Daming: Lend the system to Emperor Hongwu at the beginning

Chapter 90 Li Hongzhang: I am a negotiator
Late Qing Dynasty.

At the moment, Guangzhou Bay is quite lively. The warships stretch for dozens of miles, and there is no end in sight. Countless sailors practice and test guns on it.

Standing on a warship, Zhu Yuanzhang overlooked the 28 paddle-wheeled warships firing at the most conspicuous positions.

This is the fleet that he assembled from the coastal shipyard in the early Ming Dynasty and the base in Guangzhou. After a year, he integrated all the resources to build a fleet.

Eighty percent of the cannons loaded on it are imported from Germany, and they are the latest rifled breech-mounted artillery.

The remaining [-]% ​​was smuggled from the British Empire at a high cost.

It has to be said that these capitalists of the British Empire are extremely bold, and they are on par with the Shanxi merchants in the late Ming Dynasty.

As long as you have enough money, they dare to fix everything for you.

Although this fleet does not dare to say a head-to-head battle with the Royal Navy of the British, it is still easy to fight a dozen Qingshui divisions.
For these artillery pieces, Zhu Yuanzhang spent a lot of money.

In addition to [-] army equipment, as well as various lathes and production lines, he spent almost all the money he had obtained by confiscating a gentry in Guangdong Province, and even lost several ships of silk and porcelain from the early Ming Dynasty.

To be honest, since he started the rebellion with Xu Da and others back then, this was the first time he spent so much money, which made Zhu Yuanzhang, who had always been extremely frugal, tremble with heartache.

But Zhu Yuanzhang understood that the money had to be spent.

Because it is the only way to increase the combat power of the army in a short period of time.

Although he hadn't gotten the exact news yet, he knew very well that Daming and the British would have had a fight since the two ships of British devils were killed two years ago.

In the past two years, he has gathered the Hongqi Gang, attacked Guangzhou, and built a fleet at all costs. All actions are to prepare the army for this battle.

This battle determines whether the Ming Dynasty's fleet can enter the deep sea and compete with many Xiyi countries for maritime supremacy in the next 30 years.

So this battle must be won.

"Still find a way to open source!"

"Our productivity in Daming has just recovered, and it is impossible to always use things there to transport to the end of the Qing Dynasty." Zhu Yuanzhang was a little worried about the silver thing.

"Father, if it's just to make money, I have an idea!"

Next to him, Zhu Biao said with a smile: "I heard that there are many silver mines discovered in the Japanese country, and it is called the country of silver, so wouldn't it be the same for us, if the Japanese country is shot down..."

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes lit up when he heard the words, this is a good idea!
Seeing the look in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes, Zhu Biao knew that Lao Zhu had already moved.

Immediately, he hid his merits and fame, and said no more.

"Little devil, don't blame the young master for being cruel!"

"It's really too expensive for Germans!" Zhu Biao thought silently in his heart.

Now there are already 3 regular naval troops entering Guangzhou Bay. Zhu Yuanzhang did not recruit these people from Guangzhou, but used the pirates from the Red Flag Gang as the skeleton. over here.

This navy has been training in Guangzhou Bay for three months since it became an army.

In order to show the importance of this new navy, Zhu Yuanzhang directly brought Chang Yuchun over and asked him to serve as a naval marshal.

This fleet, he not only has to fight the four seas here, but in the future he will bring all of them back to the early Ming Dynasty.

In addition to the regular army, there is also a motley army of more than 10 people. These are basically the small boats of nearby fishermen, and there are also warships captured by some pirates who recently destroyed Guangzhou Bay.

The nature of these 10 people belonged to the temporary navy, and many of them came spontaneously after hearing that Zhu Yuanzhang was vigorously manipulating the navy to prepare for a decisive battle with the British.

The formation of these 10 people has no other meaning, but there are many people who want to fight the British ghosts, and the public opinion is raging, so they have to do it.

Just in response to what the people said when the cigarettes were sold out in Humen, this time, as long as the British dare to come, the people of Guangdong will drown these people with one mouthful of saliva.

In this regard, Zhu Biao can only sigh with emotion, Lao Zhu's popularity, at least in Guangdong Province, has completely returned to the hearts of the people!

Hong Kong Governor's Office.

Li Hongzhang, a special envoy from the Manchu Qing Dynasty, was smugly waiting for Mr. Yang's audience.

He asked to come to Hong Kong on his own initiative because he saw an opportunity.

Zeng Guofan was reluctant to come because he was already in a high position, he held power, and he had to maintain his own reputation. The senior officials of the Manchu Dynasty blamed each other because this time they were going to ask foreigners, and they could not hide their face by holding on to their status as the upper country.

But Li Hongzhang is willing!
He was just a small concubine of the Imperial Academy in Beijing, an unremarkable figure.

If he continues to spend time in the court, it will take another 20 years for him to come out.

Originally, the plan he set for himself was the same as Zeng Guofan. He returned to his hometown and persuaded his father to contact relatives and friends to pay for group training and form the Huai Army.

But when he heard that the imperial court intended to send envoys to Hong Kong to persuade the British army to attack Guangdong, he immediately sensed the opportunity.

An opportunity for a quick promotion and a fortune.

So he immediately wrote to Emperor Xianfeng to express his willingness to go, and persuaded his teacher Zeng Guofan to write a recommendation letter for him, and finally won the position without any risk.

Sure enough, in order to show respect for the foreigners, the imperial court directly promoted him, a small concubine of the Imperial Academy, to the right servant of the Ministry of Industry.

Although it is a false title, but a false title is also an official!

Until this moment, Li Hongzhang was still secretly proud of how good he had taken this step.

The right servant of the Ministry of Industry in his 30s is unprecedented in ancient and modern times!

And if he can handle the errand this time well, then he will be in the heart of the emperor immediately, and he will save 20 years of struggle.

To this end, this trip to Hong Kong, he has made [-]% preparations by mobilizing his relatives and friends, making full use of human relationships.

"Mr. Li, the Qing court must give me an explanation about the Hong Kong gangsters smoking ban and killing Chinese citizens."

The Governor of Hong Kong strode forward with a look of indifference. Before anyone arrived, he had already taken the lead, intending to take the initiative to negotiate.

"Your Excellency William, don't be angry, this official is here for this matter." Li Hongzhang stood up, saluted calmly, and said confidently.

"With all due respect, the incompetence of your Qing government has disappointed me in the British Empire. The bandits in Guangzhou have been entrenched for more than a year, and you have not sent troops to attack at all. This is unbelievable to me!" William said solemnly.

"Your Excellency William, I want to wipe out the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom bandit rebellion in China, and I really can't get away, so this time I want to ask your country's fleet for help to wipe out the hypocrisy in Guangzhou. As long as the hypocrisy can be completely wiped out, I am willing Lend Guangzhou City to your country for ten years."

Li Hongzhang threw a blockbuster as soon as he exited, and sure enough, the governor of Hong Kong, who was opposite the town, was stunned by one shot.

(End of this chapter)