"This is what I admire most about you. Looking around the Qing Dynasty, there is really no one else who can come up with such an idea except you, Lin Kunyu." Ding Richang sighed, "I have also thought hard about how to break it. This "Yi-Xia Change" situation was always unclear. It was not until I read Kunyu's article that I realized that I am not as talented as Kunyu!" Lin Yizhe noticed the depressed look in Ding Richang's eyes and knew that he was doing it for him. Qingliu called him a "Ding ghost slave" and was angry because his relocation was blocked. Thinking of what happened to Ding Richang, he couldn't help but sigh secretly, hating those Qingliu die-hards even more. Ding Richang can be said to have worked hard step by step, but at the peak of his career, because of his enthusiasm for Westernization, he was criticized verbally and written by the Qingliu people like Lin Yizhe, and as a result, he missed the position of governor. Ding Richang was born on the first day of the sixth lunar month in the third year of Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty (1823). He was a talented person at a young age. At the age of 8, he learned a lot of economics, wrote a book, and stood out from the crowd. On September 9th, the Double Ninth Festival, Chen Xiucai took his students for an outing to "Yilao'an" where Luo Wanjie, a Jinshi in the late Ming Dynasty, lived in seclusion. After returning, he asked the students to write a composition. Yu Sheng wrote "Qilu": "A hundred trees with plum blossoms are fragrant, and Panhu is the proof. Zen field. The good words are used to eliminate the catastrophe, relying on the high wind to connect the sea and the sun. The clouds in the homeland are thousands of miles away, and the old people in the Tao Society are talking about it. "Chen Xiucai. He greatly appreciated it and asked Yusheng if he could compose another one. Yusheng chanted again: "I was already famous when I entered Luo, and I was shocked by the rugged national step drama. Jiangdong is about to return to Luoyin, and the propaganda room still hears and asks Jia Sheng. Counting. It's hard to play the chess game, and it's a dream to be in love. How can I hear such a sound?" Chen Xiucai said, "He is a prodigy! praised by local literati. In the winter of the tenth year of Daoguang's reign, Ding Richang dropped out of school because his father was seriously ill. Soon his father died. After that, Ding Richang went abroad to make a living with the help of his eldest brother Rizheng, so he returned to Taiping Temple to study for two more years. Then he returned home to study medicine, collect herbal medicines, and open a medical store. Because he was diligent and studious, he worked hard to study medical books. He actively explored folk medicine secrets and often consulted old Chinese doctors for advice. Soon he became a well-known doctor and cured many patients. While practicing medicine, Ding Richang still found time to study poetry and books, and his knowledge increased day by day. In the 22nd year of Daoguang's reign, Ding Richang went to the county seat to take the exam. He was selected as a scholar; after that, he went to Guangzhou for the provincial examination three times, but failed to pass the exam. However, his ambition was not over, and he dabbled in and studied all history, geography, poetry, economic warfare, and military strategies, becoming a well-educated scholar. In the twenty-seventh year of Daoguang's reign, he felt the ruins of the Puhe Confucian Temple. The students had nothing to study, so they advocated the establishment of Tangkeng Lam Tin College, which was successfully completed within a few years and made a great contribution to the development of education and talent cultivation. He once wrote a poem: "A small bow is used to set up a rock for reading, and the grass is sparse and the thatched hands are plowing. I dare to praise the history, talent and knowledge, but it is difficult to taste the bitterness and saltiness of the world. It is useless to talk about dreams at this time. Who knows the fruit will be extraordinary in the future. Only the old nest is double Swallow. Yiyi whispered to me", expressing the situation and mood at that time. In the fourth year of Xianfeng in the Qing Dynasty (1854), Wu Zhongshu, the leader of the Haiyang Triad Association, led a crowd to besiege the capital of Chaozhou. At that time, Fengshun was under Chaozhou. Ding Richang was recommended by the local gentry and led thousands of people from his hometown to help and fought fiercely with Wu Zhongshu's army. At the foot of Chaozhou City, more than a hundred Wu soldiers were captured. The remaining troops were defeated and the siege of the city was lifted. Ding Richang became famous as a result, which laid the foundation for his future career. In the spring of the eighth year of Xianfeng's reign, Ding Richang made great contributions to relieving the siege of Chaozhou. He was recommended by Li Zhangyu of Hui Chaojia Army Prefecture and served as a Confucian instructor in Qiongzhou Prefecture, Guangdong. In October of the following year, he was promoted to the magistrate of Wan'an County, Jiangxi. He embarked on an official career. After Ding Richang took office in Wanan, he saw that "the refugees outnumbered the people, and the officials and officials were respected" and the economy was in depression. Social chaos means determined reform. First of all, he reformed the yamen service system. All errands were handled by officials and were not allowed to extort a penny from the people. Then, he wrote a document to ban the checkpoints privately set up by local squire bullies, and anyone who did not comply would be severely investigated. Third, he quickly cleared up the backlog of cases and settled unjust sentences. "In the early stage, there were hundreds of papers submitted, but in the third and fourth periods, there were only 40 or 50 papers. After the second month, only 20 or 30 papers were submitted." Ding Richang recorded at the time, "Whenever I hold a candle at night, I can hide the documents high up, and I will not check them myself." . Every time he read that the people were being treated in vain, or were being abused by officials, they would often sigh and shed tears, or he would call on his staff to share the rewards. "Ding Richang also donated his salary to build Yunxing Academy and devoted himself to cultivating it. Local talent. After the academy was built, Ding Richang wrote a couplet that said: "How can I hear the sound of the beach? Don't rush here, who will make waves in my writing? When I look at the shelter of the building, I feel that I am still pregnant, and there are many shades of peaches and plums in front of me." In the past six months, the number of lawsuits in Wan'an County has decreased significantly, people's morale has improved, and the trend of reading has gradually increased. Ding Richang was also highly respected by the people of Wan'an. When he was transferred from Wan'an, "hundreds of millions of people offered him incense." In March of the 11th year of Xianfeng, Ding Richang was transferred to Luling, Ji'an Prefecture, and he took office less than 10 years ago. On the same day, Li Xiucheng, the loyal king of the Taiping Army, led his troops to Ji'an. The troops pointed at them were unstoppable. Ding Richang and Zeng Yong, the prefect of Ji'an Prefecture, abandoned the city and fled. On March 11, the Taiping army occupied Ji'an and Luling without any bloodshed. On March 14, the main force of the Taiping Army attacked Xiajiang. Ji'an and Luling were empty of troops. Zeng Yong and Ding Richang took advantage of the weakness and took back Ji'an and Luling. Soon, the Qing government dismissed Ding Richang as the magistrate of Luling County and reduced his position to the people. After Ding Richang was dismissed from his post, in order to get rid of the difficulties in life,, wandered around Jiujiang, Shanghai, Yangzhou, and even went up the canal to Anhui and Shandong, looking for a job everywhere, but encountered obstacles. Finally, he decided to return to his hometown in Tangkeng and live a life as a doctor. When we returned to Jiujiang, we saw a gathering of talents from both north and south. It turned out that Zeng Guofan, the governor of Liangjiang, was recruiting talents from all sides in an attempt to compete with the Taiping Army. Ding Richang was overjoyed, so he found a hotel to stay in. Based on his inspection and understanding of the Taiping Army during his wandering life in the past few months, he deliberately formulated a strategy for marching into Anqing, and then submitted it to the Governor's Yamen. At that time, Zeng Guofan was thinking about making progress in Anqing. When he saw Ding Richang's detailed plan and unique insights, he couldn't help but feel happy and summoned Ding Richang to see him. Ding Richang talked eloquently and conducted a detailed analysis of the Taiping Army's military strength and the defense situation along the Yangtze River. Zeng Guofan saw that Ding Richang was paying attention to everything and thinking carefully. He didn't know what his literary talent was, so he invited him to take a walk in the garden of the mansion. After asking about the customs and customs of various places in Huijiachao, the two came to a blooming plum tree. Zeng Guofan pointed to the plum blossoms and said, "Can Magistrate Ding compose a poem based on this?" Ding Richang said, "I will try my best." After thinking for a while, he wrote: "A tree in the south of the Yangtze River has plum blossoms. The plum blossoms are blooming on the rocks; the flowers are blooming on the rocks, and the water is gurgling. The gurgling clouds and smoke are rising from the middle of the mountain; the smoke is rising from the middle of the mountain, and the spring flood is coming to the south of the Yangtze River." Zeng Guofan praised after seeing it: " The poems are exquisite and the calligraphy is also excellent." On that day, Zeng Guofan appointed Ding Richang as the Jiujiang Checkpoint Commissioner and petitioned the court to restore Ding Richang's original official position in November of the first year of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty (1862). Soon thereafter. Ding Richang went to Guangdong to handle affairs. Zeng Guofan praised him as "honest and wise" and "talented and far-sighted". In March of the second year of Tongzhi, Mao Hongbin, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, appointed Ding Richang to Gaozhou County, Guangdong to supervise the handling of firearms. Ding Richang asked his fellow villager Huang Daquan to translate "A Brief Introduction to Firearms" and draw production patterns. He set up a gun-making bureau in Yantang, a suburb of Guangzhou, and soon produced 36 artillery pieces and more than 2,000 shells. These arms were transported to Anhui for use by the Huai Army, which was a great help to the Huai Army general Li Hongzhang. In May of the third year of Tongzhi. Li Hongzhang, the governor of Jiangsu, sent Ding Richang to Shanghai to organize Westernization. As soon as Ding Richang arrived in Shanghai, he assisted Li Hongzhang in solving the problem of dismantling the "Ever Victory Army". After the "Ever Victory Army" was disbanded as scheduled, Li Hongzhang expressed great appreciation for Ding Richang's ability and reported to the imperial court, appointing Ding Richang as the leader of Su, Song and Taidao. . And asked him to found the Jiangnan Machinery Manufacturing Administration. Ding Richang bought the Meishangqiji Iron Works, merged the two gun-making bureaus in Shanghai and Suzhou, and successfully established the Jiangnan Machinery Manufacturing Bureau, the largest gun factory in China at the time, once again demonstrating his extraordinary ability. At the turn of summer and autumn in the sixth year of Tongzhi, there was heavy wind and rain in Jiangsu, and the Qingshui River flooded and broke the dam. Many farms were flooded. At that time, Ding Richang was serving as the Lianghuai Salt Transport Envoy and was appointed by Jiangsu Governor Li Hongzhang to govern. Along the way, we saw lives devastated and mourning everywhere. Ding Richang was so anxious that as soon as he unloaded his luggage, he led officials at all levels to supervise the construction of the embankment and personally carried stones to fill the embankment. However, in the rapid torrent, most of the stones and sediment thrown were washed away, with little effect. Ding Richang frowned. After thinking hard, he came up with a method. He asked people to chop down a large number of green bamboos and weave them into baskets with big belly and small mouth. Then he put sand and stones into them and threw them. This move really worked, within ten days. Blocked the breach. Later, Ding Richang led the civilian labor force and fought day and night to build a solid embankment. later. The local people called this embankment "Ding Gong Embankment" to commemorate Ding Richang's achievements. In December of the sixth year of Tongzhi, Ding Richang was promoted to governor of Jiangsu. At that time, the officialdom was mostly filled with greedy and mediocre people, and the government was in darkness. In order to encourage himself and admonish officials at all levels, Ding Richang wrote a couplet and pasted it on the big red pillar of Fu Yamen. Lian Yun said: "Officials must be scolded, and if they follow the rules, even if they are exempted from punishment, the tillers will eventually grow; the people must be equal, and everyone must be displaced, and their blood must be put into their own pockets." Ding Richang was in charge of Jiangsu for more than two years. , worked hard to clear up the backlog of more than 270,000 cases. The imperial court issued an edict to all provinces and set Ding as an example of diligence. In fact, the intersection between Lin Yizhe and Ding Richang started very early, although the two have never met. The first time the two met was during the Tianjin Mission Project. After the Tianjin case occurred, the Qing government instructed Zhili Governor Zeng Guofan to handle it. However, the French side opened its mouth so much that the case was postponed. The Qing court ordered Ding Richangxing to go to Tianjin immediately to help him handle the matter. After Ding Richang arrived in Tianjin on July 25, he conducted an in-depth investigation. When negotiating with the French, Ding Richang repeatedly pointed out that the shooting of Feng Daye, the French consul in Tianjin, caused public outrage, and asked the French to arrest Feng Daye and punish him; as for burning the church Other constructions and accidental injuries to innocent people are also caused by accidents. Except for those who are strictly punished, the Prime Minister's Yamen will negotiate with various countries to pay compensation for the damaged buildings. For accidental injuries, the Qing Dynasty will assist in handling the aftermath. The French minister was helpless in front of the conclusive witness and material evidence. After learning about it, the French Emperor Napoleon III ordered the arrest of Feng Daye. The Tianjin teaching case was later successfully resolved through the secret mediation of Lin Yizhe. During the negotiation of the teaching case, Zeng Guofan was exhausted mentally and physically, and it was Ding Richang who came forward to negotiate. Ding Richang actually made a lot of efforts to solve the teaching case. After the Tianjin missionary case was successfully concluded, Ding Richang deeply felt that China, which was weak, wanted to become strong.?, the cultivation of talents must be the top priority. During his stay in Tianjin, he made many suggestions to Zeng Guofan and encouraged Zeng Guofan to report to the court to send students to study abroad at public expense, which was approved by Zeng Guofan. Coupled with the support of Lin Yizhe and Li Hongzhang, Zeng Guofan's efforts were approved by the Qing court, and it was finally possible to send officers and students to study abroad. It was the second time the two met. In the ninth year of Tongzhi, after careful consideration, Ding Richang submitted a memorial titled "Articles on Coastal Defense" and proposed the "Ocean Navy Charter", suggesting the establishment of Beiyang, Dongyang and Nanyang Navy. He vigorously advocated Westernization and was highly praised by the imperial court. Most of his suggestions were adopted. implementation. But as a result, Ding Richang was hated by the conservative die-hards. Although he was outstanding in ability, honest, diligent and caring for the people, he was scolded as a "ghost slave" by the Qingliu Party. Whenever the court wanted to promote him, There will always be people who stand in the way. Like this time, he was originally going to be transferred from the governor of Jiangsu to the governor of Fujian and the prime minister of shipping. However, because of the Qingliu Party, he was accused of "forming a party for personal gain." As a result, he only served as Prime Minister and Shipping Minister with the title of governor. "The more they raise the defenses between Yi and Xia, the more I will destroy the foundation of their body and clear the way for the rise of Westernization." Lin Yizhe knew that Ding Richang had a short temper and was now ill and couldn't get angry, so he decided at the right time The conversation turned to shipbuilding, which both of them were interested in. "Those treacherous and treacherous young people will have their own people to deal with them. Brother Yusheng doesn't need to pay attention to it. I will work hard and accomplish a great cause, and I will be worthy of the conscience of the world." Lin Yizhe said, "Brother Yusheng presides over it." Ship management, the construction schedule of the new ships "Yuan Kai" and "Deng Yingzhou" has been advanced, and they have entered the navy early. This achievement is obvious, and the court will never turn a blind eye." "The speed of construction of these two ships is not due to my supervision. The credit is actually due to the craftsmanship of the boatman, but it is still due to you," Ding Richang said with a smile. When it comes to shipbuilding, Ding Richang's interest obviously rises. The depression just now was also gone. "I have seen the drawings of the 'Kaiji' ship designed by Kunyu. It is exquisite and exquisite, and the legal people are also impressed. If I can see this ship enter the ranks of our navy when I am in office, it will be a lifetime wish!" Ding Richang was excited! said. "Brother Yusheng is overly praised. With Brother Yusheng's talent, there is no doubt that this ship will be successful." Lin Yizhe said with a smile. Ding Richang then asked Lin Yizhe how he designed the "Kaiji" class armored cruiser. Of course Lin Yizhe could not tell him that he copied the French "Dujuto Rouin" class cruiser design based on the memory of later generations. He took the "Illustrated Notes on Western Ships and Cannons" written by himself and newly published by the Prime Minister's Office that was on Ding Richang's desk, and started to explain it to Ding Richang. Under Lin Yizhe's wild talk, Ding Richang was so impressed that he fell into admiration. The two then talked about shipbuilding and the navy. Lin Yizhe greatly appreciated Ding Richang's suggestion of establishing a "Sanyo Navy". The excitement is not yet over. "Now I have started preparing to start the construction of Kaiji, but I have calculated that if the Kaiji is completed, the cost will be no less than 700,000 taels of silver. You have left me with a good foundation, and the current funds are still sufficient. However, after the Kaiji project is started, if the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Japanese compensation are not in place, it will be unsustainable." Ding Richang thought of Shen Baozhen and Lin Yizhe when they were in office. The ups and downs he has experienced and the financial difficulties he may face in the future, he said mockingly, "I heard that Kunyu always raises money for the whole family to help when the shipping expenses are the most difficult. I don't have the ability to respect my wife's business, and I will be indispensable by then." We need to take action on those silverfish at the customs again. " After hearing Ding Richang's words, Lin Yizhe remembered that when Ding Richang founded the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau, he had to squeeze 40,000 taels of silver from the corrupt officials of the customs to fund the establishment. Lin Yizhe couldn't help but think. Secretly funny. That happened in the autumn of the third year of Tongzhi. At that time, the Qing government entrusted the General Department of Taxation to raise funds for the establishment of the General Administration of Machinery Manufacturing, but nothing was obtained. Ding Richang was indignant and felt that the burden was heavy. He once wrote a poem: "If you don't raise salt, you won't raise iron." The river alone leans to the south of the Yangtze River and sheds tears. When will Shi Yi be able to conquer the river? "I was hesitating in my heart, and suddenly the sound of silk and bamboo floated in my ears. Looking up, a garden villa suddenly appeared in front of me. Unconsciously, my heart moved and my frown relaxed. It turned out that this villa was owned by Tang Guohua, the customs general. Tang Guohua, a native of Xiangshan County, Guangdong, worked at the customs for several years. He colluded with card clerk Zhang Can, extorted and extorted money, and made a lot of money. Ding Richang had already heard about this. The next day, Ding Richang brought his staff to the customs, called Tang Guohua and Zhang Can, and asked them to hand over their account books. Ding Richang said: "I have heard for a long time that these two brothers are very good at amassing money. I am currently planning to establish the General Administration of Machinery Manufacturing and I am at a loss. Please teach me." Tang and Zhang were so frightened that they were trembling. They were afraid that the corruption and perversion of the law would be revealed, so they hurriedly said: " I don¡¯t dare, I don¡¯t dare. Please, for the sake of my fellow countrymen, please let go and we will do our best to repay the funds for the establishment of the General Administration of Machinery Manufacturing." Immediately, Tang Guohua and Zhang Can??Reported donation of 20,000 taels of silver. Ding Richang accepted the money and reprimanded the two for their crime of corruption. However, because they had donated the money, they would not be held accountable. He ordered the two to correct their mistakes from then on, otherwise they would be severely punished, so they had no choice but to retreat. After having 40,000 taels of silver, Ding Richang successfully established the Jiangnan Machinery Manufacturing General Administration. "Brother Yusheng, this is also a way, haha, but even so, the money gained is probably very little, which is not enough for shipbuilding, and it is not a long-term solution." Lin Yizhe said, "The shipowners and guns can make a lot of profits, so we can help Some, please, I will help Brother Yu Sheng think of a way." "Then there will be Lao Kunyu!" After hearing Lin Yizhe's words, Ding Richang couldn't help but smile.