Li Hongzhang has almost forgotten the pride and ambition of "looking for a marquis three thousand miles away" when he entered Beijing.

Looking at Yang Hao now, he suddenly found that he had some overlap with the young self in the depths of his memory. If you look closely, there is a fundamental difference.

He was conceited and talented, high-spirited, and won the Toad Palace all the way, rising step by step. In the career, there are almost no setbacks until today's status. He pretended to do his best for this Great Qing State, and he did his best to maintain it, and he was worthy of the imperial court, and even more worthy of the world.

But according to what Yang Hao said, it is tantamount to deceiving himself. After all, he is also an orthodox jinshi, a literati who reads sage books, no matter how much he shouts "Haiyan Heqing" on his lips, it can't compare to a bowl of old rice in every ordinary person's mouth.

That's what Yang Hao meant.

And he spent so much effort, so much money, and so many industries to build up enough to feed millions of people. On this basis, it is much stronger than most officials in the world. And he's just an outsider who doesn't even have braids.

What is this called?

However, if Li Hongzhang really believed Yang Hao's statement, it is impossible.

Since ancient times, countless heroes and heroes, didn't they all think this way when they started their careers? Li Zicheng, the king of Chuang, did not commit any crimes in the autumn, but after entering the city of Beijing, he still burned, killed, and plundered, and did all the bad things?

Luo Fenglu didn't believe it either. In his opinion, people like Yang Hao are either great sages and sages, or great traitors. There is no doubt that the sages since ancient times, that is, Confucius and Yan Hui, are just a few people. The rest. The higher the start of the load, the greater the majestic. In the end, the more treacherous and insidious. For example, Wang Mang and Cao Cao.

Whether Yang Hao can become Wang Mang Cao Cao or not, it is not easy to judge, because this guy is not a high-ranking official of the Great Qing Dynasty. However, in terms of the strength he has, he already has the capital to shake the rule of the Qing court, and the key depends on whether Li Hongzhang can restrain him.

Old man Li can't be fooled with a few big words. Just thought about Yang Hao's words for a while, then stopped decisively, and gently slapped his palms and praised: "That's a good thing!" Merely. Since you have this understanding, you should know that the imperial court will never tolerate people like you. ”

In all dynasties, there is no room for anyone to be a philanthropist and do good deeds without control, but there is no way to rule the body. You're competing with the court for the hearts and minds of the people, what do you want to do? Looking for death.

Li Hongzhang stared at Yang Hao aggressively and asked: "If you are willing to serve the old man, then the old man can bear it for you." How is it? ”

This time it was Yang Hao's turn to be stunned. What do you mean, let your brother vote for you as a younger brother? Make no mistake!

It's like the prime minister of a country suddenly saying to a wealthy businessman, "I'm very optimistic about you." Come and do things with me. ”

Nine out of ten people thought it was a joke, and the rest immediately rushed up to hug their thighs. Such an opportunity. I don't know how many wooden fish I broke in my previous life.

Luo Fenglu is called envy, jealousy and hatred! This kid's luck is good, right? Which of our people didn't go through a lot of hardships and tests to finally enter the shogunate of Lord Nakado? You actually asked him to personally open his mouth to solicit it, this has to be the ancestral tomb smoking, right?

Seeing that he was still stunned, Luo Fenglu thought that this kid was stupid when he was happy.

Li Jingfang couldn't wait to go up and press Yang Hao's neck, and immediately came three rings first, and then said that the matter was finalized. He knew how rare it was for an old man to open his mouth to solicit someone.

But when he saw Yang Hao smashing his mouth, he seemed to be embarrassed and shook his head, and sighed: "Thank you Lord Zhongtang for your love." However, I feel that I still lack experience, and I am far inferior to Mr. Luo and Mr. Ma. Let's talk about ship repair first. ”

"Hmph, I don't know how to lift!"

Luo Fenglu immediately reprimanded his master, and sneered in his heart, you kid is still colorful. If you really want to agree, then wait to be cleaned up!

He was also secretly relieved, if Yang Hao, a young man of twenty years old, came in, where would their old faces go.

Li Jingfang was regretful, feeling that Yang Hao had really missed a great opportunity. According to common sense, you are a group of people who have returned from foreign countries, and you have such a big family business and a bunch of contraband. Without a backer, he was picked up and snatched up in a blink of an eye?

Now there is an opportunity to rely on the most powerful backer, this world is still tossed by you, and in the future, you will get results, maybe you can really take the class of the Huai Department is unknown.

It's a pity that Yang Hao refused so simply, and he was afraid that he would become an enemy in the future.

Li Hongzhang was not angry, and smiled slightly: "Okay, then let's talk about the ship." Yang Hao, can you really repair the naval battleship in a few months? How much of the combat power may be restored? ”

Yang Hao glared and said in surprise: "Could it be that Lord Liu Zixiang didn't convey his words clearly?" I mean, a complete upgrade of the two ships in Dingzhen and the capital ships such as 'Laiyuan'. It's not a simple matter of restoring combat power. That is to increase the power, the main gun is updated into rapid-fire guns, so that its combat power will be at least several times greater, even if Japan's 'Fuji-class battleships' enter service three years later, they will have the power to fight a war! ”

"Is that true? Not a boast? ”

Li Hongzhang is serious this time. The Beiyang Fleet, which is his lifeblood, maintains a low level of capital, and must not have a half-point difference.

According to the reports he has seen in the past few days, he can no longer be pulled out to fight, which means that most of his right-hand men have been wasted. How can he not be in a hurry to get angry?

Yang Hao spread his hands: "How are the cargo ships and gunboats we built, the Beiyang soldiers can see it clearly." It is only said that installing dozens of the same naval guns on it can also make the Japanese army unable to parry. Besides, my freighter has 10,000 horsepower, and it is only a matter of converting it to a battleship. ”

"Right in your sunny shipyard?"

Li Hongzhang even heard about this, and Yang Hao nodded calmly: "If you are not in a hurry, then you can wait for the completion of the dock construction in Qingdao." ”

…… Can he not be in a hurry? Now that the troops are approaching the city, when the Japanese army is attacking on a large scale, and the land route cannot be stopped, the battleships staying in the military port will become a live target. When something goes wrong, he Li will have to carry the black pot.

Li Hongzhang thought about this for a long time, and finally made up his mind, and "snapped" the table: "Okay, I'll let you give it a try!" Let's start with Laiyuan and Zhenyuan. ”

During the war, Zhenyuan was burned to a bald shell, and with Beiyang's ability, he couldn't repair it at all, and even the artillery couldn't be restored. Laiyuan was also covered by fire, and although the rescue was timely, it was seriously injured in the end. The situation in Dingyuan is slightly better, and if necessary, it can be pulled out to deal with it.

The main reason is that Li Hongzhang is not at ease and puts all his big ships in Yang Hao's hands.

Not only that, but he was also very "generous" to mobilize a large number of ship-repairing and shipbuilding craftsmen from Fujian Shipbuilding, Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau, and Tianjin Machinery and Shipbuilding Bureau to send them together to help.

In addition, Li Hongzhang also appointed Zhang Peilun as a special envoy for shipping, and went to help him keep an eye on the entire restoration process under the pretext of inspecting the Weihaiwei fleet and inspecting various port passes in Shandong.

Li Hongzhang needs to do an in-depth excavation and exploration of Yang Hao's details, and be sure to find out the true background of this kid, and how to deal with it before making a decision.

Luo Fenglu couldn't figure out why the old man suddenly talked about shipping affairs seriously, but the majesty that he wanted to take down if he didn't agree at the beginning was swept away. Could it be that he just wants to deceive this person into telling the truth? Then you don't need to come forward in person with such a noble identity as Lord Zhongtang.

He couldn't guess Li Hongzhang's thoughts, but Li Jingfang was thoughtful.

Maybe this time, Li Zhongtang really intended to take Yang Hao under his account. With the strength and prestige of the Yang clan today, if he joins the Beiyang faction, he will definitely be able to bring great help. The obstacles that had been held back could be said to have been kicked away, and it was not even necessary to look at the faces of the British, French, and German powers.

It's a pity that Yang Hao didn't cooperate at all. This leaves the potential for future conflicts.

Well?! Or is it someone else's trouble?

Li Jingfang suddenly thought of what Yang Hao said at the beginning. In this Sino-Japanese war, the Qing Dynasty was decided, and when the old man carried the black cauldron, then whoever came to power would have to settle accounts after the autumn.

Yang Hao helped so much openly and secretly from beginning to end, once he was caught by those people, he had to die! Compared with Zhang Peilun who was sent like this, it was a famous clear stream in the world. In dealing with Weng Tongyi, he had too much dissatisfaction with Yang Hao and Yan Fu. This time, I'm afraid I'll have to pick a bone in the egg, and every problem will be recorded in the account.

When the accounts are settled in the future, Yang Hao will not be willing to wait. If you want to force it back, .......

Li Jingfang was terrified. Not only is the old man foresighted, but also worried about possible troubles in the future. In this world, I'm afraid it's really going to start messing up!

Li Hongzhang spoke, of course, he didn't need to talk to Yang Hao about too many details. It's already extraordinarily gracious to let him talk about some kind of uprising, and if he confesses it now, he will be killed.

Yang Hao smiled at Li Hongzhang before turning around: "Lord Fang Cai Zhongtang asked me, who can take over your burden, the first choice in your heart is probably Yuan Shikai, right?" ”

"Oh? What does this mean? ”

Li Hongzhang provoked him again. He was optimistic about Yuan Shikai and didn't talk about it casually, Yuan Shikai, who is only thirty-five years old this year, actually entered his eyes as early as ten years ago. How did Yang Hao know?

Yang Hao didn't explain, and said in a voice: "Yuan Shikai is shrewd and capable, and he is a master of being an official. It's just that this person is ambitious, and he can sell a qiē for the sake of his future. If it weren't for Weng Tongyi's dismissal, Yuan would have been under his account at this moment. Lord Zhongtang, in fact, you have the best candidate in front of you, why bother to go far? The virtuous do not shy away from relatives. ”

After speaking, he smiled meaningfully at Li Jingfang, and said goodbye to Li Hongzhang without lacking any courtesy.

Li Jingfang's face changed for a while, and he didn't know whether to cry or laugh. (To be continued......)