Li Hongzhang and his brother Li Hanzhang, who were not far from Chonglun, chatted with Liu Kunyi, who was traveling with them. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

Since Wuchang City was broken by the captive army, Li Hongzhang, who had no way out, surrendered to the Holy Kingdom with Zeng Guofan and a group of relatives and friends from his hometown.

After two months of idleness, he thought that he would be like other ordinary Manchu officials, so he would arrange a miscellaneous idle post near Wuchang Mansion in Hubei, and be a staff member to give ideas to the officials of the Holy Kingdom, and he would slowly wait for the opportunity to come out. Unexpectedly, it didn't take long for the generals of the capture army stationed in Wuchang Fucheng, Peng Yulin, the commander of the 7th Division, and Lin Shifa, the deputy commander of the 7th Division, to learn out where he was a person from Anman, so they asked him to go and serve as the staff officer of the 7th Division, and accompanied the 7th Division to attack the city and plunder the city in the area of Henan and Anman.

Li Hongzhang thought that the world seemed to be all owned by the Holy Country after all, and he wanted to do something and glorify his ancestors, so he had no other way but to choose to take refuge in the Holy Country. Since you have taken refuge in the Holy Kingdom, you should make meritorious service and come out as soon as possible. After two months of secret observation and understanding, one thing is certain, that is, the Holy King really wants to recruit scholars!

Moreover, he noticed that in this holy country where the thieves and rebels came from, there were not many scholars at all, so he was so eager for scholars. Probably the Holy King also realized that if he wanted to govern the world well, he could only do it by mastering and relying on his scholars. And he is the scholar urgently needed by the Holy Country, and he has the experience of serving as a local official in the Manchu government, which is the focus of the other party's recruitment.

So, Li Hongzhang cheered up and followed Peng Yulin to the front line of the northern operation with hope.

Not to mention, he really made a great contribution this time, not only marching all the way to the staff and assisting in arranging logistics support and other idle affairs, but also recognized at a glance the Manchu Qing Dynasty officer who pretended to be an ordinary Qing soldier and wanted to escape, Yuan Jiasan, the imperial history of the left capital.

Not only that, Li Hongzhang also offered advice to the division commander Peng Yulin, and sent troops to Yuan Jiasan's hometown not far away, inviting his old mother, brother, and nephews to his relatives, and successfully persuaded Yuan Jiasan to surrender.

As a result, Li Hongzhang, who made great contributions, not only received Peng Yulin's attention, rescued all his captured brothers from the first phase and took refuge in the Holy Kingdom, but was also recommended by Peng Yulin to Shengjing, the capital of the Chinese Empire, to accept the emperor's summons.

In this way, Li Hongzhang and his brother Li Hanzhang came to Shengjing together.

He originally thought that going to Shengjing, that is, going through the motions, at most he was summoned by the emperor to encourage him, and then he was sent to the local area, and he was safe to be a prefect or if he was lucky, he was a famous Taoist. But he didn't expect that this time he came to Shengjing, it was completely different from what he thought.

First of all, he held an alternative imperial examination and took an exam, but Li Hongzhang didn't expect that he would honestly write what he knew and thought, and he was actually selected as Tanhua. He immediately realized that the emperor of this empire was really completely different from the emperor of the Manchu Qing Dynasty.

Through this exam question, Li Hongzhang probably guessed some clues. When he and the other officials were arranged to visit the Shengjing Weaving Bureau, saw the Western machines, and heard the deacon's introduction of the comparison of the new Western machines with the old ones, he was even more convinced that this was a special arrangement of the emperor.

The purpose is to let these officials gain insight, and at the same time, to examine them, and to enlighten them: what the empire needs is officials who develop basic industries and set up industries, and this way is to learn and carry out foreign affairs, introduce advanced machinery and equipment, and set up factories.

However, recalling the scene he saw just now, although Li Hongzhang had been mentally prepared in advance, he couldn't help but be amazed, he was really shocked!

This imitation of a foreigner machine is really amazing! He knew that the foreigners' machinery and equipment were varied, and this time the emperor ordered them to organize them to see only the new silk reeling machine and the new jacquard loom in the Weaving Bureau. But these two things alone can completely turn a weaving yamen that has been losing money year after year into a workshop with an annual profit of two million taels of silver, and Li Hongzhang can't help but marvel at the huge influence of this Western machine on this silk weaving industry.

This is just the silk weaving in the Jiangning area, what if the whole Jiangnan and the whole China are changed? And cotton and linen weaving! From the clothes alone, how much impact does it have to bring to the whole of China? If you add all walks of life, how amazing and terrifying is the impact of this Western machine on China?

Li Hongzhang suddenly felt fortunate again! If there were no emperors of the empire, I am afraid that until now, these foreigners' machines are still outside the territory of China, constantly producing all kinds of low-cost and high-profit objects, and then selling them to China to earn the wealth of China. Changed to the original Manchu Qing, Li Hongzhang didn't dare to imagine it.

It is no wonder that the Manchu court insisted on refusing to open the commercial port, and insisted on re-amending the contract with the Western powers for many years. However, despite this, with the weakness of the imperial court, and the death of the Manchu emperor and the Manchu and Mongolian princes and nobles, and the actual cowardice and fear of things, it should not last long, I am afraid that the foreigners will succumb to another war if they find an excuse to start another war, and when the time comes, I am afraid that the whole of China will be the product of foreigners.

Moreover, if it is still the same as before, it is useless to resist it by closing the country off the borders. Resist for a year or two, five years and ten years, can you still resist for a lifetime? What's more, it is still foreign goods that flow in privately, so that the imperial court can't even collect customs duties. Li Hongzhang is a person who understands, and he naturally knows that only by producing goods that are not inferior to foreigners can he resist the large-scale invasion of foreign goods.

Therefore, the Empire's move to vigorously introduce Western machinery, open factories, and develop foreign goods is really the only way to strengthen itself.

Li Hongzhang felt that he had grasped something.

Before visiting Shengjing this time, he just wanted to be a good official who benefited the people and became famous in the world, showing his ambitions and "cultivating himself to appease the people". Unexpectedly, the exam questions on an alternative imperial examination reminded him and made him realize that this era is different from the past, just like the virtuous officials since ancient times, sticking to the old rules, and cultivating the people according to the four books and five classics, it is still impossible to benefit one party, only by adapting to the current world trend and conforming to the general trend can we make a difference.

And through this visit to the Shengjing Weaving Bureau, the deacon's comparison of the old and new silk reeling looms opened his eyes and his vision suddenly opened up. Moreover, he thought more deeply, the introduction and vigorous promotion and development of advanced Western machines, is very important, but he believes that it is more important to learn to manufacture these machines, have a group of Chinese people who have the ability to imitate these machines, master these skills, is fundamental.

For the first time, Li Hongzhang realized that he had not learned enough, and he was eager to learn about Western studies.

Just as he was thinking wildly, the visit was over, and a soldier of the Capture Army led everyone out of the silk weaving factory and to the former yamen front hall of the Shengjing Weaving Bureau.

In the bustling crowd, suddenly, a familiar face passed in front of Li Hongzhang, and Li Hongzhang was stunned: I didn't expect him to come! Li Hongzhang couldn't help but feel a surge of anger in his heart, and then, it turned into a wave of happiness!

He took a few steps forward and said to Governor Fuji, who was full of surprise: "Ah, isn't this Lord Futai?" I didn't expect to meet an adult here.,It's really fate to be a lowly job and an adult.。 ”

Fuji was surprised, he didn't expect to meet Li Hongzhang here, his former subordinate. At the beginning, when he made a great contribution to attacking Changmao, he robbed him of his credit, and then he lost the battle, and he fell into the well again, planting all the responsibility and accusations on his head. However, this is also normal, who made himself a dignified governor of the second grade, and he was just a fourth-grade Taoist in his hand. Moreover, it doesn't matter what, it's Han again, is it possible, and you have to bear all the charges yourself?

Even now, everyone is also a vassal of the Chinese Empire, and he is a dignified governor who surrendered, and he, Li Hongzhang, is just a small Taoist who has been reformed and surrendered, and I believe that the imperial court will know which is more important. He Li Hongzhang, even if he is not in the Qing Dynasty, in this Chinese Empire, he has to obediently be a man with his tail between his legs under his own hands.

Thinking of this, Fu Ji nodded, completely indifferent: "It turned out to be gradually Fu, and he also returned to the empire?" That's right, with the Manchu Qing, how can there be a future? In the future, be loyal to the empire and do things well for the people! However, don't call Futai anymore in the future, this official has already returned to the empire, how can he advance the affairs of the court? With that, he walked on his own.

Li Hongzhang looked at this former boss who had fiercely struck his hand, with a calm and breezy appearance, as if he didn't remember how he had treated him, and he couldn't help but hate it even more, but when he thought that he was now a man with a white flag in Manchuria, a dignified governor, and now he had taken refuge in the rebels who robbed them of the banners, he couldn't help but feel a little happy, and at the same time he was even more contemptuous.

That's it, it's all over, what should such a character do? It's just that I thought that he was once a governor of a province, and I guess the empire would reuse him, but when I thought of this person's official qualities, if he was an official in the same dynasty in the future and was still under him, I was depressed.

Thinking wildly, Li Hongzhang and his brother Li Hanzhang had unknowingly come to the front hall, and at this time, with a sound like a mountain roar, it turned out to be the emperor of the empire. Li Hongzhang was pulled by his brother Li Hanzhang beside him, and he also quickly knelt down and bowed down: "The guilty (micro) minister visits my emperor, long live, long live, long live!" ”

"Everyone, love Qing Ping!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Li Hongzhang slowly raised his head and took a cautious look, only to see a middle-aged man sitting on the platform of the main hall in front of him, dressed in a Ming Huang dragon robe, wearing a golden crown imitating the Han Zhenlong Son of Heaven, with a ruddy face and a kind face.

This is the one, who was the leader of the Cantonese thieves three years ago, known as the Holy King, and now he is the master of China, Feng Yunshan, the emperor of the Chinese Empire!

Although the emperor on the stage was smiling and kind, Li Hongzhang only felt that his heart was beating hard, and when he met the Manchu Daoguang Emperor in the palace eight years ago, his heart was not so excited. Is it that he is getting more and more unable to hold his breath, or is he looking forward to it and wants to have a good arrangement in front of the new emperor?

Feng Yunshan on the stage swept everyone at a glance, coughed lightly, and suddenly, the entire hall was silent, and then he said loudly: "I summoned all the secretaries here today, I did it purposely!" Let Zhongqing visit the Shengjing Weaving Bureau and understand the great role of these advanced Western machines, which is my purpose. I don't know if you can be touched? ”

Speaking of this, Feng Yunshan didn't wait for everyone to answer, and continued to shout loudly: "Most of you and others were originally Manchu officials, just like the exam questions I gave you this time, in fact, they all know why the Manchus perished. It is not in my hands, nor in your hands, but in himself, who is no longer suitable for this era. I want to say to all the people, this is the worst of times, and the best of times! ”

"The Western countries not only have advanced machinery and a wide variety of products, but they all want to sell them to China to grab the wealth accumulated by the Chinese people for generations, so they want to trade with the Manchus and expand their treaty ports. Now that our Chinese Empire has overthrown the Manchu Qing Dynasty, the goal of the West will naturally be aimed at our Chinese Empire. I think that simply closing the country will not work at all, but will make us Huaxia farther and farther away from them. Therefore, I decided that the only way to resist the encroachment of the West was to strengthen myself. ”

Speaking of this, Feng Yunshan pointed to the silk weaving factory that everyone had visited just now, and said: "Not to mention the strong ships and cannons of foreigners, and all kinds of firearms armed to the teeth, the equipment of our Chinese Empire is still a lot worse. If a foreign cloth like this alone is sold to the empire on a large scale, think about it, who can resist the weavers of the empire, but I am afraid that all the weavers will have no way to live. For this reason, the empire must be able to produce this kind of foreign cloth on its own, not only that, but also be able to produce foreign guns, no, not called foreign guns and foreign cannons, but our own Chinese guns! ”

Speaking of this, the faces of everyone in the world have changed greatly, although they are still silent, but in the hearts of everyone, there are already turbulent waves.

Originally, some people like Li Hongzhang understood that it was already clear that His Majesty was going to carry out reforms. Now hearing the emperor's words, even the most sluggish people know that the emperor is going to comprehensively introduce Western learning, introduce advanced Western machinery and weapons, and carry out reforms.

Feng Yunshan didn't say much, for these Manchu officials, what he paid the most attention to was only dozens of them, and the rest were just horse bones bought by the way, and even some of them were speculative bureaucrats and Manchu corrupt officials, not even horse bones, and after a year or two, when the imperial regime stabilized, he would clean it up. He didn't want these people to spoil the brand-new officialdom of the Chinese Empire.

After Feng Yunshan finished speaking, Xie Xiangcai, deputy minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, came out from the side, took out a holy decree, and read it aloud: "Fengtian carries the emperor Feng Yunshan, and the edict says: The Manchu Qing Dynasty subordinate Hanyang Tongzhi Luo Xinnan, who is determined to learn and is good at writing books, is a master of Confucianism, and took the initiative to turn his back on the Manchu Qing Dynasty, return to the empire, and be specially named the governor of Zhejiang; Shen Guifen, the son of the Manchu Qing Dynasty's subordinate Hanlin Academy, was respectful in trouble, familiar with foreign affairs, and enterprising, and was specially named the governor of Fujian; Li Hongzhang, a Manchu minister and Taoist, was brilliant and enlightened, and he was talented and talented, and was specially named the governor of Jiangsu. ”

Luo Xinnan, Liu Rong...... All are prefects,........"

Immediately after that, a series of reward edicts came down, but Li Hongzhang didn't hear it at all, he just had a buzzing mind, his scalp was numb, and a sense of pride echoed in his mind. How can he be so virtuous that he was named the richest governor of Jiangsu in the world by the emperor's decree? For a while, Li Hongzhang only felt that his nostrils were sour, and the tragedy of the death of a confidant was spreading in his heart.

He didn't know that the former governor of Anhui not far from him, Fuji, was full of ashes, he was appointed as the envoy of Jiangsu, which was only equivalent to Li Hongzhang's deputy, this, how did he face Li Hongzhang, the original subordinate? But he was reluctant to take this position and didn't dare to raise objections, so he could only hold back the dissatisfaction in his heart and accept it like swallowing a dead mouse.

And Luo Zenan, who was originally as calm as water on the side, was calm by nature, but he almost screamed. He never thought that the new emperor would value himself, a scholar who is not famous at all, so important, and he would be so highly rated in the holy decree, and he would also entrust himself with such an important province as Zhejiang, what a trust.

For a moment, his eyes were flushed.