"The common Chinese people of the Tongzhi period were the most complex of the ethnic groups I have ever met, first of all, they had a very high moral standard, and they could live without relying on religious and legal supervision. This is a very rare kind of self-discipline, but this kind of self-discipline has a drawback, that is, it is overly dependent on the Confucian classics that have ruled people's hearts for thousands of years......"

"Moral self-discipline is a spiritual realm that is highly respected by any nation, but it is precisely because of the extreme blind obedience to the Confucian classics in Chinese that they miss out on natural science, let alone have any positive connection with industrialization, and some strange superstitions arise from this......

"I admire Mr. Xiao Letian, the sage of Western studies in the East, so much that he was able to genius think of such a bizarre and practical method of building a special industrial zone in China. I think this is the only way for the ancient empire to move towards innovation without destroying the overall situation of the country, and letting the rulers and elites taste the sweetness of industrialization first......"

"I can feel Xiao Letian's love for this land, and I can feel his cherishment of every life, although he is a murderous military leader in the eyes of many people, and even a sinister and cunning conspirator, but it is undeniable that Xiao Letian's actions are to try his best to make this empire complete the initial industrial revolution with the least chaos and blood......"

"He is a great man, a great man who can carry hundreds of millions of people in his heart, I have no doubt about that!"

The above remarks are excerpted from a book called "Matthew's Diary", which was not strictly written by one person, but by many people. Among them were Matthew, the American envoy, Mike, a member of the Carnegie family, and the American pastor Lewis, and even the little black Simon who had left his own words inside.

It's just that the person who started this book is the special envoy Matthew, so the title of the book is "Matthew's Diary", which is very strange because this is a precious historical archive that looks at China's transformation from the perspective of a foreigner. Moreover, this book is a detailed record of Xiao Letian's actions in this great change, and is a must-read classic for future generations to study China.

Matthew did not hesitate to praise Xiao Lotian in the book, not only because they had a good personal relationship, but more importantly, he saw the market of the late Qing Dynasty at that time.

"These ignorant Chinese, they don't understand what the power of industry is, and they even think that the power released by the machine is driven by ghosts. And they are convinced that these sensitive and suspicious people are so afraid of change that even you can't influence them with money......"

"I clearly remember that in the special industrial zone plan, the government offered double or even triple the price of land, and those people refused to sell their land to the special zone, and they actually had a very strange reason, that is, the souls of the ancestors did not allow it, I was really a little speechless, is this really the greatest civilization in the Middle Ages? Why are their remarks no different from the wild men of Africa? It seems that my friend Xiao is really in trouble......"

Matthew's worries are superfluous, Xiao Letian can't see the embarrassment at all now, he listened to Xiang Shaolong's report in the morning, and had a very sumptuous luncheon with the tiger girl and the beauties of Daguanyuan at noon, and then went to play treasure in the afternoon.

"Folks, let go, get out of the way, we are Lotte Yangxing, we heard that there is water in Zhuangzi, everyone has lost a lot of firewood and grass, I am here for disaster relief......" Xiao Lotian held a homemade iron horn, standing on top of a large cart full of firewood, and was pulling his neck and roaring.

"On a cold day, Lotte knows that everyone is having a hard time, cooking has to burn firewood, big livestock has to eat hay, no one has a lot of rich money, if you really buy firewood and grass, I'm afraid you will have to borrow usury in the spring next year...... We're here to do good deeds today, look at the twenty carts of firewood and grass behind us, enough for you to use, everyone give way......"

But no matter how Xiao Letian yelled, the people blocking the entrance of the village just wouldn't give way, and many people in the crowd looked at him with hatred.

"You are Xiao Letian? You are the second devil? This special industrial zone is what you built? Let's go, we don't want your alms, and we don't build a house for raising ghosts on the graves of our ancestors......."

"Yes, yes, you hurry up, we don't want your charity, you don't pretend to be a good person, this is your conspiracy ......"

The people blocking the entrance of the village shouted slogans and bombarded Xiao Lotian outside, but ordinary people also knew that Xiao Letian, a person who could publish books and talk to big figures in the court, was something they didn't dare to offend, so they were very restrained in their words and didn't dare to bring dirty words.

Xiao Lotian was not angry, because he had already seen it clearly through his observation, although these people bombarded them in their mouths, the greedy gaze in their eyes was all aimed at the cart.

How can the people not be greedy, just a few minutes at noon today, other Zhuangzi who have not gone overboard have already come to take advantage of the fire to rob. Those people who shouted loudly from the villagers on weekdays actually asked for five dollars of silver for a cart of firewood and grass, and his grandmother's was too dark.

Now, Xiao Letian has sent more than 20 truckloads of hay for nothing, and people say they don't want it, but the little greed in their hearts can't hide it from people at all.

"Folks, think about it, the world is the biggest to live, really for some legends that don't look for the margin, you force yourself to the end of the road......?

"Ladies and gentlemen, which of you can have three or four taels of cash? Even if you have it, when you run out of money next year, don't you still have to borrow the money from the Yinzi?

Xiao Letian's persuasion obviously played a certain role, and there was a hesitant look in the crowd, but at this moment, Huang Liu, who regarded Xiao Lotian as a mortal enemy, came again. Although Huangjiazhuang is not too far from here, running twice a day makes this weak talent tired like a dead dog.

"No...... No, listen to me...... Oh my mother, I'm tired to death, I knew I would learn to ride a horse......" Huang Liu sat on the stone grinder and poured out his breath desperately.

"Folks, you can't listen to Xiao Letian's rhetoric, he is buying people's hearts......"

Xiao Lotian skimmed at him, "Am I buying people's hearts? You don't buy people's hearts, but you take out your firewood and grass to help the people survive the winter? Just by moving your mouth, you want others to listen to you? Are you so easy to fool as a common people?"

Xiao Letian pointed to the gloomy sky on his head, "You open your eyes wide, just this weather, tonight there may be a northwest wind and heavy snow, tonight everyone is burning hot kang firewood is gone, this is the big thing in front of the eyes!"

"Fart! Death by starvation is a small matter, and a loss of festival is a big matter! We would rather starve to death than eat the food that comes to us......" Huang Liu jumped to his feet and roared, pointing at the people of the village and scolding, "Who dares to accept Xiao Letian's favor, I will let his descendants never go to school, none of you want to enter the saint's door, I will do what I say......"

Xiao Letian was so angry that he jumped down from the cart and grabbed Huang Liu's collar with a big mouth. "Your lack of virtue is smoking? You guard the hot kang head, hold the concubine without worrying about food and clothing, but don't let others have a handful of firewood and grass, you read a bullshit sage book? Confucius taught you benevolence and righteousness is this? How did you teach a group of hypocrites......

Xiao Letian threw Huang Liu to the ground, turned around and walked to the cart, picked up a bundle of firewood and threw it on the side of the road. "Do you want to love it, anyway, I, Xiao Letian, am sincerely here to help you, I will throw these firewood and grass here, there is a god on my head, if I have the heart to harm you, let God thunder and take me away!"

Actions are always stronger than words, and vows are always more effective than discernment. When Xiao Letian did it himself, the people of the whole village were moved, they really didn't expect that the well-dressed noble son would unload the car himself. At that moment, some people subconsciously wanted to help.

At this time, Huang Liu jumped up and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and shouted with a crying voice, "It's bleeding, I'm bleeding, I'm going to sue the official, I'm going to sue you...... And you, you have heard it clearly to me, whoever dares to use this firewood and grass is an enemy of me, that is, an enemy of the Confucian ministers of the world, your children and descendants will never be able to enter the school, and they will not be able to participate in the imperial examination, I think any of you dare to use these firewood and grass......"

The people finally retreated, in the era when Confucianism controlled people's hearts, reading the imperial examination was the only way for civilians to change their fate, Huang Liu's threat was very empty in the eyes of Xiao Letian, but in the eyes of these simple people, it was a big thing.

Xiao Letian didn't bother to talk nonsense with Huang Liu at this time, he just silently carried bundles of firewood and grass, and then threw them on the side of the road. One bundle, two bundles...... Immediately afterwards, Xiao Letian's bald guards also joined in, and the group silently threw firewood and grass on the side of the road.

At first, the people were able to stand still, but the more they looked at them, the weaker their hearts became, the softer their feet became, and some even bent their knees.

The precious Shu brocade jacket was cut out by the branches, and the old people who saw it were heartbroken. The white and handsome face was blown red by the northwest, and the eldest girl and the little daughter-in-law who saw it felt a lot of regret in their hearts.

Even those men who were strong and laborious, when they saw Xiao Letian's palm cut by a sharp dead branch, they were full of admiration. At the beginning, everyone thought that Xiao Lotian was pretending to fool people, but after a cart of firewood and grass was about to bottom out, people couldn't help but be convinced.

"Perhaps, this two devils really want to help us! Aren't we a little ignorant?" But only Huang Liu was an exception, he looked at Xiao Letian like a fool, and thought in his heart.

'This stupid hat, who is also a master of Western studies, actually used this unpopular way to win the hearts of the people, and he is really a fool taught by Xiyi. This scholar must have the momentum of a scholar, how can he do such a shitty job?'

Under the complicated gaze of everyone, Xiao Letian and all the guards unloaded the firewood and grass together. He clapped his hands and said to the villagers, "See, God didn't thunder and take me away, which means that I didn't lie to you." Now the firewood and grass are placed here, and I can't care if you use it or not...... Let's go, let's unload some more for the other Zhuangzi, and I will buy people's hearts, what can you do?"

Speaking of this, Xiao Letian stared at Huang Liu, and said gloomily, "Surnamed Huang, aren't you very arrogant?" Master, I'll put my words aside today, your kid will be a showman in this life, as long as you have me, Xiao Letian, your fame will not be an inch ahead!"

Huang Liu shuddered when he heard the threatening words, and subconsciously took a step back, but tripped on the stone and fell directly to the ground. He suddenly thought that although Xiao Letian didn't deal with the Qingliu adults, he still had some friendship with the Manchu royal family, and if he stumbled with an iron heart, he really couldn't afford to provoke him.

But Huang Liu recalled his tragic death of his uncle, as well as the promises of the envoys of the capital some time ago, and he mustered up courage in his heart, and he had to fight to the end in this battle for people's hearts.

"Okay, what do you see? Isn't it just a second devil, do you really believe his words? Don't say that I, Huang Xiucai, is not emotional, when the spring of the New Year is over, the enlightened children in your village, I will personally find a good gentleman to teach, and when the time comes, there will be a few more showmen to raise people, that is to win glory for the ancestors! All are scattered, all scattered......" I734