Open an aircraft carrier to fight against Japan

According to the "Sino-Russian Beijing Treaty" and "Sino-Russian Aigun Treaty" signed by the two parties, the Russian army must withdraw from the occupied places, but the Russians are not stupid. They also know that those places are easy to defend and difficult to attack, so they don't Will easily withdraw, the negotiations were at a stalemate, and in the end the two sides could only adopt a compromise.

That is, the two parties did not sign a formal contract, but replaced it with two separate contracts. The first one is the "Agreement of Armistice", which stipulates the boundary line of the truce between the two parties. , which means that the two sides can break the deadlock at any time and launch an attack; the second is the prisoner of war agreement, China will return all Russian prisoners of war, and Russia will pay all the expenses of the prisoners of war in Chinese custody, a total of 2000 million taels of silver, which will be paid off in five years. The interest rate is three percent.

Li Jingfang was very happy when the two contracts were signed. After all, this was the first treaty signed by the Qing government since the Treaty of Nanjing.

On the day when Lin Yuan and Li Jingfang returned to Jilin, he suddenly received news from Shen Wanqing. Germany and France signed an industrial mutual assistance agreement, which stated that Britain, Germany, and France would cooperate with Chinese businessmen to open various factories and mines in China to benefit China. The list of the first batch of factories and mines to be built is also listed in the appendix.

Lin Yuan looked at the names one by one, and couldn't help looking more and more panicked, cold sweat broke out on his forehead, at this moment, Li Jingfang came in with a newspaper, and said happily: "Good news, good news! "

Lin Yuan forced a smile, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and asked, "What makes Brother Li so happy?"

Li Jingfang took the newspaper and said: "Look, England, Germany, and France have all come to cooperate with my Qing Dynasty to set up factories. The prosperity of my Qing Dynasty is just around the corner, and the prosperity of Kangxi and Qianlong will reappear soon!"

Lin Yuan slapped the newspaper, sighed heavily, and said, "Brother Li, who made the decision to sign this agreement, how confused!" Li Jingfang asked in bewilderment, "Isn't this a good thing?"

Lin Yuan said: "How can it be a good thing? Let me ask you, do foreigners still have consular jurisdiction? Do we still have to negotiate tariffs with foreigners? Is our factory technology not as good as foreigners?"

Li Jingfang wanted to understand, so he didn't say anything. Lin Yuan went on to say: "The foreigners said they want to cooperate to set up a factory, but there are many tricks in the operation. Although the agreement stipulates that the Chinese businessmen should hold 50.00% of the shares, there is no time limit. If the foreigners How about using tricks to get the shares of Chinese businessmen? Foreigners have consular jurisdiction, and you don't even have the right to investigate foreigners!"

"There is also the tariff agreement. It is not clear in the agreement how these foreign businessmen should pay the tax. Now the Qing court charges merchants with a [-]% commercial tax and various taxes, but foreign businessmen are not subject to this restriction. They will apply the tariff agreement. Come and pay as little tax as possible!"

"What's more important is: foreigners' technology is better than ours, which goes without saying, so the production cost is lower than ours, plus they pay less tax than us, how will our factories survive? The lifeblood of industry is firmly in the hands of foreigners! This is an invasion without gunpowder!"

Li Jingfang seemed to understand, he said: "But the agreement has already been signed, what should I do?"

Lin Yuan calmed down at this moment, and said, "It doesn't matter, science and technology are the primary productive forces, and I will destroy their factories."

Li Jingfang asked hesitantly: "What did you say? What is 'productivity'?"

Lin Yuan did not answer, but said: "The top priority is to develop ourselves well. Shengjing, Jilin, and Heilongjiang are good places to develop industries."

Li Jingfang said: "Do you want to develop industries in these three provinces? I'm afraid not!"

Lin Yuan asked, "Why not?"

Li Jingfang said: "The imperial court has decided to set up the post of governor of the three northeastern provinces to command the military and political power of the three provinces. During the war, my dear brother, as the general of the army, no one will interfere in what you do, but now the battle has been decided..."

Lin Yuan hurriedly said: "How can we say that the war is settled? We still have territory in the hands of the Russians."

Li Jingfang smiled and said: "Don't worry, just listen to me. From the perspective of the above, the Russians occupied only a few small towns in the barren land. What can they do? A few years ago, large tracts of land were cut out. Now, what are these small towns worth! Now that the battle has been decided, your words don’t matter!”

Lin Yuan thought to himself: "The Northeast is rich in factories and mines, which is very suitable for the development of industry. If we can use this place as a base and then go to the outer Northeast in the future, we don't have to worry about anything." So Lin Yuan asked: "Then the three eastern provinces Whose Governor's seat belongs to?"

Li Jingfang said: "The imperial court is also discussing this matter, and it is not very clear yet."

Lin Yuan asked, "Brother Li, what do you think of me being the governor?"

Li Jingfang smiled and said: "Brother Lin Xian has extensive knowledge and is even more proficient in Western skills. If you say something disobedient and unfilial, when it comes to this, my father can't keep up with my brother. In case you are the most suitable governor, it's just..." Speaking of this Chu even hesitated and stopped talking.

Lin Yuan asked: "Just what? Is it true that all the officials of the imperial court have taken the imperial examination, but I haven't?" After speaking, Lin Yuan thought: "If he really asks me to take the imperial examination and write stereotyped essays, it will be troublesome. Yes, there are indeed a few literary youths on board the Beijing ship, but who can write stereotyped essays!"

Li Jingfang said with a smile: "Do you know what my father lacks most in foreign affairs?" He paused, and then said: "It's talents. My father once said that'the most urgent thing is to employ people, and the storage of talents should be a quick plan', but now I am in Qing Dynasty. Is it possible that civil servants are selected based on chapters and sentences, and military officers are selected based on bows and horses? Such a person, how can he do foreign affairs! So when my father sees you, it is like seeing a baby!"

"Speaking of the words that thunder strikes in the sky, if my father were the emperor, the governors of the three eastern provinces would have been yours long ago." After finishing speaking, Li Jingfang pointed to his heart with his hand and said, "Brother Lin Xian, to say something heartfelt, you You can also be regarded as my father’s savior. When I was in Japan, without you, the negotiations would not have been completed smoothly. It’s okay to fail to negotiate with the Western countries. Shangguo, if you can't negotiate with them, you will be infamous forever!"

"So, brother Lin Xian, I am very grateful to you. When I talk to you, I don't have to hide it. The ancients said that a tree is beautiful in the forest, and the wind will destroy it. If you can't be the governor of the three eastern provinces, you can only blame yourself." Thing: Your ability is really too great!" After saying this, Li Jingfang pointed to the sky and said with a smile: "You are not a Manchu, Lafayette is not at ease!"

Li Jingfang looked at Lin Yuan, and then said: "Let me ask you a question. My hair style in the Qing Dynasty is to sweep away the barbarians and set the Central Plains. You said that you grew up in the West, so it's fine if you don't have braids, but your men The elite teacher is the one who ran six hundred miles in three days and nights, why does everyone have short hair on their heads?"

Lin Yuan had thought about this issue long ago, and he said: "This is purely for military considerations, and I will explain it to the Holy Lord Lafayette."

Li Jingfang smiled and said: "In this case, I will show you how to take the position of governor of the three eastern provinces."