Chapter 61: The Miserly Xianfeng

  After Zhou Xiuying left with great joy, Li Zhen returned to the study and began writing a memorial. In the memorial, he mentioned Yang Nengge's surrender to the foreigners and his beheading, as well as the beheading of Liu Lichuan and Pan Qiliang from the Small Sword Society. He also wrote about the battles of wits and bravery against the foreigners, but omitted the matter of money. Finally, Li Zhen also requested rewards for his subordinates and asked Xianfeng to grant them awards.

  After Li Zhen handed out the memorial, Lan Weiwen hastily entered the study and bowed to Li Zhen before saying: "Sir, Ali Guo and Ai Tang have arrived."

  "It's really fast!"

  Li Zhen knew that the two had returned, but didn't expect it to be so soon. Li Zhen thought for a moment and instructed: "Treat the guests with courtesy, let them wait in the main hall, I'll be there shortly."

  "Yes!"

  Lan Weiwen turned around and left to pass on the orders.

  In the room, Li Zhen didn't show any intention of moving. Although he said it would be soon, he didn't specify a time. After Lan Weiwen left the room and didn't hear any movement from the study, she knew that Li Zhen was intentionally ignoring Ali Guo and Ai Tang. She hastily brought the news to Ali Guo and Ai Tang, telling them to wait in the main hall.

  In the hall, Ali Guo and Ai Tang sat on either side.

  The two of them stared at each other with wide eyes for half an hour, but there was no sign of Li Zhen.

  At this time, both of them were somewhat impatient.

  However, thinking of the imprisoned soldiers, they could only swallow their anger and leave silently.

  Ah Li Guo breathed hastily and said in a low voice: "Old friends, we both miscalculated. Originally thought that Li Zhen couldn't take down Shanghai, he must have asked for our help. At that time, we can take the opportunity to make conditions, and get back the soldiers and money. Now Li Zhen easily took down Shanghai, everything is empty, really lost big."

  Ai Tang sighed: "Li Zhen is indeed a man who cannot be fathomed, it can be said that he uses troops like a god."

  Ai Tang paused for a moment, then said: "Napoleon's military tactics are like Li Zhen's, unpredictable and impossible to guess with common sense. I think this person is not simple, we should consider our attitude towards him."

  "What do you think should be done?"

  Ai Tang said: "Pull him in, take him as our own, and let him be our spokesperson."

  "Ariya shook his head and said, 'Old friend, I think Li Zhen has big ambitions and won't submit to us or be willing to serve the empire. It's hard to make him a spokesperson. However, Li Zhen is incredibly capable, not easy to grasp.'"

  Ai Tang said: "This matter needs careful consideration, and for now, let's not consider it."

  The two of them whispered to each other for a full hour before Li Zhen finally arrived.

  "Respected Mr. Ali and Mr. Ai, I'm late, I apologize. Alas, it's just that we've just pacified Shanghai and there are too many things to take care of, so I couldn't come see you two sooner." Li Zhen said as he walked into the great hall with big strides, sat down in a golden chair with a large horse, and asked: "What brings you two here?"

  "General Li," Ah Lei said with a smile, "Shanghai has been pacified. Shouldn't the 100 British soldiers be returned now?"

  Ai Tang said: "General, I have come to take back one hundred soldiers of the Fa army."

  Li Zhen smiled bluntly: "The two of you have a good memory, never mind, I'll let the two of you take the soldiers back. Come on, take the two gentlemen to the camp and release all the Allied prisoners."

  Ariya and Aitong let out a sigh of relief, then followed the soldiers away.

  ……

  When the news of Li Zhenping's suppression of the Shanghai Small Swords Society arrived, Qi Shan also breathed a sigh of relief and felt extremely excited. With Li Zhen stabilizing his foothold at the sea port and making a show of force, he would immediately attract the attention of Yang Xiuqing and Hong Xiuquan, and his pressure would decrease accordingly, and the threat to Jiangbei Dazhan would also diminish.

  Even without a capable and victorious general, Qi Shan's army was at ease. Qi Shan relaxed his vigilance, the training of his soldiers also began to relax, and the Jiangbei Dazheng camp returned to normal.

  Gambling gambled away, drinking drank away, opium smoked away, all scattered.

  ……

  Beijing, Forbidden City.

  Qianqing Palace, Xianfeng was reviewing memorials.

  Han Laiyu was beside Xianfeng to sort out the memorials and distinguish their importance.

  When Han Laiyu received Li Zhen's memorial, he roughly scanned the situation on it, raised an eyebrow, and a look of surprise appeared on his face. Li Zhen had been in Shanghai for less than a month and had already quelled the Small Swords Society's disturbance, indeed formidable. At the same time, Han Laiyu also thought to himself that he had chosen the right person, as he had established a relationship with Li Zhen, and later when Li Zhen rose to prominence, he would also be able to reap some benefits.

  Xianfeng sensed something unusual about Han Laiyu and asked: "What's going on again?"

  Han Laiyu said: "Congratulations to Your Majesty, felicitations to Your Majesty!"

  "Oh, what's the good news."

  Xianfeng listened and knew it was a good thing.

  Han Liyu handed the memorial to Xianfeng and said, "Your Majesty, this is a memorial from Li Zhen, the supervisor of Jianghai Customs, saying that he has already pacified the Small Swords Society and recovered Shanghai."

  Xianfeng Emperor read the contents of the memorial and burst out laughing, a pleased expression on his face.

  Xianfeng immediately said, "What a good Li Zhen, worthy of my appreciation. Li Zhen quickly pacified the Small Sword Society in a short period of time and eliminated one of the bandits' main helpers, deserving of praise."

  Han Laiyu said: "Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, teasing foreigners is even more satisfying."

  Xianfeng nodded and said, "Your words are reasonable. In recent years, foreigners have become increasingly arrogant. Li Zhen is not afraid of foreigners, captured the commander of the British fleet, and also captured the defeat of the Anglo-French coalition forces, this is a rare victory."

  At this moment, Xianfeng felt extremely relieved in his heart.

  Although the civil and military officials of the Qing court, including Xianfeng, referred to Britain, France, and Russia as barbarians, the fact that the Celestial Empire had been defeated by these "barbarians" was a source of great humiliation. Xianfeng also wanted to win battles, but there were no capable generals to lead the army. Especially after the First Opium War, Hong Kong was occupied, and Nanjing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou were designated as treaty ports, which severely wounded the emperor's self-esteem.

  Li Zhen's great victory boosted the national prestige, and Xianfeng finally felt relieved for once. This relief was spiritual, refreshing his whole body, far more comfortable than the pleasure he got from indulging in the imperial harem.

  Han Laiyu said: "Your Majesty, Yang Nengge really has no backbone, and he actually surrendered to the foreigners. It's infuriating."

  Xianfeng listened and immediately said in a murderous tone: "Yang Nengge has no dignity at all, losing face for our great Qing dynasty. This man should be executed along with his entire clan. However, since he's already dead, let's just forget about it." After a pause, Xianfeng said: "Han Laiyu, Li Zhenping made great contributions in pacifying Shanghai, what do you think we should reward them with?"

  Han Laiyu did not dare to intervene in government affairs, so he had to decline and say: "I am under the emperor's guidance, I know some principles, but when it comes to the rewards of court officials, I don't understand anything."

  Xianfeng's eyes rolled around and he said, "Shanghai is not far from Nanjing. If Li Zhen takes Shanghai, he must also control the bandits in Nanjing. Issue an edict, appointing Li Zhen as the Imperial Commissioner for Suppressing Bandits, to garrison Shanghai and train troops to suppress bandits."

  Han Liyu said: "Your Majesty, Qi Shan is the Imperial Commissioner in Jiangbei Dajiang, Xie Rong is also the Imperial Commissioner in Jiangnan Dajiang. Now Li Zhen is practicing troops in Shanghai and is also an Imperial Commissioner. However, Li Zhen is only a third-grade general, how can we divide the ranks?"

  Xianfeng said indifferently: "Li Zhen's imperial commissioner is just a title, without any rank."

  Han Laiyu secretly said that Xianfeng was stingy, thinking of reusing, but only verbally praised. As for the people under Li Zhenhui, they were also written praises, without actual promotion.

  Fortunately, when giving Li Zhen the imperial edict, it was also said that he would be rewarded with 30,000 taels of silver to encourage him.

  However, it is unknown when the 30,000 taels of white silver can be cashed in.

  The second watch of the night