Kowloon wins

Chapter 1077 Humen sells cigarettes ([-])

"Qizou Your Majesty, Prince Yu is asking to see you at the palace gate."

In the eyes of the world, such a job as the emperor is definitely the most prestigious, but in fact, it is not an easy thing to be a diligent and wise emperor. Hong Qing is very familiar with government affairs, even though the work is not easy, she can manage it with all her strength, but receiving courtiers and many officials from other places who came to Beijing for an audience is really a lot of work, but she can't see her, probably because of these Local officials represent the face of the imperial court. Whether it is for appeasement or to identify the virtuous and ruffian, it must be done through face-to-face interviews. When the power is handed over, the local officials also change a lot. Of course, Hong Qing had to spend a lot of time talking earnestly with many officials. No, just now when he sent away Governor Yang Ming of Zhejiang, before he could take a breath, he saw Li Dequan walking in a hurry. Reported a sentence in a heartfelt way.

"Announce."

Old Fifteen is Hong Qing's hard-core direct descendant, but he never likes to manage politics, so Hong Qing didn't force him to work in the military plane, but his favor has never been lessened. He was exhausted enough, and he never hesitated, so he spoke directly.

"twitter!"

Li Dequan respectfully responded, but did not leave just then, but looked at Hong Qing hesitantly.

"Ok?"

Seeing Li Dequan's careless behavior, Hong Qing frowned, and let out a little displeasure.

"Your Majesty Qizuo, it's been a while since you ascended the throne. The Xingnian Office of the Respect Room has handed over this chapter several times, saying that it's time to draft girls. Besides, the palace ladies who have reached their age are also waiting for you. It has to be dealt with, whether to let it go or stay, please let your Majesty express it."

Hong Qing frowned like this, Li Dequan dared not procrastinate any longer, he hurriedly lowered his body, and reported carefully.

"Well, all the maids in the palace who have reached their age should be released. As for the matter of drafting girls, just follow the rules, but don't choose people arbitrarily. It's not appropriate to disturb too much, and just control the scale That's fine."

Hong Qing had actually read the brochure at the other end of the respect room, but she was very busy during this time, so she suppressed it for approval. Now, since Li Dequan mentioned it, Hong Qing also casually gave orders. Fan, the drafting of girls from the left and right palaces is an established procedure, so Hong Qing didn't need to worry about it.

"twitter!"

As soon as Hongqing's golden mouth opened, Li Dequan didn't dare to procrastinate any longer, he hastily responded, and then hurriedly exited the Hall of Mental Cultivation. After a short while, he was accompanied by the old fifteen in neat court clothes from outside. Come in.

"Minister, Aixinjueluo Yunxuan greets His Majesty!"

Old Shiwu has always been a cautious person, even though he and Hong Qing are friends of the general manager and their relationship is unusual, but now that they are a monarch and a minister, he dare not have the idea of ​​being pampered When he saw Hong Qing who was sitting high on the dragon bed, he immediately rushed to the front, politely paying homage without stopping.

"Uncle Fifteen doesn't need to be formal, and he's healed. Come and give me a seat."

Hongqing didn't stop the old fifteen from seeing the ceremony, nothing else, no matter how good the relationship between each other is, the division between the monarch and his subjects still needs to be paid attention to, but he didn't put on the emperor's airs much, and treated the old ten As soon as the five rituals are over, the seat has been granted warmly.

"Thank you, Your Majesty Long En, long live my emperor, long live, long live."

Since Hong Qing shouted, Old Fifteen must of course thank him according to court regulations, but there is nothing more to say about the meaning of this question.

"Uncle Fifteen is in a hurry to see me, and he must have something important to do, so let's talk about it, and I'm listening."

Although the rules of the monarch and ministers must be paid attention to, there is a difference between closeness and estrangement. To the confidantes like Lao Shi, Hong Qing's attitude is still very casual, and she doesn't say much in the way of greetings. intention.

"Your Majesty Qizuo, a letter from Nanyang."

Old Fifteen didn't elaborate, he just started and then stopped.

"You all stand down!"

As soon as she heard the letter from Nanyang, Hong Qing's eyes instantly turned sharp, but she didn't rush to find out the truth, but waved her hand and gave orders in a slightly cold voice.

"twitter!"

Hearing Hong Qing's order, Li Dequan and the other eunuchs who accompanied him did not dare to delay, they hurriedly and respectfully complied, and filed out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"Your Majesty, this is a letter sent back from Nanyang by the 'Ming Sail', which returned early. Please have a look at it, Your Majesty."

After Li Dequan and the others all retreated, the old fifteen immediately shook his hands, took out a thick letter from his wide sleeves, held it in both hands, and handed it to Hong Qing respectfully.

"Ah."

Hong Qing let out a soft sigh, reached out and took the letter, tore open the seal on it, took out a few letters full of words from inside, and read them carefully, the more she read, the more stern her face became , but he was not in a hurry to speak, but got up right away, and handed the letter to Old Fifteen, while he himself paced back and forth on the front door with his hands behind his back. His murderous intent surged wave after wave.

"These bastards who eat inside and outside should be killed!"

Old Fifteen quickly flipped through the letter, and immediately became angry. He slapped his knee in extreme annoyance, and couldn't help but cursed.

"Well, everyone should be killed. However, killing alone is not enough. This matter must be taken seriously. Legislative power is of course necessary, but legislation is also indispensable. Afterwards, I will use Haitao to completely ban opium and poppy cultivation. Make a statement."

Hongqing's consideration is not only the matter of killing or not, but also the ensuing war that must be taken seriously. The flood of China's land, but it doesn't care about so many.

"Your Majesty, I request that you go to Guangzhou to conduct a comprehensive investigation on this matter."

Hearing what Hong Qing said, Old Shiwudang even volunteered to go to Guangzhou to supervise the case.

"I've always known Uncle Fifteen's loyalty, but the Jingzhong business can't do without Uncle Fifteen in charge of the overall situation. As for the Guangzhou matter, I think it would be good to let Uncle Sixteen go for a visit."

Although Hong Qing was very pleased with Old Fifteen's self-invitation, he did not agree, nothing else, Old Fifteen's character is rather weak, so he really might not be able to do such a massacre, if When the time comes to soften his hands, Liwei's purpose will obviously fall into the empty space, and this is naturally not a situation that Hong Qing likes to see, but the old sixteen is courageous and murderous, and he is indeed doing such an errand Good candidate.

"Your Majesty Shengming."

Now that Hong Qing has made a decision, the fifteenth child dare not force her anymore, so she hastily praised her.

"Uncle Fifteen, if my predictions are not bad, the Great War may break out in two or three years. Uncle Fifteen has to hurry up on the appropriation and supervision of the navy."

There was a hint of fear in the voice of the old fifteen's praise, although it was very light, Hong Qing's sensitivity could be heard, but he knew it immediately, so he hurriedly spoke to appease him.

"Yes, the minister obeys the order!"

When Hong Qing said this, the old fifteen's mentality was immediately balanced, and the voice of promises was extraordinarily loud...

Shangchuan Island, the largest coastal island in Guangdong Province, is located in the south of Taishan. As early as the Zhengde period of the Ming Dynasty, there was a Portuguese fleet operating smuggling trade here. Later, the Qing Dynasty implemented a ban on the sea, and many foreign companies on the island were located. Driven away, until the last years of Kangxi, after the "Eight Banners Company" of the Qing Dynasty sailed to Nanyang, merchant ships from various countries secretly came to this island for smuggling activities. It is the merchants in Guangzhou who secretly sell silk, tea and other things to smugglers from various countries who come to purchase. As for the imports of goods from various countries, they are very rare. The goods produced are far better than those produced by Western countries. If we really want to talk about importing Western goods, there may be only one thing, and that is opium, commonly known as opium.

Opium, also known as Afu Cream and Bliss Cream, is mainly brown or golden in color. It has a strong hallucinogenic effect and is extremely addictive. Because of its relatively high price, most of it belongs to the rich in Guangzhou. The things they enjoy have only become popular in recent years, and because their harmfulness has not been known to the public, most local governments have turned a blind eye to this, which is even more serious. The rampant opium smuggling is only due to the fact that the navy has followed Hongqing's secret order to carry out unremitting and severe crackdown on opium smuggling. The concealment is extremely high. Although the fleet of the Daqingshui Division is extremely powerful, it cannot completely eradicate it. It can only strengthen patrols in the ocean near Shangchuan Island and Xiachuan Island, trying to stop the large-scale influx of opium. As for the open sea? , It is unavoidable that some people are unable to do what they want. No, near a hidden reef [-] nautical miles south of Shangchuan Island, a large-scale opium smuggling is in progress. The two local trading houses engaged in maritime trade, and the other party is Brooks Hull, a manager of the British East India Company.

"Quick, lean up!"

A total of four medium-sized merchant ships from the Qing Dynasty participated in this smuggling. The first one was the "Shunfan". On the deck of the bow stood two merchants, one fat and one thin. Pan Futai, and the thin one is Luo Qihang, the big shopkeeper of Qihang Trading Company. Both of them started their businesses by relying on maritime trade, but in recent years, most of the source of profit has been transferred to opium smuggling. The price of opium was greatly reduced. Driven by huge profits, the two of them went into battle in person. No, Pan Futai couldn't help screaming when he saw the flags on the British merchant ships more than ten miles away. Get up, as for Luo Qihang, even though he didn't speak, his eyes were also flickering with fanaticism, nothing else, the profit this time can be as high as nearly fifteen times. Not to mention the cargo of an entire large merchant ship, no matter how you calculate it, it has an income of nearly 600 million taels of silver, so how can people not covet it...

(End of this chapter)