To order five warships of the Sea Fleet? Yilu and Barrett couldn't help but look at each other, it was obvious that the other party was dissatisfied with their burning of the four warships, and after a slight flurry, Yilu barely squeezed out a smile, "Mr. Yi doesn't want to preserve the strength of the Dinghai Fleet?" ”

"Why pretend to be confused?" Yi Zhizu said slowly: "I mean, when your main fleet is severely damaged or completely annihilated, I hope that your army will try its best to preserve the strength of the two fleets of Hong Kong and Dinghai." Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 ｉｎｆｏ”

Hearing this, Yilu's heart moved, and he said tentatively: "Where is the main fleet of our army now?" ”

In this case, Yi Zhishu didn't need to hide it from him, and said truthfully: "We are attacking Zhenjiang with all our might." ”

"Has Yuan Qi deployed troops in Zhenjiang?"

"Nope." Yi Zhisuff took a puff of his cigar and slowly spit it out, then he said unhurriedly: "Zhenjiang is just delaying the trip of your army's main fleet, where to let the Yuanqi regiment practice show up ......." ”

Yilu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, in this way, the main fleet has not lost anything now, everything has come in time, however, Yi Zhizhi wants five warships, or a third-class ship, four fourth-class ships, this appetite is not ordinarily big, he groaned slightly, and then he said: "Mr. Yi, although I am the deputy envoy to China for negotiations, I have no right to let the Dinghai Fleet hand over the five warships, even if the order is given, the commander of the Dinghai Fleet will not obey." ”

"Then there's no way to talk about it." Yi Zhisuff spread his hands, "I can't gamble the lives of Wu Song's 6,000 soldiers on the character of General Pudingcha." So saying, he stood up and commanded, "Send off!" ”

Seeing this posture, Yilu was really anxious, and hurriedly said, "Mr. Yi, can you let me go back to the Dinghai Fleet to persuade them." ”

"Absolutely." Yi Zhishu said without hesitation: "Both of you can go, but considering the noble status of the two, it is not too much to use two fourth-class ships as ransom, right?" ”

So expensive ransom? Yilu was startled, and hurriedly said, "No, no, Mr. Yi, we are not worth such a high ransom." ”

"Of course it's worth it!" Yi Zhizhi said: "Your Excellency's order made Yuan Qi lose four warships, and in my opinion, this ransom is still low." ”

Yi Lu Deng had a feeling of wanting to cry without tears, burning four warships, it seems that the other party was not lightly offended, absolutely not lightly!

The sun sets, the sea breeze gusts, Baoshan East Gate Tower, Yi Zhizu looked at the mouth of the Yangtze River without saying a word, Yan Yangtian didn't know what he was thinking, in fact, from Haikou to Wusong, Baoshan, Chongming have built lookout posts, once the British fleet is found on the sea, the news can be transmitted to Baoshan in a few minutes.

"Report." A personal guard hurriedly climbed the tower and saluted and reported: "Mr. Bao and Liu Zhixian ask to see you." ”

"Ask them to come up." Yi Zhishu said and ordered: "Go and move a few chairs." ”

Seeing that he spoke, Yan Yangtian hurriedly seized the opportunity and said, "The principal is looking forward to the arrival of the British Dinghai Fleet?" ”

Yi Zhizhi smiled contentedly, and said with interest: "Why are you looking forward to the Dinghai Fleet coming?" ”

"The Dinghai Fleet is not a threat to Wusong Baoshan." Yan Yangtian said loudly: "The Dinghai Fleet is coming, for us, it is a rare opportunity for actual combat training, if we don't get it right, we can still wrap the Dinghai Fleet with dumplings." ”

"With the strength of this idea, we can't eat the Dinghai Fleet, and we will die of it!" Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "The idea of actual combat training is good, but the current situation is unclear, and we can't waste ammunition." As he spoke, he pointed to the Yangjiazui Fort and said, "A few people will be sent to take Yilu and Barrett to Wusong Fort all the way." ”

As he spoke, Bao Shichen and Liu Guangdou had already gone up to the tower, and Yi Zhizu greeted him and smiled: "Mr. Bao and Lord Liu, why are they here?" ”

Bao Shichen hurriedly bowed his hand and said: "I heard that Baoshan has won a great victory, and I have come to congratulate my lord." ”

Liu Guangdou saluted respectfully and said: "The victory in Baoshan is another rare victory after Dinghai, and the gentry and merchants of Shanghai celebrated in the city, and specially prepared a batch of pigs, sheep, vegetables and vegetables to reward ....... As he spoke, he hurriedly took out a gift slip and presented it.

Yuan Qi Tuanlian regained Wusong Baoshan, Shanghai will be safe, Yi Zhizu took the gift list and glanced at it casually, three hundred fat pigs, five hundred sheep, three thousand stone ...... rice, this is at least tens of thousands of taels of silver, slightly groaning, he said: "Wusong Baoshan victory, indispensable to the credit of Shanghai Yiyong, Yiyong is the county government single-handedly recruited and formed, Liu Daren is indispensable." ”

Listening to these words, Liu Guangdou was full of joy, Wu Song Baoshan was victorious, this is a great achievement, even if it is mentioned by the way, it is enough for him to benefit for life, he hurriedly bowed down and said: "The grace of cultivation and promotion of adults, the lower officials are unforgettable." ”

"Lord Liu doesn't need to be polite." Yi Zhizhi shook the gift list as he spoke, "We are not transit soldiers, and this official will not be able to move the nest for a while, this gift is not .......light." ”

Liu Guangdou hurriedly said: "My lord, borrow a hundred guts from the lower officials, and the lower officials do not dare to order the gentry and merchants to sacrifice the army, this is indeed a fundraising organized by the General Chamber of Commerce." ”

Hearing that it was organized by the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce, Yi Zhizhi put his mind at ease, handed over the gift list to Yan Yangtian, and instructed: "After each group is divided, improve the food." After speaking, he looked at Bao Shichen and said, "Is there an urgent report in Zhenjiang?" ”

"Yes." Bao Shichen said and handed over a few urgent reports, and said: "There are urgent reports in Zhenjiang and Jiangyin. ”

"You may be seated." Yi Zhizhi said that he would first open the urgent report from Jiangyin, Chen Huacheng said very simply, the last column of the British army arrived in Jiangyin, sent two sampans to land, was expelled by the local regiment, and then the fleet passed through Jiangyin and went up the river.

It seems that the vigilance of the British army is quite high, after delaying for so many days, the last column only crossed Jiangyin, and also sent troops to land to try, Chen Huacheng is worthy of being a veteran, he can actually hold back, and only let the local regiment practice to drive away, now the British army should rest assured, Chen Huacheng can also let go of the arrangement in Jiangyin.

Zhenjiang's urgent report is also simple: after the British army captured Shanshan and Jinshan, they did not rush to launch an attack on Zhenjiang, but anchored on the Jinshan River and waited for the follow-up fleet.

Forwarded a few urgent reports to Bao Shichen, Yi Zhizhi lit a cigar, the British army has not yet launched an attack on Zhenjiang, this is good news, Shanghai to Zhenjiang is only five hundred miles, a day and a night of hard work can definitely send the letter of Yilu to Pu Dingcha. If Yilu could persuade the Dinghai Fleet to take the initiative to hand over five third- and fourth-class warships, perhaps the first battle of Zhenjiang could be avoided!

Thinking of this, he subconsciously raised his binoculars and looked at Haikou, and then put it down again, if the Dinghai fleet came, before it arrived in Haikou, the news would come.

After reading a few urgent reports, Bao Shichen groaned slightly, and said: "The strong wall cleared by the monk and the prince in Zhenjiang is all emptied within a radius of ten miles from Zhenjiang, and the British army is afraid that it will not be long in coming, and a full-scale attack on Zhenjiang will be launched in the next two days!" Although Zhenjiang had 15,000 troops, he lacked experience in dealing with the British army, and he had not seen the sharpness of the British army's firearms. ”

"The monk king has also fought a few battles with the British army in Zhejiang, so it may not be so unbearable." Yi Zhizhi pondered and said, "Maybe the monk king will give us a surprise." As he spoke, he stood up, "It's not early, Mr. Bao and Lord Liu will stay in Baoshan County for a night, I will go to inspect the situation of the fort, and come back later to pick up the wind and wash the dust." ”

Hurriedly got off the tower, Yi Zhicontent ordered Yilu and Barrett to bring, and then walked all the way to the direction of Yangjiazui Fort, from the east gate to Yangjiazui Fort, this road is just six miles, there are soldiers everywhere are busy digging and repairing fortifications, repairing and expanding forts, placing artillery, at a glance, it seems to be a huge construction site, a lively.

Yilu and Barrett were quickly brought over, and after a little greeting, Yi Zhizhi said straightforwardly: "I just received the battle report from Zhenjiang, and your army has not yet launched an attack on Zhenjiang. ”

Yilu looked at him and said, "I am happy to work with Mr. Yi to minimize the damage of this war, however, Mr. Yi also thinks about it, the ransom of a fourth-class battleship, the Dinghai Fleet will definitely not agree." ”

"The main fleet of your army to attack Jiangning is twenty-five warships, and I believe that the two of you should be able to calculate this account." Yi Zhizhi said: "I have to remind the two of you, Zhenjiang is currently defended by 16,000 Qing troops, and your army and navy should have 20,000, right?" Once the Battle of Zhenjiang breaks out, the casualties are definitely not small, and once there are large casualties, no matter which side it is, this battle will not be good! ”

Listening to Zhenjiang, there are 16,000 Qing troops to defend, Yilu's heart sank, according to Huang Dianyuan's introduction, Zhenjiang is guarded by about 1,000 soldiers of the Eight Banners, and now there are 16,000 people, God knows how many troops Jiangning will have? How many troops did the Qing gather on the Yangtze River?

He didn't have the heart to bargain, and said in a deep voice: "I'll go back and write a letter immediately, if the Dinghai fleet arrives at the mouth of the Yangtze River tonight, I will also bother Mr. Yi to send a ship to deliver the letter overnight." ”

"Okay." Yi Zhizhi was full of promises.

Disappointingly, until the early morning of the next day, there was still no news of the Dinghai Fleet, and at three o'clock in the afternoon, the Dinghai Fleet was late, and after carefully examining the letter that Yilu had repeatedly revised, he sent a fast boat to the mouth of the Yangtze River to deliver the letter.

To the surprise of Yilu, Barrett, and Yi Zhi, Mettler, the commander of the Dinghai Fleet, did not hesitate to refuse the request to redeem Yilu and Barrett with two warships.

Looking at the dejected Yilu, Yi Zhicontent pondered for a long time before he said: "There are two French warships and five American warships moored outside Haikou, and you can choose to meet with the commander of the Dinghai Fleet on the French warship or the American warship....... ”

This is simply a willow and a flower, Yilu was very happy, and said without hesitation: "Can you contact the French warship?" ”

After several round-trips, Yi Zhizhi finally made an agreement with Captain Zezile on the French battleship 'Erigon', and sent Yilu to the ship early the next morning.

Zhenjiang, Metropolitan Administration.

Monk Greenqin looked at the battle report sent by Shanghai 800 miles in an emergency, and his face was incredible, Yuan Qi Tuanlian actually forced all the British troops in Wusong Baoshan to surrender? Transferring the good news to Yang Fang, he still couldn't believe it, he had seen the combat power of the British army in Zhejiang, and he could force 5,000 British troops to surrender, how powerful was Yuanqi's regimental training?

After reading the good news quickly, Yang Fang couldn't stop laughing, "Good guy, forcing five thousand British troops to surrender, Yi Zhishu This kid is really amazing, what is the Yuanqi group practice...... Did it? Seeing that Monk Lingqin's expression was wrong, he said with some doubts: "The prince ......, but what does he think is wrong?" ”

"How many troops does the Yuanqi regiment have in Wusong?" Monk Lingqin asked in a deep voice.

"On the bright side, it is a regiment, and there is a battalion that trains Shanghai volunteers, which is only 2,000 troops." Yang Fang said with a smile, "However, there must be more than this number of troops, which can force the British army to set fire to four battleships, one of which is still a third-class battleship, and it will definitely not be the broken warships of Su Song's naval division." ”

"It seems that the Yuanqi regimental training still has the ...... of the sailor warship." Monk Greenqin shook his head slowly as he spoke, and said: "It's not right, the British army destroyed its warships and withdrew all its troops to Baoshan County, so it can completely defend the city, why would it surrender?" Besides, with the Dinghai Fleet to come to the rescue, could it be that the 5,000 British troops couldn't hold out even for a day or two? ”

"Uh——。" Yang Fang was also speechless, mainly because the good news of Yi Zhi's contentment was written too simply, and it did not involve the number of troops trained by the Yuanqi regiment at all, and he groaned slightly, and then he forced himself to laugh and said: "After all, the Yuanqi regimental training is not the division of the imperial court, why should the prince be entangled in this, Yuanqi recovered Wusong Baoshan and cut off the back road of the British fleet, which is a great victory to boost the morale of the army!" The whole army should be informed ....... ”

Monk Greenqin waved his hand and said, "No! ”

"Why not?" Yang Fang looked at him in some surprise, her old face full of puzzlement.

"This news can't be leaked." Monk Greenqin said in a deep voice: "The British army has landed today, and it will attack early tomorrow morning, if a military general is captured and the news is leaked, how will the British fleet react?" Jiangyin is not well deployed now, and Yuanqi's group training is also unstable in Wusong. ”

Yang Fang nodded again and again: "The last general is confused, but the prince is still thoughtful." ”

Monk Greenqin sighed lightly and said, "Yi Zhixiang has won a rare victory in Wusong, and our pressure is great. ”

Yang Fang nodded, recovering Wusong is equivalent to closing the gate of the Yangtze River, and the next thing is to close the door and beat the dogs, catch the turtle in the urn, if this battle is still lost, the crime of this defeat will all fall on their heads.

"The order goes down. Tonight, the whole army had a full meal. Monk Greenqin said in a deep voice: "Tomorrow, the defenders of Yangpeng Mountain, Yintai Mountain, Nanshan Mountain, and Beigu Mountain must fight for every inch of land, and those who abandon their positions without authorization will be killed!" ”

Listening to this order, Yang Fang's heart sank, and he glanced at Seng Lingqin with some fear, the British army's firearms are sharp, if they defend to the death, the casualties will be extremely heavy, but he doesn't dare to say more, he knows in his heart that this arrogant county prince wants to compete with Yuan Qi. (To be continued.) )