Chapter 401 Paying Homage to the Yellow Emperor's Mausoleum
Chapter 401 Paying Homage to the Yellow Emperor's Mausoleum
Shao Quanzhong sighed, Liu Niang’s knowledge is not good enough.
Ping'er's voice came from behind, "Sister Hu, if there was a rebellion, they wouldn't just transfer the Guards Brigade."
"I think the prince is probably trying to scare the little emperor again and give him a slap in the face. He wants him to stop thinking about suppressing the prince and behave himself in the future and stop doing these little tricks."
"That's right, that's right, Ping'er, that's a good idea. Then you two can think about how to scare the little emperor."
Liu Niang scratched her head, "Go and besiege the Forbidden City again?"
Suddenly, he felt that something was wrong, "Then just let Haiqing go, there's no need to mobilize a large army."
Ping Er bowed and stepped back, "The prince's military and national affairs are not something I can guess."
Shao Quanzhong laughed out loud. He was very satisfied with Ping'er's performance. "Ping'er doesn't interfere in major events. This is exactly what I want."
Shao Quanzhong picked up a piece of paper from the desk and said, "Did you see it? This is the latest ranking of industrial output value of various countries last year compiled by the Intelligence Department."
Liu Niang took it and looked at it. Britain 30%, the United States 20%, Germany 11.2%, the Franco-Spanish Alliance 10% (including Spain 2%), the Qing Dynasty 8%, Russia 3.7%
"What does this have to do with scaring the little emperor?"
"Hehe, Liu Niang, you don't know the ratio in the past. In the past, Britain accounted for 50% of the world's output, and Qing basically accounted for zero."
"Now, the Qing Dynasty has caught up with France. This is the result of the Franco-Spanish alliance under the rule of Wenwen, and the rapid recovery of France's industry from the ruins of the Franco-Prussian War in the past two years."
"That is to say, our Qing Dynasty has entered the top five in the world. Isn't this something to be happy about?"
Well, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was not even on this list, but it was still able to assist the Qing Dynasty. Shao Quanzhong's deception was a major reason. More importantly, under Shao Quanzhong's guidance, Franz I looked at "per capita".
"So, I decided to pay homage to the Yellow Emperor's Mausoleum and report this happy event to my ancestors."
Liu Niang didn't react, and Ping'er's eyes glowed with a strange light.
She was very sensitive to this. Offering sacrifices to the Yellow Emperor's Mausoleum and Mount Tai, was this something that most people would dare to do? The little emperor would definitely tremble if he did this.
This matter fell into the realm that Ping'er was familiar with. Shao Quanzhong expressed it very artistically, saying that he went to "pay a visit" instead of "paying tribute."
What does that mean? Anyone can worship their ancestors, right? But to pay respects to them, one must have status.
But when such a sensitive matter is done by Shao Quanzhong, the meaning is very different.
The Manchus are a member of the Chinese nation, and our Qing Dynasty also recognizes the Yellow Emperor as its ancestor.
The government held a major sacrifice every three years, and the emperors of the Qing Dynasty had sacrificial texts and monuments. In normal times, when they had achievements, they would report to their ancestors, which was called a temporary sacrifice. For example, when they pacified the Dzungar Khanate, the Jinchuan Khanate, and so on, they would go to the emperor's mausoleum to make a special sacrifice.
Shao Quanzhong conquered the west, traveled around the world, conquered France, and expanded the country's territory countless times. He accomplished so many great things and had many reasons to report his achievements to his ancestors.
In fact, those major events had already been reported during the official court sacrifices held every three years.
However, this matter was usually reported formally by the emperor through imperial envoys, and individuals could only pay a visit.
"Originally, I wanted to give the young emperor some face and planned to wait another year or two before officially going. Who knew that the young emperor would not give me face, so don't blame me for slapping him in the face."
"Jiang Laosi, Siqi, you just stay with me and see who dares to come and catch us. Liuniang, Ping'er, you are all descendants of Yan and Huang, come with me and get ready immediately. Maria doesn't have to go this time, she can stay at home and serve the two elders."
Everyone followed the order and left. Ping'er was particularly excited. Hum, it's called a visit, but what's the difference between this and a memorial service?
This time I am accompanying the prince to such an important event, so I have to find some formal clothes.
Shao Quanzhong ordered, "Maria, notify the Guards Brigade to send two battalions to lead the way for me, and two battalions to follow me and set off tomorrow. Also, send a few telegrams and ask a few people to come..."
Maria followed the order and began to make preparations in a hurry.
…………
Chengdu, Jinjiang, Yanshikou Governor's Office. Several foreign officials were escorted out of the Governor's Office. Wenxiang kicked over a mahogany chair, then covered his bruised foot and hopped on one leg for a long time, screaming in pain.
"Damn it, I'm so unlucky. My stock trading led to a stock market crash, and I have no idea how to raise the money I embezzled from the government. The foreign bank is asking for repayment again. Where can I get four million silver coins?"
"Master, Master, you must find a way out for me today. Otherwise, if this matter gets out, won't that bastard Shao Quanzhong take the opportunity to raid my house?"
The master frowned, "Marshal Wen, the situation in our Great Qing Empire looks good on the surface, the industry is developing well, and the people are making money, but the government has no money. We can't raise taxes anymore, right?"
"What's wrong with raising taxes? Can't the people help me overcome the difficulties? Yes, collect taxes in advance and collect them for the next 40 years."
"Marshal Wen, ordinary people don't have that much money. It will take a while for us to come up with four million silver coins."
"Eh? How did they build the Sichuan Railway without money? They need to be exploited. Oh, right? Aren't foreigners 49% of the railway and the common people 51%? Collect the money and nationalize it, and mortgage it to the foreign banks. Wouldn't that fool you?"
“What can ordinary people do?”
"What do the new troops do? If they don't do anything, they'll be cleaned up. I heard from the foreigners that France was reduced to ruins in the Franco-Prussian War, so they nationalized the factories and other things. In two or three years, they paid off the 5 billion francs, and the industry recovered rapidly."
"Shao Quanzhong is great at Westernization, but he won't allow me to learn from the advanced experience of France?"
"Well, France issued bonds and used the money to buy back the factories, not just confiscate them directly."
"We can also buy it out. We can write IOUs to the railway shareholders and lend them money for a few decades. We can just pledge the railway dividends to the foreigners to pay off their debts, and then we can pay them back, right?"
"Hehe, this matter is entirely Shao Quanzhong's fault. If he hadn't asked people to build the exchange, would I have been tricked?"
"What are you standing there for? Why don't you hurry up and do it? Are you planning to have me, your master, embezzle public funds and borrow money to invest in stocks and then be dismissed from my post? How will you, the person in charge, be treated well then?"
"Tell the new army to be vigilant. Anyone who opposes the 'temporary nationalization and redemption of the railways' is against my Wenxiang's 'learning from the French and strengthening the country through Westernization'. Arrest him and confiscate his property!"
"Whoo!"
The legal advisor led dozens of governor's office officials and went straight to the Sichuan-Hankou Railway Company to execute the order issued by the governor to "nationalize" the Sichuan Railway.
…………
Hailing, it was already the next day.
Early in the morning, Hu Xiansheng, the head of the Taizhou prefectural government, strolled out drunk.
I won a lot of money gambling all night last night. I was very happy and not sleepy at all. I went home and drank two kilograms of rice wine, then went out to patrol the streets to show off my power.
Who in this area doesn’t know that I’m Prince Rui’s brother-in-law?
Eh? Isn't that Xiao Bangtou, the maid of Sister Ping'er, in front?
"Little stick, why did you come out for a stroll when you are not serving your sister-in-law?"
"The young lady is going to Shaanxi with the master to pay homage to the Yellow Emperor's Mausoleum. She asked me to stay at home while I go out to buy some things."
"Eh? My sister-in-law is going out, little stick, come out and play with me?"
"I have something else to do—"
The little stick kept dodging.
"What? You look down on me? I am——"
"I know, but other confidants of the master have joined the Huai Army as officers. I don't think highly of you, a yamen runner."
"I'm going to ask my brother-in-law to join the Huai Army as an officer. You have to follow me when the time comes. My marksmanship is pretty good, just watch me."
Under the influence of alcohol, Hu Yayi took out his revolver, aimed at the gas lamp on the roadside, and fired several shots in succession, "Bang bang bang bang", and every shot hit the target. As expected, he was Hu Liuniang's brother and his marksmanship was amazing.
(End of this chapter)