Chapter 594: Bandits’ Style

The genius was in a dawn, and the riverside in Hankou, Hanyang was filled with people. Hundreds of thousands of Taiping troops began to line up in an orderly manner. Ships of all sizes began to go up the river. On the banks of the river, a large group of people slowly climbed along the river...

At the Wenchang Gate Tower in Wuchang, Yi Zhizu watched this scene from the telescope and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The Taiping Army finally began to retreat. To be honest, he was really worried that the Taiping Army would not know how to defend Hankou, Hanyang, and that it would force the naval fleet to fight the Taiping Army Navy.

"They know each other." Senggelinqin snorted coldly, then said: "Can the fleet arrive in Tianxingzhou in the morning?"

Yi Zhizu put down his telescope and said, "The prince wants to take the opportunity to chase after him?"

"If you can pursue it, it is the best." Senggelinqin said: "In history, fighting bandits only has to chase but not stop..."

"The Taiping Army on the other side has 50,000 elite troops, and the old and weak are all on a boat. How could they be so easy to pursue?" Yi Zhizu said slowly: "The fleet is not hidden from the Taiping Army, otherwise they would not be so calm."

"We can't pursue it." Senggelinqin said: "The naval fleet has many steamships, so can we pursue it along the river?"

Yi Zhizu shook his head and said, "It's all the old, weak, women and children. What's the difference between killing good and killing good people? I'm not interested!"

Seeing that he was unwilling, Senggelinqin did not force himself and said, "How many such steamer gunboats can Yuanqi make in a year?"

"There are only 20 or 30 ships a year in Guangzhou and Shanghai." Yi Zhizu glanced at him and said, "It will take less than three or five years for the Yangtze River Navy to form a scale."

It will take three or five years? Senggelinqin sighed inwardly. In three or five years, the daylily will be cold. The court planned to build the Yangtze River Navy and appointed Chang Bao, the Beiyang Navy, as the admiral of the navy. This matter is easy to be content and does not mention it at all. It is obvious that he has complaints. He does not want to continue talking about this topic, so he avoids embarrassment and immediately said, "We should leave too."

With the evacuation of the Taiping Army in Hankou, Hanyang and Hangulinqin, as Senggelinqin led the Eight Banners Green Camp across the river to pursue, the smoke that enveloped the three towns of Wuhan completely dissipated. However, as a large number of people were swept away by the Taiping Army, the entire three towns of Wuhan seemed extremely deserted and empty.

Yi Zhizu was also free at this time. He wandered around the city in a very small way all day long. Wuchang City was broken, and many wealthy families in the city were killed. Many people were killed. Many families were killed. He was thinking about whether he would take this opportunity to buy some shops in the houses and gardens. Of course, this matter was not urgent. After all, many clever gentry and merchants escaped from the city before the war. Whether they had no masters can be decided if they could be decided.

Although the three towns in Wuhan were greatly damaged this time, he believed that they would soon prosper again in one or two years. With the 20,000 New Eight Banners Army heading south, the Taiping Army would be unable to make its way to Henan as long as it was a little rational. The biggest possibility was to rely on the navy to occupy Dongting Lake, the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, and the Xiangshui River Basin.

In this way, Wuchang's strategic location will be more important, with a large number of Eight Banners Green Camps stationed, and the Taiping Army stirring up the wind and rain in the two lakes will prompt a large number of gentry and merchants to move to Wuchang, and a large number of fleeing people will also come, and they will soon be able to return to their previous prosperity, and may even be more prosperous.

The current situation in Wuchang is extremely rare. Yi Zhizu is really sorry if he doesn't take this opportunity to earn some money. This time, the relief and comforting the people of Wuchang is quite expensive, so he has to fill the gap.

Early that morning, the personal guards sent an invitation. Hubei Governor Jiang Zhongyuan held a banquet at the Yellow Crane Tower. Yi Zhizu has been acclaimed for the Yellow Crane Tower for a long time. He was planning to take time to go there in the past few days. When he saw Jiang Zhongyuan, he immediately went there happily.

The Yellow Crane Tower is very famous. Any literati and poets who come to Wuchang must visit the Yellow Crane Tower. However, in recent days, it has been deserted and difficult to see a few people all day long. However, today is particularly lively. The reason is very simple. Jiang Zhongyuan, who has been newly promoted to the governor of Hubei, is here to have guests. After hearing the news, many officials rushed over and over. For a time, the Yellow Crane Tower is glorious.

The civil and military officials in Wuchang City were killed by the Taiping Army. These officials who suddenly appeared were naturally alternate officials who were well-informed. Now there are not many people in Wuchang City, but there are many officials. Although it is very risky to be an official in Wuchang, I missed such a rare opportunity to fill the gap. I don’t know that I will have to wait until the year of the Monkey and Horse Month to have another chance.

Before Jiang Zhongyuan arrived, the group of alternate officials were bored, enjoying the scenery while chatting. In addition to the concerns about the current situation in Hubei and the lack of officials, it was naturally Jiang Zhongyuan. Everyone was envious and jealous of this new governor who quickly rose to become a legend in the Qing Dynasty officialdom. In just three or four years, it was unheard of that from the magistrate to the prefecture to the governor. How could a thirty-year-old official not make people jealous?

Near noon, a green cloth sedan stopped in front of the Yellow Crane Tower. Jiang Zhongyuan, dressed in a slim dress, came out of the sedan chair. When he saw the situation in the Yellow Crane Tower, his thick eyebrows immediately stood up. He specially selected the Yellow Crane Tower to invite Yi Qunzu, and the purpose was to be purity. He didn't expect that so many candidates would come.

"Investigate! Examine thoroughly! Who leaked the news?" Jiang Zhongyuan said in a deep voice. As he took out a post and ordered: "When the shopkeeper's clearance, all irrelevant people will be driven away."

Before the shopkeeper of Huanghe Tower cleared the venue, the alternate officials saw Jiang Zhongyuan coming and immediately rushed out. Listening to the messy names of everyone, Jiang Zhongyuan bowed and said, "Everyone, I am here to host the banquet for Zhenhai Marquis. You must also know that Zhenhai Marquis likes to be purified. Please leave the post and go to the office tomorrow." As he said that, he separated everyone and went straight into Huanghe Tower.

Such a rare opportunity, the alternate officials were not willing to leave easily. Anyway, they were idle. Even though they were crowded out to discuss, the focus of this discussion was that Zhenhai Hou Yishi was Yi and even talked about "Yixuan Official".

Yi Zhizu arrived at the Yellow Crane Tower at noon. He also came in contemplation. He only brought two personal guards with him and walked along the way. He saw so many officials outside. He couldn't help but be quite surprised. After a second thought, he understood what was going on. Seeing him coming, a group of alternate officials hurriedly gathered to greet him.

"You really want to be lacking, but you don't have to live." Yi Zhizu quipped in a relaxed tone: "Now that the war in Huguang is in full swing, and those who have the need can't resign. You guys are still rushing forward."

Seeing him easy-going, someone said boldly: "Marty, there are still some officials in Nanyang..."

Yi Zhizu smiled and said, "There are many lacks in Nanyang officials, but I should be young, talented, honest and loving the people. I don't like it."

"Mr. Marquis, the subordinates meet the conditions."

"Mr. Marquis, the subordinates are also in line."

"If you meet the conditions and are willing to go, send the post to Aiyuan." Yi Zhizu said, and raised his eyes and greeted Jiang Zhongyuan, and immediately separated everyone.

"The news leaked..., it made the Marquis laugh." Jiang Zhongyuan bowed and smiled, and said as he reached out to give in and said, "Mr. Please——."

"Look at this attitude, the Qing Dynasty will never lack officials." Yi Zhizu said and walked in. The two went up the second floor and sat by the window. Jiang Zhongyuan knew Yi Zhizu's temperament. The bartender who waited for the tea to retreat, he said straight: "Encircle and suppress the bandits, from Guangxi to Hubei, and also saw the Eight Banners Green Camp in several provinces. Except for the Eight Banners New Army, everything else is no longer useful..."

Yi Zhizu said carelessly: "Brother Min Qiao plans to rectify Hubei Green Camp?"

"No, I'm going to prepare for a large-scale group training." Jiang Zhongyuan said in a deep voice: "The green camp is hopeless. Instead of wasting time, energy and money to rectify the green camp, it's better to form a group training!"

Establishing a group training? Jiang Zhongyuan is now the governor of Hubei and forming a group training as a governor of a province? Yi Zhizu was secretly surprised. He knew that Jiang Zhongyuan was not a person who followed the rules and was brave, but he didn't expect that he was so brave. Could this guy be planning to imitate Yuanqi's group training?

After pondering for a moment, he said, "Brother Minqiao is not optimistic about the Eight Banners New Army?"

"That's not." Jiang Zhongyuan said: "The Eight Banners New Army is indeed extraordinary, but there are only 30,000 people. The Taiping Army has become a climate now. It is not easy to destroy it. Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong of the former Ming Dynasty, who have been in trouble for more than ten years."

Sure enough, Yi Zhizu nodded but said nothing. Jiang Zhongyuan continued: "The two lakes may become the main battlefield for encircling and suppressing the Taiping Army. I hope to order a large number of Western firearms and ammunition."

"Yes." Yi Zhizu said with ease: "From next year, we can continuously provide Hubei with Western firearms and ammunition, but arms transactions have always been paid for silver."

Jiang Zhongyuan smiled and said, "Don't worry, don't let the marquis make things difficult for the marquis."

After drinking tea and enjoying the scenery, Jiang Zhongyuan asked suddenly: "Will the Navy Fleet be stationed in Wuchang for a long time?"

"No." Yi Zhizu said without hesitation: "The court is preparing to build the Yangtze River Navy and the naval fleet has been stationed in Wuchang for a long time. Wouldn't it be hated? The new Eight Banners Army arrived in Hubei and evacuated."

Jiang Zhongyuan shook his head slightly and said, "The construction of the Yangtze River Navy is not like to encircle and suppress the bandits, but rather like to prevent the Nanyang Navy and change its position. The next steamer gunboat will not be sold to the Yangtze River Navy."

Yi Zhizu smiled, "I'm afraid only Brother Minqiao dares to say this." After lit a cigarette, he said slowly: "It is a good thing to prepare for the construction of the Yangtze River Navy. It is not only conducive to preventing the Taiping Army from moving eastward along the Yangtze River, but also quickly mobilizing troops. We should support it and support it."

Jiang Zhongyuan looked at him and said, "This is not like the Marquis' style of acting."

"The destruction of the bandits on the local economy is devastating, and it will also cause a large number of casualties. The two lakes are important grain-producing areas. The war between the two lakes has a huge impact on the southeastern provinces...." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "In terms of the extermination of the Taiping Army, the interests of Yuanqi and the imperial court are consistent."

Hearing him say this, Jiang Zhongyuan was quite surprised. Even if Chen Hongming failed to take over as the admiral of Hubei, he didn't even join the admiral of the Yangtze River Navy. The court was obviously guarding against Yi Zhizu. The monk Wang, Qishan and him were worried that Yi Zhizu would give up, but the other party seemed to be fine and didn't care at all. Therefore, he found an opportunity to find a way to find out. He did not believe the other party's words, nor did he dare to believe them all. However, the navy fleet evacuated before the arrival of reinforcements, which made him feel relieved.

For a time, wine and food were delivered continuously. Jiang Zhongyuan held a pot of wine and said politely: "Wuchang is now extremely depressed, and there is very little food. I hope the marquis will forgive you."

"Brother Min Qiao, you need to be polite." Yi Zhizu said, picking up the wine glass and sniffing it, saying, "Good wine."

"This is the extremely fragrant and fierce Lu Xianzui." Jiang Zhongyuan said as he raised his glass and said, "If there were no recommendations from the Marquis, there would be no today..."

Yi Zhizu stopped him and said, "I am just recommending the platform to Qi. The platform to the court is Qi. The one who promotes the emperor is the one who promotes the court. Yuan Qi's relationship with the court is not comparable in the past. Brother Min Qiao is unconventional in his actions. He should try to mention this as little as possible in the future." As he said that, he clinked his glasses and drank the wine in one gulp.

"I won't mention it in the future." Jiang Zhongyuan drank it all with a refreshing drink.

As soon as he poured the second glass of wine, he heard the stairs pounding. When he turned around, he saw a fourth-rank military officer coming quickly and reported: "Reported to the Fuzhongcheng, Yi Junmen, the bandit Shi Dakai's troops broke through Yingcheng, and took 50,000 people to the northwest and headed towards Jingshan."

After hearing this, Jiang Zhongyuan was stunned. In Jingshan, there was Anlu Mansion. Shi Dakai did not attack De'an Mansion and turned to Anlu Mansion. What was the purpose? Waving his hand to retreat to the military officer, Jiang Zhongyuan said with a serious expression: "A hundred thousand people, the prefectures along the way, must escape. If this continues, Shi Ni will not be able to attack Xiangyang."

Yi Zhizuo dared not assert whether Shi Da met to attack Xiangyang, but he knew that if this continued, Hubei would be over. It was a typical bandit style like Shi Dakai who attacked counties and plundered the people, and was a typical bandit style. The troops would roll bigger and bigger like snowballs, and they would also be like locusts passing through the border, locusts everywhere they passed.

The two of them had no intention of drinking, and they were dispersed. Yi Zhizu returned to Aiyuan to check the map carefully, and could not figure out what Shi Dakai's intention was. If the team continued to grow, there was no possibility of fighting Xiangyang. He thought to himself, what should he do if Shi Dakai really captured Xiangyang?

Allowing the Taiping Army to occupy Hubei will not only pose too great a threat to the southeastern provinces, but the Taiping Army's power will also increase greatly. This is not a good thing for Yuan Qi, but if he really wants to send troops to Hubei to assist the court in encircling and suppressing the Taiping Army, he is worried that the vitality of the Taiping Army will be greatly damaged.

"Report--."

"Come in." Yi Zhizu replied casually.

Chen Hongming said aloud at the door: "Principal, Mr. Bao is here."

Bao Shichen came? Yi Zhizu was very surprised and quickly got up and asked, "Where is the person?" As soon as he finished speaking, Bao Shichen walked in slowly and bowed, "Marquis——."

"Why are you here sir?"
Chapter completed!