Yanziji is located on the Zhidu Mountain in the northern suburbs of Nanjing. Because the stone peak stands abruptly on the river, facing the sky on three sides, it is like a swallow spreading its wings to fly, so it is named Yanziji. Yanziji controls the river, and the terrain is dangerous.
It is an important Yangtze River crossing and a strategic military location.
Li Zhen took Huang Shihai to Nanjing and stopped at Yanziji.
In the evening, the sky is filled with morning glow.
Under the sunshine, the river is rolling and beautiful.
Li Zhen climbed up to Zhidu Mountain, sat in the pavilion, and watched the beautiful sunset, feeling very happy. At this time, Yanziji was not destroyed, and it was simple and natural. It was the most beautiful scene. Huang Shihai stood next to Li Zhen and whispered: "
Sir, we are staying in Yanziji, and I am afraid Yang Xiuqing is impatient to wait in Nanjing."
Li Zhen said: "Although my life will not be in danger when I go to Nanjing, there will definitely be difficulties. It is better to wait a little longer."
Huang Shihai said in a deep voice: "Sir, it's best to be careful in everything."
Li Zhen smiled and nodded slightly.
Suddenly, a burst of noisy exclamations came from not far away from the pavilion. Li Zhenwen went to see a blond foreigner dancing and talking loudly. This man's eyes were slightly sunken, his nose was high, and his lips were thin, at least.
He is 1.85 meters tall and extremely handsome.
However, compared with their handsome faces, foreigners look embarrassed and decadent.
His fair face was dirty, his shirt was in tatters and had many holes cut into it, and his golden hair had become a chicken coop. He looked exactly like a beggar.
He spoke loudly, but no one understood him.
Not only that, the people also pointed at the foreigners and kept yelling and cursing them.
Huang Shihai's eyes were cold and he said with a sneer: "Sir, all the foreigners have come to Nanjing. How outrageous!" The ten accompanying guards stared at the foreigners with disdain in their eyes.
Li Zhen ordered: "Shihai, please invite him over. He must be polite and polite, and must not be rude or arrogant."
"ah!!"
Huang Shihai exclaimed, showing an incredible look.
Invite foreigners?
Huang Shihai had a hesitant look on his face, but when he saw Li Zhen's firm gaze, he could only reluctantly walk out of the pavilion and walk towards the foreigner who was still talking to passers-by. Li Zhen stared at the foreigner not far away, eyes filled with excitement.
Shooting out a stream of brilliant light. Although the common people could not understand the foreigners' words, Li Zhen could understand them.
The foreigner spoke Italian, one of the languages Li Zhen was proficient in. When he met anyone, the foreigner said that his name was Mas Beretta, that he was an Italian arms dealer, and he wanted to ask someone to sponsor him.
Mas babbled a lot, but no one except Li Zhen understood.
Huang Shihai strode up to Mas, stretched out his big palm-like hand, and slapped Mas with such force that Mas's body shook a few times and he almost lost his balance.
Mas frowned angrily, having a bad impression of the impolite man in front of him.
Just as he was about to yell and scold, he saw Huang Shihai pointing his finger in Li Zhen's direction.
Although Maas didn't understand Chinese, he understood what Huang Shihai meant. Thinking that someone wanted to see him and could leave Nanjing, Maas suddenly felt hope in his heart, and he no longer cared about Huang Shihai's rude behavior. Maas straightened his chest and said
He strode toward the pavilion, each step appearing steady and powerful.
Although he was embarrassed, he was polite.
Li Zhen stood up, stretched out his right hand, and said in fluent and standard Italian: "Mr. Mas, my name is Li Zhen. I am very happy to meet you in Nanjing."
"Oh, my God, someone speaks Italian."
Mas was dancing around with a surprised expression on his face.
Immediately, Mas immediately calmed down and reached out to shake hands with Li Zhen, his face filled with excitement. After he left Nanjing, he couldn't understand the words around him, and others couldn't understand his words, so he was struggling. Now he suddenly heard a fluent and friendly voice
My mother tongue seems to have a warm current flowing through my heart, and it is extremely cordial.
Suddenly, Mas asked: "Mr. Li, how do you know my name?"
Li Zhenxiao said: "Mr. Mas, have you forgotten to introduce yourself just now?"
Mas said: "Mr. Li, you are so smart."
Li Zhen said: "Mr. Mas, you can just call me by my name. I think we can have a chat. You said you are an arms dealer, how could you do it like this?"
"my Lord!"
Mas sighed and said angrily: "It's all caused by those devils and devils."
Li Zhen asked: "Mas, what's going on?"
At that moment, Mas told the whole story.
Mas Beretta is a branch of the Beretta family, an Italian weapons manufacturer. Because of his poor family background, he was not reused and had no chance of development. Mas saw businessmen who went to China returning home with great achievements and fame and fortune.
He came up with the idea of going to China to make money. He applied to his family and was willing to go to China to develop the Beretta family's weapons business.
With the support of his family, Maas took 1,000 new breech-loading rifles and sailed to China, hoping to make money and then buy Chinese tea, silk and other items back home.
After arriving in China, Maas realized that things were not as good as he imagined.
Mas wanted to sell arms, but the main channels were occupied by businessmen who had come to China early. Mas wanted to get in, but he couldn't get in, unless Mas was willing to sell the 1,000 new rifled guns he brought at a low price.
As a result, Maas lost all his money, so Maas thought of going north to Nanjing to sell weapons to Hong Xiuquan.
Mas found a Chinese man in Guangzhou who knew Italian and entered Nanjing to meet Hong Xiuquan.
However, what made Maas sad and angry was that Hong Xiuquan not only did not do business with him, but instead killed the Chinese who brought Maas to Nanjing and insulted Maas before driving Maas out of Nanjing.
The devil in Maas's mouth is none other than Hong Xiuquan.
After leaving Nanjing, Maas had no money and could not return to Guangzhou, so he looked for help everywhere.
After listening, Li Zhen asked: "Mas, where are your 1,000 rifled guns?"
Mas showed a proud look on his face and replied: "Mr. Li, I was worried about not getting the money, so I put all the guns at my friend's house in Guangzhou and didn't take them with me."
Li Zhen asked again: "Mr. Mas, if I buy weapons from you, what price will it be?"
Mas's eyes widened and he said, "Mr. Li, do you really want to buy it?" Mas is now extremely destitute and penniless. If he doesn't sell the guns he brought to China, he will definitely be left empty-handed.
He couldn't even go back to Italy. Even if he went back by boat, he would be despised, so Li Zhen asked, and Mas immediately looked expectant.
Li Zhen replied: "Yes, I really want to buy it."
Mas thought about it carefully and said, "Mr. Li, 30 taels of silver for a gun. 1,000 guns, a total of 30,000 taels of silver. What do you think?"
After finishing speaking, Mas looked at Li Zhen eagerly.
"Mr. Mas, it's too expensive." Li Zhen said: "Mr. Mas, let me introduce myself. I am a general in the Jiangbei Camp of the Qing Dynasty. I have more than a thousand soldiers under my command. Now I buy 1,000 from you.
I will continue to buy guns in the future. For the sake of our long-term friendship, it is cheaper. After all, we will have more business."
After hearing this, Mas began to think carefully in his mind.
If he can establish a relationship with Li Zhen, he can expand his contacts, establish a foothold in China, and continuously sell weapons brought from Italy. Then he can buy tea, silk and other items and transport them back to Italy for sale.
As he comes and goes, he can continue to make money.
Mas gritted his teeth and said: "Master Li, I will give you 20 taels of silver for a gun. This is already a very low price. If it is any lower, I won't be able to make money." Thinking of the one-time reduction of 10 taels of silver, Mas
My heart was bleeding, but when I thought about the big deal in the future, I felt hopeful again.
Li Zhen shook his head and said, "Mr. Mas, this price is not appropriate."
"my Lord!"
Mas looked surprised and said, "Mr. Li, this is already a very low price!" Mas grimaced, showing a helpless look.