Chapter 4: Keep a Low Profile

  The shops in the west of Guangzhou city are densely packed, from the Xiguan area which has been a port for trade with foreigners since the previous dynasty, to the eve of the First Opium War when Guangzhou became the only port for foreign trade. The merchants in Xiguan grew even more numerous, and although Guangzhou was slow to allow foreigners to enter the city, Shanghai gradually took its place. However, due to Guangzhou's proximity to Hong Kong, the lower part of Xiguan saw a mushrooming of commercial buildings after the rain, gradually forming a thriving commercial district.

  From the West Gate along the Pearl River, it is Huangpu Port. This area has a large number of foreign firms, such as Huangqi Firm, Shuangying Firm, Ruihe Firm, Guangshun Firm and so on. These business firms are mixed with the Thirteen Hongs which once monopolized foreign trade, and are also called Yi Guan (foreign firms). They are the business firms of merchants from various countries. For example, Daliusong Firm is a Spanish firm, Guangshun Firm is an American firm, and Shuangying Firm is a British firm.

  In front of the Double Eagles Mansion, there is a square also known as the English Garden. After a fire several years ago destroyed the railings, this originally enclosed square became a thoroughfare and some street vendors liked to gather here to do small business selling salted olives, roasted peanuts, pastries, tea, congee, etc., etc.

  Ye Zhao led Rui Si, changed into casual clothes, and walked around the west of Huangpu in the past few days. In the end, they still bought a house from Xiaxi Guan, which was a street-fronting shop with a small courtyard at the back. The original owner's surname was Zhang, but he had moved his whole family to Hong Kong, so he sold his ancestral home for 150 taels of silver.

  Rui Si didn't understand the business value, so he thought the master had lost money on this deal. However, the house was small and there were many dilapidated places, 150 taels of silver was a price that was somewhat outrageous. But Rui Si also knew that his master never acted without a plan, so in these few days, he simply followed his master's orders to hire workers to repair the house.

  Ye Zhao had his own reasons, although the lower part of Xiguan was filled with shops, it wasn't easy to find a seller in a short while. You couldn't just splurge money and buy someone's wine house or silver house at a high price, that would be too showy, too eye-catching, and would attract people's attention, revealing one's identity wouldn't be good.

  In the lower west corner, buying a house and a shop was originally intended to get in touch with ordinary Guangzhou businessmen, it can be said that it is research. Ye Zhao couldn't help but think of a distinctive word from his previous life. Moreover, the house is small, what's there to fear? Rong'er will never come to live here, and he himself only occasionally stays for a few nights, must he really have luxurious food and clothing?

  This shop originally sold cloth, but now the Huangli wooden counter and shelves are empty. Ye Zhaosat on a wooden stool at the door, gently shaking a folding fan, watching passersby, thinking about what business to do.

  Turning back, he saw Autumn Shopkeeper, who was in his 50s, looking around the store with a sense of nostalgia. The old man had been working for the shop for nearly 40 years, starting as an apprentice and selling fabric. Although the old owner had moved to Hong Kong with his family, he found it hard to leave his hometown.

  However, his former boss was not bad to him and strongly recommended him in front of Ye Zhao. Since Ye Zhao wanted to open a store and happened to need someone familiar with the Xiguan market, he gladly went along with it and stayed for the time being to observe.

  "Autumn shopkeeper, tell me, what kind of business should we do in this shop?" Ye Zha put away his folding fan and stood up.

  For the new master, Qiu Zhanggui didn't know much, only heard that it was a declining merchant family in Beijing who came to Guangzhou to make a living. Although Ye Gongzi's clothes were simple and unadorned, his demeanor showed that he was no ordinary person, and must have been from a wealthy and influential family before.

  The host asked, and Qi Zhanggui thought for a moment before saying: "Of the 72 professions in commerce, no matter which one you do, if you can grasp the key to success, you can excel. I wonder if Young Master has any connections or familiar industries?" The host was from Beijing, perhaps he had some connections.

  Ye Zhaoye took two steps forward and smiled: "If you want to follow my idea, I plan to open a money house. What does Autumn Shopkeeper think?"

  Qiu Zhanggui almost choked to death, opening a money house? That requires a huge amount of capital! Moreover, this line of business can't be started just with silver, you need credibility and reputation, otherwise even if you shout loudly, people will treat your silver notes as worthless paper.

  "This, this..." Autumn boss didn't know how to put it into words to persuade the young master's absurd idea. If he said too much, he was afraid of extinguishing the young master's enthusiasm; if he said too little, he was afraid that the young master wouldn't listen.

  Ye Zhao smiled and said, "Boss, I know what you're thinking. The money house I'm talking about is different from what you think. Of course, we don't have the qualifications to issue tickets for merchants traveling north and south. What I mean by a money house is one that provides loans to businesses with poor silver circulation, and we profit from it. As an old respected businessman in Xiguan, whenever a merchant in Xiguan encounters difficulties, you must also receive news about it."

  Qiu Zhanggui couldn't help but smile wryly in his heart, thinking that after all the fuss, the new boss was actually planning to let Guili go. What kind of legitimate business was this?

  Ye Zha seemed to know what he was thinking, and smiled: "Our money house is different from the noble interest loan. Whoever wants to use our silver must submit a written application, including his occupation, why he needs to borrow silver, and how he plans to use it after borrowing it. Only if we think his business has potential and profit will we lend him the silver."

  "After some deliberation, he said: 'Even if he doesn't have a penny to his name, but if he has new insights into trade and commerce, or folk workshops, I might still lend him the capital.'"

  In his heart, he let out a soft sigh, wondering what it would be like if he were to start such a business in Europe. At present, the West is in the midst of an era of great inventions, with things like electric lights, telephones, generators, and internal combustion engines gradually emerging, which will have a profound impact on human progress. As for small inventions, such as automatic fountain pens, perfume sprayers, and inflatable tires, they are truly all-encompassing. With his own knowledge, he would naturally know which of the inventions of those down-and-out inventors who applied for loans would be successful, and under his patronage, the names of inventors in the history of world invention would surely undergo a dramatic change.

  At home, those who were self-funded were naturally more "avant-garde" compared to the domestic environment, funding those who studied Western ways and started industrial and commercial enterprises.

  Qiu listened to Dong's ingenious ideas, although absurd, yet he vaguely felt that Dong's idea might not be a bad business deal after all. However, he couldn't help but ask: "Young Master Dong, forgive me for being impolite, your plan may not be unworkable, but can we afford the capital?"

  Ye Zhao smiled and said, "We'll start small, with a maximum loan of 500 taels. Once our reputation grows and we have enough silver, we can gradually increase the loan amount. However, if there's a merchant who urgently needs a large sum of money and has a good way to make it back, I won't mind making an exception." He paused for a moment before continuing, "As for my initial investment, let's say 10,000 taels."

  Qiu Zhanggui's eyes nearly popped out when he heard that - 10,000 taels? This master and his own estimated identity were completely different.

  Ye Zhao smiled and said, "Ten thousand taels of silver is not a large sum of money. If necessary, I will contact my friends who are familiar with the foreign firms to cooperate with them, which will make our position even stronger."

  "If it's really like that, just need to make a name for ourselves with the first few deals, and slowly but surely, there will be merchants coming to us to deposit their silver. In this way, we can use other people's eggs to hatch our own chicks, circulating endlessly, and Boss Xiao's business will only get bigger and better. With 10,000 taels of silver as capital, it wouldn't be surprising if we got to know some friends from the foreign trade firms. As long as the silver is plentiful in the money house, and slowly but surely, we'll have our own reputation, it's a very good deal."

  Ye Zhaosheng smiled slightly, whether the money house could make money or not was not what he cared about. He just wanted to promote the development of industry and commerce in Guangzhou as much as possible. His focus on lending silver was on those sharp-eyed businessmen who were preparing to expand their workshops. As for introducing Western machinery and industrialization, it would come slowly. These businessmen would eventually go through a process of realization. With his current identity and status, he could only do so much for the time being.

  ……

  Returning to the mansion, Ye Zhao entered the study room to work on the memorial he was preparing to send to Beijing.

  A few days ago, I went to visit General Muirhead in Guangzhou again. It was about the matter of Shen Bao, and I asked General Muirhead to show leniency outside of the law. At a time when the military is using people, it would be possible for Shen Bao to wear his crime on his head and make amends through meritorious service. He would receive a hundred lashes, but temporarily avoid being punished by exile to Heilongjiang, and remain in the army awaiting further orders. Of course, marrying a Han person was naturally concealed and not reported.

  But it was just a small Ma Jia Bing, with the deputy commander-in-chief personally guaranteeing it, and also being the prince's brother, Mu Te En naturally wouldn't dare to go against Ye Zhao's face, on the contrary, he agreed.

  Ye Zhao again mentioned the idea of organizing three battalions of musketeers. Although this meaning was vaguely mentioned in the Xianfeng oral decree, if he had not communicated with his superiors beforehand, it would have seemed that he did not respect his superiors and was arrogant and presumptuous.

  Mutern, however, remained noncommittal, naturally staying out of the matter, neither obstructing nor approving, and would not be held responsible if anything went wrong. After all, as a deputy commander, you have the right to submit a memorial directly to the Emperor, I won't interfere with your business.

  Yi Zizi studied his own letter, Ye Zhao couldn't help but think of the family letter Rong'er received yesterday. It seems that he and Rong'er hadn't arrived in Guangzhou yet when this letter was sent out.

  There are two great pieces of good news in the family letter. One is that Rong'er's sister, Yihui, has become a real princess and taken a solid step towards her position as Empress Dowager Cixi. The second piece of good news is that Yihui is pregnant with an imperial heir, which came as a surprise to Ye Zhaowei, who recalled that in history, Consort Lan was supposed to get pregnant next year. However, considering the butterfly effect of his life in the capital, it's not surprising that Emperor Xianfeng's actions are different from those in history, and whether Consort Lan gets pregnant early or not at all is unpredictable. As for whether the child will be a prince or princess, even less can be known.

  The Sixth Prince Yi is increasingly being reused, but I don't know where the wheels of history will drive in this life.

  But with his own involvement, how would Guangzhou's history develop? Even what was in front of him was a fog.