Gong Wangfu, Yi Xin looked at the information in his hand and sneered.

"Li Hongzhang is really fast, Wu Zhiqiang has already agreed."

Standing next to him was Iktanga, the Iron Hat King of Shengjing's General.

"This time, Li Weiguo died by himself and cut off his arm, it seems that without the help of foreigners, Li Weiguo's Nanyang Group will also collapse."

Yi Xin nodded, smiled, and said: "The skinny camel is bigger than a horse, Li Weiguo's strong strength is there, and a Wu Zhiqiang only has 50,000 soldiers and horses in his hands, and he can't break his muscles and bones." ”

Yi Ketang Ah understands the art of war, he disagrees with Yi Xin's words, and said: "Don't forget, Lord Wang, the location of Wu Zhiqiang's Fourth Army is in Jinling, only a few hundred miles away from Li Weiguo's old nest Shanghai, I heard that there are also foreigners' iron cars, which can be reached in a few hours." Li Weiguo's army should be deployed along the Yangtze River and the coast, and the interior is empty, and if Wu Zhiqiang suddenly attacks, there is a great chance that he will succeed in a surprise attack on Shanghai. ”

Yi Xin felt that Iktanga had a point, and his face suddenly darkened, because this was not his plan.

"No, if Li Hongzhang easily defeats Li Weiguo and swallows Li Weiguo's army, territory and industry, then Li Hongzhang will be in full swing, and the imperial court will definitely not be able to control him anymore, he will be the second Li Weiguo."

Iktanga nodded, the front door went to the tiger and the back door entered the wolf, this is indeed very tricky, and it has to be guarded against.

"And what are you going to do?"

"Borrowing Li Hongzhang's hand to get rid of Li Weiguo, the best result is that Li Hongzhang and Li Weiguo will die together!" Yi Xin said gloomily.

Iktanga understood that this was the best outcome, and that he could get rid of the two vassal kings who wanted to usurp the throne once and for all.

"Aren't there still foreigners?"

Yi Xin glanced at Yi Ke Tang A and said, "Foreigners are always outsiders, and they can't take away the country of our Qing Dynasty, at most they are just taking advantage." Originally, it was a calculated force, and the army of Li Hongzhang and the foreigners just offset each other with Li Weiguo's army. Even if there is a discrepancy, in the end, the king will lead the Manchurian army to sweep away their remnants. But now that there are variables, the king can't make up his mind for a while. ”

Even if Wu Zhiqiang is a variable, once the surprise attack is successful, Li Hongzhang may even attack Shanghai without a single soldier, arrest Li Weiguo and his civil and military officials, and the entire Nanyang Group will collapse in an instant. At that time, Li Hongzhang's strength skyrocketed, and it was definitely not something that the Manchu and Mongolian armies of the imperial court could compete with.

Yi Ketang said: "Then find a way to inform Li Weiguo and tell him that Wu Zhiqiang has rebelled." ”

Yi Xin smiled bitterly: "How can it be so simple, if you do that." Li Hongzhang must have turned his face with this king, then there is no need to destroy Li Weiguo, with Li Hongzhang's strength near Gyeonggi, it is enough to destroy us. ”

"This doesn't work, that doesn't work, there has to be a way!"

Iktanga couldn't take it anymore.

Yi Xin couldn't help it, and said: "At the moment, I can only take one step at a time, and I won't give Li Hongzhang the arms first, forcing him to do it first." ”

Iktanga was stunned. asked: "If Li Hongzhang is not given arms, how can he do it?" He's an old fox, and he'll never suffer! ”

"It's okay!" Yi Xin smiled and said, "Li Weiguo killed Wu Yong. Soon he will think of Wu Yong's son, and he will definitely take measures against Wu Zhiqiang and seize the opponent's military power. Li Hongzhang must also know this, if Wu Zhiqiang's military power is taken away. Then Li Hongzhang will lose the best opportunity to destroy Li Weiguo. Li Hongzhang's ambition is getting bigger and bigger, he will not miss the opportunity, and he should do it soon. ”

Iktanga agrees. immediately said: "Then we also have to go south together, and we can't let Li Hongzhang swallow it alone." ”

"No!" Yi Xin shook his head and said: "We will not move, let Li Hongzhang and Li Weiguo fight to the death, no matter who wins, we have to fight with the foreigners again, we are the last to come out to clean up the mess." ”

Iktanga is a little nervous, is this a big game, if you don't do it, you will destroy the country.

Yi Xin calmed down and said to Iktang: "Let's go, let's enter the palace together, it's time to add one last fire to them." ”

On the same day, the holy decree was issued, and the queen mother of the two palaces gave marriage, and Ci'an's sister Yilan married Li Weiguo as a concubine, and the marriage procession drove out of Beijing and went south to Shanghai.

At the same time, the imperial court also issued an order to Li Weiguo, never allowing Britain and France to include Upper Burma as a colony, and Cambodia as a protectorate, to maintain the dignity of the Celestial Empire, to protect the two vassal states of Burma and Cambodia, and to order Li Weiguo to send troops to Burma and Cambodia to drive out the British and French invaders.

These two things have been brewing for a long time, and there has long been internal information to test Li Weiguo's reaction, and now the holy decree has been officially issued, indicating that the imperial court is desperately determined to prepare for war against Li Weiguo.

There was no telegraph north of the Yangtze River, but there were still 800 miles of urgent and flying pigeon transmissions, so that Li Weiguo, who was sitting in Shanghai, got the news as soon as possible.

"All kinds of cows, ghosts, snakes, and gods have finally appeared!"

Li Weiguo just smiled, everything was under his control, and so far, although there were some changes in the details, it was still carried out according to his preset on the whole.

Li Jing, director of the Intelligence Division of S.H.I.E.L.D., came to report: "My lord, the intelligence officers who went to Upper Burma and Cambodia to inquire about the news have determined that there are only 50,000 British troops in Upper Burma and only 50,000 French troops in Cambodia, not 100,000 British and French troops as previously advertised. ”

Li Weiguo frowned slightly, and asked rhetorically: "Is there any news from Europe?" ”

Li Jing replied: "The European intelligence station of S.H.I.E.L.D. still insists that there are at least 300,000 British and French troops in Southeast Asia, of which 100,000 British troops will attack Upper Burma, 100,000 French troops will attack Cambodia, and another 100,000 British and French troops will join the Qing army as mercenaries to fight against us, and there is also a fleet of at least 50 warships that will intervene in the war at a critical moment!" ”

There is a discrepancy in the information on both sides, which side is wrong.

No! It is possible that this is a conspiracy of Britain and France!

Will Britain and France be so willing to let Yixin use them as gunmen?

Obviously, it is impossible, Britain and France are mercenary, and if you look at the fact that they single-handedly directed the American Civil War, you can guess their approach to the Qing Empire.

"There's nothing wrong with the intelligence on both sides!"

After a long time, Li Weiguo opened his eyes and said affirmatively.

Li Jing was puzzled and asked, "Lord Wang, if both sides are right." There is a difference of 100,000 people between the two, and the 100,000 people can't evaporate? ”

"The 100,000 Anglo-French troops who disappeared must have been mixed in with the combined Anglo-French fleet!" Li Weiguo smiled slightly and said: "They promised to give the imperial court 100,000 mercenaries, and then secretly fill in 100,000 people, a total of 200,000, this is the rhythm of fighting with us again, it seems that they are still haunted by the last battle of Songhu, this is to come back to find a field." ”

"It's still the king's wisdom! The tactics of Britain and France were debunked at a glance! Li Jing thought for a while, suddenly realized, and said happily: "So." The prince can reduce the troops on the expedition to Cambodia and Burma, and stay behind to concentrate his forces to fight another battle of Songhu with the British and French forces, so that they can know how powerful the prince is. ”

Li Weiguo smiled and said: "It is necessary to teach Britain and France a lesson, but the troops on the expedition to Cambodia and Burma cannot be reduced. ”

"Lord Wang, why is this?" Li Jing was puzzled.

Li Weiguo explained: "Since Britain and France don't have a long memory, then the king will let them suffer a big loss and have a good memory." Myanmar and Cambodia are tropical, hot, mountainous and forested. Our army is not adapted to fighting in that environment, so sending fewer troops is equivalent to sending them to death, and sending more troops will affect the overall situation. Britain and France had deployed 200,000 troops in Burma and Cambodia, and the king was ready to send 200,000 troops. There was no certainty of destroying the British and French troops, so they only Chen soldiers were on the border and consumed with the British and French troops. But now Britain and France are clever and secretly transfer 100,000. There are still 100,000 people left, so this king has an absolute advantage in concentrating 200,000 troops, and there is a ninety percent certainty that he can completely annihilate them. ”

Li Jing asked rhetorically: "But." If Li Hongzhang's Yan Army, the Imperial Manchurian and Mongolian Eight Banners Army, and the Anglo-French Coalition Army come to attack together, our army must not only strictly defend the Yangtze River defense line, but also carry out coastal defense, the battle line is too long, the strength is tight, and it is easy to be broken by the enemy forces. ”

Li Weiguo agreed, but he still said confidently: "I did have this concern before, after all, the Yangtze River defense line is too long, coupled with the long coastline of the southeast coast, there is indeed a shortage of troops, and it is easy to be broken by the enemy." But don't forget, we have worked so hard to plan the counter-plot and the bitter meat serial plan has been successful, and now we are waiting for Li Hongzhang and Yi Xin to set, we can concentrate our forces to eat their main force and elite first, so that Li Hongzhang and Yi Xin will not have the strength to threaten us in a short time, and then we will concentrate our forces and have another decisive battle with the British and French forces, defeat them and then turn back to clean up Li Hongzhang and Yi Xin, then the hegemony will be achieved. ”

Li Jing said: "There is a risk in this, that is, the British and French forces are no longer what they used to be, and they are also equipped with advanced rifles and artillery. ”

Li Weiguo said with a smile: "You can see this, it means that you have improved!" ”

"Thank you for your compliment!" Li Jing smiled and saluted.

Li Weiguo continued: "Since Britain and France have secretly transferred 100,000 troops from Burma and Cambodia, it shows that they have greater ambitions. Looking at the problem from the standpoint of Britain and France, you will find that they must have such an idea, that is, they will sit and wait for the king, Li Hongzhang and Yixin to lose, and then they will take action, because from beginning to end, we are all infighting, and Britain and France are not fools, how can they be guns for Yixin? ”

Li Jing suddenly brightened up, showed joy, and said: "The prince's words made his subordinates suddenly open, think about it, in this way, the British and French forces are at most bluffing, and they will never really attack us at the beginning, because they also know that if they fight us at the beginning, then it must be Yixin and Li Hongzhang who take advantage." Britain and France are here to enslave our entire country, and their goal is not only to destroy us, but also to eliminate Yi Xin and Li Hongzhang, otherwise they will not be able to enslave this country. ”

"That's right!" Li Weiguo smiled and added: "But even if the British and French forces are really fooled, this king is not afraid, this king believes that this king's army can hold it." ”

This is self-confidence, and Li Weiguo's confidence has skyrocketed since he inspected the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau, shipyards, and the Navy's East China Sea Fleet.

"In the last Battle of Songhu, Britain and France were defeated by equipment and tactics inferior to us, this time, this king will still humiliate them with more advanced weapons and equipment, so that they can understand that those who offend me will be punished even if they are far away!"

Those who offend my China will be punished even if they are far away!

These words were like lightning strikes, instantly hitting the depths of Li Jing's heart, shocking and excited.

At this time, Cheng Kun knocked on the door, walked in after the report, and handed the two secret reports to Li Weiguo.

After Li Weiguo saw it, he immediately smiled and said: "Wu Yong and Chen Jingnan are ready, but Chen Jingnan is afraid that he will have to draw water with a bamboo basket." ”

Li Jing suddenly wondered: "Why is this?" Could it be exposed? ”

Cheng Kun was also curious, although he brought the secret letter, he didn't dare to open it, because the mark on it could only be seen by Li Weiguo, who was the lord.

Li Weiguo directly handed over the secret letter to the two of them to circulate, and said at the same time: "Yi Xin is really more cunning than Li Hongzhang, no wonder Li Hongzhang has not been able to rebel in his life, and his high and low means are a lot worse." ”

In history, Li Hongzhang had a huge Beiyang group and still did not dare to oppose the Qing court, and he was tired of carrying the black pot all day long, which has almost become a historical mystery, and it is rare for a Han person to be loyal to the Manchu court to that extent.

Now Li Weiguo finally understands what it means to be one foot tall and one foot high, with Yixin, Cixi, and Ci'an controlling the court and planning everything, their methods are too clever that Li Hongzhang has to be played as a monkey.

Li Jing said with a smile: "It turns out that Yixin has been guarding against Li Hongzhang for a long time, he wants to sit and watch Li Hongzhang fight with us, and then sit and reap the benefits of the fisherman." ”

Cheng Kun also exclaimed: "I can't imagine that this Yixin, Cixi and Ci'an have such amazing wisdom and means, if they had been in power for ten years, I am afraid they would be the prince's fierce rivals!" ”

Li Weiguo laughed and said, "What kind of rival? If they had been in power for ten years earlier, this king would not have been their opponent at all, and they would have been played to death by them a long time ago. ”

Li Jing and Cheng Kun hurriedly said: "The prince is humble! ”

Li Weiguo didn't explain, others didn't know the skills of Yixin, Cixi and Ci'an, but Li Weiguo knew very well that he had ruled China for half a century in modern history, so that Zeng Guofan, Li Hongzhang, Zuo Zongtang, Zhang Zhidong and other powerful ministers honestly did not dare to rebel, which in itself illustrates the problem and shows the power of Yixin, Cixi and Ci'an.

Cheng Kun said: "Now it seems that the Empress Dowager Ci'an gave marriage to the prince and gave her sister to the prince as a concubine, which in itself is a show of weakness, if the prince does not accept or rebels first, then the people of the world will inevitably say that the prince does not know how to repay the favor, which is intended to weaken the prestige of the prince." ”

"That's right!" Li Jing also said: "The imperial court ordered the prince to rescue the two vassal states of Cambodia and Burma, and also pushed the prestige to the imperial court, so that the prince would go to war with Britain and France, whether it was win or lost, Yixin had already won a game. This person's scheming is much deeper than Xianfeng. ”

Li Weiguo interrupted the two and said, "Okay, don't complain, the woman will accept all the orders, and the battle will not be wrong." Now that time is pressing, you should immediately order the personnel in the north to quickly cooperate with the local bank managers, quickly close the banks, and hide the funds on the spot. ”

The war is about money, and Li Weiguo doesn't want the AIIB, which he has worked so hard to run, to be looted by the enemy, and then he will lose a lot of money.

The Great War was approaching, and the entire Nanyang Group was rapidly operational, and the smell of gunpowder filled the sky throughout China. (To be continued.) )