After sighing that night, Ninth Marshal finally untied the knot in his heart. He understood the painstaking efforts of his eldest brother. Whether it was for the family or the nation, the eldest brother had always been affectionate and righteous.
In addition, Ninth Marshal finally knew what his eldest brother had been thinking all along. Why didn't Zeng Guofan say this to his brother before? That's because the time has come and it will be in vain if you say it. If you say it too early, with Zeng Guoquan's arrogant temper, he will never be convinced.
Zeng Guofan couldn't have told his ninth brother when he secretly met Xiao Letian for the first time that this man was extraordinary and might inherit the mantle of the Chinese nation and raise the banner of the nation, right?
If Marshal Zeng had said so at that time, with the temper of Marshal Ninth, he would have killed Xiao Letian immediately.
Everything has to wait until the time is ripe. When will it be ripe? He had to wait until Xiao Letian performed a miracle that stunned the whole world, and he had to convince his ninth brother from the bottom of his heart before he could make these remarks.
Are you convinced that Xiao Letian wrote a book called "A Journey to the West"? Xiao Letian set up a foreign company, entered Ryukyu, provoked a massive uprising of 100,000 Chinese people with his bare hands, destroyed Shimazu, and secured his position as prime minister. Do you accept it?
Forced troops into Europe, the Austro-Prussian War was fought on Stone Bridge Heights, and European military observers were dumbfounded. Do you accept it?
Then the French invasion fleet was destroyed, and there was a brief conflict with the Manchus in the capital. In the end, even the capital was captured. Xiao Letian actually served as regent for several months. Are you convinced?
In the end, Emperor Tongzhi was taken away, became the emperor's advisor, took control of Japan, and sent troops into South America to conquer a Chinese colony. Do you accept the Nine Commanders?
He controlled the economy of the Qing Dynasty with money, spent a lot of money to build the miraculous Zhiyuan, harassed the Atlantic route in naval battles, finally destroyed the Russian fleet, and besieged the Tsarist Russian expeditionary force with heavy troops. Do you accept it?
I can’t accept it! You have to wait until you, Zeng Guoquan, are completely convinced and know that you can't do this at all, then you can really open your heart and listen to your elder brother's truth.
Don't think that the Hunan Army is very powerful. The Hunan Army is only in its hometown and very powerful in Jiangnan. Once it leaves its homeland, its combat effectiveness will be reduced.
Needless to say, the veterans Zuo Jigao took away were all the best among the best, but when they reached the west, they had to be fed with money before they could fight.
The imperial court had not given so much cash when they were wiping out Chang Mao, but now they had to give Zuo Jigao enough military pay, and Hu Xueyan was almost tired and vomiting blood and had to raise military expenses.
It's not because it was a remote battle. The Hunan Army only wanted money. If they don't have money to fight, they can't even think about it.
This is a war within the Qing Dynasty
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That's the case, so what if one day, soldiers need to go abroad to fight? When the time comes and you arrive in an unfamiliar land, where everything has nothing to do with you, will you still sacrifice your life?
These questions hit Jiu Shuai's heart like a giant hammer, leaving cracks all over his proud heart.
Once upon a time, the Hunan Army, riding on the rays of victory, was so powerful that even the foreigners had to pay three respects. At that time, everyone in the government and the public looked sideways. When the Manchus saw the Hunan Army, they were as obedient as little sheep. Even the Queen Mother and the Prince had to look at the Zeng brothers. face.
It was this illusory scene that caused Ninth Commander Zeng Guoquan's ambition to expand rapidly. At his craziest time, he couldn't understand his elder brother's insinuations, nor could he understand Manchu's cynicism. He only had one thought, which was to get to the next level.
In real history, it was Qingliu and Jiu Shuai's brother who suppressed his desire, and ultimately made his ideal come to nothing.
But today, it was Xiao Letian who shocked his ambition with his almost dazzling and incredible achievements. When the Ninth Commander sighed that I am not as good as him, the rebellious heart was completely shattered.
Life is like this. When you turn this page, the sea and the sky are vast. When you open the window, Jiu Shuai sees the stars in the sky a little more transparent than usual. Having completely abandoned the constraints of pressure, he takes a deep breath of cold air.
"Brother, don't worry! Let's not talk about it. We two brothers will have no problem protecting Jiangnan from chaos for the next twenty years! What if Xiao Letian can't make it happen after twenty years?"
Zeng Guofan behind him laughed and said, "Will we still be there in twenty years? Don't worry about it, just do your best and obey fate!"
After sighing all night, both brothers did not sleep. Finally, under the service of his younger brother, the marshal smoked a pot of good Indian horse hoof soil and regained his energy.
The old farmer walked quickly from outside, "A telegram has been sent from the garrison along the river. The Zhiyuan will arrive in Jiangning at nine o'clock in the morning! The Emperor is already here!"
"Okay, okay! Are the welcome ceremonies ready? Are our statements ready? Now that everything is ready, let's go..."
On that day, the city of Jiangning was in a state of excitement. Hundreds of thousands of people came to the streets to welcome Emperor Tongzhi on his inspection tour of Jiangning. The welcome scene was grand and orthodox. Emperor Tongzhi was young but already had a heroic demeanor.
Hundreds of officials and people worshiped the emperor, and the little emperor comforted the people, and then announced that Jiangning would be exempted from taxes on food and grain for one year. This was a gift from the emperor, and then Jiangning's Marshal's Mansion held a banquet to welcome his majesty.
Everything was in order and without any chaos. Xiao Letian, as the emperor's master, and Zeng Guofan, guarding the young emperor, sat on the main seat. After the banquet, Zeng Guofan announced the start of the military parade.
The Hunan Army selected a total of 2,000 people to perform martial arts performances for the little emperor, and tens of thousands of people watched the ceremony together until the last moment of the martial arts performance, the drama meat the little emperor wanted came.
Zeng Guofan, on behalf of the Hunan Army in the south of the Yangtze River, petitioned the emperor to request the fourteen-year-old Emperor Tongzhi to take charge of the government personally from now on, citing the precedent of his holy ancestor Emperor Kangxi.
Emperor Kangxi succeeded to the throne at the age of eight and took charge of the government at the age of fourteen, while Emperor Tongzhi succeeded to the throne at the age of five. Could it be that at the age of fourteen he could not take charge of the throne?
The scene suddenly burst into excitement. Zeng Guofan was clearly comparing Emperor Tongzhi and Emperor Kangxi together. The soldiers and civilians of Jiangning had probably rehearsed this for a long time. Suddenly, they all shouted long live, and they all fell to the ground and begged the young emperor to take charge.
Zai Chun's face flushed with excitement and he almost nodded in agreement, but when he saw the master standing next to him from the corner of his eye, he immediately remembered his instructions last night.
This is actually a drama. Before Emperor Tongzhi completed his European study tour and before his new imperial army grew stronger, Zai Chun should have stayed as far away from the Forbidden City as possible.
Everything today is actually Marshal Zeng putting on a show for all the people in the world, mainly all the senior officials of the Manchu Qing Dynasty. The warning here is very obvious. Zai Chun’s status is recognized by the Hunan Army Group, so it doesn’t matter whether Zai Chun is pro-government or not. , the Hunan Army will resolutely implement any government order issued by Zaichun now.
Does an emperor without a pro-government have the right to exempt Jiangning from taxes for one year? Logically speaking, there shouldn't be, but if the Hunan Army is willing to accept this decree, then this decree is legal.
Can an emperor without a pro-government determine the legitimacy of the Suzhou stock market? Logically speaking, there shouldn't be, but as long as the Hunan Army and the Chinese recognize it, then this decree is legal.
On the same day, Chun Chun made three speeches and announced that he would never consider becoming a pro-government until the study tour was completed. Seeing the emperor's firm attitude, Marshal Zeng fell to the ground and shouted long live the Emperor.
The welcome ceremony in Jiangning ended successfully.
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