Seeing that Yi Zhixiang said so firmly, Deng Tingzhen's face became solemn, and he immediately thought of Yi Zhifen's initiative to donate 2 million to replace the artillery for the Humen Fort and expand and build the fort, and immediately asked: "Contentment, but when the imperial court began to argue about the ban on smoking, he expected that England would go to war?" ”

Yi Zhishu nodded and said: "After Lord Huang Juezi, the Qing of Honglu Temple, published in the newspapers of the palace, there is no dispute about the ban on smoking in the imperial court, and the controversy is only the strength of the smoking ban.

Crow. The piece trade led to a large loss of silver, and it was impossible for the imperial court to ban smoking, but England was not political. The house is still a merchant in the crow. There are extremely lucrative profits in the film trade, and it is impossible to watch the imperial court ban smoking, and furthermore, since last year, an extremely rare economic crisis has broken out in England. The piece trade, for England, is tantamount to adding insult to injury, and England will definitely not allow it.

All in all, once the imperial court banned smoking, a war would break out between the Qing Dynasty and England, and it was an inevitable war! ”

An inevitable war? Deng Tingzhen said with some doubts: "England is only a small country, and it is tens of thousands of miles away, how dare you start a war with me?" ”

"England is not a small country." Yi Zhizu corrected: "Although the English mainland is not big, its colonies are all over the world, known as the 'empire on which the sun never sets', and the self-proclaimed British Empire, if you talk about territory, far above the Qing Dynasty, it is the largest empire in the world today, and it is also the most powerful empire in the world today!"

Although England was far away from the Qing Dynasty, its fleet could reach Guangzhou within half a year, and if it was drawn from India, the Cape of Good Hope and other colonies, it would only take two or three months to reach Guangzhou. War was a common occurrence for England. ”

Deng Tingzhen was dumbfounded when he heard this, England, which had been trading with the Qing Dynasty, turned out to be such a behemoth? And it's also a country of reckless militarism? It's unbelievable! After a long silence, he hesitated: "But English merchants have always been quite obedient in Guangzhou, and there are only three or five warships coming to Guangzhou. ”

"Smugglers. piece, bombarding Humen. Blockade the mouth of the Pearl River, wantonly arrest Citi merchant ships in Huangpu, and the 'Amsterd' went north without permission. Yi Zhizhi laughed and said, "Can these behaviors of England be called submissive? The British naval fleet has more than 100 warships capable of carrying more than 74 guns, and at least 1,000 cruisers and light sailing ships with more than 20 guns. ”

Deng Tingzhen said suspiciously: "Isn't contentment a lie? ”

"It's definitely not a lie."

Deng Tingzhen's face was a little uncertain, if it was easy to tell the truth, the consequences would be unimaginable, you know. Daoguang has repeatedly explained that he should not provoke lightly, and now that the treasury is empty, if a war breaks out with England, Lin Zexu will be degraded at least and deposed at worst.

After being stunned for a long time, he said, "Contentment will go with the headquarters to meet Lord Qincha." ”

Yi Zhizhi has made sufficient preparations for today's visit. Even if Deng Tingzhen didn't take him to see Lin Zexu, he himself would go to Yuehua Academy to visit Lin Zexu. Now he doesn't have to hide it, things have developed to this point, Lin Zexu has no way out, even if Lin Zexu now believes that England will go to war, it is impossible not to stop smoking, and choose the lesser of two evils. Giving up the ban on smoking and provoking side provocations, Lin Zexu will not weigh it out, and judging from Lin Zexu's style of acting, he will definitely not give up easily!

Yuehua Academy. Qin cha Xingyuan.

In the hall, Lin Zexu and Deng Shixian, the president of Yuehua Academy, Liang Tingfang, the head of the prison court, Chen Qikun, the head of Yangcheng Academy, and the famous gentry Zhang Weiyun, Cai Jinquan, Yao Buzhi and other gentry and celebrities in Guangzhou had a very happy conversation, discussing the establishment of a gentleman's public bureau in the Big Buddha Temple, prompting many gentry to join the ranks of the anti-smoking, so as to promote the anti-smoking action in Guangzhou and various prefectures, counties and towns to carry out in an all-round way.

Hearing the news that Deng Tingzhen and Yi Zhishu were coming, Lin Zexu got up and said: "The gentleman's public bureau should not be delayed, the sooner it is established, the sooner it can be fully promoted, you will discuss it first to see if there are any omissions." As he spoke, he bowed his hand to the crowd, and then turned to go to the signing room.

Yi Zhishu followed Deng Tingzhen into the signing room, raised his eyes and glanced at Lin Zexu, not to mention, Lin Zexu in civilian clothes was really a little similar to the bronze statue of Lin Zexu he had seen, with a slightly chubby body, a round head and a round face, thick eyebrows and big eyes, and a long beard. ”

Yi Zhishu hurriedly lifted the hem, knelt down and said: "Futai businessman, Yuanqi shopkeeper, Yi Zhicontent, meet Lord Qincha." ”

As soon as the other party entered the door, he looked carefully, and saw that he was really young, and his appearance was handsome, calm and calm, without the slightest fear and caution when the merchants first saw him, and he suddenly had a good feeling in his heart. As he spoke, he waved his hand and said to Deng Tingzhen, "Brother Wei Zhou, please take a seat." ”

After sitting down, Deng Tingzhen glanced at Yi Zhizhi and said with a smile: "Don't stand up for contentment, sit." ”

Seeing Deng Tingzhen's promotion of Yi Zhizhi so high, Lin Zexu was secretly surprised in his heart, how could the businessman have the qualifications to sit in front of him, the minister of the Qin Mission and the governor of Liangguang, let him be flat, it is already an exception, it seems that the weight of this Yi Zhizhi in Deng Tingzhen's mind is quite unusual, Deng Tingzhen's face He naturally will not refute it, and immediately said with a smile: "Don't be content and be restrained, sit." ”

"Thank you, sitting." Yi Zhishu bowed his hand slightly, and then sat down under the two of them, without the slightest restraint and caution, Lin Zexu couldn't help but secretly wonder, what is the relationship between this Yi Zhicontent and Deng Tingzhen?

Seeing that Deng Tingzhen didn't mean to speak, Yi Zhishu Chong Lin Zexu arched his hand and said: "Dare to ask adults, which is more important, no smoking or side provocation?" ”

Seeing that he still dared to dominate the topic, Lin Zexu couldn't help but be slightly stunned, glanced at Deng Tingzhen, saw his natural expression, knew that the two must have talked in detail, and immediately asked curiously: "Why do you ask so much?" ”

"If you don't smoke, it will provoke a side provocation." Yi Zhishu said in a deep voice: "I don't know if adults have given up the ban on smoking." Or do you insist on non-smoking? ”

Will a smoking ban provoke a side provocation? The English merchants are not having agreed to surrender all the crows in their hands. Slice? And Yilu's reaction wasn't very violent? How is it possible to provoke a side provocation? Lin Zexu's eyes turned on the two of them, if it weren't for Deng Tingzhen's presence, he would not hesitate to reprimand, seeing that Deng Tingzhen didn't mean to scold at all, his heart sank, and he didn't answer and asked: "Will the smoking ban provoke a side provocation?" ”

Deng Tingzhen nodded. Said: "It's not impossible, contentment will tell Lord Lin in detail about the situation in England." ”

Yi Zhishu turned to Lin Zexu and said, "I forgive you for being presumptuous, and I want to know Lord Lin's attitude first." ”

This is not an ordinary presumptuousness, Lin Zexu stared at him for a long time, and then sneered: "Good courage, that Qin Cha will tell you clearly, Crow. The film goes on day out. Ben Qin will not return for a day, Guangzhou will ban smoking, and he will definitely not give up halfway, and if he provokes a border provocation, it is to cut off trade, and it will not stop Ben Qin's determination to ban smoking! ”

Hearing this, Yi Zhixiang completely put his mind at ease and said: "My lord is for the country and the people." Loyalty and courage are truly admirable. He said. He said what he said to Deng Tingzhen again.

Hearing that England was stronger than the Qing Dynasty, and the naval fleet was strong, and it only took half a year or even less to come to Guangzhou, Lin Zexu was also speechless for a long time, he knew it very well. Such a big thing, Yi Zhixiang definitely didn't dare to say anything, this person is not a scholar who makes amazing words in order to be famous, but the big shopkeeper who controls Yuanqi Bank, and the other party will not be unclear. Once he, the Qincha, believes that England will go to war, he will inevitably actively prepare for war, and Yuanqi Bank and the Thirteen Banks will inevitably be asked to donate large sums of money.

After a long silence, he asked: "When Contentment took the initiative to donate two million to increase the defense of Humen Fort, he had already expected that England would go to war, why didn't he warn him in advance?" ”

Hearing this, Yi Zhishu said with a wry smile: "One is that the subordinates are soft-spoken and dare not speak falsely, and secondly, when the imperial court vigorously bans smoking, if it is said that the smoking ban will lead to the two countries fighting each other, an alarmist, disturbing people's hearts, and the crime of undermining the smoking ban will not be able to run. ”

The act of paying cigarettes in righteousness? Sure that England will send troops? Lin Zexu glanced at Deng Tingzhen, the two of them were clear about Yilu's move to pay cigarettes, why didn't they see any signs of war in England? He immediately put down the shelf and said with a smile: "Be content and talk about it in detail." ”

Yi Zhizu took out a fold from his sleeve and said, "This is a notice from Yilu to all English merchants to pay their cigarettes. As he spoke, he read slowly: "The Governor is mindful of the important reasons for the freedom and safety of all foreigners living in Canton. The name of the government and the representative of the government. The government ordered all Her Majesty's subjects in Canton to be loyal to the Queen. The house will be in charge of each of the crows. The pieces were immediately handed over for transfer to the Chinese government. Prefecture.......

This overseer has a special warning to all Her Majesty's subjects residing in Canton...... If you do not surrender your opium by 6 p.m. today, the Superintendent shall declare that Her Majesty the Queen will be in power. The government of all the crows of the British merchants. tablets are not responsible.

In particular, it should be noted that the value of the property of the British merchants, and of all opium surrendered in accordance with this notice, will be the subject of Her Majesty's Decree. The principles and methods promulgated by the Government are then decided. ”

Lin Zexu and Deng Tingzhen didn't know about this notice from Yilu, and at that time Yilu agreed to pump all the crows on the ship. The film was all handed over, and both of them were very excited and full of joy, and they were both complacent about making the British businessmen fool them with a little trickery, and they didn't even notice Yilu's notice to the British businessmen to pay their cigarettes.

The law of righteousness is to be governed by England. In the name of the government, the British merchants surrendered their crows. film, but also made it clear that English politics. The government surrendered the crows to the British merchants. The film is in charge, and the faces of the two of them are very ugly, this righteous law is too sinister!

Yi Zhizu glanced at the two of them, and said slowly: "Since the emperor ascended the throne, smoking has been banned. The piece is banned but it is an indisputable fact that for more than ten years, crows. The film has always been a prohibited thing in the Qing Dynasty, and all foreign businessmen understand it very clearly. The film trade is an illegal trade.

The imperial court banned smoking and cracked down on illegal foreign businessmen smuggling crows. It is indisputable that a sovereign country exercises legitimate judicial power, that is to say, this is the internal affairs of the Qing Dynasty, and it is a very ordinary judicial action against smuggling. The piece became English politics. The property of the house.

Adults collect smuggled crows. film, but now it has become a confiscation of English politics. The property of the government, which at least gave the English an excuse to go to war against the Qing Dynasty. ”

Although he did not say this explicitly, he mercilessly accused Lin Zexu and Deng Tingzhen of their mistakes in handling this matter, and he should not have sent Yilu, the British chief superintendent of commerce in Guangzhou, to Guangzhou in the first place, because the other party was a British official.

Lin Zexu was very unconvinced by this, and immediately refuted: "These smuggled crows. How could a piece become the property of the English court because of a notice of righteousness? This is even more ridiculous than referring to a deer as a horse. ”

Yi Zhishu was speechless for a while, shook his head slightly, and then said: "Yilu's move is not to refer to the deer as a horse, it is neither absurd nor ridiculous, the reason is very simple, crow. Behind the film trade is actually the English government. House in the dominant, crow. The planting, production, packaging, transportation, auction and wholesale of pieces are all English politics. The government single-handedly controlled, because the Qing Dynasty banned smoking, for the sake of reputation, they covered their ears and stole the bell, and contracted the last link - sales to English merchants - that is, English crows. Piece smugglers.

Moreover, even if the law of righteousness was referring to the deer as a horse, he still gave the English government. The pretext for the government to go to war, England is aggressive, and has always attached great importance to commerce. The government will be able to wage war openly. ”

"Shameless!" Lin Zexu only popped out a sentence for a while.

Deng Tingzhen said: "There is no way to avoid war? ”

Yi Zhixin said crisply: "Yes, give up the smoking ban." ”

Lin Zexu categorically refused without thinking about it: "Impossible! After a brief pause, he continued: "Now that smoking is banned, and there is still the strength to fight with England, and then let the crows . . . Ten or twenty years of flooding, the Qing Dynasty will have no pay and no soldiers, even if they want to fight, it is impossible, desperately lose their official resignation, desperately start a war with England, Ben Chin Cha must also completely ban smoking! ”

As he spoke, he turned his head and said: "It is said that English people can't do without tea and rhubarb, if you don't have these two things, you can't do anything, is this true?" ”

"It's pure rumor." Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "How many years has the tea trade with England been?" However, in 100 years, England has a history of more than 2,000 years. After a pause, he smiled and said, "My lord, do you want to blackmail England by cutting off trade?" (To be continued.) )