The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 146: Xianfeng: I am stronger than Chongzhen, I am good at micromanagement! (ask for monthly votes)

"After all, the Qing Dynasty still has many loyal ministers!"

Seeing the ministers and servants below trying to raise money, the somewhat annoyed Emperor Xianfeng felt much better immediately, thinking: "It seems that I am much better than Chongzhen after all. When Li Zicheng's army was approaching Beijing, Chongzhen wanted to ask the ministers and relatives in Beijing to donate some money for emergency relief, but he was unsuccessful. And now, I haven't even asked for anything, and the people below are vying to offer their services!

It seems that I was too impatient before. I shouldn't be so angry in front of these loyal ministers. I can't learn from Chongzhen and criticize my ministers so harshly that I lose the support of the people!"

Thinking of this, Xianfeng's words also softened. Ma Yan smiled and said to the ministers below: "Okay, okay, all stand up. I know that you are all loyal ministers and generals of my Qing Dynasty, but I can't ask you to pay all the money to redeem the Eight Banners children. I will pay 50,000 from the treasury. You can contribute some of the rest, and let those officials who lost their guards contribute some as atonement. If Shengbao and Fucheng are willing to contribute, then let them contribute some.

That Hong Daquan is the long-haired bandit leader, and he should know a lot of secrets about the demons, so we can't exchange him. At least we have to make sure that the demons are really eradicated before we can consider exchanging Hong Daquan or executing him."

"Your Majesty!"

When the ministers below saw that Emperor Xianfeng had finally calmed down, they quickly kowtowed and called him wise. The troublesome matter of redeeming the Eight Banners children was finally resolved!

Although everyone has lost some money, as long as they are still in office, this expense is nothing. If they work hard and are greedy, they can make it back soon.

The most urgent task now is the battle of Changsha!

If Changsha is completely lost, the next target of the Taiping rebels will be Yuezhou. If Yuezhou is lost again, the Taiping rebels will enter the Yangtze River!

If Wuchang and Jingzhou can no longer be defended, the Taiping Rebellion will be more powerful than Wu Sangui!
When the ministers below were thinking of this matter at the same time, Emperor Xianfeng spoke again: "Su Shun."

"I'm here!" Sushun responded quickly.

"I think you are quite smart, so why don't you go to Changsha and take charge of the military affairs for me to redeem the Eight Banners children who were captured by the Taiping rebels." Xianfeng considered for a moment, "You should investigate carefully to see whether the Western Bull Demon King was killed or injured in the explosion!"

This means that Sushun will be the imperial envoy who investigates the imperial envoys!

"I obey your order. I will live up to your expectations!" Without saying a word, Su Shun kowtowed to Emperor Xianfeng and accepted the task.

Xianfeng looked at Su Laoliu, who looked smart and capable, and asked with a smile, "Sushun, how do you plan to find out whether the Bull Demon King was killed or injured in the explosion?"

"Your Majesty, I have two ways to determine whether the demon is seriously injured or dead."

"Tell me about it!"

"The first method is to find the soldiers on the front line and ask them if they have seen the Bull Demon King's Dharma image? I think the battle in Changsha City has just begun! If the Bull Demon can still show his Dharma image, he will definitely show it at the critical moment of the battle to intimidate my Eight Banners and Green Camp soldiers.

The second method is to send spies to Changsha to conduct a secret investigation. If no one in Changsha has seen the Bull Demon for a long time, then there is no doubt that the Bull Demon is either dead or seriously injured. "

Xianfeng nodded and thought to himself, "My Qing Dynasty needs a smart and capable man like you! With you in charge, Shengbao, Fucheng, Luo Bingzhang, and Luo Raodian will not be able to deceive the emperor."

"Okay, let's leave the matter of redeeming people and investigating whether Bull Demon King is dead or seriously injured for now." Xianfeng pondered for a moment, then said, "Shengbao, Luo Bingzhang and Luo Raodian have jointly recommended a scholar named Zuo as the alternate prefect in their memorial. Sushun, you should investigate this matter as well. If this man named Zuo is really capable of handling military affairs, it's okay to promote him as an exception. But if he has used connections and spent money, he can't be allowed to get an official position in the court." "I obey your order!" Sushun kowtowed again and accepted the task assigned by Xianfeng.

Xianfeng continued, "The redemption of people, the Bull Demon, and the recommendation are all easy to handle. The real difficulty is the military affairs. Tell me, how should we suppress the rebels in Hunan?"

Upon hearing this question, Prince Gong Yixin's heart skipped a beat. The devil pondered, "The situation on the Hunan battlefield is like this. It seems that the consideration is not about how the officers and soldiers should suppress the bandits, but how the bandits will suppress the officers and soldiers, right?"

"Your Majesty, I believe that the key to the battle of Hunan lies in Changsha, and the key to the battle of Changsha lies in the gains and losses of Tianxin Pavilion and Tiefu Temple!"

The person who spoke this time was a middle-aged strong man with a somewhat cold face, narrow eyes, short eyebrows, a small mustache and a big face, a typical Mongolian appearance. This man was Senggelinqin, the 11th generation Zasakduoluo Prince of Khorchin. Because he was good at riding and shooting and had physical strength, he was very trusted during the Daoguang period and was one of the "Ten Ministers of the Emperor Xianfeng". Now he is the Minister of the Imperial Court and is in charge of the Imperial Guard.

Emperor Xianfeng nodded and thought to himself: "This Senggelinqin is really good at using troops. He can hit the nail on the head with just one word! And just as I thought, he is a rare general!"

Seeing Emperor Xianfeng nod, Senggelinqin continued, "According to the news from Hunan, the rebels in Hunan are now scattered and divided into four groups. One group is guarding the southern part of Yongzhou Prefecture, Guiyang Prefecture, and Chenzhou Prefecture; one group is attacking Lingling; one group has already captured Hengyang and is heading north along the Xiangjiang River; one group has attacked Changsha City. With such a dispersed force, it will be difficult to respond. The government army should concentrate its forces and defeat them one by one, just like the strategy used by Emperor Taizu in the Battle of Sarhu!"

"Good!" Xianfeng said loudly, "Senggelinqin, you and I have the same idea! I think that in the battle of Hunan, we should 'no matter how many ways you come, I will only go one way'!"

Senggelinqin said respectfully: "Your Majesty is wise!"

"Senggelinqin, do you think that if the officers and soldiers in Hunan were to join together, they would be enough to defeat the rebels?" Xianfeng asked again.

"I don't know." Senggelinqin said respectfully, "But now the troops are divided into several routes, each with a few thousand or more than ten thousand, which will definitely be easier for the enemy to defeat. The main reason for the setback in Changsha is the lack of troops. If the emperor wants to turn the defeat into victory in Changsha, he can only concentrate the troops from Hunan and the reinforcements from various provinces around Changsha, and order the imperial envoy to the front of the army for unified command, so that the troops can be coordinated and act in unison."

"Then," Xianfeng looked at Senggelinqin, "can you go to Hunan and serve as an imperial commissioner in charge of military affairs?"

"As long as the emperor has the order, I will certainly not refuse to die, but..." Senggelinqin frowned and said, "The war is imminent, and there is absolutely no reason to change the commander in the middle of the battle. Please ask the emperor to strictly urge Sai Shang'a to command the troops on the battlefield, and show him how to concentrate the forces and defeat the enemy! I am willing to travel day and night to Hunan to help Sai Shang'a."

Xianfeng nodded slightly and thought: "Senggelinqin is right. It is too late to change the commander now. Besides, it is not appropriate to leave all the messes caused by mediocre talents like Sai Shang'a and Luo Bingzhang to Senggelinqin. What if he fails to do well?"

"Then tell me, who should Hunan concentrate its troops to attack first?" Xianfeng asked again.

Senggelinqin thought for a moment and said, "I think we should first stop the enemy from Hengyang heading north along the Xiangjiang River from Changsha to join forces, and then consider whether to destroy the bandits in Changsha first or the bandits heading north from Hengyang first."

"Okay!" Xianfeng was very satisfied with Senggelinqin's answer. "Then I will also give you an assignment to assist in military affairs and give you a secret decree. Go to Hunan and have a hard time!"

"Your servant respectfully accepts the imperial edict!"

Seeing Senggelinqin accept the mission to help with military affairs in the south, Emperor Xianfeng felt relieved. At this time, he thought of a filial son in Hunan, so he said in a calm voice: "Sushun, Senggelinqin, when you two go to Hunan, remember to ask Zeng Guofan if he is really prepared to be a filial son in his hometown for the rest of his life. Now is the time when the country needs people. If he doesn't come out again, then he should never come out again. It's better for him to retire!"

(End of this chapter)