The trench fortifications of the Taiping army really did not learn home, although they were stacked horizontally and vertically, but they were not curved, but straight, and in order to prevent cavalry charges, the width of the trenches was also a bit outrageous, as for what artillery fire concealment, individual bunkers and the like were even more not, and the casualties were conceivable when encountering intensive shelling by mountain howitzers that could be shelled in curves. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 ｉｎｆｏ

The trenches were suddenly chaotic, and the officers and men who had never experienced such a terrible shelling were like frightened rabbits, running around in terror, and they all wanted to escape as soon as possible from the positions that had become hell, and no one believed that the trenches could evade the shelling, and the loud explosions, the pungent smell of gunsmoke, and the dust in the sky could not stop them from running wildly.

Yu Tianyang looked at this scene in a daze, his face instantly turned extremely pale, and he didn't even notice that his lips were biting and bleeding, and he had a deep sense of powerlessness in his heart, he couldn't fight this battle, he didn't even have a chance to fight back, this fucking was purely bullying people with artillery!

The deafening sound of artillery came and went, the shelling continued to extend backwards, and in the loud trumpets of the charge, the infantry who had long been ready to wait launched a tidal charge with muskets with bright bayonets, and almost when the cannonade stopped, the blue crowd had already overflowed the front two trenches and arrived under the earthen wall built by the Taiping army.

Seeing this, Chen Hongming put down the telescope in his hand, feeling very boring, this is simply a strong man fighting with a three-year-old doll, he even has a feeling of victory, "It's not at all on the same level, it's still Feng Renxuan's luck that has the opportunity to fight the Russians." ”

Yan Yangtian ignored him, holding a telescope and carefully observing the battlefield situation, although he had an absolute advantage, he didn't dare to be careless, after all, the Taiping army was battle-hardened, and if there was really an accident, there was no place for his face.

On the battlefield, Cantonese, Hakka, Zhuang, Hunanese, Mandarin, etc. shouted "Shoot or kill!" "One after another, the Taiping army, frightened by the shelling and dizzy by the sound of the explosion, was a little at a loss, not knowing whether to surrender or continue to resist.

Tian Yang, who was fighting on the city wall, was also hesitant, he knew very well that if he continued to fight, there would be only one result - the destruction of the whole army! But let him order the surrender, he couldn't say it, the military marshal Hou Yicheng was already panicked at this time, he didn't expect the artillery of Yuanqi's new army to be so powerful, he hurriedly pleaded: "General, withdraw, Yuezhou still relies on the general's command." ”

Cao Tianyang also knew that if he didn't withdraw, there was really no chance, so he gritted his teeth before he said in a deep voice: "Order surrender." After speaking, he quickly turned around and went down the city wall, at this moment, he thought very clearly, since he couldn't escape, why let them give their lives in vain, there are many old brothers he brought out from Guangxi.

The white flag was soon raised on the head of Chengling Jicheng, and Cao Tianyang and a group of his subordinates boarded a few clippers at the pier and hurriedly rowed to the other side of the river, fortunately, the heavy artillery on the river bank did not fire, and it seemed that he didn't notice these clippers at all.

Seeing the white flag raised at the head of the city, Yan Yangtian put down his binoculars and said in a deep voice: "Order, let them put the telegraph wire into the city as soon as possible." ”

Because of the Taiping Army, neither Hunan nor Guangxi laid telegraph lines, this time the army entered the suppression, Yi Zhizu ordered the engineering team to follow the army to move together, wherever the army went, the telegraph was laid, after all, there is nothing faster and more convenient than the telegram to transmit information.

"It's so convenient to have this telegram." Chen Hongming said with a smile: "I've set up a notice, and my fleet will come as soon as possible." ”

The frightened Yu Tianyang rushed back to Yuezhou City as quickly as possible, and then ordered to evacuate, not only the Yuezhou defenders withdrew, but also the water camp of Dongting Lake also evacuated with it, Yu Tianyang knew very well that after controlling Chenglingji and Yuezhou, the Yangtze River Navy fleet would soon go up the river, once the Yangtze River Navy fleet entered Dongting Lake, the water camp's warships were not at all the opponents of those mobile and flexible steam gunboats.

The next day, Yan Yangtian led a large army to recover Yuezhou without bloodshed, and the Yangtze River Navy fleet also set sail from Wuchang and quickly traced the river.

After receiving the telegram, Yi Zhishu just glanced at it, and then instructed in an indifferent tone: "Forward Wuchang and Jingshi." ”

After receiving the telegram from Kefu Yuezhou, Hunan Governor Zhang Liangji was greatly pleased, and hurriedly rushed to the Governor's Mansion to see Huguang Governor Qi Shan, after the Taiping Army occupied Hunan, he was the governor of Hunan in name only, nested in Wuchang City, not as good as a prefect, now Yuezhou Kefu, he is naturally excited, it is a good place to open a card!

Qi Shan could roughly guess Zhang Liangji's intention, and when he saw him come in to greet him, he said with a smile: "Brother Caichen can also be regarded as keeping the clouds open and seeing the moon." ”

Hearing this, Zhang Liangji's heart was hot, in the past few years, he has really been a governor, he has no money, no one wants people, and now he finally sees hope, he groaned slightly, he arched his hand and said: "My lord, it is impossible for the navy and the navy to stay in Yuezhou for a long time, and the lower officials want to go to Yuezhou to pacify the people......" ”

Appease the people? Qi Shan sneered secretly, although he understood his situation, but he was also a little anxious, and he groaned slightly, before he said: "The emperor's edict a few days ago, Brother Caichen still remembers?" ”

How could Zhang Liangji not remember the edict that made the governors of the southeastern provinces very excited? In his edict, Xianfeng not only expanded the military and financial power of the local governor, but also the right to protect the governor! After pondering for a while, he said: "The lower official is stupid, please ask the adults to dial." ”

Qi Shan slowly twisted his long beard under his chin and said: "The recovery of Hunan mainly relies on the Nanyang Navy and the Yangtze River Naval Division, Yuan Qi has always opposed the provinces to set up a Li card in the Yangtze River, Brother Caichen should have heard of it?" Besides, the prefect of Yuezhou Mansion, can Brother Caichen have a suitable candidate to be promoted? ”

What does the candidate for the prefect of Yuezhou Prefecture mean? Zhang Liangji pondered, and his heart was pulled out of the cold, and if he didn't set up a card in Yuezhou, where would he get the silver? If you can't guarantee officials, how can you make money? Isn't he, the governor, still an ornament? After hesitating, he said: "Hunan has been poisoned for a long time, and even if it recovers, it will be devastated everywhere, and all kinds of waste will be ...... to be revived." ”

Qi Shan glanced at him and said coldly: "Now that the saints of Yi Guocheng are thick, and one book is played, Brother Caichen might as well go to Qingshan Town to test it." ”

What to play a quasi-one, is impeachment one pour one! Zhang Liang Jiden cried and mourned his face, Baba had been suffering for a few years, and finally saw hope, but it was shattered in an instant, but he was still unwilling, and immediately bowed his hand and said: "Xiaguan will go to Qingshan Town." ”

Qi Shan sighed secretly and said, "Yuezhou is a great victory, Brother Caichen won't go empty-handed?" ”

Zhang Liangji was stunned, he has been an empty governor for several years, where can he still take out the money to sacrifice the army? After a turn of his mind, he said: "The prince and the master of the Taiwan will also go?" ”

Kefu Yuezhou, as a general, Mianyu and Huguang Governor Qi Shan naturally did not fail to say, the next day with a large amount of grain and pigs, cattle, sheep, chickens, ducks, fish and eggs and the like to Qingshan Town to reward the army, however, as soon as they docked at the dock of Qingshan Town, Guan Yousheng, the chief soldier of Wuchang Town, the Yangtze River Naval Division, came to greet him, and Yi Zhizhi took a boat back to Shanghai half an hour ago.

At this juncture, Yi Zhizhi actually rushed back to Shanghai? Mianyu and his entourage couldn't help but look at each other, could it be that something big had happened? Qi Shan hurriedly asked, "What's wrong?" ”

Guan Yousheng said: "Grandpa should have sent a telegram to you, I vaguely heard that it was a foreign affair." ”

Diplomacy? Mianyu's heart jumped, wouldn't it be that the signing of the contract between the imperial court and Citigroup was exposed? If this is the case, it will be troublesome, will Yi Zhishu withdraw his troops in anger?

On the steam gunboat that went down the east side of the river, Yi Zhixiang sorted out his thoughts over and over again, and it was naturally not a trivial matter for him to return to Shanghai at this juncture - Manila called and found that 25 warships of the British and French combined fleet were heading north through the South Seas, and the purpose was unknown.

To be honest, he is now puzzled, Britain and France have declared war on Russia, and at this time there should be no time to take care of the Far East, how could the combined Anglo-French fleet suddenly appear in the Far East?

What worries him even more is that he smells the crow a second time. In the smoke of war, he suspected that the sudden appearance of the combined fleet of Britain and France was a pure deterrent by force -- not long ago, he received a telegram that Britain, France, and the United States had jointly delivered credentials to Nanyang Prime Minister Yamen, requesting a revision of the treaty on the grounds that the "Jiangning Treaty" had been concluded for 12 years -- the entire territory of China was opened, foreign envoys were stationed in Beijing, the Yangtze River was traded, and the opium trade was legalized.

For such an unreasonable request, his call back was: resolutely and decisively, leaving no room for manoeuvre to refuse!

He remembered very well that the second time the crow. The trigger for the outbreak of the war was that Britain and France proposed to amend the treaty, but the Qing court refused. Originally, he thought that with the birth of Yuan Qi and the establishment of the Nanyang Navy, it would be impossible for the second crow to break out. Piece of war, now it seems that he treats himself too much!

If the sudden appearance of the Anglo-French combined fleet is to show off its force, it means that Britain and France did not take the South Seas Fleet in their eyes at all, for him, this is really a slap in the face, and what makes him even more unbelievable is that Citigroup is actually involved in it, how can he be embarrassed? It's not just a slap in the face, it's even a fucking mace!

If there is a second outbreak of crows. Piece Wars? What does it mean for Yuanqi? He can't and can't tolerate the Anglo-French alliance to hit the Beijing Division! However, the current scale of the Nanyang Navy is indeed far behind the naval strength of Britain and France, not to mention the Anglo-French alliance, that is, the navy of Britain, and the Nanyang Navy is not an opponent! Could it be that after so many years, it still can't be changed?

After passing through the Taiping Mansion, Yi Zhizhi received a telegram - the Beiyang Naval Division Zaizhao reported: Muravyov led 75 ships and carried 1,000 Cossack soldiers to break into the Heilongjiang River.

After reading this telegram, Yi Zhizhi was even more confused, Muravyov, he is no stranger, this person is the governor of Tsarist Russia's 'Eastern Siberia', it stands to reason that Russia should be mired in the Crimean War now, how can he still have the leisure to challenge the bottom line of the Qing Dynasty? Aren't you afraid of angering the Qing Dynasty?

No matter what the case may be, the bottom line cannot be trampled on! Yi Zhishu immediately replied - if the Beiyang Naval Division did not dare to go north to expel the Russians who invaded Heilongjiang, the Nanyang Fleet would not hesitate to send the fleet north, and the territory of the Qing Dynasty would be fought for every inch of land!

When the ship arrived in Jiangning, Zai Zhao sent a telegram back - hoping that the Nanyang Navy would send a fleet north to assist the Beiyang Navy Division in going north to expel the Russian fleet that had invaded Heilongjiang.

Seeing this telegram, Yi Zhicontent was completely speechless, and it was clear that the Beiyang Naval Division was afraid that the fleet would go north and cause the Tianjin army to be empty, but now that the British and French combined fleet is going north, where did it go, and what was the purpose? He didn't know at all, but one thing he was sure of was that there was no big war breaking out in Tianjin at this time! That is, the combined Anglo-French fleet will not appear in Tianjin!

In this case, how dare you send the Nanyang Fleet north to Heilongjiang? Fortunately, he had already arrived in Jiangning, and it would not take long to arrive in Shanghai by train, so he decided to figure out the situation first.

As soon as Yi Zhishu returned to Shanghai, Wu Changqing and Yan Shikuan rushed over as soon as possible, and after a slight greeting, Yi Zhixiang asked directly: "Is the situation of the new Minister to China and Governor of Hong Kong Bao Ling clear?" ”

"The big shopkeeper should have an impression of him." Wu Changqing said slowly: "This person is twenty out of sixty, he has been in China for six years, he was a member of the British House of Commons, Daoguang came to China for 29 years to serve as the British consul in Guangzhou, can speak Cantonese, Xianfeng went to Hong Kong in two years as the acting commercial director, in April this year, he was promoted to the governor of Hong Kong, and concurrently served as the commander of the British Army in Hong Kong, vice admiral, and the plenipotentiary representative and commercial superintendent of China, which can be regarded as a China expert. ”

After a pause, he continued: "This man advocated free trade, and when he was elected to the Legislature, he preached natural human rights, and claimed to be a fervent advocate of peace, but during his time in Canton and Hong Kong, he diligently tried to get the British into the city of Canton. ”

Although Guangzhou is a treaty port of four ports, foreigners have not been allowed to enter the city of Guangzhou, and only allowed to live freely in the commercial area outside the city to open factories, etc., for this reason, there are many contradictions between the local governor and the British, and the Nanyang Prime Minister Yamen is turning a blind eye to this, ignoring it, although the county seat of Shanghai is open to all foreigners, but also does not allow foreigners to settle down and set up factories in the county, the reason is very simple, it is easy to cause trouble.

Listening to Wu Changqing's words, Yi Zhizhi naturally remembered who this Bao Ling was, John Bowring, a bad old man, he had seen it a few times, but he didn't expect this old man to be on the throne, and he groaned slightly, and he said: "Take my post and invite him to come to the house to talk." ”

Yan Shikuan hurriedly got up and went out to Lin Meilian, Yi Zhizhi lit a cigarette, and said in a rambling voice: "After twelve years, what's the matter with revising the treaty?" ”

Hearing this, Wu Changqing said with a smile: "The "Jiangning Treaty" was personally reviewed by the big treasurer, and the big treasurer forgot, and there is one of them - the situation of each mouth is different, and all the trade and sea surface paragraphs may not be without a slight adaptation, and it should be twelve years later, and the two countries will send personnel to handle it fairly and discretionally." ”

There are a lot of clauses in the "Jiangning Treaty", Wu Changqing didn't say it, Yi Zhishu really couldn't remember this article, he couldn't help but smile and said: "In the future, when we sign treaties with other countries, we have to learn lessons." ”