Lan Weiwen glared at the child not far away with a fierce look.
In an instant, the few children who were stunned all dispersed.
Lan Weiwen smiled proudly, pointed to the simplest house in the innermost part of the courtyard, and said humbly and respectfully: "Sir, just ahead is Liu Taiping's residence."
Li Zhen didn't believe it, frowned and said: "Even if Liu Taiping is not suitable for being an official, he is still a Jinshi. Even if he doesn't want to be an official, he can still work as an official's staff, and he can also choose to teach. He shouldn't be so poor."
Lan Weiwen said: "Sir, Liu Taiping does teach, but the students he teaches are poor children, and it is difficult to even have enough food and drink. Liu Taiping does not accept money, so his family is not well-off."
Li Zhen nodded and suddenly asked: "Magistrate Lan, do you have any money with you?"
"Sir, I bring money from my humble position."
After Lan Weiwen answered, she added: "Liu Taiping has a bad temper. If you go to see him with a gift, you might be kicked out directly. You'd better go to him empty-handed and then think about how to persuade Liu Taiping. That's the right thing to do."
thing."
Li Zhen did not explain, but said: "Bring out a tael of silver!"
Lan Weiwen was puzzled and did as he was told.
Li Zhen took the money, handed it to the two soldiers beside him, and ordered: "I scared the children in the yard just now. You two go to the street to buy some candies and give them to the children in the yard."
The soldiers did not dare to refuse and obeyed.
Li Zhen ordered: "Go and knock on the door!"
Lan Weiwen secretly shook her head, feeling that it was unnecessary for Li Zhen to ask the soldiers to buy candy for the children in the yard. However, Lan Weiwen did not dare to make irresponsible remarks and walked towards Liu Taiping's house.
"Bang! Bang!"
Arriving at the door of the room, Lan Weiwen knocked on the door.
After a while, a young man opened the door. The young man was handsome, with clear edges and corners, piercing eyes, a light beard on his lips, a tall figure, and slender arms. Although he was thin, he gave people a strong feeling. The young man looked at it
He glanced at Lan Weiwen, then looked at Li Zhen who was standing in the yard, and asked: "County Magistrate Lan, what do you want to do with your father-in-law?"
Obviously, the young man knew Lan Weiwen.
The young man's name was Qi Zhenhai, and he was a descendant of Qi Jiguang. However, Qi Zhenhai's parents died, and after he married Liu Taiping's daughter Liu Die, he lived with Liu Taiping.
Lan Weiwen looked kind, pointed at Li Zhen, and said seriously: "Zhenhai Nephew, this is Mr. Li Zhen, the supervisor of Jiang Customs. The emperor has appointed Mr. Li as the new Shanghai Dao. Mr. Li came to see Brother Liu and asked for advice.
."
Qi Zhenhai looked at Li Zhen again, waved his hand and said: "Please!"
Lan Weiwen turned slightly to let Li Zhen go first.
Li Zhen walked into the house, and Lan Weiwen followed suit.
After entering the room, Li Zhen took a cursory glance. The room was not spacious, but it was clean and tidy. There was also a word on the wall in the center of the room, which was a big word '正'. There were only simple words in the room.
There are old tables and chairs and no other items. There is a wing room on the left and right sides of the hall, which is the living bedroom.
"Cough! Cough!"
Suddenly, a coughing sound came from the wing on the left.
The door curtain of the wing was lifted, and a middle-aged man in his forties came out.
This middle-aged man was wearing a blue shirt, which was shabby and shabby, and even had patches on it. The middle-aged man's hair was gray, his face was full of the vicissitudes of time, and his eyes were deep and vast, revealing a kind of open-mindedness that could see through the world.
The middle-aged man is Liu Taiping.
When he saw Lan Weiwen coming, his face dropped and he said, "I don't welcome you here, please."
Lan Weiwen looked embarrassed, but did not leave.
Qi Zhenhai walked up to Liu Taiping and whispered: "Father-in-law, it is not County Magistrate Lan who is here to visit you today. It is the newly appointed Shanghai Daotai Li Zhen who is here to visit you. Please ask your advice if I have anything."
Liu Taiping snorted, sat down directly above the hall, glanced at Li Zhen, and said: "The ancients said that people who are close to vermillion are red, and those who are close to ink are black. It's probably nothing if Lord Daotai and Lan Weiwen are mixed together.
Good people."
The corner of Li Zhen's mouth twitched, imitating Liu Taiping's crow mouth.
He speaks without restraint, which is really different.
Li Zhen, however, patiently thought about it, bowed and said: "Junior Li Zhen, I have met Mr. Liu. Today I asked Magistrate Lan to lead the way to see Mr. Liu. I really have something to ask for, and I hope Mr. Liu will give me some advice."
"Oh, do you want to ask me how to search for people's fat and people's anointing?"
Liu Taiping looked at Li Zhen with a smile, but there was a playful look in his eyes. Although Liu Taiping was not in good health, he was full of energy when he spoke and his mouth was so vicious that Li Zhen couldn't bear it.
Qi Zhenhai knew Liu Taiping's temper and said, "Father-in-law, let's first listen to Master Li and tell us what's going on."
Liu Taiping nodded but said nothing.
Li Zhen immediately said: "Mr. Liu, I just received news that British Consul Aliguo and French Consul Aitang are about to transport a batch of opium into Shanghai. I don't want opium to flow into Shanghai, but I can't break up with the British and French consuls for the time being. Therefore, I want to
Please ask Mr. Liu if there is any way to solve the opium problem."
"opium!"
Liu Taiping frowned, his eyes flashing with cold light.
Liu Taiping undoubtedly hated opium the most.
Qi Zhenhai immediately said: "Father-in-law, opium has been introduced into the country from Shanghai many times. Now another batch of opium has been shipped in. I don't know how many people will be killed and how many families will be destroyed. Not only that, countless silver will flow into the pockets of foreign businessmen.
Zhong, you must help."
Liu Taiping glared at Qi Zhenhai and said, "Who knows if Li Daotai will sell opium himself."
Li Zhenlang said: "Mr. Liu, although Li Zhen is not a good person, he will never sell opium in the country. This kind of thing that harms the people, harms the country, and will be infamy for thousands of years, Li Zhen will not do, and he does not bother to do it."
Liu Taiping nodded with satisfaction and said: "Xiaodie, serve tea!"
After he finished speaking, a woman in her early twenties came out of the side room on the right.
The woman's name is Liu Die, and she is the daughter of Liu Taiping.
Liu Die saluted Li Zhen, then made tea for Li Zhen and Lan Weiwen, and then poured tea for Liu Taiping. After finishing, Liu Die returned to the side room. Liu Taiping took a sip of tea and said: "We want to capture the foreigners."
of opium but don’t want to engage in a head-on battle, the solution is actually very simple. Just convince the pirates to rob British and French merchant ships.”
Li Zhen shook his head and said: "Mr. Liu, the ships of the British and French merchants are bigger and the cannons are more powerful. Not to mention the pirates, even the big ships of the officers and soldiers cannot compare. In addition, the cannons are all old cannons, and it is difficult to defeat the foreigners. If it is on land
If we fight, I'm pretty sure of winning, but the opium will be transported away soon after being unloaded, making it difficult to deal with."
After a pause, Li Zhen added: "Besides, it is not easy to convince the pirates to take action."
Liu Taiping said: "I have already told you how to do it. Mr. Li will think about it himself."
Li Zhen frowned, not satisfied with Liu Taiping's answer.
Liu Taiping continued: "In fact, it is not difficult to rob the opium and deal with the foreigners. The main problem is that the opium was robbed, and the matter may be blamed on Li Daotai. If Li Daotai does not compensate, Aliguo and Aitang will have the opportunity to send troops
Reason, there may be a big war in Shanghai. The upcoming war is what adults need to prepare for."
Li Zhen's heart sank. If it was true as Liu Taiping said, Shanghai would be facing war. Li Zhen was also secretly frightened. This person had a far-sighted vision and could already see the subsequent changes after just one move.
This person is a talent.
Ps: Monday, the first of four updates, a small burst of requests for flowers, the collection will be on the list. Recommended fantasy book: "The Supreme Holy Lord" by An Zhijun, the quality is guaranteed, don't miss it if you pass by.
