Coming out of Jinghai Temple, Yi Zhishu hurried to Maigao Bridge, passing through the intersection of Xiaozhuang Road and met Jin Ying dressed as a Qing soldier, under the leadership of Jin Ying, the group came to a big mansion outside Maigao Bridge, and when he got off the horse, Jin Ying said softly: "Young master, there are a few ...... families in the courtyard." Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info"

Yi Zhizhi waved his hand disapprovingly, and strode into the courtyard, several guards did not dare to be careless, and hurriedly followed in, seeing him come in, the fat Yao Qichang hurriedly greeted him, smiled, and then stretched out his hand and said, "My lord, please." ”

Yao Qichang has met him a few times in Guangzhou, and he can be regarded as familiar, Yi Zhizu nodded slightly and strode into the main room, and saw Huang Dianyuan, who was dressed in a long robe, looking at him with a smile with his hands behind his back, "What's the matter, I don't know each other?" Yi Zhicontent said and took off the cool hat on his head, and said: "The British fleet is rampant with cholera and malaria, and I am really worried that Brother Rong will be infected." ”

"I'm not Yingyi, how can I not adapt to the soil and water?" Huang Dianyuan said and said with a smile: "Contentment is really a big deal, Wusong and Zhenjiang fought two battles, and the combat power of the Yuanqi regiment is extraordinary, I really want to know, how is the Yuanqi regimental training trained?" ”

"Brother Rong's ear report is very well-informed, and this time in order to block the news, we have made a lot of efforts." Yi Zhizhi said: "But why didn't Brother Rong report to Puding?" ”

"Of course, it's more optimistic about contentment." Huang Dianyuan poured a cup of herbal tea for him as he spoke, and said tentatively: "What, do you want to swallow the British fleet in one bite?" Have that much of an appetite? ”

Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "My appetite is not small, but I don't have such good teeth, and I am afraid of breaking my big teeth." ”

Huang Dianyuan opened the folding fan with a "brush", shook it unhurriedly, and said, "Contentment shouldn't be the idea of trying to beat us?" This is not good, the Heaven and Earth Society still has to make a living in Nanyang. ”

After drinking a cup of herbal tea, Yi Zhizhi said: "I am in a hurry to meet Brother Yourong, I hope that heaven and earth will stop in time, and don't act for the tiger and help the abuse." ”

With a slight groan, Huang Dianyuan said in a deep voice: "Zhenjiang, Jiangning, we have one hundred and ten brothers killed!" ”

Yi Zhizu laughed and said: "The Qing army and the British army have killed thousands of people!" The casualties of Yuanqi Tuanlian have also been as high as four or five hundred. ”

"Done!" Huang Dianyuan said: "I will inform them to stop in time, and we will not get involved in this battle." ”

"This battle is not something you have been involved in at all." Yi Zhisuff said unceremoniously: "Now that Jiangning City is purging the traitors on a large scale, I told Pu Ding that the losses are heavy, and try to mix as little as possible." ”

Huang Dianyuan said in a deep voice: "Are you really confident that you can defeat the British army? ”

"I'm still worried that the British won't fight." Yi Zhizhi said: "Just now in Jinghai Temple, the situation of Wusong and Zhenjiang has been revealed, and in addition, the deployment of the British fleet in Jiangning and the removal of the buoys set up by the British army on the river, etc., Brother Rong can also report to Puding." ”

Huang Dianyuan said with some surprise: "Contentment is trying to force the British army to attack Jiangning?" I really don't understand, where did you get the confidence? ”

Yi Zhixiang smiled and asked rhetorically, "Does the British fleet still carry a large number of crows. Slice? ”

Huang Dianyuan said: "I want 2,000 muskets." ”

"Brother Rong, this is the starting price from the ground."

"We've lost more than a hundred brothers."

"Done." Yi Zhizhi said: "However, I have the conditions, and I will talk about it when it is delivered." ”

On the bow deck of the flagship of the "Kang Huali", Pu Dingcha leaned on the bulwark alone, looking at Jiangning City reflected by the sunset in the distance, taking a huge risk, taking a month and going through hardships to arrive at Jiangning City, which was actually a huge trap, and God simply played a huge joke on him.

An officer walked up behind him and saluted, "Your Excellency, everyone is here." ”

Pu Dingcha nodded, straightened up and walked quickly to the official hall, seeing him come in, a group of whispering naval officers in the official hall got up and saluted, and the official hall was quiet.

Walking to his position, Pu Ding Cha stretched out his hand and motioned for everyone to sit down, and then spoke: "Gentlemen, our fleet is facing huge trouble, Wusong and Zhenjiang have been recaptured by the Qing army, Jiangning, not only gathered more than 20,000 Qing troops, but also a strong enemy, the 5,000-strong Yuan Qi regiment, they have a new type of musket that completely suppresses our muskets in range and hit rate. I have summoned you here today to discuss the next move of the fleet! ”

After a slight pause, he raised his voice and said: "Now, we have three choices, one is to withdraw our troops, as long as the fleet can safely return to the sea, the initiative of the war is still in our hands, steady and steady, I firmly believe that the final victory still belongs to us."

The second is to negotiate with the Qing ministers in Jiangning to end this war with dignity, of course, in the current situation, we cannot obtain our satisfactory rights and interests through negotiations.

Third, to defeat and control Jiangning, force the Qing State to sign a treaty with us, and completely end this war, in view of the achievements of the Yuan Qi Tuan Lian in Wusong and Zhenjiang, this battle will be extremely difficult, but because the Qing State has no warships and naval forces that can threaten our fleet, we are invincible in this battle. ”

As soon as the words fell, the naval and army officers in the official hall began to discuss softly, and Pu Dingcha picked up the coffee in front of him and tasted it slowly.

The discussion lasted for half an hour, Rear Admiral Baga stood up, tapped his finger on the table, and waited for the official hall to be quiet before he spoke: "Since the Qing army has carefully deployed this trap and taken the lead in recapturing Wusong and Zhenjiang, then we have reason to believe that the return of our fleet will not be smooth sailing, and it is impossible for the Qing army to easily let our fleet return to the sea."

In addition, there are many officers, soldiers, sailors and sailors in the fleet who are sick and return to the sea, we may still need a month, what does that mean, everyone understands, I think, the fleet needs to stay in Jiangning for a while, at present, there are still two or three months before the dry season of the Yangtze River, we should stay in Jiangning for at least a month. ”

After a moment of silence, Pu Ding Cha looked at Guo Fu and said, "What is the opinion of the army?" ”

"The new musket practiced by the Yuanqi group, I asked carefully to understand." Guo Fu said slowly: "The range is long, at least more than 500 yards, and at a distance of 400 yards, it can also guarantee a 60 percent hit rate, and the loading speed is fast, no less than a smoothbore gun, and it is impossible for us to win against muskets."

However, the other side does not seem to have artillery, at least from the current feedback situation, the other side has not used artillery, if the other side does not have artillery, we can use artillery with infantry, we can completely suppress the other side. ”

Pu Ding Cha secretly breathed a sigh of relief, it seems that the officers of the navy and army are basically inclined to attack Jiangning, once the information obtained by Huang Dianyuan is made public, it will inevitably strengthen their determination to attack Jiangning, however, now is not the time, he still does not want to give up negotiations with the ministers of the Qing State, if the goal can be achieved through negotiations, there is no need to use force.

Liangjiang Governor's Palace, Xiaoxiang Pavilion.

Yi Zhizhi glanced at Lin Zexu, Yishan, Seng Lingqin, and Yang Fang who were present, and said slowly: "In the past few days, there has been a large-scale purge of traitors in Jiangning City, and I think that the scale and momentum may as well be a little bigger..... ”

Hearing this, Lin Zexu was very surprised, and hurriedly said: "It is understandable to purge the traitors, but Ben Qincha thinks that everything should be stopped in moderation, and now the people in the city are panicking, and the enemy is currently in trouble, so it is really not appropriate to mess with oneself." ”

Monk Grinqin said, "What does contentment mean? ”

"Tobacco seller!" Yi Zhizhi said: "The British fleet also carries a large number of crows. This will attract the tobacco dealers near Jiangning to take risks, and it is necessary to crack down on the tobacco dealers to prevent this from happening. ”

Lin Zexu understood as soon as he heard that this was to mobilize the local gentry to form a regiment and actively act against the British army by cracking down on tobacco dealers, and he groaned slightly, before he said: "You can launch a big campaign outside the city, but inside the city, you might as well thunder and rain a little, after all, Jiangning has closed all the city gates now, and it can't withstand a big toss." ”

"I thought that in the city, it can also be divided into subdivisions or even streets to form group exercises." Yi Zhizhi said: "We must prepare for the worst now, once the British army breaks through the city, we won't be too panicked!" ”

Lin Zexu frowned and said: "Contentment, there is a great possibility that the British army will attack Jiangning?" ”

"The possibility of a British dog jumping off the wall is indeed high." Yi Zhishu said in a deep voice: "In this case, the British army will not be reconciled to the peace talks, because the imperial court will not give in and withdraw the army, and the British army will not be reconciled either, because in Wusong and Zhenjiang, the losses of the British army are too great, and in the next feeling, the British army may be eager to pull back a game in Jiangning." ”

"Pull back a game?" Yang Fang said in a sullen voice: "The British army will be so irrational? Now that it is impossible to achieve the intended goal of attacking Jiangning, why should we still attack forcibly, which will not only waste ammunition, but also increase casualties! ”

"Bombardment of Jiangning with naval artillery will not cause any casualties to the British army." Yi Zhizhi said: "As for the waste of ammunition, the British army can replenish it from India, and they should not have any worries about this." ”

Lin Zexu said worriedly: "Then should we consider evacuating the people in the city?" ”

Yi Zhizhi nodded, without saying a word, if the British army attacked Jiangning and did not evacuate the people in the city, the casualties would be not small, he didn't care about Jiangning's casualties, but once the British army retreated, it meant that the war would continue, God knows when this war would end, if you want to end this war earlier, you must hit the main fleet of the British army outside Jiangning City, this opportunity, once lost, will definitely not be again!

On 9 August, Lin Zexu, in the name of the Minister of the Imperial Mission and the Governor of Liangjiang, issued a proclamation calling on the local gentry in the counties along the Yangtze River in Jiangning Prefecture to form regimental exercises, severely crack down on tobacco dealers, resist the Yingyi, and implement the practice of clearing the wilderness with strong walls, and once again reiterated the reward order.

On 10 August, the Qing and British sides held a second round of talks at Jinghai Temple.

This time, Pu Ding Cha directly aimed at Lin Zexu, and as soon as he sat down, he said straightly: "The note sent to the Liangjiang Governor's Mansion, I don't know what Lin Qincha thinks?" ”

Without waiting for Lin Zexu to speak, Yi Zhishu said in English: "Your Excellency's request, no one of the Qing Empire's envoys and governors will dare to agree to it without authorization, and you must submit it to His Majesty the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, and His Majesty the Emperor will adjudicate it." ”

Pu Ding glanced at him and said, "Is Mr. Yi trying to stall for time?" ”

Yi Zhizhi said: "What I said is the truth. ”

Listening to the translator, Lin Zexu said with a tough attitude: "I can reply to Your Excellency with great certainty, my Majesty the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty will not agree to all the unreasonable demands of your country!" Of course, we do not mind forwarding your note to the Jingshi, but the result will definitely disappoint Your Excellency. ”

"We might be able to change that." Pu Ding investigated: "The war reparations can be removed, and Hong Kong can be leased as a Portuguese example, so as to increase the commercial debts of the merchants in Guangzhou and increase the ransom ..... in Jiangning." ”

"Impossible!" Yi Zhizhi said simply: "The business debts of the merchants in Guangzhou have been paid off, and if you change the name, the imperial court will not pay this compensation, and your Excellency wants Yuan Qi to pay this silver?" That's impossible! ”

Listening to the translation, Lin Zexu continued: "It is impossible for Jiangning to deliver the ransom city. ”

Baga said: "A few days ago, Huang Entong, the political envoy of your country's Jiangning, has been negotiating with our representatives about the amount of ransom money... ”

Talking about the ransom money and delaying time, this is an idea that is easy to know, and after hearing this, he took over the conversation and said: "General Baga, as a provincial official of the Qing Empire, how could he personally come forward to negotiate with you about the amount of the ransom money?" Everyone knows that it is to stall for time, so why put it on the table? ”

This was not only deceived, but also ridiculed by the other party for ignorance, Baga's face was swollen and red, and he said angrily: "You are not honest!" ”

"How fresh." Yi Zhizu sneered: "If you are honest, you should abide by the "Treaty of Macao" signed by the two countries, and you should not continue to wage war, and your fleet will not appear outside Jiangning City!" ”

Pu Ding Cha looked at the two calmly, he had a very bad premonition, today's talks, in the case of his obvious concessions, Lin Zexu and Yi Zhi's contented attitude was extremely tough, it seemed to be deliberately provoking them, and then thinking of the notice issued by Lin Zexu yesterday, it seems that Qingguo doesn't care at all about them attacking Jiangning, why is this?

Is it a bluff? Or do you really not care? Or is it a deliberate attempt to provoke them to attack Jiangning? Why? After a fool, he had to be cautious.

After stretching out his hand to signal Baga to be quiet, he said slowly: "This time, we are with full sincerity. As he spoke, his eyes slowly swept over the faces of Lin Zexu and the others, "I hope that you will also be like us, and end this war through negotiation and consultation." ”

Seeing that his tone was sincere, Lin Zexu was really a little tempted, this battle has been fought to this point, the two sides have suffered casualties on each other, it can be said that it is an invincible and undefeated situation, if it can end here, it is already very rare for them, after all, the British navy is strong, and it is not something that the Great Clear Water Division can deal with now. (To be continued.) )