Tuqing: My first love was Cixi

Chapter 172 Attack on the emperor’s dimensionality reduction! Judgment of fate!

For a moment, the emperor didn't know what attitude he should adopt towards Su Yi.

Hengmei Leng, right?

Asking for help?

Nothing works.

After thinking for a while, the emperor asked: "Why do you insist on setting up a factory? Give me an explanation. A very clear and substantial explanation. Don't be vague about it."

This explanation is difficult.

Because I have formed a community of interests with Bao Ling and Ba Xiali. I want to develop the country. I want to open another diplomatic route with the British Empire?

None of this can be said.

First of all, let alone whether the other party can understand it.

All of these offended the emperor's rebellion.

Is this what you, a governor of Jiangxi, should do? And you said you have no objections?

Are you going to start a new chapter on behalf of the Qing Dynasty?

But you can't fool him, because the emperor's vision may not be high enough, but overall, his IQ is not low and he is considered smart.

Su Yi said: "Your Majesty, I want to present two things."

The emperor said: "Yes."

Su Yi said: "Father, please let my people carry the things in."

After a while, two things were brought in.

One thing was a gramophone.

Su Yi twisted the spring and pressed the button.

Suddenly, a voice came from inside, and it was the emperor's favorite Peking Opera.

really!

The emperor's attraction was instantly transferred.

He was also filled with infinite surprise.

This...how is this done?

Prince Albert also knew that this must be some kind of technological breakthrough, but to the emperor, it was more like a magical spell.

He is stunning.

But...it's also very repulsive.

But, I like it very much.

This is really a very contradictory emotion. From the perspective of personal life enjoyment, he likes this thing very much.

Moreover, as the emperor, he felt that all the good things and all the treasures in the world should be dedicated to himself.

The emperor owns the whole world.

Su Yi said: "Your Majesty, this is the first gramophone produced by the factory run by the minister. It is also the only one that is gold-plated. It is dedicated to the Emperor. It is unique."

The emperor listened again and again.

After reading it over and over again, I like it even more.

But also more wary and repulsive.

As a ruler, he instinctively rejects everything he doesn't understand and can't figure out.

Even more complicated, he felt that he was the emperor and should be the most noble and smartest person in the world.

Therefore, when something appears that he does not understand at all, this belief will be subverted.

I don’t understand these things at all? Is there anyone in the world who is much smarter than me?

"Did you invent this thing?" the emperor asked.

Su Yi said: "Yes."

Suddenly, the emperor's mood became more complicated.

Of course Su Yi understood the emperor's emotions, but he understood the emperor better. When encountering this kind of situation, the emperor's instinct of power would immediately lie dormant and observe, and then make his own judgment and decision after a period of time.

Su Yi said: "Your Majesty, in the past ten years or so, foreigners have dumped large amounts of silver on us and taken away a lot of our silver. Our hard-earned silver inventory has caused a large amount of outflows."

"Since the founding of the Qing Dynasty until the Renzong period, we were the unquestioned core of the entire Asia. We produced most of the commodities and attracted a large amount of silver. During this period, the Qing Dynasty attracted almost all the world's Half of the silver." Su Yi said: "So, this also makes our country a silver-standard country."

When saying this, Su Yi pointed to Asia on the globe.

The emperor understood this.

Even though the silver standard is a new term.

Moreover, the emperor also liked to hear this passage, especially when he heard that the Qing Dynasty had attracted half of the world's silver. He felt that this was a great achievement.

Su Yi said: "But since the foreign barbarians launched the Opium War, everything has changed. The foreign barbarians have dumped a lot of stuff on us, not just opium, but also a large number of industrial products. In the past ten years, the largest number of foreigners have At that time, the Qing Dynasty took away 12 million taels of silver, equivalent to a quarter of the national treasury revenue."

These words directly touched the emperor's fragile heart.

"You don't think so now. If things go on like this, our money will be completely controlled by foreigners. A country that can't control its own currency? What will be the consequences?"

"Silver is our currency, but if the silver in the hands of foreigners is much more than ours, then the financial foundation of the Qing Dynasty will be in the hands of foreigners."

"When that day comes, it will shake the foundation of the country."

"Even more seriously, it is a matter of national survival."

The emperor reluctantly understood this.

Su Yi said: "So, I must find a way to earn back this money. We have exported three types of things to the world before and earned a lot of money: cotton, silk, porcelain, and tea."

"For a long time, our cotton, silk, porcelain and tea were considered luxuries among the European powers. The nobles had to show them off, especially drinking our tea, which was even more ridiculous. After drinking, They also spread the remaining tea leaves on the bread and eat it. A nobleman’s afternoon tea without Chinese tea leaves and Chinese porcelain would be totally shameless.”

After the emperor heard this, he felt very happy and proud.

Su Yi said: "But later, the British looms became very advanced. The cost of the cotton they produced was much lower than ours, and the quality was the same as ours. So they no longer needed our cotton, and instead started dumping cotton on us." .”

"There are also tea leaves. The British planted a lot of tea leaves in colonial India and Ceylon, more tea leaves than we do. Nowadays, British tea leaves are supplied to the whole world, but our Qing Dynasty tea leaves cannot be sold very much."

"Even for porcelain, British porcelain has begun to be exported more than 40 years ago. Now, the British porcelain has caught up with us in some technologies, and in the porcelain trade, it has also surpassed us. The Qing Dynasty caught up."

"Your Majesty, this is very dangerous. The important commodities we exported before can no longer be sold. Things cannot be sold, but other people's things are sold in one after another, making all the money away. At that time, there will be Countless people will go bankrupt, and the Qing Dynasty's finance will collapse and be controlled by foreigners."

"In order to stop this trend, I must set up factories."

"I must earn back the money stolen by the foreigners. But the enemy is strong and we are weak, so we must produce things that foreigners don't have and things that they are scarce."

"The best situation is that the money earned back exceeds the money flowing out. At the very least, the balance of payments must be balanced."

The emperor said: "This of yours..."

Su Yi said: "Player."

The emperor said: "Your factory manufactures this sound player and earns back the money from the foreigners?"

Su Yi said: "Your Majesty, the audio player is just one of the products."

"Your Majesty, please don't underestimate this player. It is unique in the world and will definitely become popular among the aristocrats and wealthy businessmen of the Western powers. Its cost is only a few dozen taels of silver, but the first batch But it can be sold for thousands of taels of silver each, with dozens of times the profit. Because it is a luxury product that only nobles can own. In other words, a family without it cannot be called a noble. "

The emperor said: "The industrial technology of foreigners far exceeds ours. Can you build it? Can't foreigners do it?"

Su Yi said: "First of all, we have the most advanced technology. It will take them many years just to explore materials to reach my level. Moreover, I have registered a patent for this player in the European powers. Any Anyone who wants to manufacture needs my permission.”

The emperor could understand what this sentence meant, but he didn't understand why it was like this?

What patent?

Don’t you want to create something?

One thousand taels of silver each?

That can indeed make a lot of money.

Even the emperor could understand the logic, because he was the emperor and had a natural understanding of luxury goods.

Even he could sense that this thing would cause the nobles to rob it, not only in Western countries, but also in the Qing Dynasty.

Any fancy gadgets that are valuable will cause looting.

The less, the more expensive, the better.

Su Yi said: "Your Majesty, I will present you with the second thing next."

"Bring it in!"

A few big men brought in a large hand-cranked engine and hung a string of light bulbs on the wall.

Before, in front of the foreign consortium, Su Yi was extremely exaggerated, saying that the moment to witness a miracle had arrived, and that the historic moment had arrived to break through the darkness of thousands of years.

But at this time in front of the emperor, he could only say: "Your Majesty, be mentally prepared, it will be a little bright!"

Two strong men began to shake the generator.

Su Yi pressed the button.

Suddenly, the entire Sanxi Hall suddenly lit up!

This was also the reason why Su Yi chose to go to Beijing and the palace at night.

The emperor even covered his eyes with his hands.

It’s really bright!

In fact, his Sanxitang has never been so bright.

Even at night, the emperor had never seen such a bright moment.

Normally, no matter how many candles are lit, it will still be dim.

The emperor was once again in shock.

He had no idea about Su Yi's factory, he just instinctively rejected it.

But now, the things in the factory are completely visible.

It's really amazing.

This Su Yi is truly a genius.

Even geniuses that were completely beyond his comprehension.

The emperor asked: "Why is it so bright?"

Su Yi said: "Borrowing electricity is the power of thunder and lightning in the sky."

The emperor's mood was complicated and he couldn't make a judgment about this thing.

However, he was vaguely repelled.

Of course he likes this thing very much. It is bright at night and it is convenient to see things.

But... he felt that it was best for the people of the entire Qing Dynasty not to have such a thing.

It's late at night and I can't light candles, so I go to bed early, isn't it good?

Works are done when the sun rises and lights go out when the sun sets. This is the common people's lifestyle that is most in line with the emperor's aesthetics.

Is it so bright at night?

I always feel bad.

Firstly, it goes against the nature of the ancestors. Secondly, it always feels like breaking some kind of tradition. Thirdly, I feel that the conspiracy at night is even more rampant.

However, it was difficult for the emperor to say these words.

And he will not make immediate judgments about unknown things.

Su Yi said: "This generator and this electric light will cause a huge sensation in the entire Western world, bring huge benefits, and bring a steady stream of money to the Qing Dynasty."

The emperor fell silent.

Su Yi waved his hand and the big men stopped turning.

Su Yi turned off the button, and the entire Sanxi Hall fell into the original darkness.

The emperor's breathing also became calmer. Only in this dim environment could he find a sense of security.

Of course Su Yi knew this was the result.

The emperor not only did not want to implement this electric light in the country.

She even didn't want Su Yi to be sold to Western powers.

He vaguely knew that this thing was great, but it would bring a series of powerful impacts, a very negative impact that he disliked very much.

Of course, this is just his instinctive feeling, and he has not yet formed an opinion output.

Of course, Su Yi fully understood the emperor's thoughts.

He didn't expect the emperor's support from the beginning to the end. When he said it now, he only needed the emperor's shock.

Once the emperor is shocked, he will not be able to react for a long time, nor will he output very clear opinions and judgments. He will enter into long thinking.

And the emperor asked him to give reasons for setting up a factory.

Then Su Yi must give a reason, an extremely bright and upright reason.

Protect the silver standard of the Qing Dynasty and protect the financial lifeblood of the Qing Dynasty.

Maintain a balance of imports and exports.

Moreover, the two products are directly in front of you.

Like it or not, you have to admit, they are awesome.

Able to realize Su Yi's strategy.

Then, everything is closed. I, Su Yi, am obsessed with setting up a factory. Isn’t it for the sake of the country and the country of the Qing Dynasty?

This is a high level of political correctness.

It was so correct that the emperor could not refute it for a while.

Even the emperor couldn't judge for a while.

There is even a hidden meaning. For such a high-strategic matter, I, Su Yi, requested funding from the emperor.

They even want the Ministry of Internal Affairs to take complete control.

The results of it? Your Majesty, you only verbally promised 700,000 taels, but you haven't given it yet.

I have no choice but to borrow it from the people in the capital.

From beginning to end, I raised more than ten million taels of silver. I served the country, but I was burdened with huge debts.

Should I still be blamed for this?

After a long while, the emperor asked: "Why didn't you tell me the purpose of setting up the factory earlier?"

Su Yi said: "Your Majesty, at that time I didn't even have samples in my factory. I was not convinced at all when I told the Emperor about this. Only by making samples can I prove that my ideas and strategies are correct."

Then the emperor asked: "Then what do you mean by marrying Shen Baozhen's daughter as your concubine?"

This is what the emperor cares about most.

I wanted to conquer Shen Baozhen, but in the end he was tied up with you, and even married his daughter to you in a grand wedding.

Where does this put my face?

Su Yi said: "Your Majesty, my ten million taels of silver are pledged at Liru Bank because I need to purchase a large number of machines. At that time, I had already spent all the money on hand, but a lot of money had to be paid. Once I don't pay, my money will be If political credibility is ruined, then the factory will completely fail."

"But my money can't last more than a few days. For those critical few days, we need hundreds of thousands of taels. There is nothing we can do."

"So I thought of a way to make money by holding a wedding. I received a total of more than 400,000 taels of silver from this wedding, which helped me overcome the most difficult difficulty."

The emperor was stunned. He did not expect that the reason was so direct.

This answer was acceptable to Su Yi.

But for Shen Baozhen, it was not enough.

I valued you and asked you to keep an eye on Su Yi, but in the end you married your daughter to him and tied him up?

The emperor was silent for a long time and asked: "One last question."

"You are obviously the best at negotiating with the British. This time the foreign barbarians invaded in a large scale and Guangzhou fell. The situation is extremely critical. Why don't you volunteer yourself? Could it be that you are resentful?"

Su Yi noticed this detail.

Tonight, the emperor never called Su Yi by his name, but always called you.

In his heart, he resisted saying Su Yi's name.

Su Yi said: "Your Majesty is aware of this. I have already said that if I go to negotiate, not only will there be no benefit, but it will be counterproductive."

"Please tell me the reasons behind this, Your Majesty."

"The people negotiating with me that day were British Minister Bao Ling and Guangzhou Consul Basia Li."

"They sent troops to attack Guangzhou without the consent of the British Parliament. They sent troops privately."

"The minister gave an excellent account and stated the most critical strategy. The Qing Dynasty is willing to prevent the expansion of Tsarist Russia in the east for the British Empire. He also pointed out the reality that the other side's war actions have not been approved by Congress, and even revealed that their military expenditures are tight. The details.”

"The most important thing is that I pointed out a gold mine in the Malay Peninsula and bribed Bao Ling and Ba Xiali."

As soon as these words came out, the emperor said: "Why do you know about the gold mines in the Malay Peninsula?"

Su Yi said: "Your Majesty, do you still remember that I once eliminated a group of pirates? I learned about it from this group of pirates."

The emperor said: "Why didn't you report the bribery of Bao Ling and Basia Li in the gold mine before?"

Su Yi said: "I am afraid that the emperor will blame me. Why don't I give it to the imperial court instead of giving it to foreign barbarians if I have gold mines?"

The emperor said: "I am not that confused. The Malay Peninsula is already under the control of foreign barbarians."

Su Yi said: "Because Bao Ling and Ba Xiali sent troops privately, they were persuaded by the political views of the minister, and received large bribes. So they retreated like this. If this continues, they will be in peace. . However, Ye Mingchen repeatedly provoked and detained the crew of the Yarrow, which was barely a normal diplomatic act. However, he detained officials and military attachés of the British Legation and punished them. This spread to the British and foreign countries and immediately caused an uproar. .”

"It was also revealed in London that Bao Ling and Ba Xiali sent troops privately and then retreated privately. Many people impeached Bao Ling."

"As a result, Minister Bao Ling was impeached and resigned, and Guangzhou Consul Basia Li also resigned."

"The Earl of Elgin who replaced him was an old-school British aristocrat. He was once the governor of North America of the British Empire. He was a war maniac, and he was Bao Ling's political enemy. It was his behavior to blow Bao Ling out of office. And he is now He is the supreme commander-in-chief of the British and barbarians in the Far East, and the culprit behind this war."

"Earl Elgin not only hated Bao Ling, but also said that he was weak when he retreated, which is why Ye Mingchen repeatedly oppressed him and undermined the majesty of the British Empire. In the eyes of Count Elgin, I am the culprit who has humiliated the British."

"So, I am now a political enemy in Elgin's eyes, and Bao Ling and I are on the same side."

"If I go to negotiate, not only will it fail, but it will be counterproductive."

Now, the emperor really understood.

That's it!

In this case, Su Yi really couldn't go.

Letting Su Yi negotiate would only anger Count Elgin.

From this point of view, Su Yi's unwillingness to recommend himself was truly public-spirited rather than out of resentment.

Then the emperor hesitated.

Now, he didn't want to consult Su Yi at all about what should be done about this matter.

This evening's conversation made the emperor feel that Su Yi was dedicated to serving the public good whether he was running a factory or not negotiating with the British.

It's just that he was too arrogant and didn't bother to explain to Kuang Yuan and others. This group of people fanned the flames, making Su Yi look like he had a different intention.

But Su Yi didn't have any dissent.

Even as before, everything he did was for the sake of the country and the country, even at the cost of losing his holy family and damaging his reputation.

However, today’s in-depth conversation.

But it also made the emperor feel complicated.

He felt even more deeply Su Yi's arrogance and amazing talent.

This feeling was vague before. That was because Su Yi took care of the emperor's emotions every time, did not talk about it clearly, and even tried to appease the emperor emotionally in all aspects.

This gave the emperor a sense of security and control.

But today, Su Yi had to speak out.

The result is an inexplicable feeling of being far away from the mountains.

I didn’t explain it clearly at first, but it’s quite beautiful to see flowers in the mist. Now that it is clear, the emperor can instinctively feel how low and narrow his vision is.

Therefore, the emperor did not want to consult Su Yi at all on how to make the British retreat.

Even, I don't want to see him again.

However, everything is completely proven.

Su Yi is indeed a loyal and wise minister.

The emperor didn't want to ask, but he had to ask.

Because Yang Yi made him too scared.

Finally, the emperor finally asked, "Then do you think the foreign barbarians will retreat this time?"

Su Yi said bluntly: "Yes."

These words immediately made the emperor happy.

The emperor said: "If you are not suitable to talk to the British, then who is suitable to go?"

Su Yi said: "Anyone can go."

The emperor was stunned.

Su Yi said: "He Guiqing was greedy for life and fearful of death, and was cunning and cunning. When he saw Ye Mingchen committing suicide, he felt that the British were trying to scare the monkeys, so he staged a cruel trick and ran away. In fact, Elgin had already begun to prepare for formal negotiations with him. Ye Mingchen, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, committed suicide, which put the British into diplomatic passivity, which was the best time for negotiations. If He Guiqing had not run away, the talks would have been over and the British would have withdrawn."

The emperor was even more shocked.

Actually... is this the case? "

Su Yi said: "Now, He Guiqing's escape has made the British look down on the Qing Dynasty and think that we are completely cowardly and incompetent. But we can still negotiate."

The emperor asked again: "Who do you think you should send?"

Su Yi would not name any names, because this was destined to be a treaty that would be humiliating and humiliating the country.

And even more ridiculous.

Historically, after Guiliang signed the treaty, the British planned to withdraw their troops.

As a result, the Qing government went back on its word and ignored Britain, France and the United States.

As a result, Britain and France did not stop doing anything and directly attacked the city of Beijing.

Once Su Yi said any name, he would be associated with this treaty that was humiliating and humiliating the country.

Su Yi said: "I said, anyone can do it, anyone can do it."

This tone shocked the emperor.

Then Su Yi slowed down her tone and said with great sincerity: "Your Majesty, there is one thing. Anyone who wants to talk should do it openly. The British don't want to ask for any conditions, so they all just closed their eyes and agreed to it. Fight with reason."

"As long as we talk seriously, we can reach the emperor's psychological bottom line."

"In addition, the country we need to be most wary of this time is Tsarist Russia. He will use the excuse of mediating conflicts between China and Britain to get involved."

"Among the four countries, Tsarist Russia is the most greedy and will take advantage of the opportunity to extort the greatest benefits."

Tsarist Russia took advantage of this opportunity to sign the Aihun Treaty and ceded more than 600,000 square kilometers of territory.

After hearing Su Yi's words, the emperor breathed a long sigh of relief.

I somehow felt a sense of security.

Facing the British army, he really felt like he was overwhelmed by mountains, full of fear and uneasiness.

But Su Yi downplayed it and said categorically that the British would withdraw their troops and that the negotiation could be completed this time.

Su Yi's tone made the emperor very uncomfortable.

The feeling of being able to guide the country and hold the pearl of wisdom, compared with the emperor's own inner fear and uneasiness, makes people feel ashamed.

But Su Yi's confident attitude made people full of confidence in the situation.

It was as if the emperor had temporarily borrowed Su Yi's eyes to see the world situation a little more clearly, and also understood what the British really thought.

Next, the two fell into silence again.

The emperor was still not smart enough to see Su Yi's deeper attitude towards him.

This is too advanced. The emperor's level is not high enough and he cannot understand it.

Because this is the last time we meet.

Su Yi actually had hesitation in his heart, and it was also his last exploration of the emperor's heart.

Do you want to save the emperor's life?

Because after all, the other party is kind to me.

Is there even the slightest possibility that the emperor can be saved in the future and Su Yi can continue his great career?

That's why he communicated so thoroughly this time.

First he took out the gramophone, then the electric sound, to probe into the emperor's deepest thoughts.

And he didn't have too many reservations, showing his far-sighted strategic thinking.

If the emperor expressed excitement, even full of hope, he was full of longing for everything Su Yi described.

Then, it would be possible for Su Yi to save his life at the last moment.

Therefore, this last conversation was also a trial of fate.

The result is of course... negative.

He refused this life.

Su Yi was not surprised by this result.

However, in the emperor's heart at this time, he felt that it was his fate to judge Su Yi.

All that needs to be said has been said.

The emperor felt that he should judge Su Yi's fate.

He sat on the chair, narrowed his eyes, and examined Su Yi's face.

Finally, the emperor asked slowly: "Su Yi, how about you hand over your factories to me and everything you do in Jiujiang?"

Su Yi wrote lightly: "Okay."

..........................................

Note: This is the second update. This chapter is a bit difficult to write, so it’s a little late.

Let me ask you weakly, do you still have monthly tickets in your pocket? Can you give me some cakes? thank you!

(End of this chapter)