Volume 1: The Battleship Yitian Changes into the Sino-Japanese War of 1894 Chapter 54: Money Matters
After finally attending the Empress Dowager's birthday celebration, he returned to Lushun exhausted with his beloved wife. He was almost dizzy from listening to opera for three days in a row. Under the care and guidance of Sun Yuwen and Li Hongzhang, he built a lot of interpersonal relationships in Beijing. Not to mention how much money he spent, he almost drank so much that he almost vomited his stomach. But it also made him deeply realize the "importance" of "socializing" in China's "traditional culture". In China, if you want to really get something done, it is very important to have no one to make trouble behind your back.
If Li Hongzhang had not offended two generations of imperial tutor Weng Tongshu because he had drafted a memorial on behalf of Zeng Guofan to impeach Weng Tonghe's brother, would there have been such great financial resistance?
Weng Tonghe's secret obstruction of Li Hongzhang almost ruined this war that was related to China's fate.
And today, Li Hongzhang is facing many shit pots that are ready to be thrown on his little head, just because he choked Master Weng with a word in front of the emperor last time.
Although Li Hongzhang and Sun Yuwen helped him, he felt an inexplicable fear when he thought of this big-headed Buddha covered with thorns.
"So you must improve your interpersonal relationships." His beloved wife continued to instruct him, "Unless you have enough force to defend yourself, that would be the same as rebellion."
"Don't scare me. This is not like our time." Sun Gang said with a smile. In fact, even in their time, not everything could be said.
"I've spent a lot of money these past two days." He hugged his beloved wife and said a little embarrassedly, "I'm sorry to have troubled you."
"That's nothing." Ma Yue said disapprovingly, "Less than 100,000 taels of silver, much less than I estimated." She looked at him and smiled, "Your title as Minister of the Navy is an intangible asset, and it's worth more than that."
After hearing the number she reported, he was still shocked. The issue of money really needed to be put on the agenda now. He couldn't always let his beloved wife fill the gaps for him.
After receiving a "cordial" reception from the Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu, and hearing that the Empress Dowager Cixi also gave the Emperor Guangxu a model of the golden ship, which made the Emperor very happy, Sun Yuwen believed that this was a hint of the Empress Dowager's support for Sun Gang, but in Sun Gang's view, there were still too many variables with the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. The Emperor had personally promised Lord Zhongtang that all the 20 million taels of silver in the Japanese indemnity would be used for naval construction, but the money might not be available immediately. As long as Master Weng was in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, he dared not hold too high hopes.
Now he knew what "Si Nong Changshu, the world is famine" meant.
His mind unconsciously returned to North Korea. National treasure? Hehe.
By the way, there is also the sunken "Cao Jiang" ship, and there is a lot of silver inside.
If he could get this money, it might be enough for him to buy new ships, so that the Chinese navy can be prepared before the next war!
No! Not just buying! Just like this time, once the war breaks out, you may not be able to buy it even if you have money! It is better to have your own shipyard, be able to build large warships and even ocean-going submarines! That way, once the war breaks out, you will not be controlled by others!
Thinking of Master Weng's stupid behavior of not giving Li Hongzhang money to buy ships and cannons at the beginning, and then being forced to spend a huge amount of money to be slaughtered by the Chileans, he couldn't help but smile bitterly.
The shipyard plan excited him and he immediately began to discuss it with his wife.
"You have to bring more people with you when you go to Korea." Ma Yue knew his plan and said worriedly, "The Japanese are very cruel. They even dare to kill the Korean queen at will. Who knows if they have left now?" Only then did Sun Gang realize that she was also a typical victim of Korean drama addiction.
"Don't worry, I will just take the warship with me when the time comes." Sun Gang said with some pride. He never expected that the fate of the poor Korean woman named Mingcheng had been changed by him.
The next morning, he went to find Lin Taizeng. The new naval commander, who looked a little shy and dull, was actually very strong-willed. He had a kind personality and did not look as aggressive as Liu Buchan, but once on the battlefield, his courage and resoluteness were immediately demonstrated. As early as before the war, Lin Taizeng led the "Pingyuan" ship to encounter the "Naniwa" of Togo Heihachiro in Incheon. Togo wanted to take the initiative and ordered his subordinates to prepare both salute shells and real shells at the same time. It turned out that Lin Taizeng had been prepared just like him. There was no one on the deck of the "Pingyuan". All the gunners were hidden behind the gun positions and ready for battle. The trick was discovered, and Togo, who was of low rank, had to order the cannons to be fired and salute in a dejected manner (warships had to salute when they saw ships with higher ranks than themselves at sea). From that day on, the reputation of General Lin spread.
Now, having just been promoted to the admiral of the Beiyang Fleet, he is discussing future naval warfare tactics with the captains.
In the Battle of the Yellow Sea, the high-speed maneuvers and neat and fierce firepower displayed by the Japanese cruise fleet left a deep impression on the officers and soldiers of the Beiyang Fleet. The large-caliber heavy artillery of the Beiyang Fleet also performed well. After summarizing these experiences gained with blood, Lin Taizeng discussed with the generals and reported to Ding Ruchang for approval to reorganize the Beiyang Fleet. The three battleships "Dingyuan", "Zhenyuan" and "Kaiyuan" were formed into a separate formation to form the central battleship division four faster cruisers "Haining", "Haifeng", "Ningyuan" and "Suiyuan" were formed into the left cruiser division, and the two torpedo cruisers "Chaori" and "Zhuri" plus the torpedo boat team were formed into the right torpedo boat division. In wartime, the left wing was used as the "anvil", the central army as the "hammer" and the right wing as the "chisel". The three divisions cooperated with each other to completely destroy the enemy fleet.
Sun Gang looked at everyone's research plans. He felt admiration and a little relieved at the same time. These naval officers and soldiers who had experienced the test of blood and fire at sea had really grown up!
"If Lord Sun's ocean-going submarine plan can be realized in the future, our Beiyang Fleet will have 'nails' in addition to the 'anvil', 'hammer' and 'chisel'. It would be strange if we don't beat the Japanese to pieces!" Qiu Baoren said with a smile.
"That's right." Sun Gang nodded and said, "Although we have new cruisers, the heavy guns on the Ding and Zhen ships have too slow firing rates. The 30cm and a half guns are too powerful and there is no substitute for them for now. I would like to replace the bow and stern guns of the two ships with 20cm large-caliber rapid-fire guns. What do you think?"
"That's great!" Ye Zugui said, "Besides, small guns under 40 pounds are unlikely to pose a threat to enemy ships, so it's better not to use them to save space for other things."
"The Jiangnan Bureau has sent people to deliver two newly-made 12cm rapid-fire guns a few days ago. I want them to go on the Kaiyuan and Haining ships to study the 28cm Ghana guns and 20cm large-caliber rapid-fire guns on them, so that they can imitate them as soon as possible." Sun Gang said to Lin Taizeng that before the war, due to limited steel production capacity, the Jiangnan Manufacturing General Bureau only rushed to produce a total of 12 120mm large-caliber rapid-fire guns. Six were transferred to Nanyang, one was kept in the factory, and five were given to the Beiyang Fleet and installed on the two newer torpedo cruisers "Guangyi" and "Guangbing". As far as Sun Gang knew, the largest caliber rapid-fire guns in Britain and Germany had reached 240mm. If China wanted to be invincible in future wars, it must have its own large-caliber rapid-fire guns.
"The key is whether the court is willing to give money." Lin Yongsheng sighed as if he remembered something.
"If the court won't give it to me, I'll have to find a way myself." Sun Gang gritted his teeth and said, then he told Lin Taizeng about the plan to salvage the "Cao Jiang" ship, intending to use the money to purchase new ships and new guns for the Beiyang Fleet. When they heard that they were going to make money, their enthusiasm immediately rose to an unprecedented high. Lin Taizeng immediately arranged for the "Haifeng" ship to take the "Changjing" submarine and set off to carry out salvage operations in the waters of Fengdao according to the nautical chart provided by Sun Gang.
A few days later, the group happily brought him the silver, and also brought disturbing news.
