Introduction: Jiangxi erosion, endangering Hunan. If you hold your hands, your lips will be cold and your teeth will be cold.

No one would have thought that during this special period, Luo Bingzhang did not take the safety of thousands of Chu Yong to heart, and the first thing he considered was the defense of Changsha.

Luo Bingzhang has words, and Xu Youren sings with the gang: The troops are too single, and it is still very difficult to take care of themselves, how can they lend a hand?

Zeng Guofan looked at the overall situation and debated with Luo Bingzhang and Xu Youren, but he fell into a trap that had been dug a long time ago......

Zeng Guofan said loudly: "Luo Futai, your old man's lofty remarks, this minister is very puzzled when he listens to it!" This minister just wants to ask you the old sentence: The holy oracle told Hunan to send troops out of the province to aid Jiangxi, do you send this soldier, or not? ”

After Zeng Guofan finished speaking, he sat down angrily.

What made Zeng Guofan very strange was that in the face of Zeng Guofan's aggressive questioning, Luo Bingzhang was neither angry nor angry, but said calmly: "Lord Zeng, the headquarters has always been unable to understand, Jiang Minqiao Chu Yong has been recruited more than 7,000 people, and he himself is also a well-known soldier who can fight habitually, why do you say that he was surrounded in Nanchang?" ”

Xu Youren said at this time: "Sili remembers very well that when Jiang Zhensi only has 3,000 people, he can break 30,000 long hairs; Now that Chu Yong has increased, he won't fight! It's not weird! ”

Seeing that Zeng Guofan was about to get up again, Luo Bingzhang hurriedly said: "Bao Junmen, the matter of sending troops to aid Jiangxi can't be decided for a while, you and the Qing Xietai and Ta Shen generals will go back to the camp first." Wait for the headquarters to discuss with Lord Zeng and Lord Xu, and then inform you. ”

The three of them then got up and took their leave.

Luo Bingzhang shouted to put new tea on the table, and then said to Zeng Guofan: "Lord Zeng, Nanchang is besieged, the situation is grim, you are anxious, and the headquarters is also anxious. But what about being anxious? You and I can't grow wings, fly to Nanchang overnight, kill the long hair in the breath, and raise the prestige of the country in a few days. ”

Zeng Guofan frowned and asked: "Luo Futai, Jiangxi is in danger, and Hunan is in danger." The ancients said: lips and teeth depend on each other, lips and teeth are cold. Knowing that Nanchang is in an emergency, even if the imperial court does not issue an order, should I send troops in Hunan? You know this truth better than I do! ”

Luo Bingzhang said: "Lord Zeng, you have lived in the provincial capital for a long time, you should know the situation of the defense. Changsha's troops are too single. Mention, towns, and associations have their own standards, and the total is less than 10,000 people. Among them, Zhenbiao has been accompanying Zhang Zhijun to help defend the city in Wuchang. Counting up, the two battalions of Hunan Ti and Xie, plus the two battalions of the Taqi Pipe Belt, are less than 7,000 people. At this time, even if 3,000 people were withdrawn, the provincial capital would only be defended by less than 4,000 green battalions. With such a small number of troops, how can you hold it! ”

Xu Youren said at this time: "Lord Zeng, the so-called raising soldiers for a thousand days is used for a while. Now the only person who can go out of the province to help Jiangxi is probably only your Xiangyong. ”

Luo Bingzhang said: "The superiors also know that the regiment is not in line with the provincial practice, but now is an extraordinary period when the troops in all provinces are very poor, and the superiors decided to do this expedient measure when they couldn't think of any other way." ”

After listening to Xu Youren and Luo Bingzhang's words, Zeng Guofan suddenly realized: It seems that Xiang Yong went out of the province to relieve the siege of Nanchang, which was something that Luo Bingzhang and Xu Youren had discussed a long time ago. I invited him here just to look good. As for whether the imperial court has a decree, it may or may not be. But the ingredients are larger. The militia group went out of the province, after all, it is not in accordance with the rules.

Zeng Guofan was a little annoyed, thinking that Luo Bingzhang and Xu Youren were playing themselves together.

Seeing that Zeng Guofan was silent, Xu Youren said: "The department has people who are preparing for food and salary day and night, and once the date of sending troops is determined, the food and salary will not be delayed for half a moment. Sili will not let Xiang Yong go to the battlefield hungry. ”

Zeng Guofan ignored Xu Youren, but raised his head and asked Luo Bingzhang: "Luo Futai, how many Hunan Yong do you want to transfer to Jiangxi?" Xiangyong has all left the province, and the bandits in the territory are bound to take advantage of the situation, what should I do if this happens? ”

Luo Bingzhang said confidently: "Zou Shuji's battalion Xiangyong can stay in the province to suppress bandits, so that his younger brother Shiheng can also return to the city to garrison." With these 1,000 people, it should be enough to quell the bandits. ”

Zeng Guofan sneered and said: "Although Xiangyong who stayed in the province can suppress the bandits, what if the Cantonese bandits counterattack Changsha?" Rely on the standard or the standard to defend the provincial capital? Cantonese bandits don't need to send too many people, as long as there are 20,000 people, the provincial capital will be broken! ”

When Luo Bingzhang heard this, he hurriedly exchanged glances with Xu Youren.

Xu Youren said to Luo Bingzhang: "Lord Futai, what Lord Zeng said is very reasonable. Bidding and co-bidding are unreliable! Don't say 20,000 for long hair, even if it comes for 10,000, they can't stand it! ”

Luo Bingzhang said: "Lord Zeng, what do you say should be done?" ”

Zeng Guofan said: "This minister has thought about it for a while, I in Hunan must not only divide troops to relieve the siege of Nanchang, but also ensure that Changsha is unharmed. I think that the 1,200 Xiangyong people recruited by Zhu Sunyi in Xiangxiang originally wanted to hand them over to Jiang Zhongshu to take them to Jiangxi. Now Zhu Sunyi can directly take the belt and rush to Nanchang from Liling in advance; Guo Songtao has just raised 400 new warriors for Jiang Minqiao in Xiangyin, and has not yet left for Jiangxi. You might as well commission Guo Songtao to lead these 400 people, together with the 1st battalion of Luo Zenan and the 1st battalion of Xia Tingyue, a total of 1,400 people, and they will also be succeeded by Liling; In addition, there are still thousands of people who are newly recruited by Jiang Zhongshu and the new Ning Yong, who can also be promoted with Luo Zenan. ”

Xu Youren said: "The number of brave men who went to Jiangxi has reached 3,600, and it should be okay." ”

Luo Bingzhang said at this time: "These more than 3,000 brave men, if you can't do it, you will appoint Taqib to lead it to prevent mutual conflict and constraints." Lord Zeng, when you go out of each battalion in the province, there must be a commander in charge, right? ”

Zeng Guofan said categorically: "Taqib can't leave the province. I plan to recruit two additional battalions of new braves, hand over the Taqibu pipe belt, and train together with the two battalions of pacesetters in Taqibu to make up for the lack of Changsha defenders. Luo Futai, what do you think? ”

Luo Bingzhang hesitated and said: "Let Taqi take Xiangyong with him, I'm afraid that Bao Qibao and Qingde will not agree." You may not know that you have been training in Tazib, and Bao Qibao has always disagreed. After all, Tazib is a general of the Green Battalion. It's no wonder that Bao Qibao is angry, he is a regimental training officer, but he eats the money of the green camp, which is always a little unreasonable. ”

Zeng Guofan said at this time: "Luo Futai, after each battalion came out of the province to aid Jiangxi and Xiangyong, Bao Qibao's bid and Qingde's bid will be stationed on the border between Hunan and Jiangxi. The Xiangyong who stayed in the provincial capital and the recruited Xinyong were all handed over to the Taqibu Command. In this way, there is Liu Chuanyou in Hengzhou, there is a promotion and cooperation between Hunan and Jiangxi, and there is Taqibu in the provincial capital, so the Guangdong bandits dare not look down on Hunan. ”

Xu Youren asked: "Lord Zeng, are there only two battalions of Xiangyong and Taqibu left in the provincial capital?" The provincial capital is the center of Hunan Province, and the defenders can't help but be thick! ”

As soon as he heard this, Luo Bingzhang also raised his head to see how Zeng Guofan answered.

Zeng Guofan said confidently: "This minister has thought of this, but Liu Rong rushed to Xiangxiang to recruit two battalions of new warriors and stationed them outside Changsha City. It not only guards against bandits in various counties in the province, but once there is a police, it can be pacified nearby, and it can echo with the defenders in the city. ”

Xu Youren looked at Luo Bingzhang with his eyes and said: "The new recruits are so brave, where is the salary?" Next month, the salaries of the green battalion have not yet been organized! ”

Zeng Guofan glared at Xu Youren and said: "Xu Fantai Shicai also said that the food for each camp in the province has been purchased and can be sent to the camp at any time, how can he say this now?" Xu Fantai, do you have the food and salary of the division who went out of the province to aid Jiangxi? ”

Xu Youren was stunned and said, "Lord Zeng, why did you misunderstand Sili again?" The food and salary of the division who went out of the province to aid Jiangxi, Curry had already prepared it, and what the division said was that Xinyong's food and salary had not yet been settled. ”

Xu Youren looked at Luo Bingzhang with his eyes again and said, "Lord Futai, Lord Zeng is still misunderstanding the division."

Luo Bingzhang said: "Master Zeng, let's talk about it now. Xiang Yong, who went out of the province to rescue Nanchang, and a battalion of brave soldiers of Zou Shuji, the food and salary were all from the treasury. The newly recruited Xiangyong, usually practice, you also prepare your own food; If there is a military situation, the soldiers are one and the brave. That's all right, right? “

Zeng Guofan smiled bitterly and said: "You only play your own calculations, and never consider the hardships of group training. Do you know how much suffering this minister, Guo Yunxian and Liu Mengrong have endured since the group training can survive to this day, and to practice today's weather! ”

Zeng Guofan said this, and his eyes were obviously red. Zeng Guofan remembered Liu Rong, who had just returned to the provincial capital and went to Daying to watch the exercises, and Guo Songtao, who had returned to the province for less than three days and hurried to Xiangyin. Zeng Guofan thought of Li Hanzhang at the same time, and Li Hanzhang thought of Li Hongzhang and Zhu Sunyi. These people are doing their best, begging everywhere in order to be able to run the regimental training.

Zeng Guofan was most moved by Guo Songtao, on the day he returned to Xiangyin, he was entrusted by Jiang Zhongyuan to erect a banner of recruiting courage and recruiting new courage for Jiang Zhongyuan. From following Zeng Guofan to practice bravery, Guo Songtao never slept peacefully.

Luo Bingzhang saw that Zeng Guofan was very sad, and couldn't help but persuade: "Lord Zeng, you are a waiter, and it is incumbent on you to protect Sang Zi." Hubei has been hit hard, but Hunan has maintained the integrity of a province, which is inseparable from your hard work. Not only the people of Hunan know it, but the imperial court also knows it. ”

Zeng Guofan calmed down for a moment, and suddenly asked: "Have you seen the wanted notice submitted by the Issuance and Examination Bureau?" Nanchang is trapped, Huguang is shaking, and the hidden bandits are bound to act at the opportunity. Once an inferior member like Li Dusi colludes with officers and soldiers, what trouble can he imagine in the future! ”

Luo Bingzhang hurriedly said: "As soon as I saw the holy oracle, I was just busy with the matter of dispatching troops out of the province to rescue, but I forgot about it!" If it weren't for your reminder, I would have missed a big deal! The headquarters will handle this now! ,, Lord Zeng, when will Xiang Yong be able to leave the province? ”

Zeng Guofan stood up and said, "This minister will go back to discuss now." ”

Zeng Guofan said to Xu Youren again: "Xu Fantai, the food and salary affairs must be urgently prepared, and it can't be delayed." ”

Luo Bingzhang and Xu Youren both stood up.

Xu Youren said: "Please rest assured! As long as the adults set the date for the camp, the secretary will send the food and salary to the camp on the same day, and there will be no delay of half a minute! ”

Zeng Guofan lowered his head and thought about it, and then said to Luo Bingzhang: "The guns of the battalions that went out of the province to aid Jiangxi were not complete, and after the minister went back, he listed the number overnight. If you don't have any guns, you need to take out some of the guns that are idle and equip them well. It would be better to equip each battalion with ten more cannons to facilitate the siege of the city. ”

Luo Bingzhang replied reluctantly: "In this matter, Rong will discuss with Bao Qibao and Qingde to meet the needs of the battalions in the province as much as possible." Lord Zeng, when it comes to firearms, you can't just count on Hunan Province, you can also send a letter of request to the army, I think he will never refuse. ”

Xu Youren hurriedly said: "Yes, according to the Sili thinking, the superintendent of the army should have many idle guns." Take out a few at will, and you can equip two battalions. ”

Zeng Guofan looked at Xu Youren, and said with a wry smile: "You, the treasury is about to become a tendon!" Jiang Zhensi's newly recruited Chu Yong, where did the guns come from? Don't they all have to come out of Hubei? ”

Xu Youren patted his head and said, "You said, why did Si Li forget Jiang Minqiao's stubble!" (End of chapter)