Listening to a few people vying to lead the training in the Australian Yuanqi group, Yi Zhizhi couldn't help but laugh secretly, isn't it just a name, as for such a scramble? Do you really think that with a reputation, you can command Yuanqi's group training? However, if he wants to talk about the three companies of supervising the standard, raising the standard, and the military and civilian knowledge of Macao's coastal defense, he is willing to hang under the well-known name of Macao, after all, Macao's affairs are all managed by the Macao Tongzhi.

The reason why he proposed to let Yuan Qi Tuanlian train in Macao was that he would not just want to take over Macao's defense, he not only wanted to meddle in Macao's trade, but also wanted to further squeeze out and suppress Portugal's position in Macao, and would definitely not give Portugal the opportunity to seize Macao.

The few people who saw him argued with reason, but Lin Zexu didn't rush to express his position, but looked at Yi Zhixiang with a smile, and said, "How many troops does Yuanqi Tuanlian plan to send to Macao?" ”

After a slight sigh, Yi Zhizhi said contentmently: "Yingyi has always had the heart of Macao, this time tearing his face and openly declaring war, it is very likely that he will occupy Macao by arms, the troops are too small, to no avail, I want to temporarily transfer four battalions - 2,000 people to Macao, even if Yingyi invades in a big way, it is enough to support the arrival of reinforcements." ”

Yuanqi regiment practice can not practice 10,000 regiments, but Yi Zhizhi opened his mouth and sent 2,000 regiments to practice in Macao, it seems that he attaches great importance to Macao, and the meaning of the words is that Macao may also break out into a big war, which makes Lin Zexu a little worried, and he groaned slightly, he said: "Dig trenches, contentment, can you ask the green battalion originally stationed in Macao to assist?" ”

"No, I don't." Yi Zhishu unceremoniously refused: "Having the green battalion to help dig and repair the trenches can certainly speed up the progress of the trench construction, but I am worried that the green battalion will bring bad to the atmosphere of Yuanqi's group training, so I would rather pay to hire a people." They also did not want to use the officers and soldiers of the Green Battalion. ”

That's a very polite remark. There was a bit of scorn on the faces of several people present. The green camp is unbearable, but such a public slap in the face still makes everyone a little embarrassed, Guan Tianpei scolded with a smile: "You kid isn't this sincere to cut off the wealth of the green camp in Xiangshan?" Who doesn't know that being stationed in Macau is a fat shortage? ”

"Nowadays, Macao is not a shortage of fertilizer, but a dangerous land." Yi Zhizhi said: "Besides, Yuanqi Tuanlian will not always be stationed in Macao, and when the war is over, it is natural to hand over the defense to the Xiangshan Green Battalion." ”

"Right now. Defending Macao and preventing Yingyi from landing in Macao is the first priority. Lin Zexu said slowly: "According to the contentment, the Xiangshan Green Camp originally stationed in Macao was moved to other places, and the defense of Macao's former cottages, customs gates, new temples, inner harbors and other places was taken over by Yuanqi Tuanlian. As for the title, it is still under the promotion of the sailor, Macao's defense is inseparable from the sailor, and Humen is also close to Macao. ”

Guan Tianpei said happily: "Lord Xie Butang." ”

After pondering for a moment, Lin Zexu looked at Yi Zhizhi and said: "Fang Cai was content to say that he would crack down on the arrogance of the British army and strengthen the management of Macao, and the matter of Macao has been decided." What is the idea of contentment to combat the arrogance of the British army? ”

Yi Zhizu said in a deep voice: "The sailor only conducted a large-scale military exercise in Shiziyang a few days ago. With the prestige of the army, Yingyi then attacked the Macao Gate, which was not only a blatant provocation of the sailors, but also a public contempt for the Tianwei of the Qing Dynasty. ”

"Thunder means?" Guan Tianpei said: "The Yingyi warships are moored in the Modao Ocean, and the naval warships have the strongest combat power and the fastest speed with the twelve Western warships, but compared to the Yingyi warships, it is still a little insufficient. ”

"When it comes to war, all of you here have been on the battlefield for a long time." Yi Zhixiang said with a smile, "I'm not afraid of you laughing, let alone experiencing the battlefield, even watching the battle from afar, and I haven't had it before. ”

Speaking of this, he paused slightly, and said: "The Western warships of the naval division, in terms of the combat power and speed of a single ship, are not as good as the Yingyi battleships, but now the naval division is superior in number, twice as many as the Yingyi battleships, and when it comes to the number of artillery, it is more than twice as strong as the Yingyi warships, and the key is speed."

The Yingyi warships are all cruisers or light cruisers, and their speed is their inherent advantage, and if they can reduce the opponent's speed advantage, the naval division Western warships can completely crush the opponent. ”

"Don't go around in circles?" Guan Tianpei said: "How to reduce the speed advantage of the Yingyi battleship? ”

Yi Zhizhi said: "Do the sailors of the Western warships dare to fight at night?" ”

"Night battles?" Guan Tianpei shook his head again and again and said: "No, the sailors lack night combat training, so they can't fight at night, besides, many sailors and sailors also suffer from night blindness, and it is difficult to see at night. ”

"Night fighting won't work." Yi Zhizhi groaned: "Then the only way to find foreign aid is to get the assistance of a few warships with the same speed as the Yingyi battleship to entangle the Yingyi battleship." ”

Hearing this, Guan Tianpei's eyes lit up, and he said, "Contentment refers to the Thirteen Elements and Yuan Qi hiring those Citigroup warships?" ”

Yi Zhishu nodded and said: "Those few Citigroup warships have already stated that they only escort and fight against pirates, and do not participate in the fight against any country's warships, but the British blockade of Guangzhou for so long has seriously affected the trade between Citigroup and Guangzhou. The government attaches great importance to it.

I am not sure that I will ask the Citigroup escort warships to participate in the encirclement and suppression of the Yingyi warships, but I want to go to Hainan and talk to them in detail to see if I can ask them to help at a high price. ”

"Good!" Guan Tianpei said happily: "If we can ask for the assistance of the Citigroup warships, we are completely sure to sink or capture a few Yingyi warships!" ”

Hearing this, Lin Zexu couldn't help but be very moved, if he can sink or capture a few Yingyi warships, this is a real victory, not only can hit the arrogance of Yingyi, but also can boost the morale of the army and the people, the court's attitude towards Yingyi may also change, more importantly, he is very likely to remain in the governor of Liangguang because of this great victory.

As for the two Western sailing fleets of Thirteen Elements and Yuan Qi and the Citigroup warships escorting them, he had only vaguely heard about them, but he didn't know the details. But it's hard to ask too much right now. Slightly groaned. Only then did he speak: "Contentment will go to Hainan as soon as possible to negotiate with them, as long as they are willing to assist in the fight against the Yingyi warships, no matter what the conditions, as long as it is within the power of the Ministry of Peace, it will be granted." ”

Yi Zhishu hurriedly bowed and said: "I must do my best in the next place, and I will go to Hainan tomorrow." ”

Lin Zexu said: "The two Western sailing fleets of Thirteen Lines and Yuan Qi should also be equipped with artillery?" Come together to help, this time. The main hall must be hit hard. ”

"Obey the order." Yi Zhixiang hurriedly said, Lin Zexu didn't say, he would also let the two fleets participate this time, of course, his target was the steamer.

Rushing back to Guangzhou from Humen, it was already dusk, Yi Zhizhi did not return to Xiguan and went directly to Wujia Garden, to use five warships and two fleets, he had to communicate with Wu Bingjian about this, after all, more than half of the warships and merchant ships belonged to the Wu family. He doesn't want to make his own decisions.

Hearing that Yi Zhizhi was coming, Wu Changqing, who was resting, hurriedly rushed to the dock to greet him. As soon as the two met, he said, "Didn't you say that Brother Contentment went to Humen?" ”

"I just came back from Humen." Yi Zhishu said, and said straightly: "Let's go, go to Yanhui Building, and discuss something with the old man." ”

Wu Changqing said: "Brother Contentment is so anxious, it won't be a good thing to think about it." ”

"It's not a bad thing." Yi Zhishu said that he would transfer 2,000 yuan to practice in Macao, and Wu Changqing said with a smile: "Brother Sippment has always been unprofitable, and 2,000 regiments are stationed in Macao, this is to control Macao?" ”

"I do have the idea." Yi Zhizu nodded slightly: "Portugal leases Macau and enjoys all kinds of benefits, but ****** has no benefits, and it has long been unpleasant." ”

Wu Changqing said: "What does Brother Si Confiscation mean, do you want Citi to replace him?" ”

"Citigroup has cooperated well with us, but Macau can't let them get involved." Yi Zhishu groaned: "It's better to be a European country." ”

"France?"

"No, it's Germany." Yi Zhizhi said: "Germany is the most dynamic and ambitious country in Europe, although it is still inconspicuous, but it has great potential, if the Qing Dynasty is friendly with Germany, it is conducive to balancing England." ”

The two talked all the way to Yanhui Building, but Wu Bingjian was not there, went to Wansong Garden for a walk, taking this opportunity, Yi Zhixiang ate a few snacks to satisfy his hunger, the sky was dark, Wu Bingjian came back, and he glanced at the dim sum plate on the coffee table, and then he said: "Is there an emergency?" ”

Yi Zhixiang refused to be rude, and after getting up to salute, he said: "Lord Lin wants to attack the six English warships moored in the Modao Ocean, and wants to call on the five warships and two fleets we have at hand to assist. ”

After a long silence, Wu Bingjian spoke: "Contentment agreed? ”

"Don't dare." Yi Zhizhi said: "Just say try your best to negotiate." After a pause, he said slowly: "The British army captured Dinghai, the government and the opposition were shocked, and it is estimated that the British fleet will soon go north to Tianjin and threaten the Beijing Division, Lord Lin is very likely to be convicted of the British invasion, and he himself is aware of this, so he desperately hopes to win a big battle to resolve this crisis."

Not long ago, he had coerced under the pressure of the Yuanqi regiment to train troops to recover Dinghai, this time the gate was defeated, Lord Lin was eager to take revenge on Yingyi, and he thought that if he could help Lord Lin achieve a big victory in this naval battle, Yuanqi regiment training would not need to send troops to Dinghai again. ”

The amount of information in these words was too large, Wu Bingjian and Wu Changqing were shocked when they heard it, and they didn't say anything for a long time, and after a long time, Wu Changqing said: "Will the British fleet go north to Tianjin?" ”

Seeing Yi Zhifen, Wu Bingjian said in a deep voice: "Coercing the Yuanqi Regiment to train troops to recover Dinghai, why haven't you heard Contentment mention it?" ”

The matter of sending troops to Dinghai, for the sake of secrecy, Yi Zhishu never mentioned it to anyone, and now considering that Lin Zexu can fight a big victory in the sea of Guangzhou, it is very likely that it is not necessary to send troops to recover Dinghai, so he will say it, of course, this is also to obtain Wu Bingjian's consent to send warships to assist the sailors.

However, this can't be said, otherwise Wu Bingjian will not think about it in his heart, he immediately said with a smile: "The formation of the Yuanqi regiment is not to work for the imperial court, I pretended to agree at the time, but I didn't plan to send troops to Dinghai at all, so I didn't mention it to Pinghu Gong." ”

Wu Bingjian glanced at him and said: "Yuan Qituan has the advantage in firearms, and it is not impossible for the soldiers to recover Dinghai, the imperial court has always valued the most military merits, resisting foreign aggression and recovering the lost land, this is a great achievement, and it is also possible to be knighted, and if you are content, you will not be moved?" ”

"Is it possible to be knighted?" Yi Zhifen smiled: "The kid is just a businessman, even if he recovers Dinghai, it will not be me who is knighted, one does not like to make wedding dresses for others, and furthermore, Dinghai is not easy to recover, although the Yuanqi regimental training has an advantage in the musket, but after all, the regimental training is new, the training is insufficient, and there is no actual combat experience at all, in the face of the strongest British army in the world, it can be less victorious and more defeated, and the kid will not take the hard-trained regimental courage to dye the top of his head."

Besides, I have no interest in being an official, the official body is not free, and the world is in turmoil, if I really grant a real position or a knighthood, the kid will be used as a gun by the court, which is boring. ”

Wu Bingjian stared at him silently, as if he wanted to see through his heart, and after a while, he said slowly: "If you want to keep Yuanqi's group training, it's best to take this opportunity to make military achievements, and you have to be awarded a real position or a knighthood, otherwise the court is afraid that it will not be able to tolerate Yuanqi's group training, and sooner or later it will force Yuanqi to rebel." ”

Yi Zhizu shook his head and said: "Even if he is knighted, the imperial court will not tolerate the existence of Yuanqi Tuanlian, the Manchu people have always been very strict against the Han people who hold military power, how can they tolerate local Han soldiers holding heavy troops?" ”

"Just because it wasn't tolerated before doesn't mean it can't be tolerated now." Wu Bingjian said coldly: "Contentment, don't you know that you have a thief's self-respect? As long as the threat of Yingyi existed, the imperial court had to rely on the force in the hands of Contentment that could compete with Yingyi for a day. ”

This is reasonable, as long as the threat of England exists, the imperial court will not dare to do the thing that the bird hides the bow, and after a long silence, he said: "Or do you want to send troops to recover Dinghai?" ”

Wu Bingjian nodded and said, "This merit can't be touched by those dirty officials, so that it is possible to be knighted." ”

Yi Zhishu glanced at Wu Changqing and said, "Then let Changqing go to Dinghai with me." ”

Wu Bingjian nodded and said, "There is no shortage of materials that can be made among the children of the merchants, bring a few more, and you can also have a foil in the future." ”

"Pinghu is worried." Yi Zhishu said and asked knowingly, "Then do the warships and merchant fleets assist the sailors?" ”

"Since I've been remembered by Lord Lin, it's not okay not to go." Wu Bingjian paused as he spoke, and asked in a deep voice, "Is it possible for Yuanqi to resist the retaliation of the British army?" ”

Yi Zhi said firmly: "If Yuanqi Tuanlian does not agree, the British army will not be able to pass the Tiger Gate." ”

Wu Bingjian said: "Since this is the case, then there is nothing to scruple about." (To be continued.) )