As soon as the next day came to the morning court, Guangxu issued a holy decree for immediate disaster relief. On the one hand, it arranged for various localities to transfer money and grain to the disaster area, and on the other hand, Prince Li Shiduo was the minister of the Qin Mission, and the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Industry cooperated in organizing disaster relief in the disaster area.

"In this disaster relief, the matter of how to provide disaster relief and how to dispatch is all decided by Prince Li. Cen Chunxuan, you are in charge of checking whether the silver and grain can be truthfully in place according to the resolution of Prince Li. I would also like to warn the local officials here. The money and food used for disaster relief are all life-saving money and food for the people. For officials who are still corrupt regardless of the lives of the people. Those who ignore the will of the imperial court and delay money and food in vain. Cen Chunxuan. Guangxu took out a pistol: "You can hold my gun, kill first and then play." ”

Since the founding of the Qing Dynasty, there has never been a Shang Fang sword, and now it is a Shang Fang treasure gun. This incident shook the government and the opposition for a while, and even Cixi didn't expect Guangxu to come to such a hand.

As soon as the decree was issued, the disaster relief officials of the Ministry of Household and the Ministry of Industry headed by Shi Duo, together with the inspectors who were guarding in Ouchi headed by Cen Chunxuan, left Beijing at noon on the same day and rushed to the disaster area at the urging of Guangxu. In the afternoon of the same day, Guangxu summoned the ministers of Germany, the United States and Britain.

"I am aware of the efforts of various countries towards my 'Grand Cross Railway'. I am also grateful to the ministers for their contributions to the construction of the Qing Dynasty. I have prepared a small gift for you to laugh at, since it is Mr. Tian Bei, the American Minister. Guangxu waved his hand, and the eunuchs sent three pieces of fine porcelain. And Tian Bei couldn't find Guangxu from Tianjin to Shanghai, and the matter of Guangxu has been discussed as a joke by ministers of various countries.

"This is our part, thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward."

"You're welcome, get back to business. The railroad construction plans of the United States and Germany have been confirmed by the Qing Dynasty. And the construction of the railway has been delayed. Some people say that this is just my use of the railway to delay and balance the situation, and there is no intention of building the railway. There is no doubt that railways have played a huge role in boosting the country's economy. Do I not want my country to become stronger? I think that's a very irresponsible statement. Of course, I don't want to find out where this rumor came from, but I use the facts to illustrate it. The reason for the delay in the construction of the railway is that I have long explained that I have not been able to recruit enough workers. As ministers to China, I believe you have a deep understanding of China. Chinese people have a deep affection for the land, and the strong local complex makes it difficult for Chinese people to live and work in other places before leaving their homeland. If you don't even understand this, you have to say that he is an unqualified minister. Are you right? ”

"Yes, Your Majesty, I agree with Your Majesty's words." U.S. Minister Tian Bei had a black line on his face, who said that all of them must be recruited before the start of work, can't they be repaired section by section: "Your Majesty means that you can recruit enough workers this time?" ”

"Yes, the magnitude of the floods in Shanxi is unpredictable. There are also three feet of water on the flat ground. The harvest of grains is inevitable. More than 2 million people were affected. And these people must have to leave their homes in order to live. This gives us a great opportunity to recruit workers. I believe we will be able to recruit enough workers this time. My 'Grand Cross Railroad Project' will no longer be just a piece of paper. ”

"That's great. However, Your Majesty the Emperor, I wonder if there is room for discussion in our country that all the road construction materials proposed by your country should be produced by your country. In order to find a market for domestic inventory, Tian Bei can only propose it again and again.

"No, I'm not just going to build a railway. I also wanted to improve the basic industry level of the Qing Dynasty by building railways. So there's no room for discussion on that. But I wonder why you're bothering with road materials. In my opinion, the magnitude of the 'Grand Cross Railway Project' and the amount of materials that will be used means that a large number of factories and mines will need to provide the materials. These factories and mines are exempt from this condition. ”

"Yes, Your Majesty, thank you for your generosity." Tian Bei was very happy. Yes, this means that the Qing market, with a population of 40,000, is open to the United States. But when the contract was in hand, my heart was cold again. The contract with the United States stipulates that only seven factories can be set up in the northeast such as Haicheng and Golden State.

"In fact, these contracts have already been drawn up, and because of the problems of the workers, they will not be handed over to you until now. You can go back and discuss with each country before making a decision. After the third day, Tang Shaoyi will live in the disaster area of Shanxi to recruit workers. Each country can tell Tang Shaoyi the number of workers required, and he will do his best to arrange it. ”

"Your Majesty, if you allow it. I want people to come with Master Tang, can I? "Tian Bei is really forced to be anxious by the country, China's railway started a day earlier, and there is less pressure in the country.

Before Tian Bei's words were spoken, the German Minister Barand picked up: "Your Majesty, I, Germany, also hope to send someone to accompany me." "It's all up to you to recruit people in the United States, so what will I do with Germany.

"There's no problem with that, you guys will choose the personnel when you go back, and we'll go together after three days." I don't want you to be in a hurry in Germany, and there are times when you are in a hurry.

The American and German ministers rushed back to the embassy with the contract. The British minister, Ogne, remained. Little did he know that Britain would threaten to withdraw from the Qing Dynasty's railroad plan in order to obtain the right to mine ten miles of mines along the railway. But the Qing State not only did not compromise, but instead spread the rumors that the United States and Germany would lay the northern railway to the south after the completion of the plan until the plan was completed. In order to expand their influence in China, Germany and the United States, driven by their respective national interests, accelerated the pace of the Northern Railway. This came as a big surprise in Britain. The southern part of the Qing Dynasty must not allow Germany and the United States to enter. When the domestic orders came, it was too late by the time they drew up a plan and sent it to the Qing emperor. Yes, because the Qing Emperor and Ben didn't look at their plan and went straight back. The Qing Emperor wanted to see the results of the field explorations that were the same as those in Germany and the United States. At this time, the personnel in the Qing State had already separated Germany and the United States. When he recalled what had happened, when it was reported that the Qing Kingdom wanted to lease Xiamen to Germany, he suddenly understood. The emperor of the Qing State was nothing more than taking advantage of the contradictions of various countries.

Guangxu picked up a contract: "Minister Ogne, this contract was originally intended to be signed in your country. Due to the misunderstanding between us, the progress of exploration in your country will be delayed. In my opinion, I can't catch up this time. But I decided to hand over the text of the contract to you first. Let's start by talking about the content of the contract. You must know that the south of the Qing Dynasty is the main financial source of the Qing Dynasty, and it is also the richest place in the Qing Dynasty. The south is the main place where the railway is laid. Don't doubt the Qing Dynasty's determination to lay the railway. ”

"Your Majesty, I have never doubted it. Just to give up the right to mine minerals along the railway, it is difficult for me to convince our parliament. ”

"No, I think you're mistaken about me. Regarding the mining rights, I just want to cooperate with you in mining. You can look at the contents of the contract. Guangxu handed over the contract to Qi Yide and signaled to transfer it to Ogne.

"I can tell you in advance that in the south of the Qing Kingdom, this is by no means the railway in my future railway planning. We will not only build a north-south direct railway from Beijing to Guangzhou, but also a north-south direct railway from Beijing to Shanghai, and an east-west direct railway from Shanghai to Hunan to Sichuan. If conditions permit, such as Fujian, Guangxi, Yunnan and Guizhou provinces, they will also be connected to the railway. And all of this can only depend on your country's great assistance. ”

"I didn't expect His Majesty's plan to be so huge." Ogne was stunned by Guangxu's railway idea before he took the contract. You must know that ten years ago, the political axe of the Qing State was still constantly obstructing the construction of railways in various countries. Eugene wondered if he should persuade Congress to change its current policy toward the Qing Kingdom. Guangxu's next sentence directly made him crash.

"In the south of my Great Qing Dynasty, there are countless minerals there. Iron, coal, wood, and more. It's all up to us to develop together. They all need to be transported out by rail. Isn't it? ”

What does the joint development of railways and minerals mean? It means that the Qing country will be fully opened, and it will open up a country with huge land resources and countless human resources without a single shot. Then the Qing Dynasty will become the second jewel in the crown of the British Empire after India. This also means that he will become the most meritorious minister, and he will have the opportunity to become foreign minister or even prime minister in the future.

"Your Majesty, I believe that your ideals will be fully supported by the British Empire." Ogne could not hide the excitement in his heart.

"Really? I'm still wondering how I can ask your country to help me build two battleships. So it seems possible. Guangxu is in a good mood.

"I will report His Majesty's request to Congress."

Guangxu did not know how to negotiate with each country after the three countries returned, but three days later, Qingmei and Qingde signed a final agreement on the construction of the Qingguo Railway. The agreement between the two countries stated that Chengguo would provide all the construction funds and technical support, and the Qing State would provide sufficient manpower according to the construction requirements, and the land acquisition would be completed ahead of schedule. At the same time, the railways from Beijing to Fengtian, Fengtian to Lushun, and from Beijing to Weihai to Jiaozhou must be completed and opened to traffic before July 1894. The materials used directly in the construction of the railway must have come from domestic factories in the Qing Dynasty. The railways will be operated by the National Reading Power of each country for 10 years, during which the Qing State will not enjoy operating income. During this period, if the Qing Dynasty uses the railway, it will pay eighty percent of the civil usage fee. Once a war breaks out, starting with the declaration of war by the Qing state, the Qing government will use it free of charge, and the railway operators must fully cooperate. No less than 80% of the Chinese employees employed by the railway operator after one year of operation. At the same time, the Qing State will establish a Chinese-Western hospital in the capital as a sole proprietorship, with doctors from the United States and Germany serving in the service.

The difference between the United States and Germany is that the United States is allowed and limited to the United States to open factories for railway materials in seven cities in the northeast of the Qing Dynasty, including Fengtian, Haicheng, Quanzhou, Gaiping, Jinzhou, Liaoyang, and Fuzhou, and to help build a locomotive manufacturing plant in Mukden. Qing Guo purchased a batch of guns from Germany, and Germany will help build a gun and ammunition manufacturing line, and improve artillery production for the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau.

With regard to the exploitation of minerals, there is only a verbal agreement. A Chung Hwa Mining Company was established by the Qing Dynasty to develop minerals by a separate agreement.

On the day the agreement was signed, Tang Shaoyi and recruiters from the United States and Germany left Beijing to recruit victims in Shanxi. In the United States, when the Qing State had formally signed an agreement, a large number of factory owners and their personnel boarded the ships bound for the Qing Kingdom. German cargo ships bound for the Qing Dynasty also set sail.

At the behest of Guangxu, Lin Yongxiang, the owner of Shunfeng Logistics Freight Company, approached the U.S. consul in Tianjin, formally proposed railway transportation cooperation, and proposed to order a batch of train wagons from the soon-to-be-established Fengtian locomotive factory. After the Jiangsu Road Donation Incident, everyone in the world knew that the backstage boss of the Shunfeng Logistics Freight Company was Guangxu, and the American consul immediately agreed and reported the matter to China.

And this matter was intentionally unintentionally made known to the German consul.

As early as when the Qing Dynasty proposed that the United States should help build a locomotive factory, Barand reported the matter to China, and proposed that Germany should also build a locomotive factory and seize the project with the advantage of its own manufacturing precision. In this matter, the Germans believed that they should not be pressed by the need to provide too much help to the Qing State. When Barand received the purchase intention of Shunfeng Logistics to order ten trains (instead of ten) trains from Fengtian Locomotive Depot, he was amazed at Guangxu's generosity and reported the matter to China. Germany has always wanted a naval base in the Far East, and the Lianyungang of the Qing Kingdom is what you Germany itself does not want. Therefore, it was agreed with Germany that in the next three to five years, Germany would find another port in Incheon or Ryukyu in North Korea. Based on this premise, the reply from Germany to him was that precision manufacturing equipment could be exported to a certain extent.

Unexpectedly, the next day, the German minister Barand proposed to Guangxu that Germany would also help build a locomotive manufacturing plant in Tianjin, hoping that Guangxu could hand over the locomotive order to Germany for completion. This was expected by Guangxu, but what Guangxu didn't expect was that Germany used its own precision manufacturing advantages to export precision manufacturing equipment and train a group of workers for the Qing Dynasty, just to win Guangxu's order. Germany's precision manufacturing technology is the world's top technology both now and in the future, which is something that Guangxu has been coveting since accepting Guangxu's identity. I didn't expect to get an accident, although there was certainly a limit, but Guangxu believed in the creative ability of the Chinese. Then it was agreed: Germany would get more orders than the United States.

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