After passing the racecourse, call Datou, and walk north along the path in the rice fields until you reach the Wusong River (Suzhou River). Both sides of the Wusong River are full of houses and shops with whitewashed walls and black tiles. The river is not wide, and the river is full of boats.

, but most of them are fishing boats. It's like a big town, more lively than the racecourse.

Han Xiufeng and the other three crossed the river from the nearest ferry, and as soon as they landed they were in the Citi Concession. Looking around, they could see that many houses were being built in many places, and quite a few had already been built. There was also a Citi shipyard with a large row of high-rise buildings.

The chimney is said to be Citizen's Iron Works.

Xiao Wuzi had been to the Citi Concession before with the second young master named Lin, and even went to Qichang Yangxing Company, a company in which Maji Shuang had a stake, and accompanied Han Xiufeng to the door of the foreign company in a familiar way.

The Citi Concession is far away from Shanghai County, separated by the French Concession and the British Concession. The security is not that strict, and there are not many foreigners carrying foreign guns on the road. However, the security in the area of ​​Qichang Yanghang is very strict, with seven or eight foreigners patrolling outside.

.

Han Xiufeng was not in a hurry to go in, and signaled Xiao Wuzi to take the name card to report first. After waiting at the door for about half a stick of incense, a man wearing a gray scholar's shirt and another wearing a silk jacket came out.

"Mr. Jiang, Mr. Huang, this is Mr. Han." Xiao Wuzi introduced with a smile.

The middle-aged man in a silk coat looked up and down at the smiling Han Xiufeng and the big man carrying the pole, then looked behind them and confirmed that these three uninvited guests were here, and then said: "See you Jiang Zhisheng."

Come on, Mr. Han. This is not the place to talk outside. Please come inside, Mr. Han."

"Master Han, please." The man in Confucian shirt bowed, then took a half step back and stretched out his arm.

"I'm sorry," Han Xiufeng bowed his hand in return and followed him in holding the hem of his green cloth gown.

The lobby of Qichang Foreign Trade Co., Ltd. is not as big as that of the British Xiangmao Foreign Trade Co., Ltd., and the managers are all foreigners. Most of the clerks are Chinese, and most of the accents are from Guangdong. Han Xiufeng followed them through the hall and walked into the backyard, and was surprised to find that behind them

It's also a bungalow, but it looks like a warehouse.

Walking further along the alley between the two large warehouses, a huge garden came into view. There was a small white western-style building in the garden. A dozen people in casual clothes stood in front of the foyer of the small western-style building and looked at them nervously.

These three uninvited guests, no need to ask, you will know that they are the family members of the chicken seller and the tax collectors of Jianghai Customs.

Jiang Zhisheng, a member of Jiang Customs, suddenly stopped, raised his hands and asked cautiously: "May I ask what business Mr. Han has in Shanghai?"

The name card that Xiao Wuzi showed them just now contained an official document with the official seal of the deputy envoy of the Lianghuai Salt Transportation Department and a Ministry of War survey filled out before coming. These documents cannot be forged by the party, let alone pretending to be from the imperial court.

It’s not that easy to appoint an official. Han Xiufeng realized that the surname was Huang

He was not worried that he was a fake, but worried that the rebel Hui Dang would come here. He couldn't help but laugh and said: "Xiu Feng was originally here to deliver food. He never thought that the food would not be delivered, but he encountered the Hui Dang's rebellion. He was about to fight.

When I returned home, I received another official document from Mr. Futai."

"How did Futai know that you were in Shanghai?" the middle-aged Confucian scholar couldn't help but ask.

Han Xiufeng did not answer his question, but asked with a smile: "May I ask your surname, sir, what is your official rank, and what is your official position?"

The middle-aged Confucian scholar realized that he was not qualified to ask questions, so he hurriedly bowed and said: "Master Han, my surname is Huang, and my given name is Yunsheng. I was promoted in the fifteenth year of Daoguang's reign, and now I am Wu Daotai's secret friend."

"It turns out to be Mr. Huang, disrespectful."

"Mr. Han, although we meet each other for the first time today, your reputation has been well known for a long time."

"Mr. Huang, have you ever heard of Xiufeng?"

"The great victory at Wanfu Bridge, more than 400 hairs were killed in formation, not only Wan Sheng has heard about it, but even Wan Sheng Dong Weng knows about it." Huang Yunsheng has been busy rescuing Wu Jianzhang these days, and he has some doubts about whether Wu Jianzhang can make it out of the city alive. After all, Jiang Zhisheng was not worried about joining the Party, but he was a little afraid of the Lianghuai Transport Deputy who came to visit him. After all, his boss was Su Songtao and the supervisor of Jiang Customs, and he had the responsibility to protect the land. Now the county seat of Shanghai is occupied by the Party. , his boss not only did not die for the country but also managed to survive. If the court found out, he would be punished.

The more he thought about it, the more frightened he became. After thinking about it, he said nervously: "Mr. Han didn't know something. After Changmao captured Yangzhou, my boss raised money and hired nine Citizen warships at the request of General Ba Chengsheng of Langshan Town." Suibo Zhentai went to quell the chaos."

Han Xiufeng had heard about Langshan Town Chief Soldier Bo Chengsheng, because Taizhou Camp and even the former Hai'an Foreign Affairs Commission were under the jurisdiction of Langshan Town. He knew that Langshan Town Chief Soldier Bo Chengsheng was from Guangdong and originally lived in Yazhou, Guangdong. He was the assistant deputy general and was promoted to the commander-in-chief of Langshan Town in June last year. I thought that as soon as Bo Chengsheng opened his mouth, he helped raise money to hire foreign warships. He was really a fellow countryman helping a fellow countryman.

Jiang Zhisheng knew that the person named Huang was showing off his merits for selling Chicken Shuang. He secretly thought that even selling Chicken Shuang was captured alive by the party, even if he could come out alive, he would not be able to become an official. He didn't want to hear the nonsense of Huang, so he couldn't help but ask: " Mr. Han, how did you know that Xiaguan was here?"

"I forgot to introduce you. This little brother is not a member of my family, but Mr. Wu from Rishengchang. With the help of friends from Rishengchang, it will not be difficult to find a few brothers."

"It turns out to be Mr. Wu from Rishengchang. Mr. Wu, do you recognize Mr. Wu?"

"Master Jiang, Wood is my uncle."

"I see, that's it." Jiang Zhisheng thought about it and asked: "Mr. Han, even your subordinates don't know about the business you came to Shanghai for. How did Mr. Futai know about it, and how did he find you?"

If these things are not explained clearly, the next thing will be difficult to handle. Han Xiufeng told him frankly: "Xiufeng and the new Songjiang prefect Qiao Songnian have been friends for many years. I came to Shanghai on business and didn't want to alarm you, but I had to talk to Qiao Futai." Say hello. You may not know yet, but Jiading has been recaptured by Lord Xu and Lord Gilhanga, and the quelling army will arrive outside Shanghai in three to five days at most."

"Excellent, Mr. Han, you don't know that Xiaguan has been very nervous these days. Xiaguan is waiting for you to come!"

"Ajiga, assistant committee member of Jiangguan Customs, pays homage to Mr. Han!"

"Xiaoguan Akdan has met Mr. Han!"

…

Hearing that the imperial army's anti-rebellion troops would arrive soon, the Jianghai customs officials who had been hiding here for a few days suddenly surrounded him and saluted him as if they had been given blood.

Han Xiufeng couldn't remember their names for a while, so he just ignored them and followed the others into the living room of the small foreign building.

The furniture and furnishings in the hall were all of foreign style. Han Xiufeng sat down on the soft Western chair, took the tea from the maid, looked back at Huang Yunsheng and asked: "Mr. Huang, Mr. Wu is trapped in the city, Mr. Wu Where are your family members?"

Huang Yunsheng didn't expect Han Xiufeng to ask this, so he hurriedly said: "Master Han, Mr. Wu's family members are all well. They are all here and upstairs."

"As long as it's okay, it's okay." Han Xiufeng nodded slightly.

Huang Yunsheng was extremely nervous. He was worried that the Deputy Lianghuai Transport in front of him, who had led thousands of warriors to fight with Changmao's real swords and real guns, asked Wu Jianzhang how his family left the city. He didn't know how to explain it, but Han Xiufeng downplayed it again.

He asked: "What did the Citi consul and the missionary from Citi say? Can they rescue Mr. Wu from the Guangdong Guild Hall?"

Huang Yunsheng did not expect that Han Xiufeng even knew that Wu Jianzhang was imprisoned in the Guangdong Guild Hall by the party. He was so frightened that he knelt down in front of Han Xiufeng and said with a sad face: "Mr. Han, my boss really doesn't know that Liu Lichuan, Li Shaoxi and Li Xianyun are with Tiandi

There is a collusion between the chaos and the party. I really don’t know that they have already turned against me and dared to commit chaos."

Although Jiang Customs Supervisor is a very fat official, he is not easy to do. He may be ruined or even be infamy for thousands of years. The reason why Han Xiufeng agreed to Master Xu was that firstly, Xu Naizhao's official documents were sent, and within a few days, the official documents of the Governor of Liangjiang were also sent.

will be delivered,

Even if you want to do it, you can't do it; secondly, not only does Selling Chicken Shuang have an unusual relationship with the Citi people, he should be able to survive, but Selling Chicken Shuang is also the fattest official in the Qing Dynasty, while working with Citi people to sell cigarettes and various other things.

Grow foreign goods, and you’ll have plenty of money!

And he is not only the highest-ranking court official in Shanghai, but also the one who knows the situation of Maji Shuang and the party best. After Majishuang was rescued by the Citigroup people, he will definitely be thinking about how to get away with it. By then, Han Xiufeng's information will be able to

Decide whether you can get away with selling chickens for pleasure. In other words, you have to take advantage of this scam!

Because of this, Han Xiufeng did not ask Huang Yunsheng to speak. Instead, he sipped the fragrant tea and said coldly: "The bandit leaders Li Shaoxi and Li Xianyun were once entrusted by your master with the important task of recruiting young men and women to train rural warriors. It turned out that they were not helpers.

The imperial court is recruiting young men and women, but it is recruiting young men for the Tiandihui rebellious party. This is not rebellion, but rebellion!"

"Mr. Han, you don't know something..."

"I don't know something. I know far more than you expected!" Han Xiufeng's expression changed, and he continued: "Your master and the bandit leader Liu Lichuan are not just from the same hometown, right? As far as I know, when Liu Lichuan came to Shanghai,

I have come to see your master more than once. Your master even helps with a little bit of medical skills. He is not even a charlatan.

Liu Lichuan found a job as a doctor. Mr. Huang, tell me, the bandit leader who caused the rebellion was either a fellow villager of your master, or someone whom your master valued. Even the congregation who caused the rebellion were from the village where your master trained him.

Yong. Those rogue gangs have made such a fuss. It’s hard to justify a single oversight. Even if they say it, no one will believe it!"

Jiang Zhisheng and other tax collectors sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs were nervous but not afraid. After all, it had nothing to do with them. Some even secretly gloated about the misfortune.

Huang Yunsheng broke out in a cold sweat and knelt down with his head hanging down, not daring to say anything.

"If it's just what I just said, after your master comes out and thinks of a way, Shangfeng might be able to help with accommodation. But now those gangsters in the city actually plan to let your master do something about the 'Great Ming Kingdom'

Officer, when I think about it, it seems that I am the governor of Shanghai. Mr. Huang, please don’t say you don’t know anything about it.”

Huang Yunsheng was so frightened that his whole body trembled like chaff. He never thought that Han Xiufeng knew this. Jiang Zhisheng and other customs officers also realized the seriousness of the problem, because if the court really wanted to investigate and deal with it, they would be the ones who worked under Selling Chicken Shuang.

It's hard to say whether he will be implicated.

"Mr. Han, I don't know. I really don't know anything." Jiang Zhisheng knelt down hurriedly and said.

Ajiga also hurriedly knelt down in front of Han Xiufeng and said with a bitter face: "Mr. Han, the ancestor of Xiaguan entered the customs together with Grandpa Taizu. I am a Manchu and was born in Zhenglan Banner. I hate those chaotic people the most." How could a lower-ranking official rebel if the Party is broken?"

"Who said you were rebelling? Get up, get up and talk." Han Xiufeng put down his tea cup and said slowly: "Brother Jiang, you should get up too. I have found out Liu Lichuan, and Li Shaoxi is a traitor to the party. He is waiting for you. It has nothing to do with it. As tax collectors, you have no responsibility to protect the territory. The fall of Shanghai County and the destruction of Jiangguan Customs Office have nothing to do with you and others."

"Thank you, Master Han, thank you, Master Han!"

"Mr. Han, if you hadn't noticed everything clearly, I wouldn't be able to clean myself up even if I jumped into the Huangpu River."

"Okay, okay, a grown man, and a dignified official of the imperial court, how can he cry and cry, and he is not afraid of being laughed at by others." Han Xiufeng motioned for them to sit down, and continued: "Jianghaiguan Yamen was destroyed by the rebellious party. , but the tariffs must be collected, and the taxes must not be less than one tael. The imperial court is still insisting on using tariffs to quell the chaos. The governor has ordered me to act as the supervisor of Jiang Customs. I would like to trouble you to take out the account books. I want to see if there are any. How much tax was due but forfeited.”

"Mr. Han, I bought this life back. At that time, I was running for my life and didn't have time to get the account books..."

"Didn't you bring out the account books?"

"No time." Jiang Zhisheng said with a bitter face.

Han Xiufeng asked: "Then you should know what taxes are confiscated, right?"

"I remember something. Before the Huitang rebellion, there were ten ships of British merchants who had not paid the silk tea tax, which was equivalent to about 45,000 taels of silver. In the past few days after the Huitang rebellion, a total of thirteen foreign ships docked, including the English merchants. There are six Chinese merchant ships, two French merchant ships, and five Citizen foreign ships. The cargo they carry includes tobacco, foreign cloth, and the tax payable is about 80,000 taels."

"Shanghai County is occupied by the rebel party, but not other places. What about other passes?"

"Master Han, there are only six checkpoints that are currently collecting taxes, and they are all taxes on domestic goods. But Mr. Wu fell into the hands of the rebels, and even the government offices were destroyed by the rebels. On the river It’s not peaceful, the rebels have robbed several boats, so none of the Zakat tax money has been transported to those checkpoints.”

"About how many?"

"It's not much. I estimate it's only seven or eight thousand taels."

Xu Naizhao's official document made it very clear that the officers and soldiers who were quelling the rebellion were in urgent need of food and salary. If the food and salary could not be provided, those Qiu Ba would definitely cause trouble when they arrived in Shanghai. Han Xiufeng did not dare to summon the gentry and merchants to raise food and salary under the eyes of the party. , but he couldn't do nothing. After all, there were fellow Sichuan soldiers among the incoming officers and soldiers. He muttered: "Brother Jiang, please hurry up and send someone to order the assistant committee members and tax ambassadors at each pass to transport the tax money."

"Shipping it here?"

"Well, the army can arrive outside Shanghai in three to five days at most. If we don't prepare some food and pay quickly, what will thousands of people eat and drink?"

"Come on, I'll do it now!"

"Mr. Huang, I was ordered to take over Jianghai Customs, not to investigate your master. You just said that you have heard of me, Han Xiufeng, in fact, I have also heard of your master, and I admire your master very much. , after all, it is not easy to negotiate with foreigners. When your master is out of danger, I will try to help you to see if I can help your master to be dismissed and retained. Even if you can't, I will try to find a way to be punished. Redeem yourself and let your master continue to serve the court."

Huang Yunsheng didn't expect that Han Xiufeng would lift it up high and put it down gently. He suddenly realized that he couldn't express his gratitude and said hurriedly: "Thank you, Master Han, thank you, Master Han! When my master comes out, I will definitely not forget your great kindness."

Virtue!"

"Don't be in a hurry to thank me. This is a serious matter. I, Han Xiufeng, keep my words low and can only help as much as possible. Whether it can be done depends on Shangfeng's wishes and your master's luck."

"Late students know, late students understand."

…………
Chapter completed!