The next day, early in the morning, Li Guolou was called to Li Hongzhang's residence, signed in, saluted meticulously, and then skillfully picked up the water pipe and lit Li Hongzhang's cigarette.
"Bah, bah, bah." Li Hongzhang closed his eyes, enjoying the first bag of hookah in the morning, exhaled a breath of stale breath, opened his slender eyes, and said slowly: "Xiaolou, did you sleep well last night?"
Li Guolou took out two articles from his sleeves and placed them on the desk. One was a letter of apology, and the other was the "Etiquette and Negotiation Precautions for Western Envoys Going Abroad in the Qing Dynasty" that Li Hongzhang gave him. This thick article was the result of a whole night of his hard work.
"Master Fu Xiang, I didn't sleep last night while I was writing an article." Li Guolou replied respectfully, fearing that Li Hongzhang would settle the score with him.
Li Hongzhang took a sip of the fragrant tea, cleared his throat and said, "Oh... that means you are not drunk! You were putting on a show last night and said Liu Gong is the king of Yue. What do you mean?"
Li Guolou licked his face, smiled, and said: "Master Fu Xiang, you still don't know that your grandson just likes to do small tricks. For the sake of Master Fu's career, how can your grandson dare to indulge himself? Now I have a new I have learned from my painful experience and no longer dare to be self-righteous and only focus on running errands for Mr. Fu Xiang."
"Well...it's right to have such an idea." Li Hongzhang picked up the booklet on the desk and read it carefully, slowly and silently. He didn't know what he was thinking.
Li Guolou stood still and did not dare to sit down. He was in the limelight yesterday and brought glory to the Li family, but he also made a few mistakes and violated taboos, and might be peeled off by Li Hongzhang.
Li Hongzhang put down the book and said loudly: "Sit down in the small building, don't be restrained. I don't mean to blame you. I see your efforts. Don't think that I have any prejudice against you. This is my love for you. Others are in your care." At this age, you are still chanting the wind and chanting the moon. You are able to put your thoughts and money on the right path. I am very happy that you can establish a new martial arts hall in such a short period of time and compile detailed regulations, tactics, and ideas. The course shows you your skills, how did you do it?"
Li Guolou bowed and said: "I'll tell you the truth, Mr. Fu Xiang. Because I know English well, I have read some professional English books. I also like to use my brain and have the habit of writing my experiences, so I can write articles quickly." Soon, I didn’t go out to play usually, and focused all my attention on errands.”
"Really?" Li Hongzhang glanced and said, he would not believe Li Guolou's lies. Someone copied the articles for Li Guolou and studied the details, so that he could explain it. However, officials have staff and books. Yes, I just don’t know who the master is hiding behind Li Guolou.
"Yes, Mr. Fu, I don't dare to lie. Look at such a long article. I wrote it in one night. Even Mr. Fan didn't enter my room. I compiled it all by myself." ." How dare Li Guolou say that Wu Peipei collected information for him and Xie Xiuzhu helped him copy the articles. That was his family's secret. Even if others knew it, he would refuse to admit it.
"Oh, that's true. My thousand-mile horse is also there, no, my steam train is also, hahahaha." Now Li Hongzhang believed it, and looked at Li Guolou lovingly. His grandson's success made his face brighter. He would not be embarrassed abroad, even important national events such as the Qing flag and the national anthem were handled for him.
"Thank you for the compliment, uncle. My grandson will definitely take this sentence as a motto and live up to my uncle's expectations." Li Guolou was relieved, with a bright smile on his face. It seemed that there were only good things today and no bad things. He picked up the teacup with peace of mind. , blowing the green tea leaves floating on the water, and drinking the slightly hot tea.
Li Hongzhang was very happy, nodded and said: "Xiaolou, I will write this sentence down later and give it to you as an encouragement."
Hearing the praise from the highest officer Li Hongzhang and affirming his achievements, Li Guolou was very excited and couldn't help but express his inner thoughts. He pondered for a while and said: "Master Fu Xiang, although the new martial arts hall under the control of the lower official is based on discipline, Rigor, honesty, and seeking truth from facts are the standards. As long as I am given time, I can carry forward the spirit of Xinwutang. However, just having a system of Xinwutang still cannot change the weakness of the Qing army and fundamentally eliminate the Qing army. The long-term solution is to solve the stubborn disease. I have a huge plan to benefit the country and the people. As long as I do it, the country will prosper and the army will also grow stronger. I wonder if Mr. Fu Xiang is interested in hearing it."
Master Xu Qian stepped into the living room and said with a smile: "Li Xuezheng, if you have any ideas, let me know. It will help me, a person who has never changed from ancient times, evolve into a foreign devil."
Li Hongzhang waved his hand and said: "Eat breakfast first and talk while eating."
At the dinner table, Li Guolou said: "Last time, Mr. Fu Xiang said that to manage the rivers in the Zhili area, many civilians are needed. Many of these people are good soldiers, hardworking, young and strong, and many of them are Refugees are willing to serve as soldiers as long as they have a meager income. What I propose is not to train soldiers, but to learn from the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty, establish a large agricultural reclamation army, and establish an industrial and agricultural base in the Northeast. Unlike the Ming Dynasty, where land was distributed to military households, and the final outcome was that the land was embezzled by military officers, it was based on the fact that the land belonged to the state. Farmers and soldiers only owned houses and a small amount of private land, while those who originally owned the land All investors become shareholders of industrial enterprises, allowing big landowners to become the pioneers of the industrial revolution. The advantage of this is that the country's income will increase, the interests of big landowners and big bureaucrats will not be harmed when enclosing land, there will be less resistance, and there will be a strong agricultural army. To defend the birthplace of the royal family, there is a constant supply of soldiers, and there will be no phenomenon that one generation is inferior to the next. However, raising an army that is half peasants and half soldiers with a very low salary means that the country does not need to spend money to raise soldiers, but only needs to invest funds. Used in weapons and equipment, the officers of the peasant army will not be corrupted. The plan to develop the royal birthplace should be implemented boldly, with the central idea of protecting the royal birthplace, changing the military household system of the Ming Dynasty, adapting to the needs of the times, and allowing Weihaiwei Naval Base has a stable rear area, preventing Western powers from coveting it, and allowing two neighbors with ulterior motives, Russia and Japan, to retreat in the face of difficulties."
Li Hongzhang stopped to drink porridge and looked at Li Guolou blankly. He had forgotten to eat breakfast a long time ago and asked: "Xiaolou, did you come up with this plan too?"
Li Guolou ate deliciously, with hot porridge in his mouth. He nodded frequently and said vaguely: "Master Fu Xiang, I just have an idea. I haven't written it down yet, but I have taken a lot of notes."
Li Hongzhang asked anxiously: "Then when can you write it in detail?"
Li Guolou ate vigorously, drank a large bowl of hot porridge, put down his chopsticks, reached out to grab a meat bun and took a bite, and said: "Master Fu Xiang, next year, I have written it now and there is no money to implement it!"
Li Hongzhang was dissatisfied and said: "How can a small building like this work? You have no money, but I do! You should write out all the farmland and industrial construction plans in the Northeast as soon as possible. Don't draw a castle in the air, but conduct on-the-spot inspections. In August in the three provinces of Northeast China, In September and October, we can still inspect it, and take a look at the construction of Weihaiwei Naval Base. When I come back from my visit to the West, I want to see the preliminary implementation plan and the theoretical report of the feasibility plan."
Li Guolou said with a grimace: "Mr. Fu Xiang, I can hand over to you the feasibility report and the theoretical ideas for developing the three northeastern provinces in time, and the preliminary implementation plan. It is a cumbersome project that will not last more than one or two years. I don’t dare to write about on-the-spot investigation. The harm will be endless and I will become a criminal in history.”
Li Hongzhang felt a sense of urgency and asked: "Master Xu, do you understand? Based on what Li Guolou said, we must first organize a team to make plans. When recruiting workers for digging canals, we can first vigorously publicize them so that the river workers can have One or two years is a short period of time. In the blink of an eye, the immigration policy of the Qing Empire is about to change. Defending the three northeastern provinces can become the central idea. If this idea continues to develop, the Qing Empire will be impregnable."
"Yes, my subordinates understand and will make arrangements." Xu Qian looked at the two careerists in front of him. The plan was too huge. What did Li Hongzhang think? Will he become emperor? Or Li Guolou took advantage of the opportunity to take the throne. The ambition of enclosing territories from all over the world.
Xu Qian had already felt a murderous aura emanating from Li Hongzhang and Li Guolou. There was no room for two tigers in one mountain. Whether these two people would meet in war in the future, he was also thinking about Li Guolou's plan in his mind. A Beiyang Navy is much better. Civilian industrial construction is the cornerstone of the industrial revolution. Li Guolou’s insights are several times stronger than Li Hongzhang’s. Will Li Hongzhang take all the credit this time? It seems that he will reuse Li Guolou and train him as his successor.
After chatting for a while, Xu Qian was sent away by Li Hongzhang. During the conversation, Li Hongzhang suddenly slapped his forehead and said with a smile: "Xiaolou, you almost interrupted me. I called you here because I have something to tell you about Xin Wu Tang's tactical thinking. I will teach you based on the modern war ideas formulated by you and based on the facts. False military records are harmful to others and yourself. Thirty thousand soldiers and horses. Three thousand soldiers and horses died, which is only one tenth. I am too scared to fight. I admit it. The whole army was wiped out, and the army deceived the court from top to bottom. It is an anecdote for the ages, and the shame of the Qing Empire! Those ancient antiques should have been thrown into the garbage dump long ago. Who dares to make irresponsible remarks to let him change his position, as for his thoughts Education courses should be taught according to the original teaching courses and do not add new ideas."
Li Guolou cried with joy, turned over and prostrated himself on the ground, and said loudly: "Thank you Mr. Fu Xiang for your cultivation. I will fulfill my mission and build the new martial arts hall. It will become the cradle of training a new generation of officers of the Qing Dynasty. Soldiers will be loyal to Mr. Fu Xiang has his own responsibility, and the outdated dross will one day be thrown into the garbage heap." As he spoke, Li Guolou kowtowed three times and worshiped Li Hongzhang as an emperor. This was the Han people's way of expressing their love. The hint was already clear. One day Li Hongzhang rebelled, and Li Guolou rushed to the front as a vanguard officer.
"Go ahead, Xinwutang is not perfect yet. Read more, listen more, study more, and see what needs to be solved as soon as possible." Li Hongzhang picked up the teacup, crossed his legs, and started shaking. He was not in a hurry, he was still young, and he was fifty. A person under the age of 18 is full of energy, and under his control, the new blueprint of the Qing Dynasty has begun to take shape.
Li Hongzhang was still able to firmly control Li Guolou, so he dared to reuse Li Guolou. The Han people did not pose a threat to him. His biggest opponents were the princes and nobles, and the Manchus were the biggest enemies of his career.
Li Guolou has seen the hidden ambition of Li Hongzhang. If Mr. Fu Xiang, who is rich, powerful, territorial and powerful, continues to develop, one day he will wear a yellow robe. The legitimate son Li Jingshu will grow up slowly and will inherit Li Hongzhang's legacy. , and will he be crowned king one day? Or the birds will be gone, the good bows will be hidden, the cunning rabbit will die, and the lackeys will be cooked. Thinking of this, Li Guolou couldn't help but shudder. This is not the result he wants. He does not want to see the world There was chaos and the future was full of variables. Li Guolou did not dare to think this way. He put aside his unrealistic ideas and made the Qing Dynasty strong first. As for what kind of country the Qing Empire would become in the future, and the people around him What kind of changes there will be, these unknowns will be left to the future to solve.