Prince Gong Yixin personally led officials from the Prime Minister's Office to Tianjin to receive the Prussian mission. He selected the address of the Prussian mission in Tianjin and built two two-story buildings with a construction area of about square meters. The project was completed day and night. The scale of such a grand mission was , highlighting the importance that the Qing Dynasty attached to the Prussian Empire. Li Hongzhang, Minister of Commerce of the North, discussed preliminary intentions with Prussian Minister Kniping to prepare for the Prussian mission to meet Emperor Tongzhi. A shocking treaty was actively being conceived, and negotiations were ongoing with each other. In each meeting, the "little devil" Ding Ruchang and the "fake foreign devil" Li Guolou appeared in photos of themselves in the middle.
Officials from the Westernization faction took members of the Prussian mission to visit military industrial facilities throughout Tianjin and military camps that foreigners were never allowed to enter. They also allowed Prussian mission officials to visit the grassroots level of the army.
The officials of the Qing Dynasty, who saw this mystery, inquired from all over the world. The Westernization Party's act of selling out sovereignty shocked the court. They all blamed Prince Gong Yixin and Li Hongzhang, the Minister of Commerce of Beiyang, for conspiring to betray the national interests. However, Emperor Tongzhi, who had already taken charge of the government, Chun remained silent on these protest memorials.
During this period, Li Guolou should correct his attitude in the negotiations between the seven countries and win respect from the Qing Dynasty. He was recommended by Li Hongzhang and promoted to the fourth rank of military attache "Second Class Bodyguard", and his civil service was also promoted to the second rank of "Shaoqing of Hanlin Academy". It is also the fourth grade.
At this time, Li Hongzhang recommended Xu Shou to serve as the general office of the Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau, with the title of second-grade civil servant, which was quickly approved by the court, causing a public outcry. The Qing faction lodged a solemn protest against Li Hongzhang's promotion of Xu Shou, and even went to the palace to express his gratitude to Cixi. The Empress Dowager made suggestions, but Empress Dowager Cixi also supported Xu Shou as the general manager of the Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau, which once again allowed the Qing faction to fail.
Li Guolou accompanied officials of the Prussian mission to meet Xu Shou, Xu Jianyin and his son at the Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau. Xu Shou learned that it was Li Guolou who recommended him to the post of "General Office" of the Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau. For someone who was two levels below him Li Guolou was extremely attentive, and the two sides had a great conversation.
In the room where various ship models were stored, Li Guolou suddenly had an idea and said: "General Manager Xu, can you think of a way to make a small train, just like the game train in the concession? I want to build it in the Old Summer Palace. The train, as long as the Queen Mothers of the Two Palaces are allowed to ride on the luxurious train, our country's dream of building a train will have hope. Oh! Put the locomotive at the back and let the Queen Mothers of the Two Palaces sit at the front."
Xu Shou looked at Li Guolou as if he were a freak, but he couldn't refuse on the spot, so he kept silent and pretended not to hear. Li Guolou saw the doubts in Xu Shou's heart and hurriedly explained: "General Manager Xu, I forgot to tell you You, I actually have another official title, the post of Supervisor of the Wanshou Mountain Project, specifically supervising the renovation of the Old Summer Palace. Doing this job well will benefit the country and the people. This is called a roundabout tactic. Mr. Xu, time will not wait for us, you said you are willing to watch. Are we, the Qing Dynasty, falling further and further behind, or should we catch up?"
Xu Shou frowned and said: "Mr. Li, the manufacturing technology of trains has long been mature. A steam engine can start it. It is not a big problem to lay the rails. Putting the front of the train at the back can be understood as driving in reverse. How unlucky."
"Oh!" Li Guolou thought for a while and said: "General Manager Xu, it's okay. Both ends can be operated. In this way, if the Queen Mother of the two palaces wants to sit in the front, she can sit in the front, and if she wants to sit in the back, she can sit in the back. In the train The facilities must be luxurious, including bedrooms, bathrooms, restaurants, and offices, all must have the best facilities. As for the speed of the train, it only needs to be a little faster than the horse-drawn carriage. The main thing is safety. The distance between the rails is four kilometers. Safety first, cleanliness first, try to have as little smoke as possible, and it doesn’t hurt to spray more water vapor. Hahahaha!”
Li Guolou put his hands on his waist and laughed alone, as if he saw the empress dowagers of the two palaces praising him with satisfaction.
Although Xu Shou was somewhat unwilling to do such a meaningless thing, Li Guolou could not offend him. If he did not agree, the bank would not give Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau a loan, let alone a sponsorship. He could only follow the topic. , asked: "So Mr. Li, when will the construction of this small train be completed?"
Li Guolou looked Xu Shou up and down, not believing that Xu Shou could build the train, and said: "Of course I will let the British build it, and you will supervise the production. It will take a year for the head office."
Xu Jianyin, who was standing next to him, was extremely dissatisfied and interjected: "We can build a small train ourselves. It's not that difficult. It's just a large toy car."
Li Guolou retorted: "Assistant Xu, it's certainly good to build it yourself, but I hope it won't rust away in a few years and sink into the Huangpu River. Brass will be used for the parts. Don't think about saving money and being strong and durable." It’s also a big advantage.”
Xu Jianyin's face turned red when Li Guolou said something, and he gnashed his teeth in hatred, because Li Guolou was ridiculing the father and son. The first steam engine ship "Huanghu" in the Qing Dynasty, which was built by the father and son, had long been because of It fell into disrepair and sank into the Huangpu River in Shanghai.
Xu Shou hurriedly winked at his son Xu Jianyin. It was not easy to offend this "Manchu" who had betrayed his ancestors, so he quickly smoothed things over and said with a smile: "Master Li, don't worry, our Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau and Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau will join hands. Public relations to ensure the production of excellent amusement trains."
Li Guolou was still dissatisfied and said: "General Manager Xu, when it comes to big words, it is a big train. A strong country needs a big train." After saying this, Li Guolou followed the Prussian mission personnel step by step and ignored the Xu family and his son. I don't know how to please a flattering "technician", only he can bear this kind of cowardice.
Xu Jianyin looked at Li Guolou's back and said angrily: "The villain will succeed!"
Xu Shou said anxiously: "Jianyin, don't talk nonsense. Your future depends on him. My backer in the court is Li Shaoqing. Don't think that his official position is two levels lower than mine. Li Shaoqing is a Manchu."
Xu Jianyin heard the sarcasm in his father's words, but the arrival of the Prussians opened another window for him. He came all the way from Shanghai just to learn more from the Prussians and to study abroad in Prussia. The organizer Li Guo Lou cannot be offended, so he can only endure this tone.
"Father, don't worry. I won't talk to people who don't know how to pretend to understand, and I won't refute Li Shaoqing's rudeness." Xu Jianyin swallowed his anger and followed him out, continuing to listen to the Prussians degrading the Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau into nothingness. .And those accompanying Qing officials also echoed and followed along, recording every word of the Prussian criticism.
Li Guolou saw Xu Shou and Xu Jianyin following him, and said deliberately: "Did you see it? The words of the Prussian engineer make people feel like they can see the sun from the clouds. Don't just think about solving problems. Difficulties can be overcome one after another, but how much is wasted Time and silver. Sometimes the effect of cooperation is hundreds of times better than working behind closed doors. I know that there are many unreasonable things here once I come here. How long have you been here? Why don't you know?"
There was a large group of obedient Manufacturing Bureau officials nearby, and no one dared to stand up and argue with Li Guolou.
Li Guolou visited the Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau for a day. There was nothing he was satisfied with. Even at lunch, he didn't think about food or tea. He put on a sour face that made people want to beat him. Every technician he saw would curse a few words. Let Manufacturing The officials of the bureau were frightened when they saw Li Guolou, knowing that he had a poisonous mouth and a villainous face. When they saw the members of the Prussian envoy, they immediately bowed and bent like shrimps, and smiled in an instant.
When leaving, Li Guolou pointed to the officials of the manufacturing bureau who were bidding farewell and said: "Listen to me. I will give you one year. When I come back in July next year, you will either be rewarded by the court or punished. "I'm very cruel. I caught the criminal and broke the calf bone on the spot. But I'm willing to give him a heavy reward. If you do a good job, I'll take out 10,000 taels of silver myself and reward you on the spot. You can take care of yourself." After finishing speaking, Li Guolou said. He flicked his sleeves, didn't acknowledge anyone, and didn't even give Xu Shou, the second-grade officer-in-chief, boarded the carriage and left.
"Why are the people employed by Li Zhongtang so arrogant?" A fourth-grade official from the Manufacturing Bureau couldn't believe that there was such an official. It was impossible for him to exist in the Qing Dynasty.
"Hey, the Holy Family is so strong! Master Zhang, haven't you heard? He's flying up on the Shenji Camp's rocket. Now you're bowing to him, but next year you'll call him a slave and kneel down to greet him." Another one A fourth-grade official from the Manufacturing Bureau did not forget to joke, shaking his head and sighing, how helpless he was.
Xu Shou saw another side of Li Guolou. He was deliberately trying to embarrass him and arouse his fighting spirit. He stroked his beard and said, "Don't complain. Take out what the Prussians said and analyze them one by one." Let’s hold a meeting now and make corrections if we are right. We will also list some things that cannot be done. I will personally hand them over to Li Shaoqing and let him solve them for us. This is the spirit of science.”
"Ah! Father, Li Shaoqing doesn't give you face, yet you still come to visit him personally!" Xu Jianyin said angrily, he couldn't wait to have a fight with Li Guolou.
Xu Shou looked around and said loudly: "People look down on us, how can we look down on ourselves?"
"No!" The officials of the manufacturing bureau, who had already suppressed their anger, waved their fists and shouted, wishing that they could break Li Guolou's nose with one punch. Humph! When the boxing match comes in August, I will buy Tarzan to win, hard. Take revenge on "snobby" Li Guolou.
The Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau held a meeting for most of the night, and finally reached a preliminary rectification plan. A group of officials, technicians, and senior technicians with tall noses and blue eyes were clenching their fists and eager to try, all clamoring for Li Guolou to look good. pace, chasing the stars home or back to the dormitory of the manufacturing bureau.
An old servant held an oil lamp to guide the way. Xu Shou and Xu Jianyin, father and son, were walking in the factory area. They both slept in the dormitory of the manufacturing bureau. They had developed the habit of hard work since childhood and no longer cared about enjoying life.
Xu Shou saw the oil lamps in front of him shaking and there were still people who hadn't arrived at the dormitory. He couldn't help but smile and said: "Jianyin, now you know the benefits of being cursed. Li Guo's floor has been having a bad look for a day, so let Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing A person in the bureau has regained his fighting spirit, which is more admirable than a few words of praise. This person is not a playboy. His energy is beyond imagination. You still have a long career. It’s a good idea to learn from others. The chief’s intention is to Think about it, sometimes what you see does not represent the real situation. Li Guolou values our father and son very much, but does not get close to us. This is to win scholars for the country, do you understand?"
Xu Jianyin walked silently, thinking quietly, listening to the tapping sound of footsteps, and said with a smile: "The child understands my father's teachings. I will also visit Mr. Li tomorrow. Even if he laughs at me again, I will not You're arguing with him. Hehe!"
Xu Shou said slowly: "Master Li will change his face again tomorrow, and that person will be someone you don't know."
"Yeah! Mr. Li will cry." Xu Jianyin figured it out and saw through Li Guolou's trump card. It would not be an exaggeration to use another trick to plead guilty. Jiang Xianghe's play has been exhausted long ago.