The market in Jiangning City is a little more prosperous than in the past. If you think about it, you can understand that Xu Yifan came with tens of thousands of soldiers, asked for food and vegetables, and even made military uniforms and bought mules and horses, all of which were purchased locally. Tangshan pulled up the boss a shelf, leveled the ground to build a house, repaired the road, all had to hire workers, the local foreman and small workers swept away, needless to say, even as far as Jiangsu, Zhejiang, northern Huinan knew the news of the prosperity of the market here, turned over the New Year, a group of boats attached to the boat gang came over, set up a shack outside the water gate, and waited to find work on the construction site.

The silver of the treasury of the two rivers and three provinces, the silver that has stopped, is spent like flowing water. The consortium of Nanyang and Beiyang has organized a large number of sources of goods to return the money spent. As soon as the two got together, the market in Jiangning City was so lively that it couldn't be crowded.

Now Tang Shaoyi's belongings are only in and out, but he also knows it in his heart. This can be regarded as stirring up the original market that has not changed for a hundred years, and the circulation of money is money, which will increase income, support until the commercial tax collection system is perfected, and then collect it again. It's really tense these few months, and he can still issue bonds to Nanyang and Beiyang———— he has studied in the United States for ten years, and he still has this ability.

Xu Yifan is not even more worried, in this period of history, he did not pay 20,000 taels of silver to Yueben, and did not pay 450,000 taels of silver to the Eight-Nation Alliance. After more than 200 years of precipitation, the national wealth is still there, but the Qing Dynasty does not have the ability to mobilize it. He introduced the two modern capitals of Nanyang and Beiyang into the anointed land he was sitting on, which would naturally cause the agglomeration effect of capital, and he didn't have so many civil servants to support, and the soldiers were only six towns, except that he had no money in his own pocket, and he had to rely on his daughter-in-law to eat, and the others were afraid that he would not be able to cope with it? He didn't need to fight a general war with the court in the north for ten or eight years............ The market is prosperous, and the people's words are naturally much better. Xu Yifan's mixed-race daughter-in-law made a joke about copying the house, which made the people feel that in fact, this young Xu Dashuai was very different from so many previous governors of Liangjiang in the Qing Dynasty with white beard, hunched waist, and sanctimonious manners, but he was actually full of cuteness.

When Xu Yifan first arrived, the Yellow Leather Praetorian Guards stood straight at the entrance of the Supervision Office with bayonets, within a radius of several hundred meters. Now they have also opened, and they dare to walk around before the shadow wall of the Yamen of the Governor's Office. It turned out that the semi-underground opium parlor that supplied the alternate officials with a good time could not be opened - Bai Siwen and Bai Daprefect had already smashed cigarette lamps in public in the Yamen, pouted a dozen beloved smoking guns, and also carried out several anti-smoking actions. But the other shops, the business has begun to be crowded, and there are even Baba who come to see the Praetorian Guard officers and soldiers walking long distances to change the guard.

Occasionally, the officers and soldiers of the Praetorian Guard came over to fill their stomachs, and the boss dared to lean against the counter and half-jokingly asked, Mrs. Shuai Xian, did you go to the outer house of Aunt Xian of Daxing Palace to put on a show recently? Li Xuan has no shelf, he laughs and groans everywhere, dares to sit in taverns and teahouses, and learns Jiangning dialect with people everywhere. Although she is a mixed-race girl who is beyond everyone's aesthetics, when she laughs, she really has no color in front of her. Xiuning is weak, and the door is not out of the door, and the common people naturally like this legendary story of the princess of the previous dynasty. For the big drama of the two girls in the future, Jiangningcheng is looking forward to it.

All in all, compared to Yanjing City, which was shrouded in a dark cloud, compared to the last days of the Huanghuang Qing Dynasty that emitted the smell of rotting corpses. Jiangning City is another world, although it is limited to time, there is not much change, but the young and handsome handsome, the beautiful and cheerful handsome lady, the fierce and heroic Praetorian Guard, the strange accent, no braids, hurried, dark-skinned Nanyang shopkeepers, put down the shelves and work hard to make a living, as well as the lively and noisy market, all of which are combined, so that Jiangning City has exuded a good smell of freshness - everyone who is in it can vaguely feel it.

History has changed.

Even the equally young Salisbury envoy, who came here as a guest and didn't know much about China. You can feel it, too. His Asian experience, all taken together, was a three-year stint in India as an assistant to the Hyderabad Princely State Commissioner, and a trip to the Near East. But all this did not hinder Mr. Waters' ability to observe and judge, and he always prided himself on his keen eyes and clear mind.

Compared to those Indians, Muslims, Zoroastrians, Sikhs............ Mr. Waters has sensitively realized it. The people here, though equally backward and unhygienic, are industrious, busy from the moment they wake up to bed, respect the power of education, not gloomy, and have a slightly rude sense of humor.

———— everything else is a stub, and the people here are so hardworking! A group of ant-like people who are busy all the time, hard-working and diligent. Compared to the Indians in the Near East and in tropical latitudes, compared to the Bedouins who would rather lead their camels and wander around, than the Indians who would rather bask in the sun around the princely palaces to catch lice, and beg when they see a Caucasian coming, the people here are simply industrious! It seems to be something that is seared into the bones of their nation! The most terrifying thing is that there are tens of thousands of such people!

If it is only diligence, but ignorance, no matter how diligent it is, it is nothing more than tens of thousands of good Western world labor that can be used. The people here are still the vast majority of people who are uneducated. However, respecting the power of education and knowledge is also engraved in the bones of this nation! The cook in his makeshift mansion, although the dignity of a gentleman made him disdain to communicate with these servants other than orders, but he had seen the cook hurrying to pick up her widowed son from school from a nearby school (Mr. Waters did not know that it was called a private school), and Mr. Waters, who passed by in a carriage, could see the love in the eyes of the cook for her son and the light of her heart on his son's future.

Of course, Waters didn't know that because of Xu Yifan's existence, the First Sino-Japanese Battle in history did not fail, and the Gengzi Incident was likely to be nipped in the bud by Xu Yifan. The humiliation of this nation has not reached the point of extinction, nor has the confidence of its own culture been lost to the extreme, as it has been in history, in the coming decades!

This people, in Mr. Waters's still very modest experience, still believes in their civilization, their culture, and is still proud of their long history. Although it has become a bit intermittent, endless...... How could this country, in the war of the past year, be beaten by the small country in the east and almost surrender? If there was no Xu Yifan who invited him over?

He was even a little interested in studying the history of the Far East, and also made a preliminary judgment that if this General Xu Yifan Xu could really firmly grasp the power, relying on such a country, he could pose a threat to Russia's expansion into the Far East. In the Crimean War, the Anglo-French forces were already shocked by the cruelty of Russia and their desperate lives, the Anglo-French forces and Russia could not fight, but this Far Eastern country could absolutely not care! Anyway, one is an Asian nation and the other is a semi-Asian nation, and it doesn't matter how many of them die.

Of course, these are only preliminary judgments, and it is still very early to make a conclusion in the end, as a gentleman, it would be too ungraceful to state his position too early, but he has already decided that he can stay in Jiangning for a while longer, deal with this Xu Dashuai more, and when he can't hold his breath, the British Empire can get the most out of it............ As for the threat, Mr. Waters did not feel that the British Empire could suppress the entire civilized world, and would care about an uncivilized country in the Far East?

Besides, that Xu Dashuai is also very interesting, isn't it?

So on this day, when Xu Yifan sent a young officer under him to invite him to the Governor's Office, Mr. Waters happily accepted his invitation.

He came to the Liangjiang Governor's Office under the guidance of the Praetorian Guard officers on horseback, and he was very careful not to enter through the main entrance. Instead, he entered through the side door, and under the guidance of the officer with a straight face, he twisted and turned all the way, but he did not go straight to Xu Yifan's signing room, turned a few corridors, and saw a courtyard in front of it, Xu Yifan was already dressed in military civilian clothes, and his face was standing at the door of the courtyard with a good face and raising his hand to greet him, and he actually used the popular French of the British high society: "Mr. Waters, the weather is good today!" "Back then, in the National Development and Reform Commission, he had not completely left aside his language skills in dealing with foreigners from all over the world.

Xu Yifan smiled, just watched as Mr. Waters took off his top hat and smiled at him and nodded. Amusing foreign devils is finally a more interesting thing, and the opponent of the British Empire is much more energetic than the northern court. The two people he sent to the north to make trouble in the north are smart, and the other has been in the bureaucracy for a long time, and the intrigue may be better than him. He just needs to wait for the result, and if he thinks too much about the dark things of infighting, his psychology will be unhealthy.

In fact, subconsciously, he didn't want to think about it too much............ Waters also replied with a smile in French: "Your Excellency, the weather in Jiangning is indeed good!" This kind of clammy early spring is really a bit like a London ............"

When it comes to the ability to greet the weather, the British recognize the second, and no country dares to recognize the first. Xu Yifan wouldn't invite him to come casually anyway to chat, so he must have any plans. Is something happening in the north, or is Xu Yifan unable to hold his breath? He had always had telegraph contact with He Bo, the minister in Yanjing, and according to He Bo's words, the north was still so chaotic, silent, numb, and without much change, not much better, but not so bad............ What exactly is the reason?

Xu Yifan smiled and didn't want to explain the doubts in Mr. Waters' heart, so he just turned sideways and asked Waters to follow him straight into the small courtyard.

The courtyard was quiet, where was a reclining chair placed in the most sunny place, and a few little girls with clear eyebrows were cleaning the courtyard, and when they saw Xu Yifan coming in, they all bowed their heads and saluted. Xu Yifan ignored them, and walked to the door of the west wing with Waters who almost said hello to his head.

The wooden door was closed tightly, and the curtains of the windows next to it were lowered, Xu Yifan stood in front of the door and knocked on the door gently: "Zhongtang? Nave? ”

After pausing for a while, I heard a voice from inside, although old, but still full of energy: "Little bastard, get out!" Mother, Lao Tzu was kidnapped by you! Zhang Youqiao is a tiger! The old man has no power and no power, and he is under your feet, and he can still do it without you! ”

Xu Yifan smiled and squeezed his eyes at Waters. Waters doesn't know Chinese, and he doesn't need a translator to communicate with Xu Yifan anyway. At this time, I just wondered, who is in this room? Xu Yifan looked like the British envoy to him, sitting on the boat with his buttocks, he just refused to move a step towards the concession, but when he entered this courtyard, he didn't bring a single guard, he stood at the door and knocked on the door, looking like a big guest, who is this person? Xu Yi invited him here, what kind of play did he show him?

"Old Zhongtang, it's Youqiao who tied you, and it has nothing to do with me............ There is a guest here today, and it is not a big person, it is the British Prime Minister's special envoy Waters. Mr. Salisbury, no matter how big your shelf is, people come to say hello, you can't still be scolded back by a bastard, right? ”

There was a silence in the room, and after a while, the door creaked open. Two little maids helped an old man who looked tall among the Orientals to come out. Although he wanted someone to support him, the old man's momentum was not necessarily weaker at all, standing at the door and sweeping his eyes, Xu Yifan shrugged his shoulders with a smile and took a step back.

The character in the room is naturally Li Hongzhang. The governor of the south, although he supported Xu Yifan's troops in the operation of entering southern Liaoning, was still a little hesitant when he was about to get on the ship and was about to have a showdown with the Qing court.

One is how much to save face, even if you want to be a second minister, other governors will be first, and then you will follow up, then you will be worthy of admiration. The second is to negotiate the conditions with Xu Yifan, and how to negotiate these conditions depends on how big Xu Yifan's dominant position in the north is, and it still takes a little time to grasp the wait-and-see.

Xu Yifan is really too lazy to consume them, the north is in chaos, and the south has not been integrated, so it's a joke! Since they want to wait and see, there must be a famous person to take the lead, and they will not do anything, and it will be enough to invite Li Hongzhang here!

Lao Li Tou, he still knows a little about this person. To do things, to be an official, to be rich, but also to have a reputation. It's a person who can't stand loneliness. was already disheartened by the Qing court in the north, and the black pot was also carried by him, and his own family was also lost. But this doesn't mean that he won't say anything about Xu Yifan's steaming power! Especially after Xu Yifan surrendered and rebelled in his Beiyang system! The core of Li Hongzhang's strength, the Beiyang Naval and Land Division has collapsed, and he has a Praetorian Guard like Fangzhong, at this time, Li Hongzhang's strength can be borrowed, and it is not the time to threaten his Xu Yifan's status!

Recalling that when he first arrived in Jinmen and visited the first governor of the Qing Dynasty, it was like a world away in just a few years.

Li Hongzhang lived in his hometown, and in Xu Yifan's opinion, he had a lot of meaning to sit and wait. Although the Beiyang system collapsed completely, Li Hongzhang had to make an arrangement for the children of his family who had followed him for so long - in history, after the defeat of the First Sino-Japanese War, after he stepped down, everyone in the country said that he could be killed, and everyone at the time thought that he would not see him resurrect again, even if the Qing court summoned him again, with his old age, would he still come to wipe his ass for the Qing court? However, Li Hongzhang still got up as soon as he was summoned, which shows that no matter how many hardships the old man has gone through, he still has the same heart and enthusiasm for his work.

If he is really disheartened and lazy to this point, why not go to the concession, and have to be under the feet of his Xu Yifan in Hefei? After Xu Yifan arrived, Weng Tongyi ran from his hometown in Changshu to the Shanghai Concession, and closed the door, for fear that Xu Yifan would coerce him, but Li Hongzhang did not move in Hefei, and lay calmly. Zhang Peilun and Sheng Xuanhuai worked hard here with Xu Yifan, if they said that there was no shadow of Li Hongzhang behind them, they would not believe Xu Yifan if they killed him.

If there is no chaos in the Xiangjiao, Xu Yifan can spend it with Li Hongzhang again, and now, it will be free. A few days ago, Zhang Peilun was ordered to invite Mr. Li over! Xu Yifan was also polite, and arranged him in the Liangjiang Supervision Office, the place where he used to travel, only a few visits, the old man put on a loyal posture, or scolded back, or closed the door, and the shelf had to get the last ............ Let's see how long he can stretch!

Today, it's Devil Li who sees foreign devils, let them take this fake reserve and tear it off a little............ Li Hongzhang stood at the door, looking around, not glancing at Xu Yifan, just looking at Waters. This foreign devil had already taken off his top hat and stepped forward to bow: "Lord Li! I am a member of the Salisbury family, and I had the privilege of meeting you when Your Excellency the Prime Minister accompanied you to visit the Armstrong factory ten years ago. ”

Li Hongzhang glanced at him, don't look at the foreign affairs he has been doing for so many years, Li Hongzhang really doesn't understand foreign languages, but just turned his head and glared at Xu Yifan: "Boy, what is he talking about?" ”

Xu Yifan translated with a smile, on this occasion, he is just a lively person for the time being.

After listening to Xu Yifan's translation, Li Hongzhang coughed. In front of foreign devils, he has always been undefeated. He has a purpose, he can't be soft on foreign devils, otherwise these devils should kick their noses in the face. Xu Yifan once remembered reading a Qing notebook, which specifically recorded Li Hongzhang's style - several foreign ministers went to the Prime Minister's National Affairs Yamen Office to negotiate for something, arrogant, and several princes and ministers were silent, but the messenger kept asking Li Zhongtang if he was there, and as soon as Li Hongzhang arrived, he stood upright, scolded several foreign ministers, and by the way, he took off his cloak and handed it to the foreign minister. The foreigner minister still eats this set, and immediately nods his head. Bingguo has been hanging for 20 years, and the demeanor of the first minister of the eastern power is really extraordinary. Li Hongzhang can't fight for much, this face has never been lost!

Hearing that the British Prime Minister's envoy in Xu Yifan's mouth was just a junior of the Salisbury family, his frame became bigger, his waist board was doubled by three points, and he waved his hand to let the maid who was holding him retreat, and stretched out his arm to Waters to signal slightly, and Waters really helped him and accompanied him down the steps.

“………… Ten years ago, I remember Prime Minister Salisbury, you were his nephew? Nephew? Or what? ”

"Your Excellency the Prime Minister is my mother's cousin, and our family has always had a tradition of serving the British Empire." Waters replied respectfully.

"The back waves of the Yangtze River push the front waves, and it is also the world of you young people! Your uncle, and I, are all old! Li Hongzhang sighed old-fashionedly.

His triangular eyes suddenly glared at Waters sharply: "You were also deceived by this kid?" ”

As soon as he finished asking, Xu Yifan smiled and said, "Zhongtang, I can't translate this sentence............

Li Hongzhang waved his hand and ignored him: "............ Are you in England also optimistic about this kid? No wonder, no wonder, look at this kind of style, you are the best! A person surnamed Salisbury can appear in Jiangning City, which can already explain a lot of things............ No wonder he brought you here! ”

Salisbury listened carefully to Xu Yifan's translation, revealing a cautious look. Xu Yifan suddenly saw the summons, and the meaning was already very clear, that is, to tell him that even Li Hongzhang was already in his hands, and the ownership of the last power in this country, should you still doubt it? After all, he is a political family, although he saw Li Hongzhang blowing his eyebrows at Xu Yifan and glaring at him, but the meaning behind this is nothing more than that. If a character like Li Hongzhang wants to avoid Xu Yifan, what way can he invite him to Jiangning City?

This is indeed the case, saying that Zhang Peilun tied up Li Hongzhang. Zhang Peilun just went alone, so he "kidnapped" his father-in-law, and the people who escorted Li Hongzhang were just a group of girls who served carefully and diligently. The old man's daily necessities were loaded into half a boat and transported over.

Today's arrangement of his is almost impetic. made it clear to Li Hongzhang that the British Empire had already made eye contact with him Xu Yifan. It also shows to the British side that Li Hongzhang and other figures are in his Xu someone's bag, who belongs to the world, do you still need to be suspicious?

Those present are all smart people. There is no need to say a lot of words, where the eyes collide, each other's thoughts have already been understood. Li Hongzhang just sighed a few times with emotion, and Waters was silent, not admitting his official identity. And Xu Yifan just smiled faintly there.

Li Hongzhang was aggressive for a long time before turning his head to look at Xu Yifan: "............ If you want the old man to help, you can. But the old man just said, what means have you arranged for the current chaos in the north? What the hell are you going to do with the Northside? As long as you say that! ”

(To be continued)