Time Smuggling Starting from the Year 2000

One hundred and ninetieth chapters Meiji Restoration (6)

When it comes to pretending to be from the Qing Dynasty, the most worrying thing is not the identity document, let alone the big braids at the end of the age. However, Mitsui Takasui has been a smooth person all his life. Although he doubts it, he will never say "unbelief". , let alone ask where Huang Xuan's big braid went.

He lost his smile and stopped answering the conversation, but said: "Come here, send this lord back to rest."

As he spoke, he bowed to Huang Xuan again, and said, "My lord, please rest here first. If you are going to the capital, we will prepare your luggage for you tomorrow morning."

Mitsui Takasui was not prepared to verify his integrity at all. This kind of thing is not something he can do, and he got into trouble for no reason. His current thinking was naturally to send Huang Xuan away safely. As for any problems in the future, it was all the government's business.

Huang Xuan also regarded himself as a businessman, so he could naturally understand his thoughts. He smiled slightly and said, "Your Excellency Mitsui, Your Excellency Iwasaki, can you speak a little?"

To be precise, calling two businessmen your Excellencies is more or less out of courtesy, but they naturally like it in their ears.

Mitsui and Iwasaki glanced at each other, and Mitsui still said: "Then go inside."

Next to the Kabuki theater, there is a small room for people to rest. They are all Japanese-style sliding doors. People can drink tea when they sit in it. Of course, they have to pay.

Huang Xuan wobbled and followed, ignoring the hostile gazes of the ronin. It could be seen that Mitsui Takasui didn't just really want to talk to Huang Xuan. Such a lounge is really not for conversation.

After taking off his shoes and sitting down, Mitsui squinted his eyes and stopped talking. Huang Xuan knew that at this time, the other party must be interested, or have confidence in the conversation, in order to continue, otherwise, everything just now was in vain.

He thought for a while, and said, "Mitsui, do you want to make foreign guns yourself?"

"Huh?" Both of them raised their heads.

Dian Wei sat at the door with a mighty face. But he didn't pay much attention to the conversation of the three of them.

Huang Xuan thought about it and said, "I got a complete blueprint of machine-made foreign guns from the Germans. If you two are interested, I can transfer them to you at a very low price."

At this time, China had just started the Westernization Movement, and Mitsui Takasui knew about it. He also specifically asked the boatmen who came to China and Japan, and learned that the Chinese had established the "General Administration of Jiangnan Manufacturing" and "Anqing Nei Ordnance Institute". industrial establishments. And use the technology of foreigners to produce foreign guns and bubbles. When he heard the news, his mood was very strange.

He had originally planned to develop the military industry, especially the shipbuilding industry, after the success of the curtain down. The foreign gun production that Huang Xuan said immediately opened his eyes.

If you can produce foreign guns yourself. That's the only one in Japan. Nowadays, in large workshops, muskets are produced by hand, and the performance is poor. In order to equip the fallen army with new weapons, the merchants in Osaka have spent a lot of blood.

Mitsui Takasui didn't look at Iwasaki, and smiled on his thin face, "What does the envoy mean?"

Huang Xuan pretended to take something out of his pocket and took out two blueprints. This is all done in Lorraine using biomass, which is expensive.

Due to time constraints, Lorraine took out the design drawings of the Mauser gun. Although there were only the most basic design parameters and dimensions and other graphic annotations, Mitsui Takasui still couldn't take his eyes off it.

Both he and Iwasaki are considered Japanese who are familiar with the West. They can't understand such things, but they can always get a general idea.

"Can you stay for us to see?" Mitsui Takasui said carefully. Naturally, he wanted to find someone who knew how to do it. at this time. He no longer cared about whether the other party was from the Qing Dynasty.

in the face of real interests. An aging empire thousands of miles away is actually not important at all.

Huang Xuan smiled and nodded. Instead, he explained in his mouth: "It was originally for you to see. Master Li Hongzhang specially ordered that Greater East Asia must be prosperous together. Hehe, if there were no storms on the boat and the braids were entangled and cut off, I might have already We've arrived in Osaka." He said, looking at the face of the other party, and said: "There are a lot of drawings, and some of them need to be drawn by me now, so don't worry."

He was anxious in his heart, but of course he couldn't say that. Mitsui Takasui immediately put away the drawings, and Iwasaki Yataro couldn't let him put them aside, and immediately said: "Your Excellency Huang Xuan, come to have a light meal tonight, many people They all want to see you."

"Alright." Huang Xuan finally returned to his rhythm.

...

Before it was dark, Yataro Iwasaki and Takasui Mitsui came together. This eager attitude made Huang Xuan secretly amused. In his impression, the Japanese are still very smart when it comes to business. Be respectful all the way, and it is not an exaggeration to regard the opponent as God. In terms of efficiency and purpose of negotiation, the Japanese are indeed world-class.

Accompanying them were three or four businessmen, all in their fifties or sixties, who were submissive and did not talk to Huang Xuan directly.

Without Huang Xuan's participation, the businessmen at this time should be busy dealing with the fallen army, but guys like Mitsui don't have to be so low-end.

In a kiosk almost hidden in a corner in the east of the city, Yataro Iwasaki knelt for Huang

Sake, said: "Your Excellency came from a long distance, the journey has been exhausting."

The so-called restaurant is actually some relatively hidden small shop, usually for the first time, only regular customers can enter, some like those clubs in modern China, but the Japanese restaurant has a long history, starting from about the beginning of the 18th century However, since the shogunate banned daimyos from all over the world from meeting, and daimyos really had such needs, the kiosks hidden in the corners came into being, and after the shogunate fell, the vitality of the kiosks became more vigorous. In Huang Xuan's memory, Huang Liming once bragged that the four of them spent tens of thousands of dollars on a restaurant he went to in Japan, and they were only half full...

Huang Xuan looked around. The owner of this kiosk was also a short, fat, middle-aged man who spoke pleasantly and always bowed humbly. It's the same as his waiter, but apart from these, from the decoration and other aspects, there is nothing special at all.

After a few casual greetings and two sips of sake, the atmosphere became lively. The businessman who accompanied the wine consciously looked at Huang Xuan, Iwasaki Yataro, and Mitsui Takasui. They would never take the initiative to speak, nor would they Be part of the conversation. Huang Xuan also sighed: in Japan, the business rules are very strict.

After drinking for three rounds, Mitsui Takasui said cheerfully: "Master Huang, we showed His Excellency Kido Takayoshi today's drawings... Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't get your consent. However, Kido Takayoshi is very happy Love this blueprint."

Kido Koyun was one of the three masters of the Restoration. His original name was Katsura Kogoro. At that time, Japanese people could change their names several times in a lifetime, but no matter which one, Huang Xuan didn't know. Therefore, the expression on his face was only faint, and he said simply: "The blueprint was originally intended to be left to you, but Mr. Li Hongzhang has not come yet, so I can't give it to you now."

"Ah?" Mitsui Takasui was a little surprised. Iwasaki had probably reached an agreement with him, and quickly smoothed things over and said: "We know that people in the upper court like to eat abalone. This time, I specially invited Mr. Omoto Kazuhito from Edo to cook. Yours Try it."

He clapped his hands as he spoke.

Huang Xuan naturally smiled and stopped talking, and the little girl in kimono brought out 7 servings of abalone.

Speaking of which, Huang Xuan actually doesn't eat abalone very often. This kind of food may be more suitable for treating guests rather than daily consumption. At least very few people in Huang's family hired a master to make abalone at home, and Huang Xuan's age. Naturally, there are not many opportunities to taste it. In fact. If you invite guests to your home as a guest. It is a kind atmosphere in itself, if abalone is served at this time. This intimacy has been diluted instead.

However, Huang Xuan naturally liked the abalone itself.

The one on the table should be the most famous net abalone in Japan. Huang Xuan blinked his eyes, looked at the abalone as big as his palm, and couldn't help asking Lorraine, "How heavy is this thing?"

"800." Lorraine is the weight of dry abalone calculated by volume.

Huang Xuan almost smashed his head on the table.

Everyone knows that abalone is said to be headed. How many abalones are enough for a Sima catty (about 600 grams on a Hong Kong scale) is the number of abalones. The smaller the number of abalones, the more expensive the price will be. Usually better varieties of dried abalone, such as the net abalone produced in Mexico and Japan, and the best abalone, the price of 20 heads is due to the slow growth of abalone and the harsh environment. By the turn of the century, 4 abalones were hard to find. The so-called rich It is difficult to buy two-headed abalone. As for one-headed abalone, it has only been in legends since the 1960s.

Nowadays, the so-called several abalones in many restaurants are actually fresh abalones, while the dried abalones have actually shrunk by nine-tenths. In addition, the mainland is currently accustomed to saying a few abalones by the market. The same 20 abalones are more expensive than Theirs is 5 years younger, which is enough for abalone to grow for another two years. After 200 years, if any Hong Kong restaurant sees a Japanese net abalone, it is afraid that it will pay a sky-high price to make it the treasure of the store.

As for 800, Huang Xuan's mind was a little confused. Is this 0.7 abalone?

If you take it home, it may be enough to buy a thoroughbred horse.

Seeing Huang Xuan not moving his chopsticks for a long time, Iwasaki asked in confusion: "This...isn't it to the taste of adults?"

"No." Huang Xuan was actually feeling emotional. He didn't expect that there would be such benefits in traveling between planes. When he was at home, he often heard people say that if you eat abalone, you might not be able to eat abalone in the future. Now you can still taste 800 ground abalone...

"That's good." Iwasaki said nonsense, "Master Huang, when will Master Li Hongzhang come?"

"However, it will take 10 days." Huang Xuan tasted the abalone, and said vaguely: "Is this abalone from Aomori County?"

Japanese net abalone is produced in Aomori Prefecture.

"It's Chiba County." Iwasaki corrected it, but Huang Xuan was stunned. He was talking while looking at the energy screen. He didn't know that the net abalone was originally produced in Chiba County, but after the sea water was polluted, the ones in Aomori County became famous instead.

The craftsmanship of this master Kazuhito Omoto is really good, the taste is tender and rich, and Huang Xuan tastes it seriously. When Mitsui Takasui and others saw it, they waited quietly.

It wasn't until he swallowed the whole abalone that Huang Xuan patted his stomach in satisfaction, and said, "It's delicious in the world." When he said this, he looked at Mitsui Gao

Everyone quickly agreed.

After eating abalone, Huang Xuan didn't want to eat anything else. When I put it at home, if I say that I am full from eating abalone, I am afraid that I will be called bragging.

Iwasaki moved his body slightly, and continued what he said just now: "Master Huang, are you planning to land in Nagasaki, Master Li Hongzhang?"

"Should." Huang Xuan said hesitantly: "I came out early, and I'm going to wait for Master Li here."

"That's it." Several people laughed, not knowing what they were laughing at.

Huang Xuan also laughed twice, and said, "But the blueprints don't have to wait for Master Li Hongzhang to come."

The laughter stopped immediately.

Mitsui Takasui waved his hand. The few accompanying guests stood up and said goodbye, so he said with a smile: "I don't know what Master Huang thinks?" He had already found someone to look at the blueprint yesterday. The Mauser was invented two years ago, and it represented the highest design of the rifle in the world. Level, if there is no problem with the indicators, foreigners will never sell such foreign guns to Japan. So he expected far more than Huang Xuan imagined. After all, in this era, it is easy to buy a machine, but it is even more difficult to get a blueprint.

Huang Xuan didn't hold back, drank tea, and said: "The responsibility is. I have to wait for Master Li Hongzhang to arrive before I can start the work of consolation, but Japan is not quiet these days."

"Hehe." Mitsui Takasui smiled forcedly.

"I heard that you are going to march into Edo?" Huang Xuan pierced the two people's camouflage with a needle, and Yataro Iwasaki couldn't help but said: "This is a military and national event, and it has nothing to do with me and other small people."

"Related." Huang Xuan dragged out the sound, and Lorraine translated it very well. It can let the other party clearly understand the taste.

Holding his tea, he clasped his hands and said, "Edo would have been ruined and General Tokugawa Yoshiki would have died before Mr. Li came. I can't explain this. It's because I didn't fulfill my duty."

Neither of them spoke.

Huang Xuan took out the blueprints that he had prepared a long time ago from his arms and said, "This is what I drew this afternoon. Some of the blueprints were soaked in oil paper. I always have to draw them out. If I accidentally make a mistake, I can just Trouble. That’s all for now, take it back and have a look.”

He said and put a dozen drawings on the table. Then he stretched out a finger slowly, and said: "10 days, as long as the army does not set off within 10 days, this||

Mitsui Kosui and Iwasaki Yataro looked at each other, as if they didn't care about the coercion in Huang Xuan's words, the latter said: "Master Huang, I am waiting for a merchant, how can I decide what the samurai think?"

"If you don't have enough ammunition, all warriors are useless." Huang Xuan lowered his voice and said, "One day later, if you supply them with enough ammunition, armor, and food, then Master Li will also come, and I will be responsible for my duties." If it is done, otherwise Master Li will be furious, not only me, but you will have nothing to fish for."

He didn't say anything about more serious consequences. As a later generation, he knew that the Qing Dynasty's dominance over Japan had dropped to a freezing point. However, for the two Japanese businessmen, such a statement made them easier to accept. Mitsui Gao Then he put the blueprint in his arms, but said: "In this way, I'm afraid it will take a lot of responsibility."

Huang Xuan squinted his eyes, and after a long time, he took out another stack of blueprints from his pocket, and said in a low voice, "This is the design blueprint for a small steamer, and there are cannons on it. It's only half of it. Take it and have a look."

He spread the blueprints on the table, and said: "The shogunate is already sunset, it is only a matter of minutes when it is over, once the army is gone, it is possible to surrender directly, at that time, if Lord Xuan Wei is there You and I both look better." He snapped his fingers, and said: "Osaka is close to Kyoto, but the samurai don't know how to do business. The previous battles consumed countless bullets. Ready within 10 days, wait.

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