Chapter 17: Never thought it would be resolved like this!

  "Xiang Gong doesn't recognize me, but I recognize Xiang Gong!" Liu Si Hai said loudly: "In those years, Xiang Gong publicly set up a lecture hall, and I was fortunate enough to listen to him. What kind of grandeur and passion did Xiang Gong have back then? He said that if someone truly worked for the country and strengthened the nation, even if it meant losing everything to help them, he would not hesitate! How can you make excuses today? Have you forgotten your oath from back then?"

  "Zhao Xi's expression changed greatly: "What Zhao Xi has said, even after ten or twenty years, will not be forgotten! But how can a small squad officer bear the heavy responsibility of saving the country? What a real joke!"

  "Jokes?" Liu Sihai said with a sigh: "In those years, Li He was just a scholar who failed the imperial examination, but later became a pillar of the court! Yuan Weiting was nicknamed 'bookworm', but now he is in command of an elite army. Now my family's Wang Daren has returned from the West, determined to revitalize the country, how magnificent his heart is! How can Master Xiang determine that it cannot be done?"

  Comparing Wang Hengyue to Li Hongzhang and Yuan Shikai is a bit far-fetched. Moreover, the foundation of Li Hongzhang and Yuan Shikai back then was much stronger than that of Wang Hengyue.

  But at this time, Liu Sihai suddenly brought up these two people, his voice louder, leaving Zhao Xi speechless for a moment.

  Pete wouldn't back down either: "I, a foreign devil from America, also believe in Director Wang. Washington also became the President of the United States step by step!"

  Wang Hengyue sneered repeatedly: "Zhenxing, Pete, why bother asking him! Do you think that without Zhao Xi in Rong County, I wouldn't be able to accomplish anything?"

  As he spoke, he pulled out the black star he had been carrying with him: "When I saved Qin Guangcheng, facing a group of bandits, one person and two guns, killing Jin Yanhu Lu Baogen fled in disarray, without relying on anyone's help! Zhao Xi, you watch!"

  Wang Hengyue was also bold and daring, holding a black star and firing a shot at the roof of the house with a "bang".

  This sudden event caught everyone off guard, and the loud noise scared everyone. The people from the Zhao family and their servants all gathered outside the door to sneak a peek, wondering what big thing had happened.

  Wang Hengyue was originally prepared to have a falling out with Zhao Xi, and he had also made preparations for Zhao Xi's furious anger. At worst, he would just lose a few taels of silver.

  However, unexpectedly, Zhao Xi stared blankly at the roof, his gaze fell on Wang Hengyue's gun in his hand, and after a long while, he muttered: "This, what is this? Zhao Xi had been an official in Beijing and had seen drills, had also seen foreigners' guns, but had never seen one with such great power, such a loud noise, it was simply like thunder."

  Pete is from America and has never seen a black gun before, equally perplexed.

  At this time, Wang Heng was heartbroken. On the same day, in order to save Qin Guangcheng, he only had three bullets left, and now, because of a single breath, he wasted another bullet.

  "This is the latest model weapon I brought back from America, Black Star handgun. Its power is beyond your imagination! There are also 200 such guns, which can be delivered within half a year!"

  "God, this is enough to arm an army." Pitt made a cross on his chest, believing it true.

  "Two hundred taels?"

  "Two hundred troops, no more or less!" Wang Hengyue said with a stiff upper lip: "You, Lord Zhao, are obstructing and hindering progress. Are all people as narrow-minded as you? There are many overseas scholars who share the country's worries!"

  Saying that, he cupped his hands together and bid farewell!

  "Wait, wait!" Unexpectedly, Zhao Xi suddenly said: "Lord Wang, please sit for a moment, I have something to say."

  When Wang Hengyue sat down again, Zhao Xi sighed and said: "Lord Wang, don't blame me. In the past, there were also people who wanted to talk about training new troops and purchasing foreign equipment, and Zhao Xi was always willing to help. But later on, those people just wanted to use Zhao Xi's small reputation for their own gain. I thought Lord Wang was also an ordinary person, but it turns out that Lord Wang really wants to train soldiers."

  Wang Hengyue seemed to have a chance when he heard this, could it be that he had asked Zhao Xi but she refused, and now that he had lost his temper, Zhao Xi was willing to compromise?

  Zhao Xi suddenly slapped the table: "Lord Wang, Zhao Xi is willing to help you!"

  Wang Hengyue was shocked at first, then overjoyed. Before he could even open his mouth, Zhao Xi had already said: "Someone, go and call for Zishan, Wenhao and Ximò for me."

  After a while, three young people came into the hall. Two of them called out "Teacher", and the youngest one at the back called out "Uncle".

  "Here are my two proud disciples. The elder one is named Li Yifeng, courtesy name Zishan, and the younger one is Xu Mu, courtesy name Wenhou."

  Wang Hengyu nodded his head, and then Zhao Xi said: "The country is declining, the court is decadent, the powerful are arrogant, and although I am not a master of Confucian classics, I have spent my whole life studying. But now, even if one's writing skills are excellent, they cannot save the country. Therefore, I let these two disciples abandon literature and take up arms, specializing in military affairs of various countries, with some minor achievements. Zi Shan, Wen Hou."

  "The disciple is here."

  "This is the new officer Wang, returned from America. He has been ordered to train a new army here. You two have grown up under my care, and now that things have come to this pass, I can teach you nothing more. Go with Officer Wang to join the new army, serve as his lieutenants, and do not be idle for a single day."

  "Yes, teacher!"

  Zhao Xi pointed to the smallest one: "This is my nephew, Deng Xia, courtesy name Ximò, who has been clever since childhood. Although he is only 17 years old this year, he can be entrusted with important tasks. Please, Lord Wang, let him stay by your side!"

  Wang Hengyue was overjoyed. Zhao Xi's approach was straightforward enough, arranging for his own students and nephews to join the New Army - this was better than any propaganda!

  When I heard Deng Xia was about the same age as me, a feeling of closeness arose in my heart.

  "Deng Xia has met Lord Wang before." Deng Xia stepped forward and said.

  "I've seen, I've seen." Wang Hengyu bowed his hands to the three of them again: "Hengyu has just arrived in Rong County and is unfamiliar with the local customs. With your help, it will be much easier for me to do things in the future. As for how to arrange everything, I'll need some time to think about it carefully. Master Xiang, I was rude to you earlier, please forgive me."

  "Where is the fault?" His two disciples and a nephew all joined the new army, Zhao Xi was very pleased: "Although Mr. Wang's actions are not surprising, but with a heart of patriotism, I have seen it all. With someone like Mr. Wang around, the new army will surely be trained well, even if my house is demolished, what's the harm?"

  "Good, Lord Wang, you've got another helper. It won't be long before you can become the commander-in-chief. By that time, even your Emperor will have to listen to you."

  "Don't spout nonsense." Wang Hengyue was startled, if this got out, the new army wouldn't even have a chance to form and his own head would be gone in an instant, that would be a terrible bargain.

  "Foreigners really can't speak properly, it's always like this." Zhao Xi didn't mind too much, in his eyes foreigners were all unenlightened: "Has Lord Wang not gone to pay respects to the county magistrate yet? I, Zhao Xi, can introduce you!"