Late at night, the Forbidden City was silent. Guan Xuqing woke up from his dream and was covered in night sweats. I vaguely feel bad, but I don't know what's wrong. Just received a telegram from Guangxi, outside the city of Shanxi, Wang Lin and his men and horses cooperated with the Black Flag Army to fight and inflict heavy losses on the French army. * The retreat of the 5,000 landing force of the French army completely destroyed the French army's plan to encircle Shanxi City by sea and two routes. But why does the right eye keep jumping, as if there is some ominous omen?

Guan Xuqing resented that he had not studied history well, although the Sino-French battle was a complete victory for the Qing army in Vietnam. But in the naval battle, he was defeated, but he did not remember how. Now that Zuo Zongtang has been sent to Fujian, there shouldn't be any big problem.

"Your Majesty, are you alright?" Wang Shang, the personal eunuch, asked.

After Guan Xuqing got out of bed, Wang Shang hurriedly put a cloak on Guan Xuqing's body.

Guan Xuqing shook his head and said, "Palm lamp, bring me a map of the Fujian coast." ”

Wang Shang frowned and pleaded, "Your Majesty, it's already three watches. It's going to be court in two hours, so you can sleep for a while. ”

Guan Xuqing didn't want to sleep well, but now that the government is in trouble, internal and external troubles, it is a fun-like style from top to bottom, and at this moment, he feels that since he came here, especially after being this bullshit emperor. Every day is like walking on thin ice, like sitting on pins and needles. I haven't had a comfortable day, it's the same crossing, why don't you wear yourself on Qianlong. Let me also be a happy emperor for decades. Why bother with all these endless state affairs!

But now we can only govern the country well, hoping to pass more than ten years of reform. Let the country be a little more stable, and enjoy the taste of being an emperor again.

Guan Xuqing did not answer Wang Shang, but walked to the map by himself. Looking at the Taiwan Strait anxiously......

The undercurrent of Fujian seaside is surging, the bay is in a fog, the horizon is out of sight, and a flower boat stranded on the seashore is particularly eye-catching. Put on the hanging red lantern and shoot an ambiguous light. There were several tables of wine and food in the cabin, and several women with heavy makeup were playing the piano and singing.

Zhang Peilun and a few colleagues were drinking and having fun inside, the sea breeze was blowing, and the fishing fires on the beach were faintly visible.

At this time, a personal soldier hurriedly pushed open the cabin and reported: "Lord Yu, Zhang Guandao asks to see." ”

"What's the matter with him?" Zhang Peilun was holding a piece of meat and sending it to his mouth.

"Zhang Guandao said that there is something important, and he must report it to the adult in person." The pro-soldier said.

"I'm drinking, and I'll tell him to report it tomorrow." Zhang Peilun said impatiently.

At this time, the anxious Zhang Desheng strode in. Kneeling on the ground: "Guan took Zhang Desheng to meet Commander Zhang." ”

Zhang Peilun was the commander of the Fujian Naval Division, and Zuo Zongtang ordered him to keep an eye on the French warships in the Taiwan Strait. Don't go into battle lightly and defend Mawei Harbor.

"Zhang Guandao, what's the matter with you?" Zhang Peilun said dissatisfied.

"The legal warship is heading towards our Mawei Military Port, our army should be ready to fight, please make your subordinates clear." Zhang Desheng anxiously pleaded.

"The legal person is just a bluff, and Zuo Shuai has solemnly explained that he must not fight without authorization. Violators are court-martialed. Zhang Peilun said nonchalantly.

Zhang Desheng was anxious, stared at Zhang Peilun anxiously and said: "The legal person fleet is brightly lit, as if it is going to war!" Please come down and have a look. ”

"Zhang Desheng, do you need you to teach you to do things? I asked my friend to talk again, and I can't leave at will. Zhang Peilun was a little annoyed.

Zhang Desheng slammed his head on the ground, wanted to cry very much, and said in an almost pleading voice: "My lord, the military situation is urgent. In Vietnam, our army has already opened fire with the French army, and the French army is obviously attacking in retaliation. Your Excellency, you must not despise ......."

"Is it the other way around? Do you dare to teach me a lesson?? Come on, bring Zhang Desheng down for me. Zhang Peilun roared angrily.

The two pro-soldiers rushed over, lifted Zhang Desheng, who was already bleeding on his head, and dragged him outside.

Zhang Peilun picked up his wine glass and persuaded his colleagues around him to drink.

Zhang Desheng cried in despair: "My lord, the war is about to start, you drink today, and you will definitely drink blood tomorrow." ”

Zhang Peilun didn't pay attention to it anymore, hugged a woman next to him in his arms, and said: "It's good to drink blood, the strong man is hungry for Hulu meat, and laughs and talks about thirsty for Hun blood." ”

The woman with heavy makeup smiled and said, "The adult is really wise and powerful, and the little woman admires it." ”

In the unquiet Fujian Sea, seagulls chirp fiercely in the night. At this time, the black-pressed French warships approached Mawei Harbor*. The moonlight shone on the sea, and by the bright moonlight, the soldiers on the French ships were busy waving flags and loading shells.

At this time, there was no light on the warship stationed in Mawei Harbor, and the soldiers had already entered their dreams. The French ** ship quietly sailed into the military port, and then, with the "cannon" of the commander on the French ship, more than a dozen French ** ships, rows of artillery fire intensively fired at the Fujian naval division in the Mawei military port.

The cannonball, with a long tongue of fire, landed accurately on the warship in the military port, and exploded in an instant, and suddenly the warship was in flames.

"Fire, fire, fire!" The French ship kept firing shells.

In an instant, Li Hongzhang's carefully built Fujian Navy Division was wiped out. A total of nineteen gunboats, three cruisers. Among them were two ironclad gunboats that had just been launched at the Jiangnan shipyard.

At this time, Zhang Peilun, who was still in the gentle township, heard the sound of cannons. I thought that Zhang Disheng didn't listen to the advice and took the initiative to open fire. scolded: "It's good that you Zhang Desheng, you dare to fire the cannon privately!" See that I don't cut off your head. ”

"My lord, it's not good. The French opened fire on us. A soldier ran in and said.

At this time, Zhang Peilun still didn't believe it. With wide eyes, he asked, "What?" Did the French shoot at us? ”

"Yes, sir."

Zhang Peilun woke up like a dream and jumped up in fright. "Quick, give me the order, all ships are in place, and counterattack immediately."

The soldier said with a crying voice: "My lord, it's too late. When the French opened fire, our ships were parked in the military harbor and could not turn around and open fire. Eight gunboats, including Feiyun, Zhenwei, and Jiwei, were sunk, and the rest of the ships either sank themselves or tried to sail out of the military port, but were interrupted by the railing on the way. The Fujian sailors were all ruined. ”

Zhang Peilun's face turned pale suddenly, fine beads of sweat oozed from his forehead, and he was dizzy. He sat on the ground decadently, and muttered to himself in a trance: "Zuo Shuai misunderstood me, Zuo Shuai misunderstood me." I, Zhang Peilun, was ruined here in my first life......" After a while, Zhang Peilun beat his chest and became painful.

At this moment, the rumbling sound of cannon came from the seashore again, and the roof seemed to be about to collapse. The soldier hurriedly said, "My lord, run quickly." The French called. ”

Zhang Peilun's face was like ashes, he moved his lips blankly, and said weakly: "Run? Where to run? I escaped the French, and I couldn't hide from the officials of the Daqing Daily, the imperial history of the imperial court, and the people of the world, even if Zuo Shuai didn't kill me. The emperor can't spare me...... Woo......"

Zhang Peilun cried sadly, regretting that he shouldn't have listened to Zhang Desheng's words. If he had actively prepared for war at that time, even if he had fought a battle with the French fleet and then annihilated the whole army, he would not have been as he is now--dereliction of duty, dereliction of duty, and unforgivable.