"The expansion of the power of the Han governors was an irreversible trend in the late Qing Dynasty. If the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom has any positive historical significance, I am afraid... helping the Han people regain military power is the greatest historical achievement of the Heavenly Kingdom Movement!"
"It's a pity and historical achievements that were achieved with too much blood shed!"
The Zhiyuan split through the waves of the Indian Ocean and rode forward through the wind and waves. Behind it was a series of French captive warships, transport and supply ships, and troop transports... The entire fleet covered the sea, with more than fifty ships.
All the caravans along the way stayed away. The British navy watched from a distance and fired salutes from time to time to pay tribute to the head of state. The most powerful fleet in Asia was returning quickly.
When the ship arrived in Sri Lanka, it finally received a domestic telegram. Spies from the CIA's overseas group sent more than 100,000 words of detailed military information on the ship that supplied food and fresh water to the Zhiyuan.
There is a personal letter written by Zeng Guofan specifically to Xiao Letian, but it has been transcoded three times, and it took twenty minutes to translate it into the original text for the head of state.
Zeng Guofan made it clear about the situation in Forty-Nine City, and the old commander also told Xiao Letian in his letter that his time had come and he hoped Xiao Letian could return to China as soon as possible.
The current situation in Forty-Nine City is very delicate. Can the Marshal still suppress it while he is still alive? If the Marshal dies and Xiao Letian has not stepped up to take over, then the conservative faction within the Manchus will definitely seize power on a large scale.
"Go back quickly, come back quickly! Once the balance of government and government is broken, it will be unbearable!"
Doesn't Xiao Letian not want to return to China quickly? But the storm in the Indian Ocean is no joke. Only the Zhiyuan and some French ironclads in the entire fleet can withstand the typhoon, and the remaining ships cannot speed up at all.
The fleet encountered bad weather when it arrived in Sri Lanka, which delayed it for a full week. Thanks to this week, Xiao Letian and the others calmed down and began to sort out the domestic situation.
"The balance of the Forty-Nine Cities is currently supported by Marshal Zeng. When Marshal took office as the Governor of Zhili, he led troops there. This is a big taboo of the Manchus!"
"But there is nothing we can do. The power of the Han governors has expanded, and now they are gradually turning into warlords! The general brought thousands of cavalry into Baoding Prefecture to threaten the capital from a distance, and he can also suppress the Eight Banners die-hards!"
"How do you think Fuqing's telegraph business can go so smoothly? To be honest, the Manchus have already had many plans to kill Fuqing. Those conservative forces have long disliked the Third Master!"
"Fortunately, the Marshal's thousands of cavalry were stationed in Baoding Prefecture, like a thorn on their backs, so the demons and demons within the Eight Banners did not make any move!"
Xiao Letian frowned and discussed the military situation with everyone in the cabin. Outside was Sri Lanka. The governor had already sent three invitations, but Xiao Letian refused the banquet invitation because the wind and waves were too big.
Heavy rain poured down, strong winds rocked the warship, and thousands of lights in Sri Lanka loomed in the distance!
"There is no time for eating, drinking and having fun...Didn't the British send a batch of high-quality gemstone gifts? They selected a few Renaissance oil paintings from our warehouse as a return gift!"
"Tell the British that I am too tired and will not attend the banquet if I feel unwell... We will return home as soon as the storm subsides!"
Looking at the map of the Qing Dynasty hanging in the cabin, Xiao Letian seemed to be thinking to himself, "Needless to say, the power of the foreigners, no one can move it right now...not even us, we have to ensure that they interests in China!”
"The Manchus are no longer monolithic. There are conservatives and reformers, royalists and the Eight Banners Party... Even if we consider this capital, Guiziliu's Xishan Camp is already the most powerful faction!"
"Then there are the more than 20,000 soldiers of Jiumen Admiral Yixuan...the rest are all rubbish, all rubbish, the Tiger Spear Camp, Leopard Cavalry Camp, Shanpu Camp...all are already useless snacks with soft bones!"
"But these wastes under Yi Xin's control have high status... They are all old families in the Eight Banners, and their relationship network is too close. This is also a huge force that Yi Xin can rely on!"
"Zai Chun only has 30,000 troops in Fujian, and only 30,000... Even if he marches to the capital, I'm afraid he won't be able to overwhelm the Xishan Camp!"
At this time, Xiang Ying asked in surprise, "Didn't we help train Emperor Tongzhi's new Yulin Army? Are they still afraid of Guiziliu's Xishan Camp? Master, you are letting others' ambitions destroy your own prestige!"
"Although I can't stand the Manchu army, Ma Ming and the others were trained by us, and they are no better than those wimps!"
"No!" Wang Ju shook his head. "Gui Zi Liu played a word game. He claimed that the Xishan Camp only had 30,000 soldiers. In fact, it was not true... Gui Zi Liu also trained 30,000 auxiliary soldiers and civilians. In fact, his military strength was six Ten thousand!"
"Even if everyone in the Eight Banners is trash, they can't include the Japanese Six... This guy is very smart, and he has a good way of training troops. He hired military instructors from Britain, Tsarist Russia, the United States, and France!"
"But he doesn't fully trust any of them yet. If I'm not wrong... Guiziliu also has some tricks up his sleeve in the Yulin New Army, because his army has also borrowed many of our military training models!"
"We are not afraid of such an enemy, but can Zai Chun be able to deal with it? It's hard to say..." Xiao Letian looked worried.
"The situation of two tigers fighting against each other!" Sima Yun said, "Although Emperor Tongzhi still has a direct legion of his own outside the pass, the journey is too far, and the distant water cannot quench the near thirst!"
"So the commander-in-chief has moved. He must personally go on stage and use his own power to create a three-legged game!"
"Only the triangle is the most stable. The commander knows that he can protect himself... but he has no choice! He must make this stable game!"
"So I judge that the commander-in-chief will definitely mobilize his troops at this moment!"
After listening to the analysis of his subordinates, Xiao Letian's brows furrowed even more tightly, "We must speed up the progress. Once Marshal Zeng directly increases his troops, he will touch the Manchu's final counterattack!"
"Guiziliu and the others will definitely make a bloody counterattack! Call back to the country and ask for an additional 3,000 troops in the Northern Special Zone! At the same time, order Sister Wu to accompany Mr. Longma to meet with Zeng Shuai..."
"I allow him to use the remaining foreign legions as appropriate! Before I return to the country, I must protect the lives of the commander-in-chief and Mr. Qing!"
Xiao Letian opened the porthole and looked at the thunder and lightning in the distant sky. The cold wind mixed with the rain from the Indian Ocean rushed in. He sighed in his heart, "Commander! I know what you are thinking. You are paving the way for me! You are so You are paving the way for Han people all over the world!"
"I know you have approved my fortress plan, and you know it is feasible... You also understand that my plan to educate Zai Chun and poach many people is correct!"
"Yes! It is not difficult for us Han people to restore the old mountains and rivers, but it is very difficult to seize all the territory of the Qing Dynasty intact!"
"What is my fortress? It is the dragon-locking nails nailed to the Qing Dynasty one by one! Slowly lay them over and connect them with railways to form a grid..."
"The place where the fortress is located is the eternal country of the Han family!"
"You know, you are not one of those angry young people full of fanaticism. You know that you have to eat your meal one bite at a time and walk the road step by step!"
"So you are helping me plug the loopholes! Zai Chun must ascend the throne as soon as possible and take charge immediately, otherwise those treaties will not be implemented!"
"Commander, take care of yourself, I'll be back soon... I can't bear the burden on you all the time!"
