Zhutian: Starting from the Space-Time Merchant

Chapter 639 This debt must be settled eventually!

"The imperial envoy has left the city!"

"The imperial envoy left through the west gate and headed towards Orange Isle and Yuelu Mountain."

"Mu Zhang has fled~"

"That old dog deserted at the last minute, I'm done for!"

The Taiping army besieged Changsha but did not attack; they merely blocked the outer perimeter.

But the defenders on the city walls went mad, firing all sorts of guns and cannons at the Taiping army, who were far beyond their range.

At first, everyone thought that the garrison was afraid of the Taiping rebels and was firing indiscriminately out of fear.

Only after inquiring did they learn that this was an order from the imperial envoy.

When they went to find the imperial envoy, the headquarters was already deserted, leaving only bewildered concubines, maids, cooks, and gardeners.
Even the sedan chair bearers were abandoned, and only the groom led the horse and ran away.

The imperial envoy's sudden escape dealt a fatal blow to the city's garrison.

"This bastard!"

The governor of Hunan, Zhang Liangji, jumped up and down and cursed, "If you want to run away, then run away first, and we can run away with you."

"You only ran away when the Taiping rebels besieged the city; you're clearly using us as scapegoats!"

Without a doubt, everyone who came to their senses understood that Mu Zhang'a was sparing their lives.

"Investigate him! Investigate him! We must investigate him!"

Since Manqing didn't have telegrams, if he wanted to impeach Mu Zhang'a, he could only send a memorial to the capital.

But in the current environment, let alone a 600-800 li urgent delivery, even a 3000-li urgent delivery wouldn't be able to get it out.

When Changsha falls, Mu Zhang'a will be able to say whatever he wants.

Who knows, in the end, those who were destined to die for their country might even be slandered.
Who wouldn't be angry when faced with something like this!
Furious rage wouldn't solve the problem. Zhang Liangji, trembling with anger, urgently grasped Zuo Zongtang's hand and said, "Brother Ji Gao, what should we do?"

The most direct consequence of the imperial envoy's desertion was the collapse of morale within the army.

The emperor's representatives have all fled, so what's the point of them fighting?
If the Taiping army hadn't killed prisoners, the defending troops would have surely surrendered.

“Governor.” Staring at Zhang Liangji’s red eyes, Zuo Zongtang felt a chill run down his spine. The look in Zhang’s eyes was truly terrifying, like the struggling eyes of a dying beast.

He had no choice but to bite the bullet and reply, "The only option now is to negotiate with the Taiping rebels."

Before entering the city, Zuo Zongtang had already planned and arranged many things, including raising military provisions, enforcing military discipline, dividing the city into zones for defense, boosting morale, and reorganizing military equipment.

But now, with the imperial envoy's escape, all of that has become nonsense.

With morale collapsing, everyone was making plans to escape. Resistance was a dead end; the only option was to negotiate.

"talk?"

Zhang Liangji took a breath. "The Taiping rebels have already declared that they will not let any corrupt officials off the hook. How can we negotiate?"

Zuo Zongtang inwardly grumbled, thinking that as long as they weren't corrupt officials, the Taiping rebels probably wouldn't dare to lay a hand on them.

You people know best what you've done.

"Governor," Zuo Zongtang said gently, "There are nearly 100,000 soldiers and civilians in the provincial capital, and countless supplies of grain, military provisions, armor, and gunpowder."

"And this provincial capital."

"I have heard that the leader of the Taiping Rebels is very considerate of his subordinates, and even provides them with meat every day."

"If we, the soldiers and civilians, are of one mind and fight to the death, even if the Taiping rebels capture the provincial capital, there will inevitably be many casualties."

"We can use this as bait to exchange for the chance to save the lives of the governors."

At this time, Zuo Zongtang was a successful candidate in the imperial examinations.

He went to Beijing three times to take the imperial examination but failed to pass. He then spent his days farming and nights studying in his hometown.

In fact, he passed the imperial examination in the fifteenth year of the Daoguang Emperor's reign, ranking fifteenth in Hunan Province, but was removed from the list due to exceeding the quota.

Although he was not a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), he was extremely famous.

His ambition and talent earned him the appreciation and admiration of many celebrities and high-ranking officials.

Even the Governor-General of Liangjiang admired him and kept him at his home as a tutor for eight years.

A few years ago, when he returned to his hometown, Xiangyin was hit by a major flood. Zuo Zongtang even used his savings from working as a private tutor to help his fellow villagers.

He met Hu Linyi and others when he went to Beijing for the imperial examination, and they recommended him many times, which made his reputation grow.

When Lin Zexu, the Governor-General of Yunnan and Guizhou, passed through Changsha on his way back to his hometown, he made a special appointment with Zuo Zongtang to drink on the river and talk all night long.

When discussing the Opium War, Zuo Zongtang proposed countermeasures such as "building more fire ships and gunboats".

Lin Zexu praised him as a peerless genius.

In the original history, Zuo Zongtang did not disappoint his reputation. He rose through the ranks and eventually carried his coffin into Xinjiang to recover the lost territory, making him a national hero.

Even now, when faced with dire circumstances, Zuo Zongtang is still able to find a way out amidst chaos and despair.

"Okay, okay~"

Zhang Liangji, as if grasping at a lifeline, nodded repeatedly, "Then we'll use this Changsha city to make a deal with the Taiping rebels, just asking for our lives to be spared."

"Once I get out of here alive, I will definitely give that villain a good dressing down!"

With hope of survival, Zhang Liangji and the others' first thought was to take down Mu Zhang'a.

There was no other way; abandoning them to fill in the gaps and die was simply too despicable and disgusting.

But then, a new problem arose.

Who will go and talk to the Taiping rebels?

Everyone looked at each other, and no one dared to go.

The Taiping rebels had a terrible reputation, and they had a terrible reputation among the officials.

There was no other way; we had to leave no survivors.

Everyone's gaze gradually turned to Zuo Zongtang.

He brought up the matter, and according to the rules, since you brought it up, you have to do it.

If you succeed, you may not get credit, but if you mess things up, you'll have to take the blame.

This is precisely why almost no one is willing to get things done.

After all, if you get things done, you'll have enemies, jealous people, people who want to climb the ladder, people who inexplicably dislike you, and so on, who will hold you back.

Success brings little credit, but failure leads to widespread condemnation.

Previously, the local civil and military officials in Guangxi had acted in the same way. "Your Excellency," Zuo Zongtang sighed inwardly, bowed, and said, "Let this student go."

"Thank you for your hard work, Ji Gao."

At the foot of Yuelu Mountain, in the main camp.

"Couldn't find it?" Lin Dao frowned, shaking the official document in his hand. "Is it not in the county school?"

"Head of the Association," Qin Rigang bowed. "The Xiangxiang County School is deserted."

"Most of those who studied there have returned to their hometowns, while others have been summoned to Changsha Prefecture."

"Zeng Guoquan is not in the county school."

"They ran pretty fast." Lin Dao thought for a moment, then asked again, "Where are the Zeng family members?"

"Reporting to the head of the association."

Qin Rigang bowed again in response, "I have inquired in the area and learned that the Zeng family received a letter from home and set off for the capital last month to join Zeng Guofan, who is an official there."

"Humph!"

Lin Dao grinned, "You do have some good taste."

When Zeng Guofan was serving as a vice minister in the capital, he knew early on that the Taiping army was powerful and that the imperial army could not stop it.

His hometown was located on the route taken by the Taiping Army.

That's why the letter was rushed home, urging the family to run away immediately.

It was by sheer luck that he managed to dodge Lin Dao's iron fist.

Especially Zeng Guoquan, that murderous monster, Lin Dao has prepared all sorts of cruel tortures for him.

"It's okay, we can eventually catch it."

"He can't exactly go to England."

Historically, the Xiang Army was a butcher group in the truest sense.

Zeng Guoquan, in particular, committed countless murders and created numerous no-man's-lands.

In densely populated areas, the Xiang Army even turned the land into a place where not a rooster crowed.

The Taiping Rebellion resulted in the loss of over 100 million lives, at least half of which were attributable to the Xiang Army, and half of the Xiang Army's killings were attributable to Zeng Guoquan.

For such a ruthless butcher who slaughters civilians~
This score will eventually have to be settled!

"Meeting Head~"

A group of young soldiers from the orphanage entered the camp to report that "the besieging troops sent someone to deliver a message that someone from inside the city has been lowered down the city wall and said that they have come to discuss surrender."

"surrender?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Dao smiled.

"Have the officials in the city lost their minds? Don't they know the methods of the Taiping Army?"

All the generals inside the tent laughed.

The mites must be eliminated, and so must the henchmen who act as accomplices.

Unless you are as incorruptible as Hai Rui and as just as Bao Zheng.

Otherwise~
The people will come after you to settle accounts!
Lin Dao found it amusing that they still wanted to surrender under these circumstances, so he said, "Bring them over."

In less than half an hour, Zuo Zongtang, who was bound, was escorted to the main tent.

"This student greets Chairman Lin."

Zuo Zongtang, who looked somewhat dazed, forced himself to be alert and bowed to Lin Dao.

What he saw and heard along the way greatly shocked him.

The Taiping army truly lived up to their nickname "Long Hair," as none of them wore queues.

Moreover, all the clothes were of the same style and color, giving people a sense of sophistication.

The military camps they passed along the way, and the soldiers they encountered, were all in high spirits and had rosy complexions.

This is at least a basic level of being fed and clothed.

This is the most terrifying aspect, because almost all the Taiping soldiers he encountered on the road were like this.

This requires extremely strong logistical support capabilities, at least enough to ensure that everyone has food to eat, and that they are well-fed.

Compared to the righteous armies formed by refugees and starving people from various places, they were worlds apart.

He knew very well that being well-fed meant being able to fight!
"student?"

Lin Dao raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you an official from the Mite-Cleansing Bureau?"

"The student passed the imperial examination in the twelfth year of the Daoguang Emperor's reign, but did not take up an official post."

"So you're a scholar who passed the imperial examination." Lin Dao teased, "When you passed the examination, did you act like a madman, running from one end of the street to the other like a lunatic, only to be slapped awake by your father-in-law?"

“Uh…” Zuo Zongtang was taken aback. “No, that’s not true. I just passed the imperial examination. Why is it like this?”

"Such arrogance." Lin Dao snorted. "Judging from your appearance and speech, you must come from a wealthy family. Your family must own several hundred acres of land, all of which you must have seized from the common people."

"Chief Lin," Zuo Zongtang said, taking a breath. "My family has always been a family of farmers and scholars. We only have a few dozen acres of poor land, all of which have been passed down through generations. How can you say that we are robbing the common people?"

"It doesn't matter." Lin Dao waved his hand. "Once it's found out you come from a landlord family, the local people will deal with you."

"Speak, what brings you to me?"

Zuo Zongtang didn't waste any words and quickly explained his proposal to exchange the city for lives.

Infertility.

Unexpectedly, Lin Dao didn't even try to bargain and simply shook his head in refusal.

"The Taiping Army is a force that stands up for the people and will not make deals with traitors who harm the people."

"As for your concerns about the heavy casualties, since we have raised the banner of righteousness, we are prepared to die on the battlefield."

"To die fighting for the people against bandits is the righteous cause, and I have no regrets even in death!"

"Go back and tell them that the debt of exploiting the people will eventually be settled. By the way, what's your name again?"

"Student, Zuo Zongtang of Xiangyin."

Lin Dao sat up straight, his gaze sharp as lightning.

"Um?!"

(End of this chapter)