Section 105 The value of the article

On the 18th day of the first lunar month, various departments opened their yamen and the Military Affairs Office began to officially enter the quarter. Since September of the eighth year of Xianfeng, a prince and a grand sect were demoted and killed, making the first place in the court's court actually become deserted.

This is not counting. The Military Affairs Office has been full of three Han dynasties, but Zaiyuan did not mention it. He just took the title of the bannerman, the princes and princes, and fed with them on weekdays. The remaining three people were harmonious on the surface, but secretly incompatible with each other, especially Sun Ruizhen and Weng Xinxian, each leader in the north and south, and the two peaks were confronting each other, and the emperor once gave an imperial edict in his early years, and finally maintained their faces. By the end of the previous year, they finally became superficial because of something.

The cause of the incident was in October of the eighth year of Xianfeng, as usual, the period of the "Beijing Chase" of various ministries in central Beijing, among which the Ministry of Personnel changed Weng Tongshu, who served as a doctor in the Ministry of Justice, to the first-class level.

This incident gave Sun Ruizhen an opportunity to take advantage of it. After the copying of the mansion was issued, he invited Yuan Jiasan and Li Hongzao to pass the mansion and discussed it for several hours. On the third day, the two submitted a memorial, impeaching Weng Tongshu Jingchayi, who was inappropriate in the name of "The Children of Ministers and Children of Ministers".

Yuan Jiasan believed that Weng Tongshuo's letter to the Beijing Procuratorate was not the norm. The memorial lists the various regulations of the Ministry of Justice, saying that the Ministry of Justice had introduced the regulations to the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice to regulate the law and regulations, and the Autumn Trial Office was listed as the first class (that is, the eight sages). If there was a chief in the process of the work, the number of people who came from the official route of each department was taken to the fullest. There was never a case of not introducing the report, not taking the office, and getting the first class of Beijing Procuratorate, which was not right, then "it started from Weng Tongshuo, the son of Weng Xincun, the minister of military affairs.

Next, he quoted the story of Liu Tongxun's memorial to slander Zhang Tingyu's relatives during the Qianlong period, thinking that Liu Tongxun was not only "protecting the law for the country, but also protecting Zhang Tingyu's name." He also said, "Wen's sincerity is not a wise man, but also a wise man, how can he make the world's rush to fight for his fate? Is it true that the matter of helping his children is honest? Finally, it is recommended that Weng Tongshu's "rearning the Ministry to correct the Ministry" and cancel it.

As for matters, these words are unreasonable, but the targets of this comment were not Zhao Guang, Zheng Dunjin and other officials of the Ministry of Justice, but instead used this matter to attack Zeng Guofan and Weng Xincun. Weng Tongshu was the son of Weng Xincun, and the Ministry of Justice was under the jurisdiction of Zeng Guofan. Such comments reached the heavenly voice, which naturally caused a very violent turmoil.

When the emperor got the memorial, he thought about it carefully and could probably guess his intention. The Military Affairs Office successively sent two important officials, and after the beginning of the year, one or two of them would naturally be added. The rumors of the emperor's "respect for Han and suppress Manchu" began to appear in the court. So one of them must be added to a bannerman, and the other Han candidate was a little troublesome.

If there is another Han official who is missing from the south, Sun Ruizhen will not be able to withstand the attacks from several faces, and it will definitely mean resignation - this is what the emperor does not want to see. In fact, it is not the case that Yuan Jiasan and Li Hongzhang mentioned as impeachment, but the inner meaning is to remind himself. He will not choose a Han official in the south.

There are not many important officials who can join the Military Affairs Office. The Ministry of Revenue is Yan Jingming, the Censorate is Yuan Jiasan, and the Hanlin Academy is Xu Naizhao. Because of the above reasons, Xu Naizhao, who is from Zhejiang, quickly gave up for the emperor. But who should the remaining two people choose? Just when the emperor was hesitant, Yan Jingming submitted a memorial.

Luo Bingzhang took office in April and was expelled in May. In the seventh year of Xianfeng before he took office, the direct governor of Nar had already begun to order people to conduct detailed inspections under his rule. Finally, he reported to the court for approval and agreed with the British to start to identify the boundary sites. He wanted to build a railway from Baoding to Beijing - a station on Beijing, and was selected in Tongzhou - with a total length of about 430 kilometers.

Unexpectedly, the matter was not yet settled, and the war between the two countries suddenly began. Britain launched an evacuation operation, and the engineering personnel left one after another. Nar was helpless. The longer the delay, the worse it became. There was no way, so he had to write a letter to the court and ask the General Administration to negotiate, hoping to find a next home for the project, so as not to fall into the water in the early stage.

The General Administration Office was responsible for coming forward and discussing with various countries. Who knew that all countries were afraid of the fierce battles and did not dare to intervene. Until the war stopped, seeing that there was no danger that followed. The US Minister Harry Hermann came forward and prepared to entrust the matter to a domestic company that he had had with him for many years.

Not wanting to be in trouble, the British company saw the situation stable, rushed from Hong Kong to Baoding, met the Governor General, and demanded that they start their cooperation again.

Naturally, Nal'er could not agree. He believed that the early project had not been completed, and the British evacuated the overseas Chinese and left, and the relationship between the two sides had been settled. How could there be a reason to come back? Besides, the General Administration Office had asked the General Administration to come out to prepare for this matter. Yi also sent someone to send a letter from Beijing to tell him that the American minister had come forward to solve the problem. In less than long as he took a long time, the representatives of the railway company from the United States would arrive in China and discuss cooperation matters. If he turned around and agreed to the British's request, how would he become an official in the future? Therefore, Nal'er'er repeatedly refused and his words were quite serious.

The British reason was that the temporary withdrawal of engineering and technical personnel was not because the British intentionally broke the contract, but because of force majeure, they had to do so. Now that there is no obstacle, it is not a mistake to ask the Chinese to re-perform the contract.

There was no way out from him, and the British had no choice but to send someone to Beijing for assistance. At this time, Sir Gladstone, who was in charge of negotiations between the two countries in China, had not left yet, so he was intent on asking Yi for this matter, hoping to meet the requirements of the British railway merchants, and still hand over the project to the British according to the contract signed at the time.

Yi also felt embarrassed. In order to get such a big order, the Americans, including the American Minister Mr. Hermann, invited several banquets and received various people from the General Administration, just to win the project, and he verbally agreed. Now the British mentioned this matter again at the negotiating table, how can they refuse?

Seeing that the negotiations were late, he still couldn't come up with a solution. Yi had no choice but to report to the emperor and ask the emperor for a ruling.

The emperor had no better choice. After thinking about it for a few days, he thought of a solution. When the Military Affairs Office called out, he also passed the people from the General Administration to the imperial court. "I thought about what Lao Liu said a few days ago. What the British said was unreasonable, but it was a great delay in our time in the Celestial Empire. Although it was for the war between the two countries and had to avoid misfortune and seek good fortune, the fault was not in our Celestial Empire. And what about the United States?"

He picked up the *** on the imperial case and took a sip, and continued, "When this situation is shattered, the Celestial Empire is not happy with the friendship of Dai Qiguo in a timely manner. But friendship is friendship, and the Celestial Empire is the Celestial Empire. The Celestial Empire had a contract with the British, so we must not act according to the contract. In this way, the General Administration and the Zhili Governor's Office jointly came forward to tender and build the bid."

Yi was stunned for a moment, and he couldn't understand the words that the emperor said at all. "Prince, please forgive me for being stupid,..."

"It's very simple. Let the merchants from Britain and the United States make their own costs and report documents. They will use which one of them will use the less money." The emperor said with a smile, "Well, in addition to the above two yamen, let the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works also join in. The court will make a quote first, and I'll take a look."

Sun Ruizhen was very quick to think about it and immediately replied, "Emperor, the bidding method is innovative. In addition to reducing the cost of our Tianchao railway construction to a minimum, it can also make the losers in the two countries have nothing to say. It is really a supreme law for the prosperity of the people and the ministers are convinced."

Zeng Guofan was not as smart as him, but after this twists and turns, he found the disadvantages in Sun Ruizhen's words, "Your Majesty, I think it's not possible."

"oh?"

"The cost is greatly reduced, and materials and labor will inevitably go to the market. If there are people who are tired and tired, I am afraid that after the railway construction is completed, there will be no long-term benefits and immediate disadvantages!"

Everyone could understand his words naturally, and the emperor also understood them very well, "Are you worried about any ragged project?" He was embarrassed to say that the 'tofu' project appeared. Seeing Zeng Guofan's endless encounters, Zhan Yan smiled, "You still don't understand the meaning of the so-called bidding. On the surface, this matter seems to have something that Zeng Guofan said and the bad policies that he dare not speak of, but in fact, they will not."

"Tendering is just one of the procedures, in order to find a more suitable means to make the other party even more inconvenient. It is definitely not to make money without money - I will give you an example. Although the two countries jointly bid together, there must be an approximation. Take the railway to be built this time for example. If one party's quotation is 10 million taels of silver; and the other party, if it is around one million taels, it means that there is not much difference. If the other party's digit is only three to five million, and it is far from each other, you have to think about it carefully."

He said, "Was the more party deliberately raising the price for profit? Or the fewer party have already made up their minds to cut corners?"

In this case, some of the kneeling people could understand, while others were still confused. The emperor patiently explained, "There are precedents to follow in the construction of railway construction. Whether it is the compensation to be paid for by encroaching on the land, or the instructions of the people, the money to be spent on relocating the tombs, the requisition of civil servants, the purchase of equipment, etc., they must be counted as the use of railway construction."

"All the above must be considered as the funds that must be spent in the project. After the construction of the project is completed, a large number of labor and silver will be used for railway stations, maintenance, operation and debugging." He said, "As for bidding, it is just that before this matter is carried out, the various expenses will be summarized and calculated. According to the amount required for bidding silver, the court and the province will be intercepted in advance, so as to make targeted efforts."

"Your Majesty, what if you surpass it?"

"If you exceed the number, you have to carefully check and calculate it. Why is it exceeded? How much more? How much more? How much money is needed to be added to the additional part to be fully used?" The emperor said while sorting out his thoughts. He really wanted to take out the term "financial budget" that had been in his heart but had never had the opportunity to preach to everyone in person, and take this opportunity to generalize it.

But then I thought about it, firstly, there was no need to be urgent. When the bidding ended, or even after the number contained in the bid was put into it, it would be no longer too late to say it; secondly, among the people present, there was no Sushun, and Yan Jingming, who was like the one who was a master of the branch, might not be able to understand it, but instead wasted his words and swallowed the words he had finished.

After sending everyone out, the emperor only kept Yi. "The bidding was originally a way to prevent the greed of men and women from doing things. The biggest feature was that both parties involved in the bidding showed their strengths and blocked all the possible projects such as people being overdoubted and silver void."

"In this way, the money spent by the Tian Dynasty for railway construction can be greatly saved, and the bad policies of those below are also avoided by the mischievous businesses taking the opportunity to make money. However, there are also no missing points."

He said it very slowly, as if every word had to be carefully considered before he could just say it, "Lao Liu, after you go down, you will work with Cheng Tinggui, Ruichang, Yan Jingming and others to take one step ahead of each country to calculate the silver spent by our Celestial Empire this time. Don't let others know about this matter. After the calculation is clear, you will submit it. I want to take a look."

By the time the imperial edict was issued, it caused shocks from all countries. Bidding was a new thing in China and had been found in other countries for a long time. This method can avoid the rampant corruption to the greatest extent. Moreover, when bidding, it was clear and it was difficult to do anything. Moreover, in the Qing court, this time the bidding was conducted by the Military Affairs Office, General Administration Office, Ministry of Revenue, and Ministry of Works to report all the details of the exchanges - this was the first time in the history of the Celestial Dynasty, so everyone was careful and did not dare to make any mistakes at all.

In addition to the railway merchants from Britain and the United States, there are also mechanical engineering companies from France and Spain who require embassies and consulates in China to join the bidding ranks this time. The Qing court was not willing to favor one and the other, so they agreed.

This matter was not yet decided until the end of the eighth year of Xianfeng. Shortly after the opening of the New Year, Yan Jingming, the Minister of Revenue, submitted a memorandum, who had been in Tianjin and summed up various expenses.

This is the longest note that the emperor has seen since he ascended the throne. In addition to the note, there are six pieces of clips, which are more than 30,000 words. In the note, he listed in detail the amount of silver required for all major railway work, totaling 7.39,065 taels and three coins.

Because of such a detailed and clear memorial, the balance in the emperor's heart finally fell to the side.

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The appointment of the Shuting Court is of great importance. Even Yan Jingming did not expect that he would actually value Longmu and entrust such an important task? He was less than forty years old! After seeing Mingfa’s mansion, he returned to the mansion in the capital and first ordered his subordinates, "All guests who congratulate will refuse, and the master will write a memorial."

The next day, he wrote the memorials and the first time after the Emperor met with the Military Affairs Office was to call Yan Jingming to the front of the emperor. "...I still remember that when I met you for the first time, I remembered that it was the same as yesterday!"

"At that time, the ministers, Cao Mao, were new to the world, did not know the dragon's face, and all kinds of inappropriate words and deeds were always thought of, and the emperor did not regard his minister as vulgar, but instead entrusted a heavy responsibility. The minister had to devote all his efforts to repay his death, and the emperor asked not to let down his gratitude if he wanted to do anything."

"You don't have to be so self-restrained. Since I have chosen to let you enter the Military Affairs Office, you will not consider the material discussions of those outsiders. This is not only for me, but also for you." The emperor said, "The Military Affairs Office is the place where the imperial decrees come from. It is of great importance. I don't need to say much to you, and you have some understanding. What I want to tell you is that although you still have the name of learning to walk, you should still uphold the upright style of the Ministry of Revenue in the Military Affairs Office, and not have any obscureness in all kinds of illegal things in the court. As long as there is a solid evidence, you will report everything and I will make decisions for you."

"Yes. The emperor entrusts his subordinates to his confidant heart. How dare I cherish my own selfish interests?" Yan Jingming felt it from it, and his voice trembled a little. "After entering the ranks, I will definitely serve the emperor and father with a sincere heart, and I dare not take any place to wander around."

"I can trust your character, and I am ugly and upright Yan Danchu!" The emperor rarely had such a moment of praise for his subordinates face to face. He waved his hand to let him stand up. "I was very satisfied with you in Tianjin last year, and you were in Tianjin," he said. "The total amount of 7 million taels of silver seems to save a lot of money compared to the railway built in Jiangning?"

Yan Jingming didn't think about it, thinking that the emperor was expressing emotion, and touched his head, but did not say anything. "I remember that it was more than 14 million taels of silver on the Jiangning Railway? The total cost is, right?"

"Yes, the Emperor's Holy Records are correct. The Jiangning Railway took three years, and the total number was 14 million taels."

"I also said at the beginning that it took three years to spend so much money, and it was not too much." He took the memorial submitted by Yan Jingming and looked through it, "It seems that it is still too much."

"Now the imperial court uses Japanese football, and such a railway work will benefit the great achievements of future generations for thousands of years. It has been a waste of money, which is also a matter of proper purpose." Yan Jingming replied in a mixed voice, "The emperor does not have to worry about such trivial matters."

"How can you not care about it?" the emperor said slowly, "A railway project costs twice as much money. If such a project is fully launched in the future, how much money can the court make for these people?"

This is too deep, there are too many people involved, and each of them has high positions and power. Once you really act according to the emperor's wishes, you will not mention your luck, and the court will have a great wait until you turn over. Therefore, Yan Jingming didn't even dare to say anything, lying on the ground and thumping his head, making a sound.

The emperor felt a little disappointed and sighed regretfully, "You go down, and from tomorrow, we will go to the Military Affairs Office to enter the duty station."

Yan Jingming felt guilty in his heart and looked up at him, "Emperor?"

"Go, go."
Chapter completed!