Daotai Mansion, in the study.

Li Zhen listened to Liu Taiping's report on the manufacture of mines and grenades, and after the production of the two weapons was on the right track, the money was spent like water. Rao is Li Zhen has a lot of money and wealth, and he also has some heartache. After listening to Liu Taiping's report on weapons, Li Zhen changed his words and suddenly asked: "Sir, the war between the bandits and the imperial court is in full swing, what is the situation on both sides?" ”

Liu Taiping said: "There are winners and losers for each other! ”

Li Zhen pondered for a moment and continued: "The bandits in the north can be left alone, because they can't take Beijing. I was thinking about whether our army had sprung up and nailed to the heart of the bandits, and whether it would attract the attacks of the bandits. ”

In fact, with Li Zhen's current strength, with artillery, guns, mines and grenades, he is not afraid of the Taiping army attacking the city, but Li Zhen does not want to consume his own strength.

Liu Taiping said: "The Jiangbei camp and the Jiangnan camp are specifically aimed at the bandits, and even if the bandits want to send troops, they must first solve the two camps. After all, there are countless foreigners in Shanghai, and the bandits dare not take action easily. However, it is unlikely that the bandits will attack Shanghai, but they must also be prepared, and the old man will pay attention to the movements of the bandits and watch the bandits for adults. ”

Li Zhen nodded, with Liu Taiping paying attention, his energy would not be distracted too much.

"Boom! Boom! ”

Outside the study, there was a sudden knock on the door.

Immediately, Lu Shaochuan's anxious voice came: "Dashuai, I am Lu Shaochuan, something big happened at sea, please prepare for war." Lu Shaochuan returned to Shanghai with a group of soldiers, but Lu Shaochuan took Zhao Fa to Daotai Mansion to meet Li Zhen, and Zhu Wu took the rest of the soldiers to the barracks to inform the rest of the soldiers.

Li Zhen Huoran got up, opened the door of the study, and asked, "What's going on?" ”

Lu Shaochuan quickly told what happened at sea, and then said: "Marshal, the foreigners sent a large number of fleets north, not only to deal with me, but also to deal with adults. Shanghai is in danger, please prepare immediately. ”

Li Zhen took a deep breath and shouted: "Come here, spread Huang Shihai to see you." ”

Lu Shaochuan stretched out his hand to stop it and said, "Don't worry, Dashuai, I have already asked Zhu Wu to inform you." ”

Li Zhen nodded, looked at Liu Taiping, and said, "Mr. Liu, you stay in the mansion for the time being, sort out the news from all sides for me, and I will lead the troops to prepare for the battle." ”

"Yes!"

Liu Taiping agreed, and also felt the urgency of the situation.

Suddenly, there were British and French troops attacking Shanghai, which is not a trivial matter.

Li Zhen and Lu Shaochuan came out of the study, and as soon as they walked out of the Daotai Mansion, they saw Qi Zhenhai, Zhou Xiuying, Yang Banhou, Huang Shihai, Smith and others riding horses and rushed outside the mansion. Li Zhen looked at Zhou Xiuying and ordered: "Xiuying, immediately gather the three hundred female soldiers under your command and bring them back to Gongwei Daotai Mansion." ”

Zhou Xiuying raised her eyebrows and said loudly: "Dashuai, I want to go to the battlefield." ”

Li Zhen shouted in a deep voice: "The man is not dead, what battlefield are you going to." Shanghai is about to be hit by war, the situation in the city is bound to be unstable, and the Daotai government is also prone to problems. You took a female soldier to protect the Daotai Mansion, and when you encounter someone who trespasses on the Daotai Mansion, you will not be forgiven. Daotai Mansion is your battlefield, and protecting the people in your family is your current task. ”

Li Zhen's tone was tough and could not be changed.

Zhou Xiuying was helpless, so she had to agree.

Li Zhen turned his eyes, looked at Yang Banhou, and ordered: "Yang Banhou, gather all the special forces of the Sharp Knife Battalion, rush to the vicinity of the port outside the east gate, and all of them lurk. As long as a foreigner comes ashore, you will shoot and snipe the foreigner who has come ashore. We can't fight at sea, but we have a considerable advantage on land. ”

"Yes!"

Yang Banhou raised his hand and saluted, turned around and left.

Li Zhen shouted: "Qi Zhenhai listens to orders!" ”

"Here!" Qi Zhen Haidao.

Li Zhen instructed: "Take a battalion of soldiers under your command and go to the factory to take out all the mines and grenades that have been manufactured." Li Zhen's original plan was to use grenades and mines against the Taiping army, or in the Second Opium War. Now that the Anglo-French forces have taken the initiative to attack Shanghai, the weapons made by Li Zhen have come in handy in advance.

Smith asked, "Commander, what about my mission?" ”

Li Zhen didn't answer, looked at Huang Shihai, and ordered: "Gather all the soldiers and prepare to meet the enemy!" ”

"Yes!"

Huang Shihai first clenched his fists, then suddenly changed to salute and left in a hurry.

Li Zhen looked at Smith and said, "Take your company and follow me on a mission." ”

"Yes!"

Smith saw Li Zhen ignoring him just now, and he was still a little apprehensive in his heart, afraid of being left behind like Zhou Xiuying. Now it is undoubtedly more important to play with Li Zhen. The two hurried to the barracks, took a company of soldiers, and went out of the east gate of Shanghai, heading towards the port where the battleships were docked in the east.

"Boom! Rumble!! ”

Suddenly, a deafening shelling was heard in the direction of the port.

Waves of artillery were like comets striking the earth, and the ground trembled.

Smith said in a deep voice: "Marshal, the British and French forces have begun to attack. ”

Li Zhen said in a deep voice: "There are countless people and merchants in the direction of the port, and the war has suddenly started, and many people are going to suffer, and the people must be dismissed. "Li Zhen and Smith and a company of soldiers ran quickly in the direction of the port. Halfway through, I saw people and merchants scurrying around, all of whom looked panicked and frightened by the sudden war.

Last year, the knife would be in chaos, and Shanghai became a pot of porridge. It was finally settled down, and now the war has broken out again, which has made the people extremely panicked.

Li Zhen shouted as he ran: "All retreat, retreat into the city!" ”

Smith also joined the ranks of the demobilized civilians, instructing one of his company soldiers to organize the retreat of the civilians. With the guidance of Li Zhen and Smith, the people are not so panicked in their hearts.

"Boom!!"

A shell landed on the street and exploded with a bang.

In an instant, the corpses flew sideways, screams rang out, and one by one the corpses were scattered on the ground, which was disgusting. This situation has exacerbated the worries of the people. Li Zhen looked at the soldier who was killed, his steel teeth clenched, and an angry expression appeared on his face. In order to bombard Shanghai, these people did not even let go of the people, and they were simply inferior to beasts.

"Withdraw, withdraw, withdraw, withdraw."

Li Zhen was unable to launch a counterattack, so he could only let the soldiers retreat.

Smith came to Li Zhen's side and said, "Marshal, the British and French allied forces used artillery fire to bombard first, and it must be to break our morale. After the shelling, they will land ashore. In my opinion, after evacuating the people, we should retreat strategically, avoid the edge, deploy heavy troops on the road to the east gate, and intercept the British and French forces along the way, so as to effectively destroy the enemy and win. ”

Li Zhen thought for a moment, nodded and said, "Just do what you want, notify Huang Shihai, and let him carry out the order." ”

"Yes!"

Smith rejoiced in his heart, and excitedly found the soldier and asked the soldier to deliver the order.

ps: Three more completed;