It was near dusk and the Tianjin City Gate was right in front of us. The city gate had already been closed. Li Hongzhang's arrival kept the city gate official busy for a while. He checked the seals and official seals and hurriedly opened the city gate to welcome the arrival of Li Hongzhang, the Governor of Zhili.
The governor's quarters was extremely busy. Li Hongzhang received Chonghou. Li Guolou sat aside and watched, but he saw that Chonghou was castrated like an eggplant beaten by frost! He knelt on the ground, crying like a child, feeling aggrieved.
He is dead. The county magistrate Liu Jie caused trouble, but he must be blamed.
Liu Jie, the magistrate of Tianjin, also knelt on the ground. He no longer had the courage to make decisions for the people, and his official hat was gone. With a bloodless face, he looked stupidly at Li Hongzhang, who was sitting in the seat, with tears remaining in the corners of his eyes.
Li Hongzhang grimaced and said nothing. He couldn't imagine what it would be like when daybreak. Warships from all over the world would gather in Tianjin Port and Yantai. He couldn't help but shudder.
After understanding the ins and outs, Li Hongzhang reprimanded Chonghou and Liu Jie, asking them to serve their crimes, take good care of Tianjin's defense, and restore public order in Tianjin. He first sat in Tianjin to receive the ministers from various countries who came to protest, and patiently negotiated with the ministers from various countries to bring the affairs of Tianjin to an end.
Report the truth to the Emperor Ming about what happened, and follow the instructions issued by the Yamen of the Prime Minister's Office.
It was late at night, and the shouts on the street were finally no longer heard. There was a burning smell in the air. Li Guolou touched his nose and paced leisurely.
Bad news came one after another, which made him feel chest tight and short of breath. Li Hongzhang collapsed on the chair of the Grand Master exhausted, picked up the cooling tea cup, put it down angrily, and yelled: "There's hot water!"
With a bang, the tea cup was thrown to the ground by Li Hongzhang, which startled Li Guolou. The fragments of the tea cup splashed on his feet. Fortunately, the quality of the official boots was good, and the fragments were bounced away.
The servant ran in with a kettle, poured tea and water, and cleaned up the residue on the floor. Li Guolou walked to Li Hongzhang's side and whispered: "Master Zhongtang, misfortunes and blessings are imminent. You must either fall or seize the opportunity.
It just depends on which direction Master Nakata looks at this matter?"
"How do you say this?" Li Hongzhang knew that Li Guolou did not follow common sense and had unique insights.
Li Guolou said in a low voice: "Master Zhongtang, we are also at fault in this matter. The foreigners are greedy, and if they don't go to death to punish our Qing Dynasty, they will join forces to make trouble. The empress dowagers of the two palaces in the Forbidden City must be afraid.
If you die, I will let you sign a traitorous treaty with the foreigners that will be humiliating and humiliating the country, and then put the responsibility on you. As soon as the contract is signed, the anger of the foreigners will be quelled.
Anger. All the grievances of the people across the country will be directed at you and they will call you a traitor. The Qing faction in the court will describe you as a clown and pour all the dirty water on you. They will also unite with the conservatives to impeach you. The two queen mothers will be thrown into disgrace.
Che Baoshuai will definitely push you out to the public. You, as the governor of Zhili, are at an end. Demotion and appointment are the best ending. You are in a bad situation now."
"Well;;;;;;how can I not know this truth? Now I am being roasted on firewood. No matter what I do, some people are dissatisfied. Where is the blessing?" Li Hongzhang was cunning and calculated.
It can be seen that the position of "Minister of Commerce and Industry of Beiyang" is not human inside and out, and a weak country has no diplomacy. Empress Dowager Cixi pushed him to the forefront, just to let him bear all the sins.
Li Guolou gently said: "Isn't the statement submitted by the official to the Lord Zhongtang now seeing light again? Opportunities are rare. The strategy of making friends far away and attacking closely, and combining horizontal and vertical lines is the right time for negotiation. Sandwiched between
Inside, people will be angry and resentful for the rest of their lives. But as long as this contract is signed and you are the only one to implement it, no one can shake your position. Is it possible to let the conservatives negotiate business with the Prussians?"
Li Hongzhang asked: "Guolou, do you mean to let the Prussians be the intermediary to mediate this dispute, and then legitimately discuss cooperation matters."
Li Guolou nodded and said: "As long as the Lord of the Central Hall thinks it is feasible, I will go and deal with the Prussians first, let Prime Minister Bismarck make the decision, and let Prime Minister Bismarck make the decision. Whether it will succeed or not depends on whether they are willing or not?"
Li Hongzhang stood up from the Grand Master's chair, lowered his head in deep thought, and walked back and forth with his hands behind his back. Their generation had betrayed countless national interests just to allow the Qing Dynasty to breathe under the gunboats of the Western powers. The world would only criticize the Qing Dynasty for being in power.
The faction is weak and can be bullied and will not work hard
To strive for strength. But if not for this, the Qing Empire would have been divided into several pieces by the Western powers. How could it still exist? If you dance with wolves, you will become a wolf, and one day it will turn into a ferocious one.
The lion devours the greedy wolf and eats the foreigners alive.
After repeated consideration, Li Hongzhang showed an expression of approval and nodded: "Well, this plan is feasible. Guolou, go and write it down now. I will also write a note and submit it to the Yamen of the Prime Minister's Office for Prince Gong's reference. Let's take a look first.
What did he say? If you can't even pass his level, give up. If Prince Gong can agree, then hand over the paper. This way, step by step, you will not be pushed to the forefront."
Li Guolou cupped his hands and said: "Master Zhongtang, please don't let me get on this pirate ship. I still have so many errands to do. It's better to find someone else to use as the barrel of a gun. If there is a meeting with the court, I will try my best even if I risk my life."
This is an impassioned speech, and I hope the Lord of the Central Hall will forgive me."
Li Hongzhang was furious and yelled: "Li Guolou, there are people like you, but when the time comes, you shrink back. Where do you want me to go? Write me a statement now."
Li Guolou twitched the corner of his mouth in embarrassment, retreated to the next best thing, and said with a stern face: "Master Zhongtang, why don't you write it down first, and let others do the signature. Uncle! You should be more kind as a person. This matter
It has nothing to do with me in the first place, so there is no reason to trick my grandson. I don’t want to go to another place to be an official, and I can’t let go of the errands at hand."
Li Hongzhang looked unhappy, but in his heart he believed that Li Guolou was better than him. He knew how to protect himself wisely and refused to take a trip into troubled waters. But how could he let his subordinates see through the officer's thoughts? He still said solemnly: "Well;;;
;;;Write it down first and then talk about it.”
"Zha! Subordinate, go and write now." Li Guolou dragged his exhausted body to the office next to him. It was another sleepless night. Fortunately, it was calm in the concession and his family was peaceful and quiet.
Make up your mind and stir it up with tweezers
After flicking the wick, the oil lamp flickered the light and shadow, a stalwart body, concentrating on the pen, drafted a notorious memorial - "The Qing Empire and the Prussian Empire can create a future together." This memorial will definitely rewrite history, and as a gunman
Li Guolou did not escape the criticism of the world, and he was quickly discovered because this excerpt was exactly the same as the excerpt written by Li Guolou to Li Hongzhang some time ago. Although "The Qing Empire and the Prussian Empire Can Create a Future Together" is
Depend on
The name of the "little devil" Ding Richang submitted the letter to the Prime Minister's Office for discussion, but the clues were still discovered by historians. Many years later, historians are still debating the great discovery of historical research, leaving the world unclear about what is right and what is wrong.
The Taylor Hotel building in the British Concession is located on Victoria Road, the main street of the British Concession in Tianjin. It was jointly built by the British Indian Taylor Ti and the British Laidlaw. It was designed by the Belgian Yipin Company and bears the Chinese initials of the investor's name.
Named as the most popular in Tianjin
A high-end hotel. The first joint-stock bank in the Qing Dynasty, "Come in to the Bank", is located on the left side of the Taylor's Hotel building. The shining gold plaque "Come in to the Bank" hangs on the top floor of the five-story building of the Taylor's Hotel.
Overlooking all the buildings in Tianjin.
Although Tianjin was under curfew at this time and the concession roads were closed to the outside world, Li Guolou still stepped into the territory of the British Empire. The bank general manager Huang Yousheng was originally invited to prepare for the opening of the business with great fanfare, but now he can only open the business in the deserted atmosphere.
We welcomed some old and new friends from the British Concession. The noon banquet was held in the restaurant on the second floor of Taylor's Hotel.
As Li Guolou walked towards the Taylor's Hotel on Victoria Road, he still had in his mind the arrogant and domineering French Minister Luo Shuya, the British Minister Wittmer, the Russian Minister Butzer, the American Minister Williams and others.
During the negotiations with the seven countries, he attended every negotiation and sometimes served as an interpreter. He had direct contact with the ministers of the seven countries.
He even clamored for the French Navy Admiral to burn Tianjin to the ground.
Reason, he has learned a lot about it. Slowly speaking, the purpose of peace as the most important thing will not change. Everyone is looking for a balance point. A weak country should accept humiliation. Even if he has all kinds of reasons, he will not have the opportunity to show his strengths.
What should I say? Take advantage of foreigners’ words, or present facts and reason?
The truth comes from guns and warships! Everything speaks for itself, and the Qing Dynasty will always accept a humiliating and traitorous treaty. Li Hongzhang, Minister of Commerce and Industry of the Beiyang Empire, is waiting for the final reply from Bismarck, Prime Minister of the Prussian Empire, whether Prussia is willing to be the sponsor of this "Tianjin Mission Case"
The mediating middleman is still unknown?
The West has a parliamentary system, and major state affairs must pass parliamentary resolutions. Therefore, Li Guolou was not afraid of the intimidation of the French Navy Admiral Bury. He revealed Bury's weakness on the spot at the negotiation table and used this tactic to deceive the Qing Dynasty.
Human history has gone forever. The French Navy Admiral Burley was so embarrassed by Li Guolou that he immediately stopped roaring and listened obediently to the French Minister Luo Shuya's instructions.
The depressed British Concession, the British troops with live ammunition and the mercenaries from the Indian Punjab with long guns, were densely populated at the main intersections of the streets. This was the land of the Qing Dynasty, which had long been occupied by foreigners, and he could only bow and take off his hat and salute with a smile.
"Mike! I thought you weren't coming!" Jelia glared angrily, hating that Li Guolou didn't come on time. It's such a grand opening, how could there be any reason why the owner wouldn't come?
Li Guolou stepped forward quickly, stepped up the steps, and said: "Yelia, it looks like we are going to fight now. I can walk through the blockade. I am already amazing. The British devils also know how powerful I am."
Jelia teased: "Your British devil is entertaining guests inside. Do you want to take a look at what she is doing?"
Li Guolou chuckled and said: "We are already an old married couple. She can hook up with anyone as she pleases. I have plenty of reserve team members. Oh, you are kidding, I still want to live for a few more years." As he spoke,
Li Guolou caught Yelia's clutches, and the two smiled at each other. The French should still be friendly with the Qing people from generation to generation.
Li Guolou stood on the stone steps in a suit, and together with his wife Yelia, greeted every distinguished guest who came to congratulate him. The Qing army with drawn swords and crossbows and the warships in the harbor did not affect his mood. There were hundreds of ships.
Warships from various countries were cruising in Tianjin Port, but as long as the foreigners did not arrive to fire the first shot, peace talks would continue.
Li Guolou took Yeliya on his arm and entered the spacious lobby of the bank. The European-style room was spacious on the ground floor. It was much higher than the Chinese-style building. It was about two feet tall. There were square columns with prints hanging on them, blocking the way.
People's sight. Several leather sofas were sitting with guests holding red wine. They saw Li Guolou and Yelia standing up politely and introducing each other.
Several major shareholders who had been invited to the bank had also lurked into the British Concession. Li Jingyi, Zaiying, Bao Yiyi and Yesenia were all chatting in the hall. Everyone nodded slightly and greeted each other. The eldest brother Li Guoyun and brother-in-law Tan Guoxi took advantage of the good times.
It's a good opportunity to chat with high-ranking officials and dignitaries.
Xie Liya, Smith's eldest brother Wright, and Smith came from Shanghai to celebrate the grand opening of the bank. The establishment of Xie Liya Real Estate Company was a secret. Li Guolou lived in their home during his last years in London, England.
The two parties hugged each other warmly and talked about the past few years of separation.
Wright Smith was a classmate of Li Guolou University. The two met because of a fight, and Li Guolou was expelled from the school because of the fight. Then Li Guolou moved out of the school and lived in Wright's University.
It was at Smith's house that he and Shelia met. The two talked about the past without much regret. Now Wright and Smith are working at the British Legation in Shanghai, serving as translators.
Wright; Smith was his friend and brother-in-law, and he was a British person who could be bribed. Li Guolou introduced Sheng Huaixuan to Wright and asked them to "get closer and closer" in Shanghai in the future. The British came to Da
Qing, it's not just to make a lot of money. What's more, the relationship between them is so close and shoulder-free.