As soon as Li Hongzhang arrived in Nanjing, two guests he did not expect to visit.

Liu Mingchuan and Wu Changqing bowed to Li Hongzhang together, crying with joy, they looked forward to the stars and the moon, and Li Hongzhang finally came back from abroad.

Li Hongzhang was happy from the bottom of his heart, and someone sent a pillow when he dozed off, could this be the will of God! Hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "Why are you two here?" Didn't you lead your troops to war? ”

Wu Changqing replied: "My lord, since you went abroad to investigate, I and the third province have been training troops in Anhui, and we have no chance to fight. ”

Li Hongzhang groaned, seven days ago was the day he set foot in Shanghai, how could the emperor summon Wu Changqing and Liu Mingchuan to Nanjing, and the army accompanied him, could it be that the emperor had already guessed that I wanted to handle military affairs? Or is it just a coincidence?

Liu Mingchuan said loudly: "These two years have suffocated us, watching others kill the enemy and make meritorious contributions, but we are training in the rear, that feeling is really uncomfortable, I am willing to follow the adults to serve." ”

Wu Changqing also said: "Yes! Two years ago, Chen Yucheng was only a division commander, and now he is a marshal with 100,000 troops, isn't it because he has won a few battles! There are adults here, where can he be strong? ”

Li Hongzhang welcomed Wu Changqing and Liu Mingchuan into the mansion, and after a few people sat down, he said straight to the point: "Don't hide it from the two, I do intend to join the army, since there are two to help, Shaoquan can't ask for it, I will enter the palace to meet the emperor later, I hope the emperor can allow." ”

Liu Mingchuan closed his mouth happily, as if he had won a battle, and got up and said, "Great!" Don't hide it from adults. Xiao Xuan and I have been discussing the battle situation in the north, and now the main force of the Qing army is besieged in Hebei Province. Most of them were Manchurian and Mongolian cavalry, which was highly mobile. I think that these three armies must advance to Beijing step by step, but recently the General Staff has repeatedly urged the front-line generals to find the main force of the Qing army for a decisive battle. ”

Although Li Hongzhang has been studying the situation of the Northern Expedition in the past few days, after all, he does not have a thorough understanding of Liu Mingchuan and Wu Changqing. I had just returned from abroad, and I had limited knowledge of the war on the front. ”

Liu Mingchuan said cautiously: "The Qing army will deploy the main force in the Cangzhou area, with static braking, whether it is Chen Yucheng, Li Xiucheng, Luo Outline will pass through Cangzhou near to attack Beijing, compared to Cangzhou, Tianjin's coastal defense is much looser, if an army lands from Tianjin Dagu, take Tianjin by surprise and besiege Beijing." Then the Qing army on the front line will inevitably be in turmoil, my lord! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. ”

Li Hongzhang thought carefully and sighed: "This plan is too dangerous, not to mention that the Qing army has a naval division stationed in the Weihaiwei area. Even the Dagu Fort should not be underestimated, and heavy casualties will inevitably be suffered under the strong attack. ”

Wu Changqing said with a smile: "Don't worry, my lord, I and the third province have already sent people to infiltrate the Dagu Fort." According to the news from the spies, most of the artillery there was built during the Kangxi period. Wind and rain, and few people repair and maintain. Half of the cannons have been fired, and the Dagu area has been peaceful for a long time, there has been no war for hundreds of years, the defenders have been defending all year round, and they have long developed the habit of dereliction of duty, as long as they take advantage of the night to land, I promise to take the Dagu Fort without blood. ”

Liu Mingchuan added: "The two of us have been preparing for more than a year, and more than 30 boatmen who are familiar with the sea route have been recruited, all of whom are veterans of the Qing army's shipping, and they are familiar with the sea as on land. ”

Only then did Li Hongzhang open his heart and said with relief: "With the help of the two of you, this time I will definitely make a contribution, and I will enter the palace." ”

Fu Luanxiang smiled at Li Hongzhang, who looked hurried: "The emperor specially instructed that if other ministers let me wait for a while, if it is Li Shaoquan, let him meet him directly, Lord Li, please come with me." ”

Li Hongzhang's face was not shocked, his heart was already overturned, thinking of Liu Mingchuan and Wu Changqing, as if he understood something, could it be that his plans were all in the emperor's expectations?

"Minister Li Hongzhang visited the emperor, may the emperor live long live, long live, long live!"

Li Yunzhong looked at Li Hongzhang carefully, and then said: "Aiqing is exempt, how do you feel about this trip to Europe?" ”

Li Hongzhang replied: "Weichen was terrified, I thought that Europe was a barbarian land at that time, and the people must live a life without food and clothing, but I didn't expect that Europe was so rich and powerful, and the city was like a steel cast, and high-rise buildings, steel and cement could be seen everywhere, especially in the United Kingdom, and the train passed through the whole country unimpeded. ”

Li Yunzhong saw that he was at a loss and asked, "Shaoquan has something on his mind?" ”

Li Hongzhang secretly said that he had not yet reached home for this qi cultivation kung fu, and replied respectfully: "Weichen is panicked, he has just been a sea ship for a few months, and he is still a little nervous. ”

Li Yunzhong didn't break it, and continued to ask: "I promised that as long as you return to China, I will immediately upgrade your grade, I don't know where you want to take a post?" ”

Li Hongzhang's whole body shuddered, his mind was much clearer, and he wondered if the emperor had guessed my plan, and I would test it, if it is true, I will have to be careful as a courtier in the future!

Thinking of this, Li Hongzhang immediately continued: "Weichen is willing to obey the emperor's orders." ”

Li Yunzhong smiled and decided to knock him: "Obey my orders?" Is it difficult for you Li Hongzhang to have no other plans? I remember that you were Zeng Guofan's staff at the beginning! You don't want to go back to your old business! ”

Li Hongzhang was clever, completely convinced, and replied: "Weichen is willing to join the army, please ask the emperor to fulfill it." ”

"Hahaha...... Good! Li Yunzhong said seriously: "The small actions of Liu Mingchuan and Wu Changqing have already been reported by someone like me, and they also visited you today, how about it, do you think this plan is feasible?" ”

Li Hongzhang instantly remembered Lu Jianying's reminder at the beginning, he said: Dahan has a team like the former Ming Jinyi Guard, which not only spies on enemy intelligence, but also monitors the demoted. It seems that this statement is true, otherwise how would the emperor know so clearly.

"Wechen thinks this move is feasible!"

Li Yunzhong took out a stack of documents, handed them to Li Hongzhang, and said: "This is all the information in Tianjin, the generals of the Qing army and above, there are files on them, and I plan to establish the Fourteenth Army, with you in charge, the two division commanders are Liu Mingchuan and Wu Changqing, and the other generals' documents are marked on it, the whole army has more than 20,000 people, and they have been trained in Nanjing Xiaolingwei, and half a month later, the whole Fourteenth Army gathered in Nanjing Xiaguan, and the navy was responsible for transporting it. ”

Li Hongzhang roughly flipped through the establishment table of the 14th Army, and was surprised and happy in his heart, he had heard of all the generals above the battalion level and above, all of them were from Anhui, it seemed that the emperor had already prepared, so he would be able to command easily, hey! What's going on with this Tang Liang? Turning to the last page, Li Hongzhang suddenly found a person named Tang Liang, who was marked with the words deputy commander-in-chief, and felt uncomfortable in his heart, didn't the emperor believe in himself? It's an overseer!

Li Yunzhong looked at Li Hongzhang for a while and frowned for a while, and immediately understood what he was thinking, and added: "This Tang Liang is the leader of my guards, and he is also the chief instructor of the special forces, and there are more than 200 soldiers under his command, all of whom have undergone special training, and the equipment has also been specially manufactured, and they are at the top level of the world. ”

Li Hongzhang still didn't believe it, and thought: No matter how powerful a person is, he can't fly, and if the cannon bombards it, he is not covered in broken bones, it seems that this person is indeed a prison army, and he has a secret mission, Tang Liang not only can't be offended, but also has to find a way to make friends.

I thought again, what if Tang Liang relied on the emperor's relationship and didn't take him as the main general in his eyes!

Li Hongzhang immediately said tentatively: "Thank you for the emperor's care, this Tang General Weichen has also heard of it, and Weichen will definitely help General Tang well!" ”

Li Yunzhong said: "Tang Liang is not a person who does not know how to advance and retreat, you can rest assured, I have already explained that he must not interfere in the war, only responsible for the two hundred special forces, you have to remember that this battle has pressed the national fortune of the Han State, you can only win, not lose!" Otherwise, we will have to wait 50 years before we can go on another northern expedition. ”

Li Hongzhang blurted out: "Is it because of a European power?" ”

Li Yunzhong got up, put his hands behind his back, and said as he walked: "Not bad! Britain and France have declared war on Russia, and this is a godsend, and I have given a death order to the front-line generals not to take down Beijing and come to see me! I hope that the 14th Army will be the last straw that breaks the camel's back, do you understand? ”

Li Hongzhang felt the palm on his shoulder, lowered his head and replied loudly: "Please rest assured, Emperor!" (To be continued......)