Chapter 19: Foreign Affairs and Qing Officials

  On the surface, Zeng did not reject Western technology and even had a deep-seated fear of Western guns. However, in his heart, he looked down on Westerners, thinking that those red-haired Westerners were still a group of savage barbarians who only knew how to wield their guns and cannons, but did not understand the fundamental virtues of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faithfulness. The enlightened scholars of the Qing dynasty had a responsibility and duty to save the souls of these foreign devils.

  So, Jin lectured on Zhou Li and Lun Yu to the German instructors every week. The Tianjin Military Academy hired six German instructors, and Jin required all of them to attend without exception, with no excuses allowed for absence.

  In order to educate these red-haired blue-eyed foreigners, Jin was not lazy at all. For a two-hour lecture, Jin would prepare for seven days. When lecturing, Jin spoke eloquently, but those foreigners were wide-eyed and looked confused.

  Feng Guozhang was vastly different from Nuo Zhen, he highly admired the advanced systems and ideas of the West. Feng Guozhang firmly believed that a nation which is backward in system and culture can never produce great technology.

  Once, Feng Guozhang got drunk and patted Zhou Xuanzhang's shoulder, crying: "Brother! If the national system of our celestial dynasty is the most advanced in the world, how can it produce the most shameful army and backward equipment in the world?! The ministers in the imperial court are incompetent and misleading the country, Empress Dowager Cixi is also misleading the country!"

  Zhou Xuan Zhang was so frightened that he covered Feng Guozhang's mouth - how dare you discuss the old Buddha, Feng Guozhang is fed up with living!

  Zhou Xuzhang highly agreed with Feng Guozhang's view, the Qing Empire was being bullied by foreigners everywhere, and it should not be simply attributed to inferior guns!

  For nearly half a year, Zhou Xuanzhang has been following Na Jin and learning so much about national studies, and he has gradually come to understand the situation in the Qing Dynasty. He was originally from the 21st century and crossed over, looking at the Qing Dynasty as if it were an outsider's perspective, while the officials of the Qing Dynasty like Na Jin are insiders who are confused. At this time, the Qing Dynasty is already declining, even if there is no outbreak of war between China and Japan, even if there is no outbreak of war, the Qing Dynasty cannot withstand the turmoil.

  It is rare and precious that Feng Guozhang, this ruler, can see things very clearly, which makes Zhou Xunzhang deeply admire Feng Guozhang.

  So, seeing the calm and peaceful relations between China and Japan, the possibility of a sudden outbreak of war was extremely small, Zhou Xuzhang secretly congratulated himself on having saved his own head, and began to worry about the head of his elder brother Feng Guozhang.

  ……

  Next year, March, Guangxu 12th year, Western calendar 1940.

  Tianjin city is warm and flowers are blooming, a peaceful scene.

  That night, Zhou Xuanzhang had just finished his national studies class and walked out of the study room. The sky was filled with a bright moon, its light shining brightly, casting a silver glow over the newly sprouted tree branches. A warm breeze caressed his face, making the scene even more enjoyable.

  During this period, under the careful guidance of Jin, Gu Xue's attainments in national studies made rapid progress. Originally, Zhou Xuan Zhang did not know what the Four Books and Five Classics were, but now he can actually write a strategy theory, and his writing is smooth, quoting classics and having a strong momentum.

  Jin went to great lengths to get Zhou Xuanzhang into the Imperial Academy. He took Zhou's writings to the capital and spread them around, earning praise from many princes and high-ranking officials.

  In fact, Zhou Xuan Zhang has only been studying Chinese learning for half a year, and even if he is a child prodigy, it is impossible to write such a beautiful article in such a short time. There are two reasons for this.

  First, Jin made some minor revisions to Zhou Xuanzhang's article in order to make himself look good. Although the number of places he revised was not many, just a few strokes, each stroke was a masterstroke that added luster to the article.

  Secondly, and most importantly, in the eyes of those court officials who were well-read in poetry and literature, a student from Tianjin Military Academy could write an article that was not only coherent but also full of clever references to classical texts, which was simply a miracle.

  In the Qing dynasty, there was no one who could surpass Zhou Xuanzhang's writing skills. Even Nie Shicheng, a Confucian general and the commander-in-chief of Taiyuan, who was recognized by the Qing court, did not reach this level.

  Nie Shicheng was nearly sixty years old, having spent several decades in officialdom, and was a high-ranking court official with the rank of General. Zhou Xianzhang, on the other hand, was only in his early twenties and was merely a minor official.

  Just for this reason, Zhou Xuan Zhang had a good reason to make the courtiers look at him with different eyes.

  Tonight, Jin told Zhou Xuan Zhang that tomorrow afternoon, Li Hongzhang, the Minister of Beiyang Trade and Governor of Zhili Province, and Weng Tonghe, the Minister of Revenue, will arrive at the Tianjin Military Academy to personally examine the students.

  The Tianjin Military Academy was founded by Li Hongzhang, and together with the Beiyang Navy, it was one of his two favorite institutions. Therefore, Li Hongzhang would occasionally come to the academy in person to preside over examinations. This is not surprising at all.

  It was strange that Weng Tonghe, the Minister of Revenue, also followed with a flattering smile, which was unusual.

  In the Qing dynasty, Li Hongzhang and Weng Tonghe were two popular figures, but they were also two sworn enemies.

  Li Hongzhang, as the Governor of Zhili and concurrently serving as the Minister of Beiyang Commerce, was not only the highest official in the capital region but also the only Qing official trusted by foreigners. In fact, Li Hongzhang, as the Minister of Beiyang Commerce, was equivalent to the current US Secretary of State, second only to the President. However, Li Hongzhang was more powerful than the Secretary of State, as he had control over the most elite and expensive Beiyang Navy in the Qing Empire. At that time, the Beiyang Navy was known as the first in Asia and fourth in the world, with sturdy ships and powerful cannons, dominating the East.

  The Minister of the Board of Revenue, Weng Tonghe, may not be as dazzling as Li Hongzhang, but he is not an ordinary person either. He is the current teacher of Emperor Guangxu, known as the Imperial Master! When he served as the Vice Minister of Justice, he presided over the trial of the sensational case of Yang Naiwu and Xiao Baicai, and Weng Tonghe handled the case impartially, making it a fair and just verdict. As a result, more than 100 Qing officials fell from power, and since then, Weng Tonghe's name has been known throughout the land.

  At this time, Weng Tonghe was in the imperial court, with a single word that could decide the fate of others. A large group of officials from the Grand Council and Hanlin Academy were united around him, forming a considerable force known as the "Clear Stream". Weng Tonghe was the leader of the Clear Stream faction. Although the Clear Stream faction did not have real power, they had extremely strong speaking abilities and could influence public opinion in the imperial court. Li Hongzhang and Zuo Zongtang, who held real power as governors-general, feared Weng Tonghe the most.

  Weng Tonghe and Li Hongzhang were two of the most influential figures in the imperial court, but their political views differed greatly. Li Hongzhang was a leader of the Westernization Movement, enthusiastic about establishing industries and building factories, while Weng Tonghe was a figure of the "Self-Strengthening" faction, advocating for moral integrity and self-cultivation. The two factions looked down on each other, although they did not yet reach the point of being irreconcilable, but were clearly distinct.

  However, tomorrow afternoon, the two leaders of the Westernization Group and the Petitioning Group will visit the Tianjin Military Academy together, which is unbelievable.

  Two prominent court officials from different factions arrived at the Tianjin Military Academy, ostensibly to inspect it, but everyone knew they must have had another purpose, only no one in the academy knew what their true intention was.