In the study room, Zeng Guofan coughed slightly, and said seriously: "Zhonghua, it is true that foreigners have excellent equipment, but their people are foreign after all, and they are incompatible with me in customs. The old man admired Lin Gong's saying that the master Yi had long skills to control the country, and he learned that the foreigners' equipment was used with me, which was also haode. But now the foreigners are eyeing each other, and you have also seen it in the imperial court report, and Yingyi has asked to go to Beijing several times to change the contract. Yingyi's heart is not dead, in exchange for the truth, in fact, he wants to sneak into my heart and snoop on me, with bad intentions. The emperor is now in a dilemma, if we wait for the current letter to cooperate with foreigners, I am afraid that I will be criticized by the people in the court. Besides, it is not a day or two for foreigners to help bandits, and there are many people in the DPRK and China who bluntly say that foreigners are behind the long-haired bandits. The old man dared to assert that if anyone dared to say that he cooperated with foreigners, he was afraid that the disaster of death would be imminent. ”

Rong Lu was silent, Zeng Guofan said that it was indeed the truth, although Zeng Guofan and others were relatively enlightened at this moment, the Manchu court was still dreaming of the Heavenly Empire. Although the last Opium War also ceded land and paid reparations, the world always thought that foreigners were only strong ships and guns, and it was impossible to go deep into the interior to pose a threat, and only a few people such as Lin Zexu and Wei Yuan were awakened in the first Opium War. The Manchu Dynasty was really defeated in the Second Opium War a few years later, when the capital of a country was captured by more than 20,000 people, and it was not until that time that the country was awakened, and there was a later Westernization movement.

And the later Westernization Movement was also supported by Cixi, Prince Gong and others, and there were famous ministers such as Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang to handle it. Nowadays, there is no Westernization faction in the DPRK, and the official positions of the so-called four famous ministers of Zhongxing in the local area are still low, and it should be known that when Zeng Guofan opened China's first military factory, he had already achieved the position of the governor of Liangjiang, which can be described as a powerful authority. And now? Whether it is Zeng Guofan or Rong Lu. Their authority is insufficient, and as the so-called people are soft-spoken, it seems that there is no good in writing at this moment except to bring trouble to themselves.

Rong Lu figured out this section, it is indeed as Zeng Guofan said, it is impossible to make a big deal about foreign affairs now, and said with a wry smile at the moment: "Are we just going to sit and wait for death?" As a traverser, he knows the ability of Xiao Yungui and Hong Yun'er, and the biggest advantage of the traverser is that he has more than 100 years of historical experience, which was obtained by Zeng Guofan, the pioneers of the Westernization Movement, with countless silver, human lives and humiliation, Rong Lu of course knows the calculations in the hearts of Xiao Hong and the others. After they conquered Nanjing, they launched an eastward crusade, and the capture of Shanghai was to make up their minds to introduce Western jishu. In this era of change, whoever takes the first step will be able to take the lead, not to mention that Xiao Hong, who has historical experience, will not make the mistakes made by Zeng Guofan, Li Hongzhang and others?

I thought I started late. Now the authority in his hands is not as good as Xiao Yungui, but he doesn't know how long and what month he will be able to surpass him. thought that he couldn't even catch up with Xiao Yungui. How can you rescue the person you like in the palace? The more he thought about it, the more aggrieved he became, and Rong Lu's face couldn't help but show a look of despair.

Zeng Guofan saw that Rong Lu was up, so he opened his mouth and comforted: "Zhonghua and relieved, although it is too difficult to comprehensively reform foreign affairs in the court, we can still do it in private, didn't we buy a lot of foreign guns and foreign guns before?" We can also buy more guns and guns. In short, it won't be too far behind. ”

Rong Lu slowly shook his head and said: "The fish that wins people is not as good as the fish that wins people, not to mention that the muskets and artillery we buy are all things that foreigners are about to be eliminated, even the ammunition, fire caps and ancillary equipment have to rely on people's noses, which is too passive." The thought of the hairy thief being able to produce his own guns in the future. The younger generation feels like a thorn in the back. ”

Zeng Guofan sighed lightly and said: "Then how about we go to the imperial court and integrate the workshops and craftsmen who supply gunpowder in the army in Hengyang, and open a gunpowder bureau first?" Solve the gunpowder and guns first, and it is better than nothing. ”

Rong Lu pondered for a moment before saying, "It's only such an expedient measure, it's better to produce some ammunition by yourself than nothing." The younger generation planned to introduce Western jishu and some machinery for the manufacture of guns and ammunition, and the gunpowder bureau could also recruit some skilled craftsmen to imitate Western guns. "Nowadays, most of the gunpowder and lead bullets supplied by the Qing army are made by government or private workshops, not only the manual work is shoddy and the cost is expensive, many times the gunpowder will affect the power because of the poor workmanship, if you can introduce the guns and bullets of foreigners and management experience, the gunpowder bureau of the Hunan army can also solve some problems. And the Gunpowder Bureau is just a disguise, if it can be done, it is not impossible to purchase some machinery and recruit some craftsmen to imitate foreign guns, Rong Lu still believes in the ability of Chinese copycats.

Zeng Guofan nodded and said: "Go back, you and Guo Bochen (Guo Songtao's expression) will discuss it carefully, make a charter, and let's play it jointly." I left you the slip of the long-haired thief and the foreigner's transaction, and the old man will personally play the court later, and this matter should still be reported to the court to know. ”

Rong Lu nodded in response, and then Zeng Guofan and Rong Lu chatted a few more words, and while they were talking, the scholar outside the door came in and reported: "Master, the eldest lady has settled down, and she is asking to see her outside." ”

Zeng Guofan said to the scholar: "Okay, our business is also over, you let the young lady in." Then he looked at Rong Lu with a smile and said, "The little girl Zeng Jijing has arrived in Hengyang, you can also meet it." Although there is a cloud of etiquette and not meeting before marriage, the old man thinks that Zhonghua is not such a pedantic person, and it is okay to meet him. ”

Rong Lu was secretly funny, he had already seen it at the door, and he didn't break it at the moment, and said: "But it depends on Zeng Shuai's arrangement." ”

After a while, I saw that the girl Zeng Jijing brought a portable maid Shi Shiran into the study, this Zeng Jijing is already thirteen years old this year, fourteen years old, and it will be possible to make a gift in two years. At this time, Rong Lu saw Zeng Jijing enter the house, and changed into a light green shirt, on the outside was a sleeveless shoulder with a Hunan embroidered peony pattern, a pair of light blue lace cotton pants, and a pair of embroidered cotton shoes on her feet.

Shicai met at the door in a hurry, because he was in a hurry, Zeng Jijing still had a dusty face, and at this moment he had finished dressing up, and changed his clothes, so that Rong Lu's eyes lit up, thinking that this little girl was really a few years older, and her appearance was also haode.

Zeng Jijing stepped forward and knelt down to kowtow to Zeng Guofan and Zeng Guoquan to say goodbye, Rong Lu was in the capital before this kind of daily kowtow to the elders to ask for peace, this Manchu era said that the foreign people were in charge of the country, but the Manchu people for the need to rule, hyped up the three outlines and five constants, this filial piety in the Manchu Qing Dynasty was extremely valued, is in this era of children in the daily kowtow to the elders parents is also a common thing, not as indifferent as the family in later generations. Rong Lu was not used to it when he first came, but over time he got used to it, kowtowing to his widowed mother every day to say goodbye, and it was not awkward to talk with him.

Zeng's family is also a big family, and the family education is also very strict, originally Zeng Jijing was about to come to his father to ask for peace, but it happened that his father and Rong Lu and others were discussing, so Zeng Jijing also went to the house to settle down and freshen up. After grooming, he rushed to greet his father, which shows the importance of filial piety to his children at this time.

Zeng Guofan also liked his daughter very much when he saw it, and when he asked about the family, Zeng Jijing also answered them one by one. When she answered, Zeng Jijing looked like a beautiful girl, with her head bowed, her tone was gentle and soft, and her posture was not crooked or slanted, but she relied on the demeanor of a dignified and virtuous woman.

Rong Lu only glanced at Zeng Jijing a few times, and heard Zeng Guofan and his daughter talking about some family matters, and he was not very interested, so he didn't pay attention to listening, and thought about the gunpowder bureau in his mind.

After a while, I only heard Zeng Jijing say goodbye to her daughter, Rong Lu came back to his senses, only to see Zeng Jijing salute himself, Rong Lu also hurriedly returned a salute, only to see Zeng Jijing glanced at himself with a shy look in the corner of his eyes and turned around.

After Zeng Jijing left, Zeng Guofan coughed and asked, "What does Zhonghua think of the little girl?" ”

Rong Lu sighed softly, he didn't expect Zeng Guofan to let him judge his daughter, and said immediately: "Miss Zeng is skillful and dignified, she is a good match, and Rong Lu likes it in his heart." ”

Zeng Guofan nodded and said: "This is very good, the eldest daughter of the old man is also a pearl in the palm of her hand, and parents also hope that their daughter can find a good son-in-law, Zhonghua, you are also very good, and the old man can rest assured that he will entrust her to you." ”

Rong Lu didn't expect Zeng Guofan to have a fatherly side, so he nodded in response, and then couldn't help blurting out when he remembered something: "Zeng Shuai, forgive the younger generation for being presumptuous, Miss Zeng is bound to her feet?" ”

Zeng Guofan was slightly stunned, I don't know what he meant, Manchu women don't bind their feet, but Manchu men like women with Han family's foot-binding, and nodded at the moment: "The little girl was born in a family, of course she is foot-binding." ”

Rong Lu frowned slightly and said, "Zeng Shuai, the junior has a reluctant request, I wonder if Zeng Shuai can agree?" ”

Zeng Guofan said: "But it doesn't hurt to talk about it. ”

Rong Lu bowed and said, "The junior wants to invite Zeng Shuai to go to Miss's foot binding from today on." ”

Zeng Guofan said slightly strangely: "Why is this? ”

Rong Lu said: "The younger generation is a Manchurian, and in the future, the young lady will also have to raise her nationality when she marries, and our banner women don't need to bind their feet." ”

Zeng Guofan sighed, nodded with a slight smile: "Ji Jing didn't like foot binding when she was a child, she only started to bind her feet at the age of eight, and she didn't suffer less, and now she has promised you, but before you have passed the door, you have helped her to go to a heart distress, which is fine, just follow your words." ”

Rong Lu's heart was relieved, he still rejected this foot binding in his heart, although he didn't necessarily like Zeng Jijing, but he didn't want his wife to be a small-footed woman in the future, and it was also haode to put the foot binding, Zeng Jijing was only thirteen years old at this time, and the jade feet would not be so small if he grew up in a few years.

At that moment, Rong Lu thanked him, and was about to turn around and retire, but Guo Songtao walked in quickly, and only then stepped into the study and said: "Zeng Shuai, there is news in Beijing, the emperor has announced to the world, Concubine Yi has been happy for six months......"

Before he finished speaking, Rong Lu stood up and said in a lost voice: "What?!" (To be continued......)