A sedan chair stopped in front of Hongbin Tower, and when the sedan chair was opened, Chen Zizhuang got down. Glancing at the new gilt plaque on the lintel of the three-story building, the corner of his eye swept past Xiao Er, who was standing on both sides to greet him, Chen Zizhuang couldn't help but feel a little familiar.

He stopped and looked up, the gilt plaque was written in three big characters of Hongbin Building, and the payment was written by Lin Weiyuan, a colleague in the regimental defense bureau.

"It's strange, how did the Lin family greet guests in front of the door." Before walking into Hongbin Building, Chen Zizhuang's eyes stared at the shopkeeper who welcomed the guests, it was indeed the servant who followed Lin Weiyuan in the past, and there was Lin Weiyuan's name on the plaque, Chen Zizhuang felt a little strange.

Chen Huairen, who helped him upstairs, said: "Father, this Hongbin Building was bought by Master Lin a month ago, and many family members were arranged to work in this restaurant. ”

Chen Huairen went upstairs while explaining, and the shopkeeper who was guarding the door watched his back disappear at the staircase, snorted, and said: "The old immortal of fake Taoism is immortal, and those who know it are also useless." ”

"Second master, who is that?" Xiao Er asked with a grin.

The shopkeeper said: "That is the Taishan Beidou among our Guangdong gentry, Chen Zizhuang Master Chen, do you see it, it's still the same one." always doesn't talk about money, as if the old man is in the pile, as if he is high.

But ah, it's just a pretend, this year, our family and the Oriental Trading Company went to the Japanese country to trade, and he Chen Zizhuang also participated, and let his son go with the ship. The result? When his son saw the money, he wanted to unite with the Japanese slaves to harm the fleet, haha, and in the end, he harmed others and ended up harming himself, and he was imprisoned. ”

"What the shopkeeper said is that I saw the big shopkeeper Li just now, and he is an upright man, full of wealth and wealth. There are a few of the gentry who can compare with that magnanimous appearance. Master Chen still looks down on others? Xiao Er asked with a smile.

The shopkeeper said: "Where is he qualified to look down on others, the shopkeeper Li has no official position like him, but he has a fleet of sailors, elite armor, and fifty-five gold and silver mountains, which is the wealth of a hundred generations, and he thinks that he is great if he has a fame."

The shopkeeper Li sincerely cooperated with him, and he also served the shelf, but as a result, our master and Huang master competed for the lead. In the future, our Lin family will be developed, what Chen Zizhuang, me, your bad reputation is comparable to the silver of white flowers? ”

"That's, that's ........"

"Master Lin, I've kept you waiting." Chen Zizhuang went up to the second floor, and saw Lin Weiyuan waiting around the corner, and he hurriedly said.

Lin Weiyuan had already assumed the posture of the master at this time, and he bought this Hongbin Building, not just to earn the convenience of such a landlord's friendship, but to take the opportunity to get closer to Li Zhaoji. Lin Weiyuan knew very well that for various reasons, Li Zhaoji was unwilling to venture into Guangzhou, but he promised the gentry that he could not come.

Therefore, Lin Weiyuan directly bought this Hongbin Building, and at the same time contacted Tang Mu, and the Oriental Trading Company arranged manpower in Hongbin Building and its surroundings early in the morning.

"Mr. Chen is here, let this Hongbin Building shine, you might as well wait a while." Lin Weiyuan laughed, and he said again: "It's just that the shopkeeper Li of the Oriental Trading Company has arrived, and Lord Shen has also sent Mr. Zhao here, and this time the discussion is not only a matter of the imperial court, but also a matter of the interests of each family."

Even if Mr. Chen is for the country and the people, he should pay attention to what he can talk about, and don't hurt the harmony between the two sides.

In the final analysis, what can be decided today is the matter between us and the Oriental Trading Company, and the affairs of the imperial court, which always need to be decided by the Governor. ”

When Chen Zizhuang heard this, his face was ugly, but he instantly hid these emotions, he already understood that Lin Weiyuan was waiting here, not to entertain himself, but to remind him to explain, don't provoke Li Zhaoji here, let alone use the signboard of the Guangdong gentry to press Li Zhaoji.

"But I'm afraid that Li Zhaoji will be stubborn and make excessive demands." Chen Zizhuang said.

Lin Weiyuan said: "This old gentleman can rest assured, it is related to the overall situation of the imperial court and the hearts of the people of the world, and we will not give in easily, with the presence of the governor Shen, we must adhere to the principle." With that, Lin Weiyuan led the way and went upstairs.

Lin Weiyuan's attitude is very good, but what it means is that even if there is a conflict, you have to listen to Shen Youlong, and it has nothing to do with you Chen Zizhuang.

"For the sake of silver, you dare to ignore the bastards of the court, and you will be dizzy!" Chen Zizhuang was so angry by Lin Weiyuan that he couldn't help but scold in a low voice.

Staying on the top floor of the private room, here is already full of friends, the north and south of the box open large windows, one side is the lively street, one side is the quiet flower garden, and the big round table is special, can sit around more than ten people, there is a large wooden plate on the table, but also rotating.

Because this is Lin Weiyuan's industry, the central position was reserved for him, Li Zhaoji and Chen Zizhuang sat on both sides of him on the left and right, at this time Li Zhaoji was wearing a round-necked robe, only a wide belt around his waist, and only a knife was hung, and all positions on the table were full of gift boxes, all of which were captured from the four surnamed pirates, not to mention many nobles, but also strange, with these things, Li Zhaoji was spitting to the gentry about the extermination of pirates.

"Master Chen is here, but I've been waiting for a while. You see, this is a gift specially selected by Shopkeeper Li for you, Coral from Qiongzhou, you put him in the study, how blessed and longevity. Huang Guanlou smiled and introduced the gift that Li Zhaoji gave to Chen Zizhuang.

As the saying goes, don't hit a smiling person with a smiling face, and the coral given by Li Zhaoji is red all over, which is the most precious of all gifts. Even if Chen Zizhuang was unhappy just now, he was full of smiles, and he had completely mastered the matter of the Oriental Trading Company's suppression of thieves, and his son Chen Huairen personally participated.

As for the matter of suppressing the thieves, the gentry took up their wines and chatted endlessly, and some people mentioned the death of the general soldier of Lincha, but the gentry also sighed a few words, and the time spent on this topic has not been appreciated for a long time.

After three rounds of drinking, Chen Zizhuang first led the topic to the right thing, and said: "Now, the four surnames are about to be exterminated, and the remaining thieves inside and outside the Pearl River Estuary are not to be worried, and trade will inevitably flourish in the future." The Governor has already asked for merit for the meritorious ministers, and also asked for the opening of the sea ban and the establishment of customs.

It was also mentioned that it was necessary to train troops to aid the north........ There are all kinds of things, all of them are good things for the country and the people, but you are the shopkeeper Li who is indispensable, and the customs profit sharing and training are not yet determined, whether it is ....... today. ”

Li Zhaoji waved his hand and hurriedly interrupted him: "Master Chen, everyone is gathering today, not talking about the family and the country, those things, I will go to visit the governor in the future." Let's talk about it today, can we decide? Don't want the governor to make a decision, but also to decide in the capital.

If you don't want to talk about the wind and snow, you will have perfected the aftermath of the Nagasaki incident, and it will be a problem for everyone. ”

Lin Weiyuan said: "What I said is that we have to take care of the things in front of us first. This matter is also easy to do, you don't need to come forward in person, each family has a shopkeeper to come, on the second floor, the arranged room, and the person who is the shopkeeper Li reconciles them one by one. ”

"Okay, that's it." This is a matter on everyone's mind, so everyone comes to Hongbin Building with the shopkeeper.

Li Zhaoji said to Chen Zizhuang with a smile: "Old man, please send someone to go to Nanyuan with Tang Mu and bring out the 200,000 taels of silver." ”

Chen Zizhuang saw that it was useless to say anything by himself, so he said directly: "Huairen, you and Tang Mu should go on a trip." ”

Chen Huairen took Tang Mu to go, and everyone got up to arrange the shopkeeper's work, and soon, there was a crackling sound of abacus downstairs.

Huang Guanlou said: "Shopkeeper Li, last time Tang Mu said that you can go to Batavia with the ship of your trading company to trade, what is the charter for this matter?" ”

Li Zhaoji put down his chopsticks: "Ladies and gentlemen, the first priority in this trade is safety, take this Nagasaki trade as an example, if it is not for good luck, the goods of each family will be compensated." Nabatavia is the core of the red hair, where do you dare to let the fleet go easily?

I thought that when the red-haired fleet came from the Wa country, and when it went south, I would first send two ships over to explore and see what kind of attitude the red-haired people had.

said that it was a purchase, just to see what the result of our thief is. ”

Lin Weiyuan asked: "Is it good for Shopkeeper Li to cut down the four surnames?" ”

"Naturally, it's good, now a shopkeeper in Hongmaoyi is in my entourage, I want to see what is the relationship between my Oriental Trading Company and our gentry and government in Guangdong Province. We are friendly with each other, and no matter how rampant the red hair is in the South Seas, we dare not provoke it. Li Zhaoji said.

Chen Zizhuang thought about it for a while, and shook his head slightly: "But it may not be, the trading company of the shopkeeper Li has developed extremely rapidly in the past year, occupying the island in the north and suppressing the four surnames in the south, the momentum is amazing, and your gunboat, in the eyes of the imperial court, is the elite that can be used, but in the eyes of Hongmaoyi, it is a threat."

The stronger your society is, the more fearful the red hair becomes, and the old man looks at it, the business of going to Batavia may not be feasible, so don't take any risks. ”

Li Zhaoji didn't know whether Chen Zizhuang was deliberately demolishing the stage or rational analysis, but what he said was also the truth.

Li Zhaoji said: "The old gentleman is worried, so the Hongmao representative negotiated a charter with his subordinates, and the senior minister sent a schooner clipper with the envoys of both sides to Batavia first. Let's see if we can reach a cooperation agreement, or send someone to Tamsui or Hong Kong to mediate with me.

If an agreement is reached, the two sides will be friendly and exchange ideas, and we will trade with Batavia. ”

"But what if your society and the red-haired Yi are in the same boat?" Chen Zizhuang asked coldly.

Li Zhaoji smiled: "As long as the two sides do not directly conflict, I am willing to let the red-haired ship enter Hong Kong for trade, and when the time comes, you will send the goods to Hong Kong." Or, if you organize a fleet to go south to Batavia, I won't stop you. I can't make a fortune, and I can't let the big guy get rich. ”

"Haha, that's a good point. What the old man appreciates the most is the righteousness of the shopkeeper Li. Huang Guanlou said.

Lin Weiyuan also nodded slightly: "That's right, speaking of which, we have never suffered a loss since we had a partnership with Shopkeeper Li." ”

Li Zhaoji smiled, drank a glass of wine, and said, "In this way, you need to wait for another month." It's just that there is one thing, in my opinion, there is no need to wait, it should be managed, this matter, sooner rather than later. ”

"Tell me about it."

"The matter of the bank, I mentioned it to Mr. Chen last time, I don't know if you have the idea?" Li Zhaoji asked deliberately.

"What bank? How did the old man not know? Lin Weiyuan's face turned cold directly and looked at Chen Zizhuang.

Huang Guanlou also asked: "Yes, when is it?" ”

More than a dozen gentry looked at Chen Zizhuang with suspicion, as if he had stolen everyone's money.

Chen Zizhuang suddenly felt embarrassed, when Li Zhaoji used Hai Shuzu to buy silk bills in Guangzhou, he mentioned the establishment of a bank to make the silk bills bigger and stronger. But Chen Zizhuang was just using Li Zhaoji to occupy a dominant position in the group training at that time, and he didn't care about the money, so he didn't pay attention to this matter at all.

For a moment, Chen Zizhuang didn't know what to say. Li Zhaoji immediately added: "I told Master Chen about this matter years ago, and if we Guangdong gentry are involved, we can monopolize raw silk, hey, what's going on, why don't you know it?" ”

At this moment, everyone surrounded Chen Zizhuang and roasted him on the fire.

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