Years ago, it can be said that the political affairs of the entire Southern Dynasties were deployed around the issuance of banknotes, and the "Yue Bao" and "Ning Bao" also began to publicize the upcoming banknotes, analyze the various benefits of using paper money, and publicize the benefits of bank savings. If the people make money and keep it for themselves, it will certainly be exchanged for silver dollars, but if the savings are deposited into the silver number, even if the silver dollar receipts are issued, the savings can still be used as paper money for circulation and lending.

Several newsprints focused on the Guangfu silver, Tianfeng silver, Taihe silver three of the strongest in the south, the best reputation of the silver, and these three silver numbers already have the operation mechanism of modern banks, such as Taihe silver, focusing on the commercial banks, factories lending, with the economic development of the south, its rate of return and assets can be said to be geometric multiple growth, it is said that the initial operating capital is only about 100,000 taels, three years ago, assets of more than one million yuan, to now, with its investment in various projects to achieve great success, Especially the success of the generator of Taihe Electric Company, the assets of the entire Taihe Bank are likely to have exceeded 10 million yuan, because its investment projects involve the first commercial banks and factories in the Southern Dynasties, and these commercial banks and factories have almost all become leaders in the industry.

Taihe Bank also cooperated very much with the policy of the Southern Dynasties, and jointly issued a statement in the newspaper with hundreds of commercial banks and factories that were inextricably linked with it, expressing their support for the central bank and unconditionally accepting paper money, including several of the largest department stores in Guangzhou, Nanjing, Hangzhou, and Fuzhou.

Although Ye Zhao was a little uneasy about the rapid expansion of his assets, at this time, he also had to sigh that the operation of Taihe Bank had really helped him a lot, and with such a huge momentum, the issuance and circulation of banknotes were much less resistant.

On the twenty-fourth day of the lunar month, the West Palace came to Jinling.

The whole Jinling City is now jubilant, the sound of firecrackers comes and goes, the yamen have been sealed for vacation, and the residences of the six ministers of parliament are also enshrined in the word "Fu" written by the regent himself.

Ye Zhao writes the word "Fu" very particularly, the brush is a black lacquer pen tube, the tube is engraved with the golden "blessing the common people" four words, write the word "Fu" with silk, first painted with dansha, and then painted with the golden cloud dragon pattern.

The words next to Ye Zhao are not very good-looking, but this blessing word has worked hard, and it looks really vigorous and powerful, and it is full of blessings.

On the eighth day of the first lunar month, the great lama Duojiala from Tibetan Province was also fortunate to participate in the recitation of the scriptures in the Wenzheng Hall of the Qianwang Palace, and several Tibetan monks wiped the clothes and crowns of the regent, removed disasters and evil spirits, and purified the ominous. In the square outside the palace of King Qian, porridge and rice were distributed to show the regent's grace to the four seas.

Lan Guiren to Jinling, it is the season when the lights are on the Qianwang Mansion, and the sky lantern and the longevity lantern are hung in the Chengxin Garden, and they will be burned until the third day of the second month.

At this time, the Qianwang Mansion was hanging palace training pictures for the princesses, and each picture was painted with a story of the virtuous concubines of the past dynasties, as an example for the princesses, and the following year the door god said to withdraw the collection.

The Lan nobles were arranged to live in the Compassion Garden, next to the pavilion for the princesses to meet their families, which is commonly known as the Reunion Pavilion.

It's hard to be warm, I don't know what the regent wants, and now there are some Niu Colu and the little brother in Guangzhou for the New Year, and Lan Guiren is alone to explore the tiger's den.

The warm pavilion of the Compassion Garden is also a festive party, with dragon and phoenix red paper-cuts pasted on the window edge, and melon seeds and candies on the kang table are all wrapped in red clothes.

Lan Guiren listened to Rong'er speak, and a smile appeared on her face from time to time, but Ye Zhao felt that she was becoming more and more unable to see through her, wearing a colorful brocade cheongsam, gorgeous and dazzling, and she became more and more dignified and noble, high and high.

The gorgeous long gilt finger cuffs, with a soft sound, are full of the charm of power.

Rong'er sat on the other side of the kang table, her cute and beautiful little flag shoes were swinging, and she was happily telling her sister where to play in the New Year.

Regarding Rong'er's "irregularity", Lan Guiren no longer counts her now, even if her family chatted in the past, if she saw that Rong'er didn't have a sitting face, she would definitely be reprimanded.

Ye Zhao walked around the house, in front of the wooden frame antiques, touching this and looking at that, this garden was the first time he came in.

Ye Zhao and Rong'er, it can really be said that the upper beam is not correct and the lower beam is crooked.

Lan Guiren glanced sideways at Ye Zhao from time to time, but it was difficult to see what she was thinking.

"Sister-in-law, have you been dancing lately?" Ye Zhao suddenly turned around and asked.

Lan Guiren was stunned, glanced at Rong'er, her lips moved, and she didn't say anything for a while.

Ye Zhao smiled: "Family, it's okay, right?" ”

Rong'er blinked her clear eyes and looked at Xianggong in surprise for a long time, seeing that her sister didn't speak for a long time, she had to help Xianggong round the field and said, "Yes, sister, we are all your relatives, and Xianggong is also your brother, isn't it?" ”

Lan Guiren said lightly: "If he is really my brother, it would be fine." ”

Rong'er breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Xianggong has always regarded you as a sister, and we both call you sister when we talk about you." ”

Lan Guiren smiled slightly: "Do you still mention me often?" ”

Rong'er nodded her little head and said, "Yes, sister, I'm really worried that you won't be happy in Guangzhou." These words are sincere, Rong'er's clear eyes sparkled, gently grabbed her sister's hand, and said: "Sometimes, the more happy Rong'er is, the more she feels that her sister is ......bitter."

Lan Guiren's bright eyes softened, and then he gently pushed Rong'er's hand away, and said with a smile: "Silly child, what is my suffering?" ”

Rong'er was not discouraged, jumped off the kang, ran to the side of the kang table, sat up and hugged Lan Guiren's slender waist, and said with a smile: "Sister, I haven't hugged you for a long time." ”

It's like, back to before my sister got married, although my sister had been resolute at that time, but Rong'er little bean sprouts, my sister would occasionally hold her lovingly and talk.

Lan Guiren looked at her helplessly and said, "How old are you, and you are not afraid of people's jokes, besides, Jing Xiang is here, don't forget your identity." ”

Ye Zhao smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, you and Rong'er are chatting, I'll go for a walk outside." With that, he walked out.

…… On the twenty-fifth day of the lunar month, the regent inspected the Nanjing Garrison Corps of the Pingyuan Army.

At the foot of Tianyin Mountain, the dense steel spear phalanx is incomparable, and the gray tide-like army has no end in sight, and the aura of slaughter is overwhelming.

Artillery, horsemen, scouts, engineers, surveyors, sanitary troops, art troupes, axle weight teams and other phalanxes are like green leaves in the red flowers, indicating the regularization process of the Southern [***] team.

"Soldiers! Great work! Happy New Year! On the snow-white horse, Ye Zhao raised his whip and walked slowly, and every time he was in front of a few phalanxes, he stopped and said hard work to the officers and soldiers.

"Hooray!" "Hooray!" "Hooray!" The roar of the stormy waves changed the color of the heavens and the earth, and the faces of every soldier were filled with frenzy and excitement.

In the carriage in the distance, Lan Guiren's pretty face changed color slightly.

Obviously, sitting in the palace, it is difficult to imagine the invincible power of destruction of the Pingyuan Army, and it is also difficult to imagine their blood and loyalty after years of immersion.

When Ye Zhao returned to the luxury carriage, Lan Guiren's face had already returned to calm.

"If the imperial sister-in-law can work in the army, it will definitely make the soldiers grateful." Ye Zhao said with a smile.

Lan Guiren said lightly: "I'm a woman, so I won't show my face." ”

Hearing that Ye Zhao was rewarding the three armies, Lan Guiren offered to take a look, but after watching the military might, only she knew what she felt in her heart.

"Imperial sister-in-law, they shouted long live is ......"

"I understand." Lan Guiren lightly interrupted Ye Zhao's words.

Ye Zhao smiled, and then stopped talking.

The carriage set off slowly.

More than an hour later, Ye Zhao saw Jinling City approaching from the curtain lifted, and said with a smile: "Imperial sister-in-law, there is nothing to do today, how about we walk around the city?" ”

Lan Guiren bowed slightly.

The relationship between the two is really complicated and difficult to understand, the initial cooperation, and the later confusion, when Ye Zhao taught her to dance, it can be said that it was the honeymoon period between the two, but then, the situation took a sharp turn for the worse, and now, I don't even know if the other party wants to get rid of himself and hurry up.

Ye Zhao proposed to walk around the city, why didn't Lan Guiren want to really see this man clearly?

It's just that what Lan Guiren didn't expect was that when he returned to the palace, Ye Zhao stuck his beard and changed into a round-necked uniform and casual clothes, just like the clothes often worn by officials in the southern country, black, but in good spirits.

What she didn't expect was that Ye Zhao sent her a set of red uniforms, a set of cheongsam with slits on her legs, plus high-heeled leather shoes, and a leather fur covering her body, which she could choose.

Lan Guiren categorically refused, Ye Zhao persuaded a few words, but seeing that it was useless, he had to go back and take off his beard, put on a brocade robe, returned to Cixin Garden, and said with a wry smile: "Imperial sister-in-law, it's me Meng Lang." He said, "I'll walk around the palace." ”

The Qianwang Palace was full of joy, but Rong'er and Hua Ji and Shawa prayed in Wan'an Temple, Jin Feng and the matchmaker went to Guangzhou to accompany Prince Fujin for the New Year, and several daughters-in-law also had a clear division of labor, Zhu Sisi was still in Shanghai, and she was afraid that she would not be able to come back until she was thirty.

Walking on the cobblestone path, there is the clear water East Lake in front of you, and the stone boats are painted on the boat, and the scenery is excellent.

"This is the tennis court." Ye Zhao pointed to the flat green grass in front of him and said, next to the grassland, there are wooden chairs and pergolas, but at this time, the grass and trees are slightly yellow.

Lan Guiren nodded slightly, in fact, Rong'er proposed to play tennis with her yesterday evening.

"You're a little more casual about clothing." Walking beside Ye Zhao gracefully, Lan Guiren said lightly, if it was before, there would be no need to say this.

Ye Zhao smiled slightly, and said: "In fact, the etiquette of clothing can be followed in festivals, forbidden shrines, red and white, or temples. What is the progress? The imperial sister-in-law should also know now that the so-called miraculous skills and silver ingenuity can enrich the people and strengthen the country, and a country's national ideology is imprisoned, without enterprising spirit, without invention and creation, it will eventually be eliminated by history. ”

As he spoke, he pointed to the braid on the back of his head and said, "This is also average, it should be cut and kept, listen to it." ”

Lan Guiren frowned slightly, but there was no squeak.

"This is a pachinko room!" Ye Zhao pointed to the pavilion with mahogany cornices in front of him, and the row of buildings on the side of the east garden is the entertainment area in the house, with a pachinko room, a throwing room, a music room, a dance room, etc., for the princess in the palace to play.

"Let's go for a walk." Lan Guiren said suddenly.

Ye Zhao was stunned, from the very beginning, he didn't think that he could ask her to change into civilian clothes and go out with him, but he had a psychological impact on her again and again, even if she didn't agree with her own approach, she hoped that she could understand herself.

"Okay, go for a walk." Ye Zhao nodded. Maybe it was because she came to Guangzhou that made her feel like a yellow bird out of the cage, and she was moved by herself and wanted to go out to see the outside world; Perhaps she wanted to look at the people under her rule, to find her weaknesses and shortcomings; Or maybe she wants to see herself better...... Ye Zhao thought silently and went back to change his clothes.

When she came out of the carriage from the garden, Lan Guiren had already changed her clothes, but in fact, Ye Zhao didn't know whether she was wearing a cheongsam or a uniform, because the black leather fur tightly wrapped her soft and delicate body, and she could only faintly see the bright little red leather shoes looming at the hem of the fur fur, and the black delicate leather coat was even more cold.

Lan Guiren wore leather shoes, Ye Zhao couldn't help but be a little stunned, in fact, although Lan Guiren was one year younger than him, and he was only twenty-five years old if he was a year old, Ye Zhao had heard too much about his enchanting power methods, and he had never underestimated her.

Taking out his pocket watch and taking a look, Ye Zhao said, "Go to the play." ”

Jinling Grand Theater and Guangfu Grand Theater are general, with classic singing, cross talk, drums, singing and dancing, and a large collection of various programs, and this afternoon is a special cross talk session.

The living standards of the southern people are high, and since it has also made the rapid development of entertainment projects, such as this cross talk bar, it was originally just a funny answer, or a little joke told by a person to make people laugh, but from this year, the two artists with the stage name "Xiao Jinbao" and "Three Hands of Mao" began to create many counterpart cross talk scripts, and soon became a famous comedy star in the Southern Dynasty.

In Ye Zhao's view, these two are naturally exaggerated, but cross talk, acupuncture and disadvantages, irony of social phenomena, sometimes, the art form of the general public is the easiest to spread the values that the upper class wants to promote.

Lan Guiren didn't expect that the elegant seat here was a small box for two people, and he sat in the same box with Ye Zhao, it was dark and he didn't squeak.

However, the program committee really disgusted her, "It's hard to get into the elegant hall." ”

Ye Zhao couldn't see her expression, but the disgust in her tone was obvious, Ye Zhao smiled slightly, and said: "The people like to hear it, these jokes spread quickly, sister-in-law, tell me, do the opium soldiers in this paragraph make people hate him so much that they want to chop him?" Hey, that's right, the dangers of opium smoking come out, and it's more effective than chopping off the heads of a few opium dealers. ”

Lan Guiren was silent for a while and said, "Well, you see it that way? ”

Ye Zhao said with a smile: "Actually, whether it is newsprint, or these programs of the lower riba people, they all have their audiences, and they can all be called public opinion, what we want to do is to guide public opinion and use it for me." He added: "Those who can enter this theater to watch the theater have a few spare money, and they are also potential groups that may smoke opium, which is called the right medicine." ”

As he was talking, he heard that there seemed to be a commotion in front of him, and after a while, several men and women were invited out by the theater watcher, and the thin man in the horse coat made the most trouble, and shouted while walking out angrily: "Lord, it depends on when your theater garden will be closed!" He even pointed to the stage and scolded: "You two grandsons are waiting, and your mother will beat you once when she sees you." ”

Obviously, the smokers were stabbed in the foot, and although opium parlors were banned in Nanjing, there were still some individuals who secretly brought in to smoke them.

Ye Zhao smiled: "It's really lively, imperial sister-in-law, you can't see this in the palace, right?" ”

Lan Guiren picked up the teacup and tasted the tea, without squeaking.

After restoring order, the two cross talk artists on the stage began to exaggerate their burdens again, Ye Zhao said: "Imperial sister-in-law, I will prepare for the Northern Expedition next year." ”

Lan Guiren's action of drinking tea stagnated, and then returned to nature.

"No matter what happens in the future, the two imperial sisters-in-law can rest assured that they will enjoy the glory of the first queen mother."

"What you say seems to mean?" After being silent for a while, Lan Guiren finally opened his mouth.

Ye Zhao smiled: "It doesn't matter if you have a finger or if you don't have a finger, the imperial sister-in-law is Rong'er's sister, and she will always be my relative." ”

Lan Guiren stopped talking, and both of them fell silent.

…… On the 29th of the lunar month, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs finally received the first letter from the Southern Minister's envoy in London, and the officer on duty quickly submitted the letter to the Regent's Palace.

Liang Chongming, the minister of the Southern Dynasty to the United Kingdom, was the former salt transport envoy of the Hunan Salt Transport Division, and was later transferred to the deputy director of the Salt Transport General Department, the establishment of the Government Affairs Yuan, and the reorganization of the Salt Transport General Department into the State Administration of Taxation.

Liang Chongming is one of the officials with experience in foreign exchanges, and he is also shrewd and capable, although the tax system may be more suitable for him, but now the southern country is overstretched and can only be assigned to the most needed posts.

In the letter, Liang Chongming reported on the preparations for the embassy, and had rented a house, No. 12 Pochronburis, a three-story building, with an annual rent of 600 pounds, and bought a four-wheeled sedan carriage, 150 pounds, and so on.

The letter described everything in detail, and said that Queen Victoria had received the envoys on the first day of their arrival, and had even held a grand ball, at which she also met with Viscount Palmerston, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and talked with him for nearly half an hour.

From Liang Chongming's letter, it can be seen that the British are full of confusion and interest in this great eastern country, and they are adjusting the rhythm of dealing with the East, especially for the British political axe in London, which is obviously more cautious than its colonial officials in the Far East.

Liang Chongming also wrote that Viscount Palmerston was puzzled by the Chinese regent's public support for the Republican candidate Lincoln in the United States, and believed that the Orientals would not understand the affairs of the Americas, nor should they give their opinions frivolously.

Liang Chongming immediately retorted with righteous and stern rhetoric, criticized the slavery system in the southern United States, implicitly criticized Viscount Palmerston's behavior in supporting slave owners in the southern United States, and asked Viscount Palmerston to pay attention to the expression of his words, and rashly commented on the Chinese regent, which is insulting hundreds of millions of Chinese people.

Palmerston was surprised, he probably would not have thought that Chinese officials would be so clear about European and American affairs, let alone that the Chinese would know his position on the North-South dispute in the United States.

When criticizing the Chinese rulers, I once again felt the inherent arrogance of the Chinese, but the arrogance I feel now is obviously very different from the past, and the feeling brought by the arrogance of the Chinese in the past is more ridiculous, a kind of ignorance. But after Chinese officials have rightly and sternly criticized their policy in the Americas, it is obvious that throwing out the arrogant arrogance of the rulers of the Chinese Celestial State is no longer so ridiculous, but a pressure full of freshness, a pressure brought by a new force.

When Liang Chongming expounded the "Five Principles" of equal exchanges between China and Europe at the banquet, the celebrities, nobles, and businessmen in the grand ballroom listened very carefully, and the voice of the Chinese sounded in Europe for the first time.

Looking at the letter and imagining the scene of Liang Chongming calmly stating the Chinese's claims in the banquet parlor of Buckingham Palace, Ye Zhao silently toasted the wine.

"Your Majesty retires!" Seeing that Ye Zhao didn't speak for a long time, Foreign Minister Zou Kaizhi got up, this is the study room on the west side of the council hall, the rows of bookshelves don't know that there are tens of thousands of books, Ye Zhao is sitting on the Ming Huang throne, a wide desk inlaid with gold and jade, with dried shrimp, desserts and wine.

Ye Zhao waved his hand and said, "You, go back and think about a draft, and send a telegram to the United States in the name of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to congratulate Lincoln on his election as president." ”

"Yes!" Zou Kaizhi bowed and retired.

Ye Zhao's eyes were on the letterhead again, history was running in an orderly manner according to the original trajectory, Lincoln was elected, and the American North War was about to start, or rather, now the Southern Union has announced the reading power, but the news has not yet reached the East.

What role should the Southern Dynasties play in this war?

"Xianggong?" Next to the door, Rong'er's little head was exposed, and she looked at Ye Zhao with a little curiosity, obviously, I don't know whether to disturb Xianggong or not, but during the New Year, many people in the family always want to call Xianggong out.

Ye Zhao smiled and beckoned to her.

Rong'er grinned and jumped in, wearing a red plaid uniform skirt, little red pants, and shiny little leather shoes, which were extremely sweet and cute.

took small steps to move to Ye Zhao's side, and before he could speak, he was hugged by Ye Zhao to his lap, pinched her delicate little face, and said with a smile: "Do you miss me?" ”

Rong'er nodded her little head and said, "I'm waiting for you." ”

Ye Zhao smiled and said, "Okay, but you can help me write a letter to the people of the Northern Dynasty first, which means to say Happy New Year to them, this article will be telegraphed all over the country, and the newspapers in the Northern Concession will also be published." ”

Essay talent, on fonts, in front of Xiao Rong'er, Ye Zhao is willing to bow down, this kind of thing is often called Rong'er to do, Rong'er is very familiar, a little head, chin pondering, Ye Zhao smiled and clapped his hands, and his own little maid came in to grind and wash the pen.

Ye Zhao kissed Rong'er, and said in his heart, he is not bullying child labor, right? Thinking about the first time Rong'er helped herself write a letter, she seemed to be only thirteen, and she was immediately embarrassed.

(To be continued)