Chapter 72: True and False
The horse carriage stopped in front of the Governor's mansion without realizing it. The Governor's mansion was a confiscated house after an official was exiled, although not luxurious, but also rich and majestic. The former resident of this mansion was a saltworks official. Although the official position of managing saltworks is not very prominent, the power in his hands is absolutely lucrative, as can be seen that the saltworks officials are well-known for being wealthy, so it can be imagined what kind of state this convicted saltworks official's mansion would be in.
Deng Zixuan got off the carriage and reported his name at the gate. After a few minutes, he was informed that he could enter. Although the gate looked very luxurious, the interior of the governor's mansion was quite simple. The residence reflects the person, and through appearances, it can be seen that Zuo Zongtang is a simple man. Deng Zixuan was led to the backyard, entering the private domain of the governor, which showed Governor Zuo's hospitality. A figure like Zuo Zongtang receiving guests in the inner hall suggests that the guest may be his trusted subordinate or an honored guest.
A servant in the mansion personally escorted Deng Zi Xuan to the front door, and the servant announced his arrival. The door opened and Hu Xueyan's figure appeared, "Brother Zi Xuan has arrived, Governor Zuo has already set out wine and dishes and is waiting!" Hu Xueyan's intention was very clear, that Governor Zuo had invited him with great enthusiasm. Deng Zi Xuan naturally understood the implication, smiled and nodded his head. Upon entering the living room, he saw Zuo Zongtang sitting at the dinner table, a smile on his face. The dinner table was set with several cold dishes.
"Grassroots people pay respects to Lord Zuo!" Deng Zi Xuan slightly nodded in courtesy. "Lord, this is Deng Zi Xuan!" Hu Xueyan introduced. "I didn't expect Mr. Deng to be so young, Snowy Brother, you're really something! Come, come, come! Mr. Deng please sit down!" Zuo Zongtang did not stand up, but his eyes showed an excited expression. "Lord Zuo's kindness, I'm unworthy of it!" Deng Zi Xuan saw a copy of the Natural History Journal on the table against the wall and knew that his judgment was correct.
"Deng Gongzi's expression was calm and composed, seemingly more mature than his actual age. No wonder Xueyan praised you so much, I haven't heard him praise anyone in all these years, Deng Gongzi, you're the first! Zuo Zongtang still smiled warmly, but his eyes remained sharp as a knife. Deng Zixuan couldn't help but secretly admire himself, if he wasn't a time-traveler, he would probably be intimidated by the piercing gaze in front of him. It seems that he needs to be careful with what he says."
"Your Excellency, I know you dislike hearing flattering words to your face, but seeing Your Excellency today, I still can't control myself. Your Excellency is the pillar of the Qing dynasty's revival, with a vision that sees far and wide, and eyes that penetrate everything. The shipyard you managed has borne fruit, and Your Excellency personally led troops into battle, shedding blood in the northwest, recovering our territory, and restoring our rivers and mountains. Your military achievements will surely be renowned for centuries to come! Today, I am honored to listen to your teachings, a humble subject feels deeply grateful!" Flattering words anyone can say, but when spoken by Deng Zixuan, everyone who hears them feels comfortable.
"Haha! Young Master Deng is indeed eloquent, although I don't like flattery to my face. But your words are pleasant to hear and have a refreshing effect. As the saying goes: good things should not be overused, or they lose their original flavor. Just now, your speech made me think of the Westernization Movement and the Northwestern Strategy, and I must say, I'm quite shocked. It seems that Young Master Deng is no ordinary person!" Zuo Zongtang's words were somewhat understated, but Deng Zixuan felt a sense of being cornered.
"Ah, I see! As a humble commoner, I've had the chance to learn from foreigners and have heard some rumors from them, so I'm just speaking nonsense!" "Oh, no wonder Mr. Deng's words are astonishing, it turns out to be true. I heard from Xueyan that you're also incredibly wealthy, but I didn't expect someone as young as you to be so capable!" Zuo Zongtang raised an eyebrow. Deng Zixuan's heart skipped a beat, wondering if Huxian had revealed all his secrets. But observing Huxian's expression, it seemed unlikely. As a merchant, Huxian was bound by the rules of commerce. His relationship with Zuo Zongtang was one of mutual benefit, and Huxian wouldn't reveal everything. The fact that Zuo Zongtang hadn't noticed anything in all these years was proof enough.
"Sir, I have a rather unusual idea. When I heard that Mr. Hu was a business genius, I deliberately tried to curry favor with him, which is why I am wealthy today. It's a bit embarrassing to say, but my goal was to rely on a big tree to enjoy the shade!" "Sir, this statement is not false. That year, this kid sent me a pair of Song Dynasty Qinghua porcelain vases worth tens of thousands of taels of silver to curry favor with me. This kid's first move was a big gesture, and frankly, I couldn't have done it myself. His business talent is not inferior to mine!" Hu Xueyan understood the implication and stopped there.
"What a good thing to lean on a big tree and enjoy the cool. This alone shows that Mr. Deng has sharp eyesight, knowing how to use intangible forces to write articles. I heard that Mr. Deng set up a Tongren Academy, but I didn't expect Mr. Deng to have such elegant interests!" When he heard about Tongren Academy, Deng Zixuan felt at ease. After three rounds of wine, Zuo Zongtang's face was slightly red, but his thinking was still clear and logical, and he was still fluent and composed. Deng Zixuan felt pressured for the first time: "Sir, to be honest, I am a pedantic scholar who is very sympathetic to literati, and I also have a bookish temperament."
Zuo Zongtang smiled and said, "If Master Deng didn't have a plan, the Tongren Academy wouldn't be able to manage so well. Moreover, the publications of the academy are unparalleled, and currently in the Qing Empire, there hasn't been a publication that provides detailed introductions to Western countries. It's clear that Master Deng is a man with a vision."
"Your Excellency, I, a humble commoner, have lived in the concessions since childhood. Seeing foreigners flaunting their power on Chinese soil has always left a bad taste in my mouth. As I grew older, I heard about how foreigners humiliated us, and their warships and cannons rampaged along our coastlines without restraint. More than 30 years ago, the British used force to subjugate us, and over 10 years ago, the Anglo-French coalition of several thousand troops occupied the capital city. The great China was so weak that it's heartbreaking."
"What do you think, Master Deng?" Zuo Zongtang's face was expressionless. Deng Zixuan hesitated for a moment before responding: "Your Excellency, since I had a vague awareness, I have thought about studying Western languages. As the saying goes, 'know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles.' Why did foreigners become so powerful? Why could dozens of warships and thousands of people from afar make our 40 million compatriots surrender? To understand this, I must study Western languages and learn about the situation in various Western countries."
Deng Zixuan must write an article about foreigners, or else Zuo Zongtang will be suspicious. "Do you understand? What is the reason?" Zuo Zongtang continued to press him. "Your Excellency, I, a humble scholar, dare to speak out. The reason why foreigners are powerful is because of modern science and technology. Currently, Western countries have entered the industrial steam age. When I deeply understood the situation in Western countries, I realized that our great Chinese nation has fallen behind. Human history itself is a history of survival of the fittest, and the law of the jungle is deeply ingrained in human bones. Fortunately, there are people like Your Excellency Zuo, Li, Shen, and Zhang who have seen the flaws of the Qing dynasty and vigorously promoted the Westernization Movement, humbly learning from Western countries. Only by enduring hardships and hiding one's capabilities can the Qing dynasty walk towards revival. However..."
Deng Zixuan stopped and observed Zuo Zongtang's expression, finding that he was deeply attracted. "Tao Guang Yang Hui! Extremely Jing Bi. But what is it?" Zuo Zongtang's interest greatly increased. "Your Excellency, if you want to change the backward appearance of the Qing Dynasty, simply running a few factories is far from enough. The key is to change the way of thinking, combining Western scientific ideas with Chinese culture closely. Using Western methods for Chinese purposes, taking Chinese learning as the foundation, and cultivating a large number of modern scientific talents can be effective."
Zuo Zongtang had indeed thought of doing so, but he was unable to sway the imperial court. Zuo Zongtang nodded and said: "I understand now, this is your purpose in managing Tongren Academy and publishing 'Natural History'!" "Yes, I saw that you, sir, and others were promoting the Westernization Movement, and I wanted to contribute my humble efforts. So I managed Tongren Academy, published 'Natural History', and took the opportunity to introduce the situation of various Western countries. Moreover, I have an advantage in this area, which can be considered as a way to promote the Westernization Movement advocated by you, sir!"
"I have witnessed Deng Gongzi's great talent, and it is rare for a young person to possess such thinking in the Qing dynasty. Does Deng Gongzi want to enter officialdom and work by my side?" Zuo Zongtang was completely convinced of Deng Zixuan's words due to his love of wealth. "Your Excellency, I am being presumptuous. I have taken note of your kind intentions, if Your Excellency needs me to do something temporarily, I will definitely devote myself to it with my life. However, I have been used to being independent and do not want to be constrained. Your Excellency's favor makes me feel ashamed!" Deng Zixuan expressed his thoughts.
"Haha! Young Master Deng is indeed unruly and unyielding. You are the first person to refuse me, which is rare and precious. Since you have no intention of accepting, I won't force it either. Everyone has their own ambitions, please do as you wish. The Natural History section of Tongren Academy is well done, but lacks articles on the Westernization Movement. As the Westernization Movement is currently gaining momentum, will you follow my wishes, Young Master Deng?"
"Your Excellency! Discussing court politics is too risky, I fear it may bring trouble!" Deng Zixuan guessed at Zuo Zongtang's true intentions.
"There's Governor Zuo in charge, what are you afraid of? Besides, promoting the Westernization Movement is a strategy of the imperial court, no one will stop it." Zuo Zongtang was very straightforward, showing his strong personality. "Governor, how about this: every draft related to the Westernization Movement will be brought to you for review?" "If Young Master Deng doesn't mind the trouble, I'll take a look first." Zuo Zongtang seemed to remember something and added, "Young Master Deng, since you're familiar with foreign languages, would you translate some military books from various Western countries?" "Governor! No problem, I'll find a few books and translate them immediately, and send them to you for review!"
Deng Zixuan didn't need to worry about this, as he had translated several works by German military strategists a few years ago and combined them with his own memories to write a comprehensive outline of military theory and training for the military academy. Fortunately, this successfully shifted Left Zongtang's attention away from him, and if Left Zongtang had understood more economic secrets, he would have definitely become suspicious. As they walked out of the Governor's Mansion, the sky was already completely dark. Deng Zixuan suggested finding a tavern to drink a few more cups, but Hu Xueyan laughed and said: "Brother Zixuan, your earth-shattering words have already made Left Sir look at you in a new light, but I'm not interested in listening to you talk about this anymore. What I care about is making money."
Deng Zixuan smiled and didn't say a word, the two of them arrived at a small wine shop, casually ordered a few dishes and said: "Old brother, I want to know our secrets, how much does Left Gentleman understand? You must tell the truth." Deng Zixuan's face was stern and serious. "Are you afraid that Left Gentleman will confiscate your family's wealth?! Don't worry, old brother, Left Gentleman is concerned with silver, not business. Even if he's foolish, he wouldn't casually reveal commercial secrets to people, don't forget I'm a businessman!" "Now I can rest assured!" Deng Zixuan let out a sigh of relief.
"Zi Xuan, my younger brother, I didn't expect Governor Zuo to have such a high opinion of you?" Hu Xueyan asked mysteriously. "What do you mean by that?" "This is the first time I've seen Governor Zuo talk to a stranger for so long and ask for advice in such a humble tone. He's usually a man of few words and decisive action. But he was actually seeking your counsel with humility, and I must say, I'm really impressed. Especially when you rejected his offer right to his face, that took a lot of guts. You know how many people would be over the moon and grateful for the opportunity to win the Zhongda Prize? Zi Xuan, my younger brother, is indeed extraordinary. I was wondering if you were just pretending to be modest earlier?" Hu Xueyan asked suspiciously.
"Older brother, where did you go? Am I that despicable? Even if I were to follow Lord Zuo, although it would be prestigious, but losing my freedom and being restrained, I couldn't bear it. I'm a person who likes stimulation and challenges, doing something for too long will make me feel disgusted. The madam is strict, I don't dare to indulge in pleasures, so I can only be free and easy, doing what I want. Deng Zixuan spoke nonsense. 'You're just a master of making easy money, effortlessly earning a full pot, this is something older brother can't compare to, you have a lot of tricks up your sleeve, maybe one day you'll sell me out and I'll still count the money for you!'"
"Old brother, won't you? Am I that despicable in your eyes?" "Not necessarily, but I really can't fathom your thoughts!" After finishing speaking, the two of them burst out laughing. Today, Deng Zi Xuan openly rejected Zuo Zong Tang's favor, which is not something an ordinary person could do. Therefore, Hu Xue Yan was very pleased, and his younger brother's integrity was especially commendable. However, Hu Xue Yan had some hidden worries because he couldn't understand Deng Zi Xuan more and more. Especially since Deng Zi Xuan not only quickly gained Zuo Zong Tang's favor but also seemed to be able to do as he pleased.
Hu Xueyan looked at Deng Zixuan's frank expression and suddenly realized that their relationship was not solid. He had an idea and said, "My youngest son is 8 years old this year, born to the fifth wife, and my daughter is 7 years old now. I want to form a marriage alliance with you, Brother Zixuan, do you have any intention?" Deng Zixuan was taken aback, but secretly delighted, saying: "Brother, I couldn't ask for more! It's settled!" "It's settled!"
