Chapter 326 Please come in and save money if you are patriotic
Li Hongzhang smiled slightly and said: "Xiaolou, since you are here, let's have a simple dinner in the evening. First, go to the backyard to visit your great-aunts. Your two little aunts are also here."
Li Guolou was secretly happy. The old fox finally took the bait. He punched Li Hongzhang in the heart with just one punch. He smiled and said: "Last time I saw the two aunts, they were still holding each other in my hands. Now I don't know how they look. How high."
Li Hongzhang laughed heartily. He had a harmonious family and a clean life. His first wife did not give birth to a son, so he adopted an elder brother's son to him. After his first wife died, he married his second wife, Zhao Lian, and gave birth to two sons and two daughters.
Li Guolou was taken by Li Hongzhang to the backyard to meet his relatives, Li Hongzhang's successor Zhao Lian, and his two aunts Li Jucou and Li Jingpu.
Sheng Huaixuan was jealous. Originally, he considered himself to be a leader among young people. He had excellent literary talent, progressive thinking, and innovative spirit. He was appreciated by Li Hongzhang at a young age. Today, he met a fake foreigner who had returned from abroad. He dwarfed Sheng Huaixuan. He admired Li Guolou's magnanimity, eloquence, and innovative spirit.
Although Sheng Huaixuan was Li Hongzhang's adopted son, he also stayed for dinner in the evening. But there were differences between men and women. He had no chance to enter Li Hongzhang's back house. He reluctantly came to Li Hongzhang b1 3kanwang/b to play with some ancient jades and antiques in the study. Jade articles, ancient books, and ancient paintings are all dazzling. Countless priceless treasures are just placed in the study. People who like this kind of stuff will stay in this place all day long. Sheng Huaixuan was in a good mood. He looked around and the time flew by. past.
Half an hour later, Li Hongzhang and Li Guolou came to the study. Sheng Huaixuan was still playing with a piece of jade and looking through ancient books.
Li Guolou entered the study and visited first. His uncle had a problem. He liked to collect antiques and ancient paintings, even foreign things. Li Hongzhang saw the good things in other people's hands, which he did not have. Under his discernment, he would shamelessly ask others for begging, speak sincerely, and beg for help in a humble manner.
When Li Hongzhang negotiates with foreigners, it is normal to accept gifts. Of course, he has set an example and it has become a rule. It is not an act of betraying national interests by getting benefits. This is called reciprocity. He will also return gifts. As for whether the value is much different, this is not him. What people of this level think about is that writing a banner to someone is a huge honor in return. Li Hongzhang was right. One of his banners is worth "a house". Diplomats are all shameless. .Foreigners suffered a lot from Li Hongzhang in this regard.
Sheng Huaixuan knew that Li Guolou's family had opened the "Golden Phoenix and Silver Building". He asked: "Xiaolou, these antique jades, what have you collected?"
Li Guolou shook his head and said: "Brother Xingsun, although I know a little bit about these antiques, I don't collect them myself. I like to play with guns. I clean them at home when I have nothing to do. I have collected guns from various countries at home, both long and short guns. "
The servant entered the study and poured a round of tea. Sheng Huaixuan said: "Xiaolou, I didn't see that you are capable of literature and martial arts."
Li Guolou said proudly: "My uncle looks down on me and won't let me go to the battlefield. But I have also suppressed bandits. I have killed more than a dozen rebel bandits with my own hands."
Li Hongzhang smiled freely and did not say a word. The "grandson" showed off in front of him to leave a good impression on him. The people he guided were either rich or noble. The two juniors here all expected him to help them get on the horse and send them to him. A long journey ahead.
Sheng Huaixuan was not interested in fighting. He quickly changed the subject and asked: "Xiaolou, I am very interested in your founding of the banking industry. But this industry is opaque and full of tricks. The forces of all parties are competing. No one has ever been able to connect everything in the world. They each do their own thing. Although my foster father's love for the Holy Spirit is strong now, I don't think it will last long in the future. He will still be a prince."
Li Guolou stood up. He held his chest high and said: "Uncle, brother Xingsun. Now the knowledge and culture of the East and the West coexist. They are competing with each other in the land of the Qing Dynasty. Let us know that if we fall behind, we will be beaten. Knowledge is combat power. We When you are under the tyranny of foreign powers, you must be aware of your shame and then be brave. You can no longer take care of your family's thin farmland as you did in the past. Banks and bank accounts in various places do their own thing. For the entire country, it is not the same. It cannot play a role in moving forward. Many banks and bank accounts have become a cornucopia of money for the underworld. To change this situation, let the money of the Qing Empire be gathered in the hands of the central government again. Just do it. One year's national fiscal revenue It can be increased by several million taels or even tens of millions of taels. This will not disturb the people. On the contrary, it can strengthen the central government's control over the local areas. Why not do it. As for the local powerful forces, the unrest factors can be eliminated in the form of joint stock. Intangible. Let them see a better future. A legacy that has been passed down for hundreds of years. Starting from our generation. If you only want to be a prince along the way, it is not the wisdom of the ancients. There is no new ideas and no spirit of innovation. Make money. What else can be done by building a few luxury houses? Instead, use private funds to establish a national bank. The country is rich and the people are strong. The ancients used to hide wealth among the people to govern the country. Today we are doing the opposite. Rich private capital can be used by the country. Synthesize With one force, we can establish a strong and prosperous New Qing Dynasty in less than twenty years. I believe that with the large population, vast land and abundant resources of our Qing Empire, we can achieve earth-shaking changes."
Li Hongzhang was silent for a while and said: "Xiaolou, well said, does not necessarily mean well done. There are many difficulties. The national bank is far away. Instead, it has become a shortcut for the rich and powerful to get rich. People's thinking still remains on the idea that one person can achieve enlightenment, chickens and dogs can ascend to heaven. Whatever I do now, I have to use my power to suppress it. Some people in the court said that I employ people for my own selfishness and that I am unfair in selecting scholars. All the people under my command are from the Huai Army. Those who can use the imperial examination to become Jinshi are bound by the quotations of the saints in the Four Books and Five Classics. They only know how to do it. I speak great principles, but they often accuse me of forgetting my ancestors. Those princes, Beile, and Beizi are afraid of the Han people taking power. They divide power and set up offices. Each department is filled with high-ranking officials. It has been very difficult for me to train a Huai army. Now I build one. The modern Beiyang Navy has been criticized even more for throwing money into a bottomless pit. Xiaolou, you said it very well, but this matter is difficult to handle. The local financial power has long been independent. Who is willing to give up vested interests and show some filial piety to the navy? The emperor, the empress dowagers of the two palaces, the governors, and the governors are still willing. They want to take over local financial power. It is unrealistic. I can only get the places through personal influence. Help you realize your idea. Liangjiang and Zhili areas can try it out. You say one How much income can it bring to the local area every year?”
Li Guolou's forehead was boiling with fire. His uncle Li Hongzhang entrusted him with the banking industry in Liangjiang and Zhili areas. Officials and businessmen were guaranteed to make profits without losing money. How bold are people and how dare they speak. He turned over and prostrated. He said in a deep voice: "Uncle. If you believe me, I will raise two million taels of silver for the Beiyang Navy in the first year. In the first three years, it will not be less than eight million taels of silver."
Li Hongzhang was secretly happy. He didn't have to pay a penny, let alone use his brain. This was operated with private capital, and it was a long-term solution. It could bring him huge wealth. He said slowly: "Xiaolou, I need you and you. Brother, raise 10 million taels of silver in three years. In the first year, at least 2.5 million taels of silver. Can you do it?"
At this time, the Qing Dynasty was an agricultural society. It was transitioning to a semi-colonial and semi-light industrial society. Productivity was underdeveloped. The price of agricultural products has remained unchanged for decades. It was minimally affected by inflation. The Qing government's annual income was 30 to 40 million taels of silver. The population There are about 400 million. For example, Prince Gong Yixin receives a double salary of 20,000 taels per year. The annual salary of a first-rank official is 8,000 taels, and from 32 taels to a ninth-rank officer. Ordinary soldiers receive about 15 taels per year, plus 20 buckets of rice. Officials also have a salary to support each department. It's different. It's pretty good for soldiers to get seventy percent salary. Ordinary people have low incomes and low consumption. The per capita income is less than three taels of silver a year. (Maybe it's even lower. In many places, it's less than one tael.)
Li Guolou had never been afraid. Since he was not taking the ordinary path, he fired his bow without any turning back. He said without hesitation: "My grandson promises to do it. If he can't do it, he will have a caesarean section to apologize. He will not enter the ancestral grave."
Li Hongzhang stood up and helped Li Guolou up. He laughed and said: "Okay. We, the Li family, are all loyal and patriotic people. Xiaolou, my uncle has misjudged you. It is good to make money without forgetting the country and the nation." Man."
Sheng Huaixuan was dripping with sweat after hearing this. He looked at the Li Guo Tower. A castle in the air could produce such a large output. The wind of exaggeration had come to the Li Hongzhang family. He asked with fear: "The small building seems unreliable. I think the second one is not reliable." Nothing can be done for one year. I believe it will be possible in the future. This first year, we didn’t even lay out the pavement. How are you going to raise funds for your adoptive father?"
Li Guolou smiled and said: "Brother Xingsun, do you smoke cigarettes?"
Sheng Huaixuan shook his head and said, "I don't smoke."
Li Guolou said: "Oh... maybe you don't know this. Now there is a cigarette factory owner in Shanghai who produces a kind of cigarette called 'Laodao Cigarettes'. He also came up with an advertising slogan. It's called 'Smoking Laodao cigarettes if you are patriotic'. It makes smokers flock to it. Even in our Ministry of Justice, it is popular to smoke Laodao cigarettes. If you are patriotic, domestic products are the first choice. I also came up with an advertising slogan for people who come to the bank. It's called "Patriots, please come in and save money. Serve the motherland yourself." Although our Invitation Bank is registered in the British Concession, it is for development and growth. What it does is for the country and the people. Invitation Bank is blooming all over the land of China. It is in full swing. It is a trend that cannot be stopped at a rapid pace. Local banks and bank accounts that are out of date will automatically ask to join this torrent. Those local governors and local black forces who want to block this torrent will only be abandoned and reviled by the world."
"Hahahaha." Li Hongzhang no longer had the reserve and poise he had just now. He had never felt more comfortable and cheerful. He laughed again and again and couldn't stop for a while.
Sheng Huaixuan was finally moved by what Li Guolou said. He laughed wildly. There are countless patriots. Who doesn't want the country to be rich and the people strong? A rising star of the Qing Empire stood proudly in front of him. He was filled with pride.
"Xiaolou, Brother Yu is asking you for advice. Just now I asked for an official position from my adoptive father. Everyone knows that Liangjiang and Zhili are fat. The so-called tax collectors are the fattest. They are those from Chongwenmen of Renjingshi and Guangzhou and Guangdong Customs. In addition, there are also tax collectors. There are tax officials, such as Tianjin Customs Road, Shanghai, Denglai, Hankou, Jiujiang and other official roads. There are also salt officials. Salt is an official monopoly and is contracted by salt merchants. Officials in charge of salt affairs can levy additional office expenses. And Earn gray income. Such salt officials include salt administration, salt transportation envoy, transportation deputy, transportation deputy, transportation judge, promotion officer, salt method Taoist, salt introduction inspector, etc. The Ministry of Industry of the central government is in charge of civil engineering and water conservancy. Because they are responsible for the work and material budget, handling of materials, assigned projects, etc., the officials of this ministry can get a share of the profits. The Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Accounts are in charge of national finance. They are also called the Ministry of Metal Industry and the Ministry of Banking."
Li Hongzhang was silent and paced in his study. There were many ills in the Qing Dynasty. The country suffered deeply from them. He personally benefited from them. It has formed a huge chain of interests that no one can touch. Even the emperor took advantage of it. He became the governor of Liangjiang.
The best. It can reach 300,000 taels of silver a year. The second is the governor of Guangdong, Guangxi and Sichuan. He is responsible for grain and land tax affairs.
For food road officials, the best person can get three hundred thousand taels a year. Among the best prefects, there are also two hundred thousand taels a year. For prefecture and county officials, the best ones are in prefectures and counties with grain supplies. In Jiangsu Province
Shanghai, Nanhui, Jiading, Baoshan and other magistrate counties are the best. There are hundreds of thousands of taels every year. Zhejiang Province is known as Jinping Lake and Yinjiashan. These two counties are known as gold and silver.
Not only officials specialized in fat vacancies, but the emperor also made use of them. While the official selection system already focused on Manchus, the lucrative vacancies became a gift to those close to them. Guangdong Customs, Salt Administration, and Jiangsu and Zhejiang
Sanwei Guan.or
Locating the special vacancies in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Specially awarded to the emperor's personal servants. Or there is a preference for them when determining candidates. Chongwenmen supervisors, committee members, assistant committee members, etc. mainly use Manchus. The chief ministers and treasury envoys of the three treasuries of the Ministry of Revenue