Chapter 248: Iron Hoofs Enter Kokand

Chapter 248: Iron Hoofs Enter Kokand

Chapter 248: Iron Hoofs Enter Kokand

"All under heaven belongs to the king. All the people in the land are his subjects. Your Majesty has inherited the legacy of the nine generations of the Great Qing Dynasty. Your prestige and virtue are spread throughout the world. All the people in the world wish to be subjects of the Great Qing Dynasty, just as babies wish for their parents.

The small state of Kokand overestimated its own strength and invaded the territory of the Qing Dynasty. Now the traitor Yakub Beg has surrendered, the pseudo-regent Alimukur has died, the evil spirits in Kokand have dissipated, and the people are in the court.

The Khan of Kokand, Muhammad Sultan, has always been loyal and righteous. He is willing to bring his subjects and surrender his land. I sincerely request Your Majesty not to abandon the barbarity of this foreign country, but to accept it with the generosity of a superior country, so that the vassal kings who sincerely admire us can be influenced by your teachings and share the prosperity of our Great Qing Dynasty. It will be a great blessing.

Your servant Shao Quanzhong bows his head and kowtows a hundred times.

July 23, the fifth year of the Tongzhi reign.

This was the first time that Shao Quanzhong submitted a flowery memorial. He didn't have a legal advisor, so he asked Wu Ziyi, the only scholar in the military camp, to help him write it.

We cannot mention the fact that the Russians occupied Tashkent. To package the surrender of the Kokand Khanate in a fancy way, we have to flatter the Qing court.

Shao Quanzhong really couldn't do this disgusting job. Even if he wrote it with all his might, he didn't know what to write. He couldn't write that the territory of the Huai Army in the Qing Dynasty was thriving and worthy of people's support, right? This rebellious intention was too obvious.

The letter was followed by a letter of surrender from the Khan of Kokand, and they were sent to the capital at an expedited 800-li journey. Well, when we got to Guazhou, we sent a telegram instead, so the original document was not sent in a hurry.

…………

Five days later, Forbidden City, Hall of Mental Cultivation, East Warm Pavilion.

The telegram that Guiziliu brought in from the Military Affairs Office at a trot was handed behind the curtain by Empress Dowager Cixi's maid Ping'er.

The so-called "ruling from behind the curtain" is not the bamboo curtain in ordinary people's homes, but a yellow gauze curtain, which is translucent.

It is darker on this side of the throne. You can basically see outside from inside, but you can't see inside from outside.

Because of the incident in which the Nanyang Navy bombarded the Hunan Army's Changlong warship in Zhenjiang, Wen Xiang, who was the admiral of Jiumen at the time, had reported to Shao Quanzhong.

Now Wenxiang was the foreman of the Grand Council, and he still had some resentment towards Shao Quanzhong. When he saw Shao Quanzhong's victory report, he was very reluctant to submit it.

However, Prince Gong is very enthusiastic about this. After all, the Qing Dynasty belongs to my Aisin-Gioro family. If you, the Guwalgiya clan, are not enthusiastic, I cannot delay such an important event.

Besides, Shao Quanzhong is also a minister under my Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is my business if this foreign vassal asks to submit to the country.

Guiziliu's back was shaking with excitement. For so many years, the Qing Dynasty had been plagued by internal and external troubles, and the Grand Council had basically only received bad news.

Now Shao Quanzhong's army has reached Kashgar, frightening the Kokand people into surrendering. Well, the news of the capture of Nanjing was also passed on by Shao Quanzhong. Shao Weiting is really a pillar of support for the Qing Dynasty.

There was silence behind the curtain for a while, and then the whispered discussion of the two Empress Dowagers could be heard, but it was too low to be heard clearly.

Prince Gong could not help but bow and said, "My Lords, a foreign vassal wants to submit to the country. This is a sign of revival. I suggest that we should reward the Khan of Kokand generously."

The Empress Dowager Cixi's usual cold voice finally came from behind the curtain, "There is really nothing new in this world. This small Kokand Kingdom is also dominated by some regent, who has messed up the country. I have to say that only the emperor's mother can truly support the emperor, otherwise how could we have the Tongzhi Restoration? Don't you think this makes sense?"

Several military discipline ministers bowed and echoed, "The Queen Mother is wise!"

"That young Khan of Kokand is quite pitiful. Let's make him the King of Zhongshun, let him move to the capital, build him a house by the Chaobai River in Shunyi, and give him some more things. I am kind-hearted and cannot bear to see orphans and widows being bullied by the regent."

"I will obey the Empress Dowager's order. By the way, Shao Quanzhong also said in the attached memorial that although Ili Province has been pacified, the army cannot withdraw for the time being. We must firmly occupy our newly acquired Kokand territory before returning. I think there is enough money for the Western Expedition, so I can approve this request."

"Just discuss this matter among you two."

This, Shao Quanzhong's additional memorial was a plain language memorial written by himself, which contained an ambush.

Tashkent occupied by the Russians is also the territory of Kokand. The Qing court leaders are basically completely in the dark about this matter. When the fighting breaks out, don't say that I didn't warn you. The court has approved it, hehe.

After the morning meeting, Ci'an also went back. Although Ci'an was in a high position, she had no major ideas about state affairs. Now it was basically the Empress Dowager Cixi who was in charge of the government.

The little emperor went in a hurry to the South Study to "study". Cixi stood with her hands behind her back and looked up at the sky at a 45-degree angle. She was not as calm as she appeared to be.

She gave a house to the surrendered Khan of Kokand and chose the one on the banks of Chaobai River in Shunyi at the outset, simply because the memories there were very complicated.

It’s hard to describe the experience I had by the Chaobai River when I fled north in a hurry six years ago, but I can’t tell anyone about it.

In a hurry to silence the witnesses, I sent people to kill all the yamen runners in the Shunyi Express Class. Now I feel a little regretful.

Every time she saw the handsome face of her second son Zai Yi, she would always recall the past. Things were different now. Her husband Xianfeng had passed away. She was middle-aged, 31 years old, and had been alone for six years.

When Ci'an was still alive, Cixi had not yet monopolized power and had not yet had the final say like she did later, so she did not dare to keep any strong men in the harem.

Who can understand the feeling of loneliness in the middle of the night for the high and mighty Empress Dowager?

Now that I think about it, that young bailiff was quite handsome - but it's a pity that he's dead.

"Little Anzi..." An Dehai bent down and took two quick steps, "Your servant is here."

"The lucrative job of building a house for Prince Zhongshun from Kokand is now handed over to you."

"Thank you for your care, Master."

"Xiao Anzi, you can't build a new house and destroy the existing houses. Back then, we followed the late emperor to the north and passed by that place. I remember very clearly that there was a dilapidated house by the Chaobai River. Even if it has collapsed due to years of disrepair, you are not allowed to demolish it. Repair it and make it upright for me."

"Master, please be merciful. Don't worry. I will definitely handle this matter for you."

"Please build me a villa by the Chaobai River. I want to go back and visit that place when I have time. It will also be convenient for me to visit the orphans and widows of the Kokand Zhongshun King's family."

"My master's kindness to the vassal kings is truly beyond words. I will go and do my duty right away."

An Dehai had another chance to make a fortune, and left happily.

"Ping'er, go to the South Study and call Yi'er over. I miss him."

Looking at Ping'er's graceful figure walking away, Cixi sighed.

The reason why I kept her as a maid by my side was because she was three-quarters similar to myself when I was young.

Seeing her, it was as if I saw Concubine Lan who had just entered the palace at the age of seventeen.
It is said that the Qing emperors are pitiful because their harems are full of ugly women. This shows that they do not understand the truth of history.

Xianfeng was not face-blind. He appointed Xinghuachun, Mudanchun, Wulingchun and Haitangchun, four prostitutes from Yangzhou, as concubines. The only concubine of the Bannermen who was relatively beautiful, Concubine Yi, lived in a place called "Tianxia Yijiachun". These five people were collectively called "Five Springs in the Harem".

So - why did Empress Ci'an have no son, but Consort Yi had a son? The reason is actually very simple...

Ping'er's real name was Luo Pepe, and she was one of the second batch of courtesans selected by Wen Feng, the chief steward of the inner court, from Yangzhou. Just after she was sent to the Old Summer Palace and before she could see the emperor, the British and French allied forces attacked.

Emperor Xianfeng went hunting in the north in a hurry and only brought two Han concubines, Xinghuachun and Mudanchun. A new group of courtesans were left in Pengdao Yaotai of the Old Summer Palace.

When the British and French allied forces burned down the Old Summer Palace, they were lucky enough to meet the French military translator Elisson, who had a conscience. Elisson sent a carriage to take them out of the Old Summer Palace and into the Forbidden City, which had not been robbed.

After the Xinyou coup, Cixi returned to the capital. She hated those evil women who had competed for her favor and banished them all to the cold palace. Only Ping'er was left as her personal maid.

When I see Apple, I am reminded of my youth.

What Cixi could not admit was that Ping'er, as a specially trained Yangzhou skinny prostitute, was actually more beautiful than the original Concubine Lan.

"Good luck, mother. I haven't seen you for a day. You look younger again."

Zai Yi was much smarter than his silly brother. He had been smooth-talking since he could speak, and he was handsome and very good at pleasing Cixi.

The little emperor was scolded by his mother for no reason, but the second son was spoiled to the utmost and was never beaten even once.

Cixi picked up her six-year-old son, looked at him carefully for a long time, and sighed, "In a few months, when the house by the Chaobai River in Shunyi is completed, I will take you there to live for two days. You must go there to pay homage."

No matter how smart Zai Yi was, he couldn't figure out why he had to go to Shunyi to worship, but it was great to be able to go out of the palace to play. His brother, the emperor, suffered on the throne every day and did not have this luck.

…………

In Kokand, at the southeast end of the Fergana Basin, a group of cavalry rushed out from the exit of the canyon between the Fergana Mountains and the Alai Mountains.

Among the three leading horses, Dong Fuxiang is in the middle, on the left is Kalisa in green feathers and yellow shirt, and on the right is Gao Ximu, the bearded palace steward of Kokand.

The cavalry team that was urgently rescuing Kokand Khan traveled 130 miles a day and had just passed the most difficult canyon in the Tianshan Mountains.

Dong Fuxiang turned around and looked at the old housekeeper with concern, "Old man, are you okay? Do you want to take a rest?"

Gao Ximu panted for a long time and shook his head firmly. "The powerful minister Adayaer is bewitched and supported by the Russians. He is about to rebel and it is unknown when he will start. I have received great favor from the late Khan and have been entrusted with the important task of taking care of me. Even if I die of exhaustion, I will bring the imperial soldiers to Kokand as quickly as possible."

The three men continued to ride their horses, galloping across the plain, increasing their speed, and quickly almost caught up with the scouts. Gao Ximu's followers were responsible for opening various checkpoints along the way.

Behind him, eleven battalions of Gansu cavalry continuously emerged from the canyon pass, and behind them were four battalions of Gansu infantry dragoons, which had not yet entered the canyon.

Two days later, the army, led by Gao Ximu, rushed directly into the gate of Kokand City.

The powerful official guarding the city gate was caught off guard. They had no idea where the magical soldiers came from and they did not dare to stop an army of such size.

From afar, dense gunfire could be heard coming from the Khan's Palace.

(End of this chapter)