Reality is more cruel than fiction, and although the rhetoric is very inspiring, Xiao Yungui must lead everyone to face the possible situation. The hall of the Xiwang Mansion was full of important ministers of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, and everyone had solemn expressions on their faces, and everyone knew in their hearts what the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom would face next.

After several months of New Deal reforms, the old ministers of the Heavenly Kingdom in Tianjing gradually broadened their horizons, and as they had more contact with the foreigners, the old ministers gradually understood where the gap was, especially the warships handed over by the British shocked them greatly, such as Wei Zhijun, Hong Renji and others were fortunate to see the huge fleet of the British in Shanghai.

Therefore, the important ministers of the Kingdom of Heaven have always had a clear understanding, which is much better than those princes and nobles of the Manchu Qing Dynasty who are still arrogant, at least they know where their shortcomings are and what are the advantages of foreigners.

"Since this is the case, do you want to postpone the battle of Guangzhou?" It was Li Kaifang who broke the silence in the chamber, and he represented the opinion of the military department, and there were indeed too many uncertain factors to forcibly launch the Guangzhou campaign at this moment.

Wei Zhijun immediately said: "What about the Third Division that has already landed?" There is also the second echelon that has almost arrived in the Wanshan Islands, three capital warships and more than 50 red single ships are our largest maritime force, if we retreat, we may be pursued by the British fleet! ”

Lu Xianba said: "We have suffered a lot of losses in abandoning the Guangzhou Campaign, and most of the military funds raised this year have been spent. ”

Hong Renji also said: "Yes, this military fund-raising is thanks to the newly established national bank to raise money and food everywhere. The people were even more relieved to deposit their silver in the bank because they were assured that the military might of the Kingdom of Heaven would be invincible, and if the war could not be fought, or they would show a slight defeat. If someone instigates rumors, they are afraid of a run. Three months ago, although we auctioned off a batch of rare treasures and obtained a large amount of gold and silver as reserves, we are afraid that we will not be able to withstand a large-scale run. ”

Wang Minyun happened to enter Beijing to report on the progress of the construction of the Shanghai-Nanjing Railway, and he also interjected: "The worst plan is to start a war with the British, and now that the Shanghai-Nanjing Railway is half built, if there is a war." Among them, the British shares and British technicians will definitely be withdrawn, and our losses will be great. There is also the port of Shanghai, where the tax revenue brought by merchant ships and cargo ships entering and leaving the port every day is so much. In the event of a war, Shanghai would inevitably be closed by the British fleet, and the losses would be considerable, and the country's revenue would be sharply reduced this year. ”

Li Xiucheng said: "You only think about economic losses, have you ever considered the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers on the front line?!" Most of the soldiers and horses heading south were still on board. If you fight the British fleet. If a troop carrier is sunk, hundreds of soldiers will be killed or wounded. Li Xiucheng served as the general of the Tianjing garrison, so he was not among the generals of the Southern Expedition, but Chen Yucheng led the troops south.

The important ministers were anxious to put all the difficulties they might face, and after the last dispute, they all looked at the king of the west. Seeing that everyone gradually stopped, Zuo Zongtang, who had always been an old monk, suddenly opened his half-squinted eyelids and looked at everyone with a frown. Without waiting for Xiao Yungui to speak, he said loudly: "Are you all done?" Who else didn't say? ”

Everyone looked at each other. No one was answering, and Zuo Zongtang's face gradually became solemn, "All the princes are all people who hold a lot of power, how can they lead their subordinates to resolve the crisis when they are so flustered?" "Zuo Zongtang has served as Zuo Prime Minister for a long time, and under the heavy accumulation, everyone dare not speak.

Zuo Zongtang continued: "Since everyone knows what they will face in a war with Britain, then take your subordinates to think of a solution as soon as possible, instead of only talking about difficulties here!" The losses are big, the losses are big, and everyone knows that there will be big losses if the road starts a war, but if it doesn't go to war, the losses won't be big? If we can't withstand the pressure and dare not go to war with the British today, the losses of those contracts imposed on us by the British will be even greater! When the time comes, not only the British, but also the French, the Americans, and the Russians will pounce on them like mad dogs and bite them! You have been dealing with foreigners for so long, don't you know that foreigners are greedy? ”

Zuo Zongtang paused and then said: "Don't pest everyone here, the military department will immediately convene a meeting of staff officers to re-study the strategy of deducing the strategy, prepare to revise the campaign plan, and at the same time consider how to defend the coastal sea and resist the landing of the British." The Ministry of Commerce immediately studied which country could take the place to participate in the construction of the Shanghai-Nanjing Railway after the British withdrew! The Department of Finance and the Department of Public Opinion should study how to stabilize people's hearts! The Information Department must step up the publicity of this incident, and we must stand on the moral high ground and expose the ugly face of the British......"

Zuo Zongtang explained a lot, and the officials of various departments and departments immediately left and went back to their yamen to busily open.

Xiao Yungui didn't say anything, Zuo Zongtang had already explained very thoroughly, and after everyone left, only Xiwang, Xiwangniang and Zuo Zongtang were left in the hall. Hong Yun'er suddenly said: "Actually, everyone is thinking about the worst, we should think about it from the perspective of the British, what is the benefit of going to war with us now?" In this way, we know what the chances of a war are, and things are not the worst. ”

Xiao Yungui smiled slightly and said: "This king was also thinking about this matter repeatedly, no one expected this conflict, it was purely an accident, the British may have put forward such harsh conditions only for the so-called imperial dignity, they have always been domineering, thinking that we would compromise like the Manchus, so they are so inward-looking, and even the last time they didn't bargain in the hands of the Manchus." Really, if you think about it for a while, we have been working with the British for a long time, and if there is another war with us, they will have to face a situation of hostility against the Manchus and us at the same time. This was incompatible with the interests of the British Far East, who needed the benefits of commerce and trade, and a potential ally to support to counter Russia's eastward expansion, and war was always a continuation of politics and interests, without which the war could not have been fought. ”

Zuo Zongtang also bowed slightly: "Yes, in fact, the old man also thought of this just now, but he saw that everyone was flustered, so he scolded him." King Xi, don't you think that the more successful our new policy is, many times the hands and feet will be tied, everyone feels reluctant to this, reluctant to that, and after having more belongings, they will be jealous. ”

Xiao Yungui smiled faintly and said: "This is inevitable, it doesn't matter if you are used to being poor in the past, but now that you have a family, your mood is naturally different." But they never thought that they could rebuild their belongings if they were gone, and if the national dignity was lost, they would not be able to get it back for many years. ”

Zuo Zongtang twisted his beard and said with a smile: "That's right, in the past, when the Manchu Qing Dynasty entered the customs, the Han people in the world were dozens of times more than the Manchu people, why would they still be defeated?" It's that everyone has their own calculations, only thinking about how to save their lives, and when they reach the bottom, there is nothing. King Xi, in this case, we still maintain diplomatic contacts with the British, although we are also tough, but the British do not want to fight, we do not want to fight, this war should not be fought, it is better to solve it through diplomatic means. ”

Xiao Yungui hummed and said: "Exactly, the condition proposed by this king is also to ask for a price to repay the money on the spot, the British, if you don't be tough with him, you will be passive everywhere in the future, so this matter still has to be discussed, but I bother Zuo Xiang to come forward." ”

Zuo Zongtang clenched his fists and saluted: "I respectfully follow the order of the King of the West, Zuo will definitely live up to his mission in this negotiation, but the Ministry of War still has to prepare the necessary preparations in case the British negotiate with a military threat or something." ”

Xiao Yungui said: "That's right, the Battle of Guangzhou doesn't have to stop, but the navy going south doesn't have to participate in the Battle of Guangzhou, just guard and inspect the British fleet off the coast of the Pearl River Estuary." I remember that the British still had a few warships in Shanghai and Ningbo and other places, so let the coastal batteries in Shanghai, Dinghai, Ningbo and other places prepare for battle, and once the British ships dare to fire at us, they will resolutely fight back! The coastal defense batteries everywhere spend so much money every year to replace the new naval Western artillery, and it is time to pull it out this time. ”

After Zuo Zongtang answered, he quit the errand, and after he left, Hong Yun'er said with some worry: "Ah Gui, you said that if the old classmates in the north know about this matter, will they use the topic to play?" ”

Xiao Yungui pondered for a moment and said: "We sent Lai Wenguang, Chen Decai and others to the north to help the twisting party in the uprising, and Lu Sixuan should soon have no time to clone in Henan." And we can't be sure whether the one in the palace is Qingyun or not, but the only thing that can be determined is that the Cixi in the palace must also be a traverser, and she can send Lu Sixuan to lead the army south in advance to guard against the Twist Party uprising, which shows that she knows the historical process of the Dao. ”

Hong Yun'er couldn't help but say, "Why don't we let the inside of our palace bring her a letter to confirm?" ”

Xiao Yungui gave her a strange look and said, "What if it's confirmed?" ”

Hong Yun'er was speechless for a while, and Xiao Yungui continued: "Her current power is brought to her by the entire Manchurian people, not to mention whether this Cixi is Qingyun or not, even if it is Qingyun, will she let go of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom for the sake of the so-called old classmates in the past?" Even if she is willing, the other Manchus are not willing, she is not alone, she represents a whole class of interests. ”

Hong Yun'er pouted and couldn't help but say: "Qingyun is not only your old classmate, but also your fiancée......"

Before the words fell, Hong Yun'er's red lips had been viciously blocked by Xiao Yungui, Xiao Yungui kissed her frantically for a long time, until the two of them gasped for breath before they separated, Xiao Yungui took a deep breath and said: "I love you, my wife is also you, Qingyun is the marriage arranged for me by the family, I don't like it, I told you before, do you still mind?" ”

Hong Yun'er's face flushed, and she only said: "I think if that Cixi is really Qingyun, she is really pitiful, don't you think?" ”

Xiao Yungui was silent for a moment and said: "It's also a happy thing for her to have Lu Sixuan by her side......" (To be continued......