Chapter 13 Old news

Thinking of this in his heart, the emperor was speechless for a long time. He didn't speak, so naturally no one dared not speak. After a moment of silence, the emperor turned around and said, "Shen Baozhen, this Naval Academy is my hard work. It is no different from the Hanlin Academy, University, Imperial College and other places. You are in charge of the affairs of the college, but you must not make any mistakes?"

"Yes. I must be careful and handle the college responsibilities, and I dare not be slackened in the slightest."

"Is there any difficulty in the college? Just let me tell you what difficulties are there?"

"This," Shen Baozhen hesitated for a moment and whispered, "Emperor, General Sheng Xuanhuai, the General Affairs Office of the College, is responsible for the cooking of both internal and external exchanges. Why not report to the emperor?"

“Okay.”

Seeing the emperor nodding, Shen Baozhen turned around for the second time and called Sheng Xuanhuai in front of him, and gave him a wink, "Since, Sheng Xuanhuai, see the emperor."

"I heard from Shen Baozhen that you are the general affairs assistant responsible for the daily operation of the college? Are there any difficulties in the college?"

"Yes." Sheng Xuanhuai didn't know what the emperor was thinking. When he was just performing his rituals, he ignored him and turned his head to talk to Shen Baozhen. He was smart since childhood and worked with Li Hongzhang. He was very accurate in his heart. He could see that the emperor had an indescribable disgust towards him. Naturally, he didn't dare to ask where this feeling came from, but when he answered the second time, he had to be more careful.

"I think that if we talk about the difficulties, first of all, the students will be rejected by the students at the beginning of their enrollment." Sheng Xuanhuai said, "Last year, the British teacher Xunshun was rude to the back hall, and the students were furious. The students were so excited that the Chinese side recommended that Xia Xianlun punish Liu Buchan and Qiu Baoren be a small worker to pick up soil to show punishment. Finally, it was not until Lord Shen was in the republic that he had finished replacing Xunshun."

The emperor also knew about this. In the 18th year of Xianfeng, Xunshun was a British man. He participated in the Battle of Anshan Lake and was injured in the battle. Later, although the injury was cured, the lead bullet remained in his body and never left, which made his health unhealthy, especially in a place like Weihai, which was windy and rainy, which was even more difficult, so he had a bad temper and often beat and scolded the students and vented their anger.

After the recruitment of students in the first phase, Xunshun saw that most of them were adults and strong men, and dared not act rashly. In the second phase, most of the students were children, and he often beat and scolded them, such as Yan Zongguang and Lin Sensen, who had learned from him. But in the end, Shen Baozhen was in charge of the college affairs, and Xunshun did not dare to be too rude. The matter was bad. After the recruitment of students in the third phase, Shen Baozhen's mother died and returned to the country to adhere to the system. The college general recommended Xia Xianlun to be so arrogant, which made people from foreign supervisor Sigongseg, to Xunshun, Delese, and Jialeer, etc. have a feeling of insulting China's **, but it was only manifested as big and small.

Xunshun was bullied by the Chinese, often beat and scolded for no reason, and occasionally there were corporal punishment. Sheng Xuanhuai negotiated several times, giving the other party a teaching matter, and all the foreign teachers refused on their own grounds. Sheng Xuanhuai had no choice but to appease the students while asking Xia Xianlun to consult with foreigners as the general's position to reduce corporal punishment as much as possible. Xia Xianlun agreed on the surface, but in fact he did not do anything at all, which further encouraged the arrogance of Xunshun and others.

But Xunshun did not expect that this group of Fujian students would have such cohesion. They contacted Liu Buchan, Lin Zengtai, and He Xinchuan in the middle, and all Fujian students were angrily sacked. The matter was quite serious. It was not until Shen Baozhen returned from the confinement and was shocked to see this. While talking about this with Chinese and foreign teachers in the college, he finally decided to fire Xunshun. The foreign supervisor Gong Sege resigned, which was considered to have reduced the anger of the students and his studies were restored. This was what Sheng Xuanhuai said today.

The emperor nodded and asked, "What measures do you think should be taken to prevent such hatred between Chinese and foreign junior brothers?"

"I think that when students board the boat for internship, they can order Western teachers to go on the same boat." Sheng Xuanhuai talked happily, "One of the things that students come out of the college. Although foreign teachers have been distributed for a long time, the knowledge in the book will still be different in the world when applied to the practice on the boat. If the teachers are ordered to speak with the boat, they will definitely be able to collect their arms and fingers. And the junior brothers will cross the boat together and meet day and night. Whether the students are diligent in Spanish or are in harmony with each other, it will be of great help."

"Are there people who teach on weekdays? Must foreign teachers follow the boat?"

The emperor's questioning this way will inevitably lead to people's suspicion of deliberately finding fault. He is the emperor, and others dare not say much. Sheng Xuanhuai continued calmly, "What the emperor said is very true. The ship has its own turbines, sailors, wheels, and leadership responsibilities for teaching. But I think that they are just passing on their children, and they are always not as good as foreign teachers to use hands and mouths, and give guidance on the spot, so that they can come more clearly and conveniently. Moreover, when the ship is on the sea, the members on the ship perform their duties, and they may not have so much time and energy to teach students. Many times, the students have to figure it out themselves, after all, it feels like they are across the mountain."

Emperor Zhan Yan smiled, "Okay, just do what you said. What are the difficulties? Let's talk about them together?"

"There is another point, which is the school funding, which is slightly insufficient."

"Oh? Why is it insufficient? Since the founding of the college in the 15th year of Xianfeng, I have issued several edicts to increase the Naval Academy's school funding. Now, the amount spent in this place alone is less than 4 million taels. Do you still have to say that it is insufficient to use it?"

"The Emperor's Sacred Heart is concerned about the construction of the academy and the teaching matters are shared by the subjects, and the world respects it. However, since the 16th year of Xianfeng, the college was invited by the teaching offices of various countries to set up 32 new pieces such as cast iron, molding, iron pulling, material storage, factory, hand-helding platform, stone dike, Yangmu wharf, etc., as well as large and small rotary iron beds, drilling machines, iron cutting beds, iron shearing machines, etc.; hand-made utensils, copper, iron, steel, and other materials, either purchased by Britain, France, or issued an order by the emperor, and allocated from Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan and other provinces. The cost is still numerous." He said, "In addition, students are assigned to study driving and management of the wheel. Every three years of learning, they will be on board for internships and go to the offshore drills. The college must pay the money in advance and pay it to the naval yamen so that it can be done."

"Oh?" the emperor was stunned and asked Shen Baozhen, "What? The children also need money for the internship for boarding the boat?"

"This is certainly true, but it is only a trinity, and more of it is still the responsibility of the Navy."

"This matter..." The emperor was determined to exempt the expenses of this part of the college. Then he thought that there was no harm in this way. The so-called "baby's land is not distressed and does not spend a penny. It seems that there is no benefit for the children's ambition, so he just nodded and did not express his opinion.

Shen Baozhen was surprised. As he knew from the emperor, such a thing could be explained in a few words. What happened today? He never spoke. After a change of heart, he thought of something, "Your Majesty, I have something, I want to ask the emperor for advice."

“What is it?”

"Recently, the supervisor of foreign teachers, Jialeer, has requested that the college allow students who are good at studying after four years of graduation to go to the West to further study. Learn how to make manufacturing, wheel control, driving, and the principles of innovating and training to win. It takes three years to get the best results to achieve success in three years or five years to get the best results."

"What's this method?" the emperor pondered, and suddenly pointed his hand at Yi and a few, "What do you think?"

"I think that Master Shen's report is extremely good. The essence of Western manufacturing comes from calculations, the learning of genres, and geniuses emerge one after another. Just like the shipbuilding incident, the recent wheels have changed their iron straits, the hull becomes stronger, the coal is more and more saving, and the ship speed is more and more increasing. Now our Qing Dynasty only has Anqing and two shipyards in Tianjin, both of which are imitating the old styles of their early days, all of which are caused by lack of teaching and lack of experience. Therefore, although the art disciples in the official factory can let go, they can only follow the rules and cannot continue to grow and increase. Even if they imitate the new styles, they will follow the examples."

Yi spoke incessantly and became more fluent. Wen Xiang and his men listened to what he said, but their eyes were always with the emperor. Seeing that he could nod his head frequently at the beginning, his face became more and more dull as he went to the back. Knowing that his words made the emperor feel dissatisfied! This is not what Yi said, but on the contrary, it is all the disadvantages that were frequently seen in various places in the Qing Dynasty's shipbuildings, but because of this, it is not appropriate to say bluntly - the shipyard and the Naval Academy were all promoted by the emperor, and it was worthless to give Yi a review. Where can the emperor put his face?

Wen Xiang coughed dryly, interrupting Yi's words. The emperor raised his eyebrows, "Wen Xiang? You don't have to follow this sound of preservation. Lao Liu's words are one-sided, but how could I scold him for this?"

Wen Xiang blushed and hurriedly said, "The emperor is wise. I listen to the prince's words. Although it is reasonable, I think that the art of shipbuilding has been passed down from Western countries, but with the talented people of the Qing Dynasty, why worry about not having any unique novelty? For example, there are Hua Hengfang and others in Tianjin Shipyard today. The newly-made underwater ships can be sailed, even technicians from all countries are amazed. All these can be seen as shipbuilding techniques, which may not be considered as obscure and difficult to learn in the Qing Dynasty. As long as it takes more than ten years, we will be able to explore the source of Qing Dynasty production and get the depth."

The emperor smiled and shook his head, "You, I think you are getting smarter and smarter. I clearly attached my heart to Lao Liu's words, but I deliberately told me that I had said to you more than ten years later? How could you think of the way to retreat as a step forward so quickly?"

Wen Xiang was shocked. Although the emperor never used such a small-mindedness as an excuse for criticism when his ministers gave him a reply, that is now. If he pursued it in the future, who knows whether his words would become a pretext for being guilty? "My... is confused, the emperor..."

"You don't have to be so panic. It's fine. The main topic of such a court discussion is that even if you say something wrong, I will not be punished." He waved his hand to let Wen Xiang stand up and said to everyone, "Although I don't want to admit it, the way my Qing Dynasty built ships and boats was not as good as the Western countries. It's the truth. In such a matter, I never do anything to avoid medical treatment. It's not as good as others, and it's nothing great if I admit it. So I have to ask various countries to come to teach the people of the Qing Dynasty to teach what I know and what I know in my heart?"

"The emperor is wise and uses the method of seeking truth from facts to tell the world, and I am impressed by the emperor and the people."

"What I want to tell you is that the method of building ships and sailing can certainly be taught by asking people to teach them. Even sending personnel to study abroad to increase their knowledge and lay the foundation for future efforts to serve the country, but there is one thing you don't understand, that is: this method of naval warfare is all-encompassing, and it is a powerful Western country. Think about it, but there is a reason for it?"

This problem is something that many people often think of, but they generally think that the West does not value education and only wins people with skills. As long as I learned it in the Qing Dynasty, I will no longer have to be afraid of the strong ships and cannons of the great powers, and stand proudly in the forest of the world. Therefore, learning is about learning, and I do not know much about the fundamental reasons why Western countries can rise on the sea so quickly.

"I can tell you that this is because of a very strong national foundation. Simply put, there are many people in this industry. When it reaches a certain level, it will become the foundation of quantitative change to qualitative change." His eyes gradually shine, sweeping over Shen Baozhen, Sheng Xuanhuai and others, and his voice gradually increases. "French shipbuilding skills are the first in the world, but the British naval warfare method is within the world, why? Take Britain as an example. Britain is an island country surrounded by water. If you want to make progress, you can only go to land through sea ships. Therefore, the people in the country who are engaged in sea are like the number of sands in the Ganges River. With such a foundation, the British people who engage in naval warfare can naturally lead the community."

"And what about my Qing Dynasty? All the labor service and craftsmen in the two shipyards were gathered together, and there were less than 10,000 people. Among them were Xu Shou and Hua Hengfang, what could only help with these two people? More people just follow the market and could not mention any unexpected and unique insights." He said, "I told you all this, just to tell you not to have any thoughts of being a venerable person. When I was teaching Zai Ying back then, I said that if my Qing Dynasty could uphold a pragmatic heart from top to bottom, great things would be accomplished!"

Wen Xiang did not expect that the emperor would give up so much advice to him. Thinking about it, he felt ashamed.

The emperor turned around and smiled, "Shen Baozhen, you have a good comment! As a minister, you must have such a virtue of admonishing ministers that will last forever in your heart and be unwilling tolerate any sand in your eyes! And Lao Liu, your comments this time are also very good, and I like them very much. It can be seen that you have not wasted your time in the Military Affairs Office for the past few years."

Shen Baozhen did not mention it, Yi's face turned red with excitement, and bowed respectfully, "I dare not. I only have the emperor in my heart, only my Qing Dynasty's foundation, and all the things I have next to me are beyond my heart."

The emperor smiled with satisfaction, "This matter is determined like this. After the four-year study period of students, the college will convene foreign teachers to take the exam, which is divided into two parts, part is written test, part is practical drill at sea, and those who have excellent grades will be arranged to study abroad. Or the same goes for the management of academics, no matter how tight the children live abroad, they must also pay more attention to their lives - no matter which country they go to, they must choose a person with good moral character and the officer who leads the team. Shen Baozhen will draw a detailed memorial in the future, and I will send a special person to accompany him."
Chapter completed!