In a day's time, it slipped through your fingertips in the blink of an eye.

With the ringing of the long bell, a year has passed, and it has been four years of Xianfeng.

It is one step closer to the Second Opium War.

Li Zhen is actively preparing, but he still has to play when it's time to play. On the day of the New Year, Li Zhen summoned Zhou Xiuying, Liu Taiping, Qi Zhenhai, Liu Die, Yang Banhou, Smith and others to the house and had a reunion dinner together. Li Zhen has no worries, he is already a fatherless and motherless person, and the New Year with Zhou Xiuying, Liu Taiping and others is even more lively.

Such a move also made people's hearts more stable, and made Liu Taiping, Yang Banhou and other civil and military generals more loyal to Li Zhen. After the Chinese New Year, Shanghai tended to be calm.

During this period, Li Zhen gathered merchants from Shanghai.

With the precedent of Yang Fang, all the businessmen went to the appointment, and there was no one who did not come.

Li Zhen and the merchants of Shanghai agreed on three chapters of the law, allowing the merchants to increase production, but they must not touch opium. Most of the businessmen still had enthusiasm in their hearts, listened to Li Zhen's advice, and began to develop production on a large scale.

In a stable environment, Shanghai has developed rapidly.

Business flourished, and taxes began to rise.

Li Zhen handed over a part of it, and there was still a lot left, which was enough to develop his strength.

Li Zhen's quiet development strength, the combat effectiveness of the more than 2,000 soldiers under his command has skyrocketed.

At the same time, Li Zhen purchased four more artillery pieces through Gulina's channels. These four guns were not used for naval operations, but were equipped in the barracks under Li Zhen's command. Li Zhen developed his own strength, and transferred all the more than 10,000 Qing troops who dragged back to the Jiangbei camp, which was called to support Qishan to resist the Taiping army in Nanjing.

Qi Shan leads the troops, the more the merrier.

Li Zhen sent the soldiers to him, and Qi Shan, whether good or bad, was directly placed in the camp in Jiangbei.

In this way, Li Zhen's command is all elite.

Although it was impossible for Lu Shaochuan and Zhu Wu's men to fight against the British and French fleets at sea, they could at least sneak attack and intercept British and French merchant ships at sea to control the trade routes at sea. Li Zhen lacks strength at sea, but he is no longer afraid of foreigners on land.

At least, Li Zhen already has the strength to fight a war.

In the study, Li Zhen is handling official business.

"Crunch!"

Suddenly, the door of the study opened, and Lan Weiwen rushed in in a hurry. Lan Weiwen panicked, her face became a bitter gourd face, and her slender eyebrows were even tighter. He ran into the house, gasped for breath, and said directly, "My lord, it's not good, something happened." ”

Li Zhen put down his pen and said in a deep voice: "What happened?" ”

Lan Weiwen said: "Jiangsu Governor Xu Naizhao is coming, and he must be here for adults." ”

"Xu Naizhao is here, it seems that the wolf is coming!"

Li Zhen not only had no worries on his face, but said with a smile: "I killed Yang Nengge and destroyed Yang Fang, which has cut off the financial routes of Ah Liguo and Aitang, and also made them unable to control Shanghai." The two of them can't regain their interests, so they can only seek another person to suppress me, and Xu Naizhao came. Moreover, Yang Fang and Xu Naizhao also had a connection, and they paid a lot of filial piety to Xu Naizhao. Yang Fang is dead, and Xu Naizhao can't give up. ”

Lan Weiwen said: "Do you have a way?" ”

Li Zhen smiled and said: "It's just a little governor of Jiangsu, what are you afraid of?" The soldiers will block the water and cover the earth, and there is no need to be afraid. ”

Lan Weiwen said: "Xu Naizhao is an adult's superior, and it is not easy to deal with. ”

Li Zhen said: "Lan County Order, this matter will not affect you, don't worry." As long as you do things quietly and do a good job in Shanghai, there will be money, women, and rights. ”

Lan Weiwen bent down and said, "Humble duty will always be loyal to your lordship. ”

Li Zhen waved his hand, and Lan Weiwen left.

Immediately afterwards, Li Zhen also left the study and walked towards the place where Liu Taiping lived. Li Zhen stayed in Liu Taiping's courtyard for half an hour before leaving satisfied. Back in the study, Li Zhen instructed the soldiers to visit Ma Hui at the U.S. Consulate and invite Ma Hui to come to the Taoist Mansion.

Ma Hui got it and happily went to the appointment.

In the hall, Ma Hui sat down after saluting.

Li Zhen said with a spring breeze on his face: "Mr. Ma Hui, it is the first time you have come to the door, and the mansion is full of brilliance." ”

Ma Hui said with a smile: "It's an honor to be invited by His Excellency the General. ”

Li Zhen continued: "I have heard of Mr. Ma Hui's name for a long time, but I haven't really met much. Speaking of which, I met Mr. Ma Hui once at the British Consulate. However, Ali Guo and Ai Tang have seen me several times. The first time was when I first came to Shanghai, and in the Qing military camp outside the city, I met Ali Guo and Ai Tang twice, and later I also met a few times in Daotai Mansion. However, something unpleasant happened on both sides. Only Mr. Ma Hui is upright in his work, unlike the two who often create chaos. ”

Ma Hui said with a smile: "Your Excellency the General has defeated the British and French forces in a row, which is powerful and admirable!" ”

"It's over!"

Li Zhen smiled, a bright smile on his face.

Ma Hui didn't ask Li Zhen about the purpose of looking for him, and talked nonsense. Compared with Ai Tang and Ah Liguo, Ma Hui is more of a Chinese expert, although he is not as fluent in Chinese as Smith, he can speak it fluently. In particular, Ma Hui speaks with great talent, especially Ma Hui has a sense of humor, and the conversation between the two is extremely harmonious.

Li Zhen had a smile on his face, but he secretly scolded Ma Hui's old fritters in his heart.

This guy has been with the mud.

Li Zhen knew that it would not be okay not to take the initiative to speak, and said: "Mr. Ma Hui, what do you think of the relationship between China and the United States?" ”

Ma Hui spread his hands and said, "It's very friendly, and it's good for both parties." ”

When Li Zhen heard this, he almost scolded.

The United States of America is invading the Manchus, what a fart!

Li Zhen's face was calm, and he said lightly: "Mr. Ma Hui, with all due respect to Li Zhen's words, the relationship between China and the United States is far from being as good as you said. The opening of ports in Shanghai, Guangzhou and other places by the United States is still a barbaric way of grabbing profits, and it has not considered long-term development. For the United States, it is good for the time being, but it is not good for a long time. ”

Ma Hui smiled and said, "Your Excellency General, do you have any ideas?" ”

That smile is an old fox, sitting firmly on the Diaoyu Tai.

Li Zhen thought that sooner or later he would make Ma Hui suffer, but he said sincerely: "Mr. Ma Hui, the United States is a country that has just become independent and has begun to develop, and it needs allies, and I am a natural ally of the United States. Britain and France were on the sea, they invaded with impunity, and they established colonies, which was a threat to the United States. The United States and I have joined forces for mutual benefit and long-term cooperation, which is beneficial to both sides. ”

Ma Hui stared at Li Zhen and understood Li Zhen's words.

The word 'I' represents a specific meaning.

Ma Hui shook his head and said, "Your Excellency, you are currently in full swing, and you can even be said to be a rising political star. However, you are already in danger. I believe that the general also got the news that Xu Naizhao came to Shanghai, and I wonder if the general can cope with the past? If the general can stand firm under the difficulties of the governor of Jiangsu and counterattack Xu Naizhao, I will consider cooperating with the general. If the general can't even deal with the governor of Jiangsu, there is no premise for cooperation. ”

Li Zhen smiled and said, "Mr. Consul, we will cooperate." ”

Ma Hui smiled, then got up and left.

ps: one of the three watches;