Chapter 26: Visitors from Guangzhou

Wu Yun stood beside him for a while, but still interrupted Qin Kai, who was thinking, "My lord, there is another news, you asked if there are any acquaintances in the Jiangnan Bureau who are willing to come here to do things, and today I received a reply from Lin Deping, an apprentice I brought before, and he really wants to come to our Artillery Bureau." ā€

This old Wu was quite proactive, Qin Kai patted him on the shoulder to show his gratitude, "Old Wu, your apprentice surnamed Lin also builds artillery like you?" ā€

"I can make artillery, but he went to the artillery bureau a few years ago to do things, and he is a small official in charge of the workshop, I know this apprentice, he is capable, and he is very good at fiddling with the work on a line of shells!"

"Oh...... Your master and apprentice are quite a good match! Qin Kai quipped, "Let him inquire if there are any workers who can make explosives, this job is a bit dangerous, but the salary we can open here can be higher!" ā€

When the two were pondering and digging the corner of the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau, a middle-aged man in good quality clothes was standing alone on the side of the ship looking at the scenery in the distance, he took out a photo, looked at it carefully, it was a man with a fat head and big ears, and after carefully remembering the appearance of this person, he tore the photo into pieces.

After a while, two young people came over behind him and asked softly, "Mr. Li, go in and rest, the ship will arrive at Mawei Port in Fuzhou tomorrow!" ā€

"Yes!" The man known as Mr. Li nodded, turned and walked into the first-class cabin.

Since the resignation of the craftsman, he and Shen Singhe discussed a countermeasure, and transferred a lot of apprentices from the art garden who were ready to graduate to work in the factory in advance, and these people only received half a salary, which gave him a lot more vacancies, but also a blessing in disguise.

"Lord Jin, Lord Shen has something to look for you!" Outside, a small official came to spread the word.

"Damn, you're looking for me when you're about to eat lunch," the fat man scolded secretly, but it was not good not to go, if there was any benefit to miss, it would be a sin!

When he arrived at Shen Singhe's side, the fat golden man said with a smile on his face: "Brother Shen, there must be something good about calling me in such a hurry!" ā€

Shen Singhe smiled slightly, and pushed over a stack of files, "Brother Jin, you are really well-informed, the sixth prince said that he moved the Military Aircraft Department, and added two orders of Tiewei Clippers to our shipyard, with a tonnage of 2,200 and a cost of 280,000 taels of silver each. ā€

Two big orders, 560,000 silver, the fat man is already an old monk at this time, and he quickly calculates the benefits, the workers in the shipyard are not costed anyway, as long as the materials such as iron, iron, and artillery are purchased, the rest is fire consumption.

Seeing that the golden fat man was in a general state, Shen Singhe couldn't help but cough twice with a low "uh-huh", and the golden fat man came back to his senses.

"Brother Shen, there are still two Tiewei warships in the dock, 'Chaowu' and 'Kangji', and if these two Tiewei gunboats are to be built, it will be in the second half of the year, I will build yƬ to buy all the materials now, and when the shipbuilding is built in the second half of the year, it will be reported up, what do you think?" After the fat man finished speaking, he picked up the teacup and tasted it proudly, and the fat face was a little brighter.

Shen Singhe naturally understands the trick, the price has been rising, and these things are bound to be more expensive in the second half of the year, they are eating this line of food, this is clearer than anyone else, just eating a short amount, it is estimated that there will be a benefit of several thousand taels, he thought about it and nodded, "Brother Jin, this is for you to do, let me know if you have anything!" ā€

The subtext of this is that the benefits of this can't be missed at all, the golden fat man got up with a smile on his face and said goodbye, he was flustered in his heart, his fat body ran up as fast as a fat swallow, this big deal had to be calculated well, and none of the copper plates could let him give it to Luo.

Lan Yang is a gangster in Fuzhou City, but he doesn't like people to call him by his name, and everyone who sees him has to be called, "Thirty-two masters, hello!" "As for why it is called the thirty-second master, not the thirteenth master, the twelfth master, or the thirty-first master, according to gossip rumors, Lan Yang was the famous boss of the Hong Gang Fork Splitting Society in Fuzhou, ranking thirty-two, as for the later story of this fork splitting meeting, it is unknown, it is said that the private cottage was taken by the government.

However, this did not affect the prosperity of the thirty-second master in Fuzhou Mansion at all, and the reason why the thirty-second master naturally would not say it, but he hugged the thick thighs of Fuzhou Mansion, and he walked sideways here on East Street. ,

At this moment, Lan Yang was wandering on the East Street, followed by two little **, one of whom was still muttering to him.

"Thirty-second master, this Li Ye from Guangzhou is a person with a background, I heard that he has a close relationship with the Yamen of the Governor of Guangzhou, and I came back to Fuzhou to see what foreign business can be done here!"

Lan Yang turned around and gave the ** a slap, "Zhu Damao, when will you kid know such a talented master?" You're a fool to me, listen to your nonsense! ā€

Zhu Damao covered his brain and hurriedly argued: "Thirty-two masters, thirty-two masters, this is true, I am a bad life, but this master is what I heard from Xiaocui of Caiyunlou, just thinking that you have a rough road, isn't this just talking about this Master Li!" ā€

Listening to Zhu Damao talk about this way, it made Lan Yang believe a little, this Caiyun Building is a famous Qinglou in Fuzhou City, it is famous for the Qing people there, of course, since it is a brothel, it naturally has a skin and meat business, but the asking price and cost of Caiyun Building are definitely not something that ordinary rich people can afford.

Lan Yang glared at Zhu Damao fiercely, "Let's believe you, can this old man surnamed Li say what business he wants to do?" ā€

"I heard Mr. Li say that it is a foreign comprador in Guangzhou, whether it is Western goods or mainland specialties, you can get it!"

When Lan Yang heard this, he did have a deal, and the master in the ponytail asked him to go to various foreign banks to inquire about the market, thinking of this, he slapped this Zhu Damao again, "Dead man, since you are a rich grandfather, why don't you hurry up and take me to meet, this business is running Luo, see how I clean you up!" ā€

Zhu Damao quickly led Lan Yang to Caiyun Tower in the south of the city, and when he arrived at this place, even the thirty-two masters who were rampant on the East Street were also very disciplined, and a few noble sons who came in and out looked Lan Yang and Zhu Damao up and down a few times, and they all snorted and walked away, and business came from afar, "Where did you come from, you dare to go up to Caiyun Tower, it's really a world style!" ā€

Lan Yang was so angry that smoke almost came out of his head, but he still barely restrained himself, he was here to make a fortune, and it was worth being angry. After a while, two mighty young men came out and asked with a domineering look, "Who wants to see my master?" ā€

Lan Yang winked, and Zhu Damao hurriedly shouted: "Two masters, I saw you yesterday, and today I brought the main master, so let's get in trouble!" ā€

The young man looked up and down, but still remembered Zhu Damao, nodded and said, "Oh, it's you, Zhu ...... Big hair, right? Then come with us! ā€

Lan Yang was a little frightened when he saw the capable appearance of these two entourage, he was also a **, and he saw widows and girls on weekdays, but he also had the courage to go up and tease one or two, and the uncle who followed the shipmaster also dared to swagger around, but the other party's posture at this time, even the master of the shipmaster, is estimated to be far behind.

As soon as the door opened, a young man went in first, and after a while, he came out and pointed at Lan Yang and said, "Zhu Damao, this brother's surname?" ā€

Zhu Damao opened his mouth and was about to answer, when Lan Yang reported to the house first.

"Our master Li invites you to go in and talk," the young man looked high.

Lan Yang also thought about straightening his waist, but he didn't know why, under the eyes of the other party, he felt uncomfortable all over, and shrunk his head and followed in.

When he arrived in the back room, a well-dressed middle-aged man was listening to a long-haired woman performing the piano, and saw Lan Yang nodding slightly to him, pointing to the seat next to him, and motioning for him to sit down.

Lan Yang is also a frequent visitor in the kiln, and the sisters in it are not less touched, but this woman on the opposite side is not only concave and convex, but also has a variety of charms between the eyebrows, and the green jade fingers are plucked on the strings, like a fairy.

Obediently, no wonder the price of this Caiyun Building is scared to death, the sister here is really rare in Fuzhou, after seeing this sister, the good ones in the kiln outside Lanyang are simply super ugly girls, he listened to the piano skills, his eyes were greedy and stared at this sister, but he also slowly relaxed.

At the end of the song, the sister came up to be among the two and poured tea for them.

"What do you call this brother?" Mr. Li tasted the fragrant tea and asked.

"Little Lan Yang, I heard that Master Li wants to come and do some business, I just have a way here," The price of this Caiyun Building and the prestige of this old man have completely suppressed Lan Yang, and he speaks in a proper manner, and he doesn't hide it and just say it. ,

"Oh!" Master Li seems to be very interested in this, "You don't have an official body, do you?" ā€

"Master Li is really a good eye, the little one is just running errands, and I am doing things for Lord Jin of the Mawei Ship Administration."

"Lord Kim? As far as I know, the Mawei Shipyard is in charge of Governor Ding, right, and the superintendent is not surnamed Jin? Master Li's face was a little puzzled.

"Master Li, you are really well-informed, Lord Jin Wu is the co-organizer of the Mawei Shipyard, and he is in charge of the real power of shipyard materials and fuel, and his old man is still the in-law of Governor Wen!" Speaking of the golden fat man, Lan Yang is a little bolder.

"I see!" Master Li obviously knows a lot, and his tone is polite by three points, waving his hand to signal the sister to go down, seeing Lan Yang's eyes staring directly at the sister's swaying ass, Master Li's eyes flashed, "Brother Lan, I want to ask you to help introduce Master Jin, I have a very wide road in Guangzhou, and you can get the iron, wood, and machine qƬ you want in the shipyard." ā€

Lan Yang reluctantly retracted his gaze, picked up the tea and took a sip to moisten his throat, "Master Li, this matter is on me, but I don't know ......"

Bang, a large silver ingot with a full thirty taels smashed on the table, Master Li smiled, and said happily: "Brother Lan, I am the most refreshing, this is a little meaning, if it is done, there will be another generous gift!" ā€

"Thank you, Master Li, for the reward!" Lan Yang grabbed the silver and put it in his arms, and said goodbye happily.

A day later, Jin Wu really came as promised, although Zhu Damao was in front and Lan Yang was introduced, he was obviously still a little wary of this foreign comprador from Guangzhou.

The room is still yesterday's pattern, and today there is another sister pouring wine for the fat man, and the two listen to the beautiful sound of the piano, talking to each other on inconsequential topics, obviously testing each other's details.

The old man Li on the other side is obviously quite proven, the two compradors that the golden fat man knows in the thirteen lines in Guangzhou, the other party can tell a background and general background, and the comprador who talks about the thirteen lines and the Western merchants in Guangzhou is quite news, and soon the golden fat man's suspicions about the other party will disappear, and now it's time to talk about business.

The fat man waved his hand and motioned for the two sisters who were waiting in the house to go out, he raised his glass to Master Li and said: "Brother Li, my Jin Wu is a real person, since you want to come to do the business of the shipyard, you have to go up and down, you won't know this rule!" ā€

Master Li laughed, "Lord Jin, it's really a refreshing person, I like to do business with people like you, I am also an old friend with Master Ma of the Guangzhou Governor's Mansion, this rule is naturally understood, I don't know what kind of goods Lord Jin wants to buy this time?" ā€

"Bulk, Brother Li, the ugly words are ahead, I can only settle the accounts after the goods are inspected!" The fat golden man with a fat head and big ears seems to be sluggish, and he is more shrewd than anyone else in this calculation.

"Of course, it's all according to your wishes, tell me about the goods to be purchased this time!" When it comes to business, Master Li is shrewd.

"Iron wedge, hardwood, and iron materials that have been dried for three years, we all want these goods!" The fat man held his fingers and observed the look of Boss Li on the other side as he spoke, but the other party was obviously a person who had done a big deal, and he was very calm when he heard such a large amount of business.

Boss Li lowered his head and calculated for a while, obviously these are things that can be manipulated, smiled in his heart, raised his glass and said, "Lord Jin, this is the first time we do business, then I have to show some sincerity, you say yes!" In this way, if you tell me the total price, I will at least give you at least 5 points of profit as the cost of the dots, and add 3 points of profit for you to keep. ā€

The fat man has already calculated, this is 8 points of filial piety, of course, this is a benefit under normal circumstances, more than 500,000 taels of silver for two iron gunboats, how to calculate the cost of materials to be purchased, it will be more than half, even if it is 300,000 taels, these 8 points are 24,000 taels.

In the past, the iron threat of the warships was bought directly from foreign merchants, of course, there were also benefit fees, but they were generally in three or four points, and this time it doubled, it seems that this surnamed Li does have a road on the foreign merchant's side, otherwise how can he get such a price, but the money is not strong, this is not a vote for the opportunity! The fat golden man thought for a moment and raised a finger.

"Brother Li, there are a lot of places to be done here, you also know, in addition to the governor's yamen here in Fuzhou, there are also the governor's yamen and the Fuzhou general's mansion, how about you think of a way to make up enough money?"

Master Li was obviously a little surprised when he heard it, the common practice of this is only three points and four points, and giving eight points is already a breakthrough, I have seen someone who asks for money, but I have never seen someone who asks for money so deadly, but ...... Isn't it better, Master Li raised his cup and said with a smile: "Lord Jin, since you have opened Chrysostom, we will treat this first transaction as a friendship, and I will find a way to make up enough for you, but when I inspect the goods, I want to ask the adults to loosen up a little bit!" ā€

The golden fat man naturally understands this very well, that is, shoddy, you don't say that I will be loose, what does this have to do with him, he will definitely not sit on the warship, as long as the iron wedge can be used, it has nothing to do with him if it has been rusted for a year and a half, "It's okay, don't be too bad, it's not good-looking, you remember to show me the goods first, I've passed here, and then delivered in large quantities, the goods have been inspected, and we have two silver goods." ā€

The two discussed the trivial matters of the handover, and after the business was over, Master Li immediately called a few sisters, surrounded the guests in the middle and ate flower wine, and had a good night in the gentle township of Caiyun Building.

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