Chapter 47 Four epoch-making proposals

"Chun Fu, you came just in time." Zeng Guofan greeted Rong Hong, "Zhong Fang talked with me for a long time, and he has some good opinions on the management of the Machinery Bureau. After I leave, you two can talk again. Then discuss it with Guodong, Xuecun, Ruoting, and listen to the opinions of Cole, Stevenson, Fryer and others. Next month, you come to Jiangning and tell me the result of the discussion." "Zhong Fang has talked with me many times about the management of the Machinery Bureau. Some problems are being resolved, but we can't do anything about the fundamental problems." Rong Hong spread his hands, showing a helpless expression. "I went to Ruisheng foreign company early this morning."

"Which country is Ruisheng foreign company opened in?" Zeng Guofan asked. "It was run by a German businessman." Rong Wing replied, "I told them that next year's coal and timber should not be bought by them." "Your coal and timber are also bought from foreign countries?" Zeng Guofan said angrily. "Importing steel, copper, and lead is justified. Is there still little coal and timber in China? Why do you want to buy from foreigners?" "I used to use my own before. This was changed by Ma Zhitai. He said, we ask foreigners to sell machinery and steel, and it is not too much for foreigners to ask us to buy coal and timber. In business, we must let others have some Earn money. Qin Daotai fully agreed, and it was settled like this. In the past few years, he paid an extra 250,000 taels of silver for the two cases of foreign coal and foreign wood. If you use this money to build ships, you can build two Weijing No. I don’t want to buy it anymore from next year, but Ruisheng & Co. said that Qin Daotai has already signed the contract, and it will remain the same next year and cannot be changed.”

"Of course Qin Daotai speaks for the German businessman." Nie Jiyue interjected, "It is said that the foreigner earns 10,000 taels of silver, and he has to give him 2,000 taels of silver. He has made a lot of money by using the power of the Jiangnan Bureau's general office in the past few years. We don’t know how much he got, but only when the bell rings in Xiyang, Ruisheng & Co. gave him seven or eight seats, and the living room is full of foreign goods.” "Some people also say that before Ma Zhitai forced us to buy coal and timber from Shui Sang Co., Ltd., it was because of the benefits Shui Sang gave him." Yung Wing said.

"Chunfu, go tell Ruisheng & Co., and tell me what I said. The contract signed by Qin Shitai does not count. I am the supervisor of the Jiangnan Bureau, and I must sign for large transactions with foreigners in the future." Zeng Guofan said angrily. "My lord, this is inappropriate." Rong Hong said, "In the past, it was signed by Qin Daotai, and he signed it. Foreigners are the most concerned about the contract. If we propose to abolish it now, he will ask us to pay for the loss. Then we will Even worse." Zeng Guofan couldn't make a sound when he heard this, and cursed in his heart: "Qin Shitai who uses power for personal gain, he must be dismissed!"

"Rong will do it. We have to talk about the matter of Ruisheng foreign company." Nie Jitsu said, "if he doesn't buy his coal and timber, he won't be able to sell steel. Instead, he has to buy it from British and American foreign companies. , Midea’s steel is expensive, and its quality is not as good as that of Germany, so even if the two phases are offset, it won’t save much money. The key is that we have to open mines and build steel factories, but I’m afraid this will take seven or eight years.” "There's no way around it." Zeng Guofan thought to himself, "All of this is because we are too backward and our family background is too weak. Right now, we can only suffer some losses and endure the humiliation. It will be easier in ten or twenty years. .”

Thinking of this level, Zeng Guofan felt a little relieved.He said to Yung Wing, "Let's weigh the business of Shui Sang & Co., and now I want to mention another matter to you." "What's the matter? Please advise, sir." Rong Hong said. "You have to take advantage of the favorable conditions of the Machinery Bureau to set up a school." Zeng Guofan said solemnly, "Everything in the world is made by people. Only with talents can there be a career. If the country wants to rejuvenate and become self-improving, it must start and set up a factory." , build machines, build munitions, and build ships, and all these must be done by people, and they must be done by people with blood and ability. Talents are not born, but rely on education. There are so many good craftsmen in the Machinery Bureau, and There is a translation office, and many foreign books and newspapers have been translated, which has good conditions for running a school. You who are capable of doing this should put this matter first, select some bright and studious young people, hire Fryer to teach foreign languages, Cole, Stevenson and Zhongfang's sister-in-law and other Chinese craftsmen taught technology; Xuecun, Renshu, and Ruoting taught mathematics and chemistry; There will be a large number of experts who are both good in character and learning, and there is no reason why the Bureau of Machinery will not prosper!"

"The old man's advice is great. When the school opened, I was the first to sign up." Nie Jitsuki was beaming with joy. "You are both a student and a teacher, and you can teach some classes." Zeng Guofan said with a smile. "The school must be established. Hurry up and make preparations. We still need to build a few houses as the school building. We will strive to open it in the second half of next year. Then the first class will be taught by Lao Zhongtang." Rong Hong expressed his position firmly. "Okay!" Zeng Guofan said excitedly, "My first class will teach Xu Tu self-improvement."

"My lord, there is one more thing, I have been thinking about it for a long time, because the matter is too important, I have never dared to bring it up lightly." Rong Hong looked solemn, it seemed that he wanted to talk about a very important matter. "Tell me, I'll make plans for you." Zeng Guofan encouraged him. "The establishment of schools and the training of talents mentioned by Lao Zhongtang just now are indeed the century-old plan of the Qing Dynasty for self-improvement. This is one aspect, that is, to cultivate talents at home. On the other hand, we have to send people abroad to learn from foreigners."

"Chunfu, your idea is very good and valuable." Zeng Guofan's left eye shot a scorching look rarely seen in many years, "I had this idea a long time ago, but these years I was busy with long hair and twisters, and then It’s teaching cases and horse cases, so I won’t mention it again.” "Yes. I remember that you said this when I met Lao Zhongtang for the first time in Anqing ten years ago, and I have always kept it in my heart. It's just that I saw that Lao Zhongtang was too busy to pass, and I never mentioned it again. , I am afraid that Lao Zhongtang has other ideas, so I dare not mention it these years."

"What other ideas do you think I will have?" Zeng Guofan asked with a smile, he was very interested in Rong Wing's words. "Because I have concerns, I am also afraid that Lao Zhongtang will have concerns." Rong Hong said frankly, "In history, only Siyi sent envoys to China to seek advice from teachers. I don't see China sending people to study. If you propose to send people abroad Asking foreigners as teachers, it is very likely that some people will reprimand them for the differences between Chinese and barbarians, respecting the Chinese and overthrowing the barbarians, etc. As a result, the matter is not done, but it will attract bad reputation. I think the reason why Lao Zhongtang didn't mention it later is also because of on this concern."

"Your idea is not unreasonable." Zeng Guofan said solemnly, "In the sixth year of Tongzhi, King Gong asked to add an astronomy and arithmetic school in Tongwen Hall and hire foreigners to teach, but Wu Genfeng firmly opposed it, and asked King Gong why he should be a teacher. Barbarians. Later, due to the drought, some people played a memorial to withdraw the Tongwen Museum, in order to calm down the changes in the sky. They do not agree to invite foreigners to be teachers, let alone send people to study abroad! Concerns about people’s opposition are naturally one reason, but it is not the main reason. , and other reasons." Zeng Guofan said, took a sip from the tea bowl, and said, "Actually, I think those people have read the sage's book in vain. Confucius said that three people must have my teacher, and he said that he asked everything when entering the Taimiao. The sage Ask for advice with an open mind, and don't take the other party's status as a transfer. Foreigners are also human beings. He has strengths, and we must learn from them. After learning the skills, we can overtake him and subdue him. Wei Mo's words of learning from foreigners and using skills to control foreigners are very profound. In the tenth year of Xianfeng, I told the emperor that I should learn from the wisdom of barbarians to build guns and ships." "Since Lao Zhongtang doesn't have this concern, and the humble official wants to send people abroad, now is the time. Send people out, it is best to send young children." "Send a young boy?" Zeng Guofan put down the tea bowl in his hand, leaned forward and asked, "Tell me, why did you send a young boy?" "The idea of ​​a humble job comes from my own personal experience." Yung Wing said, his dark face was radiant. "Sending young children abroad, I think there are several advantages. First, it is easiest for people to learn languages ​​when they are young. My fluent English is due to the fact that I learned to speak from the British when I was seven or eight years old. I also had six or seven years in Jiangning. It has been 20 years, but I have not learned a word of the local language. Second, studying in a foreign country is very different from studying in China. What I learn at home is always second-hand knowledge, while abroad, I can systematically accept their whole set of knowledge about astronomy and calendar. The education in physics and chemistry can be subtly obtained, and the essence of their knowledge can be obtained. Third, these young children have been abroad for a long time, and their horizons have been broadened. The most advanced ship gun ever made. That way we might catch up and not have to follow others year after year. Fourth, I have always been to Cole, to Stevenson, and even to Mr. Fryer Be wary. I suspect that they will not introduce the best technology and the most advanced equipment to us. For example, the West is now making a large number of new Li Jing guns and new Billy guns, but they have been blocking them. They don’t buy for us either. This news was told to me by a letter from a friend in the past. The old Zhongtang, the ancients said that if you are not of my race, you must have a different heart. It is true that you must be friendly to foreigners, especially those from the Machinery Bureau, but you cannot Completely dependent, although they personally may want to help us develop the arms and shipbuilding industry wholeheartedly, but their government is likely to restrict them behind the scenes, fearing that we will be strong. If we are as strong as them, they will not be able to earn our money For example, when our mines are developed and our steel mills are able to produce steel, Ruisheng & Co. will no longer be able to do a lot of business with the Machinery Bureau. Our armored fleet is completed, and our cannons are more powerful than the French. Luo Shuya It is impossible to threaten us, and the Jin case can be completely left to Lao Zhongtang to handle." Yung Wing's words from the heart touched Zeng Guofan's heart, and also stabbed the deepest pain in his heart.His right hand stroking his beard trembled slightly, and his voice became hoarse: "Chunfu, don't go on talking, I know this better than you. I will explain the matter of sending young children abroad, but there are differences in how to do it. There are fewer difficulties. The first one is how to select the personnel. You have to know that the real scholarly families now hope that their children will take the imperial examinations, how many of them are willing to go to foreign countries to study with foreigners?" Rong Hong pondered for a long time, and said: "Lao Zhongtang is right. At present, the trend is not open. It is still difficult to find suitable candidates in the mainland, especially in the families of officials in the capital. But in Guangdong, especially in the hometown of humble You can find it in the area. For example, Zhong Fang was born in a family of officials, and he was able to come to the Machinery Bureau because his father had been an official in Guangdong for a long time. This is the influence of the atmosphere. After Lao Zhongtang asked the court for approval, he will return to Guangdong for his humble position. Take the test and select yourself." "Chunfu, send young children to study abroad and come back to serve the country after they finish their studies. This is a groundbreaking proposal. I will do my best to support it and make it come true. You can see how old the children are. ?” "About eight or nine years old." "You're too young." Zeng Guofan said, "Too young, no self-control ability, missing parents and home all day long, management personnel are very troublesome. This is the second. The key is too young. After living in a foreign country for ten or eight years, I can count my ancestors and forget my ancestors, and I forgot that I am a Chinese. Without deep feelings for Junfu, how can I talk about returning to China to serve in the future?" "The old man is worried." Nie Jitsu interjected. "I think children between the ages of fourteen and seventeen are the most suitable." Zeng Guofan thought with his beard, "At this age, it is a certainty to have the ability to live independently and basically grasp the essence of Chinese culture. No matter where he goes, no matter how long he stays in a foreign land, he will never forget that he is a subject of the Qing Dynasty..." Just as he was about to speak, Zeng Guofan suddenly felt dizzy for a while, and then he was tongue-tied, unable to utter a complete sentence, and if he continued, he would not know anything.Panicked, Rong Hong and Nie Jitsu hurriedly carried him to the bed, and sent a quick foot to call for a German doctor. The German doctor gave Zeng Guofan injections and medicines, and it took him three days to wake up slowly.Zeng Guofan remembered that this sudden onset of vertigo had occurred for the second time, and this time was better than the previous one.He was very depressed.Fourteen years ago, his father died of the disease.When he fell ill for the second time, he collapsed in Hepingli. After being carried home, he passed away in a coma for a day without leaving a word for future generations. Zeng Guofan couldn't do this.He is well aware of the heavy burden on his shoulders and the influence he has on the world. Many things need to be explained clearly during his lifetime.He has a lot of things in his mind, ranging from his views on the rise and fall of the country to regretting a faux pas in front of someone in the past. He wants to have a fight with his confidants, favorite students, and three younger brothers and two sons. Talk about it in detail.Sixty years of life, thirty years of official career, and twenty years of turbulent waves have trained him to see everything in the world clearly and understand the vicissitudes of the world. He feels that he has entered the stage reached by the sages and sages of the past. Superman realm.But unfortunately, the day of living is not long!He had a feeling of running out of fuel, and he was very sad about it, so he hurriedly ended his inspection of the Jiangnan Machinery Manufacturing Bureau, returned to Jiangning on the Test Sea, and moved into the newly rebuilt Liangjiang Governor's Yamen.