Nanyang Storm 1864

Chapter 58: The Big House at the Front Gate (Please support with monthly tickets and recommendation tickets. Thank you enthusiastic readers)
Finally arriving in Tianjin, Zheng Guohui and his party abandoned the boat and went ashore.

After all, this is the important area of ​​Beijing and Tianjin, with high-ranking officials from the imperial court coming and going frequently, so the arrival of the fleet did not cause any disturbance at all.

A small third-rank military officer was given some preferential treatment at the canal dock and was led to a secluded place to dock, and that was all that happened.

Everyone found a place to stay and settled down. They ordered someone to take Zheng Guohui's business card to the capital and present it to the minister as a preliminary message.

After waiting for a day, Zheng Guohui, together with the envoys from the Ministry of War of the imperial court, inspected the 568 heads of the Nian bandits and the body of Prince Wei Li Yuntai that were transported north by ship.

The two extra heads of the Nian bandits were naturally An Qixu and An Weikan. They were covered in dirty water after their death. Where can they seek justice?

After the investigation and impeachment are confirmed to be correct, the document will be signed, sealed and sent to the Ministry of War.

At this point, this great achievement has finally been finalized.

Zheng Guohui secretly slipped 500 taels of silver notes into the other party's face, which made him look much better. The envoy from the Ministry of War made it clear.
Sir City Guard, there is no need to be happy too soon. Although you have made this great contribution, don't expect a promotion.

Being promoted to "Deputy General of Jiangnan" is already the pinnacle. The imperial edict can only add titles and favors to one's rank, for example, one can be awarded another yellow jacket to show the emperor's favor.

Just like the treacherous minister Heshen of the previous dynasty, he was awarded more than 20 yellow jackets during the Qianlong period, including single, cotton, and yellow jackets outlined with gold thread, which made others envious.

Although Zheng Guohui was a little disappointed after hearing this, he knew in his heart that this was the common practice in the court.

It had only been two years since he was promoted to the garrison commander of Jinling City. He was young, inexperienced, and his military achievements were forced upon him. The only thing he could boast of was the killing of Prince Wei Li Yuntai.

In addition, without the support of senior officials in the court and the favor of the two Empress Dowagers, it was indeed impossible for him to hope to become a general of the second rank.

By the end of the Qing Dynasty

The position of general has been devalued from its original value. There were more than 2 generals in the middle of the Qing Dynasty, but now the number has expanded to more than 3, with to generals in each province.

The only exception is Jiangnan Province, which has only one general so far, namely Huai Army general Zhang Shusheng.

This man was originally a wealthy businessman in southern Anhui. He responded to Li Hongzhang's call to organize militia. He had only been in the army for about three years, but he was promoted all the way to the position of general because he had the support of Li Hongzhang.

His military career was open and smooth, much better than Zheng Guohui's.

There was no way around it. Zhang Shusheng, the general of the Huai Army, was one of the four earliest generals of the Huai Army and a trusted confidant.

Precisely because Jiangnan Province is an important financial and tax base for the imperial court and is of great importance, various forces fought fiercely for it, and the situation was deadlocked for a while.

After seeing off the envoy from the Ministry of War, Zheng Guohui became busy. First of all, these more than a hundred musketeers could not be brought into the capital, and could only stay in Tianjin to guard the fleet.

More than 50 mule and horse carts from Tianjin were hired, including 16 silver carts, to transport the piles of supplies to the capital.

Even so
Of the eleven ships that came, five were still fully loaded and docked at the Tianjin wharf. The ships were carrying the spoils looted along the way and gifts from the government along the way, as well as the two ships that settled down.

One hundred musketeers were left behind as guards, waiting to return south with both the people and the goods.

Among the large group of people heading to the capital, Zheng Guohui brought more than 60 strong plainclothes followers, and their swords were placed on the mule and horse carts so as not to be too conspicuous.

He hired more than ten covered wagons, which were used not only for his own use but also for his aide Zheng Guotai and 11 beautiful women, as well as their own boxes and other belongings.

A convoy of more than 60 mule and horse carriages headed towards the capital.

In the caravan

Zheng Guohui was lying on a thick bearskin mattress, with two extremely beautiful girls serving him at his feet and legs. They were both about sixteen or seventeen years old.

These two girls are the best among the world-famous Yangzhou skinny horses. They are proficient in playing all kinds of musical instruments and singing, have elegant conversation and extraordinary knowledge. They are playthings cultivated at great expense.

One is called Qian Xiaoyue and the other is called Su Mei Niang, both are charming beauties.

The two girls each held one of Zheng Guohui's legs, kneading and pounding them gently, which was really uncomfortable. "Master, are you thirsty? I'll peel an apple for you to moisten your throat." Qian Xiaoyue's voice was as gentle as a spring, and it was also a little charming.

"Alright."

Zheng Guohui responded nonchalantly. He was holding a thick English book in his hand, which was about the history of Emperor Napoleon's conquests, and was reading it with great interest.

soon
Qian Xiaoyue peeled the apple, cut it into bite-sized pieces, held it to Zheng Guohui's lips with her fair little hands, and fed him.

Looking at this focused man, reading a Western book intently in his hand, Qian Xiaoyue's admiration was beyond words. She had already set her heart on the general.

The general is young, talented, and courageous. He is capable of maintaining peace in the country through both civil and military means. He is far superior to the mediocre bureaucrats I have met before.

Qian Xiaoyue is a smart and kind-hearted woman. She is very intelligent and knows that her status is low. She wanders around the houses of the powerful like a rootless duckweed.

If I could stay in the master's house, it would be the best way out.

Look around
Those beautiful girls were all her rivals. She knew very well that only by winning a little love from the master and giving birth to a son or daughter could she have a support in this life.

Otherwise, it may be given away at any time and end up somewhere unknown.
Time flies, when a girl's beautiful face is gone.

Being trapped in a brothel, being entertained by prostitutes with sex, with thousands of people resting their arms on her, and having her red lips tasted by thousands of people, is likely to lead to a tragic ending.

When she was in Weiyang Mansion, Qian Xiaoyue had seen too many tragic experiences of her elder sisters. Some were tortured to death and their bodies were simply wrapped in a straw mat and thrown into a mass grave, left to be eaten by wild dogs.

Thoughts come to this
Qian Xiaoyue served more and more gently. Seeing the apple juice from the general's chewing overflowing from the corner of his mouth, she quickly stretched out her slender jade fingers to wipe it away.

This gentle movement attracted Zheng Guohui to turn his head and look at her. Qian Xiaoyue's face turned red instantly and she lowered her head shyly.

Zheng Guohui just found it interesting. While chewing an apple, he pinched Qian Xiaoyue's pink face lightly, then lowered his head to look at the book again.

This slightly ambiguous action made Qian Xiaoyue's heart beat wildly like a deer.

Qian Xiaoyue and Su Mei Niang have been trained by a nanny since childhood. They have enough knowledge and experience in serving men, but the key is that they lack practice!

Both of them are virgins, otherwise they wouldn't be sold for a high price.

After arriving in Beijing

The mule and horse convoy was divided into two. Zheng Guohui led one team to deliver the goods directly to the Beizi Mansion outside the Forbidden City without stopping. There were a total of 38 mule and horse carts. In addition to 10 taels of silver as a tribute, there were also local specialties donated by local officials, dozens of kinds in total.

The remaining 14 mule-drawn carts and covered carriages carrying more than ten pretty maids were escorted by Zheng Guotai directly to a large three-story mansion outside the front gate, where the aide-de-camp Zheng Xin was already waiting.

Zheng Xin arrived in the capital more than a month in advance and spent more than 7200 taels of silver to purchase this large mansion as the general's residence.

Seventy or eighty people poured into the yard, and it suddenly became lively.

The strong guys helped to unload the car, while the pretty maids and servants went into the inner house and took out the quilts and cotton mattresses they had brought with them to set up the place, as well as various tea sets, bowls and plates.

Since this is the general's house, everything must be arranged before he returns, and there must be no omissions.

Some were boiling water, some were washing, and the whole mansion was busy going back and forth.

Zheng Guotai arrived at the side room with several silver carts and ordered his servants to bring in the heavy silver boxes, as well as a whole cart of brocade cloth and various mountain products.

In the big house in the capital, he now plays the role of the general manager, and has to take care of every detail.

After picking them up, Zheng Xin hurried away with more than ten strong guards and a van.

They need to go to the residence of the Minister, wait for the General to return after the meeting, and accompany him to serve along the way.

(End of this chapter)