Chapter 18: Occupy the Magpie's Nest

In the Hua Hall of the Headquarters, Guo Chaofan of Guangzhou Prefecture held an exquisite colorful small cup in his hand, looked at the flower hall toys and decorations, and secretly admired that he was a royal nobleman, and every scene and everything was unique.

Guo Pinchao was from Qingzhen, Guizhou. He was smart and studious when he was young. He was very famous at the age of seventeen. The great scholar Xu Guangwen named him "Champao". In the 16th year of Daoguang, he served as a professor in Xingyi Prefecture, Guizhou for six years. He established the examination institute and promoted talents. In the 24th year of Daoguang, he was transferred to Guangdong as an official and served as the magistrate of Raoping, Dongguan and Xiangshan. Shangguan commented that he was "not afraid of violence, not afraid of foreign barbarians" to calm down local fighting, captured and killed the pirates "King of Heaven". He was known as a "famous scholar" and a "famous general".

Ye Zhao didn't know that Zhang Zhidong, one of the flag figures of the Westernization Movement, came from his disciples. He only knew that Guangzhou Prefecture was upright and had little to do with Ye Mingchen.

Guo Chaofan suddenly came to visit Ye Zhao for reasons. The day before yesterday, the Tao family, a wealthy family in Xiguan, suddenly came to report the case. Yan said that the Tao family's master was kidnapped and forced to write a 100,000 taels of silver. The kidnappers had a close relationship with Taihehao.

Guo Chaofan didn't believe it at that time. He said that the kidnappers had ransoms and forced someone to write an IOU to collect the accounts? This is incredible. However, the Tao family is a big family, so Guo Chaofan naturally had to send someone to investigate. However, as soon as the servant left, someone came to visit him. The famous post read "Suna, the third-class guard of Manchuria Inlaid Blue Flag", which was naturally a figure in the mansion of the Lord General. Suna said in his words that Taihehao knew his relatives. He heard that there was a money dispute with the Tao family recently, so he asked the Lord to make a fair decision, etc.

Banners are not allowed to do business, but there are many people who secretly participate in it. However, Guo Chaofan does not believe that the prince and the Taihe family have anything to do. In his infancy, there are imperial grains to support him, and his family business has become more popular. The land outside the pass is all his own. How could he look at the meager profits of the superior merchants? Not to mention how disdainful he is in his eyes.

As for the servants of the Tuantong Palace, it is certain that someone has something to do with the Taihe Issue. I didn't want the Tuantong to know it. But I heard that the amount involved in the dispute between the Taihe Issue and the Tao family was over 100,000 taels. Guo Chaofan just took a breath. Is the entire Tao family's industrial land not worth this amount?

Although the Tao family has a lot of bad deeds and Guo Chaofan has long wanted to do him, the Tao family is rich and powerful in Guangzhou, and the branches and leaves of various docks are connected, but they are easily unable to touch them. Sometimes Guo Chaofan also feels that his parents are cowardly, often drunk to relieve worries, and also has the root of coughing. The doctor behind this is that he "has become sick due to overwork and is afraid of depression and death early."

I feel that my official career is a coward, and it is also a fact that the Tao family is domineering. But it would be unbearable to say that someone has so much trouble to pursue the family business. After all, this is the hard work of the Tao family's ancestors, and there are many noble people among these people.

Therefore, Guo Chaofan visited Lord Tuan, trying to get a sneak peek to see if Lord Tuan knew that the people below were rampant.

"Sir Dutong, there is a silver trumpet outside Xiguan. Taihe. Have you heard of it?" Guo Chaofan had a elegant face, and when he saw it, he suddenly became fond of it.

Ye Zhao smiled slightly: "I heard a little bit, and I heard that there were disputes between Taihe and Tao's silver and money, and private commercial disputes, it would be better for him to resolve them on his own."

Guo Chaofan's heart was sank. The Tao family would never talk about this matter, otherwise they would be afraid that all creditors would come to the door soon. If the Lord Tuan knew about this, he would definitely know the cause and effect. He also listened to his words and clearly wanted to protect his servants.

Ye Zhao took a sip of tea slowly and said with a smile: "I'm thinking about this matter, and it won't cause a lot of controversy. Don't worry, Lord Tai."

Guo Chaofan felt relieved and smiled and said, "Mr. The Chief Minister has learned from thousands of miles. The Chief Minister has received the teachings." The obedient Chief Minister will not make things worse, so he has to wait and see what he said. If he insists on getting involved, it will be unbeautiful.

I can only hope that this prince understands the truth and knows how to restrain himself, otherwise even if he doesn't want to fight, he will still submit a memorial. Tao Laoer is a small evil after all, and if the royal family is so rampant, it will probably lead to a huge disaster.

Ye Zhao ate tea and said, "Guangzhou people are romantic and have a wide range of water and land. It is the most prosperous place in southern Xinjiang. It is the blessing of the people when the Taigong Master attaches so much importance to business conditions."

Guo Chaofan didn't look down on businessmen very much. Although Lord Dutong put a hat on him, he couldn't help saying: "Businessmen pursue profits and do illegal things. The subordinates really want to add more constraints, but they can't do it."

Ye Zhao laughed: "There is no need to say that. I think the two industries of workers and peasants are the foundation of the country. However, if there is no businessman who can clear the existence or not, it will be a great inconvenience, let alone improve the efficiency of creating wealth."

Guo Chaofan was a little confused and didn't understand what Ye Zhao meant, so he could only pick up a tea cup to taste the tea.

Ye Zhao was intrigued and smiled, "I have many contacts with Western priests. I have written a few articles randomly, and asked the Taigong Master Yazheng to say that." As he said that, he clapped his hands and came in, and Ye Zhao laughed, "Go to the study and ask his wife to get a copy of "Minutes of the Western Countries".

"Minutes of the West" was something that Ye Zhao later sorted out and carefully arranged, which was different from the books given to Su Hongniang. It only objectively introduced the current situation of the social status and occupational distribution of industrial, commercial and technological development in Western countries, but deleted all his feelings and ideas.

Of course, despite this, if you want to write on a large scale, it is afraid that it will cause a storm under the current conditions. Therefore, Ye Zhao can only copy a few copies and send them to others for reading. A few days ago, one copy was given by Ye Mingchen. Today, seeing Guo Chaofan is full of righteousness, Ye Zhao couldn't help but give a book.

It was Rong'er who helped Ye Zhao copy books. Since receiving the task assigned by Ye Zhao, Rong'er was so excited when she saw that she could help her husband. She hid in the study room almost every day to help Ye Zhao copy books. In a few days, she had copied three or four copies, but Ye Zhao regretted it.

If I had known, I wouldn't have helped her. I thought I was trying to find something for her to avoid being bored in the inner room all day, but who knew that the little guy was stuck in the study all day. Ye Zhao hoped that she would be more interested in those toys, such as piano, camera, kilometer mirror, kaleidoscope, etc.

After taking the books presented by the maid, Guo Chaofan had to thank him repeatedly and smiled: "I heard that Master Dutong is well-versed in history and has mastered Chinese and Western learning. After returning home, he will study and study carefully." Naturally, he was insincere.

Ye Zhao smiled and said, "As long as you don't throw it away like straw paper."

Guo Pinchao was stunned and said with a smile: "Sir, are joking." He thought to himself that he must read it carefully when he goes back, so as not to be unable to answer in front of him in the future, and he will be both embarrassed and offended him greatly.

The large mansion with three entrances and three exits is layered with green bricks and green tiles. The yard is surrounded by a yard and is connected by a corridor. It is majestic and majestic. The Tao Family Committee of Xiguan is well-known.

In the square paved with blue bricks in front of the main hall, there are a slew of carved beams and painted pillars in the corridor, a large corridor, and directly out of the gate, bypassing the screen wall, looking up, I saw a large plaque with red gold, nine dragons, green ground, with three big characters written on it, which is "Wenzhaotang", which was written by ancestors of the Tao family.

At this moment, there was a miserable mist in the main hall, and the people were filled with people. The Tao family manager, the accountant chief, the Hong Kong Island Trade Bank's shopkeeper, and several large merchants' shop owners, almost gathered the elites of the Tao family's industrial chain. These people can reach the point where they are today, so they naturally have two brushes, but at this moment they whispered and looked weird. No, I heard that Tao Erye lost more than 100,000 taels of silver in anger. This would not have paid the entire Tao family? If they compensated the money, the Tao family would be over.

"What are you quarreling?" Tao Lao Er lay on a chair, his injured leg stretched straight, and his appearance was as weird as it was. But he shouted arrogantly about the Tao family's officials. It was not that he was embarrassed when he wanted to come out, but the wife ordered the servants to "carry him to the lobby" with a cold face. The servants dared not to listen. Even if they were shaved by the master, they would not dare to offend the wife. When the wife saw you, she couldn't help but fight. Who was talking about the Tao family? Who didn't feel like a mirror in her heart?

Not only the servants, but these people are also unwilling to care about the moment of their affairs. This is related to everyone's fate and future, and they are not even as good as the superiors and inferiors.

"Second Master! What's the story outside is true? The Tao family owes people 100,000 taels of silver?" The person who spoke was a thin middle-aged man with bright eyes. The Tao family's shopkeeper in Deshunxing, Hong Kong, is an old minister of the Tao family. His surname is Xiao. Although the eldest son of the Tao family has passed away for a long time, the shopkeeper Xiao has always called Tao Laoer "Second Master".

Tao Lao Er rolled his eyes and said, "What's wrong with owing money? I sued Guangzhou Prefecture, they are blackmailing! You guys don't make a fuss here, whoever doesn't want to do it will get out!"

A stone caused a thousand sensation. When he heard the matter was true, the in charge of the matter was immediately furious. Another person stood up and said loudly: "Second Master, you can't say that! We are also for the sake of the Tao family, so we rushed over. Why is the Second Master a beggar? Without us working hard day and night, is your Tao family like a big business?"

When Tao Laoer saw that someone dared to contradict him, his face turned red and cursed: "Zhao Quan'er, you are just a beggar in the eyes of grandpa!"

After coaxing, Zhao Quan was not willing to be outdone and scolded loudly with his neck in his mouth.

At this time, I heard the crisp voice of the maid outside the hall: "Second grandma is here!"

The noisy hall seemed to have been wielded by magic, and suddenly it became silent.

"Oh, who said this? I'm listening. No one is not as good as our Tao family?" The voice was so charming that it made people itchy, but the officials were sweating all over their foreheads. As for Tao Lao Er, they were even more scared and they didn't dare to say anything anymore.

The footsteps sounded softly, and the hall lit up, and a slender waist slight step came in. A young woman who was charming and charming, and she was afraid to look at her. Her pair of charming and phoenix eyes seemed to be angry but not angry, and her pretty face and cheeks were boundless. She was wearing a red rose-scented peony flower skirt, and there were pearls decorated with colorful tassels hanging around her slender waist. The waves were flowing golden silk, and the whole hall was glorious. The lotus feet were enchanting and the body was elegant, and she was truly a top beauty that was so popular.

The charming young woman is the second grandmother Jin who is famous in Xiguan.

But no one in the hall dared to look at her more. They held their breath and did not dare to show off. The second grandmother was famous and even more famous. Two years ago, a foreigner seemed to speak irregularly when she saw her. The next day, the man found that he was beaten to death in an alley with sticks, causing an uproar. The foreign merchant group almost started a war with the defenders of Guangzhou City.

Who is not afraid of such a ruthless person?

"What's wrong? Why don't you talk? You're all mute?" Grandma Jin smiled softly, and the managers felt nervous, and no one dared to say anything.

Grandma Jin gently picked up the small teacup in Jin and took a sip, "You guys, I know that your thoughts are for the Tao family, but don't worry about it. You can trust the words outside? I don't know how many people think that our Tao family has no good life. Have you heard less rumors in these years?"

Manager Xiao looked around and smiled and said with a pity: "Second grandma, we can certainly believe your words, but..."

Second Grandma Jin raised her ecstatic little hand and interrupted him, "How many people have you made a living with the Tao family? I know clearly in my heart, and I will not tell everyone that they have no food to eat! I, Jin Feng, do what I say!" Her nickname is Jin'er, and Second Grandma Jin is just the name behind outsiders, and her scientific name is Jin Feng. She has appeared in public over the years, but many people know the name.

"Second grandma, we will all feel relieved with you!" The managers all breathed a sigh of relief. Second Grandma Jin's words were all convinced, so they all stood up to say goodbye.

After seeing off all the managers, Grandma Jin returned to the living room, but saw several servants holding Tao Lao Er and getting up, and her pretty face immediately became cold.

"Husband, madam, I, I'll go back to my room to rest." Seeing Jin Er's grandmother Tao Laoer was so scared that he stuttered when he spoke.

"Help your second master go to his little house to raise, so don't come out this year! If you dare to cause trouble, I will break your legs!" Looking at Tao Lao Er's timid bear-like Jinfeng felt disgusted.

"Yes, yes!" The servants were so scared that they agreed repeatedly, and Tao Laoer dared not argue.

The people in the hall were gone, but Grandma Jin collapsed on the seat weakly. She just said relaxed, but she knew in her heart that the Tao family would probably not escape this time. Unless a miracle happened, the huge family business would disappear in an instant.

However, Guangzhou Prefecture did not accept the complaint at all, and only dealt with the private money disputes by itself. If they lied about the thief's love, they would be punished by the Tao family.

After hearing this, you will know that Taihe's trumpet is very wise and wants to leave the official family, he may lose even worse.
Chapter completed!