After seeing Prince Hui and helping him for two days, Han Xiufeng finally understood why Prince Zheng, Sushun and others were so worried.

At that time, Lin Fengxiang and Li Kaifang led the northern invasion of Zhili, and the capital was in danger. The emperor ordered the establishment of a patrol office in the capital to uniformly dispatch troops from the capital, Zhili, Shandong, Henan and outside the customs. They also planned military equipment, food and pay, and trained local regiments to defend and arrest.

Long hair and fine work...

In addition to the patrolling general Wang, there are at most counselors and ministers. There are more than ten royal ministers, all of whom are the emperor's special ministers. There are four supervisory seal officers, several wing chiefs, forty-eight service officers, and six document record officers.

Name, fifty-four servants, nearly a hundred subordinate officials and servants,

However, as Lin Fengxiang and Li Kaifang were captured alive one after another, this temporary government office with all the power was abolished. Its grain register was handed over to the Ministry of Accounts, the trial files were handed over to the Ministry of Punishment, and the military and horse records and all documents were handed over to the commanding officer of the infantry army.

.

Now, although the emperor has appointed Prince Hui as the Minister of Patrol, he has not ordered the re-establishment of the patrol office in the capital. Prince Hui alone cannot take care of so many things.

Prince Hui has not been out much these days. He is only busy in the palace reading the reports submitted by various yamen and battalions, and those reports without exception ask for money and food!

Prince Hui, who was already in a state of distress, saw that the emperor had ordered Han Xiufeng to come and listen, and Sushun personally sent it, so he simply passed on the task of helping the armies to collect food and pay.

Han Xiufeng could only bite the bullet and go to the Ministry of Accounts with the official document stamped with the patrol of Wang Guanfang, but the little money Sushun had racked his brains to collect since he took office was all allocated to Seng Gelinqin for military pay, and the bank of the Ministry of Accounts was empty.

, I spent two days with the two waiters, but I only got a bunch of treasure notes that I didn’t know if anyone would accept.

But Han Xiufeng did not become discouraged because of this, not because of anything else, but because he knew that the situation in Tianjin was urgent and all he was doing now was just improvising. If the war really started, if the war really got that bad, let alone lack of money and food.

, even if you have money and food, it is too late to prepare now.

Just when he handed over a stack of waste-paper-like treasure banknotes to Prince Hui's accomplices, which was regarded as a job, and he walked out of the palace with relief, Xiao Shandong, who was waiting outside, came up to him and said: "Fourth Master, urgent report from Tianjin

, the monk king started a fight with the foreigners!"

Although he had been mentally prepared for this, Han Xiufeng still felt a little surprised when he thought that the emperor, Prince Zheng, Prince Yi and other princes and ministers were still hesitating to allow the British, Buddhist and foreign envoys to come ashore, but the war had already started in Tianjin, and he hurriedly

He pulled Xiao Shandong aside and asked, "How did you know? Who sent the urgent report?"

"Fourth Master, the news was sent back by Mr. Wang. As soon as Mr. Ronglu received the news, he hurried into the city to look for us. He came here first. When he heard that we had gone to the Hubu Department, he chased us to the Hubu Department.

Later, he was chased here from the Ministry of Household Affairs."

"Where are the others?"

"There are a lot of people here. He went to the guild hall first and said he was waiting for you there."

Han Xiufeng realized that the report from Seng Gelinqin and Zhili Governor Hengfu had not yet arrived. More importantly, it was easy to win this battle. If they lost, then they would start the war without permission and start the war lightly.

Dismissal is a minor matter, so it should not be reported lightly.

To start a fight without getting the order is to risk your wealth and life!

Han Xiufeng took a few deep breaths and climbed onto the carriage path: "Let's go to the guild hall."

…

I rushed to the guild hall in a hurry and saw Rong Lu pacing nervously in the flower hall.

The incense table in the main hall was filled with smoke, and the Xiangxian Temple with its door open was also filled with light smoke. One glance showed that he was worried about the war at Dagukou, but it was useless to worry here, so he could only offer incense and pray.

Gods from all walks of life and the generals enshrined in the Xiangxian Temple bless you.

"Brother Zhixing, you are finally back!"

"Where is the urgent report sent back from thousands of miles away?"

"Oh, here it is." Rong Lu hurriedly took out the letter sent by Wang Qianli from his sleeve, and then motioned to Xiao Shandong to guard outside.

Han Xiufeng received the letter and was about to open it when Rong Lu said eagerly: "Yesterday afternoon, Yi Chief He Bo first sent three steam gunboats into the entrance to destroy the iron chain blocking the river. He tried his best to open it, but he could only open it.

After destroying one of them, he personally led the "Plover", "Possum" and other ships to attack the iron chain that blocked the seaport, and ordered the bombardment of our forts on both sides of the strait.

King Monk made a decisive decision and personally commanded the fort to fight back. Each battalion's large and small artillery positions fired in a circle, damaging many large and small Xiyi gunboats and making them unable to walk. The remaining ships all raised white flags. I never thought that they were still alive.

He also bombarded our fort from the flank, and sent five to six hundred soldiers on small sampans to take the opportunity to land.

Fortunately, King Monk was well prepared and immediately ordered the soldiers of each battalion who were ambushing under the fort to fight back. They raised their guns and fired shotguns, wounding and killing more than two hundred foreign soldiers. The fierce battle continued until dusk, when the invading barbarian ship "Plover Bird"

They were destroyed, the Kestrel and the Asylum were sunk, and several others were stranded. The life and death of the Yi chieftain Uncle He is unknown."

Thinking of the layout of the forts on the north and south banks, Han Xiufeng looked at the channel and said, "It's not that easy for them to land ashore, especially the three forts on the south bank. Outside the camp wall is a muddy field with three water trenches. After they land, they will

If you get stuck in the mud and have difficulty moving, you will only become a living target for our soldiers guarding the platform."

"The game started well, let's see how it goes next." Rong Lu couldn't help but clasping his hands together, bowing towards the Buddhist niche in the main hall, and praying again.

Han Xiufeng was equally nervous, but after thinking about it he couldn't help but smile: "These foreigners, like us, can only fight with the wind. They have sunk several warships and injured hundreds of soldiers. I guess they should flee."

, after all, they only came with a total of more than 20 ships and more than 2,000 buglers."

"Don't be afraid of ten thousand, just be afraid of what happens."

"Don't worry, Senggelinqin will only become more courageous as he fights, and he will not fail."

Hearing what Han Xiufeng said, Rong Lu said regretfully: "It's a pity. I had known that foreigners were nothing more than this. We shouldn't have been so timid at that time."

"Zhong Hua, you mean to let Yong Xiang and Wang Hedong join in the fun?"

"Brother Zhixing, this is a great victory, the greatest victory that has not been seen in decades!"

"It is indeed a great victory, but this is just the beginning." Han Xiufeng put away the letter and said calmly: "The foreigners will not give up. Sooner or later, they will make a comeback. Good steel must be used on the blade. Our family background cannot be exposed too early.

.”

"I understand this truth, but it's a pity to think that so many brothers have traveled in vain!"

"It's no pity. You think Senggelinqin is very proud and proud right now. I don't think so. It's not a trivial matter to start a fight without getting the order. He must be thinking about how to explain to the emperor right now."

"The battle has been won, so what's not easy to explain?"

"I am worried about the revenge of foreigners, and the emperor is even more worried."

Rong Lu suddenly realized that the survival of the Qing Dynasty was at stake. This was not something that could cover up all the ugliness with one show. He subconsciously asked: "Brother Zhixing, are you saying that Seng Gelinqin won a great victory, and the emperor may still punish him?"

?”

Han Xiufeng pondered for a moment, sat down and said, "That's not a big deal. After all, as you just said, this is a great victory that has not been seen in decades. When the news reaches the capital, Seng Gelinqin will be the number one contributor. If it really happens,

If he is punished for his crime, won’t the emperor become a coward?”

"According to what you said, the emperor will still reward you when it is due, but he must be somewhat unhappy in his heart."

"We've been beaten. Judging from the letter sent back by people sent thousands of miles away, we almost won the battle. It's a bit embarrassing to say this now." Han Xiufeng paused and continued: "Let's just pretend we don't know anything. What we did before

What should I do next?"

"Where are Yongxiang and Wang Hedong?"

"When the overall situation over there is decided, Qianli will naturally bring them back. Don't make it public. Just pretend that we have never sent troops there."

"This is the only way. Who asked us to do this shady job?"

As soon as Rong Lu finished speaking, there was a sound of footsteps outside. When he looked back, it turned out to be Ji Yunfei coming. As he walked towards the flower hall, he cupped his hands and said, "Zhixing, Zhonghua, you two are rare guests.

Why do you have time to come to the club today?"

"I was passing by and came in to ask for a drink." Han Xiufeng stood up and said with a smile.

"You are asking for a drink of water, Zhixing, what do you think this place is?" Ji Yunfei asked back, and sighed softly: "The impeachment matter is not over yet. I heard that it has been handed over to the Ministry for discussion. Thank you for laughing.

"

In any case, the Tianjin side finally won the battle. Even if the foreigners want to take revenge, they will have to wait until next year. At least after the current hurdle is considered, Han Xiufeng is in a good mood and can't help but smile: "The matter is now over, there is no point in crying!"

Ji Yunfei didn't know anything about Tianjin and only cared about Han Xiufeng, a fellow villager. While asking Ronglu to sit down, he said bitterly: "Zhixing, Zhonghua, I finally found out how that ungrateful Xu Haoran became the censor."

That’s it.”

"How did he make up for it?" Ronglu asked curiously.

"It turns out that he was admitted to the imperial examination just like me, several years earlier than me. In the Shuntian rural examination fraud case last year, not only Yin Gengyun, a fellow examiner, was dismissed from his post, but also several imperial historians who were inspecting the palace were also punished.

The implicated officials were dismissed, and four or five vacancies were suddenly vacated. The role of the censor orator was different from other jobs. As a rule, it could only be filled by officials with Jinshi background. There were only so many named censors waiting to be supplemented, among which

There are also those who are too old to work or have taken leave to return to their hometowns, and their shifts are early in the morning, so they just make up for it in a daze."

"So he can be considered as having finally succeeded after all his hardships." Han Xiufeng muttered.

"After all the hardships, I don't think so." Ji Yunfei said with a bitter smile: "You won't believe it when I tell you that he is still living in that shack built with a fence outside the city, and he still gets up before dawn every day to go to the Procuratorate in the dark.

, still dressed like a beggar. Seeing that he was awarded the post of imperial censor, many colleagues generously donated money and funds to support him. Not only did he refuse to accept any of them, he also claimed everywhere that you had given him twenty taels of silver, but he was an honest man.

After receiving the food he received, he gave all the money to the hungry people. No one could see which people he gave the money to. Anyway, it is whatever he says now."

Ronglu blurted out: "Brother Zhixing, he is taking a preemptive strike. Not only does he want to show that he is not an ungrateful villain, but he also wants to show that he disdains to be associated with you, and even sworn in with you!"

Before Han Xiufeng could speak, Ji Yunfei said solemnly: "You are so cruel to yourself, which shows how difficult this Xu Haoran is."

Han Xiufeng didn't want to compete with that ungrateful family member, nor did he want to be pestered by that guy all the time. He weighed it up and said lightly: "Since he wants fame, let's give him fame. Zhonghua, let Feng Xiaobao find some articulate people later.

It would be better if we could make up a catchy jingle to help people recite and recite it. In short, we should let all the ministries and even the traffickers know that our Qing Dynasty has produced a fair, honest and upright Xu Qingtian."

Ronglu thought he had heard wrongly, and asked with a grimace: "Brother Zhixing, it's just that you don't care about him, and you want to help him make a name for himself?"

Ji Yunfei reacted and couldn't help but smile: "This is a good idea. Since he wants to be an upright official, why don't we help him? If he likes to live in a shack, let him live in it. If he likes to walk more than ten miles to the Yamen, let him walk. He

If he can't bear to change to a big house and take a carriage, then he is a duplicitous person who is just trying to gain fame!"

Ronglu finally realized the power of scholars and murmured: "So there is an ambush here!"

Han Xiufeng's face straightened: "What an ambush? Look at what you said. We are just gentlemen and adults."
Chapter completed!