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"When I went to collect the provisions, I learned that the commander of Wuhu's garrison had been changed. The King Of The East sent his men to take over Wuhu's military power, "Lin Asheng, the Minister of Logistics, said to Vézé in a low voice.
"What do you think, Minister Lin?" After the reorganization of the General Staff Headquarters, most of the departments that used to be called Ministries were changed to Divisions. Only the logistics department was still a ministerial department. As an experienced logistician, Lin Asheng was dutiful and hardworking. He also had the Cantonese's special talent for numbers. Among Vézé's troops, Lin Asheng was the only one who had yet to express his stance on Vézé.
Lin Asheng didn't answer Vézé's question directly. Instead, he asked Vézé, "Chief of the General Staff, is the King Of The East really going to kill the Heavenly King?"
"How would I know what the King Of The East decides to do? From what I can see, the King Of The East doesn't seem to have such plans, "Vézé replied.
Lin Asheng, who had joined the Taiping Rebellion earlier than Vézé, continued to ask in a low voice, "Then why did the King Of The East replace all the people around Tianjing City with his men? Now that King Yi is outside, the people north of Changjiang are the former King Xi's subordinates … "
Vézé looked at Lin Asheng and said impatiently, "Minister Lin, let's put it this way. If you really want to kill the Heavenly King, and if I'm the one in charge, then I'll be the one to do it. It was very simple. Just barge into the Heavenly King's residence and say that there was someone among the Heavenly King's female officials who wanted to harm the Heavenly King. Then he killed the female official and the Heavenly King. They announced to the public that the information they had received was true, but that the King Of The East had arrived a step too late and was unable to save the Heavenly King. Do you think the King Of The East can't do it? "
Lin Asheng shook his head. "Chief of the General Staff, if we're talking about doing things in an orderly and decisive manner. I'm afraid even the King Of The East can't compare to you. The King Of The East might be able to lead an army, but he couldn't command it. Not only the King Of The East, no one in the entire Taiping army can compare to you. So, you can think of this idea, but I'm afraid the King Of The East can't. "
Vézé was afraid that Lin Asheng would say something meaningless, so he said first, "Then I have to make it clear to you first. No matter how loyal you are to the Heavenly King, Minister Lin. You can't do things that implicate everyone. Now that the King Of The East has killed quite a few people in Tianjing City … "
Lin Asheng's expression was gloomy as he slowly said, "I know that. I heard about it when I went to pick up the rations. There was no one who wasn't afraid now. Anyone who made the King Of The East unhappy would either be imprisoned or killed. The brother in charge of escorting the rations had also said that even if the King Of The East really wanted to attack the Heavenly King, he should have done so earlier. No matter what the result was, there was still a result. At least we wouldn't have to live in fear every day like we are now. "
Vézé said sternly, "Minister Lin, if you want to get involved in this matter now, I will never agree to it. Don't think that you're alone now. In the eyes of outsiders, you're my subordinate. No matter what you do, they will think that I'm the one behind it. If something were to happen, it wouldn't just be me involved. There are so many brothers in the army, and I'm afraid none of them would have a good time! "
Lin Asheng wasn't as agitated as Vézé. He said dejectedly, "Chief of Staff, I know what you're saying. I will definitely not implicate you, nor will I implicate my brothers. What I want to say is that no matter how this ends, I want to go home! Back then, it was the South King who preached, and I joined the God Worshipping Religion. Now that the South King has gone to heaven, the King Of The East and the Heavenly King are in the same situation. I really can't do it anymore. So, Chief of Staff, please agree to it. "
Vézé didn't expect Lin Asheng to make such a decision. He couldn't help but think. Originally, Vézé thought that most of the brothers in the Taiping Rebellion would choose to participate in this matter. But now, it seemed that most of them chose to avoid it. If this kind of thinking could really become the mainstream, it would be very beneficial for Vézé.
However, Vézé didn't have many people to investigate, so he wasn't completely sure that this was the mainstream thinking of the Taiping army. So, Vézé said in a gentle tone, "Minister Lin, if you want to leave, you have to wait until this matter is over. I'm begging you. For the sake of our brothers, don't do anything to give them a reason. Okay? "
"Chief of Staff, please rest assured!" Lin Asheng replied.
After sending Lin Asheng off, Deputy Chief of Staff Chen Delong came to look for Vézé. As soon as he saw Vézé, Chen Delong said excitedly, "Prince Of Qi! Let's get ready to move! "
"Go where?" Vézé was stunned.
Chen Delong's cheerful mood was not affected in the slightest by East Monarch Yang Xiuqing's high-handed methods of suppressing dissidents in Tianjing City. He said happily, "I received a letter from my brother. He urged me to hurry back to Tianjing City."
Vézé smiled amiably and said, "Brother Chen, you are the nephew of the King Of The East. No one dares to say anything about you. Without the King Of The East's order, I don't dare to return to Tianjing City. According to the rules set by the King Of The East, it's a capital offense for kings to return to Tianjing without permission. No matter what, I can't break the rules set by the King Of The East. "
After listening to Vézé, Chen Delong smiled and said, "The Prince Of Qi is indeed like what my uncle said. He's a very loyal minister. Please take a look at this imperial edict! "
With that, Chen Delong took out an imperial edict from the King Of The East residence and handed it to Vézé. Vézé opened it and saw that it was an order from the King Of The East Yang Xiuqing. He requested that Vézé not lead troops and return to Tianjing City as soon as possible to attend the King Of The East's coronation ceremony.
Vézé was shocked, but a smile appeared on his face. "That's good! But did the King Of The East mention me in his letter? "
Chen Delong was still young and didn't have a deep mind. He smiled and said, "My uncle wrote to ask me to let you return to Tianjing City. He said that you definitely won't agree, so he asked me to show you the imperial edict! "
Vézé looked happy, but he was very unhappy in his heart. It looked like Yang Xiuqing was really going to make a move. Vézé was an outsider after all, so he didn't completely trust Vézé. In the end, he still had to use this method to test Vézé.
"Then I'll prepare!" Vézé smiled and said.
Once Chen Delong left, Vézé immediately called for a meeting of the General Staff. "Lei Hu, Ke Gongyu, the two of you gather troops and attack Suzhou. If we can take it easily, then do it easily. If we meet firm resistance, then don't pay too many casualties! "
"What about after we take Suzhou?" Lei Hu didn't even mention the issue of whether they could take it or not.
"After we take Suzhou, gather money and rations on the spot! As long as you don't kill people, gather as much as you can! Remember, we only want military supplies. We don't want any antiques or paintings! "Vézé ordered.
This was a very implicit message to Lei Hu and the rest to plunder without restraint. Lei Hu readily agreed.
"Wei Changrong, Hu Chenghe, you two guard Changzhou and Zhenjiang. Before Suzhou retreats, we definitely can't let them have a path of retreat. If the Qing Army in Xuancheng attacks, completely destroy them! "Vézé ordered.
"Understood!" Wei Changrong answered.
Hu Chenghe looked at Vézé and wanted to say something, but he stopped. In the end, he still asked, "Is the Chief of General Staff going to Tianjing City?"
"That's right! The King Of The East has already ordered me to return to Tianjing City! "Vézé answered.
"Then should we bring more guards?" Hu Chenghe asked.
"What's the use of bringing a few dozen more people?" Vézé smiled.
"The Chief of General Staff can use the excuse of escorting the Madam to bring more people. Having more people is safer than having less people! "Hu Chenghe still insisted on his opinion.
Vézé thought about it and felt that it made sense. He answered, "Alright! I'll bring the Madam. But don't worry about me too much. Guard our camp well. As long as you don't fall into chaos, no matter how bad the situation is, I will have some leeway in Tianjing City. If your military power is taken away like Zhang Yingchen, I will have no roots. It can be said that my life depends on my brothers! "
"Please rest assured, Chief of General Staff. We will definitely not sit back and watch others touch a single hair of Chief of General Staff!" Although Ruan Xihao found Vézé rather late, when he saw Vézé, he was very straightforward. Whether it was the Heavenly King or the King Of The East, if they bullied Vézé, they might as well rebel and bring the troops back to Guangxi! At this moment, his stance was still very firm.
After arranging the troops, Vézé went home and told his wife, Qi Hongyi, that he was returning to Tianjing City. Qi Hongyi wasn't fooled by Vézé's seemingly relaxed expression. She said nervously, "Sir! Did the King Of The East order us to return? "
Vézé only nodded. "If the Madam doesn't wish to return, then you can stay here."
Qi Hongyi grabbed Vézé's sleeve tightly. Even though her face was filled with nervousness, fear, and unease, in Vézé's eyes, her beautiful round face was still very beautiful. Qi Hongyi didn't know what Vézé was thinking. Even though she couldn't help but tremble, Qi Hongyi still pushed her head into Vézé's chest and said, "I want to go back with you!"
The King Of The East, Yang Xiuqing, clearly didn't intend to give Vézé any time to prepare. This was evident from the fact that he had Chen Delong launch a surprise attack. Vézé didn't have any complaints. If he was the King Of The East, this was the only thing he could do. If there weren't any princes congratulating him at the coronation ceremony, then it would be too boring.
Those princes, who held great military power and had connections all over the court during the Taiping Rebellion, were obviously not suitable to attend the coronation ceremony of the King Of The East. The most suitable people to attend were none other than Vézé and Hu Yihuang. However, Hu Yihuang was currently on a western expedition with the Wing King, Shi Dakai. It was obvious that Hu Yihuang was being used by Yang Xiuqing to keep an eye on him. At the very least, he was the person to balance the Wing King, Shi Dakai. Naturally, Vézé had to be the one holding up the facade right now.
Moreover, suddenly transferring Vézé back to Tianjing City could also guarantee Yang Xiuqing's safety to the greatest extent. No matter how reliable Vézé seemed, he wasn't a relative of Yang Xiuqing. There was no natural connection between him and Yang Xiuqing that could be formed by blood. Vézé knew best how loyal he was to Yang Xiuqing.
What surprised Vézé was that Li Yifang's firm objection to his suggestion to let her stay in Changzhou was met with her. Vézé didn't want to bring Li Yifang into danger. No matter how well-prepared Vézé was, such a huge change was extremely dangerous. No one could guarantee their own safety. Li Yifang was actually quite pitiful. After her parents died, she had been given to Vézé as a means of marriage. As Vézé's chosen wife, Qi Hongyi still had some obligations towards Vézé. It was more appropriate for Li Yifang to consider her own interests first.
Forced to stay in Changzhou by Vézé, Li Yifang grabbed onto Vézé's sleeve when Qi Hongyi wasn't around. "Prince Of Qi, I don't know why, but I feel very uneasy when I see you go out this time … please come back safely!"
Vézé didn't know whether to praise Li Yifang's sharp senses or suspect that she had gotten this information from somewhere. However, his mind was filled with worries at the moment, and he wasn't in the mood to care so much. Li Yifang raised her head, stared at Vézé, and said, "Prince Of Qi, I'll wait for your return right here!"
These words moved Vézé for some reason. He raised his hand to touch Li Yifang's cheek, and said with a smile, "Don't worry, I'll definitely come back!"
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