Zeng Guofan tapped the table with his left index finger. He quietly looked at the generals who were whispering to each other, and felt a little sad when he looked at the hesitant faces.
Five years ago, when the Hunan Army was still at war, who dared not obey his orders? Maybe there will be disputes during the discussion stage, but once you make up your mind, will your subordinates not absolutely implement it?
It has only been a few years since the peaceful days, but people's hearts have already become slack, and even I can't control these pampered subordinates.
But it’s normal to think about it. In the past few years when there was no war, I had enjoyed happiness at home every day. The women probably married a lot and gave birth to a lot of children. In addition, the rich life has softened their bones. Now this group of people is comparable to what they were during the war. Still short of money.
If you want to maintain such a wealthy situation, you have to keep making more money, but life without war is too depressing. Do you want to compete with civil servants to make money in peacetime? Just save it.
Zeng Guofan had already seen through everything. He smiled and said, "Why are all of them mute? Why are all the heroes who were rushing to capture cities and territories back then wilted today?"
Someone below said sarcastically, "Commander... We must listen to the commander, but this ban is really too loud. How about we discuss it again?"
"That's right, Marshal, think about it, what if the foreigners in Shanghai strongly object? Do we still need to negotiate?"
"If it's really not possible, let's wait for Ma Xinyi? After all, he is the successor governor of Liangjiang. It is best for him to take the blame..."
"That's right, let Ma Xinyi take the blame and negotiate with the foreign devils..."
The crowd was chattering and making noise, but Zeng Guofan, who was behind the desk, was so full of laughter that his eyes were filled with laughter. He sighed secretly in his heart, let's just forget about it and let Ma Xinyi take the blame? I'm afraid the ban on walking in front and walking behind will disappear. You have really changed!
Just as there was a discussion in the lobby, the old farmer outside the Marshal's Mansion nodded towards the corner of the alley in the distance, and soon a messenger rushed out from the shadows and went straight to the White Tiger Festival Hall.
The sound of rapid footsteps rushed straight into the meeting hall, and a horrified roar came from the mouth of the messenger: "Report... report to the commander... Governor Ma Xinyima was assassinated in the street at the foot of Zhongshan Mountain..."
Bang, bang... There was a sound of tables and chairs being knocked down, and everyone in the lobby was stunned. "What did you say? Ma Xinyi was assassinated? Is she dead or seriously injured?"
"Report to the general. He died in the street. A knife pierced his heart. Even the gods could not save him..."
"Where is the assassin? Have you caught him..."
"Strange to say, the assassin called himself Zhang Wenxiang. After killing five guards and Governor Ma, instead of escaping, he shouted to the people of Caoshi, 'The murderer is Zhang Wenxiang.' He did not escape at all, nor did he resistance……"
The soldiers were right. When Zhang Wenxiang burst out and fought his way through the guards and stabbed Ma Xinyi to death, he did not run away but laughed wildly at the frightened soldiers.
This is a real dead man. He killed Ma Xinyi with the determination to die together, and now he is ready to use his own life to calm the anger of the court.
The brave soldiers approached Zhang Wenxiang cautiously. Seeing that he really had no intention of resisting, they tied him up with ropes and then reported the news to Jiangning Kuaima.
Ninth Commander Zeng Guoquan looked at his elder brother in horror. He knew very well the ins and outs of this matter. Killing Ma Xinyi was originally something that many senior leaders of the Hunan Army had secretly discussed, but the time was definitely not now.
Historically, Zhang Wenxiang's death was actually inseparable from the conflict between the Hunan Army Group and the imperial court. In real history, when Zeng Guofan was transferred to the capital as governor of Zhili, Ma Xinyi came to Jiangnan.
This direct descendant of the imperial court began to pry the Hunan Army's business after taking office. Many important civil affairs officials were replaced by people from the imperial court. His intention to pick peaches was very obvious.
The most intolerable thing for the Hunan Army was that Ma Xinyi secretly investigated the missing Heavenly Kingdom Holy Treasury. This was a taboo for the top brass of the Hunan Army. When Ma Xinyi completely offended the Hunan Army Group, the assassination case also occurred.
Zhang Wenxiang killed Ma Xinyi on the playground. The entire assassination process went smoothly. Zhang Wenxiang did not escape in the end but willingly admitted that he was a remnant of the Nian Army. He killed Ma Xinyi just for revenge, and was eventually dismembered by the court.
Although history has changed, there are always many things that are disconnected. In this parallel world, Ma Xinyi was killed again, and the assassin was still Zhang Wenxiang.
The ninth handsome man was beating the drum in his heart. He finally understood the determination of his eldest brother. He was actually willing to launch the assassination of Ma Xinyi in advance and chose such a time point, so his only intention was to shock everyone present.
Sure enough, after Zeng Guofan listened to the soldiers' report, he was so angry that he slammed the table and said, "Is this still a royal law? Is this a natural law? Put the assassin in jail and interrogate him strictly..."
"Hey... I originally wanted to follow the good advice and ask Governor Ma for his opinion later, but I didn't expect... I really didn't expect it! Okay, who has any opinions now? Is this Jiangnan ban feasible..."
The long-voiced inquiry frightened everyone into silence. They crossed their horseshoe sleeves and bowed to the ground, "I will obey the commander-in-chief's order! The military order is like a mountain, and my subordinates dare not to obey it!"
The old farmer walked in again. He gently supported Zeng Guofan and said with a smile, "We have been discussing for two hours. The commander-in-chief is tired and all the gentlemen are hungry. Didn't the commander-in-chief say that we will give him a banquet? No more banquets. The wine has gone cold..."
"Hahaha... Blame me, blame me, that's it for today, I'll go down and change clothes, you guys have a feast first, and treat today as a farewell banquet for me..."
The old farmer helped the marshal go around the white tiger screen and walked out the back door, while the ninth marshal Zeng Guoquan quickly chased after him, and the old farmer and the old farmer supported the eldest brother.
"Brother, why didn't you tell me about this today..." Before Zeng Guoquan could finish complaining, Zeng Guofan's face suddenly turned red, and a blood arrow spurted out from his mouth with a pop. , followed by violent coughing.
"Brother..." Zeng Guoquan subconsciously wanted to shout, but the old farmer covered the mouth of the ninth commander. "Silence! Don't make trouble. You don't want the commander's hard work to be in vain, right? In this situation, we must It depends on the commander to support you!"
Tears burst out of Zeng Guoquan's eyes. He stamped his feet and yelled at Dongfang with gritted teeth, "Xiao Letian! Xiao Letian! You damn bastard killed my elder brother! If you can't win this battle, I will follow you in and out with a white knife and a red knife... wu wu wu! Brother, I feel so sorry for you!"
In the afternoon of the same day, the Marshal's Mansion in Jiangning City sent an emergency telegram to all parts of Jiangnan. All transfer transactions of fields, real estate, factories, workshops, etc. in the entire Jiangnan area were urgently suspended for two months.
The property of Chinese people in the Jiangnan area was finally temporarily protected, and the foreigners in Shanghai were in an uproar after hearing the news.
"Despicable! What a despicable Chinese! This is a shameless interference in the free market economy! We want to protest!"
...
