I want to ruin the country

Among the twenty-six people who paid 100,000 taels of silver, five received gold medals, but those who only paid 10,000 taels of silver did not!

They are not jealous because they don’t spend so much money!

All participants also received news about the second auction and the emperor's plan to open a restaurant. Officials also hoped that they could recommend an address to the emperor.

These people were drunk and agreed one after another!

After dinner, there was another surprise when we went out. The emperor had actually prepared a drum band and arranged for Lu Yaxuan and others to ride horses in a parade!

Lu Yaxuan and the other four people wore big red flowers on their chests and walked through the main streets of the capital to the sound of drums and music!

The whole capital was in an uproar, and people crowded the streets to watch the excitement.

Since ancient times, only the newly crowned top scholar chosen by the emperor could enjoy this treatment. They obtained this honor by spending money, and these people's self-esteem was greatly satisfied!

As these people left the palace, the news immediately spread throughout the streets and alleys of the capital, and then quickly spread to all parts of the country!

When everything was over, Qiao Sansheng and Lu Yaxuan were called to the palace again. When they looked, they saw Prince Gong was there too.

"The humble minister is here to meet the Emperor!"

Qiao Sanxing is now a fifth-rank official, so he can become a vassal!

"Stand up and sit down to talk!"

"Lord Qiao, Lord Lu, I have brought you back because I want to ask you something!"

"I wonder what your majesty is asking?"

Yining got straight to the point.

"I want to know if you want to do business in the West?"

"what?"

The two were surprised.

"Going to the West?"

"Yes, I won't beat around the bush with you. Since ancient times, foreigners have always come to make money from us. Why can't we go out and make money from them?"

"This one……"

"I know you're all from the same family, and it's impossible for you to make the decision on your own. I'll explain the conditions to you and you can go back and discuss it!"

"Your Majesty, please let me know!"

"If Qiao Aiqing is willing to go to the West, I can cooperate with you to open a bank. We will each take half of the capital, and each party will put in 5 million silver coins first.

I am fully responsible for security negotiations. Your family only needs to provide people to take charge of the management. I will only share the money and will not participate in the management.

I can guarantee that you can make a lot of money, and earning tens or hundreds of millions of silver a year is no problem!

Prince Gong will be sailing to the West in a few days. You can go with him. Your safety is guaranteed.

Time is very short, please go back and discuss it as soon as possible. If you don't agree, I will find someone else!"

When Qiao Sansheng heard this, he thought it was a great opportunity. He could cooperate with the emperor and would not have to worry about anything else. He only had to be responsible for the management. Where else could he find such a good deal? He had already agreed in his heart, but he still needed to discuss it with his family.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to go, but I just need to go home and inform my old father. I will set off immediately and rush back as fast as I can to give you a reply as soon as possible!"

Yining said to Lu Yaxuan again,

"Lord Lu, if you are willing, I can cooperate with you to establish a comprador company. Each party will contribute 5 million taels of silver as capital, and we can add more if it is not enough. What do you think?"

Lu Yaxuan asked,

"I don't understand, what can I buy?"

Yining smiled and said,

"Haha, foreign weapons, guns, and machinery are all allowed as long as they can be bought and sold, but human trafficking and drug trafficking are not allowed!"

"Apart from salt, I have never dealt in anything else, let alone trade with Westerners!"

"Do you think those Western merchants who come to our country to buy tea, silk, and porcelain are born with these skills?"

"I understand, your humble servant. I will obey your order!"

"You don't have to agree so quickly. I'll give you a few days to think about it. If you don't think it's possible, you can refuse. It's okay!

Just do it as soon as possible. If it doesn't work, I'll find someone else!"

Lu Yaxuan's eyes rolled around. He was not stupid. Doing business with the emperor was a great opportunity. If he didn't agree, he would be stupid!

"I have made up my mind to follow the Emperor's lead!"

"No need to think about it anymore?"

"Need not!"

"Well, Prince Gong will leave in a few days, first to Korea, which will probably take about half a month to twenty days. Then he will take the goods from Fujian to the West. If you run out of time, you can just go to Fujian and meet up with him!"

The two people said in unison,

"I understand. Your Majesty, do you have any further instructions?"

"I have nothing to say. You all go out and let Prince Gong take charge. We can discuss anything together.

I hope you return safely. When the time comes, I will go to the Tianjin Port to personally welcome you back!"

Qiao Sansheng and Lu Yaxuan kowtowed and left in a hurry!

When Yi Xin saw the emperor's arrangement, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Your Majesty, you have provided me with two more layers of insurance. Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Sixth brother, neither of you has ever been abroad. You should stay here today. Li Hongzhang will come over later. I will talk to you two about some of the customs and practices of the West for your reference!"

"According to the order!"

A eunuch came to report,

"Your Majesty, Lord Du and the new Minister of Works, Du Han, request an audience!"

When Yining heard this, Du Han came quite fast!

In history, Du Han was promoted from the post of Hubei Provincial Education Commissioner to the position of Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works and was incorporated into the Grand Council in 1852, after Du Shoutian's death.

He was the eldest son of Du Shoutian. He was talented and very responsible. Historically, the Emperor Qianlong trusted and relied on him very much.

In 1860, he followed Xiang Feng to Rehe and served as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites and the Minister of Military Affairs.

When Emperor Xianfeng was seriously ill, he appointed him as the Minister of Military Affairs and the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and concurrently as the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.

He also became one of the "Eight Ministers of State" left by Emperor Xianfeng to his son.

Because he firmly opposed the two Empress Dowagers' "ruling from behind the curtain", he offended Cixi.

In the end, he was dismissed from office by the Empress Dowager and Prince Gong and exiled to Xinjiang, but was pardoned before he could set off, thus ending his political career.

Yining is using him now because he is the loyal descendant of the mad emperor, but Yining just moved the time forward by two or three years.

After the two came in, they knelt down to pay their respects, and Yining asked them to stand up and gave them seats.

When Yining saw that Du Han was of above-average build, handsome appearance and upright character, he felt very happy.

The king and his ministers exchanged a few words of greeting, and Du Han said,

"I am overwhelmed by the extraordinary promotion granted by the Emperor. How could I have deserved such favor from the Emperor?"

Yining said,

"Master Du resigned a few days ago, but I still need to rely on him, so I didn't agree.

You are upright, diligent in state affairs, and have outstanding political achievements in Hubei. You are well-known and it is time for you to be promoted.

I transferred you to the capital so that you can assist me and take care of Master Du nearby. I hope you will not disappoint me!"

Du Han knelt down and kowtowed again.

"My father and I have been blessed by the Emperor's grace. How dare we not devote our whole hearts and souls to him?"

Yining Road,

"Get up! I'm placing you in the Ministry of Works temporarily. You'll be of great use in the future. We can discuss the details later!"

Du Handao,

"The minister obeys the order!"

"You have just arrived in the capital and must be exhausted from the journey. I will give you three days' leave to show your filial piety. Come back to see me after you have settled in. I have something to ask of you!"

Du Shoutian and his son kowtowed to express their gratitude and took their leave!