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The afterglow of the setting sun vanished into the sky, and when the last rays of light disappeared over the horizon, the whole earth was enveloped in the afterglow of the setting sun. Nanjing, which had been noisy for a day, finally quieted down. Accompanied by the starlight in the night sky, there are street lamps on the main streets of Nanjing. The tall lampposts are painted snow-white, and beautiful windproof oil lamps hang from them.

In the years before the age of steam, darkness at night is the main body of the world. Whether in the East or in the West, there are always very few places that are brightly lit at night. In many residential areas in Nanjing, for example, in addition to the street lamps set up on the third-level roads at the expense of the government, there are few oil lamps in other alleys, not to mention the wind lamps hanging outside. As soon as it gets dark, most of the families have gone to bed.

The light of a hundred candles is roughly equal to a 100-watt electric lamp. In this era, the light of the vast majority of families around the world after nightfall is the degree of opening the refrigerator door in the 21st century. At this time, in London, the most populous city in Europe, there were many cases of guests and hosts gathering at a table and playing cards around a candle at night; The bigwigs of the thirteen states of North America lived in European-style houses made of white pine, drove slaves, and then lit four candles and three oil lamps in their vast dining room to have a dinner party.

So as soon as it gets dark, the city of Nanjing becomes two worlds. The fluorescent connection on the first, second and third level roads forms a light band, communicating the Imperial Palace, Qinhuai River, Xuanwu Lake and Wuyi Lane, and most of the civilian areas, which are clearly distinguished.

Most of the few people in the residential area who have not turned off the lights can hear the 'click' of the loom. It's just that the price of homespun cloth is very cheap nowadays, especially in the south of the Yangtze River, there are not many people who can insist on weaving homespun cloth to make a living, and even if they still weave homespun cloth, most of the yarn used is machine yarn purchased from the yarn factory. Many people spin homespun cloth just for themselves, because homespun cloth is much stronger and thicker than woven cloth.

In the city of Nanjing, the people who are still weaving at night with oil lamps and candles are definitely not weaving homespun cloth, but weaving silk.

In the light of the street lamps, several policemen rushed to the State Guesthouse with a carriage with a small red flag on the front of the carriage, and there was a person sitting in the carriage, none other than Yin Yue Wenhai, the current Shuntian Mansion in Nanjing.

The reading was over, Yue Wenhai finished a series of follow-up chores, and rested for two days. A post from King Shoki of the Ryukyus. Two days later, he was about to leave Nanjing and return to China.

Chen Ming met with Shang Xi during the day, and Shang Xi also held a banquet by himself in the evening.

Not only Yue Wenhai was present at the meeting, but his son-in-law Chen Jigong was also invited by Shang Xi, as well as foreigners from Shangguan Street, the head of the banking industry in Nanjing, plus Su Luhou, Annam, and Li Hui of North Korea.

Yue Wenhai smiled very intriguingly, what kind of person is he? The number one leader of the Shuntian Mansion in Nanjing, the power in his hands is much greater than that of the Shuntianfu Yin Ke in Beijing during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Less than an hour after receiving the post, Shang Xi invited someone to this banquet, and all the names were reported to Yue Wenhai. Shang Xi is obviously 'borrowing flowers to offer Buddha' and connecting feelings. The latter, Ryukyu, although known as the 'Mankokutsu Liang', was a transit point for trade between Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia. However, with the full opening of China's foreign trade ports, in addition to Japan needs to pass through the Ryukyus to go south, Chinese merchant ships need to pass through Okinawa to go to the South Seas.

Even if the sea ships going south from Shanghai, they can go to the sea off Taiwan, that is, the Bass Strait and Bahrain Tang in later generations, instead of going through the Taiwan Strait. In the future, it is expected that the port revenue of the Ryukyus Kingdom will be greatly reduced.

But Shang Xi is not blind, he can see the 'contradictions' between China and Japan, and even happily hopes that Japan will be taught a hard lesson by China. This can not only give Ryukyu a good breath of relief, one hundred and sixty-five years of shame, the whole dignity of Ryukyu was trampled under the feet of the Satsuma Domain, China fought Japan, and a hundred Ryukyu raised their hands and feet in agreement. Moreover, this war is also related to the future interests of the Ryukyus.

Little Japan will certainly not be able to withstand China's onslaught, and it is better to 'open' Japan's door so that all countries can come to Japan to do business like China now. After the Tokugawa shogunate closed off the country, Japan now only opened its doors to the Netherlands and China, which greatly damaged the interests of the Ryukyus.

And if Japan also comes to business, then the port economy of the Ryukyus will be revitalized immediately.

So he not only sent a post to the Chinese side, but also sent an invitation to the Europeans on Shangguan Street.

It's called a "two-pronged bet"!

The Chinese are the bosses of the Eastern world, the father of Ryukyu, so they must be respectful. However, trade between China and Japan was more likely to be made by direct shipping, and it was difficult for the Ryukyus to make enough profit from it. On the other hand, European merchant ships, represented by the Dutch, came to Japan seven or eight out of ten to create a certain profit for the Ryukyus.

Shang Xi is not stupid.

Yue Wenhai smiled when he looked at the list of invitees to Shangxi's dinner.

His son-in-law, Chen Jigong, was now in charge of the Jiangnan Shipyard, the largest in the imperial court, and was also the vice president of the China Foreign Trade Corporation, the president of the Jiangnan Trading Company, and was tasked with exploring the ocean east of Japan.

According to the truth that the earth is round, it is possible to reach the land of America by marching from China to the sea to the east.

Using the latitude and longitude positioning of foreigners, it can be calculated that the straight-line distance between China and the American sea is as long as 10,000 miles.

The Kyushu Chamber of Commerce, which was established a few years ago, was the first registered company wholly owned by the royal family, and funded 1 million silver dollars to the China Foreign Trade Corporation, so that the latter could use commercial capital to operate the exploration of the eastern sea and the exploration of the Sifang sea area.

As a result, the China Foreign Trade Corporation set up four overseas exploration bureaus, the first of which started from Beihai City in Ezo and used Sakhalin Island as the forward base to explore the icy waters of the north; In the second game, Shanghai was used as a starting point and Ryukyu as a forward base to explore the eastern seas; In the third game, Singapore was used as the starting point and Belitung Island as the base of the advance, which had just been ceded to China by the Sultan of Palembang, Sumatra, for 300,000 silver dollars. The geographical location is directly opposite the Sunda Strait, which can pass through the East Indies and continue south by the fastest and most convenient way. The fourth game is to start from Penang Island and use the Andaman Islands as a forward base to explore the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, and explore the heavenly world and Africa further west of India.

The Jiangnan Trading Company that Chen Jigong is in charge of is the parent body of the Second Overseas Exploration Bureau, and Chen Jigong is also the person in charge of the Second Bureau, so the news must have reached Shangxi's ears now. Shangxi will definitely not forget Chen Jigong.

Shangxi is just a middle-of-the-road asset, but people are not stupid. Most of the people on the banquet list were useful to him, even if it was Suluhou, the envoys of the north and south of Annam, and Yi Yi of Korea......

The last two important figures are Bao Zhidao, president of China Commercial Bank, and Zheng Zhilun, vice president of Zhongyuan Bank, China's first private bank.

The dinner was held at the State Guesthouse, which is in Xuanwu Lake, which is a good place in Nanjing. Not far away is the gathering place of Chen Handa's dignitaries, and at the foot of the Purple Mountain, there is also the royal palace.

Although it is wrapped in the city of Nanjing, it is very quiet, and there is no hustle and bustle of the city at all.

When he arrived at the entrance of Xuanwu Lake, Yue Wenhai saw the horse-drawn carriage track construction site that was still under construction, and his eyes darkened. This is a completely risk-free performance project, which runs through the city's public transport project. It's a pity that this large piece of good meat was taken away by the previous one. And Wu Xizeng, who was appointed by Yue Wenhai, is only a beginning, and Yue Wenhai, who has taken over from him, is responsible for the main things. And he worked hard and laborious, but the biggest merit medal was someone else's.

Towering over a lake, the State Guesthouse is brightly lit at night, and the water surface is shimmering with silver, making it particularly eye-catching in the dark. The large roof streamline, multi-level bucket arches are stacked, the structure is symmetrical, and the form is beautiful.

"Shuntianfu Yin has arrived."

In the long shout, Shang Xi greeted him with joy, they had been in Nanjing for so long, but they had troubled Shuntianfu a lot. Of course, among all the guests who will be present tonight, Yue Wenhai's status is also one of the few. Don't look at the fact that people don't have a knighthood, you let that Sulu wait to give him a positive Ganggang? Scared Su Luhou's guts.

Yue Wenhai did a good job as the Yin of Shuntian Mansion, then he would be able to enter the central ministries and commissions. Moreover, the family is Chen Cong, the king of the Song Dynasty, the first person in the current clan, and the person who is extremely trusted by the current emperor, and is the first cabinet chief minister; The son-in-law does not seem to have the possibility of inheriting the throne, and he has not even been knighted now, but Yue Wenhai and his son-in-law's friendship with the emperor is known to many people.

Yue Wenhai's weight is definitely one of the few among the guests present today. Didn't you see that Bao Zhidao, the president of the Commercial Bank, who had maintained an arrogant attitude after arriving at the venue, nodded his head and bowed his head?

Su Yunsun also went to say hello to Yue Wenhai, but he knew that his weight was limited, so he retreated. It's a little embarrassing to say, but compared with the situation in Sulu today, Su Yunsun can't be more satisfied, and the Su family's life in Nanjing is enjoyable.

Although in Nanjing, the Su family's hat of a marquis is not looked at by many people, but in business, this nobleman's hat still has a little weight. Su Yunsun, who is now engaged in the tide of business, earns much more silver a year than his annual juelu.

"Haha, Li Jun, I haven't seen you for many days, how are you doing in Nanjing?"

The Su family had a number of plantations in West Borneo, and the agricultural workers in them were slave laborers imported from Korea, except for a few indigenous people and migrants. Compared to the natives of West Borneo, and even the Sulu people, these Korean slave laborers were mild-mannered, subsistence, and hard work. Before Su Yunsun met with Li Hui, the Su family's caravan had taken care of the serf business of Li Hui's forces many times. Now that Li Hao has finally arrived in Nanjing, even with a stain that cannot be washed away, Li Hao's own power in North Korea still exists, then he is a noble person that the Su family especially respects. The plantation economy requires a lot of slave labor!

"Su Hou's demeanor is still the same." Li Hao was suffering a silent cold reception at the banquet, and when he looked at Su Luhou, who looked enthusiastic, he finally felt a trace of warmth in his heart, and the Chinese dialect spoken by the latter with a strange accent was as pleasant to his ears as the call of a lark.

Of course, Su Yunsun knew Li Yu's current situation, and after a few polite words, he lowered his voice and said, "Why should Li Jun worry about the cold reception for a while? You are the only direct descendant of the Li Dynasty royal family, and as long as you sit in the city of Nanjing, you will be as safe and treated as the king. And sooner or later, the truth of the matter will be revealed, when you will be cleared of suspicion, and the throne will not be yours. ”

Su Yunsun's words were ostensibly comforting Li Hao, but in fact, he was ordering Li Hao. Don't worry about the cold reception at this banquet, hurry up and open the joints in front of the emperor, as long as there is the emperor's support, it is not easy to make a 'true image'? When the 'truth is revealed', you will inherit the throne, and everything in Korea will still be yours?

Of course, Li Yu could hear the meaning of Su Yunsun's words, his father-in-law Jin Hongchang also thought so, and the humerus of several henchmen who followed him to Nanjing also thought so. Does it matter how things really are? It doesn't matter. It was the support of the Chinese emperor that mattered.

With the support of the emperor, it is not impossible to achieve 'Zhang Guan Li Dai' and 'pointing the deer as a horse'. The stain on his body is not called a stain at all.

But, "That's not easy to say." "Li Yu did too many hands and feet, so that the Chinese emperor had a very bad impression of him.

Li Yu looked at Su Yunsun's back and showed a touch of envy, the life of being wrapped in malice and hatred was not easy, compared to Su Luhou's life, it was easy and happy.

After Su Yunsun brushed his favor in front of Li Yu, he had to rush to show his face in front of a principal who was present at the Kyushu Chamber of Commerce. He also knew about the Overseas Exploration Bureau, and Su Yunsun thought that the people of the Su family could be completely involved in the expedition of the third and fourth rounds.

They are the natives of the South Seas, they know more about the situation south of the Sunda Strait, they know more about the environment east of Java Island, and they are still white hats, and when they go to the heavenly world, they are obviously more convenient than the Han people to deal with the natives of the heavenly world.

"Lord Yue is a general of the Song Dynasty, and Zheng saw that President Bao had a good conversation with him, and it seems that the Commerce Bank has a lot of income." Zheng Zhilun, vice president of Zhongyuan Bank, said with a smile to Bao Zhidao beside him, with a little bit of condescending expression in his expression, but his taste was very clear. What Bao Zhidao and Yue Wenhai discussed, Zheng Zhilun knew it clearly. Because Chungwon Bank, which has a deeper background, has already signed an agreement with Suncheonfu, although they are private banks. After the news spread, the Commercial Bank was afraid that it smelled fishy.

Bao Zhidao didn't feel embarrassed at all, "Naturally, naturally." It's a great opportunity tonight, and it's a shame to miss it! ”

Zheng Zhilun glanced at Bao Zhidao with a calm expression, from the original leader of the Yuan Sect in Yuzhou to one of the leaders of the specific affairs of the Central Plains Bank, Zheng Zhilun is no longer the Zheng Zhilun of the year. But Bao Zhidao is still the big shopkeeper under Wu Zunde.

The eyes of the two people were facing each other, and they could rub sparks with sparks. In the big project undertaken by Shuntianfu, Zhongyuan Bank and Commerce Bank are partners, but they are also competitors.

The two people were the only two bankers to attend the banquet, and behind them, one sat Chen Han's countless nobles, and it was these people who contributed and gathered 12 million silver dollars to obtain the first private bank license in China. Relying on the Industrial and Commercial Administration and the Cabinet behind the Commercial Bank, it occupies a dominant position in many foreign trade port cities in China, which must not be underestimated.

Of course, Shang Xi did not know about the big projects that the Nanjing government was planning, wanting to bring in capital to improve the infrastructure of Naha Port, and he wanted to build a high-grade shipyard in Naha Port, but the huge amount of money required was not something Shang Xi could handle. So Shang Xi sent posts to Bao Zhidao and Zheng Zhilun, and gave a high standard to greet them personally. And Zheng Zhilun and Bao Zhidao have also expressed a certain interest in the planning of the Ryukyu King, so that capital can go out, and both banks have such strength.

So Shang Xi, who was grinning behind his ears with a happy mouth, consciously had a lot of face, what he didn't know was that the real target of these two giants in the Chinese banking industry tonight was not him Shang Xi, but Yue Wenhai, who was invited by Shang Xi.

Many people still don't know that this year's Nanjing, this year's Nanjing Port terminals, will start the second phase of the port area expansion and renovation project. Since Nanjing was opened as a treaty port, it is foreseeable that more ships will come and go in the future.

Both Zhongyuan Bank and Commerce Bank want a piece of the pie. (To be continued.) )