The next morning, Ye Zhao came to the main hall of the Dutong Yamen, not the three fires of the new official, but the first time he really became an official, which was quite fresh.

However, along the way, he was pondering the excerpt he was going to give to Xianfeng, that is, the excerpt of training three battalions of firearms soldiers, each battalion had 500 people, including a battalion of the Eight Banners of Manchuria, a battalion of elite preparation from the green battalion in Guangzhou, and a battalion of recruits from Guangzhou.

Three battalions of firearms soldiers, in fact, Ye Zhao really has no hope for the first battalion of the Eight Banners, the world military system has been peaceful for more than 200 years, and the bravery of the Eight Banners has long ceased to exist, Ye Zhao really cares about the remaining two battalions of firearms soldiers, how to train the two battalions of modern rifle teams? And how do you keep it firmly in your hands? These are all issues that need to be considered, of course, first of all, you have to persuade Xianfeng and the bigwigs in the capital to agree to train firearms soldiers by themselves.

Ye Zhao felt that this was not a problem, the sharpness of Western firearms was more and more recognized by Xianfeng and the ministers, among which the success or failure was just how to ask for silver from the capital, and if he didn't need Xianfeng's heart to do this, he would definitely get Xianfeng's support.

Ye Zhao had already thought about it, and in the excerpt, he only needed to say that the silver for running the firearms camp could be collected from foreign merchants, and he had already persuaded the Western merchants, and it seemed that he, the co-organizer, had done a serious job.

At that time, Wu Jianzhang was asked to allocate money directly from the tariff, but naturally he did not really ask the foreigners for silver to do military affairs, but when collecting the tariffs from the foreigners, he cleverly set up a name and used the difference between Chinese and Western translations to convert a normal tax into the "firearm donation" in the Qing Dynasty, and this tax became his own military expenses.

Wu Jianzhang and other customs officials deceived and concealed their own pockets, which is familiar with the road, and they are serious about their own business, Wu Jianzhang still doesn't do it, and he is beautiful? Nowadays, Shanghai's customs tariff and silver income can be said to be the lifeblood of the Qing Dynasty, with Wu Jianzhang's ATM sitting in the customs, he is handy with asking for silver, but it is stronger than Zeng Wenzheng Lian Xiang Jun begging everywhere and even black-eyed to blackmail the gentry I don't know how many times.

Of course, this big lie itself has to be rounded, although the Qing Dynasty now understands very little about foreign affairs, but it is difficult to guarantee that one day someone will turn over old accounts and find some words, but he wants to convene a meeting of foreign businessmen's representatives, just mention this matter, and say that he will collect firearms donations, but the amount is naturally extremely low, and he is exempted from other taxes, in short, so that foreign businessmen feel that they have not suffered a loss. In this way, unless Xianfeng is really determined to do himself, the Qin messenger sent is extremely shrewd and able to communicate with foreigners, and the customs is very cooperative, otherwise no one can really figure out the reason for the matter, let alone catch his sore feet.

The establishment of the firearms battalion should be somewhat modeled after the Western military system, but in my own fold, it is absolutely impossible to say that the Qing Dynasty [***] system is outdated in the world, only that the foreign gun team is forbidden, but it is the Yiren military system that can better restrain the army.

Pondering whether there was anything missing from the fold, Ye Zhao was a little distracted when he sat in the hall. However, Ye Zhao also knew that the purchase of Western guns and foreign guns by the so-called firearms battalion could not change the country, it was just a small section, and the real change in this country was to awaken the people from the root and ideologically.

Just as he was in a trance, Abu hurriedly walked in and said a thousand words: "Thanks to the master Hongfu, I caught a prisoner who had escaped from the flag for more than a year early this morning!" ”

Ye Zhao didn't feel a little curious, the so-called fleeing the flag means leaving the flag ten miles away from the flag city without permission, and fleeing the flag for more than a year? That's really not wanting to come back.

Abu handed over another document and said: "It is the third time that a person who has committed a crime and a person with a white flag has escaped from the flag, and he should be sent to Heilongjiang as a slave according to the law!" ”

Ye Zhao took the paperwork and glanced at it a few times, and then couldn't help but sit up straight, this guy is very interesting! The first time he escaped the flag turned out to be a business partnership with the Han people, and three months later, he lost his capital and had to return to Qicheng to be punished; The second time he escaped the flag, but after he was promoted to the Xiao Cavalry School after his military merits were recorded, the reason for the flag escape was unknown; The third and last time, not only did he do business with the Han people, but also married the daughter of the Han people, which can be said to be extremely bold.

And the battalion commander spoke highly of it, but no, before the second time he escaped the flag, he was serving in the sailor battalion, only with 50 soldiers to the rampant water thief Wang Dingfa on the Pearl River to the old nest, but also captured Wang Dingfa, more than 500 thieves scattered birds and beasts, he was also promoted to the Xiao Cavalry School by virtue of military merits, who knows that it didn't take long to do the old business - escape the flag.

"Bring people in." Ye Zhao was interested.

"Take the gods!" With Abu's sharp voice, after a while, a man who was tied up by five flowers was pushed in by the armor soldiers, but it was different from Ye Zhao's imagination, the man was not tall, and his face was also delicate, but his eyes were sharp, revealing unconvinced anger!

Covered in blood, apparently whipped, he stood with his head held high in the lobby.

"Bold, don't kneel down yet, beg Lord Dutong to spare your dog's life!" Abu drank low at the gods.

But Jimbo tilted his head, pursed his lips tightly, and ignored him.

"Bastard thing! Fork him to his knees! Abu was furious, and made a gesture to the soldiers to kneel down at the foot of the hall.

Ye Zhao smiled, waved his hand and said, "That's it, you all stand down and untie him!" ”

Abu was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly said: "Master, people are fierce and stubborn, and the slave is still waiting for the master by the side to rest assured." ”

Ye Zhao smiled and said: "Excuse me, I don't believe that he can still hold Shangguan hostage, but he is just fleeing the flag, and he is not a murderer who has injured people's lives, what are you afraid of?" ”

Abu hesitated, but after all, he didn't dare to disobey Ye Zhao's words, so he had to help Shenbao loosen his ties with the armor soldiers, and whispered in Shenbao's ear: "Let me tell you, this is the prince of Prince Zheng, if you dare to be rude, the whole Niu Lu will be sat together, and you will never have close friends in the banner!" ”

Shen Bao was slightly stunned when he heard this, and couldn't help but look at Ye Zhao squarely.

Abu walked out with the armor soldiers and stood outside the hall, as long as he heard the movement in the hall was wrong, he naturally rushed in to protect the lord immediately.

Ye Zhao looked at Shenbao and said with a smile: "Your commanders have all commented on your martial arts strategy, and you are also tired of military achievements and riding school, which is a good future, why are you willing to degenerate and become a businessman?" ”

Shen Bao pursed his lips and didn't squeak, he should have been sent to Heilongjiang as a slave when he escaped the flag three times, and he married a Han girl, but he didn't know what the prince and brother in front of him wanted to do with him.

Ye Zhao smiled again: "Tell me what you think as a slave, I may not cure your wife and daughter!" "Although in recent years, there have been quite a lot of precedents for intermarriage between the people of the people, and there is gradually a trend of repeated prohibitions, and most of the government has turned a blind eye, but if it is really investigated, whether it is the flag people who intermarry or the people, they will all go to prison.

Shen Bao's heart froze, just now he only thought of his own guilt, but he forgot that if Shangguan investigates, his wife and daughter will inevitably be affected, he finally opened his voice, his voice was a little hoarse, "Big, my lord, I have been hiding my identity under the mark, and I really have nothing to do with them!" ”

Ye Zhao picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea, and said: "Anyone will say this, whether it is true or false, the official will judge it, you can tell me, why did you escape the flag, our flag city can't tolerate you?" ”

Jimbo pursed his lips tightly, and after a while, he finally squeezed out a sentence: "I, I can't see their ugliness!" ”

"They? Who are they? Ye Zhao asked with interest.

Jimbo kept his mouth shut again.

Ye Zhao stared at him for a while, then smiled: "But which leader offended you?" Or oppress you? You name it, in this lobby today, no matter what you say, I forgive you! ”

Shenbao shook his head like a rattle, looked at Ye Zhao's encouraging smile, hesitated, and finally said: "I can't see the ugliness of our banner people, one by one eating the food of the Great Qing Kingdom, but look at what they have done?" Eating opium, playing with birds, and raising a father-in-law, not only the Eight Banners of Guangzhou, but also Yanjing City! Is it right to call the ancestors? Besides, Manchuria has been in the customs for more than 200 years, why can't the banner people intermarry? What's so bad about Han Chinese? Willing to raise our flag people, aren't we ashamed? If it goes on like this, I think the Great Qing Kingdom will be finished! It's time to finish! But the more he talked, the more excited he became, and he didn't know why, and all the words in his heart shook out.

"Bold!" Ye Zhao slapped the table, and Abu poked his head outside the lobby, and when he saw that there was nothing unusual, he retracted his head.

After Shen Bao finished speaking, he knew that he had caused a big disaster, this prince and brother, he simply hid a knife in his smile, that smile can make you trust him unconsciously, and unconsciously hovered in his heart for a long time and said it, but what's the use of regretting it now?

Thinking that his wife and daughter might suffer a disaster, Shenbao didn't dare to be tough anymore, fell to his knees, and said: "My lord, you just said that no matter what Shenbao says bastardly, you will forgive Shenbao for not guilty, and Shenbao doesn't dare to ask for extravagance, I just ask my lord to spare my wife and daughter!" ”

Staring at Shen Bao, Ye Zhao's face gradually softened, and said, "If you are so rebellious, if there is a second time, I will definitely want your head!" Speaking from the heart, I really didn't expect Shen Bao to say such a thing, which surprised Ye Zhao, but his face was not obvious. I couldn't help but have the idea of protecting him.

Shen Bao was stunned, and looked up at Ye Zhao in confusion, could it be that this prince and elder brother let himself go lightly like this?

Ye Zhao took a sip of tea and said, "Since you are a hero on the horse, why bother to be cheap and go to business by yourself?" I want to save you from the pain of exile in Heilongjiang. It's not that I'm lenient, it's really the time to employ people, so I won't hide it from you, after a while, our Manchurian Eight Banners will form a battalion of musket teams, and you, just go and be a down-to-earth errand. The affairs of your wife and daughter, take it slowly, you are guilty of making meritorious contributions, but you can't go to see them for a while, otherwise you will harm them. ”

Shenbao was stunned and stunned, and looked at Ye Zhao blankly.

Ye Zhao waved his hand, "You go down now, I cherish you as a talent, and you can't let me down!" ”

Shenbao stared at Ye Zhao for a few moments, and then banged his head four times, and blood came out of his forehead, he didn't speak anymore, turned around and strode out. Although I don't believe that things will be solved so easily, if the prince and brother don't break their word, then it will naturally be a grace to him, and he can only repay him with death; If Brother breaks his promise, it doesn't hurt him, but if he hurts his wife and daughter's life, then these heads are telling Brother that he will fight for his life.

Seeing Shenbao walk out, Abu and the others wanted to stop him, but when they saw Ye Zhao waving to him, they hurriedly walked into the hall and came to Ye Zhao's side, listening to Ye Zhao's low command, and nodded incessantly.