As Yi Zhixiang and Liu Guangdou entered the lobby, the dull and tense atmosphere in the courtyard was also relaxed, and a group of gentry and businessmen either exchanged their heads and whispered to each other, or exchanged greetings to inquire about each other's news, and the atmosphere became relaxed and lively, and the topic of discussion and inquiry was naturally inseparable from the newly appointed Daoxian Lord, especially the tenure of this Daoxian Lord. Pen % fun % Pavilion www.biquge.info

According to the imperial court system, Shanghai Daotai is a senior member who supervises the local administration of Su, Song, and Taifu and one prefecture, and all government affairs in the region should be reported to the Dao by the yamen step by step, and the Daotai will supervise and submit it to the province.

As a rule, Shanghai County is subordinate to Songjiang Prefecture, and its administrative regulations are reported by the county to the prefecture, the prefecture to the province, and the provincial government to the province, but because the Shanghai Provincial Government and the County Government are located in the same city, the administrative affairs of Shanghai County are in fact under the supervision of the Shanghai Provincial Government at all times. Whenever there is a major event, the county magistrate of Shanghai also asks for instructions nearby.

To put it simply, Shanghai Daotai is the actual chief administrative officer of Shanghai County, and a group of gentry and businessmen dare not sell the face of the county, but they absolutely dare not sell the face of the Taotai, especially when this Taoist platform may not move for a long time.

No one knows the inside story of Yi Zhi's actual teaching of Shanghai Dao, but as soon as Yi Zhizu took office, he recruited volunteers and asked Yuan Qi to open a branch in Shanghai, which obviously did not look like he was ready to slip away at any time, which made everyone believe in his words a little.

At a table in the Merchant Marine Hall, Yu Taifeng, the owner of the "Yu Sensheng" sand boat company, saw that the owner of the pavilion, Wang Tongchun, was silent, and couldn't help but say: "Lord Daoxian only gives two quarters of an hour, if the owner of the Wang Pavilion has any ideas, you might as well say it and discuss it." ”

After a slight sigh, Wang Tongchun spoke: "The Yuanqi branch is listed and opened, we gave 10,000 taels of gifts, and the silver is confiscated ......." ”

Shen Wanxiang pursed her lips and said, "That silver exists in Yuanqi, and the pavilion owner is embarrassed to take it?" It's just a polite remark. ”

"That's not a polite remark." Yu Taifeng said: "Opening an account and saving money is to attract customers. ”

Shen Wanxiang said: "Okay, if the 10,000 silver can be taken out, let's make up another 10,000 and donate 20,000." ”

"That's what I mean, too." Wang Tongchun glanced at a few people as he spoke, and said slowly: "Recruiting volunteers is a good act, we have to support it, and I think that this new Daoxian is different from ordinary officials, instead of giving gifts in private, it is better to take the lead and actively respond to donations." ”

Wang Renbo said worriedly: "If there is any more donation, this amount will become a rule." ”

"It's not a rule." Wang Tongchun said: "Two thousand volunteers, the monthly expenditure is more than 12,000 taels, if only 20,000 or 30,000 taels are raised, it is difficult for the volunteers to maintain, I estimate, the volunteers will be maintained at least until the end of the year, besides, the Yuanqi branch has donated 15,000, we are embarrassed to be less than them?" Our sand boat line has a good reputation. ”

"Our sand boat shop is famous, but there is a dirt shop on it."

"Dirt walk?" Wang Tongchun shook his head and said: "Lin Butang took over Liangjiang, and the soil line has changed from bright to dark, and the finger is not reliable, you see, can there be a local shopkeeper coming?" ”

Shen Wanxiang said hatefully: "It's really cheap for those grandsons." ”

"If you don't have an opinion, it's settled." Wang Tongchun said and slowly glanced at the few people present, and seeing that no one objected, he ordered: "Spread the amount we donated." ”

The Merchant Marine Association decided to donate 20,000 yuan, this news seems to be a slap in the face, knocking on the public halls, the gentry and businessmen are disgraced, the amount of the Merchant Marine Association is equivalent to drawing a comparison, the cake bean industry office, the money industry office, the rice bean industry office, the cloth industry office, the clothing office, the Shandong office, the Zhejiang Shao office, the Huining office....... The slightly larger public offices felt a little at a loss for a while, this amount was too big, beyond their imagination, and they didn't dare to send it according to this comparison.

Ruan Kaiming of the Cake and Bean Industry Office walked slowly to the table of the Merchant Marine Club, bean cake is the largest trade commodity in Shanghai, he is also very familiar with a group of sand boat owners, he arched his hand at everyone, he half-jokingly said seriously: "You have a lot of money, but you have a problem for us..... ”

"Shopkeeper Ruan's words are wrong." Shen Wanxiang said with a smile: "Lord Daoxian said very clearly, it is completely voluntary, there is no limit to how much, and it is okay to not pull out a dime, so why should the shopkeeper Ruan be embarrassed." ”

"You can't listen to ..... this."

Yu Taifeng said with a smile: "Shopkeeper Ruan, we have been friends for many years, I have to remind you, don't be confused at the critical moment." ”

Hearing this, Ruan Kaiming frowned slightly, and then said with a smile on his face: "I still hope that Yu will not hesitate to dial." ”

"Shopkeeper Ruan, you might as well sort out what Lord Daoxian just said....... Yu Taifeng said: "Lord Daoxian is the treasurer of Yuanqi, as soon as we met, he said that he couldn't think of two things, one is that the first time we met was to donate, and the other is that we are too picky." ”

Ruan Kaiming pondered for a while, but he didn't understand it, so he smiled and said: "Don't just say half of what Master Yu says, the old man can listen to it." ”

Smiling, Yu Taifeng said: "The meaning of this sentence is very clear, this donation, Lord Daoxian didn't plan to show up at all, it was because we made the county master unable to step down, so Daoxian had to come, doesn't that mean?" ”

"Yes, yes." Ruan Kaiming nodded: "And then?" ”

"Lord Daoxian didn't plan to show up, which means that he doesn't care about this fundraiser at all, that is, he doesn't care about the amount of donations." Yu Taifeng said slowly: "The reason is very simple, Yuan Qi is rich and doesn't care about this bit of silver, which is why the county government first recruits volunteers and then raises donations." After a pause, he smiled and said, "Lord Daoxian's sentence 'It's completely voluntary, there is no limit to how much, and it's okay to pull out a dime.' You should listen to it, not the other way around. ”

Ruan Kaiming said with a confused face: "Why did Master Yu remind the old man not to be confused at the critical moment?" ”

"Shopkeeper Ruan only cares about the beans in Liaodong, Shandong, and doesn't care much about Guangzhou." Yu Taifeng joked with him, and then said: "Yuanqi has opened many factories in Guangzhou and built railways, but in fact, Yuanqi's real money is not Yuanqi Bank, but those factories." Lord Daoxian said that he will work together with us to prosper Shanghai's economy, which should not be a lie, how to work together? It naturally depends on our performance. ”

This could not be more thorough, Ruan Kaiming arched his hand and said solemnly: "Xie Yu is in charge." ”

Two quarters of an hour later, a group of scribes counted the amount of donations pledged by the public hall and gentry and merchants, and walked quickly into the lobby to present it to Yi Zhicontent, and after a little look, Yi Zhicontent smiled and said, "It seems that there are many people who understand." As he spoke, he handed the list to Liu Guangdou.

After taking the list, Liu Guangdou couldn't help but be a little dumbfounded, the merchant ship guild hall tattooed 20,000 silver, the cake bean industry office tattooed silver 10,000, the cloth industry office tattooed silver 8,000, the rice bean industry office tattooed silver 8,000, the money industry office tattooed silver 5,000, the Zheshao office 5,000, the Huining office 5,000 ....., plus the scattered gentry and merchants' donations, the total donation amount was 156,800 taels.

That's a huge difference! The amount he raised before was not even eight thousand taels, and Liu Guangdou said with a wry smile: "My lord's departure is really extraordinary." ”

Yi Zhizhi smiled contentedly, stood up and said, "It's not that I have a big face on this platform, but a big face on silver." As he spoke, he walked out slowly, Liu Guangdou was confused when he heard it, and he was a little stunned, so he hurriedly followed.

Walking out of the lobby slowly, Yi Zhizhi stood still on the steps, arched his hand at the courtyard people, and said loudly: "You have generously donated money to help the county government recruit volunteers, and this official thanks you on behalf of the 100,000 people in Shanghai." ”

The gentry and businessmen in the courtyard were already busy getting up when they saw him come out, and when they heard these words, they hurriedly returned the salute one by one, a mess of humility, and when the voice was quiet, Yi Zhishu stretched out his hand and pressed it down, and said: "The total amount of donations is 156,800 taels, all of which are stored in the Yuanqi Shanghai Branch." ”

Hearing this, Liu Guangdou was stunned, and he didn't give a tael of silver to the county government? The gentry and merchants did not react to this, they pledged to lose, as for how to use the silver, it has nothing to do with them, no one has always cared, and they can't care if they want to.

After a slight pause, Yi Zhizhi continued: "One place and one line, all with the public hall, this official believes that a county gentry and businessmen should also set up a general chamber of commerce, which is not only convenient for exchanges with the government, but also conducive to the coordination and organization of the county's clubs and mansions, of course, it is also convenient to strive for the protection of the legitimate rights and interests of the gentry and merchants. ”

All the gentry and businessmen listened to a line, these words came out of the mouth of Yi Zhicontent, the Shanghai Taotai, it really made people feel a little weird, Yi Zhizhi ignored the crowd, and said to himself: "The General Chamber of Commerce was initially established, the scale should not be large, tentatively set eleven people, one president and vice president, nine directors, by your own public recommendation, this time for the recruitment of volunteers to raise money two, one should be spent, but also by the General Chamber of Commerce to supervise the audit and verification, so as not to be diverted for other purposes." Speaking of this, he smiled, "It's rare for you to gather here today, so you might as well take this opportunity to have a good discussion." ”

Yi Zhicontentment turned around and entered the lobby, and the courtyard was "booming" to discuss, a group of gentry and businessmen who know how heavy the weight of this general chamber of commerce is, this is not only to oversee the business of a county in Shanghai, but also to strive to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the gentry and businessmen, simply put, the president of the general chamber of commerce is the leader of the gentry and businessmen of a county, that is, to become a director, that is also a hundred times worth.

In the lobby, Liu Guangdou looked at Yi Zhishu and said incomprehensibly: "I don't understand why the adults want to encourage the gentry and businessmen to establish the General Chamber of Commerce, and I think that the establishment of the General Chamber of Commerce will undoubtedly increase the difficulty of governance." ”

"Where there are advantages, there must be disadvantages, and we have to weigh whether the advantages are greater or the disadvantages are greater." Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "The General Chamber of Commerce may bring some difficulties to the administration, but it will also bring unexpected benefits and conveniences, and try it, you can not only say something, but also forbid it, why should Lord Liu worry?" ”

This is also true, Liu Guangdou nodded, turned to remember the donation, hesitated, and then said: "What are the plans of the two thousand volunteers recruited?" ”

After glancing at him, Yi Zhizhi said: "Hurry up and train first, and then consider it when the Yingyi fleet withdraws, or the two countries negotiate peace." As he spoke, he turned around and ordered, "Go and call the shopkeeper Yan." ”

Yan Shikuan walked in quickly, glanced at the two of them, and arched his hand: "What do you two adults command?" ”

Ordering the donation list on the coffee table, Yi Zhizhi looked at Liu Guangdou and then at Yan Shikuan, and said, "Lord Liu hurry up and implement the donation, this silver will be deposited in the branch, and the interest will be paid according to the normal situation, don't let people gossip." In addition, the county government's loans should also be stepped upon. As he spoke, he stood up, "You have to deal with ..... here." ”

Liu Guangdou and Yan Shikuan accompanied him out of the side door, and seeing that Yan Shikuan had been following, Yi Zhizu stopped, looked at Liu Guangdou, and said: "Lord Liu, please go back, I will send it to the banquet in a while, your master is not here, they don't dare to open the banquet." ”

Liu Guangdou knew that the two had something to say, so he was slightly polite, so he saluted and said goodbye, and as soon as he left, Yan Shikuan smiled and said: "Big shopkeeper, this general chamber of commerce, can I enter?" ”

"What do you say?" Easy to be content to walk slowly, slowly and leisurely.

"The big shopkeeper wants to control all the public halls through the General Chamber of Commerce." Yan Shikuan also said: "Don't say that the president and vice president, the chairman of the board of directors must have a seat in Yuanqi, right?" ”

Yi Zhifen nodded and said: "The branch monopolizes the money industry in Shanghai, not to mention the president, at least the vice president is nine out of ten, but with your identity, it is a waste to be the vice president, so be a director." After a slight pause, he continued: "The General Chamber of Commerce is not as simple as you think, be low-key. ”

"I understand below." Yan Shikuan nodded again and again.

Five days later, two passenger sand boats along the Huangpu River slowly approached the county seat, all the boats were strong guys, all leaning on the side of the boat to look at the prosperous scenery on both sides of the river, from time to time whispering, on the bow of the boat, a tall figure, thick eyebrows and big eyes, a slightly loyal young man pointed to the bustling wharf in front of the river and said: "Boat boss, the front is Lao Baidu?" ”

"That's Shop Sixteen." The boss of the boat said in the official dialect of Jia Sheng: "Lao Baidu is fifteen shops, and it is still ahead. "For this group of young students, the self-proclaimed well-informed ship boss is also a little incomprehensible, the officers and soldiers are not like the officers and soldiers, the bandits are not like the bandits, and they are not like the gangs.

This group of guys is naturally the group of Yuanqi regimental training, and on the bow of the boat is Xiao Mingming, the head of the third regiment, he brought two companies to Shanghai, and heard that Lao Baidu was still in front, he smiled and said: "This dock in Shanghai is not small. ”

This way from Guangdong to Hunan Province, through the Yangtze River down Jiangning to Shanghai, he has seen a lot of big wharves along the way, originally thought that Shanghai is just a county, do not want the scale of this wharf is not inferior to those big wharves along the Yangtze River, it seems that the big shopkeeper is interested in this place, otherwise he will not recruit 2,000 volunteers, but also let them train. (To be continued.) )