Although Hengzhou was recovered, Xiang Yong breathed a sigh of relief, but Zeng Guofan's brows were still tightly locked. There are only two reasons, one is that he and Rong Lu had an agreement at the beginning, Rong Lu received 50,000 taels of money and grain from Xiangyong, and after breaking Hengzhou, half of the money and grain in the city should be owned by Rong Lu's army. There are more than 500,000 taels of silver money in the city of Changmao Holy Treasury, more materials such as rice, grain, oil, salt, cloth and so on, and Changmao almost gathers the money, grain and department stores in the whole city together, so that there are so many materials, although there is a lot of money and grain, but there are more than 100,000 people in the city waiting to be fed, although these people have rations at home, but the rest of the needs are received from the holy treasury, and the needs of oil, salt, cloth and so on still have to be allocated from the materials.

The second is that Xi Yinglong, the chief soldier of Yongzhou Town, who guarded Chenzhou and Yongzhou, raised 3,000 soldiers and horses to help in the war, this guy is not easy to send, as the so-called invitation to God is easy to send God, Zeng Guofan regretted sending an official document to invite him to come. Zeng Guofan didn't expect that Hengzhou City would surrender so easily, and he was still preparing to fight hard to break the city, and it would be a few more points to be able to defeat with the help of Yongzhou Town, but now Zeng Guofan regretted it.

Looking at the money and grain account book presented by Guo Songtao, Zeng Guofan's triangular eyes narrowed into a slit, his fingers tapped lightly on the table, and he said lightly: "Half of the money and grain will be distributed to Rong Lu, and the rest of the money and grain will be sent away Xi Yinglong, and the pension and military salary will be paid, how much is left?" ”

Guo Songtao said hesitantly: "There is not much left, and there may only be about 10% of the money and grain left." ”

Zeng Guoquan on the side seemed to have been stepped on by someone, got up from the chair, and said loudly: "Brother, with such a point, we don't have much food left, Xi Yinglong didn't kill a single long hair, why should he share it?" and Rong Lu's little white face, yes, he borrowed life-saving money from us. He also contributed a lot in this battle, but our Xiangyong suffered so many casualties, how could he share half of the money and food? I see, it's not bad to give them three achievements at most. ”

Zeng Guofan snorted lightly and said: "If people have no faith, they will not stand, why didn't you object when you agreed to send troops before?" ”

Zeng Guoquan was short-tempered, but he was most afraid of Zeng Guofan's brother, and when he heard Zeng Guofan's question, he immediately sat down with his head bowed and said: "At that time, I didn't expect Hengzhou to be defeated, and I didn't expect that there was so much money and food." Then Zeng Guoquan raised his head unwillingly and said, "Brother, do you want to talk to Rong Lu?" Let him be a little less? ”

Zeng Guofan snorted. Close your eyes and say nothing.

Luo Zenan on the side said: "Zeng Shuai, Lao Jiu is feasible, although we have an agreement before, but although Yu Guan Na Ronglu is young, the furrow in his chest is extremely deep. Just look at him leading the group of Miao soldiers, he is as good as a stream. Able to put down a full person's body. mingled with those Miao soldiers who seemed to be Nanban, not to mention eating and living together, when he retired from Hengshan County, he also personally carried the injured Miao soldiers, which shows his ability to win people's hearts. He was able to hold the hearts of this Miao soldier in such a short period of time, which shows that his ambition is not small. A person who has a big heart and a big world. It shouldn't be entangled in these petty profits, as long as we can pull down our faces and talk to him, he should give in to the matter of money and food. ”

Zeng Guofan slowly opened his eyes at this time, sighed lightly, and said, "A few of you only saw money and food. But have you ever thought about why he Ronglu wanted to help us in the first place? There are more than ten soldiers in Hunan land, why did he just take a fancy to us? ”

Zeng Guoquan Qi said: "He is the assistant minister of Hunan League Training appointed by the imperial court, of course he wants to find our Xiangyong." ”

Zeng Guofan snorted and said, "That's his deputy, and his main position is the chief soldier of Zhenxiao Town!" The co-organizer minister, hum, what he said is a co-organizer, but if he doesn't sound good, he was sent by the imperial court to monitor, and if someone else will only point fingers at you, how can he send money and troops to help you? Lao Jiu, you still have to have a lot of experience, it's too superficial to think. ”

Guo Songtao stroked the long beard under his chin and muttered, "Could it be that this person Rong Lu wants to annex our Xiangyong?" ”

Zeng Guofan nodded slowly and said: "Nothing to be courteous, either a traitor or a thief, our Xiangyong was so poor that only these lives were left, and he just took a fancy to the lives of our Xiang children." In this troubled world, there are soldiers, food and silver in your hands, and you don't panic in your heart. If Rong Lu wants to gain a foothold in Hunan Land, he needs our help. At this time, in retrospect, Rong Lu seems to have made a plan, half of Hengzhou's money and food, such a big hand, if we lower our stature to talk to him, most of them will be taken by him, and he will lead him away in the future. ”

Zeng Guoquan said loudly and angrily: "If we don't give it, does he dare to rob it?" ”

Luo Zenan said: "Lao Jiu, Hengzhou is only down, everything is decided, if it is for the sake of these money and food, the two families will raise swords again, and it will only be cheaper for Xi Yinglong and Long Mao." ”

Zeng Guoquan spread his hands helplessly and said: "This is not good, that is not good, is it just watching half of the money and grain given to Rong Lu?" ”

Zeng Guofan slapped the table and said in a deep voice: "Bochen (Guo Songtao's words), you go to the bottom of Rong Lu first to see what he wants!" If he really had the intention of annexing, I would rather give him half of the money than give him this thought!" ”

……

When Guo Songtao came to Ronglu's camp outside the city, he only saw that Ronglu in the camp was celebrating with a group of Miao soldiers, blowing Lusheng, playing scorn, jumping on the tripod, playing with big knives, wrestling, and the Miao soldiers in the camp were singing and dancing, and even those who were slightly injured and could still move, they all gathered in a circle to watch happily. After the city of Hengzhou, Rong Lu raised the concern that his Miao soldiers and the Han soldiers in the city would collide with different customs, so they camped outside the city, and entered the city from Xiang Yong, with Rong Lu's camp outside the city.

Guo Songtao arrived, but Rong Lu wore the red, green, and green clothes of the Miao soldiers and Li Chong, the general of his personal guard battalion, came to greet him, which made Guo Songtao frown, and secretly slandered himself in his heart.

Guo Songtao didn't say anything, but Rong Lu saw that his expression was wrong, and said with a faint smile: "Mr. Guo don't be surprised, this is what the official promised these soldiers, and when the battle is won, we will make up for the Miao Year in the military camp, this is the custom of the Miao family, since the official leads them, they naturally have to comply with their customs." ”

Only then did Guo Songtao understand that Miao Bing had already brought a wine bowl to Guo Songtao and others to salute the guests, Guo Songtao was overwhelmed by the wine, and looked at the big bowl of wine with a sad face.

Rong Lu smiled and said: "Let's follow the customs, Mr. Guo, when the Japanese official went to work, these stunned young people also put down the sword mountain fire and sea array to test the courage of the official, and now they are just saluting you with a bowl of wine." That's kind of polite. Don't be afraid, when you're drunk, just rest here with this official. ”

Guo Songtao and the accompanying scribe had to pinch their noses and drink, this wine was so vigorous, before they went down, Guo Songtao felt that his head was a little heavy, but he was afraid that he would drink it again and make a mistake, Guo Songtao hurriedly said: "Rong Zongzhen, I came to discuss military affairs on the order of Zeng Shuai, you see this ......"

Rong Lu sighed, and shouted at the Miao soldiers beside him: "Brothers, just have fun first." I'll take care of the military and I'll be there later! ”

All the Miao soldiers laughed loudly in Chinese: "Go to the town and come back quickly, don't wait for the singing and dancing to be cold." "Zong Zhen, is our big bull here? We're going to have a bullfight. ”

Rong Lu laughed loudly and scolded: "You Chengen Shen Town have already gone to buy cattle, come back and turn over a few of you!" ”

Laughing and talking. Rong Lu pulled Guo Songtao to his tent, and Guo Songtao praised as he walked: "Rong Zongzhen can have fun up and down." No wonder soldiers can die. ”

Rong Lu smiled and said, "These Miao soldiers are the most simple. If you don't have the Han people, as long as you treat them well and respect their customs, it is not difficult to bring these soldiers. Guo Songtao coughed dryly, slightly embarrassed.

After entering the tent and sitting down, Li Chongli listened quietly. Rong Lu tasted the tea, listened to Guo Songtao's explanation, the old man praised Rong Lu again, and said that Zeng Shuai thanked Rong Zongzhen for his help. After talking about the mountains and rivers for a long time, Rong Lu still felt a little like he was in the clouds, what did this old boy want to say?

Zuihou Ronglu really couldn't listen to it, put down the teacup and said, "Mr. Guo, what do you want to say?" ”

Guo Songtao said during the Ai Ai period: "I said that half of the money and grain of haode was ......"

Rong Lu sighed and continued: "I heard that Xi Yinglong is here, presumably he is going to share another share, Zeng Shuai doesn't have to worry, Xi Yinglong's side, I Rong Lu will come forward to agree, and Zeng Shuai doesn't have to break the bank." ”

Guo Songtao was slightly happy, and there was a lot left for Zeng Guofan in one sentence, his drunken red face suddenly glowed, and then said: "Thank you Rong Zongzhen Gaoyi, Xiangyong is inscribed with five feelings." It's just that Xiang Yong has suffered a lot of injuries this time, and the silver of the pension alone is a lot of ......"

Rong Lu raised his hand and stopped: "Mr. Guo, we all said it when we joined forces, after the city was broken, half of the family was broken, and the scribe I sent had already shown me the number of accounts, even if Xiangyong only divided half of it, it was still more than enough, did Zeng Shuai want to regret it?" ”

Guo Songtao hurriedly said: "Zeng Shuai has no such intention, it's just, it's just that the subordinate generals have a lot of bias. ”

Rong Lu secretly sneered, Zeng Guofan, the old fox, has the best means to govern the army, how can there be something biased by his subordinates? Most of them are still reluctant to give up half of the money and food. At that moment, Rong Lu said slowly: "Actually, if you want the official to take less, the official can ask for less than 20%, but the official heard that Zeng Shuai's eldest daughter is in the boudoir, and wants to ask Mr. Guo to match this family business, and the 20% of the money and grain will be even if it is a bride price." ”

Guo Songtao sighed slightly, and said hesitantly: "Zeng Shuai's eldest daughter is still young, she is only twelve years old this year, and she has not yet reached the end of her life, so she is afraid of ......."

Rong Lu smiled slightly and said: "Twelve is not small, the official can wait for two years, as long as the two families settle this family matter first, the official must first ask the court for the grace of the marriage to be completed, Mr. Guo can bring this to Zeng Shuai, if Zeng Shuai allows it, the official will prepare a gift to discuss the details later." Mr. Guo can rest assured that the official can not need the two percent of the money and food, and he can also help Zeng Shuai deal with Xi Yinglong. ”

After Guo Songtao left, Li Chong, who was on the side, said: "The town is clever, this Zeng Guofan is really reluctant to give up the fifty percent of the money and grain. ”

Rong Lu smiled slightly and said: "This is natural, people who have been poor naturally know what it is like to be poor, and it's okay to share some of them, but I want Zeng Guofan's daughter, if this family affair is decided, we and Xiangyong will be inseparable." By the way, how did you talk to Xi Yinglong? ”

Li Zhong bowed and said: "It's almost over, in the future, we can go from Chenzhou to Shaoguan to Guangzhou, all the way unimpeded, and Xi Yinglong will divide the profits into three." ”

Rong Lu said lightly: "Thirty percent is okay, and how is the gold collected by the merchants on both sides divided?" ”

Li Zhong replied: "Except for the money and grain delivered to the official, the remaining two families are divided equally. ”

Rong Lu nodded and said: "It's fair, you go down to Guangzhou with the first batch of goods later, and meet Wu Chongyao of Jardine as soon as possible, we have to hold this trade route to Guangzhou." Zeng Guofan is still a self-proclaimed literati, and he disdains to engage in these businesses, so he doesn't do it. Lee bowed heavily.

……

After getting Guo Songtao's reward on the other side, Zeng Guofan let out a sigh and said, "It seems that this kid Ronglu really has something to think about." ”

Zeng Guoquan frowned and said, "Brother, it's not a bad thing that he wants to marry us." ”

Zeng Guofan's triangular eyes narrowed and laughed: "It's really not a bad thing, he wants to borrow my power, why don't I want to borrow his power?" This family affair can be decided, Lao Jiu, our Zeng family should also have a happy event. (To be continued......)