Chapter 49: Borrowing a Knife to Kill

  Li Zhen opened his mouth wide, but Ai Tang couldn't refute him.

  The initiative of the negotiation is not in Ai Tang's hands, but in Li Zhen's hands.

  This is just like they forced the Qing Dynasty.

  Li Zhen saw Ai Tang and A Li Guo remain silent, and said lightly: "If the two of you do not agree with the conditions I put forward, then go back to where you came from and think about it carefully. However, if you are unwilling to ransom the captives, I will inform the captured British and French soldiers and officers. If they know that you are unwilling to save them for money, they may take drastic actions."

  Ai Tang cursed Li Zhen for being shameless, but reluctantly said: "General, I agree to your terms, willing to pay 300,000 taels of white silver, 1,000 guns, and an additional 200,000 rounds of ammunition."

  "I agree too!"

  Ariya nodded in agreement, saying weakly. At this moment, Ariya was defeated and disheartened, his whole body lacking strength, as if all his power had been drained away.

  Li Zhen saw Ariya and Aitong coordinating, smiled and said: "Both of you are understanding and reasonable, Li Zhen deeply admires. Since the agreement has been reached, please both return to prepare silver, guns and ammunition. When we exchange, I will carefully inspect. If there is a problem with the guns and ammunition, some captured soldiers will be killed, I hope you two keep your promise."

  A Li Guo and Ai Tang stood up, silently leaving.

  After leaving the Qing army camp, Ai Tang said: "A Li Guo, you have to give Li Zhen 500,000 taels of silver, what do you do?"

  "What else can be done? Can only take it out of one's own pocket."

  "The problem of guns and ammunition is easy to solve, after all, soldiers need to consume weapons and ammunition, taking out 1,000 guns and 200,000 rounds of bullets won't cause any problems. But 500,000 taels of silver is not a small amount, if the domestic members find out, it will definitely cause a big stir. The only solution now is to pay for it ourselves. As for the dead soldiers, they also need to be properly handled, what a headache."

  Ai Tang also secretly sighed, he was spending his own money.

  However, Ai Tang had already made up his mind that after this big loss, he must sell more opium to make it back.

  The two men left, and Li Zhen had Adams taken away and locked up.

  Li Zhen leaned against the chair, quietly thinking, with an increasingly cold intent in his eyes. Li Zhen was considering the problem of Yang Nengge and Lan Weiwu. He had taken soldiers away from the military camp, watched as the camp was attacked, resulting in the loss of the Qing army's base. The two must have been harboring resentment. If it wasn't resolved, perhaps the two would jointly submit a memorial that would bring about Li Zhen's downfall.

  What's more important is that the two of them have colluded with Ali Guo, Ai Tang, Ma Hui and others, and also have conflicts with Li Zhen.

  Li Zhen would find it hard to establish himself in Shanghai without removing the obstacles in his way.

  After making the decision, Li Zhen had a detailed plan in his mind and ordered decisively: "Yang Banhou, you go bring Lan Weiyun and Yang Nengge to the camp account, I want to resolve the hidden danger."

  "I will obey your orders!"

  Yang Banhou replied and hastily left.

  In a moment, Yang Banhou brought Yang Nengge and Lan Weiyun to the main tent. Li Zhen said slowly: "Yang Daotai, Lan Xianling, today the Anglo-French coalition forces attacked the military camp, you two abandoned resistance and surrendered to the foreigners, willing to be the running dogs of the foreigners. This is a big deal, if it's reported to the Emperor, what do you think?"

  "Bang!"

  Lan Wei was so frightened that her legs went soft and she knelt on the ground, begging for mercy: "General Li, I'm also helpless."

  Yang Nengge knew this was a threat from Li Zhen, his eyes were cold and stern, he said in a low voice: "Li Zhen, you are speaking nonsense, slandering the official without any basis. Today's situation is not that I surrendered, but that you sat back and watched as the camp was attacked by foreigners, leading to defeat. I will report to Governor of Jiangsu Xu Naiji, ask him to report to the Emperor, and expose your crimes one by one. At that time, you, Shanghai Dao, will be immediately dismissed and investigated, see how arrogant you are then."

  Li Zhen smiled and said, "Good, a good Yang Dao Tai."

  Yang Neng said with a pleased expression: "If you know what's good for you, cooperate with me properly. As long as you follow Lord Xu Naiquan to do things, you won't be treated unfairly, and the wealth of the Wan family will be yours in the blink of an eye."

  Li Zhenlang sneered twice and said: "Yang Nengge, your background is Xu Naizhao, can you spread the news?"

  "Ah!!"

  Yang Nengge exclaimed and said in a low voice: "Li Zhen, how dare you plot against an official appointed by the imperial court?"

  Li Zhen did not respond, but instead looked at Lan Weifen and asked: "County Magistrate Lan, you are a witness, your words are crucial. Today's attack on the camp by the foreigners, do you think it was Yang Daotai surrendering to the foreigners or General Guan sitting idly by while the camp was being attacked? This is an extremely critical question, you must consider it carefully."

  Lan Weiwen saw herself being dragged into this and knew that if she didn't cooperate, she might be killed.

  Yang Nengge's heart was tense and he hastily said: "County Magistrate Lan, Li Zhen dare not do anything to us. He wants to establish himself in Shanghai, but without our help it is absolutely impossible."

  Lan Weiwen glanced at Li Zhen and began to ponder in her heart.

  Is it following Yang Naiwu or Li Zhen?

  Lan Weiyue glanced at Yang Banhou, who was standing beside her with a eager-to-try look on his face. She was certain that Yang Naike would not be able to leave the camp. Lan Weiyue made up her mind and said: "General Li, today's events were entirely due to Yang Daotai's cowardice and fear of death, which led him to surrender without resistance. General Li led the army to defeat the foreigners and greatly boosted the national prestige. This matter should be reported to the Emperor and request his praise."

  Yang Nengge shouted in a loud voice: "Lan Weiwen, you actually betrayed me?"

  At this moment, Yang Nengge was really flustered.

  Without Lan Youwen's support, Yang Neng can't hold on alone.

  Li Zhen nodded in satisfaction, smiling and saying: "County Master Lan is indeed a humble gentleman, speaking nothing but the truth. The Emperor has given me the power to quell the Small Knife Society rebellion in Shanghai. Yang Nengge surrendered to the foreigners, kneeling and flattering them; he should be executed on the spot. Yang Banhou, give County Master Lan a knife, let him finish off Yang Nengge."

  "Li Zhen, you can't kill me, can't kill me."

  Yang Nengge let out a loud roar and immediately prepared to escape, but was pinned down by Yang Banhou's hand and couldn't move.

  Lan Wei's trembling and majestic words secretly criticized Li Zhen's cruelty.

  If he killed Yang Nengge, and was caught by Li Zhen with evidence, he would have no choice but to pledge allegiance to Li Zhen.

  Yang Nengge's eyes rolled around, and he suddenly said: "General Li, Director Li, I am willing to be loyal to you and do things for you, just spare my life." Yang Nengge had already lost his courage and dared not resist anymore. He could ask Xu Naiquan for help, but Xu Naiquan was far away and couldn't save him from the immediate danger.

  "Shut his mouth!" Li Zhen said with an expressionless face.

  Yang Banhou immediately covered Yang Nianhui's mouth and didn't let him speak.

  Li Zhen ordered: "Lan County Magistrate, take action."

  Lan Weiwen couldn't refuse, and could only obediently pull out the steel knife from Yang Banhou's waist. Although this was the case, when pulling out the steel knife, Lan Weiwen's hands were slightly trembling, but her mouth said: "Yang Daotai, don't blame me, if you want to blame someone, blame yourself for not recognizing Mount Tai and provoking someone you shouldn't have."

  Yang Nengge wanted to speak but couldn't make a sound.

  "Hmph!"

  Lan Weiwen thrust the knife into Yang Nengge's heart, stirred it with force, and then pulled out the long knife. Warm blood splattered out, sprinkling specks of blood on Lan Weiwen's face. Lan Weiwen looked at Li Zhen with a lost soul, saying respectfully: "Sir, Yang Nengge surrendered to the foreigners, knelt down and fawned upon them, I have executed him on the spot."

  Li Zhen was even more pleased, smiling and saying: "County Magistrate Lan is loyal to the country and eliminates harm for the country. I will admire him. With County Magistrate Lan's assistance, the rebellion in Shanghai will be quickly put down."

  P.S: The third watch is completed;