The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 271 The Emperor's Grace, the Empress Dowager's Favor (Please Vote, Please Subscribe)
After a lovemaking session, Xianfeng, who had consumed a lot of his energy, leaned on a large Western-style mahogany bed to recuperate while enjoying the massage service of Concubine Yi.

Although Xianfeng was "good", he was not "very good". He was only "good for a short while". Before Concubine Yi could even taste the pleasure, the matter was over. However, Concubine Yi did not dare to complain that Xianfeng was not good enough because he was the emperor of the Qing Dynasty!
Moreover, Xianfeng had just "promised" the next emperor of the Qing Dynasty to Concubine Yi! According to Xianfeng's intention, he had to have more sons with Concubine Yi. Even if the eldest prince died young, there would be other princes born to Concubine Yi to take his place.

Considering that Xianfeng was of small physique, was addicted to alcohol and drugs, and now had excessive sexual intercourse, he was essentially betrothing Concubine Yi a Saint Mother Empress Dowager.

Imperial Concubine Yi was just daydreaming when An Dehai's voice suddenly came from outside the bedroom: "Your Majesty, Prince Gong has come to the garden with Guiliang and Shengbao."

Concubine Yi looked down and saw that Xianfeng had his eyes closed, as if he was asleep, so she took the initiative to say, "Xiao Anzi, go and tell the Sixth Master that the Emperor is a little tired today and has already gone to bed. Ask him to come back tomorrow."

When Xianfeng heard what Concubine Yi said, he quickly said, "Wait, I'm awake, tell them to come to Haiyan Hall."

"twitter!"

An Dehai responded and left.

Xianfeng then opened his eyes and looked at Concubine Yi who was wearing a bellyband. He smiled and said, "Lan'er, the one who holds the power of the world has to sleep with one eye open. Moreover, it is not time to sleep yet. The Sixth Prince is a military minister and a prince, and he is in charge of a lot of things. He will not come to the garden for no reason. If I don't see him, I am afraid that someone will think that there is something wrong with my body. People's hearts will be unsettled!"

"I will keep your teachings in mind, Your Majesty." Imperial Concubine Yi nodded slightly and wrote down this experience in governing the country.

Seeing that Imperial Concubine Yi was humble and eager to learn, Emperor Xianfeng gave her some pointers: "Lan'er, the people who hold the power of the world must not only be diligent themselves, but also have loyal ministers and good generals to rely on. If there are a few talented people in the court who can do things sincerely, the ruler will save a lot of effort."

"Your Majesty, are there such loyal ministers and capable generals in the court now?" asked Concubine Yi.

"There is one!" said Xianfeng.

"Who is it?" Concubine Yi asked.

"Luo Xueyan, the Shanghai Governor and Minister of Commerce for the Five Ports!" Xianfeng said with a smile, "He and you are both my lucky stars!"

Concubine Yi remembered it again. She thought to herself, "If I really become the Holy Mother Empress Dowager, I will transfer Luo Xueyan to Beijing to be the Minister of State. But can he really help me?"

Thinking of this, Concubine Yi said to Emperor Xianfeng: "Your Majesty, since you value Luo Xueyan so much, shouldn't you try to make him your own?"

"Become one of our own?" Xianfeng was stunned. "How? Do we have to raise a flag for him?"

Imperial Concubine Yi smiled and said, "That's not necessary. I wonder if this Luo Xueyan has married? I heard from the Emperor that he is very young."

"It seems that there is no marriage," Xianfeng thought for a while, "I will ask someone later. By the way, who do you want to introduce to him?"

Concubine Yi asked, "What do you think of my younger sister Wanzhen?"

"What does your sister look like?" Xianfeng asked.

Concubine Yi said, "She is very beautiful, petite and exquisite, round and smooth like a pearl, and much prettier than me."

"That's good." Xianfeng nodded.

"Your servants Yi Xin, Gui Liang, and Sheng Bao respectfully wish His Majesty the best of health."

In a hall decorated in Western style inside Haiyan Hall, Emperor Xianfeng, sitting on the throne, looked at the three people kneeling and kowtowing below, and suddenly realized something was wrong.

"Hey, Shengbao, why are you here? Aren't you the assistant minister of military affairs in Suzhou?" "Your Majesty, I am here on Yiliang's orders to accompany Sushun and others to Shanghai to purchase foreign guns and cannons from foreign merchants."

Shengbao immediately selectively recounted what happened after he left Suzhou and arrived in Shanghai. Of course, he did not dare to tell Xianfeng that Luo Xueyan was "transformed" by a demon. He just used the siege of Suzhou and his inability to return as an excuse for returning to Beijing.

After Shengbao finished speaking, Emperor Xianfeng did not blame him for returning to Beijing on his own, but nodded and said, "It's good to come back," which was like letting the matter go. Then he asked Shengbao, "What does Luo Xueyan think about the siege of Suzhou?"

Shengbao rolled his eyes and immediately said to Xianfeng, "Your Majesty, Luo Xueyan once told me privately that Suzhou City cannot be defended and is difficult to save."

"Oh?" Xianfeng frowned slightly, "Go on."

"Yes!" Shengbao paused, then continued, "Luo Xueyan said that there are now 20,000 to 30,000 Taiping rebels besieging Suzhou, and the commander is still the pseudo-angel Luo Yaoguo. This thief is suspected to be a demon, and has the ability to predict the future. Although Luo Xueyan defeated him last time, it was only because he took advantage of the new army with foreign rifles and the thieves that Luo Yaoguo hastily recruited in Shanghai were mostly a motley crowd.

But even so, Luo Yaoguo still took Kunshan, Zhenyang, Qingpu, Huating and most of Jiading while evacuating Shanghai, and also controlled the east, south and north sides of Suzhou City. Now he is besieging the city without attacking, most likely to besiege the city and attack the reinforcements. Luo Xueyan has only 6,000 new troops, at least 3,000 should be left to guard Shanghai and Baoshan. With only 3,000 new troops against 30,000 old Taipings, they will definitely lose! "

These words were actually made up by Shengbao himself, but Xianfeng nodded repeatedly after hearing them: "Luo Xueyan's analysis is correct. His small number of people going to rescue Suzhou is indeed a suicide mission. Did he say anything else?"

"Your Majesty, he also said that the situation in southern Jiangsu is not hopeless." Shengbao then pinned the blame on Luo Xueyan for what Gui Liang had said in Prince Gong's mansion.

This was also the strategy that Prince Gong, Gui Liang and Shengbao discussed on the way to the Old Summer Palace. Now that Emperor Xianfeng believed in Luo Xueyan, they might as well dig a hole in Luo Xueyan's name and bury him!
"What a capable minister!" Xianfeng nodded and praised.

"Your Majesty," Prince Gong felt that the time had come, "Why not let Luo Xueyan serve as the assistant minister of the Jiangnan Camp and have him go to Yangzhou to discuss with Qishan how to open the Jiangnan Camp and how to get the tens of thousands of people under Yiliang out of Suzhou City."

Xianfeng glanced at Yi Xin and said, "The only troops that can be mobilized in southern Jiangsu now are the 3,000 new troops under Luo Xueyan. Even if we set up a Jiangnan camp, with only this number of troops, what can they do?"

"Your Majesty," Prince Gong said, "Hunan's militia is now quite powerful. Zeng Guofan, Zuo Zongtang, Jiang Zhongyuan, and Huang Shijie have a total of hundreds of battalions under their command, nearly 50,000 people! Luo Xueyan's 6,000 new troops are actually the foundation of the Hunan Army. I think we can transfer two of Zeng, Zuo, and Jiang from Hunan, and leave one to guard Hunan. As long as 40 battalions of Hunan troops arrive in Jiangsu, the Jiangnan and Jiangbei camps will be strengthened."

Xianfeng nodded and said: "Then let's transfer Zeng Guofan and Zuo Zongtang out of Hunan! Zeng Guofan is now a bannerman, so he can be used with confidence. Zuo Zongtang is familiar with Luo Xueyan, so there will be no problem in cooperating with him. However, it seems a bit inappropriate to let Qishan command Zeng Guofan, Zuo Zongtang, Luo Xueyan and Huang Shijie from Anhui."

In fact, Xianfeng looked down on Qishan and felt that the Opium War was lost because of him.

Luo Xueyan was a great man who had overwhelmed the British in Shanghai. If Qishan were to command Luo Xueyan, he would definitely make a mess of it!

However, it was a little early to let Luo Xueyan lead the Jiangnan and Jiangbei camps. After all, he had not yet married Wanzhen, and was not yet the brother-in-law of Concubine Yi and his brother-in-law.

"Sixth Brother, why don't you go there in person and become the Great General King!" Xianfeng said to Yi Xin with a smile, "Haven't you always wanted to go on an expedition to fight against the Taiping rebels? Now is the time!"

Xianfeng had been holding back Yi Xin because he was "incompetent" and had no sons, so Yi Xin was the de facto crown prince. If the crown prince had made great contributions, it would be too much of a threat to Xianfeng, the "incompetent" current emperor. If he was killed by the Taiping rebels, it would also shake the foundation of the country, so Xianfeng could not let Yi Xin go out to become a general king.

But now the situation is different. Xianfeng is "well-off" and has a son! If Yi Xin wants to go out and lead the troops, then go ahead. Win the war to get rid of the Taiping rebels, and kill them to get rid of the internal troubles.
"This slave accepts the order!"

Yi Xin never expected that his scheme against Luo Xueyan would get him involved, but he had requested to go twice before, and now that Emperor Xianfeng had approved it, he couldn't say no, so he had to bite the bullet and accept the order.

"There is one more thing," Xianfeng said with a smile, "Go to Luo Xueyan and ask him if he has a wife?"

"Your Majesty, what do you mean?"

Xianfeng smiled and said, "I want to arrange a marriage for him. It's with Concubine Yi's sister, Wanzhen, the daughter of Huizheng, the governor of Huining, Chiguang, etc. But she is only 12 years old this year. If Luo Xueyan wants to be my brother-in-law, he has to wait a few more years. But with his status, he must have no shortage of women around him. I don't care, as long as he doesn't have a formal wife."

(End of this chapter)