Shanghai, Yanjiang Avenue, and Xiang Ji. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

Hexiang Kee is a famous tea house in the new city that takes both Chinese and Western tastes, not only has a variety of Chinese tea and dim sum but also coffee and Western pastries, and the geographical location is also excellent, sitting on the second floor of the street window can overlook the scenery of the Huangpu River, the business is very prosperous.

On a table at the window facing the street, Zai Zhao looked at the Huangpu River outside the window, casually stirred the coffee with a spoon, and said slowly: "This official of the military gate is free and easy, without losing the true character of the shopkeeper, and I don't know when he will return to Shanghai, so let's just keep waiting?" ”

Su Shun, who was sitting opposite, said with a smile: "I wish I could stay in Shanghai for a while longer, it's much more comfortable than Jingshi." ”

Zaizhao turned his head and glanced at him, "Are you worried that the errand will not be easy?" ”

"Your errand may not be easy?" Su Shun took a sip of tea, "Yuan Qi is an immigrant and a disaster relief during this time, and he has to go out of the river to the Industrial and Silver Mountains, and Jinshan Yinshan can't help but toss like this, do you still want the military gate to buy warships for the Beiyang Naval Division?" It's not the right time to come. ”

Zaizhao also knew that this matter was difficult to do, and there was no need to let him come to Shanghai if it was easy to do, so he sighed lightly before he said: "You say, will the military gate deliberately avoid us, right?" ”

"Can you do it?" Su Shun said slowly: "You don't know the character of the military gate. ”

The two were chatting without a word, and an entourage hurried over, whispered a few words in Su Shun's ear, waved his hand to send the entourage away, and Su Shun smiled and said: "Good news, the Tsarist Russian mission has arrived in Shanghai, and if nothing happens, the military gate will return to Shanghai soon." ”

Tsarist Russian Mission? Zai Zhao paused for a moment, "From the northwest?" ”

"From Ili." Su Shun said: "Tsarist Russia demanded the opening of trade between Ili, Tarbagatai and Kashgar, and asked for negotiations in Ili, and the Ili general Yishan sent them to Shanghai. ”

No wonder Yi Zhizhi wants to send troops to the northwest, this Tsarist Russia is really looking at the northwest, Zaizhao groaned, and then said: "The military gate went to Nanyang, even if it comes back, I am afraid it will be a month or two later." ”

"That's not for sure." Su Shun said and stood up, "Idle is also idle, let's go, let's go to Yishan to nag and find out the situation in the northwest." ”

For the northwest, Zai Zhao is also full of interest, he knows very well that since the navy is meddling in the northwest, then there will definitely be war in the northwest, when he stands up, but, just when he turned around, he caught a glimpse of the three steam gunboats hanging the navy flag on the Huangpu River are rapidly going upstream, both of them have been in the Nanyang Navy for a long time, and when they look at the flag on the gunboat in the middle, both of them are happy, and they are content to come back!

After returning to the mansion, after taking a bath and changing clothes, Yi Zhishu slowly came to the study, and as soon as he entered the courtyard, Zaizhao and Su Shun, who were dressed in naval uniforms, quickly greeted him and saluted: "Students Su Shun and Zaizhao have seen the principal." Wearing military uniforms and thinking of themselves as students, this was negotiated by the two, in order to make Yi Zhixiang take care of the old feelings, both of them studied at the Shanghai Naval Academy, and Yi Zhixiang also taught them as the principal, and the two also said in the past.

After looking the two of them up and down a few times, Yi Zhizhi smiled and said, "Which one is this singing?" Zhiyuan is still in the Beiyang Naval Division, but it is also said that in the past, Yuting is now a household servant, why is he still wearing a military uniform? ”

Su Shun smiled: "When I came to see the principal, I still feel more comfortable wearing military uniforms." ”

He naturally understood this little thought, and he was too lazy to break it, so he stretched out his hand and said, "Go in and say." When he entered the room and sat down, he said straightforwardly: "Don't go around in circles, just talk about something." ”

Both of them knew that they didn't know how many were waiting in the courtyard at this time, and Su Shun immediately smiled, "The student, the household servant, is just a nominal person, and he came to Shanghai to issue official bills and treasure banknotes for ......the imperial court. ”

Before he finished speaking, Yi Zhishu waved his hand to interrupt him, "This matter is purely a blind toss, Qi Zhongtang and Zhuo Zhongtang will not dissuade them, doing this, sooner or later something big will happen, Yuan Qi's acceptance of the official ticket treasure is to add fuel to the fire, that is, to help the abuse, there is no room for negotiation in this matter, you don't understand finance, let Wu Qijun and Wang Maoyin come, I will teach them a good lesson." ”

For this result, Su Shun was already prepared, and immediately smiled and said: "Okay, the student will write a letter, and the two of them will come to Shanghai." ”

After he finished speaking, Zai Zhao said: "The students are here for the battleship, and the principal also said that in the future, the battleship will be dominated by steam ironclad ships, and the Beiyang Navy Division hopes to be equipped with several steam gunboats for training." ”

Yi Zhixiang did say this, he muttered: "Now the Yangtze River Naval Division urgently needs a large number of steam gunboats to pretend to sleep in the Taiping Army Naval Division, however, the Beiyang Naval Division should indeed train the technical talents of the steam gunboats as soon as possible, so let's give you two first, two ships per year in the future, and then consider a large number of equipment after pacifying the Taiping Army, how about it?" ”

Being able to get two, Zaizhao was already overjoyed, and hurriedly said, "Principal Xie." ”

"Hmm." Yi Zhishu nodded, "Shuwen just came back, you can go see her tomorrow." Before the words fell, Lin Meilian reported at the door: "General Yili Yishan came to visit, accompanied by Counselor Minister Bu Yantai, Feng Renxuan, and Zuo Zongtang. ”

"Invite them in." Yi Zhisuff commanded, and when he saw Zaizhao and Su Shun, he stretched out his hand and pressed it weakly, and said: "You also listen to the affairs of the northwest, and you will also attend the negotiations with Tsarist Russia." ”

"Principal Xie!" The two hurriedly said in unison.

"Yishan and Buyantai are outsiders, don't be rude, welcome them with me." Yi Zhishu got up and walked out of the study as he spoke, Zaizhao and Su Shun glanced at each other, and they all smiled knowingly, Yi Zhishu really looked at the people who came out of the Nanyang Navy differently.

At the gate of the courtyard, Yishan and his entourage greeted each other, and exchanged a few words of greetings, and everyone politely entered the house and sat down, Yi Zhizhi glanced at everyone, and said slowly: "Let me say one thing first, everyone here must keep in mind that Tsarist Russia is the biggest and most dangerous enemy of our Qing Dynasty!" It is also the enemy who poses the greatest threat to our Qing Dynasty! The threat to us is greater and more direct than that of Western countries, because Tsarist Russia has a long border with us for tens of thousands of miles.

Tsarist Russia has been ambitious since the founding of the country, and has been constantly expanding abroad, a history of Tsarist Russia is a history of expansion, with the opening of the Age of Discovery, whoever can dominate the sea, who can dominate the world, the purpose of Tsarist Russia's expansion is to find a port - to find a suitable port in the four oceans!

As early as the last century, Peter the Great of Tsarist Russia put forward the strategy of going south -- that is, going south to the Indian Ocean to obtain warm water ports, militarily connecting the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean, and controlling the sea lanes, so as to dominate the world!

In order to implement this national policy, Tsarist Russia has been working hard to go south for nearly a hundred years, and carry out uninterrupted conquest, encroachment and encroachment on Central Asia, because this is the only way for Tsarist Russia to go south! In the last century, Tsarist Russia built the Siberian fortress line, and its power continued to expand southward along the Irtysh River, gradually encroaching on the Kazakh steppe. Speaking of this, he paused and asked, "What is the situation in the northwest now?" ”

Everyone who listened to these words looked at each other, and no one expected that Tsarist Russia's ambitions were so great, and after a slight groan, Yishan spoke: "Tsarist Russia has now invaded the deep area of the upper reaches of the Irtysh River, and is constantly expanding into the Kazakh steppe, establishing many fortresses east and south of Lake Balkhash, and connecting these fortresses. ”

"Tsarist Russia called this line the Novosibirsk fortress line." Feng Renxuan continued, as he spoke, he took out a pair of maps, and Yi Zhishu hurriedly ordered: "Hang it up, hang it on the wall." ”

Zuo Zongtang hurriedly stepped forward to help, the two of them unfolded the map together and hung it on the wall, Yi Zhizu and others all got up and stood in front of the map, this is a large simple map of the northwest, although it is simple, but the rivers, mountains and lakes are clearly marked.

Feng Renxuan did not have any stage fright, pointed to the map and said aloud: "In 1831, Fort Sergeo was established on the Chinese territory between Lake Balkhash and Lake Zaisan to curb the external traffic of Tarbagatai.

From 1847 to the present, Tsarist Russia established two military strongholds in Kopal and Vilna east and south of Lake Balkhash, called the Novosibirsk Fortress Line, and then occupied a large area of territory in the Seven River basin east and south of Lake Balkhash, and moved south into the Brut settlements in the Issyk-Kul Lake and Chu River basins.

Subsequently, Tsarist Russia captured Akmechety, forcibly occupied Gurbanaritu, and built the Vilna fortifications to cut off the roads between Ili and the Central Asian khanates.

As a result, Tsarist Russia basically formed the Syr Darya defense line and the Ili River Chu River defense line, and these two defense lines were like a huge chain, forming a huge encirclement of Ili and Tarbagatai, and constantly advancing. ”

He pointed to the map and explained it in detail, and even Su Shun and Zaizhao, who did not understand the situation in the northwest, listened to this explanation, and the situation in the northwest was also clear at a glance.

Yi Zhizu glanced at him approvingly, and said, "You have also experienced it in the northwest in the past few years, and you have a strong sense of the overall situation." ”

Feng Renxuan hurriedly stood up and said: "The subordinates don't dare to take credit, because the military sect has taught them well." ”

Yi Zhizhi smiled contentedly, stretched out his hand and said, "Sit." After everyone sat down, he said slowly: "The situation in the northwest is now generally clear, and you are discussing how to reply to Tsarist Russia's request for trade between the three places in Ili." ”

Su Shun said without hesitation: "Tsarist Russia's ambition to annex Ili and Tarbahatai is already obvious, since it has enough strength, it should be resolutely refused, there is no need to talk to them at all!" ”

Zaizhao also echoed: "There is really no need to talk to them, not to mention the invasion of our territory, but also to open a port for trade, it is really too deceitful!" ”

Yishan glanced at the two of them, and said slowly: "Everything is still from the overall situation, what is the situation in the country now, if there is a war in the northwest, the imperial court can deal with it?" ”

"The use of soldiers in the northwest has always been money and food." Bu Yantai looked at Yi Zhizhi and said: "If Yuan Qi supports it, it might as well frustrate the Russians' spirit." ”

Yi Zhizu slowly glanced at a few people, looked at Feng Renxuan and said, "What does Ji Rong think?" ”

"Looking at the overall situation, the subordinates might as well indulge the Russians for the time being." Feng Renxuan said and raised his head to look at Yi Zhicontent, "Does the military still insist on judging the Russian-Turkish war?" ”

Hearing this, everyone looked at Yi Zhicontent, when he sent troops to the northwest, Yi Zhixiang said that a big war would break out between Tsarist Russia and Turkey, and it would sweep the whole of Europe, and now it has been several years.

"There is a certain inevitability of the outbreak of war, and there is also a great deal of chance." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "From the analysis of the cycle of the outbreak of war between Russia and Turkey, the next war should break out in the next two years, and I am also in favor of connivance." ”

Zuo Zongtang, who had been silent, spoke: "What if the lord misjudges? ”

Misjudgment? The corners of Yi Zhi's mouth curled, and he clenched his fist and shook it, "Everything depends on strength to speak, as long as you have enough strength, the treaty is a piece of waste paper!" If Ben Jue makes a mistake in judgment, tears up the treaty negotiated with Tsarist Russia, and directly sends troops to the northwest to recover all the territories that have been annexed by Tsarist Russia, all the expenses will be borne by Yuanqi! ”

These words were full of confidence and domineering, and everyone listened to them, and Yishan muttered: "Is the navy sure to recover the lost territory in the northwest?" ”

Yi Zhishu glanced at him, and said indifferently: "I don't even have the certainty of recovering the lost territory, what kind of expansion are you talking about?" After a pause, he continued: "Brother Jingxuan is General Ili, and the negotiations with the Russians are still presided over by you, and I will not participate for the time being." ”

Hearing this, Yishan waved his hand again and again and said: "This can't be done, negotiating with Western foreign affairs, it is not the director of the country, the brother of Guocheng is the minister of the South Seas, how dare he trespass in the next, or the brother of the city of Guocheng presided." ”

Yi Zhizhi said: "Brother Jingxuan doesn't have to shirk, talk to them first, and finally I will sign." ”

Listening to the preliminary negotiations, Yishan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and immediately responded cheerfully, and after a slight pause, he smiled and said: "Brother Guocheng, can you support a batch of Western muskets in the green battalion of Tarbahatai, and you can buy it!" There are two gold mines in Tarbagatai, one is the Yargatu gold mine in the southwest of Tacheng, and the other is the Dardamtu gold mine, both of which can produce gold every day...... It was also claimed that the gold mines belonged to Russia. ”

Nissan Doujin? Yi Zhizu raised his eyebrows, the density of gold is large, a bucket of gold is not a decimal, at least more than a hundred catties, he chuckled: "Nissan Doujin, is it an exaggeration?" ”

"It's not an exaggeration." Yishan hurriedly said: "There are two mines, each with four or five thousand people mining gold, and Nissan Doujin should be a conservative estimate." ”

That large scale of mining? Yi Zhi's heart was moved, and he muttered a little before he said: "Now that the war in Hunan is tight, guns are given priority to the New Army of the Eight Banners, and the expansion of the army in the northwest is also imminent, and the purchase of guns is also very tense now...... In this way, two regiments were dispatched to the Tarbagatai gold mining area to maintain order, and of course, the mining tax that should be paid was a lot of money. ”

"Done!" Yishan said briskly, the two gold mines of the local government can't be touched at all, let alone touched, the mining tax can't be collected, the gold miners are all ganged up, the mining tax paid is symbolic, and the Russians are also introduced, causing disputes, and letting the navy garrison, it can be said that it can be counted in one fell swoop, and the imperial court will not have an opinion.