Super Dictator

Guiziliu thought of this, and now he regretted inviting the wolf into the house and letting the Russian fleet come to Jiaozhou Bay to spend the winter.

He coughed twice, spit out two mouthfuls of thick phlegm, looked at Li Hongzhang, and said with a wry smile: "The Russians now want to use the name of a commercial office to undertake the construction of our Northeast Railway. What do Shaoquan think?"

Li Hongzhang thought for a while and said cautiously: "The Japanese are in full force and want to seize Taiwan and take a huge sum of money from me. If we don't find a strong reinforcement urgently, we may not have time to breathe and strengthen ourselves. If we want to make a treaty and help, Russia is the only one." People are the most convenient. The British use business to benefit China, the law uses teachings to seduce the Chinese people, morality does not border on me, and the United States does not want to fight with others. It is difficult to discuss. "

Guiziliu said noncommittally: "Russia is like a tiger or wolf. It is good at betrayal and taking advantage of the situation. How can we trust it so easily?"

Li Hongzhang nodded and said: "Russia is indeed a country of tigers and wolves. If you reject it, you will worry about hurting others. Now we, the Qing Dynasty, cannot bear it. If we attract it, it may not bite us. At this time, we do not have enough troops to control the Japanese. If we add Russia, it will be It’s even more worrying, so instead of being suspicious of each other with Russia, maybe we can get some help by dispelling the wariness of both sides and having an honest conversation.”

Li Hongzhang thought in his heart that he should focus on the immediate things first, and he could not care about the future so much now. This was tantamount to drinking poison to quench his thirst and attracting the wolf into the house.

"Shaoquan means that you agree to the Russians building a railway in our territory?" Guiziliu asked with a frown.

Weng Tonghe snorted coldly and said with a sneer: "Everyone knows that if Russia can build a branch road to China in the near future, the future of invading China will be very long and great. As a central minister, can Mr. Li not even Don’t you understand this?”

Li Hongzhang retorted: "When did I agree to the Russians building a railway in our territory? The railway matter is of great concern, so I cannot agree easily, but I can provide certain conveniences in other aspects."

"Then I would like to ask Li Zhongtang, on what matters can we provide some convenience to the Russians?" Weng Tonghe caught the loophole in his words and continued to ask.

"In all business affairs involving Russia, we must be flexible and accommodating." Li Hongzhang said with a slight blush.

"I didn't expect that Li Zhongtang really betrayed the country to the extreme. Selling Taiwan was not enough. He is even thinking about how to betray the country now." Weng Tonghe said sarcastically.

Li Hongzhang was so angry that he said angrily: "How could I, Li Hongzhang, betray my country? The Taiwan issue was agreed by North Korea and China. If you have the ability, tell us how to deal with the simultaneous attacks by Russia and Japan at the same time?"

"We have a great Qing Dynasty, so why worry about not having capable people? As long as the emperor innovates and governs the country, cultivates martial arts internally, sleeps on his salary and tastes courage, and prepares for daily cultivation, he will definitely be able to withstand external humiliation. There is no need to get close to tigers and wolves!" Weng Tonghe said unhurriedly.

Seeing that the two were about to quarrel again, Guiziliu couldn't help but change the subject: "How is the Dingliao army training now? If the Japanese invade again, can they withstand it?"

"Your Majesty, the Dingliao Army only has more than 20,000 troops. Even if Wei Jichen has great power, he cannot with 20,000 troops in a short period of time resist the more than 100,000 new-style troops that the Japanese have trained since the Meiji Restoration. "Li Hongzhang sighed and said helplessly, and then seeing Prince Gong's frown, Li Hongzhang said: "The establishment of the Dingliao Army is too small, and the other armies in the three eastern provinces are even worse. Your Majesty. Do you think we should expand the size of the Dingliao Army? After all, the Russians are also planning to plot against us in the Northeast, so we must be prepared."

"Originally I thought that the Japanese had retreated, and my land in the northeast would be peaceful. Unexpectedly, instead of the wolf, the tiger came again. To deal with the Japanese, we can only deal with it in vain for the time being. As for the expansion of the army, recruits are being trained everywhere now. How can the court still do it? "Half a cent of silver." Guiziliu made the final conclusion.

Seeing that he could not convince Prince Gong for the time being, Li Hongzhang had no choice but to smile and say: "Your Majesty is still very experienced in doing things."

Weng Tonghe interjected from the side: "Your Majesty, recruits are being trained everywhere now, but we don't know which army is better trained. Why don't we let several new armies send some soldiers over and gather them together for a How is the practice? In this way, it will be clear who is strong and who is weak. Naturally, we will give more support to those who practice well. "

Weng Tonghe thought that Yuan Shikai had something to say to him, so he took the opportunity to mention it.

Prince Gong's eyes lit up and he said with a smile: "This is a good idea. Let's discuss it later. Now let's find a way to solve the railway issue."

Li Hongzhang couldn't understand Weng Tonghe's intention for a while, but when Prince Gong changed the subject, he hurriedly responded: "Since the Russians are clamoring to build the Siberian Railway to prevent the Japanese crisis, our country should rush to build a road to connect it, and coordinate trade between the two areas." If the military is advantageous, then we will build it ourselves. This way the Russians will have no excuse. Zhou Fu, the general manager of the Fengtian Coal and Railway Bureau, has come up with a way to build the railway by ourselves without spending a penny from the court. The method is in my own hands."

Prince Gong, Weng Tonghe and others all became interested and raised their ears, looking like they were all listening.

Li Hongzhang said calmly: "This method is to collect private shares."

Weng Tonghe said with waning interest: "There will be no benefits from road construction in a short period of time. How can ordinary people voluntarily pay for stocks?"

Li Hongzhang said in a nonchalant manner: "Master Weng is too impatient. Why don't you let me finish what I have to say. If the common people don't pay voluntarily, the court can ask the local government to increase rent shares, rice donation shares, salt donation shares, etc. These taxes Although it is a compulsory collection, it is different from the previous taxation. This time we will give them the shares of the railway in exchange for things, so the people have nothing to say, and it is not an exorbitant tax. "

Prince Gong's eyes flashed, and he felt that this matter had great potential, and he could do it this way in the future when there was no money to build roads. At this time, the main role of building railways in the three eastern provinces was to mobilize troops and generals in a timely manner. In terms of economic benefits, I really don’t know when it will be possible to earn back the cost.

Li Hongzhang added: "What the Russians want is to ask us to build a road from Manzhouli to Suifenhe via Harbin, so that it will be connected to the Chita section of the Siberian Railway in the west and Vladivostok in the east. This will facilitate them to strengthen the domestic and coastal areas." The relationship between the two states is nominally to work with China to contain Japan. The Russians are aggressive and this road has to be repaired. However, we can change the pillars and plan a railway trunk line for the entire three northeastern provinces. In this way, the railway from Manzhouli to Suifenhe can only Count one section, and we can build other main lines first, and put this section of railway to be built last, such as the main railway line from Lushun to Harbin, so as to facilitate the timely deployment of the troops in our three provinces. "

"Shao Quan's words make sense. Let the railway bureau and local government handle this matter." Prince Gong saw that Li Hongzhang solved the current problem in just a few words. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart, this Li Hongzhang is still so smooth in doing things. .

Seeing that they had decided the matter, Prince Yikuang of Qing could not help but feel worried secretly. Not long ago, the Russian Emperor approved Witte's suggestion written in his own hand that "if you want to obtain lease rights in China, you must first bribe the emperor's cronies."

The approved appropriations were used by Cassini, the minister in China, to bribe important officials of the Qing Dynasty, and Prince Yikuang of Qing Dynasty was an important target of Cassini's activities.

Yikuang had collected a huge bribe, but this time he saw that the matter was about to fall through, and the Russians might want to claim back the huge sum of money. He couldn't help but feel anxious. The Russians asked him to help with two things. One was to borrow land to build roads. Another thing is to help the Russian Far East Fleet spend the winter in China every year.

Although the Russian Far East Fleet can now berth in Jiaozhou Bay, the Prime Minister's Office has stipulated with the Russians a time limit for withdrawal after berthing. The Russians only have three years to spend the winter in Jiaozhou Bay.

Therefore, this time Yikuang had no choice but to think of a solution in this regard, otherwise it would be bad to end up with nothing.

"Your Majesty, gentlemen, the Russian Minister Cassini is outside the door asking for an audience." Wu Tingfen, an official from the Prime Minister's Office, came in to report.

Several people screamed in their hearts, this Russian came so fast.

There was no other way. Just when Prince Gong was about to ask him to come in, the Russian Minister Cassini, with his translator and entourage, had already walked in with his head held high.

Prince Gong's face turned completely dark immediately.

"I wonder what the minister is here for?" Li Hongzhang asked aloud, his face slightly aching.

As if he did not see the faces of the Chinese courtiers, Cassini said with a smile: "Except for the problems of the Manchuria Railway main line and branch lines, our country has no other problems that should trouble your country."

Weng Tonghe said coldly: "China will never grant this lease right to any foreign country or foreign company. This is a firm and final decision that will never change. Therefore, your ambassador can go back."

Cassini's smile suddenly condensed on his face. He could see that he didn't seem to be very popular. The Chinese people's original respect for him had diminished and was replaced by a kind of suspicion and disgust. .

No matter who it is, people who make unreasonable demands again and again will feel disgusted. What's more, now that the Prime Minister's Office has understood the Russian conspiracy, it has decided not to seek skin from the tiger.

Seeing that his gentle words and smiles had no effect, Cassini immediately changed his face and began to threaten: "You know, only by doing this can Russia protect China and avoid further conflicts with Japan and other countries."

Li Hongzhang said with a light smile: "China and Russia have always been friends of the Qin and Jin Dynasties. If your envoy said this, wouldn't it destroy the friendship between the two countries?"

Cassini snorted: "It's not that our country ignores diplomatic relations, but that your country ignores diplomatic relations. Building the railway will help the two countries jointly resist the Japanese invasion. However, your country has been pushing back and blocking, which is the reason why you are sincerely destroying the relations between the two countries." friendship."

As soon as Cassini finished speaking, Weng Tonghe asked: "Why did your envoy say this? In order to facilitate your country's transportation, our country has built more than 800 miles of railways on its own. I have no benefit at all, so I have used all the strength of the country to do it." , This is not for diplomatic relations, why? You are an ambassador, you really don’t care about the general situation!”

Cassini was speechless for a moment, and then said after a while: "Your country's railway needs to be completed within six years, otherwise it will not be enough to solve the problem."

Prince Gong nodded and said yes.

Kassini had nothing to say anymore, so he could only throw off his clothes and get up bitterly. He didn't even take a sip of tea. Before leaving, he glanced at Yikuang intentionally or unintentionally.

After Cassini left, Prince Gong was so angry that his chest heaved, and he bluntly said that the Russians had gone too far.

"Mr. Minister, the Chinese have a tough attitude. I'm afraid our hopes will be in vain." After leaving the Prime Minister's Office, Ukhtomsky, the director of Daosheng Bank, said with some worry.

Cassini also frowned, and then said after a while: "The Chinese people are hard-edged and not soft-hearted. They must be given a small lesson to wake them up."