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Volume One: Fierce Battle in Changsha Chapter 346: Distraught

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    Compared with the turmoil in the court of the Taiping Army, the turmoil in the Qing court was greater. Although there was a great victory in Nanchang, the overall posture of the Qing army began to shift from offensive to defensive.

    In early October, shortly after the victory in Nanchang, Wei Changhui, the Northern King of the Taiping Army, captured Luzhou, and Shi Dakai, the Yi King, continuously attacked the city and began to threaten Jingxiang's safety.  Faced with the defeat in the war in Hubei, Anhui and other places, Emperor Xianfeng was furious. Qi Zhuanzao, the leading military minister, was dismissed from his post for investigation. Guiliang, the Minister of War, was demoted to a third rank and remained in office. Shengbao, the governor of Jiangbei Military Affairs, was dismissed and imprisoned in the capital for questioning.

    Xianfeng then sent the clan ministers Minghui Mianyu as the ordered general and Seng Gelinqin as the counselor to lead the troops southward to continue to suppress the bandits.  However, Zeng Guofan, Ronglu and others received rewards for the victory in Nanchang.

    Because Ronglu was a bannerman, he not only received the title of bravery from Batulu, but also received the title of admiral, and was even given a yellow mantle to wear.  It's just that his admiral title is a virtual title and not an actual official title, so he is still leading troops in the Hunan Army.  Xianfeng gave Ronglu a separate order to serve in the Hunan Army, and secretly told Ronglu to monitor Zeng Guofan and other Han generals.  In fact, although Xianfeng issued a decree for each province to organize regiment training for self-protection, he was also worried about these Han generals who would hold military power in the future, and was also afraid that they would rise up in rebellion. Therefore, many Manchu generals served in regiment training in various places.

    Ronglu and Zeng Guofan made a profit in the Battle of Nanchang. In the subsequent pursuit battle, the money, grain, firearms and other materials left by Yang Fuqing fed the Hunan army, and they received rewards and praises from the court, which made people even more eye-catching.

    When the Hunan army returned to Hengyang, they encountered difficulties from other Qing armies. The reason was that the things they captured were too rich.  It was Ronglu who came forward to reach a deal with several Qing troops, so that the Hunan army could return safely.  The Qing army was not monolithic either. Conflicts broke out among various Qing armies as they competed for military merits, prisoners, and captures.  It's just that the generals from all walks of life will not report this kind of conflict. If you can grab it, you have the ability. If you can't grab it, you have no ability. Leading troops to fight these days still depends on strength.

    The strength of the Hunan army should not be underestimated. The Qing armies of all walks of life still bought Ronglu's account. After paying part of the spoils, Ronglu and Zeng Guoquan led the Hunan army back to Hengyang.

    After returning to Hengyang, the future father-in-law Zeng Guofan was overjoyed and held a banquet for three days to celebrate Ronglu and Zeng Guoquan. Compared with the first time the Hunan Army sent troops in history, it suffered a huge defeat.  The Hunan Army's unfinished troop dispatching adventure received huge rewards. Why wasn't Zeng Guofan happy?

    Originally, Zeng Guofan still disliked Ronglu, the son-in-law of a bannerman, and always felt that he was forced to betroth his daughter to him due to the situation, but now it seems that Ronglu is young and promising, and with him in the Hunan Army, he will surely be able to make the court  I am very relieved about the Hunan Army.  So Zeng Guofan began to rely heavily on honor and salary.

    This time the Hunan Army returned with a great victory, and many generals of the Hunan Army clamored to regain Changsha and other lost lands in central Hunan.  But Ronglu firmly believed that the Hunan Army's military training had not yet been completed.  It¡¯s not the time to send out troops in large numbers.  Zeng Guofan also agreed with Ronglu's statement.  The Hunan Army's navy has not yet been established, and it is far from being a match for the Taiping Army when it sends troops. Especially at this time, Changsha is impregnable after several years of reinforcements by the Taiping Army. If you want to regain Changsha, you must be completely sure, otherwise the Taiping Army will be defeated in Nanchang.  That's the role model.

    After Zeng Guofan and Ronglu joined forces to suppress the restlessness in the Hunan army, the two continued to train in Hengyang.  Ronglu continued to expand his business in Guangdong and continued to purchase Western firearms via land to arm the Hunan army.

    This afternoon, the sky was already cold and cold in the depths of winter. Although it was afternoon, there was no hint of warmth.  Ronglu looked at the latest purchase and sale account book.  He stood up, adjusted his clothes, and sighed to himself: "Xiao Yungui, this guy, is so free with his hands and feet. He made such a big move and bought the entire firearms production line."

    It turns out that Ronglu opened his own business in Guangzhou. In addition to doing business, Ronglu's Rongyun business was also responsible for inquiring about information.  The West Palace Taiping Army ordered two production lines of the Swedish Kamal Ryder m1842 rifle, as well as three accompanying accessories and ammunition production lines, at a total cost of more than three million taels of silver. This sky-high transaction was no secret in Guangzhou, where foreigners gathered.

    When Ronglu first heard the news, his first reaction was to see if he could rob the goods in Guangzhou. But later he learned that the British actually sent warships to escort this transaction, and the Swedes were also very cautious.  They only stopped in Hong Kong to replenish supplies and coal and water before continuing northward. They had no plans to stop in Guangzhou, Xiamen, Fuzhou and other places.  This made Ronglu feel that he was beyond his reach and could only watch the foreigners' goods heading north to Ningbo.

    Ronglu got up and walked to the window of the study. Looking at the dark clouds outside the window, he suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness. Was it because his movements were too slow or because there were too many restrictions on his head?  Why do I always walk behind Xiao Yungui?  He knew very well that the muskets equipped by the Hunan Army would be used badly when encountering large numbers of enemies.?What kind of disaster would be the consequences of equipping the Taiping Army with rifled guns? Although rifled guns may have a slightly slower rate of fire than smoothbore guns, the range of rifled guns can make up for this, as well as the accuracy of rifled guns.  Also very scary.

    Ronglu could even foresee that before the array of Xiang Yong under his men lined up to be shot came close to the Taiping Army's array, his array would be riddled with holes by rifled guns with a range of hundreds of meters.  Shooting tactics require a complete array to maintain firepower. Although Xiangyong is brave, Ronglu does not think that Xiangyong will be braver than the red shirt army. Even the red shirt army will lose 20 to 30% before entering the shooting range.  The combat power will also collapse, let alone the Hunan Army?

    What is even more frightening is that in defensive warfare, the Taiping Army can also rely on the range advantage of rifled guns to steadily suppress the firepower of the Hunan Army defenders beyond the range of muskets and bows. With the large-scale use of rifled guns, Rong  Lu could even predict that Xiao Yungui would organize and train specialized snipers, which would also be a huge disaster for the Hunan Army's defense.  The defense is unable to prevent it, let alone the Hunan Army attacking the strong camp of the Taiping Army in the West Palace. The Hunan Army will collapse beyond the range of the rifle guns.

    The more he thought about it, the more upset he became. Ronglu decided to see Zeng Guofan. He also wanted to buy a rifled gun. At the same time, he also wanted the court to put pressure on the foreigners. He could not let it go like this.  After making up his mind, Ronglu called the servants to change clothes.  After packing up, Ronglu took a warm sedan and went directly to Zeng Guofan's residence in Hengyang.

    After arriving at Zeng Guofan's residence, Ronglu stepped out of the warm sedan chair, only to find several carriages and horses parked nearby, and several female family members walked down from a gorgeously decorated carriage.  Ronglu was dressed in casual clothes, wearing a purple robe, a bearskin cloak, and a light blue round hat on his head. He looked very handsome, but he made the female family members laugh and laugh.  Look at him from time to time.

    Ronglu walked up to the concierge of the mansion.  When I looked back, I saw two maids and two nun-like women among several female relatives, surrounded by a girl of twelve or thirteen years old, pointing at me and smiling. The girl had bright eyes and white teeth, and she smiled.  She looks very sweet, but she is still young.  Although her eyebrows are delicate, she lacks the charm of an adult woman, and she is wearing a white fox fur coat.  Looks even cuter.

    Ronglu was slightly startled.  When he looked around, the maids and nuns lowered their heads in fear, but the girl was still looking at him with her head raised, her pretty face like jade was flushed, but she did not avoid his gaze at all.  , eyes full of curiosity.

    I saw a few carriages constantly unloading objects.  They are all household items, including fine rosewood tables and chairs, as well as incense burners, screens, brocade quilts and other items used in women's boudoirs.

    Ronglu waved to the concierge and asked, "Whose lady is this?"

    That young man was a long-term attendant of Zeng Guofan's house, and Ronglu was in and out of Zeng's house all year round.  He also made an alliance with Zeng Mansion, so all the servants in Zeng Mansion were very familiar with Ronglu.  The young man stepped forward and said with a flattering smile: "Sir, this is the eldest lady."

    Ronglu was still thinking about the armament of the Taiping Army. He didn't come back to it for a moment, and said in his mouth, "It turns out to be Miss Zeng."

    Next to him, Ronglu's confidant Li Zhong reminded: "Junmen, this young lady is the future wife."

    Ronglu then realized that this woman was Zeng Jijing, the eldest daughter of Zeng Guofan, who was engaged to him.  Ronglu coughed slightly, feeling that those maids and nuns just now were giving Zeng Jijing pointers and telling her who her future husband-in-law was.

    Regarding this marriage, Ronglu was entirely motivated by interests, but he did not expect that Zeng Jijing was such a lovely girl. Although it was not convenient to meet her before marriage, he met her by chance at the gate of Zeng's house and did not come forward.  Saying hello was not enough, so Rong Lu said to Li Zhong: "Bring the magnifying glass in the bag."

    Li Chong took out the magnifying glass as he said. This magnifying glass was what Rong Lu was going to bring to Zeng Guofan. Zeng Guofan was starting to get old and it was difficult to read documents. Ron Lu ordered someone to buy some glasses and magnifying glasses during this business trip and prepared to give them to him.  To Zeng Guofan.

    After taking the magnifying glass, Ronglu walked straight towards the lovely person beside the carriage. The maids and nannies seemed not to have expected that Ronglu would come over so boldly, and were so frightened that they bowed their heads and retreated behind Zeng Jijing.

    The girl didn¡¯t expect that her fianc¨¦ would suddenly come towards her. Her face turned red and she felt a little at a loss.

    Ronglu walked up to him and bowed slightly: "Hello, Miss Zeng, I am Ronglu."

    Ronglu's self-introduction was polite and straightforward. Zeng Jijing was a little flustered for a moment. She didn't expect to meet her future husband at the door of her home today, nor did she expect that he would come over to talk to her. But her young Cheng Tingxun was also scholarly.  The well-educated and sensible person from the family immediately accepted a million yuan with a blushing face.??, and replied in a low voice: "Hello, Mr. Rong."

    Ronglu felt that he really had nothing to say to her, so he handed over the magnifying glass in his hand and said: "This is a Western magnifying glass. You can enlarge objects and see them. It is very interesting. I give this to you as a meeting gift."

    Zeng Jijing was stunned for a moment, but did not reach out. Ronglu became a little impatient, took her hand and put the magnifying glass in her hand, and said: "I have something urgent to meet with Marshal Zeng, we will see you later." After that,  Strided away.

    Zeng Jijing's heart was pounding. She looked at the magnifying glass in her hand, her pretty face flushed red, but the little maid beside her chuckled in a low voice: "Our future uncle is so special. He gave the lady such a weird thing as a gift as soon as we met. This  What can things be used for? But this future uncle is very handsome and very young."

    Zeng Jijing turned around and said coquettishly: "Please keep your voice down. Didn't your chirping just now attract him?"

    The nanny on the side smiled and said: "Miss, don't be shy. We just arrived in Hengyang today, and I saw him before I even saw him. Isn't this fate?"

    Zeng Jijing blushed and looked at Ronglu's straight and strong back, speechless.  (To be continued, please search Piaotian Literature. The novels will be better and updated faster!

    ps: I wish all book friends a happy New Year and all the best, thank you for your support.
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