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Hongzhang: industrialized pioneer of modern Chinese
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is written on the occasion of celebrating the 140th anniversary of CRRC of
This year marks the 140th anniversary of CRRC’s business. I was fortunate to be invited to participate in the opening of China Railway National Span7 Span. Tinder gathering ceremony held. The moment when Sun Yongcai, secretary, chairman and general manager of CRRC, raised the lit torch high and began to pass, I was deeply moved and missed the founder of Kaiping Coal Mine and the pioneer of China Railway and locomotive manufacturing Tang Tingshu. .
Tang Tingshu (1832-1892), when the character was built, he was named Jingxing, from Xiangshan, Guangdong.He founded more than 40 industrial and commercial enterprises in his lifetime, covering many fields such as ship transportation, coal mines, railways, insurance, cement, education and charity, and created many modern industry firsts in China. "Honesty has the power of omnipotence with spirit, and Gou Ke's persistence with sincerity and perseverance will have a great function." He was an industrialist who worked hard and stood up the backbone of the Chinese nation. He was a pioneer in the creation of modern Chinese industry. It has made immortal contributions to the Chinese nation's self-reliance and self-reliance.
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5sp "In the preface to the book, he wrote: "Everything is for the benefit of our country and our business people, not just empty talk." This is Tang Tingshu’s belief and his post. Half-life unswerving pursuit.
After the failure of the Second Opium War, the Qing government was forced to sign a series of unequal treaties with Western powers, and China in the late Qing Dynasty was in the midst of "more than three thousand years of major changes." Officials represented by yi 䜣, Li Hongzhang, etc. decided to emulate the West in launching the Westernization Movement with the goal of "self-reliance" and "richness". During this period, the rapidly growing foreign shipping companies will not only squeeze the local coastal trade and transportation industry, but also the water transportation of the South-to-North transfer of grain. Faced with such a situation, Li Hongzhang decided to develop the shipping industry. In January 1873, the "Ship Merchants Company" officially opened in Shanghai.At the beginning of the preparations, Huishang Li Zhenyu "didn't agree with the public, but was dismissed", Zhejiang business Hu Xueyan "feared the jealousy of foreign businessmen and refused to enter the game", the actual China Merchants only solicited equity capital Ten thousand taels, a loss of 42,000 taels in less than half a year.
When the China Merchants Group was about to die, Tang Tingshu entered Li Hongzhang's vision. Tang Tingshu studied at the Macau Mission School when he was young, and learned fluent English. After was a five-port trade , he went to Shanghai with a large number of Guangdong businessmen and joined the Jardine International run by foreigners. Because of his talent and business acumen, he was quickly promoted to comprador and later took over as the chief comprador.
Although Tang Tingshu was a foreigner, but his spirit was not colonized, he saw the foreigners plundering China’s wealth, and his heart was deeply stabbed. Countries do their best. Later, he co-founded a shipping company with a friend. After all, it was small in scale and poor in competitiveness. In June 1873, Tang Tingshu resolutely resigned from the enviable and well-paid position of the comprador of foreign companies, accepted Li Hongzhang's invitation, and became the chief office of the China Merchants Bureau, determined to reorganize the China Merchants Bureau.
Tang Tingshu advocated business-oriented business, revised the articles of association, and mobilized relatives and friends. He soon issued 476,000 shares and founded China's first modern joint-stock company. He wants to build a large steamer transportation fleet, and firmly control the lifeblood of coastal trade and transportation in the hands of the Chinese.And no longer be subject to outsiders everywhere. Tang Tingshu did not ask for him, but "not only imitated Western France, but also wanted to drive up and exhale for China." He will not forget the feat of Lin Zexu selling cigarettes in his hometown of Humen more than 30 years ago. The powerful oath that "gou Li country lives and dies, will we avoid misfortune and good fortune" always echoes in his ears. Shore.
Under the painstaking management of Tang Tingshu, in only three years, China Merchants has a share capital of 685,000 taels, 16 ships, an annual revenue of 960,000 taels, and a profit of 160,000 taels. They are in Shanghai, Tianjin, and Guangdong. , Hong Kong, Hankou, Jiujiang, Ningbo and other places opened branch offices. At the same time, Tang Tingshu also actively organized the development of international transportation and trade, opened branches in Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore and other places, and explored shipping business to the United States and the United Kingdom.
"In the beginning, we learned business and battled with foreigners, and then we battled with foreigners." After the expansion of China Merchants Group, it was immediately suppressed by foreigner shipping companies such as Swire and Qichang. Tang Tingshu believes that competition with foreigners will greatly reduce the income of China Merchants, but "the British will get one or two less, and the Chinese merchants will get one or two less." The country can "receive infinite profits." It is precisely with this belief that Tang Tingshu is determined to let go and fight foreign merchants. According to statistics, before the establishment of China Merchants, foreign shipping companies had annual income of 7.877 million taels in China. After the establishment of China Merchants, "the total number of Chinese banks who have returned to foreign merchants for three years has exceeded 13 million taels."
"Once the spirit comes, nothing will happen." With his experience and wisdom, Tang Tingshu not only resisted the vicious competition of foreigners, but also acquired the American Flagship Shipping Company with superhuman courage. Regarding the acquisition of Qichang Shipping Company, Tang Tingshu believes that there are both pros and cons for China Merchants.Such mergers and acquisitions will put a heavy debt burden on China Merchants. However, looking at the overall situation of the country, the acquisition of Qichang is absolutely advantageous. If the acquisition of Qichang Shipping Company is not carried out, "it can neither dominate people, but must be controlled by others", and there will be endless troubles. With the support of the ministers of the South and North Oceans Shen Baozhen and Li Hongzhang, in early 1877, China Merchants purchased all the assets of Qichang Shipping Company, including ships and wharves, for 2.22 million taels, completely breaking the monopoly of foreigners on China's coastal and inland shipping trade. This is the first time a Chinese company has acquired a foreign-funded company in modern Chinese history.
After the acquisition of Qichang Shipping Company, China Merchants became the largest shipping company in China at the time, and it had an absolute competitive advantage in the shipping industry. In 1883, appointed by Li Hongzhang, Tang Tingshu went to Germany, France, Britain, the United States, Brazil and other countries to inspect business and mining. This overseas trip not only strengthened the ties and exchanges with European and American countries, but also broadened Tang Tingshu's horizons, allowing him to accept many new ideas and concepts. By the time Tang Tingshu left China Merchants in 1885, the bureau had a share capital of 2 million taels, an asset scale of 5.33 million taels, 26 ships with a gross tonnage of 22,000 tons, and it occupied the leading position in China's shipping industry for the next ten years. Tang Tingshu has laid a solid foundation for China Merchants for a century of long-lasting prosperity.
At the same time that China Merchants Group is expanding rapidly, Tang Tingshu decided to establish China's own insurance company to handle ship and cargo insurance business. In 1875, Tang Tingshu established the Insurance Investment Promotion Bureau and founded Renhe Insurance Company-the first insurance company in China opened by a Chinese. In 1878, Tang Tingshu founded Jihe Marine and Fire Insurance Company, and later merged with Renhe Insurance Company to form Renjihe Insurance Company. This move not only strengthened China Merchants' ability to resist risks and competitiveness, but also accumulated a large amount of working capital. It can be said that without Tang Tingshu, the self-improvement dream of Westernization faction may have to go through a longer process.
02 _span5 _span5 strongAfter Tang Tingshu's death, his friend wrote a commemorative article, saying that all his careers were "that others dared not do, and they were never done in China." In the late Qing Dynasty, when the atmosphere was still undeveloped, the cause of Westernization was often criticized. It would be impossible without superhuman courage and courage.
At the beginning of the Westernization Movement, the consumption of iron and coal increased sharply, and coal almost all relied on imports. Li Hongzhang, Shen Baozhen and others have realized that they need to be self-reliant, "non-iron cannot be used, non-coal is not good". West France opened coal and iron mines. In 1876, Li Hongzhang appointed Tang Tingshu to investigate in Kaiping, Luanzhou, and prepare to build a coal and iron mine. On July 24, 1878, the "Kaiping Mining Administration" was officially listed in Kaiping Town . The opening of steamship China Merchants Bureau is a business field that Tang Tingshu is familiar with, and opening a coal mine is an industrial field that he is completely unfamiliar with, and it must be built with zero industrial base in China. If there is no superhuman courage and pioneering spirit, he would not dare Dabbled in.
Kaiping Coal Mine, here is a small village with only 18 families, barren, remote and backward, and road traffic is very blocked. Regarding the huge system project imitating the establishment of a coal mine in Western France, except for machinery and equipment purchased from abroad, all coal mine parts and construction materials are produced and solved by themselves. The difficulties encountered in the construction of the mine are far beyond ordinary people’s imagination. Mine disasters are really rare.
The process of industrialization is a process of continuous investment and accumulation of a large amount of capital. During the late Qing Dynasty, China's domestic and foreign troubles, continuous wars, and land compensation have emptied the national treasury, and the customs have been controlled by foreigners. Under the conditions of the agricultural economy, the private sector does not have enough primitive capital accumulation to meet the needs of large-scale industrial production. Tang Tingshu’s initial budget for the investment in the construction of the mine was 800,000 taels.By 1880, only 300,000 taels of shares were raised. When the funds were most difficult, Tang Tingshu asked Li Hongzhang to borrow 50,000 taels from the government, but actually only borrowed 30,000 taels. Fortunately, the funds accumulated by China Shipping China Merchants and Renjihe Insurance Co., Ltd. during these years have greatly eased the funding needs of the Kaiping Coal Mine.
In 1881, the Tangshan mine was completed and produced coal. In 1884, the output reached 140,000 tons, and Japanese coal was squeezed out of the Tianjin market. When Tang Tingshu died in 1892, the output of Kaiping Coal Mine had reached 402,000 tons, which completely broke the monopoly of foreign coal in the Chinese market, ensured the demand for coal energy for the development of Westernization in the late Qing Dynasty, and realized his dream of saving the country by industry.
In 1894, the Sino-Japanese Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 broke out, the role of Kaiping coal mines became prominent. Before the war, Japan joined other powers to impose a coal embargo on the Qing government, and the Kaiping Coal Mine became the only coal supply base for Beiyang Navy . During the war, the Kaiping Mining Bureau fleet followed the Beiyang Navy warships to provide logistical support. A total of 38,000 tons of coal was supplied, which met the combat needs of the Beiyang Navy. Just as Li Hongzhang expected: "Once something happens, the enemy will not be controlled by the enemy, and the profit source will not leak out. This is the foundation of prosperity and strength. This is the arrow."
Coal transportation determines the success of mining. The key to this, Tang Tingshu believes, "If you don't transport coal by rail, I'm afraid it will eventually be difficult to cheer up." When Tang Tingshu proposed this idea, the world's first railway had been in operation in British coal mines for 50 years. Dare to put forward this kind of idea at the time requires adventurous spirit and courage to take responsibility. The construction of the railway was the focus of the dispute between the Qing government and the Western powers over sovereignty.It is also the focus of disputes between the Westernizationists and the conservatives about the national economy and the people's livelihood. With the support of Li Hongzhang, it was finally approved.
In 1881, under the auspices of Tang Tingshu, China's first railway was born, with a total length of 9.7 kilometers and adopted the British 1.435-meter railway gauge standard, which became the Chinese railway gauge standard. Although it is only a short 9.7 kilometers, it is the first railway built by the Chinese themselves, achieving a breakthrough in railway zero and marking China's entry into the railway era. At the same time, Tang Tingshu instructed to secretly manufacture a steam locomotive, which was named "China Rocket", also known as "Dragon Locomotive". This is the first steam locomotive made in China. Coincidentally, like the United Kingdom, China's first railway was born in a coal mine, where the Chinese nation’s agricultural civilization for thousands of years has quietly begun to transform into an industrial civilization.
In 1881, the Kaiping Mining Bureau built a vehicle repair shop in Xugezhuang and began to produce trucks. With the increase in coal production, the Kaiping Mining Bureau imported two steam locomotives from the United Kingdom in 1882, which greatly increased the coal transportation capacity. With the increase in locomotive repair tasks and the increase in the number of trucks manufactured, the Xugezhuang Repair Factory moved to the west side of the Tangshan Mine and was renamed Tangshan Motor Repair Factory, which was the first locomotive repair factory in China. It is the predecessor of CRRC Tangshan Locomotive and Rolling Stock Co., Ltd. and the origin of CRRC celebrating its 140th anniversary.
Railway is not only a transportation facility, but also a symbol of industrial civilization. In 1884, Emperor Guangxu decreed that the railway could be piloted in coal-iron mines and gold-silver-copper mines. Except for the 9.7 km Tangxu Railway , there was no progress in other places. In July 1886, Tang Tingshu established China’s first railway company-Kaiping Railway Company.The Tangxu Railway is going to be repaired to , Dagu and Tianjin. In August 1888, the entire Tangjin Railway was completed and opened to traffic, with a total length of 130 kilometers. This is China's first commercial trunk railway, and it is a milestone in the history of China's railways.
In the winter of 1887, the Kaiping Mining Bureau planned to build the Linxi Mine 25 kilometers east of the Tangshan Mine, and extended the Tangxu Railway eastward to the Guye and Linxi Mines. In order to prevent the Russians from invading the Northeast, the Qing government decided to build a railway to the three provinces of the Northeast. The completion and opening of the Tanggu Railway has created conditions for the construction of the railway in the three provinces of the East. Before the Sino-Japanese Sino-Japanese War broke out, the railway had been repaired in Shanhaiguan. The railway played an important role in the war. The opposition finally ceased to oppose the construction of the railway. China's railway construction has entered a peak period. The Tianjin-Lulu railway, the railway inside and outside the customs, and the Luhan railway have been built one after another. It can be said that if there is no Tang Tingshu, the construction time of China's railway will be greatly delayed, and the journey of China's modernization will have to go through a long process.
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Li Hongzhang of this evaluation is: "something very troublesome, tough and focused, faithful honest, in fact, A rare talent in Chinese business.” In the political struggle between Westernization and conservatives, no matter how many Chinese firsts Tang Tingshu has created, he will always be the target of Li Hongzhang’s political opponents, and he has repeatedly participated in the performance. Without the courage to be determined and perseverance, it is difficult to succeed.
After the acquisition of Qichang Shipping Company,The scale of China Merchants Group has doubled. Although Tang Tingshu has realized the ideal of "I want to drive forward and breathe out for China", it has also brought great difficulties to China Merchants Group's current operations. A slight mistake may be overwhelmed. At this time, he is dedicated to everything, and he dare not slack in the slightest. Although the pressure of competition from foreign businessmen was great, Tang Tingshu was able to deal with it with his years of accumulated experience, but the political pressure from court officials and the selfish behavior of local officials made it difficult for him to resist.
From 1877 to 1881, officials continued to participate in the chaos of China Merchants' operations and fraudulent practices, requiring an order to investigate. In October 1877, Dong Junhan, an official of Shanxi Province, participated in the China Merchants Group's monthly loss of 560,000 taels. The court ordered strict rectification. In November 1880, Guozijian sacrificed liquor Wang Xianqian participated in the China Merchants Bureau, framed Tang Tingshu and others for private fat sacks, and even preached that "if he is allowed to go unpunished, there is no country law." In order to compete for power and power, these court officials formed parties for private interests, planted party members, and sought personal gain under the guise of the public. If they did not achieve their goals, they would use public power for private purposes. The emperor ordered a strict investigation. If Tang Tingshu “actually controls and excludes all sentiments, he shall act strictly and participate in the handling”. Under Li Hongzhang's protection and defense, Tang Tingshu survived the most difficult period.
Local officials regard China Merchants as a piece of fat. They have "want to seek business, want to be repaired, want to avoid water, want to borrow Panchuan" and so on. When satisfied, they lied about right and wrong, spread rumors, slanderously, and even some people pretended to be officials from Beijing for extortion, which made Tang Tingshu miserable. Regarding these slanders and rumors, Tang Tingshu sighed at the shareholders meeting: "I still recall that at the beginning of the advocacy, the external reputation was three, and the detractor seven... The pain of raising huge funds internally and refusing to slander outside is really unspeakable. . "Who can be blameless if you believe in doubt, or be slandered by loyalty?
However,Compared with Sheng Xuanhuai's exclusion, these slanders seem so insignificant. In 1883, on the eve of the outbreak of the Sino-French war , Shanghai suffered an economic crisis, and 68 banks in Shanghai closed down. China Merchants has not been spared, and its operations are in a difficult situation. As Tang Tingshu's important partner and major shareholder of China Merchants, Xu Run went bankrupt in this crisis, Tang Tingshu was implicated. At this time, he is investigating in European and American countries. Li Hongzhang ordered the rectification of China Merchants, Sheng Xuanhuai took this opportunity to suppress and squeeze Tang Tingshu, so as to fully control China Merchants. At the beginning of the establishment of China Merchants, Sheng Xuanhuai wanted to be the supervisor of China Merchants, but Li Hongzhang did not give him this opportunity, knowing that he "is determined to do important things and also serve as a high-ranking official." This time Sheng Xuanhuai achieved his goal as he wished. Scholars, peasants, industry and commerce, officials do not believe in business, and business do not believe in officials. This time the combination of government and business, a new class of powerful and powerful, bureaucratic capitalists, was born.
Knowing that he has been slandered and excluded, Tang Tingshu still focuses on the overall situation and the interests of shareholders. In July 1885, Tang Tingshu dealt with the disputes left over before and after the Sino-French war, and reluctantly left the enterprise he founded and managed with great pains, and went north to Tianjin to handle the affairs of the Kaiping Mining Bureau. Under such circumstances, Tang Tingshu's imaginary moral character is beyond the reach of others.
At the end of 1881, the case of China Merchants' participation had not been concluded. The right minister of the Ministry of Rites, Qi Shichang, had another discount. Participating in the Kaiping Mining Bureau is too close to the Zunhua Emperor’s Tomb, there may be a "sigh "Latin Qi", ask the emperor to decree to stop mining. At this time, Tangshan Mine is about to produce coal, and 1.2 million taels have been issued and 1.5 million taels have been invested. This memorial is nothing short of a bolt from the blue, and it has hit Tang Tingshu far more than his participation in China Merchants Steamship.
Wherever coal, iron and other resources are built,All of them have huge investment, extremely high risk, and long construction period, so it is extremely difficult to raise funds. The initial 300,000 tael shares were basically subscribed by Tang Tingshu and Xu Run themselves and their relatives and friends. Tang Tingshu "will not hesitate to destroy the family in order to accomplish his things." Once Qi Shichang's participation is successful, it will undoubtedly put the Kaiping Coal Mine in an impossible situation. A coal mine with an investment of one million taels has just been built, and it seems to be destroyed by a memorial by the fainted officials.
Tang Tingshu submitted a report to Li Hongzhang, and tried to explain the position of the Tangshan mine and Zunhua , and drew a topographical map, which did not prove that mining had no effect on the imperial tomb. Influence. At the same time, it explained the importance of mining to the country, and attached the Tianjin Customs "Foreign Merchants' Imports of Coal and Iron Increased Over the Years" statistical table, and his urgency was beyond words. During the investigation, production operations at Tangshan Mine were almost stopped. Subsequently, Li Hongzhang sent personnel to Tangshan, Zunhua and other places for further investigation and confirmed that "the veins of the mines in Tangshan and other places are not related to the mausoleum." The coal mine was eventually saved, but the emperor ordered to stop mining the iron ore. Iron ore mining equipment and iron smelting furnaces had to be transported to Chizhou, Anhui Province, where they were selected for mining, causing huge losses.
Xu Run once expressed his emotions: "The province has been dependent on the province for 44 years, and the calendar has been a lot. The most difficult thing is to run a mine. The trivial matter, the color must be sought, and those who dominate the matter may be hesitant or timid. If you can’t be patient, it’s difficult to mine.” Despite the successive blows, Tang Tingshu still endured the humiliation and continued to develop the Westernization business, creating China’s first railway company-Kaiping Railway Company, and building China's first trunk railway-Tangjin. Railways, the establishment of the first domestic cement plant-Tangshan Fine Cotton Soil Plant, and the excavation of the second mechanized mine-Linxi Mine, thus the initial formation of China's modern industrial pattern. This is Tang Tingshu's most admirable and valuable place.
04 _span5 _span5 1982 span5 strongJardine Matheson published a memoir article in its special issue to commemorate the 175th anniversary of its founding, saying that Tang Tingshu "is both patriotic and has a global vision." It has been 90 years since his death. Nearly a century later, there are still foreign companies commemorating him and making such comments, which shows that his patriotic behavior has left a deep impression on foreigners.
In 1872, at the suggestion of Ronghong , the Qing government decided to send 120 young children to study in the United States over four years. However, the Chinese ethos has not yet begun, there are very few applicants, and the plan for studying abroad for young children is almost aborted. In order to smoothly advance this plan, Tang Tingshu vigorously encouraged publicity, returned to his hometown in person, and recommended the selection of young children studying abroad. One-third of the 120 young children are from his hometown of Xiangshan, and there are his nephews— Tang Shaoyi , who will become the prime minister of the Republic of China, and Tang Guoan , the president of Tsinghua University . These young children studying in the United States later became the backbone of the reform of China's social system and the modernization of China's industry.
Tang Tingshu is well aware of the importance of cultivating talents with Western science and technology for the country to conduct foreign affairs, and uses the enterprises he founded as a base for cultivating foreign affairs talents. Both in the "Revised Ship Merchants Regulations" of China Merchants or in the "Twelve Regulations on Foreigners' Affairs" of the Kaiping Mining Bureau, it is clearly stipulated that all foreigners hired must pass on skills to the Chinese. After the children from the United States returned to China, Tang Tingshu assigned foreign miners to give careful guidance to the children assigned to the Kaiping Mining Bureau, and trained the first batch of railway and mining engineers such as Zhan Tianyou , Kwong Jingyang, Kwong Rongguang, etc.
Tang Tingshu’s patriotic behavior is also reflected in his dealings with foreigners and dealing with foreign disputes.Safeguard national interests everywhere and safeguard national dignity. In the 1870s and 1980s, foreigners seemed to be the rulers of this land of China, and they had reached the point of doing whatever they wanted and being unscrupulous. However, the imperial court lacked diplomatic experience and talents and became more and more irrational in matters involving Westernization. Rejection is "self-management of power", and local officials suffer from "foreign fear" and adopt an ostrich strategy, turning one eye and closing one eye, and avoiding it for fear. During this period, foreign-related disputes frequently occurred, and local governors scrambled to retain Tang Tingshu to assist in foreign affairs and assist in various difficult foreign-related affairs. At this time, Tang Tingshu was like a diplomat, traveling from north to south. With many years of experience in dealing with foreigners, he tried his best to deal with foreign disputes and resolve old cases.
Ding Richang was a heavyweight figure of the Westernization School in the late Qing Dynasty, and he was known as the "political ruler and the best in Westernization". He who "will not lay hands on others in everything", he is particularly dependent on Tang Tingshu when handling foreign affairs. In early 1876, after Ding Richang was appointed the governor of Fujian, while actively establishing Westernization, he began to deal with foreign-related disputes left over from his predecessors. Among them, the Japanese Soborana Ship Case and the Fuxia Electric Wire Case were the most complicated.
Japanese invaded Ryukyu After that, I began to covet Taiwan, constantly looking for excuses, doing nothing, waiting for opportunities, provoking incidents, and realizing the ambition of annexation. In 1874, Japan used the aborigines of Taiwan to kill the Ryukyu people as an excuse to send warships to invade Taiwan without success. In 1876, Japan again filed the old Sobrana case that occurred 14 years ago, attacking the Qing government and demanding compensation, otherwise it would send warships to capture Taiwan. In 1862, the Japanese Soborana ship ran aground in a storm near Taiwan. The crew was killed and the cargo on board was looted by local people. Japan asked for compensation on the pretext that the crew was murdered and killed. The Prime Minister’s office was very resolute.While actively preparing for the war, Ding Richang appointed Tang Tingshu to negotiate with the Japanese consul in Xiamen. Tang Tingshu personally went to the place of the case to investigate and collect evidence, debated several times, and argued hard for reasons. In the end, the Japanese consul had to admit the facts. This 15-year-old foreign-related dispute case was completely settled and successfully resolved a war that was about to break out.
and Denmark The disputed Fuxia electric wire case is also a very difficult foreign dispute. This case is similar to the "Wusong Railway". This case occurred in 1874. The consuls of Britain, France, the United States, and Germany built a telephone line from Fuzhou to Xiamen without permission. As local gentry and people tried their best to obstruct the construction, the Qing government decided to buy it back and do it on its own. In 1876, Ding Richang appointed Tang Tingshu to deal with the matter. Because the original contract was in English, the right to interpret was in the hands of foreigners. After more than ten debates between Tang Tingshu and the other party, the original contract was finally cancelled, the contract was re-concluded in Chinese, and the government was taken back. For this reason, Ding Richang played the court, and wanted to transfer Tang Tingshu to Fujian to assist in his own Westernization, but Li Hongzhang resolutely refused.
Not only Ding Richang, governor of Fujian, but also Shen Baozhen, governor of Liangjiang, and Li Hanzhang, governor of Huguang, also wanted to call Tang Ting under his command. In 1876, Li Hongzhang handled the "Majiali" case and the "Wusong Railway" case in Yantai. Tang Tingshu participated in the whole process and assisted Li Hongzhang in the negotiations. After handling the two cases, Li Hongzhang sent Tang Tingshu to Luanzhou to establish the Kaiping Coal Mine, and properly kept Tang Tingshu by his side. In 1884, Li Hongzhang recommended Tang Tingshu as envoy abroad, calling him "worthy of envoys of various countries".
Tang Tingshu was dealing with foreigners,Always insist on being neither humble nor overbearing, respect and tolerate each other. Regarding the foreigners hired, Tang Tingshu is able to focus on giving full play to their expertise, listen to their opinions and suggestions, and reflect the "brightness in employing people and the amount of tolerance" everywhere, and get along with foreigners in harmony. In all departments of the company, wherever Chinese can be used, Tang Tingshu does not need foreigners. He only needs to use Westerners for management, which requires specialized skills and cannot be achieved by Chinese. The company's stocks are not allowed to be transferred to foreigners. Nevertheless, he is also deeply respected and trusted by foreigners. At the time of his sixtieth birthday, foreigners in Tianjin "consuls from the top and merchants from all walks of life" all came to wish him his birthday.
In 1889, " Beihua Victory " published an article praising Tang Tingshu: If there are more people like him in China, all types of industry and commerce can develop without any difficulty.
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Tang Tingshu was born in Tangjiawan, Xiangshan, Guangdong, in May 1832. His father worked in a missionary hospital in Macau. He studied in this missionary school during his childhood and laid a good foundation for his future English skills. On the eve of enrollment, during the Opium War , he witnessed the bombing of Macau customs,Here is "official floods, fortresses, and house pillows dumping", and there is "the towers and temples are magnificent, and their fortresses and ships are strong, but they are different from the inland." The strong contrast caused a great shock to the young man's heart. Ask them "Where did they come from and what happened?" Perhaps at this moment, Tang Tingshu had a strong patriotic thought.
In 1862, the three brothers Tang Tingshu compiled a collection of English in six volumes and six volumes. The content is very rich. It is the first Chinese-English dictionary compiled by the Chinese. . The reason for compiling this "English Collection", Tang Tingshu wrote in the "Preface", "Because of seeing that friends do not understand English, some will suffer, some will be deceived by others, or they will be humiliated because they don't know English. There is something for everyone". In order to let the Chinese master English, this English dictionary was compiled. He was 30 years old this year.
After the opening of the national gate, "learning from the barbarians to control barbarians" has become the consensus of the ruling and opposition parties. In 1872, Tang Tingshu and the British consul Mai Huatuo jointly initiated the establishment of the Gezhi Academy, where translated Western scientific and technological books, various instruments and mineral samples, etc., were displayed in the academy for Chinese people to learn and visit, and invited foreigners to come here for regular lectures. , To introduce scientific and technological knowledge of Western astronomy, manufacturing, drawing, chemistry, geology, etc., with the purpose of "in order to revitalize the arts in the future, reserve talents, and store practicality".
Whenever the Westernization Enterprise encounters difficulties in the process of founding, Tang Tingshu will help to coordinate and resolve disputes. The layout of the Shanghai Machine Weaving Company is also one of the representatives of the Westernization Enterprise. The first time the establishment was not smooth, Tang Tingshu came forward to coordinate. In 1881, Li Hongzhang commissioned and Zheng Guanying to reopen the machine weaving layout.Due to the recurrence of disputes over the handover issue, the preparation work could not continue. Tang Tingshu has repeatedly coordinated, presided over fairness, and tried his best to get the old and new shareholders to reach a consensus.
After becoming the leader of Cantonese businessmen in Shanghai, Tang Tingshu was actively committed to public welfare, advocating the establishment of charity organizations, and organizing disaster relief. In 1876, Zhili, Shandong, Henan, and Shanxi suffered severe drought disasters. Tang Tingshu initiated a donation and disaster relief activity in Shanghai. He raised 27,000 taels of disaster funds and tens of thousands of pieces of clothing. At the same time, he assisted Li Hongzhang in raising funds to purchase grain flats. , Deliver disaster relief supplies, etc. The three brothers Tang Tingshu donated 1,340 taels on behalf of their mothers, and they were ordered to build a "Happy Charity and Good Doing" archway. In 1881, Tianjin built a convalescent hospital and donated 200 taels. In 1890, there was a flood in Zhili and Shandong. 1,000 sets of cotton-padded clothes and trousers were donated, and 1,000 taels were donated with friends. When other provinces were hit by disasters, Tang Tingshu also actively organized donations to donate food to help the people affected by the disaster. In August 1876, Fujian flooded 500 dan of rice; in 1885, Guangdong suffered floods, donated 179 yuan, and so on. Tang Tingshu has never forgotten his hometown, and is actively committed to disaster relief and charity, and has been awarded by the emperor for many times.
young children are always his concern. For the street children in Shanghai, "I thought of this and felt very sorry for this, so I decided to adopt it." In 1875, Tang Tingshu proposed to set up a support bureau to take in street children and idle youths. A public welfare school was established in the Adoption Bureau to teach children in need to read and study, and a special charter was formulated. Those who are not claimed by relatives, "that is, they will stay in the school, and only after the age of sixteen will they be taught." Children from poor families can also be sent to charity schools. For those who are excellent in character and learning, rewards will be given every half a month. Take in young idlers, arrange appropriate work to earn rewards, and after saving enough to travel home, persuade them to return to their hometown. Tang Tingshu is doing his best to rescue these innocent children and prevent them from becoming social instability factors. Even if you encounter difficulties with scholars or businessmen living in other countries,He also has to pay some travel expenses to alleviate his urgent needs. With the world in mind and compassion for the common people, Tang Tingshu got the best interpretation.
In his own company, Tang Tingshu not only gives child workers special care, but also stipulates that child workers must go to school during their spare time. According to the "Regulations of the Kaiping Mining Bureau", all child laborers "except for working hours, that is, studying in the entrance hall", and also provide free daily school supplies and equipment. Everything needed will be handled by the Miscellaneous Department". Not only that, but the "Special Provisions for Internal Affairs of the Bureau" also stipulates that after children grow up, the supervisory office or the general office will re-arrange work. The benevolent loves others, and he wants to change the destiny of these child laborers fundamentally, so that they can lead a decent life.
On October 7, 1892, Tang Tingshu died in Tianjin due to overwork. Before his death, he told his successor Zhang Yi: "Although I have been in business for decades, my family has no longevity, and my descendants are young and incompetent. Everything is still in my mind." He devoted his life to founding an industry, but he didn't leave much property after his death. , And even "no savings for the children and grandchildren", some funeral expenses are also funded by friends. Knowing that he was poor and without savings, Li Hongzhang personally came to express his condolences and asked the subject, telling family members in advance that "you don't have to host a banquet, and you will return to the line after the ceremony." When the coffin departed back to the hometown, the shops on both sides of the road passed by were closed to mourn, and nearly a thousand people accompanied them. At the same time, more than 50 foreign officials and businessmen supported the burial for the funeral until it was aboard the China Merchants Steamship. In that era, it was very rare for an industrialist to receive such high-level respect from all parties in China and the West.
Tang Tingshu was a popular figure in newspapers such as " declaration ", "North China Victory", " International Bulletin " and other newspapers."Shen Bao" is the most influential newspaper in modern times. It started publication in April 1872 and ceased publication in May 1949. It has been in business for 77 years and has continued to report on Tang Tingshu for 75 years, which shows his influence and contribution to an era. .
People have no spirit and are not strong.
Tang Tingshu not only left material wealth for future generations, but also spiritual wealth. Zheng Guanying received Tang Tingshu's attention and influence the most. Many of his thoughts and opinions in the "Sheng Shi Wei Yan", which shocked the government and the public, originated from Tang Tingshu. His evaluation of Tang Tingshu is the most pertinent: "Governing this man's life, he has spent his entire life in business and western affairs. For decades, he has been prepared for hardships, and everything is not caused by enmity. Outstanding person."
Time is fleeting, spirit is forever. The spirit of Tang Tingshu is not only the spirit most needed in that era, but also the spirit that still needs to be promoted in this era. Now, the torch of CRRC celebrating the 140th anniversary of its founding is being passed from north to south in the motherland, and it is also the spirit that it is passing on—continuous self-improvement and the courage to be the first.
Source: Kailuan Group Author: Kailuan Group Co., Ltd. Deputy Secretary Zhang Yuliang
Editor: Monday proofread: Philippian 7span 674span_span _span2p -END-
Tangshan release (tangshanpress)
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