Chen Kuilong dared not neglect the newly emerging celebrity and asked quickly: What do you think of? Mr. Li is not there, but Kuilong..."

"Master Chen, it is said that the iron factory is so bold that it should be rumbling organic and there are so many people. But when I looked up, the noise was not very loud. There were only a few places to go to work, and I didn't even meet a few coolies. What's going on? It's because we were coming, we specifically ordered the work to be stopped, right?" Zhou Xuexi observed Chen Kuilong's face while looking at the face of several foreign engineers in the iron factory, hoping to find some clues from them.

His question was actually Gu Hongming's problem. As soon as the latter entered the iron factory, he felt full of doubts. He just refused to mention it because of his face. He originally planned to ask Chen Kuilong clearly in private. Now that Zhou Xuexi has raised it, he has to listen, and he is already very angry.

When Chen Kuilong heard about this festival, he looked quite embarrassed and hesitated for a long time before he said: "The iron plant has suffered serious losses and lacks funds, so it is unsustainable. I just ordered the suspension of work a few days ago..."

I see!

Gu Hongming originally wanted to question: "Zhang Wengong's body is not cold. How can you be worthy of him in this way?" After looking at the other party's gloomy face, he held back - the company has its own difficulties, why bother to dig out the scars of others? But there was another sentence that was inevitable, and he asked: "Since the money is short, why not borrow some, even if you borrow foreign debts, it would be better than stopping the work. Hanyang Iron Factory just realized the joint operation of Hanyeping Company. It was a time when it was booming, but it was a sudden suspension of work...."

"Brother Tang Sheng. You are an old man from Hubei. I don't hide it from you." Chen Long explained to Gu Hongming in an obvious way, but secretly vented his complaints. "For this iron factory, Hubei's financial deficits are full of money, so how can there be money to move? Take a step back and say that even if it is possible, the ministry is cleaning up the finances and cannot allow the loan to be rashly and does not comply with the rules. The court investigated and dealt with. I, Chen Kuilong and a group of officials of all sizes, are going to land. Borrow foreign debts? Not that I have never made this idea, I have been discussing one after another since this spring. When Zhang Zhongtang was alive, he made great efforts. Finally, a Japanese company was willing to lend money, but he did not approve it. Zhang Zhongtang almost fought with Liang Sheng for this matter, but still didn't let it go..."

Chen Kuilong's way of venting his grievances is just right - you see, even Zhang Nanpi can't handle it. How can I handle it? Besides, you, Gu Tangsheng, who is in the Foreign Affairs Department, does not look at monks and Buddha faces, so why should you be so pretentious? Even if you take a step back, you really won't work. Others can say that I am not Chen Kuilong, but you Gu Hongming can't!

Sure enough, when talking about this section, Gu Hongming felt half short. He was not uncomfortable with Chen Kuilong's run, but he was uncomfortable with this matter. More than half a year ago, Zhang Zhidong did report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to request a loan from Japan. Whether Liang Dunyan or Gu Hongming, he nodded in agreement. But as soon as he submitted it to the emperor, he only said he did not agree. No matter how Liang Dunyan pleaded for mercy, the emperor refused to be able to make peace. Gu Hongming was anxious to take control of the ministers of the South China Sea over the consulates in various parts of Nanyang, and did not follow up and investigate it for a while. This matter passed in a confused manner. Now Chen Kuilong talked about it, which aroused his doubts - why did the emperor refuse to agree?

Are you going to embarrass Zhang Zhidong? I don’t think it’s so complicated. It’s hard to have too many ways to go. Why do you have to use this kind of troublesome and laborious method? Is it to embarrass Liang Dunyan? It doesn’t look like it. The emperor is famous for his reliance on Liang Dunyan, so how could he shoot himself in the foot?

The scene became awkward for a moment, and both sides stood there and didn't say anything. Zhou Xuexi was confused. It seemed that the water in Hubei was very deep and he had to be careful, so he didn't ask too much. Seeing that the atmosphere was a little wrong, Cen Chun was busy smoothing out: "Hehe, the financial situation is currently in a difficult situation and it is difficult to raise money. But since everyone is coming to Hubei this time, they have to plan a strategy for the iron plant..."

Seeing him say this, Chen Kuilong's face improved a lot, and he bowed and said, "I'm sorry, Cen Zhongtang has trouble..."

During the dinner, although the guests and hosts were having fun, they could clearly feel that there was an invisible and intangible barrier. Although Chen Kuilong and other local officials in Hubei were extremely respectful to the imperial envoys, Zhou Xuexi felt that this respect seemed to be pretending to be artificial and unnatural. Even though Gu Hongming, who had the deepest relationship with Hubei and the most familiar with people, seemed to have an indescribable weirdness in his words and deeds. It was really strange!

While thinking, the follower suddenly came to report: "Sir, there is someone outside who wants to ask for an interview, claiming to be Li Weige, the general manager of Hanyang Iron Factory."

Zhou Xuexi took over the famous post and it was indeed this person. He was curious: this person who saw the dragon but didn't see the tail was unexpected. Many officials were soaked in their feet when they inspected. Now they were having a meal, but they came to ask for a visit. What is the name of it?

He got up and left the table, quietly winked at Cen Chunxuan. The latter understood and nodded slightly. The others thought that he was just leaving the table to go to the toilet in an ordinary manner, and found no abnormality. Zhou Xuexi saw the opportunity and quietly went to the small room next to him.

Li Weige was already waiting there. After the two met, they were stunned. After looking at each other for three seconds, Zhou Xuexi smiled and said, "I am Zhou Xuexi, are you Li Weige, the general manager of Hanyang Iron Factory?"

"It's just that." Li Weige said in a humble manner, "I have met Lord Zhou. I didn't expect that Lord Zhou was so young. I just took a few glances at him and was a little out of control. Please forgive me."

"You're welcome, you're welcome, please sit down." Zhou Xuexi was only one year older than Li Weige, and was just over 40 years old. A few months ago, Zhou Xuexi was also a common qualification, general status, and even titles, the general manager of the official industry. But by chance, the other party became a minister of the minister with the emperor's appreciation and the opportunity of Kaiping. This honor is unparalleled with Feiteng. Li Weige knew that Zhou Xuexi was young, but he didn't expect that he was so young. The moment he was stunned was because of this festival.

Zhou Xuexi did not really mean to blame Li Weige. After his sudden promotion, his father, Zhou Fu, who was once the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, warned him: "Xuexi,

You have become an official, and you will be a minister in the ministry as soon as you become a minister. You must remember to be careful when things are done. Those who are timid and respectful to you may not be truly convinced by you. Maybe they will be one set behind the scenes and make you suffer from their plots; those who are arrogant and disrespectful to you and are proud of you may not be a true celebrity, maybe they are just a hollow raft with a false reputation. But there is a kind of person who can be trusted generally. That is, those who are neither humble nor arrogant when they meet for the first time will not deliberately flatter someone because of their high position and power, nor will they deliberately despise someone because of their humble status."

Zhou Xuexi's impression of Li Weige is just like the third type taught by his father. He is in a good mood and looks much better with his complexion.

"Mr. Li is asking for a meeting now. I don't know what important things are to tell you."

"I am here to apologize." Li Weige stood up and bowed to the end, "I heard that the imperial envoy came to the iron factory for inspection and deliberately avoided him..."

He really has personality. Zhou Xuexi exclaimed in his heart. This person is somewhat similar to himself. After thinking about it, he felt a little bit like him: "We haven't said hello in advance, why do you definitely come to the iron factory?"

"If I had notified in advance, then I could not avoid it, otherwise it would be too rude to be a rude person." Li Weige's words just now also meant to test Zhou Xuexi, wanting to see what the character of the newly-emerged emperor is, so that it is convenient to prescribe the right medicine. When he heard that the other party had no intention of blame, he said, "No... Bei Zhi was wandering around the factory last night and found that there were people who looked like an imperial guards surveying the terrain and familiar with the roads. I guessed that he must be coming to the iron factory."

—

"In this way, the Imperial Guards are not intimate." Zhou Xuexi laughed, "It's interesting, but why are you still inspecting the factory so late?"

"It's a long story. The iron plant has been shut down for some days. Although the iron melting furnace is on now, it's just to maintain the temperature. When Bei Zhi thinks of this festival, when he thinks of Mr. Zhang Wengong's twenty years of hard work, he feels sad. How can he sleep?"

As expected! Li Weige's reply confirmed Zhou Xuexi's strange feeling at that time.

He didn't rush to pursue the matter, but just smiled indifferently: "Why do you still want to avoid it when you know we are coming?"

"Three reasons. First, although the Imperial Force has certain responsibility for the current predicament of the iron factory, the main responsibility is not on me. If the imperial envoy comes, it will inevitably blame the Imperial Force for the dilemma. Why should I suffer for others? Second, the Imperial Force has no good plans for the improvement of the current predicament. If the Imperial Force is not happy with the current predicament and ask for countermeasures, wouldn't it be even more annoying if the Imperial Force cannot answer properly? Third, if the Imperial Force is forced to make suggestions, and Lord Chen is on his side, he will definitely not be happy with it. The Imperial Force will leave in just a few days. I think it will take several years for Lord Chen to supervise E. If he hates him, wouldn't he begging for trouble? With these three reasons, if he doesn't avoid leaving, I'm afraid even a seven-year-old child will laugh at me for being pedantic..."

This was said so completely. Zhou Xuexi sighed for a long time and then said, "Since that's the case, you just need to avoid leaving. Why do you still have to come to the door to see you now?"

"I can avoid it for a while, but I can't avoid it for a lifetime." Li Weige sighed, "I am the general manager of Hanyeping Company after all. I have a natural responsibility for the future of the company. I cannot watch it fall. Besides, Mr. Zhang Wengong's body is not cold. If I refuse to give up, wouldn't I be sorry for his appreciation? I came here today to ask for an adult, and I want to get an answer to a question. Is the court trying to make Hanyeping Company well or mess up? Are you planning to continue investing or selling it?"

These are almost two questions that can be known without answering. Li Weige's good intentions can be seen, but Zhou Xuexi did not follow this idea, but asked with a smile: "If you let go, where do you think you should start to improve the iron plant and revitalize your strength?"

The better one was passive and took the initiative. Li Weige secretly cheered, without hiding it at the moment, and said openly: "There are six strategies for revitalization of humble positions."

"Speaking."

"First, the official office and the commercial office are changed. The official office is overly ill and the ill-fated, and the officials only know how to flatter the superiors. They have never made any personal achievements? If the commercial office is changed, it will be the wealth and life of the merchants. How can they not pay attention to it? Second, they have entrusted full personnel power. Currently, there are more than 30 foreign craftsmen in the iron factory. Many of them have real talents and knowledge, but there are also several who have made a living. They have received thousands of taels of silver a month's salary but do not do serious things. Other foreign craftsmen are not convinced, and Chinese technicians are not convinced. Third, increase investment and purchase equipment. At present, the iron factory equipment is not the world's leading position, but it is not a backward. It is just a small scale, and it must be properly purchased to fully exert its effect. Fourth, the factory site is currently located in the provincial capital.

Although the sign is eye-catching, iron ore must be transported from Daye, coke must be transported from Pingxiang, and transportation costs are unknown, which aggravates the operating difficulties of the iron plant; Fifth, national protection and national implementation, no matter how excellent the iron plant products are, no one can adopt them, the court is willing to build railways at the moment, so the Han factory had the only choice at that time. As long as the sales of our factory are guaranteed, the profits are considerable. Every time the European and American powers think about the dumping of their steel products, the court should support the national manufacturing industry; Sixth, foreign debts must not be borrowed, foreign stocks must not be collected, foreign bonds or foreign stocks, it is not foreigners who send mercy to save our Han factory, but they have the intention of annexation, control, and erosion. Once they get on the pirate ship, it will be difficult to get off the pirate ship. Among the foreigners, the Easterners should pay special attention to the guard..."

Li Weige said a lot, and Zhou Xuexi smiled and listened. This was not a person who "had no good idea for improving the current dilemma". He was clearly a person who had a strategy and was calm on the surface.
Chapter completed!