CHAPTER XIV
MY MISSION TO AMERICA TO BUY
MACHINERY
A week after my last interview with the Viceroy
and after I had been told that I was to be
entrusted with the execution of the order, my
commission was made out and issued to me. In
addition to the commission, the fifth official rank
was conferred on me. It was a nominal civil
rank, with the privilege of wearing the blue
feather, as was customary only in war time and
limited to those connected with the military
service, but discarded in the civil service, where the
peacock's feather is conferred only by imperial
sanction. Two official despatches were also made
out, directing me where to receive the Tls.
68,000, the entire amount for the purchase of
the machinery. One-half of the amount was to
be paid by the Taotai of Shanghai, and the other
half by the Treasurer of Canton. After all the
preliminary preparations had been completed, I
bade farewell to the Viceroy and my Shanghai
friends and started on my journey.
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