Chapter 159 Asben Fleet
Chapter 159 Asben Fleet
When Shao Quanzhong returned to Fengyang, the first thing he did was to submit a memorial to impeach Luo Bingzhang, the governor of Hunan.
Luo Bingzhang's troops took over the Ma'anshan defense line without waiting for the Huai Army to arrive and hurried towards Nanjing.
This caused the Guangdong bandit Shi Ni to escape from the encirclement, causing great suffering to the Huai Army that took over.
The Huai Army fought fiercely with Shi Ni's troops for four days and nights, engaging in dozens of battles. Each time the vanguard troops engaged in battle with Shi Ni suffered heavy casualties, with several times causing 40% casualties and the vanguard collapsing.
Of the 10,000 troops sent to Sichuan, half were killed or wounded, and their vitality was severely damaged. This was the result of the Hunan Army disregarding the safety of friendly forces and arbitrarily withdrawing from their positions prematurely.
Fortunately, with the close cooperation of the friendly Sichuan Army and the Tusi Yi soldiers, after a hard battle, we finally wiped out Shi Ni's troops and beheaded 7,000 people. However, the troops are in urgent need of repair and replenishment and are unable to fight again. I hope the court will understand.
Shao Quanzhong's memorial was delivered to the capital three days later. The Yi Wang military flag, dragon robe, and Shi Dakai's head left for Lord Qiao at Hailing were delivered two days ago. The memorial from Sichuan Governor Wanyan Chongshi arrived even earlier.
The military ministers celebrated the demise of Shi Ni and the elimination of a major threat to the court.
As for the Hunan Army's betrayal of the Huai Army, this was a common practice and not worth mentioning. Didn't the Huai Army only lose 5,000 men? They could just recruit more.
Moreover, Shao Quanzhong's impeachment of Luo Bingzhang was useless. Luo Bingzhang was old and weak, and died of his injuries after returning to Hunan.
The people are dead. After all, they sacrificed their lives for the country and should be comforted. Let's not worry about the mistake of betraying friendly forces, which is a mistake that all Qing officials would make.
The imperial court knew about the Huai Army's victory in advance from Chongshi. The two sides compared and confirmed the results. With Shi Dakai's head in hand, the merit was real, so they continued to reward him.
This time, not only the Huai Army received a share of the reward, but because of Shao Quanzhong's memorial, the chieftains, the Yi soldiers, and the Sichuan Army, who were just watching, also received a share. Shao Quanzhong unexpectedly gained the gratitude and friendship of Wanyan Chongshi and the chieftains in the southwest.
…………
Hailing, Shao Mansion.
Shao Quanzhong is now a nobleman, so the Shao residence is called the Shao Mansion.
"Jiming, come here!"
Shao Quanzhong clapped his hands, and the one-and-a-half-year-old Shao Jiming staggered over to him.
Shao Quanzhong picked him up and was extremely happy.
Jisi, who was playing with his grandmother nearby, was not happy and ran over as well. But he was only one year old and usually had to hold on to something to walk. He ran a few steps in a hurry and was about to fall.
Shao's mother next to him was anxious to help him, but Ji Si suddenly fell down and crawled over using his hands and feet.
Shao Quanzhong hugged his second son with his right hand and said, "Jisi is smart, just like me, not bad, not bad."
Ji Ming called out sweetly, "Dad!" Ji Si was not to be outdone, "Dad!"
Shao Quanzhong patted Jisi's little head and said, "Jisi, this is a good point. I like to hear it."
Wenxiu next to her was delighted. She had always regretted not giving birth to a eldest son. Seeing Shao Quanzhong praising Jisi constantly, her mood suddenly improved.
Rong Hui curled her lips. "Even if you want to listen, I won't teach you." Children should call their parents "father and mother". How can they call them "dad" and "mom" like the bannermen?
The term "dad" is Chinese, not Manchu. It existed in ancient times, but it became popular after the Jurchens entered the Central Plains.
Shao Quanzhong doesn't care about that. What about the Jurchens and the Han people? Do you know about the Five Nationalities Republic? Oh, by the way, you don't know - anyway, I like to hear the northern names.
The two children are over one year old, and the mothers-in-law have already returned to their respective homes. Shao Shucai and his wife will have to stay in their son's home for another two years. Helping to take care of their grandchildren is their favorite job.
Mother Shao hugged the two children and said, "You should go and accompany your two wives. You are always away from home. When can you give me the third and fourth grandchildren?"
Well, Shao's mother is definitely a strong supporter of the idea that three children are glorious and four children are happy. As soon as Shao Quanzhong came back, she immediately sent Shao Quanzhong to accompany his wife.
Rong Hui and Wen Xiu looked at each other, and following their mother-in-law's orders, each grabbed one of Shao Quanzhong's arms and dragged him away.
Shao Quanzhong is a model of career-oriented people. It is common for him to stay in the barracks for several months without going home. But now that the guys are back, will they let you go?
"Brother Shao——"
This time they both said it together.
"We haven't done our hair in twin ponytails for a long time, and we don't know how to do it. Please comb our hair together--"
"Hey, it's broad daylight—"
"Why, you didn't come back at night?" "Let go, I'm a second-rank official in the court, how can this be allowed? Liu Niang, help me--"
Hu Liuniang turned a blind eye. Humph, you were in the military camp, and I was right beside you. You stayed there for a few months, but you didn't even touch me. It's good enough that I didn't take advantage of the situation, but why should I save you?
"Hehe, we are both second-rank imperial ladies, who's afraid of who?"
"Let go, let go, can't I just walk away by myself——"
This is Shao Quanzhong's daily routine when he returns home...
It is said that someone once went on a business trip for a month. The first thing he did when he got home was to eat. Then, he suddenly sighed: I am getting old.
Shao Quanzhong was in his prime and was not afraid at all. He broke away from the two ladies, flicked his sleeves, adjusted the hat with double-eye peacock feathers, coughed, and walked towards his room.
When I go home and see my parents, I must wear official uniform, not military uniform.
"Angels are here!"
The angel came at a really bad time. Shao Quanzhong flicked his sleeves and said, "Let him wait!"
"Hahaha, my lord, how are you?"
Um, what's up with the guards? I didn't ask you to stop them - huh? My Lord?
Zhang Zhidong, the first-class Jinshi and editor of the Hanlin Academy, walked slowly and calmly.
"Brother Zhang, you're back. Let's not go home until we're drunk today."
Zhang Zhidong shook his hand and took out a sealed letter from his sleeve. "My lord, please accept the letter from the Military Affairs Council first."
Although the imperial edict was also an imperial decree, one did not have to kneel to receive it; the recipient had to open it personally.
Shao Quanzhong bowed to the court letter, took it, and opened it in no hurry, "Brother Zhang, how did you become an angel?"
"I was ranked third in the imperial examination and was appointed as an editor in the Imperial Academy. Isn't it normal for me to run errands for the ministers?"
"No, Brother Zhang, your Taizhou prefecture hasn't been removed yet, right? Why would you be a seventh-rank official in the Hanlin Academy running errands for others?"
Zhang Zhidong was reluctant to explain to Shao Quanzhong the importance of gilding a civil servant in the Hanlin Academy. In the Qing Dynasty, people like Shao Quanzhong who were promoted to high-ranking civil servants based on their military exploits could be counted on one hand.
"Don't worry, my lord. I know what I'm doing. I won't stay in the Imperial Academy for long. I'll be released. Anyway, the Taiping Army can't break into Nanjing for the time being, right?"
That's right. Once Luo Bingzhang's 10,000 elite troops were destroyed, there was no one else who could help in the attack on Nanjing except the Huai Army, so Shao Quanzhong was not in a hurry.
After Li Xiucheng's northern expeditionary army suffered heavy losses, he returned to Nanjing. Within a few days, the front lines in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Fujian were in a state of emergency as the main force had been withdrawn.
The Hu army, Chu army and Changsheng army attacked together. Li Xiucheng was worried that he could not keep Sufu Province, so he left with his elite troops to protect his territory despite Hong Xiuquan's request to stay...
Without Li Xiucheng's command, the defense of Nanjing became easier, and Zeng Guofan was no longer in a hurry for help.
That's why Shao Quanzhong gave the soldiers ten-day leave and allowed them to return home to reunite with their families with their reward money. It was rare for him to go back to Hailing to spend time with his family.
"My Lord, I was in the capital and learned that the court was negotiating with Britain to purchase the Aspen Fleet."
Hmm? Shao Quanzhong suddenly became interested.
The Wall brothers helped Shanghai Governor Wu Xu to buy ships in the United States to defraud money. Now Henry Wall was sunk in the South China Sea and Frederick Wall was killed in the attack on Cixi. The Wall brothers have withdrawn from the stage of history, and Gordon is now in charge of the Ever-Victorious Army, which was reorganized from the foreign rifle team.
But the imperial court wanted to buy a fleet from the British. The British were not out to cheat people, at most they just wanted to make huge profits.
"This matter was pushed forward when Hurd met the late emperor. After the late emperor passed away, Prince Gong Yi was put in charge. Li Taiguo, who returned to the UK for medical leave, consulted Prime Minister Palmerston. The British, from the Prime Minister to the Admiralty to Queen Victoria, all supported it. Seven retired British warships, led by Colonel Aspen and manned by 600 British sailors, have already arrived at Shanghai."
"The imperial court now also has a navy?"
Zhang Zhidong shook his head. "It's not that simple. The British insisted on using Colonel Aspen as the naval commander of the Qing Dynasty so that they could firmly control the navy. Zeng Guofan, Li Hongzhang, and Zuo Zongtang collectively opposed it, believing that the command power could not be transferred."
Shao Quanzhong raised his thumb and said, "I support Li Er and Zeng Zhitou on this point."
"Both sides are refusing to give in, and the situation is deadlocked. The imperial court is ready to disband the fleet. I think it would be a shame to disband the fleet after it has come all the way here. The Huai Army can consider taking action to seize the fleet."
(End of this chapter)