Usurping the Qing Dynasty: My first love was Cixi

Chapter 278 Zeng Guofan’s last road! Liberation!

Historically, Li Xuyi died in mourning in his hometown about last year, and his final official position was governor of Anhui.

In this world, his final official position was Chief Envoy of Hubei, while Li Xubin has been serving as Governor of Anhui.

In addition, the Hunan Army encountered an unprecedented crisis in this world, so he did not go home to mourn last year, but instead avoided serious illness.

Inside the old governor's office in Anqing.

Yuan Jiasan, the governor of Liangjiang, represented Su Yi and appeased the many civil and military officials who had surrendered.

After a whole day, it was finally Li Xuyi's turn.

Li Xuyi also worked as an official in Anhui for a long time. Later, in order to avoid Li Xubin, the governor of Anhui, he went to Hubei as the chief envoy.

At that time, Li Xuyi was serving as the imperial envoy of Anhui, while Yuan Jiasan had served as the imperial envoy of the imperial court in Anhui for a period of time. The two had cooperation and differences, but most of them were disagreements.

Seeing Li Xuyi, Yuan Jiasan sighed softly.

For a moment, Li Xuyi felt extremely bitter in his heart.

Because he knows the taste of this sigh too well.

Yuan Jiasan felt that Li Xuyi was a rare talent. If he could surrender to Su Yi early, he would definitely be able to achieve great things.

Wen can be the governor of a province, and Wu can be the division commander, or even a higher position.

But now it's too late.

"Master Yuan, there is no need to hold back for me." Li Xuyi said: "We people cannot turn our backs on the Hunan Army at the critical moment. No matter what we think in our hearts, we can only go to the dark side."

Yuan Jiasan said: "I understand, ask yourself, if I were in your perspective, it is really hard to predict whether I could have decisively taken refuge with the prince two years ago. The reason why I decisively defected to the prince is largely because I have no faction and no backing."

Li Xuyi said: "Not everyone is Zuo Jigao."

Zuo Zongtang was once the most core member of the Hunan Army, and had controlled the military and political power of the entire Hunan for a long time. But at the critical moment, he abandoned everything and joined Su Yi.

Just like-minded people.

Yuan Jiasan said: "Kerang, do you want to go back to Wuchang?"

Li Xuyi said: "Do you want me to go back and persuade you to surrender?"

Yuan Jiasan said: "No, I will just let you go back without any conditions."

Li Xuyi felt even more bitter in his heart. After all, he was among the top figures in the Hunan Army, but at this time, he had no value at all to Su Yi.

Not only did they not surrender, they didn't even bother to take prisoners.

Li Xuyi shook his head and said: "No, I won't go back, just be a prisoner like this. Stay with the captured brothers and follow the policy arrangements."

Yuan Jiasan said: "Okay, that's it."

……………………………………………………

Lin Chang'er realized belatedly that she became the woman most obsessed with her husband.

At less than twenty-five years old, she is already the mother of three children.

Then she decided not to give birth.

Now, she is in the most beautiful moment of her life. If she is born again, she is worried that she will never be beautiful again.

Before, she deliberately called Hongren "Li Niang" every day and deliberately insulted him.

But now, I basically don’t shout anymore.

"I'm so upset now. If I don't lose weight, I'm a little fat. If I lose weight, I'm afraid I won't be as big as Hong Renli." She also held it up with her hands and weighed the weight herself.

Su Yi said: "Before, I kept calling her mother, and we were so close. The three of us slept in the same bed, and I felt like an outsider. Why am I competing with her every day now?"

Lin Chang'er said: "I was ignorant before and didn't know how to fight for men."

After returning to Jiujiang, Su Yi tried his best to drink a bowl of water and spend the night in turns.

Tonight, it's Lin Chang'er's turn.

This girl started late but is very bold and direct.

At this time, she was wearing an almost completely transparent silk nightgown, with really nothing underneath.

Among the women, she is the most fleshy.

Seems lustful and pure.

Like Bingbing, she is naturally white.

She had already looked white in the early years, but she had been pampered and pampered these past few years, and she looked like a porcelain doll.

Bingbing is gorgeous and she looks simple.

Even though he is almost twenty-five years old, he still seems to have a milky air.

Su Yi is handling official business.

She sat quietly and waited.

When Su Yi stretched, she immediately came over in surprise and said softly: "Husband, are you okay?"

"That's almost it." Su Yi said.

She immediately came over, sat directly on Su Yi's lap, and rubbed her face against hers.

Pink letter, lick it gently.

She was so direct, and her whole expression and eyes were filled with that desire to be close.

Su Yi reached out to explore it.

Still can't put it down.

It's really smooth as jade, completely flawless.

"I've been practicing for so long. I don't know if it will have any effect, but don't let go." She was so simple, but she spoke like a tiger or a wolf as soon as she spoke.

Then, she stretched out her palm.

Then he chuckled and said, "Fortunately, my husband is strong, maybe it's just right."

"My washing is fragrant, and the bath essence is slightly sweet. You... do you still want to eat it?"

Then, she sat directly on the table and turned away.

You can't learn how to seduce people.

What matters is simplicity and roughness.

But she is also pure, and she is also full of innocence.

There is no scheming or beating around the bush in my heart, I just want to be close.

At this time, there were footsteps outside, and a person pushed the door directly in.

Seeing this scene in front of me.

Hong Renli said: "Lin Shang'er, have some shame, don't do this every time."

Shang'er said angrily: "Hong Renli, you should have some shame, you are not married to my husband, today it's my turn, don't come to grab it, I don't want to share with you."

Hong Renli, dressed in a black uniform, looked gorgeous and cool, came directly in front of Su Ye, put the text in front of Su Ye seriously and said: "Anqing won a great victory, just less than five days, it has been occupied."

"This is a detailed battle report."

Su Ye took it and read it carefully, saying: "Chen Yucheng finally kept his position as a division commander."

Hong Renli said: "Fighting the Hunan Army is not a skill, fighting foreigners is a skill. Zuo Zongtang's battle in the northwest is also a skill."

The Western Expedition Army is really getting better and better in the northwest.

Not only is the military getting better and better, but the politics is also getting better and better.

It's either black or white, either this or that, it's played very well.

At the beginning, there were enemies everywhere.

And now, there is a clear distinction.

Ahead, there are enemies everywhere. The rear is all for the people.

The northwest is too big, and the rebels can disappear without a trace.

Zuo Zongtang's 60,000 Western Expedition troops had a hard time at the beginning, and now I don't know how many people have reported the news, and even the food and grass supplies are getting less and less.

Because they can be solved on the spot in the northwest.

The savior of tens of millions of people in the northwest is definitely not just talk.

In the past year, he has saved countless civilians, not just Han people.

The Western Expedition Army did not harm the people, did not rob, and did not levy heavy taxes.

In difficult times, they even used military rations to feed the people.

During busy farming seasons, they even helped farmers with work.

When military rations were needed, they were definitely purchased at a reasonable price.

And when there was a good harvest, it was the day when the rebels robbed food.

Zuo Zongtang directly launched a good harvest campaign and organized the army to protect the good harvest.

There may be crazy fighting in the front dozens of miles, and countless farmers in the back dozens of miles are desperately rushing to harvest.

Su Ye rarely plays the military and civilians as one family. His army has always kept a distance from the people.

It was in this special environment of the northwest that the military and civilians began to become one family with hundreds of millions of Han people.

"The princess organized a banquet to entertain the wives of British nobles and invited Chen Yucheng's wife, Lu." Hong Renli said, "Lu was unsure and asked me whether she should attend?"

Chen Yucheng's wife, Lu, was even considered the most beautiful woman in the kingdom of heaven.

Her appearance and figure were no less than Hong Renli and Fu Shanxiang.

However, Su Ye was completely indifferent and basically avoided his subordinates' wives and concubines.

Su Ye said, "When is the banquet?"

Hong Renli said, "Probably after the victory of the Battle of Anqing."

Su Ye said, "You can see for yourself."

Hong Renli said, "Then let her go. Not only her, but also Li Xiucheng's wife and Lai Wenguang's wife. Let's go together."

Lin Shang'er said, "Li Xiucheng's wife is fine, but will Lai Wenguang's wife go too?"

Hong Renli said, "Why, do you think it will embarrass your husband?"

Lai Wenguang's wife is not young anymore, and she has not been educated much, so she is a little vulgar.

"Yes, what's wrong?" Lin Shang'er said.

Hong Renli said, "Good little girl, have you forgotten that you are a person from the Kingdom of Heaven? You despise the vulgarity of the people from the Kingdom of Heaven. Why didn't I see you so vain when I was a child?"

"I am vain, what's wrong?" Lin Shang'er said.

In fact, she is the least vain.

She is not good at fighting or winning, and stays in her own yard every day.

"Okay, now that we've finished talking, you should go." Lin Shang'er went forward and pushed Hong Renli out.

Who knew that Hong Renli would take off her outer uniform and reveal her dark purple underwear.

Mature, sexy, and charming to the extreme.

And Lin Shang'er, it seemed to form two extremes.

"You want to snatch my man again, can't you let me accompany my husband alone?" Lin Shang'er said frustratedly.

Next, an extremely beautiful scene was staged.

Hong rode on the waist.

Lin rode on the face.

This was not a big deal, but at this time, Hong Renli kissed Lin Shang'er's chest.

"You, what are you doing, you are shameless." Lin Shang'er exclaimed.

"You think I just want to satisfy your beastly husband." Hong Renli said.

Lin Shanger said: "My husband is not a beast, I think you are the pervert."

Hong Renli galloped while patting Lin Shanger's buttocks, saying: "Call me mother, shout quickly, shout quickly..."

Lin Shanger said: "You are too perverted, you are not allowed to enter my room next time, my husband belongs to me alone."

…………………………………………

There was a dead silence in Wuchang City.

The bad news of the defeat spread to Wuchang along the Yangtze River in just three days.

Many senior officials of the Hunan Army were completely unbelievable and thought that this was completely Su Ye's intelligence blackmail.

How is it possible?

In just less than five days, Anqing fell?

With such a solid defense line, so many fortresses, and a full 100,000 troops, it would be no problem to defend for several months.

Why is this happening?

It is impossible that it will fall in five days.

However, the news that came next became more and more detailed.

"No wonder they lost, no wonder they lost."

"Among the Anqing defenders, there are so many former subordinates of Yuan Jiasan and Ma Xinyi, and so many of them were instigated by Su Ye's intelligence department to rebel."

"The defense of Anqing was built by rebels, so Chen Yucheng and others know all the flaws."

"They know the flaws and there are traitors inside, so it's no wonder it fell so quickly."

"Wuchang City is different. We have been operating this city for nearly ten years, and these hundreds of thousands of troops are all our direct troops, and it is not easy to be turned against."

"So, Wuchang City is completely different."

Li Xubin, Zeng Guoquan and others desperately looked for various reasons to convince themselves and everyone present.

Anqing fell so quickly, but Wuchang would definitely not.

But Peng Yulin, Luo Bingzhang, Zeng Guofan and others were silent.

After a long while, someone suddenly asked, "Is Shen Baozhen here?"

Zeng Guoquan's face changed. What does this mean?

Do you want Shen Baozhen to persuade you to surrender?

"It's too late to surrender now!" Zeng Guoquan said sternly: "If you want to surrender, you should have surrendered last year. Now the punitive manifesto against Su Ye has been issued, and the thirteen major crimes have been determined. It's too late to surrender."

"No surrender, never surrender." Li Xubin said: "Why did Anqing fall so quickly? It's because half of the people surrendered."

"Su Ye has more than 40,000 people, and the entire Wuchang garrison has a full 140,000 people, three or four times the number of troops. As long as we fight to the death and fight to the last soldier, we may not be unable to win."

Then, someone suddenly said: "Perhaps, the battlefield should not be placed in Anqing and Wuchang at that time, but in Chengdu, which is far away from the Yangtze River and has natural barriers to defend, so that it can hold out for enough time."

"At that time, we should have made a decisive decision and withdrawn all the more than 200,000 troops into Sichuan. At worst, there is still the situation of Shu Han."

Shi Dakai was determined to leave, wanting to go to Sichuan and establish himself as king. In history, he tried his best, but he couldn't do it.

If the Hunan Army had really decisively abandoned Hubei, Hunan, and Anhui and completely retreated from Sichuan, it would have been able to manage the entire Sichuan airtight with an army of more than 200,000.

However, at that time, giving up Jiangsu was already extremely unwilling.

Hubei and Hunan are the foundation of the Hunan Army, how can they give up?

Zeng Guofan looked at everyone and said word by word: "Brothers, if someone wants to surrender, I will never stop them, and I understand very well. But I myself will fight to the end."

Then, Zeng Guofan left.

……………………

Then, the whole Wuchang City was in panic.

Especially some high-level people, who were always waiting for Su Ye's secret envoy.

Even Shen Baozhen's level is not needed, Li Si, Bai Qi, and Li Qi's level are enough.

However, Su Ye's envoy did not come.

Many people were waiting for surrender and waiting for a price, but they did not appear.

There was only one message waiting, that Su Ye's army in Anqing had begun to gather again.

Moreover, only 35,000 people came, and the remaining 10,000 people had to defend Anqing and continue to manage tens of thousands of prisoners.

The main navy, with hundreds of troop transport ships, came towards Wuchang City in a mighty manner.

Dozens of airships in the sky also slowly moved westward.

Moreover, facing the water scout ships of the Hunan Army, they did not expel or sink them, but let them return to Wuchang to report.

……………………………………

Zeng Guofan came to the Yellow Crane Tower again.

He had received the bad news of defeat countless times, and there were even more tragic times.

Now, he still had at least hundreds of thousands of troops in his hands.

But he didn't know that he was so sad at this time.

He looked at the rolling water of the Yangtze River, and felt inexplicably emotional.

Peng Yulin walked up.

"Every time I see the Yangtze River, I feel a lot of emotion. After the late emperor came to the Yellow Crane Tower, he was also very shocked when he looked at the Yangtze River."

"When I saw the Yangtze River, the poems written by immortals emerged in my mind."

"But when Su Ye and I were in the Yellow Crane Tower, he looked at the Yangtze River very calmly, but we talked a lot, and I have forgotten a lot. But there is one sentence that I remember very clearly."

"We talked about Yang Shen's poem, the waves wash away the heroes, the waves wash away the heroes."

"The late emperor also discussed this poem with me, and which sentence I thought was good."

"I thought Yang Shen was too pessimistic at the time. So many heroes in history, could they all be washed away by the waves of time and completely disappear without a sound? But now, I think it makes sense. Heroes cannot withstand the baptism of time."

"The Yangtze River's back waves chase the front waves, and I, the front wave, will completely disappear. lost. ”

Peng Yulin said: "What did Su Ye say at that time?"

Zeng Guofan said: "Su Ye said at that time that we should not always stare at the Yangtze River and the Yellow River. If we stare at them for too long, our minds will become narrow. We should stare at the vast ocean, or even at the stars in the sky."

"At that time, I was disdainful in my heart, thinking that young people were impetuous and flashy, and not down-to-earth."

"You haven't even won the waves of the Yangtze River, so you want to go to the vast ocean and die?" Zeng Guofan said slowly: "As a result, he really went to the vast ocean to fight. Although he was still not famous and strong in the ocean, he could not be said to have won. But after fighting in the vast ocean, he had no rivals when he returned to the Yangtze River."

Peng Yulin was silent for a long time and said: "Marshal, you go to Sichuan, I will command the Battle of Wuchang."

Zeng Guofan was silent for a long time and shook his head and said: "No, I won't go."

"I felt humiliated before because Su Yi was too indifferent to us. We were engaged in the first line of defense, the second line of defense, and the third line of defense here, but he didn't care at all."

"Rong Lu led his army to leave Chengdu and asked us to take advantage of the situation and run Sichuan. He was not very angry."

"Now it seems that our so-called three lines of defense strategy is ridiculous."

"What's the use of local warlords like us running Sichuan?"

According to the history of a few decades later, it is still somewhat useful.

Liu Xiang and other warlords had occupied Sichuan for many years, and Jiang was helpless.

It is said that the Hunan Army is more famous and powerful than Liu Xiang and others.

But... now people including Zeng Guofan clearly know in their hearts that the so-called management of Sichuan is very nonsense.

Because it is still unified.

The center was already weakened, but it was lifted up again by Su Yi.

"Su Yi is like a wave now, sweeping across with no disadvantages." Zeng Guofan said: "Just look at the capital and you will know that so many bannermen hate Su Yi in their hearts. Even Ronglu and Jingshou combined have more troops. But... the bannermen, princes and ministers counterattacked a little, and with just one Tong Jiewu, they were pushed back and stopped fighting again. "

"The war situation in our south has not reached the capital yet. The Heilongjiang defense line in the north is obviously in danger. Su Yi's center should be shaky. As a result, the capital is strangely quiet. The bannermen, princes and ministers don't even fight back. What do you think? Why is this?"

Peng Yulin said slowly: "Although the interests of these bannermen have been greatly damaged, and although their wealth has been cut off, it is like killing their father. But... almost everyone knows in their hearts that Su Yi is taking the right path. . So no matter what you do, you can’t be confident.”

Zeng Guofan said slowly: "With the great righteousness of the world, there will be no disadvantage in any direction."

Peng Yulin said: "Commander, Su Yi has great righteousness now, but he may not have great righteousness in the future. When the emperor grows up, do you want to return to power?"

Zeng Guofan said: "That's too far away, seven or eight years later."

Peng Yulin was silent, yes, it was too far away.

After a long while, Peng Yulin suddenly bowed down and said: "Commander, surrender, surrender!"

Zeng Guofan was silent for a long time and said: "Brother Xueqin, I have been wanting to say this for a long, long time."

Peng Yulin remained silent and did not refute.

In fact, he did not agree with Zeng Guofan's line of confrontation from the beginning. He wanted to agree with Su Yi's conditions from the beginning.

But there is no way, he is one of the giants of the Hunan Army, and he must obey the will of the entire Hunan Army.

Zeng Guofan said: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, we have held your will hostage. Whether you want it or not, we have been holding you hostage to go further and further."

Peng Yulin said: "Commander, why do you say this? Without the Hunan Army, there would be no me, Peng Yulin. Of course, I will advance and retreat together with all my brothers."

Then, Peng Yulin once again bowed deeply and said: "Commander, surrender!"

Zeng Guofan looked at the surging river water outside, shook his head and said: "No, we can't surrender."

Didn’t you see that Su Yi didn’t even send an envoy to persuade him to surrender?

"Can't surrender, I can't surrender." Zeng Guofan sighed.

"If I had taken refuge with Su Yi three years ago, then I, Zeng Guofan, would now be one of the prime ministers of the Zhengshitang and a minister with a strong position."

"If I had surrendered to Su Yi last year, I would still be a wise man, and I would still have my place in the future center."

"If I surrender now, my reputation will be completely ruined and I will be infamy for thousands of years."

"For the sake of my posthumous reputation, I...I will die on the battlefield."

"For the future of my brothers, I will die on the battlefield."

"In order to save a little bit of honor, I will die on the battlefield."

Zeng Guofan held Peng Yulin's hand and said slowly: "On the battlefield, I will take Zeng Guoquan and Li Xubin to die together. If a few of us die, we can win a little dignity for you, and we can win for you." A little way out.”

"Brother Xueqin, a few of us have become obsolete and can die. However, the Hunan Army cannot be completely destroyed, and it cannot have no place at all in the future. After all this hard work, we must leave something for our descendants. "

"It's easy for us to die once, but after we die, you have to lead the brothers of the Hunan Army to continue fighting, so you are the most difficult."

Peng Yulin suddenly burst into tears.

Zeng Guofan said: "Yulin, we have missed many, many opportunities. At this time, there is almost no place for Su Yi. But there will be another opportunity in the future. Do you know what it is?"

"I probably know, but please let me know, Commander-in-Chief," Peng Yulin said.

Zeng Guofan said: "The emperor will always grow up, and he will always be able to rule personally. This day will always come in seven or eight years."

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the remnants of our Hunan Army."

"From now on, you have to plan how to persuade Su Yi to advance."

"First of all, Su Yi definitely wants to sit in that position. But regardless of whether he wants to do it or not, we will do our best to let him sit in that position."

"Next, whether you are an official or in the opposition, you must do everything possible to highlight, pave the way, and create an atmosphere so that Su Yi can ascend to that high position in the most royal, reasonable, and correct way."

"Although Lin Li's powerful society is powerful, their policies are too extreme, too new, and lack tolerance, and they are too far away from the traditional scholar-bureaucrats."

"The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom is the one who most wants Su Ye to ascend to the throne. But their thinking is more extreme, and they are more opposed to the traditional scholar-official class."

"Therefore, only our Hunan Army elites can help Su Ye win over scholars and scholar-official class."

"This is the only way for our Hunan Army to rise, and this road is the most suitable for us to take. So in the next few years, you must root yourself in the gentry camp, concentrate on business, and use a few years, or even more than ten years, to clear moral obstacles and public opinion obstacles for Su Ye to ascend to the throne in order to strengthen his momentum."

"Su Ye will then take action against scholars, financial groups, local governments, and even the landlord class."

"You must work hard to buffer his policies and be his knife."

"In short, we must make sure that all scholars in the world support Su Ye to ascend to the throne in the future."

"In this way, our Hunan Army will really survive."

Peng Yulin knelt down She cried, "Marshal, since you know it so clearly, you should do it."

"No." Zeng Guofan said, "I can't forget Su Ye, who was once beheaded by me. It's not that my knees are hard, but that I am narrow-minded. I can kneel to the mediocre and incompetent emperor, but I can't kneel to the powerful Su Ye, because I am unwilling and can't get over that hurdle."

"Besides, I must die!"

"Only if I die, and die in the most heroic way, can I get a little respect from Su Ye and a little respect from the world."

"Peng Yulin, do you remember what I said?"

Peng Yulin said, "Remember."

Zeng Guofan said, "Can you do it well?"

Peng Yulin said, "I can do it well, and I can find a way for the Hunan Army to survive in the future."

Zeng Guofan said, "Okay, in this way, I can die generously with peace of mind."

Since ancient times, the most difficult thing is death.

But now, Zeng Guofan feels that he is relieved and liberated.

…………………………………………

Note: I spent quite a long time thinking about the plot today, and will update it with more than 10,000 words tomorrow. Thank you everyone.