"As for what to do—." Yi Zhizhi took a sip of tea, and then said unhurriedly: "Naturally, it is as the court wishes." ”

As the court wishes? Wu Changqing said puzzledly: "Knowing that the court is uneasy and kind, why do you want to obey the court's wishes?" ”

"If you don't let the court get your wish, Yuan Qi will have more trouble in the future." Yi Zhixiang said with a smile, and said with a slight sarcasm: "The imperial court has the calculations of the imperial court, and we also have our calculations, Shanghai, Yuanqi is determined to win, and with the identity of Shanghai Dao, it is more conducive to Yuanqi to show his strength in Shanghai." ”

After a pause, he continued: "Shanghai is not far from Guangzhou, the sea route is not far, less than a thousand nautical miles, to fly clippers to and fro, that is, a five-day voyage, even if you stay in Shanghai for a long time, you can also take into account Guangzhou, besides, Shanghai's development prospects are much greater than Guangzhou, and Yuanqi's focus will gradually shift to Shanghai." ”

"Yuanqi's center of gravity has shifted to Shanghai?" Wu Bingjian's fingers gently tapped rhythmically on the chair, "The imperial court attaches far more importance to Liangjiang than Guangdong, since it is afraid of Yuanqi, I am afraid that Yuanqi will not be allowed to develop in Shanghai." ”

"At this point, Pinghu Gong doesn't need to worry." Yi Zhishu said in a relaxed tone: "Didn't Pinghu Gong hear about the negotiation conditions proposed by the British army? ”

Wu Bingjian really didn't know about this, and couldn't help but look at Wu Changqing, Yi Zhizhi and Yilu and others had a private meeting in Macau, Wu Changqing was also present, and he was naturally clear about the conditions proposed by Yingyi, but he thought that this matter had nothing to do with their Wu family, and it was better to have more than one thing, so he didn't mention it to Wu Bingjian.

Article 8 of the Listening Memorandum is that outsiders may open banks, factories, schools, and newspapers at ports. Wu Bingjian frowned and said, "Will the imperial court agree to these conditions?" Will Shanghai become a treaty port? ”

"The younger generation has already said it." Yi Zhizhi said: "As soon as the war broke out, Yingyi will inevitably propose to open additional commercial ports, Guangzhou will become a trade will become history, and the Thirteen Lines will also be disbanded because of this, Shanghai's geographical location is unique, it must be one of the additional treaty ports, and the younger generation will control the Jianghai Customs, not just to open the door to the two rivers."

As for whether the imperial court will agree, compared to the first three, the imperial court will definitely choose the latter six, besides, as the defeated side, the imperial court does not have much room for bargaining. ”

Wu Changqing said: "Brother Contentment plans to let Yuan Qi develop in Shanghai in the name of foreign businessmen? ”

Yi Zhishu nodded, and said: "If you don't do this, it is impossible for the imperial court to make Yuan Qi stronger, in the past few years, if it weren't for Yuan Qi's vigorous donation, taking the initiative to increase the payment of taxes and silver, and contributing money and efforts to solve problems for the imperial court, Yuan Qi would have been seized long ago." However, if the banks, newspapers, factories, companies, schools, etc. are all hung up in the names of foreigners, the imperial court is afraid of starting a war lightly, so it can only sit idly by. ”

Wu Bingjian is very clear about the protection of private property in European countries, and immediately said: "Yes, in this way, contentment can let go of hands and feet, but can this war be fought?" If the fight starts, will the court lose very ugly? ”

"Cession of land, compensation for the price of cigarettes, compensation for military spending, these three articles will not be agreed to by the imperial court." Yi Zhishu said slowly: "If you can't satisfy your desires, the British army will definitely go to war, start a war, and the Qing Dynasty will be defeated!" There is no doubt about it. ”

Wu Bingjian looked at him for a long time and didn't say a word, he remembered very clearly, when Yuanqi Bank and Xiguan Newspaper were being built, Yi Zhishu proposed to let Citi businessmen become shareholders, it seems that the other party has long had plans in this regard, this kid, from the beginning, has played a big game of chess, this step by step, until this time, you can finally faintly see the general outline of this game of chess, so calculated!

After a while, he spoke: "Yuanqi group practice, how to plan contentment, there is no need to hide it." ”

"I can't hide it from Pinghu Gong." Yi Zhizhi said: "All the five thousand elites were brought to Shanghai. ”

Wu Bingjian said in a deep voice: "What about Guangzhou? ”

Yi Zhixiang smiled, looked at Wu Changqing, smiled without saying a word, Wu Changqing paused for a moment, and then suddenly understood, and said in disbelief: "When Brother Zhishu returned the six thousand prisoners of war of Yingyi, he had already taken this into account?" Seeing Wu Bingjian staring at him with a puzzled expression, he hurriedly explained: "When the six thousand prisoners of war were returned, Brother Zhishu agreed with the British army that if the British army attacked Guangzhou, they would not infringe on all the properties of Yuan Qi's name and all the merchants. ”

Wu Bingjian said worriedly: "Yingyi is capricious, can their guarantee be trusted?" ”

"This agreement alone is naturally not reassuring." Yi Zhizhi said: "But if there are interests, you can rest assured." ”

"What interest?"

"Business, of course." Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "England is the most industrial country in the world today, Yuanqi to vigorously develop industry, can not avoid cooperation with England, for example, railway construction, bridge construction, machinery manufacturing, metallurgy and smelting and so on can be cooperated with England, only the construction of railways, is enough to drive the recovery of the British steel industry, can they not protect Yuanqi's industry?" ”

Wu Changqing said: "Yuanqi Regiment trains five thousand elites to go to Shanghai, won't they start a frontal war with Yingli?" ”

"That's not what we should be thinking about." Yi Zhixiang said with a smile: "Whether to practice frontal combat with the Yuanqi regiment, this question should be a headache for the British army, I have an attitude, I dare to fight if I dare to come, we are the army, and it is impossible to take the initiative to fight his navy." ”

Wu Bingjian said with a rare smile: "The abacus of the imperial court is not content. ”

Coming out of the Wu family's garden, it was already late at night, and the clipper boat went out of the Wu family's private waterway, and Xiao Liuzi said tentatively: "Young master, are you going back to Xiguan?" ”

Yi Zhizhi lit a cigar, took a slow puff, and then said, "Go to Rongqing Garden." ”

The fast boat turned to the flower field and entered the waterway in the backyard of Rongqing Garden, and Xiao Liuzi hung a string of red lanterns composed of five lanterns on the bow of the boat, which could be seen from afar at night.

Rong Qingyuan, in the backyard, Su Mengdie, who had already fallen asleep, heard that Yi Zhi's boat was coming, and couldn't help but be surprised, and then asked, "That's right?" ”

The maid Daiqing hurriedly said: "There will be no mistake, the slave and maid don't believe it, and take a look in person." ”

Where did Su Mengdie dare to hesitate, sat up and said, "What are you still doing?" Hurry up and help me with my makeup, and tell the kitchen to get some supper. ”

When the boat docked at the dock, I saw a few lanterns coming, and when the lanterns arrived, Yi Zhizhi slowly went ashore, Su Mengdie hurriedly squatted down and saluted, and said with a smile: "The slave family didn't expect that San Lang would come over at this hour." ”

Yi Zhizhi smiled and said: "I didn't expect that as soon as I came back from Jingshi, I would come to Die'er first." ”

Su Mengdie guessed that he might have come from the Wu family's garden, but he didn't break it, and laughed softly: "San Lang likes to surprise the slave family." ”

Yi Zhizhi came to this Rong Qingyuan not only to miss Su Mengdie, but to know if there was any movement during this time, the British army increased its troops in a big way, and the heaven and earth will continue to wait and see? Or are you ready to muddy the waters? Lean or simply act as a pawn? He is now a Shanghai Taoist, and as soon as the matter of the national debt is over, he will go to Shanghai to take up his post, so he naturally has to find out the movements of the Heaven and Earth Society, at least he must have a bottom in his heart.

Guangzhou, Yuehua Academy, Qincha Xingyuan.

It was late at night, the study was still brightly lit, Qi Shan was writing at the desk, drafting an excerpt for Daoguang, and the arrival of Qin Chamian revealed to him Daoguang's most basic requirements for negotiating with Yingyi - the place does not give the size, and the price of cigarettes is not allowed at all. But the last six articles proposed by Yingyi were not mentioned, which made him see a little hope in despair, what he was most afraid of was Daoguang's total denial, then there was nothing to talk about in negotiations, since the last six articles were not mentioned, naturally he was not very opposed, and he had a lot of room for maneuver in negotiations with Yingyi.

Of course, what pleased him the most was that Yuan Qi successfully contracted 10 million national bonds, and Yi Zhizhi also got the Jiang Customs as he wished, and came to Guangzhou for two errands, and finally solved one satisfactorily.

What made him a little dissatisfied in his heart was that Yi Zhizhi returned to Guangzhou, and he didn't come to see him for the first time, the minister of the Qin Mission, who facilitated his trip to Beijing, and he didn't see anyone at the reception banquet, and he didn't come to see him at night, so there were really no rules at all.

Yi Zhicontent is not ignorant of the rules, the next morning, into the city, he went straight to the Yuehua Academy of Qincha Xingyuan, as soon as the post was handed in, the porter led in, into the courtyard, saw Qi Shan standing at the door, he hurriedly stepped forward to greet each other, Qi Shan said with a smile on his face: "Contentment does not need to be polite." ”

The two of them entered the room and sat down, and Qi Shan said with a smile: "This time I entered Beijing, and I benefited a lot from contentment." ”

Yi Zhizhi arched his hand and said: "This time I entered Beijing, and the adults of the whole department tried their best to promote it, and the officials were grateful. ”

Qi Shan smiled and waved his hand, and said, "It's all the credit of being content with yourself." Saying that, he went straight to the topic, "Contentment into Beijing, three summons in three days, double the honor and favor, the glory of the saints, it is really rare, the emperor's three summons are not all to inquire about national debts, right?" ”

"The emperor is extremely concerned about the situation in Guangzhou." Yi Zhishu knew of course what he cared about, and when he was about to meet Daoguang, Danfan recounted in detail the situation related to the English negotiations.

After listening carefully, Qi Shan finally understood why Daoguang did not mention the last six conditions proposed by Yingyi, it turned out that according to international practice, this was not a harsh condition at all, after a little thought, he looked back and felt that something was wrong, since the latter six are not harsh conditions, it is not the focus of negotiations, the focus is still the first three, compensation for cigarette prices, compensation for military spending, and land cutting.

After a slight sigh, he said: "For the negotiation with Yingyi, the emperor made it clear that the place does not give the size, the price of cigarettes is not allowed, and as for the compensation for military expenses, it is even more impossible. ”

Listening to Daoguang's attitude, Yi Zhizhi was secretly happy in his heart, he couldn't fight if he didn't want to, he just had full authority to participate in the negotiations, and he didn't have to worry about being infamous as a 'traitor and traitor', as for how to negotiate with the British side? Anyway, no matter how you talk about it, it's just a result in the end, fight! Let's talk about it after fighting! But with Qi Shan, he can't say that, the other party is full of thoughts about resolving this war through negotiations.

After a little hesitation, he spoke: "The last six articles are generally agreed, which is enough to show the sincerity of the Qing Dynasty, if the British side insists on the first three articles, it is enough to show that the British side has no sincerity in negotiation. ”

Qi Shan nodded and said, "Okay, be content and prepare, let's go to Humen in three days." ”

Coming out of the courtyard, Yi Zhishu was about to leave quickly to go to the Governor's Palace, his main task today is to recruit Bao Shichen, he received detailed information about Bao Shichen early in the morning, he first saw it yesterday, heard the name, he just felt a little familiar, a look at the information, only to know that it can make him familiar, it is really not simple.

This Bao Shichen actually served as a staff member of Tao Shu, the governor of Liangjiang, and was a well-known 'all-round staff' in the southeast, and he was quite familiar with the actual situation in agricultural administration, water transportation, salt affairs, river engineering, silver famine, currency, water conservancy, taxation, official administration, law, military affairs, etc., and he naturally could not miss such talents.

Although the other party has been a staff member of Tao Shu, the governor of Liangjiang, and has also served as a magistrate of the county, and he is famous in the southeast, it is not easy to recruit, but the other party is interested in Yuanqi, so it is not a difficult matter.

Passing through a long corridor, Yi Zhizhi couldn't help but slow down, there was a young lady and two maids standing in front of him, he didn't slow down, although the woman was dressed in Han costume, but who else could be in Qincha except Qi Shan's daughter - Jin Ling? The other party was clearly blocking him.

Walking slowly to the front, Yi Zhizu glanced at the other party slightly, Jin Lingxian, who was dressed in women's clothes, was bright and moving, and her temperament was not comparable to that of ordinary women from large families, after a glance, he withdrew his gaze, smiled and arched his hand: "Jin Gongzi." ”

Seeing that the other party still called her Jin Gongzi, Jin Ling smiled and said, "The shopkeeper of Yida is in Beijing, and Su Shun is thoughtful to accompany him?" ”

"Very thoughtful." Yi Zhizhi said and arched his hand: "Thank you." ”

"Thank you." Jin Ling smiled: "The clipper boat is also back, borrow me to play for a few days." ”

"No problem." Yi Zhizhi said happily: "However, I have just returned from a long voyage, and I need to check and maintain it, and the crew and sailors also need to rest and adjust, how about a few days later?" ”

Seeing him so refreshing, Jin Ling said happily: "A word is a certainty." ”

"How dare you break faith in Jin Gongzi?" Yi Zhizhi said and glanced left and right, he felt a little empty in his heart, after all, he was on a mission, and it was not good to see Qi Shan's daughter in such a private meeting.

Jin Ling smiled disappreciatively and said, "Don't worry, I have already sent people around to watch." After a pause, she continued: "I heard Mian Xing say that if you want to invite him to swim the Pearl River at night, don't forget to call me." ”

The old man travels on the Pearl River at night, how can you have fun? Yi Zhixiang didn't want to ruin her interest, for fear that she would mess around, so he immediately smiled: "Definitely." (To be continued.) )