The winter in Shanghai is cold and damp, which is completely different from the dry and cold in the northwest, and Zuo Zongtang, who has been in the northwest for more than ten years, is quite uncomfortable, but he is still enthusiastic to take his fellow villager and staff member Yang Changjun to Yanjiang Avenue to watch the night view of Shanghai.

The gas street lamps along the river avenue have become the most prestigious scenery in Shanghai, although Zuo Zongtang is far away in the northwest, but also through the exchange of letters for a long time, this time in Shanghai, how can there be no reason not to go and see in person.

Zuo Zongtang is a little fat and dressed as a gentleman looks like a wealthy businessman from other places, Yang Changjun, who is also dressed up, accompanied by a stroll along the Yangtze Avenue, the winter night is cold, but the Yangtze Avenue is still lively, the wide and straight road, all kinds of four-wheeled carriages and two-wheeled carriages and sedan chairs shuttle back and forth, the most eye-catching is the bicycle flow on the bicycle lane, and the sidewalk is also full of people coming and going, just like the downtown area.

When Yang Changjun came to Shanghai for the first time, he saw the novelty everywhere, with Chinese and foreign buildings with different characteristics, asphalt roads, gas street lamps, road green belts, rolling bicycle streams, orderly street vendors, and a well-cut and well-paved bluestone pavement...... Everything was so new to him that he felt like he couldn't get enough of it.

After a long time, he said with emotion: "Dihua is also the top prosperous in the northwest, and compared with here, it is simply a poor country. ”

"Shanghai has surpassed Guangzhou and is known as the first port of the Qing Dynasty, so it is not surprising that it is prosperous." Zuo Zongtang said and pointed to the rolling bicycle stream, "That two-wheeled bicycle is not cheap, I heard that it costs thirty silver dollars a piece, I don't want there to be so many in Shanghai...... This alone shows the wealth of Shanghai. ”

Yang Changjun said slowly: "Haven't you heard that the wages of ordinary workers in Shanghai are six silver dollars a month, and the wages of those who have a skill are as high as more than ten silver dollars, and even as high as tens of yuan, in addition to various benefits, as well as top stocks, as far as I know, there are many farmers in Hunan who come to Shanghai to work." ”

This salary is indeed high, and farmers earn a few silver dollars from working all year round? I'm afraid that it is only worth a month's salary for these workers, and the herdsmen and farmers in Xinjiang are not much different, Zuo Zongtang groaned silently, and felt a little uncomfortable in his heart, the farmers and herdsmen have suffered all year round, but in the end the silver was earned by the businessmen and workers.

Then he thought that if Xinjiang also set up a factory, it would undoubtedly be a great thing for the people of Xinjiang, but he had to talk to Yi Zhishu about this matter, and Yuan Qi couldn't make too much money to set up a factory in Xinjiang, but it was really a bit difficult to speak, although Yuan Qi made a lot of money, but his free investment in Xinjiang was also large, and he really couldn't open his mouth as the governor of Xinjiang.

Seeing that he was silent, Yang Changjun continued: "Dong Weng, if this factory continues to develop like this, more and more workers will be needed, will it lead to barren fields in the future?" ”

"Ishiquan is too worried." Zuo Zongtang said casually: "The Qing Dynasty has been expanding and large-scale immigration in recent years, not only to settle the real border, but also to alleviate the hidden danger of high concentration of land, develop industry, and absorb farmers, at least for the time being, it is conducive to alleviating the problem of dense and narrow land, and our 400 million people in the Qing Dynasty will never lack people to cultivate." ”

"What Dong Weng said is that the most important thing we lack in the Qing Dynasty is population." Yang Changjun stroked his beard and smiled, paused, and continued: "Judging from the introduction in the newspaper, the enclosure movement in England, the Civil War in the United States, and the abolition of serfdom in Russia are all for the purpose of obtaining a large number of cheap labor. Yuan Qi did the opposite, giving workers such a high wage, but why? ”

This question really stopped Zuo Zongtang, and he didn't understand the reason, and he groaned slightly, and then he said in an uncertain tone: "It may be to make Shanghai prosperous as soon as possible." ”

Yang Changjun nodded slightly, "Shanghai can become the largest port in the Qing Dynasty in just over a few years, which should have something to do with the prosperity of the people." As he spoke, he turned his head, "They all say that Western things are strange and ingenious, and this gas lamp is still quite practical......." ”

"Shi Quan also plans to turn Dihua into a city that never sleeps?" Zuo Zongtang said with a smile: "There is no shortage of coal in Xinjiang, and the introduction of this gas lamp should not be a big problem." However, the more practical ones are those factories, it is rare to come to them, and we will take the time to go to Baoshan these days. ”

Yi Zhizu seemed to know Zuo Zongtang's thoughts, and he was not in a hurry to see him, but arranged for someone to lead them to visit the major factories in Shanghai and Baoshan, and summoned him in the study on the morning of the fourth day.

The two are old acquaintances, but also old friends, familiar with each other, Zuo Zongtang is not a restrained character, there are no outsiders present He does not pay attention to the etiquette of officialdom, after greeting and greetings, he sighed: "I have also been to Jingshi, when it comes to prosperity and wealth, far less than Shanghai, the scene of Baoshan's continuous factory chimneys is really shocking." ”

Yi Zhizu smiled and said: "If Ji Gao had been to London, England, he would not have realized that the scale of the factory in Baoshan was large. After a pause, he continued: "Shanghai is proud of its industry, or it is not industry that is famous for Western countries, but finance, and there are more than 400 large and small Chinese and foreign banks in Shanghai. ”

There are many banks in Shanghai, especially the Bund, which can be said to be a bunch of banks, Zuo Zongtang naturally noticed that he knew little about finance and was not very interested, but he still asked along the way: "Is finance more important than industry?" ”

"Both are important, and the two go hand in hand." Yi Zhizhi said: "The American Civil War, in fact, is a competition for financial strength, the Hundred Years War between Britain and France, England can win, but also the financial advantage, the Crimean War, Russia's defeat, is also related to the underdevelopment of the financial industry."

In addition, the development of industry must depend on the financial industry, and conversely, the development of industry can promote the prosperity of the financial industry, and it can be said that finance is the foundation of a country. ”

Hearing this, Zuo Zongtang took the opportunity to say: "Xinjiang is short of talents, but even more financial talents, can the prince transfer some financial talents to Xinjiang?" ”

"Absolutely." Yi Zhizhi agreed, "Not only financial talents, but also talents from all walks of life I will send a group of talents to Xinjiang, the northwest continues to expand, Xinjiang's status will become more and more important, I plan to ask the imperial court to build a new province in the northwest, and Xinjiang is an important war preparation area and grain strategic reserve area ........" ”

Strategic grain reserve area? Zuo Zongtang's head frowned, "Isn't the prince going to vigorously promote cotton in the northwest?" ”

"Cotton and grain are not in conflict." Yi Zhishu said slowly: "The important grain-producing areas are mainly grain, Yili, Kashgar, Changji, Tacheng, Aksu, Hotan and other places are mainly planted with grain, and other places encourage cotton planting. ”

Zuo Zongtang nodded slightly, indeed, once the newly annexed large and small khanates become dependent on food, it is equivalent to choking their throats, and planting cotton is also more profitable than growing grain, which is equivalent to killing two birds with one stone, which can not only increase the income of the people in the newly annexed land, but also firmly control them.

After a slight groan, he said slowly: "Planting cotton is more profitable than growing grain, and forcibly ordering the cultivation of grain ......." ”

Before he finished speaking, Yi Zhizhi already smiled and said: "For those who grow food, subsidies can be provided, at least so that their income is on the same level as planting cotton, which doesn't cost much silver." ”

"That's very good." Zuo Zongtang said with a smile, and then his tone changed, "If Xinjiang is a strategic grain reserve area, the grain-producing areas must continue to be cultivated and water conservancy projects continued. ”

Yi Zhixin said disapprerovingly: "After Ji Gao returned to Xinjiang, he carefully drafted a plan for resettlement, reclamation, water conservancy, etc., and submitted it to Xinjiang, giving priority to allocating funds to Xinjiang. ”

"Thank you, Lord Wang!" Zuo Zongtang was overjoyed, and hurriedly said: "The lower officials guarantee that within three years, Xinjiang's grain will not only be self-sufficient but also have a large surplus, at least ensure that the northwest does not need to transfer grain from the mainland." ”

Yi Zhizu nodded slightly, Zuo Zongtang has governed Xinjiang over the years, rectified the rule of officials, eliminated bandits, appeased all ethnic groups, paid equal attention to grace and power, and achieved fruitful results, but the most prominent thing is the construction of water conservancy and the reclamation of land by immigrants, which has greatly increased Xinjiang's grain production every year, and it can be regarded as laying the foundation for the continuous expansion of the northwest.

After lighting a cigarette casually, he said slowly: "There are many ethnic groups in Xinjiang, because of history, it is greatly influenced by Islam, and while promoting equality among all ethnic groups, it is also necessary to respect religious beliefs and customs, in addition, it is necessary to appropriately promote local officials of all ethnic groups. ”

Zuo Zongtang was a little puzzled, and asked hesitantly: "To promote the constitution, you have to promote officials of all ethnic groups?" ”

Yi Zhizhi smiled contentedly, "Ji Gao's equality of all ethnic groups won't just stay on the lips, right? After a pause, he continued: "All ethnic groups should have officials at the local or central level to safeguard their vital interests, so that all ethnic groups can truly integrate into the great Chinese nation." The frontiers of the Qing Dynasty are all foreign races, and they must be truly integrated in order to ensure the stability of the frontiers. ”

After a slight groan, Zuo Zongtang said: "The various ethnic groups in the northwest have repeatedly rebelled, even if they want to promote officials of various ethnic groups, they cannot be allowed to become the mainstream, and at the same time, they must maintain the necessary military deterrence." ”

"It's nature." Yi Zhi said with a heartfelt jaw: "Grace and power are the long-term way, the American Civil War can be described as a lesson from the past, we must learn this lesson, and resolutely put an end to the possibility of secession and separatism."

I plan to set up a large military region in Xinjiang and send additional troops from the interior to garrison the towns in turn, not only to support the expansion of the northwest, but also to guard the northwest. ”

"That's very good." Zuo Zongtang said: "Too much recruitment in the northwest is a big hidden danger after all. ”

"Don't worry." Yi Zhicontent said with a smile: "It is not only Xinjiang that has set up military regions, I plan to set up military regions in Siam, Manila, Guangzhou, and Jiangning one after another, and the troops also implement a system of avoidance and are not allowed to be stationed in this province. ”

Zuo Zongtang was secretly frightened when he heard this, this is to set up five military regions? The current size of the Northwest Army is already 100,000, and it will expand its recruitment by 50,000 and draw troops from the interior. After pondering for a moment, he rashly asked: "The imperial court implements constitutional government, but the prince is the regent and supervises the country?" ”

This question was abrupt, Yi Zhixiang groaned for a while to understand his worry, and couldn't help laughing: "Ji Gao doesn't need to worry, even if I don't regent the country, I won't engage in splitting, otherwise I won't continue to expand to the northwest at the cost of Nuoda."

Of course, there must be a premise, if the imperial court cannot completely implement the constitutionalism, I will not hesitate to start a war! The autocratic imperial power must be overthrown, constitutionalism and republic are the trend of this era, an unstoppable trend! Whoever stands in the way of the progress of the nation and the state must be overthrown. ”

Zuo Zongtang and Feng Renxuan stayed in Shanghai for ten days before leaving to return to their hometowns for the New Year, sending the two away, Yi Zhizu was also relieved, during this time he was tired enough to discuss the northwest expansion with the two, Zuo Zongtang himself is a stubborn temper, Feng Renxuan looks good at talking, but he is also a stubborn lord, saying that it is a discussion, but it is better to say that it is a.

Zhao Liewen drafted an excerpt inviting the establishment of Anxi Province into the bookstore, and while handing the excerpt to him for him to see, he said: "Xinjiang is already far away, and Anxi is even more distant, but I am afraid that there are not many people who are willing to go to Anxi to serve as official ........" ”

"The establishment of Anxi Province is mainly for the needs of northwest expansion, and it is mainly based on military control for the time being, and there is no need for many civilian officials." Yi Zhizu took the excerpt and said slowly: "With the opening of the railway, Xinjiang is not far away, and Anxi Province will build a railway in the future, but the place where the railway extends is not far away, think about how long it took to come to Shanghai from Yili before?" How long does it take now? ”

"It's the same thing, before the opening of the railway, it took a month to get to Shanghai by canal." Zhao Liewen said with a smile: "What the students mean, Anxi is a province, and officials may wish to choose ....... from the navy or military cadets." ”

Yi Zhishu shook his head and said: "There is no doubt about employing people, there is no doubt about employing people, the expansion of the northwest is the time to rely on the Northwest Army, and it is not appropriate to hinder it, and the officials of Anxi Province recommended Feng Renxuan." ”

Zhao Liewen was worried about this, so he brought it up euphemistically, he didn't want to be content but didn't take it to heart at all, he didn't want to persuade him again, but knocked on the side and said: "Xinjiang is a military region, who does the big shopkeeper want to send to sit in the town?" ”

"Chen Hongming." Yi Zhizhi said: "How? ”

It turned out that it had been arranged for a long time, Zhao Liewen secretly breathed a sigh of relief, Chen Hongming was born in Yuanqi Yixue, and he was also senior and prestigious in the Yuanqi New Army, and he was known for his rigorous management of the army, and it was very suitable for him to go to Xinjiang to sit in the town.

Seeing that he was silent, Yi Zhishu glanced at him, then looked down at the excerpt, carefully reviewed it, he put down the excerpt and said, "Is there a governor added to Anxi Province?" ”

A governor? Zhao Liewen was stunned, and then asked, "Does the big shopkeeper have a suitable candidate?" ”

Yi Zhishu nodded slightly, there is really a suitable candidate!