After entering the garden, Zhang Jian and Yang Yi had been intimate for a long time. They knew that Yang Yi did not value common etiquette and did not give in, so they only wanted to invite Li Hongzhang to sit down. Li Hongzhang and Yang Yi were the first to meet, and China has always been a country of etiquette. How could Li Hongzhang, who has been influenced by Confucianism for many years, be willing to sit down first? He just kept giving in and said, "How dare you do rashly in front of Yang Governor Yang?" Yang Yi repeatedly gave in, and saw this, he had to sit down first. Only then did Li Hongzhang dare to sit down. But his expression was still respectful.

Seeing Li Hongzhang like this, Zhang Jian smiled and said, "Shaoquan, you don't understand us. When the officials meet the adults, they are all well-mannered. How do you think of them?" Zhang Jian asked Li Hongzhang's interest and said, "What?" Zhang Jian looked at Yang Yi first, and saw that Yang Yi was still smiling, then said, "The red tape in the officialdom is really boring. Please do it. They only dare to sit half of their butt. They are not tired of sitting, but they are tired of me." As he said that, Zhang Jian pointed at Li Hongzhang and laughed. Li Hongzhang looked at how he sat down, and just sat half of his butt. He knew that Zhang Jian was talking about himself, and he couldn't help laughing.

When Yang saw Li Hongzhang a little embarrassed, he quickly said, "Shaoquan doesn't have to take too much vulgarity. Yang only wants to be a close friend of Shaoquan today. If his friends only make a lot of vulgarity, it's not very meaningful." Li Hongzhang adjusted his emotions slightly and said, "Sir, Master said: You must talk about this ritual. You must be loved by Lord, but Hongzhang never dares to perform rituals."

After hearing this, Yang said in admiration: "Shaoquan is worthy of being a disciple of Master Zeng, and is admired. Look at this, you and I are friends in private, so you don't have to do some common etiquette at home. On the scene, if you insist on doing that etiquette, I won't stop you, how about it?"

Li Hongzhang still hesitated after hearing this. Zhang Jian, who was standing aside, was annoyed: "You Shaoquan, you went to the capital together, and you wrote the ten songs "Entering the Capital". How popular and energetic you were. Now you are getting up and angry." After hearing this, Li Hongzhang quickly stood up and replied: "Brother Minsi, don't be angry." After saying that, he looked at Yang Yi and saw that Yang Yi still had a kind and smiling expression. Then he said: "Since that's the case, Hongzhang has been stalwartly." Zhang Jian still said: "It should have been like this long ago."

The three of them sat down again, but Li Hongzhang was still a little restrained. Seeing this, Zhang Jian asked Li Hongzhang to tell him about his old love and talk about the past. Yang Yi kept silent, but was just a spectator on the side. Gradually, Li Hongzhang let go and talked about the old things that were young and frivolous and inspired. Yang Yi saw the rise of the two of them, but he didn't interrupt, but just poured wine for them silently. Zhang and Li were happy to say one by one. When Zhang Jian asked Li Hongzhang about his recent situation, where was he so high? Li Hongzhang couldn't help but look down and said: "It's shameful that although I have fame, the officialdom has been ups and downs for years, and now I am just a staff member under the teacher."

In fact, Yang Yi has always been very concerned about Li Hongzhang's recent situation and told Zhang Jian, but Zhang Jian still said in surprise: "With Shaoquan's talent, how can he end up in such a situation?" Zhang Jian is different from Li Hongzhang. He has always been idle and has no hope for his career. After following Yang Yi, everyone set the tone of the rebel revolution and participated in the affairs of the officialdom. However, Li Hongzhang has always been determined to manage the family, govern the country, and pacify the world. However, the officialdom is dark, and Li Hongzhang has been ups and downs for many years.

There were ups and downs, but his ambitions remained unchanged, but now he was in a down-and-out heart, and he couldn't help but complain about not being able to meet his talent; he formed a group training team and made many contributions, but the wood was so beautiful that the forest wind would definitely destroy it, and he ended up going home to study. The darkness of the officialdom, the ambitions were hard to relieve, and these were all knots in Li Hongzhang's heart. Now Zhang Jian asked this again, and Li Hongzhang couldn't help but feel sad. He picked up the wine glass and drank it all and said, "Hehe, Brother Minsi, Lao Du has a poem that Jiangdong's children are very talented, and it is unknown if they make a comeback." As he said that, his cheeks were rosy, he was a little drunk.

Although he was drinking rice wine, Li Hongzhang was not very generous and drank a lot of it while talking. In addition, he had something to do, so he began to feel a little dazed. Seeing this, Yang Yi quickly asked someone to help Li Hongzhang down to rest.

It was unknown how long it took for Li Hongzhang to wake up. He saw himself lying on Zhang Rou's soft bed. A woman with a maid looked like a maid was doing some needlework. Li Hongzhang looked at the sky outside the window, and it was already dark. The headache after being drunk made Li Hongzhang moan, which alarmed the maid. The maid turned around and saw that Li Hongzhang was awake, and hurried over to support Li Hongzhang. Li Hongzhang sat at the table under the help of the maid. The maid poured Li Hongzhang a cup of warm tea first, and then said, "Are you hungry? Do you want to use something? I'll prepare now." After drinking a cup of tea with the right temperature, Li Hongzhang felt much more relaxed, so he returned: "Just make some rice." When Li Hongzhang recovered, the maid obediently carried a toilet to Li Hongzhang, and then turned around and went out.

Shaoqing, the maid came in with food, followed by a rough maid who carried the toilet out, leaving only the maid who had been serving Li Hongzhang. Li Hongzhang was originally from a commoner and was used to serving Li Hongzhang since childhood. However, recently, there were only a few male servants in Zeng Guofan's army. The scene at this time was what he was most accustomed to, and it made him feel as if he had returned to his own home.

The rice was hot and the side dishes were cooked very exquisitely. Li Hongzhang couldn't help but have a big appetite. After eating two bowls in one go, he put down the bowl and chopsticks. When the maid saw that Li Hongzhang had finished eating, she went up to clean up and said, "Sir, our master has given instructions. If you get up, you can go to the master's study to find our master, and Mr. Zhang is here too."

Li Hongzhang then looked at the maid. Seeing that the maid was pretty and decent, he knew that Yang Yi had sent him to greet him. He couldn't help but feel moved. Seeing that it was dark, Li Hongzhang was afraid that it would be too late to find Yang Yi, so he asked the maid: "What time is it now?" The maid returned: "It's still early, and it's just getting dark, why don't I lead you to see our master?" Li Hongzhang thought about the task assigned by the teacher and hadn't told Yang Yi yet, and thought that he would take this opportunity to mention it first, so he nodded.

The maid took a lantern in front and led Li Hongzhang to the study room. After walking along a corridor for a while, she came to a row of houses. The maid pointed to one of the rooms with lights and said, "That is our master's study room. Go by yourself. Master will not let the servants get close to it." As he said that, he inserted the lantern on a pillar in the corridor and left.

Li Hongzhang walked along the room pointed by the maid and came to the door. He was about to knock on the door. When someone inside talked about him, he put his hand down. It was Zhang Jian who was talking: "Sir, this Li Shaoquan is indeed a talented person. Unfortunately, he is not lucky and has been in troubled times. He has not been able to control one side so far. I think he has always loved talents, so why not recommend it to the court and leave him to be a person who stands alone in Shanghai." When Li Hongzhang heard this, he couldn't help but want to hear what Yang Yi said.

After Zhang Jian finished speaking, the room was quiet. Through the figure on the window paper, Li Hongzhang found Yang Yi paced back and forth, as if he was thinking about something? "Minsi, I don't think this move." This shocked Li Hongzhang and said in his heart: Could it be that Yang Duke was jealous of the things in Luzhou back then? While thinking about it, Zhang Jian asked Yang Yi: "What's wrong?" Yang Yi pondered for a moment: "Sir, don't look at me with this eye. Do you suspect that I hate the things in Luzhou back then?" Zhang Jian said: "Sir, I am too worried, Minsi dare not." Yang Yi continued: "Shaoquan is here, in my opinion, must be entrusted by Mr. Zeng to buy guns and cannons. We will keep him like this. It is difficult for Mr. Zeng to explain. Secondly, Mr. Zeng is a disciple of Mr. Zeng. His future should be recommended by Mr. Zeng. Even if we want to come forward, we have to greet Mr. Zeng.

The voice was justified by his consent." Yang Yi was about to continue speaking, and Zhang Jian smiled and said, "Third, the gentleman ordered people to prepare guns and cannons in the afternoon, which was prepared for Shaoquan. Fourth, as I expected, the adults would definitely trust Shaoquan to transfer to Mr. Zeng. I won't say the content of this letter." Li Hongzhang only heard the two laughing in the room. Only Yang Yi said, "The parents who gave birth to me, and those who knew me were quick-thinking." Zhang Jian and Yang Yi were playing puzzles inside, which made Li Hongzhang outside the door feel itchy. He didn't know what Yang Yi would write in the letter, so he stood outside for a long time. He listened to Zhang Jian, "This Shaoquan hasn't drunk much, why haven't he woke up yet, and waited for me to see him." One sentence woke Li Hongzhang up, quickly calmed down and raised his hand to knock on the door.

Yang Yi inside the door said, "Is it Shaoquan?" As the door was opened, it was Yang Yi who opened the door. Seeing Yang Yi open the door in person, Li Hongzhang hurriedly said, "I've disturbed Yang Du, rest, Shaoquan is polite." Yang Yi quickly supported Li Hongzhang and said, "Shaoquan, I've said everything, everyone doesn't need to perform common etiquette in private."

Zhang Jian said on the side, "That's right, Shaoquan is too unwilling to let go." Yang Yi asked Li Hongzhang to enter the study room. Li Hongzhang looked around the study room. Seeing that the study room was filled with various books, he was about to say something to say something for the opening remarks. Yang Yi said first: "Shaoquan, don't read too many books here, they are actually all showing off. I really haven't read a few books." As Yang Yi said this, Li Hongzhang suddenly felt that everyone's relationship was much more involved, and he also felt that Yang Yi did not have the style of a high-ranking official. He couldn't help but say in his heart: "This Yang Yi can dominate the three provinces, but it is related to this person's personality." Thinking of Li Hongzhang took out the letter that Zeng Guofan asked him to bring, and presented it to Yang Yi. Yang Yi took it and took a look, and handed it to Zhang Jian with a smile. After Zhang Jian looked at it, he smiled and said, "You are so proud of it, and I admire you." It turned out that the letter was about buying guns and cannons.

Zhang Jian smiled and said to Li Hongzhang: "Shaoquan, I'll prepare to get off the matter in the afternoon. Five thousand rifles, one hundred thousand bullets, and another 20 60mm mortars. Shaoquan is satisfied." Li Hongzhang actually knew about this when he was eavesdropping outside. Now, after hearing Zhang Jian's confirmation, he was even more moved by Yang Yi for what he did for him. He was about to say something grateful to him, but Yang Yi said first: "Shaoquan doesn't need to be grateful, but based on your friendship with Minsi, I have to help you, not to mention Mr. Zeng's face. But I can say that I'm fine with this money.

I didn't make any money for you, so you have to pay the freight yourself. I'll contact the Shen family's fleet and help you deliver it to Wenzhou to get ashore. The ship fee will be waived. I'll send another hundred soldiers to escort it. You just need to give the coolies who are traveling and some hard-earned money." After Yang's words, Zhang Jian then said: "Shaoquan, this rifle is a new Prussian rear-mounted rifle, with 80 taels of mortars given by Prussian merchants, so the adults will give it to Zeng Gong. There are 2,000 shells and 100,000 bullets. You can pay 50,000 taels. Do you think this price is OK?"

Yang Yi's arrangement was something that Li Hongzhang never expected. Zeng Guofan also bought guns and cannons from foreigners, but those foreign guns equipped in front were 100 taels each, which was more expensive than those installed in the back. Yang Yi was obviously going to give Li Hongzhang a great contribution. Li Hongzhang was grateful and was about to express something. Yang Yi waved his hand at him and said, "Shaoquan, you must have no early rest today. Anyway, you have finished the business. Tomorrow, let Minsi take you to a nearby Western-style textile factory to see how this foreign machine weaves cloth." As he said that, Yang Yi brought tea to the guests-

After staying in Shanghai for three days, Li Hongzhang bid farewell to Yang Yi and rushed to Wenzhou, and waited for the arms to get off the ship. In the past three days, Li Hongzhang visited the new textile factory. The roaring machine and the flying spool all left a deep impression on Li Hongzhang. At the same time, Li Hongzhang also visited the training of the new army. The biggest impression on Li Hongzhang was that he was strict discipline and advanced equipment, and the numerous foreign instructors also left an indelible impression on Li Hongzhang. During a live ammunition shooting of the new army, Li Hongzhang saw the power of this new rear-mounted rifle, which could shoot three times a minute, and the range was even better than that of the new army.
Chapter completed!