The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 580: Winning glory at the Olympics
Huang Kaijia felt excited again when he heard Teng Yuzhao say that although he was the deputy envoy, the decision on participating in the exhibition was entirely up to him and Pu Lun would not interfere.

This shows that Teng Yuzao trusts him very much.

Huang Kaijia was originally unwilling to be transferred from China Merchants Steam Navigation Company. Even though Teng Yuzhao promised him the post of Tianjin Customs Commissioner, Huang Kaijia was still not very willing to come here.

Because, although the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company was said to be a joint venture between the government and businessmen, it was actually a pure government-run company. Those business shareholders had no right to inquire about any matters of the company. Once you worked there, it was only a matter of time before you would be promoted to a higher position.

Although Huang Kaijia admired Teng Yuzao very much, he was not familiar with him after all. In China Merchants Steamship, he had the support of Sheng Xuanhuai, who had a profound background.

Although Huang Kaijia came here reluctantly after Sheng Xuanhuai's earnest persuasion, he was also very clear that this was not only because Sheng Xuanhuai had received some benefits from Teng Yuzhao, but also because Sheng Xuanhuai was unwilling to offend Teng Yuzhao, the world's number one governor whose reputation was at its peak in the opposition, for his sake.

But unexpectedly, as soon as he arrived in Zhili, he had a completely different feeling. Not only did Teng Yuzhao meet him in person, but he also spoke to him kindly.

He also met dozens of former Chinese students who had studied in the United States, including most of his classmates, and all of them were excited.

Because, in Zhili, these former Chinese students studying in the United States saw hope in life.

Not only were many of their classmates valued by Teng Yuzhao, the most important thing was that they were highly respected in the Beiyang government. From Teng Yuzhao, the Governor-General of Zhili, the highest official of the Beiyang clique, to ordinary soldiers, clerks, petty officials, and workers, all of them, under the influence of Teng Yuzhao, cared for and respected them.

Especially the students of Beiyang University, who regarded them as their juniors, calling them pioneers of Western learning, their teachers and seniors, and giving them unprecedented glory.

Now, before he even got comfortable in the position of Tianjin Customs Commissioner, Teng Yuzhao entrusted him with the important task of representing the imperial court and Beiyang to attend the World Expo, and he was almost given full authority to handle it. What a trust!

Thinking that Teng Yuzhao had even paid a price to personally ask for him in order to get him to come to Zhili, Huang Kaijia became even more excited.

Huang Kaijia stood up and said loudly with excitement, "I will follow your instructions and will never let you down."

"Good! Good!"

Teng Yuzao smiled and waved to Huang Kaijia to take a seat, then said, "Dounan, you have only three purposes for participating in the Expo."

"First, vigorously promote our magnificent culture and long historical heritage;"

"Second, vigorously promote and sell our domestic products to foreigners;"

"Third, by promoting our culture and history and letting foreigners like our good things, some of which are even more advanced than theirs, we will try to change the world's image of us as a backward and ignorant nation."

"As long as you do these three things, you will have accomplished half of your mission."

These three points were only half completed, which made Huang Kaijia feel a little confused. In his opinion, participating in the expo should be the whole purpose!
Not only Huang Kaijia, many other people also have the same idea.

Teng Yuzao smiled and asked everyone, "Don't you all find it strange that participating in this World Expo and completing these things is already very successful, so why is it only halfway?"

Without waiting for anyone to answer, Teng Yuzao turned to Huang Kaijia and said.

"Dounan, the reason I say this is because I have another task for you. We also want to participate in the Olympics, and you will also be the director of the Olympics."

As soon as Teng Yuzhao said this, the attitude of everyone in the conference room became the same as when he had just announced that he would participate in the expo. The former Chinese students who studied in the United States were excited, while the others looked indifferent.

Teng Yuzhao knew that he would have to explain in detail to these people what the Olympics were all about.

"I just mentioned something about the Olympics, so I won't go into details. As far as I know, the American city of St. Louis not only wants to host the World Expo, but they also want to host the Olympics at the same time. I guess they will probably achieve their goal in the end."

"Because they had good reasons. They wanted to commemorate the fact that the United States acquired the vast land of Louisiana through the purchase, which almost doubled the territory of the United States overnight."

Seeing that Zhou Fu and others were all in shock, Teng Yuzhao knew that these people were surprised that the country could still be sold, but he was unwilling to explain more.

He smiled and said to Zhou Fu and others, "One hundred years ago, the Americans bought Louisiana from Napoleon of France for 15 million US dollars. It covers an area of ​​more than 2.1 million square kilometers."

Worried that Zhou Fu and the others had no idea about square kilometers, Teng Yuzao added, "It's about the size of fourteen SD provinces."

Teng Yuzhao's words frightened Zhou Fu, and everyone else was also surprised.

Teng Yuzao did not continue to explain, but went on to talk about the Olympics.

"The city of St. Louis has a good reason to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the acquisition of such a large piece of land by the United States. I think they want to hold the World Expo and the Olympics at the same time, and they will succeed in the end."

Teng Yuzao said to Huang Kaijia, "Since we are holding it in the same place, I will have to let you, Dounan, worry more."

Teng Yuzao smiled at Huang Kaijia and said, "Although there was no Olympic Games when you returned to China, those of you who have studied in the United States are familiar with modern sports. I heard that many of you in the first batch of children studying in the United States love those Western sports."

"While you were at Yale University, you even organized a baseball team called 'Oriental' that included Shutang, Juancheng, Songsheng and you. It is said that your team was very good and defeated the teams organized by American students many times, making it very famous!"

Teng Yuzao's words not only surprised Huang Kaijia, but also Cai Shaoji, Zhan Tianyou and Liang Dunyan. They could not have imagined that Teng Yuzao knew these little things so clearly.

Teng Yuzao said with some pride, "Don't look at me like that. I know you all very well. Don't worry, all of you who have returned from studying in the United States are my treasures. I will make the best use of your talents."

If Teng Yuzao had said this before, many of these former Chinese students in the United States might not believe it. But seeing how well Teng Yuzao knew Huang Kaijia and others, they knew that Teng Yuzao must have put a lot of effort into them. In this situation, they could not help but believe Teng Yuzao's words, and everyone was excited. Teng Yuzao said jokingly, "Dounan, don't be surprised. I even know your English name and your great athletic talent. You are called Little Tornado Jack. It is most appropriate for you to be the director."

Teng Yuzao surprised Huang Kaijia again. He looked at Cai Shaoji, Zhan Tianyou, Liang Dunyan, and their classmates at Yale, and they all smiled bitterly and shook their heads.

Seeing the eye contact between Huang Kaijia and his classmates, Teng Yuzao said with a smile, "Dounan, I have worked hard for you. These are not what they told me."

"Okay, let's continue. You will definitely be too busy to handle two positions at the same time, so I will arrange an assistant for you. This time, Shutang, Juancheng, and Songsheng will definitely not have time to go to the United States, so Ziyuan will be the deputy supervisor of our Olympic delegation."

As Teng Yuzao's gaze turned to a middle-aged man in a dark blue suit, the man hurriedly stood up and bowed to Teng Yuzao with excitement on his face.

"Thank you for your cultivation, Marshal. I am afraid I cannot handle such an important task."

This man was named Zhong Wenyao. He was also one of the first group of Chinese children to study in the United States. After returning to China, he served as an interpreter at the Chinese Embassy in the United States, second-class counselor and charge d'affaires at the Chinese Embassy in Japan, consul general in Luzon, counselor of the Beiyang Foreign Affairs Bureau and envoy of the Baogong Bureau, and one of Li Hongzhang's attachés to Japan to sign the Treaty of Shimonoseki.

Since Zhong Wenyao had worked on the railway before, he was promoted by Yang Shiqi to assist Yang Shiqi in handling railway-related matters.

Teng Yuzao interrupted Zhong Wenyao and said with a smile, "Ziyuan, don't be so modest. Under your leadership as the coxswain of the Yale University rowing team, you have won two Harvard-Yale rowing competitions. This speaks volumes."

"I also know that your Yale University history professor Bai Shanju praised you for being very smart. Before the competition, you would go to the river where you were going to compete, throw the prepared wooden blocks into the water, and observe how the wind pushed the wooden blocks to move in the water. Then you could infer how the water flow and wind would affect the boat, and then you would be confident in the competition."

Teng Yuzhao's words again caused these young Chinese students in the United States to be extremely surprised.

Teng Yuzao gestured to the extremely excited Zhong Wenyao to sit down, and then spoke to Yang Shiqi.

"Xingcheng, Ziyuan Zhong Wenyao is full of curiosity about all new things. Railway matters are a bit boring. If he stays with you, he can't make full use of his strengths. Let him go to Jizhi to be an assistant and help Jizhi handle foreign affairs."

Teng Yuzhao's words once again caused a commotion among these young Chinese students studying in the United States. Although Zhong Wenyao had been in Beiyang for a long time and had even served as the second-class counselor and charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Japan and the Consul General in Luzon, he was only a fifth-rank official. Now he was going to work as an assistant to Zhou Xuexi, the most important figure in the Beiyang faction in promoting Westernization. His rank was at least the fifth rank, and he might even be a fourth-rank official!
This made these former Chinese students studying in the United States realize that Teng Yuzao not only truly valued them, but also tried his best to bring out their strengths.

Before Zhong Wenyao stood up to thank Teng Yuzao, Yang Shiqi said with emotion.

"The Marshal is wise and everyone is given the right position. This is not an empty promise from the Marshal. Shiqi obeys your order."

"All right!"

Teng Yuzao waved at Yang Shiqi and said with a smile, "Xingcheng, stop flattering me."

Then he said to Huang Kaijia and Zhong Wenyao, "Let's continue talking about the Olympics."

"The first two Olympic Games included 17 events, including archery, athletics, boxing, fencing, gymnastics, football, swimming, rowing, diving, water polo, tug-of-war, tennis, weightlifting, lacrosse, croquet, golf, and wrestling. According to Conger, boxing and diving were added by the Americans."

"Athletics refers to running, jumping, and throwing."

“具体有100米、400米、800米、1500米，以及40公里加200米的超远程距离，也就是说参赛运动员要不停歇地跑八十里地还要多了差不多半里地员。”

In order to take into account that Zhou Fu and others were not used to the concept of kilometers, Teng Yuzao had to convert it into miles.

But this also shocked Zhou Fu and his group. Zhou Fu said in amazement, "One person can run more than 80 miles without stopping! This will take two days!"

Teng Yuzao shook his head and smiled, "Master Zhou, the time you mentioned won't even take the last place. Generally, people can finish the 80 miles within two hours, and the fastest one takes just over an hour."

Teng Yuzao's words not only shocked Zhou Fu, but also shocked everyone present. Li Jinyu was even more surprised.

"This is much farther than our troops' training!"

Teng Yuzao nodded and said, "Yes, but this also requires long-term training. I estimate that our athletes participating in the marathon will most likely be selected by your respective troops in the end."

Teng Yuzao went on to say, "The track and field events also include the 110-meter hurdles, high jump, pole vault, long jump, triple jump, shot put and discus, as well as wrestling."

Upon hearing about the wrestling, Liu Shijiu rolled up his sleeves and was about to speak, and Teng Yuzhao hurriedly spoke.

"This wrestling is different from the street performances where you can do whatever you want. There are certain rules. I can't explain the details, but I have invited coaches from Hong Kong for various sports, and they will arrive in Tianjin in three days."

Teng Yuzao looked at Huang Kaijia and Zhong Wenyao, "In order to participate in the Olympics and of course to achieve good results, we can't just be spectators, and we can't let foreigners look down on us Chinese. I will grant you 100,000 taels of silver in advance, which will be used for selecting participants and for the meals of these athletes during the training in the second half of the year. When you have used up all the money, come to me immediately and I will grant you more. There is no upper limit to your funding."

"I have already reported this to the Queen Mother, and she has asked Prince Duan to send a letter to all provinces in the name of the Grand Council, asking them to send people who are good at running, jumping, throwing, strong, fast swimmers, and wrestlers to participate in the Olympic trials. Of course, there are age restrictions, and except for special circumstances, young people are generally required."

"If the selected personnel are selected to join our Olympic team, the corresponding county, state, prefecture, province and provincial officials will all be included in the assessment for that year."

"For athletes who win medals, the Zhili Association will give bonuses. The first place gold medalist will receive 2,000 taels of silver, the silver medalist will receive 1,000 taels, and the third place bronze medalist will receive 500 taels. The court will also issue an imperial decree to commend the officials of the provincial government."

"Each province must select no less than ten people to report to Zhili as soon as possible, and the more the better. All travel expenses will be reimbursed by the Zhili Governor-General's Office."

(End of this chapter)