Qing Dynasty Secret History

Chapter 58

It is said that Guan Tianpei looked at the mansion newspaper, stood up angrily, and said to Lin Zhitai: "Jiaojian is so obedient, and he is said to be obedient. I don't know what kind of lungs and livers he has in Futai? Think about it, the commander-in-chief. The meaning of Yilu's words, It is said that if the invitation is approved for this trip, we will return to Guangdong Province to wait for investigation, otherwise, the entangled warships will fly behind and hang red flags to cause disturbance. Is it shameful for a great country to be threatened by him like this?"

Lin Zexu said: "Yilu passed by Jiangsu and heard that Yu Shuai offered a big reward to buy him, so he was so frightened that his flags and drums died down, he didn't dare to show any momentum.

I don't know why Tuo Shuai is so useless? "

Guan Tianpei said: "The current situation is really difficult. For example, Zhang Chao in Dinghai Zhentai was injured in a fierce battle, and Wufutai joined his remonstrance and withdrew from the defense. When it was ordered to be banned, Zhang Zhentai had already died of serious injuries. This is wrong. Only then did I understand.

As military officers, it is our duty to work for the country, but the words of reward and punishment from the imperial court are also indispensable. "

Lin Zexu said: "All the defenses in this province are pretty tight. Mr. Jing came here. If everything goes on as usual and my system is not changed, there will be no surprises."

Guan Tianpei said: "Master Qi, how could the court listen to him?"

Lin Zexu said: "You and I are outside, how do we know what's going on inside? Now Pan Zhongtang, the leader of the Han Dynasty, Dongwu, doesn't care about affairs, and all political affairs are in the hands of the chief leader. This leader, Mu Zhang, is always with Qi Jing. Relatives, the two sons are very good. With such a good helper, Mr. Jing will naturally win the king easily."

Guan Tianpei said: "The traitor and sycophant rule the power, we don't know where to die!"

Lin Zexu said: "The situation in this province is dangerous. Outside Humen, there are two forts, Dajiao and Shajiao. Inside Humen, there are two forts, Jingyuan and Weiyuan. There are also division ships, big ships, fishing boats, Danhukuaicrab, Palong, etc. Ships are scattered all over the place, I only hope that I, Lin Shaomu, will take my sins and stay here, so I can always help."

The two were passionate and passionate, and they talked about state affairs for a while, and it happened that the kitchen asked for instructions to prepare a meal, so Lin Zexu left Guan Tianpei to have a meal in the office.After Admiral Guan left, the folded pieces were all well-known, and Lin Zexu had read them well, so he put on his court clothes and kowtowed.

Less than a month later, the neighboring county rolled the cards, saying that the Imperial Envoy University Tuqi Zhongtang was scheduled to arrive in the province and Nanfan counties on a certain day, and he had to rush to do business.On this day, Wenzi, the two divisions of the government road, and Wuziti Town visited, and they all went to the wharf to serve.When the envoys arrived at the port in an instant, they were greeted with cannons on the fort.All the civil and military personnel were handing out their manuscripts, and while they were calling names, they suddenly saw a crystal-topped military scorpion, holding an imperial envoy's order, and riding a horse to send an order, saying: "There is an order in the middle hall, telling the officials of the fort not to raise the cannon. The foreigners are going to be angry."

When everyone heard this, they were all angry.

Once connected to Xingyuan, all civil and military personnel came to visit the hall, but Qi Shan blocked them all.Everyone still didn't care, Wang Tinglan, a native of Taiwan, said impatiently: "Qi Zhongtang is afraid of foreigners like tigers, and treats us like dogs. This place in Guangdong will be ruined in his hands day and night."

The officials dispersed, then Lin Zhitai came to worship, and Qi Shan came in.Lin Zhitai invited Sheng'an first, and then met Qishan.Qi Shan said: "Young man, the trouble you caused this time is really not as serious as the foreigner Xiao, you dare to provoke him, I really admire your courage.

Lin Zexu said: "According to Zhongtang, opium should not be banned?" "

Qi Shan said: "Who said it shouldn't be banned? But this thing doesn't come in a day, and it can't go in a day. It has to be done gradually to be beneficial and harmless. Besides, the opium smokers are Chinese, and the opium sellers are Chinese. Foreigners, we only need to prohibit the Chinese from taking opium. As expected, all the Chinese don’t take opium, and if foreigners bring opium and have nowhere to sell it, they will naturally not sell it again.”

Lin Zexu said: "Foreigners don't sell opium, but Chinese people just want to smoke it. There is no opium, so what should he use to smoke it? Brother, we started from the root."

Qi Shan said: "Basically, it's really the best. But foreign ships and guns are not reasonable things. Once they break up, how can Guangdong's troops hold them?"

Lin Zexu said: "Don't worry, Zhongtang. Guangdong really needs soldiers, but they can still support them. There are about [-] soldiers dispatched from various provinces, and there are soldiers. There are probably millions of dollars in each treasury. Two, the salary is also available. The wood from Guangxi, the gunpowder and guns from Jiangxi and Anhui, and the military equipment can also be used. Speaking of the situation, the three crossbars of Dajiao, Shajiao and Humen, Wuyong and Liede The two sand tails are important passes and can be defended."

Qi Shan said: "It's the best if it can be done like this. It's a pity that if this place is defended, foreigners will inevitably go to other places to harass. It is not a good strategy in the end."

Lin Zexu said: "Zhongtang Junyi, what should I do?"

Qi Shandao: "The imperial court's intention is to advocate Fu, and I'm just caring for the imperial court. How can I dare to advocate anything?"

Lin Zexu knew that it was useless to argue with words, so he said a few other words, left and returned to the office.All the friends asked how Qi Zhongtang was doing, but Xu shook his head and didn't say anything.

Since Qishan came to Guangdong, all political affairs have been at odds with Lin Gong.Qi Shan advocated withdrawing all the division ships, fire boats, fishing boats, Danhu Kuaixie, and Palong sent by Lin Gong to defend inside and outside the gate.Duke Lin refused, and Qi Shan felt very uncomfortable.Unexpectedly, in the winter of this year, when the edict came down, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi was represented by Qi Shan.Qi Shanxi said: "From then on, Lin Shaomu can no longer take care of my affairs. I don't understand that Shaomu has been an official for so many years and still has not taken off his studies as a scholar. It can be seen that this person's qualifications are very ordinary."

As he said that, he suddenly reported: "The Englishman Yilu came here from Zhejiang. He heard that Zhongtang had made a platform. He wanted to come in to congratulate him. The guards outside the mouth would not let him in. Please show me from Zhongtang."

Qi Shan said angrily: "The king's law is gone, even foreigners dare to stop! It's dark, and the soldiers in Guangdong are not decent. Quickly pass on my order and tell them not to make things difficult. If anyone wants to make things difficult for foreigners, ask how much money he has?" What a brain!
The man promised to go, and Qishan ordered his family members to take my big sedan chair to meet me. While he was in a hurry, his family members flew to report: "Yilu himself didn't come, he just sent someone to deliver a letter." "

Qi Shan said: "Where is the letter, show it to me quickly."

When Qishan put on his glasses and opened the package, he saw that there were a few congratulatory words written on it, and then he said, "The middle hall is here to decide, and we can be reconciled forever. It's just that there are densely packed ships and guns along the coast. It’s not like the meaning of sincere reconciliation. If Zhongtang sincerely reconciles with us, please send all the Haikou soldiers away, so that we can believe” and other words.Qi Shan said: "They still don't believe me when I'm so outspoken, it's all caused by Lin Shaomu alone.

Fortunately, I will take over the post tomorrow, so I can do as I want.No matter how bad Ye Shaomu's ideas are, he will never be able to hold me back. "

According to the order, the copywriter issued a notice, and it was scheduled to take over the printing job tomorrow.In the dark and early morning of the next day, all the officials in Duyuan had gathered to serve.Qi Zhongtang took the warm car and lined up the deacons until he got off the sedan chair in the lobby of the supervisory office.Thank you for the seal, and click and accept all the files without error.

Everyone from Si Dao came to pay their respects, and Qi Shan received them one by one.Immediately ordered to scatter all the warships in the coastal defense.Guan Tianpei who mentioned Taiwan, Li Tingyu who was in charge of Taiwan, and Wang Tinglan who was born in Taiwan, all of them remonstrated and resisted, saying that foreign affairs are unpredictable, so we should not be too sincere.Once the coastal defense is withdrawn, the door is empty, and the future troubles can be imagined.Qishan had no choice but to order one-third of the warship to stay temporarily, and all the helmsman Shui Yongjin recruited by Lin Gong was dismissed.From now on the door is wide open.Yilu traveled in a boat, and there was no hindrance.All the generals in the navy asked to fire their cannons, but Qi Shan insisted on not doing so.

On this day, I received a note from Elliott, which listed two clauses. The first one was to claim 200 million silver for the price of cigarettes, and the second one was to claim the entire island of Hong Kong.Qi Shan frowned and said, "How can I agree to such an element?"

Talking and looking at the note over and over again.One day later, it was reported that Yilu sent people to come and fight.Qishan was shocked, and hurriedly ordered the foreign merchants to go to tell them to wait patiently and not to disturb.The foreign businessman came back and reported, "Yilu refused to obey. He said that it is not too late to discuss after the battle. If Zhongtang is really friendly with us, he should have bowed to our plight, paid us the price of cigarettes, and rewarded us with docks. You must know us It is really a last resort to use soldiers to do business for thousands of miles. If Zhongtang takes pity on us and is willing to make decisions for us, we will be grateful for the rest of our lives."

Qi Shan was helpless.

The next day, the [-]th day of the twelfth lunar month, Qi Shan ordered all the bowls to be served to burn incense.

Just waiting to set off, it was suddenly reported that "foreign soldiers have invaded, Sanjiang Deputy General Chen Liansheng is on the Shajiao Fort, and he is fighting the foreign soldiers with mines and cannons."

Qi Shan said: "It's amazing, the foreign soldiers are here, who provoked them? Quickly pass on my order to transfer the soldiers from Humen into the city to defend. What if there is a provincial capital? How can I go to the country?"

At this time, the officials of the two divisions heard that the police had come, and seeing that Qishan was going to transfer Humen's soldiers into the city, the supervisor said: "Humen is the gateway to the provincial capital. If Humen is lost, the provincial capital cannot be defended."

Wang Jietai said: "The Shajiao Fort Chen Xietai must be in a tight spot now, the commander-in-chief still sends a soldier to respond."

Qi Shan said: "The soldiers in the city have been emptied, and the foreign soldiers came here suddenly. Wouldn't my old life be given away by you?"

After hearing this, everyone wanted to laugh but didn't dare to laugh.

At this moment, the flying cavalry reported: "Chen Xietai bombed and killed more than [-] foreign soldiers. Because there was no reinforcements, the ammunition was exhausted, and they were attacked by the British. Chen Xietai, his son Chen Jupeng, and Mr. Qian Zhang Qinghe died fighting hard, and the fort fell. Now the British are attacking the Dajiao Fort."

Then it was reported: "Dajiao Fort fell, Li Zhi'an, the guard officer, was seriously injured and fled in a siege. Now the British soldiers have entered Humen."

Qi Shan rubbed his hands together and said, "What should I do when things have come to this? Lin Shaomu's burning of opium was the cause of the original disaster. Shaomu is a very harmful person."

Wang Tinglan said: "The commander-in-chief blamed the young commander-in-chief Lin, but he couldn't retreat the foreign soldiers. For the current plan, the guards in Humen must be single and weak. Guan Titai is guarding the Jingyuan Fort, and Li Zhentai is guarding the Weiyuan Fort. , if there is still a delay, the provincial capital will be in danger."

The patrolling officer reported: "There is a Wang sentry officer outside who claims to have escaped from the Shajiao Fort. He asked to see the commander and reported the military situation."

Qi Shan said: "Let him come in."

For a while, the patrol officer brought in the Wang sentry officer, kowtowed, and cried: "Chen Xietai's body was snatched by foreign soldiers. I heard that it has been chopped into pulp."

Qi Shan said: "Why do the foreign soldiers hate him so much?"

Official Wang Shao said: "Two or three thousand foreign soldiers came to attack the fort. Chen Xietai had only 600 men under his command, but everyone tried their best to be the first. , killed the most enemies, so foreigners hate him so much."

Qi Shan said: "Chen Liansheng has such ability, it is very valuable."

As he said, two corners of documents were sent in at the gate, one corner belonged to Li Tingyu, the general soldier of Weiyuan Fort, and the other corner belonged to Guan Tianpei, the admiral of Jingyuan Fort.Take it apart and take a look, they all agree that they are all begging for help.Qi Shan stomped his feet and said, "Isn't this difficult to kill me?"

Wang Jietai said: "Is the situation an urgent newspaper in Humen?"

Qi Shan said: "That's right, Guan Tianpei and Li Tingyu are ignorant people, and urged me to add troops. It doesn't matter to add troops. The foreigners know about it, so don't be angry! Once the foreigners are angry, how can this draw be successful again? What do you think? People like them, are they bastards or not? They still think I am Lin Shaomu. Shaomu is really doing well, and the superiors will not send brothers here."

Wang Niantai said: "The commander-in-chief wants to benefit the people, and he doesn't care about subjugating the country's system to suit foreign sentiments. His intentions are indeed very good. But the British have turned their backs on us, and it seems that there has been no discussion on the matter of the draw for a day or two. Humen is an important point in the provincial capital, and the soldiers are weak and hard to guard. It is true to mention the town. According to Si Li's humble opinion, we will add a few thousand soldiers now. Sure enough, the British are obedient and the draw is successful. It is not too late to retreat."

Qi Shan said: "Let's discuss this matter again."

He dismissed Officer Wang with a drink and ordered his friends to draft a draft to report the fall of Dajiao and Shajiao to Beijing.All the officials withdrew, and when they talked about Qi Shan, they all sighed.

The next day, the officials of the Sidao went to the palace to inquire about the news, and they waited in the official hall for a long time without seeing any news.Wang Nietai asked the inspector, and the inspector said: "What did the marshal discuss with Bao Tongshi in the signing room?"

Fantai asked who Bao Tongshi was?The inspector said: "This Bao Tong is a local. His surname is Bao and his name is Peng. He knows everything about foreigners. He used to work as a comprador of the West Pavilion in the local area, and he knew Yilu Yuan. It is a case of smuggling tobacco and soil. Lin Zhitai will handle it." He fled to Wei County, Shandong Province. This time, Qi Shuai went out of Beijing to visit someone who is familiar with Western languages, and the magistrate of Wei County Zhao Ziyongcai recommended him to Qi Shuai, and Qi Shuai loved him very much."

Wang Nietai said: "It's really strange for a dignified prime minister to favor a private lord."

Follow-up question: "Has Humen Rescue Soldiers ever been sent?"

The inspector said: "Guan Titai has sent officers three times, and the last time it was said that both Titai and Zhentai were crying on the fort. The commander couldn't do anything, so he secretly sent two hundred soldiers."

Fantai said: "Maybe you always know what the commander-in-chief discussed with Bao Tong?"

The inspector said: "I'm not very careful about my humble position. I'm afraid it's just a note. Guan Titai just came with a corner of the official document, saying that He Yikui, an officer and soldier captured by foreigners, will be released today. He will bring a note. We will be limited to three days." Take it back. I'm afraid it's just because of this!"

Wang Niantai said: "In the note, what are the ideas?"

The inspector said: "This, the humble officer didn't pay attention."

For a while, the platform made a message "please see", and everyone followed the patrol to see.Qi Shan said: "Humen Rescue Soldiers, brother has already dispatched."

Fantai said: "How many soldiers did the commander send?"

Qi Shan said: "There are not many soldiers, only two hundred are sent. Fortunately, the foreigners will never cause trouble in these few days."

Wang Nietai said: "How could the commander-in-chief know?"

Qi Shan said: "It has been slowed down by my strategy of delaying the attack."

Everyone asked, "How did you slow down?
"Qi Shan said: "Elü sent a note to claim compensation for the price of cigarettes and the Hong Kong port, and I will reply within three days.Now I replied to him with a note, and I didn't agree or refuse. I just told him to wait patiently.Isn't this a tactic to delay the attack? "

When everyone heard this, they all laughed secretly.

After three days, nothing happened.This year was a small year, and it was the beginning of spring in a blink of an eye, but he was beaten by him.The officials and people in the provincial capital have never had a good life for many years because of the soldiers approaching the city.

The firecrackers are getting rid of the old, and the peach charms are being renewed. Compared with previous years, it is much more desolate.Wuru Yilu's notes came one after another, like snowflakes.Qi Shan pushed left and right, but at this point, he couldn't continue to push the blame, so he had to book a date to have a meeting with Yilu in Lianhua City.

This Qi Zhongtang is really pitiful, he saw that the law firm's clauses were not too vicious, and if he wanted to play, it was a matter of ceding the land, so he really didn't dare to play it, and if he wanted to refuse, he was afraid that Humen would lose.It was extremely embarrassing for the ugly daughter-in-law to see Weng Gu.

On this day, Elliot applied again, asking for the Hong Kong wharf, paying 200 million yuan for the cigarettes, and willing to return the Shajiao and Dajiao Forts, and then send people to Zhejiang to return the entire island of Dinghai.Qi Shan said: "This can always be discussed."

Yilu said: "Whether you are willing or not, you can decide with one word. Why discuss it?"

Qi Shan said: "It's about cutting off the land. How dare the Ministry of the Pavilion be the master. When I return to the office today, I will pay my respects immediately. Your consul will wait for more than 20 days at most, and there will be an answer. I think there are probably nine out of ten in this matter." Very successful."

Yilu said: "It will definitely succeed."

Qi Shan said: "Success is almost always possible."

At present, Yilu accompanied Qishan to the Shajiao and Dajiao forts, and checked all the artillery positions, so that the imperial decree approved it, and they immediately handed over to each other.

When Qi Shan returned to the middle of the summer, he asked his friends to make up a manuscript, and sent it up overnight.

Less than a month later, I received an edict:

Lan Zou He Sheng was resentful, but Qi Shan was cowardly and incompetent.The foreigner rebelled twice in the east of Zhejiang, Guangdong, captured the county fort, injured the generals of our town, poisoned the people, and disturbed the county.Regardless of the return of Dinghai and the words of offering the fort, it is not enough to be convinced.Even if it is possible to retreat, it will only restore my territory.The officers and soldiers who were murdered, and the people who were killed, gritted their teeth and hated each other, and the gods and men shared the anger.If it is not painful to suppress and cleanse, why do you want to show the country's prestige?Yishan Longwen marched forward at the same time, and immediately rushed to Guangdong to organize our army brigade, wipe out the ugly people, and make sure that the first subordinates and foreign traitors were sent to the capital to be punished according to the law.

It is unreasonable for Zhi Qi to be bullied by her own body, unable to declare righteousness, to refuse discipline's request, and to be bullied by him.What's the intention of not accepting foreign books, and daring to submit them with folded sheets and pleading on behalf of them?Moreover, it is said that the generals in the same city, the governor, the governor, the Xuezheng and the Sidaofu counties have all been discussed. Why should they be included?Ah Jing, A Yiliang, etc. did not meet the title, so the performance was not true.Qi Shan wrote to go to the university scholar, pull out the flower feathers, and still hand it over to the Ministry for strict discussion.This is it.

It turned out that Xuanzong followed the report of the fall of the two forts of Qishan, and knew that the master's care was not a good strategy, and he regretted it.Conferring the oath of Yue, ordered Yishan to be General Jingni, and Long Wen and Yang Fang to be ministers of counselors.Therefore, there are words in the edict that Yishan and Longwen are advancing concurrently.Qi Shan received this instruction, poured a basin of cold water on his head, and his body became half cold.Said to the left and right: "It's over! It's over! Elliot asked me, how do I reply?"

Suddenly Bao Tong was reported to see him.Qi Shan said: "Bao Peng sees me, and the foreigners don't know what they want?"

With that said, Bao Peng has come in.As soon as they met, he said: "Does Zhongtang know that Yifu asked for a book in front of the stage, and it has something to do with your old man."

Qi Shan said: "Do you dare to join me?"

Bao Peng said: "It's not ginseng, but it's more fierce than ginseng.

"Qi Shan said: "What exactly is playing?" "

Bao Peng said: "British Consul Yilu gave him Hong Kong for Zhongtang, so he went there and issued a notice to the residents, saying that Hong Kong had come under the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom. He also sent a note to the deputy general of the Dapeng battalion, asking him to withdraw from the mainland camp within a limited period of time." .

"Qi Shan said: "I have also heard a little about that kind of thing.After all, Elliott was too impatient. "

Bao Peng said: "This is what Yifutai played. I still tried to copy the manuscript here."

As he spoke, he took it out of the bag and handed it to Qishan.When Qishan came to see it, he saw that it was written: since Qishan arrived in Guangdong, how to deal with it, I have not been notified to the minister.Suddenly, I heard rumors that Yilu had made a false statement in Hong Kong, forcing the people there to submit to the other country.

Fang said that the rumors were inaccurate and bewitching people's hearts. Then he transferred the lieutenant's report from the admiral of the navy to the lieutenant, and he came here for counseling. The minister was astonished.However, the Atlantic Ocean has lived in Macau, which belongs to Xiangshan County, since the Ming Dynasty.Now the foreigners dare to occupy the whole island of the Celestial Dynasty. This place is very close to Humen and can be reached by a single sail.And from now on, criminals in the mainland will use this as a hotbed for hiding. This is because the place is not stable, and the law is also not working.I am even more afraid of the nature of dogs and sheep, and will be capricious. Whenever a request is not fulfilled, he will still be rude to each other.Although you want to regret the past, how can you achieve it?Fusi Sheng is thoughtful and considers everything, so why wait for ministers to overestimate their gills?But I suddenly heard that outsiders openly took control of the important places in the sea and borders, and dared to call the people of the Celestial Dynasty the people of Britain. The minister was really angry.First of all, there is no way for the minister to know all the opportunities to control.However, on December 28 last year, Qin received an order to mobilize soldiers to prepare for the campaign, and ordered Qi Shan, Lin Zexu and Deng Tingzhen to handle it properly, all of which were declared.When the ministers and others met, they also sincerely asked for more soldiers to be brave enough to guard the Humen Fort with a strong reputation to prevent blocking the key passes of the province.Today's British people are spying on many things, and they are really caught off guard.Now that there are false indications in Western language, I dare not remain silent, so I would like to record them to break through.

After watching it, Qi Shan let out a loud cry and fell to the ground, unconscious.If you want to know how Qishan's life is, let's listen to the next chapter.

(End of this chapter)