The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 508: Excited Zhang Zhidong
Li Hongzhang's remarks made Zhang Peilun stand up and want to say something, but after opening his mouth for a long time, he finally sighed.

"Zhongtang, I regret that I was in Guangdong and Guangxi. If we..."

Li Hongzhang didn't say anything, but there seemed to be more wrinkles on his old face.

Zhang Peilun hurriedly said, "Zhongtang, Yang Lianfu just told me that Teng Xingfu wants to invite Bo Xing to work in Zhili after the war. I wonder if Zhongtang..."

Li Jingfang, whose courtesy name was Boxing and pseudonym was Duanfu, was originally the son of Li Hongzhang's sixth brother Li Zhaoqing. He was later adopted by Li Hongzhang as his eldest son.

He once served as counselor of the Chinese ambassador to Britain and minister to Japan. In fact, he was a minister, but because he had some resentment towards the court, he never worked again after the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 and only accompanied Li Hongzhang on his visits abroad.

The Boxing that Zhang Peilun mentioned is Li Jingfang.

Li Hongzhang did not respond or make any statement, but just reached out and took the manuscript back from Zhang Peilun.

Li Hongzhang shook his hand and did not take the gold pen handed to him by Zhang Peilun.

Obviously, after Li Hongzhang showed the golden pen to Zhang Peilun, he never thought of taking it back.

Li Hongzhang stood in the middle of the study holding the manuscript. After reading it again for a while, he sighed deeply, turned around, put his hands behind his back, and walked out of the study with a staggering gait.

From Zhang Peilun's perspective, Li Hongzhang's already slightly hunched back became even more obviously bent.

Li Hongzhang walked to the door, sighed deeply, and suddenly spoke in a somewhat sad tone without turning his head.

"I'm old"

"Regarding what Yang Lianfu said, you should write a letter to Bo Xing."

That afternoon, inside the Huguang Governor's Mansion in Wuchang.

"it is good!"

"Teng Xingfu is truly a real man! A real hero! I, Zhang, admire him the most!"

In the study, Zhang Zhidong held up a newly published special edition of the Ta Kung Pao that still smelled of ink, and couldn't help but clapping his hands and cheering loudly!
Gu Hongming, who was sweating profusely, had already taken off the Liuhe Yitong hat on his head and threw it on the table, still breathing heavily.

The special edition of Ta Kung Pao that Zhang Zhidong was reading was the one that Gu Hongming had just seen outside and brought back.

In order to get Teng Yuzhao's manuscript out as quickly as possible, Master Qian handed the newly printed special edition directly to the staff of Ta Kung Pao and asked them to distribute it for free on the streets, not only in the north of Wuchang, but also in Hankou and Hanyang.

Seeing this special edition that was being frantically snapped up by the people, Gu Hongming finally managed to grab one, read it hastily, and then squeezed out of the crowd. Dissatisfied with the slow pace of the sedan chair, he walked through the streets and alleys, avoiding the Wuchang people who were gradually gathering, and trotted to the Governor's Mansion.

Sure enough, Zhang Zhidong was so excited after reading it that he couldn't stop praising it.

At this time, Zhang Zhidong, whose face flushed with excitement, read aloud, "I have no regrets about coming to China in this life, and I will be a Chinese in the next life!"

"Good! Good! Good!"

"Such magnificent writing and wonderful sentences make one feel heroic when reading them. How wonderful! How wonderful!"

"Someone, bring some wine quickly, in a big bowl!"

"After reading such a great article, one should drink and sing."

Looking at Zhang Zhidong, who seemed a little crazy with excitement, Gu Hongming could only wipe the sweat still oozing from his head and look at the high-spirited Zhang Zhidong with a wry smile.

Zhang Zhidong has always been generous and open-minded, and he doesn't care about trivial matters when laughing, scolding or getting angry. At this moment, he is very agitated, and trying to dissuade him will only backfire.

Gu Hongming simply ignored Zhang Zhidong and sat down on the chair. Soon two Goshaha came in with a small jar of girl's red wine and two porcelain bowls. Before the two Goshaha could pour the wine, Zhang Zhidong waved his hand to drive the two Goshaha away, opened the jar of wine himself and filled the two porcelain bowls with orange-yellow clear wine.

Zhang Zhidong picked up two porcelain bowls filled with wine and said, "Hongming, come on, our Teng Xingfu wrote such a great article, let's drink this bowl!"

Although Gu Hongming could not drink much, he knew Zhang Zhidong's character, so he stood up and took the wine bowl without hesitation, and drank it all in one gulp with Zhang Zhidong.

"Pa" Zhang Zhidong finished a big bowl of girl's red wine, threw the bowl on the ground, then walked quickly to the desk and took the pen to dip it in ink.

Knowing Zhang Zhidong's intention, Gu Hongming rushed to the large desk, reached out to take a roll of rice paper, and unfolded it on the desk with a "swish".

Zhang Zhidong, who had just dipped his brush in thick ink, began to write on the rice paper. Even Gu Hongming, who was watching Zhang Zhidong writing, couldn't help but be immersed in it.

Zhang Zhidong's calligraphy was extremely famous in the late Qing Dynasty. He learned from Su Shi and Mi Fu. His calligraphy is vigorous, powerful, and open, handsome and bold, just like the person himself, free and unrestrained.

Zhang Zhidong wrote: "I have no regrets about coming to China in this life, and I will be a Chinese in the next life."

Zhang Zhidong felt relieved of the depression that had been in his chest for many days, and suddenly felt refreshed and in high spirits. He was admiring his calligraphy with some pride, but he didn't expect that Gu Hongming had already happily pulled the calligraphy that Zhang Zhidong hadn't even appreciated carefully away from the desk, then stepped back a few steps away from Zhang Zhidong, carefully blew dry the ink, and put it on the table near his seat, then bowed deeply to Zhang Zhidong, his excited face already filled with an ecstatic smile.

"Xiang Shuai's calligraphy is majestic and bold, and it complements this couplet even better. Hongming thanks Xiang Shuai for the gift of calligraphy."

Zhang Zhidong wrote this calligraphy on a whim. It was a rare masterpiece and he would never think of giving it to anyone else. At this moment, he was so angry at Gu Hongming's almost rogue behavior that he burst into laughter.

Zhang Zhidong waved his hand and said casually.

"This is a work I wrote when I was in a good mood. Normally I would not be able to write with such vigor and energy as today. I think you are lucky."

Gu Hongming just bowed with a smile, then carefully rolled up the calligraphy.

Zhang Zhidong, who had calmed down a little, sighed and said, "Teng Xingfu is a man of great courage. If I were ten years younger, I would definitely lead my army north to fight against the powerful enemy together with Teng Xingfu."

"such a pity!"

Zhang Zhidong clapped his fists together with great regret, making a crisp sound.

Gu Hongming also suppressed his joy and said to Zhang Zhidong.

"Xiang Marshal, Teng Xingfu sent a letter to Xiang Marshal a dozen days ago, explaining that these contents were to be submitted to the emperor. But why did he suddenly throw these contents out on his own now? Look."

Zhang Zhidong sneered and said.

"Hongming, not only did Teng Xingfu submit a memorial, I also submitted a memorial based on it, strongly advocating Teng Xingfu's demand for compensation from the foreign powers and holding them accountable for the massacre of our people. However, my memorial has fallen on deaf ears in recent days. Have you heard any news from the court?"

At this point, Zhang Zhidong's face was filled with regret and pity.

"In my opinion, this is probably because Teng Xingfu received the advice from the imperial court, who were afraid of angering the foreigners and were unwilling to include these suggestions in the peace talks. In a fit of anger, he publicly threw out the suggestions in these memorials in an attempt to force the imperial court to compromise."

Zhang Zhidong's words made Gu Hongming look worried, and he spoke hurriedly.

"Xiang Marshal, if this happens, Teng Xingfu will definitely anger the court and the Queen Mother, which will be very disadvantageous to him!"

Zhang Zhidong sighed heavily, "Teng Xingfu is a man of temperament. He is very compatible with me, but he is still too young!"

"However, you don't have to worry about Teng Xingfu. If this happened to someone else, it would be a disaster, but for Teng Xingfu, it might not be a disaster."

Zhang Zhidong looked at Gu Hongming and asked, "Did the people on the street do anything unusual when you came?"

(End of this chapter)