late Qing Dynasty arrest

Prince Gong Yixin personally led the officials from the Prime Minister’s Office to Tianjin to meet the Prussian delegation, selected the address of the Prussian Embassy in Tianjin, and built two two-story buildings with a construction area of ​​about square meters. The project was rushed day and night.Such a grand scale of the legation highlights the importance that the Qing Dynasty attached to the Prussian Empire.Li Hongzhang, the Minister of Beiyang Commerce and Affairs, discussed the preliminary intention with the Prussian Minister Knippin, and prepared for the Prussian mission to meet the Emperor Tongzhi.A shocking contract is being actively conceived. In the mutual communication and negotiation, the "little devil" Ding Ruchang and the "fake foreign devil" Li Guolou have their photos in the middle of each meeting.

The officials of the Westernization Movement took the members of the Prussian mission to visit military facilities in various places in Tianjin and barracks where foreigners were never allowed to enter, and also let the officials of the Prussian mission visit the grassroots of the army.

The officials of the Qing Dynasty, who saw this mystery, inquired about the news from all over the world. The behavior of the Westernization Faction's betrayal of sovereignty shocked the court, and they all blamed Prince Gong Yixin and Beiyang Commercial Affairs Minister Li Hongzhang for plotting to betray national interests. Chun's memorials to these protests remained unpublished.

In the middle of this, Li Guolou should correct his attitude in the Seven Kingdoms negotiations, so that the Qing Dynasty won respect, was recommended by Li Hongzhang, promoted to the fourth-rank military officer "second-class bodyguard", and the civilian position was also promoted to the second-level "Hanlin Academy Shaoqing", It is also the fourth grade.

At this time, Li Hongzhang recommended Xu Shou to serve as the general office of the Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau, and he was given the title of second-rank civil official.The Qing school lodged a solemn protest against Li Hongzhang's leapfrog promotion of Xu Shou, and even went to the palace to speak to the Empress Dowager Cixi, but the Empress Dowager Cixi also supported Xu Shou as the general office of the Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau, which once again made the Qing school fail.

Li Guolou accompanied the officials of the Prussian Mission to meet Xu Shou, Xu Jianyin and his son at the Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau.Xu Shou learned that it was Li Guolou who recommended him to be the "General Office" of the Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau. He was very attentive to Li Guolou, who was two grades below him, and the two sides had a very happy chat.

In the room where various ship models are stored, Li Guolou suddenly had an idea and said, "Mr. Xu, can you find a way to make a small train, just like the game train in the concession. I want to build it in Yuanmingyuan for fun." As long as the empress dowagers of the two palaces can take the luxury trains, our country’s dream of building trains will have hope. Oh! The locomotive is placed at the back, and the empress dowagers of the two palaces can sit at the front.”

Xu Shou looked at Li Guolou as if he was a freak, but he couldn't refuse on the spot, so he kept silent and pretended not to hear.Li Guolou saw the doubts in Xu Shou's heart, and hurriedly explained: "Mr. Xu, I forgot to tell you that I actually still have an official hat. I am the supervisor of the Wanshou Mountain project, and I am specialized in supervising the repair of the Old Summer Palace. Do this job well." , benefiting the country and the people, this is called a roundabout tactic. President Xu, time is not waiting for anyone, do you want to see our Qing Dynasty fall further and further behind, or catch up?"

Xu Shou frowned and said: "Master Li, the train manufacturing technology has long been mature, a steam engine can start it, and there is no big problem in laying the rails. Putting the front of the car at the back can be interpreted as driving in reverse. How unlucky it is."

"Oh!" Li Guolou thought for a while, and said: "Mr. Xu, it doesn't matter. You can run at both ends, so that the empress dowagers of the two palaces can sit in the front if they want to sit in the front, and sit in the back if they want to sit in the back. The train The facilities in the building must be luxurious, such as bedrooms, bathrooms, restaurants, and office rooms. They all need the best facilities. As for the speed of the vehicle, it can be faster than a horse-drawn carriage. Safety is the main priority. The distance of the railway tracks is four kilometers. , safety first, cleanliness first, try to reduce the smoke as much as possible, and spray more water vapor is fine. Hehehehe!"

Li Guolou put his hands on his waist and laughed alone, as if seeing the empress dowagers of the two palaces praising him with satisfaction.

Although Xu Shou was somewhat unwilling to do such a meaningless thing, Li Guolou could not offend him. If he did not agree, the bank would not give Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau a loan, let alone sponsorship money.I could only follow the topic and ask, "Then, Master Li, when will the construction of this small train be completed?"

Li Guo looked up and down at Xu Shou. He didn't believe that Xu Shou could build the train, so he said, "Of course the British will make it, and you will supervise it. It will be done in one year."

Xu Jianyin next to him was extremely dissatisfied, and interjected: "We can build a small train ourselves, and it's not too difficult. It's just a large toy car."

Li Guolou retorted: "Brother Xu, it's good to build it yourself, but I hope it won't rust out in a few years, and then sink into the Huangpu River. Brass can be used for parts. Don't try to save money, it's sturdy and durable." That's a big plus too."

Xu Jianyin's face was flushed red by Li Guolou's words, and he gritted his teeth with hatred, because Li Guolou was mocking their father and son.The first steam engine ship "Huanghu" in the Qing Dynasty, which was built by their father and son, sank into the Huangpu River in Shanghai due to disrepair.

Xu Shou hurriedly winked at his son Xu Jianyin. This "Manchu" who has forgotten his ancestors is not easy to offend, so he quickly smoothed things over, and said with a smile: "Master Li, don't worry, our Tianjin Machine Manufacturing Bureau and Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau will join hands. Public relations, to ensure the production of excellent play trains."

Li Guolou was still dissatisfied with himself, and said: "President Xu, if you want to speak big characters, it is a big train. A strong country needs a big train." The kind of "technician" who won't please flattery, only he can stand this kind of uselessness.

Xu Jianyin looked at Li Guolou's back, and said angrily: "The villain is successful!"

Xu Shou said anxiously: "Jianyin, don't talk nonsense, your future depends on him. My backer in the court is Li Shaoqing. Don't think that his official position is one level lower than mine. Li Shaoqing is full of people."

Xu Jianyin could hear the sarcasm in his father's words, but the arrival of the Prussians opened another window for him. He came here from Shanghai specially to learn more from the Prussians and to study in Prussia.The organizer, Li Guolou, cannot be offended, so he can only bear with it.

"Father, don't worry, I won't talk too much about people who don't understand and pretend to understand, and I won't refute Li Shaoqing's rudeness." Xu Jianyin followed out swallowing his anger, and continued to listen to the Prussians demoting Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau to nothing .And the accompanying officials of the Qing Dynasty echoed again and again, following all the way to record every word of criticism from the Prussians.

Li Guolou saw Xu Shou and Xu Jianyin following up, and said deliberately: "See, the words of the Prussian engineer make people feel like they can see the sun. Don't just think about tackling key problems, one after another can be overcome. Time and silver. Sometimes the effect of cooperation is hundreds of times better than working behind closed doors. I know that there are many unreasonable things here once I come here. How long have you been here? Why don’t you know?”

A large group of obsequious manufacturing bureau officials next to him were only to be scolded, and no one dared to stand up and argue with Li Guolou.

Li Guolou visited the Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau for a day, and there was nothing he was satisfied with. He didn't even think about tea for lunch.Let the officials of the manufacturing bureau be afraid when they see Li Guolou, knowing that his mouth is poisonous, and his face of a villain is on the surface.Only when I saw the members of the Prussian mission immediately bowed like shrimps, their smiles came in an instant.

At the time of parting, Li Guolou pointed to the officials of the Manufacturing Bureau to see him off, and said: "Listen to me, I will give you one year, and I will come again in July next year. Either get a reward from the court, or As for the fine, I use vicious means to catch the criminal and break the calf bone on the spot. But I am willing to reward you heavily. Well done, I pay 1 taels of silver myself and reward you on the spot. You can do it yourself." After Li Guo finished speaking Lou Yi flicked his sleeves, didn't talk to anyone, not even Xu Shou, the head of the second-rank officer, boarded the carriage and left.

"The people Li Zhongtang employs are so arrogant!" A fourth-rank official in the Manufacturing Bureau couldn't believe that such an official could exist in the Qing Dynasty.

"Hey, the holy family is getting thicker! Master Zhang, haven't you heard? Ride up on the rocket of the Shenjiying Camp. Now you are equal to him. Next year, you will be called a slave. Kneel down to greet him." Another A fourth-rank official from the Manufacturing Bureau didn't forget to tease him, shaking his head and sighing, how helpless he was.

Xu Shou saw Li Guolou on the other side, this was deliberately embarrassing him, trying to ignite his fighting spirit, stroked his beard and said: "Don't complain, analyze what the Prussians said one by one. Let’s have a meeting now, rectify what is right, and list some things that cannot be done. I will personally hand it over to Li Shaoqing and let him solve it for us. This is the spirit of science.”

"Ah! Father, Li Shaoqing doesn't give you face so much, you still have to pay a visit in person!" Xu Jianyin said angrily, he wished he could fight Li Guolou.

Xu Shou looked around and said loudly: "People look down on us, can we look down on ourselves?"

"No!" The officials of the Manufacturing Bureau, who had already suppressed their anger, waved their fists and shouted, wishing they could smash Li Guolou's nose with one punch, hum!Wait until the boxing match in August, buy Tarzan the ape to win, and take revenge on the "snob" Li Guolou once again.

The Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau held a meeting for most of the night, and finally reached a preliminary rectification plan. A group of officials, technicians, and senior technicians with high noses and blue eyes were all clamoring for Li Guolou to look good. The pace of chasing the stars home or back to the dormitory of the manufacturing bureau.

An old servant led the way with an oil lamp. Xu Shou and Xu Jianyin, father and son, walked in the factory area. They both slept in the dormitory of the Manufacturing Bureau.I have developed the habit of hard work since I was a child, and I no longer care about enjoying life.

Seeing the shaking of the oil lamps in front of him and the fact that some people hadn't arrived in the dormitory, Xu Shou couldn't help but smiled slightly and said, "Jianyin, now you know that being cursed is good for you. Li Guolou's stinky face after a whole day, let Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd. This is more admirable than a few words of flattery. This person is not a dandy, his energy is beyond imagination, and your official career is still long. You can learn from others. The commander's intention is to Think about it, sometimes what you see doesn’t mean the real situation. Li Guolou thinks highly of us father and son, but he doesn’t get close to us. This is seeking scholars for the country, do you understand?”

Xu Jianyin walked silently, thought quietly, listened to the sound of footsteps, and said with a smile: "Father's instruction, the child understands, I will visit Mr. Li tomorrow, even if he laughs at me again, I will not Complaints with him. Hehe!"

Xu Shou said slowly: "Master Li will change his face again tomorrow, and that person will be someone you don't know."

"Hmm! Master Li will cry." Xu Jianyin figured it out and saw through Li Guolou's cards. It would not be an exaggeration to make another move to plead guilty.