The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 549 They are all talents
Before Teng Yuzhao could finish his words, he was interrupted by several knocks on the door.

"Come in."

As Yang Shiqi spoke, the door was pushed open from the outside, and Liu Ziwei spoke at the slightly opened door.

"Master Yang, that Jedodi wants to see you."

Although the tall Liu Ziwei tried his best to block the view with his body to prevent the people behind him from seeing what was going on in the private room, Teng Yuzhao still saw a small half bag of silver hair from above his head.

Yang Shiqi glanced at Teng Yuzhao, and both of them couldn't help but smile bitterly.

"Let him come in and answer the question."

Seeing that Teng Yuzao didn't say anything, Yang Shiqi said to Liu Ziwei at the door.

As Liu Ziwei made way, a tall foreigner with silver hair, light-colored eyes, wearing a neatly ironed blue suit, a white shirt and a red tie, walked into the private room with a frustrated look on his face.

Judging from his appearance, this tall Belgian has a typical Nordic Celtic look, but judging from his clothes, this foreigner should be a very serious person.

Just as Teng Yuzao was looking at Jieduodi with interest, Jieduodi suddenly noticed Teng Yuzao. He stopped abruptly in surprise, and then bowed deeply to Teng Yuzao with a little fear.

This man who has almost no identity mark is the Beiyang Minister and Governor-General of Zhili who defeated the Eight-Nation Alliance. Jidodi had seen him from afar this morning. Now he is his biggest boss. This makes Jidodi nervous again.

"Oh! I'm so sorry! I didn't know that Mr. Teng was here. Please forgive me for disturbing you!"

Teng Yuzao was a little surprised that Jieduodi could speak fluent Mandarin.

Teng Yuzao smiled and said gently, "Mr. Jieduodi, don't be nervous. You are not disturbing us. You are just performing your duties. Please report the situation to Lord Yang normally."

Teng Yuzhao's gentle tone eased Jieduodi's nervousness a lot. After getting Teng Yuzhao's permission, Jieduodi didn't dare to delay and immediately spread his hands helplessly to Yang Shiqi in frustration.

"General Manager, I am very sorry that I failed to complete the task you assigned me."

Yang Shiqi pretended to be surprised and asked, "Mr. Jieduodi, why is this? Is there no more carriages?"

Jieduodi shook his head and said, "No, no, it's not that there are no more carriages, but the Queen Mother found out when you got off the train for a walk. She seemed very unhappy and told me that no more carriages were allowed to be added. She wanted to ensure that the special train arrived in the capital on time."

Yang Shiqi then asked, "Will adding a carriage affect the punctual arrival of the special train? I remember you told me that in order to ensure that the special train arrived at Majiabao Station on time, you left an extra 20 minutes of redundant time."

Jieduodi smiled bitterly and said, "As long as there is no machine failure, it will not affect the arrival of the special train on time. The time I reserved is enough."

Yang Shiqi nodded and said, "Since the Queen Mother doesn't allow it, it's not your fault. Just do your job normally and make sure the special train arrives at Majiabao on time."

Jedodi shrugged and said, "Yes, Mr. General Manager."

Then, Jie Duodi bowed to Teng Yuzao again before leaving the private room.

After Liu Ziwei closed the door of the private room again, Teng Yuzao and Yang Shiqi couldn't help but smile bitterly at each other.

Teng Yuzao nodded to Yang Shiqi, "Xingcheng, let's continue talking about our business."

Yang Shiqi smiled and said, "Marshal, you should naturally try to win over those nobles who want to get close to you, but you should not ignore or suppress those who keep their distance from you or even hate you. Although these people may not be loyal to you, as long as you maintain some dignity, you can win them over when necessary."

Seeing that Teng Yuzao was listening to him seriously, Yang Shiqi smiled and said, "The Marshal is not even interested in an industry as big as the Aurora Bank, which is much bigger than the Shanghai Commercial Bank. He obviously doesn't care about money. Many people can still be won over when necessary. As the saying goes, great things are achieved without being particular about small details."

Teng Yuzao nodded and said, "I agree with what Xingcheng said, but..."

Teng Yuzao thought for a moment and said, "You just mentioned the Commercial Bank. This reminds me of Sheng Xuanhuai. Do you know anything about Sheng Xuanhuai?"

Yang Shiqi looked at Teng Yuzao and smiled bitterly, "Sheng Xuanhuai is indeed a master in Westernization. Although he was born in Beiyang and was close friends with Li Zhongtang, he is now a candidate for the fourth-rank Beijing official, and has been appointed as the Shaoqing of the Taichang Temple to supervise the Railway Company. He has also been granted the privilege of reporting to the emperor, and has taken over the Hanyang Iron Works and Daye Iron Mine, and has also proposed to establish the Nanyang Public School in Shanghai."

"He has long been independent and has a huge fortune. I'm afraid he won't be used by the Marshal."

"Moreover, Zaixun told me last night during a casual chat that the Queen Mother wanted to give him the title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince for his contribution in protecting the southeast region."

Not only was Sheng Xuanhuai independent of the outside world, but most importantly, he had been engaged in Westernization over the years and had made a lot of money from both public and private sources, said to be as much as 20 million. Such a person would certainly not be used for his own benefit.

Teng Yuzao nodded and said, "I don't mean to ask him to return to Zhili, but I think that our Zhili foreign affairs can still maintain a certain cooperative relationship with him, or at least support each other, for example, the newly established Beiyang Shipping Company and the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company headed by Sheng Xuanhuai can start joint transport business."

Yang Shiqi said, "If that's the case, then it's easy to handle. I guess he won't refuse. But this matter still needs to be contacted by Bo Xing. If it's someone else, I'm afraid Sheng Xuanhuai may not be willing to give this face."

Teng Yuzao added, "As soon as I returned to Tianjin, I wrote a letter to Bo Xing, not only to ask for mutual support in foreign affairs, but also to ask him for someone. This person should be the manager of the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company headed by Sheng Xuanhuai, named Huang Kaijia."

Today, Prince Pu Lun was extremely enthusiastic about Teng Yuzao, which made Teng Yuzao want to win over Pu Lun. Naturally, he thought of the fact that Pu Lun was the chief supervisor of the exhibition delegation for the St. Louis World's Fair in the United States, and the deputy supervisor was Huang Kaijia.

Moreover, the next year, Huang Kaijia went to Britain as a second-class counselor with the diplomatic mission to attend the coronation ceremony of Edward VII.

Huang Kaijia was not only a member of the first batch of Chinese students studying in the United States who were about to graduate, just like Zhan Tianyou, but he was also very talented, especially a gifted orator, making him a good candidate to be a diplomat.

Yang Shiqi was surprised that Teng Yuzao suddenly wanted to ask Sheng Xuanhuai for someone, and a little-known manager. He was about to ask Teng Yuzao why he wanted Huang Kaijia, but Teng Yuzao said to him, "Xingcheng, there is another person I need to trouble you with. He was from Tangjiawan, Xiangshan, Guangdong, and was once the Consul General in Korea. His name is Tang Shaoyi, and he is now at home in mourning."

"You have to hold on to this man. He had a history with Yuan Shikai when he was in Korea. I'm worried that he might be recruited by Yuan Shikai."

Yang Shiqi nodded and said, "I can do this. I have been with Li Zhongtang in Guangdong for several years and have made friends with many officials in Guangdong. I can send a telegram to the capital and ask the officials in Guangdong to help me."

"only."

Seeing Yang Shiqi's hesitation, Teng Yuzao said anxiously, "Xingcheng, just say whatever you want to say. Don't be so hesitant."

Yang Shiqi smiled and said, "The Marshal has a keen eye. The person he chooses must be someone extraordinary. I'm worried that Yuan Shikai has already contacted Tang Shaoyi in advance. If the Marshal really wants this person, he must offer a suitable price. Otherwise, he may not be able to get this person!"

Teng Yuzhao was determined to get Tang Shaoyi, but there was no other way because he had no one under his command, especially people who understood the world and knew about Westernization. These young children studying in the United States were people who were familiar with the world powers, and these talents were the backbone of his promotion of Westernization.

What's more, Tang Shaoyi still had some talent. He served as the first prime minister during the Republic of China. During that period, he began to have a rift with Yuan Shikai and later even opposed Yuan Shikai's enthronement. Such a person can still be used.

It's not just Tang Shaoyi. There are many talented people among these young children studying in the United States. Teng Yuzhao thought to himself that these people who would become famous in later generations have not been recruited by him yet, and he would have to make a list and give it to Yang Shiqi later.

Teng Yuzao nodded and said, "That's no problem. Ning Xingpu has to manage both the customs and the Beiyang Steamship Company, so it's difficult for him to take care of both. If Tang Shaoyi is willing to come, I will give him the position of Tianjin Customs Commissioner, and he will also be in charge of Fengtian Niuzhuang and Dengzhou Customs."

Many of the Qing Dynasty's envoys abroad were low-ranking officials, especially those stationed in small countries. Teng Yuzaoken immediately gave the fourth-rank customs commissioner to Tang Shaoyi, and also handed over all the Beiyang customs that were under the charge of the Beiyang Minister to Tang Shaoyi for management. This made Tang Shaoyi almost become the assistant to the Beiyang Minister.

Yang Shiqi nodded and said, "The Marshal is so respectful to the wise and humble. This is a success. Just wait for my good news."

Teng Yuzhao, who had relaxed, suddenly noticed at this moment that the special train had already started without him noticing. Teng Yuzhao simply let go of the worry and continued to talk to Yang Shiqi.

"Xingcheng, I can't live without you. As the railway supervisor, it's time for you to find someone to help you."

Teng Yuzao's words made Yang Shiqi stunned at first, and then his chest suddenly seemed to be on fire and immediately warmed up. Teng Yuzao wanted to treat him as the number one strategist and think tank!

Yang Shiqi tried his best to hide the heat in his heart and said with a smile.

"Marshal, do you want to find me an assistant?"

Teng Yuzao shook his head and said, "It's not easy to find an assistant like you. Building and managing railways are both technical jobs. These things should be managed by professionals who understand them."

"I think that as the railway supervisor, you should also follow the charter of Huang Chujiu's construction company and set up a reorganized Jingu Railway Company, which can be called Beiyang Railway Corporation."

Teng Yuzao looked at Yang Shiqi and said, "In your Jingu Railway Company, there is also a young student studying in the United States who is learning to build railways."

The Jingu Railway Company was established when Li Hongzhang was the governor-general of Zhili. It was reorganized from the Kaiping Railway Company in the 13th year of the Guangxu period. Li Hongzhang originally planned to raise 1 million taels of silver to establish it, but the fundraising was difficult. In the end, the Tianjin Coast Defense Bureau provided a loan of 160,000 taels of silver. He was also forced to borrow more than 637,000 taels of silver from the British firm Jardine Matheson and more than 439,000 taels of silver from the German firm Huatai Bank at an annual interest rate of 5%. Only then was the Jingu Railway completed.

Although Li Hongzhang's primary consideration after the completion of the Tianjin-Guangzhou Railway was how to repay the debt, the imperial court at the time insisted on recruiting merchants to build the railway and using "commercial shares" to repay "foreign debts."

Since the Jingu Railway focused on coastal defense, its route north of Tangshan was close to the sea, business was slow and income was poor. The annual surplus profit of the Jingu Railway was about 1.2 taels, while the annual interest on the debt to the Anglo-German Bank was 5 taels, which was far from enough to cover the expenses.

Yang Shiqi, who was in charge of railway affairs inside and outside the customs in Zhili, was very clear about the old story of the Jingu Railway Company. This was something he had experienced personally. When he heard Teng Yuzhao mention the Jingu Railway, Yang Shiqi couldn't help but sigh, but he was still very familiar with the Jingu Railway Company.

Yang Shiqi was slightly stunned and said, "Are you talking about Zhan Tianyou, Marshal?"

Teng Yuzao smiled and said, "Oh! I really didn't expect that you, the railway director, would know about Zhan Tianyou in such a short time. It seems that Xingcheng is still very concerned about him."

Yang Shiqi was naturally happy to be praised by Teng Yuzhao, but he still hurriedly spoke.

"You are too kind, Marshal. I only knew Zhan Tianyou when Kuang Sunmou, who had served as assistant to the general manager of Kaiping Railway Company during the construction of Jinggu Railway in the 13th year of Emperor Guangxu's reign and was an assistant engineer of Beijing-Fengtian Railway in the 12th year of Emperor Guangxu's reign and was a former Chinese student in the United States, recommended him to me."

"He was sent to the Jingu Railway Company as an assistant engineer, and Zhan Tianyou was in charge of the track-laying project from Tanggu to Tianjin. What I never expected was that Zhan Tianyou actually laid 80 kilometers of track in just 40 days."

"This man is indeed a great talent. It is said that he is one of the few among the first group of Chinese students who studied in the United States and completed his studies. He even obtained a bachelor's degree."

"Yes! That's the man!"

When Teng Yuzao heard Yang Shiqi talking about Zhan Tianyou's early deeds, he couldn't help but get excited.

"This man is very talented. I propose that Zhan Tianyou be appointed as the chief engineer of the newly established Beiyang Railway Corporation, in charge of all technical matters concerning railway construction."

"Also, since Kuang Sunmou is a former student who studied in the United States and has served as assistant to the general manager of Kaiping Railway Company, I think we should let him be the general manager of this head office. He will only be responsible for helping them solve their problems, and leave all the specific matters to them."

"Also, go to Lianfu and ask him to help you talk to Xi Ligong in the name of the Zhili Governor's Office. The start-up capital of the new company should be recorded in the name of the Zhili Governor's Office, and the loans owed to Jardine Matheson and Deutsch-Asiatische Bank should be repaid in one lump sum."

Feeling a little tired, Teng Yuzao lit a cigarette and continued.

"Xingcheng, we just talked about the court's hope that we will defend the border. You have to remember that after the establishment of this new company, in addition to taking over the Luhan Railway, there are two more railways that need to be handled immediately."

(End of this chapter)