Chapter 129 Past Love

The next day, several people abandoned their boats and landed on the shore and came all the way to the governor's yamen in Hangzhou. There were tall high-legged signs erected under the wall at the door, and the mud gold imitation Song font wrote the official title and honorary ritual, one was "Imperially ordered to supervise Zhejiang government affairs", one was "The first-class minister of the Ministry of War and the right censor of the Censorate of the Censorate of Fujian and Zhejiang headquarters", one was "Assistant Zhejiang Governor Yang", and the other was "Awarding Flower Feather".

The prestige of local officials is in Bao and Tang Wenzhi, but this is the first time Yinchang and Zhiyan have seen them. The two young men looked inside curiously, and saw two rows of personal soldiers with swords standing from the gate to the depths. The blue-topped military officers came in and out, and there were even figures flashing in the signing room, as if something was busy.

Goshha, who was standing at the door, saw two young men in official uniforms poking their heads and looking at them, "Hey, what are you doing? Governor's Office, don't wander around."

"Reply to the words of a few sirs," Zhiyan hurriedly stepped forward, pulled Yinchang a little, took out the 'handbook', "Several sirs, please give me a message, and said that Lord Bao and Mr. Tang, who were from Beijing to Guizhou, asked to meet Mr. Yang, the governor of Zhejiang Province, who were in charge of the office from Beijing to Guizhou."

The two Gorshhas, who were in charge, seemed to have heard from the old master beside Lord Yang that there would be a business trip from Beijing to Zhejiang to do business recently. They took the handbook and nodded: "Wait a minute, I'll go in and pass it to you."

"Yes, yes, thank you sir."

Seeing that Goshha was holding the handbook in, Zhiyan came to the sedan chair and lowered her voice and said, "Sir Bao, the handbook has been handed in. Please wait a moment."

Bao? The man was in the sedan chair and hummed softly: He didn't say anything.

Soon, a few people quickly walked out of the long corridor inside the door. The leader was a brilliant winged woman, wearing an official uniform, and there were chewy replenishment clothes on the outside. Just looking at this outfit, Zhiyan knew that it must be Zhejiang Governor Yang Wending personally welcomed her.

Sure enough, the person who came was Yang Wending. The last time he submitted a memorial to the emperor, mentioning that American merchants brought seven breeze muskets to the province. Originally, Americans came to Zhejiang just for silk trade, and the muskets were just used as self-defense. He was also curious and couldn't help asking a few more questions. Unexpectedly, Americans had very good means to do business, so they took out one of the muskets carried by their entourage and gave it to Yang Wending as a gift.

After the court submitted this matter, the emperor was extremely happy. In the comments he replied to Yang Wending, he clearly asked him to temporarily keep the American guests who went to Zhejiang Province to handle trade exchanges this time, and wait for the General Administration to send a special person to Zhejiang Province to contact American merchants again. For specific purposes, he will be given the decree in the future.

Yang Wending didn't know what was going on, and even the aides of the governor's yamen, Mao could not tell me why. The guest and host had no choice but to order the province's Ning Shaodao Wang Youling to support American businessmen as much as possible. No matter how the other party's business transactions were done, they would always keep them in the province and wait for the public officials sent to handle errands in the capital to come.

Wang Youling, whose courtesy name is Yingjiu and his pseudonym was Xuexuan, was born in a donation class. He was capable and honest. He served as an agent in Xinchang County. He first met as a capable official. Later, his father Wang Xie died of illness. Wang Youling returned to his hometown to mourn. In the first year of Xianfeng, he served as the Hangzhou Prefecture. For example, the governor and governor in the same city, the official business was the most difficult to do. However, Wang Youling has a good friend. He did not read much, but he was extremely familiar with the world. He could always make plans for him on official business - this person is the famous Hu Xueyan.

After a few years of work, Wang Youling was versatile. Not only was Shangguan satisfied, but the officers at all levels also praised him. In the last year, Yang Wending transferred him to Ning Shaodao, who was always the most fat in Zhejiang Province, and thought that he had many hard work in the province over the years.

This time, when he heard that the governor wanted him to entertain American guests with good health, Wang Youling didn't take it seriously. Ning Shaodao's errands had many places to deal with merchants inside and outside the province. He received many gifts and bribes every year. He made no mistakes at the moment: "I understand the humble position. Please rest assured, sir."

"There is another section. The emperor's reply to me said that in addition to entertaining Americans, I must also keep them in the province for the time being until the people from the General Administration of Beijing Central and Central Government contact them before they can leave. Brother Yingjiu, what is the holy intention?"

Such sudden reversals made Wang Youling, who had never been able to change his life, stunned. "The emperor asked us to keep American businessmen in the province? Is there any explanation from others?"

"No. The Emperor just said, let us leave Americans, and nothing else."

"This," Wang Youling shook his head with a wry smile: "I dare not be humble, and I am even more incapable of guessing the will of the holy. Let's talk about this matter after the Beijing Zhong arrives." He asked again: "Do you know, do you know who is sent to the envoy this time?"

"I heard that Bao Peiheng, who is from the General Administration, is coming."

This makes you more guesswork. Wang Youling said: "I think I'm here. Since it's the General Administration's yamen who sent people, it's just a word called "neutral affairs". I just don't know what to discuss with the Americans?"

"Don't ask about the others for the time being." Yang Wending said: "In short, keep the Americans first, and then talk about others."

"Yes." Wang Youling agreed and asked again: "Sir, do you have to tell the truth with American businessmen? After all, their work has been done almost the same, and they always keep others here. If Bao Peiheng is not there in the future, it seems that we deliberately refused to let others go when it is spread."

"The emperor did not explain this level, what do you think?"

"I think it's better to tell them. Americans are here to make a business for the silk. If they can take this opportunity to do other business with our Tianchao, they won't be able to refuse."

Yang Wending nodded indescribably: "Since this is the case, I will be more annoying to me."

After receiving the utmost order from Master Futai, Wang Youling returned to the Daotai Yamen and first found Hu Xueyan. Hu Xueyan was an apprentice from Yinzhuang and was very smart. He had been full of apprentices for several years. Seeing that he was hardworking and willing to work hard, he also had a good relationship with Master Wang, he promoted him to "run on the street".

You don’t have to support the store when you go out and search for a while. He went out to search and found Hu Xueyan in the teahouse. He is only 27 or 28 years old this year, with a medium figure, and his eyes are clearly dripping. He is the kind of character who moves all over when he presses his shoulders. "Xiao Hu? Xiao Hu, sir, look for you."

"Oh, it's here." Hu Xueyan put down the teacup, took out a few big money and put it on the table, and took it as a account, and then went downstairs after hearing the opportunity.

When he entered the Taotai Yamen, he first invited Wang Youling to An, and stood with a smile on his hands: "Sir, is there any way to send someone to the young man this time?"

"Xueyan, come and sit, come and sit." Hu Xueyan's name is Hu Xueyong, and Xueyan is his name, so Wang Youling called him this, took his hand and let him sit beside him, and said to him: "Mr. Futai just asked me to go and have something to do..."

After hearing him say that, Hu Xueyan narrowed his smile on his face for a moment, "What's the difficulty? Have you forgotten what happened at the end of the second year of Xianfeng?"

"Oh" reminded Wang Youling, "Yes, you are right, but you have a good memory."

Since the Qing court established the General Administration and allowed countries to set up embassies in Beijing, Mr. Watt, the US Consul in Shanghai, has gradually realized that doing business with the Chinese is a gold mine with great potential to be mined. In particular, through the help of his British colleagues in Hong Kong, he sent a telegram to his old friend Wenders, who lives in New York, inviting him to come to China, and confessed that China is a piece of land that has never been developed. As long as anyone has the courage to come here and go, he will immediately receive ten or a hundred times the benefits.

Wenders knew that his old friend did not speak up the words. Since he had such an invitation, he decided to take a walk in person. His first time in China was in the middle of the second year of Xianfeng. Although he was just a quick look, he also found that the cheap and affordable Chinese products were not something that could be imagined in the United States.

He didn't even stay for too long. After living for half a month, he immediately returned to China, gathered friends, gathered a batch of funds, and came across the ocean again, carrying a large amount of funds. He just wanted to buy more cheap Chinese products, bring them back to domestic sales, and make a lot of money.

He thought too simply that he thought that he would bring money to do business with the Chinese, and that the other party would definitely meet Gao Ying far away. However, the Chinese people, who are blonde and blue-eyed, do not know the details of the blonde and blue-eyed foreigners like him, are always far away from him. They have wasted a long time in Jiangnan, China. Although they have purchased some raw silk, tea and other specialties, they are far from what they imagined.

Later, he asked Mr. Watt for help and came up with a good idea: his ship carries a lot of cigarettes and alcohol purchased from China. After paying the tax on the shore, he was ready to sell them in a dispersed manner. Mr. Watt told him: "Sales such as things are sold in China, and they make small profits, and the labor costs are not enough. It is better not to sell them, just use these things as gifts and give them to people in the officialdom of that country. At that time, with these people helping each other, your business will be really big."

After all, Wenders is a businessman. Seeing that these expensive tobacco and alcohol products are going to be given away for nothing? He was a little dissatisfied, but his business has also invested in it and it is difficult to refuse. What's more, this is in China, not in his hometown, but to follow the advice of his old friends who have been in China for many years. So he agreed.

Watt thought about it and came up with a wonderful idea for him: Wenders' second return was at the end of the second year of Xianfeng, and the New Year was coming. This is the first major festival of the year for Chinese people. Why not take advantage of this festival to bring their old friends and personally go to Liangjiang, Zhejiang and other places on the grounds of New Year's greetings to enhance their friendship?

When he thought of it, Watt took the translator, governor, Wenders and several entourages to the Liangjiang Governor's Office to submit the famous sect, which scared the Governor Lu: "Why, the Americans are here again? Do you know what's going on?"

"I don't know what the adult said. I heard from the American Consul that the Consul came this time to celebrate the New Year's Day for the adults and Liangjiang."

This has never been a precedent. Lu Jianying stayed for a moment and turned around and asked the Jiangning vassal Linggui and Jiangsu vassal Chunshu who were having sex: "Two guys, look, what's going on?"

"Americans may not have any kindness to wish the chicken a happy new year." Ling Gui said disdainfully: "Why not go back to him next time."

"I think it's inappropriate." Tsukusu said: "Since they are here, it's better to take the time to meet. Didn't they say that? This time I came here just to celebrate the New Year for the adults. I think it was also a gift to celebrate Christmas for Miyi last month. It's reasonable, so it's better not to refuse."

"Okay." Lu Jianying nodded: "Please invite someone to sit in the second hall for a while, and I will arrive later."

After talking to Chunshou and Linggui for a few more business matters, Lu Jianying served tea to see the guests, and then changed into casual clothes to meet the guests in the second hall.

Mr. Wenders was so angry that his mouth was so bad that the Chinese only prepared tea for them - Wenders was used to drinking coffee, and the tea was light and tasteless, which really didn't meet his appetite.

After waiting for a while, footsteps sounded at the door. Lu Jianying entered the hall, followed by a few listeners and followers: "It's just that the official's official duties are heavy, and the consul needs to wait for a long time. Please don't be surprised."

Watt was in China for a long time, and he had heard a lot of polite words in the officialdom. He smiled and stood up, imitating his appearance: "Please don't be polite, Governor, I suddenly came this time and wanted to apologize without prior notice. But I should apologize to you." After that, he introduced the few people who came with him.

As usual, Lu Jianying said a few more polite words and sat down separately: "Consul is here this time, but do you have any official duties to consult Lu Mouxiang?"

"Ah, no, you misunderstood. I came here this time just to know that the New Year is coming. I represent myself and the entire consulate, and I want to send holiday greetings to the adults and the officials of the country. At the same time, I also express my sincere thanks for the warm friendship from Chinese friends during last Christmas."

"The Consul can't be so polite. Our Heavenly Kingdom always opens its arms to friends from all over the world and regards it as a friend."

"Yes, thank you for your kindness," said Watt. "This time, in addition to expressing your gratitude to you, I have prepared some small gifts, all of which are from my country. Please reward me."

"Oh, this is not possible," Lu Jianying hurriedly shook his hand and said, "Mr. Consul is so kind, I am ashamed of it. I dare not take this gift exchange. Please take it back."

"Don't worry, the gift is not yellow and white, but something to be banned from wine and food. If you don't like it, you can give it to others." As he said that, Wat did not wait for Lu Jianying to say anything, and turned around and gave a few instructions.

The governor from the consulate opened the box he brought, with a few bottles of wine and a small box. When he opened the box, he was a few neatly arranged cigars: "Sir, please see, even if the emperor of your country knows such a gift, he will not blame him, right?"

Lu Jianying had both seen foreign wine and cigar cigarettes in his mansion. They were all obtained by their eldest son Lu Chuan from somewhere. Lu Chuan told him that the name of the foreign wine is brandy and the brand is Cognac, which is a famous French brand. He tried a few sips and tasted sour and sweet, without any taste. He felt far less than that of Chinese original wine.

Lu Jianying was very interested in cigars, but he didn't know how to suck, which made a big joke. He sucked in a big mouthful and inhaled all the burning smoke into his lungs, causing the old man to cough repeatedly, and almost even asthma that never attacked every summer was triggered.

Lu Jianying was so scared that he didn't dare to suck again. Later, after his son's guidance, he tried it again. This time, he finally tasted the wonderful things. The unique fragrance of tobacco echoed on the tip of his tongue, and the taste was unique between swallowing and spitting. It also allowed the old man to find a special way of entertainment in his spare time.

However, cigars are very expensive, each one costs two taels of money. Moreover, cigars are different from the familiar hookahs and dry tobacco in China. They are a very particular taste of life. Different cutters, flints, cigar boxes, cigar covers, and even cigarette discs have unique considerations. As the governor of a province, if he had Chang Bao's special hobbies, what would the people below think? There was no way, the old man had to finish his official duties and could sit with his son after returning home, and show his verbal desires.

This time, when Mr. Watt held a cigar and foreign wine, Lu Jianying couldn't help but lit up his eyes: "Since that's the case, I'm ashamed of receiving it."

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Chapter completed!