Chapter 45 Revenge

  Yang Nengge wanted to call out to Ali Guo, Ai Tang and Ma Hui, but saw Li Zhen's gaze was icy cold, so he could only sit on the cold bench dejectedly. Lan Weiwen was just a small county magistrate, seeing Yang Nengge not moving, he also didn't move.

  Ali left the camp, Ma Hui and Ai Tang followed him.

  Ma Hui's expression was solemn, and he asked in a deep voice: "A Li Guo, a stubborn and cunning general has suddenly appeared in the Qing army's camp. What should we do?"

  Ai Tang said: "With Li Zhen around, things are hard to handle!"

  A Li Guo said in a cold voice: "First return to the garrison, and then discuss how to deal with Li Zhen."

  The three men hastily left with the guards, and Yang Naike, who was left in the tent, could no longer bear it.

  Yang Nengge said loudly: "Li Canjiang, Li Daotai, you have driven away the British, French and Americans, no one is helping us to attack Shanghai, what do you think we should do? If you want to oppose the foreigners, you should also win over one or two, and then divide them, this way we will have the strength to recover Shanghai. Now that you have offended all the foreigners, are you happy?"

  Li Zhen retorted, "Director Yang, I may not be as skilled in officialdom as you are. However, when dealing with foreigners, we don't need to use the usual official tactics, nor do we need to fawn and curry favor. What's needed is a firm attitude, and our country also needs such means to intimidate foreigners."

  Lan Weiwen seemed somewhat surprised by Li Zhen's words.

  He used to think Li Zhen was a fool, but now he thinks the person in front of him is truly patriotic.

  Unfortunately, such people can't go far in official circles.

  Lan Weiwen sighed inwardly, having already made up her mind not to get involved with Li Zhen in order to avoid implicating herself. However, Lan Weiwen also didn't plan on making an enemy of Li Zhen, as she couldn't guess his thoughts, and asked aloud: "General Li, the foreigners have been driven away by you, we no longer have their support, how are we going to take down Shanghai County?"

  "What's wrong? Don't be in a hurry."

  Li Zhenqin smiled twice and wasn't in a hurry at all.

  Yang Nengge said: "Shanghai has been attacked, the bandits are rampant, Liu Lichuan and Zhou Xiuying are still alive, how can we not be anxious? General Li, I admire your courage in calling out to the foreigners, but being able to retake Shanghai is the real skill."

  Li Zhen's expression didn't change, and he said calmly: "Liu Lichuan, Zhou Xiuying and others have occupied Shanghai, issued a three-year tax exemption order, and treated the people of Shanghai kindly. They want to keep Shanghai, so they won't do anything that goes against the current situation. With the premise that the people are not affected, what's the harm in delaying for a while?"

  Li Zhen's voice suddenly rose, and he said loudly: "The Emperor has entrusted me with the affairs of Shanghai, I will not disappoint the Emperor's expectations. I also hold the position of Shanghai Dao, have to deal with foreigners, and am responsible for Shanghai tariffs, so I cannot compromise with foreigners."

  Yang Nengge was depressed in his heart, but he could not stop Li Zhen. However, Yang Nengge had no way to interfere with Li Zhen's orders and did not have the ability to lead the army to capture Shanghai, so he could only rely on Li Zhen.

  Li Zhenxiang said, "Yang Daotai, don't worry. If Shanghai's affairs are delayed for one more day, the foreigners' interests will suffer even greater losses. We can hold on, but they cannot. Before long, Alvey will come to us, and then we'll retake Shanghai."

  Yang Neng said: "General Li, are you sure?"

  "Nature has its own way."

  Li Zhen's face showed a confident expression, and he said: "Wait for the time being, foreigners will take the initiative to come to our door."

  Having said that, Li Zhen left the main tent, and Yang Banhou and Huang Shihai also followed him out.

  Yang Nengge and Lan Weiwang sat in the big tent, looking at each other without a word, extremely headache. Li Zhen returned to the soldiers' rest place, but immediately gathered Huang Shihai, Huang Hu and Yang Banhou together to discuss things.

  ……

  The British, French and American legations were ten miles away from the Qing army's camp. The legation was backed by the Yangtze River and could receive support from the fleet stationed in Hong Kong. In the tent of the camp, three people, Aleni, Ma Hui and Ai Tong, sat together.

  Ma Hui said solemnly, "The Qing army has produced a very troublesome general, and the Shanghai Small Swords Society is not easy to deal with. On my way back, I carefully considered it and decided to take a neutral stance for the time being, withdraw American troops, and no longer participate in this incident. The domestic situation in the United States is unstable, and it cannot be compared with the British Empire and France. It can only temporarily withdraw, please forgive me."

  After finishing speaking, Ma Hui turned around and walked out of the camp, preparing to withdraw the stationed US soldiers.

  A Li Guo gazed at Ma Hui's receding back, saying in a low voice: "Americans are really too cunning. When they encounter difficulties, they immediately choose to retreat. When they see benefits, they come swarming like flies, it's really detestable."

  Ai Tang smiled and said: "A Li Guo, do you still have loyal French friends?"

  "Right, let's drink to our friendship."

  Ali Guo raised his glass and clinked it against Ai Tang's, then downed the drink in one gulp.

  After a pause, Ariya said: "Li Zhen does not allow us to send troops to attack the Shanghai Small Swords Society. I am unwilling too. Now we must give Li Zhen a lesson, what do you think?"

  "I also think it's time to teach Li Zhen a lesson and let him know the power of the Anglo-French army."

  A faint smile played on her lips, and a cold light flickered in her eyes.

  A Li Guo said: "If there was no Li Zhen, we would help Yang Nengge blast open the city wall of Shanghai and pacify the Small Swords Society, which could force Yang Nengge to sign a compensation agreement. Now that Li Zhen has appeared, he must be made to submit. The way to make him submit is to attack the Qing army and dispel Li Zhen's arrogance. Once Li Zhen cooperates obediently, we can obtain more concessions for Britain and France."

  Ai Tang asked: "Respected Mr. Ariya, when are you planning to send troops?"

  "Things should not be delayed," replied Ariya. "We will launch an attack tomorrow at noon."

  Ai Tang fell silent for a moment, then said: "Although our goal is to attack the Qing army and teach Li Zhen a lesson for being arrogant, we still need a fig leaf. We should find a reasonable excuse."

  "Ah, my dear friend, can't you find a better reason than that? Just say that one of the Qing soldiers injured an Imperial soldier. That alone is enough to enter the Qing army camp and capture people. If the Qing army doesn't cooperate, we can order our troops to kill their way in. This is a very good reason."

  "Ariya, you're really clever, this is a great idea, let's do it."

  Ai Tang stroked his large mustache and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

  "Guards, go and fetch British Commander Adams."

  "Yes! Honorable Consul"

  The soldiers hastily left the camp to convey orders.

  Soon, a stout middle-aged man walked in. He was Adams, the commander of the British fleet, wearing a military uniform, with long boots on his feet and thick hair slicked back with oil, and white gloves on his hands. After Adams came in, he pulled out a chair and sat down, asking: "Respected Consul General, what instructions do you have for me?"

  Ariya said, "The Qing army has produced a stubborn element that does not cooperate with the empire to carry out work. Such people must be punished. Tomorrow at noon, please bring 1,000 British and French coalition forces to the Qing army's garrison and say that our soldiers were injured by the Qing soldiers, take the opportunity to launch an attack, and disperse the Qing army's soldiers."

  "Consul, as a soldier of the Empire, I have no choice," Adams exclaimed.

  After finishing speaking, Adams turned around and left the big account to prepare.

  Ariya and Ai Tong looked at Adams' receding back, both with expectant expressions.

  PS: 2nd update; finally got a seal, thanks!