Duan Changjiang's words aroused the strong gossip thoughts of the aristocratic ladies, and even the 6th princess Ovilia was not exempt from vulgarity, and even attracted Princess Anne, who had just returned from a dance, and her beautiful eyes cast a concerned gaze.

Facts have proved that no matter how good the aristocratic etiquette education is, it cannot extinguish the gossip nature of women.

This wave is stable!

Li Xiaozu made a gesture of "I am optimistic about you" to Duan Changjiang across a group of aristocratic girls, and then silently retreated, leaving this small circle that attracted many eyes.

He is now the first secretary of the royal secretariat, and he already has a family, so it is not suitable for him to mix with unmarried aristocratic girls, especially if there are two princesses in the circle of these aristocratic girls, then he must pay more attention to avoid suspicion.

The atmosphere in the upper social circle of the Ocean Empire was much more open than that of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and various Western-style drinking parties and balls were often held, gentlemen and ladies were frequent guests, and there were balls specially held for unmarried aristocratic men and women.

From another point of view

Due to the deep-rooted oriental cultural traditions and cognitions, the upper class of the Ocean Empire was much more conservative than that of the feudal kingdoms in Europe, and the popular European "mistress culture" had no market here, but was a great scandal.

Unless the person concerned is very secretive, once it is exposed, both officials and military generals will have to take the blame and resign, or retire in disgrace, and lose the opportunity to develop in the official career or military circles.

If you are a businessman, your reputation will become stinky.

Not only was he squeezed out by the major chambers of commerce, he was ashamed to be in company, but he also couldn't get government orders, no one was willing to cooperate with him, and the future was bleak.

Why is this happening?

I have to talk about the special immigration culture of the Ocean Empire, which began in 1876, after the Holy Car landed on the Brisbane docks, which started the frenzy of Chinese immigration to Australia, and it has been 30 years since then.

In the past 30 years of Chinese immigration history, most of the time has been in the social structural contradiction of more men than women, and it is difficult to marry a wife, it is expensive to marry a wife, and it is not easy to marry a wife.

In this way, a trend of cherishing the family and respecting women was formed in the empire, which greatly improved the traditional atmosphere of male superiority and inferiority of women, and made many Western cultures better integrated into society.

meanwhile

Due to the deep-rooted Chinese cultural tradition, the public generally resents the "mistress culture" that destroys other people's families, according to a civilian survey conducted by the "World Journal";

The tolerance of the public for "marital cheating" is 0, which is higher than that of gambling, opium smoking, prostitution, homicide, robbery, tax evasion and other criminal behaviors, which is due to the social atmosphere formed by the special immigrant culture of the Ocean Empire.

It's hard to set up a family, and when my wife cheats, the sky falls, and no one wants such a thing to happen to them.

The empire does not prohibit marrying wives and concubines, nor does it prohibit prostitutes, but hooking up with mistresses is considered to break the moral bottom line and is not tolerated by the world.

It is precisely because of such a social atmosphere that Li Xiaozu wisely stayed away from the circle of unmarried girls, so as not to get into trouble if he didn't eat mutton.

This is the aristocratic girl of the upper class who will never be a concubine, even if these girls themselves are willing, the family behind them will never tolerate such a humiliating thing.

As far as he knew;

A certain aristocratic lady in the south was obsessed with a married man who was also a nobleman, and even wanted to be a concubine, but was caught by his furious family members, and both the man and the woman were sunk.

The topic comes back, as for who is this rich son with ten wives and ten concubines?

Li Xiaozu took a glass of French sparkling champagne from the tray of the waiter who passed by, expressed his gratitude reservedly, and then glanced back, and saw that Duan Changjiang's goods were still boasting about it, which caused a group of aristocratic girls to cover their mouths and exclaim from time to time, and he smiled;

Others don't know, but he knows it clearly.

This rich son is the son of a big tobacco merchant, and his wife is the only daughter of the chairman of the highly influential Dongfanghong Machinery Company.

Whoever wants to produce such a loser, the glory of the family will be ruined.

The big tobacco merchant begged His Majesty, hoping to save the last bit of face, and was willing to donate 3.5 million gold to build a Metropolis-class battleship for the empire to atone for his sins.

Speaking of this, Admiral He Fang, the Minister of the Navy at that time, scratched his ears and cheeks happily, personally accompanied the big tobacco merchant into the palace to face the saint, pleaded bitterly, and issued a gag order to the government and public opinion media.

The upper-level action behind this is a secret that Duan Changjiang doesn't know.

Li Xiaozu also knew;

The great tobacco merchant's enormous fortune caught the attention of the Imperial Minister of Finance and the General Tax Office, and a heavy profits tax on the tobacco industry was contemplated.

For this reason, these two government departments are coordinating with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, because the main production areas of the imperial tobacco industry are in Shangri-La and Luzon, both of which are direct territories of the Crown, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs has already levied heavy taxes.

Therefore, this rich man is very harmful.

The huge profits of the tobacco industry will be double-taxed in the future, partly to the internal affairs and partly to the state treasury, and the tax rate will increase from 55% to more than 80%, and the entire empire will be affected by the tobacco industry.

From the day he entered the Imperial Secretariat, Li Xiaozu came into contact with secret information that ordinary people could not know every day, and this level could only be regarded as pediatrics. But his status dictates that he must keep his mouth shut. Don't divulge even a few secrets.

Those who don't have a tight mouth not only don't stay long, but they also don't live long.

Don't forget

Over the years, it has not only seized the Fukushima Masaan Japanese spy case in 1886, but hundreds of cases of various types, large and small, and has trained a highly efficient team that is proficient in counter-espionage and internal security, and has carried out strict supervision and control over the internal affairs of the secretariat.

Outside, there are also security agencies such as the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Political Intelligence Bureau, and no one knows if there are any hidden stakes for them around them, always keeping an eye on their every move.

On today's public communication occasion, if it weren't for accompanying his brother Duan Changjiang, Li Xiaozu would never have come.

"Secretary Duan, are you interested in chatting?" It was Li Jianguo, who was dressed in a decent tuxedo, and the second son of the Viscount of Humen.

"Of course you can, is Sir Lee also unmarried?"

"Hehehe...... Of course not, we got married early in the Somali region, I got married when I was 16 years old, six wives and concubines, and now I have four children, and three have big bellies, and I will have my fifth child next month. ”

"Oh, that's hello."

Li Xiaozu looked at him seriously with some surprise, but he didn't expect a simple polite sentence, this guy would report so clearly like checking an account, which is quite interesting.

He could see that Li Jianguo was tall, with sunken eyes, curly hair, a well-defined face, handsome and compelling, a typical mixed Chinese and Western race, needless to say among the nobles, he was a concubine.

Well, I have two younger brothers who are like this.

Daddy is a square person, not smiling, but he still hasn't grasped it in terms of women, and he just added a younger brother who is only a full moon to himself.

Speaking of which, it's all to blame on the Viscount of Humen, what Arabian beauties are there to give if you have nothing to do?

Li Jianguo elegantly took a sip of the champagne glass in his hand, his eyes looked at the gentlemen and ladies dancing on the dance floor in front of him, but his mouth said irrelevant words; "I admire Secretary Li's choice very much, and resolutely give up the position of mayor of Zhonghai, in my humble opinion, it is a great honor to be able to enter the royal secretariat, which is much more promising than being a courtier of Duke Wright, one is a small pond, the other is the sea, there is no comparison at all."

"Thank you for the compliment, such a choice is also helpless, I have the label of Duke Wright's courtier, and it is impossible to erase it in the future."

"The means of this move to rise the curve is very perfect, I am afraid that those noble children who are late to realize it are only now reacting."

Li Jianguo had a mysterious smile on the corner of his mouth, and his words contained deep meaning.

There are not many ways out for the children of the nobility, either to enter the army and navy, or to enter the imperial guard or the internal affairs office, and if they are directly engaged in politics, they will be hindered by the civilian administrative officials who occupy the mainstream, and it is not easy to be promoted.

This is because the aristocracy is dominated by the martial family, and it is extremely difficult for ordinary political officials to obtain the title of nobility except for a few top founding fathers, and the vast majority of them are controlled by civilian political officials.

In the long-term practice, these civilian administrative officials have gradually formed a mountain divided by the classmates of the Eagle School, the Royal Administrative University, the township party and the region, and the administrative official system is the traditional field of the civilian officials, and it excludes the children of the nobility with the golden key.

Especially in the empire of Australia, these mountains are quite powerful, and it is not easy for the children of the nobility to get involved in politics.

Li Xiaozu took the smooth road of the Ministry of Internal Affairs ~ Duke Wright Courtier ~ Secretariat, and quickly improved his grade through the way of saving the country with a curve, thus bypassing the most vulnerable to suppression, and showing a bright career in front of him, providing another possibility for the children of the nobles to rise.

Specifically

During his tenure in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Li Xiaozu raised his administrative rank to the level of deputy director, and if he was released, he could become the executive deputy mayor of a third-level city, which is the role of the administrative grade recorded in the archives.

If it is released at this time, it will inevitably be suppressed by the forces of local government officials, and it will be difficult to make political achievements.

But if he stays in the Internal Affairs Office, when he reaches the director-level officials, he will be a turnip and a pit, and the ascent channel will be narrowed sharply, and they are all nobles with grades, who will give him the position?

It's not just a matter of ability, but you have to keep the leader up until retirement, otherwise where will you get a ready-made position?

The promotion from the deputy director level to the director level is a big hurdle, which means the leap from the administrative officer to the chief officer.

Li Xiaozu's defection to Duke Wright can be described as a clever move, and after being appointed as the mayor of Zhonghai, he has made dazzling achievements in his office, proving his outstanding ability.

With the upgrading of Zhonghai Town to Zhonghai City, he was naturally promoted to a director-level official, and he has the hard-core performance support to build an emerging city from scratch, which is an extremely important resume evaluation for the promotion of senior officials.

To put it mildly, one director-level official is more important than 10 deputy director-level officials.

After crossing this hurdle, you are qualified to serve as the mayor of any third-level city in the empire, and you are qualified to serve as the deputy mayor of any second-level city in the empire, and you are qualified to serve as the head of the ministries and commissions of the first-level city.

The level of the first secretary of the Imperial Secretariat is Shoji, and jumping from Zhonghai City is equivalent to jumping into the sea from a small pond, and the benefits are simply too many.

Here, you can temper your overall vision and think about development from a higher perspective, which is beneficial to both your ability and your own development.

And this upper-class relationship is the advantage of the aristocracy.

After entering the secretariat, no matter how long it takes 5 years, 6 years or how long, as long as you can hang up the false post of deputy director, it is the deputy minister-level treatment, and if you are released, you can control the leading power of the development of a first-class big city, serve as the mayor, and truly enter the ranks of high-level bureaucrats.

"Sir Lee, did you think of it yourself?"

"Immodest to say, yes. I am the same year as you, but in the small month, if Secretary Li can shout out to the founding brother, I will be honored. ”

"Hehehe...... It is better to be respectful than to obey fate, it seems that the founding brother is also a very thoughtful person. ”

Li Xiaozu smiled indifferently, the five sons of Viscount Humen are known as the "Five Tiger Generals of Humen", and they are not well-known in the empire, but they are very famous in Somalia and West Asia and Africa, and they are by no means groundless.

His eldest son, Li Jianyang, graduated from the Royal Sandhurst Military University in the United Kingdom, served in the British Far East Military Mission, was promoted to the rank of major, and had a close relationship with Churchill, the new British Colonial Minister.

Li Xiaozu also knew that the Viscount Humen family was able to obtain a controlling stake in the South African Nongfu Gold Mine, which was inseparable from this Major Li Jianyang and Churchill, and there must be an inside story in it.

He is the first-level secretary of the Royal Secretariat, and he has access to many secrets that ordinary people can hardly imagine.

"Brother filial piety, knowing oneself and knowing the other is common sense in the soldiers, my eldest brother Jianyang followed his father's armed smuggling team to West Asia at the age of 12, several years of life and death, I was less than 15 years old and also took my third brother to embark on this road, in the bloody wind for six years, a bullet in the chest almost killed me, some things have been engraved into the bone marrow."

"Hehe, I'm not your enemy!"

"I want to recognize you as a big brother like Duan Changjiang, I can't help it, it's a matter of habit, huh...... I couldn't help but investigate more. ”

"It's an interesting idea, tell me why?"

Li Xiaozu raised his eyebrows and looked at Li Jianguo, who looked serious, of course he would not be confused by the other party's superficial demeanor, but to know the real reason.

Li Jianguo sighed softly and said with a somewhat gloomy expression;

"Brother Xiaozu, in fact, you can also see that I am a concubine.

After my father gave 40,000 square kilometers of land, he was highly commended by His Majesty, and left a noble title of baron for life, which was originally intended for me, but later gave it to the fourth brother after comprehensive consideration, because the fourth brother is a descendant.

Over the years

My father's eldest brother contributed the most, and I was the one who came down in line, and now the Somali company's smuggling of materials to the northern Tsarist armed forces is what I take care of, and there has been no mistake so far.

So, I'm really unwilling.

Recalling his father's glorious journey along the way, it was with the process of the empire reaching its peak, that he firmly grasped the opportunity and realized the transformation from a mercenary leader to an imperial nobleman.

I saw an opportunity in it, and now I can do it much better than before, and I believe that my father can do it.

I have the resources, the connections, the ability, and the ability to assemble a strong team of mercenaries, and I have been accumulating funds and weapons and equipment to achieve this goal.

The biggest problem is ...... Don't know who to target? ”

Li Jianguo's frank attitude and Hepan entrusted the biggest plan in his heart, which made Li Xiaozu have to treat him differently.

The two can only say that they know each other before, and they have no deep friendship, and they can be so honest and studful, it can be seen that Li Jianguo is a resolute person, who is decisive and courageous, and his vision is quite unique.

The "Five Tigers of Humen" is still a bit of a way, and it is not a false name.

"I'm afraid I'm going to disappoint you, how do you know I can help you? Don't forget that I'm the royal secretary now, and it's impossible to talk about any secret questions, let alone give you answers. ”

"Brother Xiaozu, I can wait, whether it is 5 years, 10 years or 15 years, I can wait, wait until you get rid of the identity of the royal secretary, wait until you can help me calmly one day, and I can slowly accumulate strength during this period, and I can wait to achieve the goal in 15 or 20 years."

"There is no such naked exploitation relationship between me and Duan Changjiang, why should I accept you?"

"Brother filial piety, in my opinion, brothers are not just one, there is a brother who sticks a knife in the ribs for his brother, including a brother who helps him pick up girls, and a brother who promotes each other in his career and can make him achieve dazzling political achievements, I am willing to do the second kind, I believe that you will not be a secretary for a lifetime, and one day you will embark on a career to realize your political ambitions, and then you will need me."

"Jianguo, you ......" Li Xiaozu replied with a smile, but he couldn't find a suitable wording for a while, so he picked up the champagne glass in his hand and touched it with him, and said after drinking it all; Isn't this age pattern too far-reaching? Just believe I can help you? ”

"It may not work now, but when Brother Xiaozu comes out of the secretariat in the future and takes on great responsibilities, I believe that he will be able to." Li Jianguo replied very confidently, then raised his eyes to look at the diamond crystal dragon lantern that was shining above his head, and said with a fiery light in his eyes; "The empire has a perfect assessment system, and the qualifications of external magnifiers will not be easily granted, since you can pass, it means that you have an overall vision and can provide me with this valuable advice."

Wow, Li Xiaozu is really convinced, how does this special Viscount of Humen have a long head?

Could it be that people are exercised in the Gobi Desert of West Asia?

The eldest brother Li Jianyang ran to hug the thigh of the Englishman Churchill, and the second brother Li Jianguo ran to hug my thigh, and he was more confident than himself, how can this be reasonable?

"Okay, then I'll take you as a brother, you have to remember, you can't sell me, otherwise I'll make you look good every minute."

"Never, the eldest brother is above, please accept the worship of the younger brother."

"Hahaha...... Okay, today's drinking party is not in vain, what a harvest! ”

"Hahahaha...... Big brother, I feel the same way. ”