Singapore is a pearl on the Strait of Malacca. During the Ming Dynasty, China called it "Temasek" and Zheng He used it as an important logistics transit base during his voyages to the West.
In 1819, Stamford Raffles, an employee of the British East India Company, landed in Singapore and began to administer the area. In 1824, Singapore officially became a British colony and came under the jurisdiction of the British Indian colonial authorities. Due to Singapore's important location on Malacca,
Business is prosperous, and a large number of Nanyang Chinese have settled here. The Chinese like to call this city the Lion City.
It is estimated that there are about 100,000 Nanyang Chinese settled in Singapore. They are an important force. Dong Shuheng attaches great importance to this. When Wang Tao set out this time, Dong Shuheng specifically asked him to go to Singapore for inspection.
The Portuguese merchant ship Wang Tao and the others hired was called "Fronterra", and the captain was Antonio Perez. He was a traditional Portuguese captain and very friendly. Several international students who liked sailing followed him all day long and asked questions.
He never showed a trace of impatience, and he could patiently answer any questions asked by international students.
As soon as the ship entered the port channel, a British patrol ship approached.
"Oh, Antonio, it's you. Why haven't the waves of the Indian Ocean swept you away yet? Let me see what goods you have brought. Is it silk or porcelain?" A British tax official climbed onto the boat and faced Antonio.
The captain said without politeness.
"Oh, Jimmy, are you still working as a small tax collector? Are all the big shots blind?" Captain Antonio said sarcastically.
Only then did Jimmy see that the people on the boat were all Chinese passengers. When he looked at Wang Tao and the others, his eyes were filled with contempt.
"Huh? Antonio, when did you start transporting piglets? Then you should take the Pacific route to the United States. Their railways and mines prefer Chinese piglets."
"Jimmy, you don't sound like a gentleman when you speak like this. They are all my distinguished passengers. They are from China and are going to visit and study in Europe." Antonio explained.
Wang Tao heard their conversation from the side. He was accustomed to this. In the concession in Shanghai, which was still Chinese territory, there was still a sign saying "Chinese people and dogs are not allowed to enter" at the entrance of the park. He was proficient in Western learning and knew that Westerners
They are all relying on the strong to bully the weak, bullying the weak and fearing the strong. The root cause of everything is that China is too weak now.
Several foreign students nearby, who were young and energetic after all, wanted to come forward to argue. Wang Tao stopped them.
"If there is hatred in your heart, turn it into the motivation to learn. The dignity we have lost cannot be brought back with words, but with the strength of our country, in the shopping mall and on the battlefield." Wang Tao looked at the people.
Man, he said with seriousness and sincerity.
All the international students lowered their heads, bit their lips tightly, and clenched their fists. A spirit called patriotism took root in their hearts.
At this time, Karl came over to comfort him: "King, don't pay attention to these arrogant cocks. These British guys will have to pay the price for their arrogance sooner or later."
Wang Tao shook his head and immediately entered the cabin. He was no longer in the mood to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Singapore Harbor.
It is now June of the third year of Xianfeng. The Taiping Army generals Lin Fengxiang and Li Kaifang have led 20,000 Northern Expedition troops to Shangqiu, Henan, and joined the Nian Army in Huaibei. The situation of the Qing court's surrender of bandits has become even more serious.
Previously, Qishan had obtained 500 heads and reported a victory to the court. Later, Governor Yang Wending also reported a great victory in ambushing the Taiping Army in Guazhou Town. This allowed Emperor Xianfeng to once again suppress the impeachment of Yang Wending. Ma Huzi was therefore
He was promoted to be the commander-in-chief of the Green Camp Navy in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River in Suzhou and Changzhou. As a result, Ma Huzi's fleet size increased from 12 to 20 ships.
But what Ma Huzi was thinking about most was the two ships Dong Shuheng promised to him. Thinking about it, if he could live on that iron guy, he would feel more at ease. It would be so beautiful!
The successive victories also made the court's call for the recapture of Yangzhou louder and louder. In addition, the Taiping Army moved northward, giving people an illusion of emptiness behind Tianjing. Qingliu even wrote a letter asking the Jiangbei camp to capture Jiangning in one go. Qishan had no choice but to
He could ask Dong Shuheng, the most capable of his men, to come to discuss the situation. Dong Shuheng had never seen Qi Shan since he became an official.
It was not very far from Gaoyou to Jiangbei Camp in the north of Yangzhou City. Dong Shuheng and his guard company arrived on horseback in half a day.
The Huaihai Navy originally did not have many war horses, but after establishing a line with Qishan, it bought more than 2,000 horses from the troops of the Beidaying. The flag troops and green battalions of the Beidaying were all transferred from the north, and their combat effectiveness was not very good.
There are quite a few horses.
These people smoked cigarettes in order to make money, and they wiped out the ground in the north of Yangzhou City. The people in the north were harassed by them, so that there was no money left to search for. When they heard that Dong Shuheng wanted to buy a horse, these people rushed to the door one by one. Dong Shuheng
Finally the quantity had to be increased.
Because of this, Dong Shuheng and his guard company were able to travel on horseback. Although their skills were not as good as those of real cavalry, riding horses was always faster and more labor-saving than walking.
Dong Shuheng came to Peking University Camp in a hurry this time. The training of the new recruits was about to end. He must seize the time to complete the reorganization and running-in of the troops. This time the troops have expanded seven times. If they are not reorganized well, the overall combat effectiveness of the troops will probably be reduced.
decline.
The Jiangbei Camp is actually a large joint camp. There are more than 25,000 troops stationed in the entire Jiangbei Camp. Among them are the Green Camp of Shaanxi and Henan, as well as Zhili and the Eight Banners of Mongolia, which belong to many commanders. The most capable in the mid-term
The ones who fought were the Eight Banners Cavalry of Shengbao.
Qishan, an old fellow, naturally does not live in the military camp. He is living in the Yuan Family Garden in the north of Yangzhou City. Every day he spends half a day listening to plays and half a day sleeping. To talk to him about business, you have to post a post in advance to make an appointment.
OK.
Qishan is a typical second-generation official. He has had ups and downs throughout his life. He became the governor of Liangjiang at the age of 35. Now that the court has given him the governorship of Liangjiang again, he naturally doesn't feel cold at all. He now wants to safely leave his position.
When I retired, I had no enthusiasm at all for attacking the Taiping Army.
When Dong Shuheng arrived at the gate of the garden, there were already domestic slaves waiting at the door. These slaves from the bannermen who came out from the Four-Nine City had their nostrils turned to the sky. Even if you are an official of the imperial court, they would not pay attention to you. In other words, you are standing in Beijing.
A random brick thrown at the city wall can hit a third-grade person.
So what do they recognize? Money!
Dong Shuheng tossed a silver ingot casually, and the slave put it into his sleeve with his backhand, moving as fast as a martial arts master.
"Sir Admiral, our Lord Governor is listening to music in the back garden. A Huizhou team just arrived yesterday, and the actress on duty is very beautiful!" The slave said with a smile, as if he suddenly changed.
"Oh, I'm not disturbing the governor's pleasure."
"It's okay, Lord Dong doesn't know that our Lord Admiral likes to talk about business while listening to a play. Please come with me."
This garden is a typical Jiangnan garden style. "Although it is made by people, it seems to be open from the sky." Wandering in this garden is as hearty as reading a poem. This is the poetic feeling everywhere in the garden. No wonder people say Jiangnan.
Gardens are the materialization of poetry and painting. They are everywhere in paintings and every scene is in poetry.
As he looked at it, Dong Shuheng suddenly thought that he would be able to build a garden like this anytime and live with his two or three beauties. Then, he shook his head vigorously. Now that the revolution has just begun, how come he has begun to degenerate?
Woolen cloth!
Passing through several flower gates in a row, I finally heard the sound of playing and singing in front of me. Dong Shuheng quickened his pace and walked into a courtyard. The courtyard was 20 to 30 meters long and wide. There was a theater shed set up on the south wall, with five or six
The actor is singing.
There is a tea shed in the north of the yard. Under the shed, a thin old man wearing a first-grade court dress is lying on the Taishi chair. There is a purple sand teapot on the small table next to him, and there is a jade snuff bottle next to the teapot.
A pretty little maid stood aside, holding a big kettle in her hand.
The old man had a beard on his chin, slightly sunken eye sockets, and gray and sparse hair. There were more than a dozen guards standing next to him. It turned out that it was true that Qishan was in poor health.
Dong Shuheng took a quick step and was about to step forward to salute. Qi Shan waved his hand and casually pointed to a seat next to him. Dong Shuheng understood and sat there. Dong Shuheng sat there half-assed on the chair, watching.
Qi Shan did not dare to speak. Qi Shan said: "I'm sorry, I'm telling you Shu Heng, you are a very good and sensible kid!"
"Your Majesty, thank you very much. I just did my duty. I will never forget your kindness." Dong Shuheng said in a low voice.
"Well, Shu Heng, you have also heard that the imperial court is now tightening the pressure, and Qingliu is also making noises. I can't stand it anymore. I say that Yangzhou's long hair will not last long. Sooner or later, it will be withdrawn. Why?
Do we have to take the initiative to attack? The best strategy is to defeat the enemy without fighting."
"That's what your Excellency said." Dong Shuheng agreed.
"It is said that Seng Gelinqin was the most capable fighter in the Qing Dynasty, but he was dragged away by the Changmao and Nian bandits from the north. The north was the foundation of the imperial court, so the imperial court was anxious and wanted to make some movement in the south to contain it.
Changmao. My soldiers from the Peking Camp are not good at fighting. When it comes to things, each one is stronger than the other. You see, I can’t hold on, and it’s because of my own difficulties.” He said, giving Dong Shuheng a thoughtful look.
It means "you know".
"I am willing to share your worries with you, but you know that I have few generals and many troops. I am currently recruiting troops. Sir, if you give me another month, I will definitely capture Yangzhou City and deliver it to you, Sir."
"The imperial court is pressing hard now. Why don't you send Master Shengbao's cavalry there? This will not only silence the courtiers, but also satisfy Shengbao's needs. Hasn't Master Shengbao been clamoring to attack all the time?
?"
Dong Shuheng knew that Shengbao and Qi Shan were at odds, and Shengbao wrote to the court many times to impeach Qi Shan and passively avoided the war. Previously, Sheng Bao's unauthorized attack on Yangzhou's Taiping Army failed, and Qi Shan did not send anyone to reinforce it. Dong Shuheng's plan could be said to kill two birds with one stone.
In fact, there is one more thing. Dong Shuheng takes away the most capable Shengbao, leaving Beida Camp with only a bunch of losers. At that time, Dong Shuheng can take all the credit and consolidate his position in Beida Camp.
Qi Shan nodded with satisfaction and signaled Dong Shuheng to continue.
"This way we can free up our hands to slowly conquer Yangzhou. After taking over the city of Yangzhou, my lord, you can move the Beida camp to the north of the Yangtze River. In this way, as long as the Jiangnan camp does not move, my lord, you can stay still. No need to do it again.
Be as passive as before."
"Haha, I really want to see how your little head grows." Qi Shan smiled and said, "I have Shu Heng, so everything is worry-free!"