"Uh......", Zhang Yi was shocked in his heart, "Forgetful friend", this is the highest courtesy given to him by Li Hongzhang, to be able to get such an evaluation from the first capable minister of the late Qing Dynasty, Zhang Yi couldn't help but wonder in his heart, and hurriedly said: "Lord Zhongtang is serious, where can Zhang Yi afford it." ”

Everyone in the hall was also surprised, they had followed Li Hongzhang for so many years, and they had never seen Li Hongzhang say such an evaluation to any young man.

Li Hongzhang said slowly: "Young man, you can afford it, now the old man is nearly seventy years old, I don't know how many years to live, in the past few years, the old man has been looking for a rising star who can support the national fortune of the Qing Dynasty after the old man, but unfortunately, Shenzhou sank, where did the talents come from for the old man to choose." Now, in Beiyang, only Yuan Xiangcheng is the only one who can afford to be a rising star, but Yuan Xiangcheng is too eager for power, and the city is too deep, which is really not liked by me. Looking at China, there is also a Sun Yat-sen who came to see me some time ago, this person is talented, has traveled in Europe and the United States, has a broad vision, but unfortunately is too eager for quick success and quick profit, and misses out of dryness. Now that I see you, I know that the sky is not thin for China after all, and it may be too much. But your knowledge, mind, and everything are all the best choices, and in time, you will definitely be a blockbuster, young man, maybe my long-cherished wish with Wen Zhenggong to rejuvenate Huaxia will fall on you. ”

Zhang Yi thanked him repeatedly, and after dinner, Li Hongzhang said: "Zhang Yi, rest early tonight, early tomorrow morning, I will let Youqiao accompany you into Beijing, and everything will be arranged by him, remember, when you get to the capital, see more and talk less, don't be reckless." As for the recruitment and ordnance, the old man will arrange it for you. ”

When Sheng Xuanhuai heard this, he opened his mouth, as if he had something to say.

Li Hongzhang saw it and said, "Xingsun, if you have something to say, you might as well speak up." ”

Sheng Xuanhuai smiled bitterly: "The matter of ordnance, it is better to say that since samples have been produced, large-scale mass production is not a problem." It's just that, my lord, the General Manufacturing Bureau has limited financial resources and manpower, so I'm afraid it will be difficult to raise all of them within two months. ”

When Li Hongzhang heard this, he glanced at Zhang Yi and said: "Zhang Yi, I heard that you are familiar with European and American customs, Europe and the United States have no factory mines, and the manufacturing bureau is all efficient. Do you have anything to teach me? ”

Zhang Yi smiled bitterly: "My lord said this, what kind of kid is this, the kid is weak and weak, where do you know such a profound truth." However, the way of production is efficiency. The reason why foreigners produce so much depends on the integration of manpower. Each enterprise is in accordance with the process, arrange the person, each responsible for its own responsibility. I think that the reason why the efficiency of various factories and mines is low is that the redundant staff is bloated and the people are superfluous, and it is only necessary to formulate procedures, eliminate redundant personnel, and control all aspects of procurement, production, and sales. ”

"Oh", Li Hongzhang looked at Zhang Yi with some surprise, although he knew that Zhang Yi was talented, he didn't expect that he would also be involved in the way of business, his previous questioning was just a temptation, and he didn't want Zhang Yi to say the shortcomings at a glance, and he was surprised.

Li Hongzhang said: "In this case, these days, you take some time to write a note for the reference of the old man and Xingsun, and see if it can be done." ”

Zhang Yi responded: "Yes, my lord, the humble position has been recorded." ”

Zhang Yi knew that it was time to retreat, and got up to say goodbye to Li Hongzhang.

Li Hongzhang said with a smile: "Youqiao, send Zhang Yi for me and arrange a place to live." ”

Zhang Peilun agreed, led Zhang Yi out, and said with a smile: "Zhang Guandao, you should rest early, we will enter Beijing together tomorrow morning, and please take care of Zhang Guandao in the future." ”

Zhang Yi hurriedly replied: "Mr. Zhang said so, but how can the kid afford to be righteous, and ask Mr. Zhang to give more advice." ”

Zhang Peilun sent Zhang Yi away and returned to Li Hongzhang's hall, Ding Ruchang and the others had not retreated, and several people sat silently.

Zhang Peilun saw Li Hongzhang and asked, "My lord, are you thinking too highly of Zhang Yi like this?" After all, he is just a small lieutenant general, just with a general rank, how can he be worthy of such courtesy? ”

Li Hongzhang smiled faintly and said: "Youqiao, you are indeed a little worse than Xingsun and Shixiang in this regard, after all, you are from Qingliu and have a more arrogant temperament. As the saying goes, don't bully the old and the young, you say that Zhang Yi is young and has a low official rank, let me ask you, what are you still doing when you are twenty years old? Yu Ting, what are you doing when you are twenty years old? And you, Xingsun, what are you doing? ”

Ding Ruchang smiled astringently and said: "My lord smiled, when his subordinates were seventeen years old, they couldn't eat enough, and they joined the Taiping Army in desperation, and when they were twenty years old, they were just a small leader, in charge of six or seven brothers, where do you know what war is, where do you know what military is?" ”

Sheng Xuanhuai also sighed lightly and said: "When my subordinates were twenty years old, they were still studying hard under the window, and they didn't even get a show, and when they were twenty-two years old, they only got the show, if it wasn't for the later adults, where would there be Xuanhuai today." ”

Li Hongzhang sighed and replied: "Yes, when you were twenty years old, you were all unknown and no one knew you. The old man, the old man is slightly stronger, when I was twenty years old, I was selected as Yougong by the Fuxue, however, at the right time, the old man was also confined to the hometown, shallow knowledge, until he was summoned to the capital by his father, he opened his eyes, and he knew that he was sitting in the well and watching the sky. Look at today's Zhang Yi, in the year of the weak crown, the battlefield battle, not weaker than the battlefield general; When it comes to technology, the three drawings amaze the mechanics of the Manufacturing Bureau; Looking at the world pattern, even the old man is sometimes ashamed of himself; What he lacks now is only qualifications and accumulation, and one day, he will definitely soar into the sky and be unstoppable! ”

Zhang Peilun hesitated: "My lord, do you mean that our Beiyang First Department will really completely press the treasure on Zhang Yi in the future?" ”

Li Hongzhang nodded and said: "It is inevitable to support Zhang Yi, such a young handsome man, if he does not recruit in time, and wait until he is developed in the future, it will be too late, young Qiao, sometimes look at things, and have a long-term vision." Of course, now that he is still young, it is still too early to say where he can go in the future, but he has a great possibility of becoming the future ruler of the Qing Dynasty. Think about that Sun Wen, isn't the court bent on arresting him now, we just want to protect him, even if it can't be used by me, we have to leave a way back for the future, that Sun Wen is not simple, a dragon lurking at the bottom of the sea, sooner or later, there will be a day when he will meet the wind and clouds, calling for wind and rain, but I don't know if he can see through the world and see through the greed of the world. However, this Zhang Yi has already seen through it, otherwise he would not be able to see through the problems existing in the General Administration of Manufacturing at a glance. ”