Chapter 24 Section 24

When I was packing my luggage, there was a happy event. A telegram came from Anhui. Li Hongzhang's second son said that he had passed the provincial examination and was a high scorer.Li Jingfang, Li Hongzhang's eldest son, was originally his nephew, and Jing Shu was his own, so he ranked second, and he should actually be counted as the eldest son, which is very fortunate. However, Li Hongzhang did not want to show off, so he blocked all congratulators, saying that he was not convinced and did not admit that there was such a happy event.Even if the township list is a fluke, and the cloud road is still far away, I dare not be favored.

It’s just that this reminded him that there are still a few people who must visit. One is Pan Zuyin, the other is Weng Tonghe, the other is Zuodu Yushi Kuirun, and the other is Tonghua, the right servant of the Ministry of Rites. They all passed the Beiwei provincial examination this year. Examiner, enter the arena from the sixth day of August, and only then leave the room at this moment. According to the distance of these four people's residences, they finally arrived at Weng Tonghe's place.The guest congratulates the host, the host congratulates the guest, and the guest congratulates the host.Because this subject was released in the Beiwei Township Examination, it was highly praised, and many celebrities were proud of it, including the so-called "Northern Liu Nanzhang".Nan Zhang is Zhang Jian from Nantong, and Bei Liu is Liu Ruozeng from Yanshan, Hebei.

"How is the situation in Weizhong?" Li Hongzhang said eagerly, "You can measure your talent with a jade ruler, I'm afraid you will have no points in this life." Weng Tonghe said with a smile: "It's a great pity that you talk about Zhongtang as a Marquis and Prime Minister, but you never got a job test! This can't help our younger generations to boast about it." "That's right! I'm in vain for the Imperial Academy, and I haven't even passed the room test." Li Hongzhang suddenly asked, "Is He Lubin familiar?" He Lubin is an Englishman named Hurd. His multi-character name is "Robo", and he thought it was indecent, so he took a homophonic name called Lubin.

Weng Tonghe had met him before, but he was not familiar with him. "He Lubin asked me something, but I couldn't answer. Shuping, I want to ask you for advice today." "I don't dare to take it." Weng Tonghe quickly declined, "I don't know anything about Western affairs, so I can't praise my brilliance." "It's not Westernization, it's not Westernization." Li Hongzhang shook his hands again and again, and then laughed dumbfoundedly. "It's a bit unbelievable to say that He Lubin wants to donate a supervisor for his son to take the Beiwei Township Examination. Do you think it's okay?"

"This is really unbelievable!" Weng Tonghe thought for a while and asked: "How to take the test? Could it be that his son still does stereotyped writing? " "Of course! Otherwise, what will happen?" "It's getting more and more strange!" Weng Tonghe thought for a while and said, "Based on this, it is natural that he has hired a teacher for a long time to teach him crafts, and he intends to let his son follow our 'right path'?" "This is also the sincerity of his admiration. Although He Lubin is a guest, in my opinion, he is more loyal to China than to their own country!"

What's the matter?Weng Tonghe said in his heart.But even though he didn't say anything, Li Hongzhang felt a little uncomfortable with that "laughing and smiling" demeanor. "Actually, it's not surprising. Although he is British, he has been in China for more than 30 years, and his career has been cultivated by my Qing Dynasty..." Then, Li Hongzhang told Weng Tonghe about Hurd's experience. Hurd first came to China when he was the consul in Ningbo for four years in Xianfeng.Soon, he was transferred to Guangzhou and Hong Kong, and served as the Deputy Taxation Department of Guangdong Customs in the ninth year of Xianfeng, and was officially included in China's "Jin Gentleman Record".During the Xinyou coup, King Gong took over the country, and his policy was to put down the rebellion by relying on Britain and France. During this period, Hurd offered good offices and contributed a lot, so he was reused. He acted as the Chief Taxation Department on behalf of Li Taitai.He personally went to various ports on the Yangtze River to set up new customs, which is quite capable.In the second year of Tongzhi, Li Taitai officially resigned, and Hurd was removed and moved to Shanghai.Since then, China's customs affairs have been presided over by Hurd alone.Western affairs, especially in foreign affairs, often ask Hurd to participate in secret affairs and run secretly.Especially after Li Hongzhang became the Minister of Beiyang, China's diplomacy can be said to be in the hands of the two of them.

However, Li Hongzhang denies this aspect, and only talks about Hurd's deep gratitude, "He has long been given the title of chief minister, and this year he has also awarded Hua Ling and Shuanglong Baoxing. Therefore, the United Kingdom sent him as ambassador to China and South Korea." My lord, he insisted on resigning. This is tantamount to renunciation from the British, but I consider myself a Chinese, and now I plan to order my son to take the exam, and I can see that I want to live in the middle of the world. I think, in view of this loyalty, the imperial court does not seem to allow him to take the exam The reason. Shuping, your belly is wide, think about it, is there any example of a foreigner taking the exam in the previous dynasty?"

"This is not surprising in the Tang Dynasty. Li Yansheng, a Jinshi in the Xuanzong Dynasty, was a Persian. The so-called 'brilliant in his heart but not indifferent to his land' is exactly similar to He Lubin's situation. However, Xie There is a certainty, if Xiaohe takes the exam, should he be regarded as a "South dish", "Zhong dish", or a "North dish"? And regardless of the north, south and middle, it always takes up one of our own quotas, I am afraid that the exam will not agree .” Weng Tonghe said jokingly: “Unless we make another 'Yangpan'."

The number of places admitted in the township examination is called "jiequan", while the examination papers of supervisory students are compiled into "dishes", which are classified according to their native places. Fengtian, Zhili, Shandong, Henan, Shanxi, and Shaanxi are "beidang"; , Zhejiang, Huguang, and Guangdong are "South Pan"; Sichuan, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Guizhou are also compiled as "Zhong Pan".Xiaohe's native place is not in the province, and even that province is not willing to let him take the quota.That's why Weng Tonghe joked about compiling the name "Yangdish".

Li Hongzhang specifically talked about this matter with Weng Tonghe, originally to test his tone, because he manages the Guozijian, and donates the prison students for Xiaohe, first of all he has to go through his pass.Listening to what he said now, not only the township examinations have released quotas, but there are no "barbarians" who can accommodate "Hua Xin", and I am afraid that the donation to prison will be rejected. "Zhongtang," Weng Tonghe changed his serious expression again, "You might as well persuade He to dismiss this discussion. During the Sino-French war last year, the trend of Qiu Yang revived, even if the imperial court was gentle and far away, Xiao He was allowed to take the exam. I'm afraid that seeing this blond-haired and blue-eyed girl in Weizhong will beat the drums and attack!"

"This is a due concern. It is a great feeling to teach, to teach." Li Hongzhang stood up, "Unfortunately, I came to you in the chamber, so you can't talk freely. When you leave the chamber, I will return to my post again. .” "Which day will Zhongtang leave Beijing?" "It's always within five days. I won't come to say goodbye at that time." "I'll see you off." "Don't dare to be, dare not be!" Li Hongzhang said, "Next year at the turn of spring and summer, I will always go to Beijing. At that time, I will appreciate your collection!" He said, imitating the method of presenting gifts to King Gong, from He took out a small antique paper envelope containing 2,000 taels of silver bills from the boot page and handed it over, "If you want to come to your Liulichang account, it should be quite a lot. I'm not shy, please give me a face." Weng Tonghe also accepted red envelopes, but he had a choice. People like Li Hongzhang naturally didn't need to be polite.