A Man of Science and Engineering in Troubled Times Wandering in the Late Qing Dynasty

Chapter 320 My Master is an Adult Again
When Tang Shaoyi and Yuan Shikai and his party arrived, Li Yu was really surprised. Although Yuan Shikai is not currently in power, he is still the governor of one side, and the most important governor of Zhili.

"My lord," Li Yu greeted him and asked, "Why are you here?"

Yuan Shikai said: "I happened to be returning to Beijing to report on my work, and then I was pulled over by Tang Daotai."

Tang Shaoyi said: "Brother Shucai, let's talk in the room."

After entering the house, Tang Shaoyi asked Li Yuping to retreat everyone, leaving only the three of them, and then said: "I heard that the Russian ambassador came to see you, brother Shucai, how could you do this! You can't be casual at this juncture. Meet the Russians."

Li Yu smiled bitterly: "Of course I know, but Zai Zhenbeizi, Minister of the Ministry of Commerce, is also here. How do you think I refuse?"

Yuan Shikai frowned: "There is Zhenbeizi? That's not surprising."

Yuan Shikai had already figured out the hobbies of Prince Qing Yikuang and his son.

Tang Shaoyi said: "But the Japanese must have become suspicious, that's why I asked the commander-in-chief to return to Beijing to report on his duties this time, and I specially came to your house to help you remove the suspicion."

Only then did Li Yu realize that it was Tang Shaoyi who was helping him again, and hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "Thank you Tang Daotai!"

Tang Shaoyi said, "It's still Mr. Xie Zhitai."

Yuan Shikai said: "You are a talent, and you are a rare talent that is rare in a hundred years. I just showed my face on the way, and it's just a little effort. But it is still not enough. After a while, I will ask Tang Daotai to arrange ambassadors from other countries to meet you."

Tang Shaoyi smiled and said, "Just to help you sell goods, didn't the Ministry of Commerce set up a company for you?"

Li Yu said, "I don't have much left in my hand now. I only have five wireless devices left."

Yuan Shikai said: "Enough is enough, the price should not be low at that time, as much as the Russians open, you want as much as you want."

These people are veterans in the officialdom, and Li Yu understood that they were trying to distract the Japanese, "Master Taiwan is brilliant."

Yuan Shikai said: "I have understood the Japanese mind as early as 20 years ago. So you must not provoke them too much. I don't know why the Japanese are sometimes very nervous, as if they are persecuted and paranoid. people."

Li Yu nodded: "I also have feelings."

Many people know Yuan Shikai very well, but [-]% of them don't know that Yuan Shikai was the governor of North Korea for many years in his early years. At that time, he was like the Supreme Emperor of North Korea and could influence North Korea's political situation.

The purpose of Li Hongzhang letting Yuan Shikai stay in North Korea was to curb the infiltration of Japan and Tsarist Russia, especially Japan, so the Japanese actually hated Yuan Shikai very much at that time.

However, Yuan Shikai is a typical political veteran, and under the current situation, relations with Japan have eased to a certain extent.

Anyway, in international relations, everyone understands that there are no eternal friends, only eternal interests.

The Japanese also just wanted to use Yuan Shikai to obtain intelligence.

Of course Yuan Shikai also understood that the Japanese wanted to use him, and then they used each other.

Tang Shaoyi said: "Fortunately, Zai Zhenbeizi of the royal family came here at that time. I can arrange another county king Zaitao to meet with you, and the Japanese will be even more uncertain if the court is involved."

Li Yu has been trying his best to avoid the political vortex, but he didn't expect that it would be so troublesome just to meet the Russian ambassador in his private house.

Sighing in my heart, I said, "There is Laotang Daotai."

Tang Shaoyi said: "It's okay. Prince Zaitao also expressed his desire to meet with you before. Prince Zaitao is very keen on Europe, and he is also very interested in Western learning."

Yuan Shikai said: "Not only Zaitao Junwang, I also intend to let the two dogs learn more from the emperor's teacher."

Yuan Shikai called Yuan Keding and Yuan Kewen in, "Quick, I have met the emperor."

The two bowed deeply to Li Yu: "Hello, Master Emperor!"

Li Yu said, "You two young masters are welcome."

Yuan Shikai said: "I have hired many masters for them, but my two sons are stubborn by nature and have not been disciplined well. After much deliberation, only the prestige of the emperor's master can deter them."

Li Yu said with a smile: "You still have to be interested in learning."

Yuan Shikai said: "This sentence shows that the emperor knows how to educate."

Li Yu: "..."

In fact, although Yuan Shikai has a bad reputation, he is indeed a capable person.

It can even be said that if Yuan Shikai removed the last year of his life, he would definitely be called a "strange man through the ages".

He lived a total of 57 years, and the first 56 years are simply wonderful.

At the age of 25, he single-handedly crushed the "Gapshin Coup" in North Korea, prevented Japan from getting involved in North Korea, delayed the outbreak of war between China and Japan, and became the No. 1 in modern China's defeat of Japan.The Japanese hated him for that too.

In the following ten years, the governor of North Korea, although there were some radical measures, effectively curbed the penetration of Japan and Tsarist Russia into North Korea, and only one person helped the Qing Dynasty control North Korea.

Then, together with Li Hongzhang, Zhang Zhidong, Liu Kunyi and others, they initiated the Southeast Mutual Protection, which saved half of the country from the flames of war.

After the governor of Zhili, he carried out large-scale reforms, implemented new policies, and developed education.

Not to mention that he formed China's first modern army, which has far-reaching influence.

In addition, next year he will join forces with Zhang Zhidong to abolish the imperial examinations;
As for forcing the Qing emperor to abdicate peacefully, it can be said that China has shed a lot of blood.After all, every time the dynasties changed in the past dynasties, the previous royal family had no good end.The war that started made the people suffer even more.

Had he died at the age of 56, in 1914, he would have been a very positive figure indeed.

It's a pity that he didn't protect himself at the end of the year. He made two big mistakes in the last year, and suddenly became a thief and a traitor.

But on the other hand, before 1914, Yuan Shikai was really good.

He has a lot of talents under his command, and he is happy to recruit talents.

Yuan Shikai was thoughtful and thoughtful, and he was like a fish in water in the decadent late Qing Dynasty. He could stand in the right line every time, and was reused after Li Hongzhang, Rong Lu, and Yiqiang.

Although Puyi later became emperor, his father, the regent Zaifeng, wanted to kill Yuan Shikai very much, but at that time, Yuan Shikai was full of wings, and these young royal families no longer had any strength to wrestle with Yuan Shikai.

After Yuan Shikai resigned, the Qing court did not command the Beiyang New Army at all, which was the most powerful armed force of the Qing court.

Yuan Shikai pointed to his two sons and said, "Anyway, the emperor teacher should teach you a thing or two. From now on, they will be your disciples."

Li Yu couldn't refuse. After all, he had just done him a favor, so he could only say, "I will definitely do my best."

Yuan Kewen said happily: "Great, the emperor and I will be classmates from now on!"

Brother Yuan Keding said: "Are you kidding me! You can't see the emperor, at most you are the classmate you imagined in your mind."

Yuan Kewen said: "That's impressive enough! By the way, Master Dishi, I heard that the emperor knows opera very well and can play gongs well, isn't that true?"

Li Yu said awkwardly: "I don't know about this matter."

Yuan Shikai scolded: "Kewen, don't inquire about the affairs of the palace!"

Yuan Shikai is a big hero, and none of the sons he gave birth to became successful.

Yuan Kewen later became a big fancier and could sing Kunqu Opera very well.

Yuan Keding actually has nothing to say, he might as well be Yuan Kewen.

Yuan Kewen later became at least a leader of the Tianjin Youth Gang, and he could be compared with Huang Jinrong and Du Yuesheng in his early years.

However, Yuan Keding has a lot of backbone. During the Anti-Japanese War, he did not bow his head too much to the Japanese, which also caused his life to start to be poor.

Li Yu felt a little headache, and felt that these two guys were even more difficult to deal with than Guangxu.

Tang Shaoyi saw Li Yu's worry, and said with a smile: "Brother Shucai, in the future, whatever the emperor teaches, he will teach the two young masters. In fact, the two young masters also want to learn some Western knowledge, so as to avoid seeing foreigners in the future."

It would be easy to put it this way, Li Yu said: "Shu then understands."

Yuan Kewen was even happier when he heard that: "Then you are going to be classmates with the emperor! You are so handsome!"

Yuan Shikai shook his head helplessly. He really couldn't control Yuan Kewen. After he was adopted under the knee of his aunt Shen, Shen spoiled him very much, and he was really spoiled.

Tang Shaoyi laughed loudly: "Brother Shucai, I have to thank you this time!"

After Yuan Shikai explained the matter, he left.

Two days later, the British ambassador, the French ambassador, and the Belgian minister either visited or sent someone to visit.

Li Yu pushed the boat along the way and sold them five radio equipment, and another 18 silver dollars came into the account.

In fact, these radio equipment are indeed relatively advanced, they are all just improved, and the price tag is not inflated.

Um, a little bit high.

Because it is still a little different from the one placed on the US Navy ship, mainly in terms of power.

Navy ships use specialized radios that are very powerful and have long antennas.After all, on a ship, the mast can be used as an antenna, and the communication distance can be very far.

But today's small and mobile radio equipment can't be too powerful.

But after all, it is the best one that can be bought at the moment, and it can be regarded as "Xiaoxiao" who killed them a few dollars.

Li Yu directly gave half of the silver dollar to Tang Shaoyi and Yuan Shikai.

-

After that, Zai Tao also came to Li Yu's mansion under the leadership of the Yuan brothers.

During this period of time, so many important people came to visit intensively, but the people in the house were shocked. Feng Ling ate melon seeds and said, "I just said that our master is not ordinary!"

Zhao Qian said: "Of course, after all, he is the imperial teacher of the dynasty, so he can be an ordinary person."

Wang Bo said: "Now it really has the atmosphere of Rongfu back then."

At this time, Lu Bicheng and Qiu Jin also entered the gate, and Lu Bicheng asked Fengling, "Who is here today?"

Feng Ling said: "Miss Hui, she is a county king and the son of Governor Yuan."

Qiu Jin asked in surprise, "Jun Wang?"

Feng Ling said: "I'm not very clear about the details, but I heard it's King Zhongjun."

Lu Bicheng said to Qiu Jin, "Then let's wait here for a while."

Qiu Jin nodded: "I also don't want to meet the county king Baylor."

The titles of the Qing Dynasty were Prince, County King, Baylor, and Beizi.

So in fact Zai Tao, the king of the county, is two levels higher than Zai Zhen's beizi.

But Zai Tao's status is currently not as good as that of Zai Zhen.

Zai Tao himself had a better background than Zai Zhen. He was the son of Prince Jin, Guangxu's half-brother.

But after the king of Zhongjun lost his son, Cixi let Zai Tao adopt him to the palace of the king of Zhongjun and inherit the title.

Ke Zhongjun Wang is actually just a title and has no real power.

It wasn't until Pu Yi ascended the throne that Zai Tao's other half-brother, Zai Feng, suddenly became the regent, that he followed suit.

It has to be said that Prince Chun's lineage was really the noblest and luckiest lineage in the late Qing royal family. His descendants produced two emperors: Guangxu and Puyi.

Although Zai Tao only has a false title now, but he is the king of the county anyway, and Li Yu still has to receive him well as usual.

Yuan Kewen and Zai Tao were playing well at this time, both of them were extremely keen on Beijing opera.

Li Yu knew that he was just here to show his face, so he arranged for a good refreshment and asked Konoe Zhaoxue to make him a cup of coffee.

Zai Tao took a sip and said, "It tastes so weird."

Yuan Kewen said with a smile: "This is called coffee, and foreigners drink it, just like we drink tea."

Zai Tao shook his head: "The taste is much worse than tea, and foreigners really don't understand tea ceremony."

Yuan Kewen added a lump of sugar from the table and put it in: "Try it again."

Zai Tao took another sip: "It's a little bit better, but it's not even a star and a half worse than the Mingqian tribute tea from my house."

Li Yu said, "I agree with this."

Zai Tao said: "By the way, Mr. Di Shi, I read the previous article. The Japanese really don't know the heights of the heavens and the earth. Now they are fighting the Russians. Before the winner is determined, each of them has their eyes higher than the sky, and they say What racial advantage."

Li Yu said, "This kind of nonsense stinks, it's really disgusting."

Zai Tao said: "But now many Japanese are still not convinced, saying that they are superior to us in all aspects."

Li Yu said, "Which aspect?"

Zai Tao said: "Didn't you read the recent newspapers? They said that the Japanese are stronger than us both physically and mentally."

Naturally, Li Yu would not read the Japanese "Daily News" again, and asked, "Did they really say that?"

Zai Tao nodded: "I'm usually bored at home, and I often read newspapers. That's how the latest issue was published. Now many people are not convinced and want to compare with the Japanese."

Li Yu thought for a while: "It's okay to compare with them. Their intelligence and body can convince them."

Zai Tao's eyes lit up: "How do you compare?"

Li Yu said: "Intelligence can be compared to chess and puzzle solving, and physical fitness can be compared to horse riding and kung fu."

Zai Tao, as a bored prince, was immediately interested when he heard it: "Aside from other things, I can't lose to the Japanese on horseback."

Zai Tao is a horse lover. Later this year, he will go to the Somi Cavalry School in France to study. He is a well-known horse racer in Beijing.

Although this guy doesn't seem to be famous, in fact, he almost became the patriarch of the Aixinjueluo family before and after the founding of the People's Republic of China, and he even went to the prison to persuade Puyi.

After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, the Manchu and Qing royal families were divided into two factions. One faction was naturally the Restoration faction, and even did not hesitate to become a puppet of the Japanese.

But in fact, if you think about it with your heels, you know that it is impossible for the Japanese to help the Qing Dynasty restore the country.

The so-called puppet Manchurian regime, in the eyes of the Japanese, is similar to the previous occupation of North Korea, just a transition.

The representatives of the other faction are Zai Tao and others. They understand that restoration is out of the question, so it is better to be a newcomer.Even after the founding of the People's Republic of China, Zai Tao served as an adviser to our army's horse political situation, and joked that he was just a Bi Mawen.

Li Yu said: "My strength is solving puzzles; I happen to know a master of kung fu in Jinmen; as for playing chess..."

Zai Tao said: "Don't worry about this, I know who is the king of chess."

Li Yu didn't expect to talk about this aspect while chatting with him, but he felt that it was necessary to improve the self-confidence of the people.

It's really depressing right now.

(End of this chapter)