Chapter Thirty-Three Reunion of Two Phases

  "After this requirement was opened for trade, all tariff silver was responsible for remittance by a foreigner-designated draft bank. What benefit does this money have to foreigners?"

  In the Zhili Governor's Office, Heshen looked at the various questions presented by Gong and Li.

  Guī Liángduān sat on the taishi chair, stroking his sparse beard, and heard the question from Huā Shànà, the Minister of Rites. Guī Liáng couldn't help but laugh: "Minister Huā, what are you still hiding from me? Those two young whippersnappers obviously want to swindle us out of some money; otherwise, why would they be so eager to act as our go-betweens?"

  "Does Guizhong Tang think this can be allowed?" Although nominally two people were on an equal footing, both being imperial envoys, Gui Liang was a Grand Secretary and also the father-in-law of Prince Gong Yixin, so in handling matters, Heshen still had to yield, always putting Gui Liang first.

  "The business of ticket numbers, I've also heard about it. It's said to be a lucrative deal, but those two young men are too greedy, wanting to swallow it all by themselves."

  As soon as he heard this, Huashana immediately understood that the old man also wanted to get a share of the profits. As the saying goes, "those who see it have a share", Huashana was not an official as clean as water, and when he heard that there were benefits to be gained, he naturally supported it with all his might.

  "Tomorrow, I'll send someone to bring these two people here, and we'll have a face-to-face conversation to clear things up once and for all."

  On the second day, early in the morning, an official from the Governor's Office arrived at the British and French diplomatic residence to wait. Li Mingfeng received the invitation and saw that it was for himself and Gong Cheng, so he ran to Gong Cheng's house to invite him to go together, but unexpectedly, he refused to go.

  Unable to dissuade him, Li Mingfeng had no choice but to go alone.

  This time, the Zhili Governor's Office sent two four-person green sedan chairs. Gong Cheng didn't go, so Li Mingfeng went alone in one of the sedan chairs. Li Mingfeng now also understood some official rules and regulations. Using a four-person green sedan chair to pick himself up proved that Guilian and Huashana had already given him a lot of face.

  Li Mingfeng was just a small translator, without any official status, so this time it was only a private meeting. Moreover, Gui Liang and Huashana did not want outsiders to pay too much attention to the exchanges between the two sides, so the sedan chair entered the mansion through the back door.

  Considering that there will be many things to rely on these two courtiers in the future, Li Mingfeng did not dare to be as arrogant as Gong Banlun. When he saw Gui Liang and Hua Shana, Li Mingfeng first greeted them: "Junior Li Mingfeng has seen the two seniors."

  This suddenly made the two of them a bit surprised, slightly stunned, and then immediately delighted with smiles all over their faces.

  Gui Liang said with satisfaction: "You're still more sensible than that Gong Banlun who doesn't know his place."

  Huashana invited Li Mingfeng to take a seat, and ordered the servant to serve tea. Li Mingfeng sat down, and without waiting for Guiliang to speak, he directly said: "I suppose Mr. Gui has called me here because of the matter of the draft?"

  Kui Liang and Hua Shana burst out laughing upon hearing this, but didn't say a word.

  Li Mingfeng saw the situation and also burst out laughing: "Haha, junior also knows that such a small trick can't deceive the two adults. A wise man doesn't speak in riddles, this time I came, Mingfeng had already arranged everything."

  After taking a sip of tea, Li Mingfeng continued: "This ticket number business was done by the Zhang family from Guangdong. The Zhang family is a hundred-year-old giant clan and will not make any mistakes in operation. As for the profit, the Zhang family takes three points, Gu Zhongtang and Hua Daren you two take two points, and then take out three points from the middle to be taken by the two adults to smooth out the connections in Beijing, and the remaining two points are mine and Gong Dage's respects to foreigners."

  Li Mingfeng deliberately gave the Zhang family an extra tenth, otherwise he would have to let these two old devils know that three tenths of the profit had fallen into his own hands, and in the future he would inevitably be oppressed and exploited by others.

  After listening to Li Mingfeng's words, Gui Liang also did not express any opinion, and only smiled and said: "The conditions proposed by the foreigners have all been seen by me, they are nothing but some trivial matters of gold and silver trade. My great Qing is a heavenly dynasty, and such petty gains are not worth considering. As for this draft treaty, I will send someone to present it to the imperial court tomorrow, and let His Majesty decide. You can also rest assured, things in the imperial court are not that big of a deal, the officials in the capital and I, as well as Hua Gong, have a good relationship, there should be no one who opposes."

  Huasha nodded in agreement, indicating that Li Mingfeng didn't need to worry about the matter in Beijing.

  "There's another matter that requires the two gentlemen to take care of." Li Mingfeng decided to still tie the group exercise and ticket number together, otherwise next time he would have to pay silver.

  Kui Liang asked if there was anything else, and Li Mingfeng brought out the fabricated story. It was nothing more than that the Zhang family of Guangdong was a local gentry, now that the Heaven and Earth Society was causing trouble in Guangxi, even the most powerful Stone Daikai among the long-haired bandits had led his army to the two Guangs, and in order to defend their homeland, they wanted to organize a militia.

  Since the outbreak of the Long Hair bandits, the imperial court has appointed several hundred militia officials, and it's not a bad thing for one family to have such an official. Guiliang immediately took charge and approved this matter. However, the imperial court would not provide any financial support, and the local gentry had to pay out of their own pockets. Moreover, according to custom, only those with official positions could organize militia, so Limingfeng immediately helped Zhang Shiping by granting him an official position.

  The two sides have negotiated and settled, Li Mingfeng thanked the two gentlemen for their hospitality and returned to his mansion alone.

  They arrived at the government office and sent someone to invite Zhang Shipei and Qin Cheng. After they arrived, Li Mingfeng explained his plan again. It was nothing more than donating an official position to Zhang Shipei, relying on the influence of the Zhang family in Guangdong to recruit local braves, organize a militia, while Qin Cheng would be responsible for specific military command and daily affairs.

  This arrangement is to prevent this team from becoming Qin Cheng's private army in the future. Zhang's intervention can effectively control his power.

  Zhang Shiping listened to this arrangement, bowed his head and pondered for a long time before answering: "As for the matter of donating officials, I have studied it for a long time. My second brother has donated a candidate for the same official position. The current price is 4723 taels for a provincial governor, 3830 taels for a prefectural magistrate, 1474 taels for a county magistrate, and 210 taels for a county lieutenant. If you want to become a local militia officer, you must at least donate the title of prefectural magistrate."

  Li Mingfeng smiled and said: "Old Zhang, are you still concerned about this little bit of silver? For the Zhang family, a few thousand taels of silver is just a drop in the bucket."

  Zhang Shiping's face turned slightly red, looking a bit embarrassed: "I'm sorry to make you laugh, I'm a businessman and I'm quite sensitive about money, I like to calculate everything. As for organizing the militia, I'm afraid I won't be able to help you much, but I can recommend someone else to serve under your command."

  Li Mingfeng also knew that letting Zhang Shiping organize the team while managing the business was indeed a difficult task, but with so few people on hand, there was no one else to use. When he heard that Zhang Shiping was willing to recommend someone, Li Mingfeng immediately asked excitedly: "Who is it?"

  "They are two younger brothers of the same clan as me, one of whom is named Zhang Shijie, who is the one I mentioned earlier that donated a Tongzhi degree. This younger brother of mine has never been fond of doing business since he was young and only reads poetry, but until now he has only passed the Xiucai examination. Our family simply donated an official position for him, but unexpectedly nowadays donating officials is too common and actual vacancies are too few, so after being a candidate for 7 or 8 years, he still has no hope of entering officialdom. My younger brother wants to serve the imperial court with all his heart, I think this time there's an opportunity for him." Zhang Shiping said.

  Li Mingfeng knew at once that this Zhang Shijie was just like Qin Cheng, an official fanatic.

  "There's also a younger brother, named Zhang Shihong. He doesn't like business either, nor does he like reading. Since childhood, he has been fond of dancing with knives and guns. The family can't control him at all. A few years ago, when the Taiping Rebellion broke out in Guangdong, he led dozens of brothers who had grown up playing together to join the army at the government office. Fortunately, the officials recognized him as the young master of the Zhang family and sent him back home. Otherwise, who knows what would have happened? Mentioning this brother, Zhang Shihong clearly has a headache."