1848 Great Qing Charcoal Burners

Chapter 305 Is your gun made of gold?
Tang Zhengcai pondered the name "Flower Flag Country" carefully, recalling the content about Flower Flag Country in Peng Gang's "A Brief History of America". After thinking carefully for a moment, Tang Zhengcai showed off his knowledge to Uncle Lin, demonstrating that although he came from the inland Hunan, he was not completely ignorant about the situation of foreigners.

"The United States? It's a major American nation that's been established for less than eighty years, founded by George Washington, and was once a vassal state of England?"

When Peng Gang was in Hanyang and Wuchang, he wrote three books on Western countries, introducing England, France, and the United States.

Including "A Brief Account of Tsarist Russia," which he wrote while in southern Hunan, Peng Gang has now written four books on the subject, which basically introduce the major European and American countries that have been active in China.

As a senior intellectual in the North Palace, Tang Zhengcai not only read Peng Gang's four volumes of historical records, but also had a complete set of historical records of the four Western countries, which Peng Gang personally gifted to him.

"Manager Tang is very knowledgeable and I admire him greatly." Uncle Lin was slightly taken aback, but quickly recovered.

"Merchants in Shanghai who do business with foreigners probably don't know as much about the United States as Manager Tang does."

Uncle Alin's full name is Chen Alin. He was from Tongan County, Quanzhou Prefecture, Fujian Province. He worked odd jobs and did chores at a school run by American missionaries in Xiamen, where he received some Western education and could speak some English.

Chen Alin only learned a little about the United States because he worked in a church school. In fact, most of the merchants from Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Fujian who often dealt with foreigners knew very little about Western countries.

The merchants of the Thirteen Factories of Guangzhou under the Guangdong Customs had dealt with foreign merchants for generations before the port was opened, so they had a more detailed understanding of the situation.

Tang Zhengcai came from Hunan and had such a deep understanding of the United States, which surprised Chen Alin, who was both pleased and worried.

The good news is that Tang Zhengcai did his homework thoroughly before doing this arms deal, and the success rate of the deal is very high.

What's worrying is Tang Zhengcai, or rather, the big financial backer behind him. He's not completely ignorant about overseas affairs, and he's not as easily fooled as those two Manchu barbarians in Jiangning City. They're not going to sell a broken foreign gun worth only three taels of silver, which has been used countless times, for thirty or forty taels of silver. The profit margin is probably not that big.

"Uncle Lin, you flatter me," Tang Zhengcai said calmly.

"The meeting place will be chosen by Mr. Smith of Russell & Co., does Manager Tang have any objections? If not, I will go to Russell & Co. to contact Mr. Smith," Chen Alin asked.

"We await Uncle Lin's good news." Tang Zhengcai bowed to Uncle Lin in thanks.

After watching Chen Alin leave, Tang Zhengcai's nephew, Tang Yuhao, who was accompanying him on this trip, was a little worried: "The foreigners are worried that they will take their anger out on the Qing Dynasty. The foreign firm has ties with the Qing Dynasty. Uncle, the meeting place was chosen by the foreigners. I am worried that there is a trick in it. The foreigners have ulterior motives."

"Foreigners are driven by profit like flies to blood. His Highness said the same thing in the book. If Uncle Lin would deceive us, would His Highness deceive us?" Tang Zhengcai said confidently.

"When the Eastern King and his men attacked the Manchu city of Jiangning, they captured a large number of foreign guns and cannons. Where do you think the Manchu soldiers in Jiangning got their foreign guns and cannons from?"

When Tang Zhengcai arrived in Tianjing, the main force of the Taiping Army had already cleared the city of Manchuria.

Although Tang Zhengcai arrived a step too late, the Manchus in Mancheng had basically been wiped out by Yang Xiuqing and his men. Tang Zhengcai only knew that the main force of the Taiping Army had captured a large number of foreign guns and cannons in the battle of Mancheng in Jiangning, but he did not know the specific purchase price of these foreign guns and cannons.

However, the Manchu bannermen purchased this batch of weapons for emergency use and to save their lives. The foreigners who sold the weapons to them would inevitably ask for exorbitant prices. The profits from the weapons that the foreigners sold to the Manchu bannermen in Jiangning must have been frighteningly high.

Foreigners are profit-driven, and they certainly wouldn't be content to do such a lucrative business only once.

"Does Uncle mean that Tianjing has been occupied by our Heavenly Army, and the foreigners in Shanghai have a lot of weapons stuck in their hands?" After Tang Zhengcai's explanation, Tang Yuhao suddenly understood.

"So, those foreign ships billowing black smoke that we've seen on the Huangpu River these past few days are very likely carrying arms that foreigners couldn't sell?"

"You're a promising young man. This trip with you wasn't in vain." Tang Zhengcai nodded in satisfaction and said, "Right now, the Qing government is in a state of chaos in Jiangnan, while the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom is at its zenith. Foreigners are very cunning. You and I are both citizens of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, so they won't dare to do anything to us."

After finishing their tea, Tang Zhengcai, along with Tang Yuhao and two other companions, strolled around the English concession area on the Bund.

The French Concession and the American Concession were newly established, and both places were very desolate, with only a few small docks and a few trading houses and Western-style buildings.

Only the English concession on the Bund, because it was developed earlier, was relatively prosperous, but this prosperity was accompanied by chaos.

The chaos in the British concession was first reflected in the flow of people. Wealthy people in the Jiangnan region began to frantically transfer their assets, and unanimously turned their attention to this seemingly peaceful "enclave" on the banks of the Huangpu River—the concession.

Gentry, landlords, and merchants fleeing from the northwest flocked into the city with their families, pushing carts laden with all their valuables. They brought not only gold and silver from their cellars, but also exaggerated tales of terror, such as the Taiping Rebellion reaching Suzhou and the presence of Taiping spies within the city.

These exaggerated rumors exacerbated local panic.

The spread of panic brought social order in the concession to the brink of collapse, with frequent thefts and robberies.

Under the leadership of the second British consul in Shanghai, Aristotle, the foreigners in the three foreign concessions in Shanghai organized patrol teams to patrol day and night.

The patrol teams of foreigners, dressed in motley clothing but with uniform insignia wrapped around their arms, marched with firm steps along the riverbank and main streets, carrying rifles. Their sharp eyes warily watched the faces of every unfamiliar Chinese person who tried to approach. If they saw someone with considerable wealth, the patrol team members, often former thugs and hooligans, would occasionally rob them themselves and then gleefully divide the loot in public.

Those Jiangnan gentry who usually ran rampant in the countryside, after being robbed, did nothing but lie in the street, make a scene, and complain and whine, not daring to utter a single word.

Chen Alin was very efficient and quickly finalized the time and place for a meeting with Smith, the assistant to Jin Nengheng, the acting vice consul of the United States in Shanghai.

The meeting place was set on a steamship flying the American flag at Hongkou Wharf.

Tang Zhengcai glanced at the small steamship with its smokestack, hesitated for a moment, but still mustered up his courage and boarded the steamship under Chen Alin's guidance, entering the cabin.

"Manager Tang, this is Mr. Smith."

Chen Alin first introduced Smith to Tang Zhengcai, and then introduced Tang Zhengcai to Smith in his pidgin English.

"Mr. Smith, this is Manager Tang, who works for the Kingdom of Heaven."

Smith's eyes were sharp as an eagle's, and he made no attempt to conceal his scrutiny of Tang Zhengcai, the special envoy who was working for the Kingdom of Heaven.

The cabin was a bit stuffy, so Tang Zhengcai reached out and took off his melon-shaped hat, along with the fake braid that was stuck to it.

Tang Zhengcai, feeling very uncomfortable after being scrutinized by Smith for a while, made no attempt to hide his displeasure and said to Chen Alin, "Uncle Alin, please tell this foreigner that this is how they treat guests? So rude!"

“Mr. Tang, I understand Chinese. I’m just curious about visitors from afar. I haven’t had any direct contact with merchants from the inland, especially those who are devout Christians. Please have a seat, Mr. Tang.” Smith apologized slightly and gestured for Tang Zhengcai to sit down.

Smith, who had been active in Shanghai for many years, had heard some rumors about the Taiping Army.

Smith was unaware that the Heavenly Father and Heavenly Brother worshipped by the Taiping rebels and the God Jesus worshipped by him, a Puritan, were actually completely different things.

“Uncle Alin’s friend is my friend.” Smith’s Chinese had a strange accent.

"I heard you need some good stuff? I have guns and cannons, and the price is negotiable."

As he spoke, Smith pointed to a brand-new Springfield M1842 rifle on the table, enthusiastically introducing the product while giving an outrageous price.

"Mr. Tang, look at this craftsmanship! This is the true art of killing in the civilized world! This gun is the latest weapon from Springfield Armory, the most powerful arsenal in America. It's ten thousand times better than your broadswords, spears, and inferior matchlock guns. One price: fifty taels of silver per gun, ammunition extra. How many do you want?"

Both the British and the French were able to sell off a batch of old, obsolete Brownbes and Chalville rifles to Jiangning for thirty or forty taels of silver each.

Smith believed that the quality of the munitions urgently purchased by Russell & Co. was much better than those sold to the Qing Dynasty by the British and French, and that the price of fifty taels of silver per unit was reasonable.

As Tang Zhengcai predicted, the profits from the panicked purchase of foreign guns and cannons by Jiangning General Xianghou and Jiangnan Admiral Hong Zhufu, which had always benefited from the British trading company Russell & Co., did not come from the boom.

The deal was originally worth several times the profit. The Russell & Co., which missed out on this windfall, was in a panic. They quickly purchased a batch of arms at high prices, even freeing up the weapons of their own merchant fleet's sailors, hoping to take this opportunity to make a big profit and make a fortune.

Unexpectedly, the Russell & Co. had just collected the weapons and had not yet had time to transport them to Jiangning, which is now Tianjing, for sale.

The flags on the walls of Tianjing have changed hands; it is no longer the domain of the Tatars. Even two Tatar generals, such fine fat pigs, are dead.

With no buyers in Tianjing, Jardine Matheson & Co. decided to settle for selling the arms to Wu Jianzhang, the Shanghai Daotai. Although Wu Jianzhang was familiar with them, the arms would not fetch the same high price as the two Tatar generals, and they would definitely make less profit.

Earning less is still earning more, and it's better than having it stuck in your hands.

Unfortunately, Wu Jianzhang, the Shanghai Daotai, was close to the British, and the British had already taken over Wu Jianzhang's sales channels.

Tang Zhengcai was not in a hurry to answer Smith. He calmly picked up the Springfield M1842 rifle on the table and skillfully handled it, drawing on his experience with the Polu gun.

Tang Zhengcai's skillful handling of the flintlock pistol made Smith slightly abandon his contempt.

“Mr. Smith, the goods are good, but the price is not good. Fifty taels per gun, how dare you quote such a price? Is your gun made of gold? This is not a price for making friends, but a price for slaughtering our Heavenly Kingdom like a fat pig.” Tang Zhengcai put down his gun. Although he cursed Smith’s female relatives for asking for such an exorbitant price in his heart, his voice remained calm and composed.

“Mr. Smith, I’m here to discuss business, not to admire art. Even the most deadly weapon must be judged by its cost-effectiveness. Fifty taels apiece—do you know how many decent brown basses you could buy in Guangzhou for that price? Your ‘civilized art’ is far too expensive.”

Fifty taels for one? Has this foreigner gone mad? Is the stock of this gun made of gold, or is the barrel made of gold?

Smith was taken aback, not expecting the other party to be so calm and knowledgeable. He chuckled twice and said, "Brownbes? That's an antique that should be in a museum! This is a new gun, much more accurate! You get what you pay for, my friend."

“We are serious about doing big business, not small-scale operations. Your price is a price that deceives those good-for-nothing officials in the Qing government; it shows absolutely no sincerity.” Tang Zhengcai paused deliberately at this point before continuing.

"These days, who else but us can afford to buy large quantities of high-quality goods at once and pay in cash?"

“Mr. Tang, you need to know that to get these things in, we need to smooth things over with a lot of people, from the water patrol officers to the land officials…”

“The risks are mutual, and our risks are equally huge.” Tang Zhengcai did not back down. “Considering that you can provide new guns, we will give you a maximum of five taels of silver per unit for new self-propelled flintlock guns, and 60% of the depreciation value for second-hand flintlock guns.”

As for shipping and logistics, that's where you, Mr. Smith, demonstrate your competence and sincerity. If our first collaboration goes well, subsequent orders will be ten times, a hundred times, greater.

Russell & Co. acquired this batch of arms at a high price. With Tang Zhengcai's offer, Russell & Co. could barely break even, which was far from Smith's expected price.

Even if Smith wanted to get rid of this hot potato of weapons as soon as possible to avoid being stuck with it, and gritted his teeth and agreed to Tang Zhengcai's offer, his big boss, the partner of Russell & Co. and the acting vice consul of the United States in Shanghai, Kim Neng-hyung, would not agree.

As Smith hesitated, Tang Zhengcai added insult to injury: "It seems Mr. Smith is unwilling to accept this price. No problem, we Chinese have an old saying: 'Even if a deal falls through, we can still be on good terms.'"

Since Mr. Smith is unwilling to accept this price, we will talk to the English and French. I think the English and French would be very willing to become our Kingdom's long-term, stable, and direct supply channels.” After saying this, Tang Zhengcai made a move to get up and leave.

"Mr. Tang, please wait a moment. As you said, the guns and cannons before us are nothing. What we at Russell & Co. are more interested in is future business."

Seeing that Tang Zhengcai was really about to leave, Smith dipped his finger in tea and drew a blurry outline of the Yangtze River on the wooden table.

"You have occupied Jiangtianjing and controlled the middle section of the Yangtze River. I believe that with the current momentum of your army, what you will need in the future will be tens of thousands of rifles, hundreds or thousands of cannons, and even production lines."

Sporadic, clandestine transactions through intermediaries are inefficient and cannot meet the demands of this scale. What I need is a long-term, stable, large-scale, direct trading channel. I sincerely hope to establish such a cooperative channel with you.

Wouldn't this be beneficial to both of us? I believe my partner and I deserve a meeting with your higher-level decision-makers. For example, your Heavenly King or Eastern King?

Russell & Co. followed the shrewd and calculating British, and hitching a ride on their coattails was certainly a safe bet.

But playing it safe has its downsides, namely that you can only eat the leftovers from the British, and sometimes you can't even get the leftovers, like this time.

The British and French had not yet had time to establish contact with the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, which might be a great opportunity for Russell & Co. and for America.

"That's the attitude you should have when making friends." Tang Zhengcai sat down again after hearing this, dipped his finger in tea, and drew the outline of the Yangtze River on the wooden table, marking the location of Wuchang.

"Tianjing is in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, not the middle reaches. I'm not working for the Heavenly King and the Eastern King in Tianjing; I'm working for the Northern King in Wuchang in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River."

"The inland region?" Smith's heart fluttered. That was an undeveloped market, a virgin market that even the British couldn't touch.

“This is a very important matter. I think you are just a messenger and cannot make such a big decision.” Tang Zhengcai took out Peng Gang’s letter and placed it on the table. “What our Northern King wants is written in this letter. If the person in charge of your Qichang Foreign Firm is determined, you can come directly to me and I will personally take you to Wuchang for the transaction.”

Smith rose and extended his hand: "Please be sure to convey our sincere intentions to His Highness the Northern King. We can provide the most advanced weapons, and even more."

What we desire is not merely the profit from a single transaction, but a stable and vast arms market located in the Yangtze River basin. If Your Highness the Northern King is interested, I am willing to personally travel to Wuchang to explain everything in person. I believe this will be entirely beneficial in strengthening your army.

Tang Zhengcai pondered for a moment, then nodded slowly without extending his hand: "Mr. Smith's Chinese is quite good. I understand what Mr. Smith means. Your thoughts coincide with His Highness the Northern King's. I will write a letter back to Wuchang detailing your and your firm's wishes word for word. As for whether His Highness the Northern King will grant an audience, that awaits His Highness's decision."

I hope Mr. Smith and your bank will make a decision as soon as possible. I'm not sure if the English and French would act more decisively than you Americans.

After speaking, Tang Zhengcai, along with his companion and Chen Alin, left the small steamer adorned with fringe flags.

Before parting, Tang Zhengcai entrusted Chen Alin with the task: "Uncle Alin, please help me make connections with English and French trading companies."

As he spoke, Tang Zhengcai had already stuffed a heavy gold ingot into Chen Alin's palm: "Uncle Alin, you've worked hard these past few days. I'll reward you handsomely once this is done."

"It's nothing, just a small matter. I don't deserve such a generous thanks." Chen Alin refused Tang Zhengcai's money.

Tang Zhengcai and the Northern King behind him must be extraordinary figures, capable of handling negotiations with foreigners with ease and gaining the upper hand; they are both worth getting to know better.

Tang Zhengcai was somewhat displeased to see that Chen Alin refused to accept the gold and instead wanted a favor.

However, considering that he still needed Chen Alin to act as a go-between and contact arms dealers in England and France, Tang Zhengcai did not show his displeasure.

"Uncle, the foreigners from the United States have already backed down. Why don't you continue to negotiate and finalize the deal so you can return to Wuchang to report back as soon as possible? Why are you still contacting the English and French?" Tang Yuhao asked, puzzled.

Tang Yuhao felt that Tang Zhengcai should press his advantage and secure the arms deal, since the annoying big-nosed American had already shown signs of conceding.

"You, you still don't see far enough ahead," Tang Zhengcai sighed softly, shaking his head as he spoke.

"The Northern King sent me to trade with the foreigners. Do you think the Northern King only cares about buying some guns and cannons? Guns and cannons are only part of what the Northern King wants. I don't know anything about the other things the Northern King wants besides guns and cannons."

I am not knowledgeable about Western affairs. Showing off my superficial knowledge and putting on airs to intimidate that Smith might work, but if we talk any deeper, I will be exposed and it will only backfire.

As for contacting the English and French to conduct business and negotiate deals, comparing prices from multiple sources is always a good idea. If the Northern King can only negotiate with Russell & Co., there is very little room for maneuver. How will he deal with Russell & Co.'s exorbitant demands then?

"Since the Northern King trusts me so much and has entrusted me with such an important task, I must complete this task flawlessly and perfectly to give him a satisfactory answer."

The capital city, the Forbidden City.

Just like last year, Emperor Xianfeng had a very uneasy and distressing Spring Festival this year.

The only difference is that this year's Spring Festival was more chaotic and distressing than last year's.

At this time last year, although the bandits in western Guangdong were also causing trouble, they were ultimately only making waves in a corner of Guangxi and did not spread to other provinces.

Now, the bandits in western Guangdong have seized control of the three provincial capitals of Jiangning, Anqing, and Wuchang.

Recently, bandits in western Guangdong have captured three major canal transport cities: Zhenjiang, Yangzhou, and Changzhou, while Suzhou and Songjiang are in imminent danger.

The rebels in western Guangdong not only controlled their own territory and challenged the imperial court, but also showed signs of heading north to the capital.

Thinking of this, Emperor Xianfeng couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.

When the rebels in western Guangdong were still in Wuchang, Emperor Xianfeng accurately judged their intention to sail eastward to Nanjing.

However, this time, facing the bandits from western Guangdong who had already captured Jiangning, Emperor Xianfeng was unable to make a decision on whether to advance eastward and southward to take Suzhou and Hangzhou, or to head north.

Just when it was said that the bandits in western Guangdong were going north, they moved east and captured Changzhou.

Just when people were saying the bandits in western Guangdong were going south, they took over Yangzhou and started making a show of heading north.

Based on a cautious assessment of the enemy, between advancing south and north, Emperor Xianfeng still leaned towards the idea that the bandits from western Guangdong should move north.

The war has already reached this point, and the situation in Jiangnan has deteriorated to this extent.

After much deliberation, Emperor Xianfeng could only choose the lesser of two evils: first, protect the area north of the Yangtze River and prevent the rebels from advancing northward in western Guangdong, so as to avoid them threatening the capital.

Before the Lunar New Year, Emperor Xianfeng made a special inspection of the Eight Banners stationed in Beijing. Although news of his inspection was leaked in advance by his servants, the Eight Banners stationed in Beijing made preparations in advance to deal with his inspection.

However, the results of the review were still unsatisfactory, and even the situation of Jianrui Battalion in Xiangshan made him worried.

"Your Majesty, the Grand Canal Commissioner Yang Dianbang abandoned Yangzhou and retreated all the way to Huai'an. He was unwilling to even leave Gaoyou Prefecture to defend, leaving the north bank of the Yangtze River without a barrier. The morale of the troops in the Jianghuai region is wavering. Should we..." Su Shun cautiously asked Emperor Xianfeng whether he should dismiss and punish Yang Dianbang, the Grand Canal Commissioner who lost his army and the city.

It is true that Su Shun was close to Han Chinese officials, but he was close to those Han Chinese officials who were capable and useful to the Qing Dynasty.

Yang Dianbang, a cowardly scoundrel who only knew how to amass wealth, was clearly not among the Han officials favored by Su Shun.

"Huai'an, isn't the River Governor Yang Yizeng also in Huai'an Prefecture?" Emperor Xianfeng said expressionlessly.

The River Governor, also known as the River Conservancy Commissioner, has been the main residence of the River Conservancy Commissioner ever since the General River Conservancy Office moved to Qingjiangpu in Huai'an Prefecture, Jiangsu Province in 1677 (the 16th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign).

“Your Majesty, River Governor Yang Yizeng is currently at Qingjiangpu,” Su Shun replied.

"I am very worried about the fact that this army is so small. If the bandits in western Guangdong are allowed to cross the river (in the Qing Dynasty, the Yellow River flowed into the sea from Huai'an Prefecture in Jiangsu), the consequences would be unimaginable," Emperor Xianfeng said with deep concern.

"Yang Dianbang lost Yangzhou and cannot be let off lightly. First, strip him of his peacock feather and keep him in service as a penance to assist the River Governor Yang Yizeng in defending Huai'an. How many river and grain transport posts are available in Huai'an right now? How many troops can be mustered near Huai'an to block the bandits from western Guangdong from heading north?"

In the Qing Dynasty, each governor-general had his own personally commanded battalions, and the governor-general of the waterways and the governor-general of the grain transport were no exception, each with their own river and grain transport battalions.

"Yesterday, the River Governor Yang Yizeng submitted a memorial stating that the number of River and Grain Transport troops was not large, less than two thousand, while the Huaiyang and Huaiyang prefectures could barely muster five or six thousand soldiers."

"That's too little. Last year, I transferred Senggelinqin's Mongol cavalry to Henan, intending to have Senggelinqin assist Saishang'a in suppressing the Taiping rebels in western Guangdong. But the Taiping rebels' ships were faster than the horses of the Mongol cavalry," Emperor Xianfeng said, rubbing his slightly feverish forehead.

“Senggelinqin once submitted a memorial saying that Hunan and Hubei have many rivers and lakes, which are not conducive to the galloping of cavalry. If that is the case, let Prince Senggelinqin lead the cavalry to northern Jiangsu to block the Taiping rebels.”

Emperor Xianfeng originally planned to have Senggelinqin's Mongolian cavalry stationed in Henan first, and then cooperate with Luo Bingzhang, Xiang Rong, Jiang Zhongyuan, Zeng Guofan, Luo Raodian and others to recapture the three towns of Wuhan after the Hunan Army was initially established.

Then, send a large army down the Yangtze River from the three towns of Wuhan to launch a pincer attack on the rebels in western Guangdong, and annihilate them on the Yangtze River.

Who would have thought that the situation in Jiangnan would deteriorate so quickly, and it couldn't even hold out for two months.

“My lord, Lord Sai has already transferred a lot of troops from Henan, especially the elite troops from Hebei Town in Henan. They have almost all been taken away by Lord Sai,” Su Shun said with a worried expression.

"With Senggelinqin transferred away, the defenses of Henan will inevitably be weakened. What if the short-haired rebels in the three towns of Wuhan take advantage of this weakness and move north?"

"With Luo Bingzhang, Xiang Rong, and Jiang Zhongyuan keeping an eye on the short-haired rebels, it won't be so easy for them to march north," Emperor Xianfeng said, recalling the secret memorial sent to him by General Wulantai of Jingzhou.

"The short-haired Mao have been busy implementing their policy of 'land to the tillers,' which clearly indicates that they intend to manage the three towns of Wuhan for the long term and will not easily send troops."

Furthermore, the KMT has been stationed in the three towns of Wuhan for several months now. If they wanted to move north, they would have done so long ago. They're not even attacking the poorly defended prefectures of De'an and Anlu right next to their capital; why would they easily move north into Henan?

Based on a comprehensive analysis of intelligence reports from various sources, Emperor Xianfeng concluded that the short-haired rebels would not be heading north in the short term, but the long-haired rebels, who were still conquering cities and seizing territory, were very likely to be forced to move north.

"Your wisdom is beyond reproach, Master." Su Shun flattered Xiang Feng.

"Even if the master is a man of great talent and ambition, it is useless if the people under his command are incompetent." Xianfeng's gaze swept over the map on the cartographer's desk half a zhang away.

“The Long-haired Rebels’ route northward is not limited to Jiangsu. We must defend northern Jiangsu and northern Anhui. Zhou Tianjue, the governor of Anhui, should carefully manage the defense line in northern Anhui and prevent the Short-haired Rebels from advancing northward.”

(End of this chapter)