I want to ruin the country

Zhang Zhidong agreed verbally but was dissatisfied in his heart. He thought the postmaster was looking down on him and deliberately making things difficult for him. After all, he was ordered to come to the capital, but he couldn't even get a meal?

As for the fight with Sai A Ding's servants, it was indeed a bit unexpected. However, since we did it, we have to save our face. Otherwise, I am afraid that the two of us will never be able to hold our heads up for the rest of our lives!

The next day, the father and son got up early and came to the palace gate to request an audience.

Unexpectedly, it didn't take long before someone came out and shouted,

"Send Zhang Ying and his son to the audience!"

They were brought to Xianfu Palace by eunuchs. After entering the door, they did not dare to look up, but just knelt down and kowtowed according to the rules.

I only heard a young voice saying,

"Lord Zhang is here. I've been waiting for you for days. Please stand up and speak. Please take a seat!"

Zhang Ying was even more surprised. Why was the emperor so enthusiastic towards her, as if they were old friends?

"Long live thanks!"

He kowtowed again and got up, but when he looked behind him, he found that Zhang Zhidong had not gotten up yet.

He was anxious. The emperor asked you to get up, so why didn't you get up?

Yining was also wondering why Zhang Zhidong didn't get up. Maybe he didn't hear anything, or he was scared silly. That was impossible. What kind of person was he?

Zhang Zhidong was born in Guizhou and his hometown is Nanpi, Zhili.

Because he had served as governor-general, and the governor's nickname was "Marshal," many people respectfully called him "Zhang Xiangshuai!"

He is known as a child prodigy. He has been knowledgeable and talented in literature since childhood.

At the age of eleven, he took the highest place in Guizhou in the imperial examination. His work "Banshan Pavilion" became famous at the time.

Among the famous officials of modern times, Yining most admires Lin Zexu, Zuo Zongtang and Zhang Zhidong.

Zeng Zhenfan, who is regarded as a half-saint by others, he feels that his ability in talking big accounts for a larger proportion, and his contribution to the country may be somewhat insufficient compared with these three.

This is a matter of personal opinion. Don't scold me if you have a different opinion. Just pretend I didn't say anything.

Zhang Zhidong did four main things in his life:

First, he promoted new-style education. What you may not know is that he was the founder of Chinese kindergartens.

He founded the Ziqiang Academy, the predecessor of Wuhan University, the Sanjiang Normal School, the predecessor of Nanjing University, the Hubei Agricultural School, the Hubei Wuchang Montessori School, the Hubei Industrial School, the Guangya Academy, and the Ci'en Academy, the predecessor of the current Nanpi No. 1 Middle School.

Zhang Zhidong also established a technical school within the Hubei Railway Administration.

Courses include various manufacturing processes such as steam engines, lathes, drawing, bamboo products, grease, and glass.

Even American scholar William Ayers said, "During Zhang Zhidong's lifetime, the form of Chinese education underwent fundamental changes."

Just based on this point, is he a great figure? Is there anyone in modern history who can surpass him?

The second was to run industries. He established the Railway Bureau and the Textile Bureau in Hubei, which included weaving, spinning, silk reeling, and linen making.

The Daye Iron Mine, inland shipping and telecommunications businesses were established, and the Lu-Han, Yue-Han and Chuan-Han railways were built.

He established ironworks, a mint, a machine weaving factory, and a mining bureau in Guangdong, advocating the use of industry to save the country.

Zhang Zhidong also established the famous Hanyang Arsenal, my country's first complete and well-equipped factory.

If you have not heard of the Hanyang Arsenal, you may have heard of the famous "Hanyang-made" rifle in film and television dramas. It was made by the Hanyang Arsenal, and the bald chairman benefited a lot from it!

Third, to train a new army, he advocated the opening of new schools, reform of military and political affairs, training of soldiers with new equipment and drills, and the establishment of the Guangdong Naval and Land Forces School.

He established the Jiangnan Self-Strengthening Army in Jiangning, modeled after the German one, and also trained a new army in Hubei.

I won’t go into details here to avoid people accusing me of water injection.

The fourth is to resist foreign humiliation. He appointed Feng Zicai, the former governor of Guangxi, and won the victory in the anti-French war. This is well known to everyone and there is no need to say more.

It was after the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 that he put forward the three proposals of "purchasing warships, borrowing foreign funds, and making strong allies", which were relatively reasonable proposals at the time.

He once told Li Hongzhang that whether it was war or peace, warships were essential.

Looking across the country, how many people have such insight?

Zhang Zhidong also respected talents very much and spared no effort to send students abroad.

He would always see these students off when they went abroad, and would always host a banquet when they returned home. To say that he was courteous and humble might not be an adequate description of his performance.

In general, his life was a life of loyalty to the country and the nation.

He was very honest throughout his life and served as a provincial governor for decades, but until his death, his family had never acquired an acre of land.

The teacher spoke highly of him and said that he was the founder of China's heavy industry.

Sun Yat-sen said that he was a great revolutionary who did not talk about revolution.

The Qing court also praised him generously, saying that he was loyal to the country, honest and selfless, promoted new policies, benefited the country and the people, etc. After his death, he was given the posthumous title "Wenxiang", which was a very high praise.

How could Yining not respect such an epoch-making and patriotic figure!

Having said that, when Zhang Ying saw that her son couldn't get up, she was so anxious that she wanted to pull Zhang Zhidong, but she didn't dare to, and she felt embarrassed and awkward there.

Yining asked,

"Are you Zhang Zhidong?"

"To answer the Emperor, yes!"

When Yining heard this, it didn't seem like he hadn't heard it, so he asked again,

"Why don't you get up?"

"Your Majesty, I have something to report to you. Please make the decision!"

Historically, he was a scholar who passed the imperial examination in Nanpi, Cangzhou, his hometown, this year, so he can only be called a commoner now.

Yining was stunned. He had something to say right after we met. You are only fourteen years old, but you are really brave!

"Okay, if you have something to say, just tell me. Is there anything you want me to decide?"

Zhang Zhidong replied,

"My father and son were beaten!"

When Zhang Ying heard this, she was done for! How could her son be so disobedient and tell the emperor about this as soon as he saw him?

The key point is that I didn’t show my face. Until now, I haven’t looked up at the emperor, because I’m afraid that the emperor will see the injury on my face!

Yining was even more stunned.

"I got beaten. What happened?"

Zhang Ying quickly knelt down again.

"I, your humble servant, failed to educate my son properly, and my son has caused trouble. Your Majesty, please punish him!"

Yining Road,

"Don't talk, just listen to him!"

Zhang Ying didn't dare to speak!

Zhang Zhidong was not panicked, and told the whole story of last night.

"Your Majesty, the postmaster deliberately made things difficult for my father. I was indignant and took the food away. This was inappropriate and I am willing to accept the punishment!

"But the Shaanxi governor, Sai Ading, allowed his servants to assault an imperial official. This is a slap in the face of the emperor. Please make the decision, Your Majesty!"

When Yining heard this, he thought, "Okay, I'm wrong, so I should admit it first." Then he put a big hat on Sai A Ding and said, "You are attacking the emperor, and you have reasons and evidence!"

"Are you telling the truth?"

Zhang Zhidong Road,

"If I tell a lie even once, I will be punished!"

Yining Road,

"You and your son, raise your heads!"

The two men looked up, and Yining became angry when he saw them, and their faces were covered with bruises.

If the admiral's servants dared to beat the prefect, one can imagine the admiral's official rank.