Seeing Mu Zhang'a, he was a little distracted, and Lin Zexu could roughly guess what he was thinking, so he immediately coughed lightly, and said unhurriedly: "Yi Zhizu recommended Ma Yiqing as the governor of Luzon, but it is obvious that there is no one to recommend, and the imperial court may wish to select a group of talents with both ability and political integrity from the Hanlin Academy to recommend Yi Zhizhi, or simply appoint political envoys, envoys, Taoists, and county magistrates..... As long as the proportions are properly controlled, it is easy to be content and will not resist. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ”

Mu Zhang'a knew that Lin Zexu had a great relationship with Yi Zhi, and he couldn't help but be happy when he heard this, if Yi Zhixiang was so proficient, this matter would be much easier to do, and the court would be able to save some face, when he said with a smile on his face: "This is indeed a rare opportunity to ease the relationship between the two sides, if everyone can be happy, it will naturally be more conducive to the easing in the future."

However, Yi Zhi's contentment is not easy to deal with, so blatantly mixing sand, I am afraid that it will backfire, can Brother Shao Mu believe to test his attitude, so as not to be self-defeating........ ”

Lin Zexu himself is also against the civil and military officials of the two provinces in Nanyang, all of whom are Yuanqi people, he is worried that even if Yi Zhixin does not cause trouble, the heart of overseas self-reliance, in this way, over time, will inevitably breed ambition, which he is extremely unwilling to see, and immediately did not shirk, and said: "Try it, it is more secure, I will believe." ”

Guangzhou, Huangpu Port.

Huangpu Port has always been the most important commercial port of Guangzhou's foreign trade, because Western merchant ships are not allowed to enter the city, all Western merchant ships are docked at Huangpu Port for loading and unloading and trade, over the years, although Guangzhou has lost its status as a trade, but with the rise of Yuanqi, a large number of factories have sprung up in Henan, Huadi, Luoxi, Changzhou and other places, coupled with the completion of the Sanshui to Guangzhou railway, Guangzhou's foreign trade has not declined, but has become increasingly prosperous.

Only into May, a large number of Western merchant ships have arrived in Huangpu, at a glance, the river is densely packed with huge sea ships, all kinds of small boats on the river surface shuttle busy.

A small steamer slowly came down from the upstream, drew an arc and turned to Changzhou Island, on the deck, Yi Zhicontentment and Huang Dianyuan stood in the wind, looking at the scenery of the Huangpu River, Huang Dianyuan sighed sincerely: "Guangzhou has become more and more lively in recent years. ”

Yi Zhifen said with a pun: "It won't be many years before Manila will be so lively." ”

For this, Huang Dianyuan obviously did not believe it, but he did not refute it, since last year, Yuan Qi began to organize large-scale immigration to Nanyang, this year has been almost uninterrupted, if it can continue for such a long time, Nanyang will indeed develop in a short period of time, but if you want to catch up with Guangzhou, it is impossible at all.

Seeing that he was silent, obviously did not believe, Yi Zhixiang smiled, and did not explain, he said so, is based on the rubber trade, since last year, Yuanqi began to open up a large number of rubber plantations in Luzon, eight to ten years can begin to tap rubber, at that time, the rubber industry will also be highlighted, the demand will increase greatly, Nanyang will be the world's largest rubber production area, as the provincial capital is also the most important port in Luzon Manila can not be lively, not to mention, he also plans to build a series of factories in Manila, After all, he used the South Seas as a big rear.

There are also all kinds of large and small sea boats moored on the river near Changzhou Island, these sea ships are specially loaded with immigrants to Nanyang, with the newspapers and Yuan Qi's vigorous publicity in the provincial branches, coupled with the disasters in recent years, the turmoil in Guangxi, to Guangzhou, to Nanyang immigrants can be said to be endless.

In order to avoid affecting Huangpu's foreign trade, Yi Zhizhi simply moved the immigration camp to Changzhou Island to establish a long-term immigration base, and he knew very well that with the expansion of the Taiping army's combat radius, more and more people would be willing to emigrate to Nanyang to escape the war.

The small steamer slowly docked at the Changzhou wharf, the two came to the shore, walked slowly all the way, and the immigrants who lined up in a long line to get on the ship looked at the two of them, saying that they were immigrants, but in fact they were no different from the victims, helping the old and the young, ragged, yellow and thin faces, luggage or baggage or quilts, which looked sad.

Huang Dianyuan glanced back and forth a few times, and said, "There are no daily necessities, they have arrived in Nanyang ......." ”

"When you get to Nanyang, buy it!" Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "Once all immigrants arrive at their destination, they will receive interest-free loans, regardless of men, women, old and children, one person has a piece of ocean, and the other family has a resettlement fee of ten oceans, which is enough for them to repair their houses and buy all their daily necessities. ”

Huang Dianyuan smiled when he heard this, "The greater the investment, the greater the gain, Yuan Qi's move has won the hearts of the people." ”

"It's not just about winning hearts and minds." Yi Zhishu said slowly: "Nanyang is a treasure land, we must let all immigrants take root in Nanyang as soon as possible, settle in Nanyang with peace of mind, in addition to these subsidies, the newly built prefectures, counties, and towns also build a large number of schools, hire scholars, and provide free education ......." ”

Huang Dianyuan listened to it secretly, just these two items, how much silver did Yuan Qi have to spend? The freight of this immigration is also calculated separately, it is really rich and easy to do, such a luxurious immigrant, it is also Yuan Qi has this ability, no wonder these people are willing to leave their homeland and go to Nanyang, such a good immigration treatment, who is not moved by it?

The immigration base on Changzhou Island is all arranged in an orderly manner, clean and tidy, and it is better than the military camp of the Eight Banners Green Battalion, Huang Dianyuan sighed when he saw it, and saw the construction in the distance, and couldn't help asking: "What was built?" ”

"It is provided with houses for immigrants to live in temporarily, as well as medical centers and canteens." Yi Zhizhi said: "Immigration to Nanyang is not a short-term behavior, it will be implemented for a long time, and we will try our best to improve every immigration link, so as to continuously attract people to immigrate to Nanyang." ”

Huang Dianyuan said in surprise: "If it goes on for such a long time, will Yuan Qi support it?" ”

"Brother Rong also underestimated Yuan Qi." Yi Zhixiang said with a smile, Yuanqi has been rich in recent years, which factory is not prosperous? Iron and steel factories, machine factories, shipyards, bicycle factories, cigarette factories, military factories, ammunition bureaus, etc. are all unique businesses, people's livelihood class laissez-faire private hot water bottles, soap, soap, glass, matches and other factories to produce products are also in short supply, monopoly of raw silk and tea pillars with the prosperity of foreign trade is to bring huge benefits to Yuanqi, in addition to Hongji's coal, Changhua, Dangtu's iron ore income is also not small, a mere two or three million taels a year of immigration investment, Yuanqi did not take it seriously at all.

Hearing this, Huang Dianyuan also smiled, "It seems that Yuan Qi has really made a lot of money in recent years." As he spoke, he turned his head, "The big shopkeeper brought him to Changzhou today, not just to relax." ”

"Immigration." Yi Zhifu said unabashedly: "Yuanqi has enough financial resources to support immigration to Nanyang, but the current number of immigrants cannot fully meet the needs of Nanyang, and the transport fleet has not reached saturation.

The Heaven and Earth Society is quite active in Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang, and mingles with the local poor people, and I hope that the Heaven and Earth Society can help publicize the ...... of immigration to Nanyang. ”

Hearing this, Huang Dianyuan said with some embarrassment: "Isn't the big shopkeeper letting them dismantle the stage by themselves, the poor people have emigrated to Nanyang, what other forces do they have in the local area?" ”

Yi Zhixiang didn't talk to him at length, and said straightforwardly: "According to the head of the person, regardless of men, women and children, one person has a big ocean, but it can't be intimidated and coerced, it must be voluntary." ”

"Then you can give it a try." Huang Dianyuan said: "Today's heaven and earth will ......." He shook his head slightly, did not continue, over the years he has traveled all over Nanyang, Guangzhou, Fujian, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and has had many contacts with the local heaven and earth, especially in Guangxi, under the banner of following the sky, but doing the business of robbing money and self-fattening, he has been a big disappointment in the heaven and earth.

Leaving Changzhou, Yi Zhizhi went to Yuan Qiyi School by the way, and returned to Lei Garden in the afternoon, and entered the Changle Book House, just after washing, Bao Shichen walked in slowly, handed over two envelopes and said: "Letter from Lin Xiang and Su Shun." ”

Yi Zhishu opened Lin Zexu's letter and looked at it slightly, then handed it to Bao Shichen and said, "The imperial court wants to mix sand in the South Seas..... As he spoke, he read Su Shun's letter.

Bao Shichen quickly read the letter, and said: "The imperial court not only wants to mix sand, but also wants to understand the situation in Nanyang in a timely manner, grasp the movements of the big shopkeeper in Nanyang, and in addition, it is also for the ..... of the face of the imperial court." Saying that, he said tentatively: "What does the big shopkeeper think?" ”

Yi Zhishu put down the letter he received, and said disapprovingly: "If you want to mix sand, let him mix it, it doesn't matter, but let's win the hearts of the southeast scholars, it is not possible to have less official hats in this hand, and the imperial court is allowed to recommend officials, but not more than thirty percent, which refers to civilian officials, as for the garrison officers and soldiers, ......" He said with a smile, "The imperial court must not send the Eight Banners Green Battalion to the two provinces of Nanyang, if you dare to send it, we will dare to accept it." ”

Hearing this, Bao Shichen was also dumbfounded, the last time the 10,000 Eight Banners Navy was stationed in Luzon, it was actually equivalent to disguised seizure, the last time, learn to be obedient, I want to come to the imperial court will never send garrison officers and soldiers, however, Yi Zhifen will give in, or a little unexpected to him, and immediately asked: "Why doesn't the big shopkeeper care about the imperial court mixing sand in the South Seas?" ”

"Don't say it's thirty percent, even if half of the officials are appointed by the imperial court, it doesn't matter, when we get to Nanyang, they are all obedient and obedient, why should we care?" Yi Zhizu said slowly: "As for understanding the situation in Nanyang, we can't prevent this, after all, it is impossible to screen large-scale immigrants one by one, and it is difficult to guarantee that there will be no detailed work of the imperial court inside."

There is a saying in the West that it is very good, politics is the art of compromise, let's take a step back, so as not to force the court to have no way out, which is conducive to easing the relationship with the imperial court, and is also conducive to maintaining the current situation, Nanyang needs time to develop, Yuanqi also needs time to further grow, we need more time to envelop the gentry and change the concept. ”

"A change in mindset?" Bao Shichen glanced at him with some puzzlement, and said, "The big shopkeeper has an ingenious idea?" ”

After lighting a cigarette, Yi Zhizhi said slowly: "Since the founding of Yuanqi Group Training, there have been people who have lobbied Yuanqi to rebel, but I have never taken this step, one is that I don't want to, and the other is that I don't dare."

I don't want to, because I'm afraid, I'm worried that I won't be able to govern a big country, after all, governing the country is not the same thing as doing business and managing Yuanqi, and I am not a qualified politician or a king, and besides, I don't want a large-scale civil war to break out, and the country will be sparsely beaten and cheapened by Western countries.

At this stage, if we don't seize the time to develop industry and shorten the gap with Western countries as soon as possible, we may be left far behind by Western countries in the future, and several generations will not be able to catch up.

Don't dare, because I can clearly realize that the orthodoxy of the Qing Dynasty has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, if I dare to pull the flag and set off the cannon, raise the anti-flag, and do not wait for the imperial court to send troops to suppress, Yuanqi will disintegrate by himself, after all, the shareholders of Yuanqi are all gentry and businessmen in the southeast provinces, and the staff and workers under their names have only tasted the sweetness, and they are full of hope for life. ”

After a pause, he continued: "However, now that we have come to this point, as Mr. said, we can't help ourselves, for the sake of Yuanqi and ourselves, we all have to make long-term plans."

First of all, let's change the concept of the gentry and merchants, in case Yuan Qi wants to rebel in the end, we can also maximize the support of the local gentry and merchants, rather than opposing it. ”

Bao Shichen hesitated and said: "Could it be that it is the same as the rebellion against the Qing Dynasty and the restoration of the Ming Dynasty, accusing the Manchus of being Tartars?" Misplaced? ”

Yi Zhizu shook his head slightly, and said: "I just said that the orthodoxy of the Qing Dynasty is already deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, accusing the Manchus of being Tartars, having an improper position, and it is difficult to gain support, those are all indiscriminate excuses, the gentry and merchants and all the people do not care about who is the emperor, they only care about their vital interests."

The so-called change of concept is to start from this point and propagate the concepts of democracy, freedom, equality, justice, and the legal system advocated by Western countries, as well as the Western democratic politics and the separation of powers.

These concepts can greatly cater to the gentry, businessmen, and the common people's thirst for rights and the protection of their own interests, once these concepts are deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, we will be able to get the greatest and most extensive support, and we will inevitably be able to get twice the result with half the effort. ”

Although Bao Shichen has been following Yi Zhixiang for several years, he is also ignorant of the concepts of democracy, freedom, equality, justice, and the legal system, but since he can cater to the gentry and businessmen's desire for rights and the protection of their own interests, it must be welcome.