North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 115 Does the Qing Dynasty still possess such a great talent? (5,000 words)

Wu Qingfeng returned with two tasks personally assigned to him by his grandfather!
One plan was to bring penicillin back to China and, through the Wu family's connections, distribute small batches of penicillin to test its efficacy in order to facilitate large-scale distribution in the future.

Secondly, we visited several people personally named by Azu!

Among them, the key figures are Zuo Zongtang, Shi Dakai, and Lin Zexu!
Wu Qingfeng never expected that he would run into the person that Ah Zu had told him to visit on the dock!

Therefore, Wu Qingfeng was extremely surprised!
"Are you really Shi Dakai?"

Shi Dakai felt a little confused: "Mr. Wu, you've also heard of my lowly name?"

"Are you Shi Dakai from Guixian County, Guangxi? The one whose nickname was Shi Gandang?"

"It's down!"

"It really is you! That's wonderful!" Wu Qingfeng excitedly grabbed Shi Dakai's free hand. "I can't believe I ran into you as soon as I got off the ship!"

"This... Mr. Wu, do you know me?"

Wu Qingfeng shook his head: "No, it was Mr. Li who personally instructed me to find you!"

"I traveled across the ocean and spent more than two months at sea, and I came back to find you!"

“Mr. Li…?” Shi Dakai thought for a moment, “Is it Mr. Li Zunian?”

"Yes, yes, yes! It's Mr. Li Zunian, the one who wrote you two letters!"

Shi Da opened the large wooden crate with a loud bang, startling Wu Qingfeng, who quickly waved his hand, saying, "Be gentle, be gentle! The stuff inside can save many lives!"

"Uh, sorry!" Shi Dakai took out the two letters that his grandfather had written for him from his pocket and handed them to Wu Qingfeng, saying, "Mr. Wu, are you referring to these two letters?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Wu Qingfeng looked at the handwriting and signature on the envelope, and the last trace of doubt in his heart was completely dispelled.

"Come on, come on! Come to my house with me, I must give Brother Shi a good welcome!" Wu Qingfeng excitedly pulled Shi Dakai towards his home.

Shi Dakai quickly picked up the large wooden box and hurried after him.

“Mr. Wu, I’m about to board a ship to go to Jinshan. This…!” Shi Dakai was afraid of missing the ship. If he had to wait for the next Huamei Company ship, he didn’t know how many days he would have to wait.

"No rush, no rush! I'll arrange everything for you. As long as you don't board the ship, it will never set sail!"

Hearing Wu Qingfeng say this, Shi Dakai breathed a sigh of relief, but also felt that he was just a commoner and did not really deserve such a grand treatment.

Well deserved!
Before long, Shi Dakai followed Wu Qingfeng to a huge mansion!

The gatekeeper, upon seeing Wu Qingfeng, was overjoyed and shouted repeatedly, "Quickly, go and inform the master! Quickly, go and inform the master! The Third Young Master is back! The Third Young Master is back!"

Moments later, the entire Wu family mansion was shaken!
Sitting in the exquisitely decorated hall, which exuded nobility in every way, Shi Dakai felt out of place and uneasy!
After disappearing for some time, Wu Qingfeng finally arrived, accompanied by a wealthy man in his fifties.

"Brother Shi, this is my father!" Wu Qingfeng introduced.

"Uncle!" Shi Dakai quickly stood up and bowed in greeting.

Wu's father glanced at Shi Dakai up and down, nodded, and said nothing more.

That evening, Shi Dakai enjoyed a feast at the Wu family’s house that he never dared to dream of in his life!
The next day, Shi Dakai accompanied Wu Qingfeng, and they rode in the Wu family's luxurious carriage to Xiangyin, Hunan.

Unfortunately, they did not find the person they were looking for in Xiangyin, but instead learned that the person had gone to Houguan in Fujian.

So the two turned around and headed to Houguan in Fujian.

At the Lin family's old residence, Wu Qingfeng and Shi Dakai finally found Zuo Zongtang, whom they were looking for!

Besides Zuo Zongtang, they also met another person they were looking for—Lin Zexu!

Moreover, Wu Qingfeng actually knew Lin Zexu!

In the main hall of the Lin family's old residence, Lin Zexu, whose condition was worsening, insisted on meeting the person who had come from across the ocean, despite his illness.

"Oh, you wouldn't happen to be... Wu Qingfeng, the third young master of the Wu family?"

Upon seeing who it was, Lin Zexu was quite surprised.

"Lord Lin, it is indeed I, your junior!" Wu Qingfeng bowed respectfully to Lin Zexu.

Shi Dakai followed suit and quickly bowed as well.

"Unbelievable! Young Master Wu has become the first member of the Wu family to travel overseas!"

Lin Zexu sighed, "When I was Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, Young Master Wu was just a child of about ten years old, and now he has grown into a handsome young man! Haha, time waits for no one!"

Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi? Shi Dakai had no idea who he was going to meet today, and he was startled when he heard those four words!

Could this man before me be none other than Lin Zexu, the former Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi?
Shi Dakai felt even more uneasy!

Not long ago, he was still preparing to rebel against these powerful and wealthy people!

As a result, he turned around and chatted and laughed with these people in high positions of power?
It's just fate!
"Lord Lin, I have come here on behalf of several people. First, to treat your illness; second, to speak for Mr. Zuo Zongtang; and third, to earnestly request your recommendation of talented individuals!"

"To cure my illness?" Lin Zexu asked curiously.

"Yes! I have been studying medicine under Mr. Parker for many years and have made some progress. I believe it will be of some help to your old ailment!"

"That Mr. Parker from Boji Hospital? Hmm, he's quite a good doctor!"

Lin Zexu nodded in agreement.

Lin Zexu's chronic ailment was actually mainly a hernia!
Back then, Lin Zexu sought treatment from Peter Parker for his hernia. However, for a dignified Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi to have his private parts exposed to foreigners was truly undignified.

So Lin Zexu sent his servant, who also had a hernia, to Peter Parker's Boji Hospital for treatment, and then used the same method to treat himself, with excellent results.

However, without surgery, a hernia is difficult to cure completely. Especially as Lin Zexu grew older, his hernia became increasingly severe, even to the point of being life-threatening.

In San Francisco, Azu, Peter Parker, and Wu Qingfeng specialized in the treatment of hernias and conducted surgical experiments at a church hospital. To train Wu Qingfeng, they even had him perform several surgeries himself.

It has been proven that hernias can be completely cured through surgery.

Therefore, Azu sent Wu Qingfeng back to China to treat Lin Zexu, whose condition was worsening.

Whether Lin Zexu would undergo open surgery or opt for conservative drug treatment was entirely up to him.

Therefore, Wu Qingfeng shared his treatment plan with everyone.

As expected, Lin Zexu would rather die than choose the surgical option of opening his abdomen.

"Alas... Lord Lin, if you don't have surgery, your old ailment cannot be cured, and it will endanger your life sooner or later!"

Lin Zexu dismissed the matter, saying, "Life and death are predestined! Our bodies and hair are given to us by our parents, how can we easily use a knife? If you want to cut open my stomach, you might as well just cut my neck!"

"Very well!" Wu Qingfeng could only take out a large pile of medicines he had prepared in advance from his briefcase: "Sir, since you are unwilling to have surgery to cure the disease, then we can only rely on medication to alleviate the symptoms!"

Wu Qingfeng handed over a piece of paper: "The doctor's orders are written here. As long as you take the medication as prescribed, I believe your condition will definitely improve!"

"Very good, very good!" Lin Zexu gladly accepted the doctor's orders.

Wu Qingfeng then turned to Zuo Zongtang and asked, "Mr. Zuo, have you received the two letters from Mr. Li Zunian, and those books?"

"Of course!" Zuo Zongtang nodded and said, "These days, the old man and I have been studying Western learning every day, all thanks to those enlightenment books by that Mr. Li!"

Wu Qingfeng smiled and said, "Mr. Zuo, do you have any intention of traveling overseas?"

Zuo Zongtang replied without hesitation: "I am preparing for a trip overseas! However, to be on the safe side, Elder Lin has asked me to wait for the reply from the four young talents he recommended before boarding the ship!"

“However…!” Zuo Zongtang glanced at Lin Zexu: “Since even Young Master Wu has traveled across the ocean and witnessed everything firsthand, I think there’s no need to wait for a reply, is there?”

"Four outstanding young talents?" Wu Qingfeng asked in confusion, "When did they board the ship?"

Lin Zexu replied, "If I count the days, it's been more than three months!" Wu Qingfeng then understood: "Then we must have missed each other at sea!"

“That must be so!” Lin Zexu continued, “Young Master Wu, you saw with your own eyes that Mr. Li, his magnificent enterprises, and everything in America across the sea, what do you think?”

Wu Qingfeng pondered for a moment and said, "Mr. Li, you are a man of unparalleled talent!"

"Oh...?" Lin Zexu's evaluation of Zuo Zongtang was that he was a genius of his time, which was already an extremely high praise!
And unparalleled talent is undoubtedly on another level!
Lin Zexu asked with some skepticism, "Does that Mr. Li really possess such abilities?"

Therefore, Wu Qingfeng told everyone everything he had seen and heard over the past six months, including his open and covert struggles with the Cameron family, Brigadier General George, and interim Governor Brosnan, without holding back.

In just one year, Ah Zu has built up a vast empire in America. This is neither an exaggeration nor a denigration; Wu Qingfeng is simply stating the facts.

And then there are all the products that Azu created: jeans, prefabricated houses, HM49 rifles, Maxim machine guns, mortars, grenades, compound impulse steam turbines, propeller-driven iron-hulled steamships, and penicillin...!
After hearing all this, Lin Zexu, Zuo Zongtang, and Shi Dakai were all completely shocked!

They simply couldn't believe that there were such capable people in the world!
After a long silence, Lin Zexu finally said, "Ji Gao, it seems you have no choice but to go on this trip to the West!"

Zuo Zongtang quickly agreed: "That is indeed my wish, and I dare not refuse!"

Lin Zexu then said to Wu Qingfeng, "Young Master Wu, please stay here for a few days. I have already selected some candidates. Once I have gathered them all, they will all go with you to the other side of the ocean!"

"You've worked hard, sir!" Wu Qingfeng stood up and bowed respectfully.

Lin Zexu stroked his increasingly weary beard and said in a deep voice, "Please tell Mr. Li that I can do my best to help him, but when he has the ability to do so, he must not forget his homeland!"

"I will certainly pass on the message!"

Lin Zexu then said to Zuo Zongtang, "Jigao, I hope you will return soon! Our great China is currently suffering from numerous problems and is in a precarious situation. We still need you to do your part for the country and the people!"

Zuo Zongtang rose solemnly and bowed respectfully to the ground!
"My lord, I will never forget your trust! When I have completed my studies, I will return as soon as possible and dedicate myself to the great cause of China until my dying breath!"

"Okay, okay, hahaha...!"

Lin Zexu stroked his beard and laughed heartily. In these younger generations, he seemed to see the hope for the rejuvenation of China!
More than ten days later, Wu Qingfeng, Zuo Zongtang, Shi Dakai, and more than thirty other ambitious young people selected by Lin Zexu returned to Guangzhou.

After they boarded the ship, the "Barbara," which had been waiting at the Guangzhou dock for more than a month, finally set sail and crossed the ocean.
-
Let's go back a month.

Azu, who had just returned to base camp after a trip to the Giant Elephant Mountain mining base aboard a supply ship, received good news.

"Boss, our fleet that sailed across the ocean is back! This time, we've brought back three thousand Chinese laborers! And several thousand tons of grain from Japan!"

Vivian reported the good news, then handed another letter to Azu: "This is a letter the fleet brought back from China, and along with the letter came four Chinese people!"

"letter?"

When Ah Zu received the letter and saw the signature on the envelope, he was immediately overjoyed.

This is a reply from Lin Zexu!
“Young friend Zu Nian, although you are in a foreign land, you have not changed your patriotic heart and still care about your homeland. This makes me very happy!”

"What you say, young friend, about the decline of China and the rise of the West, I wholeheartedly agree! China has now reached a critical juncture where it must undergo reform and strive for strength."

"I know little about the three things you mentioned: Western thought, science, and industry. I dare not make any conclusions."

"I would like to recommend four ambitious young people to travel across the ocean to broaden their horizons, explore the realities and the unknowns, and seek their paths. I hope you will treat them well!"

"I have read your correspondence with Ji Gao and I greatly admire it. Ji Gao also intended to travel overseas, but there are many uncertainties. It is not too late to set off after everything is settled!"

That was the gist of the letter. After reading it, Azu let out a long sigh of relief.

Where are those four scholars?

More than half an hour later, Ah Zu met four young people in his study.

"You must be Mr. Li Zunian?"

The four were taken aback when they saw that the person in front of them was so young.

In the past few days, they have already had a preliminary look at the strength of Azu and Huamei Industrial Company!
It was truly eye-opening and incredibly shocking!
Whether it's three huge shipyards, the incredibly luxurious Rosewood Hotel, the machinery factory that spews thick black smoke at any time, the pharmaceutical factory, the steam-powered textile and garment factories, or the iron-hulled ships that spew black smoke on the sea and sail without any sails...!
Everything was completely new and unheard of for these young people who had just stepped out of the country; it was as if they had come to a whole new world!

And the owner of all this was actually this young man who was younger than them and looked to be less than twenty years old!

So, they were utterly shocked once again!
With a warm smile on his face, Azu said, "Yes, I am Li Zunian, the one who wrote the letter to Lord Lin Zexu. We are all Chinese compatriots, you can call me Azu!"

Among the four young people, one still couldn't believe it, so he asked again, "Mr. Li, are all the properties we've looked at these past few days yours?"

"Yes, they all belong to our Huamei Industrial Company, and I am the boss of Huamei Industrial Company!"

The four men were still incredulous: "Mr. Li, we heard that you only arrived in America last year. How could you have built such a large business in such a short time?"

Azu opened his arms and smiled, "This is a new continent, a completely new world, full of endless opportunities! As long as you are diligent and smart enough, I think everyone has the chance to succeed."

Hearing him say that, the four of them asked themselves honestly, and realized that they absolutely could not do it!

Ah Zu then added, "Gentlemen, you have come from afar. I have not yet fulfilled my duty as your host. Please introduce yourselves first."

The youngest-looking one stepped forward first and respectfully introduced himself: "Mr. Li, my name is Zeng Guangshan, I am twenty-five years old, from Huizhou, Guangdong. I am just a student, but I was fortunate enough to be favored by Master Lin, which is why I am here. From now on, I will have to rely on you, Mr. Li!"

"Brother Guangshan, do you have any special skills?" Azu asked.

"I have quite a bit of experience in mathematics!"

"Very good, haha!" Azu happily clasped his hands in a salute to him.

The second person stepped forward and introduced himself: "Mr. Li, I am Xu Kaiping, 27 years old, from Shantou, Guangdong. I only have the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations), but I have been favored by Lord Lin. From now on, I will rely on Mr. Li for everything!"

"May I ask, Brother Kaiping, what are your specialties?"

"Well... I worked as an interpreter in a Hong Kong trading company. I'm fluent in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. I wonder if that counts as a special skill?"

Ah Zu was overjoyed: "It counts, of course it counts! Hahaha!"

It's like finding a ready-made treasure; I won't have to do the translating of Western books myself anymore.

The third man looked older, with protruding lips, and dressed in extremely shabby clothes: "Mr. Li, I am Zou Boqi, courtesy name Yi'e, from Nanhai, Guangzhou Prefecture. I am 31 years old and was chosen by Lord Lin for my unusual skills and tricks."

"Strange skills and tricks? What strange skills and tricks?"

Zou Boqi took out a heavy object from his cloth bag.

"Mr. Li, please look, this is a camera I made myself several years ago...!"

Upon seeing this object and hearing Zou Boqi's account, Azu was greatly astonished.

"What? You made this camera yourself...?"

Azu took the heavy camera from Zou Boqi with both hands.

With an unusually surprised look, he carefully examined the somewhat crudely made machine.

Although it's rough around the edges, it's definitely a camera!

"This...is this really something you made yourself, Mr. Zou?"

“It was indeed made by my own hands!” Then, Zou Boqi took out another long object from the cloth bag.

"Mr. Li, please look, this is also a telescope that I made myself!"

"What? Telescopes can be made too?"

Azu was even more surprised. He put down his camera, took the binoculars, and looked out the door.

"Hey! It really is a telescope!"

Azu was overjoyed: "I never imagined that there would be such a talented person as Mr. Zou in the Great Qing Empire!"

(End of this chapter)