Anti-Qing: Starting from the Jintian Uprising

Chapter 3: A loyal minister, but not loyal to this extent!

Seeing this, Li Dianyuan nodded with satisfaction, stroked his mustache, and continued to ask.

"Very good, everyone is truly a loyal and good person of the Qing Dynasty."

"I just don't know who among you is willing to volunteer to fight? To serve as the vanguard of this battle and defeat the enemy for the Qing Dynasty?"

As soon as Li Dianyuan said this, the originally lively atmosphere in the military tent suddenly became quiet.

The captains and lieutenants remained silent and no one showed up.

Everyone was from Xunzhou Prefecture, and they all knew how powerful the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was in Xunzhou Prefecture.

If the imperial court wanted to wipe out the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, it would not be an easy task and many people would probably die.

In this case, there would definitely be no problem in letting them follow the main force and wave flags and cheer to boost morale.

But Li Dianyuan expected them to be the vanguard, charge into battle, and fight for the Qing Dynasty?

Don’t even think about it!
Although everyone was a loyal subject of the Qing Dynasty, none of them were loyal to this extent.

Seeing this, Li Dianyuan suddenly felt ashamed.

But now there are too many people who are hiding their heads, and since the law cannot hold everyone responsible, Li Dianyuan cannot get angry and can only snort coldly.

"In that case, everyone should prepare for battle."

"After the meeting, all the commanders will go back to prepare for the expedition. The whole army will gather at the parade ground at 11:00 am tomorrow and then march to Huazhou, Pingnan, to capture the two thieves Hong and Feng."

"No mistakes!"

Upon seeing this, all the generals could not help but look at each other in bewilderment, but in the end they could only bow down together and respond, then take their leave.

But everyone’s faces don’t look good!

Li Yi still followed Wang An. The two walked out of Li Dianyuan's tent and patrolled the military camp with several familiar officers.

They planned to review the troops' training first, and then start making arrangements for tomorrow's expedition.

As Wang An walked, he quietly complained to his close associates.

"He wants to use our blood to dye his own hat red. I'm afraid Li Dianyuan is crazy."

"Ah, what is that!"

Li Yi also sneered and continued.

"Master Qian is right. This Li Dianyuan is really a piece of shit."

"My father was ordered to fight in Guangzhou and died fighting against the British. This bastard first withheld my father's pension."

"Then he sold my father's title of Qianzong to someone else."

"From this, it can be seen that even if we risk our lives to gain merit, I am afraid it will not be counted on us, but will only be a favor to others."

"If I die in battle, I don't know who will get the title!"

"It's not worth it to risk your life for him!"

The rest of the people also began to condemn Li Dianyuan, expressing their indignation.

"That's right, that's right, Li Dianyuan's action is really too much."

“It’s chilling.”

"Why should we work for him if he does this?"

"..."

It was obvious that everyone was dissatisfied with Li Dianyuan.

The reason is simple: Li Dianyuan is too greedy.

Not to mention the empty salaries and sucking the blood of soldiers.

This is just like a civil official accepting ice or offering charcoal. It is nothing special and military generals have basically done it.

Who would insist that they haven’t done it?

Then I admit that you are tough enough, okay?
However, it should be made clear that generally military generals who draw empty salaries and suck the blood of soldiers only target the low-level soldiers.

In other words, in this matter, the interests of all officers at all levels of the Green Camp are the same. Everyone is making money together, and the victims are just a bunch of soldiers, so no one cares.

However, Li Dianyuan made money from these officers, which angered everyone.

Isn't it great if everyone joins together to bully the low-level soldiers and the honest people?
What's the matter with you, Li Dianyuan, bullying us and making money from us?

Everyone hated Li Dianyuan, a guy who betrayed his class.

After everyone complained about Li Dianyuan, they dispersed and got busy preparing for tomorrow's expedition.

After seeing everyone leave, Wang An turned to Li Yi and said.

"Tonight I plan to hold a banquet at Qingfeng Tower in the city to entertain all the captains under my command. The army will go out tomorrow, so we can get together tonight to keep in touch with each other and take care of each other on the battlefield."

"You'll come with me then!"

Wang An has nothing to say about his nephew Li Yi. He basically thinks of him when something good happens.

But Li Yi scratched his head and said after hearing this.

"Uncle Wang, I won't go, right?"

"After I finish my job today, I want to go out of town."

Wang An frowned when he heard this.

"Why are you leaving the city? The army will set out tomorrow. It will be late after you leave the city today. If you leave the city again, be careful not to come back in time tomorrow morning and miss the deadline."

He didn't expect that Li Yi was going to be a traitor and leave the city to inform the Taiping Army, but out of concern, he still said so.

Li Yi heard this and complained silently in his heart.

He wants to leave the city because he is going to go to war tomorrow.

If he didn't go to war tomorrow, he would be too lazy to leave the city.

Historically, this time Li Dianyuan led his troops to attack Huazhou, catching the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom by surprise and directly blocking Hong Xiuquan and Feng Yunshan in Huazhou, surrounding them heavily.

If Yang Xiuqing had not sent reinforcements in time, the two pillars of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, Hong Xiuquan and Feng Yunshan, would have almost been wiped out by Li Dianyuan.

If he could have informed the Taiping Army in advance, it would have been a real life-saving favor for Hong and Feng.

It is a life-saving grace that comes in time of need!
When Yongan is established in the future, even if Lao Hong does not make himself a king, he will at least be a high-ranking official like prime minister.

However, what you think in your heart is one thing, and what you say out loud is another.

"Uncle Wang, I want to leave the city today because we are going to the battle tomorrow."

"Isn't the situation in Xunzhou tense recently? My mother and her family have gone out of town to a farm in the countryside to take shelter. Aren't they going to go to war tomorrow? I want to go out of town to the farm to settle my family down."

As the saying goes, small chaos happens in the city, big chaos happens in the countryside.

The current situation in Xunzhou is turbulent.

The imperial court dispatched troops from Guizhou to reinforce Xunzhou. The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom had assembled a large number of armed forces in Jintian, Huazhou and other places. Once a disturbance broke out, it would definitely not be a small disturbance.

Therefore, going to the countryside to escape has become the choice of many people.

Even Wang An's family is now settled in the countryside.

Anyway, these people are not high-ranking officials and will not be deliberately targeted. It is definitely safer to hide in the countryside than in the city.

Wang An was moved when he heard this. The Li family only had Li Yi as their male child, and he was about to go to the war. It was only right for him to go and settle the family.

Finally he nodded and agreed.

"Okay, go ahead. I'll have someone at the city gate let you in and out. Remember to come back early so you don't miss the morning shift tomorrow."

Li Yi clasped his fists upon hearing this.

"Thank you, Uncle Wang. I understand."

Although he agreed readily, Li Yi actually had no plans to come back after leaving the city this time.

Because the distance between Xunzhou Prefecture and Huazhou is not close, one night is not enough for Li Yi to run back and forth.

Even if he wanted to go back to the city, it was too late.

(End of this chapter)