Guangzhou, Yuehua Academy, Qincha Xingyuan.

Lin Zexu compared and read the two letters, and did not say anything for a long time, both of them were forwarded by Yilu to Deng Tingzhen, the governor of Liangguang, and the first one was submitted in the morning, Yilu made a strong protest in the letter, asking the governor Deng Tingzhen to issue passports within three days, so that all the British overseas Chinese and British ships could leave Guangzhou within 10 days, otherwise he would think that the British overseas Chinese and British ships were forcibly detained, and he would not bear the responsibility for all the consequences.

The second letter was submitted in the afternoon, in which Yilu's attitude changed greatly, and instead of protesting, he asked the governor Deng Tingzhen to send officials to the Thirteen Lines of British Merchant House, and the two sides sat down to discuss in detail and strive for a peaceful settlement of the dispute.

Deng Tingzhen had sternly rejected the first post, but Deng Tingzhen did not reply to the second post, and personally sent the post to Qinchaxingyuan.

After being silent for a long time, Lin Zexu seemed to ask Deng Tingzhen, and seemed to be talking to himself: "In just one day, the attitude of righteousness and law is completely different, what is the reason?" ”

Deng Tingzhen said with a smile: "Why bother so much, no matter what the reason is, send someone to the merchant hall for an interview and explore the idea of righteousness first." ”

"The law of righteousness is capricious and bold, and it is necessary to guard against it." Lin Zexu said slowly: "The news I inquired about before said that this person is quite fair, and he is very fair to the crows. The film trade was also opposed, but he led three ships into Guangzhou yesterday without asking for a license, and as soon as he entered the merchant house, he dared to flee with him. Yi's attitude is also obvious, two documents, he did not mention the matter of surrendering tobacco soil. Obviously. He was sincere in obstructing the submission of the tobacco and soil. ”

Deng Tingzhen frowned. Said: "Brother Shao Mu is worried that Yilu will take the opportunity of the interview to hold officials hostage? ”

"It's not certain, the rabbit bites when it's in a hurry." Lin Zexu said: "However, it is still necessary to have an interview with Yilu, but you can't send a senior official to see him with the prefect of Guangzhou Prefecture, the alternate prefect and the two county orders of Nanhai and Panyu to see what tricks he has." ”

Early the next morning. A group of officials such as the prefect Zhuerhang'a, the alternate prefect Yu Baochun, Nanhai, and the magistrate of Panyu went to the British Merchant House of the Thirteen Lines with a large number of attachés, and waited from 9 o'clock in the morning to 5 o'clock in the afternoon, but they did not even see the shadow of righteousness.

Obviously, Yilu changed his mind again and avoided interviewing with a group of officials, and Lin Zexu naturally couldn't avoid condemning this, but he also understood in his heart that condemnation was condemnation. Condemnation will not solve the problem, no matter how harsh it is. It will not prompt Yilu to change his attitude and take the initiative to surrender the tobacco, so he wrote an article overnight "Four Drafts of the Exhortation to the Yi People to Quickly Pay the Opium Tobacco".

Early in the morning, Deng Tingzhen rushed to the Qincha Xingyuan of Yuehua Academy, the capriciousness of the righteous law, made him deeply worried, the siege of the thirteen merchants pavilion area has a great impact, it is impossible to encircle it for a long time, there are not only English merchants in the merchant pavilion area, but also Citigroup merchants, with the evacuation of all the Chinese and the strict blockade of the merchant district, the entire thirteen merchant pavilion area is actually in the point of water and food cut-off, if there is really any accident, it is not a small trouble.

Seeing him coming, Lin Zexu hurriedly greeted: "I just wrote an edict last night, and Brother Wei Zhou will look at it first. As he spoke, he instructed Leong Chun-tak, who was translating the "Macao Monthly News": "Serve tea to your lordship." ”

Liang Jinde hurriedly put down his pen and got up, bowed and withdrew, Deng Tingzhen didn't have the heart to read the "Four Drafts of the Exhortation to the Yiren to Pay Opium Tobacco and Soil Quickly", quickly browsed it, and said: "The law of righteousness is repeated and changeable, and the merchant hall area has also been closed for a long time, can Brother Shao Mu have a countermeasure?" ”

Lin Zexu smiled and pointed to the last paragraph of the "Four Drafts of the Instructions to the Yi People to Quickly Pay Opium Tobacco and Land", and said: "Submit it and get a reward." ”

Submit and get a reward? Is this intended for a disguised acquisition? Deng Tingzhen asked hesitantly, "How does Brother Shao Mu plan to give him a reward?" ”

After being silent for a long time, footsteps sounded outside, and Lin Zexu said: "A box of opium, five quintals of tea." As he spoke, he stretched out a slap, and when he saw Liang Jinde coming in, he hurriedly stopped.

Deng Tingzhen couldn't help but be surprised: "More than 20,000 boxes of crows. The slice is 100,000 quintals of tea, and the price of tea today is not cheap. ”

Lin Zexu waved his hand to stop Deng Tingzhen's words, and Liang Jinde, who was waiting, served tea, he retreated, and listened to the footsteps, and then said with a smile: "A box of crows. The slice rewards five catties of tea, 100,000 catties, but only a thousand catties, and the thirteen lines can afford it. ”

"Five quintals become five catties, this gap is too big!" Deng Tingzhen paused for a moment, then understood, pointed to the door, and said, "Jiang Gan? ”

Lin Zexu naturally understood that he was referring to Jiang Gan who stole Jiang Gan in the book, and immediately laughed and said: "Brother Wei Zhou has also promoted him, how can he compare with Jiang Gan, this person is the translator specially hired by Yihe Xing for Qin Cha Xingyuan - Liang Jinde." ”

In the Thirteen Merchant Pavilion area, Wu Shaorong happily entered the British Pavilion with the "Four Drafts of the Instructions to the Yiren to Pay Opium Tobacco and Soil", and after reading it to a group of English businessmen in public, he glanced at Yilu, and Yilu Huiyi hurriedly invited him to the second floor.

When the two entered the office, Wu Shaorong said with a smile: "Your Excellency the Chief Inspector can you hear clearly?" ”

Yilu looked at him puzzled and said, "What do you hear clearly?" ”

Wu Shaorong didn't explain, picked up the "Four Drafts of the Exhortation to the Yiren to Quickly Pay Opium Tobacco", and read the latter sentence emphatically: "Submit it and get a reward." Immediately, he took out two edicts from his bosom and put them on the table, and pointed: "This is the "Edict to the Yi People of All Countries to Submit the Tobacco and Soil Draft", which has 'If the Yi merchants can take the initiative to submit the crows. piece, this minister will implore the court to give a reward. ’”

As he spoke, he pointed to the "Manuscript of the Tobacco Dealer" and said, "The one who surrenders the tobacco and soil first...... Reward will be added first. ”

Yilu understood what he meant, but he said with a nonchalant face: "Surrender the crow. There is a reward for the film, how much can you reward for your Qincha? ”

"A box of crows. slices, five quintals of tea. ”

Five quintals of tea? Since the year before last, the Thirteen Lines and the Tea Association have joined forces to monopolize the foreign trade of tea again, and the price of tea has been maintained at a high price, one load of tea is thirty-two taels, and five taels is one hundred and sixty taels, which is about two hundred and twenty silver dollars, which is already higher than that of Bengal crows. The wholesale price of tablets is still high, which is where the reward is. It's all about trade.

Seemingly. The other party is hard. When it came soft, Yilu was greatly moved, and said, "This is what Lord Qincha promised you?" ”

Wu Shaorong glanced at him and said, "How could Lord Qincha promise me to exchange five quintals of tea for a box of crows. Slice? ”

"And what is this?"

"It was my spies who had planted around Lord Chincha when they eavesdropped on the conversation between Lord Chincha and Lord Governor, and it was clear and true."

Yilu's mind turned a few times, and he said with a suspicious expression: "Your imperial court will give more than four million silver dollars as a reward?" ”

Wu Shaorong laughed and said: "How could the imperial court give out this silver, it is nothing more than Yuanqi Bank, the Thirteen Banks, and the salt merchant who gave this silver." ”

"Are you willing?"

"Of course not. But there was no way, Lord Qincha and Lord Governor opened their mouths, and they had to pay if they didn't want to. Saying that, Wu Shaorong smiled and said, "As long as you can send this Qin messenger away, this silver will not take two years, and you can still earn it back, right?" ”

On the same day, Yilu's attitude immediately took a 180-degree turn, and he informed all the British merchants to make a list of all the opium in their hands. Stamp it with a picture and give it to him. He will then hand it over to the Chinese government. On the same day, he again handed a note to the minister and the governor of Liangguang, respectfully expressing his sincerity in obeying the decree and surrendering the cigarettes.

On the 14th of February, the law of righteousness again obeyed the decree of the ravens due. Total number of pieces - a total of twenty thousand two hundred and eighty-three boxes.

On 15 February, merchants from all over the world in Canton, including the well-known tobacco dealers of Dian Di and Ma Dichen, jointly submitted a letter declaring that they would no longer trade opium in China.

On the afternoon of February 16, after a four-day voyage, Yi Zhishu rushed back to Guangzhou from the Eighth Institute, and went straight to the Yanhui Building in Wujia Garden. ”

Hearing this, Yi Zhixiang was secretly happy in his heart, but said in his mouth: "It's irretrievable? ”

"Difficult ——。" Wu Bingjian sighed lightly, and explained in detail the anti-smoking measures taken by Lin Zexu after he came to Guangzhou, as well as the siege of the merchant house and the temptation of Yilu to hook him, before he said: "Yilu has agreed the day before yesterday to bring all the English crows. All the 20,283 boxes in the hands of the filmmaker were handed over. ”

"Why did Yilu suddenly change his attitude and agree to hand it over, and he did so without reservation?"

"It is reported that Lord Lin wants to exchange five quintals of tea for a box of crows. Slice. ”

"Impossible." Yi Zhizu said in a deep voice: "It's impossible for Lord Lin to make such a decision!" ”

Seeing that he categorically denied it, Wu Bingjian was speechless for a while, this is really more than goods have to be thrown, people have to die more than people, fortunately Wu Shaorong is not here, otherwise he can die of shame, but he is still a little curious: "Why is contentment so sure?" ”

Why is Yi Zhifen so sure? He knows very well the value of five quintals of tea, and he also knows a box of crows. The price of the piece, in exchange for this price, the English crow. The loss of the filmmaker is not big, if Lin Zexu really exchanged five quintals of tea for a box of crows. piece, the British will not launch the crow. Piece of war!

This is the reason, but the words can't be said like this, Yi Zhishu groaned slightly, and then said: "Lord Lin came to Guangzhou to ban smoking, and he will definitely not exchange the crows in the hands of foreign businessmen at this high price. film, the imperial court does not allow it, and Lord Lin does not dare to do so for the sake of his reputation and career!

More than 100,000 quintals of tea, more than 3 million taels of silver, where did Lord Lin raise so much silver? It is impossible for the imperial court to pay, so it can only collect donations, even if Yuan Qi and the Thirteen Lines are willing to give this silver, this news cannot be hidden, once the news is leaked, Lord Lin will inevitably be discredited, and the imperial court will be disgraced, this matter is categorically impossible! ”

Wu Bingjian nodded, it was indeed a matter of analysis, it was rare that he reacted so quickly, and he groaned slightly, before he said: "More than three million and two hundred thousand taels of silver, it is not difficult to get together with the old man." ”

Yi Zhizu shook his head slightly, and said: "Pinghu Gong is taking the test for a younger son, even if we gather 100,000 quintals of tea in private, Lord Lin will not accept it, he will not hand over his life's name and future to us, if Lord Lin accepts it, we don't have to stay in this Guangzhou, hurry up and go to Nanyang." ”

Wu Bingjian sighed and said, "That's why the old man said that it was too late for contentment, and now this is a dead knot. After the film, but you can't get the tea, you must be annoyed and angry, and you might as well think about it carefully, but there is still the possibility of resolution. ”

With a slight groan, Yi Zhizhi said: "Pinghu Gong must not be in a hurry, there are so many crows. film, even if it is submitted, it is not a matter of a day or two, let the juniors contact the two parties, find out the situation and then make a plan. ”

"Okay." Wu Bingjian said and picked up the teacup and said: "Contentment runs all the way, and I am away from home for more than a month, so I will go back to the house first." ”

Yi Zhizhi was not hypocritical, and hurriedly got up to say goodbye, and went to sea for more than a month, and he did go back to the house first to report his safety.

After waiting for Yi Zhizhi to leave, Wu Bingjian looked at Wu Changqing and said, "What is the situation of the Eight Institutes?" ”

"Contentment seems to have great confidence in the mineral deposits of Shiroku." Wu Changqing said slowly: "This time to the eight institutes, he not only brought a large number of ore exploration and mining craftsmen, but also brought the survey personnel of the Citigroup Railway Company, once the mineral reserves of Shilu are discovered, he is ready to build a port and railway in the eight institutes, he also said that the mining industry will become one of the development priorities of Yuanqi in the future." ”

"I'm asking about the training of the Merchant Corps." Wu Bingjian interrupted him and said, he doesn't have the heart to care about Shilu's mine now, the current situation is getting clearer and clearer, the possibility of war breaking out is extremely high, what he cares about is whether the merchant group has combat strength, if it is similar to the green camp, he has to take precautions and make a good deal early.

"My grandson doesn't know how to train soldiers." Wu Changqing said a little timidly: "However, contentment is training in the eight ****, the wind and rain are not interrupted, and the way he trains is very different, although his grandson can't see the good or bad, but I feel that the merchant group is definitely not comparable to the Eight Banners Green Battalion." ”

Yi Zhishu hurried back to the house, and after saying goodbye to his parents, he returned to the East Cross Courtyard to take a bath and change clothes, and then went out to the Thirteen Merchant Hall District to comfort and soothe a group of American businessmen who had received a false alarm, and then rushed to Changle to stabilize people's hearts.

Early the next morning, he didn't even go to the Yuanqi headquarters, and rushed straight to the governor's mansion, and the matter of paying the cigarettes was decided. ”

"I heard that the Thirteen Merchant Houses were besieged, and I was really worried." Yi Zhixiang turned his head around as he spoke, and said, "I heard that Lord Lin wants to exchange tea for tobacco in the hands of foreign businessmen?" ”

"Don't listen to rumors, there's no such thing." Deng Tingzhen hurriedly denied: "Lord Lin is just encouraging foreign businessmen to surrender tobacco in a preferential way. ”

After a slight sigh, Yi Zhi was content to say: "Lord Lin is a Qincha, although he controls the Guangdong sailors, but his main task is to preside over the overall situation of Guangzhou's smoking ban, and the master is the governor of Guangzhou." ”

Hearing this, it seemed to be provocative, Deng Tingzhen's face sank, and he said, "What do you want to say about contentment?" ”

Yi Zhizhi said word by word: "Raise food and salary, make strong soldiers and horses, and prepare for the war." ”

"England will go to war?"

"There is no doubt about the battle!" (To be continued.) )