The Emperor's just sent word to the Governor-General of Zhili, appointing Li Hongzhang to fill the position and also serve as the Minister of Beiyang (a key military role). Tianjin's in a desperate situation, and since Li Hongzhang hasn't taken office yet, Yulu and Song Qing need to handle things well together, with no excuses about manpower shortages or anything else.
In short, Li Hongzhang needs to take over Zhili and Beiyang immediately, but until he arrives, Tianjin's safety is Yulu and Song Qing's responsibility. If anything goes wrong, they're on the hook.
