Under the moonlight, a small boat swayed out of the Rongqingyuan waterway and entered the belt waterway, in the cabin, Huang Dianyuan sat quietly without saying a word, he couldn't figure out why Yuanqi developed so fast, and he couldn't figure out what Yi Zhizhi thought in his heart? Is there an external danger in Daqing? Or is it just a pretext?

"Young master." Yao Qichang walked in slowly and said, "I've been targeted." ”

Huang Dianyuan got up and paced to the bow of the boat and glanced back, under the moonlight, a small boat was shadowed behind, smiled, he turned back to the cabin and sat down, "Don't pay attention, it should be a person who is easy to be content." ”

After giving an order to the outside world, Yao Qichang sat down at the bottom and said tentatively: "The young master really plans to send someone to Hainan to open a mine?" ”

"Including food and shelter, three oceans a month, such good things are hard to find with lanterns, why don't you send someone?" Huang Dianyuan glanced at him as he spoke, and said, "What are you worried about?" ”

"It's easy to know that it's a little hard to see." Yao Qichang said: "Three thousand people, if there is any accident, it will be a big injury." ”

"You're cautious, too." Huang Dianyuan said disapprerovingly: "The foundation of Yi Zhi's contentment is in Guangzhou, can he not know three. The power of the union in Guangzhou? I don't know that the triad will have the same root and the same origin? ”

Yao Qichang said: "I am not worried that he will be a lackey of the court, but that I am worried about being annexed by him." ”

"It depends on whether he has a good tooth or not."

After a little hesitation, Yao Qichang couldn't help but say, "But why didn't he look for three. Synthesis? ”

"Yuan Qi is clearly going to stand on his own." Huang Dianyuan said slowly: "Guangdong is three. The territory of the union, in exchange for you are the big shopkeeper of Yuanqi, you will let three. Merge into Yuanqili? "A little pause. He let out a long sigh. Said: "This kid is not simple. It's not just about making money, it's not a bad thing to have some incense with him first. ”

On March 19 (May 2), Humen confiscated the crows of the pumping boat. More than 10,000 boxes have been sliced, and martial law in the thirteen merchant halls has also been lifted, except for the sixteen big tobacco dealers who are accustomed to selling cigarettes and have a criminal record, they are still detained in the merchant halls, and the rest of the British merchants. All of them, including the law of righteousness, were restored to their freedom, and they were allowed to go about their activities as usual.

The British merchants who were freed left Guangzhou for Macao by boat, but Yilu did not leave and remained in the merchant house, fearing that Lin Zexu would deal with these big tobacco dealers.

Lin Zexu had no idea of dealing with these sixteen cigarette dealers at all, his task was to ban smoking, and he could not provoke border provocations, so naturally he would not provoke contradictions and detain the sixteen cigarette dealers. Just to complete the task of paying for cigarettes.

On 21 March, a fleet of 21 large merchant ships arrived at Whampoa. Four days later, the Focan-Guangzhou Railway officially broke ground, and officials of all sizes, such as Deng Tingzhen, the governor of Guangzhou, Yiliang, the governor of Guangdong, and Zhuerhang'a, the prefect of Guangzhou, came to celebrate.

On March 23rd, the thirteen merchant hall area was renovated, all the back doors of foreign merchant halls were blocked, and the streets and alleys of the nearby merchant halls were also blocked, leaving only one road to lead to the future. The base camp of the film trade has been completely wiped out.

Time is more than half a month, April 10, Humen cigarettes were successfully completed, more than 20,000 boxes of crows. The pieces were all paid off on the surface of the Humen water.

The next day, the 16 detained tobacco dealers were deported within a time limit, and Yilu notified all the English nationals of Canton to go through the formalities of leaving Canton, and made a list of the losses they had suffered, and each of them was stamped and handed over to him.

Two days later, Yi Lu and the remaining British evacuated the Canton Merchant House and went to Macao, and issued a circular that no British ships were allowed to sail into Whampoa.

On April 22, the gunsmoke in Humen officially began.

Tobacco has always been burned, are mixed with tung oil, with fire sales, Tianjin tobacco is to take this method, but this method has drawbacks, crow. After the piece is burned, there will be residual paste leaching into the soil, digging the ground to extract the soil, and still getting two or three crows. Slice.

Lin Zexu was ingenious and dug two smoke pools in Humen. The slices are first soaked in salt water, then put in quicklime, and after being dissolved, the smoke water flows into the sea at low tide and is completely destroyed.

The announcement of the sale of cigarettes in Humen was widely released a few days earlier, and on the first day of the sale of cigarettes, Guangzhou, Macao and the surrounding prefectures and counties came to watch the crowds, such a grand occasion, Yi Zhizhi naturally did not miss it, and the people spontaneously came to see the excitement, he was invited, and the officials of Guangzhou and the thirteen merchants were invited by Lin Zexu to watch.

The officials sat on the high platform of the makeshift shed, and the merchants were not treated so well, so they watched by the smoke pool, and they didn't know if Lin Zexu was sincere in disgusting them.

Crow. The piece was soaked in salt water and did not feel anything, but when a large number of quicklime blocks were thrown, the whole pool of water immediately boiled like a boiling pot, and the smoke on the pond suddenly steamed and smoked, and a disgusting stench immediately spread, and everyone did not hide their noses and eyebrows.

Yi Zhizu covered his nose with a handkerchief, and quickly retreated, secretly thinking that this smoke was absolutely poisonous, if he stayed on the side all day, he would have to be poisoned and faint to death, and immediately looked left and right, trying to find an excuse to leave. ”

Or Guan Tianpei is interesting enough, Yi Zhishu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, raised his eyes and glanced into the official shed, but he didn't see Guan Tianpei, not even Deng Tingzhen, he couldn't help but wonder secretly, Lin Zexu is here, where did these two go?

As Mai Tingzhang moved away from the smoke pool, Yi Zhizhi said: "How much can be destroyed in a day if this method sells cigarettes?" ”

Mai Tingzhang said casually: "If you are not proficient, you can destroy three or four hundred boxes a day." ”

There are only three or four hundred boxes a day, how long will it take to destroy more than 20,000 boxes? Yi Zhishu shook his head, Lin Zexu seemed to be really patient, and after a while, the two of them came to a government office, walked through the courtyard, and entered the room, and saw Deng Tingzhen and Guan Tianpei drinking tea and talking, and he hurriedly stepped forward to greet him.

"Contentment is not needless to be polite." Deng Tingzhen stretched out his hand as he spoke, motioning for him to sit, and as soon as he sat down contentedly, he continued: "Contentment, you know, the emperor has issued an order to make Lord Lin the governor of Liangjiang. ”

Lin Zexu became the governor of Liangjiang? Yi Zhizhi was content, and then he was overjoyed. Lin Zexu served as the governor of Liangjiang. Yuan Qi wants to march into Liangjiang. Wouldn't it be easy? However, he quickly reacted, why did Daoguang promote Lin Zexu to be the governor of Liangjiang at this juncture? Immediately said tentatively: "The imperial court has wavered about the ban on smoking? ”

"That's not true, Deng Tingzhen said slowly: "Tao Shu, the former governor of Liangjiang, because of his old age and illness, and suffering from wind paralysis, he was sick, and he specially recommended Lord Lin to succeed him as the governor of Liangjiang. Now Lord Lin is the governor of Liangjiang and concurrently serves as the Qincha. ”

The Governor of Liangjiang governs Jiangsu, Anhui and Jiangxi provinces, which not only has a large jurisdiction, but also is an important place for the imperial court's wealth. Among the eight governors, the governor of Liangjiang is only ranked after the governor of Zhili, and Lin Zexu was changed from the governor of Huguang to the governor of Liangjiang, which is a good thing, what does Deng Tingzhen mean when he tells him this?

A change of thought. Yi Zhishu reacted that Deng Tingzhen was worried that Lin Zexu would go to Liangjiang to take office after completing the Humen cigarette sale. In the end, the mess in Guangzhou had to be cleaned up by him, the governor of Guangzhou, and he was even more worried that the charge of provoking the border provocation would fall on his head, but this was not unfounded, he would accept it when he saw it, and he would retire after success, it was the practice of officialdom, Lin Zexu completed the feat of selling cigarettes in Humen, and the errand of coming to ban smoking was also completed, so there was no reason not to go to Liangjiang to take office.

However, Yi Zhizu remembered very well that Lin Zexu did not leave, but stayed as the governor of Liangguang, from his standpoint, although he hoped that Lin Zexu would take over as the governor of Liangjiang, but he did not want Lin Zexu to leave now. After all, Deng Tingzhen is not as tough as Lin Zexu, and his courage is slightly insufficient.

Seeing that he was silent for a long time, Deng Tingzhen said with a solemn expression: "Yingyi is right to surrender the crow. Tablets and destroyed crows. There doesn't seem to be a violent reaction. ”

Is this a question of whether England will start a war? After a little hesitation, Yi Zhizhi spoke: "Now that there is not a single English in Guangzhou, and there is not a single English merchant ship in Huangpu, don't you feel abnormal?" ”

"It's really anomalous." Guan Tianpei groaned: "However, Yilu is just a business overseer, he dares to provoke a war?" ”

Yi Zhizhi said: "Yilu is the commercial director of England stationed in Guangzhou, and has the right to control all English merchant ships and trade in Guangzhou, which is equivalent to the ministers sent to other countries by our Qing Dynasty, England is different from the Qing Dynasty, not afraid of war, English European hegemon, maritime hegemon, overseas colonies, are all obtained through wars."

Therefore, Yilu is not afraid to provoke wars, in order to fight for commercial interests and continue to crow. film trade, he and many powerful people in England did not hesitate to provoke wars. ”

Guan Tianpei said with a solemn expression: "In this way, isn't it possible that war may break out at any time?" ”

Yi Zhishu nodded and said: "Small-scale conflicts can occur at any time, and the war is afraid that it will not be until next year, after all, it is tens of thousands of miles away." ”

Hearing this, the two of them were silent for a while, and after a while, Guan Tianpei said: "When will the batch of muskets for Yiyong arrive?" ”

"As early as the end of this year, or as late as the beginning of next year." Yi Zhishu said slowly, although the musket was in the warehouse, he didn't dare to take it out at this time, he couldn't explain it, and even if it was distributed at the beginning of next year, at least there would be more than a year for Yiyong to train, he was not in a hurry, besides, he didn't have much hope for Yiyong.

Guan Tianpei then asked, "What about high-quality ammunition?" When will it be available in large quantities? ”

"A purchase order has been placed for the machines in question." Yi Zhizhi said: "It will not be available in large quantities until the beginning of next year at the earliest, so don't worry about the military gate, you can't make a mistake." ”

After a slight pause, he looked at Deng Tingzhen and said: "There is news about the mineral deposits in Shilu County, Changhua County, Qiongzhou, there is indeed a large iron mine, and I am preparing to go to Changhua in the near future, the Foguang Railway has started, and a large amount of high-quality iron will be needed next year. ”

Deng Tingzhen knew that Shilu Iron Mine still had to build a railway, not to mention the next year, it would be difficult to get out of the mine the year after tomorrow, and he heard that the war donation could be more relaxed, he sighed lightly: "The officials and businessmen in Guangzhou are like contentment, and the old man will have much more peace of mind." ”

Seeing him sigh for a long time, Yi Zhixin knew that he was entangled in his heart, smiled, and said: "Recently, British merchant ships have been coming to Guangzhou in a steady stream, but they have not entered Huangpu, and I heard that they are all anchored in the ocean around Tsim Sha Tsui. ”

Seeing that he only said half a sentence, Guan Tianpei frowned, puzzled, but Deng Tingzhen frowned, picked up the teacup and said with a smile: "Go early and come back early." ”

"I understand below." Yi Zhizhi smiled and got up, and then arched his hand and said, "Retire below." ”

After waiting for Yi Zhizhi to leave, Guan Tianpei said: "What does that kid mean by saying that half a sentence?" ”

Deng Tingzhen said with a smile: "How can British merchant ships come to Guangzhou without crows. Tablets? He brought crows. Films, how can there be a reason not to sell? The water master strictly checks, crows. The film is not endless, and with the temperament of Lord Lin, he will not leave. ”

Coming out of the government office, Yi Zhizhi naturally will not go back to the cigarette scene to suffer, and rushed straight to the wharf, planning to take a boat back to Xiguan, Humen may have never been so lively, the Zhenkou wharf is full of people, noisy and abnormal, in the river, the boats come and go non-stop, and the coast is full of all kinds of large and small ships.

Walking to the position of the boat, Yi Zhishu was a little dumbfounded, the boat was gone, and the little servant Li Wang scratched the back of his head and said: "Young master, I obviously remembered that it was parked here, why is it gone?" ”

They came early, and the berth where the ship docked was a good location not far from the wharf, needless to say, it must have been occupied by some gentry ships with status and status, Yi Zhixin was depressed for a while, and said, "Go down and find it." ”

The two immediately searched all the way along the river, and were looking all the way, but they heard a crisp voice, "Young Master." Jin Ying stood in front of the two of them with a smile and said, "The young master is looking for a boat?" ”

Yi Zhifen pulled down a face, "Why did you come here alone?" ”

"People follow." Jin Ying paused, pulled him aside, and whispered, "I came with my senior sister, and my master is here." ”

Is the real person coming? Yi Zhizhi frowned, for the matter of the miners of Shilu Iron Mine? Or is there something else? "What about people?"

"In Guangzhou."

"Urgent?"

"I don't know." Jin Ying glanced at him and said, "I'm afraid that you will stay in Humen for a few days, so we came to look for you on purpose, it should be urgent." ”

There must be something urgent, otherwise it wouldn't have been Baba looking for him with Jin Ying, but I don't know what it is, I guess it's asking for silver, and I have a headache for this cheap master, Yi Zhishu also has a headache, and immediately said: "I'm about to go back to Guangzhou, let's go, go back." ”

Jin Ying looked at him with big eyes and said, "People came from afar, and they didn't see the excitement, so they went back?" ”

Yi Zhizhi knew in his heart that she was not allowed to take a look, and it was estimated that her ears would not be clean for a few hours on the boat, so he immediately said helplessly: "Find the boat and go to see it, where is Bai Zhi?" ”

Jin Ying raised his chin behind him, turned around, and Yi Zhizhi saw Bai Zhi, who was dressed in men's clothes, standing not far away with a folding fan and looking at them coldly, he arched his hand as a salute, and then turned around and said, "Find the boat first." (To be continued.) )