Anti-Qing: Starting from the Jintian Uprising

Chapter 38 Li Yi: Learn from the foreigners to defeat them!
Well, Feng Yunshan is now Li Yi’s only connection among the top leaders of the God Worshipping Society.

Apart from relying on him, Li Yi has no other choice but to rely on others.

Thinking about this, Li Yi felt that he needed to go to Jintian in person to persuade Feng Yunshan to support him.

……

On this day, Li Yi's regiment was training.

What he didn't expect was that after receiving Li Yi's good news, Feng Yunshan actually put aside a large number of things in Jintian and came to Lijiazhuang to see him in person.

Li Yi was directing military training when he received the news that Feng Yunshan had arrived.

After receiving the news, Li Yi did not act rashly and rushed to meet Feng Yunshan immediately.

"Sir, why didn't you inform me in advance that you were coming?"

"I can also arrange a reception for you!"

Li Yi trotted up to Feng Yunshan and spoke with a flattering look on his face.

He did not ask why Feng Yunshan came suddenly, because if he asked that, it would easily make people misunderstand that he did not want Feng Yunshan to come.

Therefore, Li Yi just said that Feng Yunshan did not notify him in advance and he could not arrange a welcoming party.

Feng Yunshan heard this and just waved his hand.

"There's no need to do these empty things. Li Yi, you made a decisive move to raid Xunzhou City this time, which is enough to make me proud."

"You did a great job this time!"

Compared with the generals within the God Worshipping Society who are like abacus beads, motionless and only do what they are told.

Li Yi, the iron-headed man who dared to raid the provincial capital with hundreds of new recruits, was particularly outstanding.

In Feng Yunshan's opinion, if Li Yi had not led his troops to raid Xunzhou, causing the Qing army to be at a loss and hastily withdraw its troops to rescue, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom might not have won the battle on the banks of the Caicun River.

Even if you win in the end, it may not be so easy.

Hearing this, Li Yi smiled and habitually gave the credit to his leader.

"Thanks to Mr. Feng for sending his subordinates back to the hometown to organize the regiment camp, otherwise, there would not be such a great victory."

When Feng Yunshan heard this, the smile on his face became more obvious.

"You are good at everything, but you are too modest."

"But it's better to be modest. Arrogance brings harm, while humility brings benefit!"

"I came to Lijiazhuang this time to give you the reward from the church."

Li Yi clasped his fists upon hearing this.

"I feel ashamed to trouble you to come all the way here for just a small contribution!"

Feng Yunshan said with a smile.

"Don't be ashamed. You have indeed made great contributions in this surprise attack on Xunzhou. You should be rewarded for your merits."

"After discussing with the leader, I decided to promote you to the commander of the rear four armies for your two great achievements in capturing the Qing demon Xunzhou assistant general Li Dianyuan alive and raiding Xunzhou to save Jintian from danger."

Upon hearing this, Li Yi couldn't hide the joy on his face.

He was promoted directly from brigade commander to army commander, jumping two levels, so this military adventure of raiding Xunzhou was not in vain.

"Mr. Xie, please ask for credit for me in the church!"

Li Yi said very simply.

Because he knew that the main reason for his promotion this time was his successful raid on Xunzhou.

But merit is merit, and promotion is promotion.

There was never a necessary connection between the two.

There are many people who can be promoted without any merit, and there are many people who cannot be promoted despite their merit.

Whether your contribution can be realized ultimately depends on whether there is someone above you who is willing to speak for you.

Besides, Li Yi’s surprise attack on Xunzhou was not just a simple military adventure, but also a political adventure.

Because at the same time he decided to lead his army to raid Xunzhou, the order given to him by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was to return to Jintian for support.

To put it bluntly, Li Yi's surprise attack on Xunzhou was actually disobeying orders.

If he didn't have Feng Yunshan as his backer, let alone promotion, he would be in trouble just for disobeying orders this time. Feng Yunshan definitely made great efforts to ensure that Li Yi's contribution could be realized this time.

Feng Yunshan still said with a smile.

"I did put in some effort, but it's mainly because of you."

"Do your best. As long as you can make achievements, you will have a bright future. The church will not treat you unfairly."

The two of them walked together to the flower hall of Li's mansion. Along the way, Feng Yunshan kept introducing the recent changes in the sect to Li Yi.

For example, the church was planning to divide the regiment into five armies: front, back, left, right and center, with each army commanded by a commander.

Feng Yunshan will be appointed as the commander of the rear army.

For example, God came down to earth and announced to everyone the specific time of the uprising.

From Feng Yunshan's words, Li Yi could clearly feel that the Jintian Uprising was imminent.

As they were talking, the two of them entered the flower hall. Li Yi asked Feng Yunshan to sit in the main seat, and then began to speak.

"Sir, I have something I don't know whether I should say it or not..."

When saying this, Li Yi's expression was slightly uneasy.

Feng Yunshan was stunned at first when he heard this, but he quickly reacted, picked up the teacup, took a sip, and nodded.

"What do you think!"

He was very curious about what Li Yi wanted to do.

Li Yi heard this and took a deep breath.

"In reply to your question, sir, when I raided the house of the Qing demon Li Dianyuan, I found a batch of foreign guns in his silver cellar."

"So, I'm thinking about whether I can use foreign military tactics to train a new army."

"But if we train a new army, we will inevitably have to make changes to our military system."

"I am afraid that this will offend the church, so I thought of asking you if this is feasible."

Upon hearing this, Feng Yunshan did not object as strongly as Li Yi had imagined, but just stroked his beard and said.

"Using foreign military tactics to train the new army? This is an interesting idea."

"Why do you think of this?"

You should know that the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was derived from Christianity, although Hong Feng carried out localized adaptations when he founded the religion.

But there is still a shadow of Christianity in the Church of God.

Influenced by this, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom naturally had no aversion to foreign things.

This is also the reason why Feng Yunshan felt interested instead of opposed after hearing Li Yi’s ideas.

Li Yi heard this and said with a somewhat lonely expression.

"In reply to your question, sir, my family is a hereditary Green Camp general. My father was once ordered to lead troops to reinforce the Guangdong war and participated in the Yapian War with the British."

"But unfortunately, my father died in the battle against the British."

"From then on, with the idea that I wanted to know myself and my enemy before I could take revenge, I began to study the foreigners' military tactics."

"Learn from the foreigners so as to defeat them!"

"After a long time, I gained some experience."

"Now that I have an army under my command, I want to really give it a try."

Upon hearing this, Feng Yunshan nodded with an understanding look on his face.

Li Yi has an idea!
"Are you sure you can train elite soldiers using foreign military tactics?"

Feng Yunshan asked.

Upon hearing this, Li Yi nodded firmly.

“I’m sure it’s possible.”

"When the Opium War broke out ten years ago, the Qing Dynasty suffered repeated defeats and heavy losses in front of the foreigners, which is the most powerful evidence."

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(End of this chapter)