Chapter 79 Chapter 79: Li Hongzhang decides to retire

In June of the seventh year of Guangxu (AD 1881), Li Hongzhang and Zeng Jize, Minister to the UK, communicated with each other and decided to send China Merchants ships to carry Chinese goods to the UK to set up a trading company, advocating for China to open up business in Western countries. Li Hongzhang believes that there are several favorable conditions for Chinese goods to enter the Western European market: 1. China has a vast land and abundant resources, and goods entering overseas will definitely gain great benefits; The market, so that we will not suffer losses; third, use merchant ships to raise military ships.

Li Hongzhang wrote in his book "Founding a Company and Going to Britain for Trade": "Taixi and Western countries are established by business. The prosperity and decline of business is determined by the strength of the country. Anyone who is beneficial to business must do his best to pursue it. In recent years, Japan has gradually developed. Thailand and the West also go out to do business as the basis of benefiting the country. China has a vast land and abundant resources, and its business is the crown of the four continents. Even those who went to Jinshan, Cuba, Peru, etc. were only poor servants, and no rich merchants went there. It seems that it is not enough to establish a prosperous and prosperous business. We have recruited rich merchants to make a huge sum of money, named Zhaoxing Company, and planned to go to England London trade is an advocacy for China to develop business." Zhezi went on to write: "Stealing the strategy of Western prosperity, business and shipping administration are mutually exclusive, and defending merchant ships with the power of military ships must first support military ships with merchant shipping taxes. It is especially urgent to rectify trade. Since merchant ships from all over the world are vying to go to China, the annual import and export value is about 20 million taels of silver, and the tithes earned by foreign merchants are already tens of millions of taels. If there are tens of thousands of taels, these are all the benefits of China. There are no ones who come and go. Therefore, before the commercial development, countries could have closed their doors and self-government. The source persuades Chinese businessmen to go abroad for trade, and local goods can be sold well, foreign businessmen can be reduced, and Chinese rights and interests can be gradually withdrawn."

It is inevitable that Li Hongzhang's move will cause a storm, but in the end he decreed to approve it. At the end of the year, China Zhaoxing Company, the first foreign trading company of the Qing Dynasty, opened a plaque in the downtown area of ​​London, England.The plaque of China Zhaoxing Company is written in Chinese and English. The Chinese writer is Li Hongzhang, and the English writer is Zeng Jize. The appearance of Chinese inland goods in London cannot but arouse the interest of the British people.The local people rushed to tell each other and visited, and the buyers gradually came, and the business was booming.The Prime Minister's Yamen of Brazil's National Note asked for additions and deletions to the original treaty, and Li Hongzhang was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to discuss this matter with the Brazilian envoy.

The Brazilian envoy rushed to Tianjin to discuss with Li Hongzhang for nearly a month, and the agreement was finally reached.Approved by both countries.That year, Admiral Ding Ruchang went to England to take a boat and raise the flag to visit countries along the way in France and Germany, and then returned, which made the Northern Navy of the Qing Dynasty have a certain influence in Western European countries.That year, Liu Xihong, the counselor of the General Political Department, impeached Li Hongzhang for "domineering and disobedient, like a monarchy". In February of the eighth year of Guangxu (AD 1882), Li Hongzhang's old mother suddenly contracted a serious illness and died at the age of eighty-one.While taking care of the funeral, Li Hongzhang urgently asked Ding's mother to worry; two days later, Li Hongzhang handed over the Zhili governor's seal and Beiyang minister's seal and ribbon to the Zhili vassal according to the order, and left Baoding with his family to help Lingnan return.

Before leaving, Li Hongzhang recommended Xue Fucheng, the magistrate of Zhili Prefecture, as the post of Ningshaotai Road in Zhejiang Province, and recommended Xu Qian as a registered road, and sent him to the commissioner of Fujian Shipping Bureau; another group of staff, such as Huang Huihe, were also in Li Hongzhang's secret guard. Next, go to work in various places.Li Hongzhang decided to take advantage of Ding's mother's worry, first to ask for finality, and then ask for finality after the three-year period expires, hoping to stay away from fame and wealth and enjoy his old age in peace.

The success of Zeng Jize's change of contract greatly stimulated Li Hongzhang. Although the court did not treat him slowly because of this, he himself clearly felt that the civil and military officials in the capital, the governors, fu, cloth, press, and even The staff around him, as well as Guo Songtao and others who have left the officialdom, see that he is not as good as before.He can still understand Zuo Zongtang's dissatisfaction with him.Zuo Zongtang made his debut earlier and served as the governor earlier than him, but he was a prime minister a few years before Zuo Zongtang, and he sat firmly in the position of governor for twelve years.These are the factors that constitute Zuo Zongtang's dissatisfaction with him.But Zeng Guoquan, Weng Tonghe, Zhang Zhidong and others were also dissatisfied with him, which puzzled him.Is Zeng Guoquan more knowledgeable than himself?Does Weng Tonghe have a better understanding of Western European countries than he does?

Li Hongzhang has a lot of bitterness, he can't talk about it, and he won't talk about it.Li Hongzhang didn't receive the imperial edict until the coffin walked halfway. Li Hongzhang led his family to kneel before the funeral to listen to the announcement.The decree said: "The cabinet issued an edict: Li Hongzhang, the governor of Zhili, a scholar, and Li Hanzhang, the governor of Huguang, are the mothers who are gentle and prudent, and teach their children well. Now they are dying of illness, and they are deeply sympathetic. When the coffin returns home, the local officials along the way will take good care of it. After arriving at the coffin, an altar will be offered as a sacrifice to show the kindness of the family. This is my honor."

Li Hongzhang took over the decree, Xie En had just finished, and was about to get up, but the second imperial decree arrived again. The decree said: "The cabinet issued an edict: Li Hongzhang, the governor of Zhili University, now that Ding's mother is worried, he should have listened to his final order, so as to be filial. I only think that Li Hongzhang has been in Jijiang for a long time, and it is very complicated to organize all matters. The governor Careful painting, all compromises, deep resources and trust, and stationed in Zhili's battalions, all of them are old troops, supervised and trained over the years, and used them as a powerful force. Recently, the Beiyang Navy has been trained. The scale was created, and it is not easy to start The supervisor of the commercial affairs of various countries has been in charge for many years, and the situation is very familiar. The court thought twice and had to deal with it expediently. Li Hongzhang wrote that he acted as the governor of Zhili with a bachelor, and returned to his post after a hundred days of filial piety. The governor should put state affairs first, restrain his grief, and try his best to report that it is to comfort the loyal ambition of Yimujiao, so there is great hope. I respect this."

Li Hongzhang accepted the imperial decree with tears in his eyes, and said face to face: "I respectfully thank the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty for your kindness!" That night, Li Hongzhang personally wrote a fold of "A Request for the Final System", and the fold was handed over to the local yamen for distribution the next day.Li Hongzhang decided to retire. The coffin soon entered the territory of Anhui. Li Hanzhang, who had arrived home earlier, led his third younger brother Hezhang, fourth younger Yunzhang, fifth younger Fengzhang, sixth younger Zhaoqing, and other members of his family, waiting in plain white at the intersection.The local government also followed the imperial decree and sent a special envoy to take care of Lu.The mourning hall has been properly arranged, and relatives and friends of the Li family, near and far, have all come from all over the place to pay homage.

The governor's office in Anhui and the county office in Hefei naturally didn't dare to be negligent, and they all appointed special missions here to help with the funeral.Li's family mourned, and the whole province was shaken. Li's mother's funeral was held in a lively and grand manner.On the tenth day after the coffin entered the mansion, the imperial decree came to the coffin again. Brothers Li Hanzhang and Li Hongzhang led a whole family to kneel before the coffin and respectfully listen to the oracle.The decree said: "The cabinet issued an edict: Li Hongzhang made a statement to express his feelings, and he still sincerely opened a vacancy to make a final discount. The words of love are sincere, and it is pity to read the good performance. The imperial court governs the world with filial piety. Difficulties. I only think that Li Hongzhang has been in Jijiang for a long time. At this time, the situation is difficult, and all measures are taken appropriately to affect the overall situation. Min Zhong and others are all entrusted with the special purpose to serve as the system. Nowadays, Zeng Guofan and Hu Linyi are also active. Li Hongzhang can only look up to the court's last resort, restrain his grief, and still abide by the former order. After wearing filial piety for a hundred days, he will return to acting , don’t make any more solid remarks. This is what you want.”

The decree officer handed the imperial decree to Li Hongzhang, and when Li Hongzhang thanked him with his face north, he came to the coffin according to the etiquette and performed three kowtows and nine obeisances before turning around and leaving.Li Hongzhang enshrined the imperial decree in the upper hall as usual, sat alone for a long time, then went back into the study, spread paper and ink, and wrote "Zaiqian Final Form" again with a brush. Li Hongzhang wrote: "Thus, anyone who seizes emotion and uses it must be an indispensable person for the country, that is, it is an inevitable situation. Today, thanks to the mighty virtue of the Holy Lord, the four Yis are convinced, and Jiuzhai Qingqing is solid. Shang Yan has nothing to do. However, the minister's treatment of crimes in Jijiang is slightly ineffective compared to the former sages. For several years, mediation was carried out when China and foreign countries were in conflict, and when the soldiers' salaries were scarce. Flaws, but don’t stop the slander of the husband. Although in the temple, the plan is to listen to the words, but not dare to look at the bureaucrats. The accumulation of sincerity is not enough to move people, and it is better to use obscurity to avoid mistakes. , For example, it should be the end of the funeral, but it can be done. At this time, the ministers think of their talents and abilities, but they can't be used for themselves or others, and they have no merit for their work. The responsibility of being greedy and forgetting relatives. If accusations and relegations are combined, not only the court knows people, but also the loyalty of the ministers and mothers, the ministers will be punished even more. It is really embarrassing to think about the advances and retreats of the ministers. Instead of criticizing To be ashamed in the future, He Ruo Li sincerely resigned in advance. I can only appeal to God, forgive me, withdraw my order, and allow the vacancy of the Governor of Zhili in the University Scholars Office, so that I can end my registration. Qu Quan's mother-child love. I am very grateful to Dai Huangren." When Li Hongzhang sealed the fold, his elder brother Li Hanzhang walked in quietly.Li Hongzhang hurriedly got up and helped his elder brother sit down.Li Hanzhang looked at the notebook in Li Hongzhang's hand and said, "Second brother, are you writing a thank you essay? You and elder brother are both old people. Let the master do the work like this. We will check and polish it. That's all for embellishment. The imperial court really relies on you, so they issued decrees one after another. Second brother, as soon as you arrive for a hundred days, go back to your post. Eldest brother takes a few of them to guard your filial piety. Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety cannot be combined. The imperial court asks you to be loyal, so naturally you cannot be filial." Li Hongzhang slowly opened the booklet, handed it to Li Hanzhang with both hands, and said, "Brother, this is the second time I have submitted the final booklet. Take a look and see if there is anything wrong with it?" Li Hanzhang took the notebook and glanced at it, and said in shock: "Second brother, you have committed a stubborn old temper again! Since the founding of the Qing Dynasty, it is the dream of many people that Ding You's official can be robbed by the court. How do you You can live up to the grace of God like this!" Li Hongzhang said in a low voice: "Brother, don't worry, just listen to me slowly. I also have reasons for doing this." Li Hanzhang stopped the conversation and said: "Second brother, don't talk to the eldest brother about retreating bravely. The eldest brother understands everything. Second brother, you should be satisfied. You are a Han official, but the imperial court made an exception to grant you the Wenhua Palace University scholar. You are the first Han official to be in charge of the Wenhua Palace in the Qing Dynasty for a hundred years! The second brother, the eldest brother knew that Liu Xihong impeached you, and you were wronged. Although he participated in your ten crimes However, the imperial court did not send officials to verify the facts! Isn’t this enough to show the imperial court’s trust in you? Second brother, listen to your elder brother’s advice and accept it when you see it. You are only sixty years old, and you are serious. How many years can he be able to do it. Pan Shi'en, the number one scholar in the fifty-eighth year of Qianlong, a veteran of the three dynasties, retired at the age of eighty and returned to his native place. To tell the truth, the elder brother is sixty-four years old, but he will only be sixty-seven years old after the three-year term expires , Big brother still wants to go out and work hard for him for a few years!" Li Hongzhang silently took the booklet from Li Hanzhang, sighed and said, "Brother, everyone has their own difficulties, so don't talk about it. Let me think about this matter." Before leaving, Li Hanzhang said again: "Second brother, outside, you are the Prime Minister, and the elder brother is just a governor, not as famous as you, and not as high in status as you, but at home, I am your elder brother. As for the elder brother, you don't care Listen to everything. Brother is going outside to meet guests now, so you can rest in the room before going out." Li Hanzhang pushed the door and went out. Li Hongzhang frowned and thought for a while, then picked up the folder and sealed it again.He put the pocketbook in his sleeve, called an accompanying officer outside the door, handed the pocketbook to him and said, "Please go to the county government office and let them send it away today." The messenger took the paperwork with both hands, and walked out with a promise.Li Hongzhang walked out of the house, came to the coffin, knelt down on both knees, and continued to guard the coffin for his mother.