Updated: 2014-04-13

Although the streets of Zhenhai are deserted, the streets in front of the official office of the pacification envoy in eastern Zhejiang are very lively, and the representatives of the squires and frustrated literati from all over eastern Zhejiang are crowded with the streets in front of the official office.

In Zhenhai City, the former Qing Army Naval Division Battalion is the Yamen, which is now the battalion headquarters of the first battalion of the Ming Army, and also the temporary official office of the pacification envoy in eastern Zhejiang. A 25-watt repeater station is installed in the government office, which can support walkie-talkie calls within 100 kilometers and can also communicate with the Executive Committee smoothly.

The commander of the first battalion of the Ming army, Ban Xue, and instructor Wu Shimang are very busy now, and the combat situation of the troops is changing rapidly, and a large number of personnel and materials need to be withdrawn to Dinghai. Wu Shimang also served as the pacification envoy of eastern Zhejiang, and the small hall of the concierge of the pacification envoy was crowded with representatives of the squires from all over eastern Zhejiang who were waiting to meet the pacification envoy every day.

A battalion of the Ming army stationed in Zhenhai formed a detachment of armed workers, scattered throughout eastern Zhejiang, raiding and harassing the fortress of Chengchi, propagating the anti-Qing Dynasty and restoring the Ming Dynasty, and suppressing the diehards. Fearing repression, the squires sent men to show their loyalty. The frustrated literati who had tried and failed again saw the momentum of the Ming army soaring, and they also came to explore the way of the dragon.

There are many locks on the Zhedong Canal, and each lock has a sentry set up by the Ming army. The news of Hu Xueyan's arrival had already been transmitted through a walkie-talkie to the pacification embassy in eastern Zhejiang.

In the main hall of the pacification envoy's office, Wu Shimang got up to send him off, "Squires rest assured, the Ming army is a mighty army and a benevolent and righteous army. As long as you have a clear heart and don't help the abuse, our Ming army will never harm the innocent. ”

"That's nature, that's nature. Rest assured, we will do our best to restore the Ming Dynasty! Several squires bent down and took their leave.

As soon as the representatives of this wave of squires came out of the house, Zha Yu came to report when he saw the stitches, "Instructor, the sentry guarding the city gate has come to report that Hu Xueyan has entered the city." ”

Wu Shimang was the pacification envoy of eastern Zhejiang, and also served as an instructor of the first battalion. Zha Yudang is now the commander of a battalion and a company, responsible for the defense of Zhenhai.

"It's coming so fast." Wu Shimang smiled, "You inform Shi Wenbo, let him be fully responsible for this matter." ”

"Shi Wenbo is not free now, Shi Wenbo, Shao Bei, Xu Nanying and they are signing a business agreement with the representatives of Britain, France and the United States, and those foreign devils will leave here in the afternoon." Zha Yudang said with a big grin, "Otherwise, let me talk to Hu Xueyan about how much He Guiqing wants us to leave Zhedong, how much money he is willing to pay." ”

In the past, Cha Yu liked to criticize the black history of so-called great men of the Republic of China such as Sun Dacang on the Internet, and he didn't care about celebrities like Hu Xueyan in the late Qing Dynasty.

"You're thinking too simply!" Wu Shimang rubbed his temples with his hands and sat down on the chair, "The Executive Committee wants to hold He Guiqing and them, so that the Jiangsu-Zhejiang consortium can also contribute some strength in the development of Taipei." ”

Wu Shimang suddenly thought, "Isn't there a reception at noon, you let Hu Xueyan go and see the excitement." ”

Hu Xueyan settled down in his accommodation, rested a little to recover from his fatigue, and ran to the back door of the pacification embassy in eastern Zhejiang at one o'clock in the afternoon. The soldier guarding the back door asked for Hu Xueyan's name, and someone directly led him into a small hall in the official office and sat down.

A buffet is being held in the flower hall not far from this courtyard. The smell of food, hearty laughter, and gurgling voices came in bursts.

Hu Xueyan, who had dealt with foreigners in Shanghai, was feeling a little strange about how there was a sound in English and French, when there was a sound of footsteps outside the signing room.

"Mr. Hu, don't come unharmed!" When Zha Yu opened the bead curtain and came in from outside, he shouted affectionately.

"Lord Cha, the contemptible people are here to disturb again!" Hu Xueyan hurriedly stood up.

Zha Yudang told Hu Xueyan that his intention was already known to the Ming side, but Lord Wu Shimang was very busy now, and Lord Shi, the deputy envoy of Zhedong's pacification, was in charge of talking with him first.

"Everything is up to your lordship." Hu Xueyan said a few words that were not painful. At this time, there was another commotion in the direction of the flower hall of the official office, and Hu Xueyan tilted his head, "It's so lively over there!" ”

Zha Yu told Hu Xueyan bluntly that Daming had just ordered a batch of goods from Britain, France and the United States, and the flower hall was holding a reception.

Hu Xueyan gasped, this Ming army has a very close relationship with foreigners. He coughed twice, "Drinking party!" In the past, when discussing business in Shanghai, Hu also participated in several foreigners' cocktail parties. ”

Hu Xueyan remembered that at the cocktail party, the musicians squeaked and played Western musical instruments, the guests gathered in twos and threes with wine and talked loudly, and by the way, there were also foreign ladies with bare breasts and breasts. Thinking of this, Hu Xueyan couldn't help but shake his head slightly.

"What? Mr. Hu seemed to be disgusted by the party. When Chayu saw Hu Xueyan's careless appearance, his heart was broken, Hu Xueyan was just a low-key messenger, and he might not be interested in this drinking party.

"No, no, I just think that the drinking party must be very lively, if Hu goes to see it, I don't know if it's appropriate." Hu Xueyan really wanted to understand the relationship between this foreigner and the anti-Ming.

Zha Yu looked straight at Hu Xueyan, ha, this guy is actually in the trap.

Hu Xueyan avoided Zha Yudang's eyes, and said in a disguised manner: "Although Lord Wu is busy with work, if he is at the reception, can I go and pay a visit first?!" ”

"The reception has just begun, and it is great that Mr. Hu is willing to attend." Zha Yu was in a trance, and immediately expressed a warm invitation, "It's just that Lord Wu Shimang did not attend the cocktail party, and the people who participated in the cocktail party were Lord Shao Daren of Daming Honglu Temple and Lord Xu Nanying, Shaoqing of Honglu Temple." However, Shi Wenbo, the deputy envoy of Zhedong's pacification and the business representative of the Ming Dynasty, was also at the reception. ”

Shi Wenbo is a native of Beijing and is 30 years old this year. He is a master of finance and worked as an investment banking analyst before crossing over, so he was appointed by the executive committee as the deputy envoy of eastern Zhejiang and the commercial representative of Daming, specifically responsible for negotiating business cooperation with British, French and American businessmen in Ningbo.

Wen Jistu initialed a trade agreement of nearly 400,000 taels of silver with the crossing team in Dinghai, and he immediately reported it to the British Minister to China and the Governor of Hong Kong. Bao Ling was repeatedly frustrated in negotiations with the Manchu Qing Dynasty because the five goods were difficult to sell, and he had a headache. Upon hearing this, Bao Ling was overjoyed and immediately ordered Wen Ji Situ to immediately reach a formal agreement with the Ming rebels.

The consuls of Britain, the United States, and France in Ningbo, together with representatives of foreign banks from their respective countries, came to Zhenhai yesterday. In the morning, under the witness of Shao Bei, the Zhengqing of Daming Honglu Temple, Xu Nanying, the Shaoqing of Honglu Temple, and the consuls of Britain, the United States and France, representatives of Britain, the United States and France officially signed a business and trade agreement with Shi Wenbo, a commercial representative of Daming. At noon, Daming held a buffet to entertain the business delegations of Britain, the United States and France.

The flower hall is spacious and filled with the aroma of wine and delicious dishes.

Wen Jisi took off a delicious prawn, and then drank a sip of red wine, feeling as if he was still in a dream, and his whole body was indescribable. A formal agreement was signed, and it was as if the word acting for his title of acting consul had been removed and he became the official consul of the consulate. Holding a wine glass, Wen Ji Situo found Shao Bei, "Mr. Minister, there will be no problems with our business cooperation!" ”

Shao Bei smiled faintly, "Mr. Wenji Situo, you have witnessed the strength of my Ming Dynasty, it is impossible for the Manchu Qing Dynasty to stop the pace of our army, my Ming Dynasty has abundant funds, and Huwei is also very safe as a delivery location." Our cooperation is a common need of both sides, a win-win cooperation, and no one can stop this cooperation. ”

Wen Ji Si was happy in his heart, and he held a wine glass and signaled to Shi Wenbo: "Mr. Business Representative, I hope that our cooperation will be more and more successful!" ”

"You're absolutely right! Mr. Bunjisto, Mr. Consuls, I have good news for you here. As he spoke, Shi Wenbo clapped his hands vigorously to arouse the attention of everyone at the reception.

Shi Wenbo turned around and opened a curtain on the wall, revealing a map of Huwei, "Mr. Consuls, representatives of foreign banks, please see, this is Huwei, Taiwan, with an excellent port." ”

The British, American, and French consuls and representatives of foreign banks all gathered over with wine glasses.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the machinery and equipment we purchased will open a shipyard, a weaving factory, a machinery bureau, and a mining bureau in Taipei. However, this is far from satisfying the needs of Taipei's construction. Taipei needs more machinery and equipment. ”

Shi Wenbo looked around, "Therefore, the Ming Cabinet has decided that Huwei Port will be the designated trade port of the Ming Dynasty to the outside world. Merchants from all countries will fully enjoy the right to free trade in Shanghai, and the Ming Dynasty will also respect and protect the legitimate rights and interests of merchants from all countries. ”

Wen Ji Si Tuo was slightly moved, compared with the stubborn Manchu people, this rebel army, known as the Ming Dynasty, was impatient to open a treaty port, but he liked it.

At present, Britain is in the midst of a crisis of serious overproduction, the cotton textile industry is still bearing the brunt, the woolen industry, flax and silk textile industries are in trouble, and the metallurgical industry, shipbuilding industry, and coal industry are in large-scale layoffs and wage cuts. The British Minister to China, Bowling, had been anxious to open up the Qing market and find a market for the surplus products in the country. Although the British knocked on the door of the Qing Dynasty through the First Opium War, to their surprise, except for opium, British goods had no sales in the Qing Dynasty market. Wen Ji Situ knows that if he can open a door to domestic unsalable goods, he will definitely win domestic praise.

"The opening of a treaty port in Huwei is a good thing, and I greatly appreciate it on behalf of the British Empire!" Wen Jiji took off his wine glass, and then clapped his hands gently.

"We, the French government, are supportive."

"We, the U.S. government, are equally supportive."

There was thunderous applause in the flower hall.

Wen Jisi waved his hand, and the applause stopped, "However, I hope that Huwei can open a public concession area, which will be more conducive to the business activities of merchants from various countries." ”

The Westerners at the reception echoed almost in unison, expressing their support for Wen Jisi.

"Thank you for your kindness." Shao Bei raised his voice, with a smile on his face, "I am very happy to tell you that Daming will set up Huwei as a limited free port, only impose tariffs on a few imported goods, implement trade control, and implement tax exemption for other goods entering and leaving the trade zone." Huwei will implement a series of policies that are in line with the practice of various countries, so there is no need to open a concession area. ”

Shao Bei explained in detail, "Citizens of all countries can hire workers and sailors in the free port and rent houses just like the people of the Ming Dynasty; You are free to buy and sell with any person you want at a voluntary price; Business managers and servants can be hired, translators and Chinese teachers can be hired; It is possible to lease houses, offices and factories to build hospitals; You can travel freely within the Freeport. ”

After listening to Shao Bei's statement, there was a sudden uproar in the flower hall, and the Westerners in the audience whispered to each other.

"Oh my God, I don't even believe my ears."

"The Tatar rebels even know about the Free Port."

A free port refers to a special area designated by a country outside the customs jurisdiction where foreign ships can enter and exit freely, and all or most foreign goods can enter and exit without customs duties. It relies on its own good wharf, advanced transportation and handling facilities, the convenience of carrying out the storage and transportation, picking, classification, transformation and other businesses of goods, as well as the exemption of import and export goods tariffs, customs supervision and other preferential treatment, etc., to play its role as a commodity distribution center, to achieve the purpose of promoting the economic development of the country or the adjacent areas of the free port.

"Although we of the British Empire remained neutral in the war between your Ming Kingdom and the Qing Kingdom Tatar, we greatly appreciate your decision to open a free port in Huwei, which is very wise and I believe that it will definitely help to deepen our mutual friendship."

There was a burst of ecstasy in Wenjisi, and the opening of a free port in Huwei will make it so exciting that cheap British goods will pour into Taiwan like a tide. He said in his heart that fortunately, a rebel army emerged in the Qing State, and the rebel army, known as the "Ming State", was very strong, had conquered a lot of territory, and was willing to respect the principle of free trade and abide by the rules of the game of civilized countries.

Shao Bei was full of spring breeze, "Free trade is a universal principle, and you can still do business without diplomatic relations." Huwei Port is not only a free port, but also a foreign trade port pointed out by the Ming Dynasty, we welcome businessmen from all over the world to carry out normal business activities in Huwei, and we also welcome Britain, France and the United States to open consulates and commercial agencies in Huwei. ”

He raised his glass, "Cheers to free trade!" ”