Li Hongzhang paused, and then said to Li Wen'an: "Father, listen to the child's advice, wealth and danger are sought, for the future of our Li family in Hefei, you should accept the teacher's invitation and work hand in hand with him!" ”

Encountering such a superb son, Li Wenan was completely speechless, and said after a long time: "But by doing this, our father and son will offend Wu Chaoyue." ”

"No, it won't." Li Hongzhang waved his hand decisively and said: "Teacher, he will definitely try his best to force our father and son to join forces with him, and when the time comes, father, you just need to pretend that Zhongji is relieved, and it will be difficult to chase after the words as soon as the words come out, and I will have something to say in front of the comfort pavilion - it's not that I don't want to work for him, it's that our teacher's methods are too clever, and I am forced to be helpless." ”

Li Wenan was even more speechless, shook his head and smiled bitterly for a long time before saying: "Okay, my father can listen to you and your teacher join forces, but my father must remind you that this time the bet was wrong, and if we want to turn back, I'm afraid it will be even more difficult." ”

"Father, forgive the child's boldness, your words are completely wrong." Li Hongzhang smiled and said: "We chose to join forces with our teacher, even if we make a mistake, we have to go back, Weiting He is a pseudo-villain and a true gentleman, although he is a little unscrupulous, but he is a real bold gentleman." The child dares to assert, not to mention that the comfort pavilion may not be able to see through the child's unwillingness to work for him, even if he sees through it, it doesn't matter, the gentleman can be bullied, if the child really goes back to him, he will definitely welcome me with open arms. ”

"Of course, a gentleman can be bullied, and he should only give me such an opportunity once." Li Hongzhang sighed and said, "Also, if I use this ......trick on my teacher, I'm afraid I won't even have a chance." ”

Seeing that the unwilling baby son had made up his mind, and he had some of his own face to be an accomplice lackey for a junior, Li Wenan finally chose to agree to accept the baby son's suggestion. After Li Hongzhang thanked him for his great joy, he couldn't help but look up at the sky, looked at the lonely moon in the night sky, and muttered: "Comfort Ting, I didn't go to Songjiang with you to hold a group practice at the beginning, I missed the opportunity." But this time, I must seize the opportunity to tell everyone in the world one thing, you are a junior brother, I am a senior brother! ”

Looking at the solemn expression of his baby son with a wry smile, Li Wenan couldn't help but muttered in his heart, "Zeng Bohan, you really know how to teach students, these two proud protégés are exactly the same as you, they are not a good thing!" (To be continued.) )