Chapter 21: Gaining Qi Shan's Trust

  Li Zhen rested at the inn for a night and discussed many issues about firearms with Ma Si.

  Talking into the late hours of the night, Mars became more and more spirited.

  Ma's eyes shone brightly, as if he had discovered a new continent, and he felt extremely surprised. He did not expect that among the corrupt officials of the Qing dynasty, there was still someone like Li Zhen who was so knowledgeable. Not only was he familiar with firearms, but he also had unparalleled insight. In Ma's eyes, Li Zhen was no longer just an intimate friend, but a brilliant genius.

  Unfortunately, the time spent together was too short.

  The next morning, Li Zhen and Ma Si bid farewell.

  Li Zhen took Huang Shi-hai and his entourage away from Nanjing, heading towards the Jiangbei Dazhan. Ma Si-huai secretly carried over 30,000 silver tickets southward back to Guangzhou, preparing to send guns and ammunition to Li Zhen.

  ……

  Jiangbei Grand Camp, entrance of the campsite.

  Qishan slightly hunched his back, with a soldier holding an umbrella beside him to block the sunlight.

  Even so, under the scorching sun, Qi Shan's slightly chubby body trembled lightly, and fine sweat beads appeared on his forehead. Wu Qigong and He Ming, among other military leaders, stood behind Qi Shan, waiting quietly. The officials of all sizes stood at the entrance of the camp, waiting to welcome Li Zhen back from Nanjing.

  News of Li Zhen and Yang Xiuqing's agreement had already been sent back.

  Qishan music is unbearable, Wu Qigong is delighted.

  He Ming gritted his teeth in anger, hating the fact that Li Zhen had gone to Nanjing and probably died there, but he never expected Li Zhen to come back.

  If he had known this earlier, he would have gone there in person and achieved great merit.

  Wu Qigong stared at the official road, and suddenly his eyes lit up. He said in a low voice: "Your Excellency, Li Zhen has returned." Qi Shan heard the sound and looked into the distance, finding that there was indeed a group of people on the official road. As the distance gradually narrowed, Qi Shan could clearly see Li Zhen's face, as well as Huang Shi Hai and others who followed him.

  "Ta-da! Ta-da!"

  The sound of horseshoes approached, and Li Zhen quickly arrived outside the camp.

  Li Zhen dismounted and quickly walked to Qi Shan's side, performing a thousand bows, saying with neither arrogance nor humility: "Relying on your great reputation, I was fortunate not to shame my orders, and persuaded Yang Xiuqing."

  "Alright, alright, alright!"

  Qishan Lian said three good words, stretched out his hand and pulled Li Zhen's arm towards the camp.

  Such an honor made He Ming even more jealous.

  However, Huang Shi Hai did not receive such treatment and could only turn around and return to camp.

  In the military headquarters, Qi Shan sat high above, below him were the military generals.

  Li Zhen was in high spirits, talking non-stop about the events of this trip, but he omitted the matter of the extra 100,000 taels of silver. When mentioning the severe beating of Duan Zhenggang and being held over a large pot, Wu Qigong and Qi Shan both broke out in cold sweat, worried for Li Zhen. He Ming also wiped away his cold sweat, thinking that not going to Nanjing was a wise decision.

  Qishan is more delighted, feeling refreshed and proud.

  Qishan was delighted and praised Li Zhen again.

  Li Zhen blinked his eyes, hinting with his gaze. Qi Shan understood and waved his hand, saying: "Li Zhen has just returned, I have some matters to entrust to Li Zhen, all of you can go down now."

  The crowd looked at Li Zhen with envy and reluctantly got up and left.

  Qishan asked: "Li Zhen, what's going on?"

  Li Zhen took out a bundle of silver notes from his bosom and respectfully handed it to Qi Shan, saying: "Sir, this is 15,000 taels of silver, which was paid in advance by Yang Xiuqing."

  "Qī Shàn asked: 'What does 15,000 taels of silver mean?'"

  Li Zhen replied, "Your Excellency, Yang Xiuqing agreed to pay 100,000 taels of silver to ransom back the captured bandits, but insisted on publicly announcing that he had ransomed back 10,000 soldiers with 50,000 taels of silver. When I returned, Yang Xiuqing had already paid the 50,000 taels in advance. Next time when Yang Xiuqing sends someone to ransom back prisoners, he will give another 50,000 taels."

  Qishan frowned and said: "Since it's 50,000 taels, why is there such a big shortage?"

  Li Zhen said: "Reporting to Your Excellency, when I was about to leave for Nanjing, I met an Italian merchant named Ma Si. This person specializes in selling foreign guns and thinks that there are not enough guards around you, so he took the initiative to buy 1,000 guns and 100,000 bullets from Ma Si, spending 35,000 taels of silver. Ma Si will bring the silver south and soon transport the guns and ammunition back to the camp. At that time, the Jiangbei Dajiang will have new weapons and be as stable as Mount Tai."

  Qishan frowned and said, "Li Zhen, you have a good heart, but using so much silver to buy foreign guns... Alas! Never mind, it's been used anyway. We still have more than 600,000 taels of silver left."

  "Sir, we bought guns with our money and can sell them for a profit."

  Qishan heard that it was profitable and became interested, saying: "Tell me more."

  Li Zhen said: "Ma Si is a foreign merchant, selling weapons in Guangzhou to make money to buy silk and tea. I will tell Ma Si that the adults want to sell silk and tea to him. In this way, we only use a small amount of silk and tea to exchange for foreign guns, and more than 30,000 taels of silver will return to the adults' hands."

  "Fantastic! Great!"

  Qishan smiled and said: "Li Zhen, you really have a lot of tricks up your sleeve."

  Li Zhen said: "Your Excellency's praise is too much for me, I dare not accept it."

  Qishan shook his head and smiled, saying: "For foreigners, silk and tea are not easy to handle, but for the local officials, it is easy to handle silk and tea. When the foreigners transport a thousand guns to the Jiangbei camp, the local officials can earn back the silver with a small amount of money by buying silk and tea, which is really good."

  "Your Honor is wise!"

  Li Zhen paused for a moment, then pulled out several silver tickets from his pocket and handed them to Qi Shan, saying: "Sir, this is six thousand taels of silver ticket, please sir verify."

  Qishan asked doubtfully: "What's going on with the six thousand taels of silver?"

  Li Zhen replied: "I, Li, went to Nanjing and if I didn't search Yang Xiuqing thoroughly, it would be a pity. So I let Yang Xiuqing give me 6,000 taels of silver as travel expenses, which is also a reward for the soldiers who followed me. Therefore, I have this 6,000 taels of silver. I dare not hide it from you, sir, and hand over the silver note to you, please take it."

  Hahaha...

  Qishan heard this and was even more delighted in his heart.

  He stood up and helped Li Zhen up, saying with a guilty conscience: "You have made great contributions again, and you used 10,000 prisoners to exchange for 100,000 taels of military expenses, making great contributions to the Jiangbei camp. This official should heavily reward you, but unfortunately, there is no money in the army, and it's really impossible to take out silver. Alas, this official feels guilty! Your loyalty has been accepted by this official, and 6,000 taels of silver will be kept for your own use."

  Li Zhen sighed: "It's not easy for adults to be in charge of Jiangbei Dazheng either!"

  As he spoke, he quietly retrieved the six thousand taels of silver.

  Qishan listened to Li Zhen's emotions and regarded Li Zhen as a kindred spirit, saying: "If all the generals in the army could understand things like you do, and be as loyal and dedicated as you are, everything would be fine. You've traveled far and are tired, go rest."

  "Thank you, sir!"

  Li Zhen bowed and then turned around to leave.

  Qishan looked at Li Zhen's back, stroking his sparse beard under his chin, with a satisfied look in his eyes. Qishan had already regarded Li Zhen as his trusted aide, treating him like his left and right arms.

  All of this was carefully planned by Li Zhen.