In the third year of Xianfeng, summer.

The Huangpu River in Shanghai was busy, and all kinds of ships of all sizes were shuttled back and forth on the wide river. There were countless ships parked along the river. A sailing fleet with sea soul flags slowly approached Yuanqi Wharf, and a group of merchants waiting on the wharf rushed to meet him.

Yuanqi's Nanyang fleet is mostly grain transport fleets. Now Shanghai's most intimidating situation is grain. Both rice, barley and corn are very popular. Because of the war, grain production in Hunan, Hubei, Anhui and Henan has been greatly reduced. In addition, the imperial court issued a large amount of big money, official tickets and treasures, and grain prices have risen again and again. Now rice has risen to six o'clock, and it is still rising strongly.

The rice transported by the Yuanqi Nanyang fleet was not all for sale, only 30% of the market was sold. Although it was only 30%, the fleet transported a large volume of 30,000 to 40,000 shi. A large and small grain merchant in Shanghai still flocked to buy it, and everyone knew that this was a business that was stable and profitable.

Tang Tiansheng, wearing a long gown and a veiled disc hat, stood far away wearing a coarse black umbrella, watching the excitement with a relaxed look. He was also a businessman, but not a grain merchant but a bean cake merchant. However, what he is interested in now is bird droppings from Nanyang.

Last year, when he accidentally learned that Yuanqi provided Nanyang bird droppings to nearby farmers for free, he keenly realized that this matter would not be simple. What is Yuanqi? Yuanqi is the well-deserved largest merchant group in the Qing Dynasty. It is not enough to describe the wealth that Yuanqi is as good as a country. How could Yuanqi be involved in a small business?

Sure enough, after a few months, he found through visits and investigations that the farmers praised the effect of the bird deer and fertilizer fields, which was even better than bean cakes. He immediately realized that the opportunity had come and took Yuanqi's opportunity to come!

He came here today not in a hurry to buy bird droppings, but wanted to carefully understand the situation of bird droppings in Nanyang. At the dock where he was waiting, a group of merchants scattered around, and then he slowly stepped forward and smiled and asked the crew members about the situation of bird droppings.

At dusk, Tang Tiansheng rushed to Zhenhai Duke Mansion, handed the post at the door, and stood outside the door and waited nervously. He didn't know whether Yi Zhizu would meet him. After all, Yi Zhizu is a third-class duke, a minister of the South China Sea, and an admiral of the South China Sea. Not to mention ordinary merchants, even ordinary officials are afraid that they will be seen at will. If Yi Zhizu doesn't see him, what should he do? Yan Zhangguan of Yuanqi Shanghai Branch? However, he has no contact with Yan Shikuan, and Yan Shikuan is not something that anyone can see.

He was getting up and down in his heart. A sedan chair was parked outside the gate. A man dressed in a gentry in his early thirties bowed and took a look. Tang Tiansheng couldn't help but be stunned. Who is Yan Shikuan? This was a rare opportunity. He made a quick decision and hurriedly stepped forward and bowed: "Tang Tiansheng, the Xiabing Bean Industry Office, has been relied on the name of Yan's shopkeeper for a long time. I will see you today..."

Yan Shikuan had urgent matters and had no time to listen to him politely, and he didn't know him. He quickly bowed and smiled, "You are so kind, Shopkeeper Tang, I'll see the big shopkeeper today. I'll talk about it later." As he said that, he pulled out his feet and wanted to leave.

Tang Tiansheng hurriedly said, "Shopkeeper Yan, I am here today to make a business for the bird droppings in Nanyang. I hope that Shopkeeper Yan will say a few good words in front of the prince..."

Nanyang bird droppings? Yan Shikuan looked at him unexpectedly. Yi Zhizu attached great importance to the Nanyang bird droppings business. He heard that it was a big business and hesitated a little, so he said: "Get in with me."

Tang Tiansheng was immediately overjoyed and bowed quickly, "Thank you, Shopkeeper Yan, to support him." He said that, and followed him into the door step by step.

After Lin Meilian reported, Yan Shikuan quickly walked into the study. When he saw Yi Zhizu, he said straight: "The Great Shopkeeper, commander of the US East India Fleet, Brigadier General, Ma Xiu Perry has arrived in Shanghai. I hope to meet the Great Shopkeeper as soon as possible."

Perry led four steam gunboats to Hong Kong, and Yi Zhizu knew it. He originally thought that after Japan became a vassal state of the Qing Dynasty, Citi would not have any ideas anymore. Unexpectedly, what should come came came. He pondered for a moment and said, "Let him go directly to the Zongli Yamen tomorrow morning."

Going to the Zongli Yamen? Yan Shikuan was surprised. There were only two situations when he went to the Yamen to discuss, either a polite and formal situation, or a formal business. To put it directly, Yishishi's attitude was that he didn't like the other party. Generally, ministers and diplomats from various countries came to visit them in private before going to the Yamen when they had something to do. Citi's relationship with Yuanqi has always been very good. Perry, as the commander of the East India Fleet of Citi's Kingdom, was naturally surprised.

After hesitating a little, Yan Shikuan didn't ask much, and said, "There is a businessman who is engaged in the bean cake business. He said he is interested in Nanyang bird droppings and is looking for a visit outside..."

Yi Zhizu had no intention of seeing Tang Tiansheng. When Yan Shikuan spoke, he couldn't help but save him. He nodded and said, "Let him come in."

Tang Tiansheng was both excited and a little nervous. After entering the door, he was waiting for the big gift to worship, but Yi Zhizu waved his hand and said in a gentle tone: "No big gift is needed." He pointed to the chair.

Seeing that the other party's tone was gentle, Tang Tiansheng breathed a sigh of relief, quickly bowed and said, "Tang Tiansheng, a businessman from the Shanghai Bread and Bean Industry Office, met an adult." He stood up, and he didn't dare to sit, so he stood up. In fact, the status gap between the two was too big, and he really didn't have the courage to sit.

Yi Zhizu looked at him and saw that he was only about thirty years old, with a handsome appearance and decent manners, so he said gently: "Are you interested in Nanyang bird droppings?"

Tang Tiansheng hurriedly said: "Xia's family has been operating bean cakes for a long time and has accumulated a lot of connections in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang areas. They are willing to buy a large amount of Nanyang bird droppings for promotion."

Connections are the channels. After hearing this, Yi Zhizu was a little interested in him and asked: "Do you know the situation of planting rice and mulberry plants? How much fertilizer does one acre require?"

Tang Tiansheng said without thinking: "In a normal year, it is generally necessary to plant rice with fertilizer, that is, 160 kilograms of bean cake per mu, which is about three silver dollars, with a yield of up to three stones per mu. A mu of mulberry seeds require 750 kilograms of bean cake, which is about fifteen silver dollars."

Yan Shikuan didn't understand this situation, and he was shocked to hear it, and he couldn't help but say, "A mu of land needs to invest so much money?"

"Shopkeeper Yan may not know very well." Tang Tiansheng hurriedly said: "Farming is really a small profit. It is good to have two silver dollars per acre of land. Bean cakes are expensive, and green manure is not cheap. The manure collected in the city is eight tumbles per silver dollar."

This guy has a lot of knowledge. Yi Zhizu glanced at him and said, "Now the rice price is six yuan silver dollars, but the bean cake has risen to five yuan, catching up with the rice price. What's going on?"

"Sir." Tang Tiansheng had completely relaxed. "The price of bean cakes rose because the imperial court set up a checkpoint to collect 1, which increased transportation costs. The price of rice in Shanghai was not very large, because the rice from Nanyang had not been collected."

Yi Zhizu nodded and said, "How much is the right price for struvite?"

Tang Tiansheng dared not answer this question lightly. After thinking about it, he said: "The Nanyang struvite reserves are rich, which is a long-term and stable business. At present, the food prices are rising steeply, and bean cakes are also rising. But I think the price of struvite should not be ordered too high. On the one hand, it is not conducive to promotion. In the year of famine, bean cakes can satisfy hunger, but struvite cannot..." After pausing, he said, ""A striking 3 yuan per tuition, what do you think?"

Yi Zhizu smiled, "You know that one acre of rice fields only needs a load of struvite stone."

Tang Tiansheng laughed and said, "In a normal year, farmers invest three yuan per acre of rice fields. Now they sell at this price, which can quickly open up the sales situation."

"This price will cause a huge blow to the soybean industry in Shandong and Liaodong. Have you ever thought about this?" Yi Zhizu glanced at him and said slowly: "Jiangnan agriculture is a high-investment and high-output model. This model is worth promoting, especially in places where it can be matured a year, such as Huguang, Jiangxi, Fujian, and Guangdong and Guangxi."

With a slight hesitation, Tang Tiansheng said: "Sir, the blow is only temporary. Once it returns to the normal year, the fertilizer money invested in one acre of land will be the same."

"Bean cakes are a bulk trade. Even if it is a temporary blow, it will cause many merchants to lose their money." Yi Zhizu glanced at him and said, "Now this situation is not suitable to attack the enthusiasm of Beiyang merchants, otherwise the increase in grain prices will be even greater."

After a pause, he said: "It is best not to sell in Jiangsu and Zhejiang areas at present. You can discuss with the merchants of the Bean Cake Industry Office to see if anyone is willing to explore the fertilizer market in Huguang and Jiangxi."

Going to explore the fertilizer market in Huguang and Jiangxi? Tang Tiansheng was stunned for a moment and bowed quickly and said, "I will definitely live up to my trust."

After waiting for Tang Tiansheng to retreat, Yan Shikuan said, "How about this person?"

"If you have the ability to explore, you can be considered a talent. Let's take a look first." Yi Zhizu said, "Greater prices are rising steadily, and the people are responding a lot, right?"

"It's not just not small, it's simply a sensation." Yan Shikuan said with a wry smile: "Even workers in various factories are clamoring to process money, otherwise they will not be able to support the whole family."

"We have to add as much as we should." Yi Zhizu said in a deep voice: "As each factory draws two to three representatives to establish the Shanghai Federation of Trade Unions, so that the trade union can protect the legitimate rights and interests of workers, we have to take the lead in formulating all kinds of rules and regulations. This matter cannot be delayed anymore, so you can do it quickly."

Yan Shikuan was stunned when he heard this, "Isn't this just annoying yourself?"

"No rules can be achieved without orders!" Yi Zhizu glanced at him, "What should be maintained by the workers' concubine's interests must be firmly maintained, otherwise it will not be a trivial matter if something happens." After a pause, he continued: "In addition, if the Beancake Industry Office wants to borrow money to buy struvite, give them low interest."

The north bank of Suzhou River, Jiangxi North Road, Citi Consulate.

Humphrey Mashalli, the third American ambassador to China, stood by the window and frowned and looked at the lights on the Suzhou River and Huangpu River. The door was gently pushed open. The commander of the East India Fleet, Brigadier General - Maxiu Perry, who was in his fifties and had a big nose like a British man, walked in.

Masali turned around and said casually: "What to drink? Coffee or tea?"

"Green tea, thank you." Perry asked after saying that, "Is there any news?"

"Let you go directly to Zongli Yamen tomorrow." Masali said as he lifted the kettle and brewed two cups of green tea, then sat down and said, "I feel like he has guessed what you are going to do."

"No one knows the order given to me by Mr. President." Perry shook his head, "Maybe he is sensitive to my identity." As he said, he picked up the teacup. This time he came to the Far East, President Millard Fillmore gave him clear instructions, one, to obtain refuge bases for American ships and crew in distress and shelter in Japanese waters. Two, to obtain supply bases for food, drinking water, fuel and to provide ship repairs. These two are for the needs of whaling ships operating in the Pacific. Third, to obtain trade ports, which is the need for trade with China and Pacific ship routes.

He knew very well that when he went to the Zongli Yamen to discuss this matter publicly, there would be no result. With the rapid rise of the Nanyang Navy, the Qing Dynasty had become increasingly tough in diplomacy. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Mr. Minister, accompany me?"

"Access overnight?" Mashali was a little surprised. "It is embarrassing to be rejected. You don't want me to go with you, do you?"

"Let's go, it's not good if it's late." Perry said and stood up.

Yi Zhizu was not asleep yet, and was looking at the map of Heilongjiang in the northeast with a candlestick. The Beiyang Fleet sent intelligence. Zai Zhao led the Beiyang Navy fleet to patrol north and established an outpost in the excellent harbor at the southern end of Sakhalin Island, preparing to establish a supply port and will continue to go north to the Heilongjiang outlet. He really didn't know what good port there was on Sakhalin Island.

Lin Meilian walked to the door and took a look, and smiled and said, "What are you looking at?"

Yi Zhizu turned his head and looked at her, "Didn't you say you won't see the guests?"

"Mashali is here." Lin Meilian said: "How stubborn is that guy? The Lord should know. You can't let him wait overnight."

"It's not him alone, is it?"

"The Lord is accurate when he guesses. There is indeed an old man with a big nose."

Yi Zhizu was speechless for a while. Marshali still had to give him some face, "Let him come in."

Soon, Mashali and Perry walked in. As soon as they met, Mashali smiled and said, "It's so rude to disturb you so late, but I can't do anything about it." As he said, he introduced sideways: "This is the commander of our East India Fleet, Brigadier General Perry."

"Looking for a long time." Yi Zhizu smiled and stretched out his hand. "I heard that the first steam ship of your country's Navy, the Fulton, was built by your Excellency when he was the director of the Brooklyn Naval Shipyard."

This guy has carefully investigated him? Perry was a little surprised and shook hands with a smile and said, "The name of Yuanqi and the Duke of the Duke has spread throughout the world now."
Chapter completed!