In early May, it was already warm and sunny in Shanghai.
Li Zhen was talking to Tongsi in the study. Ever since Li Zhen took down Bojia with the help of Tongsi, Tongsi would come to Daotai Mansion from time to time. On the one hand, it was to report the news that Tongsi had heard, and on the other hand, It was for the sake of getting familiar with each other and leaving an impression on Li Zhen.
No, Tong Si is here again with trivial matters.
Li Zhen listened patiently, but then he changed the topic and ignored Tongsi's matter. He said in a deep voice: "Tongsi, it's too slow to use the Dali Casino to get information. Can you control all the gangs in Shanghai?"
Hearing this, Tong Si raised his eyebrows, his eyes flickered, but he was overjoyed in his heart.
The opportunity you have been waiting for has come!
Tongsi's eyes were rolling, and he was quickly thinking of a solution in his mind, and said confidently: "Reporting to your lord, it will definitely be difficult if we only rely on the humble job of the Dali Casino. After all, the humble job is just a casino owner. , even if there are some people under his command, the strength is still not enough."
Having said this, Tong Si stretched out his left hand, pinched a section of his little finger with his thumb, and said with a flattering smile: "If you are willing to support me a little bit, just a little bit, and rely on my humble connections in Shanghai, I will definitely be able to sweep all the people in Shanghai." The big gangs make them obey the adults."
Li Zhen raised the corners of his mouth and asked, "What does a little bit mean?"
Tongsi said with high interest: "Reporting to your lord, this little help only requires the support of Lord Lan Weiwenlan, the magistrate of Shanghai County. If you want to control gangs in Shanghai, you must get official support." As long as County Magistrate Lan supports Beizhi and has the help of officers and soldiers, whether it is the Luohan Party, the Temple Gang, or gangs such as the Bailong Party, Beizhi can keep them in check and ensure that Shanghai is peaceful. No more gang members."
Li Zhen didn't believe it, and asked again: "The gang members don't show up, do you support them?"
"This this……"
Tong Si was stumped. Even though he had a little money, he couldn't afford to support so many people.
Li Zhen glanced at Tong Si intentionally or unintentionally, and said calmly: "Don't do things too hastily, and do it step by step. You first gather the gang members in Shanghai to form a unified strength, and restrain them from bullying and dominating the market. Harass the people. Other than that, do whatever you have to do and take your time, do you understand?"
"Your Majesty has great foresight, and Allah is convinced."
Tongsi chuckled, but heard footsteps coming from outside the study. Tongsi glanced out of the corner of his eyes, only to find that Liu Taiping was striding in. Tongsi was a thoughtful person, and knowing that something must be wrong with Liu Taiping, he stood up immediately Said: "Sir, I have to deal with casino matters in my humble position, so I won't disturb you."
Li Zhen smiled and nodded, thinking that this guy really knows how to read people's emotions.
Liu Taiping walked in with a solemn expression and bowed respectfully: "I have met you, sir!"
Li Zhen saw this and asked: "Sir, what's the matter?"
"Qishan is dead!"
Liu Taiping did not hide anything and told the news directly.
In fact, when Wu Qigong asked his generals to fight Li Xiucheng head-on, he didn't reveal it. However, when Wu Qigong took advantage of the night to leave the camp, away from the Jiangbei camp and rushed towards Shanghai, the news could no longer be concealed. , it was leaked out. When the news of Qi Shan's death spread, the morale of the army was in turmoil, and Wu Qigong's situation became increasingly difficult.
Fortunately, all the generals in the army knew that they were going to join Li Zhen, so they rushed to Shanghai together as one.
Even so, Li Xiucheng still led his soldiers to chase after him, clinging to Wu Qigong, making it impossible for Wu Qigong to go all out, and sometimes he couldn't even walk ten miles in a day. This shows that Li Xiucheng was really pushing hard.
.
Li Zhen was stunned on the spot. Qi Shan had been doing well, so why did he suddenly die of illness?
At this moment, Li Zhen's brain was so confused that he couldn't turn around. Qishan died, and Li Zhen felt a little sad. There was no other reason. Qishan was the person who had been supporting Li Zhen since he reached this era, no matter what
What was Qishan's purpose in supporting him, but at least Qishan shielded Li Zhen from the wind and rain and reduced many dangers.
Liu Taiping did not interrupt, but quietly waited for Li Zhen to recover.
Li Zhen endured the discomfort in his heart and asked: "Sir, Qishan has always been in good health, why did he suddenly die of illness?"
Liu Taiping explained: "Qi Shan led an army of 100,000 people to fight with an army of 50,000 people led by Li Xiucheng. Li Xiucheng faked defeat. Qi Shan won consecutive battles and forgot about it. Li Xiucheng seized the opportunity and easily destroyed Qi.
Shan's 100,000-strong army defeated Qi Shan, who fled back to the Jiangbei camp in embarrassment. Qi Shan was originally an old man, and immediately fell ill after returning to the camp, and then died of illness."
After Li Zhen figured it out, he said in a deep voice: "With Qi Shan's death, there is one less person to protect me from the wind and rain. Not only that, there is also chaos in the Jiangbei camp, and the situation is a bit complicated."
Liu Taiping said: "Sir, not only the Jiangbei camp, but also the Jiangnan camp's Xiang Rong has become a coward and no longer sends troops. From an old perspective, the Jiangnan camp will be destroyed sooner or later. We can't control Jiangnan now.
Camp, we must first rescue the soldiers from the Jiangbei camp, and then take the opportunity to destroy the troops led by Li Xiuqing and Li Xiucheng, and annihilate this Taiping army."
Li Zhen asked: "Sir, do you mean it's time to send troops?"
"Yes, it's time to send out troops!" Liu Taiping said.
Li Zhenzi's eyes flashed, and he said to himself: "Shanghai is completely under control. Lan Weiwen is on the stage to preside over the overall situation, and there are Tongsi and even Ye Chengzhong, Alice, and Gu Li in the audience.
Na and others are almost ready to take control of the shopping mall. Even if we send out troops now, it is still possible."
"Report!"
Suddenly, the attendant's shout came from outside the study.
Liu Taiping asked: "What happened?"
The attendant said solemnly: "A eunuch came from the house and said he was here to deliver the order. He is waiting in the hall."
Li Zhen suddenly stood up, waved his hand and said: "Go and tell the eunuch who delivered the order, ask him to wait for a moment, and then I will take a bath and change clothes, and then go see him." After receiving the order, the attendant turned around and left. Li Zhen followed
He walked out from the desk, came to Liu Taiping's side, and asked in a low voice: "The emperor sent someone to deliver the decree. What do you think the purpose is? Could it be about mobilizing bandits?"
Liu Taiping smiled and said: "Your Excellency is wise, I guess the emperor wants you to suppress the bandits."
Li Zhen laughed when he heard this and said, "Okay, I'll go right away."
After saying that, Li Zhen left the study.
When he came to the hall, Li Zhen saw that the eunuch delivering the order was a man in his thirties. The eunuch was polite to Li Zhen and told him that he had a certain relationship with Han Laiyu. Li Zhen learned that it was Han Laiyu.
The people on the side laughed in their hearts. After listening to the eunuch reading the imperial edict, Li Zhen really asked Li Zhen to lead the troops to suppress the bandits.
However, Xianfeng still praised Li Zhen and appreciated Li Zhen's great defeat of the foreigners' prestige.
Li Zhen accepted the order and asked the eunuch to stay in Shanghai for a few days.
The eunuch was unwilling, so Li Zhen had someone send him a 10,000 tael of silver note before sending the eunuch away. When the eunuch left, he was still happy. Although the 10,000 tael of silver note was not much, at least it was not a big one.
It was not a small deal. Li Zhen sent the eunuch away, returned to his study, showed the imperial edict to Liu Taiping, and then ordered people to summon the generals to discuss sending troops.
