Seeing that Yi Zhixiang refused without thinking about it, Wu Changqing diligently poured a cup of tea for him, and then he pondered: "The foreign trade objects of the Thirteen Lines are mainly Britain and the United States, and now there is an economic panic in the United States, if a war breaks out with Britain again, this foreign trade will inevitably be cut off."

This is still the second, the war together, not to mention the city of Guangzhou, Xiguan and Henan Island hanging outside the city, will be poisoned by the flames of war, a hundred years of prosperity ruined, how many businessmen and people are ruined, Yuan Qi and the Thirteen Lines are not spared.

Brother Situated Brother has a brilliant vision, has always been resourceful, familiar with the European pattern, understands the British national conditions, and may be able to come up with some way to avoid this war, which is a great good deed and great merit of the Buddha of ten thousand families. ”

Preventing the outbreak of the Opium War may be regarded as a great good deed and great merit at present, but in the long run, it is definitely not counted, although there is a trade in Guangzhou, but the entire Qing Dynasty is actually in a closed state, and the British forced the Qing Dynasty to trade through the Opium War, and if it is forced to open its arms to the world.

This is a good thing for the Qing Dynasty, and it is even more good for Yi Zhicontent, the world is not chaotic, he can't justifiably create his own private army, there is no strength enough to protect himself, his business empire is built on the beach of high-rise buildings, is to make wedding clothes for the imperial court, it can be said that he is looking forward to the outbreak of the Opium War, only in this way, he can carry the foreign self-respect!

After being silent for a long time, Yi Zhizhi looked at Wu Bingjian and said, "The imperial court strictly prohibits crows. The film is a foregone conclusion, and the outbreak of war is inevitable, relying on the imperial court to protect the territory and the people. It's an extravagant hope. Pressing matter. It is to expand the scale of meta-Qiyixue! ”

Expanding the scale of Yuanqiyixue is to prepare for the establishment of a private army, Wu Bingjian glanced at him, and said in a sullen voice: "Expanding the scale of Yuanqiyixue, can we ensure the peace of Xiguan and Henan?" ”

"Yes!" Yi Zhi's contented tone is firm.

"Oh?" Wu Bingjian stared at him with some surprise, the 20,000 people of the Guangzhou Green Camp Naval Division are still unable to protect the territory and the people, and the newly built private army can protect the peace of Xiguan and Henan Island?

Wu Changqing couldn't help but ask: "How large is the private army that Brother Si Shu is going to build?" ”

"Soldiers are noble, but not many." Yi Zhizhi said in a deep voice: "Besides. The scale is too large and will make the imperial court jealous, so it is best to control it at about 1,000 to about 1,000. ”

Wu Bingjian said with some emotion: "A thousand people can protect Xiguan and Henan?" ”

"This 1,000 troops is on the surface, and once a war breaks out, it is completely possible to openly station on Henan Island or Xiguan under the banner of regimental training." Yi Zhizhi said: "Secretly, we still have four fast patrol warships, the regular strength of one battleship is about four hundred, and the strength of four warships is at least about one thousand five or six."

The combat strength of our 2,500 soldiers is not comparable to that of the Green Battalion Naval Division, not to mention comparable to the British Navy, at least we can vigorously contain and cooperate with the Green Battalion Naval Division. It is not difficult to ensure that Xiguan and Henan Island are not lost. ”

Although it is easy to be content, full of confidence. But Wu Bingjian was still not at ease in his heart, and after a moment of silence, he said: "The old man remembers that the content and the American merchant ordered 3,000 muskets. ”

Yi Zhishu nodded and said, "Those three thousand muskets are only used for training, and the wear and tear of muskets is quite high, and muskets that are frequently used for three or four years are basically scrapped." Saying that, he smiled and said: "Pinghu Gong doesn't need to worry, our private army, although the strength is small, but the combat power must be good, naval battles, the younger generation dare not boast, but land warfare, can definitely be one as ten, Baoxi Pass and Henan, more than enough."

In fact, the younger generation also hopes to expand the scale of the private army, but to raise a large private army, the younger generation is worried that they can't afford it, our private army is not the Eight Banners Green Battalion, the battleships, artillery and muskets are extremely expensive, 25,600 people, the annual expenditure is estimated to be 200,000 taels of silver, no matter how large the scale is, I really can't afford to raise it. ”

The scale of more than 2,000 people costs 200,000 taels of silver a year? This expense is also too big, Wu Bingjian really didn't expect this, he said suspiciously: "The cost should be so big?" ”

Yi Zhizhi nodded and said: "The salary of the private army will definitely not be lower than that of the Eight Banners Green Battalion, and the daily live-fire training is also indispensable, plus the maintenance of the battleship, 200,000 is still a small amount, and once there is a war, the expenses will be even greater." ”

Hearing him say this, Wu Bingjian put his mind at ease, the other party was calm, not eager for quick success, not good at ambition, at his age, it was very rare, and he acquiesced for a long time before he said: "To expand the scale of righteousness, how to eliminate the vigilance of the local government?" ”

"Cultivating skilled workers." Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "The Governor's Mansion and the Guangdong Customs have agreed to build the Foshan-Guangzhou Railway, and next, I will apply for the construction of railway-related factories, such as steel mills, machine manufacturing plants, etc., which require a large number of skilled workers, so I will expand the scale of Yixue in this name." ”

This is feasible, with the permission of the Governor's Office and the Guangdong Customs, no one in the local government and county officials dares to care about the idle affairs of Yuan Qiyixue, Wu Bingjian groaned slightly, and then said: "Since this is the case, then there is no need to scruple and expand the scale of Yixue." ”

Coming out of the Wu family garden, Yi Zhizhi was in a good mood, he really didn't expect that it was only May, and the imperial court had such a big move in banning smoking, which was equivalent to giving him half a year more, and now it was only two years before the outbreak of the Opium War, and the time was still a little rushed, but there was still hope to catch up with the excitement of the Opium War.

Seeing that it was noon, Yi Zhizhi did not go to Yixue again, and went straight back to Xiguan, back to Yuanqi Headquarters, before he entered Rongyuan, Kong Jian'an chased after him from behind, and said: "The big shopkeeper came back just in time, and someone from the Governor's Mansion said that the Governor had an invitation." ”

Deng Tingzhen looked for him, mostly about Huang Juezi's "Please Strictly Prohibit Leakage to Cultivate the Country's Ability", Yi Zhizhi was a little puzzled, how could he intervene in this matter? However, it was just convenient for him to report on the construction of the factory, so he did not dare to slack off, and immediately turned around and went out of the gate, and hurried to the governor's palace in a sedan chair.

Sitting in the sedan chair, he remembered that about the strict prohibition of crows. , he seems to have made three suggestions to Deng Tingzhen, one is to strictly prohibit smuggling, and the other is to plant crows in the vassal country. Third, the surplus of foreign trade should be narrowed to form a virtuous circle. Since then, there has been no movement, thinking that Deng Tingzhen did not write to the court.

After thinking about it, he felt normal, these three suggestions, the first is a cliché, the second is about the position of the ban on smoking and relaxation, and the third is impossible for the imperial court, now the loss of silver is serious, and the foreign trade of the Qing Dynasty is already in deficit, no, he is now importing a large amount of steel and building railways, is it not possible to form a virtuous circle? (To be continued.) )