Chapter 268 Shangluo

Chapter 268 Shangluo

Chapter 268 Shangluo
Shao Quanzhong counted on his fingers and found that this time the court's reward seemed to be one day late.

This is not the fault of the imperial court. Ever since the victory report of the capture of Tashkent was sent back, the imperial court has already discussed the rewards. They are just waiting for the treaty to be signed and reported back, and the rewards will be given immediately.

However, the content of the treaty shocked the court. Compared with the benefits the court gained, the rewards given to Qiao Songnian and Shao Quanzhong, father and son, were obviously too low.

The Grand Council had to hold an emergency meeting for a day before coming up with new rewards.

Zhang Zihuai ran out of breath, but he was just taking advantage of his youth. Every time the 800-mile express was sent, the messenger would be exhausted to the point of vomiting blood.

Shao Quanzhong took the telegram from Zhang Zihuai with a smile. This was the result of his more than two years of fighting, and he was still a little excited.

"Qiao Songnian was promoted to the first-class diligent official, and was granted the title of Grand Secretary of Baohe Hall, and was given the title of Grand Tutor. He was granted the right to wear a three-eyed peacock feather, was allowed to ride a horse in the Forbidden City, and was transferred to the governor-general of Zhili, and headed the Military Affairs Office.

Shao Quanzhong was promoted to the third-class rank of Jingyuan Duke, granted the title of Shao Bao, allowed to wear a three-eyed peacock feather, appointed as the Minister of War, and served in the Grand Council.

Shao Quanzhong is ordered to return to the capital to meet the emperor and receive his reward. His subordinates should report their meritorious service to the court as soon as possible, and the court will be generous in rewarding them. "

The rewards given to Qiao Songnian basically reached the highest level that a Han Chinese could achieve. As a Han Chinese, he was in charge of the Grand Council and held great power in the Qing Dynasty, which was considered a great favor from the emperor.

Shao Quanzhong was conferred the title of Duke and Shao Bao, which was the pinnacle of military ability for a Han general. Who are the famous Shao Bao? Everyone knows who Yue Shao Bao and Qi Shao Bao are, right?

However, after reading the reward, Shao Quanzhong did not comment, but passed it to his important ministers and brothers for review, "Everyone, please express your opinions."

After reading it, Lin Bozi was immediately dissatisfied. "I think the court is too stingy. This time we recovered Gansu Province, Yili Province, Jilin General Region, Kokand Province, British Columbia, Alaska, and Mecca Province for the court. The court also gained three vassal states: the Khanate of Kazakhstan, the Khanate of Bukhara, and the Khanate of Khiva. It's not too much to make Brother Shao a king, right? Why did you only give me a duke, and a third-class one at that?"

Song Le waved his hand, "I think that's enough. Don't forget that Qiao Songnian is the commander-in-chief of the Western Expedition, and Brother Shao is only the commander-in-chief of the front line. To be honest, without the continuous supply of food and grass from Lord Qiao and the support from the court, how could we have the chance to fight to Central Asia?

The father and son are both dukes, which together equals to a prince. They both entered the Grand Council, and Lord Qiao became the foreman, holding great power in the court. I think that's enough."

In fact, there was no problem with the level of reward granted by the imperial court, but the two brothers just didn’t see where the real problem lay.

The recovery of Gansu and Yili may seem like a large territory, but in the eyes of the Qing court, it is nothing compared to the destruction of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the recovery of the tax-rich areas of Jiangnan.

Adding Kokand Province, Mecca Province, and British Columbia is not acceptable either.

Only Kokand Province is a major grain producer and taxpayer. Other places are either freezing cold or in the Gobi Desert, and do not generate much tax revenue.

British Columbia was purchased with money, and it will take at least 30 years to get your money back.

Only after the destruction of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom were two first-class marquises conferred. As for the Western Expedition, because the defeat of the Russians brought great honor to the Qing Dynasty, the court originally planned to confer the title of third-class duke on Qiao Songnian and first-class marquis on Shao Quanzhong.

When the treaty was sent to the capital, seeing that there were two million square kilometers more land in Alaska and Jilin General District than expected, the court temporarily raised the price and upgraded it, and only then were two dukes conferred. There was no problem with that.

Wu Ziyi and Le Sen saw the problem. "The commander was transferred to the central government and became the Minister of War, and joined the Grand Council. This is a high position, but what about the Huai Army? The commander should be the governor-general to lead the troops. The court is giving up military power with a cup of wine, and they have to rely on high positions and generous salaries to support the commander."

Hai Qing immediately refused to accept the offer, "What? The imperial court dares to abandon the donkey after it has done its job and take away my second brother's military power?"

Shao Quanzhong kicked Haiqing on the buttocks and said, "You are the donkey, how can you talk like that?"

Hai Qing said angrily, "The military power cannot be lost no matter what. I think if Brother Shao goes back and enters the capital alone, the court might burn down the building of meritorious officials.

"Yue Fei and Aobai were both beheaded when they were appointed as Shao Bao. I think whoever the imperial court appointed as Shao Bao has bad intentions."

Grant waved his hand. "The government will never do this. It's too embarrassing. But, sir, you really need to pay attention to your personal safety and not make the same mistake as President Lincoln."

Even the steady and reliable Grant said so, so Hai Qing was right. "Second brother, I think you can't go to the capital by yourself. You have to bring all the troops back. You, the adopted son, should take us, the Xiliang Iron Cavalry, and help Grand Tutor Qiao to Luoyang. You can depose the young emperor, enthrone the second prince, the Prince of Chenliu, and take charge of the government..."

Hai Qing was talking with saliva flying when Shao Quanzhong kicked him in the butt again, "You are the fucking Lu Bu. Besides, there is no Prince of Chenliu in our Qing Dynasty - don't mention it, Xianfeng really had a second prince..."

Although Hai Qing was the only one who spoke nonsense, his subordinates all had the same idea. The disbanding of the Huai Army was unacceptable. The Huai Army was too powerful now, and Shao Quanzhong's achievements were so great that he was already suspected by the court. This trip back to Beijing was not so warm and affectionate.

Wu Ziyi and Le Sen looked at each other and saw each other's eyes. When the army returns to Beijing, should we go to a post station outside the city to get the commander a yellow robe?

Shao Quanzhong saw the way his subordinates were looking at him and understood what they meant. This was an extremely important decision and he could not listen to anyone else but had to make his own decision.

Shao Quanzhong walked out of the central army tent, with his hands behind his back, looking at the 100,000 troops he led. The 100,000 troops had flags flying and tents stretching from the ground to the sky. It was indeed a force strong enough to rebel and become emperor.

But a small number of them are loyal ministers of the Qing court. If I rebel, will they follow me?

Anyway, the Xibe Camp and the Solon Camp will not follow, the Tibetans and the Torghut tribe are also in trouble, and the Bordered Blue Banner is even more ridiculous.

Among Nie Shicheng, Dong Fuxiang and Song Qing, which one looks like he would rebel against me?
Not to mention his subordinates, if there was a rebellion, Zhang Zhidong might remain neutral. What choices would Zeng Guofan, Zuo Zongtang, and Li Hongzhang make?

Once he rebelled, the Qing Dynasty, which had just achieved peace, would certainly have to fight another earth-shaking war. Would the common people, who had experienced more than ten years of war, support his warlord's rebellion and continue to cause suffering to the Chinese land?
The time is not yet ripe. Even if we can win and I become the emperor, China will be seriously damaged. It has just been promoted to the ranks of great powers, but will soon fall from the ranks again. It is not cost-effective.

Shao Quanzhong had made up his mind and returned to his tent to face his confidants.

"When I announced the end of the Western Expedition in Tashkent, the soldiers cheered from the bottom of their hearts. Did you hear it?

China has been at war for a long time, and people's minds have settled down. The soldiers don't want to fight anymore, so the idea of ​​rebellion is put on hold for the time being.

However, Grant and Haiqing's suggestions are also correct. This time I will lead a large army to Luoyang to demonstrate the strength and unity of our Huai Army and make the imperial court dare not touch us. "

Shao Quanzhong turned around and said, "Sixth Lady, draft a telegram!"

Seeing Liu Niang pick up the quill pen and start taking shorthand, Shao Quanzhong began to draft a memorial to the court.

"The soldiers have been on the Western Expedition for nearly three years, and they all long for the grace of heaven. I would like to bring the Western Expedition army back to the capital to accept your majesty's inspection and comfort the soldiers.

In this Western Expedition, the Qing Dynasty's border has advanced to Kokand Province, and is guarded by the three vassal states of Kazakhstan, Bukhara, and Khiva. I request that the Governor-General of Shaanxi and Gansu no longer control Ili Province.

I request that a Governor-General of Yihao be established to control Ili Province and Kokand Province, and I recommend Dong Fuxiang as the Governor-General of Yihao, who will lead the Gansu Army to be stationed in Tashkent and pacify the northwestern border. Song Qing will be the Governor of Kokand, who will lead an armored brigade to assist him.

Recommend Jin Shun as the general of Jilin and station troops in Vladivostok.

The provinces of Columbia and Alaska were established, and Nixon was recommended as the Governor of Columbia and Alaska, who led his 12,000 troops to garrison the town of Victoria to guard North America.

Rong Hong, a fourth-rank official in the Zongli Yamen, was recommended as the governor of Columbia to assist Marshal Nie in governing the 50,000 American immigrants in Columbia Province and to negotiate with the British and American immigrants in the neighboring countries, which was Rong Hong's expertise.

The Torghut tribe was moved to the Kazakh Khanate, and Naram Sarahei (Fat Tiger) was recommended as the minister to Kazakhstan, who led 10,000 Torghut cavalry to garrison in Turkestan.

The Xibe camp was moved to the Bukhara Khanate, and the Solon camp was moved to the Khiva Khanate. Dong Jun was recommended as the minister in Bukhara and Khiva.

I am leading my troops to Kabul, and Afghanistan is about to declare itself a vassal. I recommend the Tibetan general Wang Nima as the minister in Afghanistan, and he will lead 6,000 Tibetan soldiers to garrison Kabul.

If Chinese faces appear in Europe, it may cause great stimulation to the great powers. Therefore, I recommend the foreign general Ivan as the assistant minister of Cyprus, to lead 6,000 Cossack foreign soldiers to garrison the island of Cyprus and jointly manage Cyprus with Greece.

He recommended Wu Ziyi as the governor of Yili and appointed him to work in the Zongli Yamen.

Grant was recommended as the General of Ili, Emery as the Vice Minister of War, Le Sen as the Governor of Shaanxi, Song Le as the Admiral of Shaanxi, Lin Bo as the Governor of Gansu, Ma Yukun as the Admiral of Gansu, Shao Yuan as the Governor of Jiangning, Shao Hengzhong as the Governor of Anhui, Jiang Chunlin as the Governor of Anhui, Ma Han as the Admiral of Anhui, and Liao Rong as the Admiral of the Nanyang Navy.

——Your Highness Shao Quanzhong bows his head, April 6, the sixth year of the Tongzhi reign.”

(End of this chapter)