Chapter 188: The Li Family's Countermeasures

"Alas...!"

Putting down the official document in his hand, Li Hongzhang couldn't help but let out a long sigh, and his face revealed a sorrow that was difficult to hide!

"I didn't expect it!" Li Hongzhang couldn't help but shake his head and sigh again and again.

"Is my father worried about the affairs of the Chinese People's Army in Nanyang again?" Li Jingfang looked at his father frowning, and couldn't help but ask with some curiosity! In the past few days, he has been studying his homework at home to prepare for the imperial examination that will start soon this year, so he basically understands what is happening in the mansion, and since the news that the Chinese People's Army entrenched in Nanyang defeated the Netherlands and Portugal with a brilliant sea victory came back, his father has never seen a smile on his face again! This can't help but make him a little puzzled! Because of the two opium wars and the rampant hegemony of foreigners in their own country, Li Jingfang has long been blindsided! Now that they have been defeated by their own compatriots in Nanyang, they should be even more happy with such exciting news!

Li Jingfang is not Li Hongzhang's parent, but the step-son of Li Hongzhang's sixth brother Li Zhaoqing! However, Li Jingfang has been gifted and intelligent since he was a child, and he is extremely talented in reading and studying, and he is very favored by Li Hongzhang!

Looking at his eldest son, who had been optimistic about him since he was a child, Li Hongzhang couldn't help but secretly smile bitterly in his heart! Although he has long been an adult and has a family, after all, he has experienced few things and sees things superficially! He is not as far-sighted and sophisticated as him!

If the Netherlands and Portugal win this naval battle in the South Seas, then the Qing Dynasty will sit back and relax. But if the Chinese and People's Army finally win, then the huge imperial court will be in danger!!" Li Hongzhang couldn't help but sigh!

"Oh. Father, why is that?"

Looking at the confusion on his son's face, Li Hongzhang couldn't help but smile bitterly: "Even if foreigners are domineering, all they want is money, and they will not pose any threat to the rule of the Qing Dynasty! But if it is the Chinese People's Army in Nanyang, it will be different!" After a pause, Li Hongzhang looked at the snowflakes floating outside the door, and couldn't help but continue with some confusion: "Nanyang has always been a gathering place for Han people abroad, when Shunzhi destroyed the Ming Dynasty to unify the world, and the imperial court was in turmoil. Kangxi Ye unified Taiwan, and a large number of Han people fled to Nanyang during several earth-shattering wars, and in addition, the Tiandihui, the White Lotus Sect, and other anti-thieves also erected anti-flags in Nanyang one after another! All the islands in Nanyang have become the first gathering place for anti-thieves from all walks of life! Hardly any of them have a good impression of the current imperial court, and all of them seem to have replaced them! In the past, the Dutch could not form a big climate when they pressed them, and we did not have to worry about it! But now it is different! Now they have unified the islands of Nanyang and defeated the expeditionary armies of the Netherlands and Portugal, two European powers! At that time, as long as Britain and France do not send troops to intervene, then the development and growth of the Chinese People's Army will be a foregone conclusion! I believe that as long as it will take another ten or twenty years. When the power of this Han people, who have different aspirations for the imperial court, becomes stronger, then the first thing they have to do is to wave their army to the north, eliminate the imperial court, and finally unify the world and re-establish a Han dynasty!"

Hearing these rebellious words, Li Jingfang was completely stunned! He never thought that there was such a complicated reason hidden here! Although he wanted to find a better reason to refute his father. But the dynastic histories he had seen in the past left him speechless!

So that there is no dynasty that has remained unchanged through the ages, and there will never be a family and one surname in the world, this is the iron law of 2,000 years of Chinese feudal rule, and this is a fact that every Chinese understands and agrees with!

And as the governor of Zhili. A scholar of Wenhuadian and the eldest son of Li Hongzhang, the minister of Beiyang, he also understood some of the shortcomings within the Qing Dynasty. Although the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Movement, which was vigorously fought 20 years ago, was finally suppressed, this peasant uprising, which caused the Qing Dynasty to lose nearly 100 million people, has completely cut off the foundation of the Qing Dynasty's rule! In addition to the external oppression and exploitation of Britain, France, Germany, and the United States, and the internal and external troubles, the Qing Dynasty is not far from destroying the country!

Li Jingfang couldn't help but be shocked when he wanted to fight these, he didn't usually pay attention to it, but today after his father reminded him, he realized that the situation had changed so significantly!

"Father, what should we do then......" Li Jingfang couldn't help but ask a little anxiously. Their Li family has a great business, and almost all of their elders are cadres and officials of the Qing Dynasty, and they are deeply involved with the imperial court! If the Qing Dynasty really falls, then their family will definitely be implicated! Although I don't know if the whole family will suffer, it is certain that they will lose their wealth and status! Thinking of this, he also understands why his father has always been frowning and sighing these days! Because the Li family is now sitting on the crater, and if they don't pay attention, they will end up in pieces!

"Master, the eldest master and the fifth master have come back from Anhui!" At this moment, the old housekeeper of the house ran in from outside the door with a surprised face!

"What, big brother is here!" Li Hongzhang couldn't help but stand up and asked with a look of surprise on his face. He has six brothers, and Li Hongzhang is the second! The third brother Li Hezhang died of a hidden illness two years ago! The fifth brother Li Qingshu, that is, Li Jingfang's biological father, died a long time ago! The fourth brother Li Yunzhang has never been in good health! Now he is the only one who supports the entire Li family with his eldest brother Li Hanzhang and his fifth brother Li Fengzhang! Especially at a time when the form of Nanyang has changed greatly and the future of the imperial court is bleak, he needs someone to discuss and find a way out for the Li family in the future!

"Big brother, fifth brother!" Looking at the two old men who strode in, wearing long robes and horse coats, beautiful jade at their waists, and white beards under their chins, Li Hongzhang hurriedly got up and greeted him with some excitement!

"Uncle, Fifth Uncle!"

"Oh, Bo Xing is also here?" After greeting his brother, Li Hanzhang looked at the respectful and polite young man, and his thin face couldn't help but show a deep sense of appreciation!

"I talked to my father about something here just now!" But at this time, looking at the two uncles who were in a hurry, and their eyes inadvertently revealed a trace of anxiety, Li Jingfang also understood that he should leave!

"Father, uncle, fifth uncle, I'll go back first!"

Waving his hand to stop what Li Hongzhang was about to say, Li Hanzhang said softly: "Bo Xing, let's stay! We are all old, and the Li family will have to rely on these young people to lead in the future, so let him listen to the long insight, which will be very beneficial to their future behavior!"

Hearing his words, although Li Hongzhang's official position and prestige were far greater than those of his brother, in the Qing Dynasty, which paid attention to etiquette and righteousness, it was not a joke for the eldest brother to be like a father! Therefore, when he heard that his eldest brother had already made a decision, he did not oppose it!

After that, the group of four returned to the study again, and then sent the subordinates down, and after closing all the doors and windows, Li Hanzhang didn't care about drinking the tea on the table, so he said with a serious expression: "The second brother is the governor of the Qing Dynasty and the minister of Beiyang, and he has already known the news of Nanyang, right?"

Hearing his words, Li Hongzhang's expression was stunned, "The eldest brother and the fifth brother also got the news of the victory of the Chinese People's Army over the combined fleet of the Netherlands and Portugal in Anhui?"

"Yes, now that foreigners from all over Shanghai have gathered, the news has spread a week ago, and our hometown in Hefei is not far from there, how can we not know?" Li Fengzhang, who was a little anxious, said with some urgency on his face.

"Second brother, I believe that you have been an official for many years, and you also understand what the rise of a powerful Han force in Nanyang means to the Qing Dynasty, which is now suffering from internal and external troubles! The change of dynasty may not be far from us! Therefore, we hurried to the capital just to discuss with you, what should our Li family do in the future?" Li Hanzhang was not verbose, and directly explained the purpose of his coming to Běijīng City this time! After all, although they were also officials in the Qing Dynasty and were in high positions, they themselves were also Han Chinese, and they did not have the idea of being martyred for the Manchu Aixin Jueluo Dynasty! Therefore, they hoped to find a good way out for their family as soon as possible, and when the time came, they could also avoid the tragedy of family ruin, and the Li family would be able to continue to be rich and prosperous!

"Yes, second brother! We have already inquired when we came! Now the Zuo family, the Zhang family, the Liu family, and other big families are also holding their own clan meetings! Discuss the way out of each family in the future!"

Hearing their words, Li Hongzhang was not surprised: There is no thousand-year-old dynasty in China, but there is a thousand-year-old family! Whenever there is a great change in the country, almost all families will prepare for the continuation of their own families!

"Big brother, fifth brother, I think we should send some clansmen to Nanyang to take a walk first, and understand the local situation before making a decision!"

Hearing his words, Li Hanzhang couldn't help but stroke the gray beard under his chin, squinted his eyes and nodded!

"What the second brother said is reasonable, we are also too anxious! Let's go to Nanyang to see the situation first, if they are really a hidden dragon, then it's not too late for us to lean over!"

"Then who shall we send?" Li Fengzhang couldn't help but ask with some hesitation.

Li Hongzhang also understands that this kind of thing can only be assured by people close to his family, otherwise it will be spread and it will be very unfavorable to the Li family who are still officials in the Qing Dynasty!

"The Jing Fang still has to prepare for this year's imperial examination! I think there are Jing She and Jing Shu, and then bring a few close people from the family!" Li Hanzhang, as the contemporary patriarch of the Li family, said first!

"Okay, let's do what the eldest brother wants!" After listening to his words, Li Hongzhang and Li Fengzhang have no opinions!