I started with the Shinsengumi in Bakumatsu

Chapter 258 Having both sides
Naturally, Yagyu Heeyan would not quote a low price. He was worried that a low price would make Li Hongzhang look down upon, so he said: "Mr. Li has also seen that the data of our warships are much better than those of the British and French ironclads, especially in terms of range.

You, the Qing Dynasty, have fought several battles with Britain and France. You should understand that the farther the artillery fires, the greater the advantage. So, what price does Mr. Li think should be paid? "

Li Hongzhang was a little helpless. He knew clearly that Yagyu Shengxiyan was trying to manipulate him, but he had to pinch his nose to support him. Who told the Qing Dynasty to need a navy?

Whether it is to defend against great powers such as Britain and France, or to defend against Japan, the navy must be established.

He echoed: "Prime Minister Yagyu is joking. I don't know much about ironclads, but I have heard from foreigners that an ironclad of about 5,000 tons costs 300,000 pounds. Since your country's ironclads are more powerful, How about half a million pounds?"

Five hundred thousand pounds is nine million yen.

However, Yagyu Heeyan was not satisfied. He shook his head and said: "The warships of Britain and France are made of wrought iron. Our warships are made of wrought iron. A warship of 3,000 tons requires thousands of tons of wrought steel. The cost is at least Half a million pounds.

However, for the sake of our two countries being allies, I can sell it to you cheaper for one million pounds. As for a five thousand ton ironclad ship, it will cost more than two million pounds. "

Ding Ruchang was speechless and said: "Why is it so expensive? It has doubled."

Yagyu Heeyan said with some arrogance: "Of course, those old ships from Britain and France more than ten years ago cost three to five million, but the most advanced ones like ours only cost one million, is that expensive?
Mr. Li, you should know what kind of pressure your country will face when our country sells warships? "

Li Hongzhang explained: "Since the matter was raised by Prime Minister Yagyu, it will naturally be resolved by Japan."

Ding Ruchang shook his head.

Li Hongzhang then explained: "The imperial court knew something about the conflict between Japan and Great Britain in Osaka Bay, and the imperial court also knew something about the situation of the Japanese navy.

Seeing that Japan was willing to sell warships to the Qing Dynasty, Zuo Zongtang was a little surprised and said: "Will England and Tsarist Russia let Japan sell it to us?"

Li Hongzhang added: "To the Queen Mother, the price of this armored ship does seem to be more expensive than that of England and other countries, but judging from the intelligence from both sides, the Japanese warship is indeed better, and the price is considered to be worth the money. "

Li Hongzhang then continued: "Yu Ting, you have to understand why the British and French powers don't sell warships to us? Aren't you worried that the Qing Dynasty has a sharp weapon?
Japan is willing to sell ironclad ships to us, and it is normal that the price is high. Otherwise, why would Japan sell warships to us?

Empress Dowager Cixi nodded and said, "Can we still discuss the price?"

Li Hongzhang quickly answered: "Prime Minister Yagyu said that the price is relatively acceptable. I will report it to the court right now, okay?"

Ding Ruchang saluted and said, "Sir, the student is just not angry. It's too frustrating."

Seeing that Ding Ruchang had figured it out, Li Hongzhang got up to find Prince Gong, and then met with the Queen Mother of the two palaces.

Ding Ruchang shook his head.

Liu Shengxi nodded sternly and said: "That's good, I'll wait for your good news first."

Ding Ruchang lowered his head and said, "Your Excellency has good intentions, and the students understand."

Li Hongzhang stopped him and said, "Yu Ting, look, you're in a hurry. You still haven't learned the art of cultivating yourself."

As soon as they left, Ding Ruchang couldn't help but cursed: "The Japanese are so greedy, they actually sold it to us at double the price!"

Once we have the ironclad, we can study it carefully and build it ourselves later. "

Look at this album. Among the ironclads above, are there battleships of around 7,000 tons? "

Li Hongzhang stood up and sent Yagyu Shengxiyan away.

We can only work hard to revitalize the country and get rid of foreign aggression.

Li Hongzhang sat down and continued to teach Ding Ruchang: "Yu Ting, the country has been attacked by bandits, and its vitality has been severely damaged. It cannot withstand the hardships.

The most powerful battleship of the Japanese Navy was a battleship of more than 7,000 tons, which sank a British battleship. Take a look, is it in this illustrated book? "

Empress Dowager Ci'an said: "Since it is for the good of the Qing Dynasty, then buy it. As for the issue of money, the whole court will grit its teeth and tighten its belt."

Zuo Zongtang was a little worried. If the imperial court spent money to buy warships, it would probably have little money to fight against the rebellion in the northwest.

But of course he couldn't just watch the rebellion occupy the country. He could only find a way to raise military expenses by himself.

With the consent of the two queen mothers, Li Hongzhang once again approached Liu Shengxi for a detailed discussion. After some deliberations, the price was finally finalized.

A warship of about 1,000 tons costs 5 million yen, which is about 1.272 million yen. A warship of about 2,000 tons costs 8 million yen, which is about 2 million yen, and 3,000 yen. A warship worth 12 million yen per ton is about 3 million yen, and a warship of about 5,000 tons is worth 20 million yen per day, which is more than 5 million yen.

The price is really expensive.

This matter was naturally known to other countries.

Wytoma immediately intervened and demanded that the Qing Dynasty could only purchase warships from Britain.

But Britain can only sell gunboats of about 400 tons, four of which cost 1.5 million taels of silver.

Yagyu Heiyan naturally would not let Yingji destroy his trade with the Qing Dynasty, so he reduced the price based on the previous price.

Li Hongzhang was very happy. Although it was dangerous to play both sides between England and Japan, the benefits it brought were great and it was worth taking the risk.

However, Yagyu Heiyan and Wade had been arguing for a long time in the Prime Minister's Office, and then Li Hongzhang came forward and said: "Our country can purchase warships from both Great Britain and Japan.

Our government plans to purchase four gunboats and one thousand-ton ironclad ship. After our government uses them, we will decide on future purchase plans. "

Witoma still wanted to stop him, but Liu Shengxi said harshly: "Mr. Witoma, please don't go too far, Daying!"

Li Hongzhang took advantage of the situation and said: "Mr. Witoma, don't hurt your harmony."

Witoma snorted coldly and said, "Then so be it."

As soon as Witoma relented, it was done.

The gunboat sold by the British is not useless. Its nickname is "Mosquito Boat". This name was not given by the Qing Dynasty people, but the British themselves. Its official name is "Landall Gunboat".

The "Landall Gunboat" is indeed an advanced warship, but not because it is equipped or uses some advanced technology, but because its design concept is relatively advanced.

This kind of warship is called a "mosquito ship" because its hull is small, but it is equipped with a large-caliber main gun that is only equipped on large warships.

The original purpose of the British building this kind of warship was to defend offshore waters and important ports and use it as a mobile maritime fort.

This design concept is very advanced for this era, and many countries still use this kind of warships to this day.

The reason for the emergence of this kind of gunboat is that since the mid-19th century, the armor of warships in various navies has become thicker and thicker, and the main guns equipped with them have become larger in caliber and have a farther and farther range. If you want to defend the coastline, the forts to be built will become larger and larger.

But the forts built on the shore cannot be moved after all. If enemy warships appear to attack elsewhere, the forts will have no use.

In this case, the British came up with a way, which was to build a fort that could move on the water. This was the "Landall gunboat", also known as the "surface fort."

This kind of gunboat can be deployed in sea areas that need to be defended as needed, and can move at will, giving it a certain degree of survivability.

Historically, the Beiyang Navy of the Qing Dynasty purchased several such mosquito ships, but they were not effective in the Sino-Japanese War.

It spanned twenty years from 1875 to 1895. The initially advanced gunboats fell behind during the Sino-Japanese War.

As for the 1,000-ton light frigates sold by Japan, they still use old-fashioned steam power and have relatively advanced artillery, one version behind Japan's current frigates.

After Yagyu Heiyan and Li Hongzhang signed the ship purchase contract, Li Hongzhang said: "Prime Minister Yagyu, the British Ambassador Wade has been looking for our country to discuss the compensation issue for Magali. The conditions are a bit harsh. I wonder if Prime Minister Yagyu has any suggestions?"

Yagyu Heeyan asked directly: "What do you think? Just don't go too far. I will try my best to fight for you."

Li Hongzhang said: "The main reason is that they want to send a path exploration team into the southwestern region of our country. Prime Minister Yagyu, do you think this can be changed?"

Yagyu Heiyan thought that this was the southwest that England coveted, and he wanted to connect the southwest with India, which could be described as sinister.

He nodded and said, "I'll try my best."

Li Hongzhang said happily: "Then I will arrange for Mr. Witoma to negotiate with Prime Minister Yagyu."

Yagyu Shengxi sighed secretly. The country was in decline and had no diplomatic power. To protect its own interests, it had to depend on other people's faces. This was a reflection of a century of humiliation in modern times.

When I was studying, I was filled with resentment just by reading a few paragraphs in the textbook. I had nowhere to vent my grievances and could only curse a few indifferent words. Now that I have experienced it myself, I have mixed feelings.

He could only fight for the Qing Dynasty without harming Japan's interests.

Soon, Yagyu Heeyan met with Weitoma.

When Witoma saw Yagyu Heiyan, he reacted greatly. He stood up and said, "What does this matter have to do with Japan?"

Yagyu Heiyan said forcefully: "Now the Qing Dynasty is our ally of Japan. You, England, are clearly bullying our allies. How can we, Japan, stand by and watch?"

Witoma only felt that this was a provocation. Naturally, he could not let Japan intervene. Otherwise, if they blackmailed the Qing Dynasty in the future, Japan would jump out and take away part of the benefits.

He flatly refused: "This is a matter between the British Empire and the Qing Dynasty. If Japan wants to participate, then don't blame the British Empire for being ruthless!"

Liu Shengxiyan snorted coldly, slapped the table and said: "Okay, then let's fight! Let me see how many fleets and soldiers your British Empire sends!

Japan and the Qing Dynasty have joined forces to learn how powerful your expedition fleet is! "

Witoma knew that it was useless to threaten Yagyu Hiyan. This was a tough nut, but he could threaten the Qing Dynasty.

"Mr. Li, does your Qing court also mean this?"

Li Hongzhang quickly comforted him: "Why are you two at war with each other? Mr. Witoma, our country is willing to compensate your country for Margari, but some of your country's conditions are quite harsh, which is difficult for our country to accept."

Naturally, it is impossible for Wytoma to really ask Congress to send troops to fight. If Japan intervenes, Britain will suffer heavy losses even if it wins.

Now that Li Hongzhang had given in, he walked down the slope and said, "Are those conditions harsh? This time I won't let you cede the land in the Qing Dynasty."

Li Hongzhang did not dare to refute, he said: "The main reason is the conditions attached by your country. What happened this time happened because your country's exploration team entered the southwest territory of our country.

Our country believes that in order to avoid such things happening in the future, it is better to change this condition. "

Yagyu Heeyan said from the side: "What, your British Empire is addicted to blackmail, something happened the first time, and you still want to continue?
What happened this time was that your officials killed the people of the Qing Dynasty first. If you are allowed to continue sending the exploration team in, I don’t know how many people will die. Mr. Witoma, please save some face. "

Weituma's face was livid. Although this condition was added because of the weakness of the Qing Dynasty, it also paved the way for the subsequent colonial plan.

"This matter is non-negotiable."

Witoma said decisively.

Yagyu Shengxi Yan retorted: "I think you are shameless!"

"Don't be so messy!"

Witoma glared at Yagyu Hee and said sternly.

Li Hongzhang quickly reassured: "Wait a minute, Mr. Witoma, what do you think of this? Your country's exploration team can enter the southwest region, but it needs to report to our country and act under the leadership of our officials. It cannot do so privately." How about action?"

Weitoma looked at the unconvinced Yagyu Heiyan and thought that this could be regarded as completing the task. When the time comes, there is no need to look at Daqing's face for the specific operations.

He nodded and said: "That's okay, then it's settled."

After finalizing the general content, Witoma left first.

Li Hongzhang quickly thanked Yagyu Heeyan and said: "Thank you so much, Prime Minister Yagyu."

Yagyu Heeyan asked in confusion: "I think this treaty is bound to you, not to England. Their pathfinding team may not follow your arrangements when entering the southwest region."

Li Hongzhang smiled bitterly and said: "What can be done about this? Our country is no match for powerful countries like England. As long as we can save face, we can only turn a blind eye."

Liu Shengxi shook his head slightly and then returned to the embassy.

He had done what he wanted to do, and there was no need to stay in the Qing Dynasty. He would leave for Japan in a few days.

This time an alliance was signed with the Qing Dynasty, and Japan could establish more foreign trade companies in the Qing Dynasty.

Before, it could only be done in Tianjin, but now it can be traded in port cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.

This time Japan can increase the import of raw materials.

Compared with plundering by force, the cost of obtaining raw materials through trade is the least.

Japan needs time to digest the benefits it has snatched previously, and continuing to go to war will only miss its development time.

(End of this chapter)