Chapter 327 The Post Office Is Like a Bitter Medicine
Li Guolou is very clever. From the exchange between Li Hongzhang and Sheng Huaixuan, he has already heard what he meant. Sheng Huaixuan is a businessman with a pioneering spirit and a master of private fund-raising. When Li Hongzhang asks for an official position, he is not asking for a job.
He had a ready-made official position that earned him more than 100,000 silver a year, but he resigned after seven years of good service. Like him, he wanted to make a fortune, start a career, and help Li Hongzhang's career to a higher level.
Sheng Huaixuan and Li Guolou are the same type of people. They both want to make a fortune, but they also have the heart to serve the country and are willing to use the money they earn to do practical things for the people. At this time, Sheng Huaixuan opened two restaurants in Shanghai.
Charity Hall helps some poor students to study.
Like Wanshou Lu, Qiao Zhiyong and other owners of Shanxi bank accounts, those who have a net worth of more than one million taels, have accumulated wealth over time and become rich by scrimping on food and clothing. They have opened charity halls, schools and built public buildings in their hometowns.
facilities and are willing to do what we can
But if they are allowed to go to a higher level and use the money they earn to serve the motherland, they will only share the proportion among guilds like Ziyi Society. Even though the amount of charity raised is an astronomical figure, it still will not
He will do extraordinary things, risk his wealth and life, and donate to key national defense projects.
Li Guolou and Sheng Huaixuan were willing to do such a thankless job. In addition to being officials and businessmen, they also had a sense of mission for the rise and fall of the country, which made them brave enough to create a historical precedent.
Li Hongzhang said: "Xiaolou, you came at the right time. Just now Xingsun and I were talking about doing business. We want to open up a new industry. What kind of business do you want to do to achieve the perfect combination of government and business?"
Li Guolou said solemnly: "Uncle, brother Xingsun, if you want to make a fortune through the perfect combination of government and business, of course it is to build railways. There is a saying in the UK: Once the train starts, there are thousands of taels of gold. The United States developed by building railways.
.A new capitalist country has arrived in our country;;;;;;"
Sheng Huaixuan interrupted Li Guolou and said, "Xiaolou, I know this too, but national policy does not allow the construction of railways, so your words are in vain."
Li Guolou glanced at Li Hongzhang, but saw a servant lighting the hookah for Li Hongzhang. Li Hongzhang started smoking the hookah, and the room was filled with the smell of smoke. Then the servant lit the hookah for Sheng Huaixuan, and Sheng Huaixuan also started smoking.
.Li Guolou waved his hand to indicate that he would not smoke hookah and would just drink tea to refresh himself.
Sheng Huaixuan blew out a puff of smoke and said: "Xiaolou, you have never been in the army. In this army, marching and fighting cannot be done without smoking. Tobacco can remove moisture, prevent arthritis, and can also prevent viruses from infecting the body.
Dispel the bites of poisonous insects. When marching and fighting in unfamiliar places, without tobacco, soldiers will get sick."
"Oh! Really? This is the first time I've heard of it." Li Guolou was ignorant and didn't know that cigarettes have the effect of fighting poison with poison.
Li Hongzhang smoked a few water pipes and felt comfortable. He took a long breath and said, "Xiaolou, tell me, are there any emerging industries that can make a lot of money?"
Li Guolou thought for a while and said: "To say there is? There is an emerging industry that can perfectly combine government and business, and the money earned is astronomical. However, this industry has just started and needs state support, otherwise it will be like construction
Railways are criticized.”
Sheng Huaixuan secretly slandered Li Guolou, and kept trying to show off his young age. He just interrupted Li Guolou's words, and Li Guolou was a little unhappy. He raised his hand helplessly, cupped it and said: "Xiaolou, I have a bad temper.
, I interrupted you just now, don’t mind. Please continue.”
Li Guolou smiled brightly, showing his white teeth, and said: "I'm used to sitting in court. I like to say half a sentence so that my subordinates can't figure it out. I'm sorry, Brother Xingsun. I don't have any objections against you."
Li Hongzhang also showed a gratified smile, laughed, and looked at his grandson with approval. Only with the stability and reserve of an official can he be worthy of his great responsibility.
"Oh! Xiaolou, I used to have it too, but now I'm light-hearted without an official position, so I've changed it. Hahahaha!" Sheng Huaixuan thought of the good times in the past. Only after being an official did he realize the benefits of being an official. The power unique to the privileged class is by no means
The glory that rich businessmen imagine.
Li Guolou said in a deep voice: "Uncle, Brother Xingsun, the emerging industry I am talking about is the combination of the telegraph bureau and the post office. It is called the post and telecommunications bureau abroad. Private capital can be introduced into this industry. The emerging post and telecommunications bureau will replace the old tavern post office.
The function of express delivery in the post
, it also has the function of circulation of goods and letters, and even the function of rapid transmission of war information. For example, if foreigners land at a certain place along the coast, with the telegram in the post and telecommunications office, people all over the country will know about it in a few minutes, and people everywhere will immediately prepare
preparation for battle, foreign entry
If an intruder wants to sneak attack an important facility, it will become an impossible task. Only if this industry is privately run will it not become a burden to the state. If it is government-run, it will definitely become a monster like Guanyi, devouring national financial subsidies every year, and also
To raise a bunch of useless people
. Therefore, the telegraph industry must be opened to the public. The advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Knowledge is money. It is most appropriate to place it on the Post and Telegraph Bureau. In addition, the Post and Telegraph Bureau will become the main channel for people to obtain information in the future. Who controls the Post and Telegraph Bureau? Just control it.
public opinion."
Li Guolou kept silent. Li Hongzhang and Sheng Huaixuan were both extremely smart people. The meaning of his words had pointed out the key point. Those who win the hearts of the people will win the world. Now that the "mouthpiece" is under control, what will the Westernizationists want to do in the future?
Are you still worried that there will be no support from the people across the country?
Li Hongzhang was indignant and suddenly said: "Xiaolou, this is a very good opinion! Why don't you write it on the statement?"
Li Guolou raised his eyebrows and said awkwardly: "Uncle, we can only do this. We can't tell how big the benefits are, otherwise the Manchus will object again. They only know the policy of obscuring the people, and they have never thought that paper can't contain the fire. We
When the people of the country get the news, they can only hear it through hearsay.
Said, or I know a few words from the Di newspaper. As for the newspapers now controlled by foreigners, they are all in foreign languages and are also a restricted area. Therefore, the post and telecommunications office is the breakthrough. If this road is open, information will flow smoothly. In the future, it will be easier to run newspapers and develop railways.
Already."
Sheng Huaixuan beamed with joy and said: "Father, this is the right business for me. We should introduce private capital and try it out in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces first, and then gradually spread it. In addition, this is an emerging industry, and people in other provinces don't know how to do it."
Operation, there won’t be much resistance when we enter those provinces. Once the Post and Telecommunications Bureau is successfully established, the public opinion across the country will be in my hands."
Li Guolou added: "Uncle, if you are determined to do it, the headquarters of the Post and Telecommunications Bureau must be placed in Shanghai, not in the capital. The private office must look like a private office. You must stick to this rule, otherwise there will be endless troubles."
Sheng Huaixuan said anxiously: "Yes, yes! No one can stand up to the step of being a foster father, otherwise he will be making wedding clothes for others."
Li Hongzhang remained as still as a mountain, meditating quietly. He was in a high and powerful position, and what he considered was not only his personal interests, but the development of the entire country.
"Xiaolou, do you think this post and telecommunications office will be like a Pandora's box in the West? Once opened, the devil will be released, and then it will be out of control."
Li Guolou lowered his head and pondered. What Li Hongzhang said is very likely to become a reality. New ideas and new culture will have a fast road to the entire Qing Empire. No one knows what the Post and Telecommunications Bureau will look like in the future? Want to control the Post and Telecommunications Bureau?
People who do this may eventually be criticized by others, or even fall down because of something that happened at the Post and Telecommunications Bureau.
Li Guolou raised his head and said: "Uncle, the demon of Pandorari has come to our Qing Dynasty a long time ago and is eating our bodies everywhere. The post and telecommunications office is like a bitter medicine. When you drink it, it will cause stomach acid and make people feel
I may not adapt to it, but my mission of treating illnesses and saving lives will not change at all. I still say the same thing, if the benefits outweigh the disadvantages, you must do it. Time has not waited for us, and only people like my uncle can carry this big cauldron."
Li Hongzhang stroked his beard, nodded and said: "Xingsun, you have heard it. After dinner, you can sleep in the study. Don't go back. Write out the statement about the post and telecommunications office for me, and let me review it and revise it tomorrow."
I showed it to Prince Gong early in the morning. The demon from Pandorari that Xiaolou said had already come to our Qing Dynasty and was eating our food everywhere.
The body. And the post office is like a bitter medicine. When you drink it, your stomach will be sour and people will feel uncomfortable, but the principle of treating diseases and saving people will not change at all. Write these words. As a leader of the Westernization movement, I must have
The courage to treat illnesses and save people is only one part medicine and one part poison. I am not afraid of dealing with a bunch of demons, so why should I be afraid that the Post and Telecommunications Bureau will backfire on its master?"
Li Guolou and Sheng Huaixuan looked at each other and smiled, feeling like they were old friends at first sight. They were both close to the same big tree as Li Hongzhang. As the saying goes, an emperor and a courtier, all ideas, achievements, fame and wealth are inseparable from Li Hongzhang's support.
, when Li Hongzhang was unlucky, they were immediately framed, and the so-called macaques scattered when the tree fell. Therefore, they would try to keep Li Hongzhang in a high position at all costs, and would not set up another mountain, change their tune, or abandon the ideas of the Westernizationists.
Sheng Huaixuan smiled and said: "Xiaolou, when you come in to open a bank, I will definitely come to support it. How many banks are you going to open first?"
Li Guolou said: "Oh, we will open six stores first, two in Shanghai, one in the public concession, one in Songjiang Prefecture, two in Tianjin, and the headquarters will be located in the British Concession. There will also be two in the capital, which happens to be six or six big
Okay."
Sheng Huaixuan joked: "The relationship is good. From now on, if I have nothing to show for it, I will ask you to come to the bank for a loan."
Li Guolou replied: "That depends on how much deposit Brother Xingsun can bring to the bank."
"Xiaolou, you are quite thick-skinned. You are not polite at all." Sheng Huaixuan said with a sneer.
Li Guolou retorted: "Brother Xingsun, didn't I learn from you?"
The two little foxes looked at each other and laughed. The despicable and dark psychology hidden in their hearts was exactly the same. They were both corrupt officials and their ability to make money was second to none.
"Xiaolou, don't get into trouble with women?" Sheng Huaixuan poked at Li Guolou's Heart Sutra, asking which pot he didn't open and lift.
Li Guolou retorted and squinted: "Brother Xingsun, if you go overboard again this time, your adoptive father will not save you."
"Hey, now I know how bad American imperialism is. How can I fall into the same river twice? Foreigners don't understand that we Qing people put loyalty first. From now on, I will only give money to us Qing people. My foster father
, how big is the official title of this post and telecommunications office errand?" Sheng Huaixuan couldn't help but wonder what grade of official he would be in the officialdom in the future.
Li Hongzhang smiled casually and said: "The official hat is not about how big you are, but how powerful you are. It will be amazing to give you a seventh-grade official hat."
Sheng Huaixuan was beaming. He was originally an eighth-rank official before he was taken down. Unexpectedly, after being downgraded, he was promoted instead of being demoted. He could be on an equal footing with the Songjiang prefect. Having a high-ranking adoptive father was considered a great blessing in life. Sheng Huaixuan
Standing on tiptoe, he lit a hookah for his adoptive father Li Hongzhang, made tea again, and handed him a hot towel. He did things without any sloppiness, and he already had good living habits.
Li Guolou touched his nose and remembered it in his eyes. His face was extremely ugly, and he was scolding himself for being stupid. Why should such a good idea be taken advantage of by Sheng Huaixuan, who didn't know him? He was clever in the wrong place and shouldn't show off his talents here.
, although there was one more ally, the losses were greater than
Well, the post and telecommunications office idea was worth at least 200,000 taels, and the result of such talk was nothing. It only allowed my uncle Li Hongzhang to see that he was a talented person with progressive ideas and could be of great use. But he didn't come to Li Hongzhang's residence to seek an official position.
Damn it, the gains outweigh the losses, and I regret it too much.
Li Guolou did not go to see the flattering Sheng Huaixuan. He would not cut off such a trick. He was thinking about how to recover the loss of "two hundred thousand taels of silver" from Sheng Huaixuan?