Ming Zhengzhi, I am Zheng Kezang

The Zuojiang Dao Yamen in Nanning City has now been converted into a temporary Guangxi governor's office. The former governor and current governor Xiao Yongzao, who was promoted to the imperial envoy, turned gorgeously into the Guangxi governor. Wang Guotai, Zuojiang Dao Gao Guoliang, Nanning prefect Xin Gui, Zuojiang town general Wang Guoxing, and Qujing town general Lin Wanxi who led the Central Yunnan Green Battalion to reinforce Guangxi were discussing Nanning's defense. Eye.

Speaking of which, if Tao Dai, whose old surname was Guerjia, hadn’t been born, Wang Guotai would have great hope to succeed Guangxi as an envoy during the war when Dan Dali, the former governor of Guangxi, died in Guilin. The position of the governor is good now, not only is there no hope for the governor, even the vacant position of chief envoy may not be his turn, so he can't help but feel dissatisfied.

"My lords, Donglu Haini has now occupied Xiangzhou, Laibin and other counties in Xunzhou Prefecture and Liuzhou Prefecture. Come in." The ignorant Tao Dai was still talking. "Although the number of soldiers and horses on the South Road is small, they penetrate into the territory of Nanning Prefecture and pose a greater threat."

Tao Dai's meaning is very clear, he doesn't want to stick to Nanning and wait for Zheng Jun to clean up one by one, he wants to take the initiative to attack, and the target is one of the enemies in the southeast, but Wang Guotai deliberately sang the opposite tune: "Master Futai, come down!" However, the officials think that Liuzhou is the key to Guangxi, and if there is any mistake in Liuzhou, Guangxi will be ruined, so the most urgent task is not to defeat the two enemies, but to quickly reinforce Liuzhou under the premise of firmly defending Nanning."

"Liuzhou has a heavy army of enemies, and Laibin County has been occupied by Haini, so it is better to reinforce Liuzhou and just attack Xunzhou Prefecture." Tao Dai seemed to have made up his mind, and yes, Liuzhou was rescued. An adult, but in the final analysis, the greatest credit should belong to the governor, but the capture of Xunzhou Mansion is different, this credit belongs only to the governor. "However, before attacking Xunzhou, the enemies in Qinzhou must be wiped out first."

Wang Guotai trembled with anger, and said to himself, you have already made up your mind, and you still want to ask us what we are doing, so he stopped talking when he got angry, but he stopped talking, and Zuo Jiangdao, Gao Guoliang, who was sitting at the bottom, used a kind of Narrated in a lifeless tone: "Master Futai, whether it is to attack the enemies of Qinzhou or take back the Xunzhou Mansion, I have no objection to the lower officials, but there are many traitors in Zuojiang Four Mansions who take the opportunity to make trouble. If you don't clear these The hidden danger is that after the army goes east, the situation will get worse."

Zuojiang Road governs the four prefectures of Sicheng (Tianlin), Nanning, Taiping (Chongzuo), and Zhen'an (Debao). Except for Nanning, there are many barren lands where Miao, Yao and other ethnic minorities have always had a lot of influence on the Han and Manchu government. Dissatisfied, now that there is a major war in Guangxi, the native officials and chieftains of these ethnic minorities also show signs of being ready to move, so Master Shoudao said this.

To this, Tao Dai smiled lightly: "It's just some moss and mustard troubles. When the sea adverse is cleared, the army will return to the division with a drum."

It stands to reason that Xin Gui and Tao Dai are both Manchus, and their interests should converge. However, Xin Gui is the prefect of Nanning, and his interests are no longer in Guangxi, but in the three-acre land in Nanning, so he looks embarrassed. Tao Dai said: "Although Fuyuan's strategy is good, but the Chinese New Year is coming in a blink of an eye, this military ration"

"The army is coming soon, and the rations are the top priority," Tao Dai said without giving Xin Gui any face. "Prefect Xin, I don't care what you do. After the Lantern Festival, I will see [-] shi of military rations, otherwise," Tao Dai swept Xin Gui's fourth-rank crown. "Don't blame me for not thinking of your years of hard work."

Xin Gui fell silent, but Wang Guoxing, the commander of Zuojiang Town, clasped his fist at Tao Dai: "Lord Futai, I have something to tell you."

With Tao Dai's permission, Wang Guoxing said that there were three towns in Guangxi. However, after many aids to Guangdong and unsuccessful attacks on Zhaoqing, the strength of the green battalion in Guangxi Province has dropped to an appalling level. This is why Wuzhou, The reason for the rapid fall of Pingle, Guilin and other places is that although Xiao Yongzao later rebuilt Liuqing Town and ordered Zuojiang Town to regain its strength, the combat power of the Green Banner Soldiers in Gui Province did not recover much, so Wang Guoxing's department can defend the city. But field battles are impossible.

"Therefore, I implore Mr. Futai, this battle will mainly focus on the soldiers and horses of Lin Town, and the subordinate officials will still stay in the town."

The veins on Lin Wanxi's forehead exploded when he heard that, there is no reason why foreign reinforcements came out of the city to fight, and the local defenders were lying in the city. He is not cannon fodder, so he immediately said to Tao Dai dissatisfied : "Lord Tao, the subordinate officials came thousands of miles to help, and there were many injuries along the way. I am afraid that it will be difficult to take on the task of defeating the enemy. If not, the green battalion of Guangxi Province will send troops first, and the subordinate officials will temporarily stay behind in the city of Nanning."

Looking at the generals of the green battalion who were playing football between the two, Tao Dai was so angry that his nose was not his nose and his eyes were not his eyes, but Lin Wanxi was a guest army and he did not have the power to command, so his anger could only be vented on Wang Guoxing's head But at this time, it is no better than in the future when a county magistrate can scold the chief soldier and deputy general. Wang Guoxing is also a second rank.

After much deliberation, Tao Dai had no choice but to order to Wang Guoxing: "Wang Zhentai, I believe that the key to whether soldiers can fight is not the length of training time, but to let them be stained with blood. Now that the country is in danger, it is time to It's time for warriors of your generation to use their lives, so you don't have to refuse any more. In this way, after the Shangyuan Festival, you will be given another five days to rectify. At that time, you must dispatch [-] elites to go to the expedition. If you miss the military plane, don't blame me for being unkind face."

Wang Guoxing was slandering, but even if he understood that the other party wanted to stain the red crown with blood, so what? The so-called high-ranking officials crushed people, especially in this time when the war was raging, if he dared to say a word in public, Tao Dai would immediately It would be able to order him to be beheaded, so Wang Guoxing had no choice but to stand up and promise.

Before Lin Wanxi had time to show a successful smile, Tao Dai's words rushed to him: "Lin Zongrong, I also know the difficulties of the brothers in Central Yunnan, but the war is urgent, and the Green Camp in Guangxi Province is newly organized. Without the flames of war, it is really impossible to serve as the main force, and I ask the general to put the state affairs first and persuade the brothers to use their lives."

Lin Wanxi showed a look of embarrassment, and at this time Tao Dai said: "In this way, I will allocate 5000 taels of New Year's Day reward first. If I can repel the two sea rebellions and recover the city of Xunzhou, I will not only ask the court In addition to repaying the meritorious service, I don’t know what Master Lin thinks about raising another 5000 taels of reward silver to comfort the brothers of the Yunnan Army.”

Lin Wanxi hadn't answered yet, but Wang Guotai jumped up: "Master Futai, Guangxi has always been a recipient province, and the treasury was already in dire straits, so where is the reward of 2 taels of silver at this moment?"

Gao Guoliang also became nervous. In his opinion, Tao Dai's idea must be on Zuo Jiangdao's head, so he hurriedly spread his hands and said, "Master Fuyuan, all the expenses of Zuo Jiangdao are allocated by the province. Now it's the end of the year. , It’s already been used up.”

Xin Gui also screamed: "Lord Tao, Nanning has collected land taxes twice this year, and mobilized the gentry in the mansion to pay 2 taels of silver, and now they have to raise [-] shi for military rations. In fact, there is really no spare money to pay for this reward. gone."

"What are you panicking about? I don't want you to pay for your money." Tao Dai looked at the panic-stricken officials with disdain. He didn't know how much he had made in normal times, but now he was crying for poverty. It was ridiculous. "Didn't you see the regulations of the Ministry of Households recently? After passing the order, the official can recommend him as the fourth rank for only 5000 taels. When Xunzhou is recovered, the vacancy will be filled immediately. As for the actual shortage of the county magistrate, it only needs 4000 taels of silver." .” Tao Dai pre-sold all the official positions in the Xunzhou Mansion, but he never thought about what would happen if the war went against him and he couldn’t get his money back. "So, isn't this money enough?"

The people below Wang Guotai looked at each other in blank dismay, but at this time Wang Guoxing made a moth: "Master Futai, this bowl of water must be leveled, if the brothers below know that the Green Camp in Yunnan Province can get so much money, but I have nothing, That's going to be a mess."

"As long as the donation is done, it's not impossible for me to give the brothers in Zuojiang Town a good year." Even so, the government is about to be closed now. There is simply no way to handle such a major event within the time, so Tao Dai's promises belong to the category of painting cakes to satisfy hunger. "But." Painting cakes to satisfy hunger is painting cakes to satisfy hunger, but with this reason, Tao Dai showed a look of complete control, which is probably the so-called money that strengthens people's courage. "If the soldiers who go out in the next year fail, then don't blame me for being unpredictable."

Several participants left Zuojiang Dao Yamen with happy faces or worried faces, but Xin Gui, the prefect of Nanning, did not make it. Tao Dai walked around him a few times with a smirk on his face, which made this The magistrate was beating drums in his heart before he said: "Brother Lanquan, this official came to Guangxi Province for the first time, and I have no objection to the officials in the province. However, I am very disappointed at today's meeting. But thinking about it, we are satisfied. We still have to manage the country of man.”

What Tao Dai said was the ruling policy of the Qing government during this period, that is, the so-called use of traitors and guard against traitors, but Xin Gui knew that this was just the beginning, so he heard Tao Dai continue to say: "Now the world is turbulent, and the sea is in reverse. Sitting big, Guochao is in a very difficult situation, and we are asking you and me to come forward."

Speaking of this, Tao Dai threw out a bait: "I am going to recommend Brother Lanquan as Zuojiang Dao, I don't know what Brother Lanquan wants."

Zuo Jiangdao?Is this pie in the sky?But Xin Gui, who has been in office for a long time, understands that there is no such thing as a free lunch, so he patiently waited for Tao Dai's unfinished words: "It's just"

The turning point finally came: "It's just that the matter of donating will not be able to be handled for a while, and the rewards for the years and years have not yet been settled, and Brother Lanquan has to help with all his money."

To help with everything, this is to use Xin Gui's personal wealth. Xin Gui deliberately refuses to agree to this, but the heavy pressure of the fifty thousand shi army ration hangs over his head like the sword of Damocles, and he will be caught by Tao Dai anytime, anywhere Living in a small pigtail, after thinking about it, Xin Gui sighed: "Since Futai said so, I can't help but be ignorant, but Zuo Jiangdao is nothing, I just ask Futai for mercy, and recommend that I leave Guangxi. If it’s not possible to go back to the North, Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan are also fine.”

A smile appeared on Tao Dai's face: "Then it's a deal."