Beiyang Dream

Chapter 90 Empress Dowager, please don't overthink it, we are just offering our loyalty!

"What do you mean?" Yuan Shikai leaned forward. "Tell me, what should we do?"

Chang Desheng remained silent, reached into his pocket and pulled out a thick piece of paper folded into a square, then spread it out on the mahogany table.

This isn't Xuan paper; it's Western drawing paper. It's drawn with ink, with horizontal and vertical lines clearly marked, densely packed with dimensions, and a bunch of foreign words.

Yuan Shikai squinted at it, his brows furrowing deeply: "What... what is this painting?"

"The Grand Waterworks of the Summer Palace." Chang Desheng pointed to the round plate in the center of the drawing. "It's modified from the latest design of Sanssouci Palace in Germany. Look here... Originally, there should have been a Western nude beauty, but the Empress Dowager definitely wouldn't have liked it, so we replaced it with the twelve bronze animal heads of the Chinese zodiac, which would spray water to tell the time. This is a three-tiered waterfall with a music box. And these below..." He traced a series of intersecting lines with his fingertips, "These are cast iron water pipes and pressure pumps, which had to be imported from Germany." Xu Shichang leaned closer, his glasses almost glued to the surface, and after looking at it for a while, he looked up: "Brother Zhenbang, this drawing is... truly meticulous. Dimensions, elevations, hydraulic calculations, everything's there. You studied this in Germany?"

"Of course," Chang Desheng flattered, "otherwise, who would repair those Western-style buildings of the German royal family?" At the same time, he added in his mind: I drew construction plans for so many years in my previous life, I can draw a drainage system for you with my eyes closed.

Yuan Shikai frowned: "That's it? Just one picture?"

"Not only that." Chang Desheng smiled. "Those overseas Chinese merchants from Borneo, upon hearing that the Empress Dowager wanted to build a garden, spontaneously raised 200,000 silver dollars to 'donate to the emperor.' The money has already been transferred to Tianjin, and they arrived in Beijing around the same time as me."

He paused, looking at Yuan Shikai:

"The silver represents the loyalty of overseas Chinese merchants. The blueprints represent the goodwill of Germany... It was presented by people from the German side." He lowered his voice, "Brother Weiting, do you think that after the Empress Dowager received this 200,000 and saw these blueprints, she will believe our Li Hongzhang, our Beiyang government, or those rumors?" The private room fell silent for a few breaths.

Yuan Shikai could easily see through Chang Desheng's intentions. The "loyalty" of the overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia, the "benevolence" of Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany, and the imperial court's plan to cut off the Beiyang government's funds for purchasing ships and cannons all arrived at the same time.

The Empress Dowager... really won't take it to heart, will she?

"Zhenbang," Yuan Shikai finally spoke, his expression still somewhat uncertain, his Henan accent sounding even deeper, "you've really mastered the art of making old ladies happy... you've really honed it."

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then spoke, his tone two degrees more subdued than before:

"But just being good at flattering won't work. How to deliver the silver, how to present the map, how to say the right things... there's a lot more to it than just drawing this water pipe. Especially given the timing..." He paused deliberately, his gaze lingering on Chang Desheng's face, before continuing, "You've heard some of the rumors circulating in the court lately. Right now, silver from Southeast Asia, Germans... are all flocking to the palace one after the other. The situation here is quite complicated."

Chang Desheng's heart skipped a beat, knowing that Yuan Shikai had figured out something, but he still smiled and said, "Brother Weiting, isn't this about relieving the Empress Dowager's worries and restoring the reputation of our Beiyang Army?"

Rectification of names?

Yuan Shikai thought to himself: This is not "rectification of names" at all. This is clearly a show of force, telling the court: Look! We, the Beiyang government, have German friends backing us up, and we have the gold mines of Southeast Asia to rely on at home! Your little tricks of strangling us are no longer effective!

Is this kid truly unaware of the dangers involved, or... is he really so audacious as to dare to drag along the Beiyang, Nanyang, and Germans to scare the Empress Dowager, that real Buddha?

Xu Shichang listened quietly, his eyes flickering behind his glasses, clearly having considered this as well. But he didn't interrupt, simply picking up his teacup to conceal his expression.

Seeing Yuan Shikai's hesitant expression, Chang Desheng felt reassured. Yuan Shikai understood that since he hadn't directly objected, there was room for negotiation.

"Brother Weiting," Chang Desheng said, his tone becoming more serious as he put away his joking manner, "I understand what you're saying. But think about it, the court's attempt to seize the Beiyang Fleet's ships, cannons, and funds is a direct attack on our lifeline. You know Li Hongzhang's temper; it's different from Zeng Guofan's. Zeng Guofan endured humiliation and hardship, but Li Hongzhang... he also has a temper."

He leaned forward, his voice so low it was almost a whisper: "If we tolerate this, won't they start digging into the funds meant for training troops and paying the navy next time? Kindness is often taken advantage of."

Now that we have the money from Southeast Asia to show our "filial piety" and the connections in Germany to prove our "innocence," why not show it off? Let the higher-ups know that our Beiyang Army can survive without the Ministry of Revenue; we can get things done, and we can find the money and people to get things done well. If we don't show this strength, people will really think we're made of clay."

Yuan Shikai didn't speak, but just looked at Chang Desheng, his usual smile gradually fading away.

After a long while, he sighed softly and leaned back.

"Brother Zhenbang, you...you're really brave. The method sounds risky, but the reasoning...is sound right. The Grand Secretary hasn't had an easy time these past few years."

He neither agreed nor disagreed. But the five words "It's not easy being the Grand Secretary" already revealed his attitude.

To some extent, he even agreed that Li Hongzhang might need to take a tougher stance. But this was a matter of great importance, and Yuan Shikai couldn't bear the responsibility. "Brother Weiting," Chang Desheng pressed on, "then the candidate for delivering the map, the German consul's wife, Nathalie von Bülow, what do you think..." "A foreign woman..." Yuan Shikai paused, looking at Chang Desheng with surprise, "and a consul's wife at that..."

Using the influence of the Beiyang and Nanyang warlords to scare the old lady is one thing, but actually being able to instruct the wife of a German consul to cooperate in presenting the map to the palace is another matter entirely... Chang Desheng's collusion with Germany is probably deeper than he originally thought! Wait... Is it really Chang Desheng who is colluding with Germany?

Could it be that the Grand Secretary made some secret deal with the Germans through Chang Desheng?

This... why does it seem a bit unfathomable?

Thinking of this, Yuan Shikai tentatively asked, "Letting her into the palace will cause quite a stir. Are you sure she can say what she needs to say and won't make things worse?" "Absolutely!" Chang Desheng thumped his chest loudly.

This collusion is...deep enough!

"Your guarantee alone won't suffice..." Yuan Shikai waved his hand dismissively. "This matter is far too important. I need to report the specific arrangements, what the foreign woman said, and how the money will be transferred to the Grand Secretary in detail and ask for his instructions."

"Of course! It's entirely up to His Excellency to decide!" Chang Desheng immediately replied confidently.

What he wanted was for Yuan Shikai to present this plan to Li Hongzhang. He believed that, given Li's situation and personality, the likelihood of him agreeing was extremely high. The imperial court was about to cut off his supplies; couldn't he at least show his hand and reveal his financial resources? Did they really think the Beiyang Army were spineless servants?

Besides, it wouldn't hurt to let the Empress Dowager and those Manchu nobles in Beijing know that they have German backing. "Hmm." Yuan Shikai nodded, then changed the subject, "However, regardless of what the Grand Secretary says, Juren," he looked at Xu Shichang, "you can start drafting the letter of thanks. The tone should be as you just said: gratitude for the Emperor's grace and loyalty in serving the country. Let me take a look when it's finished."

"Understood, Your Excellency." Xu Shichang nodded. He was a smart man and knew that for some things, he only needed to be responsible for the technical aspects and not participate in strategic decision-making.

"As for the two hundred thousand silver dollars," Yuan Shikai looked at Chang Desheng again, a smile of schadenfreude returning to his face, and his Henan accent became lighter, "Since you're going to send them, don't do it quietly. Make a big show of it, walk down Zhengyangmen Street, and let everyone in Beijing see how the overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia are loyal to the court."

His words sounded grand and dignified, but Chang Desheng understood. Yuan Shikai had agreed with the idea of ​​"flexing one's muscles," and he felt that if you're going to flex, flex big, flex thoroughly, so that everyone could see it clearly.

"Brother Weiting's insight is brilliant!" Chang Desheng said with a smile, his voice full of Tianjin accent.

"Whether it's a brilliant idea or not, it's up to His Excellency to decide." Yuan Shikai didn't accept this compliment. "You should prepare everything you need to, and wait for my news later." "Yes!" Chang Desheng nodded.

Yuan Shikai smiled again, his tone becoming more relaxed: "Alright, that's enough about business. Today's dinner is to welcome you... The others will be here soon too, let's order first!"

The welcoming banquet at Astor Hotel didn't end until 3:45 PM.

Chang Desheng was helped onto the carriage by Cao Kun and Wu Dingyuan. Both of them were quite drunk. Cao Kun kept shouting, "Brother Zhenbang, don't forget your brother when you become successful in the future," while Wu Dingyuan kept muttering, "Korea is extremely cold, so bring plenty of fur coats."

As soon as the carriage came to a stop in front of the Chang residence, Chang Desheng stepped out, his drunken, dazed demeanor vanishing instantly. He stood in the night, took a deep breath, and the cool breeze made his mind as clear as if he had been doused with ice water.

"Second Young Master, you're back." Old Liu, the gatekeeper, greeted him in a thick Tianjin accent.

"Did Jingrou sleep with Young Master Luo?" Chang Desheng asked as he walked inside.

"No, Miss Luo and Mr. Luo are waiting in the study for your return."

Chang Desheng paused, realizing that the family board of directors was about to open overnight.

The lights were on in the study.

Luo Jingrou had changed into a Hakka woman's everyday clothes: an indigo blue narrow-sleeved blouse and black trousers. She was sitting behind her desk, flipping through account books. Her brother, Luo Xinglan, was brewing gongfu tea at the tea table by the window.

"You're back?" Luo Jingrou looked up at him, then lowered her eyes again to continue looking at the accounts. "You drank quite a bit, didn't you? Have the kitchen make you a hangover soup." "No need." Chang Desheng waved his hand, plopped down in the armchair opposite Luo Xinglan, poured himself a cup of tea, and downed it in one gulp. "Let's get down to business. Jingrou, Brother Lanfang, we need to raise 200,000 silver dollars and send it to Beijing within ten days to help the Empress Dowager Cixi build her garden."

The study was quiet for three breaths.

The teapot in Luo Xinglan's hand stopped in mid-air. Luo Jingrou closed the account book, looked up, and stared at him with clear eyes.

"Two hundred thousand..." Luo Xinglan swallowed hard. "Zhenbang, that's no small amount."

"It won't be a waste of money." Chang Desheng interrupted him, leaning forward slightly. "I'm going to use this 200,000 to buy three things."

Luo Jingrou didn't speak, she just looked at him quietly.

"The first thing," Chang Desheng said, "is the Empress Dowager's 'trust.' Only after I pass the Empress Dowager's test will Old Li allow me to lead troops in Korea." Luo Xinglan nodded: "I understand. But isn't 200,000 for trust a bit too much?"

"So there's a second thing." Chang Desheng looked at Luo Xinglan, "A fourth or fifth rank official hat, here you go, Brother Lanfang."

Luo Xinglan was stunned.

He stared at Chang Desheng with his mouth agape, then turned to look at Luo Jingrou, unable to utter a word for a long time.

"Give me... a fourth or fifth-rank official hat?" Luo Xinglan was a little incredulous. "I... I'm going to become a high-ranking official in one step... Is that really possible?"

"Why not?" Chang Desheng laughed. "In this Qing Dynasty, those with soldiers and money are the bosses. I have soldiers, you have money, so we're the bosses! Besides," he looked at Luo Jingrou, "from now on, when the Luo family does business in Beijing, Tianjin, and Zhili, they can't always be merchants. They need an official title, to become red-hat merchants, to be considered part of the Beiyang system."

Luo Jingrou finally spoke, her voice calm: "And the third one?"

Chang Desheng took a deep breath and solemnly said:

"Third, grant us the name 'Nanyang Bank'!"

He stood up and paced around the study, talking faster and faster, revealing that characteristic Tianjin accent of "talking things out":

"This time, after the silver dollars are withdrawn from HSBC, we'll use the Nanyang Bank's signboard. When packing them, we'll affix a red paper with 'Nanyang Bank' written on it to each box. We'll send them off in a grand display, parading them through Zhengyangmen Street! We need to make sure those rich men in Beijing, those corrupt officials in charge of the Ministry of Revenue's treasury, those bondservants of the Imperial Household Department, and the chief eunuchs in the palace and princely residences all open their eyes wide and see this clearly!"

He turned around and stared at Luo Jingrou and Luo Xinglan:

"See clearly what? See clearly that our Nanyang Chinese merchants are incredibly wealthy! See clearly that our Nanyang Bank is extremely powerful; they deposit their money in Nanyang Bank...it's safe, respectable, and earns interest!"

This time, the rich woman's dimples finally "smiled" again.

"Brother Zhenbang," she said with a smile, her voice gentle and intelligent, characteristic of Hakka women, "you're here to build trust for our bank! Your business acumen is no less than your military prowess!"

Chang Desheng chuckled, sat back down in his chair, and poured himself another cup of tea.

"Isn't this how foreign banks operate? They use the money deposited by Chinese people there to lend out and collect interest. What about HSBC, Amundi, Citibank... do you really think they have that much capital? Maybe it's even less than our Nanyang Bank!"

Luo Xinglan was so excited that she kept rubbing her hands together:

"If it really works out... my God! From now on, the princes and nobles' silver, the private savings of the wives of the various households, and even the officials' silver of dubious origin... they'll probably all be thinking of depositing it with us!"

Luo Jingrou sat up straight and looked at Chang Desheng cautiously: "Has everything been settled with the Beiyang side?"

"All settled." Chang Desheng nodded. "With Old Yuan personally making the arrangements, Li Hongzhang's methods won't go wrong."

Luo Jingrou nodded slightly, then, as if reporting an account, launched into a barrage of questions:

"Shouldn't we give Lord Yuan a separate red envelope? Ten thousand silver dollars, would that be enough?"

"How much silver should we prepare to pave the way for the things that are handled in the palace and that might need to be bribed in the court? Should we prepare another 100,000 silver dollars just in case? This money can be taken out by the Nanyang Bank. As long as Nanyang can expand in Beijing and Tianjin, this is a small amount of money."

Chang Desheng thought to himself: This wife is a good match. Not only can she keep the bed warm, but she's also good at shrewd business, using other people's money to manage our own affairs. "Ten thousand for Lao Yuan should be about right," he pondered. "Giving more would only create distance. As for the one hundred thousand for the palace and the court... first, issue fifty thousand in drafts and give them all to Lao Yuan to arrange. Keep the rest for later. Lao Yuan was sent by Li Hongzhang to assist us, so he can't be wrong."

Yuan Shikai's ability to "manage upwards" has stood the test of history, something Chang Desheng simply cannot match.

Luo Jingrou gave a soft "hmm," as if confirming a "small expense" of tens or hundreds of yuan.

Luo Xinglan nodded: "Then let's do it this way. I'll transfer funds from HSBC first thing tomorrow morning. Two hundred thousand in the 'open account,' and one hundred thousand in the 'closed account.' As for the portion that Nanyang Bank is supposed to pay, I'll use it from the 'special reserves.'"

Chang Desheng nodded emphatically. He was halfway there in his plan to go to Beijing to appease (or frighten) the old lady. The other half, he'd have to deal with that blonde bombshell, Natalie…