Chen Yazhi looked at Zhao Liewen curiously. This girl felt strange. Why did an old man suddenly appear in the office?

In fact, Zhao Liewen is not old. He was born in 1832 and is less than fifty years old this year. He was talking to Wang Yi at this time. He is now a native of the Shang Dynasty. Wang Kaiyun was also shocked by how quick Wang was, and he was also surprised that Zhao Liewen actually agreed. This was a top strategist who assisted Zeng Wenzheng!... But why didn't he become a strategist, but instead became a student of Wang Yi. Although he didn't hold the etiquette of his disciples and shouted at the teacher and gentleman, if Li Hongzhang and others knew about this, he wouldn't be shocked!

Zhao Liewen himself didn't care. He was not as good as Wang Yi in terms of his knowledge, and he was not as good as Wang Yi in terms of his ability. He knew nothing about the intrigues in the officialdom, but he was not the mainstream in the big Shang Dynasty. He really wanted to bring the bureaucratic things into the big Shang Dynasty, but Zhao Liewen had no doubt that Wang Yi could cut himself off.

"Brother Zhao, I have already made you a Chinese villa. If you want, you can move in at any time."

"Thank you, sir. Actually, I didn't bring a few people here. My hometown people live in Zhaoyuan, Changshu, and they won't come."

"But you can't always live in the library's guard room!"

"It's okay, sir. I think it's good." Since agreeing to Wang Yi's request, Zhao Liewen moved out of Wang Yiyun's house the next day. After choosing, he chose the library's guard room. When he was fine, he would read books in the library. Once Wang Yi went out to inspect, he would call him, which would intuitively understand the various aspects of the Da Shang. Of course, when he first arrived, Wang Yi would not arrange any work for him, just chat with each other and exchange opinions. If he encountered something he didn't understand, he would ask directly, and sometimes he would help Wang Yi find some problems and fill in the gaps. If he had a unique vision, he was worthy of being the main strategist whom Zeng Guofan relied on, and had a pair of golden eyes.

At the end of June, Wang Yi recruited 5,000 cavalrymen from Daqing again, and finally screened more than 4,600 people left after identity screening, and then began to train in the newly built lancer training camp in Daqing. The 3,600 people trained before, 3,000 of which were sent to Mohe, and under the command of Zheng Haitao, to clear out the bandits in the Mohe and Huma areas. The remaining 600 people were mixed with the cavalry at the Martial Arts School base, with a total of 3,000 people. Cooperating with the infantry of the Da Shang and the newly formed artillery, they set out from Benxi and began to launch a clearance of bandits in the direction of Phoenix City-Andong, and the goal was to open a land trade route to North Korea.

Phoenix City is the Fengcheng of later generations, with sand gold and vein gold. However, it has not yet been opened, with willow walls, and the Qing Dynasty's Phoenix City garrison guards. Although Wang Yi didn't care much, he didn't want to tear them apart now, so the focus was on Anton.

Anton was the Dandong of later generations. Qi Ling (Jiqi Sansheng, this Qi Ling was not the Qi Ling next to Zeng Guofan, who died in 1863) is the current magistrate of Anton County. His predecessor was Zhang Yunxiang. Because he saw the development of Yingkou and other places, he asked someone to go to Da Shang to talk to Xiang, hoping that Wang Yi could go to Andong to invest. Anton's geographical location is extremely important, and Wang Yiyi agreed. Anton has rich natural resources. In addition to gold, silver, lead, zinc, iron and coal, there are also kaolin, magnesite, and marble. More importantly, there are a large amount of boron ore resources, which is said to account for 95% of the country. Wang Yi wants to smel various boron steel in Benxi, which is an important source of raw materials.

Today, Wang Yi invited members of the Grain and Oil Price Alliance to have a meeting, but he is too face now, so all the people attending the meeting are the top figures of various major families. However, today's meeting location is quite special, not Da Shang, but Andong County Government. Now he is sitting next to him, Qi Ling, the magistrate of Andong, and Zhao Liewen, who is chatting with him. There are many people coming to say hello, but there are some stubborn figures here, so they will not stay and talk to the three of them.

"Mr. Magistrate, the conditions required by my Dashang Businessman are very simple. A piece of land with a large area will be built in power plants and various factories, including silk reel factories, silk factories, cotton cloth factories and garment factories. As for security, our Dashang Insurance Team can be responsible." (The silk production in Dandong in later generations accounts for 70% of the entire Liaoning)

Qi Ling nodded and said, "What do we Anton do?"

"Since we invest here, we need raw materials, and this aspect needs to be solved by your county. Of course, this is not something that can be done at once. We can provide technical support for growing mulberry trees and growing cotton, but whether farmers plant or not, this is the problem you want to solve."

"But growing mulberry trees and raising silkworms cannot produce immediately. How should farmers solve their livelihoods..." Qi Ling had some doubts.

"This is simple. Because Andong has abundant water sources, we use the mulberry fish pond for scientific use. In addition, Guixian can also give farmers some subsidies to make them motivated to engage in production in this area."

Wang Yi’s meaning is very simple. You can’t count on everything in Andong County. We Da Shang do it.

"But we Anton was originally short of people…"

"If Andong County is insufficient funds, Dashang Silver Lu can provide you with low-interest government loans, but we need to control the fund management here." Wang Yixin was not convinced by the Qing court officials, afraid that they would take action.

"Yes!" Qi Ling smiled.

Wang Yi continued at this time: "There is that all factories need someone to do it, and the factories of silk, silk, cotton, and ready-to-wear should be operated by female workers."

"Female worker?" Qi Ling was stunned. These days, men and women are not allowed to get along with each other. If something happens to the factory, it will be very troublesome. "What...

"Don't worry, the magistrate, we will strictly separate the factory areas and there will be no scandals that undermine the defense of men and women."

After Wang Yi promised for a long time, Qi Ling reluctantly agreed.

Qi Ling left to arrange the next work. Zhao Liewen said at this time: "Sir, why do you have to gain a foothold in Andong? This place is separated from North Korea and has conservative people. If you are for money, you will rely entirely on the technology and funds of the big merchants to compete with the British in the south."

Wang Yi smiled slightly and said, "I set up a factory in Andong just to sell the goods to North Korea."

"North Korea?" Zhao Liewen showed a puzzled expression.

Wang Yidao: "Brother, you don't know that since the Ganghwa Island incident in Korea, Japan forced North Korea to sign the Ganghwa Treaty. Since then, they have begun to dump inferior silk products into North Korea, thereby making a lot of profits. At the same time, they have also begun to penetrate various fields of shipping, fishery, and finance to North Korea. Although the situation is not serious now, if it cannot be curbed in time, North Korea will become an important tax enclave and a puppet in Japan. This is not a good thing for our Qing Dynasty."

On January 8, 1876, the Meiji government of Japan appointed Kuroda Kiyoshi as the full authority minister, and Inoue Xin as the deputy minister, leading eight warships to Ganghwa Island, Korea to negotiate with North Korea with the "Yunyang" incident. Their more important mission was to open the gate of North Korea. Because of the Qing court's ignorance, on January 30, 1876, North Korea decided to send Shin Joe (Jing Sansheng) and Yoon Zicheng to Ganghwa Island to negotiate with the Japanese. Although there were constant protests in North Korea later, the Min group still signed the "Ganghwa Treaty", and the North Korean gate was opened.

Although Wang Yi returned to the Qing Dynasty at that time, he was not strong enough, so he could only watch things happen without any means.

"So that's it!" Zhao Liewen had known that his chairman was extremely unfriendly to Japan and Russia. By reading Wang Yi's works, he now agreed with Wang Yi's point of view. "Sir, this is a plan to cut off the firewood!"

Wang Yixiao said: "I didn't have this strength a few years ago, but the situation is different now. Japan has cleared out the domestic opposition forces through the Southwest War. Although it will not invade North Korea by force in the near future, economic plunder can be imagined that it will continue to increase in the next few years. Instead of giving this windfall to the Japanese, it is better to fall into the hands of our Da Shang. According to the efficiency of our Da Shang's money utilization, Japan will lose one point, and we may get three points, four points, or even ten points!"

While the two were talking, Qi Ling announced the beginning of the meeting. After that, Wang Yi came to the stage and began to tell the whole idea of ​​Anton.

Perhaps because of Wang Yi's relationship, these members of the price alliance also have deep concerns about Japan. When Wang Yi explained the purpose of the whole matter clearly, the investment enthusiasm of each company was even more enthusiastic than Wang Yi's thoughts.

The magistrate of Andong, Qi Ling, only then did he know the reason why Wang Yi set up a factory in Andong. As a Manchu, he was also a scholar of this era, and he would inevitably feel contempt for businessmen. However, after listening to Wang Yi's heartfelt words today, his concepts finally changed a little, and his impression of Wang Yi also changed significantly.

After returning to the Da Shang Dynasty, Wang Yi sent Li Hongzhang a telegram, demanding to obtain the right to trade freely with North Korea, changing the situation of the Japanese alone in the North Korean market.

Wang Yi is just like walking. Whether you, Li Hongzhang or not, I have to go there. When Japan got a broken ship, it could pry open the gate of North Korea. Today, at the very least, I can retake this old path!

Li Hongzhang, who received Wang Yi's telegram, also had a long time to worry. After discussing with his subordinates, Zhou Fu, Zhang Peilun, Ding Richang, Sheng Xuanhuai and others, he made a decision and agreed to Wang Yi's opinion. On the one hand, it was to prevent Japan, and on the other hand, it was also to prevent Wang Yi. Li Hongzhang is most afraid that Wang Yi will extend his hands to the south. Otherwise, if his business without special means to take care of his subordinates, Wang Yi will go bankrupt.

After making a decision, Li Hongzhang began to write a letter to Yi from the Zongli Yamen, explaining the pros and cons, and then handing it over to the palace. After some exchange of interests, the matter was finally settled.

Li Hongzhang then sent envoys to North Korea to discuss the matter. Queen Min had originally tended to open up, but now she did not trust the Qing court, but she did not dare to offend her. She wanted to open up and avoid the dominance of Japan. But she didn't know what the big merchant mentioned by Li Hongzhang was.

The waiter sent by Li Hongzhang also talked with North Korea about not only guarding against the Japanese, but also guarding against the Russians. Although the Russians had Vladivostok, they freeze there in winter, so they always tried every means to find a place in the south.

When Queen Min saw that, hehe, the Qing Dynasty changed, so she discussed with Lee Yu-won and decided to take the opportunity to send someone to Tianjin to learn how to train troops and build weapons from Lee Hongzhang in Beiyang. After the envoy came back, Lee Hongzhang submitted a "Preparation of Korean Military Preparations", and the court agreed to North Korea's request.

On September 16, North Korean envoy Bian Yuangui came to Tianjin. Li Hongzhang sent Zheng Zaoru, Yongding River Road, Yu Zhikai, and the Taoist officers of various bureaus of the Yongding Army. Xu Qiguang, Liu Hanfang, and Wang Dejun were welcomed by the Machinery Bureau, Manufacturing Bureau, Ordnance, Firearms, and Gunpowder Depot. He presented ten borehole guns, gamete medicine, copper caps, etc., and ten borehole horse guns, including two thousand back doors. On September 22, Li Hongzhang met with Bian Yuangui and said that North Korea had traded with Japan for several years and had not collected taxes. Li Hongzhang told the general rules of various countries to not be deceived by Japan.

Bian Yuangui said that North Korea wanted to build a fort in Deyuan Port, which may be an excuse for Japan. Lee claimed that there were no one who did not build a fort in various countries. Bian Si had never heard of it, and the center was convinced. Lee believed that Japan was indifferent to North Korea's refusal to open a port, and his intention was ulterior motives. He wanted to stop Russia. Japan's secret scheme was the only way to trade with the Qing Dynasty. Our country was willing to restrain North Korea and remain alone.

On December 11, Li Hongzhang submitted a "Reply to the Reply of Mei Qizhao" and said that Japan had a long and nearby attacks, even more so than Western countries. China planned to create a navy, and most of it was to control Japan. North Korea had a great relationship. It established a deal with our Qing Dynasty and led it to train troops to purchase weapons. It was nothing more than hoping that it would become weak and strong. If there were police in the country in the future, it might send troops to support it.

On the 12th day of the first lunar month, Li Hongzhang met with North Korean envoy Li Rongsu, hoping that the person sent by the Da Shang Dynasty would be temporarily managed by the people sent by the Da Shang Dynasty. After that, North Korea could send young people to study in China. After the study, he would return to China to take over the Da Shang Dynasty. In November, North Korea sent Kim Yunzhi to lead 69 apprentices to China. Li Hongzhang assigned them machines and manufactured two bureaus, and ordered the members of the bureau to supervise craftsmen to teach with all their hearts, so that the skills could be quickly completed so that they could be taught by them.

Regarding the issue of Da Shang's control of North Korea's taxes, Wang Yi provided Li Hongzhang with a ten-year interest-free loan of 600,000 two major Shang silver dollars. Lao Li then repaid his favor and gave Wang Yi this convenience. Although North Korea had doubts, it still agreed to this request, and it was not a good idea to take the opportunity to provoke the relationship between the Qing and Japan.

After clearing out the bandits on the Andong Road, Wang Yi left behind 1,000 infantry, 500 horses, and three artillery companies stationed in the Andong New Industrial Zone, with a total of 1,800 people. If the number of logistics personnel is included, it will be about 2,500 people. The battalion commander is Hua Tianxiong. The weapons and equipment include infantry type 1 rifles, 1 sniper rifles, and 50 general machine guns (German mg42). The cavalry team is a carbine. The three artillery companies are 5 105mm howitzers (two types of shells), and the remaining two artillery companies use a total of 16 75mm field guns.

Qi Ling was far-sighted. Although he knew that Wang Yi was an armed businessman, he was armed like this... Forget it, he didn't make trouble in China anyway, so he turned a blind eye.
Chapter completed!