There is a saying in the senior officialdom in the first year of the new year: "I am not afraid of Kang Youwei's call, but I am afraid of laughing."

Although this statement is superficial, it clearly outlines the characteristics of the officialdom at that time. After the return of Master and Apprentice from overseas, the Reformers were in a strong and almost at its peak. However, in this situation full of positive and optimistic attitudes, the fate of the master and apprentice was very different. Liang Qichao was highly valued. Not only did he become the chief editor of the Empire Daily and the vice president of the Political College, but he also played the role of secretary in the meeting of former ministers. What is his position important?

But Kang Youwei's situation is much more embarrassing. Although Lin Guangyu was treated well and gave him many titles of false titles, he was promoted from the head of the sixth rank of the Ministry of Works to the honorary dean of the first rank of the political college, almost everyone could see that the emperor had actually stayed away from Kang Youwei and expressed disgust with his big words and empty words, which was not as blind faith and obedience as in the year of Xuxu.

Kang Youwei was over fifty years old, but his temper remained unchanged. He still wrote like a knife and spoke like a chisel. However, whether it was a knife or a chisel, it was no longer important. The emperor only hung him respectfully and worshiped him as a "reform idol" to repay the achievements of the reform ten years ago. However, he repeatedly refused to argue with his words. Although Kang Youwei was so "very loud" that he was almost scratching his feet and could not be realized at all. Originally, there were a bunch of speculators outside who saw the trend of reform prevailing and planned to change the family, but over time, he found that he was just a noble courtesy and his power was involuntarily relieved.

Unlike Kang Youwei who is so rude, Cen Chunxuan is as serious as a person, and he is the most serious person. He has a dark face all day long. Even in front of Lin Guangyu, it is difficult to squeeze out a smile. But this kind of black face is just the norm. Sometimes the smile on Cen Chun's face can have a profound impact on people. If one day someone sees him appearing with a smile and kindness, the next big storm will definitely be followed. This is the case when the Yang brothers collapsed, and Sheng Xuanhuai fell. As for Qing-when the fall, Cen Chun's face is as bright as a lotus.

When the meaningful smile on Cen Chunxuan's face appeared again, Zhao Bingjun, who had always had a deep understanding of Cen Chun, couldn't help but chill involuntarily - this time, there were still so many black veils in the Hubei officialdom?

Someone has done statistics. Over the past year, more than two-thirds of the officials in the capital fell directly or indirectly because of Cen Chunxuan's participation in the revolution. People who are officials love and hate Cen Chunxuan. They say love is because Cen Chunxuan is ruthless. They often get a position for the crowded officialdom with a knife, and say hatred is because Cen Chunxuan's relatives do not recognize him. Not only are corrupt officials worried when they see the "Official Tu", but even officials with no bad record are also a little uneasy. Now "Official Tu" swings his sword to the place, and also shows a signature smile. How can he end without bringing out a bloody storm?

Because Cen Chunxuan is famous, the reports of reports from those who come here these days are like snowflakes. In addition to the iron factory, some people report the operations of Hubei gun factory, and some people report the cases of Hubei weaving and layout. Even the Hubei Censor Liang Dingfen, Jingzhou General Shougui Zhengbaiqi and others have a large stack of reports. The contents are almost all about old and sick in the officialdom: officials protect each other, do their best, embezzlement and fraud, and favour private pockets, etc.

According to Guan Tu's thoughts, he naturally had to investigate, even if he could pierce a hole in the sky because of this.

Looking at the telegrams sent in front of him, Lin Guangyu frowned. The situation in Hubei was even more serious than he thought. Not only were there problems in the administration, but there were all kinds of malpractice in finance, administration, justice, and education. The important city of Wuhan, which Zhang Nanpi repeatedly boasted about, was actually a glamorous donkey dung egg with a glamorous appearance and a corrupt inside. After seeing the instability of the new army and the possibility of a confusion, he couldn't help but feel worried about the Wuchang incident. It was two years earlier than that. The so-called Three Martial Arts Revolution really didn't know where it was and who was against whom.

However, since he has knowledge and intelligence, and the overall situation is relatively stable, he decided to eliminate this hidden danger once and for all.

First, Wang Shang sent a military officer Shu Qing'a, an attendant in front of the imperial court, and asked: "How to deploy the Imperial Guard now?"

"Report to the Emperor, Colonel Chen Huan, deputy brigade commander of the Imperial Guard, led about 1,000 people to the province to guard the imperial envoy, and was currently stationed in Wuchang City. He was originally from Hubei and was extremely familiar with it. Jiang Fangzhen led 2,000 people in Zhangde and Xinyang areas in Henan and carried them to Wuchang within one day and night. Lord Liangbi personally led 1,000 people to be stationed in Hubei and the junction of Henan, thinking that it was intermediary to dispatch... In addition, Lord Sa Zhenbing was leading the Yangtze River Fleet to patrol the water surface near Anhui and Hubei. If any incident occurs, it will be accessible in one day and night."

"The new army in Hubei is unstable, and I am extremely uneasy. I told Liang Bi to order the soldiers in front to be prepared and be vigilant." Lin Guangyu walked two ***s in the Yangxin Hall and finally said, "The imperial envoy is safe in Hubei, but Liang Bi is asking! Hubei's public security is stable, but Liang Bi is asking!"

"yes!"

In the base camp, the military situation was extremely nervous. The Imperial Guards set out from south to north. Although the Imperial Guards in the provincial capital were only 1,000, Chen Shi had completed the construction of various fortifications and firepower points, and only maintained the situation of looseness on the outside and tightness on the inside. He looked at the possible accidents with a vigilant look.

On the eve of the storm coming, the imperial delegation was still trying all their best to travel to Hubei. Between Li Weige and Chen Nianrong, Gu Hongming originally had the intention to reconcile, but he was not like Zhou Xuexi. Before leaving, he did not get the gift of the imperial treasure before he left. It was useless to reconcile. Although Li and Chen were respectful to him and admired his knowledge, they still had their own opinions and had no consensus.

Gu Hongming had no choice but to let Cen Chunxuan come forward to coordinate.

"Do you two know why the imperial envoy was summoned?"

"I guess that it would be to reconcile the relationship between me and President Li?" Chen Nianrong said frankly, "On the public, Lord Cen is an imperial envoy, a first-rank official of the dynasty, and we should be the ones who are subordinates. In terms of private, you are the elders, we are all juniors, so we should respect them even more. But there is no personal relationship between Li Weige, and the ones we are fighting for are purely official affairs. You can take a step back to show your personal tolerance and open-mindedness and broad-mindedness. But you are persistent in official affairs, so that you can live up to the trust of the court and use it with great grace."

Cen Chunxuan was not angry, but said lightly: "What you said just now is not right. I will call you and the other two to come. Although harmony is important, other things cannot be ignored."

After saying that, he ordered his entourage to take out two portraits: "These are two portraits obtained by the detective recently. Although they are not like the photos, their eyebrows are almost inseparable. Are you familiar with them?"

The two of them took it and looked at it. They shook their heads, then looked at each other suspiciously, and then looked carefully, but they still shook their heads, indicating that they could not recognize it.

"Then Imperial Envoy will remind you." Cen Chunxuan pointed to a painting, "According to the spy's information, this person is an important member of the Hankou Group of the Japanese spy agency."

"Hankou Group?"

The two of them were stunned. Suddenly, Livige seemed to remember something: "Sir, I remember this person. I met him the last time, and his eyebrows were a little forgotten. But there was a black mole on the wing of this person's nose. When he came to negotiate the ore loss to Japan, he was a member of the Japanese side. He was extremely respectful."

After being reminded like this, Chen Nianrong also remembered: "Yes, yes, likes, likes, is this person!"

Since the first goal is determined, the second one

It was easier to identify. After a while, the two of them identified the other person as if they were Japanese, but they were definitely not local.

Li and Chen were at a loss and looked at Cen Chunxuan and asked, "I wonder what the deep meaning of Lord Cen taking these two portraits?"

Cen Chunxuan said word by word: "This person is a confidant of Chen Huiban and comes to report and expose the six crimes that General Manager Li committed in the iron factory operation."

The six sins of the crimes? When Cen Chunxuan’s previous and the consequences came one by one, Chen Nianrong was already furious!

"Slander is definitely slander!" Chen Nianrong was indignant. "I have any conflicts with President Li in official business, but they are all things that are well-known. How could I do such a dirty and vulgar behavior?"

Li Weige also said: "There is something that cannot be discussed between Chen Huiban and a certain verbal argument, but if he comes to report it, I am unbelievable. If you take a step back, the position of General Office of Yu was decided when Mr. Zhang Wengong served as the governor of Hubei. If you have such a bad record, why don't you say it then? If you take a step back, Chen Huiban is the son-in-law Zhang, and Li Zi is confident that he can get rid of the father-in-law and son-in-law without this ability."

"I thought that this was the purpose of the Japanese Hankou Group, which would provoke a disagreement between you and the two of you, causing the iron plant to split and produce difficulties, or be able to buy Daye ore at a low price, or gain control of the iron plant. In short, it is necessary to destroy the iron plant."

The two of them thanked each other: "If there is no Lord Cen, they will fall into the trap of the Japanese."

"Since I have resolved my past grudges, I will be a peacemaker today and resolve the conflicts one by one." Cen Chun clasped his beard and smiled, "Mr. Li, why is it difficult to operate the business?"

"First, Lord Zhang is not a real business office, but a business principal. The thing he doesn't know is the profits. How dare the merchants come? Second, the official capital has accumulated over the years and invested a lot in the iron factory, and the guarantee is heavy. Now all borrowings are official. If the business office has not supported enough official support, the merchants will be at risk of losing money; third,..."

—

"Okay, this is a commercial and office obstacle. Let's discuss it later. What are the problems with production improvement?"

"A few years ago, I proposed to 'use iron to make coal'. If the factory site is not moved to Pingxiang, it should be set up in Daye and other places to reduce transportation costs. Other four methods such as 'installing a steam boiler for ovens', 'to deliver iron with a pig iron furnace', 'preparing two furnaces to open together', 'self-refining' are all specific strategies to reduce costs and save losses, which can be implemented."

"Mr. Chen has read the technical improvement article. Whether it is reasonable or not, experts must also be asked to check it. This imperial envoy is not convenient to make arbitrary conclusions."

"In addition to technological improvement, the company's management must also be improved, and the responsibility system must be strictly enforced. 'The administration of employing people must have a dedicated and full authority, and the matter is fine. +: sick.'. As long as this is done well, it doesn't matter whether I will take responsibility for the general office. The key is that the power of affairs must be unified, and no doubt about employment!"

Chen Nianrong agreed in principle. The debaters are nothing more than timing and grasping issues, details, micro-disputes rather than strategies, and macro-disputes. Cen Chunxuan waved his hand and told him not to worry first, but to listen to how Zhou Xuexi prepares for a solution.

"If Hanyeping's existing official capital is sold at a discount, how much can it be obtained?"

"The investment is about 900 taels in the front and back. Now it is redeemed, at least 700 taels. Moreover, iron ore and coal mine are profitable places. If you want to sell it, you must have a premium."

"Will the 500 TWD be sold in Guang Iron Factory?"

"If Lord Chen made the decision, of course, he always thought that the iron plant was too much and had a lot of deficits, and he wished to get rid of such a burden." Li Weige looked a little sad, but then he said resolutely, "I always thought that the iron plant was good on the basis of the foundation and sales were acceptable. If the improvement was done properly, it would not only not make any losses, but it would make a big profit, but it would also require additional investment."

“How many additional ones?”

"At least 500 taels."

Chen Nianrong interrupted: "The reason why I am fighting with Mr. Li is not actually improving, but finance. If I can get 500 more funding out of thin air, I agree with all his methods of improvement."

“No objection?”

"Yes!" Chen Nianrong nodded.

"I won't object in the future?"

Chen Nianrong firmly said: "I will never oppose the method of improvement. I originally opposed it because my financial resources did not continue to improve it. If it is resolved, of course I will not oppose it."

Zhou Xuexi applauded and laughed: "It's refreshing. 500, no problem, I'll solve it."

"Ah?" The two were shocked after hearing this. The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has such financial resources?

Zhou Xuexi told his plan: "First, bid 500 taels to buy back some of Hubei shares to help Hubei province fill the financial hole; Second, the remaining shares in Hubei are worth 4 million taels, and 10% of the dividends will be guaranteed to be given every year regardless of profit or loss; Third, 500 taels of shares are added to repay old debts and reduce burdens; Fourth, 900 taels of shares are added to purchase equipment and improve the process. After these four steps are completed, the original share capital of Hanyeping Company has changed from more than 11 million to 2,500 taels. Among them, 19 million taels of new shares, 4 million taels of Hubei shares, and 200 taels of existing commercial shares. If possible, you can also recruit commercial shares separately, as the more will be better."

The two were extremely excited by such a scene. After calming down, they asked in unison: "19 million taels, I wonder if the ministry has such wealth."

"There is no in the ministry, but the royal family has it." Zhou Xuexi told the two with a smile, "Before coming, the emperor had already informed someone that the European royal bonds were raised and issued successfully, and the funds were in place, so he should invest in domestic construction. Steel is the backbone of the industry, and he is the first to be affected, so he is willing to spend 20 million taels for business. Hanyeping Company already has a foundation, and what is insufficient is nothing more than capital. If you make up for it first, wouldn't it be very beneficial to prosperity? It is also very beneficial to the national destiny."

Li and Chen were very excited and said, "The Emperor is wise!"

"All equipment, intended to be imported from Germany, can be observed by large companies such as Krupp to follow it and must expand the scale. The emperor requires that after this improvement, more than 300 steel should be produced per day and more than 600 iron should be produced."

Li and Chen decided together: "It can be done!"

"Second, Li Weige is the general manager of Hanyeping Company and the general office of Hanyang Iron Factory, and Chen Nianrong is the iron factory. The original bureaucrats and general officials have been deposed and technicians are appointed. You are responsible for whether to stay or not. External employment can be counted on Germany, but you must try your best to train your own technicians, and you must work together."

The two were overjoyed: "I thank the emperor for his kindness, but I can't repay the emperor for his appreciation."

"Third, we must give instructions to our products in the future. I have investigated and believed that three main areas will be focused on within three years: First, steel rails and other railway accessories will be built in the future. The rail usage will be extremely large, the market will be vast, and the profit will be abundant. Second, we will develop key alloy steels such as steel and tungsten steel to gradually realize the national fortune of steel for guns and cannons. The national defense strength must be enhanced, but it is not a good idea to blindly import; Third, ordinary civilian steel products, such as agricultural tools, iron nails, etc., are cheap in the country, which can be conducive to promotion."

Although Zhou Xuexi had not been engaged in the steel industry for a day, it can be seen that his investigation was still very realistic. Li and Chen nodded repeatedly, and Cen Chunxuan was also extremely happy.

After the plan was finished, everyone naturally wanted to talk about the people. While chatting, someone suddenly rushed in and reported: "Sir, I just received the situation and something happened..."

"What's up?"

"When Xingguo, the Daye Association has revived, and the momentum is huge, and Wuchang is shocked!"
Chapter completed!