Forty-eight years of Qianlong

Chapter 480 Behind the prosperous world is famine everywhere

At two o'clock in the afternoon the next day, when Fan Tong, escorted by a platoon of guards, returned to the military camp in Irkutsk from Kyakhta, the military meeting began immediately.

In addition to the four of Zhao Xin and the others, the participants also included the heads of the various regiments and some members of the Beihai Navy's staff department.Sheng Haizhou was now transferred back to the North Navy Staff Headquarters by Zhao Xin, and continued to serve as the Chief of Staff that had been vacant.

The reason why Zhao Xin held this meeting was to clarify the strategic intention of this war against Russia and to unify their understanding.In order to avoid deviations in the process of implementing the strategy, he set the tone as soon as he came up.

"Let me briefly talk about it first. The main purpose of this war against Russia is to completely eliminate Tsarist Russia's influence in Eastern Siberia, cut off the connection between the Lena River Basin and the Yenisei River, and finally force the Tsarist Russians to abandon their strongholds along the Lena River. "

When he said this, he glanced at Zhang Jingxuan who was sitting opposite, and said with a serious face: "The difficulty is actually in the back. How to effectively bring such a large area into rule is a long-term project. In addition to force, cultural and economic means are more important. important."

Zhang Jingxuan nodded silently, he knew that Zhao Xin was speaking for himself, and reminded himself not to be too ambitious.He felt like a horse with a bridle and a collar. Although he was a little exhausted, he was still being driven down the mountain by the other party.

Fan Tong looked at Zhao Xin, hesitant to speak, he wanted to ask the Khalkha Mongols in the south of the trading city how to deal with it.But seeing Zhao Xin's confident look, he decided to listen first before speaking.

Next, Sheng Haizhou compared the map on the wall and announced the deployment of this operational policy to the participants.

"This time our Northern Navy's battle against Russia is planned to be divided into three stages, using six regiments, two cavalry battalions, and three auxiliary battalions. It will take one and a half to two months, and it will end in mid-September.

In the first stage, the focus is to eliminate the main force of the Russian army entrenched west of the Angara Basin. It is planned to use three to four regiments to push the main force to the front line of Nizhny Nudinsk.

In the second stage, after eliminating the main force of the Russian army, use two to three regiments to go up the Angara River, destroy the Russian fortresses along the way, and finally capture Ilimsk, cutting off the Yakutsk direction from Yenisei. SK contact.

In the third stage, the troops on the southern front captured Krasnoyarsk from Lower Nudinsk and cut off the route for the enemy to flee south from Yeniseysk.

Now let’s talk about the first phase of the problem. According to the analysis of the staff, the main force of the enemy is likely to be entrenched in the forest area between the north of the Sayan Mountains and Nizhny Nudinsk.In order to achieve the goal of the battle, it is necessary...the second regiment advances, the third regiment advances, and the two cavalry battalions advance..."

Sheng Haizhou was still announcing the combat deployment, and the regiment leaders were all listening attentively.If it weren't for the large map hanging on the wall for guidance, this pre-war military meeting would have become obscure.

There is a SK here, and there is a SK, and many people here are almost dizzy.However, what surprised them at this meeting was that Sheng Haizhou returned to the core position of the Beihai Navy.

The burly Pan Xiucheng leaned his back against the wall, his eyes rested on Chen Jishan, wondering what he was thinking.Kuzang and Huoji had sparkling eyes and looked at the young chief of staff with a smile on their faces.Lu Shoushan sat upright, and when Sheng Haizhou paused in his speech, he turned his gaze to the other group leaders. After he quickly looked around, his eyelids drooped again. No one knew what this person was thinking.

Liu Sheng crossed his arms, looked at a certain place casually, and his eyes were firm.Zhang Jingxuan had a serious face, and made notes in the notebook from time to time. When he was tired of writing, he used his slender fingers to turn the pen on his thumb twice.Fan Tong opened his mouth several times but stopped talking, but Zhao Xin suppressed them all with his eyes.

On the other hand, Chai Zhong from Aobaying and Oshima Yishun from Hagiying were full of excitement. Regardless of whether they could understand or not, they kept their eyes on each other, and nodded from time to time to express their admiration.It is already a great honor for them to be able to participate in the military meeting of the Beihai Navy for the first time, and it was hosted by King Zhao. It is estimated that it will last a lifetime in the future.

Like the Sendai Fan, the Changzhou Fan also selected a bastard from a clan to lead their servants.Oshima Yoshitsumi is the No. 15 son of Mori Hirotoyo, the fifth generation of the Tokuyama Clan of Zhou Fanguo. He was recommended because he has a very good relationship with his elder brother Keitoyo Yoshikawa, who is the sixth generation.

As for the sea dog of the Ainu camp, it can be proved from the sound of his snort that this person is already fast asleep.During the period, he raised his head and looked at it blankly, as if saying, "Haven't you finished?"

The main reason why Zhao Xin transferred the three servant battalions was to test the combat effect of the "Type 90 front-loading rifle" through this battle.Although rifled rifles using fixed ammunition and flash caps can only shoot up to four times per minute, after all, the effective range is twice as far as the flintlock guns used by the Russian military.

In the future, the Cossack Kingdom will act as a buffer between itself and Tsarist Russia. If the weapon is not working well, Zhao Liang must be notified immediately to adjust it in time.

Of course, one of his goals is to let the Changzhou Fan bleed more.If you can't even win against Tsarist Russia, how can you let the islanders go to South Asia to block the British in the future?

After the meeting, when the group leaders had all left, Fan Tong finally asked Zhao Xin, "Brother, I have arranged a battalion for Liu on my side. Now there are [-] Mongolian cavalry [-] miles away. What should we do?" ?”

Zhao Xin said with a smile: "I have already contacted Deng Fei in the morning, let the Thunder God and Beihai No. [-] set off tomorrow, and then go to Dagukou for a round trip. You will have someone send an ultimatum to the Qing court officials in the trading city in a while." Let them tell Minister Cullen that if they dare to attack Kyakta, the Thunder God will bombard Tianjin City. Let them decide what to do."

After hearing this, Fan Tong was relieved, and then changed the subject: "I heard that you saw He Shen? What does he look like?" When he said this, Zhang Jingxuan and Liu Sheng next to him also pricked up their ears curiously. .

Zhao Xin thought of the scene where He Shen recognized him and said to Deng Fei "the man who caught the knife by the bedside", the corner of his mouth slightly curled up and said: "There are indeed two brushes, they look very gentle, and they always have a smile on their faces , it’s different from what’s shown on TV anyway.”

Fan Tong hurriedly said: "If you copy He Shen's house in the future, you must let me go."

"No problem." Zhao Xin nodded, thinking that he still wanted to see it.

He Shen, who was busy organizing Qianlong's [-]th birthday celebration at this time, never expected that someone would already be thinking about his family property.

Beginning in the first month of 1790, the entire Qing Dynasty was busy celebrating the 36th birthday of Emperor Qianlong.The birthday celebrations started at the Chengde Mountain Resort on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar, returned to the Old Summer Palace in the middle, and ended in the Forbidden City in Beijing on August [-]th, lasting [-] days.

In this birthday celebration, apart from the princes and ministers of the Qing Dynasty, the officials of the Han nationality, and the Mongolian princes, there were also the Ruan Annan, Li Chao, Nanzhang and Burmese missions as tributary countries, as well as representatives from Sichuan, Gansu, Chieftains from all over Yunnan and Guizhou, Burkes from all parts of the Hui tribe, envoys from Tibet, representatives of Taiwanese Shengfan, even the British mission from afar, and the Orthodox delegation from Tobolsk.

The only ones who didn't come were Chang and Huo Jihui from various ethnic groups in the middle and lower reaches of Heilongjiang and Wusuli River.But this is not a problem for the Qing officials. After all, the Northeast is not all lost. It is still no problem to find some people from Qiqihar to pretend to make up the number.

These people went to Chengde Mountain Resort to participate in the celebration in midsummer and July. During this period, the various missions not only presented tributes to the "Great Emperor" and competed in products, but also took the opportunity to seek political and economic interests from the Manchus. , At the same time, by virtue of etiquette, clothing and poetry, it is culturally long and short.

Before the Europeans really entered East Asia with the help of "strong boats and guns", Asian countries had actually had frequent exchanges.But in the long eighteenth century, there is no place like Chengde and Beijing that brought all countries together because of a birthday celebration.

Although Beihai Town has been adding obstacles to Qianlong since the 49th year of Qianlong's reign and disrupted the originally "good" Longxing land outside the customs, Qianlong still lived past 80 years old with his good physical foundation.

In fact, at the beginning of 1789, Qianlong told He Shen and others that he was "beyond the ancient times, and happy to celebrate the eighth year", making it clear that he wanted to make a big celebration.The more the Manchu Qing was defeated by Beihai Town time and time again, the more they wanted to hide their appearance through a birthday celebration.The so-called "dominant China and foreign countries, all nations lose sincerity. When the barbarian conquers the flames, everyone will turn to Hua and come to the court in an imitation."

Regardless of whether Beihai Town appears or not, this is the so-called "pre-modern"—that is, the last and the grandest tribute circle ceremony in the traditional imperial era.For those Westerners who were far away in Europe and did not know the details of the Manchu Qing, this was an era known as "High Qing".

However, due to the appearance of Beihai Town, it still cast a cloud over the celebration.At this time, the news from Yangzhou had been sent to Chengde in an expedited six hundred miles, and He Shen immediately withheld it after reading it, deciding not to add trouble to Qianlong.Anyway, the water transportation has not been interrupted, and Yangzhou has not been lost. Let's talk about what to do after the Longevity Festival.

But the news still couldn't contain the fire, because Jiangsu Governor Chang Lin and He Shen didn't deal with each other, and Yong Yan and Fu Kang'an soon found out.The two gritted their teeth with hatred for Beihai Town's blatant attack on the Yangzhou government office and robbed dozens of prisoners, and were extremely angry at He Shen's daring to conceal it and not report it.However, at this time, He Shen was relying on the "victory" of the Tianjin negotiations, and the holy family was in full swing, controlling the ruling and opposition parties, so the two had no choice.

On the seventh day of July, Jebtsundamba, Galdanxi and other living Buddhas stationed in Beijing from the Mongolian and Tibetan regions, as well as Lama Nuomenhan, arrived in Chengde together and were the first to meet.

Two days later, on the ninth day of the seventh lunar month, Torghut Khan Celing Namzal, King Nawang Sonomu of Dulbert Doro, Heshuote Dorobel Delkubash, and Altai Wuliang Haisan Four people including Minister of Rank Buyandlek, Hami Hui King Erdsir, 17 people including Achim Burke from various cities in the Hui area, and the Orthodox mission from Xinjiang arrived in Chengde to meet Qianlong.

When Yong Yan and Fu Kang'an were interviewed on their behalf after the pilgrimage, they heard from the Orthodox Mission that the Queen of Tsarist Russia was going to declare war on Beihai Town, and they were overjoyed.The two of them immediately consulted with the Khalkha Mongol prince who came to celebrate his birthday, and because Yong Yan was in charge of the Ministry of War at this time, they used the seal to issue a secret order to the left deputy general of Dingbian and the Minister of Affairs of Kulun, so there was a business [-] cavalry south of the city.

On July 180, Annan King Nguyen Quang Binh personally brought a large birthday party of more than [-] people to Chengde.Among the foreign missions that came here this time, Ruan Guangping was the only king among the tributary states, and he was a king who clearly defeated the Qing army, but came to seek the canonization of the Qing Dynasty.

In order to please the Qing Dynasty, Ruan Guangping did something that shocked other East Asian missions.At the ceremony, he took off the actor's python robe similar to that of the Ming Dynasty, and changed it to the clothes of the Qing Dynasty to show his submission.This move made Li Chao's delegation, who was wearing the clothes of the Ming Dynasty, extremely despise it, thinking it was a betrayal of Chinese civilization!
The envoy of the Li Dynasty, Liu Degong, also wrote a poem to satirize it: "Ge boats and ten thousand boats invigorated the emperor's prestige, and the monarchs and ministers of the southern kingdom kowtowed and returned. The three surnames are now cold, and the Ruan family is wearing Manchurian clothes."

With such a move, even the officials of the Qing Dynasty scolded Ruan Guangping behind his back as a real traitor; even Heshen's son, Fengshen Yinde, said that Annan people must not be close friends!

On the surface, Ruan Guangping knelt down to ask for peace, as if he was giving Manqing a big face; in fact, he secretly gathered pirates from Xishan to plot to plunder the southeast coast.All the Manchu monarchs and ministers were still in the dark at this time, blinded by the precious gifts and birthday celebration songs and dances from the Annan people.

When Qianlong listened to the ten actors of An Nanguo singing "Ten Tune of Songs and Songs of Qin Zhu Da Wanshou", and then looked at the gift list of the Annan people, he thought that Zhao Xin in Beihai Town was really an idiot.Even Annan knows how to save face to celebrate his birthday, why don't you send someone?

In order to make his face swollen and make him fat, Qianlong announced at the beginning of the year that he would be exempted from the money and food that should be paid by all provinces in the country, and at the same time, he was extravagant and wasted to the extreme for this birthday banquet.From Chengde to the Old Summer Palace, from the Old Summer Palace to the Forbidden City, all the roadsides are decorated with lights and festoons, showing a "prosperous atmosphere", but what is the embarrassment behind the prosperity?

Cheng Zhongren, an envoy of the Li Dynasty, reported to Li Yan after returning home that the actual situation in the Qing Dynasty was not good.Now that Beihai Town is in full swing, Li Yan is advised to make plans early.

Basically, after this birthday celebration, the monarchs and ministers of the Li Dynasty, who knew the "pills" of the Qing Dynasty, finally began to formally face the issue of returning the southern foot of Jiangyuan, and frequently sent envoys to Beihai Town to contact and provide information on the Qing army stationed in the court. , to ensure its position in the East Asian civilization circle in the future.

Speaking of which, the decline of an empire often has different paths.From a moral point of view, it is moral decadence and political corruption; from a class conflict point of view, it means that class struggle has intensified and the ruling class has responded incorrectly; from an economic point of view, it means that the economy is depressed and the people are impoverished.

It is impossible to die!
(End of this chapter)