Winter dark early, less than six o'clock, the sky has been numb, easy to be content to go out only to find that the sky drifted scattered snowflakes, he looked up at the dim sky with a happy face, but some years have not seen heavy snow, I hope to see a heavy snow before leaving Beijing, is about to get on the sedan chair, the girl Jin Ying chased out, said: "Young master, it's snowing, bring a hand stove." ”

"Yes, I know that the heartache young master." Yi Zhizu jokingly took the hand stove and said with a smile: "Look at this sky, tonight must be a heavy snowfall, don't be stuffy in the inn Ming'er, let them take you out of the city to enjoy the snow." ”

"Young Master Xie is considerate."

Yi Zhizhi smiled, got into the sedan chair and ordered: "Go to Wang Zhongtang's mansion." The sedan chair is a green cloth sedan chair, it is temporarily hired, the reason why he chose this time period to go out, is afraid of giving way, there are many people in the Beijing Division, you can see eight people carrying a sedan chair and a beautifully decorated carriage everywhere on the street, and the green cloth sedan chair carried by two people can only pull aside.

The Taoist is also a prince in the county, majestic and majestic, and he travels with gongs to open the way, but in the three and four grades of the Beijing master, it can be said that he is not even a green onion, let alone any majesty, and he has to be a man with his tail between his legs.

Now that he understands what is going on in Shanghai Dao, he also vaguely guessed that when Wang Ding saw him at night, most of them were to explain or tell him to take office, to say that this Shanghai Dao is really a trouble for him, how can he leave Guangzhou now? Did Daoguang deliberately do this, let him take the initiative to resign, in this way, he can not only issue treasury bonds smoothly, but also let him get involved in Jianghaiguan, and let him eat Coptis chinensis dumbly, and he can't say if he has any bitterness.

He took the initiative to resign from this Shanghai Dao, he was really unwilling, after all, he knew very well that Shanghai's development prospects were far greater than Guangzhou's, and besides, for him, Shanghai is now a blank sheet of paper, which can be depicted by him, and the Suzhou, Songjiang, and Taicang prefectures under his jurisdiction are also prosperous and wealthy, and the handicraft industry is prosperous, which can be more than his room to play in Guangzhou.

Tangled all the way to the intersection of the palace, he got off the sedan chair and walked all the way over, as soon as the post was handed in, the porter steward greeted him, and led him in, Wang Ding was in the study with a candle and a book, saw him come in to see the salute, put down the pen and got up, and said: "Contentment does not need to be formal, sit." As he spoke, he commanded again: "Serve tea." ”

The two sat down, and Wang Ding asked: "I know that I can be awarded the Shanghai Dao in the year of the weak crown, and I should find out about Shanghai." ”

Yi Zhisuff said with a smile: "Xiaguan has no acquaintances in the officialdom of the Beijing Division, so he wants to come to see Zhongtang left and right, so why bother asking others for advice." ”

Wang Ding didn't talk nonsense, and said straightforwardly: "The sub-patrol Su Song Tai Bing Dao has always been valued by the imperial court, although it is only the fourth grade, but it has always been over, there is no major fault, and it will be promoted to the third grade according to the judge or from the second grade of the political secretary, the emperor did not separate the Jiang Customs supervision, but directly gave the content to patrol Su Song Tai Bing Dao, which shows that the expectations for contentment are quite high. ”

After a slight pause, he continued: "This pavilion will not hide it from you, when the emperor inquired, this cabinet suggested that the Jiang Customs be separated from the Shanghai Road and directly appoint you as the superintendent of the Jiang Customs, but the emperor did not accept it. ”

Daoguang was really deliberate, Yi Zhizhi secretly thought in his heart, and sighed slightly, before he said: "The lower official has never been an official, this Taoist member connects the upper and lower officials, and there is no subordinate official, and the subordinate official is afraid that he will lose the emperor's favor." ”

"There are times when contentment is timid?" Wang Ding said disapprerovitically: "Yuanqi's name has banks, Yixue, factories, mines, and group training, everything, and tens of thousands of Donggang and Tuanyong, and they are content and well-organized?"

Yi Zhishu estimated that this should be Daoguang's original words, and immediately said humbly: "Xiaguan, the big shopkeeper of Yuanqi, is just a hands-off shopkeeper. ”

"This Shanghai Dao, contentment can't be a platform for shaking hands." Wang Ding paused as he spoke, and the people who were waiting for him to offer tea and retreated, and after he stretched out his hand to make tea, he continued: "Although there is no subordinate official for contentment, you can hire staff, and good staff are even more important than subordinate officials. ”

There is a proverb in the officialdom of the Qing Dynasty - no curtain is not a ya, the so-called curtain is the staff is the master, the officials of the Qing Dynasty did not invite the master, and the invitation is not one or two, the general county will hire three or five in charge of money and grain, criminal names, chapters, accounts, knowledge, etc., Yi Zhizhi has close contacts with officials in Guangzhou, naturally clear, and also understands that for officials, the master is not generally important, Wang Ding suggested that he go to Liangjiang to invite, naturally let him ask him to be familiar with the Jiangnan officialdom and know the local people's feelings, he hurriedly bowed and said: " Xie Zhongtang nodded. ”

"Shanghai Dao has three responsibilities." Wang Ding said slowly: "One is to supervise the local administration, the second is to maintain local security, and the third is to manage the Jiang Customs. This cabinet would like to focus on the maintenance of local law and order. ”

Maintaining local law and order? Yi Zhizu keenly felt that Daoguang actually taught him the Shanghai Dao, which should be for this, this is to use the Chongyuan Qi group training to guard Shanghai?

"Sub-patrol Su Songtai is preparing for the road, which is a sub-patrol, defending the land, and preparing for the army, and the three roads are in one." Wang Ding looked at him and said: "The military and the government are in charge, the army and the people are in charge, the horses are in charge of the soldiers, and the horses are in charge of the people, and they have the right to control the local green camp, and it is also their duty to maintain local security." As he spoke, he asked, "I heard that Macau's defense is now being taken over by the Yuanqi regiment?" ”

"Yes." Yi Zhizhi said: "The British fleet is entrenched in the ocean outside Guangzhou, and Lin Butang is worried that the British will attack Macao again, so he deliberately trains the Yuanqi regiment to assist in defense. ”

Wang Ding nodded and said: "Yingyi has increased his troops, it is very likely that he will commit Jiangsu and Zhejiang again, and the second mansion of Susong is near the sea and the river, and he is content to take over Shanghai Dao at this time. ”

It's really the idea of playing Yuanqi group training! Yi Zhizhi was silent for a long time, Yuanqi's foundation is in Guangzhou, Yuanqi's regiment has to defend both Guangzhou and Shanghai, where are so many troops?

Seeing that Yi Zhizhi was stunned and silent, Wang Ding was silent for a moment before he spoke: "Contentment into Beijing, the emperor summoned him for three consecutive days, and gave the way to Shanghai, contentment does not need to be introduced again, and the issuance of treasury bonds is urgent. ”

Even the introduction is exempted? Leaving Beijing tomorrow? Yi Zhixiang secretly wondered in his heart, this is obviously what Daoguang meant, how dare Wang Ding make decisions without authorization, why is he so anxious?

Early the next morning, the genius was bright, Yi Zhizhi got up, pushed the door to see, there was no heavy snow outside, just wet, as if it was raining heavily, he couldn't help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief, Daoguang he left Beijing immediately, he didn't want to stay in Beijing for a long time, this trip was mainly for the supervision of Jiang Customs, but he got a Shanghai road, which made him slanderous, and planned to leave Beijing early in the morning.

Listening to the movement, Jin Ying hurried over and said, "The young master only slept in the middle of the night last night, why did he get up so early, but do you want to enjoy the snow?" ”

Hearing this, Yi Zhixiang was a little surprised, and said: "Didn't you notice last night, and left Beijing early this morning, don't you know?" Before the words fell, Li Wang hurriedly rushed over and said, "Ying girl went to bed early, and the little one woke her up." As he spoke, he reported again: "Young Master, everything is ready and ready to set off at any time." ”

Yi Zhishu nodded, went back to the room and took a letter and handed it to him, saying, "This is a letter left for Su Shun, and it will be handed over to him by the shopkeeper." ”

Li Wang took the letter and turned around and left, and after a while, he hurried over to report: "Young master, there are promising officials from the household department waiting at the inn, saying that they are going to Guangzhou with us. As he spoke, he handed over a post.

Yi Zhizu glanced at it, Wang Maoyin, a member of the household department, couldn't help frowning, the household department arranged for Wu Qijun, the left waiter, to go south to Guangzhou to help supervise Yuan Qi's issuance of treasury bonds, how did he come to a five-grade outsider? After freshening up, he said, "I'll go to the front and have a look, you guys are packing up and waiting outside." ”

In the lobby of the inn, Wang Maoyin, who was in his early forties, rubbed his hands and walked back and forth in the lobby, this time the household department sent personnel south to Guangzhou to preside over the issuance of treasury bonds, which can be said to be an extremely rare fat difference, he did not expect that such a good thing would fall on his head, until he returned home, he did not react, the British fleet is now anchored in the ocean of Guangzhou, and a group of officials are afraid of encountering military disasters.

He is a native of She County, Anhui Province, Daoguang 12 years of Jinshi, the first head of the household department, 18 years of promotion of the staff of the Lang, although not young, but in the household is not a senior generation, however, for the money law, banknotes, he has a lot of research, for the Yuanqi Bank silver is extremely concerned, this time to be able to go south to Guangzhou to participate in the issuance of treasury bonds, he can be said to be overjoyed.

Seeing Yi Zhi, who was dressed in civilian clothes, strode in, he hurriedly stepped forward and bowed and said, "Wang Maoyin, a member of the lower official household department, has seen Master Yi. ”

Yi Zhishu nodded and said, "What about Lord Wu?" ”

"Wu Shaosinong said that he would not be able to leave until a day or two late." Wang Maoyin said: "Master Yi should stay in Tianjin for a day or two. ”

It seems that people have touched his bottom very clearly, and Yi Zhizu said with a slight chin and said, "Then we will wait in Tianjin." As he spoke, he glanced at the lobby and said, "Is Lord Wang walking with us, or is he walking with Lord Wu?" ”

"Xia Guan is just a poor Beijing official, so he naturally walks with Master Yi." Wang Maoyin said with a smile, "Master Yi left Beijing in such a hurry, but he was afraid of recommending people?" ”

Afraid of seeing people? Yi Zhizhi was content, no matter how this sounded, it was not a good word, but the other party could not be so presumptuous, Wang Maoyin hurriedly explained: "The nobles of the Beijing master are the most fond of recommending their slaves to the new fat shortage, although the Jianghai Customs is not as good as the Guangdong Customs, but it is also a few fat shortages. ”

Yi Zhizhi smiled contentedly and said, "Exactly, I'm afraid of recommending people, let's go early." ”

Originally, it was expected to wait in Tianjin for three days at most, but Yi Zhizhi waited for five days in Tianjin, and when he returned to Tianjin from the Dagukou Fort, he waited until Wu Qijun, the left attendant of the household department, and he was not the only one who came, and there was also a Qin cha - the Qin Cha who supervised the issuance of treasury bonds, the auxiliary state prince, not into the eighth point auxiliary state duke, the seventeenth son of the Qianlong Emperor, the sixth son of Prince Yongxuan of Qingxi, and the son of the serious eight hundred clans, who was not very old, only twenty-six years old.

Yi Zhishu didn't know how Daoguang sent a disciple of the clan to Guangzhou with him to supervise the issuance of treasury bonds, which was obviously an excuse, and there was a minister in Guangzhou-Qi Shan, I really didn't know what medicine was sold in Daoguang's gourd.

After a day of repair, Yi Zhizhi and his entourage left Tianjin by boat, and as soon as they got on the boat, they said curiously: "What kind of ship is this?" So weird? How much can this hold? And this sail. ”

Yi Zhishu naturally didn't want to offend this clan clan easily, and said with a smile: "This is Citi's domestically produced flying clipper boat, which is known for its speed, and the English and Citi countries are not, and French traders mostly use this boat to smuggle crows. Slice. ”

Listen to the smugglers. When Wu Qijun boarded the clipper, he became interested and said: "Look at this ship, there are not many artillery guns loaded, aren't you afraid of being arrested by the sailors?" ”

"The speed of the sailor's warship is not half that of this ship." Yi Zhishu said and pointed to the sail and said, "This is called a longitudinal sail, which can use the eight-sided wind, even if it is against the wind, it can move forward quickly." ”

"You can go against the wind?" Mian said incredulously: "How is this done?" ”

"A few days after the boat sails, Grandpa Guo will know." Yi Zhixiang said and smiled, "You have never been to the sea, you all go to the cabin to rest, otherwise you will suffer a while." ”

Everyone knew that he was talking about seasickness, Wu Qijun took Wang Maoyin to the cabin, but he was full of fluidity, he looked around, Yi Zhizhi was content as the master, so it was naturally not good to leave him alone, and he took a cigar and accompanied him all the way.

After walking around, he said with great interest: "How much silver is this ship?" ”

Yi Zhishu said lightly: "More than 200,000." ”

So expensive? Mian was startled and said, "Use this boat to smuggle crows. Is the piece cost-effective? ”

"Grandpa Guo knows about crows. How profitable is the slice? Yi Zhizhi said: "From India to the Qing Dynasty, twenty-five times the profit, with this ship, you can run back and forth several times a year." ”

"Crow. How big is the profit? "Mian looked incredulous.

Yi Zhixiang smiled and said, "Anyway, I'm idle, I'll talk to Grandpa Guo about the crows. tablets of the situation. ”

The children of the clan generally do not follow the order can not go out of Beijing, although the Mian is in his twenties, he is also the master who does not leave Beijing, and he has never been out to sea, as soon as the clipper boat enters the sea, he will move forward at full speed, although the wind and waves are not big, but the Mian soon began to get seasick, vomiting in the dark, Yi Zhizhi can be said to have a wealth of experience in preventing seasickness, however, he did not prepare for them at all, the reason is naturally simple, and the root of the picture is pure.

The speed of the clipper ship was extremely fast, and there was no delay in going all the way south, and the ship did not stop when it passed through Shanghai, but rushed directly to Guangzhou, Yi Zhishu knew very well that the top priority at the moment was to prepare for the issuance of treasury bonds, and even if he postponed his appointment for two or three months, he would not be able to delay anything, and perhaps the officials of Su Songtai's two prefectures and one prefecture would like him to take over later.

However, on the Guangzhou side, it is inseparable from him, the stock exchange is preparing to open, the raising of 10 million taels of silver, the printing of treasury bonds and so on all need to be decided by him, and Yuan Qi and the other shopkeepers are afraid that they are all waiting for him to go back. (To be continued.) )