In fact, the Qing government also wants to return to the three northeastern provinces. After all, they are their own land of Longxing, but Russia is currently stationing troops and refuses to leave. Although Japan intends to intervene, its ambition is obvious: they want to drive away Russia and occupy the Northeast.
Only the Qing court was caught in the middle and suffered from both sides.
Ding Nailiang really didn't care much about political matters. He just wanted to do a good job in his educational career, but he was still aware of the international situation. He said: "Russia and Japan are both eyeing each other, so the prince naturally wants to mediate between them."
But Yi Kuang said: "What is the mediation? It's just trying to maintain the situation. Everything still needs the Queen Mother's arbitrary decision."
Yikuang really can’t take responsibility!
Speaking of which, last year's "Xin Chou Treaty" was actually signed by him and Li Hongzhang together. But for some reason, later generations only remember Li Hongzhang as a "traitor", and he stayed out of the matter.
The original copy of the "Xinchou Treaty" is still there, and it is indeed difficult to see the words where the last signature was signed. Li Hongzhang's signature looks a bit like the word "Su", which corresponds to his title of Su Yibo. The signature of Yi Kuang next to it is too difficult to read.
Anyway, the real name of a place like this is too embarrassing!
Now that Li Hongzhang, the most knowledgeable person in the Qing Dynasty about foreign affairs, is dead, Yikuang himself really cannot handle many things.
Therefore, he is also prepared to learn more from foreigners, understand Western learning, and understand Westernization.
If he wasn't too busy with things, he would really like to travel around Europe like Li Hongzhang and see why others are so powerful.
Yikuang walked into the main hall and saw the crystal chandelier. His boredom eased a lot, and he praised it: "Foreigners do have some things that seem novel."
Zai Zhen interjected: "Father, after installing it, our hall will be much brighter. It will be much more comfortable to play cards in the future."
Rui Zheng stopped studying the right pair at this time and immediately came over to it, "Master, this lamp is a genuine Italian product. It took a lot of trouble to buy it."
Yikuang was quite satisfied and said, "It must have cost a lot of money."
Zai Zhen said: "It's not much, three thousand taels."
"Three thousand taels!" Yi Kuang was a little dissatisfied, "The lanterns in the palace are only one or two hundred taels each, but this thing costs three thousand taels?"
After noticing Yikuang's attitude, Zai Zhen immediately looked at Rui Zheng and said, "You bought this, so tell me."
The hot potato was delivered to his hand at once, and Rui Zheng had no choice but to bite the bullet and said: "Master, the etiquette does not stipulate that foreign chandeliers are over-standard, so I just wanted to pick a good one..."
Yikuang's caution was justified: when Heshen's house was ransacked, a royal lantern was found in the basement, which was added to his death sentence.
Yikuang thought about it and said, "Okay, don't mention this again when you go out. If anyone asks, just say it was a discarded item that I spent three hundred taels on."
Yikuang removed a zero at once, and Zai Zhen was secretly unhappy. He couldn't pretend to be 13 in front of Pu Wei, and saying 300 taels was not enough to embarrass himself!
The vigilance of young men like them is still far behind that of old foxes like Yi Kuang.
The topic of the chandelier had to be left behind before Ding Haoliang could call Li Yu over and introduce it to Yi Kuang.
Yes, it was so troublesome to do things at that time. It took most of the morning before I got to the point.
Yikuang often comes into contact with Ding Nailiang, and with his guarantee, he is naturally not worried at all: "Very good, if we have more talents like this in the Qing Dynasty, there will be no need to worry about big things happening!"
Li Yu secretly laughed in his heart, you, the Qing Dynasty, are now like a grasshopper after the autumn, and you can't jump around for a few days. But he still praised him verbally: "Your Majesty, you have promoted me."
Yikuang naturally regarded Li Yu as Ding Hailiang's man and said, "You will stay in the house during this period. Ruizheng, please tell me to prepare a good room for you."
Rui Zheng was angry in his heart, but he didn't dare to let it out. He quickly responded with a few words and exited the hall.
Yikuang originally wanted to stay with Ding Haoliang for dinner, but a servant came to inform him that the Dutch minister was waiting at the Prime Minister's International Affairs Office because it involved official business and required a seal. This kind of thing couldn't be done at home, so Yikuang had no choice but to go on errands again.
When Ruizheng came back, Yikuang was about to go out. He wanted to take him back to the Yamen, but after thinking about it, the Dutch minister seemed to speak Dutch, so he left by himself, muttering to himself: "Foreign people" It’s really troublesome, I have to find many translators!”
After sending Yikuang and Ding Yailiang away, Ruizheng said to Zai Zhen: "My young prince, I have arranged a wing in the West Fourth Courtyard for Li Yu. What do you think?"
Zai Zhen frowned: "It's too young, let's just let the West Third Hospital out."
"Isn't that reserved for foreign masters?" Rui Zheng said.
"It's okay. It looks like Puland won't be able to come back within a few months."
Puland, an Irishman, is now the secretary-general of the Industrial Bureau of the British Concession in Shanghai and a reporter for The Times. After the 1898 Coup, he helped Kang Youwei get a ferry ticket from Shanghai and escape to Hong Kong. Now the Empress Dowager Cixi is still angry with him and dare not return to Beijing.
Pu Lande lived in Prince Qing's Mansion for a long time and taught Zai Zhen English during this period, so Zai Zhen's English level was actually pretty good.
Li Yu took advantage of him and changed the shotgun into a cannon, directly changing from the side room in Tongwenguan to the courtyard.
In the evening, Yikuang invited him to have dinner with him.
Under the brand-new chandelier, it feels extremely luxurious as soon as it is served: fried chicken with winter bamboo shoots, steamed sea bass, Wensi tofu, dried five-flavor spice, Sixi meatballs, Yangzhou dried silk...
The tableware is also extremely exquisite and comes from Jingdezhen official kiln. Each of these porcelains will be priceless in later generations, because as early as the last years of Xianfeng, the official kiln in Jingdezhen had been destroyed.
But for Yi Kuang, this is nothing, because he is really too rich...
What an evil feudal society!
Li Yu cursed a few words in his mind, and then quickly filled his stomach.
Gou Jian was so brave that he even ate the feces of his enemies. Isn't it reasonable for him to order food from the Qing Dynasty's powerful people?
It's just that my expedient solution is indeed not as tragic as that of senior Gou Jian.
Yikuang wiped his mouth and said to Li Yu: "I heard from Professor Ding that your level is very high. I take the time to listen every day. You can start talking."
Is this the beginning? Not even a theme?
Li Yu asked: "I wonder what aspect of Western science the prince wants to know?"
Yikuang lay down on the chair: "I didn't know that, so I just picked up the important things."
Li Yu didn't expect Yi Kuang to be so casual. He didn't even know where to start. He looked at the night outside and said, "How about we talk about astronomy?"
"Astronomy? Well, this sounds interesting."
When Li Yu went to college, his undergraduate major was mechanical design, which was his family's choice. Later, I developed a strong interest in physics and mathematics, so I took a double major in physics and a postgraduate degree in physics.
What he is best at is astrophysics and quantum mechanics.
Of course, to deal with Yi Kuang, middle school knowledge may be enough.
