Zeng Guofan and his closest aide Zhao Liewen decided that Chinese was the "lingua franca" and secretly talked to the Governor's Mansion of Zhili in Baoding, almost at the same time, thousands of miles away, in the Governor's Mansion of Huguang in Wuchang, Li Hongzhang and his most trusted staff Zhou Fu were also doing the same thing.

"Before," Li Hongzhang said, "the edict that strictly forbade the women of the Eight Banners to bind their feet was clearly issued by anyone with a discerning eye, and it was quite a reference to the mulberry scolding the Huai, knocking on the mountain and shaking the tiger -- referring to the mulberry of the banner man, and scolding the Huai of the Han people; The mountain of the flag knocker, the tiger of the Han people. ”

After a pause, he continued: "At that time, I thought that Xiao Jiujiu above was talking about foot binding, so as to ...... Fu Manchu suppressed the Han, and now it seems that he completely wants to be left! ”

Zhou Fu nodded and said: "The news in the capital is that it will not be long before the example of the second year of Shunzhi and the third year of Kangxi will be imitated, 'the flag and the Han are one, regardless of the domain', and foot binding is prohibited." With the establishment of Chinese as the 'lingua franca' in front of us, there will be much less resistance to prohibiting foot binding -- at least, no matter how many people and how dissatisfied they are with this matter, it will not be able to be involved in 'supporting the Manchu and suppressing the Han'. ”

"King Xuan's thoughts," Li Hongzhang said in a deep voice, "it's really ...... Outstanding! It seems that he really wants women to come out and do things. ”

"Yes!" Zhou Fu said, "In Jiangsu and Zhejiang, it has been confirmed: to set up a new type of silk reeling factory, the machine uses a French 'straight reeling machine'; as for the workers, they all invite local young women -- if they bind their feet, how can they work in the factory?" ”

"The new silk reeling factory has been set up," Li Hongzhang's eyes were blazing, "Jiangsu and Zhejiang." Whether it is the economy or people's livelihood. The pattern is all about to change! King Xuan was able to move the local silk merchants. The abandonment method, the new factory, the real ...... Terrific! I don't know, how did he do it? ”

"It's about not taking off both soft and hard, and even coaxing and scare." Zhou Fu smiled slightly, "It is said that King Xuan took the silk reeled by the 'straight reeling machine' and showed it to the local silk merchants - white and slippery. Non-stop, no lint, soil silk is incomparable! King Xuan said that if he didn't change his course as soon as possible, within three years, the silk merchants in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, no matter how big or small, would all have to be smashed! A group of big silk merchants were frightened, and finally accepted the Tao drawn by King Xuan. ”

After a pause, he continued: "The big boss is done. The rest of the small and medium-sized silk households are naturally the only ones who look ahead. ”

"Hmm. Capture the thief and capture the king first. ”

"Yes."

"The woman walked out of the house, went to work in the factory, showed up, well, the people over there, are there any discussions?"

"Naturally, there are a lot of discussions," Zhou Fu said, "but the 'Silk Industry Association' said it well: the silk reeling factory is 'closed management', and outsiders can't get in, so what's the difference between being at home?" Therefore, when a woman works in a factory, it is not considered a 'show up'! ”

Li Hongzhang laughed and said, "This is called 'hard'." ”

Zhou Fu also smiled: "Yes, but it's quite effective!" In the area of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, the silkworm reeling family has to deal with cocoons and silk lines, and women show their heads, which is commonplace, and it is not a big deal. Now that there is such a thing again, it is even more reasonable to work in the factory. ”

"It is said that there are still places for women among the 'international students' sent to the United States?"

"Yes."

"Send your daughter thousands of miles away, and stay alone in a foreign country - well, I don't know what kind of people are willing to do this?"

"Well, uh, there's no real news yet."

Li Hongzhang raised his head and closed his eyes slightly.

After a while, he opened his eyes and sighed softly.

"Yushan, do you really think that when it comes to banning foot binding, I should take the initiative to fold it and take the lead in advocating it?"

"Yes, Lord." Zhou Fu said solemnly, "It is forbidden to bind feet, saying that it is 'the unity of the flag and the Han, regardless of the domain', but everyone understands that there are very few people who bind the feet of the flag people, and the prohibition of foot binding is actually aimed at the Han people." If there is a Han member with a grand reputation who takes the initiative to propose, the straighter the move, the stronger the spirit, and the more effective it can be achieved with half the effort, for the imperial court, this favor will help a lot! For King Xuan himself, this favor is really not small. ”

After a pause, he continued: "This move has no intention of suppressing the Han, and it seems that it is indeed necessary. ”

Li Hongzhang smiled slightly, pondered for a while, and said, "I'm afraid...... is the same as Kangxi's three years, but in two or three years, the 'top' can't stand the noise below, and runs away from the ban, and all the previous achievements are wasted. When the time comes, I, the first person to advocate it, will not only offend people in vain, but will also be laughed at. ”

"Otherwise," Zhou Fu said, "whether it was the second year of Shunzhi or the third year of Kangxi, it was forbidden to bind feet at that time, but the 'top' felt that foot binding had a dry nature, and there was no intention of asking women to come out to do things." If you don't let go, there is no loss of half a tael of silver in the court, so if you are really unwilling to let go, there is nothing wrong with the 'top'. This time, it's different! ”

Li Hongzhang nodded: "This time, the 'top' is to ask the woman to come out to do things, and if she binds her feet, she can't go out and can't do things." ”

"Exactly!" Zhou Fu said, "So, this time, if you don't let go, you will dig up silver from the imperial court!" ”

After a pause, he said: "Also, Prime Minister, I Guanxuan Wang acted very cautiously and steadily, but once everything was decided and put into practice, it was extremely firm, and there was no case of giving up halfway. ”

Li Hongzhang pondered for a moment and nodded: "That's true." ”

"The Prime Minister is the first to propose it," Zhou Fu said, "and there is a big topic in it, and no one else can criticize it." This is the word 'filial piety'. ”

Li Hongzhang's heart moved: Yes, my old lady is Tianzu.

Unexpectedly, the joke made by Mrs. Li on the Wuchang Wharf could actually show Li Zhongtang's "filial piety" in the first proposal to ban foot binding.

What a blessing in disguise.

Li Hongzhang made up his mind: "Okay, Yushan, just do as you say!" ”

*

*

There was no telegram in the northwest, and the court sent Chinese as the "lingua franca" to Lanzhou with "eight hundred li to step up" to supervise the military affairs of the northwest.

Unwrapping the envelope, taking out the court mail, and sweeping it at a glance, Zuo Zongtang's eyes widened.

A moment later, outside the house, Goshha heard the almost roaring shouts of the handsome man inside:

"Rejoice! Joyfully! Joyfully! ”

Then, laugh out loud and sonic sonic sonic on the roof tiles.

Sent together with Tingzhi was a long letter from Guan Zhuofan.

In his letter, Guan Zhuofan said that the Ma Wenlu bandits in Ganxi Suzhou are the wandering spirits at the bottom of the kettle, and they are unable to withstand the blows of Ji Weng, and the entire territory of Gansu will be settled within this year, and they will be able to march into Xinjiang at the beginning of spring next year.

At this time, Xinjiang was full of beacon fires, southern Xinjiang all fell, and the four heroes of Yarkand, Hotan, Kucha, and Kashgar stood side by side and attacked each other. Among them, the most ferocious is the "Zhedeshar Khanate" with Kashgar as its base camp.

However, the imperial court still had some strongholds in northern Xinjiang, and the connection with the Hexi Corridor had not been completely severed. After the whole territory of Gansu is settled, the Hexi Corridor and northern Xinjiang can be connected normally.

The order of pacifying Xinjiang should be to first the north and then the south, and after the restoration of northern Xinjiang, the army of the western expedition will guide Xinjiang with a sword. Guan Zhuofan's suggestion was to divide Yarkand, Hotan, Kucha, and Kashgar, and focus on attacking Kashgar. After the fall of the "Zhedeshar Khanate", Yarkand, Khotan and Kucha naturally fell to the wind.

Of course, there is also a possibility that when the northern Xinjiang was restored, Aguba of the "Zhedeshar Khanate" had already unified the southern Xinjiang. However, although this owl is cunning and fierce, he is by no means the enemy of Zeon. What's more, the country is newly settled, the people's hearts are unstable, and the imperial army has been suppressed from the north, and the "Zhedeshar Khanate" may have civil strife first.

In short, within next year, Xinjiang will definitely return to the Celestial Empire, and China's golden ou will be incomplete.

Guan Zhuofan said, the battle is over, the people's hearts are obedient, but it has just begun, the king of the northwest, is a long process, not twenty or thirty years can not see the success, this is the great cause of China, all over the world, in addition to Ji Weng, who else can I entrust to?

Seeing this, Zuo Zongtang felt like eating ginseng fruit, and every pore on his body was stretched.

As for how to "kingize" and implement the "lingua franca", Guan Zhuofan has nine other suggestions, which are analyzed in detail, and the lion will not repeat them one by one here.

Zuo Zongtang's reply was sprinkled with thousands of words, one of which was Huang Zhong Da Lu, which was circulated in later generations:

Why do you have to look east at Jiuquan County, you will not enter the Yumen Pass in this life.

*

(The ninth volume of "The Golden Age" is over, and the tenth volume of "Heavenly Dao is Returning" will be opened tomorrow.) In addition, the lion begs for a guaranteed monthly pass, thank you! ）

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