Chapter 64 The sixty-fourth inside story of Japan breaking the contract

Li Hongzhang hurriedly called Xue Fucheng, Li Shuchang, Xu Qianshen and others into the signing room to discuss the matter, and then sent a fast horse to Tianjin by land. It was reported that Shen Baojing and Sheng Xuanhuai quickly came to Baoding to discuss the matter. Li Hongzhang sighed repeatedly to Xue Fucheng and others: "Zuo Jigao has always been a big talker. Since the establishment of the Fujian Shipping Bureau, the department has written to him repeatedly. Everything can be sloppy, but the planning of funds and the employment of personnel must not be done. Sloppy. This old stubborn donkey from Hunan, he just refused to listen, and insisted on reporting the amount of three million taels to the imperial court, and let the profiteer Hu Guangyong negotiate with foreign banks about the loan. In the end, the interest was much higher than My Daqing now borrows more than half of the foreign money. I don’t know what the boss thinks, but it’s right! His brother is lucky. A machine bureau about the size of the Jiangnan General Manufacturing Bureau! If he continues like this, the Qing Dynasty will collapse before it becomes strong!"

Xue Fucheng said: "Master Zhongtang, is the Fujian Ship Administration Bureau going to run or not?" Li Hongzhang took a sip of tea, and said with certainty: "Do it! How can the shipyard that was finally established be abandoned halfway?" Li Shuchang said at this time: "My lord Zhongtang, just now I was thinking that the shipyard set up by Zuo Shuai is too expensive. The ships produced are still not comparable to foreign ships. It is not the original intention of resisting insults." Is it a big violation? Rather than doing this, it’s better to abolish it.” Li Hongzhang widened his eyes and said, "You, Li Chunzhai, took my salary from Zhili and wore a pair of trousers with Song and Jin! The so-called extravagant expenses are all because all the materials used for shipbuilding are imported from the West. Steel, coal, Both are true. If I have an iron factory in the Qing Dynasty, and I can mine coal myself, what will happen? Also, the ships I built cannot be compared with the ships of Western countries. This is not fundamental, but it is a matter of skill. The technicians have thoroughly understood the military wheels of the Western Kingdom one by one, and they will be able to create military wheels that are indistinguishable from those of the Western Kingdom.

"The main concern of the Ministry is the way to operate the shipyard in the future. Since the rise of the Qing army, we have consumed countless silver, and the Ministry of Households has always been unable to deposit silver. In the future, whenever we set up a bureau to build ships, we still rely on the Ministry of Accounts to allocate money or borrow foreign money from merchants. It’s really not a good situation. It’s better to come up with a perfect plan. The last time the Ministry went to Beijing to discuss matters, Prince Gong asked about this topic. The Ministry has been thinking about this for a long time, but still can’t think of a better way. Why? Xiao Song doesn't know anything about Westernization, but Ding Yusheng is worried about Ding. Cough!"

Xu Qianshen said at this time: "The last time my lord went to Jiangning, didn't Sheng Xingsun (Sheng Xuanhuai) propose a way for the government to supervise the business?" Li Hongzhang said: "Xingsun just gave a general idea. Xingsun is smart, but unfortunately lacks experience. That Yang Zonglian, other than making money from his own business, doesn't care whether the country is prosperous or not. Yongyu, you can go down on the matter of the irresolvable shipping bureau. Then draw up a first draft for me. After Xingsun arrives, we will have a good discussion. No matter what, the hall cannot let the court abolish the Shipping Bureau!"

Xue Fucheng said with a smile: "Master Zhongtang, have you ever thought about it, if the imperial court insists on abolishing the Shipping Bureau? Judging by the tone of the imperial decree, the Ministry of Households really has no money to allocate." Hearing this, Li Hongzhang was taken aback for a moment, then stood up habitually, and said while pacing: "If the imperial court really made up its mind to abolish the Ship Administration Bureau, then the Ministry will resign the governor and go to Fujian willingly." Succeed Shen Baozhen as Minister of Shipping." Xue Fucheng was stunned when he heard the words, he said nothing, and secretly said: "If a dignified scholar is willing to resign from the governor of Shique and become a second-rank shipping minister, what will the court think?" Xue Fucheng made up his mind. It is necessary to draw up this document so that the imperial court can dispel the idea of ​​abolishing the Fujian Shipping Bureau.

Sheng Xuanhuai received Li Hongzhang's order, knowing that he had something important to discuss, he dared not delay, so he handed over the matter at hand to others that day, and rushed to Baoding with his entourage. On the second day after Sheng Xuanhuai's arrival, the first draft of the booklet drawn up by Xue Fucheng happened to be handed over to Li Hongzhang.Li Hongzhang revised it while watching it. After one pass, he asked someone to transcribe it, and then revised it a second time and a third time until he was satisfied.A seemingly extremely simple memorial turned into a good article that was circulated for a while in the hands of Li Hongzhang.The memorial is eloquent, well-founded, and extremely convincing.

The memorial stated six reasons why the Fuzhou Shipping Bureau could not be abolished: 1. The European powers ran rampant in China because of their strong ships and powerful guns; As far as building ships, I have just tried to build them, so I can't give up halfway; 4. In order to protect itself, Japan, a small country, has added iron factories, built more ships, and used Western military weapons, so we should do the same; But the expenses turned into waste, not only making people laugh at others, but also soaking up the ambitions of the commander; Sixth, raising ships and training soldiers is a great plan to enrich the country and strengthen the army.

As soon as the papers were sent out, the Japanese mission to revise the contract suddenly arrived in Baoding, and they were determined to meet Li Hongzhang in person to state their intention to revise the contract.This move of the Japanese was beyond Li Hongzhang's expectation, and made Chen Qin rush after him on a fast horse. When Chen Qin arrived in Baoding, he learned that the envoy had not seen Li Hongzhang yet, so he let out a sigh of relief, and rushed to the governor's office as if flying. When Li Hongzhang saw Chen Qin, he was about to reprimand him, but Chen Qin didn't wait for Li Hongzhang to open his mouth, and knelt down with his knees limp, and said in a tearful voice, "Your Excellency Zhongtang, it's not because of incompetent negotiations on career path. It is true that the Japanese came here with their careers behind their backs. According to Zhongtang's instructions, Zhidao revised and revised the new covenant newly drafted by the Japanese, refuting them one by one, and repeatedly told the Japanese people what Zhongtang taught them.

"The Japanese agreed with what Zhidao said in front of Zhidao, and Maemitsu Liuyuan, who had been here last time, specifically told Zhidao that after they lived in Tianjin for a few days, they would take the foreign ship to return to China for a business trip. Unexpectedly, they left without saying goodbye! At first I thought they had returned to Japan, but after being informed by Tianjin County, I found out that they had come to Baoding. Not daring to delay, I borrowed a fast horse from the barracks and rushed over, but they still Let him take a step down. What the career path just said is true, please read it carefully, Mr. Zhongtang."

After listening to Chen Qin's narration, Li Hongzhang couldn't help but feel much less angry.He helped Chen Qin up, and said earnestly: "When Benbutang was practicing bravery in Anhui, he heard people say that Japanese people have short legs and fast legs, and there is a tuft of hair on the soles of their feet. Don't tell me you ride a fast horse, Chen Dao. Even if you ride Lu Bu's thousand-mile steed, I'm afraid you won't be able to catch up with him. It seems that this matter has nothing to do with you, it's all due to the obstinate nature of the Japanese. Chen Dao, you go to the post house now, and Liu Yuan Maeguang and the others When they came here, Benbutang personally enlightened him. Since they came to Baoding, they would not give up if they didn’t see Benbutang. If they really lived in Baoding for a long time, not to mention the food rations, they would still be noisy by him, just like my Qing Dynasty Intentionally bullied him."

Hearing this, Chen Qin burst into tears of gratitude, saluted hurriedly and left, and went to the posthouse to meet Liu Yuan Maeguang and his party.When Liuyuan Qianguang learned that Li Hongzhang was willing to see them, he was so happy that he bowed and bowed, wishing to use all the courtesy in his body. Chen Qin was used to their tricks, so he didn't take it seriously, and he already had the contempt of the boss in his heart.The relationship between the Qing Dynasty and Japan is still shallow, and they have not tasted the methods of the Japanese. It is not surprising that Chen Qin has this mentality. Maemitsu Liuyuan and his entourage arrived at the office of the governor's yamen as scheduled.After seeing Li Hongzhang, Liu Yuan Maeguang and his entourage naturally performed the etiquette one by one, and then said: "Li Zhongtang, my country's Date Zongcheng was ordered by the Emperor to establish a business relationship with your country last year. The emperor was very dissatisfied with the revised treaty after reading it, so he sent this minister to revise the previous treaty, please allow it, and confirm the date of revising the treaty.” After Liuyuan Maeguang finished speaking, he handed a manuscript to Li Hongzhang with both hands and said: "This is the amendment clause drafted by the emperor of our country. Please read it and approve it, Lord Zhongtang." Li Hongzhang stood up, took the document from Liu Yuan Maeguang with both hands and put it on the copy, and signaled Liu Yuan Maemitsu to sit down with his hands, and then said: "Minister Liu, I will tell you again what the Motobutang said a long time ago." If so, it is not a child's play to revise the treaty between the two countries, how can it be changed overnight?" Maemitsu Liuyuan hurriedly got up and said, "Li Zhongtang, the agreement made between the former Minister Date Zongcheng and your country has been refuted one by one by the emperor of our country and is no longer valid. This time, this minister is ordered by the emperor to renew the agreement." Make a treaty with your country!" When Li Hongzhang heard the translator finished speaking, he couldn't help shouting: "Nonsense! The Ministry wants to ask Minister Liu, Minister Yi came to our country to make a contract last year. Didn't he follow the orders of the Emperor of your country? He has served the orders of the Emperor of your country. My fate, the contract he made with our country is a valid treaty, and both parties should handle it accordingly. Repentance and breach of trust are the most taboo in the "Public Law of All Nations". No matter how big or small your country is, you should not do this to make Western countries laugh at you. Minister Liu, have you ever heard the words of the Ministry Hall?" After listening to the interpreter's report, Maemitsu Liuyuan said with a blank face: "My minister heard Li Zhongtang's words clearly. What Li Zhongtang said is very true, and this minister also agrees with Li Zhongtang's point of view. However, the emperor of our country has already refuted it. This minister has no choice but to renew the contract with Li Zhongtang according to the emperor's order. If Li Zhongtang insists on not renewing the agreement, how can this minister go back to face the emperor? Please understand my minister's difficulties , please!" Before Liu Yuan Maeguang could finish speaking, his waist had already bowed deeply. Li Hongzhang snorted with his nose, and said coldly: "Minister Liu, the Ministry will now officially inform you that the change of the contract you said just now is unreasonable, and the Ministry will definitely not agree to it! Please report to your country when Minister Liu returns. The emperor, regretting promises and breaking promises, has always been shamed by all countries. Minister Liu, I have official business in this department, so I will not accompany you!" Li Hongzhang turned to Chen Qin and said, "Send them back to the post house for a rest, and take them back to Tianjin tomorrow." Chen Qin hurriedly agreed, and then stood up. Liu Yuan Maemitsu got up and said, "Li Zhongtang, it's not very difficult to re-sign the contract. You only need to re-draw the seal and it's done. Why don't you agree? Why don't you help this minister once? If this minister Go back empty-handed, the emperor of our country will throw this minister into a big prison! You, Li Zhongtang, can't just leave him alone!" Li Hongzhang ignored him and walked into the inner room with his hands behind his back.Chen Qin said to Liuyuan Qianguang with a smile: "My lord has business to do, Minister Liu, please go back to the post house and rest." Liuyuan Maemitsu refused to let it go. He repeated the etiquette to Chen Qin, begging Chen Qin repeatedly, could he ask Zhongtang when the Qing Dynasty would agree to Japan's request to change the contract.Chen Qin was so entangled by him that he had no choice but to bite the bullet and go inside to meet Li Hongzhang. Li Hongzhang pondered for a while, and said to Chen Qin: "You tell Liuyuan Maemiko that when the contract is renewed, the headquarters can consider the country's request for revising the contract at its discretion." Just said it once.Only then did Maemitsu Liuyuan agree to go back to the post house, and the next day, accompanied by Chen Qin, he returned to Tianjin by land, and took the British ship back to the country. Two months later, Li Hongzhang became a bachelor of Wuyingdian University. At this time, in the Qing Dynasty, except for Shaanxi and Gansu, there were basically no wars in the territory.Officials at all levels in various provinces are rushing to urge the people to resume farmland production, hoping to revive all industries. Zeng Guofan's Hunan army had been abolished long ago, and Li Hongzhang's Huai army was basically wiped out. Except for the banner battalion, the green battalion, and some of the Xiangyong and Huaiyong that had not been abolished, they were turned into divisions of the national economic system. In the hands of Governor Zuo Zongtang, there are still tens of thousands of Chu Yong and the old Hunan Army, who are not part of the national economic system. After more than ten years of war, the lives of Kyushu were devastated, and all industries in all directions were sluggish.The court is tired and the common people are tired. It is really time for the Qing Dynasty to take a good rest. But European countries did not agree.They did not allow the Qing Dynasty to rest and recuperate. They stepped up to devour the border land of the Qing Dynasty and plundered all the resources that could be plundered in the border areas of the Qing Dynasty. Russia in the north and northwest of the Qing Dynasty, France in the southwest, and Japan, an island country in the east, are all like this; even Vietnam and North Korea, the two vassal states of the Qing Dynasty, they do not want to let go. First, the military commander of the Kokand Khanate①, Aguba, took advantage of the civil strife in the Qing Dynasty and led his troops to invade and occupy most of Xinjiang. Then, when Russia took advantage of Agubo to invade eastward, it occupied the nine cities of Ili by force.At that time, the Qing Dynasty had not established diplomatic relations with Kokand, and it could only be resolved by force.But at that time, the army of the Qing Dynasty was fighting against the Nian army, and could not afford to use troops against the northwest. Russia has established diplomatic relations with the Qing Dynasty, and the Qing Dynasty can resolve the country's forced occupation of Ili through diplomatic channels.However, Russia ignored the protests raised by the Qing Dynasty.Xinjiang is under the jurisdiction of the governor of Shaanxi-Gansu, but Zuo Zongtang was unable to dispatch a single soldier to Xinjiang, because a large-scale Muslim uprising was breaking out in Shaanxi-Gansu and even Qinghai, and Zuo Zongtang had no chance to breathe.Maybe the Qing Dynasty really has come to an end, the interior is a bit more peaceful, but the borders are full of wars, and it can't be covered.