"Is it underground? Is it for mining?"
"Indeed, the states of Dao and Chenzhou have a considerable number of miners joining my Taiping Army! However,"
Wu Ruxiao, Wang Yan, Zhang San, Xu Xianggui, and Huang Shicheng, these "quick-learning instructors" in Luo Yao Guo's angelic mansion overseeing the merchant association, agricultural association, secret hall, and logistics, were all at a loss to understand what High Angel Luo was saying for a moment.
It was originally thought that Luo Yao Guo was going to set up a specialized "association" for mining, similar to the Chamber of Commerce or Agricultural Association.
"Not at all, not at all," Luo Yao Guo quickly shook his head, "The underground association is not this meaning, but the underground God worship association on the territory of the Qing demon is a secret God worship association branch, headquarters, branch and support hall."
"Our God Worship Association is now inseparable from the Taiping Army. Only with the Taiping Army can there be a God Worship Association. Without the Taiping Army, there can be no God Worship Association. However, the Taiping Army is not everywhere yet, and it cannot stay everywhere. I hope that the God Worship Association can also open branches, headquarters, branches and support halls in places where the Taiping Army cannot reach. These halls should also promote our ideas of the God Worship Association, recruit like-minded heroes, infiltrate the official and military forces of the Qing demons."
"Isn't that the same as the Heaven and Earth Association, White Lotus Sect?"
"Teacher, our secret hall seems to already handle these matters. With the secret hall, do I still need to establish an underground association?"
Luo Yao Guo nodded gently, "Xianggui and Sanxiang, what you said has some truth to it, but it's not entirely accurate. Underground associations are somewhat similar to the Heaven and Earth Association and the White Lotus Sect, and we may need to rely on their strength for development."
At the same time, the underground association should also have a secret like the dark hall.
But the underground association is also different from the Heaven and Earth Association, the White Lotus Society, and the dark hall.
1. The first is that the underground association cannot be as loose as the Heaven and Earth Association or the White Lotus Society. It must have strict hierarchical relationships, which should be in line with the open God Worship Association. 2. The underground association also cannot be as small and elite as the secret hall, nor can it be directly controlled by the instructor team. Instead, it should follow the hierarchy of the God Worship Association and expand layer by layer."
He rambled on, saying a lot, but the people below didn't really understand what he was saying. Luo Yao Guo's eyes lightly scanned over them, taking in their expressions one by one, and then smiled and said, "Alright, that's enough. It's the old method: first pilot, then summarize, and finally promote."
In this instance, when establishing a Changsha headquarters in Zhuzhou Town, preparations should be made for some branch halls and support halls to be able to transition to the underground at any time.
So we need to develop a batch of non-public members, and it would be even better if they have some identity that can cover for us. Only in this way can we ensure that the underground branches of the God Worship Association can continue to operate when the Taiping Army withdraws from Changsha."
"Yes!"
The few of them were not very clear about what Luo Yao Guo really wanted to do. However, the execution power of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the God Worship Association was strong, especially since Luo Yao Guo was one of the four "Living Fathers" of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Therefore, with his instructions and some specific execution methods given, Wu Ruxiao, Wang Yan, Zhang San, Xu Xianggui, Huang Shicheng, Huang Shouren, and others would naturally figure out ways to push forward.
Su San'er climbed up the city wall at this time and took a step forward, leaning over to Luo Yao Guo's ear, and whispered in a low voice: "Angel, there is news from Changsha!"
Luo Yao Guo waved his hand, signaling for the few people around to withdraw first, then looked at Su San'er and said, "Speak!"
Su San'er whispered in a low voice: "A thousand Manchu soldiers and three thousand Gansu and Shaanxi green camps have arrived in Changsha City. There is also a powerful Western Lama who claims to be able to deal with you, the Ox-King!"
"Western Lama?" Luo Yao Guo uttered a cold laugh, "Is he going to recite mantras or draw talismans to deal with the Ox-King?"
"It's said to be Lightning Law," Su San'er said, handing over a small envelope.
Luo Yao Guo took out the envelope and looked at it. It was written in Jiao Hong's handwriting. This Jiao Hall Master had already joined Xu Yuegui and Bo Yong to secretly enter Changsha City, and he had also successfully established a connection with the Heaven and Earth Association within the city. Therefore, he could obtain a lot of intelligence about the Qing army.
According to Jiao Hong's report, there are quite a number of Qing demons in Changsha City now. There are four thousand newly arrived Manchu soldiers and Gansu-Shaanxi green camps, two thousand from Hunan's Military Board, and about five to six thousand from various local militia forces, totaling between ten to twelve thousand.
Luo Bingzhang, who used to be in charge of Hunan, has now handed over his duties to Sheng Bao, who is leading the Manchu soldiers and Gansu-Shaanxi green camps to Changsha!
There is also a provincial commissioner named Zeng Guofan who has been appointed to handle Hunan militia affairs. It is said that he has already come to Changsha!
There is another senior official from Hunan named Luo Raodian who has just finished his period of mourning as a son. Recently, he has been assigned to assist with military affairs and has entered Changsha.
In addition, Luo Bingzhang has a master named Zuo Zongtang who is currently very active. Before Zeng Guofan and Luo Raodian entered the city, the various militia leaders in Changsha City were led by him.
"Hahaha," Luo Yao Guo laughed softly, "Zeng Guofan, Zuo Zongtang, Luo Raodian, and probably Luo Zenan, Guo Songtao, and these people are all there in Changsha, right? Good! It's just the right time to catch them all in one net!"
His tone suddenly became serious: "San'er, spread the word: The enemy is in Changsha City!"
"Yes!"
Changsha City, Taiping Street.
Changsha City, Taiping Street. Countless low, dilapidated houses are gathered on this long and narrow street, which is made up of bumpy green stone pavement on both sides. There are dozens of alleys, and they extend from the main north-south street to the east and west sides, intertwining with dozens of other north-south streets in the old city of Changsha, forming a dense network of alleys covering the southwest corner of the old city of Changsha like a web.
This area is not a place where respectable people reside. The respectable people in Changsha are all in the north of the city, and the streets built around the headquarters of the provincial magistrate are relatively wide and imposing. Especially in that area along the north city wall, all the houses belong to high-ranking officials, wealthy landlords, and distinguished families. While the southwest corner of Changsha City has always been a mixed-up place, with various schools of thought and professions gathering here. All kinds of industries are making their living in this lowly and narrow street network.
In fact, the rulers of this area, since unknown times ago, have been the Heaven and Earth Society, not the Shanhua County Magistracy established by the Qing Dynasty government.
Of course, the officials of the county office can handle affairs with the permission of their bosses, but whether they can successfully complete the tasks and leave fully intact, that's not something the county magistrate can decide.
Now, the only one who can make decisions in this area is Zhu Jiutao, also known as the "Great Master Zhu," from Ruyitang of the Heaven and Earth Society.
Although the Qing army in Changsha City, including the Manchu soldiers, green camps, and militia, has already exceeded ten thousand, the signboard of the Chu Yitang (Union of righteousness) of the Heaven and Earth Society is still hung openly and proudly on the most luxurious part of a grand mansion along Taiping Street.
Zhu Jiutao, also known as the "Great Master Zhu," has grown older. He has an old and exposed face, with white temples, almost no eyebrows, protruding jowls, deep sunken eyesockets, and his eyes are always half open and half closed. No one knows what he's thinking.
At this moment, the Great Master Zhu was sitting in the great hall with his nine disciples, sitting with big swords and watching the two esteemed guests in front of him. He was turning two iron balls with his left hand while staring at them through his eyes that had a slight grayish tint due to old age.
The two distinguished guests were Jiao Hong and Bo Yong. Jiao Hong was originally the head of the Recruitment Hall of the Heaven and Earth Society, and he was on good terms with the hall master of the Chu Yitang, both being part of the Hongmen. After infiltrating Changsha City, he naturally contacted this Master Zhu Jiutao immediately and proposed a plan for an internal and external collaboration to capture Changsha.
However, after listening to their proposal, Great Master Zhu Jiutao showed no reaction, as if he had heard nothing. He did not say whether he would cooperate with the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom to launch a rebellion or whether the Chu Yitang would not be involved in this matter.
The atmosphere in the great hall was quite eerie and low-key. After what seemed like an eternity, Great Master Zhu Jiutao finally cleared his throat and spoke up: "I have just received word that the Manchu official Win Bao has sent Xianzhen Town General Fu Cheng and Tongguan Collaborative Deputy General Yin Lipei to lead 1,500 elite Gansu-Shaanxi green camps outside the city to set up an array at Shima Pai in the south to lure the enemy."
And Sheng Bao will set an ambush inside the Huangdao Gate of Changsha City, intending to use Western explosives and rifles against the Taiping army. You, the Taiping's celestial angels, must be careful; don't let the Manchu soldiers blow you up with Western explosives!"
