Back at Daotai Mansion, before Dai Yuanhua had time to ask questions, Li Zhen ordered the soldiers to find Liu Taiping.
In the hall, the guests took their seats.
Li Zhen looked at Liu Taiping and said, "Sir, how many craftsmen have been recruited so far?"
Liu Taiping sighed: "Because we are recruiting experienced people and the requirements are experienced, there are not many people, less than thirty! As long as we recruit for a long time, there will definitely be more and more people."
Li Zhen nodded slightly, then looked at Dai Yuanhua and asked: "Yuanhua, I remember that in the Ming Dynasty, Qi Jiguang had people make a mine that was buried in the ground and would explode when stepped on. Your family has a long history and is proficient in firearms.
, can we create landmines?”
Dai Yuanhua said confidently and calmly: "Sir, it is not difficult to make landmines."
"Oh, you mean it can be manufactured."
Li Zhen raised the corners of his mouth, revealing a bright smile.
Li Zhen made landmines and grenades in preparation for the Second Opium War. With Li Zhen's current strength, the sea power is not strong, and it is impossible to engage in a head-on battle with the British and French coalition forces at sea. The main battlefield is still on land.
With grenades and mines, they can play a huge role in both offense and defense.
Even if you don't fight the British and French forces, there are still benefits to fighting the Taiping Army.
Dai Yuanhua said: "Sir, landmines can not only be manufactured, but also improved. I watched the production process of hand grenades today, and I think landmines and hand grenades are actually similar. Grenade is to pull the match rope hard, and it will emit sparks after friction. Land mines are placed on the ground.
, when you step on it, sparks will still fly out. By slightly improving the original mine, you can create a more accurate mine."
Li Zhen was overjoyed when he heard this and said loudly: "Okay, the grenades were made by foreigners, and we made the landmines ourselves. Mr. Liu, let the recruited craftsmen work with Yuanhua and seize the time to make the landmines. Soon, perhaps we will send
It’s come in handy.”
"yes!"
Liu Taiping bowed in agreement.
…
Butterfly Island is located northeast of Shanghai.
Because the shape of the island resembles a butterfly, that's why the name Butterfly Island comes from. Around Butterfly Island, there are countless small islands dotted around, guarding Butterfly Island in the center. If you are not familiar with the terrain around Butterfly Island, enter
You will definitely encounter a reef behind the island group, making it difficult to enter the Butterfly Island in the center.
This place is Lu Shaochuan's new residence.
After Lu Shaochuan surrendered to Li Zhen, he received Li Zhen's strong support.
At this time, Lu Shaochuan had six battleships under his command, all of which were converted into steam engines. These steam engines were purchased from foreigners and equipped in the battleships. Not only were the six battleships more powerful, but the firepower on the battleships was also more powerful.
Counting the cannons sent by Li Zhen and those purchased by Lu Shaochuan himself, there are already twenty-four cannons, and each warship has four cannons.
After becoming stronger, Lu Shaochuan dominated the sea.
In the small island, lobby.
Lu Shaochuan, Zhu Wu, Yang Ming, Zhao Fa and others were discussing matters in the hall.
Lu Shaochuan leaned back on the chair and sighed, with a look of regret on his rough cheeks. He said lightly: "We have annexed the small pirates around us. We have dominated the sea and have no enemies left. We have robbed several times in a row and let foreign merchant ships go."
I’m terrified. I haven’t opened my business for a month now, but I can’t attack foreign warships. Tell me, what other ways are there to make money?”
Zhu Wudao: "Batalion Commander, I have nothing to do, just train troops."
The two became familiar with each other and talked more casually.
"Go, go, you know that I can't sit idle, and you also know that I don't like training soldiers, so what's the point of doing it?" Lu Shaochuan said with a smile: "Robbing foreigners is the most comfortable, the most enjoyable, and the most profitable. Military Advisor
, what’s your idea?”
Zhao Fa said: "Batalion Commander, I am no longer a military advisor. I am a staff officer with the title of company commander."
Lu Shaochuan said nonchalantly: "It's okay, I just need to recognize you as a military advisor."
Zhao Fa shook his head and said: "Battal Commander, I agree with Deputy Battalion Commander Zhu's suggestion. There is no war happening now, so we should seize the time to train troops and enhance the combat effectiveness of the soldiers. Once there is something to do, we can win in one fell swoop."
Yang Ming said: "Batalion Commander, I also agree with the opinions of Deputy Battalion Commander Zhu and Company Commander Zhao."
The three reached an agreement at the same time, making Lu Shaochuan even more helpless.
Lu Shaochuan waved his hands helplessly and said, "Okay, okay, you work hard to train."
When Zhu Wu heard this, he immediately laughed.
Lu Shaochuan has a carefree personality, is forthright and upright, and puts loyalty first. Although there is still a hint of gangsterism in his heart, he is good-natured and can follow the correct advice. It is precisely because of this that Zhu Wu can cooperate with Lu Shaochuan.
"Let me go, let me go quickly, I am a businessman of the British Empire, you can't arrest me."
Suddenly, awkward Chinese words came from outside the hall.
After a while, footsteps were heard, and an officer strode in, followed by two soldiers escorting an Englishman in. The Englishman could speak Chinese, but was a little awkward. The officer walked to the center of the hall and raised his hand.
He saluted and said: "Report to the battalion commander that the brothers discovered a British merchant ship at sea, seized it directly, and captured the merchants on board."
"Hahaha……"
Lu Shaochuan laughed loudly and said: "Xu Zifeng, well done!"
Xu Zifeng is also a company commander in the army.
The foreigner looked at Lu Shaochuan and begged for mercy: "Hero, let me go. I am a good person. I have never sold opium or bullied the Chinese. This time I went to Shanghai to transport some goods for sale. I did not break the law."
"
Lu Shaochuan smiled and said: "I don't care whether you have broken the law or not. As long as you are a foreigner, you will not be leniently spared."
The foreigner rolled his eyes and said, "Hero, please spare my life."
Lu Shaochuan said firmly: "No mercy!"
Zhao Fajin said immediately: "Actually, it is not impossible to forgive you. As long as you are willing to cooperate, the battalion commander is still willing to let you go. Whether you can survive or not depends on you."
The foreigner's eyes lit up and he immediately said: "I will definitely cooperate, I will definitely cooperate."
Zhao Fa continued: "You are a British businessman, so you know what other British businessmen are doing. As long as you tell when they will come to Shanghai and how many ships they will have, I will spare your life. This is your only chance to survive.
"
The foreigner opened his mouth, with a look of hesitation on his face, but then shook his head and said, "I really don't know."
Seeing that the foreigner didn't say anything, Lu Shaochuan immediately said: "Come here, take him out and shoot him."
Xu Zifeng waved his hand, and the two soldiers who had just dragged the foreigner immediately clamped the foreigner's armpits and dragged him out of the hall. The foreigner immediately panicked and said without hesitation: "Don't kill me, I said, what am I doing?"
They all said."
Lu Shaochuan glanced at Zhao Fa with admiration and asked, "Tell me, when?"
The foreigner said: "On the third day of next month, that is, on the third day of March, a large number of goods will go north from Guangzhou and enter Shanghai. Most of the goods will be goods, with a very small amount of opium. They will be protected by three ships.
.”
After hearing this, Lu Shaochuan raised a smile on his lips and waved his hand: "Take him down and lock him up. When the situation is determined on the third day of the next month, we will deal with it. If he tells lies, he will be pulled out and shot."
The foreigner immediately said: "Don't worry, hero, it must be the truth and absolutely not false."
Lu Shaochuan nodded, with a smile on his lips.
The third day of March is such a good day!
Ps: The third of the fourth watch, the third watch, please give me flowers.
