As if he hadn't seen it, Chen Wenqiang beckoned at the door to let the servants send in two wooden boxes, put them on the table, and open them one by one. Pen ~ fun ~ pavilion www.biquge.info

"This is a new production of Yazhou Glass Factory, please watch." Chen Wenqiang took out a pair of binoculars and presented them to Zhang Zhidong with both hands.

"Clairloom? Binocular? Zhang Zhidong stretched out his hand to take it, very surprised, and after repeatedly rubbing and observing, he asked suspiciously: "This is not gold or iron, hard but not heavy, what is it?" ”

"Plastic, this shell is made of plastic." Chen Wenqiang pointed to a few pairs of glasses in the box and said, "These are all frames made of plastic, which are strong and lightweight. ”

"That's what it was given to me, right?" Gu Hongming pointed to another box, unceremoniously reached out and took out a pair of sunglasses, looked at them and put them on, looked around, and said with a smile: "Is it dark today?" Doesn't it cost wax to put it on? ”

Chen Wenqiang laughed and said, "This electric light will be used by Mr. Gu in less than the end of the month, so you don't have to worry about wasting candles." ”

Zhang Zhidong picked them up one by one, nodded again and again, and said, "Okay, good!" If you build a factory in Yazhou, I am afraid that it will not only take about a year to have this achievement, which is really amazing. I'm afraid that there are no foreigners, right? ”

"Germany has." Chen Wenqiang replied honestly: "This mirror-making technology is taken from Germany, and the plastic technology is also shared with it. ”

"Germany?" Zhang Zhidong nodded, and asked uncertainly: "To build the railway, you also have to borrow money from Germany, right?" I don't know why you love Germany, aren't the British and American powers stronger than Germany? ”

"Germany is developing rapidly and is already the strongest in Europe, except that its navy is not as good as that of Britain, and nothing else is weaker than England." Chen Wenqiang explained: "As an emerging power, if you want to compete with the old powers, you naturally have to lower your profile and ask for less. Unlike Britain and France, which have too much appetite and deceive people too much. ”

"Makes sense." Zhang Zhidong nodded thoughtfully, "What about the United States, the previous Guangdong-Hanzhou railway dispute was unpleasant." Why are you planning to borrow from the United States? ”

"Just a thought. Whether it can be achieved depends on the specific situation. Chen Wenqiang pondered for a moment and said: "But from the perspective of the international situation, Japan's rise is a threat to the United States in the Far East and the Pacific region, and the formation of a confrontation between the United States and Japan in the Pacific region seems to be a foregone conclusion." At home, the wave of arrival at the United States has caused the United States to suffer, making it eager to remedy its image in the eyes of the Chinese. In this way, the United States has drawn in China. A boycott of Japan should be a feasible strategy. So—"

"Well, the analysis is precise." Zhang Zhidong sat back in his chair, played with binoculars in his hand, and said thoughtfully: "At this time and that time, the situation will change, and the policy will also change. China's great enemies, Tsarist Russia and Japan. If you can reach the Russian system, you will be united. It is also a way for a weak country to seek perfection. ”

"From the perspective of geopolitical relations, Germany and the United States are obviously not as serious and urgent as the threats from Russia and Japan." Gu Hongming interjected on the side: "If you want to boycott the Anglo-Japanese alliance, Germany and the United States seem to be the best choices." As for China, although weak but large, it is also a target for Germany and the United States to woo. ”

"It's about the center of the court. National diplomacy, if the main department has a book—"

"Adults, no." Seeing that the goal had been achieved, Chen Wenqiang immediately spoke out to stop it, and in the face of Zhang Zhidong's puzzled expression, he said in a deep voice: "What are the princes of the imperial court like. Adults must know better than I do. The most important thing in diplomacy is confidentiality, and if the matter is not confidential, it will harm oneself and benefit others. Besides, the time is not yet ripe, he is tempting, this is also observing, first paving the way, and then the water is the best policy. If you rush upwards, won't you get a lot less benefit? There is also no room for bargaining. ”

"As the saying goes: rushing is not a sale." Gu Hongming glanced at Chen Wenqiang meaningfully and said: "Calm down and wait for the price to sell, it is a safe way." As for this foreshadowing, adults can appropriately express it and lead Germany and the United States to come and solicit it. ”

"How?" Although Zhang Zhidong was intelligent, like the Chinese people at that time, he lacked an understanding of the handling of such international affairs and the complex international relations.

Seeing that Gu Hongming set his eyes on himself, Chen Wenqiang hurriedly said: "The trend of arriving in the United States is coming to an end, and adults can take advantage of the situation and invite the American consul in Hankou to discuss and end their arrival in Hubei Province." Then, they may be able to negotiate with them whether the United States can pay some of the Gengzi compensation to Lianghu in order to implement its Gengzi student assistance plan; Or ......"

Under the influence of the trend of arriving in the United States, President Roosevelt decided to "refund" the Gengzi indemnity of more than 10 million taels that had not been paid in full at that time, starting in 1909.

The "refund" is not returned by the United States, but is deducted from the original annual "compensation". In other words, this amount must still be collected by the Chinese government from various taxes and assessments every year, and after it is handed over to Citibank in the United States, it is not at the disposal of the Chinese government, but a separate "student fund" is set up and supervised by the US government.

In addition to stipulating the methods of sending students to study in the United States, there are also plans such as the construction of schools, among which the attached Jingshi School is a preparatory school for Chinese young people studying in the United States, which will become Tsinghua University.

However, the movement to the United States has continued to this day, except for Guangzhou, which is still enthusiastic, all other ports have a sense of fatigue and relaxation, and Chen Wenqiang and his joint group also feel that their goal has been achieved, and the funds they occupy urgently need to be relaxed. But as long as it is not publicly stated, it does not mean the end. And Chen Wenqiang has been planning how to borrow to make another profit, and borrowing money to build roads is undoubtedly a choice.

Zhang Zhidong was not familiar with how to deal with foreigners, and he listened reasonably, so he turned his attention to Gu Hongming.

"This kind of thing is quite time-consuming, so I will leave it to the lowly and Lord Chen, and ask the Governor for permission." Gu Hongming understood and stepped forward to ask for help.

"Hmm!" Zhang Zhidong nodded and said, "You two are proficient in foreign affairs, go to do this, don't worry." ”

……………

The Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway is a very important matter, and all aspects involved are very complex. Although he received the full support promised by Zhang Zhidong, Chen Wenqiang still had to operate first, and funds, talents, local relations along the railway, etc., had to be raised, recruited, and dredged in advance.

Moreover, Chen Wenqiang is a new representative of the constitutionalist, and if possible, he does not want to be in front of him and offend the constitutionalist gentry of the three provinces because of the construction of roads. If he had to charge ahead, then he would also have to communicate with Zhang Jian and other constitutionalist leaders to reach an understanding.

As for borrowing foreign debt. It may be difficult for people today to imagine the scene at that time, that is, the great powers were all seeking to export capital, and when they heard of borrowing, they could be said to be vying for it, which was like the difficulty of attracting investment in later generations. And Zhang Zhidong's willingness to agree to Chen Wenqiang's conditions is really troublesome. Eager to throw this hot potato out.

At that time, a syndicate of British and French banks invested in the construction of railways in central China, and in 1904 established the Central China Railway Company as a joint venture. After the right of way of the Guangdong-Hankou Railway was redeemed by the commercial office, the company, relying on its abundant financial resources and the strength of its respective governments, met with Zhang Zhidong through the consul of Hankou and wanted to borrow money to build the road, but also put forward the condition that "it must interfere with China's right of way". Zhang Zhidong negotiated for several months with his "unreasonable demands", but there was no result. But Zhang Zhidong knew that Britain and France would not rest on their laurels in their bid for railway loans. is also anxious to hand over to Chen Wenqiang, and he is happy to be quiet.

Moreover, since the resumption of the construction rights of the Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway from the United States, both the funds and the progress have been very unsatisfactory. Although the Hunan Yuehan Railway Company collected more than 8 million silver dollars in various types of shares, it spent a lot of money, and it was unable to make ends meet in the section from Changsha to Zhuzhou. Due to lack of funds. The originally planned section from Wuchang to Changsha has not started for a long time.

All kinds of obvious or implicit reasons finally contributed to Chen Wenqiang taking over the Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway. The conditions cannot be described as unfavorable, precisely because Chen Wenqiang is Chinese, Zhang Zhidong is not afraid of the loss of the right of way.

When the steamer sailed into the Huangpu River, it was already half a month later, Chen Wenqiang arranged the Hanyang Iron Works and set up a railway patrol police, and returned to Shanghai in the dust. Prepare to consult with his allies.

Large white clouds hung low on the fields, and the air was filled with moisture, and Chen Wenqiang stood on the deck looking at the hazy city.

Well, there is, although he doesn't see it completely. But he had a rough idea of the number of immigrants from Shanghai to Qiongzhou. It should be tens of thousands, right? In other words, at least tens of thousands of impoverished people who have gathered in Shanghai from all over the world have changed their lives and joined the army to develop Qiongzhou.

As soon as the boat docked, Chen Wenqiang saw the people who came to pick him up, several backbones of Long Xingtang.

The carriage was sailing, and Chen Wenqiang and Li Yapu were talking and discussing in the car. Although Chen Wenqiang was rarely in Shanghai during this time, the development that has been on the right track still shows a good momentum. In particular, the participation of the backbone members of the Fuxing Association, such as the Shanghai Chinese Association and various factories, has made the work more scientific and management in nature because of these knowledgeable talents.

"When I received the telegram, I began to select capable brothers, and together with the hundred men drawn by the merchant group, I have already made up the number you want." Li Yapu stroked his beard and said steadily: "It's just that something happened recently, Yu Qiaqing is in a hurry to find you, and wants to use the power of Xingyitang." ”

In December 1905, a sensational court case occurred in Shanghai. At that time, a Cantonese official wife, Li Huang, returned to Guangdong from Sichuan with 15 maidservants due to the death of her husband, and was arrested on charges of human trafficking by the Shanghai British Concession Patrol House when passing through Shanghai.

When the case was heard by the Concession Senator, there was a dispute between the Chinese and British judges over where the female prisoners should be held, and the British Inquisitor, Deweimen, rudely declared, "I do not know that there is a Shanghai Road, and I only obey the orders of the consul." Guan Jiongzhi, the Chinese judge, said angrily, "Even so, I don't know that there is a British consul." Under the dispute, Deweimen ordered the patrol to snatch the prisoner by force and tore Guan Jiongzhi's court clothes.

The Chinese who were watching the meeting reacted strongly to the humiliation of their own officials, rushed to the court, surrounded the patrol, and set fire to the patrol house and the car of Deweimen, while the British patrolman brazenly shot and killed many people and arrested more than 500 Chinese people. After the outbreak of the bloodshed, the Chinese merchants in the British Concession went on strike one after another to protest, and the foreign patrols were not to be outdone, and they all went on strike, and the concession suddenly fell into chaos.

In the newspaper, Chen Wenqiang had already seen the news and roughly guessed Yu Qiaqing's plan.

As early as 198, when Yu Qiaqing first showed her ability to "transfer people," it was a similar situation. The French Concession authorities were arrogant and tough, forcibly destroying the graves of a Ningbo merchant on the pretext of building a hospital and slaughterhouse. Ningbo businessmen, who were already powerful in Shanghai, announced a general strike in a fit of rage.

When the two sides were at a stalemate, Yu Qiaqing went to find his "short-term friends" in the same township, and encouraged these poor coolies to also come on strike. Merchants went on strike, coolies went on strike, and maids went on strike, and the French Concession immediately became a mess, and Yu Qiaqing went to the authorities alone to negotiate. The French had to give in, and the cemetery was eventually returned. After this battle, Yu Qiaqing began to become famous in Shanghai.

Now Yu Qiaqing wants to repeat the old tricks, but the British Concession is several times larger than the French Concession, and if he wants to succeed, he must rely on the power of Xingyitang, the head of the Shanghai Tang gang. Moreover, with his personal financial resources, I am afraid it will be difficult to support the expenses of helping "short-term friends".

"Xingyitang can support him, and I intend to make this matter bigger, and after the end of the movement to the United States, there will be another movement to the United Kingdom." Chen Wenqiang sneered, he is the best at using all kinds of complicated things to make them develop in the direction of his advantage.

The Canton-Hankou Railway had to borrow foreign debt, just to exclud Britain from the British Invasion Campaign. Moreover, Chen Wenqiang had other roundabout ways to make it impossible for Britain and France to compete for railway loans.

"According to intelligence, the British invited Ji Yunqing, and he sent his subordinates to send threatening letters, Zhu Baosan and others were afraid to retreat, only Yu Qiaqing was unmoved." Li Yapu groaned and said, "If you want to do it, I think you have to get rid of Ji Yunqing first, so as not to make trouble with his disciples." ”

Ji Yunqing worshipped Cao Youshan, the leader of the Qing Gang, as an "old man" in Shanghai, and became a big hooligan of the Qing Gang, and he has always been active in the British Concession with his disciples and grandchildren. Because there was no conflict with Xingyitang, there was no blow. Xingyitang has dominated the world in the French Concession, and the development of the British Concession has been going on, Li Yapu has this idea, but also to clear the way for future development.

"Kill him at this time-" Chen Wenqiang shook his head lightly and said, "If Xingyitang supports Yu Qiaqing and boycotts the British, won't people know that we did it?" If you want to do it, you should also be clean from end to end, leaving no handles. ”

"Ji Yunqing has an enemy, we can fake the hands of outsiders to kill him, or we can lure him out of Shanghai." Li Yapu said coldly: "He also opened a fragrant hall in Wuxi to accept apprentices, which is also an opportunity. ”

"Feng Zhou, Chen Deping, and Ke Youwei have already returned, and with their help, it is not difficult to kill Ji Yunqing." Chen Wenqiang nodded and said, "The hand of a fake outsider is time-consuming, and there is no guarantee that one blow will be hit. Luring him out of Shanghai and then doing it is the best policy. (To be continued.) )