Republic of China: Guandong Ginseng King

Chapter 474: Ji'an Railway Opens
On the ninth day of the fourth month of the leap year, Qu Zhenbang, Liu Xinyuan and others took a train from Changchun to Fengtian, then transferred to Tianjin from Fengtian, and then took a ship to sea to study in Germany.

At the beginning of May, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces agreed that the Jilin silver dollar would be priced at two thousand five hundred wen per dollar, and the silver dollars from other provinces would be priced at two thousand four hundred wen per dollar, and the exchange rate would be exercised according to this.

He Houqi, the governor of Binjiang Province, and Li Honggui, the prefect of Hulan, petitioned the generals of Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces to approve the establishment of the General Chamber of Commerce in Harbin and branches in various towns in Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces.

And a charter was agreed upon to ensure the interests of all industrial and commercial sectors in the two provinces.

The charter stipulates that all workers working in various businesses or industrial and commercial enterprises established by foreigners can voluntarily join the workers' union, which is affiliated with the chamber of commerce.

In June, a girls' middle school was established in Jilin, with 80 students enrolled in the first term.

When Qu Jialing and Chen Jingya heard the news, they signed up.

Chen Xiuyun ordered someone to deliver a letter to Binjiang Road to seek the He family's opinion.

With the permission of Ho Hau-kei and his wife, Chan Siu-yun took Ho Ze-wen home and went to attend a girls' high school with Jialing and others.

He Zewen gets along very well with Jialing, Jingya and others. In addition to going to school every day, the girls also stay with Chen Xiuyun during the holidays to learn how to take care of affairs.

These girls are all very smart and can learn many things with just a little guidance. Over time, Chen Xiuyun assigned them some tasks intentionally or unintentionally.

Especially He Zewen, as the future eldest daughter-in-law of the Qu family, she has a heavy burden on her shoulders. Chen Xiuyun also values ​​her very much and will arrange more things for her.

He Zewen understood Chen Xiuyun's painstaking efforts and always completed the task well.

In the blink of an eye, it was August. The Ji'an Railway had been completed, and the Anfeng Railway and Jiha Railway were also progressing very smoothly.

Although there were some obstructions from Japan and Tsarist Russia in the middle, with the Harriman Company behind them, the two countries did not dare to interfere too much.

Starting from July, the imperial court issued an order to prepare for the implementation of a preliminary constitution, and the Northeast region also began to implement new policy measures.

In order to prepare for constitutionalism, the Qing government ordered prefectures and counties across the country to compile local chronicles.

At the same time, the imperial court ordered the abolition of the imperial examination system, and a wave of establishing schools swept across the Northeast.

Each state and county successively established primary schools, middle schools, normal schools, industrial schools, etc.

Jilin Province has been promoting schools since last year and is at the forefront.

At this time, you won't be in a rush, but will have more energy to prepare for other matters.

Qu Shaoyang discussed with everyone and decided to select a place between Jilin and Changchun to build an agricultural experimental field.

It has subjects such as nurseries, agricultural products, gardening, and animal husbandry. It purchases new agricultural tools and seedlings from various countries, hires Japanese agricultural doctors as agronomists, and sets up agricultural schools to train technical talents.

The first batch of students will consist of 100 people. After graduation, they will be assigned to various states and counties to set up experimental branches.

This is the first agricultural experimental field in Northeast China, laying a good foundation for the development of agriculture in the Northeast region.

Afterwards, Qu Shaoyang proposed to set up a craft bureau within the Silver Dollar Bureau, adding eight factories including sewing, wood, carving, lacquer, embroidery, carpets, dyeing and gold, which was later changed into a craft training center.

In the previous Russo-Japanese War, after the defeat of Tsarist Russia, many of its rights and interests in Fengtian and Jilin provinces were transferred to Japan.

Among them was the Yalu River Timber Planting Company run by Tsarist Russia.

In response, Qu Shaoyang reported to the court and requested to sign a new contract with Japan.

In August, the Eastern Military Preparations Department and the General Manager of the Eastern Taxation Bureau signed the "Yalu River and Hunjiang River Timber Planting Contract" with the Japanese Andong Timber Factory.

The contract clearly stipulates that the timber needed by the Japanese side will be provided by the Dongbiandao Wood Planting Company.

Japanese timber mills must purchase timber according to set prices and are not allowed to send workers to cut wood in the Yalu River and Hunjiang River basins.

By the end of August, the Qing court sent military ministers Zai Zhen and Xu Shichang to the Northeast to conduct a political investigation in the name of investigating the incident.

After Qu Shaoyang learned the news, he immediately ordered people to prepare.

On September 13, Zaizhen and Xu Shichang arrived in Jilin. Qu Shaoyang led a group of provincial government officials out of the city to welcome them.

"It is a blessing for the people of Jilin and an honor for us that you two gentlemen can come to Jilin City.

Jilin is a cold and harsh borderland with high mountains and long roads, making it difficult to travel by car. The two adults must have had a very tiring journey.

I have already ordered people to prepare the next residence and hold a banquet to welcome you, my Lord.

Please do me the honor of moving aside, and let us show our hospitality."

Qu Shaoyang met the two and stepped forward to greet them enthusiastically.

Others didn't know what these two people were doing in Northeast China, but how could Qu Shaoyang not know? These two were sent by the imperial court to come to Northeast China for an inspection.

After returning, Xu Shichang proposed a plan for comprehensive reform of the Northeast, and the following year he was appointed Governor-General of the Three Northeastern Provinces by the Qing court.

How could Qu Shaoyang miss this opportunity? He must treat him well and use this opportunity to establish a relationship with him so that he can plan for the future.

"Mr. Qu, you are too polite. I have heard that General Jilin is a young talent with great potential. Seeing him today, I can see that it is true."

Zaizhen and the other man returned the greeting and exchanged compliments and greetings with Qu Shaoyang and the others.

Immediately afterwards, the group entered Jilin City and settled down at the post house. Then Qu Shaoyang invited them directly to his mansion and hosted a banquet for them.

During the banquet, there were all kinds of music, including stringed instruments, singing and dancing performances, as well as fine wine and delicious food, and the atmosphere was naturally great.

Everyone was toasting each other, talking and laughing, and soon they all became familiar with each other.

After the banquet, Qu Shaoyang personally escorted the two back to the inn and presented them with two generous gifts.

As a result, the relationship between the two and Qu Shaoyang instantly became much closer.

Starting from the next day, Qu Shaoyang personally accompanied the two to inspect Jilin City, Changchun City, Harbin and other places.

Especially the Jilin Machinery Bureau, various factories, schools, railways, etc., all of them were visited.

The three northeastern provinces are the birthplace of the Qing Dynasty, and their importance is self-evident.

However, from the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 to the Russo-Japanese War, the land of Northeast China suffered from wars for more than ten years and was looted repeatedly by Tsarist Russia and Japan, causing people's livelihood to be impoverished and the land to be devastated.

In order to save the situation, the imperial court sent Zaizhen and Xu Shichang to the Northeast for a comprehensive investigation in order to find the right remedy and a solution.

Xu Shichang and his party first arrived in Fengtian, then went to Qiqihar, and finally came to Jilin City.

Because Fengtian had been occupied by the Japanese army before and had only been returned not long ago, the streets were in chaos, the shops were deserted, and there were few pedestrians, presenting a scene of desolation.

The situation in Qiqihar is almost the same, with a depressed market and sluggish business.

In comparison, Jilin City is much better, with clean streets, patrol police maintaining public order, numerous shops and busy pedestrians, creating a prosperous and bustling scene.

After hearing about the various measures taken by Qu Shaoyang when he was in power and the achievements in recent years, Zaizhen and Xu Shichang couldn't help but nod secretly and admire him in their hearts.

Although Mr. Qu is young and has little experience, he is very good at governing the local area.

There are still a lot of official business to be dealt with in the general's office, and Qu Shaoyang can't always stay with him.

Furthermore, Xu Shichang and his team came to inspect under the pretext of investigating an incident, and it was impossible for Qu Shaoyang to accompany them all the time. How could they find any problems? So a few days later, Qu Shaoyang used the excuse of being busy with government affairs to arrange for someone else to accompany him.

The two men also went with the flow and simply refused the company of local officials and acted alone.

In this way, Zaizhen and his party traveled around the Northeast for more than two months, trekking thousands of miles, and only returned to the capital after gaining a deep understanding.

Afterwards, Xu Shichang submitted a memorial of more than 100,000 words, analyzing the current situation of the three northeastern provinces and proposing specific governance plans.

Of course, Xu Shichang also had to praise General Jilin in his memorial, praising his good governance, the orderly public security in various parts of Jilin Province, the stable people's livelihood, the developed industry and commerce, etc.

Not long after, the imperial court's commendation arrived, and Qu Shaoyang was appointed General Zhenwei.

At the same time, Zhang Xiulan, who was recuperating at home due to illness, took the opportunity to be reinstated and transferred to the post of Governor of Zhili.

After learning the news, Qu Shaoyang immediately ordered people to prepare a gift and send it to Phoenix City.

In the blink of an eye, it was winter and the Ji'an Railway was officially opened to traffic. A large amount of soybeans, grain, medicinal materials, timber, coal and other materials were transported to Andong and other places via railway.

Advanced machinery and commodities from various countries are also loaded onto trains at Andong Port and transported to major cities along the railway.

With this, Andong has become another prosperous and open port city in Northeast China after Yingkou and Dalian.

On the first day of the twelfth lunar month, the Qing government announced that Changchun, Jilin, Harbin, Qiqihar and Manzhouli would be opened as commercial ports.

Immediately afterwards, Japanese engineer colonel Ota led the Japanese army into Jilin City and demanded residential and commercial areas.

They attempted to lease the area more than ten miles east of Dadongmen to Lianhuapao and drive out the local residents.

The local residents clashed with the Japanese army, and then the Jilin City garrison arrived at the order of Qu Shaoyang, expelled the Japanese army and appeased the people.

Afterwards, Qu Shaoyang negotiated with the Japanese representatives and designated a piece of land as a residence and commercial port for the Japanese in accordance with the regulations.

However, the occupied houses need to be compensated according to the price.

The Japanese naturally refused, and the two sides were in a stalemate, so Qu Shaoyang directly ordered the troops to be dispatched.

Seeing this situation, the Japanese representatives had no choice but to give in and signed a port opening treaty with Jilin Province, demarcating the residential and commercial port areas.

Japan established the Jilin Branch of the Fengtian Consulate in Jilin City.

According to the decision of the Qing court, the Jilin General Chamber of Commerce was established on the basis of the original Jilin Business Conference Hall.

The association's purpose is to connect colleagues, inspire knowledge, and open up business intelligence.

Investigate business, study business, prepare business consultations, and hold group discussions to develop business.

Maintain public welfare, correct industry rules, resolve disputes, appeal for grievances, and coordinate business conditions.

The General Chamber of Commerce was headed by the alternate prefect Zhu Hancheng as the chief director, and the former president of the Jilin City Chamber of Commerce Zhao Bingzhang and the famous Manchu gentry Song Yu as vice directors.

At the same time, Jilin Province established a Mining Administration Bureau and set up branches in Hailong, Tonghua and other places to investigate the local mineral resources.

When merchants and civilians apply for a mining area, branch bureau members must go there in person to inspect it and report to the general bureau.

As a result, supervision and management of mineral resource development will be increased.

On the evening of the twelfth lunar month, Wanyu suddenly went into labor and, after tossing and turning for half the night, gave birth to a girl.

Zhang Tianzhi and his team were originally ordered to survey Changbai Mountain and Tumen River. In September, the boundary survey mission was completed, and the team left Jilin City and returned to Tianjin.

Wanyu is pregnant and it is not suitable for her to travel long distances, so Lin Ruolan discussed with Tianzhi and decided to let Wanyu stay in Jilin temporarily.

When spring comes and flowers bloom after the New Year, Tianzhi will have settled down and he can come and pick Wanyu up.

Therefore, Tianzhi was not around when Wanyu gave birth.

Fortunately, the delivery process went very smoothly. The little girl weighed 5.9 jin and was very healthy.

Wanyu gave birth to a daughter successfully, and Liu Dongshan and his wife became grandparents. They were so happy that they held the baby happily and were unwilling to let go.

Early the next morning, Liu Dongshan went to the telegraph office and sent a telegram to Tianzhi in Tianjin, telling him the good news that Wanyu had given birth.

At the same time, Liu Dongshan also informed relatives and friends. When everyone heard the news, they were happy for Tianzhi and Wanyu.

On the 16th day of the twelfth lunar month, Qu Jiang and Qu Fu, accompanied by a large number of followers and guards, arrived in Jilin City escorting a large amount of gold and silver.

Now that the Ji'an Railway is open to traffic, they can take a train from Tonghua to Jilin City in just over a day, which is much more convenient than before.

This year, the Qu family's business was good everywhere and the income was considerable. The two brothers gave Qu Shaoyang more than one million taels of silver.

Qu Shaoyang was running a factory and was short of money at the time, so this money was definitely a timely relief and solved a lot of problems.

Everything is normal in Linjiang. Mr. and Mrs. Qu no longer care about anything. They returned to Linjiang from Jilin City in the spring and spend every day helping to coax their grandchildren.

Qu Fu's wife, Feicui, gave birth to two children, a boy and a girl, after marrying Qu Fu.

Qujiang's wife gave birth to another boy this summer.

Now Qu Jiang has four sons and one daughter, Qu Fu has three sons and one daughter. The Qu family has a total of more than twenty children, which can be considered a large family.

The brothers Qu Jiang and Qu Fu stayed in Jilin City for a few days. As their children were on vacation, they simply took them back to celebrate the New Year.

Anyway, there are trains now, so it’s convenient to go back and forth. I can just take the train back after the New Year.

"By the way, Third Brother, how are the preparations for the construction of the Linjiang railway going?"

Before leaving, Qu Shaoyang suddenly remembered this matter and asked casually.

"I think it's difficult. Where can we raise more than one million taels of silver in a place like ours?
I heard that the county magistrate went to see the Tonghua county magistrate to discuss building a railway together, but it didn't work out." Qu Jiang shook his head.

Linjiang itself is not a very big place, and it was not established until late, so it simply cannot come up with that much money.

I don’t think it’s going to be possible to build a railway in the short term.

"Well, let's talk about it later. I really can't take care of that right now."

Qu Shaoyang was interested in building a railway in Linjiang, but he didn't have that much money at the moment, as he had invested all of it in factories and mines.

It would take at least a few more years for those factories and mines to become profitable, and then Qu Shaoyang would have to think of a way to invest some money and borrow some more money to build the railway from Linjiang to Tonghua.

Although small railways have low costs, their transport capacity is too poor. In the long run, it is not cost-effective to build small railways.

The three brothers chatted for a while, and Qu Shaoyang reminded the children not to delay their studies when they went back home to celebrate the New Year, and then asked someone to take them to the station.

As in previous years, Chen Xiuyun prepared a lot of New Year's gifts for the family and asked Qu Jiang and others to take them back.

Now that we have trains, it is very convenient. You can go directly to the shipping procedure, wait until you arrive in Tonghua, and then find a vehicle to transport it back to Linjiang.

After seeing off Qu Jiang and Qu Fu, the New Year gifts from the Chen brothers arrived. They were also transported by train, which was really convenient.

(End of this chapter)