According to history, the Kyoshi University Hall did not re-enroll until 1902.

Moreover, Zhang Baixi carried out reforms, set up two courses, accelerated and preliminary, established the Shixue Hall and the Normal Hall, and clearly stipulated that the purpose of running the school was to "stimulate loyalty, open up wisdom, and revitalize industry".

Even if Lu Shi wrote "The Fifteenth Year of Wanli", it would not be possible to use it as a teaching material immediately.

After all, it is the history of the Ming Dynasty, and even if the Qing court's school opens a course of historiography, it must be controlled.

Good things still need to be grinded.

Zheng Guanying grabbed Gu Hongming,

"Hongming, don't scare Mr. Xiao Lu."

was "Mr. Lu" just now, but now he has become "Mr. Xiao Lu", and the relationship has become a lot closer.

Lu Shi was curious: "Zheng Shu, why are you here in London?" ”

He thinks that Zheng Guanying's visit to him should be an emergency, and his real intention must be a business matter, maybe it has something to do with the steamship China Merchants Bureau.

Zheng Guan should look at Natsume Soseki,

The latter immediately understood,

"I'll take my generation out for a walk."

After speaking, he took the cat walking rope and took away the meowing generation.

There were only three Chinese left in the house.

Zheng Guanying said: "Mr. Xiao Lu doesn't know, I have a lot of identities now, not only the handling of the China Merchants Bureau, but also the general office of the Hanyang Iron Works, and the general director of the Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway. ”

The content of these words seems to show off,

However, Zheng Guanying had a wry smile on his face.

Lu Shi is puzzled,

"These jobs are oppressive?"

Zheng Guanying shook his head,

"It's not oppressive, it's just ...... Alas...... I'm here to London because of the Canton-Hankou Railway. ”

After speaking, he began to introduce the basic situation,

The railway starts from Panyu County, ends in Wuchang County, in the 22nd year of Guangxu (1896), it was proposed to be built when Zhang Zhidong supervised the Luhan Railway.

Lu Shi used the geographical knowledge of later generations to sketch a map in his mind, and then suddenly realized,

The Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway should be part of the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway.

He said, "Isn't it a good thing to build a railway? If you want to get rich, build roads first~"

This is the first time Zheng Guanying has heard this,

"Is this a slip of the tongue?"

Lu Shi said: "It's a slip of the tongue." Improving transportation will lead to rapid resource allocation between regions, which will lead to economic development. ”

Zheng Guanying nodded his head, and his heart was worthy of being the author of "Guns, Germs and Steel",

A lot of people who don't know about it use the railroad as a monster.

"It's good to build railways, but it's money," he said. ”

After that, I will continue to introduce the background.

In the twenty-fourth year of Guangxu (1898), the Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway began to recruit commercial stocks, but it was repeatedly insufficient.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the American China Development Company of the United States actively operated and obtained the right to build the railway on the condition of providing funds.

But the problem is that this company is a new company established by a former US senator after hearing about China's large-scale railway construction, and has no relevant experience.

They promised to build 840 miles of railroad in five years, but for three years, there was not a single hair.

This kind of thing is incomprehensible to modern Chinese.

840 miles, for a large infrastructure country, is simply pediatric.

At this moment, Zheng Guanying was so worried that his head was about to go bald.

He said depressedly: "Hexing Company does not plan for all trunk lines, but starts with branch lines, and the construction is slow, and the voices of criticism have been rising. ”

"Alas......"

This sigh sounds miserable.

Lu Shi asked: "Then why did you come to the UK?" ”

Zheng Guanying said: "I have been to not only the UK, but also European countries, or are in the plan. ”

He suddenly lowered his voice,

"If the Hexing Company can't repair the railway, Britain and France will send people to come forward and want to buy railway stock bids."

"Tsk......"

Lu Shi was staggered.

Gu Hongming on the side asked: "What is Zhengxiang's opinion of the UK?" ”

Zheng Guanying said: "Not good. ”

Gu Hongming asked again: "What about France?" ”

Zheng Guanying said: "It's also very bad. ”

Gu Hongming couldn't help laughing,

"You, you...... I think you are biased against Britain and France. ”

During the Qing and French Wars, Zheng Guanying went to Siam, Saigon, Singapore and other places to investigate and understand the enemy's situation, and was later detained by the British Taikoo Steamship Company on the pretext of pursuing "reparations".

It's strange that this can have a good impression of Britain and France.

The most amazing thing is that Zheng Guanying also worked as a comprador in the Swire Steamship Company.

After that incident, let him see through the powers completely,

White people are ruthless and arrogant, and in their eyes, Chinese can never be "their own people".

After that, Zheng Guanying wrote the book "The Danger of the Prosperous Age".

Lu Shi was curious,

"What does Mr. Zheng mean?"

Zheng Guanying said: "Even if I have my own meaning, it doesn't mean anything...... Because of the Boxer Rebellion, companies in many countries have concerns about the Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway, and there are only a few companies willing to take over, and the choice is pitiful. ”

He came to the countries of Europe to prepare for a rainy day.

If Hexing really can't do it, then it will have to choose a new partner.

Lu Shi asked, "Do you have any intentions?" ”

Zheng Guanying replied: "Wanguo Company may be a good choice. ”

Lu Shi knew that the other party should be talking about a Belgian company with a royal background - Wanguo Oriental Company,

He frowned and said, "Aren't you afraid of repeating the mistakes of the Luhan Railway?" ”

The Luhan Railway is the Jinghan Railway,

At that time, as soon as the news of borrowing money to build roads came out, companies from the United States, Britain, France, Belgium and other countries sent representatives to flock to the city and compete to solicit it.

The Qing court believed that other countries had too much appetite, and Belgium was a small country, rich in steel resources, mature railway technology, and most importantly, they "had no great ambitions in China", which was more reassuring.

The end result is clearly written in the history textbook.

But at this moment, the Jinghan railway had not yet been repaired, and the Qing court's greed for Belgium was still unconscious.

Zheng Guanying was puzzled: "What kind of mistake? ”

Lu Shi sighed,

"Borrowing from the Wanguo Company for a full thirty years, all the driving management rights are in his hands. Is this reasonable? ”

Zheng Guanying was still a little confused,

After thinking for a while, he showed a suddenly realized expression and said, "Mr. Xiao Lu is resentful of the country because of the invasion of China by the coalition forces, right?" ”

Lu Shi asked in surprise, "What's the matter?" ”

Zheng Guanying was stunned again,

"You don't know? The Boxers attacked the Luhan Railway and killed six Belgian workers, which they used to demand compensation. ”

Lu Shi was speechless.

For the great powers, isn't the excuse for war just to be found?

He now thinks that it would be nice if Natsume Soseki hadn't left,

Japan was ravaged back and forth by Britain and the United States in modern times, and it was aware of the methods of the great powers, so that it could not fail to see the tricks of Belgium.

Lu Shi said: "Mr. Zheng, the management rights belong to the Belgians, so do we still have railway sovereignty?" Besides, the financial loss is much more than those borrowings! If it sounds good, it's a debt, and if it's ugly, it's plunder! ”

Gu Hongming on the side frowned and thought,

After a long time, he said: "Is it not appropriate to borrow only 4.5 million pounds and the annual interest rate is only 5%?" ”

Hearing this, Lu Shi almost vomited blood.

Zheng Guanying reacted,

He was silent: "On paper, this money is really not much, but it ......"

The rest of the sentence is not finished, but it is equivalent to saying.

Lu Shi continued: "Moreover, we have also made it too convenient for the Belgians. In addition to the materials for the construction of the railway, except for the Hanyang Iron Works, the rest are undertaken by Belgian companies and enjoy tax exemption. That's not right either. ”

Duty-free steel swaggers into the country, and there is less cat greasy inside?

Zheng Guanying looked at Lu Shi, and sighed again in his heart,

Young talents.

In fact, these worries of Lu Shi were also foreseen by the adults in the court.

Many people think that although Belgium is a small country, it has always worn the same pants as France, and France has a close relationship with the Russian bears in the north.

There are inextricable links and entanglements of interests, and they are not clear at all.

But the railroad must be repaired,

You can only choose the lesser of two evils.

Zheng Guanying asked, "Will Mr. Xiao Lu take the problem too seriously?" ”

Lu Shi waved his hand,

"Actually, I don't need to say that in a few years, when the railway is repaired, you will also see Belgium as a thorn in the side and a thorn in the flesh."

Zheng Guanying was curious: "Are you so sure?" ”

That's how history goes,

How could Lu Shi not be sure?

He said: "Originally, Belgium was just a small role following Britain and France, but now it uses the railway as the starting point, coupled with the offensive of the financial industry, and has an appetite for soup on the table, which makes people ......helpless."

Gu Hongming and Zheng Guanying were silent,

Of course, this is only a superficial calm, and both of them have actually been persuaded in their hearts.

They were shocked by Lu Shi's insight.

Gu Hongming said: "Zhengxiang, do you remember what I told you?" Lu Shike is a prophet who follows his word. ”

Zheng Guanying was stunned for a moment, and then remembered the reason why the other party said this,

Gu Hongming told him that Lu Shi had accurately predicted that the queen mother would hold the emperor hostage to "hunt in the west", and after returning to Beijing, the queen mother ordered the emperor to prepare the throne and follow the court, so as to deceive the world.

If Lu Shi is in the center of power, it is not uncommon to have this opinion,

But he is just an ordinary international student, and he has no foundation in the court, but he can rely on the news in the newspaper and then rely on analysis to see the situation so thoroughly, which is really rare.

The talents of the great sages are hidden in the wilderness, and this is what they are talking about.

Zheng Guanying originally just wanted to pour bitter water,

Now, he couldn't help but want to ask, so he said, "Mr. Xiao Lu, what can I do?" ”

Lu Shi replied: "What else can be done?" Redemption~"

It's easy to say.

Zheng Guanying said helplessly: "How to redeem?" The contract is signed there, in black and white, and tearing up the contract will be ...... Ahem......"

He tried to say the word "beaten", but felt that it was inappropriate and covered it up with a cough.

Lu Shi chuckled,

"Didn't you come to Europe to prepare for tearing up your contract?"

Zheng Guanying picked up the teacup, took a sip of English black tea, and then muttered "Tyrannical things", and then said: "That's not me going to tear up the contract, but the Americans." They promised to repair the Guangdong-Hankou railway within five years, but now? ”

Lu Shi said: "The Belgians have similar problems. ”

Zheng Guanying shook his head,

"No, the workers in Belgium are still reliable, and the Luhan Railway will definitely be completed and opened to traffic within the specified time."

According to history, on April 1, 1906, the Jinghan Railway was officially opened to traffic.

Indeed, this date did not exceed the provisions of the Detailed Contract for the Renewal of the Belgian Loan for the Luhan Railway and the Contract for the Operation of the Luhan Railway.

Lu Shi said: "You don't necessarily have to make a fuss about the construction period. ”

Zheng Guan should put down the teacup and sit up straight,

"What do you mean by that?"

Lu Shi said: "Just now, didn't we talk about the supply of steel?" ”

Zheng Guanying was the charge d'affaires of the Hanyang Iron Works, of course he knew the details of the matter, nodded his head, and said: "Most of the rails of the Luhan Railway are made by the Hanyang Iron Works, what's the problem?" ”

Lu Shi said: "Most of the railway bridges are steel structures, but the types are complex and the load levels are inconsistent. On this premise, part of the steel comes from the Hanyang Iron Works and the other part is imported, so is it really okay to be inconsistent? ”

Suddenly, Zheng Guanying's eyes lit up,

He seems to be dotted through,

"It's not just steel. In order to reduce the investment burden and speed up the construction progress, the depth of the foundation pile is not enough, and there are occasional cases of bridge piers being washed away by floods during the construction period......

The more Zheng Guanying talked, the more excited he became,

But soon, this excitement was extinguished,

"It's all the details," he said. Why should we pick on the thorns of the Chinese people! ”

The Qing government was weak,

Even if the railway built by the Belgian company did not meet the terms of the contract, no one could speak out.

In the era of global colonization, dignity is only above the edge of the sword.

Lu Shi said: "Behind Belgium stands France, since France has made a move, will the British sit idly by?" ”

Zheng Guanying said: "You mean, at the time of acceptance, the British company was cited as the referee? Hiss...... However, there is a possibility that this trick will be implemented. ”

British

Success may not be enough, but there must be more than failure,

Highlight a-stirring stick trait.

The more Zheng Guanying thought about it, the more he felt that it could be done, but he sighed again and said: "There is another point in redemption, that is, money. ”

Lu Shi spreads his hands,

"I can't help it. It really doesn't work, borrowing money from the UK as a guarantee from taxes. ”

Zheng Guanying felt that Lu Shi was joking,

Guaranteed by taxes?

No way!

However, in fact, the redemption of the right to build the Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway was guaranteed by the taxes of Guangdong, Hunan and Hubei, and it borrowed 1.1 million pounds from the British, which completely broke the minds of the Belgians and forced the Oriental Company to sell its shares.

It was also after this incident that a movement to reclaim the right of way of the railway was set off in various places.

Therefore, it is still the same sentence: "The British-stirring stick, who uses it knows." ”

Lu Shi waved his hand,

"I'm just talking on paper, even if you hear it, it's a junior's rhapsody."

Zheng Guanying said: "It is indeed a wild dream, but there are also merits. If the young people of my dynasty can be like you, why worry about the road ahead? ”

Gu Hongming nodded,

"I think so too."

Just now, he also felt that Lu Shi's textbooks should be literature, history, geography and other subjects.

But after some discussion just now, he felt that there was no problem for Lu Shi to compile political and business textbooks, whether it was commercial law, administrative science, or business geography, Lu Shi should be quite good at it.

Gu Hongming said: "Lu Shi, when are you going to write a textbook?" ”

Lu Shi scratched his head,

"This ...... Let's wait and see. The Beijing Normal University has not resumed classes yet, so even if I write it, what is the use? ”

Gu Hongming stood up,

"In any case, on behalf of the young people, I would like to thank you for your generosity."

As he spoke, he bowed deeply to Lu Shi.

(End of chapter)