Chapter 72 Reunion with Eros

  This time, Eulenberg came to China again at the behest of Prince Regent Wilhelm of Prussia, seeking an opportunity to contact the Qing government. Unlike last time, Wilhelm believed that he had already found a Qing official who could communicate with him, so there was some hope for an alliance between the two countries.

  Li Mingfeng listened to Eros' narrative, and pondered for a long time. This time Eros came to ask Li Mingfeng to act as an intermediary, so that he could get in touch with the highest level of the Qing government, and even hoped to have the opportunity to meet the Emperor of the Great Qing. However, Eros was not clear about Li Mingfeng's specific identity.

  In Prussia, or even in the whole of Europe, a general who could command tens of thousands of men was absolutely at the highest level of leadership. However, in the Qing dynasty, even Zeng Guofan, a commander-in-chief commanding hundreds of thousands of men, was only a second-grade official, still far from the highest leadership, let alone Li Mingfeng, this small deputy general.

  "China is vast, I am just an ordinary general in China, and not a high-ranking official of the imperial court as you imagine." Li Mingfeng explained.

  Ehrenthal sighed and said: "Actually, when I came, I had already explained to the Regent that even if you could let me see His Majesty the Emperor, with the current thinking of the Qing government officials, it's likely that your emperor would not be able to agree to an alliance with our country. However, the Regent still sent me to the East because he hopes to find a stable source of raw materials and sales market for Prussia."

  "What raw materials do you need?" Li Mingfeng asked. As long as it's a business, he can make money, and Li Mingfeng doesn't want to miss any opportunity to make money.

  "Our Ruhr region is rich in coal and iron ore, these two industrial necessities we don't need to import. What Prussia lacks are copper, tin, zinc and other non-ferrous metals, as well as various agricultural products, which the Qing dynasty has plenty of, such as tea leaves, silk, and cotton."

  Li Mingfeng pondered for half a day and still didn't know how to deal with colored metals. If the Prussians needed coal and oil, it would be easy to handle. With a wave of his hand, Daqing went to dig oil, Shanxi went to dig coal, and there must be plenty of them. However, at this time, Prussia was rich in coal, internal combustion engines had not yet been invented and applied, and the role of oil was not great, so the Prussians did not need these things.

  "Well, I'll report this matter to the Emperor, don't worry about it. However, I dare not guarantee what kind of response the imperial court will give you." Li Mingfeng said with a pretentious tone.

  Eros happily said: "That's really thank you so much, I didn't expect you to be willing to help."

  Li Mingfeng waved his hand and said casually: "Nothing, just doing a friend's duty."

  Eros thanked him for half a day, and suddenly Li Mingfeng's mind flashed, his eyes staring tightly at Eros.

  Eros was stared at by Li Mingfeng with a straight face, and only after a while did he ask: "What's wrong, Li?"

  "Oh, I was thinking, can I go visit Prussia as a Qing envoy?" Li Mingfeng replied.

  Li Mingfeng met Eros and suddenly had the idea of becoming an envoy, which would perfectly avoid the impending war between England and Qing. As for the true identity of the imperial envoy, Li Mingfeng naturally couldn't get it, but Prussia had never had any dealings with the Great Qing, so Li Mingfeng could easily fake some procedures to deceive them. Moreover, in the eyes of the Prussians, he was still a general with real power, and based on this alone, he could fully enjoy the treatment of a publicly funded tourist in Prussia.

  "Li? You said you want to visit Prussia?" Elos really doubted his ears had gone bad.

  "Right, what's the problem? I hope to go to Prussia personally to see the situation, which can be called on-the-spot investigation. If you want to form an alliance, at least let me know the strength of Prussia." Li Mingfeng made up a reason as soon as he opened his mouth.

  "No problem, you are most welcome. You will be the first Oriental commander to visit Prussia." Elos said excitedly.

  "I will convey your request for an alliance to His Imperial Majesty, and after preparing for a few more days, I will return to Europe with you on the same ship," said Li Mingfeng.

  "Good", Eros was very satisfied with the result of this meeting.

  After sending Eluos away, Li Mingfeng called over Gong Cheng and Wei Zhijun. He told them about his idea of going to Europe for a trip.

  "What's the point of going to that Prussia country, which is thousands of miles away? The adults went on a mission and didn't get any benefits, why do you want to go?" Wei Zhi-jun was extremely puzzled by Li Ming-feng's decision.

  Li Mingfeng explained: "It's not that I want to go to Europe, but now I see that the negotiations between England and France and the Qing Dynasty are basically broken. Judging from Elgin's recent moves, I'm afraid there will be another war between China and foreign countries in a few months, at which time, I'm afraid it won't be easy for me to stay out of trouble."

  Gong Cheng nodded and said, "Not bad, don't mention you, I'm afraid even if it were me, I would have to avoid the storm for a while. After all, in some people's eyes, you and I are just running dogs of foreigners, or even traitors. Once the war starts, who knows, maybe some people will use me as a scapegoat."

  Wei Zhi-jun listened and lowered his head in silence. Gong Li was a translator for the foreigners, and since the foreigners had defeated the Qing dynasty, they would definitely not be able to stand firm in the Qing. However, Wei Zhi-jun was currently also the commander of the Ever Victorious Army, and the background of the Ever Victorious Army was too complicated, with foreign forces and those who surrendered to the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom also among them. Once a great war broke out, the situation of the Ever Victorious Army would likely be very difficult as well.

  Li Mingfeng looked at Wei Zhijun, who was lowering his head and not speaking, and knew that he was also very worried about his own future. He quickly comforted him by saying: "As for you two, you can rest assured. After I leave, the power of the Changsheng Army will be in the hands of He Guiqing. Even if the imperial court does not trust the Changsheng Army, He Guiqing will not cut off his own arm. This garrison is his treasure."

  Wei Zhi-jun nodded and said, "That's the best way. But after you return, sir, how can He Gui-qing possibly hand over the intact Changsheng Army to Zhao?"

  Li Mingfeng thought to himself, when the Anglo-French coalition breaks into Beijing, the entire imperial court will flee to Rehe for a "summer retreat", and at that time it will be Emperor Xianfeng's turn to weigh his options. As for the small but victorious army, even if the foreign devils don't speak up, I'm afraid the Qing court won't have the guts to swallow it whole.

  However, Li Mingfeng couldn't say this openly, so Old Li smiled mysteriously and said: "Wei Ge, you don't need to worry about this matter. You just need to keep a low profile. The nine-tenths of the soldiers in the Changsheng Army are your old subordinates. As long as you grasp their hearts, you will grasp the Changsheng Army. At that time, as long as you, Wei Zhijun, don't oppose me, He Guoqiang won't have a chance to get the Changsheng Army."

  Wei Zhi-jun immediately stood up from his chair, bowed and said with great emotion: "Your subordinate has been fortunate enough to receive your benevolence, and thus was able to escape the bandits' lair and surrender to the imperial court. Your kindness towards me is as boundless as the Yangtze River..."

  Before Wei Zhijun finished speaking, Li Mingfeng waved his hand and said: "Stop it, I understand your loyalty better than anyone else. I won't say much, just tell you one thing. If you want to be prosperous and wealthy, and get promoted, then honestly follow me. But if you have other ideas in mind..." Li Mingfeng didn't finish what he was saying, but his meaning was already very clear.

  In fact, the mutual trust between Wei Zhi-jun and Li Ming-feng was not high either. The two people being together was also a complete interest connection. Wei Zhi-jun was young and arrogant, following his elder brother Wei Chang-hui to rebel at over twenty years old, and became one of the five main generals of the Taiping Army at thirty-one years old. Although he surrendered to Li Ming-feng, with his temperament, how could he be willing to be under someone else? Li Ming-feng had always used benefits to entice him and power to pressure him, which was why Wei remained loyal.

  This time Li Mingfeng is going to travel far to Europe, this one trip will take several months or even a year, Wei Zhijun doesn't know what idea he will come up with. Li Mingfeng deliberately knocks on him to make him have some thoughts in his heart.

  He just wanted to turn the sky upside down, trying to replace Li Mingfeng's position in the Invincible Army. He also had to leave a way out for himself, otherwise when Li Mingfeng's power grew, he would have no way to retreat, and it would be difficult to get off the tiger's back, forcing the two men to not coexist.

  "Wei Zhi-jun awkwardly said: 'Don't worry, sir. I will definitely take good care of General Changsheng for you.'"

  Li Mingfeng smiled and didn't say anything.

  Gong Cheng said: "You go on a trip to Europe, you should also visit the UK and France."

  "Well, I'll take a look at these two countries too, who knows if I can meet some big shots. Gong brother, since you can't make a name for yourself in the Qing dynasty, why not go to sea with me?" Li Mingfeng said.

  "No, sailing is too bitter, I can't bear that suffering. Moreover, there are also intelligence department things that I am responsible for, although Huayang is hostile, but I hide in the concession and don't go out, it's no big deal."

  "Then I'll have to trouble you, big brother." Li Mingfeng said gratefully.

  Three people consulted and Li Mingfeng again called Cai Yiqun, Chen Xinghan, Wu Ting and other internal direct descendants of the Changsheng Army to inform them of the matter, which was nothing more than asking them to keep a low profile and seize power.

  Everything was ready, and Li Mingfang went to the Governor's Mansion and the British and French Embassies to inform them of the good news that General 'Victory' had left China.