In the west of Guangzhou, in the market of Xiguan Eighteen Fu and Jiufu, although a shop has taken off the brand, you can see the scattered rice grains on the ground and the cloth bags piled up everywhere in the shop, and you know that this is a rice shop.

The shopkeeper was sitting behind the counter scratching his forehead with a sad face, and a light purple figure came into the corner of his eyes, and his whole face suddenly collapsed to the counter.

"Aunt Pan...... We really don't have any rice in our shop. ”

The shopkeeper walked out of the shop and bowed down to greet him, his tone was extremely helpless, but he was not half annoyed, and he could hear that he did not dare to snub this person at all.

"I don't want to be embarrassed for the shopkeeper, but those shanties in the north of Xiguan have no help, and they are really going to die, everyone is a neighbor, even if they don't accumulate blessings, they can't be evil......

Pan Jinling's voice was low and magnetic, and he spoke in a low voice, and he played straight on people's hearts, the shopkeeper's waist was almost bent to ninety degrees, and his head was still pointed, until the end, he gritted his teeth and stomped his feet, and beckoned the guys in the shop, saying that he was going to sweep the bottom of the warehouse and make up a few buckets to come out.

"A pound and four cents of silver is too high, but it can't hurt you, shopkeeper, you can make a parity, no, no...... I'm not doing things for the Bodhisattva, so I can't bear this favor. ”

Pan Jinling refused the shopkeeper's free offer, paid the silver according to the price he gave, and then instructed the people behind him to notify the shantytowns to pick up the rice.

"Aunt Pan...... I vaguely feel like a bodhisattva. ”

Seeing Pan Jinling's tall figure go away, the shopkeeper and the guys all sighed with emotion.

"Sister Pan, the general secretary said that he is in charge of the price of rice, and it won't be long before it settles down. The money he gave you was because he didn't want you to suffer in the fairy land of Guangzhou. But you not only used it for the good hall, but also took it out to buy rice for relief, and when the time comes, you will lose weight and get sick, and the general secretary will take me out of anger. ”

Tao Fu followed behind him, nagging vigorously, he was a straightforward person, what did he say, Pan Jinling also covered his mouth and chuckled when he heard it, and there were ripples in his eyes.

"I know that he is most disgusted with the weakness of women like willows in the wind, and looking at him raising Guan Xuan is like raising a piglet. But I'm not Guan, not even ...... In short, he does his big things, and I do the little things I can. ”

Pan Jinling said lightly, Tao Fu and several guards looked at each other, and they all shook their heads and sighed helplessly. Since Pan Jinling came to Guangzhou to prepare for the charity hall, spending money is a trivial matter, and she is also concerned about the sickness, disability and famine. In addition to treating patients, he also helped the poor from time to time, and it didn't take long for a good name to spread in the area of the Eighteen Fu and the Upper Nine Fu, and it was no wonder that the shopkeeper of the rice shop was so respectful to her just now.

"There are still a few rice shops in front, let's raise some more rice grain, at least not to make the poor people near my charity hall unable to live. Even if Sister Yan is replaced, she should have the same thoughts as me, so don't worry about what your chief secretary will say. ”

Speaking of Yan Sanniang, Pan Jinling's tone was also lower.

Seeing that she was going to another rice shop, she was packing up her mind and preparing to persuade again, but she saw that there was no more noise in front of her.

"Grab it......"

Tao Fu stopped beside Pan Jinling, but she had already seen that the rice shop was surrounded by hundreds of people, and the shouting and screaming were endless. Farther away, the soldiers were hurrying in, and the smoke and dust were soaring into the sky.

This smoke and dust brought the sight of Pan Jinling, and when I looked up, I could see several columns of black and gray smoke floating in the distance, and the endless city of Guangzhou seemed to be covered with a thick cloud.

"Don't rob it! The rice has arrived, hundreds of thousands of stone rice have come from Beijiang, it is enough to crush you, what is there to grab!? ”

The leader of the group of soldiers rode on his horse and shouted loudly, but his words obviously had no effect, and there was still confusion in front of the rice shop, and some people even raised torches, ready to set this rice shop on fire, so that it would follow in the footsteps of other rice shops in the city of Guangzhou.

"Lord Xiantai and the prefect went to the Fourteenth Fu Wharf! It's really rice! ”

It was like a wandering citizen running through the street, shouting as they ran, and finally stopped the rice shop gang. I could faintly hear the sound of gongs opening the way in the distance, and it seemed that I was in a hurry to pick up the rice, and the idea of the gongs and drums was a little faster than before.

"He's coming......"

The gloom on Pan Jinling's face, which was originally similar to the sky, dissipated, she let out a long sigh of relief, turned around and headed north, Tao Fu and the others were puzzled, and didn't pick up people?

"I should always be busy with my own business, Shantang and Zhiwei Building have not been built yet, if he is counted, it will be a big deal......"

Listening to the whispers in Pan Jinling's mouth, Tao Fu and the others shrugged their shoulders, this Pan girl will care about their words and will not care for a while, I really can't figure it out, no way, women's hearts, undersea needles...... "Pearl River at this time...... It's a big difference. ”

Looking at the scenery in front of him, Li Xian was full of emotion. At this time, the geography of Guangzhou was very different from that of three hundred years later, the Pearl River was not so small, although it was not like the Qin and Han dynasties, and it could not see the shore like the sea, but it still made people's hearts flutter.

Great rivers and mountains...... Covered by the Tartar demons...... The dense shadows of the house in the east were layered on top of each other, stretching away, but the sky above was gray and black smoke and dust for half a day, and Li Xi subconsciously said so secretly.

"Although the Daguan River is congested, the 14th Fu Wharf here is still a place where cargo ships stop, and the south is a foreign company, and Guangzhou should also have a hall there. The entrance of the street is Huiai Street, and after entering the city, there is a yamen all the way. ”

On this ship, Peng Xianzhong was the most familiar with Guangzhou City, and at this moment he was acting as a guide and was busy giving advice to everyone.

The sound of the gong was loud, suddenly covering Peng Xianzhong's voice, and when he looked at the wharf, a large number of soap officials with official signs poured out, and the people who were busy unloading rice also rushed to the side.

"It's Xiantai and the prefect who are here, but it's a pity that Bai Daolong and Li Zhushou took over the biggest sweetness."

Liu Xingchun is very regretful.

"The movement is too big, and there is still a butt of debt, so I can only let the two of them come out of the top tank. Don't worry, the two of them can't cover up my name. ”

Looking at the big ship that had stopped in front of him, Li Xian said lightly. There were two white silk sticks hanging high on the big boat, and the ink characters were so large that they could be seen clearly from a distance. One reads "Shaozhen is concerned about ten thousand mouths", the other is "Yingde cares about Yuesheng", and there is also a banner under the main sail: "Shaozhen Bai Yingde Li led the merchants and people to help Guangzhou." ”

In Sanjiangkou, he had already practiced his official pretense, so when Bai Daolong and Li Zhushou got off the boat to greet the governor of Guangdong, Man Pi, and the prefect of Guangzhou, Ye Yang, his actions and words could not be more skillful. And the joy and excitement that the other party forcibly held back were also seen in the eyes of the two of them.

"I am benevolent and holy to the world, and the officials, businessmen, soldiers and people are all silent, knowing that Guangzhou Prefecture and County are trapped in Migui, and taking Guangzhou's suffering as their own hardship...... Merchants and people in northern Guangdong and even Hunan and Jiangxi actively gathered rice, and our officials and other officials worked together to raise and protect it, and finally transported this rice and grain, which is really a ......."

Bai Daolong took a deep breath and ripped his throat with Li Zhushou.

"Holy Blessings, O ——!"

Man Pi and Ye Yang hurriedly followed the two of them, and bowed their hands to the north, and their mouths also stretched out and shouted: "Tuo Sheng Shang Hongfu——! ”

After the routine on the official face was finished, the four of them got together, and Man Pi went straight to the topic: "Where is the immortal manifestation?" ”

Bai Daolong and Li Zhushou pointed to a boat behind them at the same time: "This time the rice collection was rushed, thanks to the help of Li Shi, the proprietor of the Beijiang Boat Company." ”

Man Pi and Ye Yang glanced at each other, both at a loss, Li Yan?

Li Xi ...... It is said that the young man is weak and crowned, and in Yingde and Li Zhushou are in cahoots, they are called 'Li Banxian' in the township. ”

Zhaoqing Governor's Mansion, Zhao Hongcan's head master answered the proprietor's question like this.

"Li Banxian? More than! He can entangle the rice merchants of Hunan and Jiangxi to act together, and the entire Beijiang River is like his family's inland river, which should be called Li Beijiang! ”

Zhao Hongcan's mind was complicated, and he felt like he was about to fall off a cliff, but the person who was in trouble suddenly pulled him back and told him that it was a joke.

"Things are far from being so simple, the proprietor, over there in Hunan and Jiangxi, there was originally a Chunhui Hall behind the ghost, and before Shaozhen Shaofu hoarded rice in Taipingguan, they were also matched. And this Li Shi, with Li Zhushou, has another force in Britain and Germany, and the two sides are ......"

Speaking of this, Zhao Hongcan, who is very familiar with this kind of chess game, understands.

"The two of them fought, but Li Xian grabbed the front, forcing Shaozhou to follow, we are really ......"

Zhao Hongcan wiped a handful of sweat.

"This is really a competition between two dogs, and it cheapens our meat and bones."

Guangzhou City, the back hall of the prefect's yamen, Man Pi and Ye Yang, the prefect of Guangzhou, almost collapsed on the big chairs.

"Counting the ones that can be reached later, it is estimated that there can be 200,000 stones, and the price of rice in Guangzhou will have to go down to one or two."

Man Pi exhaled a long breath.

"When this batch of rice arrives, the shops in the city that are still holding rice have put up a price of 20 wen a catty, which has dropped by 30% compared with the previous one.

Ye Yang was more like his soul had finally been summoned.

After a moment of silence, Man Pi's eyes rolled, and at this time, Ye Yang also bowed his hand respectfully to Man Pi: "Xiantai, how do you see how to write this chapter of the lower official?" ”

In the Zhaoqing Governor's Mansion, Zhao Hongcan was also asking his own head: "How should I write this recital?" ”

The head of the curtain pondered for a moment and raised his fist: "The rice price turmoil in Guangdong, it is not okay not to play." The proprietor transferred Mi Jiyue from Huguang Jiangxi to resolve the matter, which is the skeleton of the twist. ”

Zhao Hongcan nodded again and again, this point must not be left behind.

"But for specific deeds, the proprietor still has to reward these people, otherwise it will affect the relationship behind them, and when the proprietor is too greedy, it will outweigh the losses."

The head of the curtain gave a thumbs up: "Li Zhushou brought Bai Daolong forward, which allowed Li Shi's Beijiang boat trip to succeed." The first two, especially Li Zhushou, took advantage of the Sartai family to be in the limelight before, the ability to grasp the opportunity, and the courage to make a bold move, they are really the number one, and there are adults in Beijing who have a good eye for him. This time, if you don't write down his merits, long live the Lord will hear different voices. ”

Then the index finger was raised: "Bai Daolong, it is estimated that he is just taking Li Zhushou's boat, he is a martial artist, although he has the merit of protecting food, but it can also be regarded as meddling in political affairs, it is not appropriate to mention more, just bring a pen." ”

The last one erected was the middle finger: "Li Shi, no merit and no official body, this time he also acted in the name of the Beijiang Boat Company, praised his 'righteous businessman', and was awarded a plaque by the Governor Yamen, and then asked the household department to reward a county grade, which is already a reward for his merits." Seriously...... He controls hundreds of large and small river boats. This time, he should have invested a lot of silver. Hunan rice comes, counting the freight, it is only seven or eight dollars with one stone, even if the price of Guangdong rice finally drops to one or two, in terms of the average price, he can also earn twice as much. ”

Zhao Hongcan pondered: "In the year of the weak crown, you can control the Beijiang all the way, hold hundreds of river boats, and faintly have the complexion of Zhang Yuanlong before." ”

The head of the curtain laughed: "If Li Shi is Zhang Yuanlong, wouldn't the proprietor want to do Kali?" ”

Zhao Hongcan smiled: "What's the same, I don't have a daughter." ”

The head of the curtain laughed along with him.

Zhao Hongcan has no daughter, and Man Pi has no daughter, but someone's daughter has been preparing for a long time.

"I expected a lot of gains, but this one is really unexpected......"

In a remote courtyard north of Shangjiufu in Xiguan, Guangzhou, Li Shi took the letter handed by Peng Xianzhong, and muttered while reading it.

This letter is full of ordinary polite words, and a list attached to it is unusual, it is a girl's birthday.

"It's also reasonable, General Director, you didn't look down on other people's Miss Ten before, so you had to give the genuine Miss Nine."

Peng Xianzhong's reply still had a slightly ridiculous tone, the letter was sent by An Hetang's An family, in addition to making an appointment to talk, the intention of the attached list could not be more obvious. I didn't make up my mind before I thought about it, but now when I saw Li Xi stepping into Guangzhou with a high attitude, I didn't dare to slack off anymore, and hurriedly offered my daughter. The eight characters of the birthday were sent directly, that is, they wanted Li Shi to give a word, and they packed the people and sent them to the door, and there was no need to talk about any name.

"Why did you go earlier, now I don't have the heart to accept women, Guangzhou City...... I'm waiting for me with an open heart. ”

Li Xian sneered, what he said was not an exaggeration, and there were dozens of invitations on the table, all of which were sent by various wealthy businessmen in Guangzhou. Just by virtue of his appearance on the stage of the Beijiang Boat Company in this rice transportation operation, it is enough to make these wealthy businessmen look at it differently. Not to mention that those who know some inside information have also figured out that he has a power outside the ship line, and he can involve so many businessmen in Hunan and Jiangxi to act together, which is a powerful strength in itself.

"Yes, at least the head secretary has to count the silver first, this trip we have earned seventy or eighty thousand taels of silver, not counting the rice we snatched from Chunhui Hall. After unloading the rice, it is just time to let the ship line pull some goods back to Hunan, and it is best to think about who the head office wants to meet with. ”

Peng Xianzhong's merchant surname was boiling again, and he began to think about the business of returning from the ship.

Liu Xingchun was also very excited, he was still running around in Guangzhou before, but he ran into walls everywhere, but now the situation in Guangzhou has opened up all of a sudden. But he still kept a little sober and reminded Li Shi: "General Division, there is still a head and tail over there in Shaozhou." ”

Li Xi nodded, Chen Tongtai, the shopkeeper of Chunhui Hall, was probably still beating the shouting drums outside the Shaozhou Mansion, reporting that his goods had been robbed by thieves.

"Since someone cleans him up, let's wait to see a good show."

Li Shi hugged his arms and said idly.

(To be continued)