Gu Yunji realized it just now, although the official words of this attendant stumbled, it was not because he was unfamiliar, but with a strong local accent - judging from Gu Yunji's experience as a prefect in Shaoxing for several years, if his guess was right, the person in front of him should be a person from Shaoxing Mansion.

Since he is from Shaoxing Mansion and is of Chinese blood, he must be much easier to get close to than Eberg and other foreigners, and seeing that he was very familiar with the operation of the Franc cannon, he may be a rare "technical talent".

If lucrative conditions lure him to leave the Francophone caravan and turn to work for the government, wouldn't it speed up the progress of the imperial court's firearms research and development? Maybe you can even directly copy the Franc cannon.

If that's the case, where do they need to grind with Eberg, and they don't have to worry about the monopoly of advanced firearms by the other party.

With such thoughts, Gu Yunji's attitude towards Zhao Jinbao couldn't help but be a little enthusiastic, but his enthusiasm startled Zhao Jinbao.

Zhao Jinbao's status in the Francophone caravan is at the bottom, he was an ordinary person before joining the caravan, and he has never seen any big names in his life, even if he doesn't know Gu Yunji's identity, but from his official uniform, he can guess that his identity is not simple, most of them are a big official.

Gu Yunji looked at him in his twenties, such a young and promising "big official", not only took the initiative to talk to him, a little attendant, but also spoke a "brother", with a very kind attitude.

Where has Zhao Jinbao been treated like this, when he has been a low-level person for a long time, the obedience to the upper-class people in his bones made him extremely frightened, his face instantly turned red, his mouth opened and closed, and he stammered: "I, I, I...... Your Excellency, I'm ......."

Gu Yunji was very helpless about this, so he had to soften his tone and comfort him: "Don't be nervous, I'm just idle and chatting with you." I am the prefect of Shaoxing, and I just heard that your accent is very similar to the people under my rule, which makes me feel very cordial, and I thought you were from Shaoxing. ”

Seeing that Gu Yunji's attitude was still very friendly, Zhao Jinbao gradually relaxed, showed a slightly restrained smile, and chatted with him casually: "My lord has good ears, you guessed right, my ancestral hometown is indeed from Shaoxing Mansion." Walking overseas all year round, there are few opportunities to return to China, and the official words are not good, which makes you laugh. ”

Gu Yunji raised his eyebrows: "Ancestral home in Shaoxing Mansion?" That's a coincidence. Were you born overseas, or did you go out with your elders as a child? ”

Zhao Jinbao smiled dryly, did not answer, and seemed unwilling to tell his experience.

Gu Yunji's heart moved slightly, he vaguely noticed something, and was thinking about how to talk to him, when he was stopped by Alberg, saying that it was not too early and it was time for lunch.

In front of everyone's eyes, Gu Yunji was not very good at talking with Zhao Jinbao alone for too long, so he had to stop talking and go to dinner with Alberg and the others.

After all, the two sides have reached a cooperative relationship, and the people of the caravan are quite attentive in preparing meals, in addition to the special food of the Francophone machine, I am afraid that Gu Yunji and his party will not be used to eating, so they specially prepared traditional Chinese dishes, and the meal is also pleasant.

Gu Yunji was still thinking about the previous attendant from Shaoxing's ancestral hometown, and after hastily eating, he excused himself for a walk to eat, left the table early, and wandered around the boat.

There were caravans of sailors standing guard everywhere on the ship, and in the name of eating, Gu Yunji was not good at looking for someone with great fanfare, so he pretended to search inadvertently, and sure enough, he saw Zhao Jinbao in an inconspicuous corner.

He immediately walked over and said with a smile, "What a coincidence, I saw you again." It's time for lunch, why don't you skip eating? ”

Hearing Gu Yunji's voice, Zhao Jinbao hurriedly stood up, and while smiling, he embarrassedly spread out the things in his hand to him: "Lord Lao Zhifu cares, I'm eating." ”

Seeing the half of the dry black bun in his hand, Gu Yunji was surprised: "You just eat this?" I saw those sailors' food before, with meat and vegetables, it looked pretty good, why are you so bad? ”

Zhao Jinbao's eyes flashed lonely when he heard this, and he couldn't help lowering his gaze, laughing at himself: "You also said, that's sailors, they are all native of Franco, so they have such good treatment, we foreigners, it's good to have food, how can we compare with them?" ”

Gu Yunji observed his expression and continued quietly: "In that case, why do you still have to work under them? People go to higher places, water flows to lower places, since you can't stay here, then change your way of life, even if it's good to go back to farming. ”

Seeing Zhao Jinbao's hesitation, Gu Yunji didn't wait for him to speak, so he took the lead and said: "Eh-don't look down on farming, the past two years have been good, the wind and rain have been smooth, and the widows have been almost suppressed, and the world is peaceful." ”

"It's the land of fish and rice in the south of the Yangtze River, even if it's farming, as long as you are willing to work hard, you don't have to worry about living a bad life."

Zhao Jinbao smiled bitterly: "The prefect is joking, although I am now working for the Francophone people, but my ancestors have been farmers for generations, how dare I look down on farming?" ”

"The main thing is that I have been away from my hometown for many years, the land has been sold, the house must have collapsed, there are few relatives and friends left, and there is no place for me in my hometown for a long time, how can I go back? If I can go back to farming as you said, I must be very happy, why should I be angry with those Western devils! ”

Looking at Zhao Jinbao like this, it was obvious that he was dissatisfied with the Francophone caravan, but he had no choice but to endure it.

Seeing that his willingness to return home was so strong, Gu Yunji suddenly felt that there was hope in his heart, and he answered: "What is this?" If you can't plant land, you can do other things. I saw that you know a lot about artillery, so you must be a gunsmith, right? Craftsmen who don't die of hunger in the wilderness, and have skills around you, are you still afraid that you won't be able to live? ”

Zhao Jinbao's expression wavered: "That's what I said, but ......"

Gu Yunji struck while the iron was hot: "Not to mention, at present, the focus of the Zhejiang and Fujian governments is on the elimination of the Japanese invaders, and they want to train sailors, and firearms are indispensable if they want to train sailors." The government is now short of gunsmiths, and with your experience of studying firearms under the Franco-Rang machine for so long, you don't have to worry about finding something to do. ”

"Gunsmiths are scarce, and skilled gunsmiths are even more scarce, as long as you are willing to come, of course the government is rushing to ask for you."

Hearing him say this, Zhao Jinbao didn't know what he thought, the hope in his eyes was instantly extinguished, and the whole person fell silent, looking unwilling to say more.

Gu Yunji sensed that something was wrong, and said tentatively: "What's wrong?" But what are the concerns? Although you are currently working in the Francophone caravan, after all, it is my Chinese blood. I, Gu Yunji, am an official of the imperial court and a citizen of Great Xia, you and I have the same roots, as long as there is something I can help with, you can just speak. ”

Zhao Jinbao's face was even more embarrassed when he heard this, and he hesitated again and again, but finally shook his head with a wry smile: "Master Gu, thank you for your kindness, but I can't be a craftsman in the government." ”