late Qing Dynasty arrest

In the afternoon, Li Guolou came to Li Hongzhang's mansion, gave Uncle Guan the door bag, and handed over the ten tael bank note. Uncle Guan didn't even bat an eyelid, and said, "Xiaolou, you have to wait for a while, Zhongtang It may take a while for my lord to meet Sheng Huaixuan."

Li Guolou touched his nose, handed over another bank note, and said with a smile: "Uncle Guan, Uncle Sheng is here, so there is still a deal. Please tell me, if uncle is not free, I will leave." .”

Uncle Guan smiled and said: "Oh, my family is easy to discuss, so I'll go in and have a look." After speaking, Uncle Guan turned and ran into the courtyard, still jogging, explaining that the amount of the bank note given behind Li Guolou allowed him to have some money. Infinite motivation.

Sheng Huaixuan, styled Xingsun, was born in Wujin, Jiangsu, and was born as a scholar. He entered Li Hongzhang's shogunate in the second year of Tongzhi. In this year, Li Hongzhang led troops from Zhili to Shaanxi to assist Zuo Zongtang in the fight against the Hui rebellion in the northwest. The Camp Office gained fame from this.Sheng Huaixuan has the ability to make money, and he worships Li Hongzhang as his adoptive father. He is a direct descendant of Li Hongzhang's direct lineage, an official businessman, and his ability to raise money is unmatched.Li Hongzhang appointed Tang Tingshu and Xu Run to set up the Shanghai Steamship Merchants Bureau, and soon appointed Sheng Huaixuan as the office. Since then, Sheng Huaixuan has set foot in the industry.

China Shipping Merchants Bureau was originally the China Shipping Merchants Company.Since the Qing government stipulated that this company must give priority to the transportation of official goods, China Merchants has another stable income, among which the rice that is exclusively transported by China Merchants is the top priority.Moreover, since the establishment of the company, people in the Qing Dynasty have taken the ship of China Merchants, which has added to the competitiveness of China Merchants.For this reason, foreign companies lowered prices in a big way, but they suffered a lot from it, and Qichang Company in the United States went bankrupt because of this.China Merchants acquired the ships and wharves of Qichang Company together, and the strength of China Merchants has been greatly enhanced.This process of handling was through the hands of Sheng Huaixuan, and behind the contribution to China Merchants was the commission received, so he was impeached by the imperial censor.

At this time, Sheng Huaixuan was only in his 20s. After the impeachment, he had no official position and was idle at home. He went to his adoptive father Li Hongzhang to complain, hoping to return to the court through Li Hongzhang's recommendation.

Li Hongzhang was chatting happily with Sheng Huaixuan in the living room, chatting nonsense, and couldn't stop for a while.Hearing Li Guolou's arrival, his expression darkened.

Li Hongzhang has his own opinions on Li Guolou, an alternative to the Li family.Li Guolou returned from studying abroad, and his words, deeds and behaviors that he had forgotten his ancestors made him very uncomfortable, so he deliberately ignored Li Guolou for a long time. The relatives of the grandchildren have had a bad nose in the officialdom of the capital.Unexpectedly, this stinky boy sneaked into the Ministry of Criminal Affairs as an errand, and was appreciated by Shang Shubao together, wearing a ninth-rank official hat.This time, Li Guolou wrote a letter to Prince Gong Yixin, and got eleven old things.Regarding the eleven old articles written by Li Guolou, at the discussion meeting at the Yamen of the Prime Minister’s Office, some of Li Hongzhang agreed with them, and some of them firmly opposed them. Talk about national affairs.

Sheng Huaixuan next to him had heard about some things about Li Guolou, and seeing Li Hongzhang's unhappy expression, he was so clever, he immediately smiled and said, "Father, I've heard about your grandson Li Guolou for a long time. I heard that like his elder brother, he is a master at making money and his career is booming, can you introduce him to me."

Li Hongzhang's expression returned to normal, and he stroked his beard and said, "Little Guan, let Xiaolou come in. The brat knows it, but he has a thick skin. Xingsun! You two are quite alike, both of you are born as scholars, and you belong to the type who can make money." people."

Sheng Huaixuan was a little embarrassed, he smirked a few times, how could he honor his adoptive father if he didn't make money?He couldn't come empty-handed when he came to the door, he was just unlucky to be caught by someone and hit the muzzle of Yu Shi's gun.How can you make a lot of money without the support of the government in doing business?After doing government-run business, Sheng Huaixuan wanted to find a lucrative job, and the only way to recover his official career was to rely on his "foster father" Li Hongzhang to give advice.

When Li Guolou entered the living room and saw Li Hongzhang wearing casual clothes, he immediately paid homage to the elders. After some greetings, Li Guolou took out the gift slip and handed it over.He was afraid that Li Hongzhang would be angry, so he refused to accept the gift.Therefore, the property was not brought. If the property was brought, Li Hongzhang would not accept it, and it would be difficult in the future.

The Li family is a big family, and he was able to get into Li Hongzhang's eyes because his older brothers and sisters were good at making money, and they respected Li Hongzhang's eldest son, Li Jingyi, so they were still walking around with each other. Those Li's relatives in their hometown were just rich men.The three sons of Li Hongzhang above the court held official positions, among which the eldest son Li Jingyi (adopted son) was the most important. Several brothers in the direct line of Li Hongzhang were high-ranking officials and businessmen. Shu, Li Guolou's family belongs to the well-connected branch of the collateral lineage.

Li Hongzhang opened the gift list, glanced at it, and knew how much the property was worth?Antiques, jade, calligraphy and painting, and some valuable furniture worth about 5000 taels.This was a wish from the younger generation, Li Hongzhang smiled slightly, put the gift list on the table, and did not return it to Li Guolou.

"Sit in the small building! I haven't seen you for more than a year. You have grown stronger." Li Hongzhang exchanged a few words, asking Han Wennuan's grandson Li Guolou.

Li Guolou greeted his uncle's family and chatted for a while, with a humble expression, not daring to sit up straight.

At this time, Li Hongzhang was in his prime, less than 50 years old, with a square face, full of vigor, and three black beards fluttering. He was just the handsome man in the ancient standard portraits.Li Hongzhang’s success in official career is inseparable from the appreciation of his teacher Zeng Guofan, but he is more trusted by the court than Zeng Guofan. He has been promoted from the governor of Liangjiang to the governor of Zhili, ranking first among the ministers. The honorary title of "Scholar of the Hall of Martial Arts".

In the Qing Dynasty, there was only one person who was king of the opposite sex, and that was Fukang'an during the Emperor Qianlong's period.It was after the Fukang'an eradicated the Tibetan rebellion that Tibet began to have Qing garrisons, which were different from those vassal states that called themselves vassals and paid tribute.According to folklore, Fukang'an was the illegitimate son of Emperor Qianlong, and Emperor Qianlong made an exception and violated the ancestral precept that "the opposite sex cannot be crowned king".Although Qianlong did not give Fukang'an the title of king before his death (posthumously titled King of Jiayong County after his death), he still made an exception and granted him the title of Baylor, which only members of the clan can obtain.

In the 56th year of Qianlong (1791), Tibet was invaded by Gurkhas. Fukang'an was ordered to lead more than [-] troops into Tibet as the commander and Hai Lancha as the deputy commander to fight back.The following year, with the support of the Tibetan people, it went straight into the territory of Gurkha and won the victory.

As a result of the Gurkha invasion, various local systems in Tibet were abolished, and all kinds of disadvantages were fully exposed.Fukang An Chengzhi, together with the ministers stationed in Tibet and other senior officials in Tibet, jointly negotiated and promulgated the famous "Imperial Regulations for the Aftermath of Tibet" (29 articles) in the history of Tibet after the approval of the central government. Clear and detailed provisions have been made on all major powers such as administration, justice, foreign affairs, finance and taxation, greatly improving and improving the powers of the ministers stationed in Tibet, in order to strengthen the leadership of the central government over local governments, consolidate national defense, maintain social order, develop production, and improve people's lives. have made important contributions.But Fukang'an was a well-known arrogant and domineering general in history, and he belonged to a person who owed a lot of personal morality.

Li Hongzhang nodded, quite satisfied with the filial piety of his "grandson", staring at Li Guolou for a while with a pair of bottomless black pupils, and said: "Xiaolou, you have been doing well recently, I often hear you Your name, even the Yamen of the Prime Minister’s Mansion has seen your letter, your ambition is not small! Even Prince Gong has personally praised you.”

Li Guolou leaned forward and said, "Thank you uncle for your praise. My grandson must guard against arrogance and impetuosity, and repay uncle for his cultivation of grandson with outstanding political achievements."

How could Li Guolou not know that it was not because Li Hongzhang was his uncle that Prince Gong Yixin recommended him for the imperial examination when he was promoted so quickly.Although some of the political views in the Eleven Statements in his letter were inconsistent with those of Li Hongzhang, generally speaking, he still belonged to the Westernization School and was in the same line as Li Hongzhang.

"Well;;;;;; as long as you know, let's have a cup of tea!" Li Hongzhang picked up the teacup, intending to tell Li Guolou that he wanted to chat for a while, and would not drive Li Guolou away immediately.Today, we treat each other with family etiquette, and we all address each other according to their seniority.

Sheng Huaixuan was also looking at Li Guolou. He really looked like Li Hongzhang, with the same rectangular face and slender eyes. He was a relative from the same family.

"Xiaolou, let's treat each other equally, otherwise I will be embarrassed." Sheng Huaixuan looked at Li Guolou with a smile on his face. Now he has no official position, and he is worse than the younger Li Guolou. In terms of official rules, he wanted to give Li Guolou a big gift, so how could he agree?

Li Guolou looked at Sheng Huaixuan, who had big ears and a rich face, and smiled sweetly: "Brother Xingsun is well-known outside, and my younger brother has admired him for a long time. The mountain is so high."

"Hahahaha! Brother Yu is ashamed, he is just a commoner now, embarrassing his foster father." Sheng Huaixuan spread his hands helplessly, only his foster father Li Hongzhang knew the grievance in his heart.

Li Hongzhang said with a smile: "Xiaolou, just now I told Xingsun that you and your brother have business acumen, opened a textile factory, and made some achievements in business, and now they have developed their business to Tianjin. It's amazing. Jingyi often praises you The Yadong Textile Factory belongs to the Yadong Textile Factory of the two of you brothers, if you can make a career without relying on the support of the government. Your brother, I met once when I was in Tianjin. It is a good idea to set up a bank in the British Concession. Support your initiative."

An old fox is an old fox. Li Hongzhang has long seen that Li Guoyun and Li Guolou founded the bank "Please Come In Bank" in the British Concession in Tianjin.

Of course, to create a new bank, a huge capital chain needs to be maintained, and then the banking business needs many people to help, and Li Hongzhang is close to the huge flow of water transport funds in the local area. Please come in and the bank will get a share.Li Hongzhang would not take a stake in Please Come In Bank, but his son Li Jingyi took 10% of the shares in Please Come In Bank as a matter of course.

Li Guolou smiled and said, "Thank you grandson for your uncle's support. Grandson wrote the plan to invite you to come to the bank. Grandson has no other skills. He still has evidence to make plans. He never fights uncertain battles."

Li Hongzhang curled his lips slightly, and ignored Li Guolou. Today, he only talked about business affairs, and his adopted son Sheng Huaixuan was by his side. How could he discuss national policies with Li Guolou.

Sheng Huaixuan listened for a while, and figured out the ins and outs of please come in to the bank, secretly jealous, the Li family is powerful, and even set foot in the banking industry, and the money that goes around in this society will eventually fall into the hands of the Li family.

Although Sheng Huaixuan is worth a lot of money, he has not yet reached the level of sudden wealth. The banking industry dare not think about it. Last time he was impeached by the censor, he spent atonement money and paid 5 taels of silver to the treasury. prison.This time he just wanted to make another lucrative job and get back the lost money with interest.

The Qing Dynasty has a national policy, that is, if officials commit corruption crimes and their crimes are exposed, they can spend money to atone for their crimes.Ranging from hundreds of taels to tens of thousands of taels, the "redemption silver" was directly handed over to the national treasury, which was also considered a national income.Who made this national policy?It's funny to say that this highly innovative national policy was personally approved by He Shen, the biggest corrupt official in the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, and it has not changed since then.Therefore, the government of the Qing Dynasty is not afraid of official corruption. The bigger the corrupt officials are, the more they will be a silver mine for the country in the future.

Sheng Huaixuan calmed down and prevented Li Hongzhang from seeing the depression in his heart. He smiled slightly and said, "Xiaolou is capable of both literature and martial arts, and understands the essence of officials and businessmen. No one can find fault with this move. It seems to be higher than the bank established by Qiao Zhiyong and Hu Xueyan."

Li Guolou said complacently: "Brother Xingsun knows the goods. In fact, everyone will do it if you say it, but because there is no precedent, I let me take the lead. The grandson is not boasting. If you let the grandson, please come to the bank in the university. The Qing Dynasty has taken root, and a Beiyang navy can be fattened with a bank, without the need for state funding."

Speaking of which, Li Guolou kept silent, picked up his teacup to drink tea, and bought a pass, just to see if Li Hongzhang took the bait?Most of the money houses and ticket offices in those places are run by local powers, and all the money they earn falls into private pockets. The state does not reap the benefits, and the government cannot support and promote it.Only when the national government is really benefited, will the new "please come in the bank" spring up like mushrooms in the Qing Empire.

Li Hongzhang's complexion changed, and he looked at the young Li Guolou. Could it be that he had misjudged that the fake foreign devil with the appearance of a playboy is a great talent?A leader who uses foreign things for China?

Li Hongzhang is a young and mature figure, with both civil and military skills. He was in a high position when he was young, and he also had ups and downs in the officialdom, and he has been tempered for a long time.At this time, his temperament became more stable, he treated others with a gentleman's demeanor, his acting skills were as pure as fire, he did not take pleasure in things, and did not feel sorry for himself.

But as soon as Li Guolou talked about his painstaking efforts of the Beiyang Navy, Li Hongzhang couldn't bear it anymore. This Beiyang Navy is a monster that devours a huge amount of money from the national treasury. Subsidies do not require the use of treasury funds.But Li Hongzhang knew in his heart that this was a means of deceiving himself and others, and any money was related to the livelihood of the country and the people.As Li Guolou said, to build a new Beiyang navy is to demolish the west wall to make up for the east wall.