Republic of China: Guandong Ginseng King

Chapter 450 Xiaozhi goes to study in Japan

"I came here on a mission ordered by the imperial court to suppress the uprising and eliminate the bandits who were obstructing the construction of the railway."

Qu Shaoyang glanced at Er Yuehong. It didn't need to be stated who he was talking about.

"But to be honest, I also hate those Russians who act recklessly and oppress the people on our land."

“Miss Yang, I actually admire what you have done. You have done many things that many men cannot do.

However, I still advise you from the bottom of my heart that this road is not easy to walk, and you can't be stubborn and stick to it until the end.

You just said that these brothers in the gang are all honest people.

I had no choice but to take this path in order to avenge your Lin family.

Most of them are relatives of yours. Can you really bear to watch them die one by one?"

Qu Shaoyang looked at Er Yuehong and tried to persuade her patiently.

"If you and the other members of your gang agree, you can join my army.

To tell you the truth, during this trip I have recruited several gangs like you who are good at making money.

As long as you are willing to nod in agreement, the past can be written off and will not be pursued any further.

I have a lot of businesses under my name, and I'm short of staff now. I can arrange any of them when the time comes. What do you think?"

Qu Shaoyang really liked Yang Siya's spirit of taking revenge and being straightforward and free and easy, so he tried to persuade her with kind words.

Er Yuehong was stunned when he heard this, and then he smiled.

"Thank you for your kindness, my lord. My brothers and I have become accustomed to this kind of free and unfettered life and do not want to go back to living a life of strict rules and regulations."

Qu Shaoyang was not angry when he heard this. He had already expected that with Er Yuehong's personality, he might not be willing to accept the amnesty.

"Okay, then take care of yourselves. We'll see you later."

Everything that needs to be said has been said. Qu Shaoyang does not have to accept the Eryuehong ribbon. Since the other party is unwilling, no amount of persuasion will be of any use.

Just as the situation over there had been almost cleaned up, Qu Shaoyang called people over and gave all the guns, ammunition, horses, money and other supplies seized that day to Er Yue Hong Tiaozi.

"With these things, you can recruit more soldiers and expand your scale. But next time you fight with the Russians, you must get good news in advance."

Those guns and ammunition were not the same models as those used by the Dingbian Army, so it would be troublesome to take them back.

Maozi's horses are pretty good, but Qu Shaoyang is very rich and can buy any kind of horses he wants, so he doesn't necessarily have to buy these.

The Eryuehongluanzi suffered heavy losses, so we might as well do them a favor and give them all to them.

"Thank you for your care, sir. We will remember your kindness today.

No matter what orders you give me in the future, Er Yuehong and his brothers will go through fire and water without hesitation."

Er Yuehong was not the pretentious type. Since Qu Shaoyang had said he would give it to her, there was no need for her to refuse, so she agreed without hesitation.

However, the four pillars and others standing by were all dumbfounded.

You know, that's the equipment of more than 300 Russian cavalrymen. With these things, they can go back to recruit soldiers and increase their strength greatly, and they can compete with some big gangs.

"Keep this. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, or if you are short of anything, take it to Huixian Tower in Jilin City, and someone will help you solve it.

If it can't be solved, someone will contact me." Qu Shaoyang took out a pocket watch and handed it to Er Yuehong.

The pocket watch was specially customized, with a gold case inlaid with various gems to create the shape of an eagle. It was very valuable.

This is Qu Shaoyang's keepsake, and everyone around him recognizes this watch.

Er Yuehong was stunned and waved his hands quickly, "Sir, I can't accept this.

If this is known to others, you will probably be charged with collusion with bandits."

This thing looked very valuable and not something that ordinary people could have, so she didn't dare to accept it.

"Just keep it, just in case it comes in handy in the future. Take care of yourselves, I'm leaving now."

Qu Shaoyang stuffed the pocket watch directly into Er Yuehong's hand, then turned around and led his men away, leaving Er Yuehong holding the pocket watch and standing there in a daze.

"Boss, when did you meet such a powerful person?"

Artilleryman Zhao Changmin came over and asked curiously.

He is Er Yuehong's cousin and also a hunter. He has been practicing martial arts and hunting with his father since he was a child and is particularly good at shooting.

"Brother, when I was being chased by Jiang Shang Piao Luanzi, it was this gentleman who brought people to rescue me.

Later, he sent people to wipe out the Jiangshang Piaoluanzi, and gave me half of the Jiangshang Piaoluanzi's assets as compensation."

Er Yuehong looked at the pocket watch in his hand and sighed.

"Oh my, why didn't you tell me earlier? This is our benefactor." Zhao Paotou slapped his thigh and said regretfully.

"We should take him back to Shilingzi. My grandfather and father have been talking about thanking him for saving you."

"Eh? That's not right, cousin.

He saved your life, helped us so much today, and gave us so many supplies. He left you this important token. Could it be that he has a crush on you?"

Over there, the head of the group, who was also Er Yuehong's aunt's cousin, came over with a curious look on his face and asked.

"What nonsense are you talking about? He is a high-ranking official in the imperial court. How could he look down upon a bandit like me?"

Er Yuehong's face suddenly turned red and she spat.

"He originally wanted to recruit us and have us join his army, but I refused."

"Why don't you agree? Cousin, wouldn't it be great if we could surrender and get rid of this bandit skin?
I think that gentleman's subordinates are all doing well."

After all, I was young and inexperienced, and I couldn't help feeling it was a pity that I had missed such a good opportunity.

"What do you know, little brat? Even if you want to seek refuge with them, you can't do it at this time.

We were almost beaten to a pulp by the Russians just now, but they came to our rescue.

How much use can it be if we go over there now?
Instead of doing this, we might as well expand our gang so that we can help Lord Qu if we have the opportunity in the future.

When the time comes, we can all go over there and have a good future together."

After all, Paotou was older, more experienced, and had a long-term vision, so he immediately guessed Er Yuehong's thoughts.

“Yeah, I thought so too.

Even if we want to join Lord Qu, we must have our own strength, otherwise we will not be valued even if we go there."

Er Yuehong nodded, put the pocket watch away and kept it close to his body.

Then, with a word, the gang packed up their things and left the village.

On the other side, Qu Shaoyang led his troops and spent some time wiping out two notorious gangs. Afterwards, he returned to Jilin City with several carts of heads to report.

When General Yan Mao of Jilin saw this, he was very happy. After asking in detail about the process of suppressing the bandits, he said that he would definitely report to the court and ask for credit for Qu Shaoyang.

Qu Shaoyang did not stay in the Jilin General's Mansion for long. After reporting the results of the bandit suppression, he said goodbye and left, returning to his house in Jilin City.

Last spring, Chen Xiuyun came to Jilin Shi Hospital to discuss medical issues with foreign doctors.

Chen Xiuyun conveniently chose a house in Jilin City and bought it directly, leaving it as a place for the couple to stay when they came to Jilin City for business. They couldn't stay at the post station every time they came, which would be too inconvenient.

Anyway, the Qu family has plenty of money, and houses in Jilin City are not that expensive, so it doesn't hurt to buy a few more.

"My Lord, are you back? This bandit-suppression mission took quite a while, you must be exhausted, right?

I will have someone boil some water and help you wash and change your clothes. The kitchen will also prepare a banquet to welcome you and the generals."

When Lin Yuhuan learned that Qu Shaoyang had returned home, she hurriedly brought people to greet him.

This house cannot be left unattended, so after Chen Xiuyun nodded, Lin Yuhuan brought people in and moved in, managing the internal and external affairs on a daily basis.

Today, Lin Yuhuan has opened restaurants, inns, mountain goods stores, foreign goods shops and other businesses in Jilin, Changchun, Nong'an, Huaide and other places, and they are running very well.

She basically doesn't have to go to the shop to look after it now, she just needs to check the accounts every month.

Originally, Qu Shaoyang told Lin Yuhuan that if she met someone she liked in the next few years, Qu Shaoyang would prepare a generous dowry for her.

But in recent years, Lin Yuhuan has been focusing on developing her career and has no interest in love. Until now, she has not found a suitable person.

Qu Shaoyang didn't want to rush others, so he just let Lin Yuhuan do what she wanted.

Most of the Dingbian troops were scattered throughout the city, and Qu Shaoyang only brought forty or fifty people back to the house.

The group had been out suppressing bandits for two or three months, and without enough food or rest, they were all covered in dust and dirt, so they all hurried to wash and pack up.

Qu Shaoyang also returned to his residence. Lin Yuhuan prepared hot water and clean clothes for him, then went outside to guard.

After Qu Shaoyang had washed, dressed and come out, Lin Yuhuan hurried forward.

Help Qu Shaoyang dry his hair, comb it straight, and re-braid it.

"After a while, I will have someone deliver a batch of the latest guns and ammunition here and put them in the warehouse of the mountain goods store. You will take care of it.

If someone comes over in the future, they can bring my token and match the code, and then I can sell it to them."

Qu Shaoyang leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed, instructing Lin Yuhuan.

If you were to ask what business in the world makes the most money, one would be selling medicine, and the other would definitely be dealing in guns and ammunition.

Coincidentally, the Qu family’s assets have both of these.

Bandits are rampant in Jilin Province, and many wealthy families will prepare some guns and ammunition just in case.

Qu Shaoyang naturally couldn't miss this deal. The Qu family's caravan would sell guns while collecting goods from various places.

In the past two years, mountain goods stores have opened up everywhere, and they also store some guns and bullets and sell them to familiar people.

Those gangs that were recruited were directly assigned to the forest patrol team.

There were also some who were unwilling to be recruited, so Qu Shaoyang reached an agreement with them and secretly supported them.

Give them funds, guns, ammunition, etc. to support their development and growth.

In the future, if there are matters that Qu Shaoyang is not able to handle personally, he will ask these people to do it. This will be mutually beneficial for both parties.

If we were to say what the gang lacks most, it would undoubtedly be guns and ammunition, especially bullets.

Guns generally don't get lost, at most they just wear out, but every time a bullet is fired, one bullet is less.

The biggest worry for the gang's granary was bullets, which were too difficult to find.

Each time they were obtained through smashing kilns, robbing and other means. Not only were the quantities small, but there was a high possibility that the models did not match.

When Qu Shaoyang was working at the Fengtian Machinery Bureau, he specially set up a bullet production line.

The explosives workshop in Linjiang City also has a bullet reloading production line.

So this thing is in short supply elsewhere, but he has it, and it doesn't matter how many pieces he supplies. It's perfect for making money.

"Okay, I understand. Don't worry, sir. I will pass on this matter."

Lin Yuhuan responded, but her hands did not stop moving. She braided all the braids and tied them up with a thin rope.

It’s true that Lin Yuhuan’s skill in braiding hair is really good. The braids she combed are shiny and smooth, not frizzy at all.

By the time her braids were done, the food was ready, and several tables were set up in the front hall.

Qu Shaoyang drank wine and ate meat with several generals of the Dingbian Army and had a feast to their heart's content.

It was almost the twelfth lunar month and the weather was cold, so the bandit suppression mission came to a temporary halt. After staying in Jilin City for a few days, Qu Shaoyang set out to return to Linjiang.

After returning, Qu Shaoyang submitted a memorial to the Shengjing General.

In addition to narrating the process of the bandit suppression, he also submitted a report to the imperial court.

Shuangdianzi, Mengjiang, Niangniangku and other places are located in the upper reaches of the Songhua River. They have poor transportation, are plagued by bandits all year round, have busy government affairs and frequent negotiations.

He requested permission from the imperial court to establish county seats in these places to facilitate administration.

After the memorial was written, he ordered someone to send it to Fengtian.

At the same time, Qu Shaoyang also arranged for people to go to the Phoenix Hall to deliver New Year gifts to the Chen family and Zhang Xiulan.

On the 18th day of the twelfth lunar month, Xiaozhi returned from Tianjin.

Xiaozhi studied at the Beiyang Military Academy for three years. He did very well in all subjects and performed especially well in the practical training of the new army, winning the appreciation of many people.

Originally, the Qing government planned to arrange for Xiaozhi and other students to study in Germany.

Starting from the 23rd year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu, Japan would invite officials from the Qing Dynasty to observe its army's mobile exercises every winter.

Japanese Army Colonel Fukushima Yasumasa traveled to various provinces of the Qing Dynasty and lobbied local officials to welcome the Qing Dynasty to send army students to study in Japan.

In view of the growing strength of Japan, the Qing government believed that sending students to Japan was shorter and less expensive than sending them to Germany.

So some time ago, the imperial court selected nine people from the junior class of the Beiyang Military Academy, more than ten people from Liangjiang, and twenty people from Lianghu, a total of forty people, to study in Japan.

"Brother, I don't really want to go to Japan, but the higher-ups have arranged it, so there's nothing I can do."

After Xiaozhi returned home, he found Qu Shaoyang, and the two brothers had a secret conversation in the study.

"Actually, whether it's Germany or Japan, it's the same. You go there to learn skills, don't bring any prejudices.

Although I don't like Japan from the bottom of my heart, I have to admit that their current military strength and scientific research are indeed much stronger than our Qing Dynasty.

You are going to learn from them now so that you can put your knowledge to good use in the future. Maybe one day in the future, you can lead an army to defeat them, understand?"

Qu Shaoyang understood that Xiao Zhi was somewhat influenced by him and had a very bad impression of Japan.

However, the opportunity to study abroad on government sponsorship is rare, so you should not let your personal emotions get in the way and should put the overall situation first.

Therefore, Qu Shaoyang patiently advised Xiaozhi to prepare to go to Japan to study and serve the court in the future after graduation.

"However, Big Brother has something to remind you.

After you go out, remember not to associate with messy people and don't join this or that group.

You are here to study, so the most important thing is to study with peace of mind. Don't participate in any activities, as they will not benefit you."

(End of this chapter)