"What, we have to increase the amount of smuggling." This made Lin Yongxiang, who had just returned to the capital, really helpless. I remembered the emperor's confession that I had only met once: no smuggling of food, arms, machinery and equipment, etc., which can be used for military purposes, cannot be smuggled. If this is the case, then the cloth that is now the most smuggled in volume may also be used to make military uniforms. It has to be increased, but what is good about smuggling: "Lord Leng, the emperor's restrictions on smuggled goods are too strict. If we want to increase the amount of smuggling, what should we smuggle? ”

"Shopkeeper Lin, how can this stump you. Porcelain, tea, quilts, and jewelry and other luxury goods, the emperor said that you can smuggle them with confidence. After speaking, Leng Jun took out a small box wrapped in white paper, opened it and took out a thin cigarette: "The emperor has prepared a sharp weapon for you - the white devil." ”

"Cigarettes? Good stuff. Lin Yongxiang took it and wanted to order one.

"Wait, I just said it's the white devil, and you forgot about it. This adds a little bit of ......" Speaking of this, Leng Jun gestured with a pinch of his hand: "Only a little bit of white powder." ”

Leng Jun looked at Lin Yongxiang, who was full of surprise, and then explained the reason for the matter.

Just after Lin Lianhui developed Yunnan Baiyao, the emperor secretly drove to the laboratory of the pharmaceutical factory and took out a black and slimy medicine block. Everyone present knew that this was opium, which had poisoned the Chinese for a hundred years. The emperor said: Take it and purify it. The foreigner poisoned us with this kind of thing, and now we will sell him back again, so that the foreigner can taste the bitter fruit of his own sowing. The result of purification is a white powder. The emperor built another tobacco factory to secretly produce a batch of cigarettes with this white powder added.

"This thing is more poisonous than opium, don't let anyone else touch it."

Lin Yongxiang nodded silently, remembering that the Lin family was colluding with officials and businessmen on the order, and he was ordered to smuggle here, and there was something more poisonous than opium. I can't help but think of a new term that the emperor said when he met the saint that time: wonderful.

Spring in Jinmen is full of spring, and the land is full of green, dotted with red flowers in the green all over the mountains. But Kawakami Shoroku is not in the slightest mood to enjoy this exotic scenery, these days, every day is faced with a variety of food, and his mood is extremely depressed.

It has been more than 10 days since he came to Tianjin in a flash, except for the first night, Li Hongzhang invited a banquet for four people from the Kawakami Yakliu and his party in his governor's palace, held a welcome reception with traditional Chinese characteristics, tasted Li Hongzhang's favorite steamed sea bass, and specially invited a famous opera troupe from the capital to help the fun, and Kawakami Yamaliu never saw Li Hongzhang again.

I only knew when I asked, and I was shocked when I asked. In the early morning of the second day of their arrival, before dawn, a cargo ship of the steamship China Merchants Bureau rammed and sank a Pacific Cargo cargo ship that was docking at the dock in Shanghai, and many people went missing. People on both sides made a move for this, and even the government sent troops to calm the scene. As soon as Li Hongzhang received the telegram, he went to Shanghai in person without stopping to suppress the situation.

This really can't be more bad news, as for the matter of Li Hongzhang accompanying Kawakami to visit Beiyang at the banquet that night, there was no follow-up. Beiyang's reply was: Li Zhongtang is not here, and no one dares to be the master. However, Zhang Peilun, who greeted Kawakami Yakliu on the dock, came to accompany Kawakami Yakliu and his party every day, talking about the past and the present, chatting and drinking, talking and laughing, quite a bit of his elegant demeanor when he was in the clear stream.

"I wonder when the Governor will be able to return to Jinmen? Our entourage specially came to your country to learn the experience of Beiyang in handling foreign affairs, and we may not be able to live up to the trust of His Majesty the Emperor if we spend time in Jinmen. I also hope that Your Excellency will convey our intentions to the Governor...... "Although the incident in Shanghai happened suddenly, it was also true after understanding. So Kawakami didn't show much dissatisfaction, but said with an unusually respectful look.

"Your Excellency Kawakami is also very clear that the matter of the Shanghai Steamship China Merchants Bureau is now in an uproar in the whole of Shanghai, and the non-Zhongtang Lord can't suppress the situation, and for a while, I'm afraid it will be difficult to get out. As for when Lord Nakado will return to Tsumon, I really don't know. In my opinion, His Excellency Kawakami might as well take this opportunity to hover in Jinmen for a few more days, and everything in Jinmen will be renewed in April, which is the most beautiful time of the year. By the way, I also specially asked people to prepare some exquisite snacks, which His Excellency Kawakami has never tasted......" After listening to the words of the translator of the consulate in Tianjin, Zhang Peilun smiled and snorted, but scolded Zhou Qin in his heart.

Since following the emperor's will, Lord Zhongtang simply went to Shanghai with his legs up, out of sight and out of mind. And that Zhou Qin obviously came with the emperor's will, but no one has appeared these days. I was stunned to push myself here and started a spinning top with these Orientals, but this spinning top couldn't turn anymore.

Kawakami only frowned slightly, and still said respectfully, "We are here to study, so it is already a little vain, then the Governor promised to take us to inspect your country's Tianjin First Arsenal, Tianjin Ordnance Bureau, Tianjin Naval Academy and military camp forts. Since the Governor is not in Jinmen, I wonder if Your Excellency can ask the Governor for some convenience for us. We appreciate it! "It's a deep bow.

"Well...... Zhang Peilun groaned, revealing a look of embarrassment and said, "If it is normal, since the Governor has agreed, it is enough to say hello up and down, and it is not a difficult thing in the first place." But at the moment, this matter is really a bit tricky. ”

"Why then?" Kawakami Ryoroku stiffened up from the tatami mat and stared at Zhang Peilun tightly.

Look at this frame, this Kawakami Yakoroku will not stop if he doesn't ask why he came out today. Zhang Peilun couldn't help but scold Zhou Qin a few words in his heart. At this time, I had to move out the words that I had discussed with Zhou Qin.

Zhang Peilun pretended to look mysterious and leaned towards Kawakami: "Your Excellency Kawakami doesn't know if you pay attention." So, there is another person who greets you on the pier? ”

Kawakami was slightly stunned. immediately understood who Zhang Peilun was talking about. In fact, he had noticed Zhou Qin a long time ago. Since the founding of the New Army, the Qing Dynasty has set its sights on it, and the situation of several major military officials has already been clearly investigated, and there is still a photo of this Zhou Qin in the office drawer of Kawakami Yoroku. At this moment, seeing Zhang Peilun suddenly mention it, he also had some questions in his heart. This Zhou Qin suddenly appeared at the docks, and then he has not appeared again in these days. It's a little weird indeed. He nodded his head. looked at Zhang Peilun with some doubts.

"Alas......" Zhang Peilun sighed. He said with a look of great embarrassment. "This person's name is Zhou Qin. Presumably, His Excellency Kawakami also knew that I had built a new army in the Qing Dynasty. He is currently in charge of the General Logistics Office of the Forces nouvelles. This time I came to Jinmen, in fact, I came to investigate and handle the case at the behest of the emperor. It is said that the New Army purchased a batch of firearms from the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau, but it was transferred when it passed through Beiyang. At present, there is chaos in the Beiyang...... Your Excellency Kawakami may not be very clear about my Daqingdi. Things are complicated in the local situation. In fact, the collision case is just a lot of trouble, it is nothing more than a matter of paying a few more silver, where is the use of Lord Zhongtang to come forward in person? At this time, Lord Zhongtang went to Shanghai, but he was just looking for a reason, and in fact, there was also a meaning to avoid suspicion. ”

Let's talk about it. He shook his head again. There was a slight helplessness. "Your Excellency Kawakami. The day you came, it happened to be Zhou Qin's time to investigate the case, and it was not the right time for His Excellency Kawakami to come to the place! ”

Isn't it time? Zhang Peilun's words suddenly blocked all the words that Kawakami wanted to say, and he was speechless. And he understands that what Zhang Peilun said is true. On the night of his arrival, Mitsutomi Kamio, military attache of the Embassy in China, reported the incident to him. Kawakami looked at Zhang Peilun and took a deep breath in his heart, and forcibly suppressed the inexplicable anger in his heart.

"In that case, then we won't bother the Governor. We will leave Jinmen in a few days, thank you for your hospitality to us......" Kawakami Yoroku bowed coldly.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Zhang Peilun laughed with him, then got up and said goodbye.

Before leaving the door, he turned back and said, "A few days ago, Tianjin received a telegram from Shandong, saying that three or five bandits had fled from Shandong to Tianjin. If you go out, it is best to inform you at the next time, so that I may have the personal soldiers of the Governor's Palace to guard your safety. ”

"Thanks for the reminder." Kawakami bowed again. But he scolded fiercely in his heart: "Baga! ”

Judging by his long-term collection of intelligence from the Qing State, the Qing people did not care much about their military secrets. On the contrary, like Li Hongzhang in Beiyang, he also likes to frequently invite foreigners to visit military camps, forts, etc., in order to demonstrate the national prestige of this great power of the Celestial Empire. And this time, even Li Hongzhang, who has always been hospitable and generous, quietly hid in Shanghai, being a little wary of his party, which made Kawakami Yaroku suddenly have a hint of foreboding.

Could it be that the Qing people realized the purpose of their trip?

Impossible, it is impossible for the Qing people to understand the purpose of their trip, and Kawakami is extremely confident in the secrecy work of the imperial intelligence department. However, these Qing people, even Li Hongzhang. What exactly is this deliberate vigilance?

"Please come over to Inoue-kun, I have something to ask him." Kawakami commanded expressionlessly.

After only a while, Toshio Inoue, who had been waiting next door, walked in quietly, and bowed respectfully in the face of Kawakami Yoroku: "Inoue Toshio has been waiting for General Kawakami's orders." ”

"Kamio-kun, this time the people of China are too abnormal, what do you think about this?"

"Hi, General Kawakami. Several of the things Zhang Peilun said are indeed true, whether it is a contract transfer case or a ship collision case. Including the case of the bandits in Shandong, there was indeed a telegram from the Shandong side requesting assistance in arresting them. Kamio Mitsutomi affirmed, "In the eyes of his subordinates, it seems that so many things happen to come together like a coincidence, and it seems that it is deliberately arranged, but in fact it should be just a coincidence." It is like confirming the old Chinese saying that 'no coincidence makes no book'. ”

"Are you so sure?"

"Yes, Your Excellency. The Qing people never paid attention to secrecy, and Li Hongzhang of Beiyang was even more so. On the contrary, the Qing people were indeed extremely cautious about the matter of internal strife, and according to the practice of the Qing court in handling cases, it was indeed a habit of the Qing officialdom for Li Hongzhang to avoid Shanghai this time. His subordinates could be sure that the incident here was by no means arranged by Li Hongzhang. After speaking, Toshio Inoue glanced at Kawakami Kayaku, and said with some hesitation: "It's just that my subordinates still have a question." Since the establishment of the new army in China, both the Fengtai camp and the army school have been heavily guarded, and in some places there are even imperial guards guarding them. The secrecy in these places is well done. We also lost one recruited personnel for this. According to reliable information, all this was arranged at the behest of the Emperor of China. The question of his subordinates is that if everything that happened here in Tianjin was arranged by the Emperor of China, then please ask His Excellency Kawakami to remind the Imperial General Staff Headquarters to be cautious. ”

Emperor of China? Toshio Inoue's words reminded Kawakami, who nodded. As the military attache of the Legation, Toshio Inoue undoubtedly performed excellently, and the General Staff Headquarters spoke highly of this. So, for Toshio Inoue. Kawakami has enough trust.

"In order not to arouse the suspicion of the Qing people, I will go to the capital tomorrow, and I will not go to Beiyang. Therefore, I hope that Inoue Jun can use your relationship in the Qing Kingdom to find an opportunity for these two staff officers around me to have as much contact as possible with Beiyang's military facilities near Jinmen, and these excellent combat staff officers will definitely be able to find something useful for the empire. Although Kawakami's words were very relaxed, his expression was a little dignified.

"General Kawakami, please rest assured. I will immediately start arranging, and I will certainly live up to the general's expectations. ”

Kawakami Yoroku nodded silently, Beiyang, he can already put it aside and leave him alone for the time being. Now, he focused all his attention on the focus of his trip, the Great Fresh Army, and he didn't know how the progress was going at this time.

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