Tuqing: My first love was Cixi

Chapter 261 The Queen Mother gives birth and the new world changes

Chapter 261 The Queen Mother gives birth! New world! Big changes
Jiujiang.

After all, Yehenala only stayed in Tantuo Temple for a few days symbolically, and then secretly went south to Jiujiang.

Also following her south were Zhu Sanniang, Ande Hai, and even her mother.

She came down by the canal line and passed many famous and familiar cities along the way, such as Yangzhou and Nanjing.

When she was in Nanjing, she stopped for a while and looked into the distance.

After all, this city had been occupied by the rebels for several years and had just been recaptured not long ago.

However, I didn’t see anything special, so I continued westward.

After arriving in Jiujiang, she was completely shocked.

This...is this Su Yi's Jiujiang?

She had no idea about this city before. She only knew that this city belonged entirely to Su Yi. She fled back to Jiujiang at every turn, but she didn't feel that this city was so special.

but now……

She was stunned.

Because it happened to be night when she arrived at Jiujiang Pier.

She had seen Yangzhou at night, and she said it was also brightly lit, with countless lanterns that looked like stars in the night sky.

But the Jiujiang in front of us is the real fireworks and the real lights.

Because it is electric lights that light up the night sky.

Jiujiang is probably the first city in China to realize electric lighting.

At the 1860 World Expo, Jiujiang Economic Experimental Zone’s electric lights amazed the world, and since then it has entered a period of rapid economic growth.

Because what is sold is not a light bulb or a generator, but the entire lighting system.

The price is expensive and the profit is extremely high.

The project is never finished.

There were only nine engineering teams at the beginning, but now there are more than 100 engineering teams, with more than 10,000 people.

And the business is no longer just in Europe, not just in the United States, but also in Asia.

Almost all colonial governor-general offices in Asia have placed orders. Today, the order volume for the governor-general office in India alone exceeds 20,000 pounds.

Even recently, he received an order from Japan. When he received this order, Bai Feifei was still a little stunned. Isn't Japan very conservative? Isn’t it even more unacceptable to accept electric light?
This is already old history. Since the Black Ship Incident, Japan has been opened to the country and ravaged by foreign powers even more severely than the Qing court.

Because of its great success in China, British consortiums and American consortiums that have not squeezed into the Chinese market have invested in Japan.

This will lead to Japan's reforms possibly being brought forward.

This batch of lighting orders came from the Emperor of Japan.

It's really strange. The shogun has been in power for a long time and the emperor is very poor. How can he afford to install a lighting system?

Even though three or four years have passed, it is still very expensive and luxurious.

Moreover, the order amount from the Emperor of Japan was a full 130,000 taels of silver.

Bai Feifei and his eldest brother Su Quan, who are politically sensitive, immediately reported the news to Su Yi.

Su Yi guessed based on this order that Japan may face drastic political changes in the future, and the Meiji Restoration will most likely be brought forward.

Because installing a lighting system is an innovative attitude.

The political actions of Britain and the United States in Japan are much greater than in history.

This lighting system is expensive, the project is never completed, and the production capacity is completely insufficient.

Therefore, the board of directors debated countless times whether to illuminate Jiujiang.

Most people think it is not necessary, because the cost of comprehensive lighting is too high, and it is better to use this production capacity to make money.

Moreover, can the people of Jiujiang accept it? Willingness to pay is the question.

In other places around the world, only some government departments and wealthy aristocrats have installed lighting systems, but you have fully popularized them in Jiujiang City? Are you willing to spend money?
In the end, Su Yi made the decision.

Install!

Next, we need to launch a comprehensive Westernization Movement.

Jiujiang is a model house, the business card of industrialization.

Therefore, this city must be shocking enough to make people yearn for it like never before.

Following Su Yi's order, the vigorous infrastructure construction in Jiujiang was officially launched.

Even though funds are very tight now, an infrastructure construction plan worth more than 6 million taels was still approved.

These six million taels were only approved by the Economic Experimental Zone, and there was also an unknown amount of private capital investment.

So in less than two years, the entire Jiujiang has undergone earth-shaking changes.

A railway of more than thirty kilometers was repaired and trains started running.

From the steel factory, to the manufacturing bureau, to the textile factory, and finally to the dock.

This project started about five years ago. When it was opened to traffic last year, Su Yi didn't even have time to cut the ribbon.

Countless buildings were built throughout the city.

Of course, most of them are six-story buildings used as residential areas.

When Su Yi regained Jiujiang, the city had almost no population except Lin Qirong's tens of thousands.

Completely from scratch.

Now seven years have passed and the city's population has exceeded 400,000.

The original area of the city is no longer enough, and it has been expanded countless times.

The evil real estate industry has also begun to sprout here.

Home loans have also begun to sprout.

An ordinary house of 100 square meters has been sold for 400 taels.

When Jiujiang reported this price to Su Yi, Su Yi struggled for a long time but didn't approve it.

Because the profit has exceeded 200%.

Jiujiang is undoubtedly one of the wealthiest cities in the country.

In the experimental area, even Bai Feifei and Su Quan constantly reported that the price was reasonable, even low.

If the pricing is any lower, it will even cause market chaos and be detrimental to market development.

The average income of ordinary workers in Jiujiang has reached about 70 taels a year, and the city is very young. There are countless factories recruiting people, so every family has about two workers.

The average family income is more than one hundred taels of silver. After deducting living expenses, there are six or seventy taels of silver left every year.

Such a high savings rate is unfavorable, so people need to be guided to spend their money. Take advantage of this wave of urban infrastructure to carry out a major housing replacement.

Finally, Su Yi signed.

then……

Every batch of housing is launched and all are sold out.

Almost a robbery.

Especially for limited-edition luxury homes, demand exceeds supply, and a lottery purchase system has to be adopted.

In addition, there has been intense discussion about the appearance of urban buildings.

Shen Baozhen, Bai Feifei, Su Quan, Hu Xueyan and others all strongly expressed the need to adopt Chinese-style architecture.

And arranged for someone to give the design drawing.

To be honest, it looks pretty good.

There are Su style and Hui style.

Even if it is built into six floors, it is not ugly.

But according to the plan, there are some high-rise buildings in the entire city, with more than ten floors.

Even the Jiujiang Building will have more than 30 floors.

If it were built in a Chinese architectural style, would it be like the Yellow Crane Tower?

Regarding urban style, Su Yi also had a fierce debate in the WeChat travel group.

Most people in the group said that Chinese-style architecture should be used and China's unique aesthetic style should be maintained.

If modern architecture is adopted, what style is there to speak of?

Every city in modern China is the same. It is completely copied and pasted, which is not interesting at all.

Go to Rome and Florence. There are buildings that are thousands or hundreds of years old. They maintain their unique historical charm and are human treasures.

Even Paris? Although it is only a few hundred years old.

But it is also one of the most beautiful cities in the world and has stood the test of time.

If Jiujiang adopts the new Chinese architectural style, then in two or three hundred years, it will be another Paris.

Look at those modern cities in the United States. How mediocre are they?

The opinion was almost overwhelming.

In particular, red flags were planted all over the Qing Dynasty, and they firmly believed that the city must be transformed into a Chinese style.

Then in the future, Jiujiang will become a new treasure of human cities.

However, Ying Yingba, who was bald at a young age, expressed the completely opposite view.

These two people believe that Jiujiang is a comprehensive modern city.

All architectural styles should be based on what New York will look like thirty years from now.

It means high-rise buildings.

Many people are furious and find this idea extremely ridiculous.

The modernized Jiujiang you have built now, if placed in modern society, would be the level of a fourth- and fifth-tier city in the 1980s and 1990s.

More than a hundred years later, it is a mess.

Negative Bamei sneered: "You look at the past with a modern perspective, and you are just trying to find a way out of the boat."

"What you see as mediocre now was indeed unique and modern in that era, and would even bring unprecedented impact to the world."

"Remember Li Hongzhang's visit to New York? He was shocked like never before. He felt that he had gone to a different world, to an alien planet."

"But now the cities in the whole world are primitive and backward, and there are no modern and modern cities at all."

"Jiujiang is a city that started from scratch. Following this major infrastructure construction, it will take a few years, or even decades, to build a completely modern and modern city."

"Become the pearl of the world's industrialized cities."

"Do you think the Chinese people in 1861, the people of the world, would be shocked by your so-called new Chinese-style architecture? Shit, the Chinese-style buildings all over the place at that time would only be mediocre to them."

“Only by building the most modern and modern city at the lowest cost can Jiujiang shine!”

"And what's even more ridiculous is that your so-called new Chinese-style buildings are the most expensive to build, while modern cities are the cheapest."

Someone retorted: "You are not mistaken, are you? Modern buildings require a lot of reinforced concrete and it is cheap? Don't you know how expensive steel was at that time?"

Negative Bamei sneered: "When building your so-called Chinese-style building with more than six floors, doesn't it require reinforced concrete?"

At this time, the number of foreigners in Jiujiang exceeded several thousand.

Many people there hold high positions on the board of directors and insist on building the entire city into a new London and a new Paris.

In the end, Su Yi made the final decision, neither new Chinese style nor European style, just comprehensive modernization.

It is to allow a modern city to appear in the East decades in advance and shock the world earlier than New York.

After setting the direction, Negative Bamei immediately found someone to carry out urban design.

Su Yi said doubtfully at that time: "Do you have that much money to pay for the design? Are you the second generation of rich people?"

Negative Bamei said: "I am considered a rich second generation, but your city design and the design of Jiujiang Tower are free of charge."

Su Yi wondered: "Why?"

Negative Bamei said: "There are a lot of graduate students in the architecture department, and doctoral students can have sex for free."

Su Yi said: "Jiujiang Building is fine for that world, the design volume is not large, but can urban design be free?"

Negative Bamei said: "It can be used as a final assignment for a certain class, and then the instructor will make revisions."

Su Yi said: "The tutor needs to pay, then."

Negative Bamei said: "The mentor is my father."

It took just several months to complete the design drawings of Jiujiang Building and the entire Jiujiang city planning design draft.

For modern society, this is not a big deal.

But for this world, it is completely shocking, modern and modern.

However, Baby Qingqing has entered its busiest moment.

She needs to copy the drawings on the tablet one by one.

So she is also the only one who knows about the tablet's existence.

However, after doing it for a period of time, I found that copying like this is not possible and there will be certain errors.

Therefore, we can only use a camera to take pictures of the tablet screen, and then develop them.

Of course, even so, there will still be distortion, but fortunately these drawings contain very detailed and clear numbers.

In this way, the design of New Jiujiang began in 1861 and the construction began in February 1862. It has been vigorously carried out for a year and a half.

Today, only a fraction of the plan has been completed.

However, the core Jiujiang Building has begun to take shape.

More than thousands of workers took 530 days to build the shell of Jiujiang Tower, one-fifth of whom were British, French and American construction engineers.

Of course, there is still a long process of interior decoration and exterior construction, but the entire shell has been completed.

The overall construction volume of the Jiujiang Building is only a fraction of that of the Empire State Building in New York, but the progress has been delayed by half a year.

But after all, it was decades earlier, and it was already very remarkable.

There are a total of thirty-nine floors and more than 162 meters.

Unfortunately, the Jiujiang Building was only 99 meters long when originally planned.

However, some people strongly objected that the building was too short.

Although it exceeds the Yellow Crane Tower and Tengwang Pavilion, the Great Baoen Temple is almost 137 meters high, and the Yongning Pagoda a thousand years ago was meters high.

And the Cologne Cathedral is over 150 meters tall.

The churches built hundreds of years ago were all made of stone, and could be built so high without any reinforced concrete.

Our Jiujiang Building, which is said to be the most modern and modern, is only a mere 100 meters high. What does it count?
If you want to build it, it will be the tallest in the world.

162 meters!
This plan was placed in front of Su Yi, which gave him a very headache.

Other major urban infrastructure projects, especially the construction of a large number of residential buildings, are completely profitable.

But this Jiujiang Building will be the office center of the Jiujiang Economic Experimental Zone in the future, which means that it will have to be paid for out of pocket.

There is another most critical issue, the elevator.

Although someone had already invented the elevator ten years ago and put it into practical use.

Moreover, Su Yi has provided more advanced elevators, and several have been built.

But... this is the first time this thing is used at such a high altitude, and safety cannot be guaranteed. The senior figures in the Jiujiang Economic Experimental Zone are all life-saving, so it is impossible to use their own lives to test such a high elevator.

Therefore, even after the Jiujiang Building is completed, there is a high probability that offices will only be located on the tenth floor and people will have to walk up and down the stairs every day.

Above the tenth floor, everything must be left empty, and the elevator cannot be put into use until it is fully mature.

Also, what about water at the top? Wait, wait, etc., everything is a problem.

Of course, the most critical thing is the construction cost.

If only 100 meters are built, the entire construction cost will only be about one million taels.

But if it is 162 meters, the entire construction cost may exceed three million taels.

Money is needed everywhere in modern times, and with such a huge funding gap, it is completely unnecessary to use three million to build a flashy and underutilized First Building.

Therefore, Su Yifou fell 162 meters.

However, the top management of the board of directors of the Economic Experimental Zone, especially the foreign top management, repeatedly and strongly demanded that the 162-meter-long building should be built.

Moreover, they used Bashir as a lobbyist to persuade them again and again.

Finally, this group of vain capitalists directly stated that they were willing to bear two-thirds of the construction cost.

It was in this environment that the height of 162 meters was approved.

Of course, the actual theme building is only 130 meters long, and the remaining 32 meters is the spire of the building.

Too vain, but at least the effect is gorgeous.

Although only a fraction of the city's major infrastructure has been completed.

But when Yehenara arrived, he was still completely shocked, as if he was in a different world.

Standing on the boat, looking at the brightly lit city, I couldn't make a sound for a long time. This is a completely different world. Su Yi's development of Jiujiang only took seven years at best. Will it have such an effect?

This...is this the real future?

"Then...is that the Jiujiang Building that the late emperor mentioned?" Yehenala asked.

Zhu Sanniang said: "Yes, madam. It's just that the prince originally planned to be only ninety-nine meters high, but those foreigners forced him to get higher and higher. Now it is a full one hundred and sixty-two meters high, making it the tallest building in the world." ”

Yehenara spent a long time doing calculations in his mind and said: "This, isn't this going to heaven?"

People in this era are exaggerating. A building of sixty or seventy meters is said to frighten the heavens, let alone 162 meters?
Especially at night, light bulbs are installed on this 1,620-meter-high building and all are lit up.

The visual effects are even more stunning.

"Are the lights in Jiujiang Building lit every night?" Yehenara asked.

Zhu Sanniang said: "No, it is only lit at a very few specific times. It is lit tonight because Madam is here."

After disembarking from the ship and landing in Qingqingdagege, Su Yi's parents had come to greet her.

In the following time, Yehenala spent unforgettable days in Jiujiang.

Here she is free and can go to any place accompanied by Qingqing and others.

Eat in canteens, visit factories, take trains, and buy things in various foreign stores.

"So many foreigners?" Yehenara asked.

Qingqing said: "There are more than 7,000 foreigners working in the experimental area. There are also many foreigners coming here to do business."

In Jiujiang, her residence is a villa manor along the river. There are large grass gardens here with large areas of glass windows.

The floor is paved with smooth marble.

Using materials from that era, it was renovated in a completely new style.

Comfortable sofas, ubiquitous lights.

There is also a movie room and countless records.

"Oh my God, this place is much more comfortable than the Imperial Palace in Beijing." Yehenala said: "Yuanmingyuan, Changchun Garden, and Chengde Palace are not as good as here."

"The rooms here are several times larger than those in the palace, and the living room here is several times larger than my flower hall in the capital."

"Living here, I never want to go back to Beijing."

In this way, Yehenala spent three comfortable months in Jiujiang.

In Beijing, these three months are the most difficult because it is so hot.

And this manor villa introduces running water to circulate throughout the house, making it much cooler than outside even in summer.

mid-July.

Yehenara's delivery.

More than a dozen gynecologists stayed in this gorgeous manor villa to avoid all risks.

But, all goes well.

On the night of July 18th, Yehenala gave birth to a daughter.

Su Yi failed to come after all. Just like other women giving birth, he now has four sons and three daughters.

But when a child was born, he was not around, there was nothing he could do, he was too busy.

"Congratulations, Madam. Congratulations, Madam. You are a daughter of a daughter."

When looking at the child, Yehenara's face was full of love.

But after the child was taken away, tears still fell from the corners of her eyes.

Why is it a girl, why is it not a son.

Qingqing held Yehenala's hand and said, "My husband loves his daughter more, and she can regenerate her."

Yehenala cried: "You don't understand, you don't understand."

Then, she asked: "Princess Shouxi is also pregnant. Is she a boy or a girl?"

Qingqing said: "How can I know if I haven't been born yet?"

Yehenala said: "You have experience in Eni, so you must know roughly. In fact, I also roughly knew that it was a daughter before I was born, but everyone picked what I liked to hear and said that it must be a son. Tell me, everyone Do you think the child in Princess Shouxi’s belly is probably a son or a daughter?”

Qingqing said: "Probably, she is also a daughter."

Then, Qingqing consoled her: "It can still be regenerated, it can still be regenerated."

Hui Zheng's wife next to her said, "It's true that Su Yi won't come at this time."

Yehenala said: "I don't want him to come. It's best to wait until I become slim and good-looking before he comes."

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

Beijing!

"Block it, block it..."

"Push inside and help them!"

"Don't come out."

Princess Shou'an held down Su Yi desperately to prevent him from coming out.

After a long while, Su Yi said: "It's almost done. If I stay in there any longer, I'll be stoned again."

"Come here, who is afraid of whom?" Princess Shou'an said.

Now that she is in her thirties, her pregnancy is already very risky.

But she was very persistent.

I have tried many times before, but never got pregnant.

This time, she will be escorted by three thousand troops to Ulyasutai, which is a truly remote and cold place.

"It's all your fault, it's your fault..." Princess Shou'an hugged him and said, "Originally, he and I have already reconciled and it was about to be officially announced, but you just asked me to guard Mobei. In this way, I can't The news of divorce has been made public.”

Princess Shouan was originally the princess of Fu Meng and the wife of the Mongolian prince. It was suitable to guard Ulia Sutai.

But in this way, the announcement of the reconciliation will have to be delayed for several years.

"I'm sorry, I still need you to help me at this time." Su Yi said softly.

"No, I'm very happy." Princess Shou'an said: "I just hope that Liu Mei will be able to give birth to a son. But she has never been promising. She is just good-looking, which is of no use. I'll do it myself."

"Ah?" Su Yi said, "What do you mean?"

Even if Princess Shou'an reconciles, she probably cannot marry Su Yi publicly.

Princess Shou'an said: "When I give birth to a son and give it to Shou Xi, I will treat him as if he was born to her."

………………

Two days later, escorted by thousands of troops, Princess Shou'an and Seng Gelinqin headed north.

The vigorous disarmament of the Eight Banners began.

Immediately afterwards, Wo Ren came to say goodbye to the Queen Mother.

In recent years, Wo Ren has become very distant from Su Yi, and he disagrees with many of Su Yi's policies.

However, this time he went to Shengjing to preside over disarmament, but there was no excuse.

He also told the Empress Dowager Ci'an that even if he was shattered into pieces, he would complete the dismantling of the Eight Banners Army in Shengjing.

Afterwards, Zuo Zongtang led his troops to Xi'an and presided over the abolition there.

The next day, Ronglu said goodbye to Empress Dowager Ci'an again. He was going to Chengdu to preside over the disarmament of the Eight Banners.

At this time, almost all the war ministers were gone, which made the little queen mother a little uneasy.

"You all left at once. What if someone makes trouble in the capital? Only us orphans and widows are left." Empress Dowager Ci'an said with red eyes: "Tomorrow, you have to leave too."

"No, you are not allowed to leave."

Su Yi said softly: "It doesn't matter, Zhaobu, Zhang Guoliang, and Feng Zicai are all in the capital, and no one can make waves."

"Wan'er, I won't come to say goodbye tomorrow. I'll set off south early in the morning."

Empress Dowager Ci'an responded in a low voice.

"Can you let me hug you?" Su Yi said softly.

Empress Dowager Ci'an blushed. You usually pretend to be careless and hugged me many times.

Why do you have to say it out loud and ask me to agree?

This...doesn't this make me look unchaste?
"Is this how you coax the one to the west?" Empress Dowager Ci'an asked.

Su Yi shook her head and said: "I have many women, but 90% of my thoughts and patience are spent on Wan'er."

"You are not a good person. Who knows which words are true and which are false?" Niu Hulu said in a low voice.

Su Yi stepped forward, gently held her in his arms, and smelled the scent of her body.

"Wan'er, why does it smell so good?" Su Yi asked.

I bathe twice a day, but I don’t know how much toilet water fragrance I should use. Is it possible to avoid the fragrance?

Su Yi exerted a little force, and Niu Hulu seemed to be hugged so hard that she couldn't struggle, and then she obeyed.

In fact, she has obviously become much more beautiful in the past month or so.

Her skin is delicate and pink. At the age of twenty-six, she is even younger than before. She looks more like seventeen or eighteen years old.

The eyes also have light.

Because this is probably her first love.

Although he had been married to the late emperor for more than ten years, this was his first real love.

And Su Yi did bring her the complete feeling of first love, which was delicate, ambiguous, and budding.

It's not as rough as the Yehenala clan.

"Let's go..." Su Yi kissed her earlobe gently.

Then, he left directly.

Mrs. Niu Hulu stood there, looking at Su Yi's back with infinite reluctance.

Since marrying the late emperor, she has been very indifferent, as if she is not interested in the relationship between men and women at all, and she also thinks that she is not interested.

Now she discovered that she... was probably not interested in the relationship between men and women, but was not interested in... the late emperor.

And Su Yi is probably the lover that wealthy women dream of.

Although she kept saying that Su Yi was a liar and a bastard man who had an affair in front of her.

But she firmly believed that Su Yi treated her completely differently from other women.

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

The next day, Su Yi left Beijing and headed south.

As he left, the princes of the Eight Banners in the capital breathed a long sigh of relief, as if the mountain above their heads had been moved away.

The entire undercurrent entering the city began to surge.

And as he went south, the entire southern governor became more and more nervous.

Because the exclusive power of the southern governor extends beyond the few provinces controlled by the Hunan Army.

Even the governors of Guangxi, Yunnan, Sichuan, and Guangdong maintain great autonomy and have military and financial power.

Especially the new Governor of Yunnan and Guizhou, as well as the Governor of Sichuan, are facing formidable enemies.

Because Su Yi wants to ban opium and reform the Lijin Bureau, which will affect their lifeblood.

Of course, the most critical thing is the hundreds of thousands of Hunan troops.

After a long period of deliberation, everyone knew that Su Yi's so-called investment promotion conference was to recruit the Hunan Army.

What choice did Zeng Guofan and others make?

Su Yi first arrived in Tianjin, and then took a boat to go south.

At this time, Shen Baozhen, a member of the China Merchants Bureau and the future Minister of Foreign Affairs, rushed to Suzhou to hold talks with Zeng Guofan.

"Mr. Zeng, please don't doubt the prince's sincerity." Shen Baozhen said: "Whoever controls Westernization will control power in the future. It is useful to control the army in troubled times, but what is the purpose of controlling the army to govern the world?"

"The Hunan Army has a large number of talents and elites. It will be a great cause for the country in the future. Your Majesty hopes that you can make great efforts."

Zeng Guofan said: "I wonder how the prince will arrange for us to wait?"

Su Yi said: "Among the Hunan Army factions, two people have entered the center, and one of them will enter the political hall."

"The entire Hunan Army must be disbanded and 40,000 people selected to join the Empire's new army."

"Senior officers in the Hunan Army can serve as senior generals after being trained by the Imperial Army Academy."

"Or to put it more directly, two division commanders can be appointed in the Hunan Army."

Zeng Guofan fell into silence. The two division commanders seemed very harsh.

But in fact, there are only three division commanders in Su Yi's direct line.

Moreover, Su Yi rebelled against the entire team and surrendered, only two to three division commanders at most.

Even as talented as Li Shixian, he can only start as a brigade commander.

However, the 40,000 people selected by the Hunan Army will never accept his command from Zeng Guofan again in the future.

Even the two division commanders of the Hunan Army probably did not command troops composed of the Hunan Army.

"Two central positions and two division commanders will occupy 26% of the equity in the next round of Westernization Movement." Shen Baozhen said: "This is the biggest bargaining chip that the prince can give. You are used to dealing with the prince and you know that he is Don’t bargain, just give the highest terms, even when facing the British Empire.”

Zeng Guofan said: "It's a very important matter, how about you let me think about it for a moment or two?"

Shen Baozhen said: "You don't need to answer me. Anyway, the prince has gone south. The Investment Promotion Conference will be held in Shanghai on August 17. You can express your position at the Investment Promotion Conference."

"However, I still have to remind you that this is the last chance."

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

After Shen Baozhen had an interview with Zeng Guofan, he left Suzhou and headed to Shanghai to prepare to meet Su Yi.

Daughter Shen Baoer followed.

He looked at his daughter with a look of anticipation on her face, her eyes filled with infinite longing and expectation.

"At the time, I thought it was a dangerous move and a helpless move to survive, but I never imagined that we would be in today's situation." Shen Baozhen couldn't help but sigh.

Shen Baoer said: "My father will have great ambitions in the future, and he will be the prime minister of the cabinet, and he will also be able to get things from his pocket."

"Prime Minister of the Cabinet, I dare not say." Shen Baozhen said: "But surpassing my father-in-law is a sure thing. When I became an official that day, I never thought that I would be here today."

Then, he couldn't help but said: "Bao'er, do you feel happy that you and the prince spend less time together and stay apart more often?"

"What a blessing." Shen Bao'er said, "My husband is a person in heaven. One day together is worth countless things in this world."

"To put it bluntly, when I think about Zhang Yuzhao at this time, it feels like a lifetime ago, as if... there is a gap in my memory, and a few years have disappeared."

Shen Baozhen smiled and said, "You can keep this to tell the prince."

"But, having you as my daughter makes me really proud as a father."

Shen Baozhen was indeed proud. Among Su Yi's many women, Hong Renli had power but no children.

Princess Shouxi had a noble status and was the head wife, but she did not hold power. Moreover, this pregnancy was probably a daughter. Shen Baozhen's wife read it carefully many times.

Qingqing is a big girl, has children, and has power, but she is indifferent by nature and doesn't like to take care of things.

Only his daughter Shen Baoer, who has children and is Su Yi's confidential secretary, knows some core things.

Especially during this interview with Zeng Guofan, Shen Baozhen was filled with a sense of superiority.

He looked up to Zeng Guofan before, but now...

When he saw Zeng Guofan, he only said one thing in his heart, whether you surrender this time or not, you will never be able to catch up with me, Shen Baozhen, in this life.

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

The American minister and the Russian minister came to visit Zeng Guofan.

This has been a secret meeting for countless times.

"Don't be intimidated by Su Yi. The enemy he faces this time is not the country, but us."

The Russian minister said: "The war between us and Su Yi is destined to break out. Our troops on the Sino-Russian border in the Far East have exceeded 50,000 people."

"In the Crimean War, we Russians fought to a draw with Britain and France. This shows how strong our combat effectiveness is."

"Three or four years ago, a mere 10,000 British and French troops defeated the Qing Dynasty's 100,000-strong army."

"Our combat level is no less than that of the British and French coalition forces. The severe cold in the northern battlefield makes it more suitable for us to fight."

"We dispatch 50,000 people. Do you know what this means? We can completely destroy Su Yi's army of 100,000 people."

"And does Su Yi have an army of 100,000? No, far from it."

"In addition, our fleet has traveled thousands of miles from Europe to the Far East. The British can no longer use piracy tactics to harass our rear in the Far East."

"Next, in the northwest of the Qing Dynasty, there will be at least three groups of rebels, with more than hundreds of thousands of people, half of whom will accept our influence and control."

"So, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for your Hunan Army. Su Yi will face an unprecedented enemy, and this time he is destined to be destroyed."

"You should boldly refuse Su Yi's surrender."

The Russian minister repeated it again and again.

The American Minister and the British Lord Wytoma were also smoking cigars nearby.

After the Russian minister stated the conditions, the American minister said: "Our domestic Civil War is coming to an end, and because of the success of the Suyi Jiujiang Economic Experimental Zone, we also plan to make comprehensive investments in Japan and China. For a long time, we have , we have had in-depth and happy cooperation. Therefore, I think you, the Hunan Army, should take the lead in the Westernization Movement in the south, and should not leave it all to Su Yi."

Weitoma said: "Many British consortiums have made a lot of money from Su Yi, but there are more consortiums that can no longer squeeze into their circle of interests. So they set their sights on you. You control several southern provinces. And many raw materials are produced in your province. The conditions in Jiujiang are not good enough at all. The conditions in Wuchang, Yangzhou, Suzhou, and Shanghai are much better than those in Jiujiang. As long as we have enough technology and enough money, we can completely copy it. The first Jiujiang, the third Jiujiang.”

"Su Ye is too strong. Even the British Empire has to bow down to him in many cases. Especially since he recently proposed to ban opium, it completely infringes on the interests of the British Empire."

"So both the Prime Minister and Congress hope to break Su Yi's power monopoly in the Qing Dynasty, and we are willing to fully support you in your Westernization Movement."

"Or more directly, I want to compete for the position of the British Empire's minister to China. We are very eager to have Mr. Zeng Guofan take charge of the center in the next few years."

Zeng Guofan shook his head and said: "This is impossible, I am a Han Chinese."

Weituma said: "Then at least you and Prince Gong Yi will be in charge of the center."

"Master Zeng Guofan, please believe me. If you surrender to Su Yi, then you will be just a mediocre person in history. There will only be one paragraph about you in the future history books."

"But if you choose not to surrender, half the book in the future may be yours."

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

As Su Yi's footsteps approached.

The senior leaders of the Hunan Army held a secret meeting again.

There has to be a decision.

Zeng Guofan said slowly: "I have said this countless times, and analyzed the pros and cons countless times."

"Su Yi will arrive in Shanghai tomorrow, and we must make a statement."

"No matter what, we all need to make a decision about our destiny."

"Let's vote by a show of hands."

"Raise your hands if you oppose surrender to Su Yi."

Zeng Guoquan raised his hand, Li Xubin raised his hand, Li Xuyi raised his hand, Li Hongzhang raised his hand...

Many Hunan Army giants present raised their hands.