Chapter Thirty-Eight: Returning Home with the Mountain

  Li Mingfeng actually didn't have such great abilities, he completely relied on his knowledge of history to come up with this idea. However, at that time, the foreign gun squad had not been established yet, which gave Li Mingfeng an opportunity to think about leading the foreign gun squad in the future and being invincible, conquering all directions, Li Mingfeng was smiling from ear to ear.

  Looking at Li Mingfeng being so optimistic, as if everything has been settled, Gong Cheng struck back: "Don't be too happy yet, there are still many problems with using foreigners to organize team training."

  "Don't call it a foreigner's team practice, call it a foreign gun squad or the Ever Victorious Army" Li Mingfeng was slightly set back, but having found a way to express himself, his excitement at this moment could not be extinguished by such a small amount of cold water.

  When Gong Cheng heard Li Mingfeng had already thought of a name in such a short time, he couldn't help but smile wryly and was speechless.

  Li Mingfeng ignored Gong Cheng's bitter smile and continued to express his thoughts: "Palmer and the others are now homeless and jobless, they can completely stay in China. When Weihaiwei returns to Shanghai, you and I will propose to establish a team to guard the concession. Currently, the security of the concession is all taken care of by Ah San, Weihaiwei must also want a British-led force. Let Andrew go back and recruit people, even if it's just 180 people or as many as 300-500 people, it's still possible to gather them. With Weihaiwei's reputation, Elgin won't mind these few hundred people either, after all, they are serving the Empire, what difference does it make where they are?"

  Li Mingfeng's mind was broadening: "It is now July, I remember that the last military glory of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was this year, the famous Second Battle of Jiangbei and the Great Victory of Sanhe Town will probably take place in the next few months. The Taiping Army's power will be at its peak, Shanghai will definitely be threatened, we can use the excuse of protecting British expats to expand our forces, recruit Chinese soldiers, arm them with Western weapons, train them with Western tactics, and within a few months, this region will definitely produce another victorious army."

  Li Mingfeng went on to say that he had also brought out the historical knowledge he knew, and Gong Cheng was stunned: "Brother Li, were you just saying that the Qing court's Jiangbei Dazhan would be breached by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom this year?

  Li Mingfeng thought to himself, "Not good, I've gotten too carried away and said something that hasn't even happened yet." However, this situation is also easy to handle. Li Mingfeng calmed down slightly and spoke with a mysterious tone: "Gong brother, you understand what you heard, but absolutely don't mention it to anyone else. As someone who's somewhat knowledgeable about astrology, I can still predict a bit about future events."

  Gong Banlun's mouth was agape, and he stared blankly for a moment before muttering to himself: "Tong Xingxiang?"

  Li Mingfeng was afraid of saying too much and losing, so he didn't respond. He just lowered his head and struggled with the food in the plate. Gong Cheng looked Li Mingfeng up and down, left and right, but didn't find anything unusual. He thought to himself, "This must be because he's overexcited. Hopefully things will develop smoothly if I just go along with what he's saying."

  At night, Li Mingfeng persuaded several British soldiers in Andrew and Palan's room that if they wanted to return to India, they would have to fight on the front line, which was very dangerous, and it was better to stay in the Qing Dynasty. He also introduced many benefits of the Qing Dynasty, which were much more comfortable than those in India. In the end, a few people wavered, but several others still decided to return with the army.

  Li Mingfeng didn't insist either, anyway it wouldn't take many people's hands.

  On the second day, seven British soldiers returned to the barracks. Li Mingfeng bought a lot of food and Western wine to see them off. After that, Li Mingfeng still lived in Gong Cheng's home, spending his days leisurely and carefree, occasionally running to the barracks to visit old friends, sometimes going to the consulate to take a look, but recently the people at the consulate have become more distant from Gong and Li, Li Mingfeng went several times without getting any inside information, and eventually got tired of going.

  Time flies quickly, and the Mid-Autumn Festival has arrived. On this day, Li Mingfeng was playing Go with Gong Cheng at home when the doorman came to report that someone from the consulate had come to invite him.

  Gong and Li exchanged a glance, both thinking in their hearts that Weitaima had finally returned.

  Kong Cheng called the servant to bring in the visitor, and indeed it was Weitaima who had returned. Kong Li hastily tidied up and got into the embassy carriage, which sped away at once.

  Two people saw Weituo Ma, his face looked ugly and tight, don't know who made him so angry. Gong Cheng saluted Weituo Ma and asked: "Sir, why are you so angry?"

  Wade and Burlingame did not hide anything from the two, opening their mouths to scold the current envoy Prussia as a dog's blood splashing head. This negotiation about specific trade rules was originally just discussing specific details, but Guiliang and Horsanna actually went back on their words and asked to revise the Treaty of Tianjin.

  Pu Ru is incompetent and cannot handle Gui Liang, they have been discussing for three whole months but haven't even finalized one item.

  When Li Mingfeng heard this, he secretly rejoiced in his heart and thought to himself: "This little brat Prussia has actually abandoned me and gone solo. If the negotiations fall through, that would be for the best. The Qing court will thoroughly tear up the treaty, and at that time, my role will become apparent."

  After being scolded by Weitama for half a day, Gong Cheng went up and said a few words of useless consolation, and Li Mingfeng also followed suit. It wasn't until Weitama calmed down that he told the two about what had happened on their journey.

  Originally, it would take at least half a year to get from China to the UK, but Weihai Ma was worried about the negotiations here, so as soon as he arrived in India, Weihai Ma let others return to England and took an East India Company ship back to Shanghai. This time, upon his return, things were not going well, and indeed the negotiations had failed, with many clauses that had been agreed upon being reneged on by the Qing government, leaving Prussia without a solution.

  Listening to Wei Tuo scolding, Li Mingfeng also knew that this was a scolding for himself, one was to vent his anger on behalf of Gong and Li, and the other was also a hint that the two should take the initiative to bear the responsibility of negotiation.

  Li Mingfeng estimated that since Gui Liang had changed his mind, it must have been the Emperor's decision. It would be extremely difficult to persuade Xianfeng to withdraw the imperial edict. He didn't want to go, but who made him still hold the foreigner's rice bowl? If he didn't go, the rice bowl would be smashed.

  Since it can't be pushed, then just take advantage of the situation. This is Li Mingfeng's guiding principle. Since he had to clean up this mess, Li Mingfeng went ahead and revealed the matter of the foreign gun squad.

  Of course, it can't be said openly, but I have some British military friends who don't want to return to India and fight against the rioters, so they want to stay. Li Mingfeng suggested organizing a foreign gun team composed of British soldiers in Shanghai Concession to take charge of security there.

  Wei Da Ma originally thought it was a big deal, but after hearing this, she waved her hand impatiently and said: "Those cowardly scoundrels, don't leave them in the concession to embarrass me. Since you're friends with me, you should be responsible for managing them. You have a bank that handles tariffs, right? These people are nominally protecting your bank's business."

  De Li Mingfeng almost fainted with laughter after hearing this, which would save a lot of trouble, and the foreign gun team would directly belong to his own banner.