After spending 500 taels of silver on the operating costs, Zhang Zhenxun's response to the Yamen, the governor of Liangguang, was that he suggested that he go to overseas Chinese for ideas, because overseas Chinese are better at dealing with foreigners.

At this time, Zhang Zhenxun had returned to China for 10 years, and he had already understood the operating habits of the Qing court officialdom, which was obviously a prevarication that he did not want to report to Beijing, but it also reminded Zhang Zhenxun that he could indeed find some way from the overseas Chinese.

Of course, Zhang Zhenxun had heard of the deeds of overseas Chinese, and knew that they defeated the Eight-Nation Coalition and pulled the Qing court back from the brink of extinction, in this regard, overseas Chinese are indeed much stronger than the Qing court, and now overseas Chinese are actually separated, and the propaganda to the outside world is a posture of trying to protect the interests of the nation, but I don't know what attitude they have towards the overseas Chinese in Nanyang. But even though the imperial court didn't want to take care of it, it could only try its luck from the side of overseas Chinese.

Although Zhang Zhenxun was unable to participate, he also knew that Sheng Xuanhuai, Yan Xinhou, Zhu Baosan and others were inspecting Qingdao at this time, so Zhang Zhenxun rushed to Qingdao from Guangzhou overnight to ask Sheng Xuanhuai and others to introduce him and get in touch with the East China government.

What Zhang Zhenxun never expected was that it took only one night for overseas Chinese to make a decision, dispatch warships to Java to carry out armed protection operations to protect overseas Chinese, and immediately send a warship to go first, which is the best result that Zhang Zhenxun could not imagine, it seems that overseas Chinese can really rely on the strength.

So Zhang Zhenxun immediately said: "Speaker Qin, no matter how good it is, if you are armed to protect overseas Chinese, all the expenses will be borne by you, and you are willing to support you with an additional 1 million taels of silver to thank you for your efforts." ”

Qin Zheng smiled and said: "Mr. Zhang doesn't have to be like this, in fact, we are also from overseas Chinese relics, Mr. Zhang is a businessman, and he can still run for the interests of overseas Chinese in Nanyang, and since everyone belongs to the same Chinese lineage, how can we not save ourselves when we see death." Therefore, there is no need for Mr. Zhang to break the bank. ”

Zhang Zhenxun listened, stood up, bowed to Qin Zheng, and couldn't help but choke up a little in his voice: "Your people are so righteous, on behalf of millions of Chinese in Nanyang, thank you for your kindness." ”

Qin Zheng also got up and said, "Mr. Zhang doesn't have to be like this, come, sit down and talk." After the two sat down again, Qin Zheng said again: "We are different from the Qing court, the Qing court regards overseas Chinese as outcasts of the Celestial Empire, but we regard overseas Chinese in Nanyang as Chinese compatriots and brothers, brothers are in trouble, how can we not help, since the Qing court does not care about overseas Chinese in Nanyang, then we will take care of it." However, this time we have some things to do, and we need Mr. Zhang's help. ”

Zhang Zhenxun hurriedly said: "If you have any requests, you can put them forward, as long as you can do it, you will definitely not refuse." ”

Qin Zheng said: "Mr. Zhang should know that we have just returned to China, and we are not familiar with the situation in Nanyang, Mr. Zhang has lived in Nanyang for a long time, and his business is all over Nanyang, so he is naturally familiar with the situation in Nanyang, and we will inevitably have to deal with the Dutch colonial authorities when we send troops to protect overseas Chinese, and Mr. Zhang has some contacts with the Dutch colonial authorities, so I hope that Mr. Zhang can send a few competent personnel to assist us." ”

Zhang Zhenxun nodded and said, "This and a small matter can be arranged immediately." ”

Qin Zheng said: "The climate in Nanyang is hot, there are many diseases, and most of our soldiers are northerners, I am afraid that the water and soil are not adapted, and the time is urgent, and we will not prepare medicines, so Mr. Zhang also prepares some more medicines to escape the heat, clear the heat, disinfect, and remove fire, and after our army arrives in Java, it will definitely accommodate a large number of refugees, and a large number of tents and food are needed." ”

Zhang Zhenxun said: "This matter is also easy to do, and several pharmacies have been opened in Java, which can be used before the army, tents, food, etc., and there is no need for the nobles to worry." ”

Qin Zheng said: "There is also the fact that this place is thousands of miles away from Java, and warships sail and need to replenish coal, drinking water, and food, and ask Mr. Zhang to arrange supplies." ”

Zhang Zhenxun said with a smile: "There are two shipping companies in Java, and all the countries in the South Seas have wharves in Xia, so they can supply your warships to use." ”

Seeing that Zhang Zhenxun answered so happily, Qin Zheng felt a little unreliable, and said: "We will inevitably have a conflict with the Dutch colonial authorities this time to protect overseas Chinese, and even meet each other, and Mr. Zhang has many industries in Nanyang, and he still needs to rely on the Dutch colonial authorities. ”

Zhang Zhenxun listened, and couldn't help but be quite moved, because overseas Chinese are indeed thinking about themselves, Zhang Zhenxun returned to China for 10 years, and saw too many officials of the Qing court, only caring about their official positions and achievements, and when they needed businessmen to pay money, the lion opened his mouth widely, but he didn't consider the interests of businessmen at all, but overseas Chinese can fully think for themselves, and it is indeed much more humane. Zhang Zhenxun, of course, is very clear, if he helps overseas Chinese, the Dutch colonial authorities will inevitably retaliate against him, although he will not really attack himself, but he will definitely embezzle some of his own industry.

So Zhang Zhenxun said: "Speaker Qin, don't worry, the big deal is to lose some money." There is no good in the lower body, that is, I have accumulated some money for many years, but money is just something outside the body, I don't bring it in life, I don't take it in death, and I don't use it to do something useful. ”

Qin Zheng nodded, and also approved: "Mr. Zhang is really worthy of being a righteous man." ”

Zhang Zhenxun said: "Speaker Qin has won the award, and I just want to do my best to do something for the country and the Chinese in Nanyang, but unfortunately my ability is limited. ”

Qin Zheng nodded, thought about it again, and said: "Mr. Zhang, the Nanyang Chinese have been oppressed for hundreds of years, and we also know a little about it, and the imperial courts of all dynasties have regarded the Nanyang Chinese as outcasts of the Celestial Empire, and no one is in charge of the Nanyang Chinese, and now we also hope to do something for the Nanyang Chinese." We can take this opportunity to protect overseas Chinese, we have an idea, that is, we will take the lead in setting up a cooperative organization to protect the interests of overseas Chinese in Nanyang, organize all the overseas Chinese in Nanyang, and everyone will work together to not only safeguard the interests of all overseas Chinese in Nanyang, but also strengthen the ties between the Chinese in Nanyang, business and trade exchanges, etc., and at that time, we will ask Mr. Zhang to come forward to help us plan and maneuver. ”

When Zhang Zhenxun heard this, he was shocked all over. Of course, Zhang Zhenxun knows that in fact, there are a large number of overseas Chinese in Nanyang, and they have a large amount of wealth, so they can completely dominate Nanyang, but the most important reason why they have been oppressed for hundreds of years is that there is no huge government force behind them to support them, and secondly, the overseas Chinese in Nanyang themselves are scattered and have no unified organization; if the East China government can come forward to support the Nanyang Chinese and fully integrate the forces of the Nanyang Chinese, then the overseas Chinese in Nanyang will indeed no longer have to be afraid of being bullied in the future, but Zhang Zhenxun doubts that the East China government has this ability？

Zhang Zhenxun arrived in Qingdao yesterday, and he talked with Sheng Xuanhuai and others for most of the night in the evening, and he had a certain understanding of the situation of the East China government, and he also affirmed that the ability of overseas Chinese in all aspects was much stronger than that of the Qing court, but they only occupied a corner of Shandong now, and it may be feasible to complete this action to protect overseas Chinese, but to integrate the overseas Chinese in Nanyang and support the protective umbrella of overseas Chinese in Nanyang, Zhang Zhenxun has no bottom in his heart. After all, Zhang Zhenxun is an old man over sixty years old, experienced in the world, and has seen the world, of course, he will not be easily fooled by a few words.

Now Zhang Zhenxun has a good relationship with the Dutch colonial authorities, and the anti-Chinese movement will basically not fall on his head, even if it is to help the travelers to protect overseas Chinese this time, it can also be sent away with a little money. However, Zhang Zhenxun also understood that once he participated in the integration of overseas Chinese and the organization of the Nanyang Chinese, it would be tantamount to completely tearing up his face with the Dutch colonial authorities, because the colonists would never want to see a unified Chinese organization established; if the overseas Chinese succeeded to the point that it was easy to handle, they could rely on the overseas Chinese and the Dutch colonial authorities to deal with each other, and once the overseas Chinese failed, then they would hardly have a foothold in Java. Although Zhang Zhenxun has invested a lot in China, and his business is biased towards Nanyang, there are still more than 60% of the industries in Java, although Zhang Zhenxun just said that money is something outside the body, but now let him take all his life to make a big gamble, Zhang Zhenxun still can't make up his mind.

Fortunately, Qin Zheng also saw Zhang Zhenxun's difficulty, and said with a smile: "This is just an idea we have now, and it is not mature, and once Mr. Zhang agrees, it is indeed a big risk, so Mr. Zhang might as well think about it slowly, and don't answer us immediately." ”

When Zhang Zhenxun heard this, he couldn't help but admire in his heart, overseas Chinese are really generous and not difficult, and they do have a bit of the bearing of a superior person, so he said: "Thank you for your understanding." ”

Qin Zheng said again: "Don't hide it from Mr. Zhang, we plan to use this overseas Chinese protection action to force the Dutch colonial authorities to obtain a stronghold in Java, as our foothold in Java, first, to facilitate trade between us and Nanyang, and second, to better protect the overseas Chinese in Nanyang, if we can achieve this goal, can we negotiate the establishment of the Nanyang Overseas Chinese Organization?"

Zhang Zhenxun thought about it for a while, if the overseas Chinese really did this step, then there was really no need for him to hesitate, so he nodded and said: "Okay, if you can really do this step, you will be the only one in the future." ”