Chapter 33 Section 33 Things You Must Do After Being Promoted

In the first month of the second year of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty (1863 A.D.), Li Hongzhang turned forty years old.At this time in Jiangsu, with the continuous increase in the number of Huai troops and the continuous improvement of firearms, for Li Hongzhang, the situation has begun to improve day by day. Li Xiucheng, the loyal king of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, suffered repeated defeats in various places in Jiangsu.In contrast, Li Hongzhang clearly had the upper hand. Li Hongzhang was discussing with Guo Songtao, Qiao Songnian and a group of officials on the transfer of the governor's office to Suzhou that day, but the travel-worn official who delivered the decree strode in with the imperial decree in his arms.

Seeing Li Hongzhang sitting upright in the hall, the decree officer couldn't help shouting: "Governor Li Hongzhang of Jiangsu accepts the order!" Li Hongzhang left his seat in a hurry, and led his subordinates to kneel facing north, saying: "My minister Li Hongzhang accepts the order." The decree officer slowly unfolded the imperial decree, and read it word by word: "The cabinet issued an edict: Since Li Hongzhang, the governor of Jiangsu, has been dedicated to the public and well-versed in military affairs, especially in rectifying the situation of the ever-victorious army, it has been very effective. From now on, I will also act as the Minister of Commerce and Industry, and all matters related to Shanghai's ocean affairs will be handled as a whole. This is my honor."

Li Hongzhang took the aim and kowtowed to thank him.The decree officer stretched out his hand to support Li Hongzhang, and said with a smile: "Master Futai, you are now a first-class figure in Shanghai, and you have delivered the imperial decree through the wind and snow all the way in a lowly position. You should reward me with more ingots!" Li Hongzhang laughed and said, "Your brother goes to eat first, and after the meal, the headquarters will guarantee you to leave happily!" The decree dispatcher said as he walked: "The lowly post can pass the decree to Master Futai several times in this life, it is the virtue of the ancestors!"

After the messenger left, Guo Songtao, Qiao Songnian and others all congratulated Li Hongzhang.Li Hongzhang helped each other one by one with a happy face.After taking his seat, Guo Songtao joked with jealousy: "My lord Futai, a professional in-law, as the Governor of Jiang, you have not yet held the title of Minister of Commerce. You, the governor of Jiangsu, are one step ahead. I don't know if this imperial decree has been passed to Anqing. How does my in-law feel!" Qiao Songnian and all the officials were taken aback after hearing this, and looked at Li Hongzhang to see how he would respond.Li Hongzhang said: "Guo Dao can really tell jokes. The minister of trade and commerce is not a bachelor, and the mentor of the headquarters is now Xie Kui. Even if the court intends to impose the minister of trade and commerce on the head of the mentor, the mentor may not be able to spare time to take care of it! "

What Li Hongzhang said made all the officials present nod their heads, and they all agreed.On the same day, Xue Huan, Minister of Commerce and Industry, was dismissed and transferred to Beijing.After Xue Huan arrived in Beijing, he was always on the waiting list. After being invited by Wen Xiang, he was appointed Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Rites. Li Hongzhang had a heavy responsibility on his shoulders, so he put aside the transfer of the governor's office for the time being, and devoted himself to preparing for what he had wanted to do a long time ago: opening a foreign language and writing school to train more translation talents for the Qing Dynasty.

With the end of the Opium War, the gates of the Qing Dynasty have been opened, and ambitious businessmen and soldiers from all over the world have flocked in, and there is nothing to stop them.Under the oppression of this situation, after the signing of the "Beijing Treaty" in the eleventh year of Xianfeng (1861 AD), the Qing Dynasty established the Prime Minister's Office of State Affairs, specializing in foreign affairs and foreign affairs. In the first year of Tongzhi (AD 1862), in order to train translators, Prince Gong and others invited the Prime Minister’s Yamen to set up the first Westernization School since the founding of the Qing Dynasty—Jingshi Tongwenguan.

There are three classes in Tong Wen Guan, English, French and Russian, and only students from the Eight Banners under the age of 13 or 14 can be accepted. It is a pity that Tongwen Museum was not recognized by the people at the beginning of its establishment, and there were very few students enrolled.Due to the cultural differences between the East and the West, foreigners were relatively hostile in the Qing Dynasty at that time; those who learned foreign languages ​​were naturally also hostile. Although the Qing Dynasty established Tongwenguan and established a school for training translators, there was still a shortage of translators. When local officials negotiated with foreigners, they mostly relied on translators brought by foreigners.Li Hongzhang decided to use his own power to reverse this diplomatic passive situation and cultivate a large number of translation talents for the Qing Dynasty in a short period of time.

On the 22nd day of the first lunar month of the second year of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty (March 11, 1863), the book personally drafted by Li Hongzhang was sent directly to the capital by the Jiangsu governor's yamen.After planning for a period of time, Li Hongzhang believed that the time was right to set up a foreign language and literature school in Shanghai, so he went to Zhezuo to invite this matter. The excerpt first talks about the fact that after doing business with foreigners, many foreigners have been able to understand Chinese laws and regulations and become familiar with Chinese people's conditions, while in our country there are very few foreign speakers; For foreign translators, the initiative is in their hands; the communication between businessmen depends on the passer-by, and our businessmen will believe what the passer-by says. They are very passive. Now the most popular job in Shanghai is the passer-by; Opening a special school to train our own translators is not only useful for businessmen, but also negotiating with foreign countries without using their translators; training translators is a good thing that benefits the country and the people. Translate books written by foreigners so that our country can learn more about foreign national conditions.

Zhezi wrote passionately at the end: "I am Chinese, smart and smart, how can I be inferior to Westerners? If there are skills such as proficiency in Western languages ​​and teaching all ships and firearms to each other, it will be helpful to gradually understand the way of self-improvement in China. Like Meng Yuyun, Rong Chen and Guan Dao tried to plan for all regulations, salaries, food and other expenses, or they can still be withdrawn under the ship banknote at their own discretion. Whether it can be tried in Haikou, Guangdong, and whether there are any obstacles, please ask Order the governor of the province to inspect and handle it. Whether the ignorance of the minister is correct, I beg the emperor to learn from the emperor, and follow the instructions. I will play it."

Li Hongzhang privately believed that such a good thing that benefited the country and the people could be approved by the imperial court no matter how it was viewed.On the day when the papers were distributed, Li Hongzhang also met with the consuls of the British, French, American, German, and Russian consulates in Shanghai, as well as Li Taitai, an Englishman from the General Taxation Department of the Qing Dynasty, to discuss the teaching needs of the foreign language school after its establishment. discuss. Li Taitai slapped his chest loudly: "Li Zhongcheng, please rest assured, as long as the governor's office is not stingy with money, I can hire thousands of teachers for you! The teaching of the Chinese Language Institute is covered by our British Empire." !"

Not to be outdone, the Russian consul hurriedly said, "The teaching of Russian language should naturally be hired from Russia. Even if I don't remind you of this, Li Zhongcheng must have already planned it." When the consuls of France, Germany, and the United States saw the benefits, they immediately expressed that there were a large number of outstanding teaching talents in their countries for the governor's office to escape from election. After arguing for half a day, the consuls of various countries finally reached a consensus and decided to follow the rules of the Tongwenguan of the Qing Dynasty. Li Hongzhang set up a table of sumptuous teachers in the governor's yamen to entertain these foreigners, and Guo Songtao, Qiao Songnian and other officials were called to accompany them. Li Taitai was elated at the banquet, as if he had plundered another treasure from the Qing Dynasty. After sending Li Taitai and others away, Li Hongzhang pulled Guo Songtao into the study, and while drinking tea, he sighed: "These foreign bastards don't let go of every bit of profit. In fact, I, Li Shaoquan, founded the Foreign Literature Museum today precisely to strengthen me in the future." Great Qing! I am subject to him today, and when our country is strong, he will be subject to me... Hahaha!" Guo Songtao stroked his beard and said: "Master Zhongcheng can express such a deafening emotion, which is enough to move the hearts of people of insight in the world. It is a pity that until now, some elders in the court still hold Confucianism and look at foreigners with contempt. Isn't it sad?" Li Hongzhang smiled and said, "Old Tongnian, if I guessed right, the elder brother of the court in your brother's mouth should be Woren Wozhongtang, right?" "Cough!" Guo Songtao sighed, "This old Xiangguo, he and my in-laws are both masters of Confucianism. My in-laws already knew that using barbarians to control barbarians is the key to a strong country, but why didn't he understand it? Fortunately, he is in charge It's Prince Gong, if he is old, wouldn't the Qing Dynasty be over in the blink of an eye?" Li Hongzhang took a sip of tea and said: "With Prince Gong inside and my mentor outside, even if the Qing Dynasty is really at its peak, I'm afraid it can last for a few years. Anqing guns employ foreign technicians, and the recently established translation bookstore, The engravings are all foreign books. My mentor made these, let's see who in the world dares to do it!" Guo Songtao closed his eyes, shook his head and said, "Tianxiang was born in this world, and Tianxiang was born in this world!" Li Hongzhang pushed the tea bowl away and said, "Okay, okay, now that your brother is in high spirits, let's have a round together!" Guo Songtao opened his eyes and said with a smile: "As expected of Zeng Disheng's student, even the chess addiction, he looks alike. Alright! Let's play a few tricks with the adults!" Li Hongzhang then ordered people to play chess, and black and white soon fought together.