late Qing Dynasty arrest

Li Hongzhang smiled slightly and said, "Xiaolou, since you're here, let's have a light meal in the evening. First, go to the backyard to meet your uncle and grandmother. Your two little aunts are also here."

Li Guolou was secretly delighted. The old fox finally took the bait. He punched Li Hongzhang in the heart with just one punch. How tall."

Li Hongzhang laughed out loud. He had a harmonious family and kept himself clean. His original wife had no son, so he adopted an elder brother's son to him. After his original wife died, he married a second wife, Zhao Lian, and gave birth to two sons and two daughters.

Li Guolou was taken by Li Hongzhang to visit relatives in the backyard, Li Hongzhang's successor, Zhao Lian, and two little aunts, Li Ju and Li Jingpu.

Shenghuai Xuantu was jealous. Originally, he thought he was a leader among young people, with the best literary talent, progressive thinking, and innovative spirit. He was appreciated by Li Hongzhang when he was young.Today, I met a fake foreign devil who returned from overseas, which made Sheng Huaixuan look like a fool.He admired Li Guolou's bearing, eloquence, and innovative spirit.

Although Sheng Huaixuan was Li Hongzhang's adoptive son, he also stayed for dinner at night, but men and women were different, and he had no chance to enter Li Hongzhang's back house.Reluctantly, I came to Li Hongzhang's study to read and play with some ancient jades. The study was full of antiques, jade wares, ancient books, and ancient paintings.Countless priceless treasures are placed in the study like this. People who like this kind of thing will stay in this kind of place all day. Sheng Huaixuan is in a good mood. He fumbles here and there, time flies by.

Half an hour later, when Li Hongzhang and Li Guolou came to the study, Sheng Huaixuan was still playing with a piece of jade and flipping through ancient books.

When Li Guolou entered the study, he first took a look around. As an uncle, he had a problem with collecting antiques, old paintings, and even things from foreigners.Li Hongzhang saw good things in other people's hands that he didn't have, and he would have the cheek to ask them for it, begging for it with earnest words and humbly.

It was normal for Li Hongzhang to accept gifts when negotiating with foreigners. Of course, he had set an example and made it a rule, which was not considered an act of gaining benefits and betraying national interests.This is called reciprocity, and he will return the gift.As for whether there is a big difference in value, this is not something that people at his level consider. It is a big face to write a note to someone in return. Li Hongzhang is right. A house".Diplomats are thick-skinned, and foreigners have suffered a lot from Li Hongzhang in this.

Sheng Huaixuan knew that Li Guolou's family opened the "Golden Phoenix and Silver Building", and asked, "Xiaolou, what did you collect for this antique jade?"

Li Guolou shook his head and said, "Brother Xingsun, although I know a thing or two about these antiques, I don't collect them myself. I like to play with guns, and I clean them at home when I have nothing to do. My family has collected guns from various countries, both long and short. "

The servant entered the study and poured a round of tea. Sheng Huaixuan said, "Xiaolou, I don't see that you are capable of both literature and martial arts?"

Li Guolou said triumphantly: "Uncle looked down on me and didn't let me go to the battlefield, but I also suppressed bandits and killed more than a dozen rebels with my own hands."

Li Hongzhang laughed casually, but didn't say a word. The "grandson" was showing off in front of him just to impress him.Those who are supported by him are either rich or expensive.The two juniors here hope that he will help him on the horse and send him on a long journey.

Sheng Huaixuan was not interested in wars, so he quickly changed the topic and asked, "Xiaolou, I am very interested in your establishment of the banking industry, but this industry is opaque and full of tricks. All parties compete with each other. No one has ever been able to connect the world. Let’s do our own thing, although the adoptive father’s family is strong now, but what about the future? I don’t think it will last long in the future, and he will still be a prince.”

Li Guolou stood up, and said proudly, "Uncle, Brother Xingsun, knowledge and culture of the East and the West are now coexisting, and they are playing games with each other on the land of the Qing Dynasty. Let us know that we will be beaten when we fall behind. Knowledge is fighting power. We Under the tyranny of the powers of various countries, we must know our shame and be brave. We can no longer manage the three parts of Susukita by ourselves like in the past. Banks and bank accounts in various places do their own things, which is not the same for the whole country It can't play a role in advancing. Many banks and ticket offices have become a cornucopia for the underworld to collect money. We must change this situation and let the money of the Qing Empire re-gather in the hands of the central government. As long as we do it, the country's fiscal revenue will It can be increased by a few million taels, or even tens of millions of taels. This will not disturb the people, but will strengthen the central government's control over the local area. Why not do it. As for the local powerful forces, they can use the form of joint stock to eliminate the factors of instability. Intangible, let them see a better future, inherit hundreds of years of foundation, starting from our generation. If you only want to be a prince along the way, it is still the wisdom of the ancients, there is no new idea, let alone the spirit of innovation, the money earned, What else can we do by building a few mansions? But using private funds to set up a national bank will make the country rich and the people strong. The ancients used to hide wealth from the people to govern the country, but today we do the opposite. Rich private capital can be used by the country and synthesized With one force, we can build a strong and prosperous new Qing Dynasty, and it will take less than 20 years. I believe that with the large population and abundant resources of our Qing Empire, we will be able to make earth-shaking changes."

Li Hongzhang was silent for a while, then said: "Xiaolou, if you say it well, it doesn't necessarily mean it will run well. There are many difficulties. The National Bank is nowhere in sight. Instead, it has become a shortcut for the rich and powerful to get rich. Whatever you do now, you have to use power to suppress it. Some people in the court said that I employ people for selfishness, that I choose scholars unfairly, and that the people under my command are all from the Huai army. However, those imperial examination candidates are bound by the quotations of sages in the Four Books and Five Classics. Talk about the big truth, and always say that I have forgotten the classics. Those princes, Baylor, and Beizi are afraid that the Han people will take power, so they separate powers and establish each department. The modernized Beiyang navy is even more criticized for throwing money into it like a bottomless pit. Xiaolou, you are very good, but this matter is difficult to handle. The local financial power has long been independent. Who would give up vested interests and respect some To the emperor and the empress dowagers of the two palaces, those governors and governors are still willing to take over the local financial power, which is unrealistic. I can only get the places through personal influence, and help you realize your ideas. Liangjiang and Zhili areas can be tried, you say How much income can it bring to the local area in a year?"

Li Guolou's head was on fire. Uncle Li Hongzhang entrusted him with the banking industry in the Liangjiang and Zhili areas. Officials and businessmen are sure to make money without losing money. How bold a man is, how daring to speak, turned over and bowed down, and said in a deep voice: "Uncle, If you believe me, I will raise 200 million taels of silver for the Beiyang Navy in the first year, and it will not be less than 800 million taels in the first three years."

Li Hongzhang was secretly delighted that he didn't need to spend a penny, let alone use his brains. This is operated with private capital, and it is a long-term solution that can bring him a lot of wealth. He said slowly: "Xiaolou, I need you and you." Brother, raise 1000 million taels of silver in three years, at least 250 million taels of silver in the first year. Can you do it?"

At this time, the Qing Dynasty was an agrarian society, transitioning to a semi-colonial and semi-light industrial society, with underdeveloped productivity, and the price of agricultural products remained unchanged for decades, with little impact from inflation. The annual income of the Qing government was 4000 to 2 million taels of silver, and the population There are 8000 million, like Prince Gong Yixin who receives a double salary with an annual salary of 32 taels, and the annual salary of a first-rank official is 15 taels.From the ninth grade to 20 taels, the average soldier is about [-] taels a year, plus [-] buckets of rice.Officials also have a pension, which is different for each department, but it is very good for soldiers to get [-]% of their annual salary.The common people have low income and low consumption, and their per capita income is less than three taels of silver a year. (Maybe even lower, less than one tael in many places.) Li Guolou has never been afraid. Since he did not take the usual path, he did not turn back when he opened his bow. , Caesarean section to apologize, not to enter the ancestral grave."

Li Hongzhang stood up, helped Li Guolou, and said with a big smile, "Okay! Our Li family are all loyal and patriotic people. Xiaolou, uncle misunderstood you. It is good to make money without forgetting the country and nation." boy."

Sheng Huaixuan was sweating from hearing this, and looked at Li Guolou, how can a castle in the sky produce such a big output?The wind of exaggeration has blown to Li Hongzhang's family.He asked tremblingly: "Small building, it seems unreliable. I don't think anything can be done in the first year. In the future, I believe it is possible. In the first year, the shop was not even rolled out. What do you use as a substitute?" What about raising funds?"

Li Guolou smiled and said, "Brother Xingsun, do you smoke cigarettes?"

Sheng Huaixuan shook his head and said, "I don't smoke."

Li Guolou said: "Oh;;;;;;; Maybe you don't know this, but now there is a cigarette factory owner in Shanghai who produces a kind of cigarette called 'Old Knife Brand Cigarette', and he even came up with a slogan, It's called "Smoke Laodao brand cigarettes if you love your country", which makes smokers flock to them. Even our criminal department is also popular to smoke Laodao brand cigarettes. If you are patriotic, domestic products are the first choice. I also came up with an advertisement for inviting people to come to the bank. The name is 'Patriotic, please come in and save money, and serve the motherland yourself.' Although our Please Come in Bank is registered in the British Concession, but it is for development and growth, and what we do is for the country and the people. Please Come in Bank is blooming everywhere in China, and it is in full swing. The speed of progress is an unstoppable trend, and out-of-time local banks and stock companies will automatically ask to join this torrent. Those local governors and local black forces who want to stop this torrent will only be abandoned and reviled by the world."

"Hahahaha!" Li Hongzhang was no longer as reserved and stable as he was just now, and he was more relaxed than ever before, which made him laugh out loud and couldn't stop for a while.

Sheng Huaixuan was finally moved by what Li Guolou said, and laughed wildly. There are countless patriots, who would not want to make the country rich and the people strong?A rising star of the Qing Empire stood proudly in front of him, and his heart was full of pride.

"Xiao Lou, Brother Yu, I would like to ask you for advice. Just now I was asking for an official from my adoptive father. Everyone in Liangjiang and Zhili knows well. The so-called tax collectors are the most fat. They are the ones who serve in the Chongwenmen of the capital and the Guangzhou Yuehai customs. For example, Tianjin Customs Road, Shanghai, Denglai, Hankou, Jiujiang and other official roads. There are also salt officials. Because of the official monopoly of salt and the contracting of salt merchants, the officials in charge of salt affairs can levy additional office fees and To obtain gray income, such salt officials include salt administrators, salt transport envoys, transport officials, transport assistants, transport judges, promotion officials, salt law officials, salt inspection officials, etc. The Ministry of Industry, which is in charge of civil engineering and water conservancy, Because they are in charge of budgeting, handling materials, and assigning projects, etc., the officials of the Ministry can share the profits. The Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Accounts, which is in charge of the national finance, are also called the Ministry of Metal Works and the Ministry of Banking. "

Li Hongzhang was silent, pacing in his study. The Qing Dynasty had a lot of ills, the country suffered a lot from it, and individuals benefited from it. It has formed a huge chain of interests that no one can touch, even the emperor.He is the best governor of Liangjiang, up to 30 taels of silver a year, followed by governors of Guangdong, Guangxi and Sichuan.The best grain Taoist who is in charge of grain and land tax matters can get 30 taels a year.There are good and bad magistrates, and there are 20 taels a year.Prefectural and county magistrates are most lacking in prefectures and counties with grain. Shanghai, Nanhui, Jiading, Baoshan and other magistrate counties in Jiangsu Province are the best, with 10,000+ taels per year. Zhejiang Province is known as Jinping Lake and Yinjiashan. These two counties There are numbers of gold and silver.

Not only officials specialize in fat vacancies, but the emperor also makes use of them. While the official selection system already favors Manchus for appointments, fat vacancies with rich incomes have become a gift to benefit those close to them.The Guangdong Customs, the Salt Administration, and the Three Weaving Officers of Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces may be vacant in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and specially granted to the emperor's personal servants, or they may be biased towards them when determining candidates.Chongwenmen supervisors, committee members, assistant committee members and others are mainly Manchurians.The officials and treasury envoys of the three treasuries of the household department all use Manchurians.