Chapter 67: A Lunch That Doesn't Exist in This World

  Arriving at Lake Mouth, Li Mingfeng originally thought he would need to explain things to the Qing army's garrison commander here.

  Unexpectedly, as soon as the army arrived at the city gate, the Qing general guarding the city actually took the initiative to welcome them. Li Mingfeng stepped forward and announced his name, and the Qing general ordered the city gates to be opened wide, allowing the 200,000-strong army to enter the city.

  After entering the city, both sides introduced themselves, and Li Mingfeng only then learned that the guardian of Lake Mouth was actually Li Xubin's younger brother Li Xuyi. The story of Li Mingfeng leading a lone army to rescue Li Xubin had long been spread throughout Anhui, Jiangxi, and Hubei provinces. Li Xuyi, grateful for Li Mingfeng's fraternal loyalty, specially came out of the city to welcome him.

  That night, Li Xuyu specially set up a banquet to entertain Li Mingfeng. Li Mingfeng asked about the whereabouts of Gong Cheng, and Li Xuyu replied that he was taken away by British warships yesterday, accompanied by several thousand soldiers and those supplies.

  That batch of Li Mingfeng's troops from Tongcheng Shucheng, who defended against the Xiang Army, were all left to Li Xuyi by Gong Cheng. These troops originally belonged to Li Xubin; now that Li Xubin has died in battle at Sanhe, returning these troops to Li Xuyi can be considered as restoring them to their rightful owner.

  Li Xuyu also relayed a message from Gong Cheng, saying that the British warship would return in a few days to pick up Li Mingfeng. With over 10,000 people and horses, although the British cruiser was very majestic, it was impossible to load them all on board.

  The crowd chatted about many battle formations and discussed when they could eliminate the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, eating and drinking until midnight before finally dispersing.

  So Li Mingfeng temporarily settled down here. In the days of Hukou, the generals were eating and drinking every day, living a carefree and happy life.

  Five days later, Gong Zhen and William Jardine led twenty warships to arrive at the lake entrance. In order to carry more soldiers, many cannons were dismantled and only a small number of sailors were brought on board. Even so, with over 10,000 people on board, the ships were still pressed down to less than three meters above the waterline.

  Flying the flag of the British Empire, neither the Taiping Army nor the Qing Army dared to provoke them. In just one day, the fleet sailed back to Shanghai with the current.

  Arriving in Shanghai, Li Mingfeng led the troops back to the original Yang Gun Team campsite. At this time, the military base had been fully established and although there were many people and horses brought back, they could still be accommodated.

  Just as Li Mingfeng arrived at the military camp, invitations from E'erguna, Weiyama and He Guiqing were already delivered. Li Mingfeng thought to himself that his actions had finally caught the attention of some forces.

  At this time, Li Mingfeng was no longer as ignorant of politics as he had been at first. Now, Li Mingfeng realized that good things were not so easy to come by. With foreigners and He Guiqing coming to find him, Li Mingfeng really didn't know whether it was a good thing or a bad thing.

  Li Mingfeng after all eats Western food, and it's not easy to offend the Western masters. So he put off seeing He Guoqiang for now and instead went to the British concession to see the foreigners who had arrived.

  Let Gong Cheng and Wei Zhi-jun be in charge of the army's settlement, while Li Ming-feng rode alone to the British Embassy.

  Upon arrival at the legation, Thomas Wade personally came out to greet him and invited Li Mingfang into his office. Elgin, that arrogant old man, was already waiting in the room.

  When Li Mingfeng came in, Erl King surprisingly stood up and smiled: "Li, I really didn't misjudge you. I've heard about the things you've done, and I've seen your army too. It's really unexpected that in just one year, you actually have an army of your own."

  Li Mingfeng saw Elgin flattering himself so much, and thought to himself: It seems that this old man has something to ask of me. Otherwise, with his temperament, he wouldn't be so polite to a yellow-skinned person like myself.

  "It is all thanks to the trust of the British Empire that I have achieved what I have today. Without the empire's help, it would be impossible for me to have made such small achievements." Li Mingfeng said humbly.

  "Since you know that, I won't make any false polite remarks to you either. The British Empire is prepared to provide you with assistance, including weapons, military pay, training and so on."

  Li Mingfeng calmly asked: "There is no free lunch in this world, since the Empire is willing to provide me with aid, I think the Empire must also have some conditions?"

  Wei Tuo Ma said from the side, "Li, you are indeed very clever. However, you are also too cautious. Don't worry, what we give to you will definitely be more than what you pay out. Although you have some power now, the Empire doesn't care about your little bit of power."

  "What does the empire need me to do?" Li Mingfeng hadn't been blinded by personal gain, and at this moment he felt a chill run down his spine. He was afraid that everything he had built would be snatched away from him by Elgin and Wade.

  "I heard that you've newly recruited many rebel troops, we're willing to provide mid-to-low level military officers for free training and will dispatch the empire's most excellent officers to form an advisory group to help you strategize in battle. After all, you don't quite understand modern combat methods, professional matters should be handled by professionals." E'rgin said calmly.

  Coaching staff and advisory group, if these two things enter the foreign gun team, the leadership structure of the foreign gun team will definitely undergo tremendous changes in the future. In the future, the foreign gun team will definitely be controlled by Britain.

  Li Mingfeng is clear about his own chips. With the current forces, Li Mingfeng still does not have the ability to resist any side of this era, whether it is the imperial court or the powerful countries.

  Now Erl King is openly demanding control of the Yang Gun Team, but Li Mingfeng feels powerless to resist. In order to get by in this era, Li Mingfeng has been trying hard to become an agent for Western powers in China, and it turns out that this path can still be taken. By relying on the power of foreigners, Li Mingfeng is able to intimidate others, even high-ranking officials like Bai Gui, Gui Liang, and Hua Shana have to give him some face.

  If Elgin, Wade and Li Hongzhang now refuse to agree, the foreigners will not do anything to him. However, without the backing of the British Empire, the foreign rifle troops would be like a fox that has lost its tiger at its back, and no animal in the forest would fear them anymore.

  Agreeing to British intervention would inevitably lead to a change in the color of the foreign gun squad; disagreeing, Li Mingfeng would offend the foreigners and lose his backing.

  It was a matter of great importance, but Li Mingfeng still decided to go back and discuss it with Gong Cheng. Besides, dragging things out would also be beneficial for negotiating with the British.

  "I'll have to go back and think about it for a few days. Let's say three days, and I'll give you both an answer after that." Li Mingfeng said.

  Ergou's face was somewhat displeased, but Weituo Ma smiled and said: "No problem, even buying apples requires haggling, let alone major military matters. Three days' time, we can still wait."

  Li Mingfeng gave them a gentleman's farewell and retreated from Weetamah's office.

  Out of the embassy, on the horse-drawn carriage, Li Mingfeng rushed to He Guiqing's mansion again.