Chapter 6 political opponent plotting

Li Hongzhang in Tianjin, after careful consideration, believed that Zhang Peilun was a man of great ambition and good qualifications, so he was determined to take him in as a helper.Zhang Peilun's father was an official in Anhui, Li Hongzhang's hometown, so he was considered a family friend, so he sent someone to pick him up, and had a long talk with him in Beiyang Yamen. However, prepare to create a new type of navy.He founded the Huai Army by himself, and he knew that the army could not be rectified. In foreign armies, small soldiers have read books and can understand written orders. In China's army, even the battalion officers are illiterate. How can they compare with others?Besides, after the army has been trained well, it has to wait for foreign enemies to set foot on the Chinese territory before it can play the role of protecting the country and the people. It is not as good as the navy to resist the enemy outside the country.Therefore, Li Hongzhang has quietly started to build Lushun Port and set up a naval academy in Beiyang. This ambitious plan will not be enough for ten years.

This is the reason why Li Hongzhang insisted on compromise with the law, and endured momentary anger to seek a century-old plan. Zhang Peilun felt that it was appropriate to seek a long-term view of the country, so he also made many proposals, and they talked very speculatively with each other. "The old man is old! You are talented and have a bright future. In the future, this seat must belong to my brother." This has the implicit meaning of passing on the mantle.Zhang Peilun thought of Zeng Guofan's saying, "Finding a replacement is the first thing to do when doing big things." When he dismissed the Hunan Army and supported the Huai Army, he found Li Hongzhang as a replacement.Come to think of it, Li Hongzhang regarded himself as the "growth of the door" in Xiangxiang, and he found him as a substitute in consideration of his legacy.This kindness is related to the fate of the country, and it should not be let down.

Because of such a tacit understanding, Zhang Peilun has also turned to the main peace faction in secret.At the same time, someone designed for Li Hongzhang to use the method of borrowing a knife to kill people, to dismantle Qingliu's platform - transfer the famous figures in Qingliu out of Beijing, and assign them important military tasks. This is a good way to clean up the flow, and people who are usually good at commenting will be wary when they see this situation, and it is also a good way to suppress public opinion. Li Hongzhang thinks whether it is to borrow a knife to kill someone or go to the altar to pay homage to the general, depending on the person. For example, Zhang Peilun belongs to the latter. He decided to try to ensure that he supervises the Fujian Shipping Bureau founded by Zuo Zongtang and expanded by Shen Baozhen. Book.In addition, you might as well borrow a knife to kill someone.

But this is something that needs to be arranged step by step and realized according to the plan. In addition to Zhang Peilun to suppress the high profile of the main battle, the most important thing is to let the powerful faction of the main battle retreat despite difficulties. Among this powerful faction, the first One was Zuo Zongtang, who had to find ways to constrain him in many ways, and told him to support Peng Yulin's plan. Every step was thorny, and nothing could work.This is what Li Hongzhang specially called Shao Youlian to go north to discuss. "Zuo Xiangyin is nothing more than relying on Hu Xueyan to help him. The last time the disaster relief sent out aid from various provinces, Liangjiang sent 200,000 silver, and the Jiangning treasury was completely empty. He came to Jianghai Customs to borrow it, and I said I would discuss it with Hurd. Knowing the difficulty, Yin retreated, and ended up borrowing 200,000 silver from Hu Xueyan. Without Hu Xueyan, Xiangyin would be helpless."

"Hu Xueyan is really annoying." Li Hongzhang said, "Foreigners still trust him so much that my negotiations with foreigners are also influenced by him." "Since this is the case, there is a way to make foreigners no longer trust him." Shao Youlian said, "At least not as much as they used to trust him." "Yes, the idea is correct. But it's not easy to do, so you need to plan carefully." "There's an opportunity right now—" This opportunity was Hu Xueyan's last loan for Zuo Zongtang, and it was time to repay the principal in the second installment!

When Shao Youlian met Li Hongzhang and agreed to attack Hu Xueyan as the main means of restraining Zuo Zongtang, Hu Xueyan had just arrived in Jiangning. It turned out that Hu Xueyan discussed the itinerary with Mrs. Luoshi, and Mrs. Luoshi urged her to go to Jiangning first, and then to Shanghai. Hu Xueyan thought her plan was very appropriate, because because of Mrs. Luoshi's praise, he knew that Mi Benchang was very good at adapting to changes, which was convenient. In Nanjing, I have to serve Zuo Zongtang, and I can't help myself; when I arrive in Shanghai, Mi Ben always waits on me. Even if there are unfinished things, I can let Mi Ben take care of them. The important event of presiding over the ceremony for her daughter was delayed.

So, while writing a letter to inform Mi Benchang and Gu Yingchun, he packed his luggage for Jiangning—most of the luggage was soil rituals as gifts.Jiangning has the most alternate Taoism, and there is a joke called "the group of Taoism is like hair".These alternate roads send less than one errand all the year round, but the ostentation of the third-rank senior officials has to be shown, so each of them is miserable. I only hope that friends who are rich and vacant and rich errands will go to Jiangning for business, so that they will have a chance to get a little bit of money.Hu Xueyan has many acquaintances in Jiangning, and he is also the "God of Wealth". Naturally, things are things and money is money on this trip, and everyone has to be entertained. The money can still be used in Fukang, Jiangning, but the earth instrument must be brought from Hangzhou. A whole boat was fully loaded, together with Hu Xueyan's special boat, towed by a small steamer specially sent by the Yangtze River Navy, and sailed directly to Jiangning via Jiaxing and Suzhou.

At this time, Li Hongzhang also sent a secret telegram to Shanghai Dao Shao Youlian, asking him to go to Tianjin and have an interview with him on important matters.Shanghai Dao is a local official and cannot leave his post without permission, so he explained in the secret message that the Prime Minister's Office had another telegram telling him to make preparations first, and sail north as soon as the official business of the Prime Minister's Office arrived. It was after Hu Xueyan left Hangzhou for official business that he arrived in Shanghai.But because the sea route from Shanghai to Tianjin took only two days and one night, Hu Xueyan was still on the way when Shao Youlian met Li Hongzhang.

The two ministers of the Northern and Southern Oceans summoned their cronies, with exactly the opposite purpose. Zuo Zongtang took the lead in the battle, actively planning the defense of Nanyang, and fully supported Peng Yulin, the imperial envoy who supervised the military affairs of Guangdong. The method of drawing salary from the bottom of the pot has weakened the strength and momentum of the main combat faction.The first target is Zhang Peilun, the censor of the left deputy capital, because he is the mastermind of Li Hongzao, the leader of the main combat faction, subduing him means capturing the thief and the king.

As far as the purpose of suppressing the main combat faction is concerned, subduing Zhang Peilun is a permanent cure, and attacking Hu Xueyan is a temporary solution.But Hu Xueyan, who bears the brunt, is still kept in the dark. When he arrives in Jiangning, he first rests in his own mansion. Hu Xueyan has mansions in Dayi, the capital of Tongdu, but it is rare to come here once a year. Because of Zuo Zongtang's relationship, this is the second time for Jiang Ning to live here.The "hostess" of this mansion is surnamed Wang, and she was originally a bustard from the fishing alley of Qinhuai's "old courtyard". The old bustard suffered a life-threatening lawsuit and was finally released without guilt. She was so discouraged that she no longer wanted to eat this bowl of "hands-on rice".

That being the case, there is only one way to be good.This bustard, like the false mother of Li Xiangjun described in the novel, although the bustard is not old, in her early thirties, she still has a charm, and if she wants to be good, there are indeed people who are willing to hire her. However, the people in Qinhuai's Goulan inherited the legacy of the "old courtyard" in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. They paid attention to food and daily life, and valued poets and poets. Moderate, gentle and elegant, can not help but shabby.Therefore, there is no ambition to be a good man, and it is rare to have a lifelong entrustment. This happened three years ago. Jiangning Fukang had a new shifter named Jiang Deyuan. The housekeeper of the "mansion" is usually used as a place to entertain special customers. When the "owner" comes to Jiangning, she is the "housewife" who "hosts the middle feed".Of course, the responsibility of the "housewife" also includes the affairs of the house. Wang Bust readily agreed because the food and living in the Hu Mansion were comfortable and free from restraint.That autumn, when Hu Xueyan came to Jiangning, he first took a fancy to the double hooks under her skirt, which were as slender as a crescent moon, lingering overnight, just like what Yuan Zicai said "the flavor of a young lady is better than that of a young girl". In addition to generous gifts, he gave her a The nickname is "Wang Jiuma". The famous story of "the oil seller monopolizes the oiran girl" happened on the West Lake in the Southern Song Dynasty. The old bustard is called Wang Jiuma. This Wang Jiuma has been notified by Jiang Deyuan, and she has long catered to Hu Xueyan's preferences. In addition to making preparations for food, she also inquired about a lot of news as information for companionship and chatting. Among these news, Hu Xueyan was most concerned about Zuo Zongtang's situation.It is said that he was sick and ill, and his spirit was even worse. He could not talk about the Western Expedition when he received his staff and guests, and he opened his "chatter box" when he talked, explaining the merits of the Western Expedition, how the imperial general used both kindness and power, and how mysterious and unpredictable the use of troops was.The next step is to scold people. Zeng Guofan was the first to be scolded, followed by Li Hongzhang, and sometimes Shen Baozhen.These three people are Zuo Zongtang's predecessors, and many of them are in Jiangning, especially Zeng Guofan. In the old department, he was often criticized by the public and said, "The commander-in-chief has a problem with the commander-in-chief, and the grievances between them are hard to say. Even if the commander-in-chief is wrong, everyone has passed by, and he can't hear him scolding. Why bother?" What’s in front of us is trivial. Moreover, the reasoning is not straightforward, and the words are not round. After all, it’s nothing more than the old commander controlling the source of salary and defending the Jiushuai everywhere. His ears are callused.” Hu Xueyan thought to himself, he hasn't seen Zuo Zongtang for only half a year, why is he so depressed?He didn't quite believe it, and when he asked Jiang Deyuan, it was indeed the case. He said, "Jiang Ning can't do many things now. Why? Mr. Zuo speaks first, then scolds. Shiha handed him the teacup, and the waiter outside immediately shouted 'see off'. There was no way to talk about business." "Is this a rare occasion?" "Where? It can be said to be like this every day." Jiang Deyuan said, "Master Zuo is a bit 'crazy', the more people there are, the more energetic he is, and Mr. Da doesn't need to pay attention to etiquette. To see you in the 'upper court', it is better to meet in the flower hall or in the signing room at this moment. , but we can talk about something serious." It turns out that the governor meets the "two divisions" - the feudal division, the standard division, and the staff members below the Taoist level, roughly once every five days. The official hall", and Yamen Shen called it "the upper court".The day Hu Xueyan arrived was October 17th, and he originally planned to "go to the court" the next day, but now he heard Jiang Deyuan's words and decided to accept his suggestion. Seeing the arrival of the "God of Wealth Hu" at the gate, he was very flattering, and he insisted on opening the main gate, and let the sedan chair be carried to the eaves of the official hall to get off. Meet in the signing room." So the attendant opened his bag, changed into casual clothes in the official hall, and led into the signing room. Zuo Zongtang was already waiting, so Hu Xueyan naturally greeted him with a big gift. While Hu Xueyan was talking, he looked closely at Zuo Zongtang's eyes. His left eye was already covered with a layer of white cloud, and his right eye was crying when he saw the wind. He wiped it with a piece of silk from time to time. No, I specially prepared a pair of eye drops, which are refreshing and brightening, very effective.” Then, he untied a small brocade burden that he carried with him and said, “I also prepared a dose of ointment for my lord. , if you obey well, ask your lord to ask Master Qi to write a letter, and I will send it again." "Thank you, thank you!" Zuo Zongtang said, "I now rely on a few friends to help me, not only for private affairs, but also for official affairs. Last time there was a flood in Shandong, Liangjiang sent 400,000 yuan in relief, and the treasury could only afford it." Half of it is thanks to your generosity. However, Liang Jiang cannot return the money yet." "Your Excellency, don't worry about it." Hu Xueyan originally wanted to say one more thing, "I have official money with me, so I should serve it." But when the words came to his mouth, he retracted. "This time Vietnam is in a tight spot. The court ordered Peng Xueqin to supervise the military affairs of Guangdong. I have been with him for 30 years, so I have to help him. Besides, I am ordered to organize the defense of Nanyang, and the foreign affairs of Guangdong and Fujian are also under my jurisdiction. Others It is even more impossible to take care of the situation at the same time. The hateful thing is that the officialdom in Liangjiang, since Zeng Xiangxiang, has become worse and worse, dodging and perfunctory, regardless of the overall situation, so that I have to rely on old friends for help." "Yes." Hu Xueyan agreed very seriously. "Wang Langqing has already left Beijing to go back to Hunan to recruit soldiers. He plans to recruit 6,000 people. Four thousand guns are always enough. Jiangning's Ordnance Bureau has been messed up by Li Shaoquan's brother-in-law. It is handed over to the Shanghai Manufacturing Bureau. The first The reason is that the funds are still unavailable, and the second is that the time is too late, so I think the Transit Bureau can come up with a solution. Xueyan, what do you think?" "I don't know the exact number of foreign guns in stock at the Transit Bureau. But since my lord told me that I need 4,000 guns, I'll find a way to get them all." "Okay!" Zuo Zongtang said, "I knew that discussing with you is just a matter of one sentence, and it's the most enjoyable thing." "Guangyong," Hu Xueyan called him and thanked him modestly, "I have been cultivated by the master, and I dare not serve him wholeheartedly." "It's easy to say, easy to say. One more thing, the soldiers recruited by Wang Langqing, the food and salary will naturally be planned by the Ministry of Households, and the start-up fee is a considerable amount. Liangjiang has to help each other according to its ability. Xueyan, can you do Liangjiang a favor?" If it was in the past, Hu Xueyan would definitely ask: "How much?" But the situation is different now, he thought for a while and said: "Returning to my lord, money is extremely tight in the market now, but it's not tight, my lord has to take care of my old subordinates. Now I follow the adults' orders and raise as much as I want, and when the relief in Shanxi and Gansu fails, I will save people from the well." The so-called "old subordinate" refers to Liu Jintang, and Hu Xueyan is a member of the Western Expedition Transshipment Bureau. He has masters and followers in his duties. Gu Quan's expedition to the west is the main one.Knowing this, Zuo Zongtang had to be worried, thought for a while and said: "Well, I will find the feudal secretary tomorrow to find a solution. If there is any difficulty, then I have to rely on my brother to draw his sword for help." "My lord speaks seriously." Hu Xueyan asked, "I don't know when I will ask for instructions again?" "Ask for instructions" is to listen to the reply, Zuo Zongtang replied: "Soon, very soon, within three or two days, there will be information." So Hu Xueyan stood up and said, "I will follow your lord's command and take my leave today." "Well, well." Zuo Zongtang asked, "Are you all right tonight?" Hu Xueyan knew he wanted to keep him for dinner, so he said anxiously: "There is a dinner that I have to go tonight." "In that case, I won't keep you anymore. I know you have a lot of things to do, so you don't need to come and see me. When I have information, I will naturally send someone to invite you." So Hu Xueyan asked An to resign.Then he went to the Qinhuai River House to attend the banquet. All the people here were people who could be mentioned in Jiangning's official circles. The news was very well-informed. Hu Xueyan had heard a lot of inside stories. Insufficient, the Vietnam matter should end as soon as possible, there is no other way. However, the Zongli Yamen advocated sending a note of France's coercion and unreasonable demands on China to other countries in the world, so as to clarify the meaning behind it.If the French army comes, it will go to war with Japan.Although Li Hongzhang didn't take it seriously, he had no choice but to negotiate peace, and he didn't even have an opponent. The French special envoy De Ligu had already transferred to Japan. "China's distress is that it wants peace and dare not make peace, and it can't fight if it wants to fight." Zhang Fengchi, an alternate member of the Western Affairs Committee of the Supervisory Office, said, "Now it's a situation where each other is 'consuming'. I don't know who can consume more than whom." "So, according to Fengweng, which one is more expensive than the other?" "It's hard to say at this level. However, in France, only their foreign ministers were the toughest, but now their opinions have been harmonious. Their cabinet ministers made speeches in Congress and were determined to fight to the end in Vietnam. As for us, the two pillars of the imperial court, Even if we don't say that the situation is like water and fire, but the opposite is the opposite, and if we can't talk about it, it's a big worry." The so-called "two pillars of the imperial court" refer to Li Hongzhang and Zuo Zongtang.Although most of the people here are officials from Liangjiang, many of them have a deep relationship with Li Hongzhang. Talking about the discord between Li and Zuo is a taboo topic. If you speak carelessly, you will cause trouble, so they all kept silent. . There is only one exception, this person is an alternate Daoist from Shandong, named Yugui, from the Mongolian Banner. He used to be an alternate in Liangjiang. Call him "Brother Yu".This person is very clear about his reasoning, and he is brave enough to do things. He should be a capable person who should be popular, but he only speaks out of his heart, which hinders his official career.This time, I was sent by the governor of Shandong Province to visit Zuo Zongtang in Jiangning to discuss dredging the canal, but after half a month, I still couldn't figure it out, so I was full of complaints. When I mentioned Li Zuo's discord, I couldn't help but speak up. "Mr. Zuo and Li have outstanding achievements. The world looks up to them. The court rewards mediocrity for meritorious service. They are appointed as marquises and prime ministers. The past military exploits are in the past, so we don't need to talk about them. Why should heroes not mention their bravery?" This is obviously talking about Zuo Zongtang, eight people are so close, the taboo is even worse, and no one dares to say a word. Yugui, who was three-point drunk, acted even more vigorously when everyone acquiesced to his discussion: "If you talk about war, the speed of the soldiers is very important. If you talk empty words all day long, you don't do the business. When the soldiers come to the city, you are still in the big city." Tan Chunfeng has passed the Yumen Pass, everyone thinks, what kind of situation will it lead to?" Hearing these words, the guests turned pale, and those who had a deep friendship with Yugui felt very worried for him, because once the words reached Zuo Zongtang's ears, he would definitely go to him, if he just reprimanded everyone It's okay to pause, I'm afraid I will ask him to question: What kind of soldiers do you say "the soldiers are coming to the city"?Is it the French army?In a fit of anger, he was named and impeached severely, and he was accused of threatening and deceiving the public and shaking the morale of the people. At least it was a punishment of dismissal. So some people said in other words: "Brother Yu, Brother Yu, tonight we can only talk about love and moon, drink, drink." Yugui wanted to say more, but Zhang Fengchi, the host, saw the opportunity and said loudly: "Brother Yu's black head, Huang Zhongzhonglu, you can sober up, come, come, come and let us feast our ears." "Yes!" Someone echoed, "Listening to Big Brother Yu singing the black head is really heartwarming. Hurry up, hurry up, where's the 'scene'?" The literary and martial arts arenas are ready-made, and they were quickly set up. "Wu Shi" asked for instructions on what to sing, and Zhang Fengchi said: "Brother Yu is best at 'Tanyin Mountain' and 'Going to the Rooftop'. Let’s explore Yinshan Mountain!” "No!" Yugui replied, "Today I'll reverse the song and sing 'Beard', and I'll sing 'Zhan Su'." When the drummer puts down the drumsticks and leads the huqin, Yugui changes his mind as soon as the door arrives. "I'd better sing on the rooftop." He said. It turned out that Yugui made up a story, and wanted to scold Zuo Zongtang as the general of Shu who lost his street pavilion, "Exaggerating the truth, it will be useless in the end", but thinking about living in a guest place, Zuo Zongtang is a high-ranking and respected man. , is too arrogant, and it is not very suitable, so I don't care about myself. Hu Xueyan's eyes were touched by these situations. Looking back on Zuo Zongtang's high spirits back then, even Zeng Guofan couldn't stop him, but now he is old and despised, and thinking about it like this, mourning for Zuo Zongtang, and at the same time I can't help but have the idea of ​​retreating bravely. It has been ten days in Jiangning, and Zuo Zongtang has never sent anyone to invite him to meet.Since he had something to say in advance, Hu Xueyan was inconvenient to ask for an interview, so he had to ask an acquaintance to inquire, but he still couldn't get the point. Finally, Zuo Zongtang came to invite him, and when they met, there was no nonsense, and he said straight to the point: "Xueyan, I have other plans on the Shaanxi-Gansu side. You allocate 250,000 yuan from the official funds of the Transit Bureau." This sum of money was naturally allocated to Wang Debang, and he confessed it directly without any discussion. "Can this money be allocated here?" Zuo Zongtang asked. "Dial wherever your lord wants." "Okay, I'll dial it here. Make a note for Wang Langqing." "yes." "when are you going back?" "I have been waiting for your lord's life. Now that I have an explanation, I want to leave tomorrow." "By the way, you're going back to have a wedding." Zuo Zongtang asked, "I've already told them to prepare a congratulatory gift when the daughters leave the cabinet. You and I are friends in need, so I can't go to the wedding, so I feel apologetic." "My lord is too serious." "I would like to give you some unique congratulatory gifts. Xueyan, you can think about it for me. You don't have to be polite." "Yes." Hu Xueyan thought for a while and said, "If there is a happy couplet written by an adult, it will really be brilliant." "It's a trivial matter." Zuo Zongtang replied, "But today is too late. Anyway, it will be delivered before the wedding date." "Your Excellency is too busy with official duties, so this is really an unreasonable request for me. Since Your Excellency has allowed me, I have reserved the top seat in the wedding hall." This is a firm promise in disguise, and Zuo Zongtang must not be dishonest, otherwise it would be ugly to have two empty pieces on the front of the Xitang.Zuo Zongtang understood this meaning, and shouted: "Come on!" "twitter!" With a call from the hall, Bainuo on the corridor, a material officer with a bright blue roof came in and stood beside him, waiting for orders. "Ms. Hu's lady is out of the cabinet. I made a happy couplet. As long as you see that I am a little free, remind me of this, so as not to be rude." Zuo Zongtang said again, "You have to keep reminding me." "yes." "Okay! That's all." Zuo Zongtang asked again, "You went to Shanghai first?" "yes." "What do you want me to say hello to you?" What Hu Xueyan was worried about was that the time limit for repaying the principal of the foreign debt was approaching, but seeing that Mi Benchang had not received a letter, I thought it had already been settled, so there was no need to ask Zuo Zongtang to bother. "I'll ask your lord when there's something else." "Okay!" Zuo Zongtang said, "This time you come, I can't even spare the time to treat you to a meal. It's a bit unreasonable." "My lord is too polite." Hu Xueyan asked, "I don't know if your lord is in Shanghai or Hangzhou. Is there any appointment?" Zuo Zongtang thought for a while and said, "It's Wang Langqing's four thousand guns." "This matter, I will definitely take care of it." "There is nothing else." Zuo Zongtang said, "I just need your words, and I will ask you when I think about it." After Hu Xueyan left, he heavily entrusted the officials to remind Xilian of that incident.Of course, there must be a red envelope with "Farewell" written on it. As soon as he arrived in Shanghai, Hu Xueyan regretted that there were too many wasted days in Jiangning.Shanghai also seemed to have changed in a different way. The so-called market was depressed. When acquaintances met, they either inquired about the war, or asked where the best place to take refuge was.These situations are not seen in Jiangning. As a bank, I am most afraid of encountering such a situation, where rumors are everywhere and people are in panic.Moreover, when encountering this kind of situation, rich people believe that holding cash is the most appropriate thing. Therefore, several banks have closed down due to poor turnover and poor turnover.Fukang is a gold-lettered signboard, and it has been less affected, but there is another crisis in the dark, but Mi Ben always keeps his mouth shut and keeps Hu Xueyan from knowing. But even so, Hu Xueyan had a big headache.The first is to supply Wang Debang's 4,000 foreign guns. The stock of the transfer bureau is only 2,500, which is still 1,500 short. They need to be purchased in cash. Each gun is 18 taels of silver, which is about 30,000 taels of silver. This is still a trivial matter, but the troublesome thing is that he has already agreed to it in front of Zuo Zongtang. If the payment is not enough, it will be related to credit. "Uncle, you don't have to pay too much attention to this matter, just show Zuo Xiangyin the order in the future." "Ying Chun," Hu Xueyan said, "I have never compromised my words in front of Zuo Xiangyin, and this time, I'm afraid it's the last one or two times I will do errands for him. The most important thing for a person is to keep the fate and keep talking. In other words, when the time comes, I will lose my trust once, not to mention that Zuo Xiangyin may become suspicious, thinking that I have nothing to rely on him, and I am not as loyal to him as before. Even I am really not reconciled. The sign that was made, was smashed for this trivial matter. Ying Chun, think about it for me, and do me a favor no matter what." Dealing with ammunition has always been Gu Yingchun's business, and he has never said a single polite word, but when he suddenly said "I want to help anyway", Gu Yingchun certainly felt very uncomfortable. He thought about it for a while and said, "Let's see if Japan has a way to think about it. If there are ready-made goods, there is still time in time, but the price of the gun cannot be negotiated." "The price of a gun is a trivial matter, as long as it is quick. Ying Chun, you can do it today." According to his request, Gu Yingchun ran away for two days, and finally got a clue. He was eager to report to Hu Xueyan, but he searched here and there, but in the middle of the night, when Gu Yingchun was about to go to bed, Hu Xueyan It arrived unexpectedly, and his complexion seemed a little abnormal. "Master, I'm afraid I'm exhausted." Rui Xiang came to take care of it herself, brought a cup of ginseng soup, and asked, "Are you hungry?" "Hungry is hungry, can't eat." "Think about it," Gu Yingchun said, "get something appetizing for a midnight snack." After Ruixiang left, Hu Xueyan asked, "Where is Seventh Sister? Are you asleep?" "Yes. She goes to bed early." "Then don't disturb her." Hu Xueyan asked again, "I heard that you have been looking for me for a day." "Yes!" Gu Yingchun said enthusiastically, "I have good news to tell my uncle, the gun has been found." "That's good!" Hu Xueyan was also very happy, "Where did you get it?" "Japan. It's interesting to say that these guns were originally intended to be sold to the French." "That would be even better, what's the ins and outs?" It turned out that France hastily sent troops for reinforcements, and wanted to replenish a batch of guns in the east on the spot, and found an arms dealer in Japan, who had 2,000 guns to sell.Gu Yingchun made many investigations, and when he got such news, he asked someone to send a telegram to ask, and he was willing to buy 1,500 sticks at a high price.Call back to negotiate a price of twenty-five taels of silver, plus water feet. "So, is it finalized?" "It's finalized. According to his price, we will take care of the water feet. We have wired 10,000 silver." Gu Yingchun added, "We will deliver the goods to Shanghai in half a month." "Twenty-five taels is twenty-five taels. Finally, one thing on my mind has been settled." Hu Xueyan suddenly asked: "Ying Chun, have you heard that Lao Mi is secretly making north-south goods without telling me?" After pondering for a while, Gu Yingchun said: "I heard it, I don't know the details." "It is said that a ship hit a French mine and sank with heavy losses." "The loss won't be big." Gu Yingchun replied, "I always bought insurance." Hu Xueyan nodded, with a comforting expression on his face, "Ying Chun," he asked, "Do you think I should tell Lao Mi face to face?" This point has a lot to do with it, Gu Yingchun didn't dare to make mistakes, but after a while he asked back: "What do you think, grandpa?" "As long as the risk is not too high, I think it's better not to talk about it than to talk about it. As the saying goes, 'destroy the cowshed'. Once it is said to be broken, he will simply let it go. If that happens, I will have to replace him! Bitter Yes, I couldn't find a suitable replacement." Next, Hu Xueyan talked about his other troubles. The second installment of the principal of the foreign business loan should be repaid, and the deadline was at the end of October. Mi Ben often went to the Shanghai Dao Yamen to press for questions at the beginning of October. The answer he got was: Provinces have not yet arrived.As soon as Hu Xueyan arrived in Shanghai, he visited Shao Youlian of Shanghai Road, and his reply was the same as before, but Shao Youlian added a word: "Don't worry, brother, I will try my best to urge you. Before or after the deadline, you can always urge them." "You can only expect the future, not the future. Brother Shao, you know that foreigners are the most trustworthy." "I know. But the money is not in my hands, so there is nothing I can do." Shao Youlian said again, "Xue Weng, five hundred thousand silver is nothing to you. If you don't get all the money before the due date, you should pay for it first, but Suffering a few days of interest." One sentence blocked Hu Xueyan's mouth, "What he said is not wrong, of course it doesn't matter if I put it in, but I just can't make it up." Hu Xueyan said, "It's a coincidence, it's a misery." What is "unfortunately a coincidence"?Gu Yingchun had to think a little more before he realized that when unfortunate things come together and become a coincidence, it is "a coincidence is a coincidence".If you think about it carefully, there are many unfortunate facts. The first is that the market is in a downturn and money is extremely tight; The new silk reeling factory’s plan to find a way out for the stock has never been successful. At present, there are silk stocks in Tianjin and Shanghai, but they are selling at a reduced price, and there are no buyers; the third is Zuo Zongtang. Ten thousand silver, and now it is necessary to allocate 250,000 taels to Wang Debang. Although it is the official fund of the Transit Bureau, there is always a short position that can be dispatched; the fourth is the auspicious date of the fifth day of November. More, at least 200,000 silver should be prepared; in the end, Mi Benchang secretly borrowed the name of the client to withdraw the deposit to do the North-South goods business. According to Gu Yingchun's estimate, it was about 100,000 silver. "Today is the twenty-fifth of October. This month's Xiaojian will not arrive in ten days until the fifth day of November." Hu Xueyan said, "This position is not fair, so how can we rest assured about the wedding." "Young uncle, don't worry. After all, there is only half a million silver. Besides, this is not my personal debt. There is always a way to think of it." "If you want to think about it, you have to think about it early." Gu Yingchun pondered for a while and said: "Now we have to proceed step by step, while urging Shanghai Road, and at the same time find ways to adjust the position by ourselves. If the two aspects are not satisfactory, there is a last resort, please ask HSBC to extend the period, at worst, pay interest." "I've also thought about this level, and I'm afraid that others, like Shao Xiaocun, will say, 'You should do it first'. I have nothing to say." "No. Foreigners have a clear distinction between public and private, and they will not ask private individuals to advance the debts owed by the public. If they really say such a thing, my uncle will reply to him: 'My advance is not as good as yours. In the past, HSBC would lend money to Fukang, Fukang didn’t want to use it, so he still used it, and now Fukang is still borrowing from HSBC.” See what he says.” "That's true." Hu Xueyan nodded deeply. "My uncle is willing to do this, so I will discuss it with HSBC first. Can't my uncle rest assured?" "Slowly, slowly!" Hu Xueyan waved his hands again and again. It turned out that he had his concerns, because asking for an extension meant that he couldn't even advance half a million silver.When the word spread and his golden signboard was cut off, not only Zuo Zongtang would have doubts about his strength and skills, but on the fifth day of November, the congratulators at Yingmen would inevitably talk about this matter, and the happy event and scenery would also be Greatly reduced color. "Let's take the first step and the second step first." Hu Xueyan said, "I will take the first step, and I will leave the second step to you." The first step is to go to the Shanghai Provincial Yamen to press for inquiries, and the second step is to "make arrangements by yourself."This step was nothing more than urging Mi Ben to do it frequently, Gu Yingchun, because of past grudges, refused to do this thankless task, and it might be futile, so he looked embarrassed. "How about it?" "I want to make a transfer with my uncle. The first step is for me, and the second step is for my uncle." Gu Yingchun said, "It's justifiable for my uncle to urge Old Mi. It's comfortable, and I won't buy it." "Alright." Hu Xueyan said, "Things are going to be fast." "I'll go tomorrow morning. I have acquaintances in the Shanghai Dao Yamen." Gu Yingchun said, "My uncle will come to have lunch at noon tomorrow to hear the news." "Okay." Hu Xueyan said, "We will meet sooner or later these days." At noon the next day, Gu Yingchun brought an excellent news that the "Western Salaries" assisted by the provinces were almost collected, and the earliest payment had already been remitted in early October. "There is such a thing!" Hu Xueyan was very confused, "Why did Shao Xiaocun tell me that he didn't receive a penny? Where did you get the news?" "I have a junior from my hometown. I took care of him in the early years. He is now the foreman of the telegraph room in the Shanghai Dao Yamen." "That's good!" Hu Xueyan was both happy and angry, "Shao Xiaocun doesn't know what the hell he's planning, so I have to ask him carefully." "You don't have to be like that. I think the best way is to ask Mr. Zuo to send a telegram to Shao Xiaocun." It turned out that Gu Yingchun had received another very confidential information from his fellow juniors, saying that Li Hongzhang was trying to attack Zuo Xiaocun. Therefore, Zongtang thought that Shao Youlian had ulterior motives for keeping Hu Xueyan in trouble.But this news, which has not been confirmed, told Hu Xueyan, and it would cause right and wrong instead. Only Zuo Zongtang came forward, and the words were harsher, with a hint of warning, which made Shao Youlian feel scruples, and set aside the collection before the deadline. It is the best policy to settle Hu Xueyan's responsibility with the money. But how could Hu Xueyan understand his intentions, he still had the intention of maintaining face in front of Zuo Zongtang.When he was in Jiangning, Zuo Zongtang once asked him if there was anything he needed to come forward, which meant that Shanghai Road collected "Xi's salary" on behalf of him. At that time, if he asked him to write a letter to urge Shao Youlian For a normal answer, Zuo Zongtang would not think of going elsewhere. He had already answered that he had nothing to worry about, but in the end he was still required to come forward. Therefore, he replied: "There is no need to work on the old man. Since all the provinces are almost here, I will rush him." Hu Xueyan has always been able to hold his breath, but this time he lost his patience because he was upset by so many things. He hurriedly went to see Shao Youlian, and answered at the door: "Master Shao has gone to inspect the manufacturing bureau." I went to the Transit Bureau and ordered the copywriter to write to Shao Youlian. The wording was very blunt, a bit bureaucratic, and implied that if Shao Youlian could not pay as scheduled, Zuo Zongtang had to ask Zuo Zongtang to take care of it himself. 这封信送到江海关，立即转送邵友濂公馆，他看了自然有些紧张，因为“不怕官、只怕管”，自洪杨平定后，督抚权柄之重，为清朝开国以来所未有，左宗棠是现任两江总督，如果指名严参，再有理也无法申诉，而况实际上确也收到了好几省的“西饷”，靳而不予，也是件说不过去的事。 因此，他很不情愿地作了个决定，将已收到的“西饷”开单送交转运局，为数约四十万两，胡雪岩只须垫十万银子，便可保住他对洋人的信用。 但就在写好复信，正发出之际，来了一个人，使得他的决定整个儿被推翻。 这个人便是盛宣怀，由于筹办电报局大功告成，不但成了李鸿章面前有数的红人，而且亦巴结上了醇亲王的关系。此番是衔李鸿章之命，到上海跟邵友濂来商量，如何“救火”。 “救火”是盛宣怀形容挽救眼前局势的一个譬喻，这也是李鸿章的说法，他认为由越南危局引起的中法冲突，他有转危为安的办法，但主战派的行动，却如“纵火”，清流的高调，则是火上浇油。但如火势已灭，虽有助燃的油料，终无所用。意思就是打消了主战的行动，清流便不足畏。 那么，谁是“纵火”者呢？在李鸿章看，第一个就是左宗棠，第二个是彭玉麟。至于西南方面如云贵总督岑毓英等，自有办法可以控制，即使是彭玉麟，倘无左宗棠的支持，亦可设法让他知难而退。换句话说，擒贼擒王，只要将左宗棠压制住，李鸿章就能掌握到整个局势，与法国交涉化干戈为玉帛。 “小村兄，你不要看什么'主战自强'、'大奋天威'、'同仇敌忾'，这些慷慨激昂的论调，高唱入云，这不过听得见的声音，其实，听不见的声音，才是真正有力量的声音，中堂如果不是有这些听不见的声音撑腰，他也犯不着跟湘阴作对——湘阴老境颓唐，至多还有三五年的富贵而已，何必容不得他？反过来说，如果容不得他，就一定有非去他不可的缘故在内。小村兄，中堂的心事，你先要明白。”中堂是指李鸿章。 盛宣怀的词令最妙，他将李鸿章对左宗棠的态度，说得忠厚平和，一片恕词，但在邵友濂听来，是非常明白的，李、左之间已成势不两立，非拼个你死我活不可了。 “是的。”邵友濂矍然警觉，“我明白。不过，我倒要请问，是哪些听不见的声音？” “第一是当今大权独揽的慈禧皇太后，她辛苦了大半辈子，前两年又生了一场死去活来的大病，你想，五十岁的老太太，哪个不盼望过几年清闲日子的，她哪里要打什么仗？” “既然大权独揽，她说个'和'字，哪个敢不奉懿旨？” “苦就苦在她什么话都好说，就是这个字说不出口。为啥呢？洪杨戡定大乱，从古以来，垂帘的太后，没有她这样的武功，哪里好向廷臣示弱？再说，清流的论调，又是如此嚣张，只好表面上也唱唱高调，实际上全不是这么回事。” “我懂了，这是说不出的苦。”邵友濂又问，“第二个呢？” “第二个是当政的恭王，他一向主张跟洋人打交道，以和为贵，如今上了年纪，更谈不上什么雄心壮志了。” “英法联军内犯，恭王主和，让亲贵骂他是'汉奸'，难怪他不敢开口。可是，醇王一向主战，怎么也不做声呢？” “这就是关键所在。如今的醇王，不是当年的醇王了，这几年洋人的坚甲利兵，”盛宣怀停下来笑一笑说，“说起来倒是受了湘阴的教，西征军事顺手，全靠枪炮厉害，这一点湘阴在京时候，跟醇王谈得很详细。醇王现在完全赞成中堂的主张，'师夷之长以制夷'，正在筹划一个辟旅顺为军港，大办海军的办法，醇王对这件事，热衷得不得了，自然不愿'小不忍则乱大谋'。” “嗯！嗯！有这三位，中堂足足可以择善固执。” “提到择善固执，还有个人不能忽略。小村，你是出过洋的，你倒说说看，当今之世，论洋务人才，哪个是此中翘楚？” “那当然是玉池老人。连曾侯办洋务都得向他请教。” “玉池老人”是郭嵩焘自署的别号，“曾侯”指驻法钦差大臣曾纪泽。事实上不仅曾纪泽，连李鸿章办洋务亦得向他请教，因为李鸿章虽看得多，却不如郭嵩焘来得透彻，同时亦因为李鸿章虽然亦是翰林，而学问毕竟不如郭嵩焘，发一议，立一论，能够贯通古今中外而无扞格，以李鸿章的口才，来解说郭嵩焘的理论，便越觉得动听了。 “现在彭雪琴要请款招兵，王阆青已经在河南招足了四千人，这就是湘阴派出去'纵火'的人，一旦祸发，立刻就成燎原之势。中堂为此，着急得很，不说别的，只说法国军舰就在吴淞口外好了，人家已经亲口告诉中堂了，随时可以攻制造局，这是北洋的命脉之一，你想，中堂着急不着急？” 听得这话，邵友濂大吃一惊，他总以为中法如有冲突，不在广西，便在云南，如果进攻高昌庙的制造局，便是在上海作战，他是上海道，守土有责，岂不是要亲自上阵跟法国军队对垒？ 转念到此心胆俱裂，结结巴巴地说：“上海也有这样的话，我总以为是谣言，哪知道人家亲口告诉了中堂，是真有这回事！” “你也不要着急。”盛宣怀安慰他说，“人家也不是乱来的，只要你不动手，就不会乱挑衅，你要动手了，人家就会先发制人。” 这话说得再明白不过，邵友濂立即答说：“无论如何不可让湘阴把火烧起来。放火要有放火的材料，没有美孚牌煤油，没有一划就来的火柴，火就放不起来。杏荪兄，你说是不是？” “一点不错，这就叫釜底抽薪。” “要釜底抽薪，只有一个办法。”邵友濂说，“煤油、火柴都在胡雪岩手里，没有胡雪岩，湘阴想放火也放不成。江宁官场都不大买湘阴的账，他说出话去，多多少少要打折扣，只有一个人，他说一是一，说二是二，就是胡雪岩，譬如——” 譬如山东水灾助赈，江宁藩台无法支应，左宗棠向胡雪岩借银二十万，如响斯应，这一回王德榜募兵援越，不但四千杆洋枪由胡雪岩筹划供给，补助路费亦由雪岩负责等等，邵友濂举了好些实例。 结论是要使得左宗棠“纵火”不成，非除去胡雪岩不可。