Xijiang.

In the middle of summer, after a rain, the weather is much lighter, and the air is mixed with the fragrance of earth, which makes the Xijiang River a little more fireworks in the world.

No matter how difficult the Ming Dynasty was in the fifteenth year of Chongzhen, in most parts of the south, people still enjoyed the most civilized and peaceful life in the world.

With the end of Guangdong's sweep of the sea, the ocean has calmed down, the market is prosperous again, and the merchants and citizens in Guangzhou have called friends and enjoyed the prosperity of the city, however, in Guangzhou, the most comfortable and luxurious places are not those restaurants, but two other places.

The former is the gentry's manor outside the city, but it is a private place after all, and the other is a pleasure boat on the water of the Xijiang River, with dozens of luxuries.

On the Xijiang River, there is a pleasure boat, in the name of the Red Mansion, the boat is full of fat powder and wine, full of red powder, so lively.

"Zheng Gongzi, today's distinguished guest is also very important, but at this time, he still hasn't come." At this time, there were only three or five guests on the ship, one was Zheng Hongkui and Zheng Fusong's uncle and nephew, and the other was Shi Luobao and Ferreira from Macau, who had been waiting on the Red Mansion ship for a long time at this time, and Shi Luobao was a little impatient.

In the past few days, the Macao Council has figured out the secret of the trade negotiations between the Ming Dynasty and the English through various channels, and to put it bluntly, it is money.

Governor Shen Youlong needed money to quell the Yao Rebellion in the Eight Rows, and even the local gentry were forced to donate food and wages.

Zheng Fusong smiled and said: "I Zheng Fusong likes heroes and heroes the most, this Li Zhaoji Li brother, I have seen him before, and I have heard his righteous deeds, don't say that waiting for him for a while, it is three or five days, I also waited, these days I intend to ask to see, but the world is not seen, but I can't make friends." ”

Ferreira also said: "Although he is a cloth cloth, he is a red man in front of the governor, assisting General Lin Bing, with these two behind him, his identity is not ordinary." ”

At this time, a hearty shout came to mind outside the boat: "But it's the boat of Zheng Gongzi in Fujian." ”

Zheng Fusong immediately opened the curtain and shouted to the outsider: "Brother Li, I've been waiting for the prime minister for a long time, come up quickly." ”

When the words fell, dull footsteps sounded in the boat, Li Zhaoji got on the Red Mansion boat, and under the recommendation of the servant, he walked to the second floor.

This red building has two floors, the upper floor is the guests drinking and having fun, enjoying the water of the Xijiang River, the lower floor is the place where the cooks and servants are located, and after Li Zhaoji got on the boat, a small door was opened on the first floor, and a beautiful figure was revealed, she was holding a blue-eyed cat, caressing its soft hair, and secretly looked at Li Zhaoji who went upstairs.

Another maid also peeked at it, and after seeing Li Zhaoji go upstairs, the maid said to the girl: "Girl, then Li Zhaoji looks taller, nothing remarkable, where did the big shelf come from, let so many people wait, and where is there any cheekiness, even the owner here is not allowed to go upstairs." ”

This girl is called Bai Mo, the lord of the Red Mansion, and she is also a famous singer in Guangzhou.

This time, Shi Luobaotuo Zheng Fusong found a private place to talk about things, Zheng Fusong chose the Red Mansion Tour, and then sent someone to invite Li Zhaoji, Li Zhaoji agreed at first, but thought that the Red Mansion was a restaurant, but he never thought that it was a touring boat, so he said that he only talked about business, and did not need to be accompanied by a female concubine, Zheng Fusong could only agree.

That Bai Mo had a lot of friends in Guangzhou, and he had long heard of Li Zhaoji's name and was interested in meeting him, so he was willing to receive him in the Red Mansion Parade, but when he heard that the guests were under such conditions, he was also stubborn, and he had to see him once, so he hid in a small room.

"People are heroes in the world, where can they look up to people like me." Bai Mo closed the window and sat on the soft pier, there was a guqin in front of him, and this room was just under the feast, and he could hear what the people above said.

Li Zhaoji went to the second floor and met everyone, he knew everyone here, so he punished himself for a few glasses, even if he covered up the lateness, everyone sat down with the guests, a few glasses of wine, and the atmosphere immediately became lively.

After three rounds of drinking, Zheng Fusong took the lead and said: "Brother Li, I heard that when you were in Macau, you had some misunderstanding with Mr. Shi Luobao, but Mr. Shi Luobao intended to accuse you, but he couldn't understand the words, let me make peace on my behalf." ”

Li Zhaoji asked rhetorically: "Then does Zheng Gongzi know what the misunderstanding is?" ”

Zheng Fusong shook his head slightly, he also thought it was just an ordinary dispute, Li Zhaoji said: "I have a good ship, Shi Luobao wants to use this ship, I don't want to use it for him, he wants to hijack and coerce, it is this misunderstanding." I've already told you the truth, Zheng Gongzi said peace. ”

Zheng Fusong's face changed greatly, and he immediately got up and angrily reprimanded Shi Luobao and Ferreira: "You two are so rude, you do such a shameless thing, and you want me to cover up for you, if it weren't for Brother Li telling the truth, wouldn't I have been used by you and ruined my reputation!" ”

Li Zhaoji was still drinking, and he never expected Zheng Fusong to take his reputation so seriously and react so much.

Zheng Hongkui pulled his nephew to sit down and said, "Mr. Li, it was indeed Mr. Shi Luobao earlier, I think you should have a turnaround, otherwise you wouldn't have come here." ”

Li Zhaoji nodded and said: "If Zheng Gongzi is willing to be a guarantee, I will act in Macao in the future and not be harmed by the Francois people, then what happened before, I will give Zheng Gongzi face, just as if it didn't happen." ”

"Fusong, you have such a big face, Mr. Li is not believed by others, and you are alone." Zheng Hongkui laughed.

Zheng Fusong was also very happy about this result, but he attached great importance to his reputation, and immediately pulled out his knife and said: "Okay, today I will use my reputation as Shi Luobao as a guarantee to resolve the grievances between the two. ”

After that, Zheng Fusong cut off the corner of the table with a knife to show his determination.

Schroebel heard all the translations from Ferreira, nodded awkwardly, and kept vowing that it would be the end of the matter.

Seeing this, Zheng Hongkui hurriedly spoke: "Zhaoji, you and my nephew are really interesting, they are completely different in appearance, but their personalities are a few images, especially this atmosphere and elegance, which is completely the same, no wonder that at the Yamen that day, after Fusong saw you, he must make friends with you." ”

"The son of the Zheng family is so loving, I am really scared, but it's a pity that you and I have different identities and can't be married to Jinlan." Li Zhaoji seemed to know what Zheng Hongkui was going to say, and took the lead in blocking the conversation.

Zheng Hongkui smiled embarrassedly, not knowing how to continue, but Li Zhaoji had eaten for a while, he had already eaten and drunk enough, and went straight to the point: "Everyone, please come down, it should be for the sake of British commerce, why should the husband need his mother-in-law and mother-in-law, if there is anything, please say it directly." ”

Zheng Fusong nodded: "Brother Li is really refreshing, Zheng said it directly." This time, Mr. Shi Luobao asked me to ask, why did the Ming suddenly want to trade with England, what is the attitude of the Governor General and Lin Zongbing, and there is still room for change in this matter? ”

"Zheng Gongzi, Shi Luobao doesn't know, don't you know?" Li Zhaoji asked with a smile.

Zheng Fusong shook his head, and Li Zhaoji said: "This is strange, some time ago, didn't the Governor discuss with your family the merger of the two provinces in order to raise money?" was rejected by the Zheng family, the matter of the ship's introduction, the governor didn't want to mention it again, but the silver was not raised, the eight rows of Yao chaos were at a critical time, and the money was not solved for a day, and the governor was uneasy for a day.

At this time, the English came to the door and were willing to buy the land around Humen with a lot of money, imitating the example of Macao, and trading with the Ming Dynasty. ”

Zheng Fusong listened, and felt embarrassed, the Zheng family is favored by the country, twisting and pinching on the donation, and the baht must be compared, but it is the Li Zhaoji in front of him, at the banquet in the South Park, one person donated two thousand taels, for the heart of the country, everyone knows.

Zheng Hongkui smiled and said, "But how did we hear that it was not the English who took the initiative to come to the door, but Mr. Li, who contacted you in the middle?" ”

"Yes, the state affairs are difficult, and my generation is responsible, but it's a pity that Li is neither a rich man, nor has no position or power, even if he wants to destroy his family and relieve his difficulties, he can't solve the governor's worries." Li Zhaoji said calmly.

Zheng Hongkui said: "But we also heard that Mr. Li has an old enmity with the English. ”

"What is a personal vendetta compared to the interests of the state?" Li Zhaoji looks like he is serving the public and the people.

After a long time, Schroebel said something in a foreign language, and Ferreira translated: "Your Excellency Schroeb said that the English are very cunning, and they can do anything for the sake of trade, and the promise to give 100,000 taels is only a promise, and with their financial resources, they will definitely not be able to take it." ”

Li Zhaoji waved his hand: "We have known this for a long time, and the reason why we have delayed it for so long is to solve this problem." ”

"How can this be solved, they are English?" Everyone was suspicious.

The Ming Dynasty has been trading with foreigners for a hundred years, and for familiar faces like Franco, there is a way to borrow and raise funds, but the English are completely fresh, even if they are looking for someone to borrow money, they have no bottom.

Li Zhaoji said: "The business representatives of England have gone to Dayuan and Nagasaki to ask for a loan of 100,000 taels, which is nothing to Hongmaoyi. ”

Hearing the three words of Hongmaoyi, Zheng Hongkui's face immediately became gloomy, and he immediately said: "In this way, the matter of trade with England has not been completed. Mr. Li, if Mr. Shi Luobao can provide a donation of 100,000 taels to the imperial court, will the Governor be able to interrupt the plan of trade with the English Red Hair! ”

Shi Luobao listened to Ferreira's translation in his ears, and saw that Zheng Hongkui had already helped to make peace, so he nodded again and again, with joy on his face, but when he heard that Zheng Hongkui said that he wanted to provide 100,000 taels for the imperial court, he immediately shouted.

"His Excellency Schroeb said that he didn't have that much money."

"We'll lend it to you!" Zheng Hongkui said unceremoniously.