Next month is the Queen's Qianqiu Festival (birthday). As usual, a ceremony will be held in the Jiaotai Hall. The Queen will sit in the main hall and receive congratulations from the Emperor's concubines, concubines, concubines, concubines, princesses, Fujin and other wives, from the Ministry of Rites and Internal Affairs.

The government and Guanglu Temple, which is in charge of the banquet, have begun to prepare nervously for this.

Unexpectedly, at noon the day before yesterday, news came out from the palace that the Queen's Qianqiu Festival ceremony was carried out in the palace as expected, but the banquet was stopped, and the princess, Fujin, and his wife did not need to enter the palace to perform the ceremony.

Just when Han Xiufeng was wondering why the emperor and the queen were so frugal, he received a letter from Zhang Guangcheng sent by Xu Naizhao. In the letter, he said that as early as six days ago, he had submitted a memorial to serve in the Jiangnan camp, and the emperor not only favored

Yes, he also ordered Chunyou, the right minister of the Ministry of War, to take charge of the affairs of Guanglu Temple.

Han Xiufeng knew very well that he didn't want to be a "ridiculous" official. Thinking that he was going back to Jiangsu early tomorrow morning, he felt a little uncomfortable. He put down the letter and said, "It would be a shame to go back like this. Why don't you persuade Mr. Xu?"

!”

Zhang Guangcheng said helplessly: "Fourth Master, it's not like you don't know Mr. Xu's temper. No matter how much others try to persuade him to do what he has in mind, it's useless."

"Officials from various ministries in Beijing are transferred so frequently. No matter who is the minister of Guanglu Temple, he can't stay for a few days. Why can't he just go back first? Wouldn't this trip back be in vain?"

"It's not in vain. Mr. Xu said that at least he found a real vacancy. Even if he helps with military affairs in the Jiangnan camp, he is still the Minister of Guanglu Temple, which is better than having no official position before."

"Then what are your plans next?"

"Of course I am going back to Jiangsu with Mr. Xu, but this trip was not in vain. Not only did I go to the Ministry of Civil Affairs to join the Ministry of Civil Affairs, but I was also assigned to the Jiangsu Commission for probation as an alternate county magistrate."

"Congratulations, I know that with the care of Master Xu and Xu Zhongtang, I will have a bright future."

"It makes Fourth Master laugh. You know the situation in Jiangsu best, Fourth Master. Although I have planned to go abroad, there is no telling when the vacancy will be filled. Even if you are lucky enough to fill the vacancy, don't expect it."

I can be a justice of the peace."

"I don't know about others, but I, Han Xiufeng, know best about you. Sooner or later, this gap will be filled. After filling the gap, no matter how complicated the situation is, bro, you will definitely be able to handle it." Han Xiufeng smiled and then turned around.

Said: "Yu'er, Master Xu and Brother Zhang will leave the capital tomorrow morning to take up their posts. You should also be prepared to go to the city with me tomorrow morning to see Master Xu and Brother Zhang off."

"Okay, I'll prepare it later." Ren Yu'er said quickly.

Zhang Guangcheng knew that Han Xiufeng had asked Ren Yu'er to prepare the agenda, so he quickly stood up and said: "Fourth Master, Miss Yu'er, Master Xu told me before I came here that he has troubled you for so long and can't bother you anymore. If not,

Worried about being rude, he didn't even want me to come and inform him, and he repeatedly told me not to see him off tomorrow morning."

"How can this be done!"

"Master Xu said that we are all on our own, so there is no need to be so external. He also said that we have a long time to come, and we will definitely get together again if we are destined to meet in the future."

…

Zhang Guangcheng left like this, and he left very freely. In addition, he has not changed much over the years, and people still feel that he was the high-spirited young master Zhang before.

Looking at his disappearing back, Ren Yuer couldn't help but think of the scene in Taizhou, and couldn't help but ask: "Fourth brother, why didn't he let us send him off?"

"It's not that he doesn't let us send it, it's that Mr. Xu doesn't let us."

"Then why doesn't Mr. Xu let us send it?"

"Nine times out of ten, he can't figure out the relationship between me and Bo Chuan, and he can't figure out the relationship between me and Sushun, so he doesn't dare to get too close to me. After all, even if he doesn't think about himself, he still has to think about himself.

For the sake of his second brother Xu Naipu."

"According to what you said, his second brother Xu Naipu doesn't want to make friends with Master Wen, nor does he want to get too close to Master Sushun?"

"When an official becomes his second brother, the first thing he thinks about is how to protect himself wisely, so as not to be like Chen Fu'en who just chooses to take refuge in whoever he wants." Han Xiufeng thought for a while and sighed: "The same goes for Peng Zhongtang.

, after all, they are already ministers of the supreme people, there is no need to get involved in the disputes between the Manchus."

Han Xiufeng was in a bad mood every time he said goodbye to someone, because too many friends had died in the war over the years. It was hard to say whether today's farewell would be a permanent farewell. Just when Ren Yu'er wanted to change the topic to explain.

, Datou, whom I hadn’t seen for more than a month, came riding over on horseback.

"Fourth brother, you're here! Just in time, I don't have to go to the school grounds to look for you!" Big Head turned over and dismounted, wiped his sweat and shouted carelessly.

His face was covered with dust. It was okay if he didn't wipe it off, but when he wiped it, it turned into a five-colored face.

Han Xiufeng didn't bother to let him wash his face first, so he folded his arms and asked, "Why are you back again? Do you not have to be on duty today?"

"No, I'm here to deliver a message to you!" Datou looked behind him to make sure there was no one else, and said with a proud smile: "Fourth brother, this is my first time delivering a message! Look, what's this horse like?

This is a royal horse that can only be ridden when you are out of the palace on errands!"

The imperial guard sometimes has to be responsible for summoning people just like the imperial ministers. It is reasonable for the emperor not to let him deliver orders before. After all, his brain is not working well, so it is hard to say whether he will mess up the errand.

Seeing his cheerful expression, Han Xiufeng couldn't help but smile and asked, "Then should I kneel down to receive the order?"

"There are no outsiders here, why are you kneeling? Besides, the emperor just asked me to send you a few words."

"Then what are you waiting for? Tell me quickly."

"Oh," Da Tou came to his senses and said hurriedly: "The Emperor asked you to follow me to the Old Summer Palace as soon as possible. He asked you to first pay homage to Mr. Xia Sushun, and then to present the sign to the audience. I don't know what the reason for asking you to go there is, and the Emperor doesn't know either.

Didn't tell me."

"I know, you wait outside, I'll go in and change clothes first."

"Fourth brother, I'll ask them to prepare a car."

"Go." Seeing Ren Yu'er turning around and going to call Xiao Shandong, Han Xiufeng said again: "Remember to tell Ronglu and Wang Qianli when you get back, lest they can't find me if something happens."

"I know, please go in quickly and change into your official uniform."

…

It was already evening when I changed into my official uniform and drove with Datou to the Jixian Courtyard on the south side of Shuchun Garden. However, I didn't see Sushun. Instead, I was invited to a flower hall in the backyard with a written invitation.

He said respectfully in a written note that Mr. Sushun didn't know when he would come over, but he had told him before leaving at noon that when he arrived, he would first look at the memorials and documents piled on the case. He even knew that the boss would come, so he actually made preparations.

After serving several plates of snacks, Da Tou helped light candles and bowed out of the flower hall, not forgetting to introduce this house as the place where Macartney, the British envoy to the barbarians, stayed during the Qianlong Dynasty.

"The Emperor should rest now. Lord Sushun doesn't know when he will come over. Fourth brother, I guess not only will you not be able to see the Emperor today, but I'm afraid you won't even be able to go back." Da Tou muttered while eating.

"How can you talk so much if you can't stop your mouth even if you eat some snacks!"

"Oh, I won't say anything anymore. It's up to you."

Datou realized that he had something serious to do and did not dare to say anything.

What Sushun left here were all secret documents from Guiliang, Hua Shana, Seng Gelinqin, Ruilin, He Guiqing, Huang Zonghan and other senior officials, as well as secret edicts sent to them by the emperor's military aircraft department. Han Xiufeng even suspected that there were some secrets among them.

There are many secrets that even Wen Xiang, the Minister of Military and Aircraft, have never seen.

Previously, I thought that the emperor, several princes, ministers and the governors of Guangdong, Guangxi, Liangjiang and other places were repeating their old tricks this time. They first coaxed the foreigners away, and then continued to practice Tai Chi with the foreigners. It would only last a day.

However, judging from the secret reports issued by Guiliang and others and the secret edicts issued by the military aircraft department, it can be seen that the emperor and several princes and ministers not only did not take the foreigners to heart as before, but also through the secret edicts issued in the past few months

After communicating with each other, we came up with a secretly alarming countermeasure, which seemed very comprehensive.

To sum it up, the foreigners who broke into Dagukou were coaxed away first, and then Huang Zonghan, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, and others convened a group training to "use the east of Guangdong as a galloping horse and a bow" to deal with the foreigners. If they were sure, they would recover the city of Guangzhou in one go and achieve the goal.

The purpose of "taking Guangdong affairs as the excuse for one day, and preventing the foreigners from entering Beijing for one day, and over time, the previous agreement was reduced."

At the same time, He Guiqing, the governor of Liangjiang, and the imperial envoy Guiliang were in Jiangsu under the pretext of formulating trade rules to stabilize the envoys and military leaders of Britain, Buddhism, Mi, and Russia. Meanwhile, Seng Gelinqin hurriedly built buildings that were destroyed by the Western barbarians.

Forts, troops and generals were deployed to prevent blockage.

In the words of He Guiqing, the governor of Liangjiang, "If there are still inconveniences, they must be suppressed. At this time, it is better to remain calm and make them not suspicious. I will first prepare the Tianjin Haikou and the land, and I will do my best."

Make plans, help with military pay, and when the time comes for the exchange of contracts next year, gather them together and annihilate them."

As the governor of Liangjiang, He Guiqing not only had dealings with foreigners, but also saw their power. Han Xiufeng could tell that his original intention was to tactfully remind the emperor that if he wanted to change the peace treaty, he must first be armed. But the emperor obviously did not see it.

This meaning was actually written on the fold by Zhu, "I see it as the same as Prince Hui. This fold is quite relevant, so I will discuss it carefully. Prince Hui presented the method yesterday, and it is feasible. If I think too late, there will be changes. It is better to deal with it first."

.

Seng Gelinqin's petition to the emperor was approved. He planned to rebuild five forts on the original sites of the forts demolished by foreigners, and build a stone seam fort about a mile north of the fort on the north bank. He also planned to build a new fort that would be larger than

The previous one was taller, and it was planned to build connected barracks and barracks in front and behind the fort, and dig trenches to prevent foreigners from landing and outflanking the fort.

Since all the cannons in Dagukou and other places were lost, we planned to cast copper and iron cannons of twelve thousand catties, ten thousand catties, eight thousand catties and other sizes in Tongzhou and other places, and mobilize the copper and iron cannons from all over the capital to transport them to Haikou, Tianjin.

The military structure of Dagukou also needs to be changed. The Dagu Association originally only had two battalions on the left and right, with an additional 1,600 soldiers. Now it needs to be expanded to six battalions, and the garrison troops must not be less than 3,000. In addition, it must include the capital, Mongolia

Deploy troops to other places outside the customs.

Not only did the emperor give full approval, he even ordered a grain station to be set up in Tongzhou, Shuntian, to handle the payment of the Senggelinqin military camp. Sushun, the Ministry of Household Affairs, was also not idle. Because the capital and Tianjin needed to deal with the blockade, the request was made.

All Sichuan, Shandong, Shanxi, Henan, and Shaanxi should be paid the capital. Wang Qingyun, Chongen, Hengfu, Yinggui, Yingqi, Zeng Wangyan, etc. should allocate the amount of silver according to their departments and supervise their respective vassals.

Quickly prepare funds, dispatch appropriate personnel, and gradually leave Beijing without any delay!

In short, a war is about to begin, not only to attack Guangzhou, but also to "gather and annihilate" the foreigners who come to exchange contracts next year!

Han Xiufeng didn't care to think about why the emperor summoned him, or why Sushun asked him to see this. He only knew that it would be easier to start a war than to deal with the aftermath. Even if he could win this battle next year, it would definitely attract more violence from the foreigners.

revenge.

The more Han Xiufeng thought about it, the more frightened he became, and he murmured: "The military is a major event for the country. There is no guarantee of victory. How can we just start a fight?"

Datou was stunned, and couldn't help but turn around and ask: "Fourth brother, are you talking about the incident in Dagokou?"

"Hmm." Han Xiufeng said absentmindedly.

What surprised him was that Datou actually wiped his mouth, stood up and said confidently: "Fourth brother, we didn't lose the battle at Dagukou. The only two battalions guarding the fort were the foreigners.

How many are here? If they weren't outnumbered, they could take advantage of this!"

"Yeah?"

"That's what Prince Zheng and the others said." Da Tou thought about it and said: "Besides, the foreigners' fighting was not honest. The imperial court had no intention of fighting them. Lord Guiliang had a good talk with them, so they started fighting suddenly.

, so we suffered the loss this time because we were too particular. I didn’t expect foreigners to be so unreasonable.”

"Yes, you are right..."

Han Xiufeng sighed secretly, stood up and walked to the door and looked up at the night sky, thinking that he had lost the battle at Dagukou, but both the emperor and the civil and military officials were unwilling to lose, and they all wanted to win a big victory and wash away the humiliation.
Chapter completed!