"Ji Shi, the imperial court is really kind to me in Beiyang." Looking at the approval document from the imperial court, Zhang Peilun couldn't help but sneered.

"Ronglu controlled the Chu army to train in Shaanxi and Gansu, and Yiketang'a trained in the northeast. Although we in Beiyang have approved the expansion of the army, we have to raise the money and food ourselves, while Ronglu and Yiketang'a have money from the court. There are also

This article puts you in charge of Beiyang's journey from Italy to Germany

The two countries will purchase ordnance, give you the position of deputy general, and supervise the construction of ships. I'm afraid you won't be able to come back in three or four years." Seeing that Li Hongzhang and Xu Jie didn't respond, Zhang Peilun said angrily. He thought to himself,

Do you, master and disciple, just recognize each other?

"Ji Shi, the emperor's grace is so great that he went to Europe at a young age to be in charge of the ordnance procurement of our Second Beiyang Marine Division. You must behave well and don't lose the face of the court and our division." Li Hongzhang chuckled after a while.

"I must fulfill my mission and speak for the great masters of the imperial court." Xu Jie said jokingly.

"What happened to the two masters and apprentices? How can they still laugh when they encounter such a thing?" Zhang Peilun said in his heart, and his face turned livid.

"Okay, Ji Shi, tell Youqiao what you think." Li Hongzhang glanced at Zhang Youqiao and said.

"One of Ronglu and Iketang'a is training in the northwest, and the other is training in the northeast. They have indeed formed a check on our Beiyang, but let's talk about Yiketang'a first. This Iketang'a is still quite capable. If

If he can really achieve something, it will not be a bad thing for me in Beiyang. Once the Qing Dynasty starts a war. Iketang'a's

The troops and our troops in Beiyang will pose a threat to the Japanese army from two directions. (Historically, Yike Tang'a, Shoushan and others did fight against Benzi several times in Liaodong and South Liaoning, although the results were not good.) When we get there.

At that time, the Japanese army must divide its forces. The stronger Iketang and the others are, the less pressure we will have on Beiyang." Xu Jie said with a smile.

"Ji Shi thinks Iketanga can resist the Japanese army after several years of preparation?" Zhang Peilun asked.

"Of course not, it can only be delayed. As a kind of containment." Xu Jie replied.

"Then how should our Beiyang Army Division operate?" Li Hongzhang asked.

"In the early stage, we will focus on Lushun and defend the Beiyang Fleet base. In the later stage, it will depend on the situation." Xu Jie replied.

"This kind of tactics is too negative?" Zhang Peilun said with some dissatisfaction.

"I have calculated the strength of the Japanese army. Its maximum troop deployment capacity will be more than 200,000 troops. Even if our Beiyang Navy wins the naval battle, in a short period of time, the Japanese army will still have strong combat effectiveness and a complete logistics system.

and battlefield seizures are enough to last for a period of time, and our troops in various parts of Beiyang total less than 50,000, plus the expansion of the army

The remaining troops are only about 70,000, and the ones that can be concentrated in Lushun are only 50,000 at most. Even if half of the Japanese army comes to attack Lushun, it will only be 100,000. And once the northeastern army training in Iketanga cannot hold on, the Japanese army will

We will definitely increase our troops to Lushun. As a result, our Beiyang Army Division will be under great pressure. What else can we do if we don't passively defend?" Xu Jie asked rhetorically.

"What about North Korea? Don't want it anymore?" Zhang Peilun couldn't help but ask after hearing for a long time that Xu Jie didn't mention North Korea.

"North Korea will definitely not be able to bear it. Our Beiyang Army Division is too small. If we expect to be wasted in North Korea, we might as well withdraw the defense of Port Arthur. As long as the Navy can win, the Japanese army's logistics supplies will be cut off. When the Japanese army is exhausted, we

Just counterattack again. In short, once the war starts, our highest goal in Beiyang is to ensure victory at sea and the safety of the naval base." Xu Jie said.

"Ji Shi, if the Japanese army that defeated Iketanga does not send reinforcements to Lushun but attacks Shanhaiguan, wouldn't the capital and Tianjin be in danger?" Li Hongzhang suddenly asked.

"Then it depends on whether the Japanese army's supplies can sustain it. If we in Beiyang can guarantee sea control, and with the Ronglu troops returning from the northwest, we can at least delay the Japanese army's actions. Time is on our side, as long as we delay, it will

Victory. If it really doesn't work, we can allocate part of the army to Zhili when the Lushun base is safe. And Sir, don't forget, we still have a few trump cards that are useless." Xu Jie said with a slight smile.

"You mean Mr. Liu and Mr. Li, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi?" Zhang Peilun asked.

"Exactly, this time we go south, the two adults have agreed to build a new army. If we in Beiyang need it, as long as the court has a decree, they can support it by sea. As for the transportation problem, I don't need to worry about Beiyang. The transport ships of Nanyang Chinese merchants

The team is enough." Xu Jie said.

"That's very good. But the key is that the Navy must win. And it must win a big victory. Otherwise, it cannot cut off the Japanese army's supplies. I'm afraid it will be difficult to implement this plan." Li Hongzhang praised.

"So, our Beiyang Navy still needs to purchase new ships." Xu Jie took advantage of the situation and put forward his plan to purchase ships.

"You still want to buy a ship? Beiyang has just purchased three new 5,000-ton cruisers!" Zhang Peilun said hurriedly.

"Brother Zhang, don't be anxious. Look, once my new ship starts construction, it will only take half a year at most. The Japanese's new ship will definitely start construction, and it may be bigger and stronger." Xu Jie said confidently.

"In your opinion, what kind of warship should I buy?" Li Hongzhang ignored Zhang Peilun's shock and asked directly.

"In addition to the **-class cruiser, students in Italy also designed an armored cruiser with a displacement of about 9,000 tons. It is equipped with 4 10-inch guns, 10 6-inch guns, and 6 4.7-inch guns. The armor uses new hardened armor.

, up to 8 inches thick, with a speed of about 21 knots. The **-class is only used for vanguard and reconnaissance, and this armored cruiser is the real main battle force. Its performance is in no way compared with the first-class battleships of European countries.

Inferior." Xu Jie replied.

"How much?" Li Hongzhang asked. Li Hongzhang had great trust in Xu Jie's ability. Since Xu Jie said that the performance was superior, the actual situation was definitely similar even if there was a deviation. But good goods are definitely not cheap, and money is a factor.

question!!

"About 650,000 pounds." Xu Jie said with a somewhat embarrassed expression.

"S." Zhang Peilun couldn't help but gasped, "This is almost the price of two new warships."

"Good goods are not cheap, and cheap goods are not good." Xu Jie replied.

"Where does that money come from? Even if we include the taxes collected from the newly built factories, we in Beiyang may not be able to support it." Li Hongzhang asked calmly.

"Borrowing," Xu Jie replied. "We can follow Japan's example and issue bonds in the UK and Italy."

"Issuance of bonds requires collateral." Zhang Peilun said with a blush on his face.

"Both the shares of Kailuan Coal Mine and the shares of the newly built Shanghai Cotton Mill can be used as collateral. If that doesn't work, why don't we still have the Tianjin Machinery Bureau?" Xu Jie replied.

"This is my lifeline in Beiyang, how can I mortgage it easily?" Zhang Peilun asked.

"Hunter, if Japan really purchases new ships as you said, then I, Beiyang, will really fight with it. Kailuan Coal Mine, Shanghai Cotton Mill, and Tianjin Machinery Bureau, whatever you want, as long as I, Beiyang, have

You can take them all." Li Hongzhang said with a slightly ferocious tone.

"Actually, there is another way, and that is for Beiyang to step forward and establish a Western-style bank. On the one hand, it can raise funds, and on the other hand, it can support Beiyang's various industries. When necessary, it can also..." The second part of Xu Jie's sentence
Chapter completed!