The six-dimensional pictures of emperors of all dynasties were exposed, and the ancestors panicked

Chapter 791 Tongzhi: Who the hell is Guangxu!

On the canopy.

The two Empress Dowagers sat behind the curtain.

Yi Xin stood before the curtain, holding a memorial and reading aloud:

"In the past, Britain and France treated Japan as a foreign vassal and plundered it at will. The Japanese emperor and his ministers were determined to become the strongest. They selected the most intelligent children of the royal family and ministers to go to Western countries to learn various skills. They also bought tools to make tools and had them manufactured in Japan. Now they can drive ships and build explosives."

"Last year, the British threatened them with empty words and approached them with troops. However, the advantages that the British relied on for attacking and fighting were already shared by them, so they remained motionless, and the British could do nothing about it."

"Today's Japan is the Ming Dynasty's Wako, far from the West but close to China. If I can become independent, they will attach themselves to me and spy on the strengths and weaknesses of the West."

"If we cannot strengthen ourselves, then we should imitate them and share the benefits of the West."

"Japan, as a small overseas country, was able to change its course in time and knew what to learn from. However, since China is so profound and has been through so many things, it can also change its strategy."

"... Hongzhang believed that if China wanted to become stronger, it would be better to learn foreign weapons."

"If you want to learn foreign weapons, it is better to find the tools that make them, and learn their methods without necessarily using their people."

"If I want to find the tools to make tools and the people who make tools, I will set up a special examination to recruit scholars, and scholars will aim for wealth, honor and fame throughout their lives."

“Then the work can be accomplished, the work can be refined, and talents can be gathered.”

After the words were spoken, the hall fell silent.

After a moment, a soft voice came from behind the curtain:
"Let Li Hongzhang do it."

The scene changes.

In the bustling venue.

A group of lean workers were busy at work.

Sand casting and hot iron.

As their hands worked, military items such as wheel frames, medicine boxes, shrapnel shells, foreign guns, portable guns, copper caps, cannons, mines, etc. were produced continuously.

The scene moves away and plaques flash by.

Jiangnan General Manufacturing Bureau

"It was established in Shanghai by Li Hongzhang with the support of Zeng Guofan. The founding fund was more than 540,000 taels of silver, with more than 2,000 workers. It was the largest military-industrial enterprise founded by the Westernization Movement."

"It mainly produces guns, ammunition, mines and small ships. It also has a translation library to translate Western books."

『Jinling Machinery Bureau』

"When Li Hongzhang was acting as the Governor-General of Liangjiang, he moved the Foreign Artillery Bureau he founded in Suzhou to Nanjing and renovated and expanded it. It mainly produced guns and artillery and supplied arms to the Huai warlords."

Tianjin Machinery Bureau

"The factory was planned and built by Chonghou in Tianjin, with the British man Mittos as the general manager. He bought machines from abroad to make gunpowder. Although it cost a lot of money, the results were not good."

"When Li Hongzhang was transferred to be the governor of Zhili, he took over the factory, recruited foreign craftsmen, purchased equipment, expanded the scale, and made some progress in the bureau."

"Then it was expanded and divided into two divisions, East and West."

"The East Bureau was located in Jiajiagu, southeast of Tianjin City, and the West Bureau was located in Haiguang Temple, south of Tianjin City. They mainly produced ammunition, mines, gun carriages, foreign guns, etc."

Fuzhou Shipyard

"Zuo Zongtang established the bureau at the foot of Mawei Mountain on the Minjiang River in Fuzhou, also known as the Mawei Shipyard."

"The bureau started with 470,000 taels of silver and was the largest and most fully equipped shipyard founded by the Westernization Movement."

"The factory also has a naval academy attached to it, which teaches English, French, mathematics and painting, and trains specialized talents for ship driving and shipbuilding. It is the base of the Nanyang Navy."

……

The guiding ideology of the Westernization Movement was very clear, namely "Chinese learning as the basis, Western learning for practical use"

[They believed that the Western political system was inferior to that of China, but that China's firearms were inferior to those of Western powers. As long as the Qing Dynasty mastered Western modern military technology and equipment, it could restore its national prestige and become famous in the world.]

【Then, they established the Bomb Bureau III by hand-casting explosives, following the foreign methods, without hiring any foreign craftsmen.】

[These manufacturing bureaus founded and taken over by Li Hongzhang, together with the Fujian Shipyard founded by Zuo Zongtang in 1866, became the backbone of China's early military industry.]

[In a few years, the manufacturing bureau, which had begun to take shape, laid the foundation for China's military modernization.]

[Under the leadership of Li Hongzhang, many provinces also successively established arms factories under the names of "Machinery Bureau" and "Manufacturing Bureau".]

【At this point, after years of unremitting efforts, China finally began to have the ability to produce new weapons on its own and embarked on the road of modernizing national defense. 】

[The Qing Dynasty completed the transition from the era of cold weapons to the era of gunpowder weapons.]

……

{At this time, the Jiangnan General Manufacturing Bureau could produce fifteen Mauser rifles and one hundred twelve-pound shrapnel bullets every day.}
{An average of eighteen 12-pound bursting guns were produced each month.}
{From 1867 to 1894, a total of more than 27 guns of various types, cannons, mines, and more than shells were produced.}
{Li Hongzhang's article is so good that it can definitely be selected into textbooks.}
{The insights are so sharp and precise, the analysis of the relationship between China and the West, China and Japan, Japan and the West, especially the analysis of the Chinese people's attitude towards foreigners and their weapons, is to the point! }

{Li Hongzhang was far-sighted and pointed out the fundamental reasons why the enemy was strong and we were weak from both subjective and objective perspectives, and he also cited Japan as a living example.}
｛It’s still the case that the device is inferior to the person, but this is not the cause of the disease.｝
{The purpose of the Westernization Movement can also be seen from its guiding ideology and practice.}
｛The Westernization Movement advocated learning and utilizing advanced Western science and technology in order to save and maintain the feudal rule of the Qing Dynasty.｝
{So, when the people's resistance and struggle posed a threat to their rule, they learned from the strengths of foreigners to suppress the people's resistance.}
{When foreign invading forces clearly undermine their rule, they adopt foreigners’ advanced skills to “control the foreigners.”}
……

The period of Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty
Liu Heng looked at the prosperous Qing Dynasty and sighed:

"When things in the world are exhausted, they must change; when they change, they will be smooth."

"Since the Tang and Song dynasties, scholars have been immersed in the practice of writing in regular script."

"Most warriors are crude and stupid and don't pay attention."

“So that what is used is not what is learned, and what is learned is not what is used.”

Liu Qi watched the process of the robe bullets being produced while listening to Liu Heng's words.

"When there is nothing to do, people will denounce foreign weapons as strange and frivolous tricks and think that there is no need to learn them."

"When something happens, people are surprised by foreign weapons, which are so strange and miraculous that they think they cannot be learned."

"But they don't know that foreigners have regarded firearms as a science of body, mind, and life for hundreds of years."

Liu Heng thought about the various things in history and said helplessly:

"When nothing happens, it can be said as a statement, but others will not believe it."

“When something happens, you can gain people’s trust, but it’s too late.”

……

The period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty
Liu Che looked around and frowned:
"Speak with reason and do your best."

"Pity."

Wei Zifu didn't know what the emperor felt sorry for.

After all, Xiao Liuju is still young and cannot know everything instantly.

Only Huo Qubing listened to the sound of the strings.

"There's nothing we can do about it."

Huo Qubing also sighed:
"From the design and construction, purchase of machinery, production technology to the supply of raw materials, all of these weapons rely on foreign countries."

"Given the conditions at the time, it was unavoidable."

Liu Che rolled up his sleeves and picked up the wine cup.

He took a sip and said:

"This is one of them."

"The second question is...are these arms really manufactured in the hands of the Qing Dynasty?"

"Instruments, equipment, raw materials, where they buy these things from, their lifeline is in their hands."

"Even foreign countries can use the Westernization Movement to promote outdated or obsolete equipment and materials."

"The people in those factories are actually working for foreigners..."

When Liu Che read to this point, he suddenly paused.

Then, as if he had parted a layer of mist, he murmured:
“These items are not intended for the market, but they themselves have some commodity characteristics…”

"Commodity...value...capital!"

……

[In addition to armaments, the Westernization Movement also established more than 20 civilian enterprises, covering transportation, mining, textiles, smelting and other industries.]

[For example, the Shanghai Steamship Company was founded by Li Hongzhang in Shanghai in the 1872th year of the Tongzhi reign (). It was the first steamship shipping company in modern China and the first civilian enterprise established by the Westernization Movement. It was run by the government and the merchants.]

Kaiping Mining Bureau. It was established by Li Hongzhang in Tianjin in the fourth year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu (1878).

[Li Hongzhang originally sent Tang Tingshu to Tianjin to plan the establishment of the Kaiping Mining Bureau, with the purpose of mining the Tangshan coal mine. It was originally planned to be run by the government, but later due to the financial difficulties of the Qing government, it was changed to be run by the government and business.]

【In the seventh year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu (1881), coal mining began, with a daily output of to tons. Due to the excellent equipment, large reserves and good coal quality of the mine, the output increased year by year.】

[In addition to supplying coal to the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company, Tianjin Machinery Bureau, and the Beiyang Navy, it also sold large quantities on the market, effectively curbing the import of foreign coal in Tianjin.]

……

Qing Dynasty, Xianfeng Period
"Guangxu..."

Concubine Yi exclaimed in surprise when she saw the changed reign title.

She panicked and hugged the child tightly in her arms.

Look at everyone in the hall.

Imperial physician, eunuchs, palace maids, and guards.

They all knelt on the ground.

Can't see the face clearly.

"Maybe... the emperor personally took power and changed the reign title..."

An Dehai lowered his head and said hesitantly:
"It may not be...it may be..."

Imperial Concubine Yi held the child in her arms, a stiff smile on her lips.

"That makes sense... makes sense..."

……

[Shanghai Machine Weaving Factory. In the eighth year of Emperor Guangxu's reign (1882), Li Hongzhang sent people to collect business shares to set up in Shanghai. It was the first machine cotton textile factory in modern China and was put into production in the sixteenth year of Emperor Guangxu's reign (1890).]

【Telegraph General Administration. In the fifth year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu (1879), Li Hongzhang tried to install a telegraph between Dagu Fort and Tianjin for military needs, and the experiment was successful.】

[In the sixth year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu (1880), Li Hongzhang established a telegraph office in Tianjin and appointed Sheng Xuanhuai as the general manager. The following year, the construction of the line from Tianjin to Shanghai began and was completed within the year.]

[This was China's first long-distance communication line. At the same time, seven branches were set up in Zizhulin, Dagukou, Jining, Qingjiang, Zhenjiang, Suzhou, and Shanghai.]

[From 1882 to 1884, the electric lines from Shanghai to Nanjing and from Nanjing to Wuhan were successively installed.]

In the eighth year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu (1882), due to insufficient government funds, the General Telegraph Administration absorbed commercial and private capital and changed to a government-supervised and commercially-managed enterprise.

……

Qing Dynasty, Guangxu Period
Guangxu felt strange.

what is this?
I am carrying the achievements of Tongzhi and using my name!

Shouldn't this be blamed on me?

Cixi looked at the sky expressionlessly.

Guangxu, Guangxu, Guangxu... these should have belonged to Zaichun...

……

【Railway transportation industry. From the first to the second year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu (1875 to 1876), the British built a railway from Shanghai to Wusong, with a total length of Chinese miles. From then on, China had railways. 】

【Later, because the locomotive killed a person, the Qing government demanded that the driver pay for his life and sent Li Hongzhang to Shanghai for negotiations. The Qing government paid 280,000 taels of silver to buy back the railway and locomotive, then threw the locomotive into the river. The rails and vehicles were abandoned on the beach and later rotted away.】

[After that, the Qing government debated the railway issue for many years.]

……

On the canopy.

The chaotic court was divided into three factions.

A cartoon character with the words "Zuo Zongtang" on his head said:

"Railways serve steam engines. Our Qing Dynasty doesn't have steam engines, so we don't need railways!"

A group of people in the back waved flags and shouted:

"That's right! That's right!"

At this time, the cartoon version of Zeng Guofan stroked his beard and said:

"Building a railway will inevitably destroy the business of coachmen, rickshaw pullers, sedan chair bearers and inns. Without a way to make a living, these people will definitely cause trouble."

"It will destroy the pass and Feng Shui, and allowing foreigners to build roads will only benefit the foreigners and impact the financial revenue of the Qing Dynasty."

Behind him were a bunch of people cheering:

"That's right! That's right!"

The last "Li Hongzhang" said:

"Railways are a good thing, but unfortunately the government doesn't have the financial resources, Chinese businessmen don't have the huge sums of money, and neither the officials nor the people of the Qing Dynasty have the financial resources to build railways on their own."

"Cooperation between officials and businessmen is prone to rifts and conflicts, which also makes it difficult to achieve success."

"So, it is better to wait for a few decades of peace before discussing this issue. By then, the country will have money and the railway will no longer need to be built by foreigners."

Behind him, there were also people beating drums and cheering:

"You're right! You're right!"

Prime Minister Wen Xiang: …

……

【Li Hongzhang's opinion was adopted.】

[At this time, more than 40 years had passed since the UK built the world's first railway, and London was already running the Metropolitan Subway. ]

[Railway construction in the United States, France, Germany, and Russia has lasted for thirty years.]

【This year, the total length of railroads in the United States reached 46,844 miles.】

[It was not until the sixth year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu (1880) that the Kaiping Mining Bureau built a railway from Tangshan to Xugezhuang, with a total length of kilometers, for the transportation of coal. This was the first railway built by China in modern history.]

[The railway was later extended to Tianjin, and then from Tangshan to Shanhaiguan.]

【In the 1887th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu (), Taiwan built a railway from Keelung to Taipei, and later extended the railway to Hsinchu. Since then, China's railway industry has gradually developed. 】

[The Westernization Movement then established civilian enterprises such as the Keelung Coal Mine in Taiwan, the Mohe Gold Mine in Heilongjiang, the Lanzhou Machine Weaving Factory, the Hanyang Iron Works, and the Hubei Weaving Factory.]

……

Datang.

"The ideology is still influenced more by traditional ideas."

Li Shimin placed his hands on the soft pillows on both sides, looked at everyone and said:
"This Westernization concept and action is still between innovation and conservatism."

"Look at the weapons innovation that they care about most, and they are in this contradictory state of seeking innovation and being conservative."

"The key to success lies in people, not in equipment."

"The new weapons are like poetry and other arts to scholars; they are dispensable."

After going to the north for a while, Cheng Yaojin came back and said curiously:

"Isn't this right, Your Majesty?"

"Hasn't the weapon already been made?"

Everyone looked at him.

Cheng Yaojin's eyes widened and his mouth opened wide:
"What are you looking at me for? Speak!"

Li Shimin glanced at him, waved his hand helplessly and said:
"Someone tell me how to make this idiot shut up."

"As soon as I got back, I started to make a scene. It made my head hurt."

Fang Xuanling felt everyone's gaze and sighed deeply in his heart.

I really don't want to go to court this time.

"Although the Westernization Movement began, judging by their words and deeds, they still believed that as long as they imitated Western guns and cannons to improve China's old firearms, they could learn from their strengths and make up for their weaknesses."

“And get away from this sentence and look at it from the other side.”

"The underlying meaning is that warfare is still carried out by manpower, not just by guns and artillery."

"That is to say, without the advantage of guns and cannons, the foreigners would not be a match for the Qing soldiers."

Cheng Yaojin is just reckless, not stupid.

As soon as Fang Xuanling said this, he understood, and opened his eyes wide, saying in amazement:
"This idea is so stupid!"

"According to this idea, the Black Armor Army shouldn't even exist!"

Li Shimin glared at him again.

Cheng Yaojin smiled foolishly and said nothing.

"so……"

Fang Xuanling concluded:
"This can be understood by looking at people's livelihood."

"Although they approve of shipbuilding and cannon casting, they regard telegraphs and railways as a violation of Chinese culture and insist that they are unacceptable."

"But building railways has huge benefits for national defense. The railway network can connect the entire country and connect blood vessels. It can transport guns and cannons, so that the country can quickly gather troops and supplies."

"It can create the effect of uniting all provinces and making one soldier equal to dozens of soldiers."

"Military and financial resources will be concentrated in the hands of the central government, which will not only help eliminate internal divisions, but also help resist foreign aggression."

"Besides..."

Fang Xuanling glanced at the emperor and said softly:
"When the Grand Canal was built, it would have destroyed people's feng shui and occupied their land. How did it get built?"

……

[While establishing military and civilian enterprises, the Westernization Movement also planned to build a navy, strengthen coastal defense, set up a foreign literature institute, and sent students abroad to study advanced technology.]

[For example, in the first year of the Guangxu reign (1875), Liangjiang Governor-General Shen Baozhen, Zhili Governor-General Li Hongzhang and others submitted a petition requesting the establishment of three navies: Beiyang, Nanyang and Yueyang.]

[Approved by the Zongli Yamen, four million taels of silver from the customs were allocated annually to finance the establishment of the navy, which was planned to be completed within ten years.]

[In the tenth year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu (1884), the Sanyang Navy was initially established. The Beiyang Navy was under the jurisdiction of the Beiyang Minister and had ships, responsible for the defense of the Shandong, Zhili, and Fengtian waters.]

[The Nanyang Navy is under the command of the Nanyang Minister, has 17 ships, and is responsible for the security of the Jiangsu and Zhejiang waters. ]

[The Fujian Navy is under the jurisdiction of the Fujian Shipbuilding Minister and has eleven ships to defend the waters of Fujian and Guangdong.]

[In the sixth year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu (1880), Li Hongzhang petitioned to establish the Tianjin Naval Academy, and in the eighth year a branch was established, named the Marine Academy.]

[Students at the Naval Academy learn astronomy and geography, geometry and algebra, arc trigonometry, sailing and wind control, and measuring and demonstrating torpedo launch.]

[Students in the Engineering School learn courses such as mathematics, geometry, trigonometry, algebra, physics and automobile physics, machine drawing, machine art, and torpedo repair.]

In the 1885th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu (), Li Hongzhang also founded the Military Academy in Tianjin, which was used to train officers of the Huai Army and the Beiyang Army in turn. He also hired German officers such as Li Bao to conduct German-style drills for officers and soldiers to improve the capabilities of the various armies.

[According to conservative statistics, by 1895, the Westernization Movement had established more than foreign language and industrial technology schools. Many military or civilian enterprises also had translation offices attached to them for lectures and translation of foreign books.]

……

{From 1872 to 1875, the Qing Dynasty sent children to the United States every year to study law, mechanics, etc.}
{The original plan was for these students to return to China to work after studying in the United States, but after receiving Western education, the students began to abandon their long gowns and jackets and wear Western suits, and some even cut off their braids.}
{The imperial court was very angry and began to withdraw the overseas students in batches.}
{Although many overseas students did not complete their studies, they still became talents in diplomacy, science and technology in the Qing Dynasty after returning to China, including Zhan Tianyou, the builder of China's first railway.}
{She is a companion of a fairy with a subtle fragrance and a proud character, which is rare in the world.}
{This is a couplet in Zhan Tianyou's former residence. I heard that this couplet is a reflection of Zhan Tianyou's life.}
{He once said, "Life has its length and destiny has its ups and downs. Fortunately, my life can be transformed into a rail crawling on the land of China, which is also a great blessing in my bumpy life." }
{In fact, every engineering student should read the famous article "A Warning to Young Engineers" left by Zhan Tianyou to future generations. Zhan Tianyou left more than just railways to future generations! }
{It is also a kind of character, a kind of spirit, the spirit of the Chinese nation to strive for self-improvement and progress! }

……

Qing Dynasty, Tongzhi Period
Tongzhi's pale face was full of sarcastic smile.

"Character... hehe... hehe..."

"Hahahahaha! Cough cough cough!"

Tongzhi coughed violently.

The eunuch brought the bowl of medicine, but he pushed it away.

Tongzhi didn't care at all about character or not.

In court struggles, this is the most useless thing.

"Guangxu, Guangxu, Guangxu..."

Tongzhi muttered to himself while gritting his teeth.

"Who is Guangxu?"

"This is all my achievement... all mine!"

His mother, the prince, and then there came Guangxu.

Why are there always people competing with him for power and profit!
Everyone in the hall had already fallen to their knees in fear.

Tongzhi was unaware of it.

Just thinking about one thing.

"railway……"

Character is of the least use in a fight.

But it also has the greatest impact on the fight.

"Ask the Overseas Affairs Bureau to hand over the overseas roster."

……

[Although the Westernization Movement worked hard to learn advanced Western technology and establish modern enterprises, it ultimately failed to save China.]

【Under the rule of a corrupt system, the industry and education of the Westernization Movement could not solve practical problems. 】

[The navy was not used to fight with the great powers, but to hide in the harbor. ]

[The guns and cannons produced by the Westernization Movement were not able to effectively resist foreign invaders, but they played an important role in suppressing peasant uprisings in their own country.]

【Such a big reform is ultimately just a change of name.】

[Evaluation B level, three points]

(End of this chapter)