Shanghai, British Lend-Lease.

Consulate, Hall.

Ah Liguo, Ai Tang, and Ma Hui sat down, their expressions a little serious. Ma Hui played with a jade artifact and said lightly: "Two, have you found it, Li Zhen has rarely appeared in recent days." ”

Aitang frowned and said, "Yes, that's true." ”

Ali Guo said in a deep voice: "Ma Hui reminds me, I remembered it." Since Gu Lina went to visit Li Zhen, and then Li Zhen went to Gu Lina's residence, Li Zhen hid in the house and never came out. In the past, Li Zhen wanted to train soldiers, but now the soldiers have stopped training. ”

Aitang said: "Will there be anything greasy in this? ”

Ma Hui was still calm and light-hearted, with a look of irrelevance, and laughed softly: "Li Zhen just arrived in Shanghai, although he destroyed the Little Knife Society by thunderous means, he has no foundation. Now he must be busy gathering people's hearts and expanding his power. ”

Ali Guo said: "Calculate the time, the person who transported the opium should come back, and then you can test what Li Zhen's attitude is." It's just that now Li Zhen has suddenly disappeared, especially at this critical time, I am suddenly a little worried. ”

"Worried about what?" Ma Hui asked.

Ali Guo shook his head and said, "I don't know, I always think that Li Zhen will make a moth." ”

Ma Huixiao said: "Don't worry, nothing will happen." ”

Aitang sighed and said, "Originally, Yang Nengge presided over the situation in Shanghai, and Yang Nengge could do things for us. Now that Yang Nengge has been killed, Li Zhen has become the new Shanghai Taotai, and he is also in charge of tariffs, which is really difficult to do. ”

Ali Guo said again: "Li Zhen suddenly disappeared, I don't think something is right, it is likely that Li Zhen is engaged in some conspiracy again." I have to give Li Zhen a try, otherwise I won't be relieved. ”

Ma Hui asked, "How to tempt?" ”

"Yesterday at noon I received news that missionaries in England had been beaten. Since he was looking for Li Zhen, he questioned Li Zhen under the pretext that the missionary was beaten. Even if you can't get results, you can see what Li Zhen is doing? ”

Aitang nodded and said, "I think it's feasible." ”

Ma Hui was silent for a moment, and then suddenly asked out loud: "Mr. Aliguo, when you go to test Li Zhen, do you need to bring Adams, the commander of the British fleet, and Raywell, the commander of the French fleet?" ”

Ali Guo said: "To test the situation, it is natural to salute first and then soldier. If Li Zhen is in the mansion to deal with things, I will inquire about the missionaries, and then probe the situation, and then lead the people to retreat, which will not cause any impact, and will not mobilize troops. If Li Zhen is not in the house, or if he is going to prepare any conspiracy, he must use force to deter and suppress Li Zhen. When the time comes, we will further use opium to force Li Zhen to make a choice, whether to choose to cooperate with us or choose to oppose us. ”

Ma Hui frowned and said: "When it comes to the use of troops, the United States has always been very cautious, and I will withdraw." ”

"What, you're quitting again?"

Ai Tang said in surprise: "Your Excellency Ma Hui, you shouldn't have any news, right?" Aitang thought of the last time Adams stormed the Qing army camp with his soldiers, although the last time it was because of Li Zhen's tricks, but Ma Hui's withdrawal saved the American losses. Now that Ma Hui has withdrawn again, will there be something to hide from him?

Ali Guo asked, "Your Excellency Ma Hui, are you really not participating?" ”

Ma Hui said: "I am cautious and reluctant to use troops, as long as I can keep my rights and interests in China." ”

When Ah Liguo and Aitang heard this, their faces showed disdain.

A country that has not been independent long is like this, it is timid, but it wants to take advantage of it everywhere, but it is unwilling to send troops. Ali Guo was even tired of Ma Hui in his heart, but he was helpless. Everyone represents the same country, and when they are united, their interests coexist, and when they are separated, their interests do not coincide, and no one can force them to join them.

Ma Hui didn't want to get involved, and said, "Good luck to the two of you, farewell." ”

After speaking, Ma Hui turned around and left.

When Ma Hui walked out of the consulate, he was still sneering in his heart. I suffered a big loss last time, and now I am looking for trouble again, and I have spent so many years in China in vain.

Ma Hui had long seen that Li Zhen belonged to the hardliners, his methods were domineering, and he would not cooperate. Ma Hui did not remind him that because the power of Britain and France is too strong, and the power of the United States is still very weak, someone must reduce the strength of Britain and France in China.

Ali Guo said, "Old friend, let's go." ”

Aitang nodded in response, ready to find out. The two soon left the consulate, accompanied by Adams and Rawell. The two were not interested in shocking Qing officials, but Adams wanted to regain his former shame, and Rachel was relieved by the defeat of the French soldiers, so the two of them each brought a hundred people to support the scene.

Li Zhen's mansion, the door is closed.

Ah Liguo and Ai Tang arrived with soldiers and knocked on the door.

"Crunch!"

The door opened, and the attendant in the house stuck out his head and glanced at it, and was startled when he found that it was a foreigner. Immediately, the squire's head retracted, and the door slammed shut.

When Ali Guo saw this, he ordered the soldiers to knock on the door.

Lywell looked like Lao Tzu was the best in the world, and said disdainfully: "It's a shame that the door of a small Daotai Mansion can't be opened." When the coalition forces were in Guangzhou, even the city gates of Guangzhou could be easily opened. ”

Ali Guo's face was pale, and he didn't have the slightest affection for Rayel.

After a while, the door opened again.

This time, it was the housekeeper of Li Zhen's mansion who came out.

Ali Guo said in broken Chinese: "I am the British consul Ah Liguo, and I have something to discuss with Li Zhen. As he spoke, Ali Guo led his soldiers into the room. Such a move is simply arrogant and arrogant, but Ali Guo does not feel ashamed at all. Ali Guo has to test what Li Zhen is doing in order to feel at ease.

The butler opened his arms and said loudly: "This is the mansion of Lord Daotai, and you are not allowed to trespass." ”

Adams waved his arm, and two soldiers stepped up to hold the butler, and then rushed towards the house. When Ali Guo and Ai Tang walked into the door, their eyes suddenly widened, and even the two of them retreated in a panic. Adams and Rywell entered with the soldiers, but they were also taken aback by the situation inside the gate, and quickly ordered the soldiers to be on guard.

"You trespass on the General's Palace, this is not what the British and French consuls should do."

A cold but melodious voice sounded, and the person who spoke was Zhou Xiuying. She sat on the chair with Erlang's legs crossed, playing with a breech-loading rifled gun in her hand, and the muzzle of the gun was aimed at Ah Liguo and Aitang who walked in, shaking gently.

If Zhou Xiuying pulls the trigger, she can shoot one of them immediately.

Next to Zhou Xiuying, there were three hundred female soldiers. These 300 female soldiers were dressed in armor, with their hair tied behind their heads, plain faces, and guns in their hands, all of them were ready to raise their guns, aiming at the British and French soldiers who broke into the palace. The black muzzle of the gun is aimed outside, as long as Zhou Xiuying gives the order, countless foreigners will fall.

After Li Zhen left the county seat, Zhou Xiuying and Yang Banhou discussed carefully.

Zhou Xiuying was in charge and stayed in the mansion with 300 female soldiers to prevent accidents. Yang Banhou was stationed in the school yard with 2,000 soldiers, and once something happened, Yang Banhou could transfer troops to suppress it.

Ali Guo and Ai Tang led troops to break into the mansion and were immediately intercepted by Zhou Xiuying.

ps: two of the three watches;