Yanziji is located on the Zhidu Mountain in the northern suburbs of Nanjing. Because the stone peak stands abruptly on the river, facing the sky on three sides, it is like a swallow spreading its wings and about to fly, so it has the name of swallow rock. Yanzi Rock always chokes the big river, the terrain is dangerous, the rocks are stormy and the rocks are slapping stones, it is an important Yangtze River ferry and a military important place.

Li Zhen took Huang Shihai to Nanjing and stopped at Yanziji.

In the evening, the morning glow fills the sky.

Under the sun, the river is rolling and beautiful.

Li Zhen climbed Zhidu Mountain, sat in the pavilion, and watched the beautiful sunset, and his heart was extremely happy. At this time, the swallow rock was not destroyed, simple and natural, and it was the most gorgeous picture. Huang Shihai stood next to Li Zhen and said in a low voice: "My lord, we are staying in Yanziji, I'm afraid Yang Xiuqing will be impatient to wait in Nanjing." ”

Li Zhen said: "This trip to Nanjing, although there will be no danger to life, there will be difficulties, and it is better to slow down." ”

Huang Shihai said in a deep voice: "My lord, it's better to be careful in everything. ”

Li Zhen smiled and nodded slightly.

Suddenly, there was a noisy exclamation not far from the gazebo. When Li Zhen heard the prestige, he found a blonde foreigner dancing and talking loudly. This person's eyes are slightly inverted, the bridge of his nose is high, his lips are thin, he is at least 1.85 meters tall, and he is extremely handsome.

However, compared with the handsome face, foreigners are embarrassed and decadent.

His fair face was dirty, his shirt was tattered, he had many small holes cut, and his golden hair had become a chicken coop, just like a beggar asking for food.

He spoke loudly, but no one understood.

Not only that, but the people also pointed and scolded foreigners.

Huang Shihai's eyes were cold, and he said with a sneer: "My lord, foreigners have come to Nanjing, it's really rampant!" The ten accompanying guards stared at the foreigner with a look of disdain in their eyes.

Li Zhen instructed: "Shihai, invite him over, be polite and courteous, and not be rude and arrogant." ”

"Ahh

Huang Shihai exclaimed, revealing an incredible expression.

Foreigners, please?

Huang Shihai showed a hesitant look on his face, but seeing Li Zhen's firm gaze, he could only reluctantly walk out of the pavilion and walk towards the foreigner who was still talking to passers-by. Li Zhen stared at the foreigner not far away, and his eyes burst out with Dao essence. Although the people couldn't understand the words of foreigners, Li Zhen could understand them.

The foreigners speak Italian, which is one of the languages that Li Zhen is proficient in. Foreigners say their name is Maas. Beretta, an Italian arms dealer, wanted to hire someone to finance him.

Maas said a lot, but no one understood it except Li Zhen.

Huang Shihai strode to Mas's side, stretched out his big fan-like hand, and slapped it on Mas's body, which was quite powerful, making Mas's body shake a few times, and he almost didn't stand firm.

Mas raised his eyebrows and glared, and he had a very bad impression of the impolite man in front of him.

was about to scold, but saw Huang Shihai pointing in the direction of Li Zhen.

Although Mas didn't understand Chinese, he understood what Huang Shihai meant. Thinking that someone wanted to see him and leave Nanjing, Mas suddenly rose hope in his heart, and he no longer cared about Huang Shihai's rude behavior. Maas straightened his chest and strode towards the gazebo, each step looking steady and powerful.

Although embarrassed, he is polite.

Li Zhen stood up, stretched out his right hand, and said in fluent and standard Italian: "Mr. Maas, my name is Li Zhen, and it is a pleasure to meet you in Nanjing. ”

"Oh my God, there are people who can speak Italian."

Maas danced with a look of surprise on his face.

Immediately, Maas immediately restrained his expression and reached out to shake hands with Li Zhen, his face filled with excitement. After he left Nanjing, he couldn't understand the words around him, and other people didn't understand his words, so he struggled. Now I suddenly hear my native language fluently and kindly, and my heart seems to flow through a warm current, which is extremely kind.

Suddenly, Maas asked, "Mr. Li, how do you know my name?" ”

Li Zhen smiled and said, "Mr. Maas, have you forgotten to introduce yourself just now? ”

Maas said, "Mr. Li, you are so smart. ”

Li Zhen said: "Mr. Mas, you can just call me by my name, I think we can talk." You say you're an arms dealer, how can you get such a look? ”

"Oh my God!"

Maas sighed and said angrily: "It's all caused by those demons, devils." ”

Li Zhen asked, "Maas, what's going on?" ”

At the moment, Maas told the whole story of the matter.

Maas. Beretta is a side branch of the Italian arms manufacturer Beretta's family, because of the family's poor background, it is not reused, and there is no opportunity for development. When Maas saw the merchants who went to China to return with a full load of fame and fortune, he had the idea of going to China to make money. He applied to the family and was willing to go to China to develop the Beretta family's weapons business.

With the support of his family, Maas took 1,000 new rear-loading rifled guns to China by boat, hoping to make money and then buy Chinese tea, silk and other items back home.

When he arrived in China, Maas realized that things were not as rosy as he imagined.

Maas wanted to sell arms, but the main channel was occupied by merchants who came to China early. Maas wanted to intervene, but he couldn't get in at all, unless Maas was willing to sell the 1,000 new rifled guns he brought with him at a low price. In this way, Maas lost all his money, so Maas thought of going north to Nanjing and wanted to sell weapons to Hong Xiuquan.

Mas found a Chinese who knew Italian in Guangzhou and entered Nanjing to meet Hong Xiuquan.

However, to Maas's grief and indignation, Hong Xiuquan not only did not do business with him, but killed the Chinese who Mas brought to Nanjing, and made people insult Mas before driving Mas out of Nanjing.

The devil in Maas's mouth is Hong Xiuquan.

After leaving Nanjing, Ma Si had no money and could not return to Guangzhou, so he would ask for help everywhere.

After listening, Li Zhen asked, "Maas, where are your 1,000 rifled guns?" ”

With a smug look on his face, Maas replied, "Mr. Li, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to get the money, so I left all the guns at a friend's house in Guangzhou and didn't bring them with me. ”

Li Zhen asked again: "Mr. Maas, if I buy weapons from you, what price will it be?" ”

Maas's eyes widened and he said, "Mr. Li, do you really want to buy it?" "Now Maas is extremely depressed and penniless, and if he does not sell the guns brought to China, he will definitely be empty-handed, and he will not even be able to return to Italy. Even if you go back by boat, you will be despised, so Li Zhen opened his mouth to ask, and Maas immediately showed a look of anticipation.

Li Zhen replied: "Yes, I really want to buy it." ”

Maas thought about it carefully and said, "Mr. Li, 30 taels of silver for a gun." 1,000 guns, a total of 30,000 taels of silver, what do you think? ”

After finishing speaking, Ma looked at Li Zhen with blank eyes.

"Mr. Maas, it's too expensive." Li Zhen said: "Mr. Mas, introduce myself, I am a general in the Jiangbei battalion of the Qing Dynasty, with more than 1,000 soldiers under my command, and I have now bought 1,000 guns from you, and I will continue to buy them in the future." For the sake of our long-term friendship, it is cheaper, after all, we will have more business to do. ”

When Maas heard this, he began to ponder carefully in his heart.

If he can get in touch with Li Zhen, he can expand his contacts, he can gain a foothold in China, and he can also sell a steady stream of weapons brought from Italy, and then he can buy tea, silk and other items to ship back to Italy for sale.

As he goes back and forth, he can keep making money.

Ma Si gritted his teeth and said, "Master Li, I'll give you a gun for 20 taels of silver." That's already a very low price, and I can't make any more money. The thought of a one-time reduction of 10 taels of silver, Maas's heart kept dripping blood, but when he thought of the big deal in the future, hope rose in his heart.

Li Zhen shook his head and said, "Mr. Maas, this price is not suitable. ”

"Oh my God!"

With a surprised expression, Maas said, "Master Li, this is already a very low price!" Maas grimaced and looked helpless.

PS: Please collect it, thank you.