"The empire is preparing to set up seven new special industrial zones in Guangzhou, Lianzhou, Quanzhou, Fujian, Ningbo, Jiangsu, Dengzhou, and Tianjin, and to implement special preferential policies to encourage the gentry, merchants, and common people from all parts of the Chinese Empire to invest in the establishment of industries, factories and workshops, and to reduce the tax on goods sold by half or even to one-third. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info”

In Feng Yunshan's decree, he directly announced the establishment of seven economically prosperous coastal prefectures as special industrial zones, although he did not elaborate on the preferential policies, but simply suggested the amount of tax exemption and exemption. At the same time, corresponding to this, directly in the holy decree, the former Leizhou prefect Lei Xuehai was appointed as the prefect of Guangzhou, the former Manchu Guangdong Xuezheng and Zhishi subordinate Shan Maoqian was appointed as the prefect of Lianzhou Prefecture, the former Manchu Minxian County Commander Wang Jingxian was the prefect of Quanzhou, the former Manchu Hangzhou prefect Wang Youling was the prefect of Ningbo, the Manchu subordinate Liu Kunyi was the prefect of Songjiang, the former champion of the first scientific expedition of the Holy Kingdom was the prefect of Dengzhou, and the Changzhou Prefecture Tongzhi Li Xian was the prefect of Tianjin.

"Liu Kunyi, Lao Cheng is serious, full of Confucianism, loyal to the people, and specially appointed as the prefect of Songjiang; Zhang Zhidong, young and intelligent, with a broad vision, was appointed as the magistrate of Shanghai County, Songjiang Prefecture. ”

Zhang Zhidong didn't expect that he would be directly appointed as the county magistrate of Shanghai at the age of eighteen. Although he was in the interior of Guizhou, he had paid special attention to the major events related to the Holy Kingdom and the West, and he knew in his heart what the status of Shanghai was. This was the largest trading place in the entire empire except for the city of Guangzhou. It can be said that the reason why Songjiang Prefecture is listed as one of the seven special industrial zones is entirely because there is a city of Shanghai where thousands of foreigners live and there are hundreds of foreign companies.

Entrusting such an important county to oneself and letting oneself govern this important economic county is undoubtedly a test for oneself. Zhang Zhidong understood that he had entered the emperor's field of vision, and the only thing left was to follow what he had written on the examination papers, "Imitate the Western powers, develop modern industry, set up factories, sell them to foreigners, and enrich the people!" ”

Now it seems that although these ideas of mine are still very naïve and imperfect, they have also won the favor of His Majesty. For a while, Zhang Zhidong was excited and apprehensive.

Fortunately, his father Zhang Qiang reminded him: "My son can win the favor of His Majesty, and he must not be complacent and self-righteous." It is even more important to calm down, do your best for Your Majesty, and do your best for the people! ”

Zhang Zhidong suppressed his excitement at this time, tried his best to calm down, and began to ask his father for advice on how to be a local parent official. His father, Zhang Qiang, no longer has to go back to Guizhou, which is far away, and the original position of the prefect of Xingyi Mansion in Guizhou has also been removed, and the new appointment has come down.

Feng Yunshan didn't stay long, and after hurriedly glancing at these Manchu ministers, he quickly left the weaving bureau and returned to the palace.

In the evening of the same day, a holy decree flew out of the palace and spread everywhere, bringing a heavy news: the emperor of the Chinese Empire had decided to no longer establish the official positions of governors of the two provinces, but to replace them with governors in each province. Moreover, Feng Yunshan also determined the governors of several other provinces in one go.

The newly appointed governors and the prefects of the seven special industrial zones were all summoned to the palace. This time the audience was on a small scale, and Feng Yunshan deliberately asked people to arrange it in the garden of the palace, which was much more casual.

Wu Chongyao, Governor of Guangdong, Huang Dingfeng, Governor of Guangxi, Yuan Jiasan, Governor of Hunan, Lin Hongnian, Governor of Jiangxi, Zeng Shuiyuan, Governor of Yunnan, Liu Changyou, Governor of Hubei, Mao Changxi, Governor of Anman, Wei Yuan, Governor of Shandong, Ding Baozhen, Governor of Henan, Zhou Shengkun, Governor of Zhili, Le Bin, Governor of Sichuan, Hu Linyi, Governor of Guizhou, Luo Zenan, Governor of Zhejiang, Shen Guifen, Governor of Fujian, and Li Hongzhang, Governor of Jiangsu.

In addition, Feng Yunshan also specially asked Zhang Zhidong, the magistrate of Shanghai County, and Hong Renji, the magistrate of Nanhai County, to also come, and allowed the two to meet with a group of governors and prefects of the Special Administrative Region.

Feng Yunshan looked at the twenty-two people who were kneeling in front of him and shouting long live, and his heart was full of emotion. These people, except for Le Bin, the governor of Sichuan, the rest are all people selected by themselves, and most of them are scholars from the Manchu Dynasty, I believe they are all smart enough to understand their intentions. And this time to gather everyone, it is just to beat the side drum for them and encourage them.

"All Aiqing, I have summoned you today, first, I want to meet you, after all, in the future, we will be in the same boat, together on this big ship of the Chinese Empire, sailing in this ever-changing and intricate trend of the times, the slightest carelessness will capsize, not only everyone will be finished, but also the entire Chinese people, the world. Second, I want to discuss with you and ask you for advice. Feng Yunshan's opening remarks that were completely different from ordinary emperors directly shocked everyone.

So, under the leadership of Liu Changyou, the governor of Hubei, Wu Chongyao, the governor of Guangdong, and Zhou Shengkun, the governor of Zhili, everyone knelt down again and said: "Do you dare to serve Your Majesty?" ”

Feng Yunshan waved his hand and said, "You can wait for all to be flat first." I hate this set of false rituals of the Manchu Tartars the most, and I kneel three times and bow nine times at every turn. Now that I am the lord of the world, I have abolished this cumbersome set of Tartar rituals, and except for the great dynasty, the rest of the time, it has been changed to a ceremony. Ordinary court meetings, referring to the Ming Dynasty's 'all officials sit in front of the palace, and if there is an official performance, they will stand.' After the performance, sit back and carry it out, so that you can wait more easily, and save your physical strength to do more useful things for me and the people. ”

Everyone was shocked when they heard this, and then some were overjoyed, while others were embarrassed and hesitant.

Feng Yunshan said to Le Bin, the governor of Sichuan: "Le Aiqing, the Tartars I am talking about are only a line of Manchu emperors, not you bannermen who have returned to me. ”

Everyone laughed when they heard this. Le Bin's face turned red, but he hurriedly knelt down and played: "What Your Majesty said is true." Moreover, Weichen has decided to change his name and surname, and he will be a new person, and he will have nothing to do with the Manchu Qing Dynasty again. When everyone heard this, they were even more speechless in their hearts.

Liu Changyou stood up first, he had discussed with Feng Yunshan in advance, and said: "Your Majesty Weichen Xie, long live, long live, long live!" ”

He took the lead, and then Wu Chongyao, Zhou Shengkun, Lin Hongnian and other old subordinates stood up one after another, and said in unison: "Thank you, Your Majesty!" Long live my emperor, long live, long live! ”

Seeing this, the rest of the people also got up one after another, they were all human spirits, and seeing that Feng Yunshan was not joking and tempting, but was really dissatisfied with them kneeling, he hurriedly got up. However, among them, Hu Linyi and Yuan Jiasan turned their heads to look at Luo Zenan on the side, and said loudly: "Your Majesty, there is a difference between the dignity and humility of monarchs and ministers, and they should not be wasted lightly!" This will make the world laugh, don't do it! ”

Feng Yunshan had long known that some Confucian scholars would speak out against it, but he did not reject those who objected, but appreciated it, although the servility was heavier, but it was respectful and orderly.

"Hu Aiqing and Yuan Aiqing are both scholars, I have heard that Confucianism advocates the righteous and bright husband behavior of 'living in the world, establishing the right position in the world, and walking the road of the world', how can they kneel and kneel day after day? Mencius Yun, 'The rich and the rich cannot be lewd, the poor and the lowly cannot be moved, and the mighty cannot be bent', although I do not read much, I remember it in my heart. Feng Yunshan looked a little serious, and he continued: "I don't mean to completely cancel the ceremony of three kneels and nine bows, the official occasion of the court meeting or the arrival of foreign envoys, it is still necessary to follow this etiquette. But in the ordinary daily life, there is no need to pay such a big salute to each other when you and other officials pay homage to each other! ”

....... PS: I recommend a friend's new history book "The Great Merchant of Red Mansions", the writing is good, you can try it if you are interested.