The news that Military Governor Vaize was going on an inspection tour began to spread, and Li Hongzhang, Director Li, also knew a little bit of the news. Please search for it! Director Li felt that there was no reason for him to get involved, so Director Li put these problems to the back of his mind. He only communicated with the Korean envoy and asked Zuo Zongtang for advice.
When he went to Zuo Zongtang's house, Li Hongzhang met two rare guests. The Taiping Rebellion's King Yi Shi Dakai and King Zhang Lin Fengxiang were actually at Zuo Zongtang's house. The Taiping Rebellion's old troops surrendered in two parts. After the young king, Hong Tianfugui, defected to the Liberation Army, a group of old brothers led by Lin Fengxiang surrendered. Shi Dakai took another group of people and ran to Ningxia and Xinjiang.
The Liberation Army did not attack immediately. Instead, they worked to assess the Mongolian area and fight with Russia. Until the railway was built through Mongolia to Xinjiang, the Liberation Army pounced from the north to the south. The subordinates of Shi Dakai and others, who were trapped in Chou City, "revolted." These princes were given to the Liberation Army as a meeting gift.
Vézé had never been a narrow-minded person. Vézé did not kill the Taiping Rebellion people, nor did he imprison them. Those who were willing to return to their hometown were arranged to do so. Those who were unwilling to return to their hometown were arranged to work in Nanjing and given a salary. This group of princes did not lack money, and Wei Ze did not strip them of everything. With the little money they had left, it would not be a problem for them to be rich.
After a brief conversation, it turned out that Shi Dakai had also bought a good house in the upper-class neighborhood where Zuo Zongtang lived. Other princes of the Taiping Rebellion had also bought houses in this area.
As for King Zhang Lin Fengxiang, this person had always been on good terms with Vézé. Lin Fengxiang has a high reputation in the Taiping army. He cannot be ignored. Vézé simply arranged for Lin Fengxiang to be the chairman of the Guangxi Provincial People's Congress. Only the heavens knew what these two groups of losers were thinking. They actually held a gathering. The addition of Li Hongzhang increased the size of the Defeated Generals Group quite a bit.
After sitting down, Li Hongzhang heard Zuo Zongtang say to Lin Fengxiang, "Director Lin, His Majesty is very well."
Lin Fengxiang's expression was calm. "It's very easy to offend people when it comes to personal matters, but I can't find a way not to offend them. After all, these procedures were set by the government, and the National People's Congress only requested the government to implement these procedures. You've already offended him badly. "
"Humph!" Zuo Zongtang snorted. This dissatisfaction was naturally not directed at Lin Fengxiang. "Director Lin, when I was an official in Manchu Qing, I boasted that I really wanted to do something for the country, for the people, and leave my name in history. After I entered the bureaucracy, even if I could use the precarious situation in Hunan to threaten the officials to do something, I couldn't do anything. The current Min dynasty has an excellent system that has never been seen before. The government has made it clear what they want to do for the people, and they've also made it clear how to do it. The National People's Congress only needs to supervise according to the government's instructions. What's there to be afraid of? "
Lin Fengxiang was usually not a talkative person. After listening to Zuo Zongtang's righteous words, he shook his head helplessly. "Mr. Zuo, others say that as a loser, I only got to my current position because of the Prince Of Qi's favor. I feel that they're right. If it weren't for the Prince Of Qi, I would have died in the northern expedition more than thirty years ago. But thirty years ago, when I rebelled, I really wanted to build a Kingdom of Heaven and Earth where no one was bullied, where everyone had the same land and money. Now that I've lived to this day, I naturally hope that my dream can be realized in the hands of the Prince Of Qi. Now I'm very disappointed, not because there are many problems with the government's work, but also with the people. If the government doesn't follow the rules, the National People's Congress will demand that the government keep its word. But the people actually don't want to listen to the government's arrangements. In terms of their sincerity, they just want to follow the previous path. They want the government to follow the people's pace. If the government does something wrong, I can still complain to the Prince Of Qi. But the people do what they want, and I can't even find anyone to talk to … "
Li Hongzhang never had the people in his heart, nor did he have a good impression of them. After listening to what Lin Fengxiang said, he only smiled politely on the surface, but he sneered in his heart. If the people had the ability to overthrow Manchu Qing, why did they have to wait for Vézé to appear before killing Manchu Qing? These years, Li Hongzhang's knowledge had increased greatly, and his evaluation of the Taiping Rebellion had become lower and lower. Thinking back on the past, he privately reviewed the strategy. Li Hongzhang firmly believed that without Vézé, the Taiping Rebellion would never be a match for Manchu Qing. At that time, Li Hongzhang's teacher, Zeng Guofan, reversed the strategic situation. Given time, the Taiping Rebellion would definitely be extinguished.
It was only Vézé who changed all this, so Li Hongzhang really didn't understand why Vézé established the National People's Congress. Such an earth-shattering hero, recognized by the ruling class as the Son of Heaven, why did he live among the people? Li Hongzhang naturally didn't dare to criticize Vézé's choice, but Director Li couldn't help but feel pity for Vézé. Such a big shot actually believed in the beautiful words "the people are more important than the ruler". History had proven countless times that these words were just beautiful words.
Li Hongzhang didn't expect Zuo Zongtang to agree with Lin Fengxiang's words. He nodded and said with a sigh, "That's true. The changes in China are so great that I'm afraid only the Ancestral Dragon abolished the feudal counties can compare. But I'm not so pessimistic. According to me and the commander-in-chief, the great changes in China this time are due to the unprecedented development of China's productivity. Director Lin, you came from Guangxi. Ten years ago, many places in Guangxi were still using slash-and-burn farming. Now, you say that there are some decent roads and some flat land in Guangxi, many people use tractors. When we go to war, it's good to have a horse to ride. Most of the time, marching depends on walking and passing orders depends on shouting. Nowadays, trains travel thousands of miles in a day, and wireless telegrams can be transmitted thousands of miles away in the blink of an eye. There are so many new things that the people haven't even seen before, let alone thought of them. The commander-in-chief is vigorously promoting education, but it's not that easy … "
Listening to Zuo Zongtang's idealistic speech, Li Hongzhang didn't bother to listen. When he was learning the spirit of the central government, he was at least familiar with such words, even if he didn't get calluses out of his ears. In the face of complex practical problems, if a few words could solve them …
Just as Li Hongzhang was cursing in his heart, he suddenly had a flash of inspiration. He actually figured out the key to why he couldn't force the Goryeo representative to make concessions during the negotiations with him. Li Hongzhang's brain worked quickly. After what Zuo Zongtang, Lin Fengxiang, and even Shi Dakai said, Li Hongzhang didn't listen at all. Later, he even felt that these people were a little annoying, so he simply used it as an excuse to run to Zuo Zongtang's rooftop greenhouse, which was overflowing with the fragrance of flowers. He opened half a window and leaned against the window to smoke.
With the stimulation of the cigarette and the effect of the cold winter air, all the problems in Li Hongzhang's mind were easily solved. The old ideas that had formed began to split and reorganize under the guidance of new ideas.
After thinking for a long time, Li Hongzhang heard Zuo Zongtang's voice from behind. "Are you trying to freeze my flowers to death?"
Turning his head, Li Hongzhang said with a smile, "Have the two princes left?"
Zuo Zongtang didn't answer this question that he already knew the answer to. He asked, "Why are you looking for me this time?"
"I originally had something, but now I have thought it through." Li Hongzhang answered readily.
"Then are you staying here to get a free meal?" Zuo Zongtang's voice was serious. It was not clear whether he was serious or joking.
"I am staying here to ask another question. It is not difficult to know that the Min dynasty has established a system. With Brother Zuo's vision, do you think they can understand the truth that productivity is the fundamental driving force to promote the development of society? "Li Hongzhang raised his own question.
Zuo Zongtang smiled contemptuously. The smile on his face with a lion nose and wide mouth was a little ferocious. However, Zuo Zongtang's voice was deep and had no resemblance to ferociousness. "The frog in the well cannot speak to the sea, so it is confined to the void. The summer insect cannot speak to the ice, so it is confined to the time. The song scholar cannot speak to the Dao, so it is confined to the teachings. Just like you, Li Hongzhang, you have to listen to His Majesty's teachings for at least ten years. But when will you truly understand this truth? "
Li Hongzhang's face was thin and handsome. He said with emotion, "Today you have come out of the cliff? Tan?? The sea knows your ugliness, but you can speak of the great truth. Since the Koreans have heard of the truth and have seen the prosperity of the Min dynasty today, have they not improved at all? "
Seeing that Li Hongzhang did not look down on the enemy, Zuo Zongtang did not continue to sneer. He said with some sincerity, "The Manchu Qing are full of the words of saints, but when they met you, they were utterly defeated. In the past few years, I have also read some history. I feel that if the Manchurian Qing Dynasty had not heard of these Great Daos before they entered the Great Wall, even though they would still have been destroyed by the Governor, they would have been slightly better off than they are now. Confucius said that the people of ancient times had three diseases. The stupidity of the ancient times was straight, and the stupidity of the present was deceit. If the Koreans had not seen the prosperity of the Min dynasty and were still stubbornly sticking to their old customs, I'm afraid you might not be able to persuade them. Now that they have seen the prosperity of the Min dynasty, their hearts yearn for it. But knowing the great truths that you speak of, they only want the result of China's prosperity. Then whatever you say, they will believe it. Once the Koreans are stupid and deceitful, they will be played by others. How can you, Li Hongzhang, not be able to deal with them? "
Hearing Zuo Zongtang's words, Li Hongzhang nodded slightly. Most of the time, it was better not to know. Having a clear goal was better than not having a clear goal. Li Hongzhang bowed to Zuo Zongtang seriously. "Brother Jigao, if you are willing to send me to Korea again, I will definitely treat you to a drink when I return."
The flowers in the greenhouse. "If I see any good seedlings in Korea, there is no need to wait for me to return. I will find a way to send them to you."
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