The new year has arrived, and at the end of last year, the Qing Dynasty was almost filled with explosive news, and its sensational effect simply made the Manchu civil and military extremely excited. The key is that the railway line from Fuzhou to Shanghai was opened to traffic one year ahead of schedule, which is the icing on the cake for Li Hongzhang. The Wuhan Iron and Steel Plant led by Zhang Zhidong also cut the ribbon of the first steelmaking furnace in the New Year's bell as scheduled, which invisibly added a strong stroke to Li Hongzhang's political achievements.

After the New Year's bell rang, in view of Li Hongzhang's prosperity, the imperial court, under the manipulation of the Empress Dowager Cixi behind the scenes, in order to curb Li Hongzhang's rising huge shili, unexpectedly set up the yamen of the governor of Liangjiang in Nanjing, and Zuo Zongtang took the new post of governor of Liangjiang. Everyone in the court knew in their hearts what the court meant by this move, and Zuo Zongtang and Li Hongzhang knew each other tacitly. The Yamen of the Governor of Liangjiang was selected in Nanjing, and his intention was even more obvious, and Ding Richang, the governor of Jiangsu, was to be under the jurisdiction of Zuo Zongtang.

At present, the surging laying of railway lines has reached a consensus in the court, and Cixi is powerless to stop it. But she must not let Zuo Zongtang and Li Hongzhang join forces. Zuo Zongtang was appointed governor of Liangjiang with the intention of suppressing the powerful shili formed by Li Hongzhang in the coastal area. After the New Year, Zuo Zongtang officially became the governor of Liangjiang. Also after the New Year, the railway lines from Shanghai to Nanjing and Nanjing to Xuzhou started at the same time. Sheng Huaixuan is already an expert in how to handle the operation of the railway, but Hu Xueyan, who is the president of the Northwest Railway Company, is indeed a layman. But he has the bottom in his heart, and the reason is that Deng Zixuan is the gatekeeper for him.

After the court approved the construction of the railway line from Nanjing to Xuzhou last year, Hu Xuanxuan quickly set up the Northwest Railway Road Construction Company in Nanjing in accordance with Zuo Zongtang's instructions, and at the same time hired foreigners to survey the line. By the end of the year, the survey of the line from Nanjing to Xuzhou was completed, and Nanjing first entered the road construction stage in the next year. After the completion of the survey of the Nanjing-Xuzhou railway line, Deng Zixuan checked the exploration results and felt that it was similar to the Nanjing-Xuzhou section of the Beijing-Shanghai railway line in the later generations, so he told Hu Xueyan that it was completely feasible. The section from Nanjing to Xuzhou is almost all plain, so the exploration is not difficult and the progress is very fast.

The road construction projects on the north and south banks of Nanjing, one north and one south, were carried out at the same time. On the wharf on the side of the construction site on the north bank of Nanjing, the fleet of ships transporting stones from upstream docked at the wharf in an orderly manner. At this time, Hu Xueyan and Deng Zixuan stood on the dock to check, "Brother Zixuan, Sheng Huaixuan can bloom in the middle and advance at both ends, I must not lose to him, and I must also adopt the method of flowering in the middle and advancing at both ends." Right now, I have enough silver, and I'm going to try it with Sheng Huaixuan. ”

"Brother, it's okay to give it a try, but don't be frizzy. At present, Shenghuaxuan has accumulated a lot of experience by laying the railway from Fuzhou to Shanghai, and you are at a disadvantage compared to it. Since you want to be face-saving, I can give you an idea that may speed up the construction period, but only if your money is sufficient for the construction. "At present, the demand for salt from the salt lake is increasing day by day, and I have expanded the caravan to transport it with all my might. Besides, I'm very rich now. Hu Xueyan swore an oath.

Deng Zixuan said with a smile: "In this case, simply build the road on the whole line, lay the roadbed and bridge first, and the stations along the way can be dealt with as appropriate, so that the construction period will be accelerated." At present, the Wuhan Iron and Steel Plant is building a rail factory, and I heard that Zhang Zhidong is also preparing to build a steam locomotive factory, so that as soon as your road construction project is completed, it will be just in time for the Wuhan rail factory. ”“haha！ Brother Zixuan, I knew that you had already calculated it. I wonder if Sheng Huaixuan is also looking for you to give you ideas? ”

"Look at what you said, Sheng Huaixuan can plan it by himself, he has already passed the growth period!" Deng Zixuan teased. "So I'm breastfeeding right now and need you to breastfeed?" Hu Xueyan counterattacked. "You can't live without me, so to speak. For example, dealing with foreigners, such as how to improve construction efficiency, I am an expert! ”“haha！ That said, I went back to my infancy and learned what it's like to breastfeed! The two sides couldn't help but daxiao.

In the Liangjiang Governor's Mansion in Nanjing, Zuo Zongtang was full of energy. As the governor of Liangjiang, not to mention how to compare with the Minister of Military Aircraft, the key is that the power in his hands is real. has been fighting with Li Hongzhang for many years, and now he finally has greater confidence. As soon as Zuo Zongtang took office, someone reported Ding Richang's illegal behavior, but Zuo Zongtang considered that the railway was being built at the moment, and considering that Li Hongzhang had supported him after all, so he turned a blind eye to Ding Richang's actions for the time being, and then took action when the time was ripe. In addition, there is another bargaining chip, which is to keep Li Hongzhang in his throat, which will reduce the trouble in other aspects.

On this day, Zuo Zongtang read the publication "Nature Story" published by Shanghai Tongren Academy, and he was quickly attracted by the content. At first, Zuo Zongtang looked very attentive, and soon his expression was a little excited, and Zuihou couldn't help but pat the table and stand up. This action made the subordinates waiting outside hurriedly run in, "Haha! It is really the fruit of the Westernization Movement, and this kind of publication actually appeared in the territory of the Qing Dynasty, and I ask you who sponsored this publication called Nature Story. ”

The subordinate replied: "My lord, my subordinate only knows that it is a publication run by Shanghai Tongren Academy, which is published every half a month!" "Tongren College? Who founded Tong Ren College? The subordinate said blankly: "My lord, this publication is all unbelievable rumors from some Western countries, and things that belong to the market cannot be put on the table." "Stupid, wait to sit in the well and watch the sky, how do you know the mystery. On the surface, this publication was an interesting introduction to Western countries, but in fact he preached a lot of Western knowledge. There are some things that the old man has never heard of, especially the content is easy to understand, entertaining and educational, and it is very innovative to read, and it is like a fresh breeze to read, which makes people unable to release the volume. You must know that this is something that enlightens the people and customs, which also shows that the Westernization movement is very popular among the people. ”

Zuo Zongtang pondered for a while and said, "You immediately inform Hu Xueyan to come to see me quickly." "The cold wind is biting, and at a construction site, people are working on road construction. At this time, Hu Xueyan and Deng Zixuan were watching, Hu Xueyan was full of interest, but Deng Zixuan frowned, because the people were working a little slowly, and they didn't seem to be able to keep up their spirits. The fact that these recruited people pay their wages is one thing, but the key is that they have no enthusiasm for work. In the eyes of the people, they work for the government, work for the government, and pay a day's wages for a day, so they can get by and get by, which may be a long-formed way of thinking.

"Brother, this can't be done, the efficiency is too low!" Deng Zixuan muttered. "Brother Zixuan, the government recruits people to work, and it's not bad to be able to do it to this extent. I'm a businessman, so I don't know how much silver taels I can save in advance of the construction period, but the railway line is a joint venture between the government and the people, and I can't do anything about it. "Do you know what it's like to be out there? You can make certain changes, for example, you can serve a free meal at noon without much additional costs, so that the enthusiasm of the migrant workers will be mobilized! ”

Hu Xueyan rolled his eyes and said: "It makes sense, it will definitely increase the speed of construction!" Come! A subordinate in an official uniform hurriedly ran over. Hu Xueyan muttered a few words in his ear, and his subordinates immediately ran to a high point and shouted loudly: "Listen carefully, Lord Hu sympathizes with you, and from today onwards, you will be provided with a free lunch, and everyone will have a share and be full." As soon as the words fell, cheers suddenly erupted below, and the enthusiasm for labor immediately rose.

"Brother Zixuan, you kid is the finishing touch, a stroke of genius!" Hu Xueyan was convinced. "Dude! There is also a way to speed up the construction period. "What's the solution?" "You can set a set period of time and implement incentives if you finish early. The bonus silver taels can be calculated in the amount of days in advance of your salary, so that you don't have to add extra budget, and you can greatly speed up the construction period. Deng Zixuan continued to give advice. This method is good, I plan to work immediately! Hu Xueyan accepted it without thinking.

"Master Hu, Lord Zuo asked you to go back quickly, there is something important to discuss!" An official appeared in front of him. Hu Xueyan immediately crossed the river with Deng Zixuan by boat, and after going ashore, the two broke up, Deng Zixuan went to Wanchuan's mansion, and Hu Xueyan went straight to the governor's residence. In the living room, Hu Xueyan said with a smile after listening to Zuo Zongtang's inquiry: "Nature Story, a journal published by Shanghai Tongren Academy, is published every half a month. I have no interest in this kind of publication, and I have heard that it sells very well. ”

"You know how to make money, let me ask you who runs Tongren Academy?" "It is a wealthy man in Shanghai, who was a talent in his early years, so he established Tongren Academy. This rich man is called Deng Zixuan, and we have a good personal relationship. "Hu Xueyan is a bit of an understatement." An inconspicuous businessman can actually handle this kind of publication, which can be said to be rare in the Qing Dynasty at the moment, and he can't find the second person. Zuo Zongtang said.

"My lord, do you know that Deng Zixuan is a Western-style figure who has studied Western languages since he was a child and is proficient in Western countries. This man is unruly and despises officialdom, but this man has an extraordinary talent for business, and his assets are not under me at the moment. ”“haha！ I am a Chinese man, I am really a hidden dragon and a crouching tiger, no wonder the Tongren Academy founded is unusual. Hu Xueyan said teasingly: "My lord, in the past few years, you have been closed to news in the northwest, and the Tongren Academy founded by Deng Zixuan has become famous. ”

"Famous?" Zuo Zongtang stroked his beard and said suspiciously. Hu Xueyan said even more emotionally: "My lord, the same academy he runs has won more than a dozen talents, and in the past two years, a few have been admitted to the Jinshi. To tell you the truth, this time I set up a railway company to build roads, and the foreigners all relied on him, and he never suffered a loss in dealing with foreigners. "I didn't expect that there was such a figure in my Qing Dynasty, where is this person now?" "In Nanjing?" "Inform this man immediately, I want to see him!"

"My lord, the intelligence network of the provinces south of the Yangtze River has begun to operate benignly, and generally major news will reach me within 5 days. An intelligence network in Jiangbei is currently being launched, an intelligence organization has initially been established in Beijing, an intelligence organization has also been established in Shandong, and I am currently preparing to build an intelligence network in Zhili and Henan. "Wan Chuan reports." Not bad! You've done a great job. "My lord! The subordinates dared to ask, when will we make great progress? "It's coming, as long as the time is ripe, I'll get up immediately."

"Great, I've been looking forward to this day for a long time." Wan Chuan was intoxicated, and his subordinates came in to report: "Shopkeeper, someone has come to visit!" After Hu Xueyan's subordinates left, Deng Zixuan said to himself: "No wonder Zuo Zongtang summoned Hu Xueyan to see me!" "My lord, I have arranged for two of my subordinates to infiltrate the governor's palace, do you want me to find out the situation?" "It's too late, Lord Zuo sees that I must have something to do with the publication." "You're talking about Nature Story?" "Yes, Zuo Zongtang is very sensitive to this kind of thing, presumably he learned about the situation of Tongren Academy through Hu Xueyan's mouth, which is the reason why he wants to see me."

"Lord, your safety is related to our great cause, and I have the responsibility to protect you!" Wan Chuan said with a stern expression. "There will be no problem, Zuo Zongtang is a Westernist after all, and I believe that this kind of publication is very much to his appetite." Now in front of Deng Zixuan, what should he say when he sees Zuo Zongtang, I'm afraid he can't fool him around, what kind of character is Zuo Zongtang, many years of officialdom and ups and downs, the old guy has been trained perfectly, so he must pay attention to everything he says, and don't make the old guy suspicious.

In fact, for so many years, Deng Zixuan has been afraid of dealing with them, what he is most worried about is dealing with Zuo Zongtang and Li Hongzhang, as for Zhang Zhidong and Shen Baozhen, Deng Zixuan thinks that they are capable ministers, but not political elites, so Deng Zixuan has no psychological burden in dealing with the two. Zuo Zongtang and Li Hongzhang are not, it is no accident that these two can be appreciated by Zeng Guofan, and the recognition of the Manchu Dynasty is even more telling.

Zuo Zongtang's talent is proved by ironclad facts, he did not climb to such a high position through the imperial examination, which is directly related to his political talent, his keen sense of smell and observation are exemplary, and his character is even more resolute and resolute. As Lin Zexu commented on him: He is an extraordinary genius and a peerless genius. Li Hongzhang is different, he was born in a famous family and has been smart since he was a child. His family was both a prominent eunuch and a scholarly family. Liang Haode's background and his own characteristics have made him prosperous.

Li Hongzhang's rise to a prominent position at a young age is inseparable from his own talent. This gentleman is good at thinking before acting, and they all have superb skills for mastering and controlling. What Deng Zixuan was worried about was that if any of them became suspicious and investigated him, everything would come to light. This is the real reason why Deng Zixuan has been diving, since he is familiar with history, he must make use of his strengths and avoid his weaknesses, but what should he do when he is about to face them?