The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 209: Zeng Daren lacks a father, Luo Xueyan becomes an official

Hubei Province, Jingzhou Prefecture.

Inside the Jingzhou General's Office, Senggelinqin, Guanwen and Zeng Guofan, three "big demons", were gathering together to discuss "daddy's business" - that is, to discuss sending Zeng Guofan's father to Beijing to be a slave to Emperor Xianfeng.

"Disheng, the emperor has approved your request to raise the flag. Not only can you raise the flag, but your father will also raise the flag with you. This is truly a great favor from the emperor!"

"Disheng, how is your father's health? Can he travel far? If it is convenient, I will take your father with me when I return to the capital this time."

"It's good to go to Beijing and become a bannerman! The governor's office will give you houses, land, and crops. It's easy to get a job. Oh, and it's easy to pass the imperial examination. Didn't your father pass the examination seventeen times? The college entrance examination in Changsha is too difficult. Go to Beijing to take the exam. Your father's knowledge is enough to pass the examination and become a juren!"

"Yes, yes, it's easy for Beijing bannermen to pass the exam. Even if you don't pass, it doesn't matter. You still have the chance to choose Baitang'a, guards, and pen tips. Just tell me what you want to choose. Even a blue-feathered guard can be selected."

Senggelinqin and Guanwen were speaking in unison, telling Zeng Guofan the benefits of being a slave.

The benefits are obvious!
With a Beijing hukou, a quadrangle courtyard, and dozens of acres of farmland outside the second ring road, it was very easy to pass the imperial examination. It didn't matter if you didn't pass, you could still choose to be a Baitang'a, a guard, or a pen-tip. Zeng Linshu's knowledge, character, and appearance were ordinary in Hunan, but when he went to Beijing and joined the bannerman circle, he was truly "double first-class".

Senggelinqin said it was not unreasonable that he could select the guards - Senggelinqin himself was the Minister of the Imperial Guards, and the matter of selecting the guards was his responsibility!

As for the disadvantages of being a bannerman, it was probably not easy for Zeng Linshu to remarry.

However, at Zeng Linshu's age, there is no need for his son to find another mother, so there is no disadvantage.

But the problem was that Zeng Guofan kept his triangular eyes narrowed and said nothing. No matter how Senggelinqin and Guanwen tried to persuade him, he just wouldn't give in.

He can't let go!

He is now "missing a father"!

His father was being held captive by Luo Yaoguo, so what could he take to Beijing?
He had previously submitted a memorial to Emperor Xianfeng to discuss this matter just to show his loyalty. As long as Emperor Xianfeng knew his loyalty, it didn't matter whether his memorial was accurate or not.

But he never expected that Emperor Xianfeng would not only agree to let him join the banner, but also directly make him a slave of the three banners - what an honor! He also let his father who was obsessed with officials become a slave of the three banners!

If his father hadn't let Luo Yaoguo hold him hostage, he would have been so happy to hear this news!

It was very easy for a regular bannerman from the upper three banners to get a job, not to mention Senggelinqin had guaranteed that the old man could really carry a sword on his waist and go to the Old Summer Palace to guard the gate and protect the emperor!

"Your Majesty, Your Excellency," Zeng Guofan clasped his fists helplessly, "Your Majesty has been very kind to me, but my father has never left Hunan in his life. I am afraid he would not want to go to Beijing. Please allow me to go back and discuss this with my father."

He couldn't reject Emperor Xianfeng's kindness on behalf of Zeng Linshu now. That would be shameless!

There was no other way, so he had to make an excuse that he would go back and discuss it with his father, and then go to Huang Shijie, Zeng Guoquan, Zhu Yisun, Luo Zenan, Guo Songtao and other trusted people to discuss it, to see where he could find a father to send to Xianfeng.

"We should discuss it, but it has to be done quickly." Although Senggelinqin complained in his heart that Zeng Guofan was not doing things well, he was still very polite. "By the way, Disheng, the emperor has to send a batch of blank official certificates six hundred miles away, all of which are deputy county magistrates, captains, and captains. I will make the decision to divide them into three parts for you, Zuo Jigao, and Jiang Minqiao, how about it?"

"Then I'll trouble you, Your Majesty."

Zeng Guofan quickly bowed and thanked Senggelinqin with a smile on his face.

Of course, he was not very satisfied in his heart.

These vacant official titles are tools for him, the Minister of Militia, to control the militia leaders under him - isn't the purpose of being a militia leader to become an official?

These blank official certificates are the proof of their holding office!
As long as you fill in your name and send the materials to the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War, you can turn an ordinary commoner into a father of the people of the Qing Dynasty. These blank official certificates should have been given to Zeng Guofan, the Minister of Hunan Tuanlian, so that he could control the leaders of the Tuanlian under him!
But Senggelinqin divided the task into three parts and gave it to him, Zuo Zongtang and Jiang Zhongyuan respectively. Isn't it obvious that he wanted to support three militia leaders and let them fight each other?

"Ji Gao, did you get it?"

"Haha, of course I got it! How dare Senggelinqin not give it to me?"

In a mansion in Shashi Town, Zuo Zongtang, who had just returned from Jingzhou Prefecture, was talking to Wang Kui with a smile. He took out a thick stack of official certificates and placed them on the table, saying with a smile: "Look, this is what many scholars have spent their whole lives studying to get!"

"Can you give me three?"

Wang Kuiyi asked with a smile.

"Give you three?" Zuo Zongtang glanced at Wang Kuiyi and said with a smile, "Do you have relatives or friends who want to be arranged? Tell me, what's their name, what kind of official position they want to hold, and I'll fill it out for you."

"I have a good friend who does business in Guangdong. His surname is Luo and his name is Xueyan. He wants to be a deputy county magistrate." Wang Kui smiled and said, "There are also two old subordinates in Daozhou. One is Zhang and his name is Sanxiang. He wants to be a captain. The other is Wang and his name is Dalong. He also wants to be a captain.

Ji Gao, I am not selling my position for money. These three can do things for me! I am going to Shanghai this time, relying on their help. Zhang Sanxiang has connections in the Huguang underworld, and can help me pass through the waters of Wuchang and Hanyang. Luo Xueyan can speak a little foreign language and Cantonese. Many compradors in Shanghai are Cantonese now. Wang Dalong was born in Daozhou Garrison Battalion, and is the leader of my personal soldiers. "

"I know, I know." Zuo Zongtang waved his hand and said with a smile: "Who doesn't know that you, Wang Bowen, are devoted to the country and have an incorruptible character? If I didn't know what kind of person you are, I wouldn't have given you the job of going to Shanghai to buy foreign guns and cannons!"

"Don't worry, leave this mission to me, and I will definitely not fail!" Wang Kuiyi patted his chest and promised.

Zuo Zongtang smiled and nodded, and then instructed: "Leave the positions of Luo Xueyan, Zhang Sanxiang and Wang Dalong to you, the three officials. Just fill in their names. Set off quickly, preferably before the New Year. I am worried that the Taiping Army will go down the river after the New Year, and you will not be able to get through then."

"Well," Wang Kui said with a smile, "I will leave tomorrow."

Zuo Zongtang then took out a note with the official seal of the Hunan governor and handed it to Wang Kui, saying, "Take this note to see Lord Wu, the governor of Susong. He and Ru Weng are both from Guangdong, so he should give you face."

"I know, that's a donated class and they don't dare to offend Luo Ruweng." Wang Kuiyi smiled and put away the note handed over by Zuo Zongtang.

"Do you want Yang Houan to bring a battalion of Xiangyin soldiers to protect you?" Zuo Zongtang was still a little worried about Wang Kuiyi's safety along the way.

"No need," Wang Kui waved his hand. "How can Yang Hou'an pass through Hankou? Ji Gao, actually, there is no problem for me to go to Shanghai. The problem is how to send the foreign guns and cannons I bought back?"

Zuo Zongtang shook his hand and sighed, "No need to send them back. The Hunan Army will definitely go east or north. Buy the guns and keep them with Wu Daotai first, and then we can see where Gaoziying will send troops!"

"Teacher, how about finding someone to pretend to be your father?"

In Shaxi Town, in the Yingzi Camp of the Hunan Army, Zeng Guofan's good student Huang Shijie saw his teacher with a difficult face, and actually thought of finding a fake father for his teacher. I have to say, it was really too clever!
"Master Di, this is a good idea!" Guo Songtao nodded immediately and said, "Although your father is fake, your loyalty to the Qing Dynasty is real! What the emperor wants is actually your attitude!"

Zhu Yisun also nodded: "Disheng, in an emergency, we have to make decisions based on our circumstances. Let's do this!"

Luo Zenan also said: "Disheng, this is the only way. We have already reached this point. Thirty camps have been set up below, all waiting to divide the land outside the Great Wall and become officials of the Qing Dynasty. There is no way back!"

Zeng Guofan sighed, looked at the confidants who advised him to "find a fake father" and said: "You really make me suffer." He paused and asked again: "But where can I find one, a fake one?"

Huang Shijie patted his chest and said, "I'll leave it to the students!"

(End of this chapter)