Selling hemp street, the governor's palace, side courtyard.

Bao Shichen was pointing the little guy to tidy up his clothes, and when he looked up, he saw Lin Zexu slowly stepping into the courtyard in civilian clothes, and hurriedly greeted him, and arched his hand: "The lord of the ministry has something to send someone to call, He Lao will come over in person." ”

Lin Zexu heard that Bao Shichen was packing his luggage, so he deliberately put down his official business, returned the salute with a smile, and said, "Uncle Shen, are you going back to Jiangnan?" ”

"After coming to Guangdong for a few months, it's time to go back." Bao Shichen said bluntly, and said: "During the period in Guangdong, the whole department was taken care of, and Uncle Shen thanked me here." ”

"Why should Uncle Shen be polite to me." Lin Zexu said with a smile.

Bao Shichen naturally knew that Lin Zexu would not be so leisurely, and he must have something to say when he came over, so he immediately stretched out his hand and politely said, "My lord, please." ”

The two of them entered the house and sat down, Lin Zexu didn't go around in circles, and asked directly: "Uncle Shen decided to go to Shanghai?" ”

Bao Shichen smiled and said, "I didn't have time to talk to Yida shopkeeper in detail yesterday. ”

Packing up without going into details? Lin Zexu didn't break it, and said in a sincere tone: "The two rivers are empty and the combat readiness is relaxed, which is the focus of Yingyi's attack. On the other hand, I also wrote a letter to Mo Sheng (Wei Yuanzi), who was living in Jiangning, hoping that he would also go to Shanghai. ”

Hearing this, Bao Shichen couldn't help but be a little moved, and said: "Yingyi will still poison the two rivers? ”

Lin Zexu smiled, "This is easy to be contented with speculation, Shen Bo might as well ask him, he knows best." After a little hesitation, he still said: "Yi Zhizhi is a rare economic talent, who is familiar with the West and is good at military affairs, but after all, he is young and his temperament is undecided, and Uncle Shen must be good at guiding him." ”

Hearing this, Bao Shichen's heart tightened, and he said in a deep voice: "The Lord of the Ministry is suspicious of disobedience? ”

Lin Zexu shook his head slowly, and said: "Yuanqi and the other owners are all gentry and businessmen, there is no need to worry about this, it is easy to know that he is good at Western studies, and his style is similar to that of Western foreigners. ”

Hearing this, Bao Shichen couldn't help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief, if Yi Zhi's talent is not reused, it is indeed a big loss for the imperial court, Lin Zexu is purely a love for talent, he was about to speak, and a chief hurriedly came in and reported: "Lord Yubutang, Yi Zhizhi is out to see." "Say Cao Cao, Cao Cao arrives." Lin Zexu smiled and ordered, "Bring him over." ”

Hearing that Lin Zexu was in Bao Shichen's yard, Yi Zhi couldn't help but be secretly happy, needless to say, this must be a lobbyist for him, and walked into the courtyard quickly, he smiled and bowed his hand to greet the two, Lin Zexu asked with concern while stretching out his hand to give up his seat: "These days, Yuanqi Bank is also frequently runs, undertaking national bonds, and may turn over?" ”

"Don't worry, Lord Ministry." Yi Zhizu sat down and said calmly: "Yuanqi undertook this 10 million treasury bonds, not because Yuanqi swallowed them, but through Yuanqi Bank to issue treasury bonds, losses are inevitable, but within the range of bearability." ”

Hearing this, Bao Shichen said worriedly: "Ten million taels of silver, this is not a small amount, can it all be issued?" ”

"In order to smoothly issue this treasury bond, Yuanqi has set up a special stock exchange." Yi Zhishu looked at Lin Zexu as he spoke, and said, "The amount of 10 million is indeed a bit large, and the ministers of the ministry are still required to help in this matter." ”

"Say." Lin Zexu said without hesitation: "Within the scope of our ability, the headquarters will definitely spare no effort." ”

"This is the first time that the imperial court has issued treasury bonds." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "It is necessary for officials and gentlemen and businessmen from all walks of life to actively buy, in order to cause a sensation, Yuanqi's owner has no shortage of gentry and businessmen and wealthy households, and there are also many official eunuchs, but there is no comparison with the current officials, this time the issuance of treasury bonds, but also hope that the shareholders of the Ministry of Guangzhou officials, enthusiastically buy, in the next can guarantee that the purchased treasury bonds, can be made without loss, even if it is transferred to Yuanqi Bank a few days later, Yuanqi can also be fully acquired." ”

"The issuance of treasury bonds by the imperial court should be vigorously supported by local officials, which is a matter of duty." Lin Zexu said briskly: "It's not a difficult thing, just report it before the release." ”

Yi Zhizhi arched his hand and said, "Thank you first." ”

Lin Zexu waved his hand, stood up and said, "I'll deal with official business first, and you can talk first." ”

Yi Zhishu hurriedly got up and said: "Mr. An Wu came to Guangdong, and he should be a landlord in the next place, and he set up a banquet in Lei Garden today, and invited Nanshan Gong, and I hope that the Lord of the Ministry will appreciate his face." ”

Hearing this, Lin Zexu looked at Bao Shichen and said with a smile: "Look at this kid, please Uncle Shen, not only let Zishu (Zhang Weiyun) accompany him, but also let the old man, the governor of Liangguang, accompany him!" Contentment has opened its mouth, but it is not easy to refute this feeling, but what is needed is a dinner party. ”

The two sent Lin Zexu to the gate of the courtyard, and when they saw Lin Zexu walking away, Yi Zhizhi said to Bao Shichen: "Today, I invite Mr. Lei Yuan to banquet, and I also ask Mr. to move to Lei Garden, so that it is convenient to ask for advice nearby." ”

"Don't dare to ask for advice." Bao Shichen returned a salute and said: "On the way of economy, if contentment recognizes the second, no one dares to recognize the first, the old man came to Guangzhou for a few months, after learning about the situation of Yuanqi on the spot, he is really admired, contentment is the real model of the world." "Sir is so falsely praised, how dare you deserve it." Yi Zhizu said humbly, and then said: "The national debt matter here, I am about to go to Shanghai to take office, Mr. is familiar with the military and civil affairs in the southeast, and has insight into the pros and cons of all walks of life. ”

This is the official word hired, Bao Shichen arched his hand, and said solemnly: "Yi Daren has learned from China and the West, is familiar with economics, and applies what he has learned, and in the year of the weak crown, he founded Yuanqi, which is well-known in the government and the opposition. ”

As he spoke, he straightened his hat, bowed down, and said, "Bao Shichen has seen Dong Weng." ”

Yi Zhishu solemnly accepted a salute, and then bowed his hand and said, "Yi Zhizu has seen Mr. This is equivalent to setting the name, he can't help but be overjoyed, of course, hiring a master is not so simple, and there must be formal hiring etiquette, but those are just a formality.

For the next period of time, Yi Zhizhi was busy preparing for the issuance of treasury bonds, meeting people and talking about things every day, selecting the site of the exchange, publicizing in newspapers, lobbying a group of shareholders, mobilizing the employees of various factories under the name of Yuanqi, and printing treasury bonds, etc., in addition, he did not dare to slack off a little in the training of Yuanqi's regimental training, the production of the Ammunition Bureau, the casting of the land war bronze cannon, etc., all kinds of things were gathered together, and he was busy all day and night as if he was fighting.

As for the matter of going to Humen to negotiate with the British three days after the appointment with Qi Shan, he pushed it cleanly, and asked Qi Shan to send officials to talk to the British side first, and then contact the British side after he was busy with this time.

In the blink of an eye, it was half a moon, and on this day, Yi Zhizu was discussing with Kong Jian'an and Xie Xiuyuan in Rongyuan about opening a branch in Suzhou and Songjiang Mansion. ”

Wei Sanwei was in charge of the printing of treasury bonds, and Yi Zhizhi was overjoyed, and hurriedly ordered: "Invite him in." ”

In the room he entered, Wei Sanwei spoke fluent Chinese, and said in a similar manner: "I have seen Yi Da Shopkeeper." ”

Yi Zhishu smiled and got up and returned the salute, "Mr. Chinese is becoming more and more fluent, but it brings good news?" ”

"Yes." Wei San smiled timidly: "I'm here today to deliver tickets." As he spoke, he took out an envelope, took out a few banknotes from it, put them on the table before speaking, and said, "Take a look at the shopkeeper Yida, if you have no opinion, start printing in large quantities." ”

A total of five ticket samples, the ticket amount is one yuan, five yuan, ten yuan, fifty yuan, one hundred yuan, this is easy to know content in order to save the carved plate to catch up with the schedule, deliberately repeatedly compressed, easy to know content picked up a look at the front of the banknote pattern is a dragon, the back is the city gate of Guangzhou, decorated with dragon patterns all around, the next is a wavy pattern, the three-color overprint pattern is very exquisite, the quality of the printing is also very good, but the quality of the paper is lacking, the feeling of starting makes Yi Zhifen not very satisfied.

Xie Xiuyuan praised softly: "Yes, it's not a star better than those silver tickets." ”

Looking at the watermark and hidden pattern on it, Yi Zhizhi asked, "What are the chances of counterfeiting?" "The reason why banknotes are so delicately printed is not for the sake of beauty, but to eliminate counterfeiting.

"Yida shopkeeper can rest assured." Wei Sanwei said confidently: "Not to mention in Guangzhou, even in England and the United States, no one can fake it." ”

So confident? Later generations of counterfeit banknotes are endless, it seems that the difficulty of counterfeiting banknotes in these years is not ordinary, easy to be content to put his mind at ease, shook the banknotes, and said: "Paper is not good, the liquidity of national bonds is not large, and it is barely possible, but to be issued as banknotes, there is still a deficiency." ”

Wei San smiled timidly: "Yes, we think so too. ”

"Let's open the print." Yi Zhizu instructed, he knew that this matter could not be rushed, he had to take his time, buy machinery and equipment from the Meijing Banknote Printing Factory, and hire technicians and technicians for only two years, which is not bad to be able to reach this level.

"Okay, then I'll take my leave." Wei Sanwei said and arched his hand towards the three of them.

Wei Sanwei, who was waiting, left, Xie Xiuyuan casually asked while admiring the banknotes: "When is the big shopkeeper going to issue banknotes?" ”

"When you can print high-quality banknotes, you will issue them." Yi Zhishu said and got up and said: "Bring them all, I rushed to the Yamen of the Domain and gave them a look, and they probably panicked when they waited." ”

The Fantai Yamen is now already occupied by the magpie's nest, and the Qincha Mian's line is located in the Fantai Yamen, as for the Lord of the Domain, he had to be wronged and temporarily moved elsewhere, and Wu Qijun, the left attendant of the household department, who came in the same boat with Mian, and several subordinate officials of the household department also lived in the Fantai Yamen with Mian.

Yi Zhishu rushed to the Yamen of the Domain and handed over the post, and then he was invited in, and he was greeted by Wu Qijun, the left servant of the household department, as for Qin Chamian, but he didn't know where to go, and he didn't know where to hang out.

After seeing the ceremony, Yi Zhixiang smiled and said: "The sample of the national debt has come out, and I am here to invite the adults to take a look." So saying, he took out the bills.

Wu Qijun was naturally happy, picked up the sample and saw that the printing was exquisite, and he was a little in love with it, and after reading it one by one, he praised it lightly: "Good, good, I can't imagine that Guangzhou can have such a high printing standard, and this pattern is also well designed, good, and I am content to bother." ”

Seeing that he was full of praise, Yi Zhixiang smiled and said: "My lord is satisfied, Yuan Qi has not been busy in vain these days." ”

Wu Qijun asked, "When will it be released?" ”

"Ten million is not a small amount." Yi Zhizhi said: "Although the large denomination accounts for nearly half, it still takes some time to print, and it is estimated that there will be more than a month, mainly because there are too few machines." ”

Wu Qijun nodded, for him, more than a month he had already felt very fast, a little groaning, he asked, "The overseer of this printing." ”

Yi Zhizhi smiled contentedly and said, "Your Excellency can send officials to the printing house today." ”

"Okay." Wu Qijun immediately instructed the outside world: "Go and invite Lord Wang." ”

Soon, Wang Maoyin, who was in his forties, walked in, and Wu Qijun instructed: "The sample of the treasury bond has come out, ready to be delivered for printing, from now on, you take someone to the printing house, pack it up, and go with Master Yi." ”

"The subordinate obeys." Wang Maoyin hurriedly bowed and said.

"The next official retired." Yi Zhifen also bowed his hand and withdrew.

Although the interest rate of treasury bonds is not as good as Yuanqi's deposit interest rate, after all, the treasury bonds were issued by the imperial court, and Yuan Qi's indiscriminate issuance was ultimately the result of the imperial court's backing.

Yi Zhishu was originally going to personally send Wang Maoyin and a few people to the printing house, but when he came out of the Yamen of the Domain, Li Wang took a guy from Yuanqi to meet him quickly, and said, "Young Master, Lord Qincha is urgently called. ”

It seems that the matter of negotiating with England has an eyebrow, and he is not in a hurry, but Yi Zhishu does not want to go back and forth, and he groaned slightly, and he said to Wang Maoyin and the others: "Lord Qi is urgently called, and it is inconvenient for me to delay." ”

Wang Maoyin hurriedly returned the salute and said, "Lord Yi, please take care of yourself, just arrange someone to send us over." ”

Yi Zhishu nodded, and instructed Li Wangdao: "You send these adults to the printing house, and everything must be arranged, regardless of size." ”

"The little one understands." Li Wang hurriedly bowed and said.

Turning around and getting into the sedan chair, Yi Zhizhi pondered about the negotiation with England, in fact, for this negotiation, he did not report a little hope, if you want the British army to withdraw with dignity, it is inevitable to pay compensation for land cession, but Daoguang instructed - the place does not give the size, and the price of cigarettes is not allowed to be a cent, how can this be discussed? I really don't understand what Daoguang thinks, knowing that the national strength is far inferior to that of England, he is still so tough, where does this confidence come from? (To be continued.) )