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Yi Zhizu stood on the dock expressionlessly and looked at the slowly approaching Qincha official ship, behind him were the civil and military officials of Shanghai County, and then there were a group of old and famous gentry in Shanghai County, Shanghai is only a county town and is not on the traffic artery, although it is rich but it is rare to see local officials and court officials, let alone ministers.

A group of civil and military officials, old and famous gentry are all talking in a low voice with excitement on their faces, and they all know that this time the minister came to Shanghai to reward the big shopkeeper of Yuanqi, and the Daotai Lord of Shanghai is easy to be content, but what makes them a little puzzled is that the Daotai Lord who is standing at the front does not seem to be a little happy.

Yi Zhifen is really unhappy, a stomach is not happy, the imperial court wants to build a new navy and army, obviously is fighting Yuan Qi's idea, and Yuan Qi has expanded to Jiangsu and Zhejiang for most of the past half a year, helping the victims of Henan and Anhui, and supporting the battle of Jiangning, almost to the point where it is unsustainable, Yuan Qi's current situation is even more difficult than the imperial court, where is there still money to build a navy and train a new army!

He also had no good impression of the new Nanyang minister Qiying, and the day before yesterday, Lin Zexu wrote to him to tell him that the preparation for the construction of the navy was a fold of Mu Zhang'a, and he was even more unhappy in his heart, and he was unwilling to make wedding dresses for others.

The official ship slowly approached the dock, a big man in a first-class official robe slowly walked out of the cabin, standing facing north, Yi Zhixiang was stunned and did not react, Bao Shichen, who was standing behind him, was afraid that he would lose his manners, and hurriedly whispered: "My lord, Qin is here!" ”

Coming back to his senses, Yi Zhizu glanced at the official standing at the bow of the ship, quickly knelt down, and said loudly: "Yi Zhifen, the official Shanghai Taoist, led the civil and military gentry of Shanghai County to respectfully invite St. An. ”

Glancing at everyone on the dock, the senior elite said in a loud voice: "Holy bow." After speaking, he walked slowly across the gangplank, stepped on the dock, and Yi Zhizhi hurriedly said: "Xiaguan Yi Zhizhi and others greet the minister." ”

A group of officials and gentry behind him also hurriedly said neatly: "Congratulations to the minister!" ”

"No courtesy." Qiying said and took two steps forward, and helped Yi Zhixin very affectionately, and said, "Lord Yi, please get up." ”

Yi Zhizu got up, glanced at the other party, and saw that his eyebrows were sparse, his eyes were narrow, he had a long beard, he was full of energy, and he was only in his forties, and it seemed that he was not only well maintained, but also had a good physical foundation, so he immediately arched his hand and said: "Lord Qincha has been tired all the way, and the lower official has prepared a thin wine ...... in Qingfeng Building." ”

"Master Yi later." Qiying said and turned to look at the official ship, Yi Zhifen followed his gaze, but saw Monk Greenqin striding out of the cabin in civilian clothes, and couldn't help but be secretly surprised, what is the monk king doing in Shanghai? Training a new army? Just as he was wondering, he saw Zhuo Bingtian come out of the cabin again.

Zhuo Bingtian was originally a secretary of the household department, and now he is a secretary of the ministry, how could he also come to Shanghai? As soon as he thought about it, he reacted, the other party must have come for the railway, and his eyes lit up at the moment, so he didn't have to worry about running out of money!

Among the three, Yi Zhizhi and Monk Greenqin are the most familiar, the two of them recovered Zhenjiang together, and they often met to drink and chat in Jiangning, seeing that the other party was dressed in civilian clothes, he also did not give a big salute, and stepped forward and smiled: "How did the monk come to Shanghai, didn't he come to the autumn breeze?" ”

"Contentment is a guess." Monk Greenqin smiled heartily: "This king is really here to fight the autumn wind, don't shirk if you are content!" ”

As soon as he heard this, Yi Zhixiang knew what he was planning, and immediately smiled: "The monk king is afraid that it is unfortunate that he has come, and there are many disasters, and the landlord's family has no surplus food." ”

"That king doesn't care." Monk Greenqin smiled: "There is no surplus grain, this king scrapes the ground." ”

"That's not going to happen." Zhuo Bingtian stepped forward slowly and said with a smile: "The monk has scraped the ground, why can't the senior citizens drink the northwest wind?" ”

Yi Zhishu hurriedly arched his hand and said, "Xiaguan has seen Zhuo Butang. ”

A few people listened to the greetings, and all the civil and military gentlemen on the dock felt cold, what was the situation? Not only a Nanyang minister, but also a prince, and a minister? He also threatened to scrape the ground! After being surprised, a group of people hurriedly greeted each other in a mess.

After everyone saluted, Zhuo Bingtian looked at Yi Zhizhi and said, "Hurry back to the ya, open the middle door to welcome the order." ”

"It's already ready." Yi Zhizhi said and stretched out his hand and said, "Three please." ”

The Daotai Yamen has already opened the middle door, and the incense table is placed in the lobby, Yi Zhizu took the first step back to the Yamen to wait, originally he was a little apprehensive in his heart, but when he saw Zhuo Bingtian coming, he faintly had some confidence in his heart, Daoguang should not be so ugly.

After a cumbersome ceremony, Qiying stood in front of the incense case and unfolded a seven-colored holy decree, and said loudly: "The edict said: Henan broke the embankment, and Yuanqi Bank donated millions of dollars to help the victims of Henan and Anhui provinces with its own strength. In the first battle of Jiangnan, in order to resist the Yingyi Yuanqi Bank took the initiative to donate a huge amount of money to fund the military, Yuanqi regimental training assisted the Eight Banners Green Battalion to link Wusong, Baoshan, and Zhenjiang, and fought even victories, killing nearly 10,000 captured Yingyi, with extraordinary achievements and ...... achievements. ”

Yi Zhizhi was a little ashamed to hear it, the scale of Yuanqi disaster relief was unprecedented, and the movement was not small, but it really didn't cost millions, it was more than 500,000 yuan, but it was to buy rice from Huguang Jiangxi and transport it to the disaster area with the help of Caobang boats, of course, if it is according to the price of rice in the disaster area, one million is not false, after all, the price of rice in the disaster area is more than twice as expensive.

"......, Shanghai Taoist Yi Zhicontent, Daoguang founded Yuanqi Bank in 17 years, and Daoguang formed Yuanqi Group in 20 years...... Repeatedly shared worries for the imperial court...... The great victory in Jiangnan is due to the fact that the member is loyal and courageous, and has both courage and courage. Yi Zhizhi was really awarded the Nanyang Admiral and rewarded the ..... of a first-class viscount. ”

Awarded the Admiral of Nanyang? First Rank Viscount! Yi Zhi's heart was surprised and delighted, in the Qing Dynasty titles, the duke, marquis, earl, son, and male fifth rank are the fifth-class titles, the baron is the second grade, the viscount is the first grade, and the earl is above the super grade, and the status is higher than the general first-class officer, that is to say, with Yi Zhi's current title, he is also on an equal footing when he sees the first-class officer, and he himself is also the actual Nanyang Admiral, and the actual position is from the first product.

If you want to say that Guang is indeed not stingy, he will directly reward a viscount, but, like Yang Fang's first-class fruit bravery, it is not hereditary, even so, he is also very content, after all, it is difficult for the Han people to get the fifth-class title, besides, he is still very young, and Daoguang does not dare to reward too much, so as not to reward it in the future!

If the first-class viscount is an unexpected reward, and he is actually awarded the Nanyang Admiral, it is obviously a pit, or a big pit! Although the edict did not clearly state the jurisdiction of the newly established Nanyang Governor, it is clear from the authority of the Nanyang Minister that this Nanyang Governor must be responsible for the sea and land defense of the treaty ports of the four provinces.

Daoguang used a first-class viscount and a Nanyang admiral to easily swallow the Yuanqi group practice, so that the Yuanqi group practice could be used by the imperial court, and it didn't cost a tael of silver, so it was okay, the Yuanqi group practice was not included in the division of the imperial court's economic system, and it was not a blessing for the Yuanqi group practice.

He was stunned here, but Qi Ying quickly finished reading the edict, glanced at him, and saw that he was stunned, and couldn't help but remind softly: "The lord still hasn't accepted the order to thank you." ”

After coming back to his senses, Yi Zhishu hurriedly kowtowed and thanked him, stepped forward to receive the holy decree, and Qiying reminded: "As soon as Yuan Qi has meritorious personnel, he will be rewarded by the lord, and the holy edict will be read by ......the lord." ”

Yi Zhicontent, who was waiting, got up after receiving the order, and Seng Lingqin and Zhuo Bingtian slowly came in and congratulated them repeatedly.

Yi Zhishu was promoted to a first-class viscount, and he was actually awarded the governor of Nanyang, and the Taoist government was naturally celebrating, during this time of time, Yi Zhizhi still took out two thousand taels of silver to reward, and called a few tables to feast on the Taoist staff and scribes.

Yi Zhizhi set up a table of banquets in the courtyard of the study to invite Monk Greenqin, Zhuo Bingtian, and Qiying, and as soon as the banquet opened, Monk Greenqin raised his glass and said: "Come, this first glass of wine, let's congratulate Contentment on being awarded the title of First-Class Viscount." ”

For Yi Zhicontent, the biggest advantage of this first-class viscount is that he doesn't need to see the big man to salute, he is a fourth-grade Taoist in the crowd of first- and second-grade masters, and the most annoying thing is all kinds of etiquette, and now he can finally sit on an equal footing.

After a few rounds of drinking, Monk Greenqin said through the wine: "This king came to Shanghai in person this time, that is, for the new musket of Citigroup, and he was so satisfied that he wanted to get a batch for this king, and he didn't want much, 5,000 sticks." ”

Yi Zhishu put down the wine glass, lit a cigar, and said: "The monk king is riding the joy of the lion in the next promotion, the price of the mini gun The monk knows that five thousand branches, that is, 500,000 taels of silver, this does not include ammunition, including ammunition, at least 600,000 taels of silver, the monk can get the silver, and he will be able to receive the goods in the peak season of sea trade next year." ”

The situation of the Minny gun, Qiying heard Monk Greenqin talk in detail on the ship, but he didn't know that the Mini gun was so expensive, it actually cost a hundred taels of silver, this Mini gun can buy a few bird guns, no wonder it is so powerful!

Now that the imperial court has no silver at all, it is impossible for Monk Greenqin to pay out of his own pocket, after all, this is not fifty or sixty thousand taels of silver, but five or six hundred thousand! At that moment, he sneered and said: "Silver, this king doesn't have it, Yuan Qi is not having a good time now, this king is not embarrassed and content, can he borrow money?" According to the interest on the national debt, the king borrowed 600,000 yuan from Yuanqi in his private name. ”

"Don't say 600,000, 60,000 is not." Yi Zhizu said and pointed to the north, and said: "The monk king should have seen it all the way over, tens of thousands of disaster victims are working for relief, and the monthly expenses are tens of thousands of taels of silver, Yuan Qi is now tightening the silver base, where do you dare to lend?" ”

"Five thousand is not good, four thousand!" Monk Greenqin gritted his teeth and said, "Otherwise, this king will be stationed in Shanghai for a long time." ”

"It seems that the monk king is determined to get the Minnie gun?" Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "Now that the war is over, why don't you transfer the Mini gun in the hands of Yuan Qi Tuanlian to the monk king?" ”

Hearing this, Qi Ying was startled, and hurriedly said: "No, Yingyi has not yet evacuated, and the southeast coast has not yet reached the time when the swords and guns are put into storage, and the Yuanqi regiment cannot cut its own wings." ”

Monk Lingqin said with a smile: "Satisfied with the ghost of this abacus, the Minny gun in the hands of the Yuanqi group is almost scrapped, right?" Don't fool this king. ”

"Then there is no way, Yuan Qi really can't squeeze out the silver now." Yi Zhicontent said: "Don't hide it from the monk king, I am now searching my intestines and trying to figure out how to get some silver to tide over the current difficulties, or the monk will live in Shanghai for a few months?" ”

After pouring a glass of wine, Monk Greenqin said: "Is it embarrassing to let this king run for nothing?" ”

"If the monk king wants not to run in vain, there is no way to ......"

"Tell me about it."

"Hubu Jiangning Branch."

"The Jiangning branch of the household department is now an empty shell." Zhuo Bingtian interjected: "Xiangfu has used three million silver to repair the embankment, and it is expected that at least three or four million will be repaid before it can be completed. ”

Yi Zhishu was speechless, originally he estimated that there were still some silver deposits in the Jiangning branch of the household department, and he planned to get some to come over and turn around, seeing that he was silent, Qi Ying said: "Why is the Mini gun of Citigroup so expensive?" Can't you imitate it? ”

"Imitation?" Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "England and France can be imitated, but we can't imitate it in the Qing Dynasty, the reason why the Mini gun is powerful is not in the rifling of the barrel, the key is that the caliber of the barrel and the bullet are highly compatible, in short, all barrels and bullets must be highly unified and must be manufactured by machinery!" It is simply impossible to make it by hand, including artillery. ”

With a slight sigh, Zhuo Bingtian said: "Yuanqi doesn't have a Changle machine manufacturing factory in Guangzhou, I heard that the silk reeling machines in Guangdong are all produced by Yuanqi, can't they produce muskets?" ”

"The craftsmanship of the two is very different." Yi Zhizhi said: "The difficulty of making the barrel is not comparable to the silk reeling machine at all, but it is ...... After a pause, he continued: "Firearms and ammunition, including artillery, we can't blindly rely on foreign purchases, once foreign countries unite, we don't even have a little room for resistance, this time England invaded, France and the United States sent warships to watch, the two countries are not at ease at all, we have to guard."

We must develop our own industry, have a strong machinery manufacturing and production capacity, and produce guns and ammunition by ourselves, the cost of the Mini gun is estimated to be only twenty taels of silver, if we can produce it ourselves, how much silver can we save? ”

"Five-fold spread? It's dark! Monk Greenqin scolded.

"The arms trade is better than a crow. The slice trade is a more lucrative trade. Yi Zhizhi said slowly: "Because the new weapons with excellent performance are enough to determine the victory or loss of a war, and can bring huge benefits, if there is no Mini gun in this Yuanqi group training, what will be the outcome of the Jiangning First War?" This batch of muskets is indeed expensive, but it is worth it! ”

Monk Lingqin saw with his own eyes how Yuanqi Tuanlian recovered Zhenjiang, and it was a simple massacre at all! It was a great shock to him! After a long silence, he sighed softly: "Contentment and confidence to imitate the Mini gun? ”

"There must be!" Yi Zhizu said in a deep voice: "In this war, the Mini gun has become famous, England and France will soon imitate a large number of Mini guns, if we can't produce it ourselves, and then a war breaks out in the future, the consequences will be unimaginable!" (To be continued.) )