Ye Zhao put Rong'er down with a smile, and was even more happy when the little guy gave him a blank look, touched her little head, and said, "Lady, is the new home good?" ”

Before Rong'er could speak, an auspicious and delicate voice came from outside: "Master, Li Xiaocun asks to see you." ”

Ye Zhao smiled, well, thinking that he should also come.

The east door of the lotus building is a mahogany corridor, leading directly to the reception hall, and there are a few cages of chirping birds hanging on the corridor, Ye Zhao smiled bitterly, it must have been brought to him by his confused Ama called Rong'er, but his heart was warm.

The living room has been redecorated again, the wooden chairs have been replaced with European-style sofas, mahogany coffee tables, and green bamboo and blue flowers all around, which complement each other with Chinese and Western styles, which has a unique luxury.

Although the couch is very comfortable to sit on, Li Xiaocun doesn't know how, and always feels that it is better to sit on a wooden chair.

Hearing the sound of footsteps, Li Xiaocun hurriedly stood up. Ye Zhao walked in quickly, stretched out his hand and pressed it, "Xiaocun, sit, sit." "I walked over and sat down across from the coffee table.

Li Xiaocun didn't dare to sit down, this is the opposite of his grandfather, on an equal footing, how bold is he?

Ye Zhao also found the problem, the new living room was used for the first time, and the Westerner designer still didn't understand the oriental customs, so it seemed that the sofa had to be re-arranged.

Seeing the thick stack of documents on the coffee table, Ye Zhao smiled: "What's it?" Looking at it at the moment, foreign businessmen and Chinese businessmen are now enthusiastic about the development of Guangzhou City, and there are countless investment plans of various kinds, and these stacks of documents are all selected by Li Xiaocun and think that they are feasible.

The top plan is that several major foreign commercial houses plan to build a running fire plant to supply gas for residential lighting in Xiguan and the Jiangjunfu area in the center of Guangzhou, and in order to attract customers, they also plan to install a few gas street lamps in Xiguan and the city center for free.

Ye Zhao pondered that it was also feasible, after all, the application of electric energy will be twenty or thirty years later, and the popularization will be even more distant, even if he can advance the arrival of the electric energy era, but it will be a long time before the gas lamp is eliminated, not to mention that any technology is not able to read the development, such as light bulbs, he knows that the best effect can be achieved with carbonized bamboo wire or even tungsten wire, but before the pumping vacuum device technology reaches a new height, his knowledge is actually useless.

It seems that in the 21st century, there are still a few gas street lamps in Hong Kong.

"It's feasible, gas street lamps, you can install a few more, you discuss with Guo Jingzhi of Guangzhou Prefecture, ask him to allocate some silver every month, and pay silver at 20% of the market price, if he doesn't do it, he is not allowed to install street lights, who told him that this street lamp is advertising? This intangible benefit is not small. ”

As Ye Zhao spoke, he put down the first book, and picked it up to read it below.

There are also a few British, French and Chinese businessmen who want to set up a "rental sedan chair room" and "carriage room" and so on, and now on the streets of Guangzhou, there are gradually rumors of carrying sedan chairs, which can be regarded as the current taxi, but these businessmen are eyeing this cake, and ask the political axe to manage the chaotic rental sedan chair market, such as licensing and taxation, etc., and give it to the company they set up, which is naturally easy to manage.

As for the carriage house that was going to set up a carriage rental business, Ye Zhao shook his head, if there were carriages running all over the street, it would be too unhygienic, of course, I also knew that there were not many families who could afford to rent carriages at present.

"It's feasible, but the coolies who carry the sedan chair are all poor people, and they don't have to join their business houses such as renting sedan chairs, they want to eat this piece of bread and buy the sedan chair themselves and hire someone to go! Moreover, there are Cantonese businessmen, right, to take care of their own people. ”

Ye Zhao said a word, and Li Xiaocun wrote it down in his notebook, after all, there are too many affairs today, and it would be bad if he misunderstood the edict of Grandpa Guo. Ye Zhao couldn't help but laugh dumbly when he saw this scene.

Looking down further, there was another British businessman preparing to introduce a steam bus into London, Ye Zhao frowned, and heard Hall say that this huge guy is more cumbersome than a road roller, and it is inconvenient, and he often rampages to smash the shops along the street, and the citizens of London can't stand it, and repeatedly ask the political axe to ban its bus company, let alone the people of Guangzhou?

"Not feasible!" Ye Zhao put down this document and said, "You told him that if it is a carriage bus with railroad tracks, you can consider it." "From the city center to Xiguan and then to the Huangpu Port, there should indeed be a public transportation vehicle.

Further down, there are those who want to run newspapers, those who run the letter office, that is, the post office, those who run milk sheds, and those who ask the church to run schools, and so on. There are also some suggestions, such as setting up fire faucets in Xiguan and the city center of Guangzhou, and the waterworks to supply water to them; After all, Shanghai has a bureau of the Ministry of Industry, and businessmen have the right to speak in all affairs, while there is no concession in Guangzhou, and it is normal for some businessmen to have concerns about the development of Guangzhou.

In fact, some of the recommendations are nitpicking, even if London and Paris have not yet been realized.

Ye Zhao looked at them one by one and replied one by one. Li Xiaocun wrote it down carefully, and this admiration in his heart is comparable to Pang Tong in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms novel, but Pang Tong is just dealing with miscellaneous affairs in a county and a county. The more I got in close contact with Grandpa Guo, the more I felt that Grandpa was really a strange person, and the countryman was unparalleled.

Turning over the stack of papers, Ye Zhao looked at Li Xiaocun and said, "Tell me, those difficult things." ”

Li Xiaocun was stunned, and then bowed down and said, "Grandpa Shengming!" ”

Ye Zhao picked up the teacup and tasted tea.

Li Xiaocun sighed and said: "It's nothing, there are two main things, the students are not enough, one is that the villagers of Xin'an County obstructed the laying of electric poles, and the students went to Xin'an in person, but they were almost beaten by the villagers. Huang Guangzhou of Nazhi County, pushing and presuming perfunctory, in private, he was only afraid that he was the mastermind behind the connivance of the villagers; Second, Liu Jin, a businessman in Xiguan, was imprisoned a few days ago for engraving and printing Western books, but Master Shengbao named and arrested him, but the students could not protect him. ”

Liu Jin? Ye Zhao knew this person, since the thirties, the upsurge of printing and publishing books in Guangzhou has been higher and higher, tracing its origins, the former governor of Guangzhou, Ruan Yuan, in Guangzhou large-scale publication and engraving series of books has opened a good atmosphere, and many thirteen foreign businessmen and wealthy people have also participated in this ranks, including Pan Shicheng's "Haishan Xianguan Series", Wu Chongyao's "Yue Ya Tang Series" and so on, in addition, there are many novels, plays and poetry collections published to cater to the culture of the citizens.

Liu Jin was a bookseller, and Ye Zhao had an impression of him because he had heard that after the signing of the Treaty of Guangzhou last year, Liu Jin was ready to run a newspaper, "all the national and military affairs, secular pros and cons, business prices, ships and cargoes, everything." Of course, at this stage, newspapers and newsprints are mainly based on business information, publishing various advertisements such as shipping schedules and shipping news of ships docking, copper coin prices such as foreign silver and copper coin exchange rates, price information in various places, and land sales and leases.

But he didn't want him to be arrested by Shengbao.

Ye Zhao frowned slightly.

Li Xiaocun looked at Ye Zhao's face and stopped talking. Shengbao went to the Zhaoqing military camp a few days ago, but it seemed to be deliberate, the monk and Shengbao were in Zhaoqing, according to etiquette, the grandfather should go to visit. Now those well-informed people in Guangzhou City are afraid that they are all observing the every move of these three giants, and speculating about the future situation of Guangzhou City.

"Go down, I see." Ye Zhao said lightly.

Li Xiaocun hurriedly bowed down to say goodbye, but before exiting the living room, he couldn't help it, turned around and asked cautiously: "Grandpa, can you go to Zhaoqing these two days?" ”

Ye Zhao said indifferently: "Don't go." ”

Li Xiaocun felt at ease, nodded, and walked out quickly.

…… Xin'an County is adjacent to Hong Kong Island, and in the past few years, many Chinese have gone to Hong Kong Island from Xin'an to seek a living, and there are not a few people who have absconded from Xin'an to Hong Kong.

Xin'an County Yabian Hall, the county magistrate Huang Guangzhou is discussing with Master Kong, Huang Guangzhou has always hated the Western tricks, and the telegraph line from Hong Kong to Guangzhou will inevitably pass through Xin'an.

The imperial court issued an edict to transfer Lord Shengbao as the governor of Liangguang, Huang Guangzhou immediately felt that the clouds were open and the moon was bright, and as soon as Shengbao arrived in Guangzhou, his fold was presented.

Half a month ago, the villagers beat up the ghosts who came to erect telegraph poles, which was originally a happy thing, but Jing Shuai returned to Guangzhou, but it was inevitably frightening.

"Mingshi, I said that I would go to Guangzhou and ask to see Grandpa Guo to bear the guilt, do you think it's okay?" Huang Guangzhou was a little fat man, and he seemed to be dull, but his small slitted eyes were shining and sharp.

Master Kong touched his goatee, smiled and nodded: "That's how it should be." ”

Huang Guangzhou picked up the teacup and seemed to be talking to himself: "This official really has the heart to do a good job, but no matter what, the people are angry, and it is difficult for this official!" He sighed.

Master Kong said with a smile: "Exactly, Jing Shuai will definitely be able to understand the heart of the adult, and he will not be responsible." ”

Huang Guangzhou smiled slightly and drank tea slowly.

"My lord! There is an errand official from Guangzhou City who asks to see you! An errand man walked in quickly, clenching his fists and saying.

"Guangzhou officer? What bad officer? Huang Guang was stunned, his eyes narrowed.

"Like, it seems to be the waist card of the Governor's Palace!" The errand officer didn't see the way people came from, and when he heard that it was a business trip in Guangzhou, he flashed his waist card, and he was so frightened that he hurriedly rushed in to report the news.

"Oh? Please! Huang Guangzhou stood up and walked out of the side hall with Master Kong.

On the cobblestone road, the errand officer was in front, and he smiled and led three young men in dark blue breasted tunics to walk in, seeing the official uniforms of these errand officers, Huang Guangzhou snorted coldly in his heart, strange costumes, do you remember your ancestors? Guangzhou City is really chaotic.

With a smile on his face, he saluted and said: "Huang Guangzhou of Xin'an County, Xiaguan, I don't know what the office of a few superiors is?" "Now there are more yamen in Guangzhou, and there are more doors.

The young man in the lead took out his blue notebook and opened it for Huang Guangzhou to see, there was also a photo of the young man on it, with red lead letters, and the young man said very plainly: "Down is Wei Ming, the adjutant of the Operations Department of the Internal Affairs Bureau of the General's Mansion!" ”

"Oh, Adjutant Wei!" Huang Guangzhou said in his heart that this is all messy, but he has to pinch his nose to salute.

The young man put away his military ID, and took a piece of blue paper from the hands of his subordinates next to him with both hands very solemnly, unfolded it, snapped it upright, and said loudly: "General's Mansion Order!" Huang Guangzhou of Xin'an Zhi County obstructed the construction of military affairs, delayed military aircraft, dismissed him from his post by the Internal Affairs Bureau, and waited for the conviction of the Ministry of Officials and the Criminal Department! After speaking, the young man waved his hand: "Take it!" Knock out the feathers! ”

"Bastard! What are these words? What are these words? What power do you have...... Before he could finish speaking, he was already pressed to the ground and took off the top of his head.

"You are lawless! What kind of thing? "Huang Guangzhou was about to be dizzy, he didn't know where the official errand came from, and where the fabricated charges came from, he dared to directly pick up the black yarn of his seven-grade main hall, what did this become?

"Shut up! The general has an order, if you resist, you will be killed! Wei Ming grimaced, took out his pistol, Huang Guangzhou had never seen this posture, and his legs were weak.

"Take it away!" Wei Ming coldly ordered.

The two members of the action team dragged Huang Guangzhou, who was paralyzed on the ground, and walked out, Master Kong stayed for a long time, trotted after a few steps, and said with a forced smile: "This, this, the official, the county government can't be said to be ownerless......" Seeing Wei Ming's knife-like cold gaze, Master Kong immediately held back half of his words.

"You're Master Kong, right?" Wei Ming asked coldly.

Master Kong's heart was cold, he didn't know that the Internal Affairs Bureau was going to investigate clearly before the action, not to mention that the information of the heads of each county had already been archived in the Internal Affairs Bureau, and he smiled: "Yes, it's under the ......."

"The general's dictation, the affairs of the county government are integrated, and the county Cheng Zhou Jingshan is acting and is pending!" Wei Ming's cold tone also softened, "I was going to leave Zhou Xiancheng, but since you are here, I bother you to let me know." ”

"Yes, yes......" At this time, how dare Master Kong say more than even claim to be yes?

…… In the study of the General's Mansion, Ye Zhao quietly tasted tea.

Bai Gui, the governor of Guangdong, stood beside the table, not daring to come out, and his forehead was sweating.

"That Shengbao said that he would arrest people when he arrested them, and he said that he would put people in prison, I want to ask you, what kind of mortal crime did this Liu Jin commit? Isn't it just a printed book? Oh, look ......" Ye Zhao pointed to the stacks of books on the shelves against the wall, "I still have a copy here, why don't you arrest me too?" ”

"Humble duty, humble duty...... Bai Gui broke out in cold sweat all over his body, and shivered and took out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat.

Ye Zhao took a sip of tea and said slowly: "I also know your difficulties, so let's go back and bail Liu Jin out for me." If you, the governor of the male and female prisons, can't control it, then what can be expected of you? ”

"Guilty of contemplation! Let's do it! "Bai Gui didn't expect his grandfather to return to Guangzhou, so he faced Mai Mang's and Shengbao, I thought that how could I maintain a harmonious atmosphere on my face, it was Shengbao who caught people Bai Gui was very cooperative, but seeing that my grandfather didn't pee Shengbao, what else did I say? The grandfather is about to fall, with his reputation in the capital, won't he be dismissed immediately?

Now that I have made up my mind, I will follow my grandfather all the way, and whether it is black or white at the end, there is no way.

hurriedly expressed his heart: "Grandpa, I understand now, and I will not do foolish things in the future." ”

Ye Zhao nodded slightly, without squeaking.

Bai Gui hurriedly said goodbye and stepped back.

Ye Zhao took a few sips of tea and walked out of the study, but saw the pretty girl in the corridor coming as she wished, and said: "Master, the outside newspaper is reported that the governor of Liangguang Shengbao asks to see him." ”

Ye Zhao nodded, hearing that he had returned to Guangzhou, thinking that it was also for the sake of Xin'an County.

At that moment, Shi Shiran walked out of the Lotus Building, and Chang Shun stood respectfully at the east side door, although he was accompanied by his grandfather, he did not dare to step into the Lotus Building for half a step.

In the living room, Katsuho sat on the Western sofa, with no expression on his face, he was thin and thin, but he looked strong and powerful, and he had a majesty.

Hearing the sound of footsteps, Sheng Bao got up, greeted Ye Zhao, and bowed his hand slightly: "Grandpa, the lower official is polite." ”

Ye Zhao said with a smile: "When the Lord came to Guangdong, the official had long wanted to visit, but unfortunately he was entangled in affairs and couldn't go to Zhaoqing. ”

As they spoke, the two guests sat down, and someone served fragrant tea.

"The grandfather is powerful in the two Guangdong, defeating the Rakshasas, Keying and France, Vietnam Yaowu, Pearl River Liangjian, Shengbao has always admired it very much, and now I see it, and I have a wish for the next official." Tasting tea, Shengbao said very politely.

Ye Zhao waved his hand and said: "The powerful forces of the princes of Zhilimu, Zhuo Suotu, and Zhaowuda Mongol kings in the north of the Taiwan and Bodol Katai destroyed the bandits in Jinghai, and beheaded the bandits Lin Fengxiang and Li Kaifang, which is an immortal meritorious service." How dare you compete for the first place in the fluorescent fire of this official? ”

Shengbao's face was colorless, obviously a very deep person, after taking a sip of tea, he turned to the topic: "Grandpa Mingjian, I heard that the grandfather's mansion is privately taking the official, but is there such a thing?" ”

Ye Zhao smiled slightly: "The system is serious, although the Internal Affairs Bureau is subordinate to the General's Mansion, it is a yamen that eats imperial grain, and the establishment under its jurisdiction has a record, which is a special agency such as marching law, spying on and exterminating the secret organization of bandits, etc., the Queen Mother of the Two Palaces has greatly praised this official's move, but it is not a private court in my house, let alone a private one." ”

Shengbao's face was gloomy, and he said: "Even so, Huangguang Zhou is a seven-pin main hall, why was he convicted?" The official can play the chin on behalf of the grandfather, and the grandfather said to take it, I'm afraid it will violate the law, right? ”

Ye Zhao smiled and said: "Huang Guangzhou Yi delayed the military plane, and the Taiwan is afraid that he will not know, and the telegram from Hong Kong to Guangzhou will transmit military information, and this official is still ready to wait for this line to be set up, and immediately set up the telegraph network in Guangzhou, Shaozhou, Zhaoqing, and Nan'an, so that the military situation will be well connected, the dispatch will be moderate, and the bandits and thieves will add an excellent help." Today, because of the yellow light and the eyes of the rats, it is a big thing to hurt me, tired of exterminating the bandits, delaying the northern expedition of the artillery battalion, the crime is great, and it is difficult to atone for his sin if he cuts off ten heads. ”

Shengbao was stunned, and he didn't understand what Ye Zhao said, but seeing that Ye Zhao Zhenzhen had words, he was rightly arrogant. Shengbao frowned slightly, and said, "Anyway, the grandfather should also inform the subordinate in advance." ”

Ye Zhao said indifferently: "The affairs of military affairs must be carried out vigorously and resolutely, only then can there be laws to follow, orders can be feased, and those who disturb my military affairs, I can take it and do it!" Do you think so? ”

Sheng Bao picked up the teacup and tasted tea, his face became more and more gloomy, he sat down for a while, and then got up: "The lower official retires!" ”

Ye Zhao nodded slightly.

(To be continued)