Chapter 77

New book, seeking recommendations, seeking support.

A dilapidated horse-drawn carriage rumbled through the bustling streets of Paris, turning into an inconspicuous alley. At the entrance of the alley, there was a storefront with a sign that read "Jardine & Matheson," a small office. The door of the carriage opened, and a man in a trench coat with a high collar and a low-pressed felt hat stepped out. He tossed a few silver coins to the driver, looked around, and then pushed open the door to enter the small Jardine & Matheson office. Once inside, he removed his hat, revealing his true identity.

It was Bai Siwen, the pawn Zhu Jishi had sent to China from afar.

The Jardine & Matheson office was empty except for a slightly older foreigner sitting behind a desk. Hearing someone enter, he looked up and coldly said in English, "Bai Siwen has arrived?"

Bai Siwen immediately bowed respectfully, took out an envelope from his pocket, and handed it to the foreigner with both hands. "Mr. Jardine, this envelope contains a list of the books Zhu Jishi wants me to bring back to China."

The foreigner was also surnamed Jardine, but not the big boss of Jardine & Matheson, William Jardine, rather his nephew, Thomas Jardine.

Thomas Jardine tore open the envelope, took out the list, and glanced at it, humming lightly and stroking his mustache. "Not a few, it seems Zhu Jishi really thinks he's a reformer."

Bai Siwen smiled in agreement. "Indeed, the laws of the Qing Dynasty are ancestral laws, they can't be changed."

Thomas Jardine gazed at Bai Siwen with a dark look for a moment, then shook his head. "A little change is fine, but not according to Zhu Jishi's ideas. He has a decent business acumen and some good ideas, but he's not a shrewd politician and can't lead such reforms. My uncle has high hopes for you, Siwen."

"I can't handle such a big task. I'm content with a career in the customs service," Bai Siwen replied with a smile.

Thomas Jardine smiled and shook his head, then took a package from a drawer and handed it to Bai Siwen. "This is 1,000 tablets of 'Morphine,' a gift from Jardine & Matheson to the Qing Emperor."

"This medicine..." Bai Siwen took the package, hesitating. "There are rules for using medicine in the palace."

"Give it a try," Thomas Jardine said with a smile, seeing Bai Siwen's doubt. "Morphine is not a poison. It contains a small amount of heroin and cocaine, but taking a little won't cause addiction. It can relieve almost all kinds of pain and discomfort, make people feel happy and energetic, and is one of the best-selling products of Hero Pharmaceuticals! The French government has already purchased several ten thousand pounds of Morphine for the dispirited soldiers on the Algerian front, and the British government has also bought a lot, equipping both the navy and the army with it because it can relieve seasickness and acclimatization issues."

Bai Siwen bowed. "Thank you, Mr. Jardine."

Thomas Jardine nodded with a smile. "If the Qing Emperor likes this Morphine, Siwen, your future will be very bright."

"All thanks to Mr. Jardine and you, I will never forget it," Bai Siwen paused and asked, "I wonder if there's anything else Mr. Jardine needs me to do in the future?"

"Not yet," Thomas Jardine replied.

"Not yet?" Bai Siwen looked at Thomas Jardine in confusion.

Thomas Jardine picked up a cigar, lit it, took a puff, and exhaled a cloud of white smoke. "To us, you are a long-term and risky investment. We are prepared to lose money. As for the return... we'll talk about it when you are qualified to ask." He looked at Bai Siwen and smiled slightly. "Actually, your becoming a high-ranking official in the Qing court is the best return for us. In this regard, our goals align with Zhu Jishi's."

...

The door to Zhu Jishi's room creaked open, and in walked Isabel, who had been missing for a while. She was wearing a simple Western dress that still accentuated her fiery figure, and a large sun hat that covered most of her face.

"Back?" Zhu Jishi's words were cut short as he noticed Isabel was not alone. Behind her was a man in a gray old military uniform, about 30 to 40 years old, with a mustache and a hooked nose, his eyes sharp and focused on Zhu Jishi.

Seeing a guest, Zhu Jishi hurriedly stood up and greeted him. "Isabel, who is this gentleman?"

"Jason, this is Louis Roland, my friend. I want to take him back to Britain with me."

"Back to Britain?" Zhu Jishi asked uncertainly. "Isabel, when do you plan to leave?"

He had no intention of returning to Britain so soon. Who knew if the Queen's anger had subsided? He thought about visiting Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The relationship between Louis Roland and Isabel piqued his curiosity. "This man shares the same surname as Madame Roland's late husband. Could he be a relative of Madame Roland? And has Isabel fallen in love with this Louis Roland?"

"We leave early tomorrow morning, to Calais. I, you, Louis, and Maria will go together."

"Tomorrow, tomorrow?" Zhu Jishi was taken aback. Tomorrow was the day Bai Siwen and Andrew Jones were to set off for China. The French La Perouse mission was also leaving Paris for Calais tomorrow, and he and Maria were to see them off, but not all the way to Calais.

"Isabel, you mean... you, I, Maria, and Mr. Roland are all going to Calais?"

Isabel smiled and nodded. "Yes, all to Calais, and back to Britain! Maria has already prepared the boat."

Her tone left no room for negotiation, almost like a command! And Maria Clementina seemed to have known about Louis Roland's arrival and had prepared the boat. What was going on?

Zhu Jishi, full of questions, agreed to Isabel's request. That night, he "interrogated" Maria Clementina in the bedroom, but she remained tight-lipped, refusing to reveal anything. She said everything was arranged and there would be no problems on the journey, assuring him to be at ease.

Crossing the English Channel from Paris, a few dozen kilometers wide, could there be any risk? Did he really need to be so reassured? Zhu Jishi felt even more uneasy after hearing this. The next morning, as they rode in a carriage to the Quai d'Orsay (French Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Zhu Jishi suddenly noticed soldiers with rifles everywhere on the streets of Paris, as if they were facing a major threat!

"Maria, what's going on?" Zhu Jishi turned to look at Maria Clementina. "I think you must know."

Maria Clementina smiled slightly. "The night before last, a prison break occurred at Ham Fort. Someone used the ammonium nitrate explosive you invented to blow a hole in the fort's wall, and Charles Bonaparte escaped during his exercise period!"