In an all-out war with England, the Qing Dynasty has no chance of winning? Lin Zexu frowned slightly, he believed this before, but two successive victories in Modaoyang and Dinghai, especially in the Battle of Dinghai, Yuanqi Tuanlian captured Dinghai City at a cost of no more than 100 casualties, capturing more than 3,000 British troops, which greatly inflated his self-confidence, and he also had doubts about the combat strength of the British army.

At this time, the subordinate came in to serve tea, he waved his hand and retreated, personally held the pot and poured a cup of tea for Yi Zhicontent, and said with a smile: "I heard that contentment loves the big red robe, this is the Fujian big red robe sent by Deng Butang, and the content tastes it." ”

As he spoke, he poured himself a cup and took a few sips, and then he pondered and said: "England is known as the overlord of the sea, and our Qing Dynasty has never attached much importance to naval divisions and naval battles, and we are not the enemies of Yingyi, but judging from the results of the Battle of Dinghai, land battles, England is nothing but nothing to fear." Besides, the British expedition of tens of thousands of miles across the ocean, the scale of the army cannot be too large, why does contentment say that there is no chance of victory? ”

After winning two battles, you didn't take the British army into account? Yi Zhishu put down the teacup and said slowly: "What Lord Ministries said is right, the scale of the British expedition cannot be too large, but the British army has the right to control the sea - it controls the sea, which means that the British army completely controls the initiative in the war, and there is no need for too many troops, 10,000 to 20,000 British troops are enough to fight our Qing Dynasty without the power to fight back."

Looking at the Qing Dynasty, the only one that can resist the attack of one or two hundred thousand British troops should be Guangzhou, except for Guangzhou, any city along the coast cannot resist the attack of the British army, and the British army, which controls the control of the sea, is flexible and mobile, and can attack any coastal city at will, we can't prevent it at all, and we can't rescue at all, because the speed of the land force buildup is far from catching up with the navy.

Although the total number of the Eight Banners Green Battalion in the Qing Dynasty is seven or eight hundred thousand, and there are many of them distributed in the coastal provinces, in fact, the troops are scattered, so we can say that Dinghai, an important town in coastal defense, and a place where soldiers must fight, how many troops are stationed? Two thousand! In the face of an attack by 10,000 or 20,000 British troops, how can you hold it?

In short, one or two hundred thousand British troops are enough to sweep through the important cities of the coastal provinces, forming a situation of fighting more and fighting less everywhere. Not a single bit! Unless the British army is dizzy and attacks Guangzhou directly, even if we can't win, we can still make the British army lose its troops and lose its vitality. ”

This can be said to be a sharp point to point out the weakness of the Qing Dynasty's coastal defense, which is fortified everywhere, but in fact it is defenseless everywhere! The total strength of the Green Battalion of the Coastal Naval Division is not small, at least more than 100,000, but it can only be said that it is better than nothing when it is sprinkled on the tens of thousands of miles long coastal defense line, and it is simply unable to resist the attack of the British Navy.

After being silent for a long time, Lin Zexu sighed and said, "Insightful." After a brief pause, he asked, "According to the opinion of contentment, how should coastal defense be consolidated?" ”

"The Qing Dynasty coastal defense is no different from the Great Wall, why did the imperial court abandon the Great Wall? There are many reasons, but in the next theft, the main and fundamental reason is because the Qing Dynasty iron cavalry is invincible and does not need to rely on the Great Wall. Yi Zhisuff said: "The disadvantage of the Great Wall lies in the fortification everywhere, the passivity everywhere, a little breakthrough, the collapse of the whole line, there is no strategic depth at all, why is this not the case of the Qing coastal defense?"

If we want to completely change the situation in which coastal defense is passive everywhere and there is nothing equal, the best way is to build a powerful fleet and build a navy of the Qing Dynasty, and the best defense is to attack. England had a powerful naval fleet, and he did not need to build a coastal defense line at all. ”

Lin Zexu shook his head with a wry smile and said, "Where does the imperial court have the silver to build a powerful naval fleet." ”

Hearing this, Yi Zhixiang looked at him and said in a deep voice: "The Lord of the Ministry is the pillar of the imperial court, and when the book bluntly said, the coastline of the Qing Dynasty is tens of thousands of miles, there is no navy, there is no strong fleet, there is no sea dominance, there is no sea dominance, there is no sea dominance, the Qing Dynasty has always been in a passive situation of being beaten, with all due respect, the Qing Dynasty tightened its belt, and also developed the navy, otherwise, the disaster of the country is not far away." ”

"The imperial court has the difficulties of the imperial court." Lin Zexu didn't want to continue this topic, so he changed his head as he spoke, and said: "Contentment hopes that the headquarters will be promoted to the imperial court to become the minister of group training, is it expected to be able to preserve Yuanqi group training for a long time?" ”

Yi Zhicontent said unabashedly: "Yuanqi group training is actually an attempt, and I really hope that Yuanqi group training can exist legally for a long time, and I hope that the imperial court can incorporate Yuanqi group training as a teacher of the economic system." ”

A try? What attempt? An attempt to train a new army? This kid finally revealed a little thought, Lin Zexu was a little speechless for a while, the other party's identity was just a businessman, but what he did was something that the ministers of the court did not dare to do, it was obvious that the victory in Dinghai made this kid a little more confident.

However, it is still inappropriate to propose the formation and training of the new army at the moment, the reason is very simple, the treasury is empty, the court has no money, and furthermore, the formation and training of the new army also means the elimination of the Eight Banners Green Battalion.

After a slight sigh, he said slowly: "The expenditure of Yuanqi group training is huge, the scale is small, it is useless, the scale is large, the imperial court cannot afford such a large expenditure, if this problem is not solved, Yuanqi group training is not to say that it has become a teacher of the economic system, it is a long-term preservation, and it is also a luxury, and it is not an expedient measure to be content to fight for the position of minister of group training?" ”

"Such a big event, it is natural to think in the long run." Yi Zhizhi said without thinking: "The cost of Yuanqi group training is large, mainly because of the muskets equipped and the ammunition consumed, if the Qing Dynasty can manufacture and produce a new musket comparable to Citigroup, this expenditure can be reduced by forty percent, and if the ammunition can be produced on a large scale and reduce the production cost, it can also be reduced by one or two percent." ”

Before he finished speaking, Lin Zexu said in surprise: "Yuan Qi has this ability? ”

"Even if Yuanqi gives everything he has, he must strive to achieve self-production of firearms." Yi Zhizhi said in a deep voice: "The Qing Dynasty can't do without its own arsenal, how can a country's military industry rely on other countries for a long time?" ”

"Well said!" Lin Zexu said excitedly: "If Yuanqi can make a musket that is not inferior to Citigroup's new model and greatly reduce expenses, Yuanqi Tuanlian is bound to become a new army of the imperial court." ”

"Don't be in a hurry to be happy, Lord Ministry." Yi Zhishu hurriedly poured a scoop of cold water on him, "There are two major difficulties in the manufacture of firearms, one is research and development, and the other is the industrial foundation. New varieties of Western firearms emerge one after another, changing with each passing day, and are eliminated quickly, and the development requires a huge team of technical personnel.

More importantly, the industrial base, without a strong machine production capacity, even if a good firearm can be developed, it cannot be produced in large quantities, and today's muskets need to be highly uniform specifications, and all gun parts must be interchangeable, which is not something that can be done by hand.

Whether it is to develop or lay the industrial foundation, it takes time, and it is not a short time, even with the strong support of Citigroup, it cannot be achieved overnight. ”

Lin Zexu asked eagerly: "How long will it take, there should always be a bottom in my heart for contentment." ”

"Five to ten years." Yi Zhizhi said in a deep voice: "Within ten years, the Qing Dynasty must achieve military self-sufficiency, and for this, Yuan Qi can do whatever it takes. ”

Five to ten years, this time is not long, Lin Zexu was a little puzzled, why Yi Zhi's tone was full of urgency, and even the unscrupulous words were spoken, he groaned slightly, and said with a serious expression: "Contentment is so urgent, but after ten years, there will be a big change or war?" ”

Yi Zhizhi nodded, and said: "European countries are now vigorously developing industry, once they have laid the industrial foundation and realized large-scale machine operations, they will be like England, trying their best to expand externally, because European countries have small populations and small areas, and they must strive to expand externally in order to meet the needs of large-scale machine production."

Our Qing Dynasty, with a large population, vast territory, and very wealthy, is the best goal for the foreign expansion of European countries, ten years, we only have ten years, within ten years, if we cannot establish their own military industrial system, European countries will set off a wave of carving up the Qing Dynasty. At that time, there will be not only the danger of losing the country, but also the danger of extinction! ”

The danger of losing the country, the danger of extinction! Lin Zexu was a little furious by what he said, and stared at him for a moment, this kid is extremely accurate, whether it is officialdom or shopping malls in Guangzhou, he has a good reputation, and he also knows that this kid is not a literati habit, he likes to make amazing words, and the words of the destruction of the country and the extinction of the species came out of his mouth, how could it not be shocking.

Yi Zhishu was a little uncomfortable being stared at by him, he took out a cigar, and he was not pretending to be polite, and he said so much to Lin Zexu today, and some of the meaning of borrowing the topic to play, according to his estimate, Lin Zexu should not stay in Guangzhou for a long time, and it is very likely to be transferred, because of the two great victories, he only has two possibilities - transferred to the governor of Liangjiang or transferred back to Beijing to directly enter the military plane.

In fact, the possibility of the governor of Liangjiang is not large, after all, Lin Zexu was the governor of Liangjiang before, and the governor of Zhili generally does not appoint Han officers, and the possibility of transferring back to Beijing to join the military aircraft is the greatest, for this consideration, he instilled in Lin Zexu the concept of developing industry, building his own military industrial system, and establishing a navy and fleet, hoping that his return to Beijing can influence Daoguang and a group of ministers.

After leaving the city, he went straight to Xiaohoowei Island by boat, and now there are not only 4,000 Yuanqi regimental training stationed on Xiaohoop Island, but also more than 4,000 British prisoners of war captured by Modaoyang and Dinghai are also imprisoned on this island.

After dispelling Lin Zexu's idea of entering Beijing to offer prisoners, and obtaining permission for the British army to redeem the prisoners of war, these prisoners of war became white flowers in the eyes of Yi Zhicontent, and sent troops to recover Dinghai, but a big son of the government did not pay it, and naturally no one dared to rob him of the silver for the redemption of prisoners of war this time, and he did not take these prisoners of war to exchange the reward with Lin Zexu, which was already very polite.

This batch of prisoners of war, Yi Zhizhi promised to be kind to them, but treating prisoners of war well is not the same as not working in vain, more than 4,000 people eat, drink and Lazar, and they need hundreds of silver every day, so they are raised in vain, and they must not die at a loss, besides, God knows when these prisoners of war can be redeemed, even if the British army is eager to redeem them, he is unwilling, after all, this group of prisoners of war knows the details of Yuanqi's group training, which means that this group of prisoners of war is very likely to be held for a long time, so much labor that does not require money, of course, cannot be wasted.

Boarding Xiaohoop Wai Island, Yi Zhicontent, accompanied by several regimental officers such as Yan Yangtian, Chen Hongming, and Xiao Mingming, went to the prisoner of war camp in the center of the island.

After being surrounded by everyone and taking a seat in a tent under the shade of a tree, Yi Zhishu glanced at everyone and asked directly: "According to the custom, your government will pay a ransom to redeem all captured prisoners of war, right?" ”

"Your Excellency is familiar with the situation in Europe." Bourley replied: "Her Majesty will not turn a blind eye to the dutiful soldiers of the British Empire, and will certainly exchange or ransom prisoners of war. ”

"What is the ransom standard?"

"I'm sorry." Bourley smiled apologetically and said, "There is no standard for ransom, and it is usually negotiated. ”

Yi Zhixiang didn't know whether the British army had specific criteria for redeeming prisoners of war, but he knew very well that negotiation and negotiation would obviously not be beneficial to him, after all, it was not difficult for the British army to capture prisoners of war in the Qing Dynasty, and when the British army proposed to exchange prisoners of war, he could still stubbornly disagree? That Yuanqi's reputation is not stinky anymore.

This matter has to be pondered carefully, but it can't be too bad, and after a slight sigh, Yi Zhizhi said: "In view of the fact that you will be staying in Guangzhou for a long time, you must support yourself. ”

Upon hearing this, Bourli said vigilantly: "Your Excellency has promised that you will treat prisoners of war well. ”

"Treating prisoners of war well is just upholding humanitarianism and not mistreating prisoners of war, not letting you eat and drink for nothing and not doing anything." Yi Zhizhi glanced at him and said: "As a prisoner of war, you must have the consciousness of being a prisoner of war, from tomorrow, all prisoners of war will work separately in a company, and will not be provided with food if they do not complete the specified tasks." ”

There was no doubt that they were to be used as coolies, and Bourley said: "Your Excellency, this is an insult to the soldiers of the British Empire, and I protest!" ”

"Protests are ineffective." Yi Zhishu stood up and said: "If you don't want to go hungry, just complete the task obediently, in addition, if someone escapes, if one escapes, I will kill a prisoner of war, starting with the officer." With that, he walked away, leaving a room of stunned British officers.

Out of the prisoner of war camp, Yan Yang said genius: "Principal, how many regiments of prisoners of war in a company are arranged to guard bravely?" ”

"Are you really worried about them escaping?" Yi Zhizhi said: "I am not familiar with the place, the language is not understood, and the appearance is strange, let them escape, and they can't escape, just send a squad to guard it." As he spoke, he slowed down his pace, glanced at the few people behind him, and said slowly: "The battle of Dinghai has played the momentum of Yuanqi's group training, and everyone's spirit has changed significantly from before, which is a good thing."

Any strong army has a fine tradition and brilliant records, and it is gratifying that the Yuanqi regiment can achieve such a record in the first battle, but you must keep in mind that since ancient times, the arrogant army will be defeated, and if the British army is not arrogant and has no one in sight, there will be no such fiasco. ”

Yan Yangtian hurriedly said: "The principal's teachings, the students and others must remember them. (To be continued.) )