Chapter 156 Governor Yun Gui and the Yunnan Army

Nanyang Bank.

This will be a very important pawn for Hu Chuyuan. Although his shareholding rate in this bank does not exceed 40%, after all, there are also the joining of Zhang Bishi, Xu Run, Ye Wenlan, Mo Yuzhang and others, especially Zhang Bishi, who is the real main pillar of Nanyang Bank.

Hu Chuyuan will use a small amount of money to leverage the financial markets of the whole South Ocean, Guangdong, Vietnam and other places, and Zhang Bishi will also enter China's financial field through cooperation with him, and both sides will take what they need.

This is a cooperation between the richest man in the Qing Dynasty and the richest man in Nanyang. Xu Run, Ye Wenlan, Mo Luzhang and others are just foils and assistants.

The sound of gunfire in the Sino-French War is getting louder and louder.

In Tianjin, Li Hongzhang has signed the Li Fu Treaty with the French representative Funo.

Li Hongzhang himself was reluctant to accept this treaty and hoped for later negotiations. Prince Shiduo, the new military aircraft foreman, had just taken office, and the power was in the hands of Prince Yiyu. Yiyu was not a very capable person, and his attitude towards this was very vague, neither opposed nor agreed.

This matter should have been managed by Prince Su Longqin, the new Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs, but he is even more incompetent. The reason why he stood out in the past is that he still relies on Hu Chuyuan. Everything is decided by Hu Chuyuan for him.

In Fujian and Taiwan, the French sent fleets to prepare to land in Keelung. The imperial court still sent Liu Mingchuan, the boss of the Huai army, as the minister of supervision of Taiwan affairs, and led two battalions of the Huai army to be responsible for the defense.

Xianghuai discord.

This is a well-known thing. The gap between them was originally provoked by Manchu people. Manren himself knew that he no longer expected Sun Kaihua of the Hunan Army, who was originally stationed in Taiwan, to work hard, but just asked Sun Kaihua to transfer troops back to Kaohsiung.

In Guangdong and Guangxi, as soon as Mei Qizhao's folds were handed over, the Qing court half agreed to deploy the two armies of Xianghuai separately, and only let Mei Qizhao, a middle faction, be responsible for the control and dispatch, so as to avoid further internal strife between the two systems and delaying the warplanes.

Pan Dingxin, the governor of Guangxi and the minister of supervision of Liangshan, were in charge of Langshan and Pingxiang. The governor of Guangxi, Wang Debang, led the Xiang army to retreat to Longzhou County. The Gan army continued to transfer new soldiers from Jiangxi to supervise and training, expanded to eight battalions, and divided the troops to guard Shiguan and Jiangzhou County. Feng Zicai was appointed as the governor of the regiment, and governor of Nanning Prefecture and Ningming County. Practice group training.

As for the Nanyang Bank proposed by Mei Qizhao, because there were too many precedents, and at this time of urgent use of money, the court did not care much, and immediately approved it to let him raise money in the local place.

Real analysis shows that the Sino-French War started at the junction of China and Vietnam, and there is a lot of good news for the Qing army. First of all, the French army has to supplement difficulties. It has to go through long mountains and rainforests, while the Qing army relies on Nanning Prefecture, the Pearl River waterway leads directly to Nanning Prefecture, and the upstream also goes directly to Jiangzhou County and Longzhou County.

From Hunan to Guangxi, from Xiangtan to Guilin, there are not only diesel engine ships that can pass 30 tons by waterways, but also land avenues, which are not affected by the dry season and rainy season.

That is to say, the French can't mobilize from April to November, and it is difficult to replenish manpower and munitions equipment, and the Qing army can continue to replenish it throughout the year... In terms of the overall strategy, this is the real reason why China can win the Sino-French war.

As long as we can fight 70% or 80% of the damage this year, it will definitely be a big victory next year. In April, if the French want to start a large-scale decisive battle again, they must wait until April the year after next.

Even France can't afford such a war military loss. Even if it can withstand it, it will not resist the German invasion in the future.

Hu Chuyuan lived comfortably in Taiping Town, but he was particularly worried about his wife and her upcoming children. Every few days, he would write an encrypted telegram to Yan Shizhang, and then asked Yan Shizhang to forward it to Wu Shuzhen.

On the other side of Fuzhou, Qu Hongji also began to ask for help. He stuck to Yan Shizhang day and night. He asked Yan Shizhang to ask Hu Chuyuan to find a way, and Yan Shizhang let him listen to Ye Fu's arrangement.

Hu Chuyuan still did something and played a game with Li Hongzhang in the capital by telegram.

Li Hongzhang was afraid that the Fujian navy would bad his good deeds and led the French fleet to Tianjin. He tried his best to send Zhang Peilun south to supervise the war, saying that it was to supervise the war, but rather that the plenipotentiary army was not allowed to go to war.

In this seemingly insipid but dangerous link, Hu Chuyuan suddenly exerted his strength to ask the court not to send other people through the old relationship between Prince Su Longqin and Li Hongzao.

As the saying goes, there is no doubt about the use of people, and there is no need for suspicion. Since Zuo Zongtang has been appointed as the imperial minister, and He Jing, the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang and the general of Fuzhou, are in office, why send another person to supervise the war?

If you don't seem to trust Zuo Zongtang and He Jing at this time, isn't it a chilling move?

Cixi weighed left and right. In the end, under the persuasion of Prince Su Longqin, she decided to believe in Zuo Zongtang's ability and put the Southeast Military Affairs Plenipotentiary Committee and Zuo Zongtang, the "supervising the Minister of Fujian and Zhejiang and Southeast Sea Defense", only Taiwan's defense to Liu Mingchuan, who was not simple.

Later, Hu Chuyuan sent a telegram to Zuo Zongtang, saying that everything was already fully prepared in his office. At this time, he only needed to trust Ye Fu and Ye Zukui. Don't transfer Yang Yuebin and other famous sailors from the Xiang army, which would only add trouble.

... Hu Chuyuan's life and death are unknown. Even those who know that he is still alive are unpredictable about his whereabouts.

After helping Mei Qi to straighten out the military affairs of Guangdong and Guangxi, and also sent a batch of arms to Liu Yongfu through the huge transit station of Nanning, Hu Chuyuan turned around and followed the troops escorting arms to Yunnan.

Facts have proved that it is a very good choice for Hu Chuyuan to use Nanning as a transit point for arms supplies early. Nanning's transportation advantage is very obvious. It also belongs to a huge Guangxi basin, and its defense advantage is also obvious.

Even if the waterway from Guangzhou to Hong Kong is interrupted by the French, it is not difficult to provide supplies to Guangxi through Hunan.

Through Nanning, along the waterway, you can provide supplies to Langshan and Zhennanguan. To the west, you can enter Wenshan, Yunnan through Baisefu. Through the official road, you can go all the way north to Kunming, and to the south is Lin'anfu and Simengzhou, which happens to be the battle line between the Yunnan army and France.

In June, Hu Chuyuan arrived in Yunnan.

Yunnan is a special good place. There are small dams everywhere, just like a plateau composed of countless small basins. Those small dams are more like countless isolated paradises.

The person he will meet this time is none other than Cen Yuying, the governor of Yungui. This man also has more than 20 battalions, a total of 17,000 people, half of whom are the old Gui army he brought from Guangxi.

The person who introduced Hu Chuyuan and Cen Yuying is not someone else, but Liu Yongfu.

The Guangxi Green Battalion, who transported arms, all the way into Vietnam's Jiayuguan. Hu Chuyuan went to Liu Yongfu's barracks first.

Hu Chuyuan's need to contact Cen Yuying had already been negotiated with Liu Yongfu as early as he left He Ye. When he walked around and came back to Yuguan, Liu Yongfu had already contacted him.

Cen Yuying and Liu Yongfu are fellow villagers. As early as the Tongzhi period, the two had a secret relationship in private. After Cen Yuying led more than 10,000 troops to Jiayuguan, Liu Yongfu also symbolized that more than 4,000 troops were stationed outside Jiayuguan, and renamed it "Fuzi Camp".

As soon as he secretly entered Liu Yongfu's tent, Hu Chuyuan sat down and drank herbal tea, and there was a scratch outside the tent.

Soon, when the curtain of the curtain was lifted, Liu Yongfu gave up sideways and invited a half-hundred-year-old official who was not very tall to come in first. This person wore the official uniform of a second-grade feudal official and wore a flower brim on his head. His status was obvious. His skin was dark and flushed, and his eyes were sharp. He looked very strong and his spirit was also very good.

At this time and here, the second grade member, take a glance at Hua Ling.

Except for Cen Yuying, the governor of Yungui, there is no second candidate, unless Mei Qizhao also came.

Hu Chuyuan also got up, and Cen Yuying couldn't help raising her eyes and looking at him carefully.

Liu Yongfu let the soldiers behind him stay outside the account and tighten the thick tent. Then he whispered, "Governor, this is...!"

Before he finished speaking, Cen Yuying asked himself tentatively, "The Minister of Trade in the south of the Yangtze River... Lord Hu?"

Hu Chuyuan did not hide it. He nodded and said, "It's the subordinate. Governor Cen, please sit down!"

The official system of the Qing Dynasty was relatively complicated. The governor was generally the second grade. The title of Jia Shangshu was from the first grade, and the bachelor's rank and the military aircraft rank were the first grade. The difference between each level here is very huge, and it may not be able to survive for ten years.

Hu Chuyuan is the minister of commerce in the south of the Yangtze River in the third grade, and a miscellaneous official. He has no actual authority. Cen Yuying is the governor of Yunnan and the governor of Yunnan in the second grade, and has the right to restrain all kinds of soldiers and horses on the western front. The status of the two in officialdom is very different, but in the actual situation, the situation is completely opposite.

Because Hu Chuyuan has money in his hand and controls most of the arms and supplies, Cen Yuying on the Western Front and Mei Qizhao on the Eastern Front are looking for him.

Cen Yuying didn't pay attention to who was high and who was low. He knew in his heart that it was like a mirror, and he immediately nodded and sat down.

As soon as he sat down, he and Hu Chuyuan exclaimed, "Mr. Hu was assassinated several times, and his orders were repeatedly on the front line. The court was unable to stop it. It was really chilling, and I was also quite indignant."

Hu Chuyuan smiled and said nothing.

Who can't say cheap words?

Cen Yuying also said, "I don't understand something. The court is eager to ask you to come out of the mountain to reconcile the matter of China and France. Since you want to get out of danger, why do you refuse to appear for a long time, which makes us all think that you have lost the hands of a thief?"

Hu Chuyuan said, "Only you know that life is precious. The court didn't put pressure on me, and didn't let me protect myself. Why should I joke about my surname?

Hu Chuyuan is indeed a step-by-step look. At present, he really wants to take advantage of the opportunity to blackmail the Qing Dynasty. He has his own military power in his hand, and it is a formal establishment that the Qing court must admit. Whether he can get it or not, he has to take a chance, and he needs to use his skills.

Cen Yuying sighed silently and said, "Yes, we only know that life is precious. In the eyes of the court, ministers should be loyal to death, and dying early and late is death. When we die, the court will just issue an official document and give a post name... What's the use of that?

Hu Chuyuan said, "It doesn't matter if you don't say it, the war between China and France is anxious, and I can't allow me to avoid the world and just want my own peace. This time I came in danger to discuss with the Governor about dealing with the French. I have shipped a new batch of munitions to Jiayuguan. There are 30,000 new guns fired by the United States and Germany, with a total of 14 million rounds of matching bullets. There are 68 American cannons imitating Armstrong, 70 small cannons, and 80,000 shells. There are 1.5 million liters of grain and fodder, and 60,000 pieces of military uniforms.

Cen Yuying was overjoyed and said, "Oh, Master Hu, you are sending charcoal in the snow, saving me and water and fire!"

Hu Chuyuan smiled and waited for the following.

Sure enough, Cen Yuying immediately frowned and sighed, "Unfortunately, the imperial court's military expenses are tight, heavy and light, and I don't have much money in my hand. I was just trying to borrow a loan from Governor Mei to see if he was willing to cooperate with me. I really didn't expect to attract you, a rich gentry.

With this, he smiled again and said, "I'm fishing for a small fish, but I caught the Dragon King of the East China Sea. It's a sin, a sin!"

Hu Chuyuan replied straightly, "Don't worry, Governor. I told Lord Mei, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi that the east and west lines must work together to fight against the enemy. This military capital is paid in advance by the governor's office of Guangdong and Guangxi. Let's calculate the debt slowly after the war is over."

Cen Yuying smiled and didn't say a word "good".

He knows who Hu Chuyuan is... How can the number one big businessman in the world do such a loss-making business? There is no doubt that what is hidden here is exactly a big business.

After thinking for a moment, he said, "Lord Hu, just say it directly. It's also a trick for me to see how to settle this account?"

Hu Chuyuan smiled and said, "I guess you can still sit in Yungui for at least ten years...!"

Cen Yuying suddenly raised her hand and said, "I can't talk about ten years. I have my own body. I know that I can last for another six or seven years at most. Even if I live a happy life of 70 years, I will transfer him to another place.

Hu Chuyuan said, "It doesn't matter how many years it is. Lord Mei, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, has asked the court to borrow money from Citigroup in the United States, which is still guaranteed by my CITIC Bank. I estimate that this military debt will eventually reach 100 million yuan, of which 30% will be distributed to you. You don't have to worry about how to pay back this money in the end. Speaking of Yunnan, I think it's a lot of money. I said it's the 'money' of silver money. As long as the Governor believes in my vision and adopts my suggestions, Yunnan will definitely be able to become rich in the southwest.

"Oh?"

Although the war is burning at the moment, Cen Yuying was still very interested when she heard this and immediately asked, "Lord Hu, please say it directly!"

Hu Chuyuan said, "The key to the development of Yunnan is not in Yunnan itself, but in the north. If we can take down the north of Yue, build a railway along the Red River, go all the way to Kunming, and then build roads to connect dams all over the country, it can be said that it will gradually flourish.

Cen Yuying couldn't help sighing: "It's better not to talk about the railway."

Hu Chuyuan did not persuade him, but said, "Then only build a few small sections, focusing on the development of tin and silver mines in Yunnan. Yungui Commercial Bank will fund the construction of large mines and railways, mainly engaged in tin and tin. It is transported to the Red River by railway, and then exported through the Red River to Nanyang and overseas countries.

Cen Yuying nodded silently and said, "This is feasible."

Hu Chuyuan said, "It has been two or three years since the establishment of Yungui Commercial Bank, and its performance has been poor. The Governor might as well hand it over to Mr. Xu Runxu, the boss of Liangguang Commercial Bank. Secondly, the printing tax is also an important amount. Lord Mei, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, has reported to the imperial court to approve the establishment of the Guangzhou Banking Bureau. The governor may wish to report to the imperial court to approve the construction of the Yungui Banking Bureau and issue banknotes. Of course, these are all small things. Even if the governor has no money to adjust, relying on the court's loans is enough to win the war.

Cen Yuying said, "What are you saying? I know very well that the money printing tax is what everyone wants. The key is that others can't do it, and they have to find you as soon as they do it. A few years ago, Sheng Xuanhuai also set up a Beiyang Bank, and everyone saw the result. Even this person can't do it. Today, only you can do it in the Qing Dynasty... But then again, you are asked to print the baht banknotes in the whole country. This is a crime of cherishing a wall. Even if the court has to agree at the present, what should you do later?

Hu Chuyuan said, "I don't intend to specialize in profits. This time, I'm helping Boss Xu Runxu to buy Nanyang Bank. You might as well hand over the right to print money to Nanyang Bank first. It seems that we don't have to worry so far in the future.

Cen Yuying is not stupid. He knows that Hu Chuyuan mostly has shares in Nanyang Bank, but as Hu Chuyuan said, things in the future... don't seem to care so far.

How many years can he work in the position of Governor Yungui? Let's take care of the immediate benefits first.

Let the court think about the future.

He immediately nodded and agreed.

Because Qing baht has unified the world in the five provinces of the Yangtze River, Shandong and Zhili, the circulation of paper baht accounts for 70% of it, and even spreads to Henan and Huguang. The paper baht of CITIC ticket number can be seen in Liangguang and Yunnan, which is no longer a matter that needs to be discussed.

As long as the governor below proposes to use this method to levy banknote printing tax without affecting the income and expenditure of the household department, the Qing court will basically agree. It would be better if the bank responsible for the establishment was not Hu Chuyuan's CITIC Bank. If it is proposed in the same month, it can be approved in that month.

Anyway, the memorial is a gold tax of millions of taels of silver every year. At present, Yungui and Liangguang are eager to use money. Printing money is the best way, and the imperial court does not have to take any risks.

What Hu Chuyuan and Cen Yuying had to talk about was much more than the printing of banknote tax. Soon, Cen Yuying talked about the equipment of the Gui army and the Yunnan army, the two main forces under his account.

Cen Yuying is just a scholar, and her ability to control Yungui depends entirely on the military power in her hand.

He was also reluctant to take out his army and fight with the French. At this point, he was the same as Li Hongzhang. After the defeat of the Huai army, he immediately took all his troops back to Yuguan.

In order to achieve a real victory against France, the western line must work together with the eastern line. Hu Chuyuan is very clear about this. He half sold and half donated, giving Cen Yuying a particularly favorable condition, so that he could take an extra amount of munition and food and fodder.

In terms of military pay expenses, Hu Chuyuan also donated 3 million taels of silver to Cen Yuying in the name of Yungui Wanliyuan ticket number, so that he could use it to sort out his direct line of the Yunnan army and the Guangxi army.

(to be continued)