When Wang Bo heard something strange in his words, he raised his eyes to look at Li Hongzhang, only to see that the eyes that came over were shining, like two sharp arrows, and he could faintly feel a compelling momentum pressing over.

He instantly understood that if he pretended to be too much, he had to reluctantly say, "This ...... This...... Then may I ask Lord Zhongtang, how many soldiers do you mean by a group of soldiers? ”

Li Hongzhang put away his momentum, showed a satisfied look in his eyes, leaned back slowly, leaned back in the chair, and said: "I remember that I was ordered to recruit soldiers, and I didn't have anything at that time, and it took a lot of effort to recruit 6,500 people in Anqing and form an army, and then it was expanded one after another, and the number increased. ”

However, after a series of reductions and withdrawals in recent years, there are now only one hundred and four battalions, about 50,000 people. So, you train me a fifth, and I'll pick out twelve thousand of them, and you ......."

Wang Bo jumped up and shouted, "Twelve thousand! Master Li, this ...... That's too much, right? 12,000 people, or a new army with foreign guns and artillery, you still let me fund it alone...... You have trained soldiers, these foreign guns, foreign cannons, bullets, shells, food, clothing, housing, transportation, etc., etc., no matter what kind of money is spent on an astronomical amount, how much money does it cost? ”

He shook his head like a rattle, "No, no, no, no, there are so many people, I'm just a person who does a little business, where can I have so much money to train the army!" I formally apologize to you, it's not right for me to borrow your name to do things, after today, I will immediately dissolve all the factories, I will go back to the United States, anyway, the ancestors can't be found, I still stay in the United States to do some small business and be a rich man. ”

Li Hongzhang looked at Wang Bo expressionlessly for a long time, and said slowly: "Aren't you a businessman?" The sky is asking for a price, and you know more than I know the truth of paying back the money on the ground. I offered the price, since you are not satisfied, we can discuss. Are you really willing to give up the industry you just started in China? I heard that you have made a lot of money during this time, and you have united a large number of businessmen, and you are very ambitious! ”

Wang Bo frowned, lowered his head and pondered, his face was painful and reluctant, gritted his teeth for a while, and his eyes showed a fierce light, which vividly played the true character of a businessman who was greedy for money and profit.

He thought about it for a long time, raised his head, and saw Li Hongzhang's expression indifferent, holding a teacup and sipping tea leisurely, and immediately said in a deep voice: "Lord Zhongtang, you said that you started with 6,500 soldiers at the beginning, and you are not talented, and you don't have your courage, but ...... How about forgiving me for daring to barely half of you and help you train a new army of 3,500 men? ”

Li Hongzhang said: "No! You have great courage and courage! 10,000 people! ”

Wang Bo said: "Four thousand! ”

Li Hongzhang put the teacup close to his mouth and sipped it, and said, "This number is not good." ”

Wang Bo said: "Four thousand five hundred! ”

Li Hongzhang shook his head and said, "Is my name worth so much?" ”

Wang Bo began to pace back and forth in the hall, and only after a while did he say, "Five thousand! ”

Li Hongzhang smiled and said, "Sure enough, it's a businessman, and the baht must be compared!" To be honest, the first time I saw you, I thought you were a lot like me when I was younger. ”

Wang Bo had a bitter face, "Lord Zhongtang, you are blocking me with words!" Good! Then I will be bold, just like you were at the beginning, 6,500 people! This is already my bottom line, no matter how much I have, I will have a big deal to return to the United States! ”

Li Hongzhang nodded with satisfaction and said, "Then let's do it first!" If there are any problems in the future, let's discuss them again. ”

Wang Bo said: "Still discuss? Well, but it's still to be discussed! Lord Zhongtang, you asked me to train 6,500 new soldiers, and I don't care who the officers and men are, but there is one thing that is extremely important, and if this cannot be done, there will be no need for training. During training, I have to listen to everything I train, and no one can participate, including you! ”

Li Hongzhang said: "Yes! ”

Wang Bo continued: "Also, I am humble and contemptuous, what if some officers and soldiers do not listen to me during the training? ”

Li Hongzhang said coldly: "Hit or kill at your disposal." ”

Wang Bo nodded and said, "Finally, there are too many of them, if I fight or kill a few generals who are quite popular with the soldiers, and then there is a mutiny, how can I protect myself?" ”

Li Hongzhang stared at Wang Bo's eyes tightly, as if he wanted to penetrate into it and see what he was thinking at the moment. After a while, he said slowly: "I allow you to train a battalion of personal soldiers for self-protection, but! You have to keep in mind that all the weapons and equipment of these 6,500 officers and soldiers and your battalion of personal soldiers are independently undertaken by you! ”

Wang Bo was overjoyed: "I finally have my own army!" But with a frown on his face, he made a sad face and said, "So many people have food, clothing, shelter, and transportation, as well as guns and ammunition...... Alas, Lord Zhongtang, to be honest, if you are a businessman, you will definitely be comparable to Tao Zhugong, rich and rival the country! ”

Li Hongzhang shook his head and sighed: "Tao Zhugong? I can't do it...... Okay, now that things are settled, let's go to dinner. There are two more young people coming over today, and you are both young people who have a lot to talk about, so you have to talk a lot. With that, he beckoned Wang Bo towards the dining room.

The major affairs of the army were decided in the bargaining between the two like traders, which was simply unprecedented and unprecedented, and no one in the world believed it.

Wang Bo followed behind Li Hongzhang, looking at the figure in front of him who was still standing up straight, this old man, now he is reforming the army in a big way, creating a navy, and founding various advanced industrialized enterprises, but unfortunately his head is still the feudal ideology, and he has never escaped the shackles of the times on thinking, and in the end everything has come to naught.

Just now, it was obvious that he was tempting himself to see if he was really ambitious. At the beginning, he said that he would train 12,000 soldiers for himself, who would think that there were few soldiers in his hands these days? The more, the merrier, of course!

Although this is to help people train soldiers, as long as it works well, some soldiers will be recruited for use during this period.

Fortunately, he noticed this just now, resisted the temptation, and pretended to be a businessman who only made money, maybe he had already seen something, after all, the old bird who was mixed in the officialdom, what kind of person had never seen it, and he had walked more bridges than he had walked.

However, now that both sides are using each other, you fancy my money and ability, I want to take advantage of your power and take the opportunity to ask for power again, even if I know that I have ambitions, Li Hongzhang will not say anything for the time being.

Because Wang Bo is a lonely man, he has no foundation in Huaxia, and he is doing things under his nose, as long as he sees uncontrollable signs appearing, he can pinch people to death with his identity as Li Zhongtang with his fingers. (To be continued.) )