In Chen Wenqiang's view, it is normal for foreign capital to ask for collateral, and without collateral, who doesn't worry about money going down the drain! As for the right to manage, the right to use, the right to audit, and the right to purchase materials, if all the rights are handed over to the people, whether they are the government or businessmen, and the level of management is secondary, the erosion and misappropriation of ink will greatly increase the cost of railway construction, and the effective period of the completed railway will also be delayed. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

In the final analysis, by the end of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, almost all the people were corrupt, not only the officials were corrupt, but the people were also corrupt. For example, the commercial railway companies in various places are extravagant, full of private relatives, and under the banner of high-sounding nationalism, but they are harming the people and benefiting themselves, fattening up big rats, leaving confused accounts, but no one cares about the shares of the ordinary people.

In fact, this is also a very frustrating thing for the Qing court, and the well-designed reforms will always be "unfinished" after the implementation of the bureaucratic system: it is obviously a "benevolent government" that benefits the country and the people, but in the end it is turned into a tool for disturbing the people and accumulating wealth by leading cadres of all sizes. Under the temptation of such huge profits, the "New Deal" became a new "economic growth point", pushing the local gentry to quickly become the first to get rich.

The more the reform deepens, the more the people's grievances boil, and the more "mass incidents" there will be, even far exceeding those of the previous dynasties under political pressure. The squires, who were originally the representatives of the people's will, because they were not bound by the status of "civil servants", but also had authority in the countryside, left and right, controlled official affairs, eroded funds, and even harshly curbed businessmen under the pretext of fundraising.

The Qing court's attention to the rule of officials can be said to be quite deep, but in the absence of institutionalized supervision, there are tigers on the top and flies on the bottom, and in the face of white flowers and silver, all kinds of means seem very pale and powerless.

And what about building railways. The investment is large, the results are slow, and the interests of all parties are involved, which is really a hot potato. Chen Wenqiang heard the meaning of Zhang Zhidong and Gu Hongming's words, and found out the thoughts of the two, but he was very cautious about this important matter. Don't dare to express your position lightly.

But Chen Wenqiang did not categorically refuse, and even had a faint idea in his heart, so he euphemistically said that he would go back to study and discuss, and then come up with the charter.

"Good, good sword, good sword." Zhang Zhidong was full of praise for Chen Wenqiang's gift, which was originally a manganese steel sword made by Yazhou Iron Works, but he believed that it was made by Hanyang Iron Works.

"Lord Chen is brave and diligent in foreign affairs, and I will definitely share my worries for the Governor in the future." Gu Hongming lost no time in reminding Chen Wenqiang again.

"It's man-made. There's nothing in the world that can't be done. Chen Wenqiang smiled faintly, "Although there are many entanglements and difficulties in China to get things done, there are also solutions." In fact, it depends on the determination and courage of the Governor, to what extent can he support it? ”

"Oh, how do you want Bento's support?" Zhang Zhidong looked at Chen Wenqiang suspiciously.

"I'll go back and recruit people to study business. I take out the articles of association and ask the adult to decide. Chen Wenqiang replied vaguely, and said with a smile: "This time, please ask your Excellency to draw a batch of firearms first." It is used to protect the Hanyang Iron Works. ”

Zhang Zhidong wanted to refuse, but after thinking about it, it was just for the purpose of protecting the factory, and dozens of guns were dispatched. With Chen Wenqiang's ability, people can buy more and better, which is to give him face. Please let me know, it is also a sign of respect. Besides, the Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway still wants to be taken over by Chen Wenqiang, and he can't hurt his anger for this trivial matter.

Chen Wenqiang said goodbye, and Gu Hongming sent Zhang Zhidong off. Straight to the gate of the Doge's Palace.

"Mr. Koo." Chen Wenqiang stopped, stretched out his hand, and said sincerely: "For Mr.'s talent, my brother admires it very much, and I know that there is really a genius in the world. Mr. has learned both Chinese and Western, and the brothers can only have some strange skills, but they also have something in common. Tomorrow there will be free time, and the brother wants to get together with his husband to talk and listen to the teachings. ”

"You're welcome." Gu Hongming was stunned for a moment, stretched out his hand to shake Chen Wenqiang, and said with a smile: "Listening to the teachings really kills me, but I want to hear Brother Chen's unique views on foreign affairs." ”

"It's a deal." Chen Wenqiang smiled, shook it vigorously, and turned away.

Gu Hongming looked at Chen Wenqiang's back and thought thoughtfully. After a long time, he smiled and turned back to the house.

………….

Incompetence became instinct, perfunctory became the norm, but the mentality of the gentry was super good, pushing all the problems to the so-called "system" as if they had nothing to do with themselves.

In the trend of New Deal reform, the gentry from all over the country have joined in the process, and the high-level approach is to start new enterprises and businesses, but there are often hidden investments from officials behind them, each taking what he needs; The low-level approach is to become various "members" or "directors" of the New Deal implementation agencies, and directly benefit from the New Deal's tax contributions.

As a result, the relationship between the people, the gentry, and the officials in the rural areas has become increasingly complex, which has further intensified the contradictions in the countryside and the relationship between the cadres and the masses at the grassroots level, and has also created a precedent for the proliferation of "local tyrants and inferior gentry" in modern China.

Logically speaking, railways are the lifeblood of the national economy, and there are indeed inappropriate things in the construction and management of private enterprises, at least the trunk lines should be controlled by the state is a long-term plan.

Obviously, in order to take over the Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway, Chen Wenqiang was not only faced with problems such as capital and technology, but also had to smash the jobs of the commercial railway companies in various provinces and offend the businessmen and gentry who benefited from it. In other words, it is a group of snake-like fellows who are entrenched along the way of the railway to be built, and are the best at using the ignorant and blindly obedient common people to build momentum for them.

But there are pros and cons to things, Chen Wenqiang is evaluating his ability and estimating the benefits he will get. So, as soon as he returned, he immediately gathered his men and studied and consulted overnight.

The first is to roughly determine the total cost of the project, the total construction period, and the relevant construction plan. Although Chen Wenqiang really wants to take over this big project, he must also be aware of it and obey the laws of economy and science.

"More than 50 years ago, when the Pacific Railroad was built, it was more than 3,000 kilometers long, and only two companies undertook the construction, but it was completed in seven years. The Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway is only more than 1,000 kilometers, and the road is smooth and easy, if the two companies are also repaired from north to south, it can be completed in three or four years. ”

"According to the official estimate of the cost of the Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway, a total of 56 million taels of silver. The official cost is only a lot more, but if you make careful calculations and manage effectively, plus the rails produced by the Hanyang Iron Works, it is estimated that millions of taels can be saved. ”

"When the U.S. built the Pacific Railroad, there was a cash grant law. It also stipulates that the land on both sides of the track will be developed and utilized by the construction company. With this incentive, construction companies naturally want to speed up construction to get more benefits. As for the Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway, the place it passes through is not a barren place. It can be seen that the resistance is not in the construction, but in the place, and the cost and construction period cannot be compared. ”

"Hunan and Hubei are under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Guangzhou, and if the Governor gives his full support. Local resistance should be greatly reduced. In addition, Lord Chen was a rookie of the constitutionalist faction, and he negotiated with the heads of the constitutionalist faction of the two provinces, and he may be able to obtain the accommodation of the gentry of the two provinces. ”

Listening to the elaboration of his subordinates, foreigners, or Chinese, Chen Wenqiang did not express his position easily, but he knew it in his heart. The cost is about 50 or 60 million taels, and if you remove all kinds of obstacles, the construction period should be between three or four years, but he doesn't know that in history, the Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway has been built for a total of 36 years. This shows how difficult it is to get things done in China.

"The construction period is set at seven years, and the cost will be subject to the official, as for the obstacles-" Chen Wenqiang pondered for a moment and said, "I will negotiate with the Governor, and if I can't meet the expected support, I won't take over." Of course, how much to borrow and how to raise it. It's a matter for later. I don't think funding is the main issue, so it's not on the table. Well. I'm going to get the project plan by noon tomorrow, and it's okay to be rough. That's the end of the meeting, let's get out! ”

The outsiders dispersed, but there were core personnel left, who were responsible for formulating the requirements and conditions proposed to Zhang Zhidong, involving all aspects other than engineering technology.

"Your Excellency. This Guangdong-Hanzhou railway cannot be connected. It was Li Weige who was the first to speak and stop Chen Wenqiang, which surprised Chen Wenqiang a little, "Your Excellency the Governor first redeemed the right of way from the Americans at a high price, proposed to do business, and decided that each of the three provinces should take its own place. Shared construction. At present, commercial companies in Guangdong, Hunan and Hubei provinces have been established and raised shares. The Governor wants to take over again, where will the provincial commercial companies be? How to dispose of the road shares raised? Who is responsible for the losses caused by the poor management of each company? Borrowing money to build roads is resented by the people, and if you don't borrow, you will lack funds, and the governor is in a dilemma, but he wants Lord Chen to take over for him, and asks Lord Chen to think twice. ”

Chen Wenqiang nodded and said with a smile: "General Manager Li knows the inside story very well, and the questions raised are to the point, so everyone will discuss and study them one by one. By the way, this loan, in the future, it will be called 'investment promotion'. ”

Similar behavior, similar purpose, but the name is different, and the evaluation of people at the time is also different. One is a conceptual problem, and the other is an operational problem. If it is a normal scope of borrowing, there are no harsh conditions, it is naturally very beneficial, and it can even be called "borrowing chickens to lay eggs".

And Chen Wenqiang wanted to borrow foreign money, so he was naturally not as ignorant and short-sighted as the Manchu officials. He wanted to take this opportunity to strive for the formation of a prototype or attempt of the Sino-US-German alliance, at least to make the Germans think that this was the experimental stage of the Triple Alliance, a period of inspection.

In addition, Chen Wenqiang also planned to take the opportunity to establish an open, official-looking armed force, and even thought of the name, the railway patrol police, who was specifically responsible for ensuring the smooth construction of the Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway and the safety of its future operations.

If we look further, the Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway can also be included in the revolutionary cause of the Renaissance Association. Just imagine, if the revolution had taken the lead in making a breakthrough in Guangzhou, Guangzhou, and along the Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway, the revolutionary army would have been able to go straight to the three towns of Wuhan, the heart of China, and form a more favorable situation.

Of course, these are assumptions. Chen Wenqiang was ready to lay out all the difficulties, even at the expense of exaggeration, in order to obtain the most favorable conditions from Zhang Zhidong. The so-called sky-high asking price, pay back on the spot. If Zhang Zhidong refuses to agree, then Chen Wenqiang will leave it alone, and there will be no loss.

One problem after another was put forward and discussed, and more than one set of solutions was worked out, with the demands and conditions that Chen Wenqiang and others came up with. They are all Chinese, and many conditions are certainly harsh, but there is no such thing as losing the right of way, and the real loss is also in the hands of Chen Wenqiang and his group.

This is quite complex and time-consuming planning. Chen Wenqiang knows that the more thoughtful he is, the more favorable and relaxed conditions he will get from Zhang Zhidong, and the more support he will get from partners, including the Sino-overseas Joint Venture Bank.

"Don't write five million taels of silver, double it, ten million taels." Chen Wenqiang squinted his eyes and reminded: "You have to leave room for bargaining, and you can't be too realistic." ”

If Zhang Zhidong agrees to exchange the banknotes issued by the joint venture bank with the banknotes issued by the official treasury and use all the banknotes in the government's future activities, it means that the banknotes issued by the joint venture bank have been officially recognized in Huguang and Guangxi provinces, and can gradually become legal tender among the people. After the silver from the official treasury becomes the reserve of the joint venture bank, it can issue several times the amount of banknotes for credit and financial expansion.

Once the paper is used to pay for silver and banknotes to pay for various expenses, Chen Wenqiang has obtained at least 10 million yuan in road construction funds with almost no investment. According to the official estimate of the railway cost of 35,000 taels of silver per kilometer, it is already possible to build about 300 kilometers of railway, and the problem of funding for the first year or two can be solved.

I exchange banknotes for your silver, and then use your silver to issue twice as many banknotes, and Chen Wenqiang will take at least millions of yuan with empty gloves inside and out. But this is not visible in the market, as long as it is guaranteed that the bank will not be run, or can cope with a possible run, the one-dollar bill is still worth one tael of silver, or can buy a physical item worth one tael of silver.

"Railway patrol police must be under the direct control and jurisdiction of the company that builds the road to ensure that they do their duty and escort the road construction and protection. After the completion of the road, each train plans to send five people to inspect the bullet pressure, ten people at important stations, and five or three people at secondary stations. In addition, a special 'Railway Patrol Police Training Institute' should be set up to be responsible for recruiting and training patrol officers. In the future, police stations, police depots, road guards and other organizations should be set up at important stations and sections. ”

At that time, there was no such title or profession as a railway policeman, and only "patrolmen" in uniforms hired three or five people at important stations to keep watch on the platform, which was regarded as the prototype of railway police. Even if it is not for the construction of the railroad or the establishment of an armed force for the Renaissance Society, the railway police will have to be built sooner or later.

"Order all the governments along the railway to fully cooperate with the construction of the railway. Among them, it is the most important task to let the people in the jurisdiction know about the various matters promulgated by the railway company and avoid being instigated by others. As for deliberately disrupting road administration and inciting resistance, it is regarded as a violation of the law, and the law cannot be tolerated. ”

This article is aimed at the inferior gentry and the foolish people, and it is also a test and a choice for local officials. If the capacity is insufficient, or if there are other plans, such local officials should be withdrawn and dealt with. If Zhang Zhidong didn't have such courage and iron fist, it would be okay if the railway was not connected.

................ (To be continued.) )