Chapter 159 Minister of Plennipotentiary Supervision of Jiangnan Shipping Affairs

Hu Chuyuan himself did not expect that his comeback would have a great impact on China and the world.

On August 8, 1884, "Declaration", "The Guardian", "New York Times", "American News", "Washington Post"... all reported the news at the first time and reported the news as a front-page headline.

With Hu Chuyuan's comeback, there are also four news reports simultaneously: First, the mastermind of the Tengchong bombing is the politician Shin Inoue, and the supporter behind it is the Mitsui consortium. The planner is Shize Pingdong, the former general manager of Shanghai Dongli Yangxing, and the executor is the 14-year-old girl Hideko Eda, and Zhejiang nationality. Guard Yang, the evidence is conclusive.

II. Hu Chuyuan personally donated 10 million taels of silver to the Qingzheng for military expenses. At the same time, he called on other rich gentry to donate enthusiastically. Third, CITIC Bank's own reserve ratio is as high as 32%, which is much higher than the international level. The Bank of America and the North American Rich Country Investment Bank will also provide an additional 270 million US dollars for CITIC. The bank's cash guarantee.

IV. Shanghai Wells Fargo Investment Bank, with a U.S.-funded background, officially invested 7.45 million yuan to acquire 51% of the equity of Yihe Foreign Bank, becoming the largest shareholder of Yihe Foreign Bank, with an investment of 13.8 million yuan, additional investment in the three foreign banks of Taigu, Wanbao and Chanchen, and invested 3.44 million yuan to acquire Taihe, Renji and Yiji. Jiayang Bank, assets integrated into Yihe Bank, further increasing investment in Shanghai.

In fact, everyone knows that the rich countries of Shanghai, the rich countries of North America and the rich countries of Hong Kong are all Hu Chuyuan's industries. In other words, he is convinced that Shanghai's economy still has great potential and investment value.

This series of initiatives has produced an amazing chain reaction.

First of all, Hu Chuyuan's personal comeback means two things: First, during the Sino-French War, Qing Zheng Axe did not have to worry about the source of military pay at all, and Hu Chuyuan's financial resources were the greatest guarantee; Second, Qing Zheng Axe summoned the Minister of Commerce of Jiangnan to succeed, and finally had a more powerful diplomat who could fight with the French in the world last week. Negotiate.

The first thing is obvious. As soon as Hu Chuyuan came back, he donated 10 million taels of silver.

The second thing is more obvious. Taking advantage of his special influence in the British and American upper classes, Hu Chuyuan can completely change the attitude of the United Kingdom and the United States towards the Sino-French war, let them give more help, oppress France, and force the French to talk.

Hu Chuyuan's life surprised the French. The whole France trembled, but what surprised him was more.

American News used two pages to report the whole process of the Tengchong bombing. The New York Times described himself as the devil's endorsement, despicable, ugly and evil. Inoue Xin's name became very famous overnight, and the whole world knew who he was.

The situation has become very complicated. China is scolding the whole country, and actively responding to Hu Chuyuan's call to donate money to resist the law. Shanghai's economy has also quickly passed the ghost gate.

On August 13, the run on CITIC Bank suddenly stopped, the Hong Kong stock market warmed up, the stock prices of major foreign banks did not continue to plummet, and the Shanghai estate industry also got a short pause and did not continue to decline.

In the hearts of the people, especially the five provinces in the south of the Yangtze River and Shanghai, Hu Chuyuan is like a god. As long as he is still alive, he will not worry about the depreciation of the money he prints, and he will not worry about becoming waste paper. Hu Chuyuan's family business is the best guarantee.

Hu Chuyuan said that there is no problem with Shanghai's economy, and the current difficulties are temporary... The rich gentry, businessmen and people in Jiangnan can definitely believe that there is no problem with Shanghai's economy.

Within the Qing government axe, the past has not been quickly turned into nothing, and all the upper and lower levels are asking Hu Chuyuan to go to the front line and return to the post of Fuzhou Shipping Minister.

Hu Chuyuan donated 10 million taels of silver at this time, which had a great effect on the whole Qing ax and the momentum of the Qing army. The Xiang army and the Gan army on the front line of Vietnam were shocked, because they knew that the gold owner behind them was Hu Chuyuan.

As long as Hu Chuyuan is not dead, the military expenses of the Xiang army and the Gan army are endless.

The reaction was very obvious. Liu Kunyi's Xiang army and Liu Jintang's Xiang army all asked to go south and everyone actively sought war. Why? The reason is very simple. This is a good time to grab military achievements, change equipment, and compete for military sage.

Qingzheng Axe doesn't have much money, but Hu Chuyuan is rich. Just borrow it from him.

As long as Zuo Zongtang is still there, Xiangjun and Hu Chuyuan don't need to make a white note to borrow money. As soon as they open their mouth today, they will arrive tomorrow. If you want any arms in January, they can be bought for you in February and delivered to you in March.

Prince Su Longqin, Li Hongzao and Weng Tonghe are like stimulants and comprehensively demanding a war. The Minister of Commerce of Jiangnan finally summoned them. What are they afraid of?

Sure enough, Qingzheng Axe couldn't wait for a telegram to arrive in Fuzhou, allowing Hu Chuyuan to be the new "Minister of Quantical Supervision of Jiangnan Shipping Affairs". He was in charge of the second grade, directly in charge of the shipping affairs of Fujian Marine Division, the Yangtze River Marine Division and the coastal areas of Jiangnan, and continued to serve as the Minister of Trade in Jiangnan and was responsible for negotiating with the French.

On the other side, the French also knew that they could not talk about Zeng Guoqian. They immediately sent a special envoy to Fuzhou to renegotiate with Hu Chuyuan.

During this period, British Minister Bashali and American Minister Yang John all arrived in Fuzhou. China's diplomatic center seemed to have moved to Fuzhou overnight, but in fact, they followed Hu Chuyuan.

However, they all came for nothing.

Hu Chuyuan doesn't intend to talk about it at all. He doesn't know anything about the military, let alone the navy, but he knows what it means to "meet the brave on a narrow road". He knows what "a drum" is and what "the hearts of the people can be used".

At this time, the morale of Fujian sailors is very high. Everyone is not afraid of death, and everyone wants to kill the enemy. At this time, if you don't fight, it will be delayed until September and October. It's really hard to say.

Therefore, he deliberately provoked the French army, took away all the mines on the river, and informed the French army that it must retreat from the Min River within ten days. If he did not withdraw, he would not negotiate. If he did not withdraw, he would fire fire.

The French can't stand his provocation. They are really afraid of Hu Chuyuan's international influence, but they don't pay attention to Fujian sailors at all.

On September 6, 1884, the French naval minister ordered an attack on the Fujian navy in an attempt to dispel the arrogance of the Qing Empire caused by the return of Hu Chuyuan.

On September 7, 1884, on July 18 of the tenth year of Guangxu, Bailu, Jiazi Nayin, do not travel, it is appropriate to move the earth.

After Hu Chuyuan became the upgraded version of the Jiangnan Shipping Minister of the Fuzhou Shipping Minister, he had been working in the office of the Fujian Marine Division. The momentum of the Fujian Marine Division suddenly soared and the generals were excited.

He is the most reliable pillar of Fujian sailors. As long as he is there, not to mention that Fujian sailors will not collapse. Even if they are defeated by the French, they can rebuild a stronger Fujian sailor.

The soldiers also seemed to see unprecedented hope. Unlike before, Hu Chuyuan was the immediate boss at this time. He could not care how much money it cost to Fujian sailors, he would find a way, and he would definitely think of a way.

Besides, the silver of the four million snowflakes is parked on the campus in front of the Yamen compound and will be sent out at any time.

Yesterday evening, Hu Chuyuan had received a secret report that the French Far East Fleet began to adjust its preparations, and he immediately informed the generals of the navy to prepare everyone.

He is not a person who knows the navy, so he left Sa Zhenbing, Lu Hongjie and Lan Jianshu with him as temporary adjutant generals as his staff officers.

The people who are really responsible for commanding the whole army are Ye Zukui. Ye Fu, Lv Han, Lin Yongsheng, Deng Shichang, Jiang Chaoying, Chai Zhuoqun, Ye Boyong and Huang Jianxun each perform their duties.

Last night, Hu Chuyuan did not fall asleep. He kept sending people to monitor the movement of the French army and constantly reporting through a telephone line.

In the early morning, it was dawn. Hu Chuyuan washed up and asked Lu Hongjie to continue to sort out the information. Sa Zhenbing and Lan Jianshu accompanied him for dinner.

Drinking the soy milk in the bowl, Hu Chuyuan was tasteless and had been calculating the whole situation.

After thinking for a while, he put down the bowl and asked Lan Jianshu, "In your opinion, how much are we sure?"

Lan Jianshu immediately replied, "Your Excellency, if we fight against the male and female on the sea, we don't even have half a chance of winning, but at the mouth of the Minjiang River, it's actually fifty-five. Your excellency, the fort you have secretly built over the years is fierce. We have practiced many times, just waiting for them to enter the Luoxing Tower area and fire heavily to ensure that they can't eat.

Hu Chuyuan nodded silently and was about to ask Sa Zhenbing. Lu Hongjie hurried in nervously, took a French letter to Hu Chuyuan, and said, "Your Excellency, the French have declared war and asked to fight to the death in four hours."

Bang.

Hu Chuyuan immediately patted the table and shouted, "Okay, it's them waiting."

Although he is not sure in his heart, at this moment, he can only say so. Thinking so, he gritted his teeth and coexisted with Fujian sailors.

It's not a big neck, which is 10,000 times more glorious than dying in my own assassination.

After saying this, he ordered Lan Jianshu, "Notify Admiral Ye and let him order to fight."

"Yes!"

Lan Jianshu answered in a low voice and immediately got up and went to the nearby admiral's office to inform Ye Zukui.

From the early morning, the Fujian sailors were also secretly preparing. When Hu Chuyuan ordered to fight, all the ships quickly set up positions at Maweikou.

Although the river at the mouth of the Minjiang River is wide, it is far from comparable to the ocean. In the naval battle here, the activity space of each ship is not large. What's more, the number of cruisers of the Fujian Marine Division is relatively large. In fact, they can't stand it. Two Weikang ships and a large number of cruisers were transferred to the south side, and six defense ships bear the main firepower attraction. The point is concentrated under the port and Luoxing Tower. The gunboat is also located on the inside of the port, giving full play to the advantages of fierce firepower.

In this way, the Fujian sailors gave Weikang and cruisers a slightly larger space for activities, trying to avoid a large number of ironclad ships of the French expeditionary fleet.

In order to facilitate the command, Lin Yongsheng and Zheng Fuquan were in charge of the north line, Ye Fu and Chai Zhuoqun were in charge of the south line, and Ye Zukui was responsible for commanding the overall situation.

Hu Chuyuan conveyed the news to Zuo Zongtang and He Jing, who were sitting in Fuzhou, and told them that the war was imminent, and the victory of life and death would be decided in four hours.

Zuo Zongtang urgently called back to criticize, making Hu Chuyuan swear to the death. He could not retreat easily. At the same time, he let the two battalions of the Hunan army suppress the north and south sides of the mouth of the Min River.

After that, the time became very fast, and it slipped by quickly. The atmosphere of the war became more and more solemn and gloomy, and Death also opened its fangs.

The war is coming.

This moment is right in front of you.

(to be continued)