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Volume 1: Fierce Battle in Changsha Chapter 494: What if a War Starts?

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    Reality is more cruel than fiction. Although the rhetoric is very inspiring, Xiao Yungui must lead everyone to face possible situations.  The meeting hall of the West Prince's Mansion was filled with important ministers of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Everyone had solemn expressions on their faces, and everyone knew in their hearts what the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom would face next.

    After several months of New Deal reforms, the old ministers of the Kingdom of Heaven in Tianjing gradually broadened their horizons. As they had more contact with foreigners, the old ministers gradually understood the gap. In particular, they were shocked by the several warships handed over by the British.  Big, people like Wei Zhijun, Hong Rengan and others were lucky enough to see the huge British fleet in Shanghai.

    Therefore, the important ministers of the Kingdom of Heaven have always had a clear understanding. This is much better than those princes and nobles in the Manchu Qing Dynasty who are still arrogant. At least they know where their own shortcomings are and what the advantages of foreigners are.

    "Now that things have come to this, why don't we postpone the Guangzhou Campaign?" It was Li Kaifang who broke the silence in the chamber. He represented the opinion of the Ministry of War. There were too many uncertain factors in launching the Guangzhou Campaign at this moment.

    Wei Zhijun immediately said: "What about the third division that has landed? There is also the second echelon that has almost arrived at Wanshan Islands. Three main battleships and more than fifty red single ships are our largest maritime force.  If we retreat, we may be pursued by the British fleet!"

    Lu Xianba said: "We have suffered a great loss by giving up the Guangzhou campaign. We have spent more than half of the military expenditure raised this year. If we cannot defeat Guangzhou, the overall situation will be passive."

    Hong Rengan also said: "Yes, the raising of military expenditures this time has benefited from the newly established National Bank raising money and food from all over the world. The people are even more confident about depositing their money in the bank because they are assured that the military power of the Kingdom of Heaven is invincible. Once the war cannot be fought,  Or a slight hint of defeat. If someone spreads rumors and instigates, we are afraid of a run. Although we auctioned a batch of rare treasures three months ago and obtained a large amount of gold and silver as reserves, we are afraid that we cannot withstand it.  Massive run.¡±

    Wang Kaiyun happened to be in Beijing to report on the construction progress of the Shanghai-Nanjing Railway. He also interjected: "The worst plan is to go to war with the British. Now half of the Shanghai-Nanjing Railway has been built. If a war breaks out, the British shares and British technicians will definitely evacuate. Our  The losses will also be huge. There is also Shanghai Port. The merchant ships and cargo ships entering and leaving the port every day bring so much tax revenue. Once the war starts, Shanghai will be closed by the British fleet, and the losses will be huge. This year's national income may drop sharply.  "

    Li Xiucheng said: "You only think about the economic losses. Have you considered the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers on the front line?! Most of the troops going south are still on board. If we fight against the British fleet and a troop transport ship is sunk,  That's hundreds of casualties." Li Xiucheng served as the general of the Tianjing garrison, so he was not among the generals of the Southern Expedition. Instead, Chen Yucheng led the troops south.

    The important ministers anxiously laid out all the difficulties they might face. In the end, they couldn't argue, and they all looked to the King of the West.  Seeing that everyone gradually stopped, Zuo Zongtang, who had always been like an old monk in trance, suddenly opened his half-lidded eyelids and frowned at everyone.  Without waiting for Xiao Yungui to speak, he said loudly: "Have you finished talking? Who else hasn't said anything yet?"

    Everyone looked at each other in shock.  No one was answering, and Zuo Zongtang's face gradually became serious. "All the princes hold great power. How can they lead their subordinates to resolve the crisis when they are in such a panic?" Zuo Zongtang has been Prime Minister Zuo for a long time.  Under the overwhelming prestige, no one dared to speak.

    Zuo Zongtang continued: "Since everyone knows what will happen if we start a war with Britain, we should lead our subordinates to come up with solutions as soon as possible instead of just talking about the difficulties here! The losses will be huge, the losses will be huge, and everyone knows that a war will be inevitable.  The losses will be great, but won¡¯t the losses be great if we don¡¯t go to war? If we can¡¯t withstand the pressure today and dare not go to war with the British, the losses caused by the contracts imposed on us by the British will be even greater in the future!  It¡¯s the British, French, Americans, and Russians who will all pounce on them and bite them like mad dogs! You have been dealing with foreigners for so long, don¡¯t you know that foreigners are greedy by nature?¡±

    Zuo Zongtang paused and then said: "Don't stay here, everyone. The Ministry of War will immediately convene a staff meeting to re-study the strategic strategy and prepare to revise the campaign plan. At the same time, consider how to defend the offshore and fight against the British landing. Ministry of Commerce  Immediately study which country can take over and participate in the construction of the Shanghai-Nanjing Railway after the British withdraw! The Financial Department and the Publicity Department must study how to stabilize people's hearts! The Information Department must strengthen the publicity of this incident and make sure that we stand on the commanding heights of morality.  , to expose the ugly face of the British"

    Zuo Zongtang and Lin Zongzong explained a lot, and the officials from each department immediately left and went back to their own yamen to open their doors.

    Xiao Yungui didn't say anything. Zuo Zongtang had already explained everything thoroughly. After everyone left, only King Xi, Queen Xi and Zuo Zongtang were left in the hall.  Hong Yun'er suddenly said: "Actually, everyone is thinking about the worst. We??We should think from the perspective of the British, what are the benefits of starting a war with us now?  In this way, we will know how likely it is to start a war, and things are not in the worst situation.  "

    Xiao Yungui smiled slightly and said: "I have been thinking about this matter just now. No one expected this conflict. It was purely an accident. The British may have put forward such harsh conditions just for the so-called dignity of the empire. They  They have always been overbearing and thought that we would compromise like the Manchus. That¡¯s why they were so fierce and cruel. Even last time they didn¡¯t get any advantage from the Manchus. Really, if we calm down and think about it, we can be considered as equal to the British.  They have cooperated for a long time. If they start a war with us again, they will have to face the situation of being hostile to the Manchus and us at the same time. This is not in line with the interests of the British Far East. They need the benefits brought by trade, and they also need a potential  We can build allies to fight against Russia's eastward expansion. War is always a continuation of politics and interests. Without these two points, the war cannot be fought."

    Zuo Zongtang also nodded slightly and said: "Yes, in fact, I also thought of this just now. I just saw that everyone was flustered, so I scolded you. King Xi, do you think that the more successful our new policy is, the more often our hands and feet become incompetent?"  They will be restrained, and everyone feels reluctant to part with this or that, and when they have more possessions, they will resort to traps."

    Xiao Yungui smiled faintly and said: "This is inevitable. In the past, it didn't matter if you were poor and died. Now that you have property, your mood is naturally different. But they never thought that the property can be rebuilt after being destroyed. If the national dignity is lost,  Then you won¡¯t be able to get it back for many years.¡±

    Zuo Zongtang twirled his beard and said with a smile: "That's right. When the Manchus entered the country in the past, there were dozens of times as many Han people as the Manchus. Why were they so defeated? Everyone had their own plans and only wanted to  We thought about how to protect our property and life, and in the end we had nothing. King Xi, in this case, we still maintain diplomatic contact with the British. Although we have become tougher, the British don¡¯t want to fight, and we don¡¯t want to fight either.  A war should not be fought, and it would be better to resolve it through diplomatic means."

    Xiao Yungui hummed and said: "Exactly, the conditions proposed by this king are to pay the high price on the spot. If you don't be tough with the British, you will be passive everywhere in the future, so this matter still needs to be discussed, but  I¡¯d rather trouble the left prime minister to come forward.¡±

    Zuo Zongtang clasped his fists and saluted: "I obey the order of the King of the West. Zuo will definitely fulfill his mission in this negotiation, but the Ministry of War still needs to prepare the necessary preparations in case the British fail to negotiate and create a military threat."

    Xiao Yungui said: "That's right. The Battle of Guangzhou does not have to stop. It's just that the navy going south does not need to participate in the Battle of Guangzhou. It will just defend and inspect the British fleet off the Pearl River Estuary. I remember that the British were still in Shanghai and Ningbo and other places.  If you have a few warships, let Shanghai, Dinghai, Ningbo and other coastal forts prepare for war. Once the British ships dare to fire at us, they will fight back! The coastal defense forts spend so much money every year to replace the new naval Western artillery. This time  It¡¯s time to pull it out and run around.¡±

    After Zuo Zongtang agreed, he said goodbye and went on an errand. After he left, Hong Yun'er said with some worry: "Agui, do you think that if the old classmates from the north know about this, will they use it as an excuse?"

    Xiao Yungui pondered for a moment and said: "We sent Lai Wenguang, Chen Decai and others to the north to help the Nian Party in revolt. Lu Sixuan should be in Henan soon. We can't be sure whether the one in the palace is Qingyun, but the only thing we can be sure of is  Even the Cixi in the palace must be a time traveler. She was able to send Lu Sixuan to lead the army south in advance to prevent the Nian Party uprising, which shows that she knows the historical process."

    Hong Yun'er couldn't help but said: "How about asking our insider in the palace to bring her a letter to confirm?"

    Xiao Yungui looked at her strangely and said, "So what if it's confirmed?"

    Hong Yun'er was speechless for a moment, and Xiao Yungui continued: "The power she has now is brought to her by the entire Manchu people. Let's not say whether this Cixi is Qingyun or not. Even if she is Qingyun, she will do it for the so-called Qingyun in the past.  Are we going to let the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom go because of our old classmates? Even if she is willing, the other Manchus are not willing. She is not alone, she represents an entire interest class."

    Hong Yuner pouted and couldn't help but said: "Qingyun is not only your old classmate, but also your fianc¨¦e"

    As soon as she finished speaking, Hong Yun'er's red lips were blocked fiercely by Xiao Yungui. Xiao Yungui kissed her crazily for a long time, until both of them were panting, they separated. Xiao Yungui took a deep breath and said: "I love  It's you, my wife is you, Qingyun is the marriage arranged by my family, I don't like it, I told you before, do you still care about it now?"

    Hong Yun'er's face flushed and she said, "I think if Cixi is really Qingyun, she would be really pitiful, don't you think?"

    Xiao Yungui said after a moment of silence:"Isn't it a blessing for her to have Lu Sixuan by her side" (To be continued)
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