Emperor Tongzhi was very smart. He kept Prince Gong's memorial without publishing it, and presented Weng Tonghe's memorial to the empress dowagers of the two palaces. He thought very well. He would be able to take charge in person in a month, and he could do it according to his own wishes. But Weng Tonghe, who was sitting next to him, had already made up his mind to reveal this matter to the Queen Mothers of the two palaces. How could he violate the ancestral rules? If there was a big debate in the morning, Li Guolou's official rank was minor and he would not even have a chance to speak. It’s still unclear who will win?
Li Guolou's Zhezi actually talks about the same thing as Weng Tonghe. Weng Tonghe's Zhezi starts from the big picture, which is the defense consolidation of the Eight Banners and Sixth Army. But Li Guolou starts from the small side, mainly talking about the organization of a battalion. In addition, Li Guolou asked for leave from the emperor. He wanted to return to his hometown in glory. He had passed the imperial examination and was a high school prospect. How could he not go back to his hometown to worship his ancestors? Although he is now a Manchu with a yellow flag, he still has ancestors. ah.
Those who achieved the rank of Jinshi had to go back to their hometown once, and had an institutional holiday, which was also a happy event in life. Emperor Tongzhi immediately agreed and said with a smile: "Well... Li Guolou! The Queen Mother The empress really appreciates your ability to do things. Let's take advantage of the opportunity to go back to my hometown. I will give you another errand. You can report things to me. You can serve as a 'sniffer' and report what you see and hear along the way. I listen."
"Thank you Lord for your kindness!" Li Guolou was overjoyed. Emperor Tongzhi awarded him a low-level post of imperial envoy.
The privileges of "Hearing Envoys" are given to Yushi Dafu (Central Disciplinary Inspection Cadres), that is, they can criticize other officials at will in the memorials submitted to the emperor, and they can also write down hearsay things in the memorials, and the court will not reprimand them for false accusations. "Hearing the news". The person who holds this position must be an upright official. In other words, Emperor Tongzhi regarded Li Guolou as a noble and upright scholar, and he also regarded Li Guolou as his slave. Li Guolou made small reports casually.
Li Guolou took a secret box from the eunuch Liu Deyin and held it in his hand. This would be the tool for exchanging news with Emperor Tongzhi in the future. There were two locks in total, one was placed with Li Guolou, and the other was placed by Tongzhi. The emperor kept it. The emperor of the Qing Dynasty relied on this gadget to know folk news. The officials with the "secret box" were all the emperor's cronies and confidants.
Li Guolou left the study room holding the "secret box" wrapped in yellow brocade silk, but he was smiling bitterly in his heart. The method that Emperor Yongzheng came up with is still in use today, and Emperor Tongzhi still regards this kind of thing as a treasure. So. The old-fashioned secret box can be regarded as an antique long ago. He can open the "secret box" with just a hairpin. There should be a copy of the folder presented to the emperor in the two palaces and the empress dowager.
After leaving the palace gate, Prince Gong pulled Li Guolou's sleeve and said, "Li Guolou, go to the Yamen of the Prime Minister's Office. I have something to ask you."
Li Guolou smiled sweetly and said, "Okay! I just want to eat the pork belly there."
A treacherous smile appeared on Prince Gong's face, and he lowered his head and stepped into the green official sedan.
Li Guolou got on the carriage and waved: "Battle, go to the Yamen of the Prime Minister's Office quickly. I will treat you to the most delicious pork belly in the world at noon."
Battle chuckled and said, "Okay, Mr. Li, sit down."
The carriage started and went straight to the Yamen of the Prime Minister's Office. Li Guolou shouted: "Battle, if you pass Prince Gong's official sedan, leave their honor guard alone."
Li Guolou became impatient after seeing it. Why are there so many rules? Eight people carrying a sedan chair and a four-person honor guard are a waste of time. He doesn't care about official etiquette. Officials must follow behind the prince and in front. The person sitting there is Prince Gong, so he will not be blamed for not observing etiquette.
Li Guolou first came to the Yamen of the Prime Minister's Office, had lunch in the cafeteria, and then went to the Chrysanthemum Hall to wait for Prince Gong's summons. He drank afternoon tea, looked at the beautiful scenery in the courtyard outside the window, and enjoyed a short leisure.
After half past one, Prince Gong Yixin, Governor of Zhili Province Li Hongzhang and another middle-aged Jiangsu Governor Ding Richang came out from behind the screen.
Ding Richang, courtesy name Yusheng, also known as Yusheng, also known as Yusheng, nicknamed Chijing, was born in Fengshun, Guangdong, and was a scholar in his middle years. He was first appointed as magistrate of Luling County in Wan'an, Jiangxi Province. In 1861, he served as an aide to Zeng Guofan and was a fellow disciple of Li Hongzhang. He was sent in 186 He went to Guangdong to supervise administrative affairs and firearms. In the summer of 1864, he was appointed as Su Songtai's military preparation officer. In the autumn of the following year, he was transferred to Lianghuai Salt Transport Envoy. He currently serves as the governor of Jiangsu, but was retained by Li Hongzhang in Tianjin to take charge of the preparations for the Beiyang Navy.
Ding Richang looks very similar to Li Hongzhang. They both have a rectangular face and three strands of beard. However, he looks older, in his forties, with a beard and gray hair. He has a nickname called "Ding Gui Nu", also known as "Ding Gui Nu" The "little devil" is extremely flattering to foreigners, has a good relationship with foreigners, and has many foreign friends who are very close personal friends.
Now the three "Jai Zi Liu", "Little Jai Zi" and "Fake Foreign Japs" gathered in the Chrysanthemum Hall. The three of them not only pursed their lips and snickered.
The four of them watched the tea again and took their seats. Prince Gong sighed: "Guolou, I have called you here in such a hurry to tell you something. The Fujian Shipping Bureau is about to close down."
Li Guolou held his breath, and was stopped by Prince Gong's words. What does the matter of Fujian Shipping Bureau have to do with him? It has nothing to do with it. He just wants to set up a shipyard, and he also invested in Tianjin Beiyang Navy. Yes, make more contributions to the Beiyang Navy. Li Guolou still understands the rules, so he can only follow the topic and ask: "Prince Gong, the Fujian Shipbuilding Bureau is not running well, why can't it continue?"
"Hey! It's not just for money. The Fujian Shipbuilding Bureau has spent nearly two million taels of silver, but up to now they haven't even built a decent iron-clad ship. Prince Qing Yikuang, Xu Tong and others jointly signed a letter to the two The Queen Mother made several excuses, saying that she would shut down the Shipping Bureau. The Queen Mother asked me what should I do, and I just wanted to ask you guys if you have any good ideas to keep the Shipping Bureau running? And how to keep the Shipping Bureau running? The imperial court does not lose money and can build iron-clad ships like foreigners."
Li Guolou looked at his uncle Li Hongzhang. He was already furious after hearing this, but he still held back his words.
Li Hongzhang said: "Prince Gong, Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau and Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau all use foreign loans to maintain operations. Fujian Shipbuilding Bureau might as well try this approach? Xiaolou, do you have any other good ideas? "
Prince Gong frowned and said: "Shaoquan, I have thought about the idea you mentioned, but it is not a long-term solution. Not to mention the high interest rate on foreign money, once the foreigners turn against each other and refuse to lend money, what will happen to us manufacturing bureaus?" What to do? And wouldn’t it cost more to do this? It’s hard to explain to the Queen Mother. Guolou, you have the most ideas, come up with a good solution for me.”
Prince Gong, Li Hongzhang and Ding Richang had discussed this issue a long time ago. They called Li Guolou for questioning. Li Guolou already knew the hidden agenda.
Li Guolou stood up, bowed and said: "Prince Gong, when I work as an official, I do business to make the country rich and the people strong, so I should serve you. But the first time I told you about my ideals and ambitions, I said , The country’s thieves must be eradicated. They are so happy to get two million dollars in vain, and just leave after failing to accomplish anything. How can it be so cheap? Let this kind of thieves escape the punishment of the law. The people behind There are ways to follow the same example, but if you spend another two million silver, you will still be a pile of scrap copper and iron. If you don’t kill this kind of person who doesn’t know the kindness of the king, law and emperor! How can it be justified for a lower official to say something heart-wrenching?”
Prince Gong never expected that Li Guolou would come up with this bad idea. He mentioned the fallacy last time: "Use corrupt officials and fight against corrupt officials!" The officials who were in charge of the Fujian Shipbuilding Bureau were all his disciples, and even he received a share of filial piety. How could he do it? He cut off his arms and killed the Westernizers. He prepared a sentence and said: "Guo Lou, your idea is too radical. The leadership team of the Shipping Bureau needs to be adjusted. If it doesn't work, a group of people will be replaced. The matter of criminal prosecution should be raised. , the family has family rules, the state has national laws, isn't it the system of atonement money? Just let them spit it out when the time comes."
Li Guolou lowered his head and said: "If you let me be the imperial envoy, I will kill them first and then report them. They will raid the hometowns of those insects and even trample their ancestral graves. Such people are not worthy of being a Westernizer, let alone a prince." A student is a person who cannot accomplish anything, what use is he?"
Li Hongzhang couldn't stand listening anymore and shouted angrily: "Li Guolou, don't say anything out of anger. When the prince asks you, even if you are angry, you can't come up with bad ideas."
Li Guolou was also filled with righteous indignation for a moment. "Two million silver" could not even build a decent iron-clad ship. Instead of asking the Shipping Bureau to build cruisers, Li Hongzhang ordered two cruisers from Britain for only 130,000 taels of silver. They were just iron-clad ships. It's just an armored ship running around in the river. It doesn't cost so much to learn the strange skills of Westerners.
Li Guolou calmed down, his eyes turned red, and said: "Your Majesty, Li Zhongtang, Master Ding, don't blame the officials for talking nonsense. Now the country is in a renaissance situation. If we grasp it, we will be the heroes of the Qing Dynasty. If we don't cherish it, Our generation is the sinner of the ages. Others are making progress, but we are committing suicide. Even if the official sacrifices his life and pays for it, and all the people under him do things like this, even if I can make money again, it will be hard to satisfy my desires. Nothing is accomplished.”
Prince Gong coughed and said: "Don't be impatient, Guolou. I am also in a hurry and want to find someone to turn the tide. No! I called Lord Ding to recommend him as the Shipping Minister of Fuzhou and start cleaning up again." When it comes to the Shipping Bureau, things will come up one by one. If you are so eager for quick success and quick gain, I can't protect you."
Li Guolou was obedient and refused to say a word. Everyone has their own interests. He was also thinking about his one-third of an acre of land. That was the direction of his main attack. Fujian was thousands of miles away. No matter what happened, even if he had money, I don't want to give it to the "little devil". Crabs have their own ways to show their talents. If he can't make money, who will pity him?
Prince Gong winked, and Li Hongzhang sighed and said: "Guo Lou! New things must be explored slowly. The Fujian Shipbuilding Bureau has come to this point. How can we let the conservatives in the imperial court succeed in their conspiracy to abolish the Shipping Bureau?" Absolutely not. Nowadays, foreigners are rampant in the Qing Dynasty with their sophisticated guns and ships, which has caused great harm to our people. I have just signed a treaty with little Japan. Even such a small country dares to be at the negotiating table. Threatening our country. After Japan was opened to the country by American gunboats, it built more steel plants, built more ships, and its army also used foreign guns and cannons. They were all ahead of us. But what about our country? There are only a few manufacturers The factory has spent so much money to take shape. It is not easy! Xiaolou, you have a patriotic heart. Now you are taking on so many important positions. The Empress Dowager of the Second Palace would like to remind you to share more worries for the country. "
Li Guolou remained silent and maintained his demeanor. He was not in a hurry and waited for good news. The interests were mutual. If there was no benefit, you should always give him a reason to serve.
Prince Gong took a sip of tea and said with a smile: "Guolou, Shaoquan and I have also done the calculations for you. Please come in to do bank business and you will definitely make money without losing money. That's great. Fujian is your third pilot province." , Cooperating with Mr. Ding will do no harm to you, it just depends on how you conduct yourself."
Li Guolou said with a sad face: "Prince Gong, Lord Ding, this chicken hasn't laid eggs yet, so you can't kill the chicken to get the eggs. You must give me time to spend a few years of development."
Ding Richang said: "Guo Lou, you first open a bank in Fuzhou and leave the saving to me and the making of money to you. Isn't that enough?"
Li Hongzhang also said: "Xiaolou, you must help Prince Gong. Whether this deal can be successful or not depends on your words."
Li Guolou said cruelly: "Okay, I will do my best to give Mr. Ding ten thousand taels of silver to allow the Fujian Shipping Bureau to operate normally. We will wait until next year to talk about other things."
With such a light word, Prince Gong, Li Hongzhang, and Ding Richang couldn't believe it. The bank hadn't even opened yet. Li Guolou had a huge fund of ten thousand taels of silver around him. It seemed that this golden rooster still had a lot of potential.
"Hahahaha! Guolou is really a horse of the Li family! I like to deal with you, and drink Pijiu (Pijiu is beer) together at night!" Ding Richang only knows a few words in foreign language, and he also likes to show off.
How to tap Li Guolou's potential? Prince Gong couldn't help but ponder, looking at his new disciple with a smile, letting "Xi Shi" Zhen Yuhuan lurk next to Li Guolou, this move was considered the right move.