After Wang Ding's interruption, Yi Zhixiang also realized that the other party was old and refined, and there was no need to say those false, so he immediately said honestly: "Doing business in the next place, I have always liked win-win, this time I would rather lose money and make money, and also vigorously support the imperial court to issue treasury bonds, of course, there is a sense of expressing difficulties for the country and sharing worries for the monarch, and there is also Yuan Qi's own small abacus." ”

This is true, Wang Ding nodded slightly: "It has something to do with Jiang Customs?" "He has been in charge of the household department for many years, and naturally knows that the tariff of Jiang Customs is only a few silver a year, which is just enough to pay a fraction of the interest to Yuan Qi.

"Zhongtang Mingjian." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "In the past two years, Yuanqi has vigorously promoted the machine silk reeling factory in Guangdong, and the effect is good, Liangjiang is one of the three major raw silk centers in the Qing Dynasty, and Yuanqi plans to implement the machine silk reeling factory in Jiangnan. There is no experience in governing the local area, however, the customs supervision, self-ask can barely be competent, with this identity, it is enough to ensure that Yuanqi opens up the raw silk market in Liangjiang.

In addition, one of the conditions for the negotiation proposed by England this time is to publicly announce a clear customs tariff rule, and the situation of Guangdong Customs, Zhongtang must also know that it really wants to implement customs innovation in Jiangxi Customs and accumulate experience so that it can be implemented in other customs. ”

Also involved in negotiations with Yingyi? Wang Ding said in a deep voice: "What conditions did Yingyi put forward? ”

Yi Zhishu had already prepared, took out the translated negotiation conditions of the British side and handed them over, Wang Ding put on reading glasses and read them carefully one by one, and only sighed lightly after a while, and said: "In the two hundred years of the Qing Dynasty, how could you have suffered such a great shame?" As he spoke, he raised his head and looked at Yi Zhicontent, and said, "Shao Mu sent a letter, saying that you advocate fighting first and then soothing, Yingyi is so vigorous, how can you soothe it?" ”

Hearing his unkind tone, Yi Zhizhi couldn't help but be a little careful, the other party is the leader of the main battle faction, and he has a strong temperament, he would rather bend than bend, if he doesn't say a word, maybe the good impression he accumulated before will be gone, and he needs the strong support of the other party when he comes to Beijing this time.

After a slight groan, he said cautiously: "The reason why I want to fight first is to strike at the momentum of the British side, so that the other party does not dare to put forward too excessive conditions, and the imperial court will not be too passive and weak when negotiating with the British side." The reason why it was appeased was because the Qing Dynasty had no navy and no fleet, and it was impossible to fundamentally curb the incursion of the British fleet on the coastal areas of the Qing Dynasty.

Jiangnan is a wealth-rich land, if it is invaded by the British fleet for a long time, I am worried that there will be a repeat of the mistakes of the former dynasty and the southeast coast, and the British army's military force is far from being comparable to the previous dynasty's Japanese invaders. ”

"The Yingyi fleet is really invincible?" Wang Ding stared at him and said: "The great victory of sharpening the knife and the great victory of Dinghai, is it possible that they are all small victories and invitations?" ”

"I don't know how they reported to the court." Yi Zhishu said calmly: "In the first battle of Modaoyang, the Guangdong Navy Division organized hundreds of large and small warships to encircle and annihilate more than a dozen warships of the British Guangdong Fleet, and finally forced the other party to surrender, but its own casualties were not small, and it can only be said to be a tragic victory. It must be noted that the British Canton Fleet does not have a single main warship, and they are all auxiliary warships that do not enter the stream.

As for the Battle of Dinghai, it was the British warships that were captured to deceive the trust of the British army, and the sudden attack caught the British Dinghai Fleet by surprise, and furthermore, the British troops stationed in Dinghai were experiencing a large-scale outbreak of malaria at that time. ”

Is this the reality of the two victories? Wang Ding under the candlelight seems to be like a wood carving clay sculpture in the temple, lifeless, two great victories that make the Qing Dynasty and the opposition rejoice, the truth is so cruel, he is indeed a little difficult to accept for a while, after a long time, he moved, took off his reading glasses, wiped his eyes a little astringent, and said: "Qi Zhongtang is in Guangzhou, should also know the truth, right?" ”

Yi Zhizu nodded slightly and said, "There are many people, and this matter can't be hidden at all." ”

After a slight sigh, Wang Dingcai said slowly: "Qi Zhongtang has always understood the overall situation, and this matter, unless the emperor asks, don't mention it to anyone again." After a pause, he continued: "Whether it is advocating resistance to the end or advocating fighting first and then pacifying, we must first base ourselves on fighting, and the southeast will be peaceful for a long time, and the combat readiness will be relaxed, and the morale of the army can be boosted and not discharged." ”

"I understand below." Yi Zhishu nodded hurriedly.

"I'm old, and my mouth is always dry." Wang Ding took a sip of tea, picked up the contract and said: "This has to be changed, how can the customs be used as collateral for the issuance of treasury bonds issued by the imperial court?" If it is spread out, what prestige does the imperial court have at all? Attach customs innovation to Yingyi's negotiating terms. ”

"Xie Zhongtang ordered." Yi Zhixiang hurriedly bowed to his body.

"Let's talk about Yuanqi's situation." Wang Ding said: "Not only the bank, but also the entire Yuanqi situation. ”

The next day, Yi Zhizhi slept until nine o'clock, then got up, and last night had a long conversation with Wang Ding until midnight, and when he parted, he specially told him not to move around, and about the issuance of treasury bonds, after discussing with the household department, he would inform him that there was nothing to do, so he naturally slept a little longer.

Listening to the movement in the room, Jin Ying came in with a basin towel and said, "The young master can be regarded as getting up." ”

"What's the matter, I can't wait to go out and visit the capital?" Yi Zhishu teased her while sorting out her clothes, Jin Ying put down the basin and came over to help him tidy up, but his mouth was not idle, "This Jingshi is much colder than Guangzhou, this season, we still wear jackets in Guangzhou, but here it is the same as winter." ”

"Winter? It's not cold yet. Yi Zhizhi said: "In a few days, it may snow, wait for Chang Gui to take you to buy a set of winter clothes, don't wait for the cold to hurry to buy." ”

When she heard that she was buying clothes, Jin Ying was overjoyed, but soon she frowned and said, "Chang Gui went out early in the morning and didn't say a word." ”

Yi Zhizhi said disapprerovingly: "He is not our person, he is familiar with the capital, maybe he is going to visit relatives and friends." As he spoke, he asked, "Why don't you see Li Wang?" ”

"He was afraid that the young master wouldn't be used to eating breakfast in this store, so he went out to buy breakfast."

Yi Zhishu glanced at her and said, "So hearted? It can't be that some people are greedy, right? ”

Seeing that she was making fun of her, Jin Ying simply ignored it and helped him clean it up, before saying, "The young master will wash up first, and the slave will make you a pot of hot tea." ”

Yi Zhixiang didn't finish a cup of tea, Li Wang rushed back with two food boxes, and said while making breakfast: "Young master, when I entered the store, I saw Chang Gui and a young man with a big yellow dog coming this way. ”

A young man with a big yellow dog? Yi Zhifen hurriedly stood up and went out, raising dogs and playing with eagles, basically all of them are the hobbies of the children of the Eight Banners, Chang Gui went out early in the morning, most likely to inform Su Shun, he came to Beijing by himself, Su Shun is a serious eight hundred clan relatives and noble children, he can't help but welcome.

Out of the yard, I met Chang Gui and the young man who led a yellow dog, at a glance, easy to know that the judgment was wrong, the person was dressed in a black short hexagram, with a strip of cloth tied around his waist, and a pair of gray trouser legs with fat trousers, the trousers were tied with a belt, a pair of dead cow cloth shoes, a pair of market coolies or gangsters' skinny outfits, no matter how it didn't match Su Shun's identity, even if Su Shun was a concubine, it was also a prince's concubine, and he still had the title of a third-class auxiliary general.

Seeing that the other party looked him up and down without any scruples, Yi Zhifen smiled slightly, after all, it was brought by Chang Gui, and a thin face still had to be given, after Chang Gui saw the salute, he turned sideways and got out of the way, just about to be introduced, the young man was already smiling and arched his hand: "In Xia Sushun, I have heard Brother Yi's name for a long time." ”

Sushun? Are the noble sons and daughters of Jingshi all of them virtuous? Yi Zhizhi immediately reacted, it was impossible for the other party to lie to him, so he hurriedly bowed down and said, "I've seen the sixth master below." ”

Su Shun held him up with one hand and said, "Brother Yi, don't call it that, since you are Jin Ling's friend, you are also a friend below." ”

Yi Zhixiang was not polite, and immediately gave in sideways, stretched out his hand and said, "Brother Yuting, please." ”

Su Shun handed over the big yellow dog to Chang Gui, and then stepped inside, and said with a smile as he walked: "Although Brother Yi is the first time to come to Beijing, his reputation in Beijing is not small, and the two things of building railways and issuing treasury bonds have caused a lot of discussion in Beijing. ”

Without waiting for Yi Zhicontent to speak, he stopped, pointed to the courtyard and said, "Brother Yi is also the treasurer of Yuanqi, and he is a third-grade official, how can he live in such a place?" ”

You are a child of the clan who is dressed like a gangster, and you are not too shabby, I live in this place? Yi Zhizu secretly scolded himself and said, "It's just for convenience." ”

"Chang Gui's minion just doesn't have any eyesight." Su Shun said and entered the living room, sat down with a little humility, and said, "Brother Yi entered Beijing this time, won't he want to find a real shortage?" ”

Yi Zhizhi poured a cup of tea, and after reaching out to ask for tea, he said, "Brother Yuting has a way?" ”

"Brother Yi, that's the right person." Su Shun said with a smile: "We are all familiar with all the ministries and institutes of the Beijing Division, does Brother Yi want to be a Beijing official or a magistrate?" ”

Could it be that this guy is doing the business of donating officials to fill vacancies, Yi Zhishu secretly laughed in his heart, who is Su Shun? It is the power minister of the Xianfeng Dynasty, the backbone and core of the eight ministers of Xianfeng's deathbed, and the thorn in the flesh of Cixi's eyes that he will want to get rid of.

Jingshi, he is most interested in the two people, one is Su Shun, the other is the sixth son of the emperor Yixin - later generations called the unlucky guy one step away from the throne, because the prime minister of national affairs Yamen, good at dealing with foreigners, was given the nickname 'devil six', and Yi Zhicontent is more important is that this person is the leader of the Westernization faction of the Qing Dynasty.

However, this unlucky guy is still a child, only seven or eight years old, no matter how interested he is, it is in vain, the Su Shun in front of him is the target of his deliberate friendship in Beijing this time, since he intends to make friends, Yi Zhicontent is naturally sincere to him, he said with a smile: "This time I entered Beijing for the purpose of issuing treasury bonds." ”

Issuance of government bonds? Su Shun was surprised and said: "The imperial court has decided to issue treasury bonds?" Why haven't you heard the slightest rumor of this? Did Qi Zhongtang personally talk to Brother Yi? ”

Yi Zhishu nodded, then got up and walked outside the door and ordered: "Go and order a good table on the table and warm two pots of wine." ”

Hearing this, Su Shun hurriedly got up and said, "Brother Yi is not a slap in the face, it should be to pick up the wind and wash the dust for Brother Yi." ”

Yi Zhishu said with a smile: "At night, how about Brother Yuting do it again?" ”

Is this to have a long conversation with him? Su Shun was a little puzzled, did the other party need to befriend him so deliberately? How can he help the other person? Since the issuance of treasury bonds was personally discussed by Qi Shan with him, it is obvious that Daoguang is the intention, so why do you need his help? Besides, with his identity, even if he has the heart to help, he can't help, right? Just because of his status as a prince's concubine? This may not seem to be big, the other party is not a rich man who has never seen the world, and the most important thing that Jingshi lacks is his son and daughter of the sect.

After taking a box of cigars, Yi Zhizhi turned around and sat down, handed one to Qi Shan, and said, "Smoke a cigar?" ”

"I don't have this hobby." Su Shun smiled and waved his hand, and then inquired: "This railway really has all kinds of benefits?" ”

"Of course." Yi Zhizhi lit a cigar, and then said slowly: "Building a railway, it is imperative, it's just a matter of time, early repair and early benefit, it is said that thousands of miles of horses travel thousands of miles a day, eight hundred miles a night, that is just a legend, but the train can travel 1,500 miles a day and night, from Guangzhou to Beijing, but three or four days, and a train is as heavy as a thousand carriages."

The railway from Guangzhou to Foshan will be completed by the end of this year or the beginning of next year. ”

Su Shun nodded slowly, if the train is not so good, the other party will not repair the railway from Guangzhou to Foshan, the reason why he asked this is because the officialdom of Beijing is quite controversial about the construction of the railway, and when he encounters Yi Zhizhi himself, such a good opportunity, he naturally inquired in detail, and groaned slightly, he said: "What is the benefit of building the railway to the imperial court?" At present, what the imperial court lacks most is silver. ”

Hearing this, Yi Zhizu chuckled and said: "Doing business requires capital, the bigger the business, the greater the cost, repairing the railway is a big business, and the capital that needs to be invested is extraordinary, but once the railway is completed, the income brought is beyond imagination, not to mention anything else, the railway is completed, and the transportation can be changed to car transportation, how much silver can be saved in a year?" ”

When it came to Caoyun, he casually asked: "In the sixth year of Daoguang, Caoyun was changed to sea transportation, why did it change back to Caoyun later?" ”

"Brother Yi seems to be very sympathetic to Cao Yunting?" Su Shun said: "I don't know the specific reason, but I have vaguely heard that it is because of the conflict of interests, which prompted the imperial court to give up shipping and return to Caoyun." ”

As he spoke, he pulled back to the topic, "Building a railway requires a large amount of silver, where does the imperial court get so much silver?" ”

Yi Zhicontent said in a relaxed tone: "You don't need the court to take the silver, you just need the court to give policy." (To be continued.) )