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Text Chapter 444 The true colors are revealed

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    London, England.  The sound of carriages was sparkling, and under the curious gazes of passers-by, a simple four-wheeled Western carriage driven by a groom in plain clothes made its way along the main street of London, which was full of pedestrians in Western-style attire.  Moving forward, after leaving the city, we passed the quaint Western-style church at the entrance of the street, passed through the snow-covered streets, and finally, amid the harsh friction of wheels and the ground, we arrived in front of a quaint English-style manor.  Stopped slowly.  The car door opened, and a 60-year-old man with a slender and kind appearance and a short beard, wearing a Qing-style high-collared broad robe and a warm hat, walked out immediately, and Chen Tingxuan, who was already sitting in front of the teahouse waiting,  Upon seeing this, he immediately greeted him.  ¡°It¡¯s a long way from London to here, sir, you¡¯ve had a hard journey.¡± Chen Tingxuan saluted the old man.  "No, Mr. Chen is so polite." The old man hurriedly raised his hand to return the salute, "Guo has heard about Mr. Chen in the Qing Dynasty. This time he was on his way to England as an envoy. He should have paid a visit as soon as possible. However, it was his first time as an envoy.  The matter is so complicated that it has been delayed until now. I hope Mr. Chen will not blame him." This old man was Guo Songtao, the first minister of the Qing Dynasty in London.  "Oh - how dare you, how dare you, Mr. Guo is the envoy of the emperor, and it is a great favor from the emperor to condescend to visit this humble residence. Chen is so grateful that I can't think of him again." Chen Tingxuan quickly bowed to Guo Songtao.  At this time, another person got off the carriage. Like Guo Songtao, this person was wearing a high-collared toga and a warm hat. He was not tall and thin, with a thin face with a goatee.  He was tired, but this person seemed to have a bigger airs than Guo Songtao. He looked at Chen Tingxuan and saw that although Chen Qianxuan was wearing a Qing-style wide robe and mandarin jacket and a warm hat, there was no hair on the back of his head.  Her hair was braided, and her small eyes could not help flashing with anger.  When Chen Tingxuan saluted him.  He did not return the favor like Guo Songtao, but just stood there proudly with his hands behind his hands and nodded slightly.  This person is Guo Songtao¡¯s deputy, Deputy Ambassador to the UK Liu Xihong.  "You two gentlemen, please follow me." Although Liu Xihong was arrogant and disrespectful, Chen Tingxuan didn't take it seriously. After saying this, he stood up and led the way.  Guo Songtao also hurriedly followed, and the two walked into the manor together, passing through courtyards, gardens, fountains, and then through a rockery, and finally stopped in front of the three-story foreign-style building.  Guo Songtao and Chen Tingxuan walked in front, while Liu Xihong followed slowly.  He looked around from time to time, and when he saw clearly that this was a typical Western-style manor, the displeasure on his face became even stronger.  Entering the living room, the guests and hosts were seated, and the servants served refreshments. Liu Xihong saw that what was served was Western-style snacks, and shrugged his nose.  There was an expression of disgust on his face. He did not touch those exquisite snacks, but just took the teacup and looked at it in his hand. When he found that the teacup turned out to be valuable Kangxi pastel porcelain, he couldn't help but froze there.  After a long while, he opened the lid of the teacup and gently scraped the tea leaves on the water in the cup.  Smelled the aroma of tea.  Although Liu Xihong¡¯s movements were not big, Chen Tingxuan saw them all.  Guo Songtao and Chen Tingxuan exchanged pleasantries and tasted a few pieces of cake. Seeing Guo Songtao actually eating Western pastries, Liu Xihong's face grew longer. He was about to speak when Guo Songtao started chatting with Chen Tingxuan.  According to the rules of the officialdom, he could not interrupt when the superior was speaking, so he could only hold his breath and sit there in silence.  "Mr. Guo is coming to England this time. We, the young overseas Chinese, are all excited to see the majesty of the imperial envoys in a foreign country. If Gong Guo can be of use to Chen, he should do his best." "Mr. Chen must not say this, Guo  However, I have read a few more foreign books, and I have a little understanding. Thanks to the favor of the Empress Dowager, this is the first diplomatic trip, and there are many things. Chen Gong has been overseas for a long time, is familiar with Chinese and foreign affairs, and is an overseas Chinese.  Chief, I have a lot to rely on in the future, so I would like to ask Chen Gong to give me your advice." "No matter what, Guo Gong's words are serious." "The lights in London's streets are like stars, the carriages and horses are rolling, the air is like smoke, and the beauty of the palace cannot be greater.  It truly deserves to be the capital of a great country in the West. Only when I visited the country today did I know how powerful it was." Guo Songtao thought of the street scenes in London he saw along the way and couldn't help but sigh, "I have a Qing Dynasty with two hundred people.  For more than twenty years, we have been negotiating for more lenient payments, but no one has informed us of the country's situation, and even fewer people know its language. It is a great blessing to see Mr. Guo.  The country dominates the seven seas not only because its ships are strong and its guns are powerful, but its sails and sails are everywhere, and its politics and religion are also outstanding," Chen Tingxuan said.  "The legacy of China's five thousand years of political and religious education must be considerable, and it must be compared with the West and the West to examine its gains and losses." Guo Songtao said, "The introduction of the West into China will truly bring about a great change in the world. If it follows its path, it will be followed  Using it will be enough for China's benefit.?¡± ¡°The Fuxi people had their own reasons for establishing a country. Although their etiquette, music, and education were far inferior to those of China, they were docile and prosperous, possessing practical functions.  Talents are cultivated in the schools, politics is discussed in the parliament, the monarch and the people are united, the top and bottom are of the same mind, pragmatism but caution against hypocrisy, making decisions before taking action, so the country becomes increasingly prosperous.  "Chen Tingxuan concentrated on talking to Guo Songtao. "Brother Chen has been overseas for a long time, and he has indeed experienced extraordinary things. He deserves to be a leader of overseas businessmen and people.  Hearing Chen Tingxuan say such insightful words, he was even more awe-struck, "According to what Brother Chen sees, if the Celestial Empire wants to become rich and powerful, where should we start now?"  " "The most urgent task is to talk about business without talents and shallow opinions. It is to cultivate the spirit of businessmen and establish the basis of following the West.  "Chen Tingxuan said, "I don't know that the wealth of the West belongs to the people and not to the country.  Nowadays, those who are rich and powerful are regarded as the basis of the country and have nothing to do with the people.  It must be understood that there is no reason for the people to be poor and the country to seek prosperity and strength by itself?  " "What Brother Chen said is absolutely true.  "Guo Songtao said, "China built its country on agriculture, and overseas built its country on commerce.  The benefit of agriculture is the beginning; the benefit of business is the end.  This is all that anyone can say.  Everyone regards business as an afterthought, even to this day.  It can be seen that if you want to control the Westerners to strengthen yourself, it is better to develop business based on them.  An De said that business is the last priority?  "    "yes!  In ancient times, the common people lived their own lives and did not interact with each other until old age and death, so the trade in millet and cloth stopped.  Not so today.  Countries merged, each seeking their own benefit, borrowing merchants to strengthen the country, and borrowing troops to defend merchants.  The making of alliances and treaties, and the exchange of appointments and inquiries, are all for the purpose of trade.  The British monarchs and ministers also used business to expand their territory, expand into the Americas, occupy India, occupy Burma, and connect with China. Merchants took the lead. European countries also took trade as their main path and manufacturing as their main task.  "Chen Tingxuan said, "Westerners use merchants to fight, and soldiers, farmers, and workers are to help merchants; envoys are to send merchants, consuls are to establish for merchants; warships are to be purchased by merchants.  In China, we should treat both the symptoms and the root causes.  If you leave behind the roots and focus on the ends, look at the appearance without attacking the heart, your studies will not flourish, and your talents will not develop, you will see business failure, and scholars, farmers, and workers will all lose, and their abilities will compete with each other in a prosperous and powerful world.  yeah?  " "Brother Chen said it well!  "Guo Songtao couldn't help but praise him. He didn't notice that Liu Xihong's face next to him had stretched as long as a donkey. In fact, Liu Xihong was thinking about accompanying Guo Songtao to visit Chen Tingxuan, a Chinese business leader in Britain.  He kept holding his breath. In Liu Xihong's view, it was degrading for the dignified imperial envoys of the Celestial Dynasty to be stationed in Zhejiang under the emperor's orders, but to pay a visit to merchants and ordinary people. What's more, these are the "kings" who live overseas and do not return to China.  However, according to the rules of the officialdom, even if the Shangguan's words are wrong, it is not easy to refute them publicly. This earnest conversation between Guo and Chen has stifled him so much that the veins on his forehead have popped out.  Get up. "Business uses trade to move things around, level prices, relieve urgent needs, benefit the people, benefit the country, and interact with scholars, farmers, and workers.  If there is no business among scholars, there will be no extensive learning; if there is no business among farmers, there will be limited planting; if there is no business among industry, then the goods produced cannot be sold.  This is the way for merchants to make money, and they also control the program of the four peoples.  The righteousness of business is great!  "Guo Songtao continued. "The rise and fall of business is not only related to the quantity of products, but also the craftsmanship.  If there is a wing quotient, a clumsy person can be skillful, and a rough person can be refined.  By borrowing materials from Chu and using them for the Jin Dynasty, removing the bad things and using them for the good things, the other country's products can still be used to benefit the other country.  If there is business but no industry, even if the land does not care for treasures, the products of the eighteen provinces will become increasingly abundant, and only oneself will be abandoned to benefit others.  Now that we are trying to change our plans, we must not underestimate business and industry.  "Chen Tingxuan noticed Liu Xihong's ugly face and said, "There are many smart and intelligent people in China. Unfortunately, the scholar-bureaucrats have too many habits and are unwilling to learn skills and pursue excellence. They always regard industry and commerce as a matter of profit.  I didn't even bother to associate with him at first.  Those who are not greedy for gain will be restrained when encountering problems; those who are only interested in profit will take advantage of the situation and secretly exploit it.  Therefore, there is a tyrannical government that embarrasses businessmen, but there is no good law to protect businessmen.  Although I want to prosper in business, is it okay?  "    "yes!  Since the beginning of trade, China has not benefited from trade, but has suffered harm from trade. The reason is that no one pays attention to business.  The reason for this is that the top is litigation and the bottom is business.  Officials cannot protect merchants, but they can harm merchants. They regard merchants' gains as subtle, and the people of Qin regard Yue people as fat and ignorant.  This disadvantage lies in the superior.  As for business, there are many fools but few wise ones; there are many imaginary ones but few real ones; there are many dividers but few combiners; there are many causes but few creators; there are many cheaters but few honest ones; there are many people who are greedy for small profits.  , but those who take the overall situation into consideration are few; in this territory and in that territory, precious territories are divided into their own, favoring oneself over others, uncertain pursuits, lack of coherence and lack of strength, so the shares are combined and the capital is lost, and the company is merged and the company collapses.  This disadvantage lies in the person below.  "Guo Songtao sighed, "Businessmen and officials don't believe it, and they are too suspicious and dare not respond. It is better to make the merchants' autonomy feelings straightened out.  If in the commercial offices set up in various prefectures, prefectures, and counties, businessmen and businessmen should elect business directors on their own, without relying on official power or mixing gentry power, so that the superiors and subordinates can communicate with each other, and the power of officials and businessmen can be harmonious, then there will be no loss of benefits and no harm.  Leather!  ¡± ps: Please collect! Please recommend! Please subscribe! Please click! Please vote monthly!
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