I can't die

The first time the British army used Armstrong guns in actual combat was the battle against the Qing army in the Beitang area during the Second Opium War.Later, according to reports, in this battle, the British army used Armstrong naval guns to destroy the Qing army fort in Beitang, and the shelling severely damaged the Qing army in one fell swoop.

Although the gunners of the Qing army fought back bravely with artillery.However, due to the inability of the gun emplacement parapet to provide sufficient protection for the gunners, a lot of casualties were caused.Post-war investigations showed that in the face of the overwhelming firepower of the Armstrong cannon, most of the gunners who died in the Qing army were blown into two sections or their bodies were incomplete.The powerful Armstrong gun also became famous in the first battle.

As a general from the army, Li Hongzhang naturally knew how powerful Armstrong's cannon was. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but give Childe a three-pointer. He never thought that this American foreign devil actually had such a magical weapon in his hands.Thinking that if the Qing Dynasty had such weapons in hand, it would be able to face the British with a lot of confidence, Li Hongzhang didn't care much, and finally decided to cut first and then play, and directly promised Chard's order, at 1 He bought it at a super high price of 30 taels, and swallowed all the muskets by the way, a total of [-] taels, and finally sent this secret letter to Zai Chun.

At this time, Zai Chunshang didn't know about this good thing, and he was waiting for Zeng Guofan's visit in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.Zeng Guofan just returned to the capital this morning. After eating some snacks at home, he changed into his official uniform and rushed towards the palace without stopping.Now the admiral of the capital's infantry is Shengbao in name, but Arut-Chongqi is actually in power.Arut Chongqi's influence was greatly reduced due to the involvement of the previous eight ministers, and now he has just recovered because of Shengbao's recommendation, and it is time to show his loyalty. to the palace.

Zeng Guofan, known as the most famous statesman, strategist, Neo-Confucianist, and writer in the late Qing Dynasty, was the founder and commander-in-chief of the Hunan Army.It is not an exaggeration to say that he is a talent to save the country.After Zai Chun knew that this person had arrived in Beijing, his desire to see this person became more and more intense. At the moment, he didn't even want to go to the study room, so he took a leave of absence and waited for Zeng Guofan to enter in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Palace face saint.

However, Zai Chun waited, waited, waited for an hour, but he still hadn't seen Zeng Guofan's shadow. He felt puzzled, and hurriedly called Li Lianying: "Aying, let's go to the gate of the palace to see, why is this so strange?" The Minister of the Ministry of War has not come yet."

Li Lianying could see the impatient look on Zai Chun's face, so she hurriedly responded and trotted out.After half a stick of incense, Li Lianying learned what was going on from the guards guarding the Taihe Gate, and then ran back: "Report to the emperor, Mr. Zeng has entered the palace."

"What about that person?"

Zai Chun was puzzled.

"As soon as Master Zeng entered the palace, he was invited away by the empress dowagers of the two palaces. He is currently in Zhongcui Palace."

have to.When Zai Chun heard it, he knew it well.With Zeng Guofan holding a heavy army, it is conceivable for the empress dowagers of the two palaces to contact each other in private.

Zai Chun believed in Zeng Guofan, so he wasn't afraid that he would defect to the Queen Mother of the Two Palaces, but after he found out about this, he felt a little uncomfortable after all, so he got up from the dragon chair and walked towards the Hall of Mental Cultivation .Li Lianying looked at Zai Chun's meaning, and without asking, she understood immediately, and said loudly, "Putting Zhong Cui Palace."

A group of people walked out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation in a mighty manner, and then went to the harem.

At this time, Zhong Cui Palace was also very embarrassed.It was An Dehai who stopped people on the way to Taihe Gate, and Cixi was the one who attacked first, but halfway through, the people from Ci'an were killed halfway, and Zeng Guofan was stopped at Zhongcui Palace.Cixi knew in her heart that Ci'an was the Empress Dowager of the Eastern Palace, she was a wife, and she was a concubine, so she was dissatisfied in her heart, but in order to meet Zeng Guofan, she had no choice but to angrily lead people to the Zhongcui Palace and meet her in the Zhongcui Palace. .

The empress dowagers of the two palaces stared at Zeng Guofan with four pairs of eyes through the curtain. After a long time, Cixi couldn't bear her temper, glanced at Ci'an, and said: "My sister is usually the most leisurely and wealthy person. Are you so serious today?"

Ci'an's smile was not a smile, she was favored by Cixi relying on her husband, supported by her son for so many years, and she had already learned how to grasp Cixi's fate through failure - that is the family law of the ancestors.No matter what, as long as the relatives behind Ci'an don't fall, and the etiquette and law don't fail, Ci'an has a lot of ways to save face, so today Ci'an deliberately made such a statement: "Master Zeng is an important minister of the country, and now he returns to Beijing. I didn’t see you last time. By the way, it’s not the [-]th day of the Lunar New Year, so why is my sister free to come to Zhongcui Palace to say hello?”

It has always been a custom for concubines to greet the queen. Even if Cixi became the queen mother, she would have to do it on the first and fifteenth day of the lunar new year.Sure enough, when Cixi heard Ci'an's words, she felt as if she had eaten something, and felt very uncomfortable, but she had no choice but to show her sister's affection on her face. After all, Zeng Guofan was still watching in Zhongcui Palace. .

"I miss my sister. In the past few months, many old people have left in the palace, and there are fewer and fewer people who can accompany me. It's good that we sisters can spend one more day together."

In the past few months alone, half of the concubines in Shoukang Palace who accompanied Xianfeng died. Except for Concubine Li who was forced to death by Zai Chun and Rong Shou, the rest were all caused by Cixi. Ci'an knew this well. very.

Temptress, this is a curse that turns the corner, I'm going to die too.Ci'an cursed inwardly, then thought of the last will Xianfeng left to him before his death, and became proud again: Let's wait and see who wins the battle.

Behind the curtain, the two most powerful women in the Qing Dynasty were talking vigorously.Zeng Guofan was listening to the two women behind the curtain playing wits, but he found it very boring.He didn't like to be involved in the affairs of the harem. Moreover, the emperor was still waiting for him in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, so he felt that these two empress dowagers were so ignorant of manners. Even if they were the emperor's mother, they couldn't be like this ?

When Zai Chun came in, it was also when the two old mothers were talking about the excitement. At the moment, he, the son, had a good time watching the two queen-level women's tongue-in-cheek rivalry.

"Since the two queen mothers have met, then Zai Chun will go back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation with Shang Shu first."

Seeing the two old mothers talking vigorously, Zai Chun hurriedly interjected.After finishing speaking, Zai Chun took a look at Zeng Guofan, and wanted to drag Zeng Guofan out of the Zhongcui Palace together. Unexpectedly, when the words came out, both mothers gave a meal, and Qi Qi said: "What's wrong with the emperor?" Do you mean that? Could it be that we two elders are getting in the way?"

Got it, got it, got it.

It's okay this time, no one can leave, so let's just spend time in Zhongcui Palace.Zai Chun couldn't help curling his lips, showing a dumbfounding expression, and then sat down in the main hall.

Hey, these two old mothers are really annoying. . .