The imperial court soon received a letter from Zeng Guofan, and the empress dowager of the two palaces was furious and urgently dispatched the governors of various provinces to lead troops to quell the rebellion.However, except for the official text of the governor of Hubei and the Mongolian prince monk Lin Geqin who responded positively, the rest of the Han feudal officials remained silent at the same time.The Military Aircraft Department is helpless, the Eight Banners Army and the Green Battalion Army are obvious to all, and the imperial court has no troops to adjust at the moment.Cixi was completely disappointed with the Han people, so she planned to canonize Rong Lu as the generalissimo of the thief and lead all the soldiers and horses in the country.Qiao Zhiqing broke Cixi's heart, Cixi gave Qiao Zhiqing almost everything he could, but Qiao Zhiqing did not respond at all at this time.After Rong Lu got this handsome position with no soldiers and no salary, he was not willing to sink.He also knew that it was impossible to mobilize the Han regiment to train the army, so he actively recruited his own army.The household department had no money, so Rong Lu listed a flat thief salary.Every household in Beijing had to pay a tael of silver every month, and if they couldn't come up with the money, they had to join the army.At this time, the population of the capital was about 5 million, and according to Ronglu's budget, in addition to the cost of purchasing arms, it was enough to feed hundreds of thousands of troops.The yamen in the capital did not disappoint Rong Lu, and it only took ten days to gather boxes of silver.Jiangnan is the financial center of the imperial court, since the long-haired thieves in Jiangnan have been in trouble, they have cut off the source of taxes for the imperial court, and the imperial court has relied on these harsh taxes in recent years.Rong Lu's military salary was spread, and the people made matters worse, and they complained for a while.Rong Lu had money in his hands, and he also let go of his courage to recruit troops.He was not interested in the Manchus, but like the Han people, he recruited young and middle-aged Han people from house to house in the villages around the capital.In a month's time, more than 100,000 men and horses were recruited and raised, and after careful selection, according to the establishment of the Qing character army, three armies and nine divisions were formed.Duolonga came in handy at this time, although Rong Lu did not like his upright temper, but among the Manchu generals, he was undoubtedly the most warlike one.After escaping from Nanjing, Duolonga was stationed in Yangzhou.Rong Lu took advantage of the situation to take the soldiers and horses of these ten divisions to the south and stationed them in Yangzhou for drills.The more than 1,000 people brought out by Dolonga were all promoted to generals, and Dolonga also took the position of commander of the left army.In this month's time, the Hunan army had marched all the way west according to Zeng Guofan's plan and surrendered Nanjing City to the Qing army.Without waiting for the official documents to find trouble with the Hunan army, the Hunan army went all the way up the river and successively took Hankou, Wuchang and other important military places.Peng Yulin's navy is a strong force of the Hunan army, where will the Eight Banners Naval Division of Guanwen be the opponent, and the whole army will be wiped out in three or two clicks, so that Peng Yulin will make dumplings.The official wen fled in embarrassment, and fled to Yangzhou in a panic, Rong Lu treated him warmly on the first day, and cut off the head of the official wen on the second day to show the majesty of the army.The governor's head Rong Lu said that he would cut it off, and the prestige of this generalissimo of the flat thief reached its peak at once.Ronglu, the government of Suzhou Prefecture, let Bingyong practice with wooden sticks for more than a month, all of which were the training methods of the Qing character army.Now Zeng Guofan didn't give him so much time to continue training.As soon as the drill had a little effect, Rong Lu went to Suzhou to discuss arms with Qiao Zhiqing.Qiao Zhiqing has been busy this month, and Ma Xun's steel plant has begun to see benefits.All the steel needed to make guns and ships also arrived in Suzhou.Qiao Zhiqing patrolled the ordnance yard and shipyard every day, in order to replace the latest military equipment for the various armies under his command.The Suzhou Ordnance Institute and shipyard are also operating at full capacity, because the coal problem has been completely solved.Qiao Zhiqing's brother has developed more than a dozen coal mines in one go, and they are all open-pit high-quality coal mines, which are very easy to mine.Qiao Zhiqing also introduced rails and steam locomotives from foreigners, which greatly improved the efficiency of mining and transportation.The coal mine in Suzhou is now enough to use the steam engine in Suzhou for a year.This month's work was not in vain, after the Suzhou Ordnance Institute and shipyard worked around the clock, more than 300,000 expeditionary rifles have been produced, and the performance is comparable to that of the Mauser rifle that appeared a few years later.Xu Shou and other researchers at the shipyard had built two three-cylinder reciprocating steam engines a few months earlier, with 6,000 horsepower.After Qiao Zhiqing provided suitable steel, the first ironclad ship with a displacement of 5,000 tons was also built, and after being equipped with a steam engine, the maiden voyage was a complete success, with a speed of up to 30 kilometers per hour.The whole ship is completely wrapped in 10 centimeters of steel, equipped with 50 60 mm of the latest rear-loading guns, and the power is also the first in the world at this time, but it is a pity that according to the current conditions, it can only be built in three months.Qiao Zhiqing named the ironclad ship "Huaxing", and also hoped that this ironclad ship could take on the mission of China's rejuvenation.After Rong Lu met Qiao Zhiqing, he discussed with him about the purchase of arms.Qiao Zhiqing was worried about what to do with these retired foreign guns, and Rong Lu's piece of fat was sent to the door."
Brother Qiao, this batch of arms is very urgent.You also know that Zeng Guofan's old thing is now tossing too much, Hubei, Hunan, Anhui, and Jiangxi are all occupied by their Hunan army.My recruits can't practice blindly with burning sticks anymore, you have to hurry up and give your brother an emergency of arms. ”Rong Lu sat on the couch and drank tea vigorously, he had obviously worked a lot in the past few days, and even his little white face was tanned."
This is not difficult, the key is that the silver must be in place, as long as you can pay the silver, how much arms you want, the eldest brother can also help you get it."
Qiao Zhiqing chuckled, his face full of the taste of a profiteer."
Naturally, the brothers have just recruited more than 90,000 soldiers and horses from three armies, and Brother Qiao has to prepare at least 100,000 foreign guns and 10 million rounds of ammunition.You also know that your brother didn't take a share of the court's salary, and if you are poor, you must give a good price. ”Rong Lu licked his face and smiled, and his face was full of low breath.I was afraid that this huge amount of arms would scare Qiao Zhiqing."
Come on, who doesn't know about your looting of military salaries in Beijing.But the eldest brother doesn't cheat you, it turns out that the foreign gun that the eldest brother bought from the foreigner for ten taels of silver is still sold to you at cost price.Bullets, just think of it as a big brother buy one get one free, and give it to you for free. ”Qiao Zhiqing smiled easily, his face full of indifference."
Brother Qiao, you're not joking with your brother, right" How did Rong Lu know how much Qiao Zhiqing bought from the foreigner, but last time Qiao Zhiqing gave out this price, and this time he also gave away free bullets, Rong Lu was so happy that he almost knelt down for Qiao Zhiqing."
Who has such idleness, there are still a lot of things to do.If you agree, you can bring one million taels of silver to Huaxing Bank to the account.After Huaxing Bank collects the money, you can take the voucher to the logistics department to get a gun. ”Qiao Zhi said lightly, and gave Rong Lu a military order as he spoke."
It's so decided, my brother will let people escort him to Yinliang tomorrow."
Rong Lu hugged his fists and excitedly bowed to Qiao Zhiqing, and stood up to say goodbye.After Rong Lu left, Yan Yuting walked in with a ghostly head.Looking at Rong Lu's excited appearance, he asked Qiao Zhiqing puzzled, "Rong Lu asked you to do something again, why are you as happy as marrying a daughter-in-law" Qiao Zhiqing smiled, and replied without raising his head in front of the desk, "Rong Lu has newly built an army, but he doesn't have weapons in his hand, so he asked me to buy some." ”"Don't bother with this kind of person, if he gets the arms, he may bite you again one day."
Yan Yuting pouted and complained, she had always had a grudge against Rong Lu.At that time, when Shengbao insulted her, Rong Lu was an accomplice, and Yan Yuting regretted why she didn't collapse that kid in the first place."
What do you know, Rong Lu is spending money to help us, he and Zeng Guofan are fighting to the death, there is only good and no harm for our Qingzi army.The city of Nanjing is being rebuilt intensively, and this money is just in use. ”Qiao Zhiqing smiled and hummed a little song proudly."
Whatever you want, no one can fathom your mind anyway.I came to tell you good news, Huang Feihong and they have succeeded, and it is estimated that they will be able to return to Suzhou with Zeng Guoquan tomorrow. ”Yan Yuting glanced at him and put the military newspaper in her hand on the desk."
It's really difficult for them, among the ten thousand armies, only our Feihong Young Hero can do it, I must reward him well when I come back this time."
Qiao Zhiqing took the military report and read it carefully, and breathed a sigh of relief for the fire wolves."
Reward him: The amount of silver you have rewarded to your own soldiers is enough, and people may not be happy."
Yan Yuting snorted, and when she remembered that Qiao Zhiqing was going to rescue his uncle for Zeng Jiyun, her heart was full of discomfort."
You don't understand this, the so-called fair lady and gentleman are good, our Feihong heroes have sweethearts.happened to have made a great contribution this time, and Ben Shuai fulfilled the two of them. ”Qiao Zhiqing chuckled, stood up and pulled Yan Yuting to sit down on the couch."
How did I find out that you were wrong today, your husband, I said, you just said, I don't seem to provoke you" Qiao Zhiqing pinched Yan Yuting's face and looked at her little face curiously."
Hmph, you still have the face to ask me.Let me ask you, you sent the fire wolf to rescue Zeng Guoquan this time, is it Zeng Jiyun's idea, I sometimes really can't understand you, it was obviously you who sent Zeng Guoquan to prison, and now you are doing everything possible to rescue him for a woman, what are you for" Yan Yuting finally spit out aggrievedly."
After doing it for a long time, it turned out that our Miss Yan was jealous.I'm not as unprincipled as you think, if I don't save Zeng Guoquan, you think Zeng Guofan can easily control the old man of the Hunan army and still needs a helper, I don't want him to be wiped out by the Qing army so soon.The more Zeng Guofan makes trouble, the more our Qingzi army can squeeze out time to strengthen themselves, can you understand my intentions" Qiao Zhiqing laughed, took Yan Yuting's little hand and explained seriously, his eyes were full of love
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