The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 282 Hongwu Covenant (Request for subscription, request for votes)

Anhui, Fengyang, Bengbu.

The Huai River surged, the dark water tumbling eastward, rolling up waves and slapping the high embankments on both sides. A middle-aged man with a white face and short beard, wearing a black official jacket and a fourth-rank official hat, stood on the dam without saying a word, waiting for Zuo Zongtang to walk to his side. Then he pointed to a few large wooden boats moored at the Bengbu dock and whispered:
"Brother Ji Gao, I have accomplished my mission and bought two thousand foreign rifles, sixty thousand rounds of fixed ammunition, and six twelve-pound foreign cannons."

Zuo Zongtang crossed his arms, his round face showing no surprise, but frowned slightly, and said softly: "Who is Luo Xueyan? How could he accomplish such a career in such a short time? The emperor sent a secret order to ask Luo Ruweng, but fortunately Ruweng asked me first, so I was able to get away with it."

Although he didn't know that Luo Xueyan was Luo Yaoguo, he vaguely felt that something was wrong, so when he saw Wang Kuiyi delivering foreign guns and cannons, he immediately started asking.

Wang Kuiyi laughed and asked, "Since Brother Ji Gao uses Jin Liang as his nickname, why don't you count on your fingers to find out this person's background? Actually, he and Brother Ji Gao are old acquaintances."

Zuo Zongtang stroked his beard and thought for a moment, then asked, "Could it be someone from Luo Su's family? But I heard that this person's ancestral home is Jiaying Prefecture, and he is a returned overseas Chinese from Southeast Asia. Su doesn't have such a distant relative."

When Wang Kui saw that Zuo Zongtang was also confused, he laughed and reminded him, "This gentleman and Brother Ji Gao had a Hongwu appointment in Chaozong Sect in Changsha in the past. Brother Ji Gao, do you remember?"

Zuo Zongtang was shocked, staring at Wang Kuiyi with wide eyes, and said after a while: "It turned out to be him! He was so good at deceiving the world that even I was deceived by him. I never thought that Luo Xueyan was Luo Yaoguo. Bowen, are you working for him now? Why did he give me so many foreign guns and cannons? What exactly does he want to do?"

"What does he want to do?"

Wang Kuiyi smiled faintly, looked at Zuo Zongtang and said leisurely: "Brother Ji Gao, have you forgotten the Xiangjiang River and the Hongwu agreement in the past? Although King Luo Wu has not yet included the two Wus in the east and west, he has already got half of the land of Suzhou, Songjiang and Taichang, and the Shanghai port is firmly in his hands. He has also obtained the support of the envoys of England, France and the United States, and has grasped the Jiangnan Salt Road and the Jianghai Customs. If he wants silver, he has silver, and if he wants foreign guns, he has foreign guns. He is just waiting for Han Liner and Liu Futong to lead the army to the north, and both sides will suffer losses. Then he can fulfill the ambition of Hongwu, sweep the world, and clear the universe. Brother Ji Gao, don't you want to fulfill the agreement?"

"So, King Luo Wu is going to abandon the Ming Cult and establish the Ming Dynasty!"

As soon as these words came out, Zuo Zongtang's pupils slightly dilated, and it was obvious that he was overwhelmed with emotion. However, after a little thought, he felt puzzled again, and then he asked again: "Since King Luo Wu wanted to carry out the Hongwu affairs, why did he use Luo Xueyan's name to become the Shanghai Governor and Minister of Trade of the Five Ports of the Qing Dynasty? This seems to be the work of Zhang Shicheng!"

Wang Kuiyi laughed and replied, "King Luo Wu is Western Wu, and General Luo is Eastern Wu. Zhu Hongwu and Zhang Shicheng are both allowed to be the same person. Isn't that good?"

Zuo Zongtang was still puzzled and stared at Wang Kuiyi blankly.

Wang Kuiyi said leisurely: "Brother Ji Gao should have read all three volumes of the Anti-Scripture and know the root cause of the current chaos in the world, right?"

"I know a little bit," Zuo Zongtang said, "but it is really the sorrow of too many people."

"There are many people, but the world is bigger!" Wang Kuiyi said lightly.

Zuo Zongtang's pupils trembled slightly: "King Luo Wu hasn't even unified China yet, and he's thinking about external expansion and showing off his power in foreign lands? But in today's world, there are many powerful countries, such as England, France, and the United States. It's really difficult for China to compete with them!"

Zuo Zongtang knew a lot about the world's situation, but he could not compare with Luo Yaoguo.

"It is impossible to expand abroad and show off our power in foreign lands at the moment, but we can send some poor people who have no food to eat in China to Southeast Asia and America to work hard for foreigners to earn some money to support themselves. Foreigners welcome them. It may be hard, and there is the risk of not adapting to the local climate and dying in a foreign land, but it is better than waiting to starve to death in China, right?" Wang Kuiyi frowned and said slowly, "The reason why the great powers are great powers is not because of their large populations, nor because of their vast territories, but because of their advanced science and technology and industrial progress, which is the strength of the West.

If China wants to become stronger, it must learn from the strengths of the barbarians. To learn from the barbarians, it must have a land that can connect to the sea and allow the Chinese and the barbarians to live together. Moreover, this land must be able to absorb a large amount of money and people from all walks of life, and allow them to learn from the strengths of the barbarians, introduce technology, develop industry, run education, and develop slowly. Shanghai is the foundation chosen by King Luo Wu to become stronger.

Perhaps in a decade or two, China will have a piece of land with a machine industry comparable to that of the great powers. By then, strong ships and powerful guns, foreign guns and foreign bullets can all be made by ourselves, and it will be possible for King Luo Wu to sweep across the wilderness, conquer the world, and even show off his power in foreign lands.

This is the ambition of Hongwu today! Brother Ji Gao, are you willing to fulfill the promise you made to the Chao Sect in the past? "

Zuo Zongtang thought for a long time, then he looked up at Wang Kuiyi and asked softly, "Brother Bowen, I still have one thing I don't understand." "Brother Ji Gao, don't you understand why King Luo Wu wants to use Luo Xueyan's name to run Shanghai?" Wang Kuiyi had guessed what Zuo Zongtang wanted to ask, and he smiled and said, "After all, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom wants to divide up land and wealth. If it doesn't, no one will follow it, and it will be difficult to establish a foundation, and it will be impossible to pacify and settle the world. But if it is divided, the wealthy people in the world will be in panic. If Shanghai is also King Luo Wu's territory, who would dare to start an industry there?"

Zuo Zongtang nodded slightly, his eyes slowly looking southeast, and replied: "It is difficult for King Luo Wu, but I don't know what King Luo Wu wants me to do?"

Wang Kuiyi asked, "Brother Ji Gao, do you want to be the governor of Zhejiang Province in the Qing Dynasty?"

Zuo Zongtang raised his thick eyebrows and said, "I do!"

Fengyang County.

The setting sun shone obliquely, illuminating the ancient city of Fengyang with a golden glow. The man with triangular eyes and drooping eyebrows stood on the city wall, watching his Hunan warriors setting up camp in the empty Fengyang City. Huang Shijie and two men, one tall and one short, walked quickly to his side and bowed together.

"Student greets Master."

"Brother Disheng, how are you?"

"I am Miao Peilin from Fengtai and I pay my respects to Mr. Zeng."

Zeng Guofan smiled and nodded at the two of them, then pointed to a square table and a few chairs placed on the tower and said softly, "Please sit wherever you like."

"Yes."

The three of them responded quietly, and then each found a chair and sat down. Huang Shijie was the most casual, with a smile on his fair face. The tall man was a little older and a little reserved. He was Li Hongzhang's father, Li Wenxuan. There was also a short man, a little fat, about forty years old, with short eyebrows, big eyes, and a mustache. He looked the most reserved. He was a scholar from Fengtai County under Fengyang Prefecture who was not very successful. His name was Miao Peilin.

"Yuchuan, has your son gone abroad?" Zeng Guofan asked his classmate Li Wenxuan with a smile.

"They have already gone abroad," Li Wenxuan said with a slightly worried look, "Two months ago, they followed Lord Su on a British warship, accompanied by the British Consul in Shanghai, Sir Thomas Wade. They may have reached the Indian Ocean by now."

When Li Hongzhang went abroad, Luo Xueyan was in Kunshan "suppressing" Su Sanniang, so he did not go to see him off.

"A good man has ambitions to go far and wide. He goes out to gain knowledge and broaden his horizons. When he comes back, he will be a capable person in Western affairs."

Zeng Guofan had always been optimistic about Li Hongzhang as a student and was quite confident about his future. He laughed and continued, "Among my students, Shaoquan and Ziying are the most capable. Shaoquan is talented in literature, and Ziying is good at military strategy. Shaoquan was a talented person in Westernization after returning from overseas, and Ziying's militia training was also very successful. In the future, the two of you will work together and will not be inferior to Luo Xueyan."

Huang Shijie couldn't help but ask after hearing what the teacher said: "Teacher, do you know Luo Xueyan?"

Zeng Guofan shook his head: "I have never seen him, but I heard from Luo Ruzhai and Zuo Jigao that he is a rare talent!"

Huang Shijie sighed, "There are so many talented people in the world, but it's hard to find a good horse trainer. Fortunately, with this chaotic world, talented people from all walks of life can finally show their talents."

Zeng Guofan's expression changed slightly when he said this. He was obviously thinking of the yellow robe. He hesitated for a long time before pointing at Miao Peilin and saying, "Ziying, this Mr. Miao must be a rare talent, right?"

Miao Peilin quickly stood up upon hearing this, bowed to Zeng Guofan, and said with a smile: "Miao dare not, Miao is not very talented and knowledgeable, dare not compare with Mr. Huang, Mr. Li, and Mr. Luo, but Huaixi has been a land of heroes since ancient times, Miao is willing to recruit the brave men of Huaixi, to achieve great things and bring peace to the world!"

(End of this chapter)