Jiangning, Qinhuai River. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 ｉｎｆｏ

A richly decorated painting boat slowly cruising in the river, the sound of silk and bamboo faintly came from the boat, since the British fleet was stationed in Xiaguan, the gentry and merchants in the west of the city were all relocated, the Qinhuai River was also empty, the originally prosperous Qinhuai River was naturally deserted, and the wide river surface was on this painting boat, which was particularly conspicuous.

In the spacious cabin, Su Shun and other clan disciples quietly sipped the wine, listened to the courtesans chanting and singing, and enjoyed themselves one by one, but Yi Zhishu was not interested in this, and went straight to the second floor to enjoy the scenery on both sides of the Qinhuai River.

After a while, Su Shun followed and said softly, "Something?" ”

took out a cigar and lit it slowly, and Yi Zhizhi said: "It's okay, it's not that elegant, come up quietly." ”

Su Shun smiled and said, "It's been ten days since the contract signed with Yingyi was sent to Jingshi?" I'm counting on my fingers day by day. ”

"Brother Yuting, which pot is this, don't open it." Yi Zhizu slowly spit out a puff of smoke, he is indeed a little worried, it has been ten days, and there is no will to come down, it seems that Daoguang is a little uncertain about letting England undertake the construction of the Beijing-Hangzhou Railway, he doesn't know, if Daoguang opposes, what will it be?

Su Shun said softly: "If there is no will for a long time, I am afraid that Brother Contentment will have to prepare for the worst......." ”

Before the words fell, I saw someone on the shore waving and calling, Yi Zhizu turned around and glanced at it, recognizing it as someone from the Governor's Mansion, and couldn't help but be happy, it should be that the Jingshi had news, so he immediately walked downstairs quickly, and said as he walked: "You guys are happy, I'll go to the Governor's Mansion to have a look." ”

When the painting boat landed, Yi Zhizu jumped ashore and asked, "But Lin Butang is calling?" ”

"Yes." The chief bowed and said, "Lord Ministries sent the little ones to invite Lord Yi." ”

Hurriedly rushed to the governor's mansion, entered the signing room, and when he saw Lin Zexu, Yi Zhixin didn't care about the courtesy and asked, "Is there any news from the Jingshi?" ”

Lin Zexu glanced at him, put down his pen and got up, stretched out his hand to give up his seat, and said, "There is news, but it is not a will." After taking his seat, he continued: "Pan Zhongtang sent a letter, Mu Zhang'a strongly opposed it, the emperor hesitated, and the situation was quite complicated....... ”

Yi Zhishu asked, "Complicated? ”

Lin Zexu nodded solemnly, and said: "The construction of the railway is already quite controversial, and the construction of the railway by Yingli is even more extensive, and Mu Zhang'a accused the contentment of instigating Yingyi, and using Yingyi to coerce the imperial court to build the Beijing-Hangzhou Railway, with ill intentions ....... ”

"Ill-intentioned?" Yi Zhisuff laughed and said: "Yuan Qi not only made plans, but also contributed money and troops, but he ended up with ill intentions? ”

Listening to his resentful tone, Lin Zexu reluctantly smiled: "There are still a lot of people who support it, Wang Zaiquan of Dingjun, a scholar and a scholar of the Ministry of Households, Qi Junzao, the Minister of Military Aircraft and a secretary of the Ministry of Households, and Xu Naipu, the secretary of the Ministry of War, are all in favor, and the emperor is also a generation of Ming Jun, and wait for two more days, the construction of the Beijing-Hangzhou Railway is not a trivial matter after all." ”

After coming out of the Governor's Palace, Yi Zhishu didn't have the heart to go back to the Qinhuai River, so he went straight out of the city and returned to the Baitushan camp, before entering the big tent of the Chinese army, Jin Ying, who was pretending to be a personal guard, greeted him and said, "That Pu Ding Cha wants to see the young master." ”

It seems that Pu Ding Cha couldn't hold his breath anymore, Yi Zhishu pondered for a moment before saying, "Reply, let them wait for two more days." ”

Two days passed in a flash, and there was still no will, and the situation inside and outside Jiangning City also became tense, and both Qing and Britain began to reorganize their armies for war, and the two sides knew that if Daoguang refused, the two sides would lose the possibility of peace talks, and the only way to meet each other was to fight each other.

In the pavilion on the top of Baitu Mountain, Yi Zhicontent, Pu Ding Cha, and Yi Lu met privately again, and as soon as they met, Pu Ding Cha said: "Our army has been waiting in Jiangning for half a month, and Mr. Yi should know very well that the Yangtze River will soon usher in a dry period ......." ”

Of course, Yi Zhixiang knew that Pu Ding Cha was anxious, and he also knew that time waited for no one, and the British fleet would inevitably take action a month before the dry season, and after a little consideration, he said: "It is not a trivial matter for England to undertake the construction of the Beijing-Hangzhou railway, which is more than 1,000 kilometers long, which involves hundreds of millions of taels of silver, where can a decision be made easily."

According to the information I have received, His Majesty the Emperor and the ministers of the court and the central government have been arguing about this, and I think we should add another clause. ”

Pu Ding Cha said vigilantly: "What terms?" ”

Yi Zhizu looked at Yilu and said, "Your Excellency shouldn't have forgotten the cause of this war, right?" ”

What started this war? Because the Qing country strictly forbade crows. Slice! Because Humen destroyed tens of thousands of boxes of crows. Slice! Yilu hesitated and said, "Mr. Yi means non-smoking?" ”

"Not bad." Yi Zhizhi said: "I hope to add an article to the contract, in the name of Her Majesty the Queen of your country. The slice trade was illegal, and English merchants were strictly forbidden to transport crows to the Qing Dynasty. Slice! ”

Crow. How big is the profit of the piece trade, Pu Ding Cha and Yilu are clear, listening to this, both of them are a little hesitant, seeing that the two of them are silent, Yi Zhizhi said slowly: "Since the two countries are equal traders, the merchants of your country must abide by the laws of the Qing Dynasty, and the Great Qingming Decree prohibits crows. Piece trade, adding this article is just a logical thing, and the two of you won't feel embarrassed, right? ”

After a slight groan, Pu Ding Chacai said: "Mr. Yi should know that whether it is in European countries or in the United States, Crow. The slice trade has always been a legal trade. ”

"But it is undeniable that it is an immoral and sinful trade, one can even say even more sinful than the slave trade!" Yi Zhizhi said in a deep voice: "Her Majesty the Queen of your country and the government. If the government can vigorously cooperate with the smoking ban, I believe that this will greatly promote normal business and trade between the two countries! It can also prompt His Majesty the Emperor of our country to support the construction of the Beijing-Hangzhou Railway in England! ”

Yilu and Pu Dingcha exchanged glances, in fact, both of them knew that although the crow. Slice taxes account for a very high proportion of the UK's fiscal revenue, but the queen and the government. The government has always been relatively evasive about the opium trade, never openly supporting it, and the country is opposed to the opium trade. The call for the film trade has never stopped.

"Your Excellency Palmerston, the Honourable Foreign Minister, has given me clear instructions." Yilu said slowly: "Her Majesty's government. The government has no doubts about the Qing government. The government has the right to ban crows. and have the right to seize and confiscate any crows imported into the territory of the Qing by foreigners or subjects of the Qing State in spite of the prohibitions duly enacted. Slice. ”

"Yes, I agree to add this." In fact, Palmerston also reiterated in his instructions, "Her Majesty the Queen. The government did not make any demands for the Qing to ban opium, because they had no right to do so. The Qing government has every right to ban crows. British subjects who engage in a contraband trade must bear the consequences.

After a slight pause, he continued: "Mr. Yi can guarantee that after we add this clause, His Majesty the Emperor of your country will agree to let our country undertake the construction of the Beijing-Hangzhou Railway?" ”

"I can't." Yi Zhishu shook his head.

Seeing that he answered so simply, Pu Ding Cha and Yilu were all in the same line, and immediately, Pu Ding Cha said in a deep voice: "Five days, wait another five days, if you can't get a clear answer, our army will take action!" ”

"Not for five days, at least for ten days." Yi Zhizhi said: "It takes two days for the army to start, and it takes eight days for the express to go back and forth. ”

The army is outstretched? Where does the uprooting go? Pu Ding said suspiciously: "What does Mr. Yi mean by this?" ”

"It is not enough to add this clause." Yi Zhizhi said: "The Yuanqi regiment has to cooperate with the practice, and I am ready to transfer the Yuanqi 5,000 regiment training to Jiangyin." ”

Pu Ding checked it, then reacted, quickly stood up and stretched out his hand, and said with a smile on his face: "Thank you very much!" ”

Liangjiang Governor's Palace, signed room.

"Transfer the five thousand regiments of Yuanqi to Jiangyin?" Lin Zexu lost his voice and said, "What about Jiang Ning?" ”

"Jiang Ning will not be in danger." It is easy to be content with the way of the old god.

"No way!" Lin Zexu said without thinking: "You can't take Jiang Ning at risk, the headquarters can't afford to gamble!" "He really didn't dare to bet, the British army didn't dare to attack Jiangning, what he was afraid of was the Yuanqi 5,000 regimental training, once the Yuanqi regimental training was withdrawn to Jiangyin, the British army could attack Jiangning at any time, just rely on Jiangning's 30,000 eight banner green battalion? The British army is afraid that it will be able to capture Jiangning in one day and defeat the 30,000 Eight Banners Green Battalion, isn't Zhenjiang the best example? He didn't want Jiangning to be razed to the ground by the British army!

Yi Zhizhi took out a cigar and lit it for a long time, and said unhurriedly: "The emperor neither agreed nor reprimanded, it can be seen that he is very hesitant in his heart, Yuan Qi Tuanlian retreats to Jiangyin, and he can force the emperor to make a decision!"

Pu Ding Cha and Yilu are imperative for the Beijing-Hangzhou Railway, otherwise they would not agree to add another public announcement. The trade was illegal, and for ten days, the British army would never attack Jiangning. ”

Lin Zexu also calmed down, secretly thinking that this kid was bold, once Daoguang learned that Yuanqi Tuanlian had evacuated Jiangning, he would inevitably agree to the "Jiangning Treaty", otherwise, Jiangning would be lost, but, in this way, Yi Zhizhi and Yuan Qi were afraid that a big disaster would come, and he was silent for a long time, and then he said: "If you are content, you are not afraid of the emperor's condemnation?" ”

The corners of Yi Zhi's mouth curled, "The emperor doesn't seem to be a faint king." ”

After a slight groan, Lin Zexu instructed the outside world: "Come here, invite Yishan, Monk Greenqin, and Yang Fang to come and discuss." ”

Yishan, Seng Greenqin, and Yang Fang hurried over, listening to Yi Zhi's plan, the three of them were dumbfounded, looking at Yi Zhizhi like a monster, which was obviously forcing Daoguang to accept the construction of the Beijing-Hangzhou Railway by England, and this guts was too fat! When he came back to his senses, Monk Greenqin hurriedly said: "It's not proper, this matter is too risky!" ”

Yishan echoed: "The risk is not ordinary! It may even implicate Yuan Qi, be content with the prudence! ”

Yang Fang looked at Lin Zexu, then at Yi Zhicontent, and said hesitantly: "Otherwise, the old man will lead the Yuanqi group to Jiangyin, and the old man will still have the title of a first-class Guoyong Marquis, so it's a big deal to cut it off." ”

Yi Zhizu arched his hand at the three of them, and said with a smile: "Yuan Qi group practice evacuates Jiangning, and there is no way to escape the guilt, so Hou Ye will not be involved." After a pause, he continued: "If the imperial court refuses to build the Beijing-Hangzhou Railway in England, Jiangning will not be spared in the first battle, even if we can severely damage the British fleet, we will not be able to win this war, and may even anger the British army and further expand the scale of the war, if this is the case, then we are the sinners of the Qing Dynasty!"

At present, peace talks with the British army are undoubtedly in the interests of the Qing Dynasty, and the only way to break the current stalemate is for the Yuanqi regiment to evacuate Jiangning.

In doing so, the risk is great, but we can't watch the war situation get out of control, the dry period of the Yangtze River is approaching, and the British army can't afford to delay, so they can only take risks, so as to urge the imperial court to make a decision early. ”

After being quiet for a while, Yishan said: "When Contentment suggested the Battle of Jiangning and deployed the Battle of Jiangning, he was already ready to accept it when he saw it?" ”

"It's the best ending." Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "Although I also want to annihilate the British fleet, when the British side proposed peace talks, I also hesitated in my heart, after all, it took a lot of effort and a lot of manpower, material and financial resources to deploy this battle, but in the long run, we must accept it when we see it, because now we are not the opponent of the British army!" ”

Early the next morning, the 5,000th Yuanqi Regiment practiced and left Jiangning, rushed to Zhenjiang, Jiangning North City Yifeng Gate Tower, Lin Zexu, Yishan, Seng Lingqin, Yang Fang looked at the queue of neat and gradually distant team, all speechless, a group of clan disciples and Jiangning City and Jiangning City after hearing the news rushed to the north city wall to watch, all of them were shocked on their faces, I don't know why Yuan Qi group practice suddenly left.

Yanziji, the British army battalion, Pu Dingcha, Yilu, Bajia, Guo Fu and several other senior officers also watched Yuan Qi's regiment practice all the way away, put down the binoculars in his hand, Guo Fu said in a sullen voice: "Will they really go to Jiangyin?" ”

"General Guo Fu doesn't want to take the opportunity to attack Jiangning, right?" Yilu said: "There is no need for that. ”

Pu Ding Cha nodded slightly and said, "The wisest choice is to end this unnecessary war!" ”

In the team of Yuanqi's group training, Feng Renxuan, who was riding on a horse, glanced at the British army camp from a distance, urged the horse to keep up with Yi Zhi, and said in a muffled voice: "Big shopkeeper, let's really go to Jiangyin?" What if the British army attacked Jiangning? ”

Yin Youcai said with a smile: "Commander Feng regrets that he didn't have the opportunity to fight with the British army, right?" ”

Hearing this, Feng Renxuan's face was depressed, the Henan battalion had fought a few battles, but they didn't catch up with the Huadi battalion, this time they finally came all the way to Jiangning, originally thought that they could fight a good battle, but the two armies confronted each other for so many days, Leng didn't fight, not to mention, he actually transferred to Jiangyin for no reason, seeing that the low-hanging fruit was gone, he didn't mention how depressed he was!

Yi Zhizu glanced back at him and said with a smile: "Go to Zhenjiang first, Zhenjiang to Jiangning is only one hundred and fifty miles, and a rapid march can reach Jiangning in one day and night, even if the British army attacks Jiangning, there are still 30,000 green battalions of eight banners in the city, there is no problem in holding on to it for a day and night, don't worry about Jiangning's safety." (To be continued.) )