"Humble and greeting!" Ding Ruchang hurried to Guangzhou that night and came to the governor's yamen to ask to see Li Hongzhang.

"Rain Pavilion! No need to be polite, come and sit down and talk. Li Hongzhang smiled and beckoned to Ding Ruchang and said.

"I am ashamed to be the Lord of Zhongtang, and I failed to protect the Beiyang Naval Division, so that I fell into the hands of Ren Chao, and I was guilty of a capital crime!" Ding Ruchang said that he knelt on the ground and pleaded guilty to Li Hongzhang.

"Rain Pavilion! What are you doing here? Don't hurry up yet. Li Hongzhang feigned anger.

"The humble duty is the trust of the Lord of the Middle Hall, and his sins will not be forgiven if he dies! I also hope that Lord Zhongtang will surrender! Ding Ruchang knelt on the ground respectfully and said.

"Well, let's not talk about the past! Young wood! Don't hurry up and help the rain pavilion up. Li Hongzhang shook his head and said.

Zhang Peilun hurriedly stepped forward and helped Ding Ruchang up, "Ding Junmen, please get up quickly!" ”

Li Hongzhang patted the sofa next to him and said with a smile, "Yuting! Come and sit down with me, and let's have a good talk! ”

"Don't dare!" Ding Ruchang replied in a panic. Ding Ruchang is a descendant of Li Hongzhang's Huaijun, and has always been valued by Li Hongzhang, and later served as the commander of the Beiyang Naval Division. However, Ren Chao launched a military coup, sent troops to attack Port Arthur by land and water, and issued an order in the name of Emperor Guangxu to order Ding Ruchang to hand over the command of the Beiyang Naval Division. handed over the Beiyang Naval Division, which Li Hongzhang had worked hard for many years, to Ren Chao, so Ding Ruchang felt ashamed, this time Ren Chao also persuaded him for a long time, and Ding Ruchang was forced to agree to come to Guangzhou.

"I've said it all. Let him pass the past! No more mention! Li Hongzhang waved his hand impatiently and said, "Yuting! Come sit down and talk. ”

"Yes!" Ding Ruchang sat down cautiously.

"Rain Pavilion! You came to Guangzhou this time, you should be a lobbyist for that crazy man, right? Li Hongzhang asked with a smile.

"Don't dare!" Ding Ruchang seemed to have been pierced in the buttocks. Immediately bounced up, and hurriedly said.

"Humph! You're here, what's not to dare! Li Jingfang snorted coldly and said in a strange way.

Ding Ruchang looked ashamed and didn't know what to say for a while. The crutch in Li Hongzhang's hand slammed on the ground, and he said in a fierce voice, "Presumptuous!" There's no place for you to speak! ”

"Where did I say something wrong! Ding Ruchang, you hold your chest. If it weren't for your father's allocation, you would still be farming in your hometown! That's where you are today, but what about you? How did you repay your father? first gave up the Beiyang Sailor to Ren Chao, the traitor, and now he has run away to Ren Chao as a lobbyist, do you still have a little conscience. Li Jingfang retorted loudly, pointing at Ding Ruchang's nose and scolding.

"Presumptuous! I think you're getting more and more unruly. Don't get out of here yet! Li Hongzhang blew his beard angrily and glared.

"Humph!" Li Jingfang was angry when she saw Li Hongzhang. Not daring to say anything more, he snorted coldly and turned around and walked out of the living room.

"This rebel is getting more and more unreasonable! I'm so angry, Yuting, don't be like this rebel! Li Hongzhang said angrily.

"Don't be angry, the eldest prince is right, he is ashamed of his duties to Lord Zhongtang!" Ding Ruchang said respectfully.

"Rain Pavilion! Didn't I already say it! Don't talk about the past. I also know the situation at that time, what you did was not wrong, although the Beiyang Naval Division fell into the hands of Ren Chao, but after all, it was still the national defense force of my Qing Dynasty. If you were really at war with the Dragon Fleet at that time. In the end, it can only be a lose-lose result, which is just for those ill-intentioned foreign devils to watch the fun. That's the great sin that can't be atoned. The reason why I did not move in Guangdong is also this reason, we only have this little family background in the Qing Dynasty, and we really can't withstand the consumption of the civil war! Li Hongzhang said earnestly.

"What Lord Zhongtang said is extremely true, at that time, I didn't want to watch the Beiyang Naval Division, which Lord Zhongtang had painstakingly managed, be destroyed in the hands of his own people, and although Ren Chao was rebellious, he had not openly rebelled after all, so he was forced to hand over the command of the Beiyang Naval Division." Ding Ruchang lowered his head and said honestly like a child who had done something wrong.

Li Hongzhang nodded slightly and said, "I am naturally clear about your hard work, and this matter is difficult for you." This is the end of the matter, and no one is allowed to mention it again. Rain Pavilion! Sit down and let's have a good chat. ”

"Thank you, Lord Nakado!" Ding Ruchang thanked him and sat down honestly again.

"Rain Pavilion! Tell me about it, what does this Ren Chao mean? Li Hongzhang asked softly.

"Back to Lord Zhongtang, before leaving Beijing, Ren Chao once found a lowly position. Ren Chao also said that today's Qing Dynasty is surrounded by foreign powers. These foreign devils don't have a good thing, and they can't wait to bite a piece of meat off my Daqing. Therefore, at this critical moment, it is really not appropriate for me to consume my strength in internal fighting, so Ren Chaocai repeatedly asked Lord Zhongtang to go north and preside over the overall situation. Ding Ruchang replied honestly.

Li Hongzhang sighed helplessly, "This madman has always been bold and reckless, and it is rare to have this insight." Yuting thinks I should go north? Or should I stay in Guangzhou? ”

"I don't dare to say anything about this humble position, Lord Zhongtang is seeking the country in the old city, and I hope Lord Zhongtang will think twice about this matter." Ding Ruchang replied honestly.

"With your understanding of Ren Chao, if the old man insists on not going north, what do you think Ren Chao will do?" Li Hongzhang asked bluntly.

Ding Ruchang couldn't help frowning, "Ren Chao has always been bold and reckless, and he pondered that if Lord Zhongtang insisted on refusing to go north, Ren Chao would probably go south and unify the country by force." Judging from Ren Chao's previous appearances, he definitely did this kind of thing. Ren Chao once said that the current situation can only benefit the Western powers, so they must do everything possible to solve domestic problems. At present, Ren Chao is negotiating peace with Tsarist Russia, and the Tiger Ben Army is trying its best to expand its armaments, just to prepare for the reunification of force! ”

Li Hongzhang nodded slightly, and Li Hongzhang naturally saw what Ding Ruchang said clearly. And this is also the problem that Li Hongzhang is most worried about, the strength of the Tiger Ben Army is obvious to all, even the Tsarist Russians are not their opponents, let alone these Qing troops with low combat effectiveness in the southern provinces? Iktanga and others are a lesson in point. In order to prevent the Tiger Ben Army from unifying the whole country by force, Li Hongzhang was not without preparations; not only Liangguang but also other provinces were also stepping up their military rearmament and training of new troops, but the time was too short for these new armies to form effective combat strength at all. (To be continued......)

PS: Thank you very much for the generous reward of the book friend "Please call me Brother Ji" and "Shenma are all cups", Lone Wolf is grateful, thank you here!

Crying for subscription! Pass! Wait for a qiē support! Book friends, let's give a little bit! Thank you!