Reading guide: Changsha recruited courage and recruited a strange person through the ages; The feudal platform sent silver, and there was also a blow to the head.

At the critical moment, Zhang Liangji reversed his word; Where to go, Zeng Guofan was in a dilemma.

Luo Zenan and Liu Rong rushed to the provincial capital on time with the five hundred Jianyong selected from the Xiangxiang regimental camp according to Zeng Guofan's Ziwen, together with Guo Songtao, the secretary of Ding Wei Hanlin Academy. Zeng Guofan let several people read the rules and regulations of the group training he had drafted one by one. There was no objection that it was feasible.

"Luo Shan," Zeng Guofan asked Wang Jingqi to pour a cup of hot tea for Guohuang, Luo Zenan, Liu Rong, and Guo Songtao, and then said: "You are an old regiment training, and we are still the head of the regiment for this big regiment we want to build in the provincial capital—I have entrusted Zhang Zhongcheng to contact other provinces yesterday." Of the 100,000 taels of silver that the feudal treasury lent us first, I want to take out 80,000 taels to buy guns and cannons, and the remaining 20,000 taels will be used for some of the clothes and part for daily needs. The Issuance and Examination Bureau doesn't have a tael of silver, and if it is passed out, it will not become an individual! ”

Luo Zenan waved his hand and said, "Okay, don't be ashamed of me." You better let me be a battalion officer - you are a legitimate minister of regimental training, you don't want me to be a regimental leader, you are obviously pushing me into the fire pit - Disheng, the regimental courage of these two battalions will not have any problems in the future. Grain table, military supplies, copywriting, you are not decided? ”

Zeng Guofan said with a smile: "There are many alternate provinces, prefectures and counties in the governor's yamen, and there are still some large and small officials in each county, so let's pick out a few of these to appoint." ”

Guo Songtao asked with a smile at this time: "My lord, there are three battalions in total." Luo Shan snatched a battalion officer, and the remaining two battalion officers will definitely not fall on my head - what can I do? You can't just eat and do nothing, right? The Issuance Examination Bureau has just been established, I'm afraid I can't afford to support staff, right? ”

Zeng Guofan smiled and said: "Yun Xian, you are a well-known Hanlin Duke in the sea. This time, you will also give full play to your strengths and persuade the regimental camp to donate. Without money, everything is for nothing! ”

Guo Huang said at this time: "Big brother, what about me? ”

"You?" Zeng Guofan was stunned for a moment, thought for a while and said, "It's still the old rule, you follow Luo Shan to practice bravery." ”

Zeng Guohuang's eyes widened suddenly, and he asked, "Big brother, you let me be a battalion officer too?" ”

Zeng Guofan smiled: "How can you be a battalion officer?" - Whatever Luo Shan asks you to do, you will do. ”

Liu Rong hurriedly said: "Disheng, don't do it!" - I've thought of an errand for Chenghou. Whether it is the Issuance Examination Bureau or the regimental battalion, they all have to set up grain stations. I see, let Chenghou manage the grain table. ”

Zeng Guofan shook his head and said: "The grain table of the Issuance and Examination Bureau is the lifeblood of the entire group training, and there can be no mistakes, and non-fine and loyal people cannot be appointed." Cheng Hou is loyal, but not fine enough—"

Luo Zenan said: "Everything in the world is learned and known, and I agree with Meng Rong's recommendation." This grain station of the Issuance and Examination Bureau must be managed by someone like Chenghou! Your own people, rest assured! ”

Zeng Guofan didn't say anything about it anymore, but turned back to Liu Rong and said, "Meng Rong, you are also the same as Yun Xian." If you want to train the climate in group training, you have to use silver everywhere! ——As far as I know, you have traveled to study in the past few years and met many wealthy gentry. You should work more. ”

Luo Zenan said at this time: "Disheng, who are the other two battalion officials?" I think I should entrust Wang Ju to lead a battalion. What do you think? ”

Zeng Guofan said: "Luo Shan is a person who does not recommend people indiscriminately. Okay, let Wang Juguan take a battalion. Another battalion officer, we will temporarily re-approve-tomorrow morning, the Issuance and Examination Bureau will hang a plaque--Later, I will take a few of you to see the barracks, the stove room, and the drill office. Zhang Zhongcheng spent a lot of energy to hold a group practice this time, we have to make some fame! ”

Luo Zenan suddenly said: "Disheng, I forgot a major event - the Issuance and Examination Bureau has to set up a pro-military battalion to inspect bandits!" Your safety can't be guaranteed, so what kind of group training can you do! - The pro-soldier battalion of the governor's yamen is 100 pro-soldiers, so let's pick 100 too. You are a squire, and you can do things alone, even if you have a few more soldiers, others can't say anything. ”

Zeng Guofan said: "You started talking nonsense again. The regimental training is not a division of the economic system, and the Issuance and Examination Bureau is not the yamen of our Qing Dynasty system, what kind of pro-military camp is it! ——Spread the word, it's strange if you don't laugh off your big teeth! ”

Guo Songtao said with a straight face: "My lord, I think what Luo Shan said is very reasonable. This pro-military camp is different from others, it must be established - you always think about it, the Issuance and Examination Bureau is the place where people are arrested, bandits and people are safe, and your safety cannot be guaranteed, so what kind of regimental training are you talking about? - I thought that the minister of regimental training in a province did not have a pro-military camp, so it really made people laugh off their big teeth! ”

Liu Rong said: "Disheng, we will listen to you for everything else, about the establishment of a pro-military camp, you still listen to Luo Shan and Guo Hanlin." ”

Zeng Guohuang said: "Big brother, you are the minister of regimental training, how can you go out without personal soldiers to protect you!" ”

Zeng Guofan said helplessly: "Then pick fifty and let Xiao Fusi take it." Save some money and practice a few brave warriors to be real. ”

After drinking tea for a while and saying a few digressions, Zeng Guofan took Luo Zenan and others to inspect the barracks, and by the way, he went outside the city to pick up five hundred brave soldiers into the city.

After settling Yong Ding, Zeng Guofan asked Luo Zenan and Liu Rong to work with Zeng Guohuang to find an office with a large warehouse for the grain station of the Issuance and Examination Bureau, and ordered Zeng Guohuang to work with the other four committee members to send people to purchase grain, vegetables and vegetables for the 500 regiments for ten days on the one hand, and to set up accounts on the other.

After dinner that day, Zeng Guofan and Guo Songtao discussed together, and at the same time simply drafted a selection criteria under the lamp for future expansion.

Then, Zeng Guofan was busy again, and played three games of Go with Guo Songtao and himself.

Ten days later, the warriors from the counties who were selected to come to the province arrived one after another. Due to the approaching end of the year, none of the counties has selected the required number of people.

The Hunan Provincial Regiment trained the Changsha Regiment to barely make up two battalions, and there was still one battalion missing.

After discussions, Zeng Guofan decided to recruit two more battalions on the spot, making up the number of 2,000.

Luo Zenan and Wang Ju were responsible for the selection of Yongding, and Zeng Guofan and Guo Songtao were supervised; Liu Rong cooperated with Xiao Fusi and Li Chendian to select the pro-military camp. The selection of pro-soldiers is different from ordinary warriors, and they need to know some martial arts.

When the selection of brave men was about to end, a person shaking a goose feather fan suddenly came to Wang Zhu's banner.

At that time, Zeng Guofan and Guo Songtao were drinking tea and talking in a big tent set up temporarily, while Luo Zenan, Wang Ju, and Liu Rong were registering for Yongding outside the tent and were relatively busy.

Zeng Guofan was more picky about the selection of brave soldiers. The brave men selected by Zeng Guofan must be loyal, the second must be thick, and the third must be wooden; Anyone who is treacherous and slippery, and who is alone, whether old or young, will resolutely refrain from taking.

When the goose feather fan arrived, Luo Zenan's 500 brave men had already been selected, and Wang Ju's 500 brave men had also admitted more than 470 people. The goose feather fan came at this time.

This is a man dressed in Taoist robes and about thirty years old. Comb a big thick braid and speak the local vernacular. It was the middle of winter, and he was holding a small goose feather fan in his hand, I don't know if it was for good looks, or if it was really hot.

This person staggered to Wang Ju's face, gave a salute first, and then said: "My surname is Kong Mingliang Bowen, and I am nicknamed Sai Zhuge by people." When I learned that Changsha was recruiting regiments for training, I abandoned the military book and did not read it, so I came to serve in front of the account. ”

Wang Ju was stunned for a moment, glanced back at Luo Zenan, and asked: "Kong Liang, the group training is to kill the enemy, but I see that you are a scholar-"

That Kong Liang didn't wait for Wang Ju to finish speaking, so he hurriedly said: "I am familiar with military books, and there is nothing I know in Hengyang - although the regimental training is to kill the long hair, there must always be a strategizing military advisor to look like it." I wasn't going to come to Changsha originally, but I waited in Hengyang for three days, why didn't you invite me? -- Zhuge Liang was willing to leave the hut only after three invitations, and I only needed one invitation to get in. You weren't invited, so I had to come by myself. ”

Wang Ju said with a smile: "Now it seems that there are already four Zhuge Liang in Hunan: Lao Liang, Xiao Liang, Jin Liang, and you, Sai Zhuge - I don't know what books your brother usually reads?" Don't be "Three Kingdoms" and "Water Margin", right? ”

Kong Liang's eyes widened suddenly, and he said, "You, an adult, are really a cut above me!" - You and I are only getting along at this time, how do you know the books I read on weekdays! I have read "Three Kingdoms" no less than 20 times, and I have already read five sets of rotten sets. As for "Water Margin", you always have to watch it in your hand. ”

Seeing that there were more than 100 people lined up behind him, Wang Ju hurriedly said to Kong Liang: "Kong Liang, you go back to Hengyang first." When Lord Zeng, the minister of group training, arrives, he will definitely take Guan and Zhang's second brothers to Hengyang to invite you. ”

Kong Liang naturally didn't believe it, and asked again and again: "Can you be serious?" There is no joke in the army! How about you set up a paperwork for me? ”

Li Xuyi was already impatient with him, and reached out to push him to the side, but he didn't know that he actually pushed him up. The shoes also fell off, and the goose feather fan flew out quite a long way. I struggled for a long time to get up, finally put on my shoes, and began to look for the goose feather fan everywhere. The situation is very embarrassing.

Liu Rong and Luo Zenan couldn't stop laughing.

Zeng Guofan whispered: "Tell Xu Yi not to treat others so unreasonably - he is a bookworm, push him to do something!" ”

Guo Songtao smiled and said: "My lord, a person with phlegm like him, if you don't push him away, will he go?" ”

Zeng Guohuang quietly walked in at this time and said, "Big brother, the tailor shop is rushing to make Yong clothes overnight, and the goods will be delivered in three days." ”

Guo Songtao was stunned for a moment and asked, "My lord, didn't the silver from the treasury be transferred?" ”

Zeng Guofan shook his head.

Guo Songtao asked: "Where did this money come from?" - As far as I know, the 10,000 silver in Xiangxiang County will take a few days to be transferred! ”

Luo Zenan walked into the big tent at this time.

Guo Songtao hurriedly told Luo Zenan about the customization of Yongfu again.

Zeng Guofan whispered: "This is the two thousand taels of silver that Zhou Sheng brought from Jingshi, and I will use it first-ah, by the way, Luo Shan, I forgot to tell you something." I asked Zhou Sheng to take care of the room first, and then replace it when there is a suitable candidate. ”

Luo Zenan waved his hand and said: "I don't listen, I don't listen, don't tell me about these things in the future." I am a battalion officer under your account, and I only listen to the dispatch, and I don't care about other things. ”

Zeng Guofan smiled and said nothing.

At noon, Zhang Liangji took Xu Youren, the commander of Chu Yong, the commander of Chu Yong, the rank of inspector of the second rank, Jiang Zhongyuan, the former governor of Hunan who served before the battalion, and Zuo Zongtang, the copywriter of the governor Yamen, who had just been secretly protected by Zhang Liangji with the rank of seven-rank magistrate, and came to the Issuance Examination Bureau with great fanfare under the support of a large group of personal soldiers.

The two committee members who had just arrived hurriedly took them out and invited them to sit down in the lobby; While setting people tea, he sent people to the regimental training camp to invite Zeng Guofan.

Zeng Guofan, together with Zeng Guohuang, Luo Zenan, and Wang Ju, hurried back.

When he arrived at the lobby, Zeng Guofan and the officials greeted each other one by one, and introduced Zeng Guohuang, Luo Zenan, and Wang Zhu to everyone.

Xu Youren asked people to hand a few silver tickets to Zeng Guofan. Zeng Guofan counted them and handed them to Zeng Guohuang.

Xu Youren pulled a bitter gourd face and said to Zeng Guofan: "In order to give you the 150,000 silver, the division has offended Bao Junmen!" This was originally money for the Green Battalion to buy arms. Now the munitions have arrived, but the silver is gone! Lord Zeng, Si Li is now worried all day long. I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep well, and my hair fell out one by one. ”

Xu Youren raised his hand and grabbed his pig's tail-thin braid, shook it in front of Zeng Guofan and said, "Look at it, this braid is thin, like a hemp rope!" ”

Zeng Guofan stood up and said with a smile while saluting: "For the Hunan group practice, the lord of the clan is so sad that Disheng is moved. You always sit down, please be worshipped. ”

Xu Youren pulled up Zeng Guofan and said: "Your Lord Zeng's courtesy, Sili will not be blessed. Lord Zeng, is Lord Lingzun's body and bones okay? After a few busy days, Siri wanted to visit his old man. ”

Zeng Guofan took Xu Youren's hand and said, "Everything is fine at home." Xu Fantai, the trouble of long hair not only makes your old braids thinner, but even your hair is white. If you're not mistaken, you're ten years older than Disheng, and you're almost fifty-two this year, right? ”

Xu Youren sighed and said, "There are still a few days, and it will be fifty-three." ”

Xu Youren suddenly lowered his voice: "Lord Zeng, Si Li wants to ask you the old sentence secretly: Long hair is so strong, he uses foreign guns, foreign cannons, and drives Taixi hot wheels. The flag and green battalions and companies have suffered defeats, can the regimental training stand up to the problem? Now that the Hunan Domain Treasury is borrowing money all day long, we can't come nonsense! ”

Xu Youren sat down after speaking, shaking his head and sighing.

Zhang Liangji laughed and said: "Junqing, you can't say anything when you see Lord Zeng, what is it for?" Lord Zeng, you only dragged Xu Fantai alone and left us all aside, but it's not okay. ”

Zeng Guofan sat down and said, "Lord Zhongcheng, you came just in time - now Yongding has recruited two more battalions, and he will be trained tomorrow." I'm about to talk to you, and I need your help! ”

Zhang Liangji was stunned for a moment and said: "Lord Zeng, someone said yesterday that the provincial capital group has recruited another 500 people. I don't believe it. The headquarters remembers very well that the large regiment you are going to set up in the provincial capital is three battalions and 1,500 men. In just one day, there were 500 more people! You should talk to the Ministry about this. Xu Fantai, what the headquarters said is good, right? ”

Xu Youren sighed and said, "It stands to reason that the matter of group training has no part in the division. But—Lord Zeng, Siri, I don't want to say anything. However, you have to give Si Li a quasi-letter, can the 150,000 yuan that was handed over to you just now be returned to Curry in two months? If you really can't return it, this silver, the division has to get it back. ”

As soon as they heard this, Zeng Guofan, Luo Zenan, and Wang Zhu were all stunned.

Zeng Guofan looked at Zhang Liangji with his eyes and said, "Zhang Zhongcheng, what did you tell Xu Fantai all the time?" ”

Zhang Liangji smiled bitterly and said, "Lord Zeng, don't worry. Xu Fantai also has the difficulties of Xu Fantai. You may not know that early this morning, because of the 150,000 silver, Xu Fantai and Bao Junmen fell out! ”

Zhang Liangji turned his head to Xu Youren and said, "Junqing, do you think this is good, this silver, how many days of grace is for Lord Zeng." In this way, give Zeng half a year. The green battalion's arms money, you should move it somewhere else first. The ministry is a middle-aged person. ”

Xu Youren pulled his face and said, "Lord Futai, there is no way to do it." Who here doesn't know that Bao Junmen used to have a knighthood! Now among the marshals in Huguang, except for Qi Junmen, who dares to compare with Bao Junmen? Don't get me wrong, Lord Zeng. Si Li said this, but he didn't mean it against you. Bao Junmen and Sili had a quarrel, and Sili couldn't resist it! ”

Zhang Liangji smiled at Zeng Guofan and said, "Lord Zeng, the matter of silver is decided. Is there anything else you can do? If there is anything else that needs to be handled by the governor's yamen, you just have to say. However, the headquarters has to talk about the ugly things in advance, and the group will be trained and expanded in the future, so you'd better say hello to the headquarters in advance. If the army and the boss ask, the ministry can also hand over the pawn ticket, right? ”

Zeng Guofan turned back to Guohuang and said, "Chenghou, you go to the grain platform now, open a note and give it to the lord of the domain." ”

Zeng Guohuang got up and saluted everyone, and walked out quickly.

Zeng Guofan did not answer Zhang Liangji's words, but changed his words and said: "Lord Zhongcheng, the big group has been built, and Fubiao has to give me a few teachers!" Team training, group training, you have to practice! ”

"Good!" Zhang Liangji immediately agreed: "After you have become an adult, it is better to mention such things more." You don't need silver, you can still sell favors. That's a good thing! After a while, you will send someone to touch the standard, and whoever you want, the headquarters will send whoever you want. How many do you need? Is two enough? ”

Zeng Guofan said: "At least three - will they in the afternoon?" ”

Zhang Liangji said: "Fubiao is a morning exercise, when will it be done in the afternoon?" - You know that! ”

Zeng Guofan said: "Or the old charter from before?" These are extraordinary times, aren't they? ”

Zhang Liangji smiled and said, "Extraordinary times? It's still a three-day! Why, do you want to pick and choose when you can? ”

Zeng Guofan asked rhetorically: "What, can't it?" I'm asking for a lesson, huh? ”

Zeng Guohuang walked in at this time and handed a note to Xu Youren, who was drinking tea with his head down: "Lord Fantai, this is the note issued by the Issuance and Examination Bureau to the Domain, do you always see if it is useful?" ”

Xu Youren gestured to a white-capped committee member beside him. The committee member hurriedly stood up, took the note in his hands with both hands, looked at it, and said, "So be it." ”

Zhang Liangji got up at this time and said, "Okay, the headquarters will go back." ”

Before Zhang Liangji's words fell, Xu Youren and others got up one after another.

Zeng Guofan, together with Luo Zenan, Wang Ju, Zeng Guohuang and others, sent Zhang Liangji to the sedan chair.

Before getting on the sedan chair, Xu Youren sighed and said to Zeng Guofan: "Lord Zeng, you are so good at Mo Xuan, Si Li naturally admires it." But some things are not as simple as you think. Si Li has something to say today, and what he says may not be right. But the division is not about you personally, it is about facts. Don't take it too seriously. ”

Zeng Guofan arched his hand to Xu Youren and said, "What you said is a bit far away. In fact, you also know that Disheng wants to run a large regiment in the provincial capital, mainly because the number of troops defending the city is insufficient. As for whether he can receive actual results, Disheng has no bottom in his heart. We hope that when you are old, you will come here often. If you have any ideas, just say, don't hide them. ”

Xu Youren said while getting on the sedan chair: "Sili is not afraid of anything, just afraid of this big group that you built old, and painting a tiger is not an anti-dog!" ”

Xu Youren finished his words and sat in the sedan chair.

Zhang Liangji saw Xu Youren get on the sedan chair, so he said while getting on the sedan chair: "Lord Zeng, the headquarters listens to your old words, you won't go to Fubiao to pick and teach by yourself Ming'er, right?" ”

Zeng Guofan said: "You are busy with your own business." Wait until I have chosen the person before I speak to you. ”

Seeing that the sedan chairs of Zhang Liangji, Xu Youren and others were getting farther and farther, Luo Zenan and Wang Ju hurriedly said goodbye to Zeng Guofan, and then returned to the camp. Zeng Guohuang paused for a moment and went back to his office.

Zeng Guofan's mind was blank at this time, and he stood outside the gate in a daze for a long time before he walked back to the signing room sullenly.

Xu Youren's words that are not light and serious are reasonable, which is tantamount to a handful of them in the head, and the Zeng State Domain is in chaos.

Guo Songtao and Liu Rong had already taken a sedan chair after breakfast to persuade donations, and Luo Zenan and Wang Xin were busy arranging the queue for Xinyong, selecting the sentry chief, and even the chief.

Zeng Guofan was alone in the signing room, thinking about Xu Fantai's words and the obvious change in Zhang Liangji's attitude, while thinking carefully about the reason.

Obviously, Xu Youren did not approve of the establishment of the regiment in the provincial capital, and Zhang Liangji obviously began to waver about this matter. And these are exactly what Zeng Guofan is most worried about.

Zeng Guofan thought about it and concluded that it might be Hunan Governor Bao Qibao who said something in front of the two. Because Zeng Guofan Ding knew before he was worried that Xu Youren and Bao Qibao were in-laws. Both of them are Shuntian Wanping people, and it is said that they have been friends for several generations; There is also a possibility that Xu Guangjin said something.

Thinking of this, Zeng Guofan became more and more overwhelmed.

The regimental training was not originally a division of the economic system, and it was inseparable from the support of the local government for a moment.

Now that a provincial grain station has openly stood up to make things difficult, can this group training continue? What made Zeng Guofan most embarrassed was that he had already sent an excerpt to the imperial court, and his idea of holding a group training was clear!

Zeng Guofan closed his eyes in pain, and subconsciously said to himself: "There is no turning back when you open the bow, how good is this!" Zeng Disheng can let Guo Yunxian give a pit! ”

At this time, Zhou Sheng walked into the signing room with the famous chef and said, "My lord, this is selected from the room to cook for the adults." The younger one brought him over and met the adults. He called the dog leftover. Can adults see it? ”

Before Zhou Sheng finished speaking, the dog leftover was already lying on the ground and kowtowed, and said, "The little one is saying goodbye to the adults." ”

Zeng Guofan woke up suddenly, and asked Zhou Sheng for a long time: "Why do you still cook for me alone?" Was it your idea? ”

Zhou Sheng said: "I picked thirty people today, and they can all make some coarse food, and a few of them can also stew stewed vegetables." ”

Zeng Guofan said: "Zhou Sheng, you must be fine in the room." It is necessary not only to ensure that the regimental warriors are well fed, but also to save costs. Now, we are going to live the poor life we had in Beijing again. You inform the fourth young master, you can do it elsewhere, and you can't be sloppy. You take the dog leftovers back to the big room, I eat the same meals as Tuan Yong every day, and I don't open the stove. Group training is not a national system, and everything can be thrifty. Go down. ”

Zhou Sheng hurriedly said: "My lord, you can make it difficult for the little one." Luo Xianggong not only let you always open a single stove, but the battalion officials also opened a single stove. In this way, it is not only convenient to eat, but also convenient to discuss things. You say this—"

Zeng Guofan slapped the teacup and said, "It's all nonsense!" Tell them, just say what I said, Shonan group training, there is no single stove, only a big stove! If you can't get used to my big stove, ask him to find another job! ”

This was the first time Zeng Guofan showed dissatisfaction with Luo Zenan.

Zhou Sheng didn't say anything more, and retreated with the dog's leftovers.

After a while, Luo Zenan walked in with Li Xubin and Li Xuyi.

Zeng Guofan raised his eyelids, did not speak, and did not give up his seat.

Monk Luo Zenan was at a loss, so he had to sit down and say, "Disheng, what's wrong with you?" Still angry with Xu Fantai? ”

Zeng Guofan glared, and suddenly asked: "Luo Shan, did you tell Zhou Sheng that not only do I want to open a small stove, but even the camp officials also want to open a small stove?" ”

Luo Zenan was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly said: "Yes, is this wrong?" There are no rules, there is no circle, and there must be a difference between the officials and braves! are all crowded together to eat, what does it look like to bang around? You've been a soldier in the army, you should know this! ”

"Nonsense!" Zeng Guofan slapped the case, but suddenly slowed down his breath again, and said to Li Xubin and Li Xuyi: "You two go down first and wait for a while, and I will talk to Luo Shan alone." ”

When Li Xubin and Li Xuyi heard this, they hurriedly gave a salute and both withdrew.

Zeng Guofan turned away his face and said, "Luo Shan, you have read poetry books for decades in vain!" You're such a fool! ”

Luo Zenan was facing Zeng Guofan's previous sentence, "Nonsense! Inexplicably, Zeng Guofan's next sentence made him unable to sit on the bench anymore.

He stood up suddenly, blushing and said, "Master Zeng, you make your words clear!" I've been reading Ziyue Shiyun for decades, but I don't believe I'm a confused person! If you see me as an eyesore, I can go! ”

Zeng Guofan narrowed his triangular eyes and shouted categorically: "You sit down for me!" No one has dared to speak to me like that! ”

Luo Zenan straightened his neck and said, "I won't sit down!" - Whenever you have a bad day, you will be angry with me! You shouldn't do this to me! ”

Zeng Guofan breathed a sigh of relief and said slowly: "Who made you Luo Shan my friend?" After a pause, he suddenly sighed, and his eyes were obviously red: "Cough!" Luo Shan, our issuance and examination bureau has just hung a plaque, and the big group has just recruited all the brave men, and Wang Fantai has come to make trouble. Zhang Liangji is used to being with mud, you and I are not careful in calculation, how can this group practice continue. Disheng is a squire who is worried about Ding and is Mo Xuan. You and Meng Rong are just two talents in the countryside. Since we are determined to hold a group exercise, we must do our best to do it. I know that the officialdom of the Qing Dynasty is the most disciplined. But now, we have no money or a tael, and no source of guns. You say, what are we going to do about the rules? So far, the Issuance Examination Bureau has not taken a single bandit; Yongding has just been recruited, and he hasn't met once, and he hasn't cut a single person with long hair, but it's about the rules! I decided to come to Changsha to hold a group this time, who did I rely on? It's up to you Luo Shan, Meng Rong, and Yun Xian! - How did you get it in the way you are! ”

Luo Zenan sat down and still argued: "Speaking of this group practice, I am more anxious than you!" I also want to practice one day earlier and plug some people's mouths for you! ”

Zeng Guofan took a sip of tea, moistened his throat, and continued: "I keep your great work in mind. Luo Shan, our group training, it's not that there are no rules. According to the system of the Qing Dynasty, civil officials sit in sedan chairs, and military attaches ride horses. After that, all of you will ride horses. ”

Luo Zenan said: "Disheng, you don't know how to ride a horse, get you a donkey to ride." As he spoke, he laughed first.

Zeng Guofan knew that Luo Zenan was making fun of him, so he was not annoyed, but said: "I am Ding Wei's person, and I am also an assistant to the Hunan group training. Neither a civilian nor a military attaché. Therefore, in the future, you will take a tweed sedan chair. - Luo Shan, you will work practicing courage in the future, and when you have made great achievements, the court will give you rules. Now, listen to me, and all the rules are waived. I beg you. ”

Luo Zenan smiled: "As long as you don't think the dining room is noisy, I have nothing to say." By the way, Disheng, I want Chenghou to take Li Xuyi back to Xiangxiang and get back the 10,000 taels of group training fees that Zhu Sunyi promised - you have to buy a sedan chair and a horse! ”

Zeng Guofan said: "The Issuance and Examination Bureau has been established, and the 10,000 taels of silver will naturally be taken back-as for the sedan chair and horses, I will go to the governor's yamen after dinner, and strive to let Zhang Caichen transfer a few horses from the promotion and raising of the standard." By the way, I'll care if he has to top the idle sedan chair. Tomorrow morning, when Fubiao will exercise, you and I will go to the playground. Zhang Caichen has already agreed to assign a few teachers to the regimental camp. If you want to practice good bravery, you must have good teaching! ”

That night, Zeng Guofan, escorted by more than a dozen personal soldiers, went to the governor's yamen and asked Zhang Liangji to requisition ten war horses for the use of military attachés above the regimental training battalion and sentry commander.

Zhang Liangji smiled and immediately agreed, and the governor yamen was responsible for purchasing 50 war horses, 50 armor, 10 chariots for transporting supplies, 200 earthen guns, and 300 bird guns for the regimental training.

When Zeng Guofan heard this, his eyes widened suddenly, and he asked in disbelief: "Don't you always scold me again, do you?" You'll have to give me a note this time. In the future, I will have more eyes. I can't believe what you say. ”

Zhang Liangji laughed and said: "What kind of evidence to set up, the ministry will do it." Lord Zeng, I know that you are angry with the Ministry, and the Ministry's is also in trouble! You think, Xu Junqing is a provincial domain, and he first has to ensure the food of the green camp. He can't even guarantee the salary of the master of the economic system, does he still want to do it in this domain? Now all provinces are using troops, and the assistance is not paid at all! ”

Zeng Guofan smiled bitterly and said, "I've heard enough of what you said. After you get old, I even have the heart to die! I should not have come to this troubled water. ”

Zhang Liangji smiled and said, "What do you have to say, go tell the emperor." If the ministry can help, it will definitely help; If you can't help, don't blame me. ”

Zeng Guofan nodded, got up and said, "I know all your difficulties. When will the regimental battalion see horses and guns? You've got to give me a letter! ”

Zhang Liangji said while sending Zeng Guofan out: "The headquarters will send someone to do it early in the morning. ”

The two walked out of the door, and Zhang Liangji stopped.

Zeng Guofan suddenly pointed to a sedan chair without a sedan cloth on the east side of the courtyard and said: "I've been here a few times, and it's just placed there, it's quite an eyesore, carry it for me." I have to turn into anything now! ”

Zhang Liangji was stunned at first, and suddenly remembered that Zeng Guofan had been in the provincial capital for nearly a month, and he had not sat in a sedan chair, so he hurriedly said: "Disheng, I was negligent." I'll carry you a sedan chair early tomorrow morning. I don't have to sit in a sedan chair, you are a minister of training, you can't do without a sedan chair! ”

Zeng Guofan thanked him again, and then walked back.

Early the next morning, Zhang Liangji really carried a green sedan chair over.

Zeng Guofan looked around the sedan chair, asked Wang Jingqi to reward the comers, and instructed Xiao Fusi to bring two personal soldiers, remove the green tweed cloth, replace the tweed, and choose four more sedan chair drivers. Xiao Fusi agreed.

Zeng Guofan and Luo Zenan hurried to the Fubiao playground to select lessons for the regimental camp, and at the same time wanted to see the green camp exercises.

On this day, it was just in time for the joint exercise of Fubiao and Biao supervision. Big flags were planted all around the big playground, and they were cheering in the wind.

Hunan Admiral Bao Qi Leopard, riding a high-headed horse, with a flower feather next to the red roof, obliquely wearing a short spear and a waist knife, and patrolling back and forth in the venue with great force. Behind Bao Qibao, he was followed by more than 20 senior military attachés such as the chief soldier Qingde and the deputy general Deng Shaoliang.

Zeng Guofan walked to Bao Qibao's horse with Luo Zenan according to etiquette and greeted him.

According to the Qing Dynasty official system, no matter how big the military attache is, when he sees a civil official of the third rank or above, he must dismount and greet him, and the civil official only needs to return the courtesy.

Although Zeng Guofan is a non-grade minister of regimental training, because he is a Ding Wei servant, he sees Bao Qibao from the first grade, so it stands to reason that there is no need to preemptively greet him.

But in order to get Bao Qibao to support the regimental battalion, Zeng Guofan was willing to treat Bao Qibao with the etiquette of a subordinate meeting the upper class, which not only made the eyes of all the military attaches of the green battalion present widen, but even Luo Zenan beside him was surprised.

Luo Zenan pulled Zeng Guofan's sleeve with his hand and whispered: "Disheng, don't lower your value!" None of these martial artists are reasonable! ”

Zeng Guofan ignored it, Shi Li asked Anbi, and then flashed aside, waiting for Bao Qibao to dismount and return the salute.

Bao Qibao arched his hand on the horse and said: "Master Zeng, forgive me, Benti is doing exercises, so he won't get off the horse and return the salute." I wonder what kind of business Lord Zeng is here? ”

Zeng Guofan never expected Bao Qibao to be so unreasonable, his face turned red, so he had to say: "Disheng is here, I want to pick a few teachers from Fubiao to the regimental camp. ”

Bao Qibao said: "If you don't go into battle to kill the enemy in group training, what do you do with teaching?" Have you ever informed Lord Zhongcheng? ”

Zeng Guofan said: "Zhang Zhongcheng has already met Xu Disheng, and he is allowed to select a few teachers and training regiments from Fubiao for camping. ”

Bao Qibao thought about it, and suddenly raised the horsewhip in his hand, and dozens of military attachés walked in front of Zeng Guofan and Luo Zenan.

Zeng Guofan was stunned for a long time, so he had to slowly follow the military attaché's horse, as if he was pacing slowly and carelessly, but he was actually carefully observing the low-level military attachés who led the exercise.

The so-called low-level military attache refers to the assistant leader of the Sipin Ya and the hundred chiefs who have not entered the stream. These military attachés had no horses to ride, and they all stood at the front of the ranks, carrying the same swords and guns as the battalion men, but with an extra crown on their heads.

Zeng Guofan saw that the battalion soldiers who raised and raised the two standards on this day were practicing firearms. There were muskets, artillery, and thunderbolts designed to blow up the walls.

Zeng Guofan watched it for a long time, and saw that the campers of the two standards were not serious about their practice. For example, the target side has raised the red flag for a long time, and the test firing side has not yet loaded the gun chamber; After loading the ammunition, it was delayed and could not be released. So he quickly reported that the ammunition was damp and could not be fired, so he had to replace it with a new one.

Zeng Guofan sighed to himself while watching: These firearms that he bought with a lot of money have been ruined by these losers! It is strange that such officers and soldiers are undefeated when they encounter long hair.

Luo Zenan whispered to Zeng Guofan: "Disheng, let such a military attache go to the training regiment to practice, how can you train a strong team?" - In my opinion, let's think of some other way, don't waste our feet here. They're useless! ”

Although Zeng Guofan felt the same way as Luo Zenan's words, he said: "Military attachés are like Bao Junmen, isn't this Qing Dynasty over?" - Among these thousands of people, how can there not be a few who are willing to do it seriously? ”

Luo Zenan closed his mouth, but there was a sneering light in his eyes.

Zeng Guofan's eyes were fixed on a small group at this time. There were about 100 people in this small group, and the leader of the team was a garrison. Zeng Guofan found that although the number of the small group was small, the morale was high, and when the firearms were drilled, not only did not there be a single stinky grenade, but the time was also very fast.

Zeng Guofan looked at the guard, who was in his thirties, with a full beard, quite tall, and a loud shouting voice, seeing that it was an old soldier.

During the break, Zeng Guofan took advantage of the inattention of Bao Qibao and the others, quietly came to the guard, and asked in a low voice: "Is the master raising the standard or raising the standard?" ”

When the garrison saw that it was Zeng Guofan who was asking, he hurriedly said: "My lord, don't raise the lowly position, the lowly position does not dare to be the chief master." Humble duty is to raise the standard. ”

Zeng Guofan smiled and said, "Chief Master Taifu? ”

The garrison said: "The lowly Taqib, who is raising the standard and serving as a garrison - don't you want to let the lowly position go to teach the group to practice?" ”

Zeng Guofan saw Bao Qibao walking over here with a group of adults with a smile, and said, "That's exactly what I mean." I don't know if I want to? ”

Taqibu looked at Bao Qibao who was coming, nodded slightly, and then left Zeng Guofan, and took a few steps forward to greet Bao Qibao, Qingde and others.

Zeng Guofan took this opportunity to pull La Luo Zenan. The two of them let go of their steps and walked out of the field. (End of chapter)