When Ma Kaifeng was planning for the Beiyang War Zone in Jiaozhou New City, the first wave of reinforcements from the Beiyang War Zone had already arrived at the battlefield. A fleet of thirty-two Yahat ships and flute-shaped ships arrived under the escort of the First Special Mixed Detachment of the Beiyang War Zone. The ship was loaded with reinforcements from Jeju, with a total of one land brigade and a mixed brigade. A special cavalry regiment was strengthened, with a total of 11,000 infantrymen and more than 4,000 cavalrymen, and some artillery and boat bridge troops. However, this army did not rashly enter the port, but instead moored to Lingshan Island in the south of Jiaozhou Bay.

Lingshan Island is located in the southwest of Jiaozhou Bay and has long been controlled by the United States Navy. It is the southwest monsoon season. You can reach Qingdao Port in one day with a wind.

In addition to this first advance force, Qingdao Fortress originally had a field force with a garrison brigade, an infantry brigade and a cavalry regiment. The two armies combined together exceeded 20,000, which was enough to control the situation on the Jiaodong Peninsula. The advance force did not enter the port for the time being in order to avoid being discovered by the Qing army in advance. At the same time, Gao Feng, the commander of the army, also served as the commander of the Beiyang War Zone, issued a secret order to Ma Kaifeng, agreeing to all the requests he requested, and at the same time granted him the right to be arbitrary on the occasion, so that he could keep the floating bridge and Jiaozhou New City.

"Sir Ma, this is Gao Di's reply to the old man. Please read it." On the carriage, Zhou Zisheng handed a letter to Ma Kaifeng. Seeing that the letter was completely covered, Ma Kaifeng obviously had never opened it. After taking a look, he asked, "Mr. Zhou, do you know how Gao Di replied?"

Zhou Zisheng wiped his sweat. Although he did not dare to dismantle and read the letter, the person sent to him had already told him everything. He carefully said: "When you say to the superior, the old man sent him a slave to Jiasheng. When he came back, he still had a great dream of spring and autumn, thinking that with the ten thousand miscellaneous cards in his hand, he could enjoy wealth and glory forever."

"How could he see through?" Ma Kaifeng sent the letter to Zhou Zisheng.

When Zhou Zisheng saw that the beads of sweat were as big as beans, the letter clearly stated: Old Taishan is above. The son-in-law thought that in addition to the elite soldiers of the town, there are also various businesses in Jiaozhou New City. As long as you and I control Jiaozhou New City and do not let others get involved, they can be used as bargaining chips. If you and I trade with Dongban, you will definitely make extraordinary profits. Even if you are a hereditary position, you can also seek it.

"Sir Ma, I haven't said anything to me about what you said to Gao Di." Zhou Zisheng quickly explained, but he didn't expect that Gao Di, a guy, had a lot of knowledge. He knew that the United States had a fancy to the local handicraft status, but it seemed to be his own suggestions.

Ma Kaifeng waved his hand: "I have seen it all the time for the old man these days. It's okay, I can trust you, but what do you think should be done on Gaodi?"

Zhou Zisheng originally wanted to raise his first place. Although his son-in-law was not much younger than him, he was a good player in training and leading troops. If he obeyed the New Dynasty, he would have no rewards. It would be like Hai Shixing when he moved to the border and forbidden seas. After he surrendered military power, he had already established a foundation in Nanyang and was a powerful man. According to Zhou Zisheng's plan, the two of them joined the New Dynasty and merged into one, and they would definitely gain a lot, but they never thought that Gao Di still fantasized about power, especially military power!

After gritting his teeth, Zhou Zisheng said: "Gaodi is suspected of taking Jiaozhou New City as the quality of the city, and he definitely cannot cooperate anymore. If many people know that the United States will march into Qingdao in the near future, they will inevitably lead their troops into the city and control it. At that time, Chief Ma's work was difficult to carry out. I think it would be better to leave him aside and use the local garrison to cooperate with the United States Army to control the docks and the city, so as to ensure that there is no accident."

Ma Kaifeng also meant this. Gao Di has already regarded Jiaozhou New City as a bargaining chip. If he cooperates with him, he will definitely settle in the new city. Holding this chip is difficult, but it is better for Zhou Zisheng to say this. Ma Kaifeng asked: "Mr. Zhou, the local four battalions in Jiaozhou Town are stationed in more than 2,000 people. Are you sure to convince them?"

Zhou Zisheng said: "General Wu Shen of Jiaozhou Town is my brother-in-law, that's nothing, but Deputy General Wang is a member of the Wang family. If he can convince Wang Zhiwen, he will be foolproof."

Jiaozhou New City is also known as Zhou Wang Ji. Wang is Wang Zhiwen's family. This person's life is a bit similar to Zhou Zisheng. The two of them held the new city together. Wang Zhiwen is also among the enlightened gentlemen, but he has never contacted him.

"Will Wang Zhiwen appear in the venue today?" Ma Kaifeng asked.

"Of course, Old Man Wang has always been worried that I will seize the authority of the Management Committee and will attend monthly meetings. At this time, I am afraid that I have been waiting for Hongyun Restaurant for a long time." Zhou Zisheng said confidently.

Hongyun Restaurant.

Hongyun Restaurant is the most impressive restaurant in Jiaozhou New City. It is also the place where the management committee meets and discusses. There are meetings here at the beginning and mid-month of every month. In addition to the King of Zhou, the local well-known merchants attended the meeting. In this strange era, Jiaozhou New City became the only city dominated by merchants in the Qing Dynasty.

The so-called management committee performs the power of the yamen, but it is essentially a stolen goods division meeting. The management committee manages the entire Jiaozhou New City. After completing the statistics, it divides the stolen goods to all the forces behind it. The green camp generals, the governors' yamen, local gentry, and even senior officials and Manchu nobles in the capital. Many people make food from Jiaozhou New City. The management committee just asks them to only take one of their own. Otherwise, if everyone intervenes, the local order will be completely chaotic.

However, if you want to join the Management Committee, it is not enough to have money and industry. You must also interfere in foreign transactions. Simply put, everyone in the Management Committee is a two-faced person. On the one hand, they are a lackey of the Manchu master, and on the other hand, they have to be inseparable from the United States. This method allows everyone to be united, prosper and lose both.

In the conference room, Wang Zhiwen wiped the sweat from his forehead, looked at the empty teacup, and pretended to be calm. He looked at the attendees around him. He knew more than 40 people, but the atmosphere today was particularly strange. Although seven or eight of them tried their best to pretend to be fine, they felt nervous in the details. Wang Zhiwen swept around and knew that he was close to Zhou Zisheng on weekdays.

Obviously, this group of people must have received some news from Zhou Zisheng, which was similar to what Wang Zhiwen guessed himself. Wang Zhiwen felt that Jiaozhou New City was about to change the sky, or in other words, the entire land of China was about to change the sky.

As a businessman who does foreign business, Wang Zhiwen is not unfamiliar with the United States. In fact, during the club period, Wang Zhiwen learned about this new force that rose overseas, and also cooperated with the United States during the Denglai military control period. Like Zhou Zisheng, Wang Zhiwen has also made two bets over the years. While using his identity as a gentry and a privileged merchant, he set up a large-scale industry in Jiaozhou New City, and while also constantly contacting the United States, he has also communicated with him for transportation.

In order to avoid being liquidated, he and Zhou Zisheng have established Yichuang, Yixue, and built temples and boat bridges locally. The purpose is to create a good reputation for himself. One day, the Ming Dynasty's King's Army or the Eastern Rebel Army will come back, and it will go smoothly to serve the new dynasty. However, he never thought that a good opportunity was taken away by Zhou Zisheng. However, he did not dare to contact the United States official who was plotting to do business at Zhou Zisheng's house and could only wait. Wang Zhiwen knew that today was an opportunity and he had to seize it, otherwise the Wang family's destruction would come.

Wang Zhiwen waited nervously and looked at the door from time to time. Finally, someone pushed the door open, but only saw Zhou Zisheng. Without the 'white-faced scholar', Wang Zhiwen didn't dare to think too much, stood up and said, "Brother Zhou is late."

People around him also frequently spoke politely, and one of them asked, "Mr. Zhou, it's not the year-end conference. Why did you call so many people to come? Is there something big of a deal?"

After Zhou Zisheng sat down, he said, "Of course it's a big deal. Otherwise, he wouldn't have asked everyone to come."

Looking around for a week, seeing everyone listening, he said, "My colleagues, the United States sent someone to send a letter to send troops to Shandong soon and conquer Manchuria. The head of state of the United States has a decree to let our Jiaozhou business colleagues unite and assist the Chinese army to wipe out the Manchurian Tartars."

As soon as this was said, someone fell off the chair and sat on the ground. Everyone had never thought it was such a bombshell. After a while, someone asked: "Mr. Zhou, is your news true? If you were the scammers in the world?"

"Yes, if Jiaodong wants to move troops, why is there no news in Jiaozhou camp? There is no movement in Qingdao fortress."

"Yes, our pier is mixed with fish and dragons. Could it be that someone has deceived you?"

Zhou Zisheng stood up, slapped the table, and asked: "Dear colleagues, my news is absolutely accurate. As for why there is no movement, I will only ask one question: 100,000 elite troops from the Xin Dynasty entered the Xincheng City. How can we dare to protect our family business?"

Everyone calmed down in an instant. Yes, if the United States army landed, then it would be that they would do whatever they wanted to do. What would they do if they could kill the donkey?

Before everyone could speak, Zhou Zisheng wanted to wink the prepared child care. Wang Zhiwen stood up and said in an old-fashioned manner: "You can sit here, but you are not the hardcore slaves of the Manchurian Tartars. Think about it carefully. What are we trying to keep our family business and life in the changing dynasty? Now that the United States army is coming, Jiaozhou's original days are over the end, it is time to make a choice, either follow China or die in Manchuria!

I don’t know what you think. I, Wang Zhiwen, don’t want to be a slave to the Tartars anymore. Today, I will work with Brother Zhou to completely follow the new dynasty and swear to never change my ambition!"

Zhou Zisheng never thought that Wang Zhiwen would do this. He quickly winked at a few nurses. The people immediately stood up and waved their fists and said, "Yes, even if they die, they can't be bullied by others!"

"Rebel against the fucking Tartar court!"

Everyone looked at each other, wondering how the two Zhou Kings, who had always been dissatisfied, reached an agreement on such issues involving fate. They looked at each other, and someone asked boldly: "Old Zhou, Old Wang, please ask me how the new dynasty responded, how to ensure the safety and assets of ours?"

Wang Zhiwen could only look at Zhou Zisheng because he didn't know what the conditions were, and he had never seen Ma Kaifeng before. Zhou Zisheng clapped his hands and opened the door. He pointed to the door and said, "The conditions of the United States are to be loyal and brave, not traded. If you and me and brother Wang are in the same heart and virtue, you will sit down and discuss. If you are unwilling to take risks, leave here and let us get together and part."

Zhou Zisheng refused to show his cards. After a while, five people chose to sue for crimes and leave. The reasons were different. Most of them were relatives and nephews in the capital, Jinan, or industries in the heart of the Qing Dynasty, which was difficult to give up. However, when these people went out, they were controlled by others. The voice of struggle came. Zhou Zisheng comforted him: "Everyone, we are discussing a major matter of beheading, and we cannot be ruined by others. Don't worry, we are just temporarily detained. When our army arrives in the new city, we should be released to freedom."

"Then we can talk about the constitution of the new dynasty now." Someone asked.

Everyone was looking forward to it, and Zhou Zisheng walked out quickly, and led Ma Kaifeng in with a smile. There were more than a dozen men coming in, carrying a few boxes and putting them heavily on the floor. These people went out. Zhou Zisheng introduced Ma Kaifeng's identity to everyone, and everyone greeted them one after another.

Ma Kaifeng said: "You are seniors in the business world. You are here today because you have something to ask for. Please sit down."

Zhou Zisheng said: "Sit down, colleagues, Chief Ma can't stand these false gifts. In addition, let me tell you a good news. Chief Ma applied for a war bond of 1.5 million yuan for us, and we can allocate the quota to purchase today!"

"Is this new dynasty really willing to accept me? "Why did Wang Zhiwen, who had been kept in the dark, couldn't help crying. A group of people also came out of fear, cheering and glad that they did not choose the wrong one just now.

Ma Kaifeng smiled and said, "You are the one who wants to surrender. The United States knows it, but I think that if it is just a public debt, you can't keep you safe."

A group of merchants nodded slightly, and public debts were just the last way. To put it bluntly, if they were determined to be liquidated in the future, public debts could only be left to their nephews who had already gone abroad, and the rest of their property and even their lives would not be preserved.

"I wonder if Chief Ma has other good ideas?" Wang Zhiwen asked by wiped his tears.

Ma Kaifeng said: "I said just now that I am here to ask for help. I hope you can help sincerely and give your all, instead of being reserved in fear, and not being half-hearted. Mr. Zhou cleared five unstable factors just now, but that was not enough."

"Don't worry, since my Wang family has chosen this path, I will never regret it." Wang Zhiwen expressed his opinion.

Ma Kaifeng shook his head, everyone understood that showing loyalty is useless, and loyalty and disloyalty are considered action rather than words.
Chapter completed!