late Qing Dynasty arrest

In Yantai in November, the cold wind was blowing, but ten gunboats built by the Fujian Shipping Bureau were moored in the port, and two battleships bought from Prussia were cruising in the port.The sailors on board had brand-new clothes and hats, flags of various colors hung high on the mast, sirens blared, and salutes rumbled, accepting Li Hongzhang's review.

Today is a day of great joy, to celebrate the signing of the friendship agreement between China and Britain, known in history as

After the Western-style pre-dinner banquet, there was a formal luncheon for guests from all over the world. Li Guolou forced a smile on his face and chatted with the American Minister Xihua about the customs and customs of Taiwan Island. , for what purpose?

Li Henian, governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, did not come this time. What is the ulterior purpose of Xihua and him discussing the difference between raw and cooked Taiwanese islands?

Although Taiwan Island was included in the territory of the Qing Dynasty, less than one-third of the area was actually controlled by the Qing Dynasty. The rest of the area was controlled by some aborigines and belonged to uncivilized and wild lands.Liu Mingdeng, the commander-in-chief of the Taiwan town, received the tribute from the aboriginal tribes every year, which was considered to be the completion of the task. The Qing Dynasty had no plan to develop and immigrate to Taiwan, and Taiwan Island was a semi-civilized land.

Due to the backwardness of water conservancy construction and the delay in mountain reclamation, Taiwan Island at this time cannot be self-sufficient in food and needs to be transported from the coastal areas of Fujian.The Qing Dynasty stationed troops in Taiwan and Penghu, nominally 2000 troops each, but these 4000 troops had already become sea transport teams, unable to fight for a long time, the number of troops was severely lacking, and most of them were large wooden boats.

Li Guolou thought for a while, and asked in a low voice: "Mr. Xihua, have the two obsolete battleships of your Americans been delivered to the Japanese?"

U.S. Minister Xihua said with a smile: "Master Li is indeed the smartest person in the Qing Dynasty, but this time he guessed wrong. A total of four battleships were delivered to the Japanese and they were sold as merchant ships, so few people know about them. "

Li Guolou took a breath and asked, "What about the British, what did they do?"

Xihua shook his head and said, "The British will not sell anything except two troop carriers to the Japanese. They have only done a little arms business in the past two years. The Japanese navy was trained by our country, and that's all I can say. , do it for yourself.”

"Thank you, Mr. Xihua, for reminding me. I know who my real friends are. When I return to Tianjin, I will definitely pay a visit." Li Guolou bowed slightly, showing the demeanor of a diplomat.Fortunately, winter is coming, and everything is dormant, and everything will have to wait for the next spring.

Li Guolou went out to pee, walked past Li Hongzhang, leaned over and said, "Don't drink, Mr. Fu, the state affairs are at stake, and there is an urgent need." After speaking, Li Guolou walked out of the banquet hall and went out to blow the cold northwest wind, family affairs It's just a trivial matter. A man doesn't care about trivial matters. It's a good idea to be misunderstood. He wants to deceive everyone. Only a high-spirited national hero will defile himself, only for the revitalization of the nation.

After hearing Li Guolou's words, Li Hongzhang was not drunk. After seeing off the foreign missions, he walked into the living room with Li Guolou, Ding Richang, and Shen Baozhen.Xu Qian was driven out of the living room by Li Guolou because he was going to accompany Guo Songtao to the UK as a deputy envoy to France, and Xu Qian was not allowed to listen to state secrets.

Seeing Li Guolou's fake appearance, Ding Richang took it calmly, and said with a smile: "Master Youdu Censor, who are you going to blackmail? It's so mysterious."

Regardless of Ding Richang's cynicism, Li Guolou closed the door of the living room. The room was dark and there was a depressing and tense atmosphere. He turned around and said, "Don't be happy with your legs crossed. Disaster is coming. The Japanese must deal with it." Taiwan Island has started. Our navy is no match for the Japanese!"

Li Hongzhang raised his eyebrows, and shouted: "Li Guolou, you took the wrong medicine, and I didn't invite the Japanese envoy, so you're so shocked, what do you look like?"

Li Guolou rushed forward and said: "Master Fu, it is a golden opportunity for the Japanese to take revenge. Our country is still fighting a civil war, and Xinjiang has not yet recovered. If we don't fight at this time, when will we wait? It's so difficult to wait for our country." After reunification? Even if they can’t win against us, the Japanese are not afraid of our revenge. They must use the fact that Taiwanese students killed Ryukyu drifters as an excuse to attack Taiwan Island. Just attack Anping Castle and take Taiwan's throat. You are not old yet, don't become old fools."

Shen Baozhen stroked a shiny black beard and asked, "Master Li, what proof do you have?"

Li Guolou said: "Just now the American Minister Xihua made a few indirect remarks and secretly told me."

Ding Richang said angrily: "Li Guolou, you are so stupid! You also believe that."

Li Guolou flicked his official sleeves angrily, and said angrily: "Ding Richang, I am not joking at all. No one understands the virtues of the Japanese better than me. They are stubborn people. If they suffer a loss, they must take revenge. Even if they fly We don’t hesitate to put moths to the flames. The iron-clad boats we built ourselves have such thin cannons that they are used to fry fish. That small wooden boat has explosives in it, so it blows up to pieces. Don’t think foreigners are fools, I’m a layman It can also be seen that Wade must be laughing at us on the road."

Shen Baozhen's complexion changed, and he shouted in a deep voice: "Master Li, be careful, don't pretend to understand. This is the first foreign military exercise of my mighty navy. How can foreigners see their real skills." [

Li Guolou pointed to his nose and said angrily: "Sir Shen, don't rely on your old age to sell your old age. I don't understand it. Even if I don't understand it, I am a quick learner. I can figure out the way at a glance. With our current navy, we can fight in the sea. Relying on the firepower of the turret, who can you beat in the open sea? Fishermen or pirates. I advise you to recognize the reality and stop telling lies."

Li Hongzhang waved his hand and said, "Stop arguing, Li Guolou, tell me exactly what Xihua told you."

Li Guolou repeated the words of the American Minister Xihua, and his own analysis, and told Li Hongzhang to make an early decision that there was only one winter to deal with the military invasion of Little Japan.

Li Hongzhang stood up and said: "What Xiaolou said makes sense, so let's sound the war alarm. Shen Baozhen is still based on facts. We will not confront the Japanese head-on at sea. I will deploy troops to strengthen the defense of Anping Castle first. When the Beiyang Navy forms combat effectiveness, the Japanese will retreat in spite of difficulties."

"Hey! When will there be a real navy in the Qing Dynasty!" Shen Baozhen beat the case dejectedly, can the Nanyang navy fight?His heart is as bright as a mirror.

Li Guolou said to himself: "Master Fu, let me command your two battleships. Put the two battleships in Mawei Port, Fujian Province first. I'm a quick learner. You can send the Weiwu and Weili back to the city." What's the use of Weihaiwei, far water can't save near fire."

"No!" Li Hongzhang replied firmly.

"Master Fu Xiang, at worst, I will compensate you two ships, and I promise to return them to Zhao." Li Guolou knew how to negotiate with Li Hongzhang.

"Master Fu Xiang, you just agree. Our Nanyang Navy needs battleships. The students you fancy, I will give them to you with both hands." Shen Baozhen gritted his teeth and said cruel words, feeling extremely distressed.If two battleships enter Mawei Port, the combat power of the Nanyang Navy will immediately rise to a higher level. Now that they have come, will they leave?Everyone understands this truth.

"Hey! It's not about money. Talent is hard to come by. I'm the only one with this wealth." Li Hongzhang softened his words and looked at Li Guolou with great joy. He became the iron-blooded prime minister of the Qing Dynasty, all thanks to Li Guolou financial support.Without Li Guolou's blood transfusion, his ocean dream is still planned on the blueprint, how could there be today's naval military exercise.

The Qing Dynasty embarked on the road of national prosperity and military strength, thanks to the great help of the Li family, among which he and the second-ranked Li Guolou were the best.Li Hongzhang had long regarded Li Guolou as a confidant, and he publicized that Li Guolou was his successor, adhering to his idea of ​​saving the country through science and technology.As for Li Guolou's secret tricks and his desire to form his own faction, he saw through all of them one by one. How could Sun Wukong escape from the palm of the Tathagata Buddha.

The high status of Li Guolou can be seen from the seat. Li Guolou usually sits on the right side of Li Hongzhang, and even governors from all over the country sit at the head of Li Guolou.