Chapter 159 Zeng Guofan Worships the Prince of Great Britain

Chapter 159 Zeng Guofan worships! Conquer the British Prince!

(It was reviewed again, I went to find the editor)

After hearing Shen Baozhen's words, Su Yi couldn't help but be slightly shocked.

Because Shen Baoer is slightly different after all.

After weighing the two, Su Yi said: "Of course I don't have a problem, but the key is my daughter. Is she willing? Have I wronged her?"

Shen Baozhen said: "There used to be fate but fate played a trick on people. Now it has gone back and forth, which is a good thing."

For some reason, Su Yi somehow thought of Xu Jie marrying his granddaughter to Yan Song's grandson as a concubine.

But quickly put this ridiculous feeling behind, the two things are not the same after all. Moreover, the fact that Xu Jie married his granddaughter was also written in Ming Dynasty's notes, which may not be true.

Su Yi said: "Okay, I will immediately ask my sister-in-law to handle the relevant etiquette and try to give my daughter a complete and decent etiquette."

Then, Su Yi said: "Mr. Youdan, the population of Jiujiang City will become larger and larger, and management will become more and more difficult. You are a great talent in internal affairs. Next, all internal affairs in Jiujiang, including the Hunan Army, will be dealt with." I’ll leave all the trouble to you.”

Shen Baozhen bowed and said, "I have my wish, but I don't dare to ask for your ear."

This person's internal affairs abilities are absolutely top-notch, and Su Yi really needs him now.

……………………………………………………

Next, Su Yi found her sister-in-law Bai Feifei.

She had just arrived in Jiujiang and had just showered and changed clothes.

Hearing Su Yi's words, Bai Feifei couldn't help being shocked and said, "You want to take Miss Shen as your concubine?"

Su Yi said: "Yes."

It took a long time for her to accept and digest the news.

Bai Feifei couldn't help but sigh, it was fate that played a trick on people, and then said: "Okay, I will do it immediately. But now there is no person with enough weight in Jiujiang City to act as a matchmaker. After thinking about it for a while, I have to find someone with a high enough status and official position. . Being a concubine is already a bit unfair, so all aspects of etiquette need to be more in place.”

Next, Bai Feifei went out directly.

She also has many things going on, and she can't stop for a moment.

…………………………………………

Hong Renli found Su Yi.

"You need a woman?" she asked bluntly.

Then, she corrected: "I mean, you need a lot of women, hundreds of thousands?"

Su Yi said: "Yes."

Hong Renli said: "What do you need them for?"

Su Yi said: "Both the two factories I run need a large number of women."

Hong Renli said: "This is difficult."

It is indeed difficult, because the current trend is for women to stay in the factory. It is still difficult for women to enter factories.

Because of the current war, many women have lost their families, their land, and are left alone.

There are many in Hubei and Jiangxi.

Therefore, Su Yi asked the Hunan Army to do this and send a large number of women over.

First, because women do many jobs better than men, or even much better.

Secondly, give these miserable women a good way to survive.

There are still many single young adults on Su Yi's side. After many women come, they can start a family.

Hong Renli said: "Actually, there are some women who are the most suitable. They are highly obedient and disciplined. They are also fierce and quick in doing things."

Of course Su Yi knew that it was the female camp of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

The perverted policy of the Kingdom of Heaven is that men and women are separated into separate camps, and even husband and wife cannot live together.

Therefore, the women of the Taiping Rebellion had a very rich collective life experience.

However, most of these female camps are in Tianjing, so it should be difficult to get them here.

Hong Renli said: "These sisters in the female camp are actually living a very hard life, and many of them want to escape from Tianjing. How about we think of a way, whether it is a trade or something else, to exchange them?"

She also has her own selfish motives and cannot bear to see the sisters in the female camp continue to live in that twisted environment and wants to save them.

Su Yi said: "Hong Xiuquan has a terrible possessive desire for women. It is difficult for him to let these poor women go."

Hong Renli said: "You don't have to go through Hong Xiuquan. He actually doesn't care about many things. Just negotiate with the people below. The key is what are we willing to pay? They don't lack gold and silver, they even have a lot. But they lack food. "We are still short of weapons. Are you willing to use food or even some weapons in exchange?"

Food and weapons were both precious to Su Yi.

However, he purchased an astonishing amount of food during this period.

Once a full-scale war breaks out, food prices will definitely rise, and they will skyrocket.

However, Su Yi had never thought about reselling the grain. He was well prepared for this to ensure the entire Jiujiang's grain reserves in the next few years.

Although he occupied a lot of land, only part of it was used to grow food, and the rest was used to grow cash crops as raw materials for factories.

Moreover, his farmland cultivation is not enough.

Therefore, he also needs to go to other provinces to purchase a large amount of raw materials.

The talks between the Governor of Liangjiang and the Chief Secretary of Jiangsu were good, but not very smooth.

Su Yi needs a lot of silkworm cocoons and a lot of cotton.

But there are a lot of cotton spinning and silk spinning in Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang.

The Qing court also had three major weaving bureaus in Jiangnan. After Nanjing was occupied, Hangzhou Weaving and Suzhou Weaving still held a considerable share of power.

It can be said that the textile industry is the prototype of the entire Jiangnan industry.

The interests here are so intertwined that even if Su Yi and Wang Youling have a certain relationship, it doesn't matter. It is difficult for outsiders to break an already solid chain of interests.

Therefore, Su Yi's negotiations with He Guiqing and Wang Youling were not considered successful.

Even, they were not optimistic about the factory run by Su Yi.

Because the entire Jiangnan textile industry has become extremely rich and fully competitive.

Su Yi rushed in at this time, it was already too late.

But they didn't know that the weaving factory Su Yi was going to build was a giant.

Although the workshops in Jiangnan are numerous and strong enough.

But in front of Su Yi's giant factory, he was completely vulnerable. Just like a small sampan versus a battleship.

This was also the case in history. After the market of the Qing Dynasty was completely opened to foreigners, the domestic textile industry retreated steadily and went bankrupt on a large scale.

Not to mention the Western powers, they were finally beaten to the ground by Japan's textile industry.

Silk and cloth, which were once China's export advantages, and Chinese cloth, which was once popular in the Western world, gradually disappeared. Instead, the Chinese market became a dumping ground for cotton textiles by Western powers.

China is different from Japan. The market is too big, so foreigners are coveting it, and their attacks on the Chinese market are particularly fierce.

Therefore, it does not matter that Japan is a little late in developing the textile industry.

But for Su Yi, the sooner the better.

Even in Su Yi's idea, if the domestic market was too competitive and too saturated, he would even have to unite with the British army to open up the Japanese market.

Not only did it completely kill Japan's textile industry, but it also completely turned it into a dumping ground.

In the most important Jiangnan, Su Yi didn't get what she wanted.

Therefore, Su Yi still has to go to Hubei and talk to Zeng Guofan. Because Hubei was another major cotton-growing province in the Qing Dynasty, Hankou Town was also one of the major cotton distribution centers of the Qing Dynasty.

Moreover, after years of war, order has been restored to a certain extent in Hubei, and the original chain of interests has been completely broken.

Sometimes I am really helpless. I had a life-and-death fight with the Hunan Army before, but now I have to find someone to cooperate with me.

However, the Hunan Army should be happy.

No one has trouble with money.

Nowadays, there should be no bigger buyer than Su Yi in the entire country.

In fact, the cotton is not yet mature, and even more exaggeratedly, the cotton has not been planted in some places, so Su Yi needs to take people to purchase it.

These things will be left to Hu Xueyan, Bai Yan, Bai Feifei and others to do next.

But the key negotiations still need to be carried out by Su Yi.

Back to the topic of women.

For Su Yi, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's female camp was indeed the perfect choice for female workers.

Hong Renli said: "Tell me, are you willing to give up food and even weapons in exchange for these poor women?"

Su Yi thought for a while.

Su Yi was also very short of weapons.

However, there is indeed a batch of weapons that are due to be replaced. Because these rifles have a service life, once the service life is exceeded, the rifling is smoothed, and the lethality of the gun will be greatly reduced.

The guns of Su Yi's new army are used very frequently. They use them desperately during battles and training.

Su Yi said: "Okay, you go and talk. I can exchange food and weapons for those women's camps in Tianjing!"

"That's great..." Hong Renli rushed up, sat on Su Yi's lap, and kissed him hard.

Su Yi asked: "Are you healed?"

Hong Renli said in a magnetic voice: "Okay."

"Then shall I enter?"

Hong Renli said hoarsely: "Come here."

This time Hong Renli was gentler and more passive.

Because her figure is so good and her coordination is very high, it not only increases her attack speed and critical hit, but also reduces her durability.

The key is, in the surging moment.

The door to the room was suddenly opened.

"Mother, mother, look, what did I find?" Lin Chang'er rushed in, happily showing off what she had in her hands.

Then, she looked at the two of them blankly.

Then, she desperately covered her eyes and said, "Oh my god, I'm going to go blind again."

However, the little girl covered her eyes and spread her fingers to look secretly.

Because seeing this scene in front of her really had a huge impact on her.

Mom, are you crying?

Su Yi is too ugly and scary.

Pound like this.

Well, that mother must die in pain.

……………………………………………………

The next day!

Su Yi brought Hu Xueyan to Wuchang.

"Master Su Yi, we agree to the deal you proposed last time." Zeng Guofan said.

There is no need for the two parties to sign a contract, just verbally will suffice.

In Su Yi's opinion, this was a very good deal.

For Zeng Guofan and Hu Linyi, this is a more cost-effective deal.

Both parties felt that they had made a lot of money.

In the eyes of Zeng Guofan and Hu Xueyan, what is more important than political power and military power?

The Hunan Army got the entire Jiangxi except Jiujiang as they wished.

Su Yi said: "Okay, then let's talk about our second cooperation."

Zeng Guofan was slightly shocked.

Second collaboration?

What other collaborations are there?

Su Yi said: "I looked along the way and found that all the cotton in Hubei has been planted. It will be harvested in more than two months. It is growing well this year. How is the planting area this year compared to previous years?"

Zeng Guofan said: "After the war, it was difficult to recuperate, so the planting area was only about half of what it was during its heyday."

Su Yi said: "Then I will harvest all the cotton in your province this year."

For a moment, Zeng Guofan and Hu Linyi were completely stunned.

You want them all?

Do you know how much this costs?

Your Su Yi factory hasn't even been set up yet, so you're in a hurry to purchase cotton?

Su Yi had to be anxious.

Because within two and a half years, his Jiujiang Economic Experimental Zone will definitely see fruitful results.

It was not because of the pressure to share money with the British side in the secret agreement.

Rather, he needs to use this result to convince the British royal family to continue pursuing another Sino-British diplomatic route.

It needs to be proved by sufficiently large interests that the interests of cooperation between China and Britain are greater than the interests of war.

At the critical moment, Su Yi needed to use huge economic and political interests to prove the superiority of another diplomatic route.

Two and a half years later, it is a critical node.

The gains from Su Yi's route were to suppress the gains from the British war route for the first time.

Only in this way can he turn the tide at the most critical moment.

Otherwise, wait slowly for the secret contract to be signed, then invest in building the factory, then transport the machinery, and then purchase raw materials?

I don't know how many years it will take.

Time waits for no one, Su Yi needs to combine several steps into one.

There are a lot of immigrants and a lot of training here.

Raw materials are purchased in large quantities here.

And after the Hunan Army organizes a large number of immigrants, they will start building factories.

Everything is accelerating.

We must let factories wait for machines and workers wait for machines, not the other way around.

Zeng Guofan was silent for a while and said: "Master Su Yi, first of all, I apologize for my previous prejudice against you."

Now he really fully understood what Su Yi said. I have never regarded the Hunan Army as an enemy.

Zeng Guofan continued: "Generally speaking, after our cotton is planted in Hubei, weaving merchants from the south of the Yangtze River will come to negotiate. In fact, they have already come to negotiate. Of course, they are very scattered, and many of them negotiate with large landowners. . Pay a part of the deposit first, then negotiate a price before it matures, and then pay all the money when the acquisition is completed. "

"In business, if you want to acquire, it means that we have to completely eliminate those businessmen from Jiangnan. He is our God of Wealth and will make us sin against the businessmen from Jiangnan."

"Secondly, if I agree to you, you will have to pay a large amount of deposit now. If I am not wrong, you have already spent a lot of money."

Su Yi had two million silver on hand, plus a one million pound loan, which added up to more than five million taels.

A lot has indeed been used.

Su Yi said: "In business, since I want to purchase, I will naturally follow the going price and pay a deposit. And I have a huge advantage over those merchants, as my purchase volume is huge."

Zeng Guofan was silent for a while and said: "Sir Su Yi, let me say one more thing. What if your relationship in London fails? Your factory will probably not be able to open. By then, all your astronomical investments will have to be paid off." Of flowing water.”

"There are no secrets in this world, because we just made a large-scale transaction with the British in Shanghai not long ago. In the entire upper level of the Shanghai Consulate, you have become a crazy adventurer, the craziest adventurer in the Far East in history. , they call you...Don something."

Su Yi said: "Don Quixote."

Zeng Guofan said: "Yes, the entire Shanghai consulate's senior management is very unfavorable about the success of your relationship in London. They all think that your crazy adventure will fail, and they will see a classic case of business and political failure."

"You should also know that Wade and Sir Henry originally had a better relationship with you and ignored us." Zeng Guofan continued: "But now, he has become enthusiastic with us recently and resumed many transactions with us. A big arms deal. Because they are not optimistic about your risk and your success in London, they choose to stay away from you as a source of risk."

There is another core reason. The newly appointed British Minister, Count Elgin, the supreme commander of the Far East, does not like Su Yi.

He was even hostile to Su Yi.

Therefore, all the senior officials of the British Empire in the Qing Dynasty followed Count Elgin's baton and chose to ignore Su Yi.

Including Su Yi's former friend Witoma and Sir Henry.

Of course, although Count Elgin was hostile, he disdained to regard Su Yi as a political opponent. He also did not think that Su Yi's so-called other Sino-British diplomatic route might be launched.

He felt that Bao Ling and Ba Xiali's actions in London were bound to fail.

Zeng Guofan said: "Master Su Yi, I originally thought that what I did was crazy enough. But compared with you today, it pales into insignificance. Although I don't understand your actions, I was greatly touched."

More than a huge touch?

Even Zeng Guofan admired him very much in his heart.

He, Zeng Guofan, had offended the entire Hunan officialdom in order to train troops. He went forward without any regard for the consequences, and he felt that he was cruel enough.

But he really couldn't imagine Su Yi's grand gesture.

A mere governor of China dares to manipulate the diplomatic line of the world's most powerful country.

Zeng Guofan said: "Master Su Yi, you have paid so much, but have you ever thought about the consequences of failure?"

Su Yi shook his head and said: "No, it's just burning the boat."

Zeng Guofan said: "I was training troops in Hunan at that time. When the mutiny occurred and they were chasing me, I thought about giving up. But if I had given up, I would not be in the situation today. Of course, if I had given up at that time, I could still be a rich man, but if Lord Su Ye gave up, it would be a disaster."

Then, Zeng Guofan said: "Your proposal is very important, and it concerns the future relationship between the Hunan Army and the Jiangnan Financial Group. We need to discuss, but it will be very quick."

Then, Zeng Guofan suddenly said: "Lord Su Ye, regarding the large amount of cotton raw materials, can you find a replacement production area?"

Jiangnan and Hubei are major cotton planting areas.

Jiangxi is full of war this year, and there is no planting at all.

Jiangsu and Zhejiang are the base camps of the Jiangnan Financial Group, and Su Ye can't intervene at all.

And transportation must be considered, so Hubei is almost Su Ye's only choice.

Su Ye said: "There is no replacement place, Hubei is the only choice."

This is not a secret, even if Su Ye doesn't say it, Zeng Guofan knows it.

"Okay, I got it." Zeng Guofan said, "I will go to Changsha immediately, and we will give you an answer within five days."

Of course, he was going to discuss with Luo Bingzhang and Zuo Zongtang.

"Let's talk business. Lord Su Ye, although your actions are of great importance, even related to the fate of our Qing Dynasty, we will not give up the benefits we deserve. The price and payment method cannot be lower than that of the Jiangnan Consortium." Zeng Guofan emphasized.

Su Ye said, "Of course, I will wait for good news!"

"Mr. Di, I'm leaving!"

Zeng Guofan said, "I'll see you off."

Next, Zeng Guofan personally sent Su Ye directly out of the governor's office, and even directly to the Yangtze River wharf.

Zeng Guofan was extremely arrogant, and this was really a rare courtesy for him.

Before boarding the ship, Zeng Guofan couldn't help asking, "Lord Su Ye, are you going back to Jiujiang?"

Su Ye said, "Go to Sichuan or Yunnan."

Zeng Guofan asked, "Is Sichuan important? Or Yunnan important?"

Su Ye said, "Yunnan is important."

Zeng Guofan said, "I don't have any friendship with Sang Chunrong, the governor of Yunnan, and Wu Zhenqiu, the governor of Yunnan and Guizhou. But Zhang Liangji, the provincial governor, is my old friend. I will write a letter and ask Lord Su to pass it on for me."

Su Ye immediately bowed and said, "Thank you, Mr. Zeng."

Sang Chunrong and Zeng Guofan were not only unfamiliar, but also political enemies in the future. In the future, the case of Yang Naiwu and Xiao Baicai will be presided over by this person, becoming the knife in the hands of Cixi, stabbing the forces of the Hunan Army in Jiangnan.

As the governor of Hunan, Zhang Liangji had a deep relationship with Zeng Guofan. Although there were some ups and downs in the middle, this person can be called Zeng Guofan's benefactor. It's just that this guy has been unlucky recently and was demoted to Yunnan and demoted several levels.

But he will rise soon, and in a few years he will become the governor of Yunnan and Guizhou.

Zeng Guofan quickly wrote a letter and handed it to Su Ye.

Su Ye thanked him again, then boarded the ship and left.

Zeng Guofan stood on the shore, watching Su Ye's ship leave.

Hu Linyi came over and said, "Sir, why help him?"

Zeng Guofan said, "He is doing a huge thing, which concerns the fate of the country. He is risking everything. Our past grievances are nothing at all."

Hu Linyi said, "Can he succeed?"

Zeng Guofan shook his head and said, "Probably not. Everyone in the Shanghai Consulate said that this is a crazy and naive adventure. Facing the British Parliament, Earl Elgin, Su Ye and his British allies, the power is too weak."

"But even if it fails, it is a vigorous move to save the country, and it will be recorded in history in the future."

Hu Linyi said, "Does the court know about it?"

Zeng Guofan sneered disdainfully, "They know nothing."

The court still knows nothing about many things and is still immersed in the huge diplomatic victory.

Even Zeng Guofan has cultivated enough tacit understanding with the British Empire's Shanghai Consulate.

Not only is it like this now, but this situation will be repeated in the next few decades.

……………………………………………………………………

Room 1844, Buckingham Palace, London, England.

Sir Bashali and Sir Burling sat quietly, waiting for Prince Albert to arrive.

No words could describe their nervousness.

At this point, they had already paid too much, most of their savings, all their political future.

And this meeting with Prince Albert directly determined his political fate, and even his life.

Once they failed, they would not even be able to be a rich man, because they had even mortgaged the gold mine in Malaysia.

Even Burling and Bashali did not know how they became such political gamblers.

Betting a little bit, and finally found that they had staked everything, and there was no room for recovery, and they could only go all the way.

But as long as they thought of Su Ye, they would feel that it was nothing.

Compared with Su Ye's investment, what were they?

Su Ye was the one who truly burned his boats and bet on the fate of himself and even the Qing Dynasty.

Bao Ling looked at his pocket watch over and over again, even once every minute, and kept drinking water.

Sir Bashali chose to close his eyes and rest, reviewing the next words in his mind over and over again. He had already memorized them by heart, even though it was almost entirely a diplomatic strategy written by Su Ye.

But he was still disturbed by Bao Ling's behavior.

"Sir Bowring, there is a clock in front, you don't have to take out your pocket watch again and again, the sound of it opening is too harsh." Bashali said: "In addition, the prince is very punctual. You'd better not drink too much water, otherwise going to the bathroom next time will interrupt our rhythm."

Next, he couldn't help but reach out and touch a box beside him.

This is a gift that Su Ye brought to London from thousands of miles away for Prince Albert.

And he said that this gift is a killer, which will bring great touch to Prince Albert and greatly increase the probability of success.

12:58 pm!

Several officials entered and checked the entire room.

"His Royal Highness is here!"

Suddenly, Bowring and Sir Bashali stood up suddenly.

A moment later, Prince Albert walked into the room.

"Gentlemen, good afternoon!"

"Your Highness, good afternoon, please convey our infinite respect to Her Majesty the Queen."

Prince Albert smiled gently and said, "Don't be nervous. This afternoon, I canceled all the schedules, so we have a full half day. If it's not enough, we can continue in the evening."

"First of all, I want to thank you, and thank Sir Su Ye who is thousands of miles away. The medicine he gave me is very magical and very effective!"

"However, personal friendship cannot override national interests, so I need something more convincing."

Sir Bashali said, "Your Highness, first of all, let's get straight to the point. You also agree that the future of this world is It is technology and industry, right? "

Prince Albert said: "Yes, this is exactly my biggest worry. Beautiful flowers cannot grow in the desert, and the Qing Dynasty is a decayed and ancient desert, which cannot grow flowers of technology and industry. In that decayed country, there is really no hope for technology. "

Sir Bashali said: "The things in this box were assembled and made by Sir Su Ye himself. It is a gift for you, which perfectly interprets the light of technology and industry. "

"Can I take it out now and show it to you?"

Albert was immediately full of expectations. He was the one who hosted the World Expo. What new things had he not seen? What advanced technology had he not seen?

The knight of the Qing Dynasty, thousands of miles away, tried to conquer him with technology?

Bashali opened the box and took out a box with a big speaker on it.

Then, he began to twist the spring.

After tightening the spring, he took out a disc and placed it on it.

This disc is a pure natural product, the resin secreted by lac insects. Su Ye has successively used many materials, paper shells, wax, etc.

In the end, they took a historical shortcut and sent people to Guangdong and Guangxi to collect a large amount of lac insect secretions.

This disc is the most advanced and difficult part of this device.

As long as the principle is known, high school students in the future can make it.

Phonograph!

Su Ye used the gift to conquer and shock Prince Albert.

Su Ye, under the guidance of the most detailed drawings, used dozens of craftsmen to create the world's first phonograph.

Because it stands on the shoulders of historical giants, this phonograph is many years earlier than Edison and is much more advanced than Edison's.

After Bashali twisted the spring, he pressed the key directly.

Then... the whole person held his breath, waiting for the miracle to happen.

Prince Albert also widened his eyes and looked forward to it.

And the scene that happened next made him open his eyes completely and feel an unprecedented shock.

Because, from the speaker of this machine, Su Ye's voice came out.

Very standard English.

"Dear Prince Albert, I am the Marquis Su Ye from China, and I extend my highest respect and sincere greetings to you!"

Not only was Prince Albert stunned.

Sir Bowring beside him, and the prince's entourage, were also completely stunned.

………………………………………

Note: The second update is here, and the update is still 15,000 today.

My benefactor, do you still have a monthly ticket in your pocket? Do you have any cakes? I kowtow to you.