Summary: As soon as Taqibu entered the signing room, Zeng Guofan humbly asked for advice on the "Rules for the Day and Night Regular Classes of Tuanyong Training".

The minister of regimental training went out of the city to visit the old man, but he walked opposite to Qi Shan, the governor of Hubei.

Zeng Guofan's heart shook again.

Before the sun was set that day, Zeng Guofan and Luo Zenan walked out of the playground.

Glancing back at the big playground with contempt, Luo Zenan said to Zeng Guofan: "Disheng, I've been watching for a long time, why haven't I seen Jiang Minqiao?" ”

Zeng Guofan said: "Jiang Minqiao's men and horses are also group exercises, and they practice by themselves. It has been many days, Chu Yong was sent outside the city by Zhang Zhongcheng to guard the four gates of Changsha for him. Without Minqiao guarding outside the city, could he still be so vigorous? Luo Shan, you and I are finally worth the trip. I was raising the standard and found a tazib. I have carefully observed him, this person has a face with auspicious clouds, and his eyebrows are auspicious, and he will definitely be a person who can make achievements in the future! If I'm not mistaken, he will be my lucky star of Xiangyong! ”

Luo Zenan said: "Disheng, I think that Taqibu is a good material, but he is a man. Will he deign to train us for the regimental camp? ”

Zeng Guofan smiled and said, "I didn't know that this Taqibu was a man!" However, I just took a closer look at the tower guard. Don't look at him being respectful to Bao Qibao on his face, but in his bones, he is not convinced. The big hero falls into the hands of the big bear, and sooner or later he will become a bear! Let's go, accompany me to see Zhang Zhongcheng. Let's secondment this tazib first! ”

Luo Zenan asked worriedly: "Disheng, is Taqibu the Chinese army garrison?" Can Bao Qi leopard be released? Besides, will your method work? Don't look away! ”

Zeng Guofan said: "If it doesn't work, you have to try!" - Let's go, let's go to the governor's yamen and let Zhang Zhongcheng find a way. ”

When he arrived at the governor's yamen and saw Zhang Liangji, Zeng Guofan told him about the secondment of the Chinese army garrison Taqibu, and Zhang Liangji shook his head again and again.

Zhang Liangji said: "Disheng, I will agree to pick whoever you pick the standard, I can't be the master of this standard!" Although the admiral is also under the control of the governor, but in real terms, the governor of Huguang is his constitution! Bao Qibao only obeyed the orders of the headquarters on the surface, but in fact, he never took us Han people in his eyes! ——The last time Changmao besieged Changsha, Chu Yong and Fubiao were not Jiang Minqiao's Chu Yong and Fubiao Zhong army battles, and all ten Changsha were broken! Disheng, you better dismiss the idea of borrowing someone from the standard camp. This was done before, and it may have been successful, but now it is definitely not possible! ——From the transfer of Da Qishan to the post of governor of Hubei, Bao Qibao's tail went to the sky. ”

Zeng Guofan thought for a while, and suddenly asked: "Zhang Zhongcheng, you want to borrow a lesson from the standard camp, there is no problem with this, right?" ”

Zhang Liangji said: "In this way, it is estimated that Bao Qibao can't refute it-Disheng, what's so good about this Manchurian garrison?" How do you have to get your hands on him? When you find out it's a hedgehog, you can't help but regret it! ——At that time, there was this Manchurian person to be the internal response of Bao Qibao and Qi Shan, and it was difficult for you to do everything! ”

Zeng Guofan said with a smile: "Hedgehog is not a hedgehog, you still seconded the tower garrison first, and then seconded him to the regimental battalion as a teacher - by the way, I want to ask Lord Zhongcheng personally, is there a battalion named Bao Chao in the Fubiao battalion?" ”

Zhang Liangji thought for a while and said, "There are thousands of battalions in the Fubiao camp, how can I remember to come over?" - After an hour, I will go to the barracks to check - this Bao Chao you are talking about is not your relative? How did you not bring it up sooner? ”

Zeng Guofan shook his head, and then said goodbye to Luo Zenan.

Out of the gate, Luo Zenan asked Zeng Guofan in a low voice: "Disheng, why didn't I see Ji Gao?" ”

Zeng Guofan said: "Ji Gao is busy collecting salaries and adjusting grain in various counties, and he is very busy!" ——Without Ji Gao busy outside, how can Zhang Zhongcheng be as stable as Mount Tai! - Ahem! I don't know how Yunxian and Meng Rong's donation went! ”

Luo Zenan said: "With Guo Yunxian's talent and Liu Mengrong's lobbying skills, these two people are not under Su Qin and Zhang Yi. You can rest assured. Dead his Zhang butcher, we still don't eat hairy pigs! ”

The two of them walked into the door of the Issuance Examination Bureau while talking.

As soon as he entered the detention room of the Issuance and Examination Bureau, Wang Ju was walking around the room, waiting anxiously.

As soon as he saw Zeng Guofan and Luo Zenan walking in, Wang Zhu hurriedly stopped and saluted, and said, "The tailor's shop sent two coats. One is a brave official uniform, and the other is a brave uniform. How did the two adults go for a long time? ”

As Wang Zhu spoke, he opened a black bag on the kang with both hands; Zeng Guofan's eyes immediately appeared two sets of cyan costumes.

Zeng Guofan saw that the style of the brave officer was the same as the battalion official uniform of the green battalion, except that the battalion official uniform of the green battalion was embroidered with the word "battalion" and the word "will" after embroidering, while the brave officer uniform of the regimental training was embroidered with the word "xiang" in front and the word "will" after embroidering; The Yongding uniform is also the same as the general style of the battalion uniform of the green battalion, except that the battalion uniform of the green battalion is embroidered with "battalion" and "soldier" in the front, and the Yongding uniform of the regiment is embroidered with "Xiang" in front and "Yong" in the back.

Zeng Guofan took a closer look at the workmanship and saw that it was quite fine, so he said: "Wang Zhu, is Chu Yong's clothing the same?" ”

Wang Ju said: "My lord, please rest assured, I also went to borrow a set of Chu Yong clothes outside the city and gave them to the tailor shop for comparison." ”

Zeng Guofan touched the fabric with his hand and said, "I heard Chenghou say, this set is down, and it took a tael of silver?" Look at this fabric, it's a little expensive! A cloth like this, in Beijing, doesn't need a tael of silver. ”

Luo Zenan said: "Okay, Wang Zhu, let the tailor shop go out like this!" ”

Wang Ju agreed, wrapped his clothes and walked out.

Luo Zenan sat down and said to Zeng Guofan: "Disheng, you are now the minister of regimental training on an equal footing with the governor!" Wouldn't it be a shame to spread the word about what you just did? ”

Zeng Guofan said to himself: "Luo Shan, the silver we used to run the group training was all squeezed by the people of Hunan from between their teeth!" We can't mess with the people's money. - We only have 2,000 people now, and we have started to spend a lot of money, and when it grows to 10,000, how can we get it! Luo Shan, although we can't be heroes in life, we can't let people poke the backbone! ”

Luo Zenan sighed to himself and said, "The more you talk about it, the more outrageous it becomes—in the future, I'll still take care of my five hundred people!" Other things, do not mix. ”

Three days later, Zeng Guohuang and Li Xubin returned from Xiangxiang County with five or seven companions.

As a result, in addition to 150,000 taels and 2,000 taels in the big account of the Issuance Examination Bureau, another 10,000 taels were added. 150,000 taels is a sum of silver borrowed by the Hunan governor Yamen first said that he would support it, and then Cheng Cheng, and this silver Zeng Guofan entrusted Zhang Liangji to buy guns and cannons from the hands of the Yiren. Although the Issuance Examination Bureau has not yet purchased a gun or a cannon, the money has indeed been transferred from the governor's yamen and fallen into the account of the Issuance Examination Bureau; Two thousand taels is a sum of money taken out by Qian Zhuang when Zhou Sheng returned to Xiangxiang from Beijing, and it is Cheng Yi presented to Zeng Guofan by Baoxing, the governor of Sichuan, on behalf of the sergeant of Shu, when Zeng Guofan tried Sichuan.

On this day, Taqibu, the garrison of the Chinese army, came to report to Zeng Guofan.

Zeng Guofan was in the signing room at this time, and he buried himself in writing "The Rules of the Day and Night Classes of the Tuan Yong Training".

Wang Jingqi quietly approached, put a notebook on the desk and said, "My lord, there is a guest." It's a green camp garrison. ”

Zeng Guofan put down his pen, took the notebook and looked at it, and saw that it was written: Xiangnan raised the standard of the Chinese army to garrison Taqibu in the fifth grade, so he hurriedly said please, and then stood up and wanted to go out, and Taqib, who was dressed in military uniform, had already stepped into the door.

Zeng Guofan was just about to speak, but Taqib had already taken the lead and knelt on the ground on one leg, and said while giving a big salute: "Bow to your lordship!" Appointed by the governor of the yamen, I came to greet my lord! ”

Zeng Guofan picked up the tower with both hands and said: "The tower guard is up quickly, Disheng has been looking forward to it for many days." Come on, put a seat for the tower guard, and watch the tea! ”

Wang Jingqi hurriedly walked in and put a stool, walked out again, and came in with tea after a while.

Tazib said thank you and sat down generously.

Zeng Guofan smiled and said, "Master Tower—"

Taqibu didn't wait for Zeng Guofan to continue, then stopped the conversation and said: "Lord Zeng, don't raise your humble position like this anymore, the humble position is just a five-rank garrison who has not won Hualing. How dare you call the master. My lord, when you are old, you will call me Zhiting, even if you are promoted to a humble position! ”

Taqib, a man with a yellow flag in Manchuria. Tolga's, the word Zhiting. At the beginning, the firearms battalion was promoted to a third-class guard, and after 30 years of Daoguang, he was transferred to Hunan to raise the standard of the Chinese army as a garrison.

"Zhiting," Zeng Guofan looked at Taqibu and said sincerely: "Whether the group training in Hunan can be practiced or not, it all depends on you!" ”

Tazib hurriedly stood up and said, "Your Excellency, don't say that. Zhiting can serve adults in this life, which is the creation of Zhiting. As long as the adults tell him, Zhiting will do it, and there will be no two words. ”

Zeng Guofan picked up the "Rules of Conduct" that had been written, shook it in front of Taqib and said: "Zhiting, this is the "Rules of Conduct" that I just drafted, I don't know if it will work. You look at it first, and if you need to change it, you can change it. I have been in Beijing for a long time, and I don't know much about the affairs of the military camp. You can't sit idly by and watch this group practice! ”

Taqib took the "Rules" with both hands, just glanced at it and said: "You really deserve to be the world-famous Taishi Gong!" With this good hand, I can't find a second one in Hunan! After speaking, he looked seriously.

The "Code of Conduct" consists of two parts, one part is the "rules of regular classes day and night"; Part of it is the "rules of day and night drills". The "rules of regular classes day and night" are divided into seven articles: start at three o'clock on the first and fifth shifts, send three teams, and stand on the wall once. When the cannon is awakened, the sound of the gong is dispersed; 2. The morning drill is performed once at dawn, and the battalion officer watches the drill of the pro-soldiers, or the assistant watches it on his behalf. The sentry officer looks at the drill of this sentry; 3. At noon, the roll call is held once, and the pro-soldiers are pointed by the battalion officer or the assistant on their behalf. Each post is pointed by the sentinel chief; Fourth, when the sun is oblique, perform a night exercise, the same as the morning exercise at dawn; Fifth, when the lamp, send three teams, stand on the wall once, set off the cannon, and disperse when you hear the sound of gongs; Sixth, the second watch before the roll call, the same as the noon roll call. Standing on the wall twice a night, taking roll call twice, and watching the drill twice. In addition, the battalion officers point to the name of the whole camp and watch the drill of the whole battalion, which is irregular, about four or five times a day; 7. Send a team to stand on the wall every night and sing more. Each person will be replaced in turn. If they are very close to the thief, they will send two teams, two people for each shift, and take turns to replace them. If he gives an order to the arrow but does not sing, it is called a secret order. The sentry commander and his own soldiers were still sent to conduct regular inspections.

"The Rules of Day and Night Drills" is divided into five articles: 1. Before noon on every 369th, the minister of regimental training goes to the teaching field to see the test skills and perform the formation; 2. Before the afternoon of every 147th, the officers of the battalion go down to the teaching field to rehearse the formation, and watch the guns and shotguns shoot targets; 3. Before noon on the 2nd and 8th of each day, the battalion officer led the way to the near outside of the city, running the slope, grabbing the flag, and jumping the pit; Fourth, every 5th and 10th noon, that is, in the camp to practice serial marksmanship; 5. Every afternoon, that is, in the camp, the practice of fists, sticks, knives, spears, palladium, and forks cannot be interrupted for a day.

At the back of the two rules, the following lines were neatly written in small letters: The way to govern the army is to give priority to the word diligence. If you are diligent, you will be strong, and if you are sick, you will be sick; If you are diligent, you will prosper, and if you are lazy, you will decline; The country is diligent and governed, and slack is chaotic; Military diligence wins, and laziness leads to defeat.

Taqib read the "Rules" carefully, then put his hands on the desk, gave a deep salute, and said with admiration: "My lord is worthy of being a world-famous soldier in the army!" This code of conduct is so thoughtfully written, it really opens Zhiting's eyes! It's just—"

Zeng Guofan saw that Taqibu wanted to speak and stopped, and hurriedly said: "Zhiting, you and I are familiar at first sight. If you have anything to say, just say it bluntly - the group training is related to the society of the country, and you can't be sloppy! ”

Taqi said: "My lord, the regulations of the Great Qing Banner Camp are to stand on the wall once every five days, and once every ten days to see a gun and a shotgun to shoot a target. The green battalion even felt that these were too diligent, for fear that the battalion soldiers would not be able to bear it and affect the military strength. Bao Junmen has already given Xu Zhijun a lecture, and plans to change the rules of conduct to a wall every seven days, and watch a gun and a shotgun on the 20th. said that only in this way can the battalion soldiers have enough spirit and strength to fight long hair - the humble job is suitable to see the rules drawn up by the adults, almost every day to stand on the wall, every day to exercise, no rest days. With such diligent training, can the warriors withstand it? It's counterproductive, I'm afraid it's not good. ”

Zeng Guofan motioned for Taqibu to sit down, and then said, "Zhiting, you are an old soldier. When I was a squire in the military department of the Beijing Division, I changed the rules of the flag camp. The three-day drill was changed to a two-day drill, and the emperor issued an edict to the provincial military camps. Later, there were a few army commanders who thought that this exercise would be diligent, and the battalions would not be able to bear it. The emperor then asked the Military Aircraft Department to change the rules to stand on the wall every five days, and watch the guns and shotguns hit targets once every ten days. This discipline has been carried down all along. Actually, the rules are not fixed. Like in peacetime, don't say that you will every five days, even if you will once every two months, what can you do? In the peaceful and prosperous times, the horses were put in Nanshan, and the knives and guns were still in storage, and the campers naturally did not need to be too tired. But now it is an eventful time, and the group training is not a division of the economic system, and it is all made up of some mud-legged villagers. Even if you practice day and night, it is difficult to achieve results in a short time! Long hair has now become a strong force, and the river surface of thousands of miles up and down the Yangtze River is almost completely controlled. If you don't pay attention to training, how can you deal with it once it is urgent? Zhiting, my hard work, you should know! ”

Taqi said: "All the soldiers in the world think like adults, how can Long Hair make such a fuss? Okay, the "Rules" will be done according to the adult's plan - Zhiting still has one more matter, and it still needs to be asked to the adult: At present, the four battalions in the provincial capital are training, and how many teachers have been invited? It won't be just Zhiting, right? ”

Zeng Guofan smiled bitterly and said: "The group training is a concubine, born to my aunt. For now, you're really alone. Yi Disheng speculated that Zhiting should already have a good candidate in his heart, right? ”

Taqi said: "Your Excellency guessed well, the regimental battalion is currently four battalions, and at least two teachers must be equipped to be considered able - if you are lowly and recommend a capable member to your lordship, you will be able to raise the standard of the Chinese army's thousand general Zhu Dianyuan, wisdom and bravery, it is a good material." Secondment to the battalion coach group camp will definitely get twice the result with half the effort. I'm afraid, I'm afraid, Bao Junmen doesn't allow it. ”

Zeng Guofan said: "Disheng will inform Zhang Zhongcheng now, first seconded Zhu Dianyuan to Fubiao Zhongjun, and then come to teach the regimental training." How is it? ”

Taqi said: "If your Excellency does this, he can't help but let Bao Junmen go!" ”

At this time, the whistle for opening the meal suddenly sounded outside the gate.

Zeng Guofan stood up and said to Taqi excitedly: "Zhiting, let's go, let's go to the barracks and dining room in the backyard to eat." After dinner, I asked Luo Shan and Wang Ju to take you to inspect the camp and see if it was suitable for each place. ”

After Zeng Guofan finished speaking, he enthusiastically took Taqib's hand, and the two of them walked out of the signing room.

Xiao Fusi hurriedly flashed out of the side door with more than a dozen personal soldiers and followed behind the two people.

As soon as Tazib entered the large dining room of the barracks, he saw that the two hundred or so large round tables were already full. The chiefs and sentinels were handing out bowls and chopsticks to the warriors, and only the two tables near the east wall were empty.

Zeng Guofan actually went straight to the empty table, and let Taqib sit down first, and then he sat down.

Taqib asked in a low voice, "My lord, aren't the battalion officers alone?" ”

Zeng Guofan said with a smile: "Not only are the battalion officials not only ganging up, but even I, the training minister of the regiment, also eat the same meal as the brave soldiers!" Zhiting, if you feel inconvenient, how about I let you and Zhu Dianyuan join forces after dinner? ”

Taqib was about to speak, when Luo Zenan, Wang Zhu, Li Xubin, and Li Xuyi each walked in with a few personal soldiers.

Zeng Guofan hurriedly introduced Luo, Wang, and the Li brothers to Taqib.

Luo Zenan said with a smile: "Tower garrison, you're afraid that it's the first time you've eaten in the dining room since you were in the army, right?" ”

Zeng Guofan said: "Luo Shan, you will inform Zhou Sheng of the gang room in a while, and let the Tajunmen single gang - the teaching is extraordinary, but the fire of the growth of my regiment training battalion!" ”

Taqib hurriedly said, "Don't do this, my lord! The adults are all eating in the big dining room, so what's the point of being lowly and humble? However, an important minister of the court like an adult is willing to eat the same meal as Yongding, which is not only the first in Hunan, but also the first in the Qing Dynasty! ”

Zeng Guofan said slowly: "Our tour fee is all Hunan people, squeezed out from between their teeth!" ——Eating delicious is a small matter, but cooling people's hearts is a big thing! ”

Before he finished his sentence, Tazib was moved to tears.

He wiped his tears with his hands and said, "My lord has taken such painstaking efforts, it is really a blessing of the Qing Dynasty!" ”

After the meal, Luo Zenan, Wang Ju and the Li brothers went to Taqibu to see the setting up of the camp, while Zeng Guofan took the tweed sedan chair given by Zhang Liangji, took Xiao Fusi and 20 personal soldiers, and decided to go to the Chuyong camp outside the city to visit Jiang Zhongyuan.

Xiao Fusi, this is the first time that Xiao Fusi has traveled with Zeng Guofan as a pro-military camp manager. After listening to the order, he first put the waist knife on his back, and hurriedly picked twenty henchmen. The mood is both nervous and excited, and I can't wait for Zeng Guofan's sedan chair to meet a few long hairs as soon as it comes out of Changsha, and let him show his skills; But he was afraid of meeting Changmao, who was high in martial arts, and he was not only defeated, losing the face of his own barracks, but also injuring the guard Zeng Guofan.

From the moment he was appointed as the head of the pro-barracks, Xiao Fusi has been immersed in excitement; Although the uniform has not yet been issued and the regimental drill has not yet been officially carried out, he has already begun to practice every day with his 50 personal soldiers, morning and evening. He led people to practice, but he couldn't go to the big playground, so he could only be around the gate. In the empty field of the Issuance Examination Bureau, it has been dusty for the past few days.

As soon as Zeng Guofan's sedan chair came out of Changsha City Pass, Zeng Guofan was startled: there was no quiet place outside Changsha City, and there were camps with green camps and flag camps everywhere; On the way to and fro, there are very few shadows of the common people, except for the military attachés on horseback and the clerks in the sedan chair, which are a team of campmen who can exercise.

Zeng Guofan asked Xiao Fu to ask where this camp was and where Chu Yong's camp was located.

The soldiers came back after a while and said: "My lord, this is the camp of the Qi Army Gate of the Hubei Army that is preparing to recover Wuchang. Chu Yong's camp still has to walk more than ten miles. ”

Zeng Guofan sighed in his heart: The Hubei Bid Chinese Army, which is preparing to recover Wuchang, is camping next to Changsha City, I don't know if it is for the convenience of escaping, or it is guarding Changsha for Zhang Liangji; And the Chu Yong battalion, which defended Changsha, was closer to Wuchang than the Hubei camp! I don't know if Chu Yong wants to recover Wuchang, or Qi Shan is recovering Wuchang!

Zeng Guofan sat in the sedan chair, lamenting the emperor's mistake, and at the same time carefully observing the scene of the Chinese army's drill in Hubei with his eyes. The military parade in Hubei was carried out separately. Some are in the battalion, some are in the sentry, and some are simply a dozen people. The content of the exercise is also very simple, all of them are practicing running, running around a large empty field over and over again, running so that Zeng Guofan is dizzy when he sits in the sedan chair.

Zeng Guofan didn't dare to look at it anymore, closed his eyes and urged the sedan chair man to hurry up, and strive to rush to Chu Yong's camp at noon.

At this moment, from a barracks, a neat eight-lift green sedan chair suddenly poured out, and went to Changsha on the official road.

Zeng Guofan hurriedly asked the sedan chair driver to stop by the side of the road, and after the green sedan chair passed, he walked forward.

The sedan chair soon came to Zeng Guofan.

Zeng Guofan opened the sedan curtain and took a closer look, and saw that the sedan curtain of the green sedan chair was suddenly lifted.

Zeng Guofan saw it really clearly, and it was Hubei Governor Qi Shan sitting in the sedan chair.

Qi Shan's sedan chair passed quickly in front of Zeng Guofan's sedan chair. Neither stopped nor slowed down, but went away like an arrow.

According to the official system of the Qing Dynasty, military attachés from the general level and below must greet second-rank civilian officials when they meet them. Although the military attache has a high rank, his status is low; Although the civilian grade is low, the status is respected. Although Zeng Guofan is a Ding Wei official at the moment, he is a second-class servant in the Qing Dynasty after all. When Qi Shan saw Zeng Guofan, he had to greet him with courtesy. Qi Shan didn't treat Zeng Guofan as a second-class squire at all.

Seeing that Zeng Guofan just looked ahead with his eyes and didn't speak, Xiao Fusi said, "My lord, let's go?" ”

Zeng Guofan woke up and said, "Let's go!" "The mood is no longer as comfortable as before.

After walking for another half hour, a neat camp suddenly appeared in front of him. Flags were whirring in the wind, and hundreds of people were practicing their formations in an open field.

Zeng Guofan said secretly: The one who can be so strict and good at manipulation must be Jiang Zhongyuan's Chu Yong.

Xiao Fusi had already shouted to the sentry: "Hurry up and inform your lord, the minister of Hunan regimental training, Lord Zeng, is here!" ”

When the sentry heard this, he turned and walked into the gate.

After a while, Jiang Zhongyuan, who was full of tiredness, hurriedly walked out.

Zeng Guofan had already walked out of the sedan chair at this time, and when he saw Jiang Zhongyuan about to speak, Jiang Zhongyuan grabbed it and said while saluting: "Jiang Zhongyuan, the deputy of the Hunan Military Affairs Department of the Hubei Provincial Military Affairs Department, will see your lord!" ”

Zeng Guofan hugged Jiang Zhongyuan and said, "Jiang Zhentai, you are already a member of the imperial court, how can you treat an official who is worried like this!" You're going to be ashamed! ”

Jiang Zhongyuan stood up and said, "The adults are humble, but Minqiao doesn't dare to disobey him. Adults, please rest in the barracks. ”

When he arrived at the office room of the barracks, Jiang Zhongyuan brought his soldiers to make a pot of tea first, and then sent a message to the gang room, and quickly bought a table of vegetarian seats and brought them in, and he wanted to have a long talk with the old man.

Sitting down again, Jiang Zhongyuan took the lead and said: "Si Li went to the Issuance and Examination Bureau with Futai last day to visit the adults, but because it was a routine matter, he could not discuss with the adults in detail. I was going to visit you alone in a day or two and talk to the adults. Unexpectedly, on the day he returned to the camp, he was sent out of the city by Futai! Minqiao is about to find a time to go into the city to visit the adults, how can it be complicated, Wuchang Changmao frequently increases troops, and the details are dense and dense, and Minqiao does not dare to leave the camp for a moment - adults are not angry with me, right? ”

Zeng Guofan said: "The general is famous, it is a good time to make meritorious contributions, how can he abolish the public with private interests?" The general led the courage to help defend Changsha, so that Hunan survived the danger several times. This situation and this righteousness, heaven and earth can be learned! I came to the barracks to relieve the pain of longing, and secondly, to learn from your brother the experience of running a regimental training. ”

Jiang Zhongyuan said with a smile: "If you dare, you are here to ridicule Minqiao, right?" The adult is my Great Qing Dynasty, the squire of the five parts of the world. The affairs of the Ministry of War are in charge, and no one knows about these! ”

Zeng Guofan said sincerely: "Minqiao, let's talk something at home." How are you at home? As soon as the Beijing teacher is farewell, it will be five or seven years! Disheng really misses it every day! ”

Jiang Zhongyuan was moved by Zeng Guofan's true feelings, he stood up and said, "Minqiao is a useless person. If it weren't for the long hair, I really wanted to settle down and learn calligraphy with adults! The adult was ordered to be in danger this time, which is nothing less than rain and dew on a dry day, which is really a blessing for Hunan! The good fortune of the Qing Dynasty! ——When the adults arrived in Changsha, Minqiao knew that there were many rivers and mountains in the Qing Dynasty! My lord, this is not an exaggeration, is it? ”

Zeng Guofan smiled bitterly and said, "Minqiao, how do you know the hardships here!" I am a person who is worried about my mother, and I should not be in office before the deadline is completed; If I make it public, how will the world see me! How do I face the world! ”

Jiang Zhongyuan hurriedly said: "My lord's words are wrong! If it weren't for the long-haired rebellion that endangered the community, how could the emperor personally issue an order to let the adults go out of the mountain and host the group training in Hunan? Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety cannot be both. Now that the adults have gone out of the mountain, they should let go of their hands and feet and do a great job vigorously! How can you be afraid of what others are saying? Adults are not comparable to small officials and officials, but adults are important ministers that the court relies on! - If the skin does not exist, the hair will be attached? The country will be broken, what can filial piety have? My lord, Min Qiao has always been straightforward, and I hope you will forgive me for being abrupt. What Minqiao Shicai said, half is public heart, half is private feelings. The public heart is to hope that adults will train a strong team, turn the tide, and revitalize the Qing Dynasty; The private relationship is that when adults become famous, Minqiao can also share a little honor, get a point of fame, and leave a good name in the world.

Jiang Zhongyuan's words made Zeng Guofan ponder for a long time and couldn't speak.

At this time, two pro-soldiers walked in carrying a table of vegetarian dishes.

Jiang Zhongyuan hurriedly asked the soldiers to pass the word and invited Xiao Fusi and the others to the dining room for dinner.

Xiao Fusi came in and thanked him, and then walked out with his own soldiers.

Jiang Zhongyuan personally poured a cup of tea for Zeng Guofan here, and poured himself a cup of daughter red, and then picked up the cup and said: "Minqiao, the first cup of wine, I wish you all the courage and success of your cultivation, and sweep away all the ugliness in Hunan!" After speaking, I drank it all.

Jiang Zhongyuan wiped his mouth, poured himself another glass, and said: "This second cup of wine, I wish the adults to become a strong team, sweep away the ugly people in the sea, return the people to stability, and return the Qing Dynasty to complete the rivers and mountains!" ”

After Jiang Zhongyuan finished speaking, he drank the wine again very boldly.

Zeng Guofan held the pot in his hand and wanted to pour a glass of wine for Jiang Zhongyuan in person.

Jiang Zhongyuan didn't follow, snatched the pot with his hand, poured it full, raised the wine glass with both hands and said: "This third cup of wine, I wish you all the best in your life, and recreate the prosperous era of Kangqian for the Qing Dynasty!" ”

Zeng Guofan stood up and picked up the teacup in front of him, but he was silent for a while, and his mind was a mess.

After a long time, Zeng Guofan put down the teacup and said with a long sigh: "Ahem! Disheng was ordered to come to Changsha to practice bravery, but he has not yet seen an eyebrow, and it is already a thousand difficulties! I went to the green camp playground to pick a few teachers, and when Bao Qibao saw Disheng, not only did he not greet him politely, but he didn't even get off the horse. I came to your camp in a sedan chair and met Hubei Admiral Qishan halfway. Qi Shanguan is a military officer, just a reckless man, not only sitting in a green sedan chair, but also putting on a guard of honor in the middle hall! The emperor asked him to recover Wuchang, but he set up his camp outside the city of Changsha! - What made Disheng even more puzzling was that his Qishan big camp would do drills, and he didn't practice carrying guns or firearms, but let the campers run around in the big playground. I really don't know what kind of famous hall this Qi Junmen is playing! ”

Jiang Zhongyuan laughed and said: "When adults say this kind of thing, do you really don't know or pretend to be confused?" Min Qiao doesn't believe it, Qi Shan's approach can hide from the eyes of adults! ”

Zeng Guofan whispered: "Is he letting the campers practice the kung fu of escaping?" This Qing Dynasty is his world! ”

Jiang Zhongyuan said indignantly: "My lord still said! - Without these scum, Hong Xiu can respond to all calls? Su Shun has a famous saying: The rivers and mountains of the Qing Dynasty are ruined by their own people! ”

Zeng Guofan silently took a sip of tea, and suddenly asked: "Minqiao, you have been on the front line for a long time, and you have been fighting with Changmao for a long time. Do you think this surnamed Hong can really take away the Qing Dynasty? ”

Jiang Zhongyuan put down his wine glass solemnly and said categorically: "This Hong Xiuquan, Yang Xiuqing and others are a rabble. If these people really take away the country, my China will be completely finished! The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom does not believe in medicine or medicine, but only believes in a God who comes with casual nonsense. And this God is not the God that Yi people believe, it is him Hong Xiuquan himself. One relies on big lies, and the other relies on fooling the people, and the country established in this way, do the people still want to have a good life? How could foreign nations such as Yingyi, Fayi, and Russians miss the great opportunity to invade! God can only make the people more and more ignorant, and foolishness will inevitably lead to poverty, and if you are poor, do you want to be beaten and deceived if you are poor? My lord, you are always an important minister of the court, and Minqiao is soft-spoken. Minqiao put up a big flag, how many people responded? Adults wave their arms, and there are thousands of responses! The adults were ordered to go out of the mountain, and at the right time, the world's scholars will be able to echo: save the people from fire and water, and turn the tide on the verge of falling. Your Excellency, you can't hesitate any longer! ”

Zeng Guofan put down the teacup, pondered for a long time, and suddenly asked again: "There is still something unknown about Disheng." In your opinion, where should you start if you want to cut off long hair? ”

When Jiang Zhongyuan heard this, he hurriedly put down his wine glass and responded, "My lord, Min Qiao has thought about it carefully. If you want to completely cut off the long hair, in addition to training a strong force by land, you must also have a capable naval army. Long hair can run rampant along the Yangtze River, one by the crowd, the other by the boat. The Yi people are the most snobbish, and whoever gives more money will sell the big iron ships with fast guns and cannons. Longhair is now plundering my gold and silver everywhere, and every time he breaks a city, whether it is the people or the government, the first thing to take is silver, and what is taken away is also wealth and soap. With the silver, they bought guns, cannons, and ships from the Yiren, and they all bought them. When the people saw a large pile of silver, were they not satisfied? They're happy! According to Minqiao's speculation, Jinling will be broken sooner or later. Long hair is bound to Jinling! ”

As soon as this last sentence fell, Zeng Guofan's expression suddenly changed, and he exclaimed: "If Changmao occupies Jinling, does Wuchang still want to recover it?" Half of the Qing Dynasty is about to fall into the hands of the enemy? Hunan is afraid that it will be difficult to maintain the situation! ”

Jiang Zhongyuan said: "What Minqiao wants to say to the adults today is that the adults can't hesitate anymore!" Adults must make up their minds! Revive the former former squire!

After the meal, Zeng Guofan couldn't take a break, and began to discuss with Jiang Zhongyuan about the establishment of a water division.

Jiang Zhongyuan answered all questions, talked eloquently, and explained everything he knew to Zeng Guofan.

Why did Zeng Guofan think so highly of Jiang Zhongyuan?

Jiang Zhongyuan is a native of Xinning, Hunan, with the word Changru, the name Minqiao, and the martial arts background. In the twenty-seventh year of Daoguang (1847 AD), Xinning Lei Zaihao rebelled, and the momentum was quite large, and Hunan was shaken. The officers and armies of all walks of life suffered successive defeats, and the situation was critical. Jiang Zhongyuan then recruited courage in the local area and launched an attack on Lei Zaihao's righteous army. After several battles, Lei Zaihao was captured alive, and the rebels dispersed. On meritorious deeds, awarded to Lishui County, Zhejiang. In the first year of Xianfeng, he led his subordinate Chu Yong to Guangxi to fight against the Taiping army from the minister Saishan'a. Tired of moving to the same governor and prefect, rewarding the three products and wearing the title of inspector. He returned home for treatment due to illness and stayed in Changsha after recovery. Since the Taiping Army, regimental exercises have been held in various places, but the most significant results have been Shijiang Zhongyuan.

Just imagine, how can a scholar Zeng Guofan not look down on him? (End of chapter)