Anti-Qing: Starting from the Jintian Uprising

Chapter 324: Use the Kong family’s money to provide education—special funds for special purposes!
The Tang Dynasty's preparations for negotiations with the Qing Dynasty were a secret.

This news was circulated among senior officials at most.

Low-level officials like Song Kangnian had no access to such secrets.

Therefore, after learning that the Tang Dynasty was preparing to migrate outside the Great Wall, Song Kangnian's first reaction was that the Tang army was preparing to attack the Qing army again.

Song Shi put the New Year gift in her hand back on the table. Song Kangnian came to the table and sat down. He looked around and didn't see his son, so he asked.

"Shi'er, where's your brother?"

"What my uncle brought back today is the annual gift from the court to us officials. There are many candies and snacks in it. Please ask Xuewen to come out and you two can eat together."

As he spoke, Song Kangnian opened an exquisite gift box.

The gift box contained candies wrapped in individual oil papers, including fructose, toffee candies mixed with milk, and even a few Western chocolates.

They are all rare things.

Upon hearing this, Song Shi replied while picking up the teapot to pour hot water for Song Kangnian.

"To answer your uncle's question, my brother was detained by Master Qi today."

"They said that after you come back, they will ask you to go to the school in person to pick up the people..."

The Tang Dynasty's disaster relief in Shandong was not simply distributing food, but also working to restore local productivity and order.

Among them, the Tang Dynasty court allocated a considerable amount of funds to support the development of education.

Well, the source of this money was what the Tang Dynasty looted from the Kong family.

Li Yi thought that using the Kong family's money to run education was a good way to use the money for its intended purpose.

If Confucius knew about this, he would probably feel gratified.

Precisely because of this funding from the imperial court, many schools and academies have sprung up in Shandong Province recently, and there is even a comprehensive university in Jinan.

Since Song Kangnian became an official, he had some spare money, so he naturally chose to send his son and niece to school.

Unfortunately, my son doesn't seem to be good at studying...

Look, the parents are called again.

Song Kangnian suppressed his thoughts and spoke to his niece.

"Girl, your uncle will go to the school and bring your brother back."

"You should arrange the New Year's ceremonies first since you are alone at home."

"There are three rolls of flowered cloth, a can of lamp oil, some bacon, grain, vegetables, canned food and other sundries in here. Please arrange them properly."

"Oh, by the way, take out the three pieces of floral cloth as an exception."

"The New Year is coming soon. I'll ask someone to make two new sets of clothes for you and Xuewen..."

Upon hearing this, Song Shi just nodded his head vigorously.

Song Kangnian nodded, then left his shack again in the wind and snow.

He walked on the road, and on both sides of the road he could see shacks with lights on and smoke rising from them.

Occasionally, laughter and joy could be heard from the shacks on the roadside.

The disaster victims who were returning home from work gathered in groups of three or four, talking and laughing loudly.

Although Shandong suffered a disaster this year, fortunately, the Tang Dynasty's disaster relief was effective, and people's livelihood in the disaster-stricken areas has begun to gradually recover.

Something called hope is settling in everyone's heart, waiting to blossom and bear fruit.

……

Jining Prefecture!
Headquarters.

The tea room is filled with the aroma of tea.

Li Yi picked up the teacup and took a sip, then looked at the middle-aged man and the teenager sitting opposite him with a smile.

"I heard that Zhang Qing chose to return to the Tang Dynasty because of Xiaoda's advice. I wonder if this is true or not?"

Li Yi asked Zhang Yan who was sitting opposite him with a smile. While speaking, he raised his glass to signal Zhang Yan to drink some tea as well.

Zhang Xi raised his cup and drank up the tea in it, then spoke calmly.

"I have lived for most of my life, but I am not as wise as a child. I am really embarrassed to see you, Your Majesty..."

Li Yi waved his hand and said.

"Each generation has its own talented people, each leading the trend for hundreds of years. Young people should naturally have the demeanor of youth."

"Zhang Qing has a successor. What's so funny about this?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhidong, who was standing by, quickly stood up and saluted Li Yi.

"I am ashamed to accept your praise, Your Majesty."

Li Yi raised his hand to signal Zhang Zhidong to stand up, and then continued.

"Your family became famous at a young age. You passed the imperial examination at the age of fourteen. After that, you followed Zhang Qing to assist in military affairs. After several years of training, you can see that although you are young and sharp, you are also mature and steady. This is rare."

"I would like to recruit you to join my secretariat, accompany the king, and hone your skills so that you can be entrusted with important tasks in the future. I wonder if you are willing?"

It is obvious that the reason why Li Yi chose to summon Zhang Xi in Jining was that Zhang Zhidong was his main purpose.

As for Zhang Xi himself, he was just a by-product.

If it weren't for Zhang Zhidong, Li Yi would not have specially summoned Zhang Xi to meet him in front of the emperor.

He is not that idle!
Li Yi's recruitment of Zhang Zhidong into the secretariat was the first step in his training.

After he has been trained in the secretariat for a period of time, Li Yi will naturally send him to serve as an official in a local area.

Well, before, Zuo Zongtang, Li Hongzhang and others all made such arrangements.

First, they will be trained in the secretariat, and after a period of training, they will be sent out to serve as officials.

When Zhang Zhidong heard this, he was stunned at first.

Some didn't respond.

But soon, he came to his senses and bowed before Li Yi.

"Your humble servant obeys the king's order."

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!"

Li Yi smiled and raised his hand again to signal Zhang Zhidong to stand up, then said, "Don't be so reserved. I like to promote capable and talented young people the most..."

Three of the four great ministers of the late Qing Dynasty were in his employ. Li Yi was very proud of himself now, and felt a sense of satisfaction as if he had completed a stamp collection.

Seeing this, Zhang Xi, who was standing by, quickly stood up and saluted Li Yi, thanking Li Yi for his appreciation of his son.

Li Yi just continued to smile and said.

"Haha, there's no need to be so polite, Qing family."

"Instead, I want to thank you and your son for coming to your senses, abandoning evil and joining the light, and coming to serve the Tang Dynasty."

Upon hearing this, the two of them said in unison that they dared not.

At this moment, accompanied by a knock on the door, Zhang Tai, the chief of Li Yi's attendant room, walked in from outside, came to Li Yi, and leaned over to report.

"Your Majesty, the envoys sent by the Qing Yao have arrived in Jining. I wonder how the Tang Dynasty will arrange this?"

Upon hearing this, Li Yi pondered for a moment and then asked.

"Really? Who is leading the negotiation delegation sent by Qing Yao this time?"

Zhang Tai heard this and responded.

"In reply to your Majesty, according to the investigation of our military intelligence department, the negotiation delegation sent by the Qing demons this time is led by Bao Jun and Shen Guifen, the ministers of the Qing military affairs department. Bao Jun is the chief envoy and Shen Guifen is the deputy envoy."

Li Yi nodded in understanding and said.

"First, arrange for the Qingyao envoys to stay in the inn in the city."

"Then, we will arrange for the negotiation team of the Department of Diplomacy to come forward and negotiate with the Qing Yao Envoy."

"Remember, this is not a peace talk, it's just a ceasefire."

Li Yi's attitude is very clear: ceasefire, not peace talks

Cease-fire, you can resume firing at any time.

But if you want to negotiate, you would be embarrassed to tear up the treaty without a suitable reason.

Now the Tang Dynasty is indeed unable to fight, so Li Yi can negotiate with the Qing Dynasty.

But the so-called negotiations were only a temporary ceasefire, giving both sides a chance to catch their breath.

Instead of peace talks!
It was impossible for Li Yi to negotiate peace with the Qing Dynasty.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Tai's expression immediately froze. He clasped his fists in agreement, then turned and left.

Li Yi continued to talk to Zhang Yan and his son.

……

Baojun rode on the horse, riding side by side with Shen Guifen.

The two walked on the streets of Jining City, feeling the hateful gazes from the people around them, and felt disappointed.

Because they understood that there was really no hope for the Qing Dynasty within the Great Wall!

Originally, their understanding of the impact of the Qing Dynasty's bombing of the Yellow River dike was simply the loss of people's hearts.

But when they actually arrived at the disaster area, they realized without a doubt that it was not just the people's hearts that were lost.

The people in the entire disaster area now hate the Qing Dynasty to the core.

Influenced by these people, many places including Shandong and Beizhi began to become alienated from the Qing Dynasty.

Even if the Tang army had not launched a northern expedition, uprisings would definitely have broken out in local areas.

With so many people hostile to the Qing Dynasty, the Qing Dynasty can no longer hold its ground within the Great Wall!

With a solemn mood, the two men looked at each other and continued to urge their horses forward.

Soon, the team arrived outside the post station in Jining City.

The Tang official in charge of leading the way led them into the post house and then turned and left.

The posthouse was surrounded inside and out by Tang army soldiers.

Well, this is more than just a simple surveillance of the Qing Dynasty delegation.

It was also a form of protection for the Qing Dynasty's envoys.

Li Yi dared to guarantee that if he did not send troops to garrison and protect the post station, the angry people of Shandong would really tear the Qing Dynasty delegation to pieces.

Baojun didn't have to wait long. Just the next day, officials from the Tang Dynasty's Department of Diplomacy met with the Qing Dynasty's negotiation delegation at the Jining Prefecture Yamen.

Of course, Li Yi did not show up.

Negotiating peace with the Qing Dynasty was not a glorious thing. Li Yi cared too much about his face, so he naturally would not show up at this time.

Zhuang Yuandao, one of the two deputy directors of the Tang Dynasty's Diplomatic Department, came to the side hall of the Jining government office with his entourage and sat down on both sides of the table with the Qing Dynasty envoy Bao Jun and others.

The attendants came forward to serve tea, and the secretary responsible for recording the meeting was also in place.

Zhuang Yuandao looked around and then asked directly.

"What is the purpose of the Qing Dynasty sending envoys to our Tang Dynasty?"

"Please tell me clearly, messenger!"

Baojun heard this and said calmly.

"I am here today on behalf of the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. I am here for peace and stability."

"Since the first year of Emperor Xianfeng's reign, the Tang Kingdom and the Qing Dynasty have been engaged in frequent border conflicts and wars. After several years of fighting, both the Tang Kingdom and the Qing Dynasty are exhausted and their armies have no will to fight."

"Given the current situation, if the war continues, it will be beneficial to both the Tang Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty."

"It is best for everyone to hold peace talks, temporarily stop fighting, and give the people a rest."

Baojun's words were very polite.

Well, mainly because of the current national strength of the Qing Dynasty, he can only be polite.

Shen Guifen on the side also spoke up.

"Master Baojun is right."

"War is a dangerous tool. It should only be used when necessary. If we can negotiate, it will be a good thing for the Qing Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty, and the people of the world."

(End of this chapter)