Reborn as King of South America

Chapter 366 Taiping Surrender
The next day, Wang Shizhen assembled a group of white desperadoes and young and strong Chinese warriors, disguised as foreign merchants and marched towards southern Fujian. At the same time, in order to cope with the increasingly complicated situation in southern Fujian, the Governor-General's Office of Fujian and Zhejiang promoted Ma Ronghe, a surrendered general of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, to the position of Admiral of the Left Route of Fujian, in charge of managing coastal border defense affairs in Fuzhou, Quanzhou and other areas.

"Sir, the three battalion commanders in the left green camp are making trouble and have driven out the two captains and six captains you sent to take over the battalion commanders."

At the office of the Left Green Camp Governor-General, Ma Ronghe's trusted aide hurried in and reported.

"I am the commander-in-chief of the left wing appointed by the imperial court and Governor Li. How dare a few small battalion commanders blatantly disobey the imperial court's orders?"

"They say you are a surrendered general of the long-haired bandits, and that you got the position of admiral of the left wing by bribing your superiors, and that you are not worthy of commanding them to fight."

"This is too much. Although I was a bandit in my early years, I have been loyal to the court and have been dedicated to my duties every day. How can I be insulted by a few soldiers?"

Ma Ronghe was so angry that he said with a grim look, "Mr. Huang, gather the brothers of the Ma Camp immediately. I have to see who are the blind bastards who dare to insult and slander the superiors!"

"Calm down, sir. The Ma Battalion currently has less than two battalions of seven hundred soldiers. Even if they arrive at the military camp, they cannot suppress those Green Battalion leaders. The Left Green Battalion has a total of six battalions with nearly two thousand soldiers, and they have the support of Sir Zuo behind them. If the matter gets out of hand, those officials of Fujian Province will definitely take the opportunity to impeach you for your incompetence in leading troops. By then, I'm afraid that your newly acquired position as the Left Commander will be in jeopardy. Sir, please think twice."

Zuo Zongtang served as chief official in Fujian for several terms. Both the political and military circles in Fujian were full of officials and generals who depended on him. Therefore, even if Zuo Zongtang was transferred away from Fujian and promoted to the high position of Governor-General of Liangjiang, the officials of all ranks he left behind still firmly controlled the military and political affairs of Fujian province.

Zuo Zongtang and Li Hongzhang had different political views, and the two major political and military groups, the Hunan Army and the Huai Army, had conflicting interests. Even the officials and generals belonging to the two major forces looked down on each other.

Ma Ronghe defected to the Huai Army, and the Governor-General of Fujian and Zhejiang promoted him to the position of Admiral of the Left Route of Fujian, which naturally caused dissatisfaction among the Hunan Army. Fujian was Zuo Zongtang's base camp and base, and the generals of the Hunan Army could not watch their opponents take away the official position that belonged to their own forces.

The identities of Ma Rong and the surrendered Taiping generals were well known among the Qing army generals. They used this as an excuse to attack the other side, and even the officials of the Huai Army faction found it difficult to say anything.

He was speechless and could not find a way to respond to the advice of his staff.

The Qing court and local governors were very wary of the surrendered Taiping generals, and from time to time they reduced or repatriated soldiers on the pretext of military expenses. Over a period of more than ten years, the number of soldiers under Ma Ronghe was reduced from more than 30,000 at the beginning to more than 700. The military expenditure was not only much lower than that of the Hunan Army and the Huai Army, but also lower than that of ordinary Green Camp troops.

Ma Ronghe had waited for more than ten years, unwilling to see the opportunity he had finally obtained destroyed by a group of Green Camp soldiers. After forcing himself to calm down, he asked his staff for advice, "The court has ordered me to be the commander of the Left Camp and reorganize the military affairs of the Left Camp in Fujian. May I ask if you have any good ideas to help me solve the current difficulties?"

"All the camps of Fujian Green Camp are controlled by the generals of Hunan Army. It will be very difficult for you to take back the military power directly from them."

Seeing that Ma Ronghe had listened to his advice, the staff continued, "The Fujian Left Camp has a quota of 4,000 soldiers. The current total number of soldiers in each camp is no more than 2,700 to 2,800. Why don't you report this directly to Governor Li and ask for his permission to recruit new soldiers to make up for the vacancies in each camp?"

"The commanders of the Left Camp disobeyed orders. Wouldn't it be too easy for them to replenish the troops of the other camps?"

"Your Excellency has misunderstood. You are the one who has the authority to recruit soldiers. When new soldiers are recruited, it is up to you to decide how many soldiers each battalion will receive."

The staff suggested, "The left green camp is approved for eight battalions. The other six battalions do not obey your orders. Then we should first add the selected soldiers to the Ma battalion under your name, and leave the remaining old and weak to the other six battalions." "Good idea. The Ma battalion originally had seven battalions. Although they were later disbanded, if I report to the governor again about the disobedience of the Hunan Army, maybe you will show mercy and allow the Ma battalion to restore one or two battalions. In this way, our Ma battalion can hold its head high in Fujian and will not be bullied by others everywhere."

"Your Excellency is wise."

"If the matter can be accomplished, it will also be due to you, sir."

Ma Ronghe smiled and said, "Please write a letter on my behalf and present it to the Governor."

"Yes, sir, please wait a moment. I will write it right away."…………

"My younger brother, Rong, sent a personal letter. Since my father and mother passed away, my second sister has been living in hiding with my father, living in fear. Upon hearing the news about my younger brother, she ordered her confidant to go forward to meet him.

My brother, rest assured. My husband and I have changed our names. My husband, Prince Cai, is currently serving in the Fujian Army under a false name. The person who will meet us is my father's former personal soldier. He is loyal and trustworthy. There is no need to doubt him. After the meeting, we will immediately go to Fuzhou. Later, my husband and I will leave with you. …………”

At the General's Mansion in Jianning Town, Fujian, Li, the wife of the former Prince Hui Cai Yuanlong and the second daughter of Prince Zhong Li Xiucheng, carefully sealed a letter and handed it to a man in his forties, saying, "Brother Yang, this is an urgent matter. I cannot trust other people in the mansion, so I have to trouble you to make another trip."

"Don't worry, Miss Second. I promise to bring the little prince back safely."

The middle-aged man put the envelope in his arms, bowed to Li, and then turned and left.

"Madam, I'm still worried about Rongfa."

A man walked into the backyard, held Yang's shoulders, and comforted her, "Rongfa is being taken care of by people from the Han Kingdom, so he won't be in danger."

"Although my brother has someone to protect him, I am still worried that Rong might get into an accident."

Li held his chest with his hands, an anxious look on his face.

"My father had three sons and two daughters. My eldest brother died with my father. My eldest brother's husband was killed by Wang Haiyang. My eldest sister's life or death is unknown. My youngest brother Qixiang was captured and beheaded by the Qing government. Of the seven people in the Li family, only I and my second brother Rongfa are left. If my younger brother meets with an accident again, my father's lineage will be cut off. Even after my death, I will not be able to face my father."

"Madam, please don't let your imagination run wild. His Majesty the Han Emperor is the legitimate son of the Prince of Attendant, and is the nephew of his father-in-law. Rongfa and Madam are the direct relatives of His Majesty the Han Emperor. Since the Han State has sent people to search for Madam and Rongfa, they will certainly take good care of them and will not let Rongfa be in danger."

Cai Yuanlong carefully persuaded Yang.

(End of this chapter)