Chapter 126 Zeng Guofan sat and watched the destruction of Zhejiang
The matter was settled behind the curtain, and Cixi and Ci'an quickly conveyed the edict: I have received the decree of the Empress Dowager of the two palaces, and according to the opinions of the king and ministers, I have read it in detail, relied on the regulations, considered it properly, and acted accordingly.
The act of hanging the curtain was not something I wanted to do, but because the current situation was so difficult, the king's ministers and others could not afford nothing, so I agreed to the request in the hope that we could take appropriate measures and help each other in the difficulties. As soon as the emperor completed his study of classics and returned to power, the king's ministers would still prepare the records at that time, restore the old system, and admire this.
After the happy edict was delivered, Empress Dowager Ci'an said: Sushun and the other three traitors have been executed, the curtains are hung, and the court can be quiet! After checking the correspondence between the ministers and workers and the Su Party, what should my sister do?
The kind Empress Dowager said: "Let bygones be bygones, burn it to the ground."
Empress Dowager Ci'an said: "Last month, Sushun was imprisoned. Xu Pengshou, the young master, asked the police to investigate and punish the three traitors. The sons of Qiying and Baiqi each also complained that their fathers were trapped by Sushun and asked Zhaoxue to do so." Does my sister have any advice?
The Empress Dowager Cixi said: Chen Fu'en has been arrested and imprisoned, and his family has been deprived of his nationality. The plaque given by the late emperor was recovered and assigned to Xinjiang border guards. This is a mistake that must be investigated. However, it is advisable to stop spreading as much as possible without further spreading.
The next day, Cixi and Ci'an sent another edict: I have already heard about Xu Pengshou's correction of each section, and I will use special punishment to warn others, hoping to revive the decadence. As for Zaiyuan, Duanhua, and Sushun, the power belongs to them. How can the ministers not interfere with them? From now on, I will only be lenient and not blame the past. There is no need for your ministers to complain one after another about investigating and handling party aid, leading to criticism and false accusations. As long as everyone is diligent in their duties, strives for self-improvement, upholds integrity, and does not follow the bad habits of Chen Fu'en and others, I really have high hopes.
In addition, Qingxi and Zhong Lian each sued their fathers for setting up a case for Sushun. I ordered the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Punishment to review the case. The two departments believed that Qiying had suffered a great loss and should be punished for his crime.
Bai Jian obeyed the instructions and was blameless. However, because of the laws of Zaiyuan, Duanhua, Sushun and others, there are no clear instructions, and they are more likely to be executed than bribes to buy joints. You Zaiyuan and others had a personal grudge against Bai Qian on weekdays, and in order to be good at imposing authority, they used implicate and deceptive words to cause him to be reinstated. There are words in Huang Kao's imperial edict that can't help but shed tears, and the feeling of not doing enough is enough. Today, the empress dowagers of the two palaces have renewed their decrees, and everything must be lenient and fair. Bai Jun cannot be said to be innocent. During the two dynasties in which he was favored by Nian Baiquan, he traveled to the inner court for many years and was diligent and prudent on weekdays. Although he has set up a heavy code, he should test the emperor's benevolence outside the law. It is recorded that his son Zhong Lian was given the title of fourth-rank minister, and he was selected as soon as there was a vacancy among the six doctors.
Prince Gong Yixin watched the edict and was filled with admiration.
After retiring from the court, the two palaces announced that Yi Xin would stay and have tea and chat.
Empress Dowager Ci'an said: "Eradicate the party and listen to politics behind the curtain. The sixth master has made outstanding contributions and will be rewarded immediately."
Yi Xin quickly said: "I am reporting this to the empress dowagers of the two palaces. I must not reward you again." The slave is already the political king, the chief military minister, the prime minister, the chief minister of the clan, and the minister of the internal affairs. Last month, the slave resigned from his double salary and his title was hereditary. Furthermore, eradicating the party is the duty of a slave, and listening to politics behind the curtain is the common recommendation of all ministers, which is a matter of course.
Empress Dowager Cixi said: "I have been hanging the curtain for three days, and I feel a lot of gratitude." For this major military and political matter, we must rely on the Sixth Master. The Sixth Master is called to discuss politics, but he is actually assisting the government.
Yi Xin said: "How dare you, how dare you, the difference between discussion and assistance is worlds apart, and the servants never dare to overstep."
Empress Dowager Cixi said: Mr. Liu is heartbroken, and his family and sister know it. This major military and political matter is a supplement or a discussion. The difference between it can be clarified by my uncle and sister-in-law. In the rest of the court, the discussion was carried out to avoid ambiguity.
Yi Xin said: I sincerely respect the Queen Mother's decree.
Empress Dowager Ci'an said: According to Mr. Liu, when will the Cantonese bandits, Nian thieves, Miao Lian and Hui troubles be eliminated?
Yi Xin said: Zeng Guofan can suppress the Cantonese bandits, and the Cantonese bandits invade the north. Seng Gelinqin suppressed Shandong and lost more, but won less; if he won, he entered Lu, and then he was able to put an end to the rebellion. Miao Peilin's 100,000 Miao Lian can cure the remaining troubles of carbuncle, and it can be eliminated by itself. Shengbao should quickly reach the Yingshang and firmly control the seedlings; Seng Gelinqin cleans the remaining twists in the Qingjiang and Huaihe Rivers, and then he will meet the Shengbao Department and jointly kill the seedlings.
Empress Dowager Cixi said: This Miao Peilin is really hateful! It is extremely hateful to besiege Shouzhou with personal grudges and destroy the city.
Yi Xin said: Xue Huan, the governor of Jiangsu Province, reported that the salary road in Xiaoshan and Shaoxing cities has been cut off, and the two counties of Hangzhou and Hu are in short supply of arms, rice and food. If it takes a long time and all efforts are exhausted to save it, Songhu will become even more isolated. Wang Youling, the governor of Zhejiang, reported that Shaoxing, Zhuji, and Ningbo were all lost, and Hangzhou was in danger! Zeng Guofan, the governor of Liangjiang, reported that Anqing had been captured. After the land and sea armies conquered the towns of Wuwei and Yuncao, they were only two hundred miles away from Jiangning. They could have taken advantage of the panic of the bandits to attack Jinling's lair, but Zeng Guoquan's army could not penetrate deep into the bandit's base. In the hinterland, every place you get must be defended. Currently, they are guarding Anqing, Songyang, Lujiang, Wuwei, Yuncao, and Dongguan. The number is still too thin and there are no aggressive troops. Zeng Guofan stopped advancing, but Zhejiang Province was almost captured by Li Xiucheng and Li Shixian against the bandits; the provincial capital Hangzhou was being surrounded by Li Xiucheng. If reinforcements do not arrive, the city of Hangzhou will be destroyed.
Empress Dowager Cixi said: Under the whole country, only Zhejiang Province is in urgent need. Hangzhou relies on Shaoxing as its left arm, and Zhuji Shishi Hang and Shao choke. Shao and Zhu all lose. Hangzhou has no independent theory, and the overall situation of Zhejiang Province is bad! Hangzhou was a city that could only be saved by Zeng Guofan. The imperial envoy Zeng Guofan, the governor of Liangjiang, granted the title of Taibao to the prince. He was in charge of the three provinces of Jiangsu, Anhui, and Jiangxi, as well as the military affairs of Zhejiang Province. He was also the governor of all four provinces and the governors below the town. Official, all return to temperance.
Yi Xin said: If so, Zeng Guofan will definitely save Hangzhou.
The Empress Dowager Cixi said: The former minister of the country was originally recommended by Su Shun. Su Shun's house was raided, and there were so many flattering letters, but not a single word was seen, which is very sad.
When Zeng Guofan received the order, he was not happy but worried about it. He wrote to Zuo Zongtang and said: Yesterday, I received an order from the court and it was wrong to assume that I am also in charge of military affairs in Zhejiang. The position is too high, the power is too heavy, the false hopes are too high, and the talents are too short, all of them are in vain. I will formally resign today and recommend you to supervise the military affairs of Zhejiang.
Not long after the letter was sent, the vassal state immediately reported: Shaoxing is lost and Hangzhou is in danger. The Zhejiang army is controlled by ministers from a distance, but they are still thousands of miles away. If Zuo Zongtang is responsible for running Zhejiang Province, it can be determined by his breath. Zuo Zongtang is really capable of taking charge of his own affairs. We should ask the emperor to issue an edict instructing Zuo Zongtang to supervise the military affairs of Zhejiang Province. All the host and guest armies in the province will be under control. That is to say, there is no need for ministers to rule Zhejiang Province.
The Empress Dowager Cixi took over and ordered: Zeng Chen's words are reasonable and have evidence. Zhejiang Military Affairs is under the auspices of General Ruichang of Hangzhou. He also quickly ordered Zuo Zongtang, the Minister of Taichang Temple, to go to Zhejiang to suppress the bandits. All officials below the level of Ti town in Zhejiang Province were dispatched.
When Zuo Zongtang received the order, he was overjoyed and set out immediately.
Zeng Guofan urgently sent Zhao Liewen to stop him.
Zuo Zongtang said: Saving people is like putting out fire, seize the day and night!
Zhao Liewen said, "Commander Di has entrusted you before leaving. All things in this world cannot be broken or established." This is exactly the same as Hu Runzhi's rescue of Wuchang. When the army arrives, if they can be saved, the governor of Zhejiang will celebrate with their crowns; if they cannot be saved, my emperor will be sullen. The city of Hangzhou is about to be destroyed, and the troops must be raised to recover it; who can be given charge of the territory and territory? Furthermore, Wang Youling and He Guiqing were originally from the same family, and they supervised Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Our department did not get a meter or a penny.
Zuo Zongtang said: "What Mr. Pur said is reasonable. I am trying to catch millet from the fire, so I will follow Mr. Pur's wishes." After hearing that Duke Hu Runzhi passed away, Duolonga, Yang Zaifu, Peng Yulin, and Bao Chao all resented Zeng Yuanfu, and Peng Yulin had the intention of killing Yuan. True or false?
Zhao Liewen said: It is true that Zeng Guoquan massacred the city and everyone hated it. Last month, Sanhe Town was restored; Zeng Guobao slaughtered the town in memory of his brother. The guerrilla Cheng Xueqi stopped him with a horizontal sword, and the danger and fire merged.
Zuo Zongtang said: Although Cheng Xueqi is a reduced general, he is still a first-class figure. When fighting on the battlefield, everyone's eyes are red, and when they die, their ears are dead. The destruction of the city and the massacre were indeed not the work of a good man.
Zhao Liewen said: There are many soldiers but no pay, the city is broken, and the way to mobilize the army is to use a big rope for three days.
