On the day that the Guangdong Navy Division and Yuan Qi Tuanlian left Dinghai, Wu Ergong, the governor of Zhejiang Province in Hangzhou, received a secret order from Daoguang in an urgent manner of 800 li -- if the Guangdong Navy Division recovered Dinghai, he would quickly go to Dinghai to announce the decree, ordering the Guangdong Navy Division to hold on to Dinghai in case Yingyi captured Dinghai again.

Wu Ergong, who was immersed in the joy of recovering Dinghai, saw this secret decree, and then realized that he was too happy too early, and Yingyi would attack Dinghai? This is not a joke, if Dinghai falls again, even if it is lost in the hands of the Guangdong Navy, he, the governor of Zhejiang, is afraid that he will not be able to escape the blame.

However, calm down, he felt that something was wrong, the more he pondered, the more he felt that it was wrong, recovering Dinghai from Yingyi's hands, this is not a small credit, although Daoguang may not have received the good news of recovering Dinghai now, but this secret decree is based on the premise that the Guangdong Sailor regained Dinghai, why only let the Guangdong Sailor stick to Dinghai, but there is no word of praise and encouragement?

After a little silence, he ordered, "Send someone to ask Mr. Bao." ”

Not long after, dressed in a gray robe, gray beard Bao Shichen slowly walked into the signing room, Bao Shichen, the word Shenbo, the number tired, Anhui Jing County, since childhood, poor family, hard study, work words, economic strategy, like to talk about soldiers. Jiaqing was 13 years old (Chinese New Year's Eve was 34 years old), but he failed the examination (entrance examination) repeatedly.

The year before last, the 64-year-old Bao Shichen was only tried as the Xinyu County Order of Jiangxi Province, only a little more than a year, and was impeached and dismissed, since then he has been disheartened with officialdom, he was the governor of Liangjiang Tao Shu's staff, diligent in the study of the world, good at economics, and in the transportation, water conservancy, salt, agriculture, folk customs, criminal law, military and other aspects have profound insights.

Every time the southeast officials encounter soldiers, famine, river, Cao, salt and other giant politics, often consult him, so famous Jianghuai, Lin Zexu went to Guangzhou to ban smoking, passing through Jiangxi, and had specifically consulted him, the outbreak of the Qing-British War, the British army captured Dinghai, he was extremely concerned about the loss of his position, and simply stayed in Hangzhou after passing by, Wu Ergong took the boss's strength to invite him into the governor's department, and treated him with the courtesy of Mr.

Entering the signing room, Bao Shichen said with a smile: "My lord is here, but the silver and materials for rewarding the Guangdong sailors have been prepared?" The reason why he asked this was because he had discussed with Wu Ergong, and he went to Dinghai ****, he wanted to take this opportunity to learn more about the situation of the Guangdong Sailor, and the Guangdong Sailor had won many victories, and he had vaguely guessed that it was because of Yuanqi's group training.

"Mr. Bao, please take a seat." Wu Ergong politely stretched out his hand to give up his seat, and when he sat down, he didn't talk nonsense, and handed over Daoguang's secret decree directly, and said, "Mr. Bao, take a look." ”

After reading Daoguang's secret decree, Bao Shichen didn't say anything for a long time, and Wu Ergong said in a muffled voice: "There was a great victory in front of the Guangdong Navy, and this time he recovered Dinghai, but the emperor sent this secret decree urgently for 800 miles, and it was necessary to send it to Dinghai with two pieces of silver and materials?" ”

"Send, of course you have to send, 100,000 taels is not enough, it's better to add another 100,000 taels." Bao Shichen said in a deep voice.

Hearing this, Wu Ergong hesitated and said, "The power of heaven is unpredictable. ”

"The honor and disgrace of an adult's life are all tied to Dinghai." Bao Shichen said: "Even if the imperial court snubs the Guangdong sailors, the adults must not be snubbed, but doubled the envelope. As he spoke, he sighed and said, "This time, I'm afraid that there will be trouble with the Yuanqi group practice." ”

Yuanqi group practice? Wu Ergong was a little inexplicable, and couldn't help but say: "Yuanqi Bank has heard that Yuanqi has also formed a group to practice?" ”

"From now on, Yuanqi will become the focus of attention of the government and the opposition, and adults should pay more attention to Yuanqi." Bao Shichen said slowly: "Why can the Guangdong Navy Division completely annihilate the Yingyi Guangdong Fleet in Modaoyang? Why did you dare to send troops, and you can win a battle and successfully recover Dinghai? It is not because the British are not good, nor is it because the combat power of the Guangdong Navy Division is the best in the Eight Banners Green Battalion, but because the Guangdong Navy Division has the support of the Yuanqi Regiment behind it. ”

After a pause, he continued: "In the next good economic way, for Yuanqi, for Yuanqi shopkeeper Yi Zhizhi are very interested, and the correspondence with friends in Guangzhou is endless, all the talk is Yuanqi, is to understand the situation of Yuanqi, Yuanqi group practice is the Liangguang Governor Lin Butang urged Yuanqi to form. ”

After listening to Bao Shichen's detailed introduction to the situation of Yuanqi's group practice, Wu Ergong couldn't help but gasp, secretly thinking that this Lin Zexu is too bold, isn't he afraid of raising tigers? Groaning slightly, he said in disbelief: "Yuanqi regimental training has only been formed for half a year, and the combat power is still above the Eight Banners Green Battalion?" ”

"It is understood that the combat power of the Guangdong Navy Division is even more unbearable than that of the Zhejiang Navy Division." Bao Shichen said: "But the Guangdong Navy Division can defeat Yingyi again and again, which shows the high combat power of the Yuanqi Regiment. ”

After a slight sigh, Wu Ergong said with concern: "The emperor's secret decree is just to make the Guangdong sailors stick to Dinghai, will the Yuanqi group practice stay?" ”

"It's hard to say." Bao Shichen said: "This is also the reason why the Lord will double the reward of silver, and Yuan Qi is very profitable." ”

Wu Ergong nodded and said, "Early tomorrow morning, rush to Dinghai." ”

Waiting for Wu Ergong and Bao Shichen to arrive at Dinghai, only to know that the Guangdong Navy Division had all returned to Guangzhou two days ago, and heard that the Admiral Zhu Ting Biao reported that Wu Ergong was distracted for a while, and the Guangdong Navy Division actually returned to Guangzhou, if Yingyi attacked Dinghai again, how to defend it? Besides, Daoguang's secret decree could not be read, and he could not rush to Guangzhou to read the secret decree to the Guangdong sailor.

When he came back to his senses, he glared at Zhu Tingbiao with some annoyance, and said in a deep voice: "Zhu Junmen didn't say it clearly, Ben Fu wants to come to reward?" ”

Zhu Tingbiao smiled bitterly and said: "The last general promised to make a lot of profits, and promised to take the first credit, but the other party has no intention of going, and he can't keep it, but." After hesitating, he continued: "The commander of Yuanqi's group training, the great treasurer of Yuanqi, Yi Zhi, said that if Yingyi came to attack, he could tell Yingyi that all Yingyi prisoners of war had been escorted to Guangzhou by the Guangdong Navy. ”

Hearing this, Bao Shichen couldn't help but secretly praise, and said with a smile: "Yi Zhi's words are enough to solve the danger of the sea, as long as Dinghai is ready for battle, Yingyi will definitely not attack, and will turn the spearhead to Guangzhou." ”

"The shopkeeper of Yida said the same." Zhu Tingbiao glanced at Bao Shichen as he spoke, and then said: "In addition, the shopkeeper of Yida has also planned detailed fortifications for Dinghai, which have been being built these days, and they will be completed in two days, these fortifications can greatly resist the artillery of Yingyi, in addition. He then went on to talk about Yi Zhi's contentment to purchase artillery ammunition and train gunners for Dinghai.

The factory listened to it and said: "The rumors are true, and this easy contentment is really long-term." After a slight pause, he said: "These materials for the army, the adults will convert them into silver taels and remit them to Yuanqi, which can be regarded as a good fate, and then Dinghai or Zhejiang is in trouble, maybe you can ask Yuanqi to help." ”

Hearing this, Wu Ergong hesitated and said: "If the Guangdong sailor is stationed in Dinghai, the **** will be justified and sent to Guangzhou, which seems to be against the rules." ”

Bao Shichen turned his head to look at the harbor, as if he hadn't heard it, when was it, and he also talked about the rules, this silver was remitted to Yuan Qi, which not only showed the knowledge and interest of Zhejiang, but also allowed Yuan Qi to be merciful when purchasing artillery ammunition for Zhejiang, such a cost-effective thing, but looking ahead, he really looked down on it.

But for Yi Zhicontent, he became more and more interested, this kid is really a character, not only an economic talent, but also a talent for training and commanding the army, he killed decisively at a young age, and he succeeded in one blow, and then retreated, and it seemed that he had long expected that the imperial court would force them to stick to Dinghai.

I have to say that the Guangdong Sailor and the Yuanqi group practice stayed in Dinghai, they must be passive everywhere, Daoguang's mind is not difficult to guess, it is nothing more than to see Yingyi and Yuanqi group practice to fight for both sides, since Daoguang has this mind, Yuanqi group practice and Yuanqi's days are afraid that it will be difficult in the future, Daoguang can't make a plan, there must be a plan, I don't know if Yi Zhixiang can take that kid.

To say, he originally had a very bad impression of the merchants of the Thirteen Lines, and the reason was that the crows in Guangzhou. Piece smuggling, he has always thought of Canton crows. Smuggling is rampant, and the thirteen merchants are not unrelated, the war broke out in Qingying, he once thought that the thirteen merchants instigated it, but Yuan Qi assisted the Guangdong sailors to win a success, completely subverted his original idea, for Yuan Qi, for the thirteen lines, he is now full of good feelings,

Looking at the sea, he suddenly had an idea in his heart, go to Guangzhou, Guangzhou not only has Yuanqi, Lin Zexu is also there, it is better than staying in Zhejiang, Qingying This battle, the main battlefield is not in Jiangnan, not in Tianjin Jingshi, it should be in Guangzhou!

Guangzhou Huangpu Port, Lin Zexu led the civil and military officials of Guangzhou to wait at the port wharf, and all the gentry and merchants who could move around outside the city also rushed over, all came to meet the Guangdong sailors and Yuanqi regimental training who had recovered Dinghai and returned triumphantly, and the sailors and Yuanqi regimental training were in the grinding knife ocean to completely annihilate the British Guangdong Fleet, captured more than ten warships, and captured more than 1,000 Yingyi The news has already spread in Guangzhou.

In addition to the officials, gentry and merchants, the wharf was also crowded with ordinary people, all vying to see the triumphant return of the sailors and Yuan Qi regimental training, and most importantly, the shadow and fear of war brought about by the great invasion of England were dispelled by these two successive victories.

The two successive victories made all the officials and gentlemen in Guangzhou full of confidence, and the sailors and Yuanqi regimental training were fully capable of resisting the British army's attack on Guangzhou, and the British army, which was strong in ships and guns, was not the opponent of the Qing Dynasty at all.

A large number of Western sailing ships appeared in people's sight from afar, and the entire Huangpu Port was in a commotion, Lin Zexu stood in the temporary shed set up at the wharf, looking at the sails like clouds, with indescribable joy in his heart, with a faint smile on his face.

With negligible casualties, he won the first battle, captured Dinghai, captured six British warships, sank two, captured nearly 4,000 British troops, and captured countless large and small artillery.

With these two great victories, he is enough to give an explanation to the imperial court, and it is enough to give an explanation to the people of the world, not only can he survive this career crisis, but he may also be able to make further progress, and his reputation in the court and the opposition will also be unparalleled for a while.

All of this was brought to him by Yi Zhifen, he was proud of his trust in Yi Zhifen, no one knows better than him, what kind of consequences will be brought about by the failure of sending troops to Dinghai, and he will transfer troops to cross provincial expeditions without following orders, only this one is enough to erase the credit of sharpening the sword and the great victory, and it is enough to make him leave from the post of the governor of Liangguang, of course, if he wins, no one will account for this, and no one will dare to mention it, even Daoguang will not think about it.

On the sailor's flagship, Yi Zhizu stood on the bow deck with a cigar in his hand, looking at the Huangpu Port that was getting closer and clearer, and he didn't know what he was thinking, Guan Tianpei walked behind him, saw that he didn't notice, coughed lightly, and quipped: "I think so distractedly, but I am thinking about the ****** at home?" ”

Yi Zhizhi smiled contentedly, turned to look at him, and said, "You say, can the two governors of Lin Butang do it for a long time?" ”

"What do you mean?" Guan Tianpei said in surprise: "There have been two great victories in a row, and the recovery of Dinghai is even more rare, and it is not enough for Lin Butang to redeem the holy family?" ”

"I have a feeling of self-defeating." Easy to be content with a sullen road.

"Self-defeating?" Guan Tianpei glared at him and said, "Don't scare the old man." ”

Yi Zhizu turned to look at Huangpu Port, and his voice was a little dry, "Jingshi has a lot of eyes and ears in Guangzhou. Smuggling is rampant, the Guangdong Navy Division should be the focus of the Beijing Division, the two battles of Sharpening the Knife Ocean and Dinghai, even if the Yuanqi group practice is low-key, it can't hide the scrutiny of people with a heart, Lin Butang is a Han Chinese, and the court is afraid that it will not rest assured. ”

"What does it mean to be content, the imperial court will send a man to be the governor of Liangguang?" Guan Tianpei said with concern: "What about Lin Butang? Transferred back to Jingshi? Cabinet? ”

Yi Zhishu groaned: "It's hard to say, I don't know much about the situation in the imperial court. "To be honest, he only cares about Guangzhou, Jingshi, and the court now, he just cares, but he also cares about it, he doesn't have that idle time.

Guan Tianpei is a Han Chinese, and the Han military generals can be the commander is already at the top, and he is a handful of years, so he doesn't care much about the situation in the court, but he feels that the worry of being content is not unreasonable, Yuan Qi's group training scale is strong, and the financial resources are abundant, it really does not make people worry, those Manchu relatives and nobles are difficult to say that they will not slander in front of Daoguang, and he groaned slightly, he said worriedly: "Is there a way to make up for it?" (To be continued.) )