Just when Liu Zhi was preparing to attack the old city of Taiyuan, Zhang Zhidong looked into the distance on the wall of Taiyuan. The Hunan Army troops that quickly gathered were filled with emotion.
I didn't expect that Liu Hai, who relied on his father-in-law's power to gain a foothold in Liangjiang, would become so powerful in a few years.
In addition to these, Zhang Zhidong is also frustrated about his future. Now his mood has become very obvious. Taiyuan City can no longer be defended for much longer.
Just when Zhang Zhidong was filled with emotion, a man walked by him.
This person is not a small person, he is Zhang Zhidong's former staff member-Zhao Fengchang.
You may not be familiar with this name, but Zhao Fengchang is actually a very capable person.
There is such a joke among the people: Zhang Zhidong, the governor of Huguang, and Zhao Fengchang, the first-class wife. Although this is a joke, it is enough to show the importance of Zhao Fengchang to Zhang Zhidong and the importance of the New Deal in Hubei.
But after all, the political world was dark and political opponents criticized many times. Zhang Zhidong had no choice but to depose Zhao Fengchang. Since then, Zhao Fengchang has left the government and withdrew from the political arena. After withdrawing, Zhao Fengchang, with Zhang's connections, was a commoner but
However, he has been active in Shanghai, and the place where he lives has become a key place. It not only collects intelligence and internal and external information, but also serves as a transfer station and an office for overseas scholars.
But this time Zhang Zhidong led the army to reinforce Taiyuan. Zhao Fengchang got the news in Shanghai, immediately sold his belongings, secretly imported a batch of arms to the consulates of various countries in Shanghai, and returned to Zhang Zhidong with these things.
Zhang Zhidong was both sighing and angry at the arrival of Zhao Fengchang.
What was surprising was that he had not misjudged Zhao Fengchang's character and was able to leave his family and career to help him at this critical moment.
The angry one is Zhao Fengchang. He had already escaped from this vortex, but now he has jumped in again. If he fails in the future, will Liu Hai be able to let go of his confidant?
But now that the matter has come to this, Zhang Zhidong can no longer drive Zhao Fengchang back. He can only keep him by his side, but he does not give him any honor and only receives him as a friend.
Zhao Fengchang did not have any dissatisfaction and continued to follow Zhang Zhidong as conscientiously as before, advising him.
Now Zhao Fengchang also took a telescope and looked outside the city.
He only saw the vast army of soldiers outside the city. Countless flags covered the entire military camp. Soldiers were coming and going in an orderly manner among the neat military camps.
Zhao Fengchang's brows were now as furrowed as a mountain. This was his first time fighting against the Hunan Army. He didn't expect that the general who had already declined would now let Liu Hai reorganize the army as well as that of the great powers.
Liang Dingfen, another staff member of Zhang Zhidong, stood beside Zhao Fengchang and asked with a smile: "You have been Liu Hai's hometown in Shanghai in the past few years. What do you think of the army in front of you?"
Zhao Fengchang looked at his colleague and said with a smile: "I am just a small person in Shanghai, how can I match Liu Hai? But I see the army in front of me, with orderly advance and retreat, well-equipped, and very good spirit. I'm afraid
It’s no worse than the other powers.”
Liang Dingfen looked very serious after hearing this, "We did have a fight with Liu Hai, but before we could see each other's people, we were dispersed by flying weapons that Liu Hai got from nowhere."
Zhao Fengchang thought for a moment after hearing this, and then said: "Is it the kind of weapon that was flying in the sky a few days ago?"
It turned out that when Liu Hai's air force attacked various targets outside Taiyuan a few days ago, Zhao Fengchang saw it very clearly from the tower, and he was very curious about this weapon at the time.
"Yes, this kind of weapon is really a sharp weapon for military strategists. With it, it can expose the enemy thousands of miles away, and at the same time, it can attack the enemy in depth without harming one's own side at all."
"I have never heard that Western powers have developed such weapons. Where did Liu Hai get these things from?"
Liang Dingfen was also very puzzled about this matter, but now there is no need to talk about these useless topics.
"It's useless to say this. What I'm thinking about now is how to repel Liu Hai and save Taiyuan."
Zhao Fengchang looked at the neat military camps outside the city with a wry smile on his face.
"The enemy is strong and we are weak, so we can only fight to the death, hoping that the other side will temporarily retreat out of fear of casualties."
"With Liu Hai's strong mind, I'm afraid he won't retreat so easily. Let's prepare for the worst."
Zhang Zhidong had been standing by and listening to the discussion between the two of them. Now he saw that the two of them had talked about their plans after the defeat, and he was a little unhappy.
"The war hasn't even started yet, and the two of you are talking about the defeat. This is to build up other people's ambitions and destroy your own prestige. If word spreads, the whole camp will start talking about it, and I'm afraid it will make you even less willing to fight."
Zhao Fengchang and Liang Dingfen looked at each other, and then they both bowed their hands to Zhang Zhidong to apologize.
Zhang Zhidong waved his hand, telling them not to be polite, and then said: "Now you see how to behave."
The two men knew that Zhang Zhidong asked them how to solve the predicament at hand.
The two of them looked at each other, their eyes became dark, and then they knelt down in front of Zhang Zhidong together.
"Sir, we are now at the end of our rope. Please abandon the darkness and turn to the light to save the lives of your family."
These two people thought that Zhang Zhidong would be furious after hearing what they said.
However, in fact, Zhang Zhidong just frowned.
Zhao Fengchang was the first to follow Zhang Zhidong, and it can be said that he knew Zhang Zhidong's temperament very clearly. Seeing his appearance now, he knew in his heart that Zhang Zhidong had been shaken.
So Zhao Fengchang struck while the iron was hot and said: "My lord, the Queen Mother has imprisoned the emperor, and the world is in an uproar. Now Liu Hai has occupied the capital with strong troops. We have no hope of victory even if we fight to the death. It is better to surrender and save the lives of our soldiers."
Liang Dingfen then added: "Liu Hai's hometown is in Huguang, and our Self-Strengthening Army soldiers are all from Huguang. Now some bad rumors have been spread in the military camp. I'm afraid if we continue to fight, our troops will have no fighting spirit."
"
After Zhang Zhidong heard this, he frowned and clenched his fists.
As for Zhang Zhidong's ability, there is nothing to say. Zhang Zhidong's rise in politics was later than that of Li Hongzhang, and he never participated in the Taiping Army battle.
However, by virtue of his status as a scholar, he became an important figure in the late Qing Dynasty and almost became the second in the Westernization Movement in the late Qing Dynasty.
Even big bosses such as Zeng Guoquan and Liu Kun who controlled Liangjiang, the richest area of the Qing Dynasty, wanted to give him three points.
But if you want to say that he was loyal to the Qing Dynasty, that is another matter.
In the historical Southeast Mutual Insurance Case, Zhang Zhidong actively participated in it. It can be seen that he only had the country in mind, not a family or a surname.
"You said that handing over this country to Liu Hai was right or wrong?"
After listening, Liang Dingfen first said: "Liu Hai is very ambitious and will do anything for power. As soon as he overthrew his uncle Liu Kun and took charge of Liangjiang, you can see his character."
"However, there is nothing to say about this man's ability. Over the years he has been in charge of Liangjiang, he has developed the economy of Liangjiang much more vigorously than before, and built our country's only industrial base. This is how the Hunan Army is now strong."
Zhao Fengchang continued Liang Dingfen's words and said: "That's it. If Liu Hai rules the world, the big powers will not dare to invade. We can build with peace of mind, and the people in the country can live a good life for a few days."
Liang Dingfen's eyes flashed with cold light at this time, "Besides these, we don't have to feed those useless people anymore from now on."
Zhang Zhidong's heart trembled when he heard this, and then he felt that the clouds were clearing.
You must know that before Liu Hai went north, half of the imperial court's annual income had to be spent separately to support these Manchus.
If this batch of money were used on the people, the people would not be so poor, and the Qing Dynasty would be much stronger than before.
Besides, the world has become such a mess now, and the only one who can really bring order to the chaos is the bangs on the opposite side.
"You think it's okay to just surrender like this? How will people in the world look at me in the future?"
After hearing these words, Zhao Fengchang understood that Zhang Zhidong had already intended to surrender, but it didn't look good on his face, so he quickly stood up and said while the iron was hot: "Your Excellency, the world is now in a state of chaos, and the common people are in dire straits. If you surrender, Your Excellency,
Liu Hai will definitely be able to quickly bring peace to the world, so that the people can live a better life and no longer have to suffer the pain of being displaced. The people of the world will definitely be grateful."
Zhang Zhidong touched his beard, and then asked Liang Dingfen on the other side uncertainly, "Is this really the case?"
"Sir, don't worry too much. Since ancient times, the victor will not be condemned. We stand on the side of the victor, which is in line with the trend of history and will surely be remembered throughout the ages."
Zhang Zhidong gave a bitter smile after hearing this, and then said: "I know, if a fight really breaks out now, Taiyuan City will be turned into powder. Can any of you go for a walk outside the city and check Liu Hai's tone for me?"
The two people looked at each other, and finally Zhao Fengchang stood up and said, "Sir, I met Liu Hai's close confidant Xiao Kun when I was in Shanghai. I can still say a few words in front of him, so why don't I let you go?"
Zhang Zhidong nodded after hearing this, and then said: "After you go, tell Liu Hai that although I am not sorry to die, the soldiers of the Self-Strengthening Army in the city did not have any faults. I hope he can be magnanimous and let these people go."
go home."
After hearing this, Zhao Fengchang thought for a moment and asked, "Sir, what else is there besides these?"
"No, please go back quickly."
After Zhang Zhidong finished speaking, he looked at Liu Hai's military camp outside the city, then silently turned around and walked down the tower.
Zhao Fengchang and Liang Dingfen were silent for a long time. Finally, Liang Dingfen spoke first, "Although your Excellency does not think about yourself, we, the staff, must consider your Excellency's future."
Zhao Fengchang nodded and said: "I know this, you don't have to worry, I will definitely show my strength in front of bangs, and I won't let us adults end up with nothing."