Chapter 27: Hong Ming
"Hehe, it's comforting to see that even in old age, there are still successors among old friends!" San Zhi Ping quickly calmed down and stroked his white beard.
"Master Meng did not abandon teaching me, and he always said that Mr. Zhang was the greatest talent of our time, assisting General Zhang to achieve great things, Master Meng was very envious..." Tan Yanqing said respectfully. Zhang Zhidong was known as Xiangchuan, although China did not lose in the Sino-French War, this did not affect Zhang's reputation, as a scholar participating in military and political affairs, the most important thing is that this war was the first time after the Opium War that China slightly surpassed the powers on the battlefield, finally Li Hongzhang intervened and caused trouble, Zhang and Li became enemies, however, anyone who was close to Zhang Zhidong had to respectfully address him as "General Zhang Xiang".
"Zu An was able to write 'Quan Xue Pian' at such a young age, an article that makes all scholars in the world admire him. This shows how much Ren Qiu values your education and cultivation. In his letter, Ren Qiu said you are going to Wu Chang Fu to meet General Xiang?" Sang Zhi Ping asked with a smile.
"Sir, you're too kind. I've just finished the imperial examination and my father didn't hurry me to return to Fuzhou. He wanted me to travel more outside and broaden my knowledge and experience, so as not to be narrow-minded... Governor Zhang is developing industries in Hubei and Hunan, his vision and scale are unprecedented. I think what he's doing is truly beneficial to the country, so I've come up with the idea of visiting him. If I can meet him in person, it will greatly help my studies. My teacher also strongly supports me going to Hubei, so I was sent here to request an audience with you, sir."
Sang Zhi Ping nodded and smiled, saying: "This is what you think of me after I served in the Xiang Shuai's mansion for many years, right? Although it has been several years since I left Xiang Shuai, this can still be said. Most of my former colleagues are also in the Xiang Shuai's mansion, so this matter shouldn't be difficult... Xiang Shuai was also a top scorer in the imperial examination and got the title of Tan Hua in the palace exam, so he will probably look at Zu An with high regard when they meet. I'll write a letter, Zu An, you bring it with you, and give it to Gu Hongming when the time comes. He's also half my student... Xiang Shuai values him highly."
"Gu Hongming?!" After bidding farewell to Sang Zhiping, Tan Yanqian and his entourage continued their journey north by boat to Wuchang Prefecture. At this time, Sang Zhiping's letter was placed on his desk, his fingers lightly tapping on the envelope, but his mind was thinking of Gu Hongming.
"Claiming to be proficient in ten languages, a super genius!" Tan Yanqing had heard of Gu Hongming's great name for the first time, and didn't expect that he would have such a deep relationship with Sang Zhiping, who looked like a very traditional Chinese old literati, and was even a teacher-student relationship!
"One is a classical scholar who has read extensively in the classics, and the other is an old sea turtle who grew up abroad and speaks ten languages fluently. This combination is really something to look forward to! Tan Yanqing thought mischievously: "I heard that Gu Hongming was not originally a queue-wearing man, but only started wearing one on Zhang Zhidong's suggestion, changed into Chinese-style clothing, and followed Sang Jipeng to study traditional Chinese culture... This is indeed a rare foreign language talent, I wonder how he is doing now?"
Tan Yanxian knew that Rong Hong was a pioneer of modern Chinese students, and Gu Hongming was not much younger than Rong Hong. However, Gu Hongming was born in Southeast Asia and later traveled abroad before returning to China, where he was recruited by Zhang Zhidong during the Sino-French War. Tan Yanxian had been keeping an eye on Gu Hongming over the years and was shocked to learn that not only was Gu proficient in ten languages, but also held ten doctoral degrees. Although Tan considered the doctoral titles of this era somewhat dubious, it was undeniable that Gu was a man of extraordinary learning. If someone were to hold three or four doctoral degrees a hundred years later, they would be considered a prodigy; compared to Gu Hongming, however, such an achievement would pale in comparison.
From Red Cliff Mountain to Wuchang Prefecture is not far, and taking a small steamer only takes less than a day to arrive. However, Tang Jiyao did not rush to see Zhang Zhidong - so far, this Hunan genius has not really gone out to inspect the place, what he knows is nothing more than what was written in historical books of previous generations, which is enough for writing "Exhortation to Learning", but if facing a strong man like Zhang Zhidong, some necessary homework must be done.
Tan Yanxin and his entourage settled into the inn, he went for a stroll alone in Wuchang Prefecture - I don't know if the old man's views on Zhang Zhidong's actions were justified or not, but it can't be denied that Zhang Zhidong put all the foreign affairs industries under his charge in Wuchang Prefecture. The old man said this was Zhang Zhidong showing off his achievements. As soon as you went out, you could see the tall chimneys of the steel mill spewing black smoke, and the Hubei Weaving Bureau outside Wuchang's Wen Chang Gate was also operating intensively.
Tan Yanxian could see the most important achievements of Zhang Zhidong's Westernization industry in these years from Wuchang Prefecture alone - the Hanyang Iron and Steel Plant, which was being built and produced on one side, the Hubei Gun Factory, which was under construction, and the newly completed and put into production Hubei Weaving Bureau. Tan Yanxian had not seen large-scale industrial enterprises before, but in this era, even small steamboats were relatively rare, and it was surprising to see so many modern industrial enterprises that had been built or were being built in a city - Changsha and Fuzhou, where he had stayed, were also big cities at that time, but the modern industry in these two cities was almost zero, and it was still a small workshop-style production mode, which was completely incomparable with the rows of factory buildings in front of him.
"No wonder the history books of later generations evaluated Zhang Zhidong so highly. Although the old guy was a bit bureaucratic, there is no doubt that this vision can be placed nationwide and few people can compare to it! Tan Yankai spent four whole days roughly looking through these modern large-scale production enterprises. The few lines introduced in the history books of later generations now seem so pale and unimaginable if you don't stand here in person."
"Hanyang Ironworks smelted steel, the Gun Factory manufactured weapons and ammunition, while the Weaving Bureau played a slightly smaller role, purely providing large quantities of cotton cloth to compete with foreign goods in part of the market, earning money to provide continued development funds for the first two...". Tan Yankai sat on a large bluestone by the river at Sanfo Temple, not far from Hanyang Ironworks.
Although Tan Yankai was not an industrial expert in his previous life, he still had this insight and could foresee that Zhang Zhidong's move in Hubei was no longer just a matter of "grand vision". He wanted to build Hubei, no, he wanted to build Wuchang and Hanyang into a comprehensive modern industrial system including metallurgy, mining, military industry, textile and other industries!
Wuchang and Hanyang are just across the river from each other. If Zhang Zhidong's plan is successfully completed, it will undoubtedly become a strategically prominent heavy industrial base in China's hinterland. With careful management, radiating nationwide from this point, it will produce an unimaginable chain reaction!
"What a pity that Zhang has been in office for so many years, doesn't he know the principle of 'people leaving and tea cooling'? Can he be the governor of Huguang for his whole life to complete this achievement with his own hands?!" Tan Yanke thought while throwing stones into the river. "Perhaps his lifelong hope is like a stone thrown into the rolling Yangtze River, stirring up a slight ripple before being flattened by the water."
Zhang Zhidong's idea was good, and apart from considering the needs of his own political career, this approach also drew on the practical experience and lessons of the two generations of Western Affairs Party led by Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang - building heavy industry in coastal areas is easily affected during wartime, and when shells fall, their efforts will be wasted. The Yangtze River Basin was a traditional sphere of influence for the British, and to maintain this seemingly glorious British Empire's power, it was basically impossible for large-scale wars to break out in the Yangtze River Basin; Moreover, the concentrated construction of heavy industry would also produce scale comprehensive benefits, Zhang Zhidong may not have been clear about this point, but he probably had some understanding of it.
For historical figures like Zhang Zhidong, Tan Yanqing still had great respect for them. To say the least, his father Tan Zhonglin, a provincial governor who did not leave a name in history, was enough to make him tremble with fear, let alone those fierce generals who struggled and fought at the forefront of the storm. Perhaps the experience and insight from his previous life told Tan Yanqing that Zhang Zhidong and others had such or such shortcomings, but how many people in this era have such insight? How many people with this insight are willing to put it into practice?
"Comrade Lao Zhang, it's not that I won't help you, but if you continue like this, even with my help, it would be a waste of effort. Not to mention whether you need me or not is still uncertain - you're too old, set in your ways, and can't keep up with the times! It's better for you to take stock of your assets now, build a good relationship with me over the next few years, and then I'll take over when the time comes. Who knows, maybe I'll even make a big splash...”
Tan Yanqun stood up, picked up a palm-sized pebble from the ground, and threw it fiercely into the river: "Perhaps my ending won't be much better than yours - either I'll create a new world, or I'll just be a bigger pebble making a bigger splash, or maybe I'll even be worse off than you and get completely buried by history..."
Tan Yanqing knew about the butterfly effect, but he still didn't believe that he was that butterfly, let alone that the wind generated by his wings could turn into a storm that would change Chinese history. "Rather than gaze longingly at fish in the depths, it's better to retreat and weave a net." He was an out-and-out pragmatist who didn't dare hope to change the world, only hoping that what he did could alleviate some of the suffering on this land - however much or little that might be.
In this era, there were no "confidential measures", and the Western-style industries built by Zhang Zhidong did not issue any orders prohibiting visits. Tan Yankai spent these days visiting these industries, which meant that he had thoroughly understood Zhang Zhidong's industrial base in Wuchang and Hanyang, Hubei Province. Only then did he entrust someone to attach Sang Jiping's letter to his own note and send it to Gu Hongming's residence, waiting for news at the inn.
Although it is said to be waiting for news, Tan Yankai has not been idle - like Zhang Zhidong, a typical "learning with practical application" spirit of the governor, thinking that relying solely on one book, "Exhortation to Learning", would be enough to move them. If they want to have a place in their hearts, it is still far from enough. The "Exhortation to Learning" only established its own theoretical system for the Westernization Party at the macro level, and this system can still stand based on the feedback from Empress Dowager Cixi and the Emperor. Local governors also highly praised it, with opposing opinions not being absent, but compared to the praise, they seemed insignificant. Now if he wants to give Zhang Zhidong a deeper impression, he must make further suggestions from a micro perspective, from a certain aspect based on Zhang's Westernization enterprises in Hubei. This suggestion must be well-written to truly move Zhang and lay a more solid foundation for future development.
"Only investigation has the right to speak!" Tan Yanqian, after several days of on-site inspection, had a very clear understanding of Zhang Zhidong's pocket assets. In addition, later generations have high and detailed evaluations of Zhang Zhidong's promotion of modern industries in Hubei. Therefore, Tan Yanqian wrote this policy paper with great ease. Of course, Tan Yanqian did not forget the criticisms of Zhang Zhidong's industrial undertakings in historical books a hundred years later, especially the fatal wounds of the Han Yang Steel Factory - management, coal source and steel smelting equipment problems.
Regarding the fatal weakness of the Hanyang Iron and Steel Works, Tan Yankai's middle school history textbook from his previous life introduced it in great detail. Although the text was not lengthy, it already made the point very clear. The official management method of the steel works was the most fatal, but Tan Yankai did not write about this in detail - even if he had written about it, it would have been pointless. Zhang Zhidong was a very traditional scholar who looked down on merchants and held officials to extremely high standards, so he wouldn't listen until he hit a dead end.
Tan Yanqing focused on the coal source of the steel plant - historically, after Sheng Xuanhuai took over, the coal used by Hanyang Steel Plant was from Pingxiang, while the iron ore was from Daye Iron Mine. Later, the three merged into "Hanyeping", which was a huge improvement that directly saved the steel plant's high cost weakness. As for where Pingxiang is and whether coal deposits have been discovered now, he didn't know, but later historical books wrote it very clearly, so he just followed suit. When asked about it, he could just say he heard it from an old farmer. Another issue was the blast furnace problem of the steel plant. Now a part of the steel plant has started production and operation, he didn't know if it's too late to bring this up now, but even if that part hasn't started production, the equipment has been set, so it's already too late to mention it. So he just briefly wrote about this part. As for Daye Iron Mine, he didn't mention a single word - by revealing the coal mine, he hoped Zhang Zhidong would support him for a longer time, giving him more time to raise funds, and as for Daye Iron Mine, that was his own secret!
Considering Zhang Zhidong is now in his prime, with the steel factory's smokestacks emitting black smoke, the tone of this article must be mainly praising Zhang's achievements. However, this flattery is also a very skilled job, fortunately, Tan Yankai has become very familiar with this work after being trained in the Fujian-Zhejiang Governor's Office, and his subtle flattery has reached the level of perfection. It's just that when he himself reads it, he feels an urge to rush into the toilet and vomit violently. In short, this article is 95% praise and 5% criticism, and for the criticism, suggestions for solutions are also proposed. These suggestions are highly feasible and must be within Zhang Zhidong's acceptable range. When Tan Yankai finished writing it, he even felt that his brain cells had died by 20% - "Not everyone can flatter like this!" Tan Yankai said to himself, lost in thought as he looked at the draft.
"The Third Master, there is a man with the surname Gu outside who wishes to see you. He says he's from the Huguang Governor's Office!" A guard at the door announced.
"It's really quick! My script was submitted less than a day ago, and the super genius has already found me!" Tan Yanqi put down his pen, threw away his flattering worries, and said loudly: "Quickly invite Mr. Guo in! Forget it, I'll go welcome him myself!" After finishing speaking, Tan Yanqi slightly adjusted his appearance and hastily followed the guard out the door to meet "Mr. Guo".
Tan Yanxian was originally from Beida, while Gu Hongming had taught at the Imperial University of Peking, which is the predecessor to Beida. Although Gu did not say that famous phrase "My queue is tangible, yours are intangible!", Tan still admired him greatly for this reason.
In the courtyard where Tan Yanxun lived, a middle-aged man wearing a long gown and a horse jacket was standing under a tree in the yard. Tan Yanxun knew that this must be Mr. Guo who came to visit him without anyone introducing them. The only person with the surname Guo in the Huguang Governor's Mansion is Gu Hongming, who is proficient in ten national languages and wears ten doctoral hats!
"Today's weather is really good, but nothing makes me happier than seeing you, sir!" Tan Yanqian said in French, standing on the steps.
"Ah, a friend from afar! Isn't it a pleasure? I've long known of your literary fame, sir. When I suddenly heard you'd arrived in Wuchang, I couldn't help but rush to pay my respects, though I fear I may be being somewhat presumptuous!"
"In front of Mr. Tang, how dare I call myself a master? It is my greatest honor to meet Mr. Tang here. I have long heard that you are the top foreign language master in China today. If it weren't for mundane affairs, I would have come to pay respects earlier!" Tan Yanqian said fluently in German.
"Although the master is young, once 'On Encouraging Learning' was published, who in the world didn't know the master's great name? With just this one achievement, Gu An absolutely has the qualifications! Moreover, the master being in charge of 'Strong Study Digest', it's clear that the master's foreign language foundation is deep. I, Gu Hongming, am proficient in ten languages, but haven't done something like this, and it really makes me ashamed!" Gu Hongming said with a smile in German.
