"Americans are broad and simple, but not deep; The British are deep and simple, but not broad; The Germans are broad and deep, not simple; The French do not have the natural depth of the Germans, and are not as broad-minded as the Americans and the simplicity of the English, but they have a sensitivity that these three peoples lack......"

"What about the Chinese?"

"The Chinese have all these four excellent spiritual qualities. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info is precisely because of this, the overall impression left by Chinese is gentle, that kind of indescribable gentleness. ”

"Gentleness is deceived! When it comes to interests, simplicity can also be excluded. I do have some foreign friends, but there is only one one who can have a good relationship, a somewhat silly and stupid Yankee. ”

"Simplicity is not reflected in you at all, deep and broad, I haven't seen it yet."

"It's still a long time, Mr. Gu can take his time." Chen Wenqiang smiled and raised his glass, "The personality and essence of an individual also vary from person to person in terms of external performance, just like I see Mr. Gu, now and in the future, the conclusions drawn will definitely be different." Another example is Mr., Westerners regard them as geniuses, while Chineseers regard them as monsters. ”

"You're a monster too." Gu Hongming raised his glass, took a sip, looked at Chen Wenqiang with a scrutinizing gaze, and said quietly: "I haven't heard of a study tour, I haven't obtained a degree, but I am proficient in Western science and technology, and even surpass it." It has only been a few years since its rise, and it has been heard by both the government and the public. Whether it is a foreigner, a domestic businessman, or even a bureaucratic politician, you can play it with ease. Aren't you even more like a monster than I am? ”

"Hehe, monsters are monsters, so what's the matter?" Chen Wenqiang smiled heartily, "Actually, I think Mr. is rebellious every day and deliberately pursues to be different." Whatever others approve of, you oppose; What others worship, you despise. Because Mr. is intellectual, he can speak high and justify everything, and he will never make a fool of himself. ”

Gu Hongming narrowed his eyes. Looking at Chen Wenqiang's smiling expression, he also smiled: "Knowing people to such an extent, it's no wonder that you are invincible." The doer ponders things, and the vertical and horizontal ponders people. You can not only work hard, but also be vertical and horizontal, and you are really not an ordinary person. ”

"No, I'm just normal." Chen Wenqiang pointed to his head and teased: "There is nothing wrong here, it's not a mental illness." Not even a madman. ”

"Then I'm also an ordinary person, why do you say that it's a monster?" Gu Hongming laughed.

Gu Hongming's grotesque words and deeds are too outrageous, and his unruly attitude is too dazzling. He relented in playing games that "shocked the white or yellow mediocrity" with sophistry and fallacy, and Europeans were able to appreciate his unashamed, arrogant, and innovative performances. The Chinese, on the other hand, do not know how to appreciate the fun at all, and the cultural soil of the Chinese has never been tolerant of heresy and rebellion.

Chen Wenqiang looks like a panacea, and it seems that he can get along with him regardless of faction or race. But in the bones. He has the recklessness of Gu Hongming.

Moreover, the reason why Chen Wenqiang was able to do a good job. It is precisely because he not only ponders things, but also ponders human instincts. And Chinese society is exactly like this, people who ponder things are often pondered by people who ponder people in the end, and the person who ponders people will eventually become the final winner, because he is pondering you.

Business table chat, a Chinese tradition. Chen Wenqiang and Gu Hongming are more speculative, and they both know that eating and drinking is not the theme.

"This condition-" Gu Hongming only had a cursory look at the documents brought by Chen Wenqiang, and then shook his head.

"Negotiable, but the concessions won't be too big." Chen Wenqiang said disapprerovingly: "The Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway is not in my plan, since the Governor intends to take over by me. If we don't exhaust all kinds of difficulties, when it comes to construction, all kinds of delays, all kinds of expenses, how can we explain it? Besides, if the Governor did not give his full support, I would not have taken this hot potato. I don't say that Mr. Koo also knows how many officials and gentry of the three provinces are involved in the interests of the railway, and how many of them are constitutionalists? ”

Gu Hongming still shook his head, and only sighed for a long time before asking, "Do you have to be like this?" ”

"Otherwise, it can't be completed on time." Chen Wenqiang nodded very firmly and said: "If the Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway is completed, it will run through the north and south together with the Luhan Railway, and the Yangtze River waterway will be smooth from east to west, and the two lakes region will benefit the most, and the economic take-off is just around the corner." Your Excellency and Mr. Governor should see this clearly. ”

"The Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway is the hub of the trunk road, the foundation of the branch road, and the essence of China's great interests, this is certain." Gu Hongming pondered for a while, and said categorically: "Okay, then I will go to the governor to talk to the governor and urge this matter to be completed." However, the negotiation must be negotiated with both sides making concessions, and Mr. Chan must also be prepared. ”

"Then please ask Mr. Gu to teach me." Chen Wenqiang naturally knew that he had requirements, and Zhang Zhidong must also have conditions, but unfortunately he didn't know his bottom line, so he had to get through Gu Hongming first.

"The Governor wants to turn the School of Crafts into a school of higher learning, so that the students can make all kinds of practical and new machines, but unfortunately the teachers are ......not enough."

"The Governor wants to set up a hydropower company, but he has neither the experience nor the relevant talents, and he refuses to hand it over to foreign businessmen......"

Chen Wenqiang listened to them one by one, estimated, measured, and after Gu Hongming finished speaking, he thought for a while and nodded vigorously, "If there are only these two items, I am willing to take over the undertaking together with the Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway." ”

"The 10 million taels of silver—" Gu Hongming said with a smile: "Mr. Chen can give me a secret, and I will fight for you, only a little more." ”

Chen Wenqiang smiled and slowly stretched out a slap.

……………..

At the end of the Qing Dynasty, there were three massacres, people slaughtered Yuan Shikai, Cai slaughtered Zhang Zhidong, and officials slaughtered Cen Chunxuan.

The so-called wealth slaughter means that Zhang Zhidong is good at carrying out big projects, and can waste money and waste money. However, Zhang Zhidong, as a scholar, spent a lot of money on the issue of industrial development and scientific and technological development, and spent money that should not be spent, or money that was unjust, which can be said to be certain. In China, which was closed back then, who has seen it, and who understands it?

But according to the financial power that Zhang Zhidong held at that time, if he wanted to be corrupt and take bribes, he could really make a fortune. Moreover, with his momentum and real power, including military power, who dares to manage it, and who can manage it? Such a feudal official, even the imperial court has to have some scruples.

But Zhang Zhidong's "slaughter of wealth" is not "trying to make money". Other words. He doesn't put it in his pocket, he doesn't embezzle. He accumulated tens of millions of family funds for Huguang, and even later became the material basis for the success of the Wuchang Uprising, but after his death, "the family has no money, only tens of thousands of books". A generation of officials. In the mud of the late Qing Dynasty, it is not easy to do this.

As for courage and skill, how can Zhang Zhidong achieve such a status? How can we build railways, run iron factories and coal mines, make guns and bullets, run bureaus, run bureaus, mint bureaus, factories, schools, and so on? He also ordered officials to collect "tips for arrival gifts, birthday gifts, and door bags" and "all punishments and bans forever", which was also very severe.

And the Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway is indeed a heart disease of Zhang Zhidong. It is one of his wishes to see the steel dragon galloping on the shore of Dongting Lake and the foothills of Wuling Mountain as soon as possible.

Under Gu Hongming's help, under the temptation of the planned construction period of the Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway, and after repeatedly weighing the pros and cons, Zhang Zhidong and Chen Wenqiang had face-to-face discussions. The conditions were reached in compromise, and the details were determined in the consultations. And finally-

"The Luhan Railway has been repaired for eight years, and the Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway is similar, seven years is not satisfactory, and the headquarters wants you to build it as soon as possible."

Facing Zhang Zhidong's aggressive gaze. Chen Wenqiang smiled slightly and said, "The Luhan Railway has been under construction for eight years. The mileage is also similar to that of the Guangdong-Hankou Railway, but what is the quality of the Luhan Railway? In order to speed up the progress of the project, the Belgian company saved costs and cut corners, resulting in extremely low quality railways. For example, the Yellow River Bridge-"

After a pause, Chen Wenqiang's face slowly turned solemn, and he said in a deep voice: "Five years." Or less, but I can only guarantee this deadline to adults for now. ”

Zhang Zhidong slowly exhaled a long breath, lowered his eyelids and was silent for a long time, and slammed the table, "Okay." If you can complete it in five years, we will fully support you. Offending the gentry? Hehe, you're not afraid, why should you be afraid? The headquarters is already seventy wonderful, and if you can see the completion of the Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway in your lifetime, you will have enough wishes. ”

"Wen Qiang will do his best to fulfill the governor's wish and live up to the governor's expectations." Chen Wenqiang expressed his determination, and said with a smile: "So, this can be regarded as a deal, right?" ”

"Deal." Zhang Zhidong leaned his body into the chair, as if he had unloaded a thousand catties of heavy burden, and said slowly: "The headquarters will guarantee to the imperial court that you will be the supervisor of the Guangdong-Han Railway, and the officials of the two lakes will fully cooperate with you." ”

"This matter still needs to be kept secret, and I still have to plan and operate." Chen Wenqiang said cautiously: "Railway patrol police, foreign loans, and communication between officials and gentry, these tasks must be done first, and I can officially take over and start building roads." ”

"Plan before you act." Zhang Zhidong nodded appreciatively and said, "That's fine, the road has not been repaired yet, and there are already voices of opposition." ”

"Your Excellency the Governor has seen it very much." Chen Wenqiang deeply agreed with this, paused, and said: "The key is still in the railway patrol police, if there are too many local recruits in the hometown, it will inevitably involve local interests and gentry, and may not be able to do errands in a real way." Therefore, I plan to use more outsiders in the construction, and gradually increase the number of local patrols after completion. ”

"It's not unreasonable." Zhang Zhidong thought for a moment and said, "It's just this cost-"

"The sooner it is completed and opened to traffic as soon as possible, the extra cost will not be nothing." Chen Wenqiang said: "Besides, this foreigner doesn't mean that he has to be outside the province, and I think it can be used just across a county." ”

"Although the ministry fully supports it, you must also be cautious and cautious when dealing with local people-related affairs, and you must not act recklessly. In case of a popular uprising," Zhang Zhidong reminded with concern.

"My lord, I regret it." Chen Wenqiang smiled disappreciatively and said: "The people's change, what is the people's change? The inferior gentry instigated, the foolish people resisted, if they did not exert the power of thunder, they were afraid of repeating the old incident of the Songhu Railway. Adults have been sitting in the two lakes for many years, but do you still think that such a civil change is difficult to suppress? Is it difficult to control local inferior gentry and corrupt officials? If this is the case, the adults will make it clear as soon as possible, and the Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway will be repaired by those commercial companies......"

The first railway in Chinese history was the Shanghai-Song Railway, built by the British in Shanghai, which was completed and opened to traffic in July 1876. In order to curry favor with the local authorities, the locomotives of the railway were named "Celestial Empire" and "Pioneer" respectively, but this did not dispel the suspicions of Qing officials.

In particular, the steam locomotive emitting black smoke and the loud whistle immediately frightened the feudal scholars half to death, and they negotiated with many parties on the grounds of destroying the laws of their ancestors, demanding that the train be stopped; Wherever the train passed, the peasants were also bitter as they saw the never-before-seen behemoths crossing the fields, harassing their homes and even their ancestral graves. When the train came, these fools were even more frightened. All of this is intolerable to them.

In the second month after the opening of the Shanghai-Song Railway, an accident occurred: a soldier and a train were killed in a rush to the road, which ignited the anger of the gentry and foolish people along the way. Instigated by Qing officials and local gentry, people along the route stormed the Shanghai-Song Railway Office and smashed the British railway company. As soon as the riots broke out, the Qing court could not sit idly by, so they bought the railroad at a high price and demolished it, and finally threw all the railroad tracks into the rivers and seas outside Wusongkou.

“…… There is compensation for land acquisition and removal of graves, and compensation for broken houses and houses, if you are dissatisfied, you can negotiate. If you close off the public and the public, incite demagoguery, waste the overall situation with small profits, and disrupt the road administration, how is it different from those who mislead the country and harm the people? Chen Wenqiang smiled on his face, but he revealed a coldness, "If such a popular change is tolerated and accommodated, when will the railway be completed, when will the people benefit, and when will the country become rich and strong?" That's why I decided to set up a railway patrol first, but I want to see if it's a good mouth, a hoe, or a fast gun. If you don't capture, detain, or kill a few local snakes, it's not enough to deter the rest. What do you think, my lord? ”

This guy has the ability, the means, and the tougher side. Zhang Zhidong and Gu Hongming glanced at each other and smiled bitterly.

"Hehe, since you have such courage, how can you retreat." Zhang Zhidong stroked his forehead, and his tone became resolute, "Don't use thunder methods, don't show the heart of a bodhisattva." The construction of railways has a bearing on the country, the nation, and the development of the two lakes, and must not be mistaken because of inferior gentry and ignorance of the people. The so-called employment is not suspicious, and the suspicious person is not used. Since you take over, you will let go and do it, and the headquarters will not die, and will always support you. ”

"Then the lower official prays for a long life and a hundred years of life." Chen Wenqiang laughed and said, "Today, the lower officials also have a small gift, please smile with Mr. Gu." ”

Zhang Zhidong's face has changed, although he spends money like flowing water, opens up new learning, reforms the military and politics, and revitalizes industry, so that Hubei is prosperous in talent and rich in wealth, but he has always been honest and self-controlled, and rarely accepts gifts, even when he celebrates his birthday. (To be continued.) )