Volume 1: The Battleship Yitian Changes into the Sino-Japanese War of 1894 Chapter 77 Finally Approved
At daybreak, Sun Gang came to the Navy Office to work. He was disturbed most of the night by Japanese ninjas and he accidentally said the wrong thing. By the time he "comforted" his beloved wife, it was already dawn. Zhan Shuxiao told him that the man who ran away was shot twice by the pursuers and "burned himself to death", leaving nothing behind, which made him very depressed.
The attack on the home of the Minister of the Beiyang Shipbuilding Administration shocked all the government offices in Lushun, big and small, and they immediately began a large-scale manhunt, causing chaos in the whole city. Sun Gang finally stopped the stupid "disturbing" behavior of these traditional officials and only asked the inspection offices to pay more attention. He also asked the Military Intelligence Department, the base, the army, and the various artillery batteries to step up their vigilance. At the same time, he sent people to inform Song Qing and other outer garrisons to be extra careful.
After this lesson, he had a deep understanding of the threat posed by Japanese spies. From that day on, he never dared to be careless again.
At Ma Yue's strong request, the Korean beauty secretary stayed with him closely this time.
Last night, I don't know if his beloved wife was testing him intentionally or was serious, she said that she would feel reluctant if such a good girl was with someone else, and based on the principle of "keeping the wealth within the family", she asked him to consider "taking her in" at an appropriate time, and said that according to the laws of this era, there would be no problem at all. But Sun Gang "righteously" rejected her. Although he really liked her, he still had a big psychological barrier to Su Xin's one wife and one concubine.
Besides, the weight that his beloved wife, who has been with him through thick and thin, holds in his heart is truly incomparable to that of anyone else.
Early in the morning of that day, Li Hongzhang sent him a telegram saying, "Everything has been settled, and the French have sent people to discuss shipyard matters." From this it seems that the "Sino-French Secret Military Mutual Assistance Agreement" should have been signed. When he received this news, he felt both happy and worried.
The good news is that China's plan to build its own battleships has finally become possible.
What worries me is, once the Chinese people know about this so-called "traitorous agreement", what will be their reaction?
Moreover, the imperial court had not approved his plan to set up the Beiyang Shipyard, which made him full of worries.
Could there be any other variables?
After he finished processing some documents, he wanted to go to the shipyard site. Under the auspices of Pei Yinsen, he allocated funds to purchase 1,000 acres of civilian land in Dalian Bay and began to build the factory infrastructure of the Beiyang Shipyard. In this regard, he can be said to be a complete layman, and it was fortunate that it was Mr. Pei who came, otherwise he would really feel at a loss.
"Master Pei is at the shipyard, so there shouldn't be any problem." Jin Shunji looked at him and reminded him softly, "The person who went to the capital to gather information is back, won't you go see him?" After what happened last night, the two felt a little weird and embarrassed when they were alone together.
Sun Gang nodded. Indeed, he had started the construction before the court had given its approval. Acting first and reporting later was actually a big taboo for an official. But this time, he couldn't care less.
It takes a long time just to build a factory, and it takes at least two years to build a ship. The Qing Dynasty, a giant with feet of clay, does not have much time to truly stand up.
Just as he had expected, the people who went to the capital to inquire did not bring him any good news.
It turned out that Emperor Guangxu had not yet approved the petition to establish the Beiyang Shipyard, and it was stuck with Master Weng.
Based on the principle of "what Li Hongzhang supports, we oppose; what Li Hongzhang opposes, we support", Master Weng once again began his best "disruption" action. In addition, Sun Gang had rejected him twice in a row, and he had begun to hate this "bald boy" who came out of nowhere. This time, in response to the Beiyang government's plan to set up a shipbuilding bureau, Master Weng launched a comprehensive attack from raw materials to equipment and other aspects, and it seemed that he would not be named Weng until Sun Gang was removed from office.
First, he pointed out that the cost of building ships in China's own shipyards is often greater than purchasing them directly from foreign countries, implying that the staff had the intention of embezzling money. Secondly, he said that China's shipbuilding "is nominally self-made, but all steel, iron parts, machinery and equipment are ordered from overseas." He went on to say that the Fuzhou Shipyard had been in operation for many years, and the ships it built "are mostly small boats of a hundred tons, and the largest is no more than three thousand tons, which cannot go to sea for combat." The Beiyang government's desire to "start from scratch and build a ten-thousand-ton giant ship" this time is truly "a fool's dream." After he said this, the young Emperor Guangxu was indeed a little hesitant.
Emperor Guangxu actually agreed with Sun Gang's plan in his heart. He was also well aware of the serious consequences of his inability to produce weapons. So when he learned that he had to buy steel for shipbuilding from foreign countries, he asked why China couldn't produce its own steel since it had steel mills. This question was not a big deal, as Master Weng turned his attention to the steel industry, saying that "the steel produced by the Tianjin Bureau Steel Plant is extremely limited and can only be used to make guns. It will take many years to build giant ships with it." He also said that "the machines purchased by the Hanyang Iron and Steel Plant are outdated and cannot smelt phosphorus-containing iron ore" (this is true. Due to poor planning, the equipment purchased by the Hanyang Iron and Steel Plant was not suitable for refining the high-phosphorus ore provided by the Daye Iron Mine, and the steel produced did not meet the requirements of railway rails, so steel production fell into trouble. Zhang Zhidong didn't provoke him, but he suffered the same misfortune.), so "it is ridiculous to build a 10,000-ton giant ship by ourselves." He asked the emperor to immediately order a suspension of the project and "all funds to be sent to the Ministry as salary."
Sun Gang was a little amused and confused after hearing this. China is currently unable to produce high-quality ship steel, but if it takes this opportunity to introduce equipment and technology, wouldn't it be possible to produce raw materials on its own?
These were all the information Sun Yuwen got through Li Lianying, and he had someone tell Sun Gang through the Beiyang Military Intelligence Office's "Beijing Office" to take precautions early. At the court, he planned to join forces with military advisor Xu Yongyi and some other ministers to try to get access to Empress Dowager Cixi. Li Hongzhang was still trying to help him with Prince Gong, but as for whether he would succeed, "it was still hard to predict."
This time, Sun Gang once again had the urge to send someone to get rid of Master Weng.
After thinking it over, he suppressed his anger, cleared his mind, and wrote another earnest letter, detailing the current difficulties and the feasibility of implementing the shipbuilding plan. He also pointed out that China should not "throw the baby out with the bathwater". As long as it took this difficult step, the future would be bright.
But the development of things was still beyond his expectations.
Before he could submit the memorial, the imperial court's approval came down.
And she actually agreed to his plan!
What surprised him was that there were actually comments from Empress Dowager Cixi!
Empress Dowager Cixi said, "We have been preparing for coastal defense for nearly 30 years, but to no avail. The ships built by various departments are also not suitable. If it were not for these two mighty iron ships, the war to drive out the Japanese would have caused a huge change. Where is the so-called self-strengthening? Regarding the self-made 10,000-ton giant ship, we must allocate funds for its construction immediately. However, the work is complicated and the cost is huge. The ministers must supervise it with all their strength and not rashly reduce it, so as to make it in name only."
Sun Gang never imagined that Empress Dowager Cixi, who was described as an eternal sinner in many historical books of later generations, actually lent him a helping hand at the critical moment, allowing China's plan to build its own battleships to be truly launched!
Looking at this long comment, he actually felt dizzy.
Are there problems in some parts of the history books I studied in school?
Sun Gang didn't want to care about what purpose Empress Dowager Cixi had in supporting him. All he was thinking about now was how to build China's own battleships as soon as possible!
What Li Hongzhang brought to him was news from the Japanese.
When the Japanese came to pay the indemnity, Li Hongzhang questioned the Japanese envoy Komura Jutaro about the two battleships built in Britain, and threatened that if Japan dared to act rashly, China would immediately send the navy to punish it! Komura replied that the two battleships were ordered from Britain before the war and had not yet been completed. In order not to violate the provisions of the Sino-Japanese Tianjin Treaty on restricting the Japanese navy, Japan had resold the two battleships to Ecuador and Argentina respectively. Li Hongzhang also asked about the Argentine armored cruiser named after the date that was salvaged in the port. Komura said that the weapons had been removed for non-military ships and sold to civilians for use as merchant ships, and the proceeds were used to pay the indemnity.
After hearing the news, Sun Gang was stunned for a long time.
The Japanese were even more cunning than he had imagined, and they actually played such a trick!
Selling the boat? You're kidding me!
The resale of the two battleships to a third country is not as simple and easy as Xiaocun said! The Japanese goal should be to let Ecuador and Argentina keep the two battleships for safekeeping. China can't find any faults. Once the war breaks out, the two battleships will definitely be driven back to participate in the war as soon as possible!
As for the Argentine armored cruiser "25 de Mayo" that was salvaged, the same logic applies. If the weapons are removed, it is no longer a warship, and it is not considered a violation of the treaty if it is kept by civilians. Once a war breaks out, wouldn't it be enough to just install the guns?
Japanese people are so damn tall!
"The Japanese are smarter than you think. There is one more thing. You and Master Zhongtang have been fooled by them and you don't even know it." When his beloved wife came and found out, she rolled her eyes at him and said, "You are from a bank, but you can't even figure out this little account. I really doubt what kind of people you use in your bank."
"Ah? What happened again?" Sun Gang asked in surprise.
"Regarding the compensation issue, didn't you notice anything wrong?" Ma Yue said, "I didn't know at first that you and Lord Zhongtang had agreed to it. By the time I wanted to remind you, it was too late."
"I just find it strange. Where do the Japanese get so much money?" said Sun Gang.
"The key issue is not here, idiot, but the one they asked for a lump sum payment." Ma Yue said dissatisfiedly, "Didn't you calculate the interest? If it is paid in installments, the unpaid balance will be charged interest. In that case, if it is paid in four installments, we can get at least 10 million more taels, enough for you to set up another Beiyang Shipyard. Now they have paid it all at once, and the interest is waived. You are still in the dark after suffering such a big loss. I really don't know what to say."
