Above the court in the capital, the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty received the news of a riot in the British and French concessions in Shanghai, and then received the news that the city of Shanghai was occupied by rebels. Not to mention that the Manchu Dynasty was stunned, even the ministers of Britain, France and various countries who were making a fuss were confused. For several days, the city of Shanghai, including the British and French concessions, was completely lost, and no one could say what had happened. After all, the city of Shanghai involves the vital interests of foreigners, and all matters related to Annam, Kaohsiung Port, and trying to obtain the right to build roads are completely unimportant.

The foreigners began to wait for news, and the Manchu civil and military forces were also waiting for news. The shift in the focus of the contradiction made Li Hongzhang breathe, and the pressure from foreigners decreased sharply. However, the astonishing changes in Shanghai have put Li Hongzhang under a heavy burden. Since Shanghai City belongs to the scope of the Huai Army, it stands to reason that the Huai Army should be responsible for the safety of Shanghai City. In order to avoid the scruples of foreigners, Li Hongzhang did not have any in Shanghai at all. The army was stationed, so the city of Shanghai was suddenly occupied by the rebels, and Li Hongzhang had an unshirkable responsibility.

It stands to reason that Zuo Zongtang, the governor of Liangjiang, should control the soldiers and horses in Jiangsu, and Zuo Zongtang's responsibility for the accident in Shanghai cannot be shirked. However, the Huai Army belongs to Li Hongzhang's private army, and Zuo Zongtang has no way to intervene, so Zuo Zongtang can only be responsible for negligence. It is useless to talk about who is responsible for what now. After receiving Ding Richang's report, Li Hongzhang immediately set out to mobilize the Huai army in the Huaibei area and march to Nanjing, waiting for news on the other hand.

On this day, Zuo Zongtang rushed to the capital, and the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty immediately gathered in the court and made a noise. Zuo Zongtang received a summons from the imperial court, originally to discuss the matter of Annan, but because he was closed to news on the road, he did not know anything about the great changes in Fuzhou and Shanghai. Hearing such a change, Zuo Zongtang was also taken aback. Not only was it a big surprise, but the point was that it was impossible to explain clearly, and Weishenme suddenly had this kind of change.

The situation is unclear, and it is inconvenient for Zuo Zongtang to speak. Some people in the court accused Zuo Zongtang of negligence, and as the governor of Liangjiang, he didn't even notice it in advance and should be held responsible. Unexpectedly, Li Hongzhang stood up to defend Zuo Zongtang. He knew in his heart that accusing Zuo Zongtang of negligence would also not be able to run away from himself. Li Hongzhang was reinvigorated, and the ministers were silent. You must know that the two pillars of the Qing Dynasty are integrated, and the ministers of civil and military affairs, even the Empress Dowager Cixi, have to give face.

"That's it! Don't be noisy, what's the use of talking about responsibilities now. You can tell me that the Mawei Naval Division in Fuzhou mutinied, then there was a riot in the British and French concessions, and then the city of Shanghai was occupied by the rebels, which sounds like a play. Could it be that these rebels fell from the sky and jumped out of the ground? Cixi said coldly behind the bead curtain. The crowd stared at each other and could not answer. Seeing the faces of the ministers, Cixi continued: "Lord Zuo, tell me what you think?" ”

Zuo Zongtang pondered for a while and said: "It is impossible for the Fuzhou Navy Division to launch an attack on the French warships without authorization, and the French lost 5,000 soldiers and horses in Annam, so they must think that the imperial court sent troops." Therefore, I believe that the French battleships were able to attack the Nanyang Naval Division, and the Nanyang Naval Division was forced to return fire, causing damage to the French battleships. So the French retaliated in the concession, and I think there is a connection between the two. ”

To say that ginger is indeed old and spicy, Zuo Zongtang's analysis makes sense. At this time, the minister of the military aircraft foreman Yi said: "The sudden mutiny of the Nanyang Naval Division is understandable, and it is no accident that Shanghai City was occupied by the rebels overnight. According to Ding Richang's report, the British and French concessions were also quickly occupied. You must know that there were troops in the British and French concessions, and it seems that the number of rebels was at least tens of thousands, how can this be explained? ”

Zuo Zongtang continued: "The sailors of the Fuzhou Navy Division mutinied, and the rebels captured Shanghai City, it is possible that they are in a group. It is certain that the sudden appearance of a large number of rebels in Shanghai must have come from the sea, and if it is inland, it is impossible to hide the soldiers and horses. This shows that the rebels are completely organized and acting in unison. It is possible that the rebels were preparing to rebel exactly in line with the actions of the French, it is possible that the rebels were waiting for an opportunity, and it happened that the French provided the opportunity. However, we do not know the true situation of the rebels now, so it is difficult to jump to conclusions. ”

Li Hongzhang agreed: "What Lord Zuo said is reasonable, I think that first notifying the surrounding provinces of Shanghai City to strengthen their vigilance did not buy time for us to mobilize troops and horses, and after the situation is thoroughly investigated, we will carry out the strangulation of Jihua." At this moment, the outside of the main hall shouted: "Nanjing quickly report the emergency military situation!" He shouted three times in a row, and the military intelligence recital was presented.

Li Hongzhang immediately broke out in a cold sweat after reading it, he handed the chapter to Yi and then said to Cixi: "Queen Mother, yesterday the rebels held a trial meeting in the British and French concessions, and hanged 285 French sailors. The rebels wore strange uniforms, each with a foreign gun. This rebel army had a thousand-man team, as well as an artillery team. It is estimated that there are tens of thousands of rebels and horses, and at present, the British and French concessions are completely controlled and recovered by the rebels, and their leader is called the mistress, who is obviously a woman. ”

The hall was surprisingly quiet, and the Minister of Civil and Military Affairs was stunned by the news. The Empress Dowager Cixi was shocked when she heard this, and said: "The leader is actually a woman, and it is a foreign gun team of tens of thousands of people, as well as Western cannons, tell me what is going on?" A foreign spear team of tens of thousands popped up all of a sudden, tell me who has so much energy, who has so much silver? At this time, the Empress Dowager Cixi forgot that she was a woman, but the question raised by the Empress Dowager Cixi was to the point.

Yes, tens of thousands of rebels armed with foreign guns suddenly appeared, and how much power and how much silver is needed. What the Taiping army wants to do and the remnants of the army can't do, the ministers doubt its authenticity, but the cruel reality makes them unbelievable. There was a lot of talk in the lobby. The Minister of the Military Aircraft Foreman Yi's face was a little pale, and he handed the chapter to Zuo Zongtang and said: "Ding Richang reported that the rebels cut off their braids and shaved their heads, which is obviously a rebellion against the imperial court. The rebels are not against foreigners, but against them! ”

Zuo Zongtang was also taken aback after reading the recital and said: "Queen Mother, ministers. This rebel army was by no means a day's work, and if this is true, I judge that the city of Fuzhou has changed hands. The question raised by the Empress Dowager was to the point, who had so much energy to pull up an army equipped with foreign guns and artillery. You must know that to equip foreign guns and cannons, not only has silver, but also has to go through a long period of training. The fact that there are no clues in so many troops shows that the rebel leader is by no means an ordinary figure. ”

"What Master Zuo said makes sense, the rebels occupied the LinkedIn French Concession overnight, and the British and French troops in the concession were well-trained, and they were captured in such a short period of time, which shows how strong the rebels' combat effectiveness is. Obviously, the rebels could not do it without a few years of training, which means that the leader of the rebels was in the city of Shanghai. The female leader is the main mother, and the lord is still behind the scenes, and its purpose is to confuse us, and perhaps the bigger scheme is still to come. Li Hongzhang's thinking became clear.

Zuo Zongtang continued: "Acting secretly in Shanghai City, I think of a person, only this person can do it. "Who is this person?" Cixi's voice trembled slightly. "This person's name is Deng Zixuan, and at the beginning of last year, Hu Xueyan hosted the railway construction project from Nanjing to Xuzhou, and this person assisted. At the beginning of his career, he was proficient in foreign languages and knew a lot about Western countries. Cixi was surprised and asked, "Lord Zuo, do you know this person?" ”

Zuo Zongtang continued: "The ministers here must have heard of Tongren Academy, and this person runs a publication called Nature Story. Li Hongzhang interrupted: "I have read the story of nature, it is very novel and unique, especially the above article about the promotion of the Westernization movement is very meaningful. Sheng Huaixuan's cousin is also called Deng Zixuan, and I have heard that he is proficient in foreign languages and works as a translator for Sheng Huaixuan in dealing with foreigners. Lord Zuo, is this the same person? ”

Zuo Zongtang affirmed: "Undoubtedly, it must be a person. The Tale of Nature aroused my curiosity, and through Hu Xueyan I met Deng Zixuan, a talented and quick thinker. At that time, I thought that he was a rare young talent, and I asked this person to join me to work beside me, but this person refused. According to Hu Xueyan, this person is a business wizard, and his wealth is not under Hu Xueyan. The point is that this person never shows his wealth, and no one knows the real situation of this person. If this person is really rebellious, it is simply terrible. ”

Minister Yi of the Military Aircraft asked: "Lord Zuo, do you suspect that this rich man named Deng Zixuan can prove that he has a rebellious heart?" Zuo Zongtang continued: "When I talked to him, this person said boldly that he did not dare to forget the country's worries, and the rise and fall of the country was the responsibility of the husband. A businessman with a lot of money can have such an ideological realm, and he can't find a second person in the Great Qing Kingdom. In particular, this person is proficient in foreign languages and has close contacts with foreigners, so he can buy foreign guns and cannons in secret. If it is confirmed that this person is a rebel, the Qing Kingdom is in danger! Because this person is fully prepared, thoughtful and then acting! ”

Li Hongzhang said: "Deng Zixuan is Sheng Huaixuan's cousin, and he has a close relationship with Hu Xueyan. It seems that Master Zuo and I are in the dark. Master Fang Cai Zuo said that this businessman with a lot of money is not interested in Guangzong Yaozu but has been obscure. It can be said that Deng Zixuan's financial resources are fully qualified to form a private army. Li Hongzhang's words were shocking.

Cixi said: "Sheng Huaixuan is Lord Li's right-hand man, and Hu Xueyan is Lord Zuo's God of Wealth, tell me where these two are now?" What is the background of this Deng Zixuan? How much do you know? Li Hongzhang and Zuo Zongtang were speechless, indeed. A minister said: "Just recruit Hu Xueyan and Sheng Huaixuan?" Zuo Zongtang and Li Hongzhang glanced at each other, knowing that Hu Xueyan and Sheng Huaixuan were currently in Shanghai, and it was nothing for these two to become prisoners, and it would be quite terrible if they joined the rebels. Now Sheng Huaixuan and Hu Xueyan have long colluded with Deng Zixuan? Li Hongzhang is like a fish in his throat.

Zuo Zongtang said: "Queen Mother, the top priority now is to take advantage of the unstable foothold of the rebels to strangle with all their might, I suggest that the Shaanxi and Gansu troops be recruited?" Li Hongzhang echoed: "Queen Mother, I have ordered the main force of the Huai Army to assemble in Nanjing. It is also a good thing that the rebels kill foreigners, and we can take the opportunity to unite with foreigners to eliminate the rebels. The ministers agreed, and it was generally agreed that the army should be immediately requisitioned to kill the rebels, and that the rebels would be nip in the bud while they were not firmly established

Cixi said: "The foreman of the military aircraft minister! "Your Majesty is here!" "The Military Aircraft Department immediately plans to encircle and suppress the rebels!" "The courtiers obey!" "Lord Zuo!" "Your Majesty is here, and he coordinates the soldiers and horses of Shaanxi and Gansu as the governor of Liangjiang." "The courtiers obey!" "Li Hongzhang!" "You will command the Huai Army and the Beiyang Naval Division, and unite the Western countries to strangle the rebels!" "Your Majesty's Order." On the same day, the Military Aircraft Department held a military meeting under the chairmanship of Yi and planned to encircle and suppress Jihua.

On the same day, the government seized Hu Xueyan's Fukang Qianzhuang in Beijing and his house in the capital, which was very unexpected, the house was empty, and Hu Xueyan's aunt and wife in the capital did not know where to go. The main store of Fukang Qianzhuang is also closed, and the people inside are unknown. The Qing soldiers broke into the door, and no one in the money village had all the silver taels transferred. This incident confirmed Zuo Zongtang's judgment, and there is no doubt that Hu Xueyan joined the rebels.

The next day, Li Hongzhang summoned envoys from various countries at the premier's yamen and briefed them on the details. Hearing that a large number of French sailors had been hanged in the British and French concessions, the French minister roared loudly and immediately expressed his stance to assist the Qing army in strangling the rebels. The British minister immediately expressed his support, and then the United States, the Netherlands, Russia, Germany, etc., also expressed their support for the Qing court to strangle the rebels.

After some deliberation, the ministers of various countries decided that Russia, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States would send warships to join the war group and provide arms assistance to the Qing court. The British and French formed a combined fleet and an Anglo-French alliance to assist the Qing court in stranglehold the rebels. In the blink of an eye, the Western powers, out of their own interests, united and became the most powerful accomplices of the Qing court.