In the 28th year of Daoguang, March of spring.

On the Wusong River, a small wooden steamer quickly crossed the river estuary with black smoke and went upstream, attracting the attention of many sailors and passengers passing by on the sailboats on the river. This small steamer without sails and without huge water wheels is easily seen in Shanghai. When you can see clearly the Yellow Dragon Flag hanging on the ship, the ships avoided it.

The Huanglong Banner is the military flag of the Nanyang Navy. Now no one who is trying to make a living on the water along the coast of the Qing Dynasty does not know the Huanglong Banner. On the bow deck of the small steamer, there are twenty-six and seven, with short hair, small braids, big eyes, thick lips, and a gray long gown. She looks very capable young man with his hands behind his back. This person is no one else, but Chen Hongming, the commander of the Second Marine Corps Regiment who is in Dinghai and is in charge of the second Marine Corps.

Looking at Wusong, where chimneys are lined up in front of him, Chen Hongming sighed that the Wusong area is almost the same every year. Chimneys of all sizes are rising up like bamboo shoots after a rain. In just a few years, they are almost as fast as Guangzhou. The speed of development is really beyond his expectations.

"Old Chen." Instructor Sun Youyu walked over slowly and said, "Go directly to Shanghai or dock in Wusong?"

Turning slightly, Chen Hongming said, "Dangling in Wusong? Take the train to Shanghai?"

Sun Youyu smiled and said, "I haven't taken the train yet, I want to see it with my own eyes."

Chen Hongming came to Shanghai this time on order, but Yi Zhizu specifically told him to come in disguise. He immediately smiled and said, "Okay, let's land in Wusong."

Sun Youyu said with some concern: "Will you delay the main business?"

"No obstacle." Chen Hongming said uneasy. This time, Yi Zhizuo summoned him to Shanghai. It was simply for a lesson plan, not an urgent matter. Besides, it is not slower to take a train from Baoshan than to take a boat, so it is impossible to make a mistake.

The railway from Baoshan to Shanghai is the first double-track railway in the Qing Dynasty. It has only been half a year since it opened to traffic. Chen Hongming and Sun Youyu and his party arrived at the train station and bought the waiting hall where the tickets were entered. Seeing that it was crowded, they couldn't help but be shocked. Sun Youyu looked at the tickets in his hand. The price was a cent. The price was not expensive, but it was not cheap either. He couldn't help but say, "Can a train hold so many people?"

Chen Hongming said in a head: "It's no problem to squeeze out three or four thousand people easily."

Can he pretend to be so many people? Sun Youyu was surprised, but he no longer asked. He looked around and saw that there were very mixed people in the waiting hall. There were red-haired, blue-eyed, Westerners, officials in robes, gentry and merchants in long robes, workers in new styles of work clothes, and peddlers and pawns with short collars, all kinds of different types.

Chen Hongming was attracted by a group of talkative young people. Most of them were around twenty years old, wearing short hair and braids like naval officers and soldiers, wearing blue military uniforms. However, the top was open and without buttons, revealing the snow-white shirt inside. Several of them were wearing watches newly launched by the Tianbao Watch Factory, and they all spoke fluent official language.

What attracted him was not their outfit, but their topic. They were talking about a lesson plan that happened in Qingpu County. After listening carefully for a while, he understood the whole story of the lesson plan. He was very puzzled. This so-called Qingpu lesson plan was just a small case that could not be even smaller. How could it be so unreconcilable? This is not like the principal's style!

The so-called Qingpu lesson plan was just three English missionaries who went to Qingpu County to preach in violation of regulations and had a conflict with the Caogang members on the dock. The incident was very simple. Three missionaries spread the doctrine and distributed leaflets, while the Caogang members asked them for scriptures - that is, the cost of the Bible. God knew whether they wanted the scriptures to wipe their butts, or to block windows, or to smoke cigarettes, and no one knew.

Not to mention that the three missionaries did not have scriptures, even if they had one, they could not afford such a large-scale gift. The two sides had verbal conflicts and then had disputes. Both sides became anxious and pushed. In the midst of crowding and pushing, a missionary's cane was intentional or unintentional, but it poked the face of a Caogang member in the front row, and it was bloody.

This was like stabbing a hornet's nest. The crowded Cao Gang was reluctant to give up. He rushed forward and beat three missionaries. Fortunately, the magistrate of Qingpu arrived in time with the servants, stopped the unrest of the sailors, stopped the situation from further escalating, and did not cause any death.

The three missionaries were sent back to Shanghai by the magistrate of Qingpu. The British Consul, Elcock, went to the Shanghai Daoyao to demand severe punishment for the murderer. Wu Changqing of Shanghai Dao was extremely tough, saying that the missionaries violated the rules and went to Qingpu to preach in violation of the treaty. He was responsible for all the consequences. Of course, out of humanitarianism, the three missionaries were still verbal condolences.

Ircock was not a fuel-saving lamp. Seeing that the negotiations were fruitless, he actually publicly threatened to mobilize a fleet in Hong Kong to block Wusongkou. Ircock did not verbally scare, but took action. Now there is definite news that the British fleet stationed in Hong Kong has indeed gone north and will arrive in Shanghai soon. The news spread and immediately caused a great sensation. However, the affairs of the Prime Minister of the South China Sea and the Western Affairs Office did not react at all to this, which aroused great dissatisfaction among the people.

Chen Hongming thought for a while and had already guessed that Yi Zhizu might have used this lesson plan to deliberately create tension. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but be secretly excited. With his understanding of Yi Zhizu, the Nanyang Navy should have big moves next. In recent years, the Nanyang Navy has been busy developing, and it is time to show its face!

On the north bank of Suzhou River, Xingzhong Road, the affairs of the Nanyang Prime Minister and the Western Affairs Office, the Prime Minister and the Minister of the Prefectures signed the house.

The Prime Minister of the South China Sea studied and walked on the Shanghai Road Platform, Wu Changqing walked in quickly, without any respect, and said straight: "It has been rumored that the city is full of wind and rain. It is said that the British fleet will arrive at Wusongkou in five days. Is it true?"

Seeing him looking very enthusiastic, Yi Quezue smiled, put down his pen and took a box of cigarettes on the table, threw one over, and then lit one himself, which was a new cigarette produced by the Shanghai Cigarette Factory. In order to advertise the cigarettes, he gave up a cigar and changed to cigarettes.

After throwing out the matches, Yi Quest said slowly: "To be precise, it should be four days before the British fleet can reach Wusongkou."

Will you really block Wusongkou? Wu Changqing was stunned and hurriedly said: "Once the British fleet blocked Wusongkou, this will have a great impact."

He stood up and closed the door, Yi Zhizui turned around and sat opposite him, then said: "It has been peaceful for several years, so it is not a bad thing for them to make trouble."

After hearing this, Wu Changqing was immediately wary and said tentatively: "Although the British Ircock is not very brave, he is not stupid. Could it be that the shopkeeper's instruction?"

Yi Zhizu's tone was relaxed and answered the question that he was not asking: "Don't worry, I can't fight."

It seems that it was really from the other party’s instructions! Wu Changqing felt nervous and asked: “What are the actions of the court?”

Yi Zhizu shook his head slightly. The court had no movement, but now it was the 28th year of Daoguang. If nothing unexpected happened, Daoguang had not had a good life for two or three years. Even if there was no movement now, it should have come soon. He had to take the initiative and not wait passively.

Seeing him shook his head, Wu Changqing said in confusion: "It's because of the Cao Gang, right?"

"What is the Cao Gang? Today's Cao Gang must live with Yang Yuanqi." Yi Zhizu took a breath of cigarettes and continued: "There is no movement at the moment, but peace is not a good thing. Let the British make trouble, so that some people in the court can make trouble."

After hearing what he said, Wu Changqing nodded slightly and felt relieved. Yuan Qi's investment in Shanghai in the past few years has been a huge investment. He is really worried that the outbreak of war will destroy the situation that he finally managed. Since Yi is content and confident, he has nothing to worry about.

After pondering for a moment, he said: "Now, there are a lot of criticisms about the Zongli Yamen outside. The shopkeeper must be more cautious to avoid giving someone a handle."

Yi Zhizu smiled and said, "Don't worry, I won't give the court an excuse."

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard a gentle and rhythmic knock on the door. Yi Zhizu said loudly: "Come in." The door was gently pushed open, tall and beautiful. Lin Meilian, wearing a cheongsam, came in with a tea tray and said softly: "Two adults, please use tea."

After she left, Wu Changqing smiled and joked: "The beauty staff and translator can still be used as a maid. The shopkeeper is the first to set the trend, so why don't he be criticized?"

"This is a need to negotiate etiquette with the Western consuls, and there is no need to pay the court's salary. Who dares to attack?" Yi Zhizu said with a smile, "The upper and lower results are effective. Are you also considering hiring a beauty secretary to translator?"

Wu Changqing waved his hand and said, "It can be said that the Zongli Yamen is for etiquette. I have no excuses for my yamen. The shopkeeper should promote it in the Zongli Yamen first."

Yi Zhizu smiled. Lin Meilian was the girl whom Leiyuan took in that year. She was not only outstanding in appearance, but also very smart. She has mastered fluent English speaking in just a few years, and she has no problem reading and writing. Moreover, as she grows older, she becomes more and more beautiful. Yi Zhizu brought her by her side with her attitude and dealing with foreigners. She is really popular, so she naturally keeps her by her side.

The government office never used female staff members. Yi Zhizu brought the United States on many occasions and stayed by his side to take charge of reception matters. This incident caused a great sensation in the Zongli Yamen and became a big laugh in the officialdom in Jiangsu. However, it was just a romantic event. As the authority of the Zongli Yamen increased, Yi Zhizu also gained authority and deep Daoguang's reputation, but no one was uncomfortable.

Of course, there are many criticisms and many envy them. However, like Wu Changqing, no matter how envious he is, due to the official precepts, no one dares to leave a beauty as unscrupulously as Yi Zhizu.

Wu Changqing didn't dare to follow this topic and squirted the ashes, and then he said: "This cigarette is not as good as a cigar. Why did the shopkeeper spend a lot of money and great energy to open a cigarette factory? I heard that in the West, this cigarette seems to be unpopular, and most of them use pipes."

No one knows better than Yi Zhizu. At present, Shanghai's cigarette factories basically use manual hand-rolls, and both quality and output are inevitably unsatisfactory. But he doesn't care. He is not focused on the present, but in the future, once an efficient and practical cigarette machine is developed, cigarettes will soon become popular all over the world, which will bring him a lot of money.

"It's better to smoke a cigar directly than to use a pipe." Before Yi Zhizu finished speaking, Lin Meilian knocked on the door and came in to report: "Mr. Marquis, Chen Hongming is looking for a meeting outside."

"Let him in."

When he heard that Chen Hongming was coming, Wu Changqing knew that it must be because of the lesson plan. It seemed that Yi Zhizu had already made arrangements, so he immediately stood up and bowed and said, "Then I won't disturb you."

Yi Zhizu was not polite and ordered: "Xiaolian, take me to see him off."

Lin Meilian quickly came up and smiled and reached out to give in and said, "Please please--."

Lin Meilian sent Wu Changqing to the gate of the yard and then took Chen Hongming in. Chen Hongming couldn't figure out her identity and couldn't help but feel a little restrained. He looked at her without saying a word, but he thought to himself, what was the principal singing, and actually got such a beautiful woman in the yard. Could it be that the West is like this?

When he entered the signing room, he bowed slightly and said, "Student Chen Hongming has met the principal."

"No need to be polite, sit." Yi Zhizu stretched out his finger and pointed to the chair. After he sat down, he briefly introduced the Qingpu lesson plan, and then said: "The British fleet arrived at Wusongkou four days later. You will lead the fleet to berth in Haikou one day later."

Chen Hongming tentatively said: "Do you want to take the initiative to provoke?"

Yi Zhizu glanced at him and said, "You might not want to provoke a Sino-British war again? Our strength is far from being the opponent of the British. Besides, our current target is not Britain. Don't make any trouble, just block the Haikou and wait for the order."

"Yes, the students understand." Chen Hongming quickly responded loudly. After saying that, he tentatively said: "The students are stupid and don't know what the principal is targeting?"

"I'll know then." Yi Zhizu said and reminded again: "There is no need for too many warships, twelve is enough."

"Student obeys the order." Chen Hongming hurriedly said, hesitating for a while, and then he said: "Sun Youyu and a group of officers are on vacation, and they are also coming with the ship this time."

Yi Zhizu was not surprised by this. The officers and soldiers of Dinghai Camp now have four days off a month. On weekdays, many officers and soldiers would take advantage of the holiday to come to Shanghai. After pondering for a moment, he said, "How many people are there?"

"There are thirty-five people in total."
Chapter completed!