Chapter 329 Behavior of Selling National Sovereignty
The night was hazy, and the shadows of the dancing trees were fluttering in the courtyard. Li Guolou followed the servant and came to a small living room with a bed inside.
In ancient times, people used a bed to chat and receive guests, with a bamboo mat spread on top and a table in the middle. In the Tang Dynasty, the Hu chairs were replaced with chairs, and guests were seated separately. When receiving guests and chatting on the bed,
It shows that someone is very close to you. In the Qing Dynasty, it was used to talk about
Another function of the sky is to smoke opium among friends. This kind of display in the homes of princes, nobles, and wealthy families is used to smoke opium. Of course, Li Hongzhang and Li Guolou did not smoke this kind of thing, although in the propaganda, it is also used for longevity ointment.
A kind of medicine.
At this time, Fushou ointment was also sold in Guolian pharmacies and medical clinics in the Qing Dynasty. Fushou ointment was also included in doctors' prescriptions, but it was a trace ingredient and was an anesthetic.
The Qing Empire extensively cultivated opium poppies in the Yunnan-Guizhou region, and has benefited from the cultivation of opium poppies. The tobacco tax is very heavy, and the tax collected from opium cultivation has become the largest source of tax revenue in the Yunnan-Guizhou region, surpassing grain cultivation. Therefore, the price of opium is high, and smuggling is prevalent. Even Li Hongzhang
The Huai army is also engaged in the business of smuggling opium. Each
Smugglers are involved in local opium sales. The underworld and the army are all taking a share of the pie. Opium trafficking has become a regular income for the army. Even the navy along the coast is doing this business because opium is dumped from abroad.
, the price is extremely cheap, and the use of opium is the best stepping stone to harm the people of the Qing Dynasty.
Li Hongzhang was holding a copy of the manuscript written by Li Guolou in his hand. He had written many words densely on the side, and he had criticized several of them. But now he was in a good mood and did not show it to Li Guolou.
With a stinking face, he no longer cared about Li Guolou's impulsive lies.
Li Hongzhang and Li Guolou sat cross-legged facing each other. Li Hongzhang said straight to the point: "Xiaolou, I have read your statement. Most of it is quite pertinent, and it also points out many of the ills of our country. As long as the country is reunited, some ills will
will disappear. For example, when the General Administration of Customs is run by foreigners, it is actually the Small Knife Society that occupied Shanghai, and the British helped to control the General Administration of Customs.
The General Administration of Customs was saved. It was a last resort at that time. Now that the Tianping Heavenly Kingdom, Xiaodaohui, and Dongniu have been eliminated, it is imperative to take back the General Administration of Customs. However, there is a serious shortage of talents. Important positions are all foreigners. We need to train Chinese people who understand international law.
It will take a long time. Start by opening schools first, and those foreigners will support it. They are all hired workers, and they know that one day they will leave."
Li Guolou nodded and said: "Uncle, the General Administration of Customs cannot be bad. The professional ethics of foreigners are better than those of the Manchus. They will not be corrupt when they get high salaries. But if the Manchus are allowed to occupy high positions in the General Administration of Customs, the national customs duties will be reduced than the current income.
, this is too dangerous. Once it gets old, it cannot be taken back and it becomes an ancestral rule. Changing it back will be worse than not changing it back. It is just like Shanhaiguan, which is rotten."
Li Hongzhang said: "Shanhaiguan is exclusively for the emperor's servants. It has become an ancestral rule. Let him go. The General Administration of Customs here is a new thing and there will be no such thing. Just like you said, use high salary to maintain integrity and let the General Administration of Customs do it."
If the policy of the General Administration of Customs continues, the newcomers will be more motivated to do things. I think we can roughly regain sovereignty in two years. I can control the General Administration of Customs in Shanghai. I admire you very much for this."
For example, Shanhaiguan Customs used to be the main import and export customs of the Qing Empire, just like the General Administration of Customs. (The other one is the Guangzhou Thirteenth Branch). In addition to officials enriching their own pockets, most of the revenue was transferred to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, becoming
The emperor's little treasury. Because there are many concessions all over the country and the number of customs ports has increased, Shanhaiguan Customs is not as prosperous as it used to be.
After the sunset, less than 200,000 taels of customs duties were paid to the national treasury a year. Li Hongzhang had ignored Shanhaiguan Customs and rectified the officialdom. Some places were out of touch. This was also a common problem in the Qing Empire. Huangzhuang occupied a rich land, and the emperor
The state is unable to control the fiscal revenue of these stores (stores opened by the Ministry of Internal Affairs), and they are all under the control of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The palace spent 40,000 taels of silver a day, of which 30% was real and 70% wasted. That is to say, 70% of the expenses were misappropriated by eunuchs at all levels, as well as the emperor, queen mother, empress, and concubines. Yes! The emperor also required filial piety from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the use of his money.
That's how it came about.
The national fiscal revenue is inconsistent with the facts. Anyone who is an official knows this. How can the money in the filial piety palace be mentioned in official articles? The common people only know that the Ministry of Internal Affairs has money, but the specific figures are the top secrets of the country.
Li Guolou listened silently, nodded frequently, and secretly praised Li Hongzhang for his courage, his ability to do things in a flawless manner, and to handle things clearly. As long as the General Administration of Customs is taken back, the sovereignty of the customs is taken back. This is of great significance.
Generally speaking, it is a symbol of the re-emergence of the Qing Empire. But he is sensible and to the point. He can see the current problems and think of solutions. He should be given the highest reward, "Jinshi" and return to his hometown with honors, and two Jinshi in one discipline.
.
Li Guolou spied on Li Hongzhang's facial expression. He probably didn't know that he was going to take the imperial examination. It would be better not to say anything about it. He would add great glory to the Li family. When he returns to his hometown, he will rebuild the ancestral hall and renovate the old residence for the world to visit.
The place where he lived and studied when he was a child. Li Guolou could not hear the regulations of the General Administration of Customs. His mind was wandering, thinking about important events that would honor his ancestors.
Li Hongzhang became more and more excited as he talked. He did not notice that Li Guolou was perfunctory with him, and warned: "Xiaolou, I am optimistic about you. Since you have studied abroad and your conversation is organized, you can broaden students' ideas and horizons. In the future, the General Administration of Customs will
You can also be competent at the job, be a teacher and teach the newbies."
Li Guolou said happily: "Uncle Xie, my grandson is not very good in the criminal department, but he is good at preaching. Even Mr. Bao likes to listen to my preaching. Now wherever I do my business, Mr. Bao will follow me wherever I go."
Li Hongzhang stroked his beard, shook his head and said: "Xiaolou, your ideas are advanced and reactionary at the same time. What is written in the statement about moving the capital? Lushun and Weihai cannot be defended. Where do you want me to put it? Where do you put Prince Gong?
How do you know you can't defend the ground without attacking it?"
Li Guolou replied: "Uncle, the last time the Eight-Nation Allied Forces invaded, our Qing army had many troops that could fight. Some of them were completely wiped out, but they still couldn't defend. History has proven that now that we don't have control of the sea, we still can't defend.
Come on, I will only stick to the fort, and I feel aggrieved just thinking about it."
Li Hongzhang shouted: "Then you still don't support the construction of the Beiyang Navy!"
Li Guolou said in a low voice: "Master Zhongtang, don't be angry. It's not that I don't support it. I'm not risking my life to raise military expenses for you. But we have to see our strengths and weaknesses. If they are all weaknesses, which one
It can be used as a breakthrough point, and the results are quick, which will stun the world. The army has passed the test of blood and fire. As long as it spends more money, it can immediately compete with the Russian, British, and French armies. The last time they defeated the Annan French devils was the best
Proof. Now our land is surrounded by eager wolves, vassal states have fallen, and territories have been ceded and indemnities have been paid time and time again. The army is at a critical point. If we break through, our army will be one of the strongest in the world. If we don’t change, we will still be defeated by the Western powers.
In the future, the country will continue to suffer losses. The navy is slow to achieve results, while the army is quick to achieve results. Master Zhongtang, you should be very clear about this. If you don't do fast things, but instead do slow things, wouldn't it be counterproductive."
Li Hongzhang shook his head and said: "Young boy, how can you understand? I am setting a precedent in history. The Beiyang Navy must do it. No matter how difficult it is, we must do it. If we have the conditions, we must do it. If there are no conditions, we must create the conditions. Otherwise, we will overtake it.
We have become more and more backward, and now we can no longer even protect the inland river Yangtze River. Foreign warships enter and leave the Yangtze River estuary at will, and the Huangpu River has become an exhibition of Western warships.
.Even plaster flags were flown to Shanghai to show off their power. This is so embarrassing. How can I face the Chinese people? No matter how much money I spend, I will do it. I am determined to do it. The sun will tell me. No one can stop me.
My determination. Even if the front is a mountain of swords and a sea of fire, I will go forward. In more than ten years, the Qing Empire will have a modern navy sailing in the east."
Li Guolou was speechless. He was not the decision-maker of national defense policy. Li Hongzhang could not listen to objections. Although the Beiyang Navy was still in its infancy, the senior generals were all from the Huai Army. They were also Li Hongzhang's political capital.
Can the "imported navy" built with all the efforts of the whole country be successful? The country cannot be defended, and even the old nest is about to be taken away. What about the navy? Li Guolou is not optimistic about the future of the Beiyang Navy.
Li Guolou retreated to his son and asked for the next best thing. He expressed his inner thoughts and said slowly: "Uncle, my grandson has a poisonous plan. It is guaranteed to be a big thing. The Qing Empire will turn around in less than ten years, but he must swallow a poisonous plan.
, Fighting poison with poison will lead to great success."
Li Hongzhang glanced at him and said: "Xiaolou, this is what the family says as long as it doesn't talk about rebellion."
Li Guolou waved his hand and said: "My grandson has no intention of rebellion. He wants to sell the country's sovereignty in exchange for the Qing Dynasty to rise again."
Li Hongzhang sighed: "Xiaolou said that there are countless precedents for selling national sovereignty, so it doesn't hurt to add one more."
Li Guolou glanced at Li Hongzhang's face. This is a traitorous act and will be nailed to the pillar of shame by the Chinese people forever. But in troubled times, if you don't do this, who will help you? Choose the lesser of two evils. This kind of trick
, Li Guolou is very familiar with it.
Li Guolou did not dare to sit cross-legged and stood beside the bed, ready to kneel down and admit his mistake at any time. He said in a deep voice: "Uncle, my grandson is familiar with history books. Our Qing Empire is now like the Yue Kingdom in the Spring and Autumn Period, with countless heroes and heroes.
For the sake of the cause of King Goujian of Yue, he bowed to foreigners
No matter how despicable or shameless you are, you must swallow the poison and satisfy the foreigners, so that you can have a chance to breathe and wait for a comeback. This is what three generations of emperors did, from Emperor Daoguang to Emperor Xianfeng and then to Emperor Tongzhi.
It can be said that they are all working hard to govern,
I want to avenge my shame. No emperor was extravagant and led the Qing Empire into the abyss of eternal destruction. But the gap is still obvious to this day, but it is getting wider and wider. A foreign warship can scare us half to death, let us
We have no choice but to use the most
To satisfy them with superior trade conditions, our country's silver will flow overseas, and wealth will be gathered in the foreign concessions. If this situation does not change, the country will become increasingly poor, and the Qing Dynasty's silver will dry up. We must turn to foreign countries
Bank loans to live on.”
Li Hongzhang stroked his beard and nodded: "Xiaolou, you said it very well. You are qualified to be a teacher. Do you have any countermeasures?"
Li Guolou nodded and said: "Yes! Uncle, there are two ways to go. One is to choose a friend, sell some national sovereignty to this friend, and in exchange for this friend's full support, establish the modernization of the foreign system in the Qing Dynasty.
The military, and even military industrial facilities, such as military factories, including firearms factories, artillery factories, and shipyards
, and even the Beiyang Navy can ask this friend to build it for us. Another way is to change the bad habits of silver circulation. For example, the silver coin system of Western countries is more advanced than the silver system of the Qing Empire, and the currency system is directly borrowed from doctrine.
Even the fire consumption is saved, there is no harm at all, and no one can line their own pockets."
Li Hongzhang laughed loudly and said: "Okay, okay! The second point you said is very good, but the government still needs to study it. The silver coin system is based on the advanced industrial level. A certain proportion of nickel must be added to a silver coin.
Zinc, tungsten and copper, our Qing Empire can’t make foreigners yet
There is still a hurdle to pass for the kind of silver coins. But this is a good way to solve the loss of silver. I support the implementation of silver coin circulation in the Qing Dynasty. Now tell me which friend is worthy of selling our national sovereignty.
, in exchange for the world scolding us."
Li Guolou said: "Uncle, the enemy of our enemy is our friend. Only this enemy will ignore the prohibitions of other Western countries and help our Qing Dynasty build modern industrial facilities, including military industry, and we will have no future troubles.
The territory, interests, and sovereignty of the polar bears can be regained after a hundred years. Unlike the polar bears, if you sign a treaty with them, the territory will be lost forever. Moreover, this friend is a natural enemy of the polar bears, and he also hopes that there will be someone like us in the East.
An ally."
"Oh;;;;;;" Li Hongzhang looked deeply at Li Guolou. The "grandson" actually wanted to sell out the country's sovereignty. He even wanted to lease a large piece of land to the Prussian Empire (Germany) and wanted to build a military port.
It was also leased to the Prussian Empire, looking for a Western ally, and changing the situation of the Qing Empire's poverty.