?Xu Qian figured out the strangeness, took a step forward, gritted his teeth and said angrily: "Master Fu, the foreigners must be behind the scenes, the Prussians are hiding behind, Li Guolou must have obtained the Prussian infantry training manual, he It's so weird and weird, so I immediately changed it and made it his. This guy knows how to use his brains. Those two people from the Qing School happened to be his mentors. Li Guolou said on the surface that he should keep his power and cultivate his strategy, but secretly he took refuge with Li Hongzao and Weng Tonghe. These two Confucian scholars, Weng Tonghe, have risen again, and the new martial arts hall is once again under the control of the Qing school. Master Fu Xiang, only by cooperation can we grow stronger, Weng Tonghe is not easy to mess with!"
"Well... Master Xu has seen through it all. Liu Liu Mazi shouldn't fall out with Li Guolou. When the new martial arts hall officially starts, the instructors will all be from our Huai Army. Those under Li Guolou who don't have Who among the servants who have fought in the war will obey them? Don’t worry, when Li Guolou comes, I will directly show him my cards and let you take charge of the daily training of the new martial arts hall." Li Hongzhang narrowed his slender eyes slightly, Li Guolou's ambitions are too great, and it's time to take action to restrict Li Guolou.
Liu Mingchuan raised his sleeves and shouted: "Master Fu Xiang, your grandson is so evil that you put the new martial arts hall in Xiaozhan Town just to torture me to death. But I am a martial arts practitioner. The fatigue of traveling and horseback riding is nothing. Today I'll stay with you tonight, and I'll go back early tomorrow morning and let Liu Jie eat flies!"
"Liu Liu Mazi, don't be in a hurry to go back. Li Guolou will be here tomorrow. You meet him and take over the errands, so that the seventh-grade Sesame Officer won't embarrass you." Li Hongzhang was a little helpless, and towards Li Guo Lou must be strictly guarded. Supervisors and high-ranking officials prefer to use people from their own line. However, Li Guolou has been out in many places, and he cannot be controlled for a while. No one except Li Guolou has the ability to deal with many matters of the Westernization Sect. Go and do it, use Li Guolou's talents and guard against him harboring evil intentions.
Li Hongzhang and Liu Mingchuan talked about Xinwutang's ideas of loyalty to the emperor and patriotism, the textbooks compiled, and the songs to persuade soldiers. They verbally criticized Li Guolou and cursed Li Guolou for forgetting his ancestors. In their hearts, they were discussing the pros and cons, guessing Li Guolou. Why did Guo Lou make such changes? What are the benefits? Qian Ming could not spare Li Guo Lou and wanted him to give an honest account.
At this time, Li Guolou was hosting a banquet in the living room of the Li Mansion with the British Minister Witoma and his party. He had no choice. Unlike the Qing people, the British handed over a greeting card first and asked if you were free to entertain guests. They came directly to the door. Coming, this gave him no reason to refuse the distinguished British guest. Ever since Li Guolou agreed to the investment and development of the French Concession by the French Minister Luo Shuya, the British noses smelled it and immediately came to him for cooperation. Everyone is now an old acquaintance. The Qing-British friendship lasted forever, and Li Guolou could only agree to increase investment in the British Concession in Tianjin. In front of the long British-style dining table, the two parties had a harmonious relationship while eating and chatting. The British Minister, William Wytoma, praised Xie Liya's craftsmanship as authentic and British. People’s fine traditions.
Li Guolou was a little worried. His every move in the British Concession was being watched. He was so close to the Western powers and invited guests to dinner every day. He didn't know what the court would think of what he did in the British Concession. He wanted to be a Patriots, but the reality is that only by cooperating with Western countries in the industrial society can they have the opportunity to make a lot of money. Li Guolou, who claimed to be a leader in Western affairs, became a favorite in the eyes of foreigners. The main purpose of foreigners coming to the Qing Dynasty was to seek wealth. , the two parties hit it off immediately and prepared to jointly establish a rubber factory in Tianjin.
Li Guolou's initial peace talks went smoothly, but he felt a lot of bitterness in his heart. He established a joint-stock company with foreigners, and Emperor Tongzhi's 30% share was indispensable. When it came to the last industrial enterprise with great potential in the future, he only held a small share. At this time He just thought that it would be good to be a national entrepreneur, and he could gain a foothold in the Qing Dynasty by paying taxes, but he had to bear the responsibility of making money for the Ministry of Internal Affairs. As always, Li Guolou received noble gifts from the British minister, several sets of exquisite porcelain plates and Ten sets of the latest styles of western clothes.
Seeing a group of British people with expectant looks on their faces, Li Guolou touched his cheek and nodded to Zhen Yuhuan. The greedy British people all liked antiques from the Qing Dynasty, so he was definitely at a loss when it came to giving gifts.
Farewell to the British Minister Witoma and his party, Li Guolou lamented: "Grandma Qi, did you say that the Americans will come tomorrow!"
"No need to guess, Xiaolou, a group of foreigners will come to visit you in the evening. Foreigners are united in the Qing Dynasty. Do you understand the rules? Since you have made the rules, foreigners will not take advantage of you. You have to learn from Li Hongzhang in this regard , you are still young." Zhen Yuhuan shook his head and sighed, such fine antiques and fakes were mixed in, making it difficult to distinguish the authenticity from the fake.
Li Guolou nodded, agreed with Zhen Yuhuan's words, and shouted: "Grandma Qi, become a female celebrity for me. This is related to the future of our family. Don't embarrass me. I will train in the afternoon and let the foreigners do it. Anyway, They are all friends!”
"Hi." Zhen Yuhuan knew that her task was arduous. Now her family belongs to a Manchu aristocratic family. Every New Year, they have to go to the palace to celebrate the New Year with the Queen Mothers of the two palaces. If they want to stand out among so many aristocratic women, they do not rely on giving expensive gifts. , but rely on the female celebrities and their eloquence. During the Chinese New Year, the Empress Dowager of the Second Palace rewarded the juniors with golden melon seeds. Li Guolou's request for her was that the female celebrities could pass the exam and not make a fool of themselves because of being a female celebrity. Li Guolou let her enter Palace is the greatest recognition for her. Zhen Yuhuan is quite serious about this task, and happily runs into the bedroom to become a female celebrity.
In the afternoon, Li Guolou was practicing boxing while sweating profusely. Fan Dahui came over anxiously and said, "Master Li, Liu Liu Mazi went to Xiaozhan Town yesterday. No one entertained him. Liu Liu Mazi ran away feeling angry. I was afraid that it would be bad for you, so I rushed back to tell you!"
"You bastard, what are you doing in Xiaozhan Town? You're looking for a fight. The whole glass ball is rolling." Li Guolou attacked the big sandbags from left to right, as if the sandbags in front of him were "Liu Liu Pockmarked".
Fan Dahui persuaded: "Master Li, those kids will also be assigned to the army in the future. If you have a stalemate with Mr. Fu Xiang, he will do something underhanded. Mr. Li, step back and the world will be brighter. Don't be as knowledgeable as Liu Liuzi. It’s better to surrender first!”
"Hey." Li Guolou heard the word "soft" and lost his energy. He untied the gauze on his hands and said with a wry smile: "Master Fan, you are right. How can you not accept softness under the roof of a human being? Tomorrow morning Come with me to the governor's palace, bow your head to the great god Liu Liu Mazi, whom everyone admires, and admit defeat. Now go to the Italian Embassy and tell them that I will not be at home tomorrow, so as to save the minister from having to come here in vain. Go back quickly and have grilled steak in the evening. , stewed mushroom soup!”
When Fan Dahui heard that Li Guolou was not motivated, he happily accepted the order and left. To be a qualified master, you must first analyze the pros and cons of the matter to the lord. If the lord does not listen to him, there will be no sense of accomplishment, and his subordinates will not They will look down upon him and not take him seriously.
After taking a bath in the well water, Li Guolou thought about how to deal with Li Hongzhang. He could only deal with Li Hongzhang by bribery and gifts of rare antiques. He had just obtained a unique treasure, the "Lanting Preface" written by Feng Deyi, the Prime Minister of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. , the "Lanting Preface" written by Wang Xizhi has long disappeared from the world. Feng Deyi, the Prime Minister of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, imitated the "Lanting Preface" written by Wang Xizhi. It is also a peerless treasure, which is as painful as the heart. This is worse than the three-foot-tall Jade Guanyin. To be precious, how could Li Guolou not know the value in dealing with antiques all day long?
Li Guolou took out the volume of "Orchid Pavilion Preface" from under the bed in the bedroom and opened it to read. He sighed. Any grandmother would know that Li Guolou was about to bleed again.
Wu Peipei sighed: "Xiaolou can't bear to part with it, so let's change it to a Tang Sancai color. Mr. Fu Xiang will also like it!"
Li Guolou's face looked like he was crying, and he lamented: "Hey... you don't understand. Scholars like to read calligraphy most. Master Fu Xiang would only look at a piece of Tang Sancai for a while, and then throw it into the corner. There is a copybook of Feng Deyi. Mr. Fu Xiang will take it out every day and look at it. I am really a prodigal boy. Good things go in with the left hand and go out with the right hand, but all is lost!"
Zhen Yuhuan sighed: "Hey, don't think too much about the small building. Just ask Yan Zizhang to dig a few more holes. After all, the Ministry of Punishment is run by your family!"
Li Guolou was shocked when Zhen Yuhuan found out. Things in the house could not be hidden. It was too difficult to ask the family members to keep secrets from each other. He hurriedly said: "Grandma Qi keeps it a secret. If outsiders find out, I will be miserable." !”
Zhen Yuhuan glanced at him and said: "Xiaolou, it's not like you are in the antique business. All the antiques in the world come from this way. Do you think they are fools? Anyone with power will do this. This kind of truth still needs me." Teach you?"
"Well, it makes sense. Grandma Qi has seen through it all. I just made up a lie and said that she didn't wear it. When I return to Beijing, I will give a few antiques to Mr. Bao so that he can take good care of me in the future." Li Guolou suddenly became enlightened and felt comfortable. Things outside the body should not be brought with them during life, and should not be taken away after death. Feng Deyi's "Lanting Preface" was given to Li Hongzhang to express his feelings, and the good days can last longer.
Yelia probed her head and asked, "Xiaolou, how much is this scroll worth?"
Li Guolou said: "At least tens of thousands of taels, but this kind of calligraphy and painting is an invisible treasure in the antique market, and the price is not comparable!"
"Oh, Li Hongzhang must know that you bought a gold watch. If you don't give him one, he will hate you." Yelia knew very well about the Qing people's love for Western gadgets, so he immediately reminded Li Guo building.
"Hey... My officers are all corrupt. Don't be as greedy as them. I can't afford to support you." Li Guolou looked at the ladies. His family had not settled down yet.
"Hey..." Several ladies also sighed. Following Li Guolou seems to be a blessing, but in fact, they have not accumulated much wealth. After admiring the rare antiques for a while, they will be given away. The greed of the princes and nobles is insatiable. , making Li Guolou exhausted. As soon as things are settled here, something will happen there.
"Xiaolou, I watch the numbers on the account books jumping around all day long. The household department is not as busy as us. You are here as the yamen. In the future, you will set up a department to do business with foreigners." Zhen Yuhuan complained a little to Li Guo. As soon as Lou came to the British Concession, his family had no peace and he received foreign friends every day.
"Well." Li Guolou didn't say much. The combination of power and money makes him invincible. Now even foreigners are coming to get close to him. They know that he is the most powerful official in the Qing Dynasty, so they should establish a good relationship with him first. He is here It already has the aura of a yamen, and in the future some of the power of the yamen of the Prime Minister's Office will be divided by him. This is also intentional by Emperor Tongzhi, and his power will be even greater.
There was no need for Li Guolou to guess. In the evening, the American Minister Williams came to visit his home with ten people including the counselor. Li Guolou warmly embraced his American friends. The Tianjin Teaching Case allowed them to form a deep friendship and show true love in times of crisis. It is rare that the foreigners did not ask for several concessions to be counted as state compensation. Thanks to the foreigners' soft-heartedness in the Tianjin Mission Case.
In fact, Li Guolou knew very well that after fighting against the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the Nian Army, the officers and soldiers of the Qing Dynasty could face death and were not afraid of foreign guns and artillery. The foreigners had no chance of defeating the Qing Dynasty, so they were merciful on the Tianjin religious case. share