Nanyang Storm 1864

Chapter 70 The whole city is in mourning

Senggelinqin is dead?

Zheng Guohui was also shocked. He had been busy with his own affairs during this period, making friends with court officials, secretly planning a big deal with the Wanguobao Trading Company, and arranging his own marriage. He was so busy that he didn't care about the consequences.

He really ignored this important matter. He didn't expect that his master Fuzhu Hong'a was so unlucky that he was involved in this war and lost his life easily.

This whole thing... left him speechless for a moment.

Such a major event shook the Gyeonggi Province, and the entire capital was trembling with fear. In this sudden moment, where should I go?
This matter must be handled with great caution, so as to seize opportunities amidst crises...

Senggelinqin, who was burdened with heavy responsibilities, was in charge of the military affairs of Shandong and Henan, and was authorized to dispatch defense troops from Meng, Hao, Xu, Su and other places in Zhili, Shanxi, Hui and Jiangnan provinces. All officials below the level of governors and prefects of the four provinces were under his control.

The Green Camp troops under Zheng Guohui were also under the command of the Supreme Patriarch and were his direct subordinates.

It would have been fine if Senggelinqin had died alone, but the key point was that nearly 5 elite infantry and cavalry led by him, especially the more than Manchu and Mongolian cavalry, were either killed or fled, and most of them were lost.

This is really like when it rains, it pours; the thinnest ropes always pick on the unfortunate ones.

The imperial court experienced the triple invasion of the Taiping Rebellion, the invasion of the Anglo-French Allied Forces, and the rampage of the Nian Rebellion. The already small number of strong and healthy Manchu and Mongolian populations continued to decline, which was really bitter.

"Quiet, quiet, everyone, please calm down. How can such a panic be allowed?" The eunuch in charge of the ceremony saw the panic below and shouted loudly.

Prince Gong Yixin, who was standing at the top, sighed softly and sat down with a heavy heart, without blaming the court officials.

think back then

When he heard the sad news, his heart sank, and he was not much better than the court officials. The grief in his heart was indescribable.

The state affairs are becoming increasingly difficult, and we can only try our best to maintain it.

After receiving this reprimand, the court officials quickly concealed their inner grief and sat down to discuss the aftermath.

The relevant court proposal was quickly passed, and the court was suspended for three days. The people closed their businesses, cried in the streets and held sacrifices outdoors.

After the coffin arrived in Beijing, Emperor Tongzhi and the two Empress Dowagers led all civil and military officials to pay tribute in person. The emperor was to be enshrined in the Taimiao, his portrait was hung in the Ziguang Pavilion, and he was buried with the specifications of a prince. He was also granted an honorific title.

The imperial court allocated funds to build "Zhaozhong Temples" in Zhili, Shandong, Henan, Shengjing and other places, and built a temple to the east of the Jilgalangbo Palace in Kezuohou Banner to enshrine the image of the monk king and reward his descendants.

After discussing all these funeral arrangements, it was soon dusk.

The court meeting ended and the ministers left one after another.

Zheng Guohui was taken to a side hall by a young eunuch. Seeing the lonely and desolate figure of Prince Gong Yixin, he hurried forward to pay his respects.

"No need to be so polite. I summoned you here to make a long story short." Prince Gong Yixin's tone was filled with deep fatigue. He waved his hand slightly and asked Zheng Guohui to stand up and speak.

Then he directly ordered;
"With the death of the Monk King, the court is in chaos again. The situation that had just improved has collapsed again. This king is really exhausted!

I know that your affairs in the capital are not yet settled, but the banditry is rampant and time is running out. You must return to Jiangnan Province immediately and stabilize the local situation.

We also deployed heavy troops in several prefectures in the north and strengthened the city defenses to prevent the Nian bandits from moving south in large numbers and disturbing our heartland.

If so, it would only make matters worse.”

"I obey your command. I will immediately finish my work in the capital and then quickly return south."

"Well, don't bring too much. From Tianjin, take an English steamer south, and you'll reach Nanjing in four or five days. This will save you from the fate of Fuzhu Hong'e."

"I will obey the king's order and take a steamer from Tianjin to the south immediately. However..."

"Just what?"

"However, our Jinling City Defense Force consists of only six or seven thousand men. With the natural barrier of the Yangtze River, we can defend several prefectures in Jiangning. However, if we are to assist in the defense of several prefectures in the north, I'm afraid we are not strong enough. My death is a small matter, but if I were to interfere with the prince's important military affairs, even a hundred deaths would not be enough to atone for my sin."

"Well, this is a big problem." Prince Gong Yixin nodded and said.

Zheng Guohui's deputy general could only command a part of the troops, between 5,000 and 8,000 people. If they lost some more soldiers, their strength would indeed be very small.

Thought of here
Prince Gong Yixin said decisively;
"This king, in his capacity as Grand Councilor, appoints you as the Jiangnan Recruiting Envoys, commanding all the troops in the Jiangnan prefectures. You are to recruit one to two thousand brave men from the Green Camp in each prefecture and place them under your command.

In addition, you will be granted six blank official badges and certificates for defense lieutenants, allowing you to promote them at your discretion and report to the Ministry of War for approval.

These brave men from the Green Camp are all garrison troops in various prefectures and cannot be mobilized unless for major matters.

in short

If the Nian bandits cause chaos in Jiangnan, I will hold you responsible and punish you severely."

"I will follow the orders of Lord Zhongtang. If there is any mistake, I will bring my head to you." Zheng Guohui could not hide the ecstasy in his heart, and he clasped his hands together and bowed deeply to the ground.

"Well, you can go back and head south quickly." Prince Gong Yixin had no mood for greetings at this time. He waved his hand and turned to walk towards the back hall.

After leaving Prince Gong's Mansion, Zheng Guohui was so happy that his heart was beaming with joy.

Who could have thought that Senggelinqin's death would unexpectedly bring him success? How can this be justified?

The title of Jiangnan Recruiting Envoy was only a third-rank official, but the key was the increase in power, which allowed Zheng Guohui to command the military forces of various prefectures, not just Jiangning Prefecture.

He was also granted six blank official badges and certificates for the rank of defense lieutenant. This official was of the fourth rank and was a subordinate of the third rank city defense lieutenant, which gave Zheng Guohui the opportunity to place his confidants in positions of power.

Each defense captain can independently lead one or two thousand soldiers to defend an entire prefecture.

This is the best opportunity for Zheng Guohui to fully control the military power of Jiangnan Province. Crisis, crisis, it turns out that there are opportunities in crisis. The words of the ancients are true.

Having received the order from Prince Gong, Zheng Guohui immediately took action.

The three major things he did in the capital were to find a backer and to agree on the purchase of materials for the Wan Guo Tong Bao Trading Company. These two things have been completed.

The third thing is the marriage. Now it is urgent and the Li family is well aware of the importance of this matter and did not set up too many unnecessary obstacles.

According to the ancient custom of three matchmakers and six betrothal gifts, the betrothal letter has been obtained.

After the two parties to the marriage have "accepted the betrothal gifts" and "asked for the names" (note: the birth dates of the man and woman of the marriage), the next step is to "ask for good luck", "accept the betrothal gifts" and "ask for the date", which must be completed as soon as possible.

the next morning,
More than 10 mule and horse carts drove out of the courtyard of the Qianmen Mansion, and more than armed guards headed towards Tianjin. Including several covered wagons, carrying Qian Xiaoyue, Su Mei Niang and other women and staff member Zheng Xin and others.

They will arrive in Tianjin first and meet up with the officers and soldiers who remain in Tianjin, and wait for the general to arrive before taking any action.

The other team consisted of Zheng Guohui, dressed in a brand new look, leading twelve carts loaded with betrothal gifts and heading towards Li's residence. The three steps of "asking for good luck", "receiving the betrothal gift" and "asking for the date" were completed simultaneously.

If everything goes well

Zheng Guohui will ride out of the city at noon, with only eight mounted guards, and go straight to Tianjin with a small entourage, trying to catch the English steamer that will depart tomorrow morning.

Riding in the city, one could hear cries of grief everywhere. The mansions, big and small, in the west city hung white banners and black cloth, and paper money was scattered everywhere.

The main force of more than 10,000 Manchu and Mongolian cavalry led by Senggelinqin was surrounded by the Nian bandits and was completely annihilated. The bad news had already spread. Such a major event could not be concealed.

Behind every strong and able-bodied Manchu and Mongolian man is a family. The unprecedented tragic scene of the whole city in mourning makes people sigh.

War has always been so cruel.

(End of this chapter)