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On February 22nd, Yang Xiuqing's Middle Army arrived in Anqing. Vézé immediately led a team to greet them. Seeing Vézé coming out of Anqing, Yang Xiuqing was stunned. "Prime Minister Wei, didn't I say you had arrived in Nanjing? Why are you in Anqing now?"
Vézé had practiced what he should say many times. He first went up to greet him, then said, "King Of The East! I've been looking forward to your arrival! "
Yang Xiuqing stepped forward to pull Vézé up. "What's going on?"
Vézé replied, "When I arrived in Nanjing, I couldn't restrain myself, so I attacked Nanjing. But after attacking for a while, I didn't succeed. Later, Lin Fengxiang and Li Kaifang arrived with troops. I heard that Qing Yao was going to attack Chizhou, so I remembered that I was opening the way for the King Of The East's army. So I hurried back with my brothers. "
"Haha!" Yang Xiuqing was amused. "Prime Minister Wei, did you really try to attack Nanjing?"
"I tried to attack Nanjing, but I couldn't." Vézé looked embarrassed.
"Let's talk in the city." Yang Xiuqing had a serious face, and his tone was a little unhappy.
In the Governor's office in Anqing, Yang Xiuqing sat in the main seat and stared at Vézé. His sharp eyes seemed to see through Vézé's innermost thoughts. This was the first time Yang Xiuqing looked at Vézé like this. He had to admit that Vézé was under a lot of pressure.
But for people in the 21st century, talking to leaders was a skill. Since Vézé knew that he was wrong, he was almost ready to say what he wanted to say. So he could bear it.
"King Of The East! This subordinate is now the Prime Minister of the Winter Official. This subordinate has been thinking along the way that only by making great contributions can I be ranked among the Heavenly Official Prime Minister, so I started to attack Nanjing in a daze. At that time, I felt that if I made more contributions, it would be much easier for the King Of The East to promote me. " Vézé was lying through and through. Not to mention a Prime Minister, even a Conferred King would not have any feelings for Vézé.
However, this reason was quite common in the Taiping army. After listening to Vézé's reason, Yang Xiuqing's expression softened a little. "And then?"
Vézé briefly introduced what he had done in Nanjing. Of course, some of the content was omitted. In general, Vézé's evaluation of himself was, "I didn't know how to attack a city, so I didn't take it!"
Yang Xiuqing was quite unhappy. He scolded, "If you don't know how to attack a city, then don't attack! How are you going to clean up the mess left behind? "
Being scolded like this, Vézé was relieved. Yang Xiuqing's reaction showed that Vézé's judgment was correct. It seemed that Yang Xiuqing did not want others to get their hands on the great contribution of attacking Nanjing.
"This subordinate is wrong!" Vézé lowered his head and replied.
Seeing that Vézé was still sensible, Yang Xiuqing scolded him a few more times, and then began to ask about Lin Fengxiang and Li Kaifang. At that time, Vézé left all his seized supplies to Lin Fengxiang and Li Kaifang. He told this to Yang Xiuqing, and also reported some of the arrangements made by Lin Fengxiang and Li Kaifang to Yang Xiuqing.
After listening to this, Yang Xiuqing closed his eyes and thought for a moment. Vézé hurriedly presented the map he had drawn. Yang Xiuqing saw a more detailed map of Nanjing. He let out a long sigh of relief and began to ask Vézé for more details.
When all the questions were asked, Yang Xiuqing was relieved. "Fortunately, you still knew to withdraw. If the vanguard did not leave quickly, you would have attacked for a few more days, and the Qing Yao outside Nanjing would have surrounded you. You wouldn't have been able to leave even if you wanted to. "
Vézé was actually very unconvinced. If the Qing Army had fought in the field, Vézé would not have been afraid at all. But the Qing Army did not have the courage to do so. But this was not the time to fight other things. Vézé hurriedly admitted his mistake.
Since Vézé's attitude was correct, Yang Xiuqing did not intend to pursue it. He said, "You ran all the way back from Nanjing, so you know when to advance and when to retreat. You have not forgotten that you are the vanguard. You will go with my brigade to Nanjing. "
"King Of The East, I do not want to attack Nanjing. I want to defend Anqing. "Vézé replied.
"Why?" This time Yang Xiuqing frowned. He obviously did not understand Vézé's thoughts.
Vézé hurriedly said, "King Of The East, with the King Of The East in charge, taking down Nanjing will be as easy as lifting a finger. After taking Nanjing, we still have to take Wuchang and Changsha. In that case, we cannot give up on Anqing. If we give up now, it will be difficult to take Anqing. This time, I followed the river and feel that Anqing is indeed a place that must be defended. "
This was a very serious suggestion. Yang Xiuqing looked at the map. Anqing's geographical location was indeed of great strategic value. It was located between Nanjing and Wuchang, guarding the Yangtze River. With Anqing, whether it was developing upstream of the Yangtze River, going north to Henan, or marching into Jiangxi, it would be of great military value.
Vézé was now betting on Yang Xiuqing's strategic vision. In history, the Taiping army and the Xiang Army had fought in Wuchang and Changsha, so they would certainly defend Anqing. Now that the Taiping army had given up Wuchang, they would also choose to give up Anqing. While everyone was thinking about how to build the capital of Jinling during the Taiping Rebellion, taking the initiative to apply to stay in Anqing was the best opportunity. At this time, no one was competing with Vézé for this "hard job."
Seeing that Yang Xiuqing's attitude had softened, Vézé continued, "King Of The East, I made such a big mistake in Nanjing. Let me go back to Nanjing. This subordinate also felt that he had lost face. Also, I ran back to Anqing from Nanjing, and my brothers are exhausted. If I go back to Nanjing, they will not be of any use. It is better to let me guard Anqing. I am willing to let the King Of The East attack Nanjing without any worries! If we can defend Anqing, it will also be my credit! "
"Oh?" Yang Xiuqing frowned. "Can't the Prime Minister Chun? Can't the Prime Minister Xia Guanzheng? Do you really need the Prime Minister Xia Guanzheng? "
Vézé saw that Yang Xiuqing had finally been led to the track that Vézé had prepared. Vézé immediately followed the lead. He looked ashamed and stammered, "King Of The East! I... I, I felt that I almost ruined the King Of The East's plan, so I couldn't help but find a good excuse not to go to Nanjing. In fact, what I really want is to defend Anqing and make up for my mistake. So please, King Of The East, don't be angry with me. "
Sure enough, after hearing this, Yang Xiuqing's expression returned to normal. After all, Vézé had clearly expressed his loyalty to Yang Xiuqing, even though the attack on Jinling had almost ruined Yang Xiuqing's arrangements. Fortunately, Vézé knew his mistake and Yang Xiuqing was not a petty person. He laughed and said, "Wayne Brothers, you are childish! According to what you said just now, do you think that anyone can become the Prime Minister just because I say a few words? "
"I dare not ask for another official position. As long as the King Of The East is not angry with me and let me continue to serve the King Of The East, I will feel relieved," Vézé said seriously.
After thinking for a while, Yang Xiuqing saw that Vézé really understood the reason, he felt that he could not give up on Anqing so easily. He said, "Wayne Brothers, you have traveled all the way from Wuchang to Nanjing. It has been hard on you."
"I am willing to serve the King Of The East!" Vézé replied resolutely.
Yang Xiuqing thought for a moment and stared at the map for a while. Finally, he made up his mind. "Wayne Brothers, I asked you to guard Anqing, so guard it well. Don't cause any more trouble. If you mess around like you did in Nanjing, I will not forgive you! "
"Yes, sir!" Vézé replied with his head lowered.
After receiving the order, Vézé felt relieved as he sent Yang Xiuqing to the fleet. Watching Yang Xiuqing's ship sailing down the river, Vézé felt refreshed like a bird that had been set free. It was not easy to understand the mistakes he had made, and he also got the chance to develop freely. Vézé was really happy.
Whether it was working under a bastard like Hong Xiuquan or a hero like Yang Xiuqing, it was not easy. After more than a year, Vézé knew his own character. No matter how hard it was, he really could not willingly submit to the people of the past. Since that was the case, it was better to think of ways to work alone.
After returning to the army, Vézé conveyed the news of guarding Anqing to the army. Now the officers were in a mess. Many of them did not understand why they suddenly left Jinling City. Hu Chenghe asked, "Prime Minister, is someone trying to drive us away?"
This question resonated with many of the brothers. Everyone stared at Vézé, waiting for him to speak. Ke Gongyu simply shouted, "We have worked hard to take down Jinling, who dares to drive us away? If they want to monopolize this great achievement, I will absolutely not agree."
It was the first time for the brothers to come to such a bustling city like Jinling. It seemed that everyone was very resistant to leaving before they could enjoy it for a while.
Hearing these words, Vézé felt a burst of fear. His subordinates had already fought their way to the city of Nanjing, but they still cared so much about not being able to take down Nanjing. If Vézé really took down Nanjing, what would the other troops think? What would the King Of The East, Yang Xiuqing think? Gathering the resentment of the people, it was really a case of being condemned by thousands of people.
But there were some things that could not be said clearly. If Vézé told the brothers that he was wrong to attack Nanjing. He was afraid that not only would the brothers not understand, but they would also think that other people were jealous and would do everything possible to stop him.
Vézé smiled and said, "Nanjing is indeed a beautiful place, there are many fun places to go. The brothers have been with me for a long time, they know my temper. If there is a brother who wants to go to Nanjing, I can arrange for him to go with the team. Is there anyone who wants to go? "
As soon as this came out, the brothers who had been clamoring to stay in Nanjing were silent. Everyone looked at each other. Although everyone was complaining, they were absolutely unwilling to leave the group.
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