The east gate, on the castle tower.

Li Zhen and Huang Shihai both arrived, Li Zhen looked at the situation outside the city from the city tower, and found that the fire was bright a few hundred meters outside the east gate, and two places were clearly visible. Among them, on the left outside the east gate is the Anglo-French army led by Adams and Rawell, and the allied soldiers are waiting in full force and resting in the open air. On the right are the Taiping soldiers who have just arrived, already encamped.

The British and French armies were well-armed, and the Taiping army was not weak.

This time, the Taiping army abandoned weapons such as broadswords and spears, and replaced them with guns.

The two armies confronted each other, and neither of them made a move.

After Li Zhen made a clear eye, he took a few steps back, leaned against the inside of the city wall, and asked: "Zhenhai, the British and French troops and bandits are coming, Yang Banhou is still outside the city with his soldiers, is there any situation that has been reported?" ”

Qi Zhenhai nodded and said: "Deputy Commander Yang has sent back the news, he and Lu Shaochuan led the troops to stay outside the city and hide and not enter the city for the time being." Moreover, Qi Zhenhai has cleared all the mines on the road to avoid leaving a disaster. ”

Li Zhen frowned and said, "If you don't enter the city, does he want to fish in troubled waters?" ”

Qi Zhenhai said: "Dashuai, if I am outside the city with more than 2,000 soldiers, I will choose not to return to the city." The purpose of the foreigners is to attack Shanghai, and the purpose of the bandits is also to attack Shanghai. Although the purpose is the same, it is not the same heart. Even if there is no fighting between the two sides, Yang Banhou can also mediate, or incite foreigners, or incite bandits. ”

Li Zhen thought for a while and said, "What you mean is that Yang Banhou is ready to unite one side and then attack one side together." ”

Qi Zhenhai said: "Deputy Head Yang must think so. ”

After a pause, Qi Zhenhai said again: "Marshal, I estimate that Deputy Yang's purpose is more than that. He may be trying to unite one side and take both sides. As long as you unite one side, defeat the other side, and then suddenly make a spicy move and get rid of the original allies, you will instantly take down the foreigners and bandits, killing two birds with one stone. ”

Li Zhen said with a smile: "That being said, it depends on Yang Banhou himself. ”

Huang Shihai suddenly asked: "Dashuai, what you and Brother Qi said is that we are going to unite one side, can't foreigners and bandits unite?" After consultation and coordination, the bandits and the foreigners reached an agreement to attack Shanghai together. At that time, we will have to face double pressure, and it will not be easy! ”

Li Zhen explained: "It is indeed possible for foreigners and bandits to reach a common opinion, but we are not puppets. Immediately let people publicize the fact that foreigners bombarded the people and slaughtered innocents. ”

"As long as the Anglo-French forces and the people are pitted against each other, things will be easy to do."

"The basis of bandits is the common people, from the generals to the ordinary soldiers, all of whom are transformed from the common people. When the bandits knew about the foreigners bombarding the dock and slaughtering the people, they would unconsciously boycott the foreigners. Even if there are a few people who want to cooperate with foreigners, but under the general trend, no one dares to go against the will of the military and the people. ”

Li Zhen looked calm and said confidently: "It doesn't matter if the bandits can't beat Shanghai, but if they lose the hearts of the people and the foundation, it will be the biggest loss to the bandits." ”

Huang Shihai asked again: "Dashuai, aren't we going to fight?" ”

"Fighting?"

Li Zhen shook his head and smiled, and said: "The confrontation between foreigners and bandits maintains a delicate balance. Whoever attacks Shanghai first will be met with the fiercest counterattack and the heaviest casualties. The one who preserves the most strength is more likely to profit. Foreigners and bandits are not stupid, they both have concerns, and they both want to take advantage. If we go out of the city, we will immediately upset the balance, and we may be attacked with the fiercest of attacks. It is better to be motionless than to be still, and it is better to brake with static for the time being. ”

Huang Shihai nodded and immediately went to carry out Li Zhen's order.

Qi Zhenhai said: "Dashuai, in fact, with our strength, we are not afraid of foreigners and bandits. ”

Li Zhen smiled and said: "You are usually very smart, how can you be stupid at a critical time?" There is an easier way to solve the problem, why spend your own strength? Besides, even if the foreigners are defeated now, they still have warships at sea, and they can calmly withdraw to the sea, and it will be in vain to kill some foreigners. We have plenty of time, don't rush for now. ”

Qi Zhenhai nodded and said, "You go and rest first, I'll pay attention to the movement outside the city." ”

……

Outside the city, where the Anglo-French troops were stationed.

Next to the fire, Rawell and Adams sat together, and next to them stood a circle of soldiers, protecting them from attack. Adams said solemnly: "There is no gunfire in the city, and there are Li Zhen's soldiers on the city tower, and the coalition soldiers must have failed." Your Excellency Rachel, we are going to attack Shanghai, and the people of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom are also going to attack, what do you think? ”

"The best way is to unite with the Taiping army and attack Shanghai together. Although the Heavenly King and the Lord of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom were not very friendly to us, they remained neutral and did not dare to attack the allied soldiers. After taking Shanghai, the Taiping army will be driven away. ”

Adams said, "The question is, are they willing to do it?" At the beginning, the Minister of your country, Bullong, and the Governor of Hong Kong, Wen Han, also went to Nanjing to meet the King of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, but they were driven out and gained nothing. ”

"Either way, it's always good to give it a try," Rawell said. ”

Adams rolled his eyes and said, "If the Taiping army does not cooperate, we will order the Taiping army to withdraw." If they did not withdraw, they threatened that the warships were approaching Nanking and attacking the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. ”

Rawell nodded and said, "Rest first, and then think about this tomorrow." ”

……

The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, the military camp was stationed.

Unlike the Anglo-French army, the Taiping army set up camp and even built fortifications.

In the big tent, a middle-aged general sat directly above.

This person is burly, with thick eyebrows, a collapsed nose, slightly thick lips, and slender and powerful arms, giving people a burly and refined feeling. The middle-aged general was draped in a brocade robe, his scattered hair was tied with a rope, and the golden sword sat on the upper hand, and his momentum was compelling. This person's name is Li Xiucheng, and he is a rising star general in the Taiping Army.

Li Xiucheng was a recruit who enlisted in the first year of Xianfeng (1851), and in the third year of Xianfeng, he was promoted by Yang Xiuqing to the fourth superintendent army, which was already very powerful.

This time to attack Shanghai, Li Xiucheng was sent to attack Li Zhen.

Originally, Yang Xiuqing knew that Li Zhen had gone to Shanghai, and he was relieved. Shanghai is a mixture of dragons and snakes, and various forces are intertwined, including personnel from the Heaven and Earth Society, officials from the Manchu Dynasty, foreigners from various countries, and wealthy businessmen who eat people and do not spit out bones. Li Zhen is caught in the whirlpool, there is no threat, and he may even die in Shanghai.

However, to Yang Xiuqing's surprise, Li Zhen was prosperous in Shanghai, not only pacifying the rebellion of the Little Knife Society, but also defeating foreigners in a row, and also raiding the home of the big businessman Yang Fang and controlling Shanghai in his hands.

Li Zhen's strength has increased, and Shanghai's power has increased suddenly, which has threatened the security of Tianjing (Nanjing).

Not only Yang Xiuqing alone, but even Hong Xiuquan, Wei Changhui and other other kings felt uneasy. Therefore, Hong Xiuquan, Yang Xiuqing and other kings reached an agreement, and Li Xiucheng led the troops to kill.

ps: Three more completed; Ask for flowers.