C1127 Southern Emergency (2/2)

”If we have to use our money to solve this problem, we will definitely use weapons. It would be a wonder if we don't suffer a loss …”

Ci Xi nodded his head, ”Fortunately the crisis has passed, and now a Xiao Letian has appeared. But similarly, Yang Zhi, the Frenchman and the Russian have come to restrict him … What did this mean? This means that we haven't even finished! ”

In today's small meeting, Yang Zhi's unveiling of the whole story caused these four people to be in a very good mood, and life was sometimes like this. The reason for the panic is because you don't understand, and once you figure out what was going on, no matter how strong the enemies were, they wouldn't be as scary as they were.

Moreover, Xiao Letian was not that strong now. There were many powers in this world that could restrain him.

Just as the four were deep in thought about how difficult it had been over the past few years, the sound of footsteps came from outside the hall. A young eunuch along with an official on duty from Head Office knelt outside, her entire body drenched in sweat.

”Reporting to the empress dowager, Head Office received an urgent message from Jiangnan … Lord Zeng called! ”

”Eh? The marshal sent a telegram? Hadn't there already been congratulatory messages sent to the imperial government a few years ago? ” Everyone's expression changed, Li Lianying quickly brought the message up.

According to the imperial court system of the Qing Dynasty, every yamen in the country during the Spring Festival would have five days to be sealed, unless it involved the military's lifeline. This was the legal day to rest during the Qing Dynasty.

However, in the process of execution, people would usually rest until the fifteenth day of the first month. The imperial government would obviously not find trouble with the servants because of such a small matter.

Ceng Guofan had already sent a New Year greeting message to the Emperor, Empress Dowager and Great Qing Dynasty before the Spring Festival. According to common sense, there shouldn't have been any movements before the fifteenth day of the first month, but today was the first day of the new year!

Ci An snatched the message from Li Lianying's hands and read through it ten times. In the end, her face had an inconceivable look, ”How can this be? This, this, this... The marshal was entering the capital? He asked the imperial government for the position of Viceroy! ”

”Huh?” Everyone was stunned, no one thought that Ceng Guofan would send such a message during the new year.

In fact, according to the rules of history, after Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and Twisted Army were pacified, Ceng Guofan was quickly transferred to the capital. After being conferred the title of Marquis, the imperial government did not let him leave, but instead arranged for him to be seated in the position of Viceroy.

What was even more interesting was that the Viceroy spent most of his time doing errands in the capital, and the Governor's Office only stayed for a few days. This showed how taboo the Qing Dynasty had towards Ceng Guofan.

However, Xiao Letian's sudden appearance had changed the situation. Because of Xiao Letian's sudden arrival, the hundreds of thousands of Xiang Army s that were suppressed began to stir.

First, let's not talk about other things, just based on the fact that Xiao Letian's Letian Firm opened his own business in Tanggu, Jiu Shuai would actually personally take charge of it.

After thinking about it, the imperial government felt that Ceng Guofan would still be the one to handle the situation in the southern part of the river, because he was still a bit old and mature. Once the radical members of the Xiang Army formed an alliance with Xiao Letian, the consequences would be dire.

Therefore, Zuo Jigao's western expedition was much smoother compared to the historical western expedition, and the amount of resources he had to take away was much more. The imperial government's goal was to have Zuo Zongtang take away more of the Xiang Army's elites so that they could be divided into the northwest and the southeast.