The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 239 Guests and Talents

Teng Yuzao nodded, revealing a bitter look, and continued, "Kangnian, the Qing court has more money than it can spend, and it doesn't even worry about being robbed by foreigners. There will definitely be many such things happening in the capital this time."

"I'll give you a task. Since the Qing court doesn't care about the silver, let's take it. You have to find a way to get all the silver and other valuables in the capital that might be stolen by the foreigners into our hands. I'll give you a hint. The first is the Ministry of Revenue, then the Ministry of Internal Affairs, then the various princes' palaces, and finally the other government offices."

"There is a saying in the officialdom: if the eunuchs are corrupt, the governors are fat, and three thousand eunuchs are three thousand thieves. This saying refers to the Imperial Household Department."

"There are so many valuable things in the Imperial Household Department, whether it's gold, silver, or jewelry and jade. In short, all the valuable things should be taken, including some ancient books and precious medicines. In other words, everything that can be taken away should be taken away."

Li Xianze nodded solemnly and said, "Don't worry, sir. In addition to the things you mentioned, including some big merchants, I will also pack up as much valuables as possible and take them away. Otherwise, they will definitely be snatched away by the foreign devils. We will use them to fight the foreign devils, which is much better than letting the foreign devils take them and use them to fight us."

"So, before the foreign devils break into the city, you have to find a way to control the Ministry of Household Affairs as soon as possible. It is next to Dongjiaomin Lane, and you can use the excuse of surrounding Dongjiaomin Lane to control it."

"grown ups."

Wei Jinghai said tentatively, "There is another place that your Excellency forgot to mention."

"Where else?" Teng Yuzhao couldn't help but look at Wei Jinghai in surprise.

Wei Jinghai said hesitantly, "There is also the Forbidden City. There are probably more good things there. In addition, there is also the Western Garden."

Teng Yuzhao was somewhat surprised at the growing courage of his trusted subordinates, but after thinking about it, he shook his head and refused.

Although there might not be much silver in the palace, there were many rare antiques. The only problem was that he couldn't convert those things into cash, and there were too many of them for him to move them all.

You know, he couldn't openly take away the robbed treasures in trucks like those foreign robbers did. He needed to do it quietly and covertly.

Although Teng Yuzhao knew very well that these foreign bandits did not let go of the Forbidden City and even scraped off the gilt on the gate sea that stored water and put out fires with bayonets, Teng Yuzhao, who had visited the Forbidden City twice in his previous life, could not bear to get involved.

Teng Yuzao said with great regret, "Don't touch the Forbidden City. It's hard to cover up there, and it will be easy for these robbers to get away with it. But if you have the chance, you can go and take a look at the Western Garden."

"Kang Nian, I'll let Hu Daqiu and Li Yaoting lead people to cooperate with you. You will be in charge. However, not all of your Second Mixed Brigade will be involved in this. You can only select loyal and reliable people to do it."

Teng Yuzao took a deep breath and said, "Also, as soon as you enter the city, send people to spread the news that the foreign devils are going to massacre, kill people and rob people. Let those who can leave take away as much of their gold, silver, jewelry and valuables as possible. Don't let these foreign bandits take too much advantage."

Li Xianze nodded and said, "I will make arrangements. As for the actions, they must be clean and efficient. After all, there are still many Boxers in the city, and there may even be civilians who refuse to leave. It is inevitable that they will take advantage of the chaos to rob people."

Li Xiance's answer made Teng Yuzhao feel relieved. Although Li Xiance did not say it out loud, his meaning was very clear. He would put the blame on others.

After sending Li Xiance away, Teng Yuzao finally breathed a sigh of relief and instructed Wei Jinghai, "Ningbo, arrange for someone to take the document Ronglu gave us and bring all the grain and money from the surrounding counties to Yi County. This place is too close to the capital, and the foreign devils may patronize these places as well. The local officials here can't resist them."

"Also, we need to buy more horses and vehicles. We will need them when we go to the capital this time. The more the better. Time is tight, so you can offer a higher price."

After explaining all this, Teng Yuzao took out his silver cigarette case and lighter, wanting to light a cigarette and relax his tense and excited nerves.

Wei Jinghai seemed to be stimulated by what Teng Yuzhao had just arranged, and he rubbed his hands excitedly and said.

"Sir, the luncheon time has long passed. Should we go there now? Otherwise, these distinguished guests you invited will say that you treated them poorly, which would be counterproductive."

Wei Jinghai's words suddenly reminded Teng Yuzhao that he had an important matter today that he couldn't do and might even be delayed. He hurriedly glanced at the watch on his wrist and saw that it was almost one o'clock. Teng Yuzhao couldn't help but smile bitterly and put the cigarette box and lighter he had just taken out back into his trouser pockets.

"I'll go change my clothes and come back. Wearing this outfit makes me look a bit strange, and people will misunderstand that I'm using my power to bully others, which is not beautiful."

Teng Yuzhao hurriedly changed into his usual cavalry uniform without any rank insignia and without a belt, and was led by Wei Jinghai to the flower hall at the back of the county government office.

As soon as he entered the flower hall, Teng Yuzao clasped his hands together and apologized repeatedly, "I'm sorry, everyone. I'm really busy with military affairs and can't get away. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting for so long!"

The five people in civilian clothes in the hall stood up from their seats when they saw Teng Yuzhao coming in.

Among the five people in the flower hall, Teng Yuzhao only recognized two of them. One was Ning Xingpu, who was nearly sixty years old and had a ruddy face, and the other was Master Qian.

There is no need to say much about Ning Xingpu. He has now become the white glove and god of wealth of Teng Yuzhao and his vanguard army. Teng Yuzhao is prepared to hand over most of his money to him for supervision and management. He has just gained a foothold in Xuzhou.

At this moment, Master Qian no longer had a depressed look on his face and was now full of energy. Even outside the flower hall, Teng Yuzhao could hear Master Qian's hearty laughter.

After Yu Lu committed suicide, he took a dozen of Yu Lu's clerks and defected to Teng Yuzhao.

Teng Yuzhao did not treat Master Qian badly. After all, Master Qian helped him a lot in his early stages, and Teng Yuzhao had already arranged a place for him.

The other three were much younger than Ning Xingpu and Master Qian. Although Master Qian had grown a beard to fit his status as a master, and his goatee made him look like he was in his fifties, he was actually only in his early forties. Now that he had shaved his beard, and he took good care of himself, and was in a very good mood, he looked like a man in his thirties.

When the two saw Teng Yuzao, they both greeted him with a smile.

When they were still in Anping, Master Qian had already arrived at Teng Yuzhao's place, and Master Qian was very satisfied with the job that Teng Yuzhao had arranged for him. There was no need for both parties to be polite, so Teng Yuzhao just nodded slightly to Master Qian and then greeted Ning Xingpu warmly.

Ning Xingpu and the other three people all arrived when Teng Yuzao gave a meeting to the generals this morning. The two sides had not seen each other for nearly a month. Teng Yuzao and Ning Xingpu, who endorsed him, couldn't help but ask about each other's well-being. Then Teng Yuzao asked with a concerned smile.

"Have you, Mr. Ning, received the imperial court's letter from the candidate governor?"

"Got it! Got it!"

When Ning Xingpu mentioned that he had become a candidate for the prefecture, he was so happy that he couldn't stop smiling. Although Ning Xingpu didn't care about being a candidate for the prefecture, this also allowed him to change his image as a businessman. At least he didn't kneel when meeting an official, and ordinary officials didn't dare to make things difficult for him.

At that time, one could not become a candidate for official position just by having money. Many conditions were required, such as whether one was a Jinshi, a Hanlin, and whether one had a clean family background. Three generations of the family had to be checked as well. Those who were of the lower nine classes would not be considered, such as Master Qian, because master secretaries belonged to the lower nine classes. Of course, there were some special cases, but they were rare.

Moreover, Ning Xingpu's position as deputy provincial governor was not a nominal title obtained by paying money, but a real title, and he could become a regular official of the court. How could he not be happy about this?

The leader of the three was a fair-skinned man in his mid-thirties. Although he looked gentle and refined, he had a calm demeanor. Even in front of the General Manager of the Beiyang Zhili Military Affairs Office, he appeared calm and composed, neither humble nor overbearing.

"Sir, this is Zhou Xuexi, the governor of Zhou."

Zhou Xuexi is still a substitute for the position of Taotai, and originally could not be called Taotai, but Wei Jinghai still introduced him as such to Teng Yuzhao.

It was not until then that Zhou Xuexi formally bowed to Teng Yuzhao. Just now, when Teng Yuzhao entered the room, he just followed everyone else and bowed briefly to get it over with.

"I am honored to receive your kindness, sir. I have come to report to you today. However, if you have any instructions, I will do my best to fulfill them."

Looking at Zhou Xuexi in front of him, Teng Yuzao felt as if a long drought had finally brought about a sweet rain, and he couldn't help but feel overjoyed.

Zhou Xuexi, whose courtesy name is Jizhi and whose other name is Zhian.

This person is no ordinary character in history. He once served as the Minister of Finance of the Beiyang Government and a famous industrialist.

The other two were one in his thirties and the other only twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, but both of them were wearing suits and spoke with authentic Zhejiang accents.

The man in a suit among the two was about 35 or 36 years old. His name was Xi Ligong, also known as Yucheng, and he was from Dongshan, Suzhou, Jiangsu.

Although this man is now just a small clerk in the British HSBC Bank in Shanghai, Teng Yuzhao knows very well that in a few years, that is, in the 30th year of the Guangxu period, Xi Ligong will succeed his father Xi Zhengfu as the comprador of the HSBC Bank in Shanghai.

Teng Yuzhao also knew that after that, Xi Ligong not only opened Jiuyuan, Zhengda and Yuxiang money houses, invested in the Bank of Qing, but also served as the branch manager of the Bank of Qing.

Ten years later, he invested in the Gongyi Cotton Mill, participated in the establishment of the Chinese Commercial Bank, opened three money houses, and operated a silver shop and a silk shop.

He also served as a director of Jiangsu Bank and Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, and is a rare financial talent.

Another man in a suit, about the same age as Teng Yuzao, was only about 27 or 28 years old. His name was Huang Chujiu, also known as Cuojiu, and he was from Yuyao, Zhejiang.

Although Huang Chujiu is still unknown and is just the owner of a small pharmacy in Shanghai called "Sino-French Pharmacy", Teng Yuzhao knows that Huang Chujiu is not an ordinary person.

A few years later, this man became a famous figure in the Shanghai industrial world, where many talented people were hiding, with his extraordinary mind and vision.

Known as a pioneer in China's Western medicine industry and China's entertainment industry.

Huang Chujiu's entrepreneurial ventures spanned many fields throughout his life, and people of his time called him the "hundred-family manager."

He founded the first Chinese pharmaceutical company with national capital, "Longhu Company", opened the first comprehensive entertainment venue in China, "Shanghai New World", opened the largest entertainment center in Asia, "Shanghai Great World", published the first entertainment newspaper in China, "Great World News", and established the pharmaceutical empire "Huang's Pharmaceutical Group" with 21 pharmaceutical companies, involving pharmaceuticals, entertainment, finance, real estate and other industries. His involvement in a wide range of fields is almost unmatched.
These two people were both hired by Ning Xingpu at high salaries at the request of Teng Yuzhao. In later times, they were professional managers.

These two people are still small figures in Shanghai, and they gladly accepted Ning Xingpu's high-salary offer.

In particular, the two were flattered when they learned that their real boss was the now famous Teng Yuzao, and that they were the people Teng Yuzao specifically wanted to find.

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(End of this chapter)