Chapter 61 Section 61 Promoting Studying Abroad Causes Controversy

On the day he arrived in Shanghai, Li Hongzhang first went to the Jiangnan Manufacturing General Bureau, met Jianyang technicians, asked about the workmanship, and then, accompanied by Ding Richang, went to the post house to rest. When there were only two people left in the room, Ding Richang said quietly to Li Hongzhang: "Young Minister, the old Xiangguo's body seems to be unable to last for a long time, and there is still one thing he can't let go of." Li Hongzhang nodded and said, "Yu Sheng, old Xiangguo can't let go of anything. You don't even mention the headquarter, you know it's Burlingame's mission, right?"

Ding Richang said: "Your honor is not bad. The old Xiangguo is worried that Burlingame will cause some trouble for the court. The old Xiangguo told the lower officials that Burlington is also an American after all. The affairs of the Qing Dynasty must always be dealt with." I have the final say on my own. What does it sound like to appoint a foreigner to show off outside?" Li Hongzhang said: "Prince Gong handled this matter by himself. Although the Queen Mother nodded, she didn't know the situation outside after all. Who dares to say anything about the matter that Prince Gong has decided? By the way, the Ministry entrusted you to do it." How’s it going? This time in Jinling, the Honbutang specifically asked Jiegang about Jingfang’s affairs. Jiegang said that there was no obstacle for Jingfang to talk to foreigners, but his writing skills were a little weaker.”

Ding Richang said with a smile: "The next official is about to talk about this. After Mr. Fang's business, the next official has already done it. It is guaranteed by a British technician in the manufacturing bureau. First, he will go to the Paris apprenticeship school for a year, and then Transfer to a formal school. In one or two days, it will be completed as soon as the paperwork is completed." Li Hongzhang nodded his head and said: "Jing Fang is already fourteen years old, it's time to go out and practice. Stereotypes have come to an end, and the most urgent thing is to be effective in the world." The two gossiped for a while, and Ding Richang left and left. Do your own business.Li Hongzhang rested in the posthouse that night.What happened to Burlingame's envoy in the two populations?

Burlingame was originally an American diplomat. In the 11th year of Xianfeng (1861 AD), he was sent to serve as the minister of the embassy in the Qing Dynasty. During his tenure, he was friendly with Prince Gong.In the sixth year of Tongzhi (AD 1867), Burlingame's term as minister expired, and the United States appointed William Williams as minister. At this time, Hurd, the Chief Taxation Secretary, proposed to the Prime Minister's Office whether Burlingame could be appointed as the "Minister of Foreign and Chinese Negotiation Affairs" of the Qing Dynasty.Hurd's reason was: "Burningson has a loyal heart, and he has traveled to many western countries and is familiar with the conditions of each country." Prince Gong had a good impression of Burlingame at first, but now that he was recommended by Hurd, he immediately agreed and told Cixi The queen mother spoke, hoping to succeed.

The Empress Dowager Cixi didn't know much about the outside world, and when it came to the Western Kingdom, she almost did whatever Prince Gong said, and rarely refuted it.It's the same this time. Prince Gong then left Burlingame in the capital, and recruited a few officials of the fifth and sixth ranks from various places, and the capital officials included Zhigang and Sun Jiazhu mentioned in Zeng Guofan's booklet.Both Zhi and Sun have studied abroad for many years and are well-known masters of the West in the capital.Zhigang was the prime minister at the time, Zhang Jing, and Sun Jiahu was a doctor in the Ministry of Rites. They soon formed the Burlingame Mission of the Qing Dynasty.

In order to attract the attention of all countries to this mission, Prince Gong specially made two seal letters for Burlingame: "Imperial Envoy" and "Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Qing Dynasty in charge of foreign and Chinese affairs". In the seventh year of Tongzhi (AD 1868), Burlingame led a mission from the capital to visit the United States, Britain, France, Prussia, Russia and other countries on behalf of the Qing Dynasty. The "Sino-U.S. Continuation Treaty" unlimitedly expands U.S. aggression rights in China. In April of the tenth year of Tongzhi (AD 1871), Burlingame's mission arrived in Russia, but before making an official visit, Burlingame died suddenly of an emergency on the second day after arriving in Russia.The mission ceased to be a mission and began to return home.

Zeng Guofan didn't know that Burlingame had passed away at the time, and Prince Gong and the Prime Minister's Office knew the news after the mission returned to China.The Burlingame incident was the most stupid thing that Prince Gong did in his life. It was not only widely ridiculed by people of insight, but also puzzled by many foreigners in China at that time, thinking it was naive.All kinds of disasters in the Qing Dynasty were planted bit by bit in this way. Li Hongzhang stayed in Shanghai for more than 40 days, finished all the things to be done, and then set off for Tianjin.When I arrived in Tianjin, I was greeted by a group of officials.He came to the hotel in a sedan chair, just sat down, and wanted to drink some tea to catch his breath, but the imperial decree arrived.

He hastily put on his top-wearing official uniform again, and rushed to the Grand Hall to receive the order in person. The decree said: "According to Zeng Guofan's play, the matter of selecting and sending children to go abroad is of great importance, and Li Hongzhang should go to the capital to discuss the matter as soon as possible. I respect you." The imperial court's decree for sending young children to go abroad so quickly is a big surprise for Li Hongzhang. expected.Li Hongzhang didn't dare to delay, so he rushed to the capital overnight and stayed in Xianliang Temple that night.He did not expect at this time that there was a big debate waiting for him in the Forbidden City.

The next day, just after breakfast, the Zongli Yamen sent two officials to lead the way.Li Hongzhang simply rinsed his mouth, then boarded the sedan chair and went directly to the palace. Outside the palace gate, there are more than a dozen green woolen sedan chairs lined up in a row.The bearers were getting together and talking about some happy things, and the crowd laughed from time to time.When Li Hongzhang got off the sedan chair, two eunuchs from the palace had already come to greet him, saying: "I have been waiting for Master Li for a long time under the order of the Queen Mother. Master Li, please go in with the slave, the adults are waiting."

Li Hongzhang was led by eunuchs into the Hall of Mental Cultivation where the two palaces listened to politics.The eunuch went to report the letter first, and the word "pass" sounded soon.Li Hongzhang walked in with his head down, knelt down on both knees as usual, and greeted the emperor first, and then the empress dowagers of the two palaces. Li Hongzhang got up and backed up to stand in the ranks of the bachelors, peeking around with his eyes. Standing on the side of the bachelor were Rui Lin, Zhu Fengbiao, Shan Maoqian, and Wen Xiang.Although Wen Xiang is Xie Kui, he stands in the lead.Guan Wen died of illness in the first month, and Wu Ren died of illness in May. According to the usual practice, it will take half a year for the gap between the two of them to be filled.Standing on one side of the military aircraft department were Bao Jun, Shen Guifen, and Li Hongzao.Xu Tong, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and Pan Zuyin, Minister of Dali Temple, stood together.There were more than a dozen people standing behind. Li Hongzhang didn't see their faces clearly, and they were probably members of the third rank or above.Standing in front of the minister were three princes, namely, Prince Gong Yixin, Prince Chun Yixuan, and Prince Li Shiduo.

At this time, the Empress Dowager Cixi said: "You have been arguing for a few days. Now that Li Hongzhang is here, let's discuss the matter of sending young children to the West. Li Hongzhang, you and Zeng Guofan and Ding Richang have a copy of the joint title. Let’s talk about it. Some things can be done, so let’s hurry up; if we can’t, let’s not procrastinate!” Li Hongzhang took a step forward, lowered his head and said: "The emperor and the empress dowagers of the two palaces, I think that the strength of the western countries is not only the strength of the ships, but also the map, algorithm, step-by-step, sea-measurement, etc., which are beyond my reach. Now I Although the Qing Dynasty set up the Tongwen Museum, the Shanghai Cantonese Dialect Institute, the Jiangnan, Jinling, and Tianjin Manufacturing Bureaus, and the Fujian Shipping Bureau, but these can only follow in the footsteps of Westerners and cannot learn its essence. I want To be strong, you cannot achieve your goal unless you learn its essence. If you want to truly understand the essence of a powerful country that the Westerners have, you must send young children to study in their country. It has been a whim, and it has been explored for many years. Please learn from the emperor and the empress dowagers of the two palaces!" The Empress Dowager Cixi said "Yes", but before she could say anything, Xu Tong, the servant of the Ministry of Rites, took a step forward and said, "I report to the Emperor and the Empress Dowagers of the Two Palaces. I think that what Li Hongzhang said just now is inconsistent with emotion and contrary to reason. It is really absurd. Extreme! My Great Qing Dynasty is a state of pilgrimage to heaven. The emperor and the queen mothers of the two palaces are blessed all over the world. How can the monarch of a small barbarian country be able to match it? Now barbarian people are rushing into my territory, appearing like ghosts, showing their obscene skill , but Zhang Tianshi’s magic is the same, it’s just scary, how can it be regarded as normal? I have another comparison, Sun Wukong has seventy-two changes, but in the end it’s just a monkey. I implore the emperor and the queen mothers of the two palaces to learn from them, and don’t be deceived Bewildered!" Before Xu Tong could finish his sentence, Li Hongzao took a big step forward and said loudly: "To the emperor and the empress dowagers of the two palaces, the sages have said: the monarch should govern the country with virtue, and the ministers should serve the country with loyalty. We established the country in the Qing Dynasty. For a hundred years, with the territory of the four directions, and the blessings spread all over the world, all the small barbarians and small states are eager to pay homage to each other, relying on the word "virtue". The sage's so-called virtue carries things. This is what it means. I hope the emperor and the queen mothers of the two palaces will clearly observe." Before Li Hongzao could back down, one of them walked over like a whirlwind from behind and knelt down in court. Li Hongzhang was startled, and after a closer look, he knew that it was Weng Tonghe, a cabinet scholar.Weng Tonghe said loudly: "My Majesty and Empress Dowager, I believe that Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang's request must never be accepted. The Qing Dynasty has been established for a hundred years, and it has been maintained by Gang Chang. If you send young children to the Westerners, you will definitely be contaminated by Western bandits. Habits, after returning, my temperament will definitely change a lot, and even my ethics will be disrupted, and my principles will be disrupted. The danger is greater than the danger. The emperor Wanwang and the empress dowagers of the two palaces think twice!" Weng Tonghe was the number one scholar in the Xianfeng Dynasty. Naturally, he was good at writing and talking, so he was quite famous.His few simple words made all the princes and ministers shudder and send chills down their spines; the Empress Dowager Cixi was also stunned for a long time, unable to speak.Wen Xiang took a step forward at this time, and said: "I report to the emperor and the two empress dowagers, this servant also wants to say something, please grant your permission to the emperor and the two empress dowagers." Empress Dowager Cixi nodded and said, "Wen Xiang, tell me. What do you think?" Wen Xiang said: "I reported to the emperor and the queen mothers of the two palaces. The slaves thought that Mr. Weng's words were both reasonable and unreasonable. What Mr. Weng said just now, when young children arrive in the Western Kingdom, they must be infected with the habits of bandits of the Westerners. The slaves think what Mr. Weng said Reasonable. But Mr. Weng also said that after a young boy arrives in the Western Kingdom, his temperament will definitely change drastically, and even destroy my ethics and disrupt my principles. "The servant thinks that Master Weng's words are not only unreasonable, but almost nonsense. The servant wants to ask Master Weng, how can you be sure that the young boy has not been sent out yet, and his temperament will definitely change drastically? The servant has seen it with his own eyes. Zhang Jingzhigang from the prime minister’s yamen and Sun Jiahu from the Ministry of Criminal Justice have both studied in the West for many years. They not only learned the language of the West, but also understood many things about the West. Not only did their temperaments remain unchanged, but they also attached great importance to ethics. Otherwise, Burlingame’s envoy Xiguo, how could the imperial court choose the two of them to accompany them? It is an indisputable fact that Xiguo is powerful, how can this be compared with the ghosts in the void world?" The Empress Dowager Cixi saw that Wen Xiang was talking more and more, she couldn't help but smiled and said: "Wen Xiang, I already know what you want to say, and it is nothing more than the old saying, use the barbarian to control the barbarian. However, what Li Hongzao, Weng Tong and the others said is also true. They all make sense. For us, it’s better to be cautious. The saying of taking precautions before they happen always makes sense.” After Wen Xiang stepped down, the Empress Dowager Cixi said again: "Li Hongzhang, what about Chen Lanbin and Rong Hong? I heard that Rong Hong became an American citizen very early. Is this person reliable?" Li Hongzhang took a step forward and bowed his head to answer: "My Majesty, the Empress Dowagers of the Two Palaces, Chen Lanbin, a doctor in the Ministry of Criminal Affairs, is now working as the co-organizer of the Jinling Manufacturing Bureau. This person has been doing business with Zeng Guofan for a long time, has extensive contacts with foreigners, and is quite familiar with foreign affairs. Affiliated to Xiangshan, Guangdong, he was introduced by someone to study in an American school. After returning to China, he first worked in the American Legation in Guangzhou and Shanghai Customs, and then set up the Anqing Firearms Institute with the governor Zeng Guofan, and was appointed by the governor Zeng Guofan to purchase in the United States. Machines. Now the foreign technicians in Jiangnan, Jinling, Tianjin and other manufacturing bureaus are all hired from the United States by this person. Because Rong Wing is familiar with the situation in the West, he is quite effective in handling things. Now the foreign affairs that Jiangsu Fuchen Ding Richang is going to do , and all rely on this person to handle it. Please the emperor and the empress dowagers of the two palaces clearly observe." The Empress Dowager Cixi pondered for a while, and said: "Prince Gong, you should take them down to discuss first. The emperor is tired, and we are tired too. Tell them, talk carefully if you have something to say, and don't quarrel at every turn. Some things, more discussion There are advantages and no disadvantages. Li Hongzhang, the princes and ministers you signed with Japan last time were very satisfied, and the emperor was also very satisfied. You should pay more attention to this aspect. If Zhili has nothing to do, you can do more Let’s go for a walk in Beijing. You are the governor of Zhili, but you are still my Qing co-organizer.” Li Hongzhang nodded in agreement, and then withdrew after all the great scholars.Outside the door, Prince Gong tugged at Li Hongzhang's sleeve and said, "Shaoquan, go, come back to the palace with me, this king wants to tell you something." Li Hongzhang nodded silently.