In Shanghai, Wu Chaoyue certainly did not know the ridiculous and tragic things that happened in the capital, and he never worried that he would be treated unfairly. Not to mention that Cixi was blowing her pillow, foreigners would never agree to the Taiping Army to take Nanjing. The economic and trade interests of European and American countries in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River were also threatened. For their interests and security, the consuls of European and American countries must, of course, be closely united with Wu Chaoyue, who has always been friendly and proved his military capabilities, and colluded with him.

What made Wu Chaoyue worried was the revenge from the Taiping Army. When Wei Changhui died early, no one dared to guarantee that the historical process would undergo major changes. The Taiping Army did not launch the Northern Expedition immediately like in history, but chose to go east to find Wu Chaoyue to fight desperately. However, it was still fine. Zhenjiang's throat was still in the hands of the Qing army. If the Taiping Army wanted to attack Shanghai, it must first take Zhenjiang. After all, Wu Chaoyue had a buffer, but this buffer could only buy Wu Chaoyue how much time it could be bought, which is another question that no one knew.

At the same time, he returned to Shanghai. Wu Chaoyue realized that his comprador grandfather Wu Jianzhang had been planning something to borrow troops from foreigners to pacify the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, and had already started substantive negotiations with the consular consulates of Britain and France on this matter. But it was a pity for Wu Jianzhang. The consular consuls of Britain and France did not dare to make a decision on such a big matter, and just agreed to pass Wu Jianzhang's request to the domestic and wait for a domestic reply. Although Wu Chaoyue was very disgusted with the comprador grandfather doing this, he needed the full help of the comprador grandfather because of the money and food issues of the expansion group training. Therefore, Wu Chaoyue wisely closed his mouth, neither opposed nor supported nor interfered, and let the comprador grandfather go to do whatever he wanted.

After returning to Shanghai for only one day, Wu Chaoyue immediately began to recruit soldiers and expand his troops. As a result, due to the influx of war-torn refugees in Shanghai, the population base has soared. Although Wu Chaoyue's recruitment conditions were as harsh as before, he quickly recruited 3,000. Then, because he brought back 218 veterans, Wu Chaoyue saved a lot of effort in training and could safely and boldly throw the training matters to Huang Dasha, Deng Siyuan and others, freeing up hands to buy weapons and equipment and develop new weapons.

In fact, there is no need to worry about Wu Chaoyue when buying weapons and equipment. Western countries are afraid of Wu Chaoyue. They just heard that Wu Chaoyue expanded their army and rushed to send the weapon list to Wu Chaoyue. However, Wu Chaoyue still stubbornly chose to install a firing needle gun as the main rifle. Prussian Consul Ah Huawei also reciprocated. In addition to selling Wu Chaoyue 1,600 firing needle guns immediately, he promised to make up for the remaining part as soon as possible. In addition, Ah Huawei also mysteriously gave Wu Chaoyue 500 rubber seal rings for free to help Wu Jun cultivate his courage to solve the headache of leaking the breeze of the firing needle gun. Wu Chaoyue was overjoyed and asked: "The seal ring was developed so quickly? How about it, did your Prussian army conduct shooting tests? What's the sealing effect?"

"Wu, my good friend, I won't hide it from you." Ah Huawei said frankly: "When this rubber seal ring was first used, it did have a very good sealing effect, but the more times the shots, the worse the effect. On average, every twenty-six shots are basically scrapped. So you must make your soldiers pay attention to replacement, and you must be mentally prepared for a large amount of purchase."

"Normal. Rubber made of course won't be very durable."

Wu Chaoyue didn't even blink his eyelids and immediately decided to purchase 30,000 such rubber rings from Ah Huawei. Ah Huawei was even more happy. While patting his chest to guarantee the best price for Wu Chaoyue, he took out a letter and handed it to Wu Chaoyue, saying, "Wu, this is a handwritten letter written to you by Dereser, the inventor of our Prussian firing gun. I will hand it to you personally. Please accept it."

"Mr. Dresser's handwritten letter to me?" Wu Chaoyue was happy at first, but after taking the letter and looking carefully, Wu Chaoyue quickly smiled bitterly again, handed the letter back to Ah Huawei, and said, "Dear Mr. Ah Huawei, I can't deal with English in English. If I encounter Prussian, I can't do anything. Do a favor and translate it."

Ah Huawei helped the translation very readily. Wu Chaoyue realized that the purpose of Dresser's letter to him was mainly to thank him, thanking him for helping him solve the problem of breeze leaking in the firing gun that caused the Prussian army to have a headache, and indirectly helped him win more firing gun orders from the Prussian government. In addition, Dresser also begged Wu Chaoyue to give him more similar suggestions to help him further improve the firing gun, and promised to repay Wu Chaoyue's help.

After listening to Ah Huawei's translation, Wu Chaoyue, who had long wanted to develop metal shell bullets, was a little hesitant, but considering that China's current industrialization level is too low, even if he created copper shell bullets, he would definitely not be able to produce them on a large scale. Also, considering that after helping Germany become stronger quickly, he could further restrain old robbers such as John Bull, Gaul Chicken and Russian Russians. Wu Chaoyue gritted his teeth and made up his mind, and wrote a reply to Dresse in English, suggesting that Dresse develop metal bullets, and casually drew a sketch of modern metal bullets, handed them to Ah Huawei together with the letter, and entrusted them to Dresse back to China.

In addition to the firing gun, Wu Chaoyue purchased a large number of revolvers and Minnie guns from the Americans. At the same time, in order to appease the world's largest robber, British cattle, Wu Chaoyue held the orders of metal forging presses, ****, picric acid, and other orders to the British with tears in his eyes. Now Wu Chaoyue really dared not offend the British. But Aliguo, who had taken advantage of the situation, was still unsatisfied and forced Wu Chaoyue to order breech guns and mortar guns from him. Wu Chaoyue, whose army is still small, could not equip so many cannons, so he could only tell Aliguo truthfully: "Dear Mr. Aliguo, it's not that I don't like British weapons, but that's the current size of my army. I really don't need so many heavy cannons. And I think your artillery has no obvious technical advantages, and the price is higher than that of other countries, so I can't bear it."

A Liguo refused to give up and said, "Wu, then I'll make a concession. The grenade you told me last time, I have found a production factory for you in China and brought you five hundred samples. You must purchase at least five thousand from me!"

After saying that, Aliguo took out a few samples of grenades and handed them to Wu Chaoyue. However, Wu Chaoyue was overjoyed this time. Aliguo took out the sample of grenades. It turned out to be a pull-ring grenade that rubbed the glass sand with curly copper wire. As long as the black gunpowder contained in it was replaced with picric acid, it could be transformed into a powerful modern grenade. So Wu Chaoyue did not hesitate and immediately said: "I purchased 50,000 pieces! But you must give me a 30% discount on the price!"

"Wu, you are indeed the best Chinese friend of our British people!"

Seeing that money was jealous, A Liguo immediately changed into a kind smile and hugged Wu Chaoyue. When Wu Chaoyue cursed this snobbish, he suddenly remembered a big thing and asked again: "Dear Mr. A Liguo, I almost forgot something. I heard that you have developed touch-type shell fuzes in the West. Can you buy some of these fuzes for me?"

"Touch-type shell fuze? What is that? Why haven't I ever heard of it?"

Ali Guo was stunned for a moment. This was the first time he heard of this kind of fuse. Wu Chaoyue didn't know whether Europe had invented this kind of fuse in this era, so he roughly explained to Ali Guo the role and principle of touching the fuse. Ali Guo shook his head and said that he had never seen it or heard of it, but he still agreed to help Wu Chaoyue find and order this kind of fuse. Wu Chaoyue thanked him, and ordered a batch of timed fuses from Ali Guo for flowering shells. In case of precautions.

By the way, because of this touch fuse, Aliguo later asked Wu Chaoyue for a special time to ask Wu Chaoyue that he had heard of this fuse? When Wu Chaoyue asked the reason for it, Aliguo gritted his teeth and told Wu Chaoyue that this fuse was secretly studied by the British in the second half of last year. He had just started to equip the British army, so after Aliguo sent people back to the UK to find this fuse, it was immediately investigated by the British intelligence department. After Wu Chaoyue smiled bitterly, he had to make a shit stirrer and put the shit basin on the head of the French, so that the British cow and French chicken further deepened the existing contradiction.

Back to the topic, although the military expansion and preparation for war and the procurement of weapons were carried out smoothly, and the secret experiment of detonating picric acid with **** was also successful, during this period, the huge threat from the Taiping Army was still like a dark cloud, covering Shanghai and Wu Chaoyue at all times. Therefore, Wu Chaoyue was always concerned about the situation in Jiangning and Zhenjiang. What he was afraid of was that Yang Wending, who was not much smarter than Lu Jianying, lost Zhenjiang, which made him not even have time to train and prepare for war, so he had to go into battle in a hurry.

After all, the sky has eyes. Soon, bad news flew over like snowflakes. First of all, the idiot Yang Wending once again proved that he was stupid than a pig. He put a solid city without guarding it. In order to facilitate his life, he led the only 1,500 troops in Zhenjiang City to move to Shantou. Yang Dianbang, the governor of the canal transportation, urged him to station in Guazhou, but was also rejected by Yang Wending. Zhenjiang City, which could have been held, was empty, like a **** who had taken off his clothes, waiting to be taken over by the Taiping Army at any time. Yang Dianbang was not a good thing. He asked Yang Wending to guard Guazhou, but he did not dare to take a step forward in Guazhou. At the same time, he did not dare to defend Yang Dianbang and ran to Huaiyin in northern Jiangsu to take refuge early.

Fortunately, in order to escape back to Shanghai to seek protection when necessary, Yang Wending finally learned a little smarter this time and did not force Wu Chaoyue to lead his army to reinforce Zhenjiang. It is rare to stay on the front line.

The second bad news comes from Xiang Rong and Qishan. The Taiping Army has already captured Nanjing. Xiang Rong, who was pursuing behind, is still hiding in Anqing City, which was abandoned by the Taiping Army, and cannot even play the role of the Taiping Army at the minimum. However, compared with Qishan, Qishan's reinforcements, which are still powerful, are still in Hubei!

The third bad news made Wu Chaoyue the most worried. The Taiping Army captured the entire city of Jiangning on February 12th, and on February 19th, it distributed more than 10,000 troops. The famous general Qin Rigang led the Yangtze River to attack Zhenjiang. Yizheng in the upper reaches of Zhenjiang was captured by the Taiping Army the next day, and the magistrate abandoned the city and fled. Then, in just two days, the Taiping Army captured Jinshan and Guazhou again. The Jinshan Guardian Mintai and Guazhou garrison Fang Gang both fled without fighting. Yang Wending even slipped to Jiaoshan in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River before he saw the shadow of the Taiping Army.

On February 23, more than 200 vanguards of the Taiping Army arrived at the city of Zhenjiang. The defenders in the city opened four gates to escape. The Taiping Army drove into the city and Zhenjiang fell.

When Wu Chaoyue received the news of the fall of Zhenjiang, it was already the morning of February 24. After hearing this news, Wu Chaoyue, who was still counting the newly purchased weapons, sat on the ammunition box, with a gloomy face for a long time without saying a word. What he was thinking about was how to get time to train and prepare for war. In the end, Wu Jianzhang sent someone to ask Wu Chaoyue to meet in the city. Wu Chaoyue stood up with a frown and went to discuss countermeasures with the comprador grandfather even more frownly.

As expected, Wu Jianzhang really discussed with Wu Chaoyue for the fall of Zhenjiang. As soon as he met, he asked Wu Chaoyue in a scattered manner: "Have you received the news? Changmao took Zhenjiang? Changmao hated you so much, would he come directly to attack Shanghai along the Yangtze River?"

"I don't know." Wu Chaoyue replied truthfully: "But once Changmao receives news that I am expanding my army and preparing for war, he will probably move eastward with all his might and will not give me a chance to breathe."

Wu Jianzhang punched the table with a heavy punch, his old face was extremely gloomy, and it was rare that he would curse and swear, "Pig! Yang Wending's old stupid pig! Why don't you think you should stick to Zhenjiang and wait for reinforcements? Look, if Changmao continues to advance eastward, this old man will definitely continue to run down. Maybe he will run directly to Shanghai and let us protect him!"

"Grandpa, how is the situation in Jiangyin?" Wu Chaoyue asked without any hope: "Zhenjiang was taken down by Changmao. The only hope is to stop Changmao is Jiangyin. How is the situation there? How many troops are there?"

"Jianyin?" Wu Jianzhang, who had worked in military preparations, smiled bitterly and said, "A camp has a green camp with a 500-strong organization. In fact, if there are three hundred soldiers, it is Amitabha Buddha. He guards Li Tianchao, a famous big smoker. Opium in Shanghai passes by Jiangyin, and you don't have to pay money, just pay opium."

There was no hope at all. After listening to the comprador's grandfather's answer, Wu Chaoyue was certainly not disappointed. What he was thinking was whether he could think of any way to defend Jiangyin and gain more time for himself. Jiangyin is the narrowest military area on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. As long as there is a slightly reliable army to defend it, it will be difficult for the Taiping Army to directly threaten Shanghai.

"Why didn't I train more troops before and leave a reserve team?"

When Wu Chaoyue started taking the medicine for regret, someone suddenly came to report outside the door, saying that it was Liu Lichuan, the old lackey of the Wu family, who was angry, and Wu Jianzhang nodded casually. Then, soon, Liu Lichuan rushed in and couldn't wait to shout, "Uncle Shuang, good news, the news sent by Wang Guochu, his people found Zhou Lichun's whereabouts in Qingpu. The only one hid in Dianshan Lake and asked Chaoyue to give me a document, and I'll take people there..."

Speaking of this, Liu Lichuan finally saw Wu Chaoyue in the room, and immediately rushed over and grabbed Wu Chaoyue's sleeve, saying, "Chaoyue, just let me give me a document and ask me to go to Dianshan Lake to clean up Zhou Lichun. Uncle Yuan kept this time and caught that Luge for you and let you clean up as you wish! He also caught his daughter for you, so that you could fuck you as you wish!"

"What official documents are given to you?" Wu Chaoyue didn't react for a moment and asked in confusion: "You want to fight in a group, can you just go by yourself? What official documents are you asking me for?"

"Chaoyue, I find that you don't have my uncle Yuan in your eyes." Liu Lichuan was displeased and reminded: "Did you forget? You gave me a document before and asked me to handle a 200-person team training. Now I am your subordinate. I send troops across the border to suppress the thieves. Do you want me to give me official documents?"

Without Liu Lichuan's reminder, Wu Chaoyue really forgot about this. However, when Wu Chaoyue regretted his pen cap, Liu Lichuan couldn't wait to say: "Chaoyue, give Uncle Yuan this opportunity. Don't just care about your contributions. I also want to make some contributions and get an official position. Don't worry, I am sure that my courage is just like your courage, and it is taught by foreigners. My weapons and equipment are like yours. They are all foreign guns. I am absolutely sure to deal with Zhou Lichun!"

"Your courage training is the same as mine?" Wu Chaoyue was shocked.

"It's the same." Wu Jianzhang next to him interrupted and said, "I bought it for your Uncle Yuan, or the arms dealer you introduced, have you forgotten these?"

Wu Chaoyue opened his mouth wide, then slapped his thighs heavily, and cheered: "God, why did I forget all these things? I still have a reserve team, and I still have a reserve team?"

Cheering, Wu Chaoyue patted Liu Lichuan and said quickly: "Uncle Yuan, there is no need to go to Dianshan Lake. I want to make meritorious and rewarded. I will give you a better chance and ask your Lian Yong to prepare for battle! Also, let me tell you Lian Yong, I will give you five thousand taels of military pay first. I was injured and killed, and the pension was exactly the same as my Lian Yong!"

When Liu Lichuan, who had been forgotten by Wu Chaoyue, thanked him happily, Wu Chaoyue turned to Wu Jianzhang again and said, "Grandpa, ask the master to write a letter to Yang Wending immediately, suggesting that he move to Jiangyin, saying that we will send him an elite Shanghai Lianyong to help him, help him resist Changmao's attack, defend Jiangyin with all his strength, and wait for reinforcements! If he is unwilling to retreat to Jiangyin, it is fine, as long as he agrees to send troops to reinforce Jiangyin!"

Wu Jianzhang's eyes turned, and then he didn't even blink his eyelids, and immediately asked the master to come in and write a letter. Liu Lichuan next to him heard something was wrong and quickly asked in fear: "Chaoyue, you said you sent reinforcements to Jiangyin to help the one named Yang Wending resist Changmao. Isn't it my courage to practice, right?"
Chapter completed!