Since returning from that ball, Lin Zihan's spirit has been in a trance, and even when teaching Alice to read, he has been wilting and unable to lift his spirits. These days, Lin Zihan has realized that it is impossible to return to the 21st century. But he is an authentic Chinese, even if he has the appearance of a white man, he still has no sense of belonging in his heart, and even has a feeling of living abroad.

Lin Zihan began to hate the mysterious power that let him cross, why did those predecessors who crossed either go to the Three Kingdoms to be a great talent who framed the world, or went to the Ming Dynasty to be a prince or something, why was it his turn to be so miserable, and he was directly sent abroad, and the bloody steak was simply abusing his stomach. In fact, Lin Zihan has already thought about it, he doesn't want to return to China to settle down, not only because of the white skin on his body, but also because China is now under the dark rule of the Tunguska pig, but go back and see the head office, right? It's a pity that the guy from Magalny has already said that he is dead, he has no strong relationship, and it is even more difficult to take this ride.

Lin Zihan doesn't know many people in this world, and even fewer can help. The Darcy family is quite powerful, and they are in-laws with the Fitzwilliam family, but his predecessor hooked up with someone else's sister, and it was already good if he was not retaliated against, let alone help. And although Nelson's guy chatted with him quite speculatively, he is still semi-unemployed, help himself? Don't be funny. In the end, only the Berner family who owed him a favor remained, and I hope that General Bernard can see the face of his wife who saved him, and give himself a back door, and he will not come again when the opportunity is not lost. Lin Zihan has always been a man of action, and after making up his mind, he told William Edward to prepare the carriage and go straight to the Bernard family in London on Fleet Street.

Miss Margaret Bernard, who opened the door, obviously didn't expect it to be Lin Zihan, she was stunned for a moment, and then said happily: "It turned out to be Mr. Wickham, please come in!"

Lin Zihan had a good impression of Margaret, and said with a smile: "Miss Margaret, hello." Then he said, "I wanted to invite you to the first dance on the day of the ball, but I never saw you, so I had to give up."

Margaret's face flushed, and she whispered, "I went back to the country in Cambridgeshire that day, so I didn't attend the ball. I'm sorry I didn't get my first dance with Mr. Wickham, it's a shame. If there is a dance party next time, I will definitely accept your invitation. After speaking, he lowered his head and didn't dare to look at Lin Zihan's eyes again.

Lin Zihan didn't expect General Bernard's daughter to be so thin-skinned, so he changed the topic and said, "Is your father at home?" I have something I want to discuss with him. ”

Margaret thought to herself, didn't she understand her own thoughts, so she said in a voice with a hint of anger: "Dad and Mr. Walter are talking in the study, and I'll take you to the little living room for a cup of tea, and my mother is there." Lin Zihan was a little confused, wasn't this good just now, why did he suddenly become such an attitude, it is really a woman's heart, a needle under the sea. In fact, Lin Zihan doesn't know much about some British customs, and the first dance of unmarried men and women at the prom is either danced with their relatives or with the opposite sex who has a good feeling. What he said just now was like a confession to the afterlife: "Hey, girl, I have a good impression of you." Miss Margaret's words also secretly responded to Lin Zihan's favor, this guy didn't answer, how could he not make Margaret angry.

When Lin Zihan came to the small living room, Mrs. Bernard was reading the newspaper with great interest. Mrs. Bernard was very pleased with Lin Zihan's arrival: "Mr. Wickham, you have come at the right time, the chef at home has recently learned to make several new dim sum, why don't you try it?" "That's exciting, ma'am. The last time you gave me a small snack, it has always been something I will never forget. ”

Margaret looked curiously at the newspaper in Mrs. Bernard's hand: "Mother, don't you like to read newspapers, how do you read newspapers today?"

Mrs. Bernard handed the Times to Margaret with a look of intoxication: "Don't you know the beautiful poetry that is now popular all over London? I have to say that literacy is also very important for a lady when she comes, and you should take some time out to read poetry, my Margaret. ”

After a while, Margaret exclaimed excitedly, "Oh God, this hymn is so beautiful. Let me see who this poet is. Within ten seconds, Margaret looked at Lin Zihan suspiciously: "Huh, Wickham? Wickham! Sir, is this the author you?" Mrs. Bernard has not paid attention to the author's signature all along, and when she heard her daughter say this, she also raised her head and looked at Lin Zihan suspiciously.

Lin Zihan touched his nose in embarrassment: "The author you are talking about seems to be me."

Without waiting for Mrs. Bernard and her daughter to say anything, a surprised voice suddenly sounded: "You are the one who wrote the three major verses?" I really didn't expect such a beautiful and innovative poem to be written by such a young gentleman. Lin Zihan was startled by this sudden voice, and turned around to find that Viscount Bernard and an old gentleman were already standing behind him at some point.

"I've kept you waiting, Mr. Wickham. This is my old friend John Walter. I didn't expect you to write poetry, young man, you must know that Old John's Times has a very high threshold. Viscount Bernard, as the host, was the first to introduce the two of them.

John Walter laughed: "Mr. Wickham, I'm glad you chose to work with us at The Times." I have to say you're a genius at poetry, and a few days ago I made a bet with my son that Mr. Wickham was a bad old man or a middle-aged man, but now it seems that I was wrong with him. ”

Lin Zihan was a little embarrassed, he was really ashamed of these compliments, those were originally the honors of Byron, Keats and Shelley, but now they were all snatched away by himself. Lin Zihan didn't go for these false names, his original intention was just to earn some remuneration. "Mr. John, I also have to thank you and The Times for giving me this opportunity, otherwise my work would not have reached so many readers."

John Walter took out his golden pocket watch and looked at the time, then said apologetically, "Mr. Wickham, I have some business to do today, and I'm sorry I can't talk to you about it." But I sincerely hope that you will visit the editorial office of The Times tomorrow. ”

Lin Zihan hurriedly replied, "It's my honor, Mr. Walter."

After John Walter left, Margaret excitedly said to Lin Zihan: "Wickham, I didn't expect your poetry to be so good!" I don't know if you have any new works recently, but it's really exciting. Margaret was so pleased that she even omitted the title of sir, and her tone seemed a little intimate.

General Bernard glared at his daughter dissatisfied: "Margaret! Please pay attention to your etiquette!" Margaret stuck out her tongue and walked briskly upstairs. Lin Zihan said, I didn't expect this Miss Margaret to have such a cute side. Mr. Berner looked at the disappearing figure on the stairs and sighed softly: "Wickham, please come to the study to talk about something." Lin Zihan nodded, got up and followed General Berner towards the study.

After coming to the study, Lin Zihan was immediately inhabited by the Berner family's study, on both sides of the wall were placed about two large bookshelves about two people high, which were full of all kinds of hardcover books, and what was even more amazing was that most of those books were French, German and Latin, but there were very few English. Facing the door was a large oak desk with papers and commonly used books. On the wall behind the desk hung a specimen of a deer's head, and the big antlers were about more than a meter long, which made Lin Zihan very interested.

General Berner saw that Lin Zihan stopped his eyes on the deer head specimen, and his face was full of pride: "It was hunted ten years ago when I was spending summer in the northern lake area, this deer is too cunning, I tracked it in the mountains and forests for four days before I found her traces."

Lin Zihan said in admiration: "No matter how cunning the prey is, it is impossible for the hunter to be the opponent of the hunter, presumably General Bernard's hunting skills must be very good."

General Bernard was very interested in Lin Zihan's sycophancy: "No matter how cunning the prey is, it is no match for the hunter, I like your words very much." It's a pity that my energy has not been as good as before in these years, and I don't go to hunting for this pastime anymore, so it's better for you young people. By the way, Wickham, you're not here today to discuss hunting with me, a bad old man. ”

Lin Zihan no longer beat around the bush, and said directly: "Yes, General Bernard, to put it simply, I need your help very much. The Qing mission led by Lord Magalny will depart from Portsmouth next month, and I would very much like to get this opportunity to go to the Qing Kingdom. General Bernard, you also know that I am very interested in Oriental culture, and I naturally go back to fight for such an opportunity to get in touch with the East in close proximity. There is a saying in China that reads 10,000 books, travels 10,000 miles, and I sincerely hope that my understanding of the Orient is not limited to books. Lin Zihan's words were half-truths and half-truths, but he expressed the strong desire in his heart.

Berner didn't answer, as if he was thinking about the reasonableness of Lin Zihan's request, and said half-loudly: "Wickham, I believe you also heard what Magalny said at the dance that day." He is not prevaricating your request, the entire list of members of the mission began to be drawn up by the Cabinet half a year ago, and after His Majesty's approval, it is indeed difficult to change. Besides, going to the East is a fat difference, and there are too many entanglements of interests, and it is really not a rational thing for you, a young man with no foundation, to rashly stir up this troubled water. ”

Lin Zihan frowned, although he knew that there was such an event in history, but he really didn't know about it in front of and behind the scenes, it seems that this visit to the Qing mission was not as simple as he imagined. General Bernard paused, and continued, "You know the East India Company, right?" Lin Zihan nodded, isn't this nonsense, who doesn't know this famous company. In fact, Britain, the Netherlands, France, and Denmark all founded the East India Company, but only the Netherlands and Britain were relatively successful, but by now, the East India Company, which had made a windfall, had already fallen into many crises.

"The East India Company's performance has been declining year by year, which has caused panic among the families who have made a fortune on this company, and they are all looking for a profit growth point to maintain the company. So the directors of the East India Company set their sights on that vast eastern country, which was a huge market with a spending power of nearly 400 million people! It's just that the East India Company's trade with the Qing Kingdom in Guangzhou was not very smooth, and those Qing merchants didn't seem to be interested in the goods brought by the East India Company at all. The East India Company, on the other hand, imported large quantities of tea, silk, and porcelain from the Qing Dynasty every year. ”

Lin Zihan pouted, the current Qing Dynasty was still in the agricultural society of the feudal era, and the implementation of a self-sufficient natural economy, the textiles that the British were most proud of had no market in China at all! Because in the face of high tariffs and freight costs, the price of machine-produced cloth in Britain and cotton cloth produced by local handicraft workshops in China is almost the same. Viscount Bernard took a sip of wine and continued: "So the family, which is inextricably linked to the East India Company, is secretly promoting the facilitation of this visit. Which of those members of the mission was not related to the cotton mills, the East India Company? This is a good opportunity to open up the Chinese market, and smart businessmen will not miss it. I admire you as a young man, and I tell you these things, and I hope you don't do useless work on the impossible. ”

General Bernard's words can be said to be frank and honest with Lin Zihan, which made Lin Zihan feel deeply disappointed while being moved: "Thank you Viscount Bernard for your reminder and honesty, this time the matter will end here." But I'm going to find a merchant ship to go to China, and although I can't go to Beijing, it's good to be able to see Guangzhou. ”

Mr. Berner didn't expect Lin Zihan to be so stubborn, and he still wanted to go to China. But he Berner is a cheerful man who repays kindness, and this young man saved his wife last time, so let yourself repay him this time. Thinking of this, a strange smile hung on the corner of Bernard's mouth: "However, it is not completely impossible."

Rub, is there any mistake, when did the British learn the trick of Chinese hanging people's appetite, Lin Zihan complained in his heart. However, as soon as he thought that Viscount Bernard still had a way, he said eagerly: "Your Excellency, what else can you do?"

"Actually, it's nothing, it's just that your mind is always imprisoned on the members of the mission, but you didn't think that the mission itself would not fly over, and you still need the help of the Royal Navy."

"You're not going to let me ......"

"That's right, the only way is to join the Royal Navy!"