Hearing Ni Siyuan ask, Yi couldn't help but smile, worried that Yuan Qishu would make a big move, which showed that there were many shopkeepers in the Qian Ye Office who were inclined to invest in Yuan Qi, but because they didn't know Yuan Qi and hesitated, he smiled, and then said in a relaxed tone: "Brother Jing'an should probably ask first, why did the local officials in Guangdong and the imperial court allow Yuan Qi to develop to such a scale?" ”

Hearing this, Ni Siyuan was slightly stunned, indeed, Yuanqi was founded in the seventeenth year of Daoguang, and the governor of Liangguang and the governor of Guangdong have changed frequently in the past four or five years, and it is impossible for the imperial court not to hear about it, why do they all acquiesce or sit back and watch Yuanqi grow step by step?

After a slight pause, Yi Zhizhi said slowly: "Since the White Lotus Sect Sichuan and Chu made trouble, the financial resources of the imperial court have been deteriorating, and now that Yuji has ascended the throne, not to mention the continuous use ......of troops in the northwest, natural disasters are also frequent, and the imperial court's income is a fixed number, and the army has been used for disaster relief one after another, and the family funds accumulated by the imperial court over the years have long been exhausted, and now it can be said that it has reached the point of being stretched." Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ”

Speaking of this, he glanced at Ni Siyuan, and then said: "Guangzhou is a place of trade with the outside world of the Qing Dynasty, and the imperial court has always attached great importance to it.

The reason is simple, Yuan Qi provided the imperial court and the local government with a large amount of tax silver, and most importantly, Yuan Qi opened up a financial route for the imperial court, a financial road that was enough to free the imperial court from financial embarrassment.

As early as when Yuanqi monopolized the money industry in Guangzhou, I wrote to the imperial court under the pretense of Deng Butang, the governor of Liangguang at that time, to explain the various benefits of Yuanqi's monopoly on the money industry of Guangdong Province, in other words, Yuanqi's monopoly of the money industry in Guangdong Province was tacitly approved by the imperial court. ”

Hearing this, Ni Siyuan's heart tightened, Yuan Qi's expansion to Liangjiang was also acquiesced by the imperial court? Otherwise, how could Yi Zhixiang let Yuanqi Shanghai Branch be publicly listed as soon as he took office? Besides, since the imperial court can acquiesce to Yuanqi's monopoly of Guangdong's money industry, why won't it acquiesce to Yuanqi's monopoly of the money industry in Liangjiang?

"There are frequent trade exchanges between Guangzhou and Shanghai, Brother Jing'an should have read Guangzhou's "Xiguan Daily", right?" Yi Zhishu said and stretched out his hand to invite tea, picked up the tea cup and took a few sips, Ni Siyuan hurriedly said: "Xiguan Daily is different from ordinary local tabloids, the content published is quite novel, but I have read a few issues intermittently. ”

Yi Zhishu nodded and said: "Recently, "Xiguan Daily" has mainly reported two things, one is the opening of the Fozhou-Guangzhou Railway, and the other is the issuance of treasury bonds by the imperial court. As early as when Yuan Qi unified the money industry in Guangdong, I successively wrote "Eighteen Articles on Railway Rejuvenation" and "Theory of National Debts", suggesting that the imperial court build railways and issue national bonds. The Focan-Guangzhou Railway, which was opened to traffic only a few days ago, was built by Yuan Qi by order to facilitate the imperial court's inspection. ”

Although Shanghai is prosperous in commerce and trade, but after all, it is only a county seat, and it is not a transportation hub, and few officials come, Ni Siyuan is in Shanghai for officialdom information is relatively closed, and I really haven't heard of these insiders, at this time, I listened to Yi Zhi's contentment to say this, I couldn't help but be secretly frightened, and after a long time, Yuan Qi was behind the imperial court to support him! In vain, they are still worried that Yuan Qishu will make a big move!

After a slight hesitation, he opened his mouth and asked, "Master Fang Cai Yi said that Yuan Qi opened up a financial path for the imperial court.....?" ”

"Didn't Brother Jing'an notice that most of the factories opened by Yuan Qi started with machines?" Yi Zhizu said and knocked the cigarette ash, and then said slowly: "Yuanqi is mainly based on the two aspects of finance and industry, the so-called finance is also the saying that the money and silver number also include the new stock exchange in Guangzhou and other financial markets, industry, mainly the development of industry, mainly machine production and application, machine silk reeling factory is a good model."

The machine has high production efficiency, consistent product specifications, suitable for large-scale production, silk reeling, spinning, weaving, printing, mineral mining, transportation, agricultural product processing, etc. are suitable for large-scale production of machines, of course, the profits created by the machine are also quite high, Yuan Qi now pays taxes nearly two million per year, of which 600,000 is from the machine reeling factory, two years after the next year, the machine sugar mill is popularized, and the tax payment easily exceeds 2 million. ”

Pay 2 million in taxes a year! Ni Siyuan's face was stunned, and he was speechless for a long time, he paid two million in taxes, how much does Yuan Qi earn in a year? Tens of millions! No wonder Yuan Qi dared to undertake the 10 million treasury bonds issued by the imperial court, people were not afraid at all, and a few years of tax silver were worth tens of millions.

When he came back to his senses, he asked, "I don't know what kind of regulations are there for Yuanqi?" ”

"Yuanqi is a cross-industry and cross-regional business group, with many owners and relatively scattered, for the sake of fairness, regardless of the province or other provinces, all are treated equally." Yi Zhizu said and looked at Yan Shikuan, and said: "The shopkeeper Yan is the shopkeeper of Yuanqi Shanghai Branch, and Brother Jing'an will discuss the specific matters with him in detail." ”

Hearing this, Yan Shikuan stood up and said with a smile: "Master Yi is busy with the handover, and he has to check the accounts at night, so he won't bother when he waits." As he spoke, he looked at Ni Siyuan and said, "Let's talk in detail in another place." ”

Hearing him say this, Ni Siyuan had no choice but to get up and salute, and said, "Lord Yi is busy with official business, so don't bother when you are in the inferior, and take your leave." ”

Yi Zhishu got up to see him off, and said slowly as he walked: "Although the official has read little, he also knows that serving as an official will benefit one party." For the benefit of the local area, there is nothing more than the revitalization of the local economy, and I hope that Brother Jing'an will pass on a message to the gentry and businessmen in Shanghai, and this official is willing to work together with everyone to prosper Shanghai's economy. ”

Revitalizing the local economy? This sound really fresh, Ni Siyuan was quite surprised, no official would say this, he hurriedly arched his hand and said: "Lord Yi sits in Shanghai, it is really a blessing for the people of Shanghai, and the words of the adults will be conveyed truthfully." ”

Jiang Ning, Yifengmen,

Yifeng Gate, is one of the thirteen inner city gates of Jiangning City Wall, located between the southern foot of Lulong Mountain and Hydrangea Mountain in Xiaguan, between the two mountain recesses, take the advantage of geographical advantages, is the main road leading to the Yangtze River in the north of Jiangning City, and the military position is very important.

Just after the Lantern Festival, the large and small yamen in Jiangning City have not yet opened their offices, and the whole Jiangning seems to be still immersed in the atmosphere of the New Year's Festival.

A carriage slowly came out of Yifeng Gate, and as soon as the sedan curtain opened, revealing the face of a middle-aged man who was slightly thin and had a goat's beard, he looked at it slightly, and he said with some surprise: "Dong Weng wants to go to the riverside to relax?" ”

Lin Zexu, who was dressed in civilian clothes and was recuperating with his eyes closed, opened his eyes, glanced outside the car, and said, "Out of the city?" ”

"Just past Yifeng Gate."

"Go to Baitu Mountain." Lin Zexu closed his eyes again as he spoke.

"Spring Oxhead, Autumn Qixia, Spring Harmony, Dong Weng does not go to Niushou Mountain, what do you come to Baitu Mountain to see?"

"Mo Sheng has also lived in Jiangning for a few years, but has he ever been to Baitu Mountain?"

Hearing this, Wei Yuan smiled, "I also said that Dong Weng really had leisure and leisure, and he came out to enjoy the scenery and relax, but it turned out to be a field survey." ”

"In this way, Mo Sheng knows about the battle of Baitu Mountain back then?"

Wei Yuan nodded and said, "Since the previous dynasty, the Battle of Baitu Mountain was the largest battle in Jiangning for hundreds of years, how can you not know. ”

Lin Zexu leaned back and said, "Let's hear it." ”

"Dong Weng is deliberately comparing." Wei Yuan said and sorted out his thoughts a little before he said slowly: "In the sixteenth year of Shunzhi, Jiangning City's troops were empty, Zheng Cheng (Zheng Chenggong) led 3,000 large and small warships, 100,000 soldiers and horses, and traced the river from the mouth of the river, Liankeguazhou and Zhenjiang, and the troops were in Jiangning City, and camped more than 80 camps under this Baitu Mountain, but they fell into the plan of deceitful surrender and delayed the army, and missed the opportunity. ”

Speaking of this, he smiled and said: "It's been a long time, and I can't know the details, only the approximate, which makes Dong Weng smile." ”

"Yingyi is not comparable to Zheng Yi." Lin Zexu sat up and said: "However, both of them rely on the benefits of the sailor's warship, and if Yingyi offends Jiangning, it will inevitably come from this." ”

After being silent for a long time, Wei Yuan hesitated and said, "Yingyi really dares to go deep into the inland river and invade Jiangning?" ”

"Mo Sheng doesn't believe it?"

"I can't believe it." Wei Yuan said: "Yingyi relies on the advantages of warships and artillery, rampant on the sea, can be unscrupulous, unscrupulous, the inland waterway is complicated, and the Yingyi warship has never been to Jiangning, how can it not have scruples?" Besides, there are many huge ships in Yingyi, how dare they easily enter the inland river? ”

"There are many traitors in Nanyang!" Lin Zexu said coldly: "The Yingyi fleet is ravaging the southeast coast, and officials from all over the country have reported it, and there are many Han people in the Yingyi fleet. ”

Hearing this, Wei Yuanden was speechless, and only said after a while: "Since this is the case, is it necessary to strictly investigate?" ”

Lin Zexu shook his head and said, "We can't mess with ourselves first. ”

The two talked all the way, and before they knew it, the carriage had stopped, and Chang Sui took a stool and put it under the door, and then said, "Master, it's here." ”

Lin Zexu got off the carriage, and heard a rapid sound of horses' hooves coming from behind, and after a glance, he knew that it was the people and horses of the superintendent who were not at ease, and followed, and groaned slightly, before he ordered: "Just say that the headquarters came to visit friends, and strictly ordered them not to disturb the people, not to make noise, not to follow." ”

Wei Yuan followed and got out of the car and said, "Dong Weng is too worried, and he hasn't opened the seal yet, so it's normal for Dong Weng to come out to relax." ”

"As Mo Sheng just said, the head of the spring ox, the autumn perch, the spring is melting, but the headquarters came to this white soil mountain, which door is the scenery to enjoy, and which door is scattered?" Lin Zexu said for a moment, and said with a slight sneer: "The headquarters has just taken office, and I don't know how many dirty officials are struggling to ponder every move of the headquarters. ”

Wei Yuan was about to persuade again, but at a glance he caught a glimpse of a beautiful Western sailing ship in the river that was quickly tracing the river, and couldn't help but point: "That's not the Western clipper that sent Dong Weng to Jiangning?" ”

Lin Zexu took a look at the pergola with his hand, and said with a smile: "It's contentment." So saying, he commanded, "Let them stop the boat and bring the men over." ”

As soon as he heard that Yi Zhixin was coming, Wei Yuan didn't feel a little puzzled in his heart, didn't Yi Zhicontent just take office, and he and Lin Zexu had just been separated for a few days, why did they come to Jiangning again? Something important? can look at Lin Zexu's expression and tone, as if he knew that he was coming in the next two days.

I wondered in my heart, he didn't want to ask much, he looked around, and saw a tea shed not far away, so he said: "There is a gazebo ahead, how about we go to the gazebo?" ”

Lin Zexu said: "Okay, it's better than sitting in the carriage." ”

Walking slowly all the way, Wei Yuan said cautiously: "I have always been puzzled, why is Dong Weng worried that the Yingyi fleet will come to attack Jiangning?" Didn't Qi Zhongtang start negotiations with Yingyi in Guangzhou? ”

Lin Zexu and Wei Yuan have a shallow relationship, Lin Zexu joined the Xuannan Poetry Society when he was serving as a Hanlin editor in Beijing, and he got acquainted with Wei Yuan and Gong Zizhen.

Glancing back, seeing that everyone was far away, he said slowly: "Yingyi has already increased his troops before the negotiations, and Yi Zhizhi participated in the negotiations with Yingyi in Guangzhou, judging that Yingyi will not be satisfied with the results of the negotiations, and will inevitably expand the war." ”

Yingyi has massively increased its troops? Wei Yuan's heart couldn't help sinking, and he said after a while: "But even so, the Yingyi fleet may not come to attack Jiangning." ”

Lin Zexu said patiently: "Last year, the Yingyi fleet had already plundered the southeast coast, if you want to get more and greater benefits, you must attack the important cities along the coast of the Qing Dynasty, so that the targets of the Yingyi fleet are nothing more than Guangzhou, Jiangning, and Tianjin. Because Guangzhou is located in a corner and is heavily guarded, it may not be the first choice ....... for Yingyi. ”

Speaking of this, he stopped talking, although he was convinced of Wei Yuan, but the plan to lure the British army to attack Jiangning was really a bit appalling, and the less people knew about it, the better.

Wei Yuan was shocked when he heard this, if Yingyi really came to attack Jiangning, the consequences would be unimaginable, he had been living in Jiangning, and the situation in Jiangning City was clear, but there was no prevention at all, he reacted very quickly, and immediately thought that this might be the fundamental reason why the imperial court let Lin Zexu take over as the governor of Liangjiang, and in addition to Lin Zexu's arrival in the past few days, there has been no movement at all, which is too unreasonable.

Although he knew that he shouldn't ask, he still couldn't help but ask: "Dong Weng is this in the next big game of chess?" ”

"This game of chess is easy to propose." Lin Zexu said lightly: "The main hall is just a chess piece. ”

Wei Yuan was shocked when he heard this, who else can make Lin Zexu a chess piece in this world? What surprised him even more was that this matter was actually facilitated by Yi Zhicontent, it seems that Yi Da's shopkeeper is not just as simple as making money, no wonder Lin Zexu values him so much.

This topic is too big, he didn't dare to continue to ask, and immediately sighed lightly: "There are talented people in the country and ......." ”

"It's really a talent." Lin Zexu said: "Mo Sheng advocates the application of the world and advocates innovation and change, you might as well talk to him more, you will definitely benefit a lot." After a pause, he continued: "If the old man leaves Liangjiang, he still hopes that Mo Sheng can go to Shanghai. (To be continued.) )