Qi Ying was stunned for a moment, thought about it in her heart, and shook her head again: "How can this matter be so simple, there must be a special reason, it must be what these foreigners have done."

It's just that these foreigners are shrewd and won't tell these tricks. ”

"Your Excellency has a point. Zhao Dagui's face did not change at all, and he immediately agreed.

Qiying chatted with Zhao Dagui for a few more words, asked about some stories about the West, and saw that Zhao Dagui could match and speak in an orderly manner, and felt that although Zhao Dagui was a traitor who took refuge in foreigners and sought glory, he spoke humorously and decently, and he was not a useless person.

When Zhao Dagui first came to this world, he still retained many modern habits, which were incompatible with the people of this world, and Bafu and Gong Mujiu had no good impression when they saw him for the first time;

However, Zhao Dagui has been in this world for a long time, often dealing with officials and all kinds of people, etc., and he intends to integrate into this world.

Qiying talked to Zhao Dagui for a while, and saw Stark on the side, knowing that this person was a henchman of Hong Kong Debe, and he didn't want to be too cold, so he also called over to talk, and asked Zhao Dagui to be the translator to pass the word.

Zhao Dagui actually knew that Stark was very smart, and after arriving in China, he studied Chinese diligently, and generally Chinese conversation and writing were no problem, but he didn't say anything, and helped the two translate for a while.

The three of them talked for a long time, and after the ship reached the open sea, it went back to Guangzhou.

As soon as Zhao Dagui took the time to give a look, a shopkeeper pushed out the gift box prepared in advance.

"The students know that adults have always been busy with official duties, and now they can find time to come to the ship, which is really a blessing for Zhao Dagui.

There are no good things in the hands of the students, only some local products brought from Shanghai, and I hope that the adults will complete them. Zhao Dagui said respectfully.

"This official is honest and honest, and he has a clean sleeve, and he never does this, and you don't know it. Qi Ying said without raising his head, but he didn't really mean to excuse himself.

"The students naturally know that the Governor is incorruptible, and they dare not ruin the reputation of the adults, and they choose local products such as fresh melons and fruits, which add up to a few taels of silver, but they just want the adults to work hard all day long and taste the freshness.

I also hope that adults will look at the hearts of the students and charge one or two. Zhao Dagui said sincerely.

"This... Well, let the butler take it. I'll tell you, this time it's to give you face, I'll accept it first, and I won't take it as an example in the future. Qi Ying said with a tuck at his beard.

"That's nature, that's nature, and I want to thank you for fulfilling the students' hearts. Zhao Dagui said without a word.

Stark smiled slightly, but did not speak.

When Qiying got on the boat, he was naturally followed by his own soldiers and housekeepers, and someone immediately stepped forward and put his things aside.

After receiving these gifts, Qiying obviously became much closer.

"Brother Zhao, the Governor of Hong Kong, the former Governor of Debe, sent me a message saying that he hoped to set up a regular cruise ship from Guangzhou to Hong Kong and then to Shanghai, which could connect the five treaty ports together.

can speak when he is moving, it seems that the status of the elder brother in the eyes of foreigners is not low.

It's just that I haven't heard of what this regular cruise is, and I don't know how to do it, and you can tell me what it needs. ”

"The so-called regular cruises are nothing, isn't it just to use a boat to pull people who are willing to go from Guangzhou to Shanghai by boat.

It's just that in the past, it was the merchant ships who had a vacant seat to pull a hand, and in the future, they could make a round-trip between Guangzhou and Shanghai on a regular basis, every ten days or once a month. ”

"Well, if that's the case, it would be much more convenient. What do you need to do this regular cruise?"

"There is nothing else, first of all, there must be land at the port of Guangzhou, build a wharf and supporting warehouses or something, so that people can get on the ship, and at the same time sell tickets or something.

In addition, the ship needed coal to start the ship, so it had to be bought everywhere, and it would be much easier to do it if there was government support.

In addition, it is better to have some blacksmiths who can help when you have something. ”

"Oh, it's easy to understand that this important land needs coal, what is the blacksmith for?" asked Qiying curiously.

"Naturally, it's for ship repair. You see, in the past, the ship was made of wood, and if there was a problem, a carpenter could repair it, but now the ship is made of iron, and a blacksmith is required to repair it, don't you say?" Zhao Dagui hurriedly replied.

Qiying thought about it and felt that it was true, so she nodded: "This important thing is easy to do, what land do you like, pay the money, and help you circle it."

The government doesn't care about buying coal, at most it will give you my name thorn, so that it will be more convenient for you to go to other places to do things.

By the way, what do you want as a blacksmith?

"There are no requirements, there is Foshan near Guangzhou, and the method of iron-making is famous all over the world.

I originally wanted to send someone to Foshan to recruit people, but I only mentioned it to the adults because I was unfamiliar with the place and was rejected by the locals. ”

"Well, it's good to be cautious outside, I'll write a letter to Qianhu in Foshan, you can visit him with the letter, I don't dare not give me face. ”

"Thank you, then, sir. Zhao Dagui really thanked him sincerely this time.

The three of them talked for a while, and when they returned to Guangzhou, Qiying got off the boat and left satisfied.

Zhao Dagui secretly sighed, with the care of Qiying, Dagui Commercial Bank has a lot of things to do in Guangdong.

In fact, although Zhao Dagui has a bit of wealth, it is not enough for Qiying to pay attention to it, and even the qualifications to give gifts are a little insufficient.

However, the British attached great importance to the matter of regular cruises, and Hong Kong's De Pi Shi also sent his cronies to meet the elderly with letters many times, stating the importance of regular cruises, so that the elderly could pay attention to this matter.

On the surface, Qiying had a good relationship with many British officials, and even wrote to the first Hong Kong governor Pu Ding Cha, to accept his eldest son as his adopted son, and finally Pu Ding Cha really changed his eldest son's name to Qi Ying (Frederick Jain. Pu Ding Cha), but in essence, in fact, Qi Ying is different from ordinary Manchu officials, knowing that foreigners' affairs are easy to reach the heavens, so they are more concerned about matters involving foreigners than other officials.

When Qiying left, Stark frowned and said to Zhao Dagui: "This ship is broken, and it has to be repaired by a blacksmith, where does Zhao comprador come from?"

Zhao Dagui didn't care at all, and asked pretending to be stunned: "If the iron ship is broken, you will naturally use a blacksmith, if your country's ship is broken, don't you need a blacksmith?"

Stark said hesitantly: "Naturally no, our British ship is broken, and we have always asked the textile factory workers in Manchester to sew it stitch by stitch, and the sewing is so delicate, it will not break for decades." ”

"That's a long time to see. Zhao Dagui arched his hand and said.