late Qing Dynasty arrest

In the dim night, the shadows of the whirling trees were swaying in the courtyard, Li Guolou followed the servants to a small living room, inside was a bed.

In ancient times, people used a bed to chat and meet guests, with a bamboo mat on it, and a table in the middle.In the Tang Dynasty, Hu chairs were replaced with chairs, and the reception of guests became divided into host and guest.Meeting guests and chatting on the roof shows that it is a behavior of a very close person.In the Qing Dynasty, there was another function of chatting with friends, which was to smoke opium among friends. The display in the homes of princes, nobles, and rich families was used to smoke opium.Of course, Li Hongzhang and Li Guolou didn't smoke this kind of thing, although Fushou Gao is also a kind of medicine in the propaganda.

At this time, pharmacies and medical clinics in the Qing Dynasty were also selling Fushou Gao, and doctors prescribed Fushou Gao, but it was a trace ingredient and belonged to a kind of anesthetic.

The Qing Empire planted opium poppies extensively in the Yunnan-Guizhou region, and has benefited from the cultivation of opium poppies. Tobacco taxes are heavy, and taxation from opium cultivation has become the largest source of tax revenue in the Yunnan-Guizhou region, surpassing grain cultivation.Therefore, the price of opium was high and smuggling was prevalent. Even Li Hongzhang's Huai army was also engaged in the business of smuggling opium.Everywhere opium is sold, there are smugglers.The underworld and the army are all taking a share. Selling opium has become a regular income for the army. Even the coastal navy is doing this business, because opium is dumped from abroad and the price is extremely cheap. The best stepping stone.

Li Hongzhang held a copy of the manuscript written by Li Guolou in his hand, and beside it he had written many words densely, and some of them had been severely criticized by him.But now he was in a good mood, he didn't show Li Guolou a bad face, and he no longer cared about Li Guolou's impulsive nonsense.

Li Hongzhang and Li Guolou sat cross-legged facing each other. Li Hongzhang cut to the chase and said, "Xiaolou, I have read your clichés. Most of them are quite to the point, and they also point out many of our country's ills. As long as the country is reunified, some ills will disappear." It will disappear, like the fact that the General Administration of Customs is in charge of foreigners. In fact, the Small Knife Society occupied Shanghai. The British helped to save the General Administration of Customs. It is imperative to clear up and take back the General Administration of Customs. But there is a huge shortage of talents, and the important positions are foreigners. It takes a long time to train Chinese people who understand international law. Start by opening a school, and those foreigners will also support them. They are all hired As a worker, I also know that there will always be a day when I leave.”

Li Guolou nodded and said: "Uncle, the General Administration of Customs cannot be rotten. The professional ethics of foreigners are better than those of the Manchus. They will not be corrupt with high salaries, but if the Manchus occupy high positions in the General Administration of Customs, the national customs duties will be reduced compared to the current income. , This is too dangerous, if you start it, you can't take it back, it becomes the ancestor's rule. Changing it back is worse than not changing it, just like Shanhaiguan, it is rotten."

Li Hongzhang said: "Shanhaiguan is exclusive to the emperor's slaves, and it has become the ancestor's rule. Let him go. The General Administration of Customs here is a new thing. There will be no such thing. Just like you said, use high salaries to support honesty and let the General Administration of Customs go." If the administration’s policy continues, newcomers will be motivated to do things, and I think the sovereignty will be regained in two years. I can control the General Administration of Customs in Shanghai, and I appreciate you very much.”

For example, Shanhaiguan Customs used to be the main import and export customs of the Qing Empire, just like the General Administration of Customs, (there is another one is the Guangzhou Thirteenth Bank), except for the private pockets of officials, most of the income is included in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which becomes The emperor's small treasury.Because there are many concessions all over the country, and there are more customs ports, Shanhaiguan Customs is not as prosperous as it used to be.Li Hongzhang has ignored the Shanhaiguan Customs and rectified the administration of officials. Some places cannot be touched. This is also a common problem in the Qing Empire. , the state cannot control it, and it is all under the control of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The daily expenses of the palace cost 4 taels of silver, three of which was real and seven cents was false, which means that seven cents of the expenses were privately embezzled by eunuchs at all levels, as well as the emperor, queen mother, empress, and concubine.Yes!The emperor also wants to be filial to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and that's how he gets his own money.

The state's financial revenue does not match the facts. Anyone who is an official knows this. How can the money in the palace be put on official articles?The common people only know that the Ministry of Internal Affairs is rich, but the specific figures are the top secret of the state.

Li Guolou listened silently, nodded frequently, and secretly praised Li Hongzhang for his boldness, his impeccable handling of things, the easy ones before the difficult ones, and the clear handling of things.As long as the General Administration of Customs is taken back, the sovereignty of the customs will be taken back. This is of extraordinary significance and is a symbol of the re-emergence of the Qing Empire.And he is sensible, to the point, can see the current problems, and can think of a solution.The highest reward should be given, "Jinshi Jidi" returned to his hometown, one school and two Jinshi.

Li Guolou spied on Li Hongzhang's facial expression, so he probably didn't know that he was going to take the Jinshi exam, so it's better not to mention such a thing.To add supreme glory to the Li family, when he returns to his hometown, he will rebuild the Zong's ancestral hall, renovate the old residence, and let the world visit the place where he lived and studied when he was a child.How could Li Guolou listen to the rules and regulations of the General Administration of Customs, his mind was wandering, thinking about the important matter of Guangzong Yaozu.

The more Li Hongzhang talked, the more excited he became. He didn't see that Li Guolou was perfunctory, and warned: "Xiaolou, I am optimistic about you. Since you have stayed abroad and your conversation is orderly, you can broaden students' thinking and horizons. In the future, the General Administration of Customs will You can also be competent, be a gentleman, and give lessons to those newcomers."

Li Guolou said happily: "Uncle Xie, grandson has no other skills in the Ministry of Criminal Justice, but he is good at preaching. Even Mr. Bao likes to listen to my lectures. Now, wherever my business is successful, Mr. Bao will follow me."

Li Hongzhang stroked his beard, shook his head and said, "Small building, your thinking is advanced and reactionary coexistence, and Lushun and Weihai can't keep the relocation of the capital written in the old paper. Where do you let me put it, where do you put Prince Gong?" Land, how do you know you can't hold it if you haven't hit it?"

Li Guolou replied: "Uncle, the last time the Eight-Power Allied Forces invaded, our Qing army was able to fight a lot of troops. Some of them were completely wiped out, but they still couldn't defend. History has proved that now we don't have the right to control the sea, and we still can't defend it." Hold on, I only stick to the trick of defending the fort, and I feel aggrieved when I think about it."

Li Hongzhang shouted: "Then you still don't support the construction of the Beiyang Navy!"

Li Guolou humbly said: "Master Zhongtang, don't be angry, I don't support it, I am trying my best to raise military expenses for you. But we have to see our strengths and weaknesses, if they are all weaknesses, which one It can be used as a breakthrough point, and the effect is quick, which makes the world speechless. The army has passed the test of blood and fire, and as long as it spends more money, it can immediately compete with the Russian, British, and French troops. The defeat of Annan's French devils last time is the best proof .Now our country is surrounded by wolves that look at it like a tiger. The vassal state has been lost, and the land has been ceded and paid again and again. The army is at a critical point. After breaking through, our army is one of the most powerful in the world. If we don’t change, we will still be defeated by Western powers. The land will still be lost. The navy is slow to produce results, and the army is quick to produce results. You should be very clear about this, Mr. Zhongtang. If you don’t do things that are fast, but do things that are slow, it will not be counterproductive.”

Li Hongzhang shook his head and said: "Huangmao boy, how can I understand it? I am setting a precedent in history. The Beiyang Navy must do it. No matter how difficult it is, it must be done. If there are conditions, it must be done. If there are no conditions, it must be created. We are getting more and more backward, and now we can't even keep the inland river Yangtze River. Foreigners' warships enter and leave the Yangtze River estuary casually, and the Huangpu River has become an exhibition of Western warships. Even plaster flags have been flown to Shanghai to show off their power. How embarrassing and embarrassing it is For the people of China, I will do it no matter how much I spend. I will never change my heart, and the sun can learn from it. No one can stop my determination. Even if there are mountains of swords and seas of fire ahead, it will take more than ten years. The Qing Empire would have a modern navy sailing in the East."

Li Guolou was speechless. He was not the decision maker of national defense policy, and Li Hongzhang could not listen to objections. Although the Beiyang Navy was still in its infancy, its senior generals were all from the Huai Army, and they were also Li Hongzhang’s political capital. Can the "imported navy" built with all the efforts of the whole country succeed?The country can't be defended, even the old nest will be taken away, and what about the navy, Li Guolou is not optimistic about the future of the Beiyang Navy.

Li Guolou retreated to the next best thing, expressed his inner thoughts, and said slowly: "Uncle, my grandson has a poisonous plan, which guarantees great success. The Qing Empire will be able to turn around in less than ten years, but it will take a piece of poison." , Fighting poison with poison will surely accomplish great things.”

Li Hongzhang glanced at him and said, "Xiaolou, this is what the family can say casually, as long as they don't talk about rebellion."

Li Guolou shook his hand and said, "Sun'er has absolutely no intention of rebelling, but wants to sell the country's sovereignty in exchange for the resurgence of the Qing Dynasty."

Li Hongzhang sighed: "Xiaolou said that there are countless precedents for selling national sovereignty, and it doesn't hurt to add one more."

Li Guolou glanced at Li Hongzhang's face. This is a traitorous act, and he will be forever nailed to the pillar of shame by the people of the country. But in troubled times, if you don't do this, who will help you?The lesser of two evils, this kind of trick, Li Guolou is very familiar with it.

Li Guolou didn't dare to sit cross-legged, but stood beside the bed, ready to kneel down and admit his mistakes, and said in a deep voice, "Uncle, my grandson is familiar with history books, our Qing Empire is now like the Yue Kingdom in the Spring and Autumn Period, with countless heroes, For the cause of Goujian, king of Yue, he bowed his knees to foreigners. No matter how despicable and shameless he was, he had to swallow poison to satisfy the foreigners, so that he could have a chance to breathe and wait for a comeback. From Emperor Daoguang to Emperor Xianfeng, and then to Tongzhi The three generations of emperors all did this. It can be said that they all worked hard and wanted to avenge their shame. No emperor was extravagant and led the Qing Empire into the abyss of eternal doom. But until now the gap is still obvious, but some are getting bigger and bigger Trend. Foreigners can scare us half to death with a single warship, leaving us with no choice but to satisfy them with the most favorable trade conditions, allowing our country’s silver to flow overseas, and wealth to gather in foreign concessions. If this situation is not changed, the country will become more and more impoverished, the silver of the Qing Dynasty will be exhausted, and we will have to borrow from foreign banks to survive."

Li Hongzhang stroked his beard and nodded, "Xiaolou, you speak very well. You are qualified as a teacher. Do you have any countermeasures?"

Li Guolou nodded and said: "Yes! Uncle, there are two ways to go, one is to choose a friend, sell some national sovereignty to this friend, in exchange for this friend's full support, and establish a modernization of the foreign system in the Qing Dynasty The army, even military facilities, such as military factories, including firearms factories, artillery factories, shipyards, and even the Beiyang Navy can also let this friend build for us. Another thing is to change the bad habits of silver circulation, such as the silver coin system in Western countries. Compared with the silver system of the Qing Empire, the advanced currency system can be used directly for doctrine, and even fire consumption is saved, and there is no harm to all benefits, and no one can fill their own pockets."

Li Hongzhang laughed loudly and said: "Okay! The second point of Xiaolou is very good, but the government still needs to study it. The silver coin system is based on the advanced industrial level. A certain proportion of nickel must be added to a silver coin." Zinc, tungsten and copper, our Qing Empire still can’t produce the kind of silver dollars used by foreigners, and there is still a hurdle to overcome. But this is a good way to solve the loss of silver, and I agree with the method of silver coin circulation in the Qing Dynasty. Now Can you tell me which friend is worth selling our national sovereignty in exchange for the world to scold us."

Li Guolou said: "Uncle, the enemy of the enemy is our friend. Only this enemy will disregard the bans of other Western countries and help our Qing Dynasty build modern industrial facilities, including military industry, and we have no future troubles. The land, interests, and sovereignty of China can be taken back after 100 years. Unlike polar bears, if a treaty is signed with them, the land will be lost forever. And this friend is born to be the enemy of polar bears. He also hopes that there will be someone like us in the East ally."

"Oh;;;;;;" Li Hongzhang looked deeply at Li Guolou, "Grandson" actually wanted to sell the country's sovereignty, and even wanted to lease a large piece of land to the Prussian Empire (Germany), and even wanted to sell the military port. It was also leased to the Prussian Empire, looking for a Western ally, and changed the poor and white situation of the Qing Empire.