The sky was overcast, but the rain never fell, Liu Guangdou, the county magistrate standing outside the lobby, looked up at the sky and looked at Yi Zhishu and Bao Shichen who were talking in the lobby, he was very puzzled in his heart, the famous Jiangnan once served as the master of Tao Shu, the governor of Liangjiang, known as the 'all-powerful master' and Bao Shichen, who had been the governor of the county for a term, how could he be a master who was easy to be content, this matter spread out, I am afraid that few will believe it.

After thinking about it, he thought about it again, whether Yi Zhizu brought Yuanqi to Shanghai for training, this matter can be investigated as soon as possible, if not, he should make plans early, and he can't wait until the soldiers come to the city to hang up the seal and resign.

was thinking about it, but he was content to call him "Lord Liu." ”

"The lower official is here." Liu Guangdou hurriedly responded, walked into the lobby quickly, and arched his hand: "What do you want Master Yi to order?" ”

Yi Zhishu glanced at him and said, "Seconded a few of your county masters to assist Mr. Bao in handling the handover." ”

This Master Yi only brought a master with him when he took office? Liu Guangdou, the county government master, he now only has one money and grain master left - Dong Qianqiu, he hurriedly said truthfully: "My lord, the county government now has only one master, if the lord needs manpower to handle the handover, the county lord Bo and the six-room scribe can be transferred." ”

There is only one master in the county government? Yi Zhixiang was a little surprised but didn't care, after all, it was the time when the yamen were sealed, seeing him groaning, Bao Shichen said: "Just invite Lord County Cheng and Mr. Dong to come over tomorrow." ”

"The subordinate obeys." Liu Guangdou hurriedly bowed down and said, and then, he said boldly: "My lord, the reception banquet has been ordered, it would be a pity not to eat it, and the lower officials sent it, is it feasible?" ”

Yi Zhizhi smiled contentedly, the other party wanted to invite him to a banquet, and when he first arrived, he didn't want to save the other party's face, after all, many things are inseparable from this Shanghai magistrate, besides, he also wanted to know about the situation in Shanghai in many aspects, when even the head of the jaw said: "Okay, Lord Liu will invite General Feng to come." ”

Seeing that he agreed, Liu Guangdou smiled happily and hurriedly said, "Xiaguan will arrange it, and my lord will wait later." ”

After Liu Guangdou left, Bao Shichen said: "Dong Weng is in a hurry to hand over, but he is in a hurry to leave Shanghai?" ”

Yi Zhishu nodded and said, "I have to rush to Jiangning as soon as possible, I'm afraid I won't be able to come back until after the seal is opened." "He was in a hurry to go to Jiangning because of the Yuanqi regiment training, the Yuanqi regiment training rushed to Jiangning in two ways, and the year ago it had already set off in batches, from Guangdong to Hunan, and down the Yangtze River, I am afraid that it will be able to reach Jiangning in a few days, and he has to be properly arranged with Lin Zexu to avoid leaking the news.

However, this matter should not be mentioned to Bao Shichen, not distrust, but the matter is too big, head-on, they are not the opponent of the British army at all, only to win by surprise, and Yuan Qi group training is a strange soldier, if the news leaks, this battle does not have to be fought, for the sake of secrecy, naturally the less people know, the better.

Although Bao Shichen didn't know why the other party was in a hurry to go to Jiangning, but the other party didn't say that he didn't ask much, as a staff member, he should not inquire and resolutely don't ask more, this is the rule, however, the other party didn't say it, it was obviously not to go to Jiangning to worship the pier, it seems that it is very likely to be related to Yuan Qi.

At this time, Li Wang, the little servant, walked quickly to the lobby and reported: "Young master, there are a few scribes and officials outside, saying that they are here to visit. ”

The Taoist is a single official, and there is no subordinate official under him, unlike the subordinate officials of the county, the master, the canon, and the patrol inspection, but the six-room scribe and the third class of officials in the department are indispensable.

Seeing that Yi Zhizhi was silent, Bao Shichen estimated that he didn't want to see him, so he said: "Dong Weng and rest first, go down to meet them, the six-room scribe is familiar with the situation, which is conducive to handling the handover." ”

Yi Zhifen really didn't want to see them, so he immediately nodded and said, "There is Mr. Lao Bao." Then he instructed Li Wang: "Let someone clean up Mr. Bao's yard first, the weather is cold, and the charcoal must be prepared." ”

"Xie Dongweng is considerate." Bao Shichen said and left.

Lit a cigar, Yi Zhishu slowly walked out of the lobby, stood on the steps and looked at the empty courtyard, all the way in he noticed that this government is not only small in scale but also a little dilapidated, and the governor's palace in Guangzhou can not be compared, that is, compared with the government of Guangzhou, it is also obviously inferior, but it is normal to think about it, although the grade is the same, they are all government-level offices, after all, the Guangzhou government is in the provincial capital, how can it be compared with the county government?

He had time to renovate this office, and he secretly thought in his heart that this was the face of Shanghai, and that he would rarely have to meet with a group of foreign businessmen here in the future, and this dilapidated appearance would damage the image of Shanghai.

He was thinking about it, Yan Shikuan quickly stepped into the courtyard, and when he arrived, he quipped: "It shouldn't be that I want to think about the Lei Garden in Guangzhou, this Ya is also a little dilapidated, how can I say that, the official does not repair the Ya." ”

Shanghai Taoists are also fat, why don't they repair the yamen? The families of the officials all live here, and I don't know what they think, to avoid suspicion? Yi Zhisuff handed over a cigar and said, "If the official doesn't repair the government, what else can he pay attention to?" ”

"We're not officials, how do we know the fame here." Yan Shikuan said with a big grin: "If the third brother wants to stay in Shanghai for a long time, he might as well renovate it." ”

"We're planning to put down roots in Shanghai." Yi Zhizhi said: "If you have your hands free, you have to renovate it." As he spoke, he turned his head and said, "Let's get down to business first, draw a sum of silver, and buy as much vacant land as possible in the northeast of the county, and all wasteland along the river." ”

"Third brother, is this going to build a big project?" Yan Shikuan hurriedly asked, "How much do you want to buy?" ”

"180,000 is not too much, do what you can." Yi Zhizhi said: "In the future, when you build a factory, you want land, and this Shanghai city will also be expanded." ”

"Understood." Yan Shikuan nodded, and then asked, "How long?" ”

After a slight sigh, Yi Zhizhi said: "There are two to three years, you can buy it calmly." Saying that, he told again: "Don't do anything to take and rob, don't damage Yuanqi's reputation, and don't lose the face of the official, otherwise, you are ready to go to Nanyang to open up new markets." ”

Yan Shikuan hurriedly said solemnly: "Don't worry, the big shopkeeper can borrow a hundred guts, and he doesn't dare to do anything under the guise of Yuan Qi and the big shopkeeper." ”

After all, the rain fell, the rain borrowed the wind, and the roof tiles "snapped" loudly, in the flower hall, a large pot of charcoal burned red, and the two wax tables illuminated the room brightly, Yi Zhizhi sat in the chief, Liu Guangdou, the county governor, and the guerrilla Feng Yaozu of the right battalion of the Jiangnan Admiral in Shanghai accompanied him on the left and the right.

In his early forties, Feng Yaozu, who had a large amount of money, raised his glass and said: "The last general has heard the prestige of Lord Yi for a long time, and today I finally look forward to it, and the last general will give you a glass." ”

Yi Zhizu picked up his wine glass and said with a smile: "According to the rules of drinking in the army." ”

"I have long heard that the relationship between the adults and the generals of the Guangdong Navy Division is very good, and it seems that the rumors are true." Feng Yaozu said briskly: "The last general will make three cups in a row." As he spoke, he drank three glasses in a row.

Yi Zhizhi smiled, dried the wine, poured himself a glass, and said: "I respect all the generals who fought against the Yingyi and fought bravely. As he spoke, he raised his glass and said, "I hope there will be more opportunities to drink with General Feng in the future." ”

"Don't worry, sir." Feng Yaozu picked up his wine glass and said: "If Yingyi dares to invade Shanghai again, the city is in the people, and the city is ruined." As he spoke, he tilted his head, dried the wine, put down the wine glass, and continued: "Chen Junmen was overjoyed to hear that the Lord had actually taught Shanghai Dao, and he was very happy to pass it on in time, saying that he would come to Shanghai in person to meet. ”

The Chen Junmen in his mouth is naturally Chen Huacheng, the governor of Jiangnan, and Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "I heard about the battle of Dinghai, Chen Junmen also rushed to Dinghai, but unfortunately he missed it and had time, and he will definitely visit Songjiang." ”

Seeing that it was empty talk, Liu Guangdou hurriedly raised his glass and said: "Your Excellency is sitting in Shanghai, which is really a blessing for the people of Shanghai, and the lower officials respect your lord for a cup." ”

Yi Zhizhi laughed secretly in his heart, this is not true, he came to Shanghai, for the people of Shanghai, it is indeed blessed, and immediately raised a glass to dry, seeing that he drank refreshingly, Liu Guangdou put down the wine glass and said: "Yingyi broke the city, burned, killed and looted, and did all kinds of evil, I heard that the Yingyi fleet is still stranded in the ocean of Guangzhou, and the adults are sitting in Shanghai, but they can take more precautions, Shanghai can not withstand the ravages of Yingyi again." ”

This seems to be something in the words, what does it mean? Yi Zhizu put down his wine glass and said slowly: "The governor of Liangguang, Qi Butang, is negotiating with Yingyi in Guangzhou, and has signed a treaty with Yingyi, so there is a great possibility of a truce. However, Yingyi is capricious and does not withdraw from the army for a day, so we can't take chances for a day, and we must take strict precautions.

Why didn't Yingyi dare to attack Guangzhou? It is because Guangzhou is actively preparing for war and is ready for battle, judging from the situation of the southeast coast of the Yingyi disaster, the Yingyi also points to the horn of the soft persimmon, as long as we actively prepare for the war and take strict precautions, the Yingyi may not dare to invade Shanghai again. ”

Qi Shan negotiated with Yingyi and signed a contract? This is good news, Liu Guangdou was overjoyed, and said: "Qi Zhongtang really signed a treaty with Yingyi?" ”

Yi Zhishu nodded and said, "Don't be in a hurry to be happy, Yingyi is not too satisfied with the treaty." ”

What does it mean to be not too satisfied? Do you want to fight again? Liu Guangdou's heart sank, and he groaned slightly, before he vomited bitterness, "My lord, it's not that we don't want to actively prepare for war, but the recruitment of volunteers requires money, not to mention, it also takes time to train. Saying that, he hesitated and said, "I heard that Yuanqi has a good training team, why don't you transfer some regiments to help defend." ”

Hearing this, Feng Yaozu also hurriedly echoed: "If there is a Yuanqi regiment practicing to defend Shanghai, Yingyi will definitely not dare to attack." ”

Sighing lightly, Yi Zhizhi said contentmently: "The Yingyi fleet is entrenched in the ocean outside Guangzhou, and all the industries of Yuanqi are also in Guangzhou, how dare Yuanqi regimental training be easily transferred out of Guangzhou, besides, even if the official wants to transfer, the officials in Guangzhou will not agree." ”

Hearing this, Liu Guangdou couldn't help but be disappointed, in this way, he couldn't count on the Yuan Qi group to practice defending the city? Feng Yaozu was not depressed, and said in a deep voice: "I heard that Yuanqi group practice, and the adult only trained for half a year?" ”

"Not bad." Yi Zhizu nodded and said: "Negotiating with Yingyi, this official is involved, even if Yingyi is dissatisfied with the terms and conditions signed, return to China for instructions, it will take more than half a year to go back and forth, with this time, we can completely set up a group training in Shanghai, the matter of silver, you don't have to worry, in terms of training, this official can also transfer a group of leaders from Yuanqi Group Training, and in half a year, we can train a volunteer who is not inferior to Yuanqi Group Training." ”

Liu Guangdou glanced at the two of them suspiciously, and then said, "Your Excellency is so sure?" ”

"Of course I am." Yi Zhi said confidently: "I didn't have any experience when I trained Yuanqi Group, and now I have accumulated a lot of experience, how can I not be sure, but this matter requires the help of the two of you." Saying that, he glanced at the two of them and said: "The three of us can now be said to be both prosperous and lossy, to put it mildly, it is a grasshopper on a rope, if Shanghai is captured by Yingyi again, none of us will have a way to live." ”

This is the truth, the city of Shanghai is broken, even if the three of them survive secretly, they will be dismissed by the imperial court and questioned, Feng Yaozu immediately said: "If your lord has any orders, just say it directly, we will not shirk what we can." ”

"The recruitment and training of volunteers must be brought forward by two people." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "Don't hide it from the two, the official must avoid suspicion, Yuanqi's group training has reached tens of thousands, and the official does not dare to set up a group training in the name of Yuanqi, for the sake of his life and career, the official will not hesitate to contribute money and people." ”

Hearing this, Liu Guangdou and Feng Yaozu were both happy, this is a good thing that can't be found even with lanterns, and they sent out money to help form and train volunteers, but they didn't name it, this is simply to give credit to the two of them, glanced at each other, the two quickly got up and left their seats, and arched their hands: "Don't worry, my lord, we will do our best." ”

"Sit." Yi Zhizu stretched out his hand and said: "What is the situation in Shanghai now, and is the people's will available?" ”

Slowly sitting down, Liu Guangdou pondered and said: "The last time Yingyi broke the city, wantonly burned and looted, the people were very angry, and recruited volunteers to fight against Yingyi, and the people of Shanghai will inevitably actively participate and vigorously support it." ”

Yi Zhishu then asked, "What about the gentry and merchants?" ”

"The gentry and businessmen who suffered the most and lost the most." Liu Guangdou said: "Yingyi broke the city, and almost all the rich shops in the city were looted. ”

After lighting a cigar, Yi Zhizhi said slowly: "As soon as the Lantern Festival is over, organize fundraising in a small area." ”

"Fundraising?" Liu Guangdou hesitated and said, "My lord didn't say it. ”

"It's just a cover-up." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "The official doesn't want to be attacked for the money, so raise donations first, and make up for the deficiencies." ”

"Your Excellency." Feng Yaozu said: "How many volunteers are appropriate?" ”

"Shanghai is just a county town, and the number of recruits is large, which is shocking." Yi Zhizhi said: "Recruit a thousand people." ”

What can a thousand do? Liu Guangdou glanced at Feng Yaozu and said, "My lord, the Yingyi ship is strong and the cannon is strong, and there are thousands of people, one thousand is afraid that it is less, at least five thousand are brave." ”

"That's right." Feng Yaozu hurriedly echoed: "At least five thousand people." ”

It's not you who give the money, Yi Zhizu glanced at the two of them, and said: "The soldiers are noble, no more, two thousand, no more, you have to use muskets to fight against Yingyi, five thousand people, where to get so many muskets?" (To be continued.) )