Thinking about it deeply, Li Hongzhang thought again: There is no reason.

Not long ago, Yan Shusen, the governor of Hubei, reported Ding Wei, and the governor's seat became vacant. In the past, if the imperial court could not find a suitable successor, it would appoint a feudal secretary to temporarily "protect the seal". But this time, the imperial court directly ordered: "Co-sponsor Li Hongzhang, the university scholar and governor of Huguang, and Fu'e Province." ”

Li Hongzhang was surprised, but he couldn't help but be happy.

The word "concurrently", although it is slightly ambiguous, is clear, there is no word "acting", so this is a real appointment, not a temporary signature! No matter how long he has been "concurrently", he has always combined the power of the governor and the governor!

Governor and Fu are in the same city, restraining each other, whether they are supervising or fusing, they all feel that it is a very annoying thing, Li Hongzhang is right, dictatorial and arbitrary, it is really unspeakably smooth!

He didn't think that the talents of the imperial court were so scarce that he couldn't even find a governor of Hubei, so this was a sign of the imperial court's trust in himself! At the beginning of King Xuan's sole reign, this extraordinary appointment was an excellent omen for himself!

This is also why, two days ago, the civil and military officials who greeted Mrs. Li on the dock, under Li Hongzhang, arrived at the Hubei Domain, the governor of Hubei, who was himself.

Please set up "Zhumu Xinguan" was rejected, and "Fuhu Province", these two things happened almost at the same time, therefore, Li Hongzhang can be sure: 8£ himself has not declined, and it is not that there is something that makes the people of Bingguo unhappy, and there should be another deep meaning if he does not set up or postpone the establishment of "Zhumu Xinguan".

It's just that this "deep meaning". I can't figure it out for a while.

"Incomprehensible". You can't put a heart in your stomach. I have to think of a way to find out the true and exact meaning of the imperial court.

Also, during these days, the world in Beijing has been turned upside down, and the situation is always separated by people in other provinces, even if it is not for the sake of "Zhumu Xinguan", people should be sent to Beijing. Inquire in.

Therefore, Li Hongzhang sent his most trusted staff member Zhou Fu to Beijing on a "business trip" with a large amount of Sichuan capital.

Zhou Fu returned to Wuchang last night, and he had already made an appointment, and this morning, as soon as Li Hongzhang's official business was completed, he had a detailed interview.

*

The salute was sat down, the tea was served, and the errand had just gone out. Zhou Fu's first sentence was: "Prime Minister, this time you will enter Beijing." I met King Xuan. ”

Li Hongzhang's eyes jumped: "Oh? ”

"I'm just an alternate, and my position is too far away, so I haven't even thought of inviting King Xuan to see him," Zhou Fu said, "He called me to see him." ”

Li Hongzhang showed a look of surprise: "This is something I didn't expect!" ”

"Yes!" Zhou Fu said, "When we met, King Xuan said this: I am an 'old man', and it is not good for him and me to be bound by a name. ”

Speaking of this, Zhou Fu smiled slightly: "Prime Minister, the real 'old man' is you, King Xuan's words are aimed at your face, and I am stained with your light." ”

This is about the past when Li Hongzhang and Guan Zhuofan fought side by side in Shanghai and Jiangsu, recovering the lost land.

Li Hongzhang's heart was hot, but he didn't want to say anything more about it, so he just nodded and said, "Our new prince, it seems that he is still nostalgic for the old - well, you can continue." ”

"Meet King Xuan," Zhou Fu smiled a little slyly, "I'll talk about it later-Prime Minister, I'll talk about meeting Wen Bochuan first." ”

Li Hongzhang was stunned for a moment, laughed, and said, "Yushan, you will have an appetite - are you telling a story?" ”

"Chancellor, in a few moments, you'll understand why I'm doing this."

Li Hongzhang smiled and said, "Okay, I'll wait—well, this time, Wen Bochuan also saw it?" Not bad! ”

"Yes." Zhou Fu nodded, "I asked to see Wen Bochuan, I was instructed by a master - Wen Bochuan was very polite, as soon as the post was handed in, he immediately extended the meeting." ”

After a pause, Zhou Fu said solemnly: "Prime Minister, do you know why I went to see Wen Bochuan?" There is one thing that we have all neglected: the bamboo and wood tax is managed by the Ministry of Industry! ”

Li Hongzhang was slightly stunned, and then said softly "ah".

All kinds of taxes in the Qing Dynasty always belonged to the Ministry of Households, but only one of the bamboo and wood taxes was managed by the Ministry of Industry.

Wen Xiang's main job is the secretary of the Ministry of Industry.

Li Hongzhang frowned and said, "This is really negligent!" We don't have this string in our heads! Why, it must be between the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Households, what skin has to be pulled? ”

"It's not a." Zhou Fu said, "Wen Bochuan told me very clearly that the bamboo and wood tax should not be placed in the Ministry of Industry, and the people in the Ministry of Industry are not the material for the work of collecting taxes!" The bamboo and wood tax is not dead or alive, and it has a lot to do with this embarrassing situation. ”

Li Hongzhang was slightly moved: "Wen Bochuan is insightful, and his heart is like a mirror!" Also, abandoning the view of the portal, this elegance is rare! Well, what he meant, isn't it ......"

Zhou Fu nodded and said, "Yes, Wen Bochuan supported it and transferred the bamboo and wood tax out of the Ministry of Industry." He also said that the use of Hankow's 'Zhumu Xinguan' as a pilot project would be a good transition -- but this would not be achieved overnight. ”

Li Hongzhang muttered: "It is indeed not a matter that can be accomplished overnight -- the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Households, both sides must be adjusted, the Ministry of Industry must cut a few seats, and the Ministry of Household must add a few seats, and it will be even more troublesome to hand over to each other clearly--I don't know how many young people's accounts will be!" Wait-"

Speaking of this, Li Hongzhang stopped, thought for a while, and said: "'Draw out the Ministry of Industry'? Didn't Wen Bochuan say 'assigned to the household department'? ”

"Not really. It's just, in addition to the household, where else can it be zoned? ”

"It's hard to say—"

Li Hongzhang frowned slightly, pondered intently, and after a while, shook his head and said, "I can't say it well-well, our business, because of this, was delayed?" ”

"Yes. That's not the most important reason, though. ”

"Oh?"

"Prime Minister, I can now continue to talk about the situation of meeting King Xuan."

Li Hongzhang's heart jumped: The joint is really still on someone!

He made a look of listening intently: "Yushan, you say." ”

"King Xuan's words are not much, mainly said two things."

After a pause, Zhou Fu said: "First, King Xuan said that the burden of bamboo and wood merchants on the Yangtze River waterway is actually not light, but most of the silver they took out fell into private pockets and could not be paid into the treasury of the imperial court. ”

Li Hongzhang's eyes jumped again: "King Xuan is talking about ......"

"King Xuan's meaning: first clear the old evils, and then develop new benefits, otherwise, the new policy will become a harsh policy, and the old evils will be blamed."

Li Hongzhang didn't speak, he raised his head and looked up, his eyes rolled slightly, and after a while, he nodded deeply: "I see it very deeply!" Can't help but be convinced! ”

"The second thing," Zhou Fu said, "King Xuan asked me, what do you think of Huang Changqi?" ”

"Huang Changqi?"

Huang Changqi, the word Changqi, the name Yisheng, was the commander of the Yangtze River Navy Division at that time.

"Yes, Huang Changqi." Zhou Fu said, "I was very strange at the time, I didn't know Huang Changqi very well, why did King Xuan ask me this?" Besides, I'm an alternate, how can I be a good person......"

Before he finished speaking, Li Hongzhang had already lost his voice and said: "Ouch, Huang Changqi, the commander of the Yangtze River Navy, I'm afraid he can't keep it!" ”

*(To be continued......)