Chapter 156 Zeng Guoquan retreats bravely from the rapids (2)
Zeng Guofan received the order and said to Zeng Guoquan: "What do you think of the two palaces' orders?"
Zeng Guoquan said: All the wealth has been plundered, and there is no evidence to prove it. The dead wood is a dead ship, and there is no need to cry out!
Zeng Guofan said: No! The wisdom of the two palaces is that women are not inferior to men. The flowers are not fully bloomed and the moon is not full, but I still miss the flowers and wait for the moon. Knowing that the flowers and the moon are merciless, it would be even more pitiful if they were sentimental. Will Zuo Jigao and Li Shaoquan arrive tomorrow? They will give a banquet to the three armies. Without these two people, we will not be able to enjoy the meal.
Zeng Guoquan said: The war in Huzhou is raging, and Zuo and Li may not be able to escape.
Zeng Guofan said: The city of Jinling is destroyed, all the false masters are dead, the rest of the trees fall down and the hozens are scattered. Huzhou will soon fall, and half of the southwest wall is already mine.
The next day, both Zuo and Li arrived, and the guests and hosts settled down, eating meat and drinking wine, and everything was peaceful.
Li Hongzhang said: Tens of thousands of people are surrounded by a fortified city. Fighting for a long time without a decision is the easiest way to lose their energy. Brother Yuanfu can nourish the strength of tens of thousands of people without losing it for a long time, and he can defeat it in battle. This is too much. A place for people.
Zeng Guoquan said: "I am ashamed to have acquired this city in two years!"
Zuo Zongtang whispered: Brother Yuan has conquered Jinling, and the overall situation has been clarified. The southwest half of the wall is all due to brother's strength.
Bao Chao said with a smile: "Di Shuai and Jiu Shuai have conquered Jinling. The overall situation has been decided. Tingbu's salary and silver are just around the corner."
Zeng Guofan said: "Brother Bao, don't be impatient. Give the army three days to eat and drink quickly. You will not return until you are drunk."
After the banquet, Zeng Guofan invited Zuo Zongtang and Li Hongzhang for a secret discussion.
Zuo Zongtang said: "I dare to ask Di Shuai, how important is the cauldron?"
Zeng Guofan said decisively: There is no question about the importance of the tripod!
Li Hongzhang said: There is no owner in the southeast. Is it true that the commander-in-chief is careless?
Zeng Guofan said: The sky shines on the sea with countless flowers, and the flowing water on the high mountains makes you aware of yourself. In the three thousand miles of the Yangtze River, there is almost no ship that does not fly my flag. However, the power is too heavy, the position is too high, the false hopes are too high, and I am terrified. Zeng Guoquan's army has broken military discipline, destroyed the city of Jinling, burned, killed, looted, and committed all kinds of evil. The people are extremely angry. I want to disband their army. What do you think?
Zuo Zongtang was shocked and said: Brother Di, you can't cut off your arm!
Zeng Guofan said: When the birds are gone, the good bow is hidden; when the cunning rabbit dies, the running dogs are cooked. This is the same in ancient and modern times. Instead of letting others lead you away, it is better to get off the donkey along the slope and eliminate the hostility.
Li Hongzhang said: Zuo Gong's words are reasonable. Commander Di dismissed Yuan Fu's army on his own, which is indeed a suicide.
Zeng Guofan said: The horse is released in the southern mountains of Xiangye, and the knife is inserted into the treasury of Chutian; take a step back to open up the sea and the sky.
Zuo Zongtang said: This matter is not a trivial matter. I would like to ask Brother Di to think twice.
Zeng Guofan said: The Hunan tribe is about to be eliminated. Zuo Gong's Chu army and Shaoquan's Huai army will also be my right-hand man! We are on the same branch, our voices are connected, and we can call for wind and rain.
Zuo Zongtang said, "If your lips are dead, your teeth will be cold. Zuo's Chu tribe was originally a branch of the Hunan Army. Brother Di's request was also a political order of the Chu Army."
Zeng Guofan laughed and said: "Listening to the Duke's words is like taking a breath of spring breeze."
Zuo Zongtang said: Jiang Yili reported that the young master of Guangdong Ni may be in Huzhou City.
Zeng Guofan was shocked and said: Seriously?
Zuo Zongtang said: It may be true, but it remains to be confirmed!
Zeng Guofan said: "Without delay, I will immediately judge Zeng Guoquan's army. Zuo Gong and Shaoquan must guard against arrogance and impetuosity, fight steadily, and do not make trouble for others."
Li Hongzhang said: "I'm reporting to Commander Di. The Huai tribe is the tribe of Hunan. If Commander Di has any dispatches, Hong Zhang will be there as soon as possible."
That night, the Zeng brothers rested on their feet and fell asleep. Zeng Guofan tossed and turned, unable to sleep for a long time.
Zeng Guoquan said: Brother seems to have something on his mind!
Zeng Guofan said: On the first day of last year, I just left two tables. Why? How many people from ancient times have been able to manage their fate in a high position, great power and great reputation? It is necessary to try to give up a little bit of power and position, subtract a few percent, and then the festival can gradually come to an end.
Zeng Guoquan: Drinking and singing, what is life like? It is especially difficult to achieve fame in troubled times. Jinling has been destroyed, and Guangdong Ni will be destroyed. When success and fame are achieved, there are many false thoughts, and of course there is no sleep.
Zeng Guofan said: The flying birds have exhausted all their good bows, and the cunning rabbits have died and been cooked by running dogs. We are in danger!
Zeng Guoquan said: "I want to wear Chen Qiao's yellow robe again, but I don't have the intention. I just want to help you!"
Zeng Guofan said: Never think like this again. If I wear a yellow robe, Guan Wen, Seng Gelinqin, Fu Ming'a, Li Zhaoshou, etc. will immediately surround and suppress our army. Zuo Zongtang has been proud and arrogant for a long time, and he will not be convinced; Li Hongzhang can only share wealth and wealth, but not hardship; Peng Yulin has been evil for a long time; Yang Yuebin has been honored as the governor of Shaanxi and Gansu. If you listen to the seal but not the tune, what can you do?
Zeng Guoquan said: My brother's words are very reasonable. I didn't think carefully and stopped at the first taste, which was in danger of missing something important.
Zeng Guofan said: I am going to separate the Qin Seal Script and the Du Seal Script, and assign another official to take charge. My brothers will always have this conscientious heart. At this time, we will withdraw and retreat. We can start well and end well, so as to avoid great violence!
Zeng Guoquan said: "Brother, you are stupid. I am a fish and meat, and I am a swordsman. I have been in the army for ten years, and I have the weapons at my fingertips. How can I be slaughtered by others?" The big hermit hides in the court, the middle hermit hides in the city, and the small hermit hides in the wild. The elder brother holds the key, and the foolish younger brother lets it go in the wilds of Hunan. They sing and harmonize, echoing from beginning to end, which is also a pleasure!
Zeng Guofan said: What brother Yuan said is very reasonable. However, those who are brave enough to shake the master are in danger, but those who have made great achievements in the world will not be rewarded. Brother Yuan's destruction of the city and robbery of wealth was also a reward for himself; and brother Yuan's must-kill army was also a necessity to eliminate merit and protect himself. Zuo Zongtang said that the false young master is still alive and may be in Huzhou. If this is true, we will commit the grave sin of deceiving the emperor and neglecting our superiors. Rescue immediately, otherwise it will be too late!
Zeng Guoquan said: Brother, is there any way to save him?
Zeng Guofan said: I will go to Shu immediately. First, the Hunan Army has been fighting for a long time and has become twilight, so it must be disbanded immediately. Second, repair the city and ask Jiangning General Fu Ming'a to lead his army to settle in. Third, prepare to build Jiangnan Gongyuan in October this year. , that is, in Liangjiang, open a subject to obtain scholars.
Zuo Zongtang returned to Hangzhou and informed Jiang Yili, Yang Changjun, Liu Dian and others about Zeng Guofan's disarmament.
Jiang Yili said: "The city of Jinling was destroyed, and the Zeng family's pot was filled with food. They closed it as soon as it was good. They really had a good plan."
Yang Changjun said: I dare to ask Commander Zuo, after Huzhou is defeated, will our army also be disbanded?
Zuo Zongtang said: "Old Prime Minister Di is always bitter and sluggish in military affairs. There were many disagreements in the discussion yesterday." Just because of the overall situation, we have to do it reluctantly. However, the fake young master is indeed in Huzhou. If I don't neglect him, I will be deceiving you.
On August 7, 1864, Zongtang reported: Yesterday, I received a report from Xiaofeng's garrison. According to the testimony of the refugees who escaped from Jinling, the false young master fled from Dongba to Guangde on June 21. On the 26th, They blocked Huang Wenjin and welcomed him into the capital city of Huzhou.
Chahu County Guards thieves Huang Wenjin, Yang Fuqing, Li Yuanji, etc., all have been bandits for many years. The number of thieves is so large that there are more than 100,000. They colluded with each other this time, with the intention of desperately fighting each other. Now they use the name of the false young master to call If you are a traitor to the party, you will know that its power is not as strong as others.
Empress Dowager Cixi answered the memorial, wept with joy, and said: The city of Jinling was destroyed, and the imperial court did not get a cent. What Zeng did was extremely hateful. She immediately sent an edict to Zeng Guofan to investigate the matter thoroughly. If it is true, then precautions were not taken. Member Bian must take part in the process seriously.
Prince Gong Yixin said: Hanlin editor Cai Shouchu, censor Zhu Zhen, and supervisory censor Zhu Zhen mutually impeached the Zeng brothers for being domineering, plundering property, and killing people.
Empress Dowager Cixi said: "The Ai family has observed Zeng Guofan's memorials over the years and finally realized that this minister was definitely not a sycophant." Zeng Guofan served in the army as a Confucian minister. He served for the longest time and had the most military exploits. He was able to be cautious from the end to the beginning and will always be honored. However, all the generals under his command, starting from Zeng Guoquan and below, should be warned by the minister at any time, so as not to be arrogant due to sudden victory, so that the common people can be favored and supported for a long time.
