Chapter 225: When the time comes

The recent international situation surprised me a little. I originally thought that Americans would make me feel a little embarrassed, but I didn't expect that they would cooperate to this point. Although they were prepared for the foreign policy of Americans only to have an equal trade right, they came from later generations and were used to the domineering United States in later generations, so I was a little uncomfortable for a while. This is also a problem that I was worried about. Sometimes I rely too much on the intuition I established before, especially at the international relations level. Because of my arrival and the rapid development of the country, there have been many changes. The most obvious thing is that the struggle between the British group and the German group has become increasingly clearer, which is much earlier than the real history. It seems that I really need to set up a special agency to pay attention to these things. This time the United States is fine, it is benign. If there is any vicious misjudgment in the future, it would be bad.

Therefore, when Li Hongzhang was about to return, the withdrawal of troops in the northwest was also slowly underway. The Jiangsu army was as smooth as I imagined when I planned to make a good attitude in all aspects. I also began to plan to form a cabinet diplomatic advisory parliament in addition to the General Staff to vertically lead the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, mainly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, supplemented by officials who are interested in diplomacy and know each other, especially young officials. Old people are prone to dullness, and their worldviews are usually formed in the era of weak countries. It is often difficult to see the positioning of the country clearly, while young people are different, and they witness their own country.

In the process of rising step by step, we simultaneously established a worldview commensurate with the status of the country. Such talents and veteran officials work together to provide me with advice on counsel, which is also considered as a diplomatic advisory team of my personal diplomatic advisors. Of course, this institution also divides part of the authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. How to divide the positioning of this institution and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs needs to be discussed in detail with Zaiying. My basic concept is to play the role of an advisor and a suggestion, and not to exist as a first-level yamen. In this way, the candidates must be considered well, because this can only be a false institution, not a real bad, and must be part-time.

These are medium and long-term plans. The top priority in the near future is naturally to stabilize the domestic situation and quickly develop and grow oneself. The big business of minting 2 billion new coins in the past six months has been handed over to the British. Compared with the Germans' narrow choices, there are places to ask for me, so the cooperation between the two sides is more equal. Today, Britain needs to flatter. When Li Hongzhang visited Europe, he once rejected some conditions for the British, such as the dreadnought sold by the British. The British hoped to expand to ten based on the four promised items. The purpose is nothing more than to make money and to fill the demand of the Chinese navy to avoid placing orders with the Germans in the future. This is to some extent a slash of the Germans' resources. The original Navy Department was originally a slaughter.

The Armstrong Chinese shipyard was set to ship out of the Armstrong China shipyard, which had been separated by the permission of the Navy Department, and had long fallen apart with the efforts of Armstrong and the analysis of British people of knowledge. In any case, arming a powerful China no matter how powerful it is, it is not as threatening the interests of a powerful German navy to the British Empire. After the German Emperor implemented his naval expansion plan, four new battleships had been built at the Volcher Shipyard and the Hamburg Shipyard at the same time. Of course, the British did not know that these four ships that were about to be completed soon would be almost the same type of ship as the USS Defence battleship that he had just launched last year. However, the Germans' changed design made the hull safer, and the hull was also larger. In addition, a set of dome armor was designed.

Of course, the Pacific Naval Battle between China and Russia also gave more inspiration to the shipbuilding circles of Britain and Germany to some extent. In addition to some previous insights, the newly emerging battleships in the naval battles of China and Russia, especially the imperial power-class battleships, did not show overwhelming firepower when facing large-tonnage battleships, and did not achieve the expected effect in the design. Many people yearn for giant battleships with larger caliber and stronger lethality as attack weapons. However, due to various restrictions, this wish may take several years to complete, just William.

Whites' design work seems to have begun.

For me, the scale and strength of the navy are sufficient in Asia. In the seas ruled by the Royal Navy, looking around the world, besides the British Empire, there may be no one who dares to win in this sea area. Therefore, even a large-scale navy has no meaning. It is used to use the funds for purchasing increasingly expensive battleships in other aspects, especially the shipbuilding industry. Even if you use the money to buy a dreadnought to build a domestic ship with a strength of nearly as much as a Dingzhen ship level as that of the Dingzhen ship, it will probably help the country no less than buying a dreadnought. However, the Dingzhen two ships are the same type of ship-type ship of the USS Saxony launched in 1877. In other words, even if it is built this year, China's shipbuilding industry is still more than 20 years behind Germany.

The task is long and hard. Not only in terms of hard power, but also in terms of soft power, Li Hongzhang is still on the chartered cruise ship St. Louis. The domestic material discussions are already flying all over the world. He accused him of being extravagant and desperate. During his time in the United States, there were no reception dinners arranged by Americans every day. After returning to the hotel every day, he brought the chef's nest and shark fins from the country. He spent money every day to pay one year's official salary to the two county magistrates, accusing him of colluding with foreign merchants and accepting bribes

, in private, accept the boss of a certain business in a certain place, and say something with a nose and eyes, as if you see him personally. These are still light, and all smart people know my attitude towards corruption at the moment, so these are all complaints that fools think they are self-deceptive. The refurbishment is also more heavyweight, including Li Hongzhang, who regards himself as the master of the Qing Empire in the United States, and foreigners are also misled by it, so the newspaper says, "The population he ruled is more than all the monarchs in Europe."

The total of the population ruled by the Lord is more than that. This is one of the first words. The second is to do the opposite, criticizing his inappropriate words and deeds, and openly speaking words to criticize the American legal system for the immigrants of the clan in the United States, which cast a dark cloud on Sino-US relations. Fortunately, the emperor is as blessed as heaven, and Americans have not been concerned about the emperor's interests, etc. Also, during Li Hongzhang's time in the United States, he privately betrayed a large domestic mine to American business owners, suspected of selling official property.

Some people even imposed a memorial to impeach him and praised all the systems of the United States, but instead criticized the domestic political system. Not to mention that Li Hongzhang did not have this heart or this knowledge. Even if he had it, he would dare to say it in public? With such various differences, my secretariat has almost become a transmitter between the Inner Palace Receiving Office and me. The reason is that these memorials involve attacking and impeaching the cabinet chief. They are just small-scale officials, so how dare they dismantle them?

After looking at the names of these people, they were either full-time men or unknown Han officials. Since I issued an order to expand the scope of secret memorials, I found that the quality of officials in this era was really lower than I thought, and now it is even more obvious. This is why I can use factions to form factions, and there are always factions in the court.

Not to mention those who criticize Li Hongzhang for extravagance, Qu Hongji's example last year was there. Anyone with a little political wisdom would not attack the ministers in the court again on this issue. These people are stupid. And those who criticize his actions in the United States, even if they use their toes to think about things, they should think that Li Hongzhang, who was struggling in the storm in the past two years, will be cautious from now on. He contacts the domestic policy every day in the United States, so how could he be so careless? Looking at these lists carefully, most civil officials are below the fifth rank, and most of the full-time civil servants are from Beijing or the former generals and officials of the Eight Banners garrisons in provinces where military reform has been carried out. Who is behind these people? You can see at a glance that if Zaifeng was either stupid, he would have ulterior motives.

After returning to Beijing, Li Hongzhang explained to me what Jaemei was doing and what he had made, he made excuses that he had to get up again on the journey and went home to recuperate. He recommended his seat in the court to Zhang Zhidong, which was beyond my expectations. I could not tell whether this old man was loyal and wise, or pretending to show his ethics.

Of course, none of these matters. What’s important right now is that I have to talk to Zaifeng. I found that since he went out to lead the military reform, I have become increasingly unable to understand him.

Naturally, the military reform cannot be stopped. He still has to do anything to do. But I want to give him a warning, otherwise I will let him continue like this and walk on a road that I don’t want to see, which is also the tragedy of the royal family.

Before this, I summoned the relatives of the royal family, including Prince Gong Zaiying, Prince Su Shanqi, Prince Yi Zaiying and other relatives of the royal family. They carefully asked Zaifeng what he wanted to do, and interspersed with some situations about Li Hongzhang's attack. Everyone's answers made me shocked. Shanqi and Zaiying had heard Zaifeng say something to deal with Li Hongzhang to varying degrees, so it was almost certain that Zaifeng was provoking people to target Li Hongzhang later.

He had no deep hatred with Li Hongzhang. His father, Prince Chunxian, the biological father of Emperor Guangxu, was the big tree behind Li Hongzhang back then. He had no reason to have any holiday with Li Hongzhang. Even if I had hinted to him, he had already gone too far. What's more, in recent years, I have repeatedly written letters to him in private replying to me, and he vaguely spoke to him, so he should stop. What's the reason why he wanted to hold Li Hongzhang and refuse to let go? The only explanation is that Li Hongzhang was hindering him.

Now that Li Hongzhang is hanging his seal and leaving, he recalled that he had resigned in the last storm. This old man with extremely high political sensitivity must have smelled it long ago, and he must have known that his opponent was Zaifeng. Otherwise, with his strength and qualifications and capital, a counterattack is inevitable, but he did not. Maybe he was indifferent to that heart, maybe he really took the overall situation into consideration. For my sake, he also asked the country, so there was no counterattack. In fact, according to his young temper, he sometimes didn't even take his mentor Zeng Guofan seriously, let alone a mere Zaifeng?

The reason why he agreed to Li Hongzhang's entrusted illness to beg for home is that on the one hand he wanted to take a vacation, and on the other hand he gave Zaifeng a chance. If Li Hongzhang gave him a chance, will he attack his former ally Zhang Zhidong? His actions can show me what his real purpose is.

There are many Chinese people and internal friction, and headaches are inevitable. However, this kind of internal friction and internal friction must be within a range that can be tolerated, otherwise it will be a mess and the whole country will be divided. This is something clearly learned in history and must be taken seriously. This is also the reason why I have never thought of dispersing the dictatorial power in my hands when the country is not fully developed and the people's wisdom is not fully opened. There have never been a shortage of ambitious people and fools in the history of this country, and the combination of these two people is one of the main causes of national division. Who would like to see a fragmented China? Who would like to see a weak China? Those fools who cited the so-called democratic system that is directly elected by the so-called democratic system will never think of this.

After the decree summoning Zaifeng was issued, there must be a round of speculation in the government and the opposition. In order to maintain a stable domestic situation, I also instructed some people to come out to protect Li Hongzhang, and at the same time took this opportunity to reiterate some established and unchanged policies, such as attracting investment, establishing various industrial and mining industries, etc. Of course, the easiest thing to make people wonder whether the military reform is still the same as before. Regarding this, I also asked the Military Department and the Ministry of Education and Education to publish some editorials in the China Times from their own standpoints, such as comparative serialization of military system examinations and achievements in Chinese and foreign countries. The Ministry of Education and Education also made articles in the newspapers, emphasizing that the country's established policies cannot be changed.

There were indeed many people who had offended Li Hongzhang. Some Qingliu also misjudged the political scent behind this retirement, and began to fall behind and launched an offensive. Many old tents were also turned out, which were all within my expectations, and of course they ignored them. However, when Li Hongzhang left Beijing and went back to Hefei, he personally went to the train station to take him on the train to Tianjin, and also gave him two imperial physicians to take care of him, as well as some tonics, and publicly stated in front of the press that he could enter the Taimiao to pay with his achievements in the future. In the temple of the Fengxian Hall, there would definitely be a place for him. Li Hongzhang said goodbye to me in tears, as if he had a lot of words to say, but he still didn't say it. After thanking him, he boarded the train.

Looking at his thin back, I suddenly felt that the old man's wisdom seemed endless. He must know the situation in front of him, and he must have a lot to say to me, but it may be due to his identity and the situation, he cannot say it.

After returning to the palace, I will leave this matter aside for the time being and issued several decrees to stimulate industrial and technological development with peace of mind. One of them was to issue an order to design and manufacture first-class cruisers for Lushun Shipyard, because the Royal Navy cruisers lost eight, they had to make up for these numbers, which also gave their own shipyard a chance to practice. It turned out that the country could manufacture up to 3,000 tons of cruisers, which was almost the same in tonnage, but the design was enough for them to put in some effort, and the cost control was enough for them to be busy. The cost of domestically produced ships was much more expensive than those purchased, so this problem must be solved.

Another thing is to issue an order to Tang Shaoyi. The positioning problem of the Philippines must be resolved quickly. The decisive battle with local armed forces in the Philippines has been fought since Tang Shaoyi arrived. Luzon is basically under the control of the new army and the newly formed Chinese armed forces in the two provinces. However, the Filipinos are still not convinced. They still seem to want to be completely independent. If this is the case, Tang Shaoyi needs to use thunder means to fight them and at the same time support our loved ones within their party. This year, I hope to see a Philippine Republic in the Philippines with all the Philippine territory except Manila and surrounding areas. If it really doesn't work.

If you want to maintain the surrounding area of ​​Manila and maintain chaos in the entire Philippines, you can leave it to free up your hands to clean up slowly. Anyway, since the Sino-Russian War, even Britain has been in a difficult situation. If you want to be an enemy of China in this East Asia, any country must consider whether it is worth it. This is the gain from paying such great casualties and losses. Even in the future, the same is true for the First World War. It is naturally a good thing to do business with both sides peacefully, but what about after the war? If you don’t stand on the side of the winner, you have not paid any price for victory. Why do you get into the dominance and discourse of international affairs and the new international order? No one will appreciate pure businessmen.

Japan's war situation should also be intervened. With the implementation of Shio Matsuhei's plan to increase troops, the number of Tianhai soldiers on Honshu Island in Japan has reached 30,000, but they still cannot resist the fierce offensive of the government. With the 1st Brigade of the Guards led by the Prince's Master Nogi Nishinomi to the Aomori area, the so-called kingship of Tianhai Kingdom was about to be driven out of the sea soon. Fortunately, the Strait is still under their control, and logistics and supply are not a problem, and the troops on the ground have no worries, so they can barely defend a balance of power. Tianhai Kingdom asked me to send troops to intervene.

I ignored the report and handed it to Beijing. The situation is very good. Why do you have to unify all of Japan? It is not impossible to let you "go to Luo" but it is far from the time. But it is not too cold. So I gave Shanqi an order to let him control the Japanese war situation moderately. The first step is to reveal the news that Japan built a ship in Yokosuka Port in Tokyo Bay, and then give them the address of the Frenchman Bai Luoyi, who was hired by the Japanese again, to the enthusiastic people of Tianhai Country. They will know how to do it.

These are all layouts, and the real practice of practicing internal skills is also carried out separately. The Sichuan Governor did use the right person. More than a year after Lu Chuanlin arrived in Sichuan, he had already established a Sichuan University and a local steel factory in Yongzhou Prefecture, which was to help his brother-in-law Zhang Zhidong. At the same time, in response to the peaceful end of the Sino-Russian War, Lu Chuanlin also mobilized the troops to welcome them. In addition, some officers and soldiers in the army who performed outstandingly in the wars were invited to give speeches in various places, especially the Sichuan University he founded, which he had founded.

As for the prefectures and county schools at all levels, his military reform supporting measures are also the best. Sichuan was almost the earliest to complete the issue of conscription and demobilization of soldiers, even earlier than Shaanxi, which was the first to reform, and the completion rate was higher. Last year, Sichuan sent nearly 30,000 new soldiers, and all of them were all allocated to the provincial defense forces in provinces that had completed military reforms across the country. This person was very enthusiastic about doing things, and it would be better to have this intention. In contrast, I can ignore those flaws in personal character.

It was almost the second half of 1898. The six-year data of the national economy also began to be counted and summarized. At this time, the political focus of the country's industrial and commercial economy was already very clear. Zhang Zhidong was the Prime Minister of the Cabinet, so it would be strange if the officials below did not cooperate well. Therefore, in the second half of the year, many places reported to go to the iron factory and made great progress in education. Now, in addition to the two Navy and Army universities, the Beijing Imperial University and Jiangning

The Nanjing University, Sichuan University, Zhejiang University, and the Zhejiang University in Shanghai are barely considered as the predecessor of Jiaotong University. There are now seven comprehensive universities in the country, two of which are military academies. With such a scale, I can already cultivate more than 10,000 elite talents for me every year. After more than ten years, and the number of new schools has been opened and invested one after another, talents can usher in a bumper harvest in ten years. This is exactly the situation I expected to see when I made the layout.

In terms of industry, in addition to the Hanyang Iron Factory, Fujian San'an Iron Factory was established throughout the country, relying on local resources and overseas imports. Guangdong Shaoguan Iron Factory, Shandong Laiwu Iron Factory, and Liaodong Zhuangheguan Iron Factory are all coastal iron plants. On the one hand, they are convenient for importing some resources, and on the other hand, they are vigorously developing mineral resources and human resources in local and radiating areas, which further promotes the development of coastal areas.

The mainland part has a newly established iron factory in Sichuan and Hunan, which is a generous gift from Lu Chuanlin and Tan Jixun. It seems that it is no problem to complete a steel output of 5 million tons in two years. The next step is to work hard on the technical level. This problem is more important than output and is also a more thought-consuming place.

After more than ten years of patient development, the country launched a few more political struggles, kicked away some stumbling blocks, solved some stubborn problems, and then regulated the official system. After more than ten years, you can face the world war with an active attitude. This is a big plan, and it can only be hidden in my heart.
Chapter completed!