Li Zhen rested at the hotel for the night, discussing many issues with Maas about firearms.

Talking into the night, Maas became more and more energetic.

Maas's eyes lit up, as if he had discovered a new continent, and he felt extremely surprised. He didn't expect that among the generals of the corrupt Great Qing Kingdom, there would be such a learned person as Li Zhen. Not only does he know a lot about firearms, but he also has unparalleled knowledge. In Maas's eyes, Li Zhen is not only a close friend, but also a brilliant genius.

It's a pity that the time together is too short.

Early the next morning, Li Zhen and Maas said goodbye.

Li Zhen took Huang Shihai and his entourage to leave Nanjing and headed for the camp in the north of the Yangtze River. With more than 30,000 silver tickets in his arms, Maas quietly returned south to Guangzhou, preparing to deliver firearms and ammunition to Li Zhen.

……

Jiangbei camp, the gate of the camp.

Qi Shan hunched his back slightly, and a soldier beside him held an umbrella to shield Qi Shan from the sun.

Rao is like this, Qi Shan's slightly chubby body trembled slightly under the scorching sun, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. Wu Qigong and He Ming and other generals in the army stood behind Qi Shan, waiting quietly. Officials of all sizes stood at the gate of the camp and waited to welcome Li Zhen, who had returned from Nanjing.

Previously, the news that Li Zhen and Yang Xiuqing had reached an agreement had been returned.

Qi Shan was overjoyed, and Wu Qigong was triumphant.

He Ming gritted his steel teeth, and his teeth itched with hatred in his heart. He thought that after Li Zhen went to Nanjing, he would probably die in Nanjing, but He Ming didn't expect Li Zhen to come back.

Knowing this, he went there himself, and then made a great achievement.

Wu Qigong just stared at the official road, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he said in a low voice: "My lord, Li Zhen is back." Qi Shan looked into the distance when he heard the sound and found that a group of people really appeared on the official road. As the distance gradually narrowed, Qi Shan could already clearly see Li Zhen's face, as well as Huang Shihai and others accompanying him.

"Da! Da! ”

The sound of horses' hooves was heard, and Li Zhen quickly came to the outside of the camp.

Li Zhen turned over and dismounted, walked quickly to Qi Shan's side, saluted a thousand times, and said without humility or arrogance: "Relying on the prestige of the lord, the last general was fortunate not to disgrace his life and persuaded Yang Xiuqing." ”

"Good, good, good!"

Qi Shanlian said three good words, stretched out his hand, and took Li Zhen's arm and walked towards the camp.

Such an honor made He Ming even more jealous.

However, Huang Shihai did not have such treatment, so he could only turn around and go back to the camp.

In the big tent of the Chinese army, Qi Shangao sits above, and below is the general of the army.

Li Zhen was full of energy, and he talked about the trip endlessly, but he ignored the extra 100,000 taels of silver. mentioned beating Duan Zhenggang and being lifted on the cauldron again, Wu Qigong and Qi Shan both pinched a cold sweat and worried about Li Zhen. He Ming also wiped his cold sweat, and thought that it was a wise decision not to go to Nanjing.

Qi Shan is more happy, feeling comfortable, and feeling more face-saving.

Qi Shan was happy in his heart and rewarded Li Zhen again.

Li Zhen blinked, his eyes signaling. After Qi Shan understood, he waved his hand and said, "Li Zhen has just come back, and the official has something to tell Li Zhen, so you all go down." ”

The generals looked at Li Zhen jealously, and reluctantly got up and withdrew.

Qi Shan asked, "Li Zhen, what's the matter?" ”

Li Zhen took out a stack of silver tickets from his arms, respectfully handed them to Qi Shan, and said, "My lord, this is 15,000 taels of silver tickets, which Yang Xiuqing paid in advance. ”

Qi Shan asked, "Fifteen thousand taels of silver tickets, what do you mean?" ”

Li Zhen replied: "My lord, Yang Xiuqing promised to give 100,000 taels of silver to redeem the imprisoned bandits, but insisted on publicizing that he would redeem 10,000 soldiers with 50,000 taels of silver. When the last general returned, Yang Xiuqing had already paid 50,000 taels of silver in advance. Wait for the next time Yang Xiuqing sends someone to ransom the prisoners, and give another 50,000 taels. ”

Qi Shan frowned and said, "Since it's fifty thousand taels, why is it so much less?" ”

Li Zhen said: "Lord Hui, when the last general went to Nanjing, he met an Italian businessman, Maas. This person specialized in selling foreign guns, and he felt that there were not enough guards around him, so he took the initiative to buy a thousand guns, 100,000 rounds of ammunition, and 35,000 taels of silver from the foreign merchant Maas. Maas went south with the silver, and soon returned to the camp with guns and ammunition. When the time comes. The Jiangbei battalion has new weapons, and it is more stable. ”

Qi Shan frowned and said, "Li Zhen, although you have a good heart, but so much silver is used to buy foreign guns,......, alas! Anyway, I used it, and there were more than 60,000 silver anyway. ”

Li Zhen said again: "My lord, we used the money to buy the gun, and we can earn it back when we change hands." ”

When Qi Shan heard that he could make money, he became interested again and said, "Tell me carefully." ”

Li Zhen said: "Mas is a foreign merchant who sells weapons in Guangzhou because he wants to make money to buy goods such as silk and tea. The last general told Maas to let him sell him silk and tea. In this way, we only exchanged a little silk and tea for foreign guns, and more than 30,000 taels of silver would be returned to the adults. ”

"Wonderful! Wonderful! ”

Qi Shan smiled and said, "Li Zhen, you really have a lot of ghost ideas." ”

Li Zhen said: "The adults praise it, and the general will not dare to take it." ”

Qi Shan shook his head and said with a smile: "For foreigners, silk and tea are not easy to get, but for this official, it is easy to get silk and tea. When the foreigners transported a thousand guns to the camp in Jiangbei, the official used the silk and tea bought with a little money to earn back the silver, which was really good. ”

Li Zhen arched his hand and said: "My lord is wise! ”

After a pause, Li Zhen took out a few silver tickets from his arms, handed them to Qi Shan's side, and said, "My lord, this is six thousand taels of silver tickets, please accept it." ”

Qi Shan asked suspiciously, "What's the matter with the six thousand taels of silver tickets?" ”

Li Zhen replied: "The last general pondered a trip to Nanjing, if it was a pity not to loot Yang Xiuqing, let Yang Xiuqing give the last general 6,000 taels of silver for the running expenses, which can be regarded as a reward for the accompanying soldiers, so there are 6,000 taels of silver." The last general did not dare to hide it, so he handed over the silver ticket to the lord and asked the lord to help. ”

"Hahaha......"

When Qi Shan heard this, his heart was even more joyful.

He got up and helped Li Zhen up, and said guiltily: "You have made great contributions in a row, and you have exchanged 10,000 prisoners for 100,000 taels of military expenses, which has made great contributions to the Jiangbei camp." This officer should reward you heavily, but unfortunately there is no money in the army, and he really can't draw out the silver. Alas, this official feels guilty in his heart! Your loyal ruler smiled and accepted it, and kept six thousand taels of silver for his own use. ”

Li Zhen said with emotion: "It's not easy for adults to be in charge of the Jiangbei camp!" ”

As he spoke, he quietly withdrew six thousand taels of silver.

Qi Shan listened to Li Zhen's emotion, and regarded Li Zhen as a confidant, and said: "If the generals in the army can be as sensible as you and as loyal as you, everything will be fine." You are tired from a long journey, go and rest. ”

"Thank you, sir!"

Li Zhen saluted before turning to leave.

Qi Shan looked at Li Zhen's back, reached out and stroked the sparse beard under his chin, with a satisfied look in his eyes. Qi Shan already regards Li Zhen as a confidant and a right-hand man.

All of this was carefully planned by Li Zhen.