1848 Great Qing Charcoal Burners

Chapter 350 was studied with more enthusiasm than anyone else.

It's not easy to have a full-time study opportunity, where you don't have to work behind closed doors, and you can learn and exchange ideas with other students.

Peng Gang even dispatched eight instructors from the Wuchang Administrative School and the Jiangxia County School to the Wuchang Prefectural School and the Jiangxia County School to answer questions for the candidates and provide some exam questions from the Wuchang Administrative School for the students staying at the Wuchang Prefectural School and the Jiangxia County School to practice.

In Zhou Jishen's view, this was a rare learning opportunity, and there was no reason not to cherish it and waste time on other things.

With the imperial examinations in the north approaching, he is now focused solely on studying and has lost interest in everything else.

Due to a shortage of teachers, Peng Gang's school implemented a mentorship system starting from the Ping Zai Shan period.

The mentorship system involves teachers providing focused training to a group of outstanding students (mentors), who then pass on the knowledge and skills they have learned to other students, thereby reducing the teaching workload of teachers.

Regimental Commander Lu Qin, Regimental Commander Li Qi, and even Chief of Staff Huang Bingxian and Deputy Chief of Staff Zhang Ze all served as mentors for the first and second cohorts of trainees. When Peng Gang was busy, he would substitute for Professor Peng Gang to explain some simple and basic cultural knowledge to help other students consolidate their knowledge.

Of course, the most famous tutor in the North Hall is Chen Yucheng.

Because Chen Yucheng was young and exceptionally intelligent, Peng Gang consistently placed him as a mentor at the Wuchang Military Academy, working his way up from mentor of the third cohort to mentor of the fourth cohort.

The students who are mentors already have a better foundation and ability than ordinary students. In order to teach others, the students who are mentors must understand and master the knowledge more deeply, which greatly consolidates and improves their own learning outcomes.

In addition, the mentors need to interact more frequently with ordinary students and teachers, and assist teachers in managing the classroom, which inadvertently helps them develop their communication, organizational, and leadership skills.

Therefore, the students of the three Wuchang Universities—whether the Military Academy, the Administrative Academy, or the Normal Academy—were all key figures cultivated and focused upon by the school's lecturers, principals, and even Peng Gang himself.

Specialized lecturers and mentors were stationed at the prefectural and county schools to answer questions and resolve doubts for the scholars.

Zhou Jishen seized this great opportunity to seek instruction from the lecturers and instructors stationed at the Wuchang Prefectural School on the unorthodox and miscellaneous subjects that the scholars were talking about.

As for the eight-legged essay, which accounted for 40% of the examination in the Northern Examination, Zhou Jishen did not put much effort into it.

According to Zhou Jishen's understanding, the highest-ranking scholar among those who participated in the Northern Examination was only a student.

Everyone's ability to write the eight-legged essay is roughly the same. Furthermore, mastering the eight-legged essay requires years of accumulated knowledge and cannot be rushed. Even if one crammed on it tirelessly for a short period, the improvement would be limited. It would be better to focus one's main energy on policy essays, mathematics, geography, agriculture, finance, and criminal law to increase the probability of passing the exam.

The east wing next to the library of the prefectural school has now been converted into a question-and-answer hall. At fixed times every day, lecturers or tutors from the administrative school are on duty here to answer questions for the candidates.

Since visiting Team Leader Bi Tang, Zhou Jishen has been living a life of going back and forth between his dormitory, the canteen, and the Q&A session.

Zhou Jishen was already a regular at the Q&A Hall, and he devoted almost all the time he saved from studying the eight-legged essay to these practical studies.

Five days before the exam, Zhou Jishen was struggling with a complex application problem in "Advanced Mathematics" involving the calculation of land area and taxation. He frowned and pondered for a long time without finding a solution, so he hurriedly went to the Q&A hall with the book in his hand.

Today, the person in charge of the Q&A session is Jiang Zhongxin, a lecturer from the Military Academy, who is known for his expertise in mathematics and is Zhou Jishen's ideal person to answer his questions.

Jiang Zhongxin was surrounded by several scholars who were asking him questions about geography.

Zhou Jishen waited patiently to the side, his gaze inadvertently sweeping across the window, where he saw a scholar of similar age, engrossed in writing an article, drawing sidelong glances and sighs from several passersby.

The scholar finished writing the last stroke, threw the pen on the inkstone, let out a long sigh, and looked up to meet Zhou Jishen's curious gaze.

Seeing Zhou Jishen holding "Advanced Mathematics," he raised an eyebrow, a slightly mocking smile playing on his lips, and took the initiative to speak: "Brother, are you going to ask Lecturer Jiang for some difficult questions?"

This person speaks in a clear and melodious tone, with a hint of Hunan accent, and possesses a natural air of unrestrained freedom.

Seeing his extraordinary demeanor, Zhou Jishen quickly cupped his hands and said, "I am Zhou Jishen from Jiangxia. I am indeed troubled by a question about this book and have come to ask for your advice. Your work is brilliant and admirable."

"I am Wang Kaiyun from Xiangtan." Wang Kaiyun casually returned the greeting and pointed to the empty seat next to him.

"A few word games, nothing to brag about. You're so diligent in this mathematical and miscellaneous art, could it be that you intend to become a strategist under the Northern King?"

Although Wang Kaiyun's words were somewhat teasing, they were not malicious; rather, they stemmed from curiosity.

Zhou Jishen sat down and said frankly, “Brother, you jest. The Northern King’s selection of officials places 60% emphasis on policy essays, mathematics, and geography. It is obvious that he requires us to apply our knowledge, not just to be good at writing beautiful articles. Mathematics is related to land and taxes, and is a real foundation for governance. How can it be regarded as a miscellaneous skill? For example, if we cannot clarify this problem, how will we be able to survey land and equalize taxes when we become officials in the future? Wouldn’t that be harming the country and the people?”

Upon hearing this, Wang Kaiyun's eyes flashed with surprise. He put aside his casual nature and said seriously, "Brother Zhou's words are indeed pragmatic. However, literature is a great undertaking for governing the country and an immortal achievement. Without masterpieces to expound principles and unite people's hearts, even with mere mathematical skills, how can one stabilize the country and bring peace to the people? If one can write well and have it spread throughout the world, letting the people know that the Northern King has the ambition to rule the Jianghan region and look towards the world, its merit may not be inferior to the task of regulating the taxes of a county."

The two men, one valuing practical knowledge and the other appreciating literary talent, began to argue outside the question-and-answer hall.

Zhou Jishen quoted Peng Gang's examination guidelines, emphasizing the urgency of practical matters; Wang Kaiyun, on the other hand, cited classical texts to discuss the subtle influence of education, arguing that a well-written article could sometimes be as effective as a powerful army.

The two men raised their voices, attracting the attention of the surrounding scholars.

Just then, Jiang Zhongxin, having finished answering the geography question, came over upon hearing the noise.

Although Jiang Zhongxin is now a lecturer, he is actually about the same age as them, all around twenty years old.

Jiang Zhongxin did not directly judge who was right or wrong, but smiled and said to the two men, "What you two brothers said makes sense. As the Northern King often said, literature is a vehicle for conveying the Way, and learning is for practical application."

The principles and theories of literature are like the blueprint and outline of a house, indispensable; while practical disciplines such as mathematics and geography are like the bricks, stones, and timber, the foundation. Without a blueprint, construction is chaotic; without bricks and stones, the blueprint is empty talk.

Jiang Zhongxin then looked at Wang Kaiyun and said, “Brother Wang, you are a man of great talent. If you can use your pen as a weapon to expound the profound meaning of the Northern King’s new policies, depict the blueprint for governing the country and benefiting the people, and refute the Qing court’s slander against us, it would be a great achievement.”

Then he turned to Zhou Jishen and said, “Brother Zhou is diligent and studious, and is committed to laying a solid foundation. If he can manage the local finances and criminal affairs in an orderly manner in the future, he will be a cornerstone and pillar of our palace.”

Zhou Jishen was a regular at the Q&A Hall. Jiang Zhongxin recognized Zhou Jishen and saw that Zhou Jishen was holding a book called "Advanced Mathematics". He knew that Zhou Jishen had come to ask for help with his questions. So he took Zhou Jishen to his seat and answered his questions.

With his confusion resolved, Zhou Jishen carefully reviewed the situation in his mind before leaving the Q&A hall.

Hu Chunfang, a scholar also from Jiangxia County, reminded Zhou Jishen: "Brother Zhou, don't take Wang Kaiyun's words to heart. I live in the same room as him. During the day, he shows off his literary talent to attract attention, and at night he studies what he calls miscellaneous studies. He studies more enthusiastically than anyone else and goes to bed later than everyone else."

Hu Chunfang had long disliked her roommate's behavior of putting on airs in front of others during the day and secretly studying hard at night. She kindly reminded Zhou Jishen, hoping that her fellow villager would not be misled or influenced by Wang Kaiyun.

"Thank you for the reminder, Brother Hu. I know what I'm doing." Because they were both students from the same county, Zhou Jishen and Hu Chunfang met in the dining hall the day before. They quickly became acquainted and friends, often eating together at the same table. On the eve of the exam, a short-distance telegraph line, less than twenty li long, was completed from the Northern Prince's Mansion to Baishazhou.

Peng Gang then established the Wuchang Telegraph Bureau, which was dedicated to telegraph affairs.

China already possessed mature basic metal processing capabilities such as forging and drawing during the Han Dynasty, and led the world for a long time.

Song Yingxing's "Tiangong Kaiwu" systematically records the complete process of forging iron and drawing iron wire, including key processes such as gradually thinning the wire through molds and annealing.

Workshops in the three towns of Wuhan had the capability to produce copper wire. For Peng Gang, there were no technical obstacles to producing copper wire on a small scale for experimental purposes or for laying short-distance telegraph lines.

However, for a telegraph network covering the entire territory, the production capacity and quality control of copper wire are indeed a major problem, and it is difficult to support this in the short term.

To extend the telegraph lines, a complete, steam-powered mechanized production line was needed.

To produce copper wires that are extremely long, uniform in size, and have good conductivity in a high-efficiency and low-cost manner.

Peng Gang has entrusted the French firm, Liming & Co., to purchase a complete copper wire production line in France on his behalf.

After all, the Far East cannot provide solutions for the most critical machines in copper wire production lines, such as steam-powered rolling mills and wire drawing machines, so for the time being, we can only purchase them from Europe or the United States.

In fact, the demand for communication between Wuchang and Hanyang/Hankou is greater, especially the communication between Wuchang and Hankou.

Wuhan, Hanyang, and Hankou are all separated by only one river, making it more cost-effective to lay experimental short-distance telegraph lines in these three locations.

Peng Gang also hopes to maintain constant contact with Hankou.

Hankou was Peng Gang's most important source of revenue before he officially began collecting taxes. Peng Gang was eager to cross the Yangtze River barrier and maintain efficient communication with Wuchang at any time.

However, to lay telegraph lines to Hankou, underwater cables would be required. Underwater cables demand far higher levels of insulation, corrosion resistance, pressure resistance, and tensile strength than land-based cables. This necessitates the use of cable insulation wrapping (gutta-jet) and cable armoring technology.

Currently, the copper wire produced by Peng Gang in his workshop in the three towns of Wuhan is not suitable for laying underwater telegraph lines.

During this period, the submarine cables already in operation were all lines laid from England to the European continent. Furthermore, the submarine cables laid from England to France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and other countries were only completed and put into operation in the last year or two.

This technology is also very new for established industrial powers in Europe.

After the ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the establishment of the Wuchang Telegraph Bureau, and some encouragement to the staff of the Telegraph Bureau, [they]...

Peng Gang took the opportunity to establish a small school: Wuchang Telegraph School, which was specifically responsible for cultivating and training telegraph professionals and allowed them to practice using existing short-distance telegraph lines.

Currently, the core technical staff of the Wuchang Telegraph Bureau are all Americans, and information transmission is confidential. Peng Gang does not want this situation to continue for too long.

After dealing with matters related to the telegraph industry, Peng Gang rode his horse near Wuchang to observe the autumn harvest before returning to the West Flower Hall of the Northern Prince's Mansion to handle the day's military and political affairs.

"Your Highness, the transport fleets of the British, French, and American trading companies have arrived in Hankou. The first batch of goods from the French and American trading companies will be loaded onto ships at the Hankou dock soon for transshipment in Shanghai," Zhang Ze reported to Peng Gang.

"Hukou and Pengze have been lost. The Yangtze River waterway from Dongting Lake to Tianjing is no longer entirely under the control of the Tianjing Army. The French and American trading companies hope that our navy can provide them with escorts, cover their fleets as they pass through the war zone, and escort their fleets to the waters within Anhui Province."

Given the Qing government's internally strict yet externally obsequious nature, and the weakness of the Jiangxi naval forces, they certainly wouldn't dare to provoke armed merchant ships flying the Union Jack, the tricolor flag, and the Stars and Stripes, especially since the British fleet included genuine warships.

French and American trading companies requested Peng Gang's navy to provide them with escort and escort them to safe waters within Anhui Province.

The reason is simply that the goods they are carrying are worth several million taels of silver, which are too valuable, and they don't want anything to go wrong.

The fall of Hukou and Pengze occurred more than two months ago. During these two months, armed merchant ships of foreign trading companies still swaggered across the Jiangxi waters and arrived in Wuchang unscathed, indicating that the Qing Dynasty was indeed not willing to provoke foreigners at this stage.

"Let them wait after the goods are loaded onto the ship. Once everything is ready, we'll send them all to the waters outside the Jiangxi war zone," Peng Gang said after thinking for a moment.

Hukou and Pengze fell under heavy siege by Sai Shang'a, Li Mengqun and others. At present, the Taiping Army only has one important riverside location left in Jiangxi: Mazhen.

Madang Town is currently being held down by Shi Xiangzhen, Lin Qirong, and others.

Even Shi Dakai himself traveled from Anqing to Wangjiang County, north of Madang Town, firstly to support Madang Town, and secondly to prevent Qing troops from Anhui from joining the Madang battlefield, which further worsened the situation in Jiangxi.

The Jiangxi battlefield is currently the most intense battlefield besides the battlefields of Wei Changhui, Lin Fengxiang, and others during the Northern Expedition.

After Peng Gang's westward expedition ended, Shi Xiangzhen, Lin Qirong and others repeatedly asked Peng Gang for help, hoping that Peng Gang could provide some assistance for them in defending Madang Town.

Taking this opportunity, we can also send some grain and military supplies to Madang Town along the way.

Peng Gang's stronghold on the Jiangxi front was Dehua and Ruichang counties in Jiujiang Prefecture, which were upstream compared to the Qing army's position in Jiangxi.

It was already difficult for the Qing army in Jiangxi to attack Dehua, the capital of Jiujiang Prefecture, and Ruichang County. If Madang Town could be preserved, Peng Gang, who was fighting on three fronts in the east, west, and north, would have much less pressure on defense upstream.

As long as it is within his capabilities, Peng Gang is still willing to provide some assistance to the Taiping Army garrison in Madang Town.

"I will immediately relay this message to the consuls of France and the United States," Zhang Ze nodded and said.

"Loading the goods onto the ship isn't something that can be done in a day or two; we can give them a reply later," Peng Gang said, his gaze falling on the lake entrance on the map.

"Has the situation of the Qing army at Hukou been thoroughly investigated?"

"Sai Shang'a, Zhang Fei, Li Mengqun and others took Hukou at a great cost. Hukou is located on the front line of confrontation with us, so they attach great importance to the defense of Hukou."

Currently, Hukou is garrisoned by Fu Cheng, the Xi'an garrison commander known as a fierce Manchu general, leading no fewer than 10,000 Shaanxi-Gansu soldiers. Additionally, Liu Yuxun, a military leader from the Jiang Army, leads local militias, along with Jiang troops he brought from Nanchang Prefecture, totaling no fewer than 6,000 men, to assist in the defense.

The fact that a small city like Hukou is equipped with 10,000 heavy troops, including a considerable number of elite soldiers, shows that Sai Shang'a is indeed very wary of Peng Gang and is worried about being ambushed by him.

"Your Highness, the edict from the Eastern King has just arrived. Would Your Highness like to read it now?" Huang Bingxian asked Peng Gang, presenting the edict sent by Yang Xiuqing.

(End of this chapter)