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Volume 1: Fierce Battle in Changsha Chapter 357: After the Case is Finalized

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    Li Xiucheng's case was concluded quickly. In the face of Bai Zetang and the Intelligence Department already having a large amount of evidence, the Criminal Department's trial and finalization was much faster.  Li Xiucheng did not cover up anything. He made everything clear about what he knew, and then wrote to the King of the West to plead guilty.

    Among the twenty-seven people involved in the case, five, including Li Mingcheng and Song Yongqi, were sentenced to lighting sky lanterns, the remaining 11 were sentenced to beheading, eight were sentenced to hanging, and three were sentenced to death.  Sentenced to fifty years' imprisonment.  Twenty-seven people including Li Mingcheng and Song Yongqi embezzled more than 1 million taels of public funds in Ningbo, misappropriated more than 1.5 million taels, deprived others of more than 800,000 acres of legal land and houses, and killed more than 300 people in order to cover up their crimes.  Li Mingcheng, Song Yongqi and others also smuggled more than 30,000 boxes of opium and tobacco.  Most of these illegal gains were recovered, part of them was repaid to the owners involved in the case, the fields were returned to their original owners, and the rest was paid into the Sufu provincial treasury.

    Although Li Xiucheng and others were not involved in the case, a large number of Ningbo county officials who were involved in poor supervision and malfeasance were dismissed, investigated, and demoted. In short, almost two-thirds of Ningbo's officialdom has been replaced.  Even Liu Lichuan of the Ningbo Military and Political Department was implicated in the case and was convicted of poor supervision and downgraded to remain in office.  Li Xiucheng was dismissed from all official positions and transferred to the Shanghai Military Academy to study.

    In an instant, the Li Xiucheng clan, which had great fame in Ningbo, fell. After the West Palace held a public trial in Ningbo, a group of people were sentenced to death in front of the victim's mausoleum.  On the day of the public trial, the streets of Ningbo were packed with people, rushing to watch. Seeing the Taiping Army's serious administration, everyone clapped their hands and praised him.

    Major newspapers in Sufu Province also reported this matter in detail. As the first major case involving a senior general of the Taiping Army after the Sufu New Deal, the newspapers not only reported the process, but also played a role in warning officials.

    After Li Xiucheng's case was concluded, Li Kaifang took up his post as Minister of War and concurrently as General of the Ningbo County Army and Horses, and began to attack Fujian.  Machinery for the breech-loading rifle production line was also shipped to Suzhou.  Xiao Yungui let Zuo Zongtang, Xu Shou and others continue to handle the affairs of the Suzhou Firearms Bureau. He himself returned to Shanghai to meet with the British Minister Bao Ling and the French Minister Blomble to discuss the dispatch of troops to the northern military port in the Russian Far East.  .

    On this day, Xiao Yungui arrived in Shanghai and immediately made an appointment with the British and French ministers at the Shanghai Admiralty Department Yamen.  As the cooperation between the Taiping Army and foreigners became increasingly close, it was common for ministers from various countries to enter and leave the military and political offices. The attitude of the great powers towards the more enlightened government of the West Palace Taiping Army was also changing day by day.

    Bao Ling and Blomble took a carriage to the Yamen of the Administrative Department of Shanghai, and were led to King Xi's study.  This was not the first time that Bao Ling and Blomble met Xiao Yungui. They were familiar with each other and started to get down to business without wasting a few polite words.

    "Your Majesty the King of the West, we are very surprised and regretful that your army held a public trial of our British and French friends in Ningbo." Bao Ling did not give Xiao Yungui any face.  He expressed his feelings directly: "General Li Mingcheng and General Song Yongqi have cooperative relationships with many of our foreign companies. Mr. Xi Wang actually treated them with such cruel methods. Mr. Blomble and I are very worried."

    Xiao Yungui is very accustomed to the straightforward character of foreigners. Unlike Chinese people who always like to talk in circles, he smiled lightly and said: "Mr. Bao Ling, you should remember your agreement with us not to interfere in our internal affairs."

    Bao Ling nodded.  The sea lion whiskers on his lips trembled.  He said very seriously: "Your Excellency King Xi, we hope that the Taiping Army can become civilized and stop using such cruel and inhumane punishments."

    Xiao Yungui picked up the tea cup and said with a smile: "Penalty is also our country's internal affairs."

    Bao Ling became a little angry. He adjusted the bow on his collar and said, "Your Majesty the King of the West, as advocates of Western civilization, we hope that the Taiping Army will become civilized instead of barbaric and ignorant. Only in this way can you be finally accepted by the Western world. I  I am reminding you from the perspective of a friend that if your barbaric behavior does not change, your previous efforts may be in vain. Several reporters from The Times recorded in detail the process of General Li Mingcheng and General Song Yongqi being brutally punished. Already  It was sent back to China, do you know what this means?"

    Xiao Yungui smiled slightly and said: "I know that I sent soldiers to protect those reporters from The Times when they visited Ningbo. I don't mind their reports because I always think what I did is right.  "

    Bao Ling¡¯s attitude today is a bit strange. Li Mingcheng, Song Yongqi and others do have good relations with the foreigners in Ningbo, and they even have a secret opium smuggling operation. It is normal for Bao Ling to speak up for them.  However, the meaning of Bao Ling's words later became somewhat different. He seemed to be very concerned about the Times reporter's report on this matter, and was even more worried that this report would give Western people a bad association with the Taiping Army.

    ??Following Xiao Yungui, he said: "Mr. Minister, I understand what you mean. You areThe people at home know that the barbaric behavior of our Taiping Army will have a negative impact on our future cooperation.  "

    Bao Ling nodded worriedly and said: "That's right. The Russian military ports in the Far East are a potential threat. The British and French allied forces in the Far East want to attack targets in the Russian Far East, but our army is not strong enough. We need new,  Reliable, reputable allies join." He emphasized the words "new, reliable, and reputable" in his words.

    After hearing the translation, Xiao Yungui smiled and said, "It seems that Mr. Bao Ling has already considered the suggestions I made a few days ago."

    Bao Ling nodded and said: "That's right. The military schools of the Shanghai Taiping Army teach Western military. According to feedback from personnel in military academies from various countries, the trained Taiping Army is extremely elite, and its number is tens of thousands. This  It is indeed a force that we can rely on at the moment. After all, our power in the Far East Sea is not afraid of anyone, but the strength of the army is still insufficient, and the possibility of cooperation between the two parties is very high."

    Xiao Yungui laughed when he heard this. The British and French were indeed very enthusiastic about the Taiping Army joining the war. The power of the Russian Double-Headed Eagle in Europe may still be limited by Britain, France and other countries, but there is no force that can limit it in the Far East.  In terms of long-term interests, Britain and France also need to support a force that can contain Russia in the Far East.  In the view of Baoling and Blomble, the enlightened and powerful Taiping Army was undoubtedly a good choice.

    "I have proposed comprehensive cooperation with you. We will provide warships and ships and you will send infantry to attack Russia's military strongholds in the Far East. However, the negative impact of the Ningbo incident may cause the parliament to make changes to my proposal.  No, Your Majesty the King of the West, don¡¯t you know how powerful the people of the Western world can be?¡± Bao Ling became more and more angry as he spoke, as if he hated iron but could not make steel.

    Xiao Yungui shrugged and said with a smile: "Li Mingcheng and the others killed more than 300 innocent people. According to the criminal law, they should be sentenced to such cruel punishments. There is a saying here that we should use heavy codes to manage troubled times. Many of the people in our country are still illiterate.  , they don¡¯t know what the truth is, but murderers or those who commit heinous crimes must be punished with cruel punishment to calm everyone¡¯s anger.¡± Xiao Yungui followed and looked at Bao Ling and said word by word: ¡°Your Excellency, Minister, what is civilization?  I can talk about civilization to civilized people, but I won¡¯t talk about civilization to barbaric and cruel evil people, because they don¡¯t understand at all, do you understand?¡±

    Bao Ling was a little discouraged, but Blomble suddenly said: "Your Majesty the King of the West, you also believe in God, why can't you treat criminals with a kind and forgiving heart?"

    Xiao Yungui couldn't help laughing and said: "God also needs to fight the devil and Satan. In the world, I feel that I am a sharp sword that upholds God's will. I will resolutely eradicate criminals who do evil in the world in the name of God. All  Everyone is responsible for what they have done, aren't you right? Mr. Blumble."

    Bramble was speechless when he heard this. Bao Ling frowned and said: "Your Excellency, King Xi, forget this matter this time. I hope you can consider the impact carefully next time before making a decision. After all, one person can make a good decision."  It¡¯s not easy to gain fame, but it¡¯s easy to turn into notoriety overnight.¡±

    Xiao Yungui didn't want to dwell on this issue anymore, but he also didn't want to abolish those tortures. Those tortures were a sharp sword that shocked people in troubled times, not to mention that he also wanted to use it to deter the Manchus, who often captured the Taiping Army's weapons.  People are cruel and executed by Ling Chi, and the Taiping Army must use violence to fight violence. Xiao Yungui simply does not believe that convincing people with virtue will be effective for the birds and beasts of the Manchu Qing Dynasty.

    At that moment, Xiao Yungui responded perfunctorily: "Thank you, Mr. Bao Ling, for reminding me. Next, we can talk about how to send troops to the military stronghold in northern Russia."

    After Bao Ling and Blomble looked at each other, Bao Ling said: "Before that, I want to ask His Excellency the King of the West a question."

    Xiao Yungui smiled and nodded, indicating to Bao Ling to continue. Bao Ling asked: "Why did Your Excellency the King of the West think of sending troops with us to attack the Russians when the Taiping Army had not yet achieved a complete victory?"

    Xiao Yungui smiled slightly. Bao Ling and Blomble were indeed wily diplomats. In their view, everything done by any country and army must be profitable. The Taiping Army suddenly offered to help Britain and France attack Russia. Indeed,  It has a strong purpose, or the Taiping Army must want to get some benefits by sending troops, so Bao Ling would ask this.

    " Bao Ling felt helpless when he asked this. Ever since Xiao Yungui proposed that the Taiping Army send troops to Russia, he had been wondering why the Taiping Army did this.  If the Taiping Army joins the war and wins, the Taiping Army can occupy the Russian port.  However, the Taiping Army did not have a very reliable navy. The Taiping Army navies in Ningbo and Shanghai were still very weak and could not support an army for ocean-going operations.? supply, this means that even if the Taiping Army captures the military port in northern Russia, it will not be able to occupy it for a long time.  Do you want monetary compensation from the Russians?  However, Britain and France have already drained Russia of its potential. The war has been going on so far. Russia does not have much financial resources to redeem the military ports occupied by the Taiping Army. Moreover, the Russians will not give in easily. Once Britain and France make peace with Russia, the Russians will definitely  The Russians would rather spend their lives to retake these military ports than pay a single ruble to the Taiping Army, because the double-headed eagle has never looked down on the Qing people.  (To be continued, please search Piaotian Literature. The novels will be better and updated faster!
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