Daoguang asked from gunpowder to artillery to gunner, obviously inclined to start a war with Yingli, standing in the position of contentment, of course he hoped that Daoguang would make up his mind to fight this battle, whether he won or lost, it was a good thing for him to Yuan Qi, after replying, he took the initiative to say: "Your Majesty, the person that Yingli relies on is nothing more than the navy, and Weichen secretly thinks that to start a war with Yingyi, there are two places where heavy troops are stationed, and strict precautions are taken, one is Jiangning, and the other is Tianjin." ”

Talking to him, Daoguang is not like treating the old minister like he is to the big guest, paying attention to etiquette, but quite casual, listening to this, he leaned back slightly, and said: "Hangzhou doesn't need to be heavily defended?" ”

"Although the Qiantang River in Hangzhou is open to the sea, the hydrological situation is complex and changeable, and it is impossible for the British fleet to go up the river and will not become a key target for the British army." Yi Zhishu said slowly: "But Jiangning is different, the British fleet can go up the river to Jiangning, and furthermore, Jiangning is not only the center of the canal, but also the center of the two rivers, and the political, economic, cultural and transportation center of Jiangnan, which is bound to be the key target of the British army." Tianjin is the gateway to the Beijing Division, and it is necessary to prevent the British army from dividing its troops to invade and directly threaten the Beijing Division. ”

This analysis is not unreasonable, Daoguang bowed his head slightly: "What about Guangzhou?" ”

"Guangzhou is also one of the key targets of the British fleet." Yi Zhizhi said: "However, Guangzhou has always been actively preparing for war, and the defense of Humen can be called impregnable, as long as the officers and soldiers of the naval division are not greedy for life and afraid of death, even if the British army can capture Humen, it will inevitably suffer heavy casualties." ”

Daoguang groaned: "Can you attract the British army to attack Guangzhou?" ”

"It's unlikely." Yi Zhizhi said without thinking: "The defense situation of Humen, the British army is clear, and in the humble opinion of Weichen, Jiangning should be the main battlefield, if it can be deployed properly, Jiangning can determine the victory or defeat in a battle." After a slight pause, he continued: "If the emperor comes to Jiangning, Weichen dares to guarantee that the British army will attack Jiangning." ”

Daoguang rolled his eyes and said with a smile: "Are you letting me use my body as bait?" ”

If it was other ministers, when they heard this, they would have knelt down in fear, but Yi Zhishu didn't know these rules, and still said with the old god: "The commander of the British army has always wanted to meet the emperor and negotiate directly with the emperor. ”

As the so-called son of a daughter, he can't sit down, let Daoguang put himself in danger, it is estimated that the Manchu Dynasty civil and military will be easy to know that he dares to speak like this, Daoguang looked at him with interest, saw that his expression was calm and calm, knowing that he didn't understand the rules, otherwise if he was so disobedient, how could he say it so blandly, it seems that the other party is bent on winning this battle.

I have to say that the other party's idea is bolder, but it is practical, Jiangning is the key target of the British army, if he comes to Jiangning, it will inevitably attract the British army to attack Jiangning, the question is, the Qing Eight Banners Green Battalion has this ability, and it will be able to complete its work in one battle under Jiangning City?

After thinking for a while, he spoke: "The Holy Lord is fortunate not to take advantage of the danger, have you heard of this sentence?" ”

Yi Zhizhi had never heard of this, but literally he understood that the Holy Lord should not be left to chance when he was in danger, this was for fear of encountering danger and not daring to go to Jiangning? He hurriedly bowed and said: "The emperor drives to Jiangning, and he only needs to turn around and leave, creating a false appearance." ”

This is not impossible, Daoguang couldn't help but pound his heart, groaned slightly, he changed his words, and asked, "What's going on with Yuan Qiyixue?" ”

Seeing him ask about Yuan Qi Yixue, Yi Zhizhi was secretly vigilant in his heart, and said lightly: "Back to the emperor, Yuan Qi Yi Xue is a new Western-style study, and the teaching topics also focus on Western studies - language, arithmetic, economics, physics, chemistry, zoology and zoology, astronomy and geography, mechanical and ship smelting and other industries of technical craftsmen. Wechen wants to cultivate a group of language translators, exploration and mapping professionals. ”

Daoguang said in a sullen voice: "Don't take the imperial examination? ”

"The imperial examination is difficult, and those who can gain fame are a minority after all." Yi Zhizhi groaned and said: "Wechen secretly thinks that the most important thing in the imperial court is the imperial examination talents, but there is a shortage of talents in other aspects, such as translation, machinery manufacturing, shipbuilding, metallurgy and smelting, exploration and mapping, chemical industry, finance and economics and other aspects of the talent can be said to be urgently needed by the imperial court. ”

Daoguang didn't know what he was thinking, he didn't say anything for a long time, Yi Zhizhi was contented with his heart, and he groaned slightly, and then he said tentatively: "Your Majesty, our artillery and muskets of the Qing Dynasty have not improved significantly for decades, and now they are far behind Western countries. ”

If the Qing Dynasty had excellent artillery and muskets, why would it allow thousands of British troops to loot along the coast of the Qing Dynasty? He opened his mouth and asked, "Yuan Qi has the ability to develop muskets and artillery with excellent performance?" ”

Yi Zhishu said with a wry smile: "Back to the emperor, Yuan Qi was first built, the foundation is weak, and there is no ability to develop guns at the moment, and the small-caliber copper cannons that are being cast now are all imitations of the old artillery styles that are about to be eliminated in the West. ”

Daoguang is worried about the impact of Western-style schools on the imperial examination, the imperial examination is the imperial court to win the hearts of the people all over the world, and it is also the fundamental system for the imperial court to select talents, and it cannot be impacted, but it is also reasonable for Yi Zhishu to say that the imperial court also needs all kinds of talents, especially those in the military industry. ”

This is to allow the trial implementation of Western-style schools within the scope of Guangzhou Prefecture? Yi Zhi couldn't help but be overjoyed, and hurriedly bowed down and said: "The emperor is sage, and the ministers obey the order." ”

After a slight pause, Daoguang raised his hand and said, "Kneel down and go to the household department." ”

Yi Zhizhi left the Qianqing Palace in a daze, and Dao Guang went to the household department to discuss the issuance of treasury bonds, but what about his Jianghai customs supervision? Pretending to be confused and don't want to give?

Imperial City, Thousand Steps Corridor, Great Qing Household Department.

The imperial court wants to issue 10 million taels of treasury bonds, and the news of the issuance by the Yuanqi Bank has spread in the household compound, and a group of officials have found various excuses and reasons to gather together to discuss, originally the big treasurer of Yuanqi Yi Zhizhi entered Beijing, Daoguang summoned for three days in a row, and the Beijing division was rumored to be because of the Yuanqi group training to assist the Guangdong Navy Division to recover Dinghai, and the emperor wanted to be content, but he did not expect that it was actually to finalize the issuance of treasury bonds.

In the eyes of the officials and gentry, borrowing is a disgraceful thing, and the "Theory of National Debts" caused a lot of controversy in the capital at the beginning, and the focus of the controversy was that the imperial court borrowed money, losing face, and having no prestige.

Yi Zhizhi got off the sedan chair outside the door of the household, looked at it, and then slowly walked up the steps, he was wearing a three-grade military attache robe, but no one did not open his eyes, a small official quickly came up and bowed and said: "The little one has seen the adult, I don't know what the adult does?" ”

Yi Zhishu handed over his post and said, "The emperor asked me to come to see Lord Zhuo." ”

Zhuo Bingtian had already ordered to come over, and when the little official saw the post, he hurriedly bowed down and said, "It turned out to be Lord Yi, the Lord of the Ministry Hall is in the second hall, please come with the little one." ”

In the second hall, when he was in college, Wang Ding, Man Shangshu Longwen, Han Shangshu Zhuo Bingtian, Zuo Shilang Wu Qijun and others discussed the specific details of the issuance of treasury bonds, and the Qing Dynasty was the first time to issue treasury bonds, and they did not have any experience to learn from, and things were in a hurry, and there was no rumor in advance, and they were all a little confused.

The arrival of Yi Zhishu made the four people present secretly relieved, and after he saluted everyone present, Wang Ding coughed lightly and said loudly: "Yi Zhishu accepts the order." ”

As soon as he heard the edict, several people present hurriedly retreated, Wang Ding waved his hand and said, "No need." ”

Listening to the edict, Yi Zhi's heart is happy, no wonder Daoguang asked him to come to the household department, it turned out that he had already made an order, and immediately hurriedly stepped forward and knelt down, Wang Ding said slowly: "The cabinet has an edict: Yi Zhi's contentment, learning through China and the West, familiar with the West, familiar with the economy, knowing the military affairs, can be up to the task, and really give the sub-patrol Su Song Tai soldiers to prepare for the road." Chin this. ”

Sub-patrol Su Songtai is ready for the road? What kind of official is this? Why is it not supervised by Jiang Customs? Yi Zhizhi was so contented that he even forgot about thanksgiving, until Wang Ding reminded him, he hurriedly thanked him for receiving the order, and then he said softly: "Sub-patrol Su Songtai is a soldier, is it a Taoist?" ”

Wang Ding smiled, "There are also things that I don't know about being content, and I am stationed in Shanghai, also known as Shanghai Road, and is also in charge of Jiang Customs." ”

Zhuo Bingtian didn't have the slightest arrogance, and said with a smile: "Congratulations." ”

Yi Zhisuff hurriedly returned the salute, and then re-greeted a few people, which was completely the rule of meeting Shangguan as an official, but Zhuo Bingtian and a few people didn't dare to really treat him as a subordinate, they all knew what was going on, and they might ask him for it in the future, and they would be willing to stand up to him one by one.

Greetings sit down, easy to know contentment has a feeling of refreshment, Jianghaiguan in hand, the land of the two rivers is equivalent to opening the door to Yuanqi, regardless of whether it is a Taoist or a county, in a few years, Shanghai, will become his territory.

"Contentment comes just in time." Wang Ding said: "Regarding some details of the issuance of treasury bonds, we still need to discuss the bills of treasury bonds. ”

Hearing this, Yi Zhicontent said with a smile: "Yuan Qi has considered all the details of the issuance of treasury bonds, and the treasury bonds are issued in the form of paper money, the design of the pattern, the size of the denomination, the paper, the printing, etc., you don't need to worry about it. ”

Wang Ding said: "Contentment didn't bring samples to Beijing? ”

"How can it be so fast." Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "The lower official only ordered people to hurry up before leaving. ”

Although Yuan Qi is already a big package, but for the first issue of treasury bonds issued by the imperial court, all the officials of the household department are extremely cautious, take out the terms and ask for the implementation of each article, and have been busy until the afternoon, Yi Zhizhi came out of the household department, and was about to go back to the inn, a long follower quickly chased up, and said: "Lord Yi stays." When he arrived, the chief said, "My lord asked Master Yi to go to the house at night." ”

Yi Zhizhi frowned and said, "Who is your master?" ”

"Wang Zhongtang."

Wang Ding? Haven't all the national debt matters been negotiated? What else is there to talk about? Yi Zhixiang muttered in his heart, but said without hesitation: "Please go back to Lord Zhongtang and go as soon as it gets dark." ”

Slipping back to the inn from the back door, Yi Zhizhi knew that Su Shun had come, and he remembered that he had made an appointment with Su Shun tonight and had dinner at night, but he wanted to see Wang Ding at night, and he was afraid that he would not be able to drink this wine. ”

Of course, Su Shun knew the severity, and immediately said disapprerovitically: "Naturally, it's important to get down to business, and another day." ”

"I'm afraid I won't be able to stay in Beijing for a few days." Yi Zhizhi said and took the cigar case and lit a cigar, and then said: "I just came back from the household department, the issuance of treasury bonds has been finalized, and I rushed back to Guangzhou to raise silver." ”

"So fast?" Su Shun was quite surprised, the various ministries of the imperial court have always dragged their work, such as the issuance of treasury bonds, he expected that there would be no month, it would be impossible to settle down, I don't want to be done in just three days, this efficiency is really surprising, a little groaning, he said: "The emperor has changed his mind?" The main battle? ”

Slowly exhaling a puff of smoke, Yi Zhizhi said: "I should still be hesitating, but Brother Yuting can do his best to fight, it is best to take the initiative to ask Ying to go to Jiangning, rest assured, I have now given the sub-patrol Su Songtai Soldier Preparation Road, and he is in Shanghai." ”

Su Shun said in surprise: "Brother Yi taught Shanghai Dao? Saying that, he arched his hand and smiled: "Congratulations to Brother Yi, he has to be a Taoist in his early twenties, and it is also an extremely important way to defend the land, which shows that Brother Yi is a saint, and after three or five years, Brother Yi is afraid that he will have to enter Beijing as an official." ”

As a Beijing official, Yi Zhishu really didn't think about it, and he wouldn't come if he was killed, if it wasn't for the control of Jianghaiguan, what kind of platform was this, he was not rare, he was a little puzzled and said: "Important land guarding road, how do you say this?" ”

"Brother Yi's false title is a military position, and I'm afraid I don't care about civilian positions." Su Shun smiled and quipped, and then continued: "Su Song Taidao has jurisdiction over Suzhou, Songjiang, and Taicang, although this is a civil official, but as a sub-patrol road and military preparation road, he has the right to control the local capital division, garrison, thousand generals, general managers and other green battalion military positions, and also manages the Jianghaiguan, which can be said to be both civil and military, and the power is not small, not comparable to ordinary Taoists." ”

Listening to this, Yi Zhizhi was content but did not have the slightest sense of joy, he really didn't expect that this Shanghai Road was so complicated, it was Su Song Taidao, it was a sub-patrol road, and it also had a military preparation road, and it was also in charge of Jiang Customs, which was too far from his original intention, he just wanted a simple Jiang Customs superintendent, and now that he has made such a complex Taoist, where does he have the time and energy to be an official? What's even worse is that in this case, doesn't he have to sit in Shanghai?

Sincere, Daoguang This is absolutely sincere, this Shanghai Dao has so many errands in his body, isn't it simpler to strip out the Jianghai Customs? (To be continued.) )