Guan Zhuofan thought for a while and asked, "This Xu Yingxiang, where is he from Jiangsu?" Guo Songtao replied: "It's from Huai'an." ”

Huai'an? It was directly under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Liangjiang, and it was the land of Zeng Guofan. Guan Zhuofan's mind was spinning rapidly: Is there anything special in this?

What most people can't imagine is that in the original time and space, as a representative of the Westernization Movement, Zeng Guofan's attitude towards the construction of railways was quite conservative.

Zeng Guofan's starting point was not that he was afraid that the railway would "change the summer with razing", "destroy the leylines of the earth", "bad feng shui" or anything, but that the construction of the railway was "to seize the benefits of the poor with arrogance", and that "the small people would be forced to suffer and be forced to hang upside down". This logic is quite similar to that of today's public intellectuals.

Whether China should build a railway, Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang, the younger brothers, have diametrically opposite attitudes. In the original time and space, Li Hongzhang was the most powerful promoter of the construction of the railway, but Zeng Guofan finally stood in the opposite direction of historical progress on this issue.

Guan Zhuofan was groaning, Guo Songtao took out a few pieces of paper, which were neatly worked, and the face and body were very spiritual.

Guo Songtao said: "This is the remarks of Han Zhan Kedao attacking the railway, I have written it down, and I ask Lord Belle to take a look." ”

Guan Zhuofan took it and looked at it carefully. There are not only specific remarks on it, but also who said the words, what position the person resides, where he is from, what year he is called, and who the teacher is.

Guan Zhuofan praised: "Yunxian, you are really careful! ”

Guo Songtao said: "Lord Belle has a reputation. Also, although this group of people is menacing. But there are also many people who support the construction of railways. It's not much better than the opposite. As long as the 'above' has made up his mind. We will definitely be able to build this railway. ”

Guan Zhuofan glanced at Guo Songtao appreciatively and said, "Yunxian, you are right, as long as you make up your mind about China's affairs, where is there any reason why it can't be done?" ”

After taking a sip of tea, Guan Zhuofan said: "Zhang Yinheng, the general office of the 'Railway Unit'. Looks good? ”

Guo Songtao immediately praised: "Zhang Qiaoye is brilliant and capable!" Lord Belle, your vision of choosing people is really unique in the world, and I can't accept it! ”

Zhang Yinheng, a native of Foshan Town, Nanhai County, Guangdong, is 28 years old this year. He didn't even get a show talent, Xianfeng nine years, donated a seven-grade magistrate title, and supported the way. Entered the Shandong Governor to assist Wenmo in the scene. After Yan Jingming took over as governor of Shandong, the smell of the guests and hosts did not vote. Zhang Yinheng begged to go north to the capital to look for opportunities.

That is to say, when Guan Zhuofan recommended Zhang Yinheng to Guo Songtao, Zhang was in a state of "unemployment".

At that time, the "railway stock" had just been established, and everyone was looking forward to it, and I don't know how many people were staring at the position of "general office", and some people even wanted to imitate the story of Guan Baylor going south to Shanghai and voluntarily "downgraded" to sit in this position.

No one thought that this "Tianzi No. 1" fat difference would fall on the head of a county magistrate who donated classes! Even Guo Songtao is very strange: this Zhang Yinheng is young, and his resume is even more insignificant, why did Guan Beile take a fancy to him?

Zhang Yinheng himself was completely stunned by this huge pie that fell from the sky: he hadn't even seen Guan Baylor's face, why was the smoke billowing on his ancestral grave?

Guo Songtao and Zhang Yinheng met, and soon found that this young man was not only proficient in foreign languages and familiar with foreign affairs, but also bold and careful, daring to think and dare to do, and was actually a first-class talent in handling foreign affairs! But this Zhang Yinheng is not famous, Guan Beile has never seen him, and no one seems to have recommended him to Lord Beile, so how can Guan Beile be able to recognize this person in Weimo?

I really can't think of it even if I think about it, and I am amazed, and I only have to sincerely worship Guan Beiler's "unique selection vision".

The "meeting office" of the "railway unit" is an American named Medellin, the chief engineer of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, who was invited by Guan Zhuofan and can be regarded as being entrusted by the US government to come to China to serve as the "meeting office" of the "railway unit" under the "advisory committee."

Zhang Yinheng devoted himself to his new job, and he worked closely with Medellín, going south and north, non-stop, exploring geological routes, introducing talents, and since the day he took office, he did not rest for half a day except sleeping. After being busy non-stop for more than half a year, he finally took out the thick text that Guan Zhuofan saw now.

Medellin already considers himself a "workaholic", but still praises Zhang Yinheng: "Mr. Zhang's office is the smartest and most dedicated civil servant I have ever met. ”

Guan Zhuofan smiled slightly: "Yunxian, I blushed what you said. Well, the 'railway stocks' handle the money, in the tens of millions of taels, if there is any discrepancy, it is very important, you have to keep an eye on it for me. ”

Guo Songtao was stunned for a moment, and when he heard Guan Beiler's tone, he faintly felt that Zhang Yinheng's ethics were not completely reassured. However, this person was personally selected by him. Besides, in the past few months, Zhang Yinheng's appearance is really worthy of the words "diligence and ability".

I couldn't think of so much for a while, Guo Songtao said solemnly: "Yes, the money for the construction of the railway is all state funds, and the people's fat and people's ointment, Belle Ye can rest assured, I will pay attention to it with all my might, and I will never allow a tael of silver to be wasted." ”

Guan Zhuofan smiled slightly and said, "I just gave a word in vain, and I didn't mean anything else." ”

After speaking, Guan Zhuofan took out a big gold pocket watch, opened the lid, took a look, and said: "This situation is almost over, tonight, I still have to fight with Yan Danchu, the two of the 'railway stocks', I will be gone today." Yunxian, you can bring a message to Zhang Qiaoye and Medellin for me, saying that I will invite the two of them to dinner another day. ”

*

*

Guan Zhuofan invited Yan Jingming to dinner, and there was no accompanying guest, just the two of them at the table, but what was sent to Yan Jingming's house was not only the post, but also about Zhuofan's famous thorn made of Danan bamboo - this is a very respectful expression.

To add, "Yan Jingming's Mansion", in Jijiao Hutong, a small courtyard that you enter, is even more shabby than Wuren's home.

The two of them met, and as soon as Yan Jingming knelt down, Guan Zhuofan grabbed it and helped him up, and said with a smile: "Dan Weng, we finally met!" ”

Although Yan Jingming, the head of the household, was protected by Guan Zhuofan, but after Guan Zhuofan left Beijing, Yan Jingming entered Beijing, so more than half a year has passed, and it is not until today that the two have really met for the first time.

Yan Jingming smiled and said, "I have admired Lord Belle's demeanor for a long time. See you today, what a blessing! ”

Guan Zhuofan smiled secretly in his heart: You Yan Danchu used to be kind words?

Looking at this thin middle-aged man, Guan Zhuofan felt quite emotional.

Yan Jingming has a small jujube face, two eyes are one big and one small, the big one is high, and the small one is low, he is excited, and the big and small eyes are turning up and down at the same time, which looks both funny and terrifying.

This look of dignity made Yan Jingming suffer some losses.

When Yan Jingming was still a lifter, he was scheduled to "pick up the county", and just about to report his resume, the prince who was the main pick shouted: "Yan Jingming go out!" "It turns out that "Da Pick Zhi County" is the most important appearance, the face of the word "same" is the most popular, followed by "Tian", "Shen" and "A", Yan Jingming's sour jujube core face, where is the eye of the winner of the official selection?

At that time, no one thought that this respectful master was as big as the sea, and the civil affairs, finance, military and political affairs were all capable of picking children; Moreover, it is truly "as rigid as iron and as clear as water".

Guan Zhuofan thinks that if a regime reaches the point where it uses appearance to select officials, it will not be far from extinction.

He himself made such a mistake almost once.

Qi Bingrong, the commissioner of the fourth grade of Jiangsu Province, has now retained the title of inspector of the third grade, and the officials of Jiangsu Tong Province will inevitably tremble with their legs when they mention "Qi Shorty". I think at the beginning, didn't this Qi Bingrong almost be picked off by himself?

Of course, the direct reason for the nameless fire that he sent was not that Qi Bingrong was ugly, but if you ask yourself, it is not completely without this factor.

You can’t judge a book by its cover!

Guan Zhuofan asked Yan Jingming to change into civilian clothes and extended his seat.

There are four dishes on the table: pot fish in milk soup, sliced bald pork, roasted eggplant with shredded pork and "chop head spring" - which is actually fried quail.

The staple food is noodles.

The ingredients of these dishes are very simple, but Yan Jingming was pleasantly surprised: all of them are the most authentic Shaanxi dishes!

The banquet opened the altar of Xifeng wine, which is also the most famous wine in Shaanxi. However, this wine has been cellared for thirty years - this is not to be told to Yan Jingming, and he can't drink it anyway. Otherwise, "Yan Lao Xi'er" must feel that it is "too luxurious", but it is not beautiful.

During the banquet, Guan Zhuofan pondered and said the idea of "restoring the Beijing Member".

Yan Jingming's big and small eyes rolled for a moment, and said, "Lord Belle, I can give this money." ”

Guan Zhuofan Daqi: Yan Laoxi'er is so "smooth"? This meal that Lao Tzu invited has such great power?

I don't want Yan Jingming to continue: "However, I have conditions. ”

*(To be continued......)