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Chapter 50 Secret accumulation
As for the others, Ye Xianggao and Li Zhi have both joined the cabinet, and their main focus must be on fighting in the court, and they cannot take time off to take care of other things.Moreover, their talents are not suitable for practical work, their technical level is not up to par, and they are too independent-minded.

Li Zhizao can be regarded as a helper. He is currently supervising the construction of a Catholic church in Huangzhuang outside Bei'anmen. The construction schedule is tight and the tasks are heavy. He will not be able to spare time to control other industries for a while.

The three missionaries, Matteo Ricci, Guo Jujing, and Pang Di, could be used as technicians, but they were foreigners after all, and it was the Ming Dynasty at this time. There was no joint venture, so it was obviously impossible to work alone.

Their most important task at this time is to recruit orphans under the age of five from the private sector in the name of charity relief, and secretly prepare the first Chinese-Western school. Being able to do this well is a great achievement.

Hong Tao had a conversation with them about the selection of people, and they really got positive feedback.Everyone put forward several candidates, all of whom were local cultural people they met when they were missionaries in Macao, Guangdong, and Fujian.

In their words, these people are more receptive to new things and have a subjective willingness to change, which best meets the current needs of His Majesty the Emperor.Moreover, there were officials and gentry, all of whom were intellectuals. Among them was a name that made Hong Tao's heart move, Xu Guangqi!
In later generations, there was a place in Shanghai named Xujiahui. In fact, it was not originally called Xujiahui, but was called Fahuahui.It is precisely because Xu Guangqi once lived here and was buried here that the locals later changed the name to commemorate him.

Regarding Xu Guangqi, there are mixed reviews in Chinese history.Some people say that he is a traitor because he joined Catholicism very early and actively preached in China, influencing many people.

Some people also say that he is a national hero because he once purchased and imitated the Portuguese cannon at his own expense, which was the Franco machine gun at that time, and made a great contribution to the Ming Dynasty's fight against foreign enemies.

Others say that he is the number one person in the Chinese nation who has opened his eyes to the world because he collaborated with Matteo Ricci to translate Euclid’s Elements of Geometry, bringing the concept of geometry to China for the first time.

So is he loyal, traitorous, or a great scientist?Hong Tao's answer was that he didn't know.Half of what is written in history books is already a lot, and the rest depends on mental analysis, exploration, and comparison. Without thorough investigation and verification, it is impossible to accurately judge the true appearance of an ancient person.

In fact, no matter what kind of person Xu Guangqi was, Hong Tao had to pull him over first and put him in the reserve.The reason is very simple. People who can take the initiative to contact Western doctrines in this era, who are willing to open their eyes and view all countries in the world as equals, and who are not arrogant, are more likely to have similar ideas to their own.

I want to use his knowledge and ability, not to establish a saint on the ground. The specific personal moral level is really not important.If I have to compare myself to this, I am afraid that I am the one with the lowest morals, the most corrupt character, and the most dishonest way of doing things. How can I have the face to demand anything from others?

"Xu Zixian? I met this person once when I was discussing studies with Marquis Jiao Ruo, Dong Xuanzai, Tang Yiyi, and Yuan Zhonglang at Chongzheng Academy in Nanjing." Li Zhi was slightly surprised when he heard Xu Guangqi's name. He didn't know how the young emperor knew about it. , but still told the relationship between them.

"...Besides Xu Guangqi, who are the others?" Hong Tao was very pleased to hear that Li Zhi knew Xu Guangqi. The stubborn old man's rescue was not in vain. Not only could he protect himself in the cabinet, but he also had a wide network of contacts.

However, I am relieved but also a little irritated. The ancients used to call them by names or nicknames in daily conversations, but the ancient people I remember from history books usually use their first names, which does not match their nicknames! "Oh... I wonder if the old gentleman can write a letter and call Xu Zi to meet with me first." After listening to Li Zhi's explanation, Hong Tao felt that there seemed to be no urgently needed talents except Xu Guangqi.

Marquis Jiao Ruo was named Jiao Hong, and he was very accomplished in literature; Tang Yi was still named Tang Xianzu, and he himself had heard of him as a famous dramatist; Yuan Zhonglang, named Yuan Hongdao, also studied literature and drama; the most famous one was Dong Xuanzai, whose name was Dong Qichang was a great painter. In later generations, a painting at auction would be worth an old nose.

It's a pity that the most needed things right now are writers, dramatists and painters. Even if Li Bai pushed aside the coffin board and took the initiative to apply for a job, he might not even be able to work as a secretary. It would cost too much alcohol and the salary would not be enough.

"Your Majesty is so eager to hire people, but this veteran reminds me of one." Recommending a friend to the emperor was a very public thing in ancient times, and even a stubborn old man like Li Zhi seemed a little excited.It seems that the idea of ​​​​learning literature and martial arts and selling them to the emperor's family is very deep-rooted, and ancient intellectuals seemed to have no other way out.

"Speaking……"

"This man and Jiao Ruohou were both Jinshi in the 17th year of Wanli. He once served as a promotion official in the Suzhou Prefecture of Nanzhili, and as a censor of Shanxi Province. During his tenure, no matter whether he was a relative of the emperor or a minister in the court, he was corrupt and illegal. He is really a great talent when it comes to impeachment and military matters!" Li Zhi was full of praise when talking about this person, but he didn't mention his name.

"Do you have any position now?" Hong Tao heard this and said, "Good guy, I'll grab you from the civil and military affairs!"Is there such an awesome person in the Ming Dynasty?If you old man dares to say the three words "Zhuge Liang", I will really have you dragged out to beat you. After the beating, you will be recuperated and continue to beat you. If you are teasing the emperor, you will lose your head!
"In the 24th year of Wanli's reign, he reduced his position to serve the people and returned to Suiyang to defend his leisure time. His name was Yuan Keli, his courtesy name was Liqing, and his nickname was Jiehuan. He was from Suizhou, Guide Prefecture, Henan Province (now Sui County, Shangqiu City, Henan Province). He was an upright man, outspoken, and There is indeed great talent, your Majesty, would you dare to use it?"

Li Zhi was just forward-thinking, not that he was not afraid of death, and he had no intention of teasing the emperor about serious matters. He did give specific names, as well as brief official career experiences and character evaluations.

"Tell this to Grand Scholar Ye in advance and explain that it is my intention to serve as censor for the time being. Let the cabinet bachelors discuss the specific position and summon Yuan Liqing to the capital as soon as possible!"

This is the second time Hong Tao's heart has moved today. If Xu Guangqi is a technical talent, then Yuan Keli is a rare handsome talent.In the war with the Jurchens at the end of the Ming Dynasty, his strategic deployment played an irreplaceable role.

So much so that the Qing Dynasty never said a word about him in historical materials, and destroyed many things related to him, even smashing stone tablets.Anyone who can make his enemy hold a grudge must be a good general. This is Hong Tao's principle.Whether this is the case or not, don't worry, call people to find a position and work on it first, and then wait and see for a few years.

But Li Zhi cannot come forward in this matter. At this time, Ye Xianggao's ability to dance with long sleeves should be brought into play.Let him negotiate with Shen Yi Guan, Shen Li, and Zhu Geng to see if he can accomplish this matter without relying on himself.

(End of this chapter)