Can't transfer information from esp8266 to arduino

Question

I have esp8266. Which I am trying to set up to be a self-contained access point and server (tcp). ESP8266 is connected to ports 2,3 of Arduino Uno. On Arduino, I want to process all information coming into esp8266. Here is my current connection diagram:

And a simple code like this:

ESP8266

/* Create a WiFi access point and provide a web server on it. */
#include<SoftwareSerial.h>
#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <WiFiClient.h>
/* Set these to your desired credentials. /
const char ssid = "JP_TestAP";
int status = WL_IDLE_STATUS;
boolean alreadyConnected = false; // whether or not the client was connected previously
WiFiServer server(23);
WiFiClient client;
void setup()
{
   delay(1000);
   Serial.begin(9600);
   Serial.println();
   Serial.print("Configuring access point...");
   /* You can remove the password parameter if you want the AP to be open. */
   WiFi.softAP(ssid);
   delay(200);
   IPAddress myIP = WiFi.softAPIP();
   Serial.print("AP IP address: ");
   Serial.println(myIP);
Serial.println("\nStarting server...");
  // start the server:
  server.begin();
}
void loop()
{
  // wait for a new client:
  if (!client) {
      client = server.available();
  } 
  else
  {
     if (client.status() == CLOSED) {
      client.stop();
      Serial.println("connection closed !");
    }

    if (!alreadyConnected) // when the client sends the first byte, say hello:
    {
      // clead out the input buffer:
      client.flush();
      Serial.println("We have a new client");
      client.println("Hello, client!");
      alreadyConnected = true;
    }
if (client.available() &gt; 0) {
  // read the bytes incoming from the client:
  char thisChar = client.read();
  // echo the bytes back to the client:
  server.write(thisChar);
  // echo the bytes to the server as well:
  Serial.print(thisChar);
}

}
}

Arduino Uno

#include<SoftwareSerial.h>
SoftwareSerial esp8266(2,3);
String message = "";
bool messageReady = false;
void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
 Serial.begin(115200);
esp8266.begin(9600);
}
void loop() {
  while(esp8266.available() > 0) {
    message = esp8266.readString();
    messageReady = true;
  }
  if(messageReady) {
    Serial.println(message);
    messageReady = false;
    return;
  }
}

Unfortunately, I am not receiving any information from the ESP8266 (just a clear log on monitor port). I don't understand where the mistake.