Chapter 80

It was a great transformation unseen in three thousand years, a phrase written by Xiao Letian in his book *Journey to the West*. Historically, this famous saying should have been attributed to Li Hongzhang after he took office, but it was stolen by Xiao Letian and quickly became popular among the literati of the Qing Dynasty.

This phrase aptly described the Qing Dynasty at the time. The unprecedented transformation of three thousand years left all the scholars deeply perplexed. Even Empress Dowager Cixi, who was naturally adept at politics, felt equally lost and helpless when facing the world.

To be frank, the Qing officials' administrative capabilities were very strong. The imperial art and feudal ruling experience of thousands of years had reached their peak in the Qing Dynasty, making it the most centralized feudal dynasty in Chinese history. During the reigns of Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong, the territory of the Qing Dynasty continued to expand slowly, which was indeed a historical achievement left by the Qing to the Chinese nation.

Perhaps historians can find countless sins of the corrupt and decadent Qing, who oppressed the people, but we cannot deny that it was precisely because of the Qing's actual rule over several hundred years that the Chinese nation gained internationally recognized legitimate inheritance rights to the vast lands of Northeast China, Mongolia, and Xinjiang.

During the reigns of Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong, the governance philosophy of China had reached its pinnacle, and the degree of centralization had reached a terrifying level. Politicians immersed in this political atmosphere were all masters of intrigue and balance, with thousands of years of plots and strategies to choose from. Not to mention men, even Empress Dowager Cixi was a supreme expert in politics.

Xiao Letian had long made a judgment on Cixi's political acumen. Her sensitivity to politics was entirely innate. To put it in idealistic terms, this woman was born to do this in the Qing Dynasty. The complex political situation left many men at a loss, but this woman could handle it with ease, dancing on three eggs until her death without ever messing up.

However, when these politicians, steeped in thousands of years of traditional experience, encountered Westerners who seemed like aliens, all their experience became useless. The Qing political figures not only did not understand the geography and culture of the Western world but also did not understand the cultural heritage of the Westerners.

They had no idea what these foreigners really wanted, and all negotiations were like chickens talking to ducks. Europe wanted to do business with the Qing, but the Qing wanted to impose restrictions, hoping to open many ports for trade, which the Qing did not agree to. Even the exchange of envoys to establish embassies in each other's capitals, the Qing still shook its head vigorously.

The Europeans could not understand why the Qing people were so fond of shaking their heads. Why did they turn so many excellent seaports into fishing ports? In Chinese history, there was even a time when fishing ports were not allowed to exist, known as "no sail shall go to sea."

The Qing people also could not understand why the Europeans had so many demands. Wasn't the opening of the Thirteen Factories in Guangzhou enough? They even wanted to sail north to all ports? What a dream! They even wanted to send officials to reside in Beijing? They were simply a bunch of lunatics. Even worse, if the Qing did not agree, the foreigners would send troops to force them to agree. Was there such an unreasonable thing in the world?

Look, this was the true Qing Dynasty at the time, completely in the dark about the outside world. From top to bottom, everyone mentioned foreign affairs with a shake of the head, all feeling uneasy. Even Empress Dowager Cixi was no exception. Whenever it came to foreigners, this woman would immediately transform into a rural old lady, her eyes filled with confusion.

Emperor Tongzhi's question, Cixi could not answer. The only person in the entire Qing Dynasty who could give an answer was still hiding in Tanggu Port to avoid trouble. Cixi knew that this cunning half-foreigner had definitely prepared to escape. As soon as the court showed any intention against him, he would immediately board a foreign ship and flee.

To be honest, Cixi really wanted Xiao Letian to teach her son some knowledge about foreigners, but every time she thought about the balance of the court, she backed down. The Confucian scholars had ruled China for thousands of years. Could she really expect that little guy to overturn it? Forget it, she would not have such a dream.

In the end, the young Emperor Tongzhi did not get the answer he wanted from his mother, but the changes in the court over the next few days proved his mother's wisdom. A matter that seemed huge to the emperor was actually not mentioned by anyone, as if it did not exist.

In an era without newspapers, radio, or television, the media industry did not exist, and the court's rule over the people was actually very simple. A single word "conceal" could solve all problems. The common people did not even know what was happening within a few dozen or a few hundred miles, let alone a thousand miles away.

Four years ago, the Anglo-French Allied Forces captured Beijing. If you went to the rural areas of Henan, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou now, you would find that not one out of a hundred people knew about it.

Of course, the upper echelons could not completely seal off information from everyone. The vast literati and official class were a group that the ruling class could not bypass. These people were in a highly closed interest field, and each unexpected event was merely a reshuffling of this interest field.

After the event known as the "Three Measures Rebellion," the surface of the various forces seemed calm, but the private communications between them never stopped. From the capital to Nanjing, express messengers galloped on the post roads, one after another. In the brothels and private rooms of the capital, high-ranking officials and various brokers whispered to each other.

Day by day, a month and a half later, when the heat in Beijing began to dissipate, a grand court assembly was held. Shockingly, the Qing Dynasty approved the plan for three industrial special zones without any opposition from officials. Tanggu, Shanghai, and Guangzhou became the first special zones for industrial development in the Qing Dynasty.

The previously crazy Qing scholars were silent today, each as quiet as a little white rabbit. As for their leader, Weng Tonghe, he simply closed his eyes and rested during the assembly.

The three industrial special zones, with the Shanghai special zone being managed by the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau, clearly showed that this was a concession made by the Manchus to appease Zeng Guofan and his followers.

The Guangzhou special zone, as always, was the most important trade center for the Qing government. The establishment of the Thirteen Factories was essentially a form of special zone.

Although it was the southernmost part of the empire, the Qing government controlled it the most strictly. It was the second-largest money bag after Jiangnan, and the court would never let go. Even during the height of the Taiping Rebellion, Guangdong did not fall. Establishing a special zone here was a solid move by the Manchus.

The most peculiar was the Tanggu industrial special zone. Just the name felt strange. At this time, Tanggu was just a seaport town, not even a city. It should have been called the Tianjin Special Zone. But the Qing government actually named it Tanggu.

This had deep implications. In the political atmosphere of China, every word in official documents had deep meanings, and smart people could see through them at a glance.

Who first suggested the industrial special zones? Who was one of the instigators of the Tanggu rebellion? The answer, of course, was Xiao Letian. Since he was the instigator, but his proposal was passed at the grand assembly, and the northern special zone was named after the rebellious city, what did this indicate about the court's attitude?

Weng Tonghe might as well continue to rest with his eyes closed. He really had no face to speak today, as everyone could understand that this was the royal family supporting Xiao Letian.

Qing scholars, stop your fuss. Even if Xiao Letian raises bandits and incites rebellion, we still need to use him. Moreover, we have already reached an agreement with the Hunan Army. You should accept your fate.

What was even more shameful for the Qing scholars was that the person in charge of the Tanggu industrial special zone was none other than Fuging. This was a blatant slap in the face, as everyone in Beijing knew that Fuging and Xiao Letian were as close as sworn brothers.

The great conflict sparked by Xiao Letian's proposal for "industrial special zones" finally passed through the blood sacrifice of over a thousand lives in Tanggu. History would not remember the names of these thousand people, nor would it remember the names of Huang Juren and Ma Bao. In the grand tide of history, everyone was a grain of sand, and only the wave riders would be remembered.

At the end of the assembly, the Qing scholars finally received their gift. The Emperor and Empress Dowager decreed that an additional imperial examination would be held in the winter, and the Qing Dynasty would welcome a new batch of officials.

Only then did Weng Tonghe open his eyes, leading the way out of the court, kneeling on the ground, and shouting "Long live the Emperor and Empress Dowager..." followed by all the officials in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, collectively shouting "Long live the Emperor and Empress Dowager..."

The grand assembly was over. Weng Tonghe walked out of the Meridian Gate but did not immediately get into his sedan chair. He turned to look at the deep palace, feeling the power surging from within, and clenched his fists tightly.

"I have not lost, the Qing scholars have not lost, and the Confucian scholars have not lost. Do you think getting three industrial special zones is a victory? How naive. You must remember that to accomplish anything in the world, you need officials, and who can be an official is up to us. I want to see how long Xiao Letian's Western learning can last..."

"Let's go, have a more sumptuous lunch at home today. I will celebrate, to celebrate this year's imperial examination..."

The political orders announced at the grand assembly had actually been decided beforehand. Even ten days earlier, in Shanghai, Fuging had already received a letter from the Zongli Yamen, instructing him to quickly sail back to Beijing to prepare for the construction of the Tanggu industrial special zone.

By the time the grand assembly was held, Fuging was already standing on the deck of a foreign merchant ship, looking at the outline of Tanggu Port. Fuging was truly eager to return, and he repeatedly urged the British captain to go faster, as his mind was filled with confusion, almost driving him mad.

When the ship finally docked at the pier, Fuging did not even wait to say goodbye to the foreigners and rushed down the ship first. Before he could ask where the Letian Trading Company was, a young apprentice on the dock had already jumped up and shouted.

"Third Master, look this way. I was sent by Mr. Xiao to wait for you. I will take you to the trading company..."