Chapter 5 is Not Simple (Part 1)

  The buildings within the city walls are quite similar to those in Beijing, and distinct from the southern-style houses inside Guangzhou City.

  "Fu Lai Shun" teahouse, Ye Zhaoyao ordered a bowl of high-foam milk tea and drank it to quench his thirst. On both sides of the square table, on the left sat bodyguard Bakshi with a rifle, while on the right sat servant girl Ruyi, who was dressed in men's clothing, wearing a green robe and a melon-shaped hat, looking elegant and handsome.

  Rui Si was assigned to follow Qiu Zhanggui to study the meaning of the Yi Jing, he had a bad feeling in his stomach, not doing business would be difficult for him, let alone Ye Zhao needed his help with many things, even if he grumbled in his heart, he didn't dare disobey Master's orders.

  The preparations for the fire brigade have been sent to the capital, and the silver number below Xiguan is about to open. Ye Zhao wrote a letter to Shanghai Hol, Su Lao Da, Huang Wenxiu and others, informing them of their own foothold. Of course, he also asked Hol to start preparing foreign guns for himself now.

  As for the money house in Xiaguang, the store is so simple and it's natural that there are not many customers. Ye Zhao just wants to support a few business names through Qiu Zhanggui's connections and make a name for himself in the Guangzhou Cantonese business circle, the more inconspicuous the storefront, the more in line with Ye Zhao's thinking.

  Lost in thought, Ye Zhaoglu glanced at Bakshi sitting beside him and smiled slightly. Bakshi's marksmanship was getting better and better, with a hint of being a master shooter. This former Blue Flag famous shooter had adapted quite quickly to his new role.

  Their table was on the second floor by the window seat. From the raised window lattice, they could see the crowded street below.

  Ye Zhaowu suddenly furrowed his brow and asked, "Shen Bao, is that a brothel across the street?" The signboard of the opposite shop, "Ju Xian Guan", was written in both Manchu and Chinese, but those who entered through the curtain looked dispirited, while those who came out from inside were full of energy, stretching their waist as if they had a refreshing air about them.

  Jinbao never thought that the Da Ren would "ask" him to drink tea and have him accompany him on a stroll around the city, his heart was always anxious, this close prince brother's thoughts were completely impenetrable.

  What he is most worried about now is his wife and daughter. Escaping with the flag is a serious crime, and privately marrying a Han woman is another crime. For the sake of a Han family girl, they have been escaping for over a year. With Director Gao's strict handling, it would not be surprising if his wife and daughter were sentenced to death.

  Zheng Bai Xiang was worried and didn't know what to say, when he heard Ye Zhao ask, Shen Bao suddenly stood up straight, cupped his fists and bowed: "Sir, right in front of us is a tobacco shop!"

  His sudden movement startled the fellow who was pouring water, Ye Zha smiled and tapped the table with his folded fan: "Sit down, sit down, I said today we don't stand on ceremony, how can you forget?"

  "Yes, yes." Jinbao slowly sat down with half of his buttocks.

  Ye Zhao turned his head and took another look at the smoke house, laughing: "Who has such great skills? Opened a smoke house in our Qi City? Today I've gained some new knowledge!"

  Jinbao hesitated for a moment before squeezing out a few words from between his teeth: "Xie Ling Cha Ha Su!"

  Xie Ling is the highest military officer under Vice General Ye Zhao, with a rank of third grade. There are four Xie Lings under Ye Zhao's command, each in charge of two battalions of soldiers and civilians.

  Ye Zhaohad long expected that anyone who dared to open a smoking den in the Banner City would be a noble of the Eight Banners, but for a deputy commander-in-chief to be so ignorant of propriety and restraint was indeed a characteristic of the late Qing dynasty.

  Duan raised his head and took a sip of foam, Ye Zhao asked faintly: "Can other deputy leaders participate?"

  Shen Bao Dao: "I don't know about that, who knows more about their little misdeeds?" After hesitating for a moment, he finally spoke out: "However, General Mu Te En's wife's younger brother is the cousin of the leader."

  Ye Zhao smiled and tapped his fan on the table, pondering for a moment before saying to Shen Bao: "Help me run an errand."

  "Yes!" Jinbao immediately stood up from his seat, he really couldn't sit comfortably.

  Ye Zhao handed him a fan and said: "You go now, take this folding fan to the smoke house and say it's for their master to see."

  Ye Zhao has two folding fans, both with poems by Li Bai. One fan is signed "Ye Zhao", while the one he is currently holding is signed "Jing Xiang".

  "Ah!" Shen Bao Daqian took over the fan with both hands, got up and walked away in big strides.

  Ye Zhaostood up and said: "Let's go!" Bakshi and Ruyi also quickly got up to follow.

  ……

  For the next two or three days, Ye Zhao didn't take his seat in court. On the third evening, the steward of the Chaha Su family came to visit Rui Si, bringing a folded fan and a letter from Ye Zhao with about 400-500 taels of silver, saying that he would send more every month as a form of filial piety. When Rui Si sent off the steward and presented the silver and fan to Ye Zhao, Ye Zhao merely sneered, looking like he really did consider himself an aristocrat.

  Ben just looking for a reason to establish prestige, Zha Ha Su this Guangzhou general's younger brother-in-law identity is quite suitable, and even hit the gun mouth.

  On the second day, Ye Zhao dressed up early and sat in the main hall, ordering a soldier to summon Abu to see him.

  "Order the right lieutenant to investigate the Xianyuan Pavilion, and arrest all those involved in privately operating an opium den!" Ye Zhao's cold-faced edict startled Abu, who looked up stealthily at Ye Zhao's expression before taking two steps forward and speaking in a low voice: "Master, are you aware of the inside connections?"

  Ye Zhaowu slightly frowned: "Don't you go and pass on the order?"

  Abu was secretly delighted and couldn't help but feel a little schadenfreude. Chahaer, relying on his brother-in-law's power, had always been arrogant and looked down on his colleagues, not putting them in his eyes. It seemed that he had become too proud and had offended the master, so it was only right that he should suffer a great loss.

  But thinking of the Guangzhou general's power, that chilling black face, Abu's scalp felt a bit numb, fearing that in the end, it would be him and his underlings who would suffer when the two tigers clashed.

  Why did Governor Du want to provoke the Guangzhou general? Abu couldn't figure it out, but he knew that this prince, it seemed, was not here to idle around in Guangzhou, and there would definitely be some action next.