On the fifth day after the conversation between Zhao Xin and Liu Daguan, the Intelligence Bureau obtained the background investigation on Liu Daguan.
People from Jiangning Station and Yangzhou Station visited Yuan Mei and Zhao Yi respectively, and their descriptions were completely consistent with Liu Daguan's own words; the intelligence substation in Liulichang, capital of the capital, found out from the clearance room through a hidden line developed in the Qing court official department. A complete set of selection files, which is much more detailed than the resume provided by Liu Daguan himself.
Officials selected and appointed in the Qing Dynasty, regardless of whether they have connections or not, must submit their candidacy materials to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, which is also called "submitting a confession." The materials involved are extremely complex, including submissions from the candidates, seals and guarantees from the officials of origin, seals and guarantees from fellow officials in the capital, as well as the resume and assessment materials of the former yamen.
Of course, there must be room for fraud. The key lies in the guarantee from fellow villagers and the assessment of the original yamen. However, no one dares to lie about personal information, appearance, academic scores, rankings, three-generation resumes, whether there are adopted children, whether there are relatives, whether there are any avoidances, etc. Because after receiving the materials, the Ministry of Personnel will review the information of the applicants, check their appearance, and determine the qualifications and ranking according to the requirements for official appointment. This step is called "Tang meeting." In addition, the official's personal materials must be reviewed by Jiuqing and Kedao Yushi. Once the fraud is discovered, the entire family's reputation will be ruined, let alone the failure to succeed in the official position. After the official selection is completed, all forms and materials will be stored in the clearance room of the Ministry of Officials, ranging from the first rank to the seventh rank.
Seeing the telegram from the Intelligence Bureau stating that the situation was completely true, Zhao Xin sent someone to the county government's back house that afternoon to inform Liu Daguan.
"Mr. Liu, we have a small team going back to Jilin City for business the day after tomorrow. You go with them. Meet at Anyuanmen at 7 o'clock in the morning. Don't be late. When you arrive in Jilin City, go to the military control meeting in the city to change routes. Then take a carriage to Ningguta, then change carriages to report to the Administrative School in Fuldan City. After the training, your position and whereabouts will be arranged. Contained here are the passes and temporary identity cards for you and your entourage. , please keep it, checkpoints along the way will check it, don’t lose it.”
Liu Daguan took the brown paper bag containing the things from the opponent's hand and asked with some confusion: "May I ask, sir, what is training?"
It's normal for him not to understand. You must know that the word "training" is not a native Chinese word, but was passed from Japan in the modern era of another time and space.
The visitor said: "It's just to take classes and understand our policies and laws. All civil affairs officials must take this step."
Liu Daguan suddenly realized that this was the right thing to do. After the visitor left, he opened the paper bag and took out the pass and temporary identity card. He was so shocked that he was almost speechless. The colorful heads of myself and the servants are clearly visible above. Even the most skillful painter would be unable to depict such a resemblance. He simply reduced his entire head and neck to the same proportion, then flattened them and pasted them on top.
The servant Fushun behind him saw his master standing still and stepped forward to ask. He accidentally saw his photo. He was so frightened that his face turned pale. He sat down on the ground and wailed: "Master, this, this What is it! Why did I become so small? I heard people say in the capital that Bei, Bei pirates know how to take souls!"
In a daze, Liu Daguan suddenly remembered that the day after the Northern Navy entered the city, several officers and soldiers of the Northern Navy came to the county government office and asked everyone in the government office to stand in front of a large piece of blue cloth hanging on the screen wall. Then he gestured at people with a strange black box in his hand, and made a soft "click, click, click" sound.
At that time, everyone including him was confused. Because the Beihai Navy had such a bad reputation, no one dared to ask, so they could only do it cautiously. Could that be soul-capturing? !
Thinking of this, Liu Daguan hurriedly chased after him. Fortunately, the young officer from the headquarters didn't go far, and he stopped him as soon as he arrived at the gate of the county government office. The other party saw that Liu Daguan looked wrong and asked, "Mr. Liu, what happened?"
Liu Daguan's hands were shaking so much that he handed the pass with the big portrait in front of the officer, and said in a trembling voice: "Here, what is this? Why, how can my master and servant be painted so delicately?" "
When the officer heard about this, he immediately couldn't laugh or cry, thinking to himself: How could I have forgotten this? He quickly took out his military officer's ID card and showed his photo to Liu Daguan. He also asked several soldiers on duty in the county government to come over and show him their ID cards. Then he tried his best to explain.
Liu Daguan was very angry after hearing this, and unconsciously adopted the tone he used when he was a county magistrate, half scolding and half complaining: "It's just a method of investigating things. I should explain it clearly at that time! I am not an ignorant person. , if this matter spreads and is used by ignorant people to spread rumors, wouldn’t it tarnish the reputation of Beihai Town?"
The young officer knew he was in the wrong and nodded repeatedly: "Mr. Liu is absolutely right! I will convey your suggestions to the chief when I get back!"
After hearing this, Liu Daguan stroked his beard with satisfaction, showing a "teachable" expression. After the officer left, he looked at his mugshot again, thinking that he was still too nervous at the time and should be more relaxed. Besides, if you want to take a photo, you should take a full-body photo. Showing only the head and neck would be a bit unflattering. I don’t know if I can shoot it again...
It is said that after photography was introduced to China in the 19th century from another time and space, the Manchu officials in the Qing Dynasty were not disgusted with or afraid of the early "Daguerreotypes". After the reason was explained, the people who were invited to take pictures Very cooperative. After seeing the photo, they all thought that the expression was too cool and that someone who was good at painting was not as good as him.
After the Second Opium War, the infamous British Plenipotentiary Minister Lord Elgin James Bruce also demonstrated photography technology during his meetings with senior officials of the Qing government. The then imperial ministers Guiliang and Huashana and the governor of Liangjiang He Guiqing did not refuse to be photographed and looked very relaxed.
Compared with knowledgeable officials, ordinary people looked down upon them like tigers and wolves. Although there was an element of ignorance in this, the people's rejection of foreigners at that time played a key role. For example, there were rumors among the people in Beijing in the 1860s that foreigners bought Chinese children, then gouged out their eyes and made potions for taking pictures; the subjects would lose their souls and even endanger their lives. In the end, even Zeng Guofan believed this statement and even took out a bag of gelatin capsules containing castor oil to discuss with the British.
What Liu Daguan didn't expect was that after the officer went back to report, Deng Fei immediately asked his staff to issue an order in the name of the headquarters, requiring that he must explain clearly before taking photos of Manchu officials in the future, and he could not just say anything if it was too troublesome. . On the morning of the next day, the headquarters sent people to the county government office and called together all the surrendered people who had taken pictures before. He first apologized to everyone, and then explained to them what taking pictures was.
This move by the Eastern Front Command surprised all the surrendering officials. In their opinion, it was the first time that an official had to apologize to his subordinates. Then I thought about it, since others have given me face, I can't lose control of what I do in the future.
Liu Daguan embarked on the road to Fuldan City with joy and expectation. On the other side, He Xiwen, who was urgently recalled to Bacheng, learned that Zhao Xin asked him to lead troops to attack Guangxi, and his heart suddenly turned upside down.
Didn't I become the Governor of Borneo? Has King Zhao changed his mind? Having said that, it is not bad to be able to return to Guangdong and Guangxi, but it is a pity that it is not Guangzhou.
After Wang Yuanfang announced the order, he smiled and asked He Xiwen to sit down and talk, and explained: "Don't think too much. If you want, you will still be responsible for Borneo affairs in the future, but you can let it go for now. Over there with the Manchus and Qing Dynasties The situation has now undergone important changes, and the General Staff has made adjustments to the battle plan for Guangdong and Guangxi."
He Xiwen blurted out: "What happened?"
Wang Yuanfang said in a deep voice: "You know the confidentiality discipline of the army. This matter can only be communicated to the regiment level. When you go back, tell Luo Fangbai too, so as not to misunderstand him." After that, he told He Shen about his defection. I talked about it for a while.
After hearing this, He Xiwen's jaw hit his feet and he was speechless for a long time. In his heart, all he could think of were these four words: "The Qing Dynasty is about to end."
Wang Yuanfang then gave instructions: "Securing Nanning Prefecture and opening up the waterway with Yunnan is not the ultimate goal. You have to keep an eye on the trends in Sichuan. If the Qing army sends troops to Yunnan, you must help Heshen and the others to defend Dongchuan Prefecture and Yunnan Prefecture. ."m.
"Just hold them back? Sir Wang, as I see it, we might as well take down Ningyuan Mansion! As far as I know, Dongchuan Mansion is long from north to south and narrow in the middle. If the Qing army attacks them every now and then, we won't be able to guard against it."
Hearing what He Xiwen said, Wang Yuanfang suddenly remembered that this person was from Sichuan, so he asked: "Where is your hometown in Sichuan?"
"Tongchuan Prefecture, Taihe Town, is not far south of Shehong and on the edge of the Fujiang River." "Do you have any relatives at home?"
"My father and mother are gone long ago, and my sister is married. At the end of the day, I have been away from home for almost twenty years."
Wang Yuanfang walked up to the other party, patted his shoulder to express comfort, and said: "We currently have insufficient troops, Sichuan will wait in advance. As the old saying goes, the money in your pocket, the meat in the pot - can't escape! This time you have There are only 6,000 soldiers, half of them are Hakkas and half of the servant army in Jiaying. Although there is not much problem with communication within the army, it will definitely be a lot of trouble with the language in Guangxi. It can guarantee the water transportation of the 700-mile Youjiang Channel and the Dongchuanfu copper mine. Our safety is already not easy. Also, when entering Guangxi, you must be careful of the soldiers!"
"Wolf soldiers?" He Xiwen blinked and said he had never heard of it.
Wang Yuanfang explained: "These people are local chieftain soldiers. They charge into battle and are not afraid of death. Whether it is the Japanese pirates or the Manchus in the past, they have all fallen on them. Don't be careless. I have heard people say before. There is a jingle, the Guizhou Army and the Yunnan Army are two sheep, the Hunan Army is a wolf, and the Guangxi monkey is the Gui Army, as fierce as a tiger and as evil as a wolf."
Is there any other way to say this? He Xiwen agreed simply, but in his heart he didn't care. No matter how powerful the chieftain soldiers are, they are nothing more than bows, arrows, and crossbows. How many blunderbuss can they have at most, and can they withstand the rapid guns of the Northern Navy? Just a bunch of chickens.
The military officers and government officials who would send troops to Guangxi had been decided. Zhao Xin notified Xu Dayong, who was waiting at Anping Port, and asked him to send a message to He Shen and pay for it quickly so that the troops could be dispatched before July 15th.
As for the solution that Heshen was most concerned about, Zhao Xin discussed with Deng Fei and sent several telegrams to Ding Guofeng to communicate back and forth. Finally, he decided to let Heshen go to Tranquiba in India, which was already occupied by Zhao. The new Danish stronghold they regarded as their own. Although the King of Yunnan couldn't do it, he had such a big stone castle and territory, which was enough for him to deal with.
"My lord, King Zhao has said that everything else is easy to discuss. Yunnan cannot be handed over to you for twenty years. At most, it will be five years. The Northern Navy will definitely march into Kunming."
Hearing Xu Dayong's words, He Shen almost jumped up from his chair and said angrily: "What?! Five years! What I gave you is fifty million taels of real money!"
"Don't worry, sir. I'll settle the account for you and you'll know it clearly!"
With a smile on his face, Xu Dayong took out a small book from his pocket. Under the gaze of the other party, he turned to one of the pages and read according to the script: "According to the information we got from the Ministry of Household Affairs, from the 54th Emperor Qianlong In the five years from 2018 to last year, the output of copper mines in Yunnan was 55,379,846 jins, an average of 1,1075,969 jins per year. Seventy percent of this comes from the Lulu Factory and Tangdan Factory in Huize County, Dongchuan Prefecture, on which Beijing Copper also mainly relies. In addition to these two factories, Huize also has four mining factories, namely Dashuigou Factory, Dafengling Factory, Ziyangpo Factory and Maolu Factory. Mr. He, you have been in charge of the Manchu Household Department for many years. If what I said is wrong, please correct me."
He Shen said with a worried expression: "Even if you get the clearance from the Bronze Chief Secretary, so what?"
Xu Dayong closed the small notebook and put it away, took a sip of tea, and continued: "King Zhao asked me to tell you that as long as the equipment and technology of Beihai Town are used, the annual copper output of Dongchuan will not be less than 15 million. Jin, 80% belongs to you and 20% belongs to us. If you mint coins, you can use the coin minting machine in Beihai Town. You can also save the cost of charcoal and mold making, and the workers can also save a lot. Of course, if you want to take out For copper ingots, Beihai Town must have the right of first refusal, and the price will be based on the market."
Listening to Xu Dayong's endless talk, He Shen began to make plans in his mind. If it is true as Zhao Xin said, he can get 12 million kilograms of copper ingots every year. Each piece of Manchu money weighed one cent and four cents. If the copper content ratio of 50% from the Baoquan Bureau of the Ministry of Revenue was used, a full coin would be worth 3.84 billion cents; and based on the usual ratio of one thousand cents, it would be 384 Ten thousand taels of silver.
Of course, no matter what method is used to mint coins, there will definitely be losses. Moreover, it is not possible to convert a thousand coins into one tael in the market. The Nanyang vassals are short of copper coins, and often more than 800 coins can be used regularly. After deducting the expenses for purchasing white lead, black lead and labor, Heshen thinks it will be about 2.5 million taels per year, which will be more than 12 million taels in five years.
In the two provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou, the Dongchuan Copper Mine alone has 12 million taels in five years. What about other places? You know, there are a total of 33 copper mines in Yunnan! This is just the output of copper mines.
Thinking of this, He Shen felt that Zhao Xin's conditions were not unacceptable.
Regarding Zhao Xin's arrangement for him to go to India, He Shen did not immediately agree, but went back and thought about it all night. He knew that without Zhao Xin's nod, no matter how big the world was, he would have nowhere to go.
Although he was very curious about the "caste system" that Xu Dayong described, it was not a place of China after all. He even wanted to ask Zhao Xin to return to his ancestral home and live in seclusion for retirement.
Coincidentally, his hometown is in Kaiyuan. The specific location is Erjiala at the northern foot of Longgang Mountain and north of the Ying'e River. It is also the place where the Niu Gulu family started.
In the early days, the Manchus were tribal people, and each surname was a tribe. Later, it expanded to a regional ethnic group. Heshen's great-grandfather was called Niu Gulu Niyahana. During the Huang Taiji period, he was named the gatekeeper of the Ying'e Gate due to his meritorious service. Later, he was awarded the honorary title of third-class light chariot captain. When his father Chang Bao was in power, he also served as the commander of the side gate's troops, so He Shen inherited this position after his father's death.
So when Xu Dayong saw him again the next day, he was surprised to find that not only his eyes were red, but the braid on the back of his head had also turned a little gray, making him look ten years older. If he hadn't learned about He Shen's actions from Zhao Xin, Xu Dayong would have felt a little pity for him.
"Master, what are your thoughts?"
He Shen showed a wry smile and said in a hoarse voice: "I still have one condition."
"Tell me."
"Can you let my son Fengshen and Yin De live in Beihai Town for a few years? I only have this child, and the couple did not survive two pregnancies. I heard that the medical skills in Beihai Town are very good, and they have the flesh and bones of the living dead. It is said that it is not difficult for women to cope with childbirth. As the saying goes, a son rushes to birth and a mother rushes to death. I, Eni, gave birth to my younger brother who died in childbirth. I was only three years old that year."
Xu Dayong said: "We have learned about the situation in your house. Fengshen Yinde is an honest person. Although your daughter-in-law is the Princess Heshuo of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, in the end, fighting for the world has nothing to do with her. I think King Zhao should agree."
A smile appeared on He Shen's face, and he immediately took out a bulging envelope from his arms, asked Liu Quan to hand it to Xu Dayong, and said: "Here is the location where 25 million taels of silver are stored and my private seal token. Three One is in Zhili, one is in Jiangning, and the other is in Xuzhou. When you go, just show your private seal to the steward at Zhuangzi, and he will not stop you."
Xu Dayong didn't open it after taking it, and said with a smile: "Master, let's sign the agreement?"
Heshen who handed over the money seemed to have handed over a heavy burden. He first covered his mouth and yawned, then shook his head slightly and said: "I know that King Zhao likes to make covenants with people, Annan, Li Chao, Japan, Oros. .....Haha, Mr. Xu, writing a deed is something that only businessmen do. With my status as King Zhao and you, do you still need it? There is a common saying that if you don’t have faith, you can’t win over the people, and if you don’t have the people, you can’t win. To defend the country. Farewell!"
Liu Quan also raised his hand to Xu Da and said with a smile: "See you later, Mr. Xu."
Xu Dayong was stunned for a moment. It wasn't until He Shen and his master and servant walked out for a while that he realized what was happening. He put his hands on his hips and cursed angrily outside the room: "Damn it! This corrupt official actually taught him a lesson." I'm here!" The transcoding has been serious recently, which makes us more motivated and updates faster. Please use your little hands to exit the reading mode. Thanks
Some people died, but not completely...
