late Qing Dynasty arrest

The rectification of Zuo Zongtang's ministries is still going on. Taking advantage of the winter rest, the troops who are paying for the army are also nesting in the barracks, and there is no sign of mutiny. Half a year's salary has been wiped out again.

The generals of each battalion expressed strong dissatisfaction with the "Dong Zi San Battalion" that incorporated Dong Fuxiang, and at the same time asked them to disband the army and reorganize military affairs.On the one hand, let the "Dong Zi Sanying" snatch food from the tiger's mouth and get a share of the imperial salary.

The army of the Qing Dynasty did not look at the discounted salary, like Zuo Zongtang's army salary was discounted in half by the Ministry of War.It looks very poor, and the soldiers complained a lot, but in fact it was the soldiers under them who suffered, and the officers made a lot of money.But where there is an army, there is a territory. The imperial court will arrange a garrison area, and the income generation of this area is under the jurisdiction of the army.Farming and grazing in areas that are not close to each other, sowing and reaping by themselves, it is no problem to get enough food and clothing.Better places do business, smuggle, and get rich, which is no less than the income of local civil servants.

Don't look at these military officers complaining and complaining now, saying that when they go out to fight, the soldiers can't even eat enough.As long as they are given the right to expand, no matter how big the hole is, no one will dislike having too many lice on their body.

This has been the case in the army from ancient times to the present, but no one will show to the court that they are already rich, and they will always ask the court for food and salary.The army outside the Great Wall is like a frontier where no grass grows, and the cattle and sheep on the frontier belong to the common people.

Liu Songshan, Admiral of the Hunan Army, Guo Baochang, Guard of the Anhui Army, Liu Houji, Chief Soldier of the Hunan Army, Gao Liansheng, Guard of the Chu Army, Liu Dian, the Inspector General of Gansu Province of the Chu Army, and Huang Ding of the Shan'an Road of the Sichuan Army, rode tall horses under the guard of Goshha Stepping on the snow, he walked towards the governor's residence, full of complaints all the way, and he didn't understand Zuo Zongtang's reorganization of Dong Fuxiang's returning troops into three battalions.

The Sichuan army led by Huang Ding of Shan'an Road was 1, the Anhui army led by Guo Baochang was 7000, and the Yu army led by Zhang Yao was 500.These armies have actual combat experience against the Taiping Army and the Nian Army. Among them, there are [-] cavalry. They strengthened Zuo Zongtang's [-] cavalry and became the main force of the mobile force.

Xu Zhanbiao, the commander-in-chief of the Sichuan Army Balikun, was supposed to command the battle on the front line of Dong Zhiyuan, and did not return to Xingyuan, the governor of Xi'an. Huang Ding of Shan'an Road was his deputy.

Zhang Yao, the oldest general of the Huai Army, walked side by side with Liu Songshan, the admiral of the Hunan Army, talking and laughing happily.

Zhang Yao, named Liangchen, named Langzhai, and nicknamed A Niu, was born in Shangyu, Zhejiang Province. His wife, Kuai Fengxian, was Zhang Yao's cousin and a talented woman.Zhang Yao was not ashamed to ask his subordinates, and he learned from his wife, which is a good story.

Zhang Yao started his career as a training regiment in Gushi, Henan Province. In the early years of Xianfeng, he made great contributions to repelling the Nian army, and won the appreciation of the imperial envoy Seng Gelinqin. Later, he was given the title Huoqin Batulu by Emperor Xianfeng for his meritorious service in defending the city of Nian. Anti-Japanese Scouts.He also resisted Li Xiucheng's siege and made meritorious deeds. In the tenth year of Xianfeng, he was promoted to the magistrate, and then to the Taoist priest. In the second year, he was promoted to the governor of Henan Province.Soon after, he was impeached by Yushi Liu Yunan for being "illiterate", changed from a civil official to a military officer, and was demoted to the general.

Since then, he has worked hard to study, and engraved the four-character seal of "illiteracy", which he always wears on his body to encourage himself.During the Tongzhi period, the governor resisted the Nian Army and the Taiping Army and won many times. His troops were known as another strong army after the Hunan Army and the Huai Army.

Zhang Yao is less than 40 years old, with a thin body, a goatee beard on a shriveled face, wearing a second-rank official robe with a collar, a square patch on the chest and back, and a military officer embroidered with beasts. As a lion, to demonstrate force.He was covered with a sable fur coat and had a yellow puma on his crotch. If he wasn't riding a horse, he would have looked like a civil servant.

The term "clothes, crowns and beasts" evolved from the official uniforms of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. "Yi" refers to official uniforms, "crown" refers to wearing flower feathers on the top, "birds and beasts" refers to the birds embroidered on the chests of civil officials, and the chests of military officers. Embroidered animals.

Zhang Yao's voice was loud and clear: "Liu Junmen, the road is blocked by heavy snow, the commander recruited us, you have to speak for us, it took so much effort to surround the rebel Dong Fuxiang's troops. How could such a cheap thing happen? It’s one of our own people to make excuses! One hundred thousand mouths, but also to control their food and drink. Dong Fuxiang is the leader of the beggar gang. His little family property was stolen by robbery. He committed all kinds of crimes, such as burning, killing, and looting. Such a person can also be an official. Then Damn it! Let me be with this kind of thing, am I still a human? Am I worthy of those ordinary people who died in the land of Sanjin? It's unreasonable!"

"Look! God is crying!" Guo Baochang, the garrison of the Anhui army, was a guest soldier, who made the most strange remarks, pointing at the vast expanse of snowflakes, full of complaints.

The surrender of all Dong Fuxiang's troops is a good thing for Zuo Zongtang's overall strategy. For them, the frontline teams are like thunder, and they have no chance to rob.Dong Fuxiang's troops were mostly starving people, and they all relied on plundering to get rich. They went wherever they went to rob.It can be described as doing no evil, this rebellious army is extremely vicious, fierce in battle, known for not being afraid of death, and it is also innumerable to do evil.

Admiral Liu Songshan was over forty years old, with a burly figure. There was a scar on his right cheek. The three-inch scar looked like a bright red centipede crawling on his face.It was the first batch of Xiangyong who followed Zeng Guofan, with several scars on their bodies, and they relied on one knife and one gun for their numerous military exploits.

He was single-handedly promoted by Zeng Guofan. There are only thirteen battalions of the old Hunan Army, but they are all veterans who are used to fighting. Among this group of people, he has the highest official position, the oldest qualifications, and the most powerful soldiers.He is dressed the same as Zhang Yao beside him, and his official position is Cong Yipin, so the patch on the official robe is embroidered with a unicorn.

"Everyone is serious. The commander-in-chief has his own arrangements, and we follow orders. Dong Fuxiang is a filial son, and filial piety is the first priority in everything. Don't be too demanding on Dong Fuxiang. People will change themselves. As for the New Year, it is best to lay down a few fortresses. If you can’t beat them, retreat to the defense area, be safe, and never starve to death. The commander loves soldiers like sons, and any of your troops will starve to death, and this officer will be the end.” Liu Songshan did not follow the trend, and spoke with the crowd, and he could speak with a few words. He rejected the words of the officers next to him.

"Liu Junmen, the older you are, the more bloodless you are. You were not like this in the past. You are willing to fight for your brothers in everything. There is no reason to bend your elbows. Do you think so?" Guo Baochang blushed. , as if looking for someone to fight.

Those who lead soldiers, they first hug each other when they meet, then they brag about the great achievements of their troops, and then they settle accounts.Who would refuse to save the friendship played on the battlefield?Don't even think about sitting together in the future, the knot is in my heart, and I can't get rid of it for a lifetime.

"Yes! Liu Jun's family has changed, he has become a coward." Several other generals expressed dissatisfaction with Liu Songshan, and Liu Songshan single-handedly arranged the matter of persuading Dong Fuxiang to surrender.Let them have just won a few battles, and they are still not satisfied, so they have to let the net go and let Dong Fuxiang live.

"Hey, you have to know that the imperial court has made a decree, and the main focus is on comfort. As long as they are willing to accept the surrender and give them a chance to reform themselves, there is no reason why I don't want to make a fortune. The commander wants me to take the blame, and I can't get my brother Forgive me, let me have no place to appeal for my grievances." Liu Songshan said nothing, who would not want to kill a person whose blood flowed like a river, completely clean.However, it is related to ethnic policy, and the national policy formulated by the state cannot be easily changed.

When Liu Songshan expressed his opinion, the others were still bluffing, so they complained to him and recognized him as a big brother.Seeing Zuo Zongtang really, a group of people dare not even fart.

Liu Songshan has no son, and behind him is a handsome young man with sword-browed Langxing on a white horse. Behind Goshha, he is particularly outstanding. This is his nephew, named Liu Jintang, who has accumulated honors to the The state is the same, for the peach blossom luck from the sixth-rank city.There should be father Hourong and uncle Liu Songshan Mengyin. He had an extraordinary status in the old Hunan Army. Liu Songshan liked to take him with him wherever he went and cultivate him as his successor.

Liu Jintang, courtesy name Yizhai, was born in Xiangxiang, Hunan. His father Liu Hourong and uncle Liu Songshan were both officers in the Hunan Army.When Liu Jintang was 10 years old, his father died in suppressing the Taiping Rebellion.As an adult, he joined the Hunan Army where his uncle was, and accompanied his uncle Liu Songshan to pacify the Taiping Army and the Nian Army, and made great contributions to the Qing Dynasty.

The end of the new year is approaching. Zuo Zongtang recruited the generals of the battalions in order to unify their thinking and fight the next battle well.As the so-called decisive victory is thousands of miles away, the real commander commands the ministries with a strategic vision. As long as the tactical intention is realized, the next battle will be easy.Looking at the map to command the battle, dividing and encircling the Hui army, encircling and annihilating them is his usual tactical style.

Guard Guo Baochang of the Anhui Army sat on the horse, turning his head restlessly to see what the officers around him brought for the commander, glanced at the two large cloth bags wrapped on Liu Jintang's saddle, and said with a sly smile: "Liu Jintang , What gift did you bring for the handsome?"

Liu Jintang said quite proudly: "Guo Shoubei, I killed a colorful tiger and brewed a jar of tiger bone wine. You know what else."

"Hey, don't you see, Liangshan hero Wu Song was reincarnated, and you know how to give the commander a tiger skin, be careful to be scolded by the commander out of the gate, dare to bribe the commander, you are not small." Guo Baochang teased, causing a burst of excitement. Laughter.

Liu Songshan stroked his beard quite complacently, and the younger generation rose up, and there were successors.

At this time, it is not uncommon for tigers to appear in the mountains and forests, and tiger skins are not very precious fur. Sable fur coats are more expensive than tiger skins. People with status will never go out wearing a tiger skin. In ancient times, hunters only wore tiger skins. , and Monkey King in Journey to the West.Tiger skins are only used for ornaments, hats, lace for clothing, and cushions.But if you dare to send a tiger skin to Zuo Zongtang, do you know if Zuo Zongtang will throw it out?

Liu Jintang said with a chuckle: "Try it to know, at worst, I won't drink the wine tonight, how can the commander-in-chief make a smiley face?"

"Hey, the little boy is always welcome, the commander-in-chief will not turn against you, I accept this gift for the commander-in-chief." Guo Baochang was able to occupy a place among so many officers, and he had a unique way of trying to figure out the Shangguan's mind, as if he had seen Zuo Zong Tang showed a rare smile.

As the Yuanmen was approaching, a group of generals did not dare to joke at once, they all jumped off their horses and led the horses for a walk, their expressions becoming serious.

The bugle was loud, and the guard of honor greeted a group of military officers. The sky darkened, and snowflakes scattered and fell silently in the darkness.Zuo Zongtang stood under the gate, looking at a group of beloved generals, Liu Songshan, Liu Jintang, Zhang Yao, Guo Baochang, Liu Houji, Gao Liansheng, Liu Dian, and Huang Ding. These soldiers who followed him to fight in the country were loyal to the emperor, patriotic, hard-working, To share the worries of the emperor and solve the country's difficulties, he presided over the Heroes of the Qing Dynasty.

When a group of military officers saw Zuo Zongtang greet him in the snow, they were naturally panic-stricken. They turned over and knelt down together, saluting: "Master Zuo is well."

This is the grand general's demeanor that can be heard everywhere, and it is an honor that is not available at the top of the court.Zuo Zongtang's face was dignified, he maintained his dignified manner, he put his hands up, and said: "Please stand up, generals, you have worked hard on the snowy road, let me discuss with you first."

"Zha!" All the generals knew that Zuo Zongtang didn't rub his eyes with sand, he didn't have the disgruntled temper just now, and he was as respectful as a schoolboy meeting his master, so he didn't dare to say anything and stepped on the horse.

Zuo Zongtang acted resolutely, as soon as he urged his mount, a group of military officers behind him rushed into the gate like a dragon, and got off their horses at the entrance of the meeting hall.

Zuo Zongtang ordered: "The banquet will start two hours after the dinner, boil more water, let the generals take a bath, and put charcoal stoves in each general's barracks..." He nagged and urged many The words entered the chamber.Let a group of military officers see that the Marshal cared about their arrival and carefully took care of their board and lodging.

Martial law has been imposed outside the meeting hall, and no idler is allowed to move around. Zuo Zongtang is holding a military meeting with a group of military officers.In the yard, two big willow trees were bare and dancing in the wind, and the whole garden was covered with crystal white snow.The divine crow in the Drum Tower of Xi'an, with a vast and far-reaching view, seems to have come to eavesdrop on the secrets of the meeting hall.