Section 20 Military Academy

Entering the Hall of Yangxin, Zeng Guofan entered the hall to bow down, then walked a few steps, knelt on the mat in front of the imperial throne, waiting for the emperor's question. "Get up and talk first."

"Yes." Zeng Guofan agreed, put on a big hat and stood firmly.

"The year is approaching, there are many things happening in Liangjiang, right?" The emperor said to Zeng Guofan like a chat, "Is it hard on the road?"

"I am not working hard. Since I took office, I have not been able to do anything in the official business since the beginning of the first day, and there have been some complicated and inconveniences due to the lack of officials; in the later days, the new officials took office one by one, and the official business was relieved, and these subordinates knew that the emperor's holy heart was cheering up and cleansing up all kinds of fatigue and slippery winds in the officialdom, so I dare not be too careful in my actions. I have been in Liangjiang for more than a year, and I feel that official business exchanges are like a finger, and agile place is better than in the capital." Zeng Guofan said, "This is all the result of the emperor's efforts to promote good governance and purging the officialdom. When I talk to my subordinates, my respectful feelings are beyond words."

"You have finally made the administration slightly clear. When you return to office in the future, you still want to work together and strive to promote it. You must never let the results of today be wasted by people and things. Do you understand?"

"Yes. The emperor taught us back then and today's Hadith, I will never forget the words of the emperor."

The emperor thought to himself that there is no need to be a heavy hammer for the drum. Yu Zeng Guofan couldn't use his own point of advice at any time. He explained a few words without any annoyance, and then said, "I have thought about this article in the "Real Commentary on Necessity" for a long time after reading it. It is really a kind of advice for the country! When you were in Liangjiang, your official duties were heavy, and you could actually take it into consideration at a glance. It can be seen that you really considered this matter as a major matter of the country. To be honest, if I write such memorials myself, I am afraid that it would not be as detailed as you!" After saying that, I chuckled a few times, and it can be seen that the emperor was in a very good mood.

Zeng Guofan laughed a few times, then said, "The memorials of the ministers are just written by throwing bricks and citing jade. It is really hard to be praised by the king and father. But,"

"Just what?"

"The emperor, the navy is very common. Although our two rivers and lakes in the heavens have talents in the mountains and valleys and hides in the neighbors, in my foolish opinion, the naval strategy is not a great way to govern the country. If you say that you have a long head to study the classics..."

"I know what you mean. No matter how good or advanced the warship, you must rely on sailors to command and control the warship. If the income is not human, and no one can even control the warship. If the warships are above the seven seas, the warships purchased or built will become a ball of garbage on the water - do you mean that?"

"The emperor has no mistakes in the wise and wise. This is what I mean." Zeng Guofan said, "Therefore, I think that in naval construction, we might as well consider talents with expertise as the first priority. When there are people, are you still afraid of not having a ship?"

Zeng Guofan's words cannot be said wrong. There is only a boat and no one. Do you want it to run by itself? But the emperor had a long time ago. Hearing the words, he shook his head, "Sit down first, Liufu, come and move the slap."

When he moved to Wuzi, Zeng Guofan thanked him for his gratitude and listened to the emperor continued, "I think the matter of talent should be divided into two steps. The first is to send students abroad to Britain, France and other countries to learn about ship use and naval warfare." He paused and asked, "What do you think?"

"Sending people to Western countries to learn how to train boats is certainly the method of promoting naval forces in the future, but I am afraid that some people will say that if the boats on the water are precedent, my heavenly dynasty will not be in advance. I only say that since the emperor ascended the throne, most of the grain workers have the skills of boating on the sea... If this is the case?"

"How can grain ships and warships be compared?" The emperor shook his hand disapprovingly. "However, what you said is not unreasonable. The grain directors have the skills of sailing on the sea. In the future, they can also be incorporated into warships and fill them up and listen to them by sailors. If there are really those who are brave and talented, they might as well promote them?"

Zeng Guofan always felt that the emperor's words were a bit like a castle in the air. Is it really that easy to deal with? I was willing to say it again. Seeing that his tone had already brought out an impatient tone, he did not dare to make more words. He thought for a moment, "Yes, the emperor is careful and meticulous, but the minister has missed the attention."

"Let's talk about the second point. In addition to sending students to Western countries and studying, I wonder if I can set up an academic college in my Heavenly Dynasty? I recruit young people who have read and join them. I have even thought of my name and it is called Shengwu Naval Academy. What do you think?"

Zeng Guofan was helpless with the Emperor's strange thoughts. He knew that the emperor was determined to seek governance and wanted to make the country prosperous, the people healthy, the army was intact, and the enemy was not afraid of the enemy. But how could the world happen overnight? Looking at the young emperor's face, the old man smiled bitterly, "The emperor's holy wish is as good as the sky, and what he said is naturally good, but the Naval Academy... I don't know anything and can't make any suggestions."

The emperor did not notice the sarcasm in Zeng Guofan's words and immersed himself in his dreams. "It doesn't matter if you don't know, just know. In addition to the strategies of gunboats facing the enemy, the necessary courses for navigating at sea, different majors such as marine climate and marine astronomy were also required. Last year, the British named Hurd set up a weathering center in Shanghai was a very good attempt. In the future, he could also order him to go to the academy and teach everything he learned in his heart. He could also take the lead and hire retired officers with experience in naval warfare in the UK to teach together... What's wrong with you?"

"Your Majesty, I am impressed by the emperor's holy heart that strives for great governance in the world. However, if you invite foreigners to teach our students in the Celestial Dynasty, I am afraid that the people may not be willing to comply?" Zeng Guofan knelt on the soft carpet in the warm pavilion, and said loudly with his head touching the ground, "The establishment of the Tongwen Pavilion back then can be seen!"

"What are you talking about?" The emperor was very unhappy. He didn't expect that after he spoke for a long time, Zeng Guofan didn't listen at all. "It has been nearly ten years since the establishment of Tongwenguan. Whether it is the teaching staff or the students of the Eight Banners and Han people, such as Yung Wing, Rong Lu, etc., they are now members of the imperial court. The clear streams in the capital and other provinces have long known that they have short-sighted eyes. Are there any suggestions now?"

"this?"

"For the past year, you are in other provinces and don't know the details of Beijing. In August of the previous year, Tongwenguan recently recruited students, and the number of applicants was as large as 1,3500! Among them, there are also many Qingliu children, Weng Tonghe's nephew, named Weng Zengyuan. Do you know? It is also one of them." The emperor stared at Zeng Guofan and said loudly, "All these things can be seen today, regardless of Manchu and Han, and they all think that the learning taught by Tongwenguan is not what rumors say, misleading people's children, teaching people to forget their ancestors, and rebelling against their ancestors! Therefore, the scene of abandoning prejudices and coming in a row today, do you know?"

Although Zeng Guofan was not in the capital, the news was not cut off. The emperor's words were not false, but there were many unknown inside stories. In the ninth year of Xianfeng, Tongwenguan recruited students, and many Qingliu children came to sign up for the museum, but most of them came with the idea of ​​finding another disciple. In the eighth year, Gui Liang was greedy for me and started a huge case. Among them, the Minister of the Interior and Minister of Guanyuan Mingshan was also involved, but Mingshan

There was a good son named Guibao, who was a student in the second phase of Tongwenguan. He was also a very useful Zhang Jing in the General Administration Office. For the sake of Guibao, the emperor copied all the money Mingshan had greedy, but he did not give him any important lessons. After this incident, the Beijing Zhongyi had a lively mind and a clear vision, and realized the emperor's attention in the Tongwenguan and the General Administration Office Office Office - this was the view that the students were full of students when registering.

But how can I express it if I say this? I have no choice but to avoid the meeting and say I am guilty, "... I always have no plans to ask the emperor to sue me."

"Forget it, if you don't understand the key points, it's hard to blame you just for your words outside the situation. Get up and talk." Let Zeng Guofan get up and sit back again, the emperor said, "My Qing coast is long, 20,000 kilometers. Think about it, if such a vast ocean is only used to defend on the shore, but not with marine strategy, and build a strong navy, how do you think the country should defend and where to ensure that when the Western countries attack, we can keep the enemy from the country's gate?"

He said it urgently and quickly, and it was inevitable that there would be something that was not meaningful. However, Zeng Guofan still understood that he had no different opinions on naval strategy, but he was not willing to act too quickly, so that problems arose later. If he had to make up for it again... Thinking of this, he suddenly had a basis for establishing words, "What the emperor saw is far-sighted and the navy is certainly to guard the Great Wall on the sea that our Celestial Empire will never be invaded by foreign enemies, but I think that things should be smooth and smooth. It is better to plan it slowly."

"...In the past, the emperor was good at promoting the administration of officials and people's livelihood. He discussed with military means and the cabinet. He could still remember the emperor's teachings. The new policy was implemented, and he always had to be studied and discussed at all levels, striving to be impossible to steal the matter for others to be liable. Only then would he be promoted. He was afraid that there would be human errors in the future, or even used by others, which would make the convenience of the people a way to exhaust the people, and even hurt the emperor's sage virtue of loving the people." He said, "Therefore, I think that the navy should also be established among the temples. Only after the left and right reviews can it be implemented."

Zeng Guofan's words to attack Zi's shield made the emperor stunned for a long time. "Uh..." He said these words, but what does the affairs of the navy have to do with people's livelihood? Leave them to the cabinet bosses to discuss military and political affairs between Binchou. There is no need to mention whether they understand or not. Even if they understand, after they come up with a full discussion, they will be delayed for a long time, and their original passionate heart will be cool!

He was too lazy to talk to Zeng Guofan anymore. If he really waited for an insolvent state, he still had the last move to move. "I will discuss this matter later, so you can go ahead."

"Yes." Zeng Guofan knew that it was useless to say too much, so he stopped hesitating and came out.

The emperor sighed and raised his head. Just as he met Jingyu's timid look, the two of them looked at each other and smiled, "Your Majesty, are you... angry?"

"No. Just a little disappointed, have you seen it? Even Zeng Guofan is not obedient now."

Jingyu stayed in the palace for many years and knew what to say and what not to say. This was related to the employed people of the court. Even the empress dared not speak easily, let alone a slave. Yanran walked over with a smile, kneaded the emperor's shoulders and relaxed his spirits. "Six blessings, spread food."
Chapter completed!