Zhuozhou, the south gate of the capital! If Zeng Guofan really placed 20,000 troops in Zhuozhou, he would be on par with the Xishan Camp.
By then the military deployment of the capital is likely to be like this. Prince Gong Guiziliu will lead the largest Xishan New Army to control the northwest direction.
Zeng Guofan's 20,000 Hunan troops were pressing south in Zhuozhou!
Emperor Tongzhi's imperial army could only be placed in the east. This direction happened to face the Northern Special Zone, and it could also take advantage of the Grand Canal system in Tongxian County.
The three-legged situation formed a stable pattern outside Sijiu City, and the 20,000 soldiers of the Nine Gate Admirals controlled the city. These useless snacks would definitely not be able to fight in the open air, but it was still possible to stand on the city wall, wave flags and guard the city gates.
Marshal Zeng wanted to use the last bit of effort in his life to make such a move in Sijiu City. Only in this way could he protect Emperor Tongzhi's smooth accession to the throne.
But this plan has put the great commander-in-chief’s reputation on the line!
Guiziliu's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, "Zeng Guofan... In the two hundred years of our reign, no one has dared to be so bold as to lead troops to Beijing without the decree of the imperial court! Are you crazy?"
"A will? Hahaha... It's not easy for me to ask for a will. Lord Long Live is in Fujian. I'll go back and ask Lord Long Live to see if His Majesty will give me a will!"
"You..." Guiziliu couldn't hold it in any longer. He stood up and roared, "Your Majesty has not yet taken charge, so even if you get Zai Chun's imperial edict, it will be of no use!"
"Lao Liu, what are you doing? If you have something to say, please tell me..." Ci'an quickly spoke to smooth things over.
But today Guiziliu was completely furious. He didn't give anyone any face and sneered, "Say it nicely? Are you going to get another Bloody Clothes Order?"
"A traitor has appeared in the capital again? Do you want to seduce the emperor? Come on... Mr. Caishikou, I'm waiting for you to chop off my head!"
"At worst, there will be another Xinyou coup! At worst, it will be my turn to lose my head this time! Zeng Guofan... don't play with fire, the world has not changed yet!"
After Guiziliu finished speaking, he walked away. No matter how much Ci'an called him after him, it was useless!
Yi Xuan was dumbfounded and started to shake his hands: "This, this, this...how is this good? Commander, what are you going to do? How can you do this kind of thing? Commander, you..."
"Haha... How can I do this? I, Zeng Guofan, am worthy of the imperial court. If I don't send 20,000 troops to Beijing today, then it will be Xiao Letian who will send troops to Beijing tomorrow!"
"If Ryukyu sends 20,000 marines, I wonder what the Qing Dynasty can use to resist them!"
"Why did Xiao Letian become that imperial master? Why did he spend his money to train soldiers for Long Live Lord? Don't forget that Long Live Lord still has shares in Fuso National Bank!"
"With so many benefits, why don't he give them all to Long Live Lord! This is a huge political investment. How can he not want to repay it?"
"Your Majesty, the Queen Mother, please think about it carefully! What Xiao Letian learned is what the foreign devils did, and what he emphasizes is military protection of economic interests!"
"If you don't let Mr. Long Live ascend the throne and gain power, then this will be Xiao Letian's cake, and his plan to make money will not be carried out! If you cut off his financial path, think about the consequences for yourselves!"
"The French army is no match for him. What can our court do? Think about it..."
Zeng Guofan stood up with the help of the old farmer, "Old minister, I have such a sincere heart. I don't care whether you believe it or not... I will just say one sentence today, the soldiers have arrived. Do you want my soldiers to go north, or do you want my soldiers to go north?" Letian’s soldiers march north, choose for yourself!”
"I have already reported these three matters to the imperial court...I will retire first!"
After leaving, Zeng Guofan also left, leaving only the Queen Mother of the Two Palaces and Yixuan in the Dongnuan Pavilion. At this moment, Cixi's heart was as sweet as drinking honey water. Today, he knew the benefits of righteousness.
"Sister...look at what happened today, look at..."
Ci'an just couldn't stand the arrogance of such a villain, so he waved his hand impatiently to signal her to stop talking. Empress Dowager Dong turned to look at her seventh brother and said gently.
"Old Qi...what do you think?"
"I...what ideas can I have...Guochao has only had a few good days, why has it become such a mess..."
Ci'an looked at his brother-in-law and said calmly, "Shuai Zeng's matter is indeed unreasonable, but one thing he said is right... Long Live Lord's ascension to the throne is related to the interests of many people, especially the interests of Xiao Letian!"
"He is not so kind to give us free money to cultivate an emperor... In the end, we still have to make money! If you touch his real money, you can give it a try!"
"Old Qi, you have to understand the overall situation. Do you really want Xiao Letian to attack the Forty-Nine City again?"
Yixuan recalled the tragic scene when Xiao Letian led his troops to invade Sijiu City, and was so frightened that white hairs and sweat broke out all over his body. "No, absolutely not! This is the living king of hell!"
"Since you know it won't work, you have to consider the commander's words... You go have a good talk with Lao Liu, and you go and enlighten him!"
"Me? If only I could persuade him..."
"It has to be done even if it doesn't work! This is a major matter concerning the country, the country, the country, and it must be done even if it doesn't work!"
Ci'an and Cixi shouted out almost in unison, Yixuan was so anxious that cold sweat broke out on his forehead, but he couldn't refuse.
Zeng Guofan had already walked out of the Yangxin Hall, boarded the sedan in front of the Yangxin Gate, and walked all the way south. Not far away, he saw the excited little Fifth Master Yi Pei walking south surrounded by a group of eunuchs.
"Go over... I'll have a chat with Fifth Master..."
Zeng Guofan's sedan chair went straight to Yipin. As soon as the Fifth Master saw the Marshal coming, he immediately stood firm and greeted him with a smile, "Commander... look at these East Pearls I picked, they are so round!"
"This coral top is called Hongyan... I would like to thank the commander for his kind words today. I have some high-quality old ginseng from outside the customs over there tomorrow. I will send it to you..."
"Thank you, Mr. Fifth. I'm not polite to Mr. Fifth either. I have to say something that I feel deeply in my heart in person..."
After retreating from the surrounding eunuchs and guards, Zeng Guofan sat in the sedan chair, while Yi Pei stood at the door of the sedan chair and listened like a primary school student.
"Fifth Master, do you know why I want to get this job for you? Because you are a famous knight in the capital!"
"His Majesty has no brothers and sisters to help him, who can he count on? Who else can he count on besides his uncle? But many people in the capital are unwilling to let His Majesty take charge!"
"Don't explain, don't blush... I know what you are all thinking. Don't some people just want the eight kings to discuss politics and the decentralization of power at the founding of the country?"
"Others are messing around, but you, the Aixinjueluo family, can't mess around! I'm already about to die, how many more days can I protect the throne for Long Live Lord?"
"If that day comes to me, you, the uncle, will have to take care of me!"
What Zeng Guofan said made Yi Pei blush. He didn't understand anything. Even though he didn't like studying, he had been in the imperial court in the capital for so many years and he could understand it.
In fact, the Manchus never wanted to have a strong monarch like Kang, Yong and Qian. The Eight Banners system was inherently incompatible with the idea of centralization, and even became enemies of each other.
As an idle prince, Yi Pei is the best person to hear these rumors!
"Commander...I...what can I do? I have no power and no money. I am an idle prince..."
"Confused! You can operate well without the right, and you can operate a little without money... But you must have the heart to support the emperor! Let me make it clear. Your Majesty is the last hope of the Qing Dynasty!"
"If Emperor Tongzhi rises, the Qing Dynasty will prosper! If Emperor Tongzhi declines, the Qing Dynasty will have no hope at all!"
