Chapter 150 The French are finally here

To some extent, Li Hongzhang and himself helped Hu Chuyuan with a new change in his relationship with Qing Zheng Axe and Zuo Zongtang.

Hu Chuyuan is no longer a simple vassal and minister. He is a partner.

On the left are Qingzheng Axe, Li Hongzhang, Zuo Zongtang and the feudal officials in various places, in the middle is Hu Chuyuan, and on the right are foreigners and inexhaustible silver and large taxes.

After the relationship became clear, Qing Zhengx wanted to touch Hu Chuyuan, which was clearly more difficult than before. In the face of Hu Chuyuan, they had to be as cautious and rational as facing foreigners.

Soon, the right side of the balance will continue to gain weight - arms and pay.

In 1883, mid-November, the scale of France's military operations in Vietnam became larger and larger, and gradually entered China's sphere of influence in northern Vietnam. This area is the junction and fuzzy area of China-Vietnam territory, and at present, it is dominated by Chinese troops.

The situation is becoming more and more critical.

The weather in Shanghai is getting colder, and Hu Chuyuan also wears a tweed coat.

Two days ago, Prince Gong, out of some apologies, heard that Hu Chuyuan had only two hobbies in his life - gardens and antiques, so he sent a rare treasure to Hu Chuyuan - the authentic "Tsuing Post" of Yan Zhenqing in the Tang Dynasty.

When he took this post in his hand, Hu Chuyuan couldn't wait to call Yan Shizhang, Niu Yugeng, Miao Tsuensun and Gu Shouzang. Let's watch it together and identify them by the way.

Hu Chuyuan's appreciation skills are also very profound now. Ordinary fakes can't deceive him, but after all, they are not as good as Gu Shouzang and Miao Tsuen Sun.

As soon as the two people entered the study, they carefully appreciated each other for half an hour, and then they were convinced that they were genuine.

A rare treasure.

Hu Chuyuan sighed. In his house, there were nine paintings of the four major families of the Yuan Dynasty, and more than 1,400 calligraphy works of famous masters of the past dynasties. The only thing missing was Yan Zhenqing and Wang Xizhi. The rest, such as Ouliusu and Huangmi, he had them, and even several hermits were in his hands.

Now, this regret is further reduced, leaving only the book saint Wang Xizhi.

Of course, you still have to work hard on Prince Gong. The real Wang Xizhi Mobao is in Prince Gong's hands - if there is.

Everyone is very happy that Hu Chuyuan can collect such a good thing. Among the people present, Miao Tsuensun and Gu Shouzang are all collectors, and their status is enough. In addition to Hu Chuyuan's "Fubo Pavilion Book", the three people stamped the post together, proving that they also admitted that this calligraphy was authentic, and finally returned "Fubo Pavilion" collection.

The circulation is orderly... This is the order of circulation.

Everyone was talking happily. Yan Shizhang suddenly wanted to smoke a bag of cigarettes for no reason, which scared everyone to scream, afraid that the fireworks would be roasted up or turn the post yellow.

Yan Shizhang was unconvinced and said, "I'm at the door curtain. It's 30 steps away from the post. You don't have to be so nervous, do you?"

Everyone laughed when they heard it, but they still didn't agree with Yan Shizhang smoking in the study.

Helplessly, Yan Shizhang can only go to the corridor.

As soon as he went out, he asked curiously, "Huo Daotai, how did you get here?"

As soon as Hu Chuyuan heard it, he knew that Qu Hongji was coming. He hurriedly asked Qu Hongji to come in and watch the so-called "face muscles and willow bones" together.

As soon as he saw such a rare authentic work, Qu Hongji was also suddenly shocked. He immediately forgot what he loved to say. He talked with Hu Chuyuan and others for half an hour.

At this time, Hu Chuyuan put away the scrolls contentedly and personally sent the post to the lock of Fubo Pavilion.

When he came back, he asked Qu Hongji with a smile, "What's the matter? Is the position of Shanghai Taoist platform not easy to do?"

Qu Hongji shook his head and smiled bitterly and said, "It's not that Zhang Zhidong doesn't want to go south to Fuzhou to serve as the minister of ship administration. The court has also changed its will and asked me to go to Fuzhou to serve as the minister of ship administration, so I want to ask my lord, am I going or not?"

Hu Chuyuan said yes and was not in a hurry to answer.

Fuzhou Ship Administration is Hu Chuyuan's territory. Even if he is not the Minister of Ship Administration now, everything is still being done according to his requirements.

This is a fact that everyone recognizes and does not dare to say. Zhang Zhidong is not stupid. He quickly unblocked by himself, made up for the lack of Zeng Guoxun, and was transferred to the governor of Shanxi.

After that, several people were selected. Either He Jing and Zuo Zongtang disagreed, or Prince Gong and Prince Su disagreed. In the end, everyone had to go back to the officials around Hu Chuyuan to find a way.

The most suitable person is obviously Yang Changjun, but Yang Changjun has gone to Shaanxi to be a governor.

The person behind it... is Qu Hongji.

Hu Chuyuan was a little hesitant in his heart. The Sino-French war is approaching. Can a scholar like Qu Hongji take on the real heavy responsibility?

Silently tasting the dragon well in his hand, he quietly thought deeply in his heart.

After all, nearly 16 million taels of silver were invested, half of which were his personal loans and donations. If it was entrusted to others, it would mislead the country and destroy Qu Hongji's life.

Zhang Zhidong is actually a good candidate.

After thinking about it, Hu Chuyuan and Qu Hongji said, "It's okay for you to go, but you need to listen to me."

Qu Hongji immediately replied, "Please speak frankly."

Hu Chuyuan said, "Little things listen to Zhang Baixi, big things listen to Ye Fu. As long as you can do these two things, nothing can defeat you in Fuzhou Ship Administration."

Qu Hongji immediately said, "Thank you for your advice. Qu will keep it in mind and will not forget it!"

Hu Chuyuan nodded slightly and said, "Well, I'll ask Mr. Yan to accompany you to take office in Fuzhou. He will take care of everything there for you. In addition, Mr. Bai Laoyi, a technical adviser sent by the French, has received an order from the French Admiralty. Recently, all of them will return to France and stop the technical guidance of the Fuzhou shipping administration. Although the French are going to war in Vietnam, Bai Laoyi and others have helped us a lot. When you arrive in Fuzhou, the first thing you do is to do well for them. The bonus and gift money that should be sent to the position should not be lost.

At this point, he added: "Mr. Yan will help you deal with the specific cost, so you don't have to worry about the money."

Qu Hongji was overjoyed. What he wanted in his heart was this matter. Half of the money of the Fuzhou ship administration depended on Hu Chuyuan. Without Hu Chuyuan's money, he could not do it for a day in the Fuzhou ship administration.

He got up and thanked him and said, "Your Excellency, your kindness to the lower official is ten thousand clear in your heart, and I'm afraid I can't repay you."

Hu Chuyuan didn't say anything, just laughed.

He is a businessman, and Qu Hongji is a politician.

No matter how strong he is now, how respectful Qu Hongji is now, we have to talk about what will happen later.

Qu Hongji sat down again, but said, "Your Excellency, I have another thing here. A letter from Li Hongzhang and Li Zhongtang came with the will of the court. He said that Vietnam is in a tight matter, and the Nanyang Marine Division has not yet become an army, which is difficult to resist, so he wants to transfer several gunboats from the Fuzhou Ship Administration to make use.

Hu Chuyuan didn't answer, but just sneered.

Niu Yugeng said, "That's unreasonable. The military cost of Beiyang Nanyang is twice that of Fujian's Yangtze River. Our Fujian sailors have already taken shape, and the Yangtze River sailors have also replaced more than a dozen modified old ships. How come his Nanyang has not yet taken shape?

In the past two years, Niu Yugeng's "Political Reference" has not been able to be published for a long time, and he has no intention to be an official, so he stayed with Hu Chuyuan and helped Yan Shizhang take care of the general letter room together, which can also be regarded as a staff member for Hu Chuyuan.

Qu Hongji said, "The speed of building the Beiyang Marine Division has not been as fast as that of Fujian. As for the general problem, we should not investigate it. I think that if the Fuzhou Shipping Administration has the strength to spare, it may be able to transfer a few old ships to Nanyang to avoid the loss of the Nanyang Marine Division, but the court will blame us."

Yan Shizhang said silently, but gave Hu Chuyuan a look.

Hu Chuyuan knew in his heart that in the matter of Qu Hongji's appointment as the Minister of Ship Administration in Fuzhou, Li Hongzhang probably made great efforts, and Qu Hongji also paid for his favor.

Qu Hongji took out the letter and gave it to Hu Chuyuan for a look, so that Hu Chuyuan would not doubt that he would turn to Li Hongzhang.

Hu Chuyuan opened the letter and saw that Li Hongzhang's conditions were really favorable. He only asked for a few old ships to be billed at the original price, and now he was transferred to buy them. Later, he was also willing to order warships at the shipyard of Fuzhou Ship Administration.

Because he has not been able to reach a good agreement with the British, in the past few years, Li Hongzhang mainly bought warships with the Germans. The speed of building ships was relatively slow, and he refused to buy warships with Fuzhou Ship Administration... It can also be said that he looked down on the level of Fuzhou Ship Administration Shipyard.

Today, the Fujian sailors have completely taken shape, and also raised the overall level of the Yangtze River sailors to a higher level, but the Beiyang sailors have not yet taken shape at all, and the Zhenyuan ships and Dingyuan ships ordered by the Germans are still in Germany.

Li Hongzhang is really in a hurry now. He is about to fight with the French, but he spent more than 12 million taels of silver in the court to form half a fleet. Of course, he was afraid.

It is this fear that makes him timid and eager to make peace with the French at all costs. He is extremely afraid that the French will fight to Tianjin and destroy half of his Beiyang sailors. At that time, he will not be dismissed from office.

Hu Chuyuan was very clear in his heart, but he didn't say much.

He put away the letter again and gave it to Qu Hongji. After a while, he said, "You have the final say on this matter. I won't ask."

"This...?"

Listening to Hu Chuyuan's tone was not very happy, Qu Hongji couldn't help but be a little scared.

At this moment, Qu Hongji knew why Zhang Zhidong didn't want to take office. This position... suffered.

Hu Chuyuan said, "It's true that you have to think about it yourself. The French really want to do it. They are bound to send the fleet, and it's useless for you to send ten ships to Nanyang. The French fleet really wants to go to Tianjin. After all, it still has to go from Fujian. How dare he continue to go up if he doesn't hit the Fujian sailors? In case we cut off the back road, where can he retreat? Since Li Hongzhang opened his mouth and really didn't give it, it didn't seem to make sense. He also gave him the opportunity to shift the responsibility to us!"

Qu Hongji said, "Then I will only send three old ships!"

Hu Chuyuan nodded slightly and said, "Just send the Zhenzhong. Anyway, we don't need it."

Hearing this, Qu Hongji was relieved, but he also understood better that Fuzhou Ship Administration was Hu Chuyuan's territory, which was no longer a situation that the court could reverse.

He sincerely asked for help and said, "Your Excellency, I'm afraid that I will encounter a lot of major events when I go to Fuzhou this time. If something happens, I hope you can take care of me. After I go, can you take some time to go to Fuzhou, which is also to give me some thin noodles to strengthen my momentum and smooth the relationships on the ground?

Hu Chuyuan nodded slightly and said, "At the end of the month, I should be able to spare a few days to go to Fuzhou to do a few things for you."

Qu Hongji was overjoyed and thanked him immediately.

(to be continued)