At the end of the 29th year of Kangxi's reign, merchant ships that traveled to and from France once a year also arrived at Weihai Port. Within a few days, the goods purchased from Europe were transported one by one to large warehouses in the suburbs of the capital.
In view of Bai Jin's multiple political identities, such as being an academician of the Academy of Sciences conferred by the King of France and being a priest conferred by Kangxi, it was difficult for him to directly approach these business affairs. Therefore, in the early stages of cooperation, Bai Jin introduced Captain Locke of the French merchant ship to Yinzhen, and then all subsequent matters were , all of which were communicated directly by Yinzhen to Captain Locke.
However, when necessary, Yinzhen will invite Bai Jin to the Nantang to discuss. After all, he does not have a complete grasp of the current popular elements in France and Europe, and Captain Locke's English has a strong local accent.
"I didn't expect the fourth prince's English to be so authentic. Bai Jin admires him!"
"Mr. Bai, thank you. In the past, when Mr. Nan was here, we were very good friends with me in private. Thanks to Mr. Nan's advice, over the past few years, Yinzhen's English and mathematics have made great progress... However, it still takes two years. Mr. Bai gave me the dictionary before, and Yinzhen benefited greatly." Yinzhen smiled openly and frankly attributed his superb English to the late Nan Huairen.
"Bai Jin was moved by the fourth prince's diligent pursuit of knowledge. When he has the opportunity to return to France, Bai Jin will definitely tell His Holiness that the Qing Dynasty is full of talented people. Even the busy princes will study Western knowledge in their spare time. I believe that His Holiness will Let the fourth prince’s spirit of seeking knowledge be set as a good example for the people to learn from.” Bai Jin praised with emotion.
"Master Bai's words really upset Yinzhen." Yinzhen shook his head and said with a smile: "My original intention of learning this is very simple. I just want to use the advanced knowledge from the hometown of Nanda people and Master Bai to the Qing Dynasty to benefit the world. Common people. Whether it is popular daily necessities, or medicines that can cure diseases and save lives. Or, weapons that can effectively resist the invasion of foreign enemies..."
"Fourth Prince..." Bai Jin was stunned for a moment, and then he realized the implication of Yinzhen's words.
"Sir Bai, Yinzhen is not joking. Whether it is Mr. Nan or Mr. Bai, you should be able to find a problem. The weapons of our Qing Dynasty are cold weapons such as swords and bows. But I know that the weapons of Mr. Bai's hometown , It’s so majestic. Haha... I hope that if I have the opportunity, I can not only see it with my own eyes, but also spread it to the Qing Dynasty. It will increase the national strength of the Qing Dynasty."
"The fourth prince has such ambitions, and Bai Jin will definitely help him. However, not to mention the harsh conditions for the transportation of weapons, I am afraid that the emperor will treat them as intruders and hand them over before they even get ashore." Bai Jin thought of the tightly sealed area. Port, I couldn't help but shake my head and sigh.
"In this regard, I will convince Huang Ama. Although our Qing Dynasty is strong, we must continue to learn and introduce advanced technology. Only in this way can we make the Qing Dynasty stronger and stronger. What do you think, Mr. Bai?" Huang Ama is willing to introduce weapons and hand them over to the Ministry of Industry for detailed study. Within a few years, Yinzhen believes that the Qing Dynasty can also develop a batch of new firearms and artillery shells with full firepower. Unfortunately, Kangxi still does not believe in foreign weapons. With those advanced technologies, he had to convince Kangxi to change weapons. There was a long way to go.
"What the fourth prince said is true. Bai Jin boasts that he has visited many countries. The Qing Dynasty is indeed the largest country in the world. It is a rare developed country with strong national power and unity among its people. However, just like the fourth prince As the saying goes, this national power is like a boat sailing against the current. If it does not advance, it will retreat."
"Well said! If you don't advance, you will retreat! So, Mr. Bai, on this return trip, Yinzhen has one more request. I hope Mr. Bai can help me."
"Fourth prince, please tell me, as long as Bai Jin's ability is within the scope, he will definitely do his best."
"Build me a long-distance ship at any cost."
"Long-range ship?" Bai Jin was stunned. He originally thought that Yinzhen had talked so much about weapons before, hoping that he could help him and bring back some of the muskets that are very popular in France. Book fans also like to read:. The result
yes……
"Master Bai, Yinzhen really wants to learn from your country's advanced weapons, but he will not act rashly before convincing Emperor Ama. After all, the issue of guns and ammunition is related to government affairs and cannot be decided by Yinzhen alone.
It is an ocean-going ship, and Yinzhen has long wanted to build one. First, if the medical clinic is opened, the supply of medicines must be irregularly supplied, and it can be transported by multiple merchant ships, or it can supplement each other with Captain Locke.
With two to three trips to Europe a year, the pressure on demand for goods will be relieved a lot."
"Oh... Haha, I didn't expect that the fourth prince's plan was so long-term. Bai Jin underestimated it. However, according to Bai Jin, the shipbuilding technology of the Qing Dynasty is not bad. The fourth prince is willing to sacrifice the near and far, and travel thousands of miles to France.
Shipbuilding?" Bai Jin scratched his head, seemingly puzzled.
"Sure enough, Mr. Bai has a very thorough understanding of our Qing Dynasty. Yes, the shipbuilding technology. I believe that the experience and skills possessed by the people of the Qing Dynasty are not necessarily worse than those of your country. But according to the information that Yinzhen received privately, your country
A new material for shipbuilding, Lily Steel, has been developed. Although it is expensive, the ship it can build is ten thousand times more capable of resisting external attacks than ordinary ships. Master Bai, is my information wrong?"
Yinzhen raised his eyebrows and looked at Bai Jin. He vaguely remembered that Lily steel first appeared in industrial applications in the French shipyards in the seventeenth century. Although he was not sure how much Bai Jin knew about this aspect, however,
Based on his friendship with Captain Locke, Yinzhen was willing to take a gamble.
"Did Locke and the Fourth Prince bring it up again? Haha, that garrulous guy! Yes, Baihe Steel has indeed been used in the shipbuilding industry. However, the first test product was only completed three years ago. Time has verified it.
It’s far from enough for mass production and promotion. Does the fourth prince really trust this country’s technology so much?”
"Of course, I discovered a useful phenomenon from the books brought by Mr. Bai, that is, your country's production technology is already very powerful. Yinzhen is willing to try. Just think of it as sponsoring your country's shipbuilding industry."
"Thanks to the Fourth Prince's high regard for Bai Jin and his willingness to trust this country so much, Bai Jin will definitely live up to the Fourth Prince's trust. However, the price of using Lily Steel to build a ship..."
"Don't worry, Mr. Bai. Since Yinzhen has already thought about it, he will not fight an unprepared battle. Other book friends will read it normally: Here is a ten thousand tael silver note. You can go to Baitong Silver Store to exchange it for gold and silver at any time. That's it."
It will be used as a reservation deposit. After Yinzhen has read the quotation details, he will pay the second installment of the deposit. Once the ship is completed and passes the launch trial, I will pay the balance in one lump sum. What do you think, Mr. Bai?"
"If the fourth prince can trust Bai Jin so much, Bai Jin no longer has any worries."
"Then it's settled?"
"Okay. Bai Jin will talk to Locke tonight to discuss the matter of booking the ship in detail. At the same time, he will draw up a literary agreement and come to see the fourth prince tomorrow for confirmation."
"Well. One more thing. I have five people with good shipbuilding skills here. I hope to go to the French shipyard with Locke to join in this shipbuilding project. One of them has worked as a sailor on an ocean-going ship for several years, and he basically speaks English.
Yes, I can assist the shipyard in communicating. I will go to your country to learn some experience, and I can teach French shipbuilding technology when I come back."
"Haha! The fourth prince is really thoughtful. Bai Jinxu has grown more than ten years, but he feels ashamed of himself."
"Master Bai made a serious statement. So, it's settled? I hope the cooperation will be pleasant!" Yinzhen stretched out his right hand and shook it with Bai Jin in French etiquette. This agreement was reached. "This matter is still under confidentiality.
I hope Mr. Bai will not tell anyone, including the emperor." Yinzhen warned while shaking hands.
It's not that he had any premeditated plans, he just didn't want to cause trouble. This custom-made ocean-going ship was the last escape route he had paved for himself. He hoped that, as he said, this ship would be an ordinary merchant ship that could supplement each other with the Locke Merchant Ship.
Rather than being his last tool to escape.
"Of course. Since it is the fourth prince's private matter, Bai Jin knows it well and will not tell outsiders." Bai Jin nodded solemnly, and then swore carefully to the cross hanging above the church.
………………
"The medicines are almost complete. Captain Locke must have searched all the pharmaceutical factories in France." Jin Xi flipped through the list of goods shipped to the warehouse this time and burst into laughter when he saw that twenty pages were all about Western medicines.
Hearing this, Yinzhen also smiled and sat down next to her, and the two of them began to whisper in the study room of Yongshou Palace.
At the end of the 28th year of Kangxi's reign, after the Empress Dowager celebrated her birthday, she moved out of Ciren Palace and moved into the newly built Yongshou Palace. She also specifically designated this small side hall with a study room as a residence for Jinxi.
Having a study room made it easier for her to discuss business matters with Yinzhen.
"Then again, we have found all the Western medicine, but where are the people who understand pharmacology? Didn't Master Bai say that there will be doctors accompanying him on this trip?"
"Don't worry, of course the people are here. Otherwise, Locke wouldn't dare to come back to deliver a message to us. Because of seasickness, I have arranged for them to have a good rest these days. There will be something busy in the palace in the next few days, and I can't leave. So I'll just go through it."
We’ll discuss the opening in detail next year.”
"How are you preparing for the exam? It's the morning of tomorrow, right? I heard Brother Jiu say that the emperor will be present for this exam in person. It seems that it will be very strict. Are you sure?" Jinxi couldn't bear it.
I was joking about Yinzhen. He always looked like an old god. It was a rare opportunity to stab him.
"You won't know until you finish the exam whether you're sure or not. However, I'm sure I can get into the Household Department. Do you know why?"
"Because no one is going to the household department?"
"Correct answer. Unfortunately, there is no prize. Then you continue to guess, why no one in the household department wants to go?"
"Because... the Ministry of Household Affairs has no money? Still heavily in debt?" Jinxi frowned and thought, the Ministry of Household Affairs is similar to the modern tax bureau. Will no one be willing to go to the tax bureau? Well, there is only one reason. This is a very poor company.
"Inland Revenue Department".
"Half of the answer is correct. The Ministry of Revenue does not have any money, but it is not the Ministry of Revenue that is in debt, but the princes and ministers." Yinzhen smiled lightly, "Not only will I go, but I will also urge the princes and ministers to pay back whatever they borrow.
All the funds in the household department will be spit out!" (To be continued)