Li Hongzhang smiled slightly and said: "Xiaolou, since you are here, have a light meal in the evening, and go to the backyard to meet your uncle and grandmother first, and your two little aunts too!" ”

Li Guolou was overjoyed in his heart, the old fox finally took the bait, he hit Li Hongzhang's heart with only one punch, and said with a smile: "The last time I saw the two aunts, I still hugged my hands, but now I don't know how tall they are!" ”

Li Hongzhang laughed, his family was harmonious, clean and self-conscious, the original wife did not give birth to a son, so he passed a brother's son to him, and when the original wife died, he married a continuation Zhao Lian and gave birth to two sons and two daughters.

Li Guolou was taken by Li Hongzhang to the backyard to meet relatives, Li Hongzhang continued to string Zhao Lian, and two aunts Li Ju and Li Jingpu.

Sheng Huaixuan was jealous, originally he thought he was the best among young people, brilliant in writing, progressive in thought, creative spirit, appreciated by Li Hongzhang at a young age, and today met a fake foreign devil who returned from abroad, which dwarfed Sheng Huaixuan, Li Guolou's bearing and eloquence, as well as his creative spirit, made him admire.

Although Sheng Huaixuan is Li Hongzhang's son, he also stayed for dinner at night, but there is a difference between men and women, he didn't have the opportunity to enter Li Hongzhang's back house, so he had no choice but to come to Li Hongzhang's study to read, play with some ancient jade, antiques, jade, ancient books, and ancient paintings in the study, countless priceless treasures, just put it in the study, people who like this kind of thing, will stay in this kind of place all day, Sheng Huaixuan is in a good mood, touch the east and west, and time flies by.

Half an hour later, Li Hongzhang and Li Guolou came to the study, and Sheng Huaixuan also played with a piece of jade and looked at the ancient book.

Li Guolou entered the study first to visit, his uncle has a problem, that is, he likes to collect antiques, ancient paintings, and even foreigners' things do not let go, Li Hongzhang saw good things in people's hands, he did not have them, into his eyes, will be cheeky to ask people to beg, earnest words, low three and four begging.

Li Hongzhang negotiates with foreigners, and it is the norm to accept gifts, of course, he has set an example and become a rule, not counting the benefits of betraying national interests, this is called a gift and a return, he will also return the gift, as for whether the value is very different, this is not a person at his level to consider things, even if he writes a banner to return the gift, it is already a big face, Li Hongzhang is not wrong to think about it, he has a word panel, the value of "a house", diplomats are cheeky, foreigners have suffered many losses from Li Hongzhang.

Sheng Huaixuan knew that Li Guolou had opened a "Golden Phoenix Silver Building" at home, and asked, "Xiaolou, what have you collected from this antique jade!" ”

Li Guolou shook his head and said: "Brother Xingsun, although I know a little about these antiques, I don't collect them myself, I like to play with guns, I wipe guns at home when I have nothing to do, and I have collected guns from all over the world, both long and short!" ”

The servant entered the study, poured a round of tea, and Sheng Huaixuan said: "Xiaolou, I don't see that you can be literate and martial!" ”

Li Guolou said proudly: "Uncle doesn't look down on me and doesn't let me go to the battlefield, but I have also suppressed bandits and killed more than a dozen traitors with my own hands!" ”

Li Hongzhang smiled and didn't say anything, "grandson" in front of him, just to leave a good impression on him, by him to carry people, not rich or expensive, the two juniors here are looking forward to him helping him on the horse and sending him to Pengcheng Wanli.

Sheng Huaixuan was not interested in fighting, so he quickly diverted the topic and asked: "Xiaolou, I am very interested in you founding the banking industry, but this industry is not transparent, full of cats, all parties play games, no one has ever been able to connect the world, they are all doing their own thing, and now although the righteous father is full of saints, but in the future, I don't think it will last in the future, and he is still a prince!" ”

Li Guolou stood up, and said proudly: "Uncle, Brother Xingsun, now the knowledge and culture of the East and the West coexist, and the Qing Dynasty is playing with each other on this land, let us know that backwardness will be beaten, knowledge is combat effectiveness, we are under the strong seizure of various powers, we must be ashamed and brave, and we can no longer be like in the past, self-management of the family's three points of thin land, all over the money, ticket numbers do their own thing, for the whole country, can not play a role in progress, many money, ticket numbers have become the underworld accumulation of money cornucopia, To change this situation, let the Qing Empire's money and wealth re-gather in the hands of the central government, as long as you do it, the national fiscal revenue can increase by millions of taels a year, or even tens of millions of taels, which does not disturb the people, but can strengthen the central government's control over the localities, why not, as for the local powerful forces, you can use the form of joint stock to eliminate the unstable factors, eliminate the invisible, let them see the future beautiful, inherit a hundred years of inheritance, starting from our generation, if only to be a prince, it is not to pick up the wisdom of the ancients, no intention, no creative spirit, Earn money, build a few mansions what else can you do, and use private funds, the establishment of a national bank, the country is rich and the people are strong, the ancients used to hide the wealth in the people to govern the country, today we do the opposite, rich private capital, can be used by the country, synthesize a force, establish a strong, rich and powerful Qing, not 20 years, I believe that with our Qing Empire has a large population, a large land and a vast resource, we can change dramatically! ”

Li Hongzhang was silent for a while, and said: "Xiaolou, said well, it is not necessarily done well, there are many difficulties, the national bank is far away, but it has become a shortcut for the powerful to make a fortune, people's thoughts are still stuck in one person's way of getting the chicken dog ascending to heaven, now do anything, you have to use power to suppress it, some people in the court say that I use people for selfishness, and it is unfair to take scholars, and my subordinates are all from the Huai Army. Beizi is afraid that the Han people will take power, and each department will be stuffed into a full of people, and it will be very difficult for me to train into a Huai army, and now I will form a modern Beiyang Naval Division, which has been criticized, and it is difficult to fill the bottomless pit like throwing money in, Xiaolou, you said it very well, but this thing is difficult to do, the local financial power has long been **, who is willing to give up vested interests, filial piety to the emperor, the queen mother of the two palaces, those governors, governors are also willing, want to collect local financial power, unrealistic, I can only get the place through personal influence, to help you realize your vision, Liangjiang and Zhili areas can be tried on a trial basis, and you say how much income can be brought to the local area in a year! ”

Li Guolou's head was on fire, his uncle Li Hongzhang entrusted him with the banking industry in Liangjiang and Zhili areas, the officials and businessmen were sure to make money and not lose money, how bold people are, how dare they say it, turned over and bowed down, and said in a deep voice: "Uncle, if you believe me, in the first year, I raised two million taels of silver for the Beiyang Naval Division, and it will not be less than eight million silver in the first three years!" ”

Li Hongzhang was happy in his heart, he didn't need to pay a penny of copper coins, he didn't need to use his brains, this is the operation of private capital, and it is a long-term plan, which can bring him rolling wealth, and said slowly: "Xiaolou, I need you and your brother to raise 10 million taels of silver in three years, at least 2.5 million taels of silver in the first year, can you do it!" ”

At this time, the Qing Dynasty was an agrarian society, to the semi-colonial, semi-light industrial society excessive, the productive forces were underdeveloped, the prices of agricultural products remained unchanged for decades, and the impact of inflation was minimal, the annual income of the Qing government was 340 million taels of silver, and the population was about 400 million, like Prince Gong Yixun received a double salary of 20,000 taels per year, and the annual salary of a senior member was 8 taels, from 32 taels of nine products, and ordinary soldiers were about 15 taels per year, plus 2 buckets of rice, and the officials also had a pension fund, and the departments were different, and the soldiers got a seventy-year salary It was already very good, and the people were low-income and low-consumption. The per capita income is less than three taels of silver a year,

Li Guolou has never been afraid, since he did not take the usual path, he did not turn back when he opened his bow, and said without hesitation: "My grandson promises to do it, if I can't do it, I will apologize and not enter the ancestral grave!" ”

Li Hongzhang stood up, helped Li Guolou up, and laughed: "Okay, our Li family is a loyal patriot, Xiaolou, my uncle misjudged you, make money and don't forget the country and the nation, this is a good man!" ”

Sheng Huaixuan was drenched in sweat when he heard it, and looked at Li Guolou, a pavilion in the air can have such a big output, and the wind of exaggeration blew into the Li Hongzhang family, and asked in fear: "Xiaolou, it seems to be unreliable, I can't do anything in the first year, but I believe that it is possible in the future, this first year has not even been paved, what do you use to raise funds for your father-in-law!" ”

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······· You may not know this, there is a cigarette factory owner in Shanghai, produced a kind of cigarettes, called 'Lao Dao brand cigarettes', and also came up with an advertising slogan, called 'patriotism to smoke Lao Dao brand cigarettes', so that smokers flock to it, even our criminal department is also popular to smoke Lao Dao brand cigarettes, patriotism, domestic goods are the first choice, I also came up with an advertising slogan for inviting into the bank, called 'patriotic please come in to save money, serve the motherland yourself,' we invited in the bank Although the British Concession is registered, this is for the development and growth, and the work is for the country and the people. Please come in to the bank Shenzhou land is blooming everywhere, when it is in full swing, the speed cannot stop the trend, and the inopportune local money and ticket numbers will automatically ask to join this torrent, those local governors, local underworld forces who want to block this torrent will only be abandoned and scolded by the world! ”

"Hahahaha." Li Hongzhang is no longer as reserved and steady as he is aptitude, and he has never been comfortable, which makes him laugh again and again, and he can't stop for a while.

Sheng Huaixuan was finally moved by Li Guolou's words, and 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, standing proudly in front of him, his heart is full of pride.

"Xiaolou, foolish brother asks you for advice, my father-in-law is here to seek officials, Liangjiang and Zhili are short of fat everyone knows in their hearts, the so-called tax collector is the person who is appointed as the Beijing teacher Chongwenmen, Guangzhou Yuehai tariff, in addition to the tax officer, such as Tianjin Customs Road, Shanghai, Denglai, Hankou, Jiujiang and other official roads, and then there are salt officials, salt because of the official monopoly, salt business contracting, salt officials can increase office expenses from it, and obtain gray income, this kind of salt officials have salt administration, salt transportation envoy, transportation with the same time, transport deputy, transportation judgment, promotion, salt law Taoist, The central government is in charge of the Ministry of Civil Engineering and Water Conservancy, because it is responsible for the budget of materials, handling materials, and assigning projects, etc., the officials of the Ministry can share the profits, and the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Finance and Household Affairs of the whole country are in charge of the Ministry of Metalwork and the Ministry of Silver Households! ”

Li Hongzhang was silent, pacing in the study, the Qing Dynasty had many ills, the country suffered from it, and individuals benefited from it, and a huge chain of interests had been formed that no one could touch, even the emperor made use of it, he was the governor of Liangjiang, up to 300,000 taels of silver a year, followed by the governor of Liangguang and Sichuan, who was in charge of the grain and the grain of the field, and the superior could also get 300,000 taels a year, and the prefect had a shortage of 200,000 taels a year. There are more than 100,000 taels every year, Zhejiang Province has Jinping Lake, Yinjiashan said, these two counties have the number of gold and silver.

Not only the officials are monopolized in the fat shortage, the emperor also makes use of the fat shortage, the election system has been biased towards the Manchurian at the same time, the income is rich and the fat is lacking in the position to become its favor and personal gifts, Guangdong Customs, Yanzheng and Jiangsu and Zhejiang three weaving officials, or locate the internal affairs of the special vacancy, specially granted to the emperor's personal servants, or determine the candidates when they have a bias, Chongwenmen supervisors, members, assistant members and others, mainly use full people, household department three treasury officials, treasury envoys, then all use full people,