First, the Qing government closed its doors and resisted advanced western industrial technology.
At that time, there were many ignorant people in the Qing government, and the west offered to help them build railways. As a result, the Qing government still despises this railway, thinking that building it will not bring much benefit, but will affect the emperor's "Long Mai".
But in fact, people at that time had to rely on horses or mules to pull carts for long distances, which was really inefficient and far less convenient and fast than steam trains in the west. However, the superior did not adopt this suggestion, and many people of insight had no choice. Just like Li Hongzhang at that time, he repeatedly invited to build a railway.
Second, Li Hongzhang decided to divide and rule and divide them one by one.
Li Hongzhang wrote many times, hoping to build a railway. However, people at that time were still very opposed. They think that building a railway may destroy the Qing Dynasty, the so-called "Long Mai". At the same time, these opponents also pointed out that attention should be paid to the differences between men and women. How do men and women sit together on the train?
Moreover, the steam train is too noisy, which may disturb the ancestors underground. In order to be able to introduce foreign railways, Li Hongzhang first asked various feng shui masters to inspect and chose places without Long Mai to build railways. Moreover, Li Hongzhang also pointed out that this railway will be used to transport coal mines, not people. At the same time, the train is not started by steam, but pulled by mules.
Although this statement was particularly funny, it actually greatly pleased the rulers at that time. Therefore, Li Hongzhang can successfully lay the railway, but behind this absurd behavior is the great wisdom of doing great things.