Yi Zhizhi didn't expect Wang Ding to make this request, compared with the meeting two years ago, Wang Ding seems to be a lot older, and his spirit is a lot worse, thinking that the other party is seventy-four or five years old, he can't help but sigh secretly, maybe this time he left Beijing, and there will be no chance to meet again. Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info

After a slight groan, he said: "In the first battle of Jiangnan, he hurriedly signed the "Jiangning Treaty" with Yingyi, and I heard that Zhongtang was quite dissatisfied with this? ”

Hearing him ask, Wang Ding slowly cleaned his feet and put on his shoes, put on a coat and walked to the door to order his subordinates to exit the courtyard, and then sat down opposite Yi Zhizu and said, "How many days will you not come, but you are afraid that the old man will not be welcome?" ”

Yi Zhizhi smiled, "I'm afraid of disappointing Zhongtang." ”

"Lin Zexu has made an excerpt - "Shiyi's Long Skills to Control Yi", the old man has read it and agrees with it." Wang Ding said slowly: "However, the old man is really dissatisfied with the Jiangning Treaty. ”

Lighting a cigar, Yi Zhizhi said: "As early as when Yuanqi was founded, Zai Xia once said that the Qing Dynasty is currently in the midst of great changes unseen in three thousand years, and this great change not only refers to the pattern of the East and the West and the world, but also refers to the entire human society, including various fields such as politics, economy, military, culture, and thought.

In the war with England, we should not only see the military strength of England -- the strength of the ships and guns, but also the political, economic, and cultural ideas hidden behind the strength of the ships and guns of England. ”

Speaking of this, he paused, "It has been a year since the First World War with England, what is Zhongtang's opinion on this war and the signing of the Treaty of Jiangning?" ”

Wang Ding was still pondering the sentence of the great change that had not been seen in 3,000 years, and when he listened to the question, he said without thinking: "Humiliation! ”

"It is estimated that the views of the government and the opposition are similar." Yi Zhizu sighed lightly: "However, it is a blessing to be in the bottom!" ”

"Rejoice?" Wang Ding was surprised: "Glad that Yingli brought this rare shame and humiliation to the Qing Dynasty for hundreds of years? ”

"Shame and courage." Yi Zhizu said in a deep voice: "Without this war, the government and the opposition, the officials, gentlemen and the people are still immersed in the dream of the Heavenly Empire, if this war is postponed for another ten or twenty years, it will definitely not be the ideal result now!" ”

Wang Ding was speechless for a while, "This result is still ideal?" ”

"Ideal, indeed!" Yi Zhishu nodded and said: "Nowadays, Western countries such as Britain, the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and other countries are speeding up the implementation of the industrial revolution, vigorously developing industry, and actively developing military industry and shipbuilding.

There were huge profits in the trade between the East and the West, and the Qing Dynasty was rich and vast, with a population of 40,000, and was the world's largest dumping market for goods. ”

Wang Ding was speechless for a while, just a big Qing Dynasty that England could fight, if five or six powerful countries joined forces to fight, the consequences were unimaginable.

Slowly spewing out a cloud of smoke, Yi Zhizhi continued: "The signing of the Treaty of Jiangning ended the war and prevented the possibility of unlimited expansion and escalation of the war.

This war won the Qing Dynasty a golden opportunity for development for 20 years, and gave the Qing Dynasty a chance to compete fairly with Western countries, with the abundance and abundant funds of the Qing Dynasty, the Qing Dynasty had every chance to catch up with other Western countries, and catch up with the last wave of robbing colonies and carving up the world in time. ”

Looting colonies, carving up the world? Also the tide? The last wave? Wang Ding was completely speechless, looking at him in a daze, he knew that this kid was ambitious, but he didn't expect it to be so big, he actually wanted to compete with Western countries for colonies and carve up the world, does this kid really have a heart of disobedience? After a while, he said in a muffled voice: "If you are not in your position, you will not seek your own government." ”

Yi Zhizhi was content, then reacted, and chuckled: "The purpose of seizing the colony is to carry out economic plunder and open the market, and as the treasurer of Yuanqi, I am naturally unwilling to miss this rare opportunity." ”

Hearing this, Wang Ding secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Tell me your general idea." ”

After taking a sip of tea, Yi Zhizhi said: "In general, it is to lead the area from point to point, first concentrate Yuanqi's financial, material and human resources to develop industrial, financial and military industries on a large scale in Guangzhou and Shanghai, supervise and support the imperial court to develop industry in Tianjin and Shanxi in Taiyuan, and at the same time strengthen the navy as soon as possible to ensure that the Qing Dynasty has sufficient military strength for self-protection, and then gradually drive the industry of this province and surrounding provinces with these four places as the center."

Of course, during this period, it is necessary to continue to build railways, and the navy will also expand and plunder the surrounding vassal states, so that ten years, the initial results, and twenty years can have a small success, at that time, the financial crisis of the imperial court can be completely lifted, and the development of industry and railways and the prosperity of commerce and trade will bring huge revenues to the imperial court, even exceeding the tax income of agriculture. ”

Listening to these words, Wang Ding couldn't help but bow slightly, Jingshi is a place where wealth is concentrated, and Shanxi ticket number is also financially abundant, first develop Guangzhou, Shanghai, Tianjin, Taiyuan four places, and then lead the area with points, it can be described as gradual and gradual, not impatient or impatient, ten years, twenty years, he can't see it anyway.

After a long pause, he said, "Can the taxes of industry and commerce exceed the tax revenues of agriculture?" ”

"Absolutely!" Yi Zhishu said in a firm tone: "More than is certain, as I said below, now we are in the midst of great changes unseen in three thousand years, this is an era of rapid development in all aspects, we are shifting from the agricultural era to the industrial age, from the plant age to the mineral age!" It's all the beginning! ”

Wang Ding was confused when he heard this, and pondered for a moment before saying: "In this era, in that era, the old man can't see it anyway, and the hour is not early, let's go back first." ”

This is an eviction order? Yi Zhixin felt a little weird, but Wang Ding was old and lacked energy, and he didn't think much about it, so he got up and said goodbye.

After waiting for Yi Zhizhi to leave the courtyard, Wang Dingcai said softly: "Come out." ”

As soon as the words fell, two people came out from behind the screen, Wang Ding pondered a little, and then said, "Hurry up and sort it out." ”

Half an hour later, Wang Ding carefully read the conversation records that had been sorted out twice, picked up the pen several times and put it down, and after a few hesitations, he still picked up the pen and erased the paragraph about the seizure of the colony and the division of the world, and then ordered: "Transcribe it again." ”

After the next morning, this conversation record appeared in Daoguang's hand, read it carefully, and pondered for a long time before Daoguang looked at Wang Ding and asked, "What is Dingjiu's opinion?" ”

Wang Ding said in a deep voice: "Long-term, meticulous, and feasible. ”

"He had a detailed discussion with Hou Yinchang, the owner of the Weizi number of Shanxi ticket numbers, yesterday afternoon." Daoguang put down the fold in his hand and said, "It's his true thoughts." ”

Wang Ding said in a sullen voice: "Yi Zhizhi is a rare talent, and Weichen earnestly prays that he will stay in the Beijing Division, and he can do it in the household department, the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Rites." ”

Daoguang stared at him for a long time before he sighed lightly and said, "I don't want to keep him in the Beijing Division, but the preparation for the construction of the Nanyang Navy is not done by him, and it will be delayed for two years." As he spoke, he waved his hand, "Kneel down." ”

Wang Ding bowed and withdrew, Daoguang picked up the fold again and looked at it carefully, then took a dense folding box, put the fold in and locked it, then got up and paced to the window, pushed open the window and looked at the scenery outside the window, but his mind was thinking over and over again, twenty years of golden development time, three thousand years of great changes, industrial and commercial taxes exceeded agricultural taxes, the industrial age, the mineral age.

After a while, he sighed, ten years of initial results, twenty years can have a small success, he is afraid that he will not be able to wait for that day, but, I have to say, that kid is indeed a rare talent, no one in the Manchu Dynasty has such a long-term vision as him, and no one has a comprehensive and thorough understanding of Western countries like him, and in terms of economy, no one is more than that, perhaps, it is time to consider leaving him in the ...... of Beijing.

"Your Majesty." Cao Jinxi, the chief eunuch, bowed down and reported: "Mu Zhang'a is handing over a sign outside to ask to see. ”

"Let him in." The way of the bald head and the way of not returning.

Mu Zhang'a walked in quickly, and after seeing the salute, he said eagerly: "Your Majesty, Guangzhou and Shanghai are eight hundred miles urgent, and the combined fleets of the United States and France are heading north from Guangzhou and Shanghai, and the target is Tianjin. ”

Daoguang hurriedly took the excerpts, which were reported by Qi Shan, the governor of Liangguang, and Qi Ying, the minister of Shanghai and Nanyang, respectively, and the United States and France each sent envoys and a fleet to form a joint fleet in Guangzhou, with a total of 32 warships going north to Tianjin.

Putting down the fold, he commanded in a deep voice: "Summoning Yi Zhizhi to meet immediately." Cao Jinxi, who was waiting, bowed down and retreated, and then he looked at Mu Zhang'a and said, "The United States has always had close contacts with Yuanqi, how could it come to Tianjin with the French fleet?" ”

Mu Zhang'a was also confused, and after a little hesitation, he said: "Last year, the British invaded Wusong, and both countries sent warships to Wusong to watch the battle, I heard that ..... Yi Zhishu met with the generals of the warships of the two countries several times before and after. ”

Daoguang didn't say a word, carefully recalled the conversation with Yi Zhixiang in the past few days, and faintly guessed in his heart the intention of the joint fleet of the two countries to come to Tianjin - to establish equal diplomatic relations, this matter was enlightened by Yi Zhizhi, he didn't care anymore, but he sent a fleet to Tianjin at every turn, full of threats, which made him extremely angry!

Jingshi is indeed too close to the sea, and the defense of Tianjin must be strengthened as soon as possible! We have to form a Nanyang Navy and form a fleet as soon as possible! Daoguang secretly made up his mind that he could not let Western warships come and go freely in the Qing Maritime Frontier, and sent a fleet to Tianjin at every turn.

Yi Zhizu hurried over, saw Mu Zhang'a kneeling aside, secretly surprised in his heart, hurriedly saluted, Daoguang did not talk nonsense, and handed the excerpt over, after reading the excerpt, Yi Zhifen secretly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, the United States and France came to Tianjin with a joint fleet, which he deliberately asked for last year, in order to strive for the two countries to obtain equal trade rights with England.

After presenting the excerpt back, he spoke: "Your Majesty, Wechen met Rear Admiral Lawrence Garney, commander of the American East India Fleet, and Zezil, commander of the French 'Erigon', in Shanghai last year.

Both of them were extremely enthusiastic about the "Jiangning Treaty" and hoped to sign the same treaty as the English and Qing Dynasty, and they believed that it was most appropriate to use the treaty to determine the political and commercial relations between the two countries, and that the purpose of sending an envoy should be to conclude the treaty. ”

Hearing this, Mu Zhang'a hurriedly said: "The United States and France are too deceitful! How can the "Jiangning Treaty" be signed lightly? ”

Yi Zhishu hurriedly said: "The United States and France are only hoping to establish equal diplomatic relations and trade rights with the Qing Dynasty, and enjoy the same rights as England in the treaty ports, and will not ask for excessive demands such as land reparations, and the treaties signed by the two sides are also reciprocal treaties, and the Qing merchants also enjoy the same conditions in the ports of the two countries." ”

Listening to the fact that there would be no excessive demands such as land reparations, Mu Zhang'a immediately shut up, he knew very well that negotiating with Western envoys was easy to be content, and he didn't need to talk too much.

After a slight sigh, Daoguang looked at Yi Zhizhi and said, "I don't want the French and American fleets to stay in Tianjin for too long, and I don't allow the envoys of the two countries to enter Beijing, so I appointed you as the minister of the Qin Mission to go to Tianjin to negotiate with the two countries. ”

"Wechen obeys." Yi Zhixiang hurriedly said, but in his heart he secretly cursed that the fleets of the two countries would not come sooner or later, but they would come at a certain time, and it was hopeless for the fleets of the two countries to come to Tianjin to show off their strength.

Seeing that Yi Zhizhi was content to kneel, Daoguang said: "You stay, Mu Zhang'a kneels down." ”

After Mu Zhang'a left, Daoguang said: "You originally suggested that the Yuanqi model be tried in Shanxi and Zhili, on the grounds that Shanxi produces high-quality coal and Jin merchants have abundant funds, but there are other reasons?" ”

Why do you suddenly ask about something? Yi Zhi's heart tightened, did Daoguang know about his conversation with Hou Yinchang and Wang Ding yesterday? With a change of heart, he hurriedly said: "Back to the emperor, Weichen is considering borrowing the abundant funds of the Jin merchants to build a railway. ”

Is this kid having a plan? Daoguang was a little surprised, and urged: "Go on." ”

"The difficulty of the Jin Road is no less than that of the Shu Road and the Min Road, the cost of building the railway is extremely high, and the geographical location of Shanxi is extremely important." Yi Zhisuff pondered and said: "Once the railway in Shanxi is connected to the Beijing-Hangzhou railway, it will be much easier to build a railway in Xi'an and Lanzhou in the future, so that the northwest can be easily connected with Beijing." ”

What he said was a little chaotic, but Daoguang understood that this was planning to connect the northwest with the Central Plains by railway, and he frowned slightly, "Is it out of military considerations?" ”

"Mainly for military reasons." Yi Zhishu hurriedly followed the conversation and said: "If the northwest can be connected with the Central Plains Railway, it will be greatly beneficial to the imperial court to consolidate the northwest." (To be continued.) )