The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 832 Luo Yaoguo: Yang Xiuqing, I want to see how powerful your magic is?
Tianjing, Prince Wu's Palace.

In Luo Yaoguo's study, sandalwood was lingering in the air, and the design drawings of the "Luoyang" warship were spread out on the desk. Xu Shou, Weng Tonghe, Wang Yan, Zhang Bao and others sat in a circle, looking solemn.

"Your Highness, the size of this ship is already the limit of Jiangnan Shipyard." Xu Shou's voice was hoarse, and his fingers were running across the blueprint. "Six thousand tons of light load, ninety-five meters in length, iron rib and iron shell structure, but the Krupp armored steel imitated by Xuzhou Iron and Steel Plant is not up to standard. The strength of this armor is probably..."

Luo Yaoguo raised his hand to interrupt: "Our idea of ​​​​warship design has always been to take small steps and move fast. We have never pursued a big goal at one go. The first ship of the Luoyang class will first use the "steel + iron" composite armor. If the carburized steel we get from Krupp is successful, it won't be too late to switch to it for the second, third, fourth and fifth ships of the Luoyang class."

Luo Yaoguo's "small steps and fast progress" means that he completes a new model (a major change based on the previous model) in about three years, and builds 5 boats for each new model.
Wang Yan frowned, "But this power system... four double-expansion steam engines, each with 3,000 horsepower, a total power of 12,000, and a speed of 14 knots. But the coal consumption is too high, 5 tons per hour. If there are no sails, endurance will become a problem."

"The sails must be cancelled!" Luo Yaoguo said firmly, "This is the general trend and if the sails are not cancelled, the firing range of the Luoyang-class turrets will be affected! In addition, a set of sails weighs several hundred tons, which can easily make the ship top-heavy. As for endurance, there is no need to worry about it. Because the next level of ironclad ships will be 7000-7500 tons, and they will have large enough coal bunkers. The Luoyang-class will only need to operate in the South China Sea and the East China Sea in the future."

Weng Tonghe pushed his glasses up: "Your Highness, this 'key protection' design... the waterline armor belt is 230 mm and tilted at 10 degrees. But is this the design of the 'Galaxy Fleet' battleship?"

"Galaxy Fleet". It sounds a bit sci-fi! Luo Yaoguo smiled and said, "The warships in the sky are not like this, but this 'key protection' armor layout is most suitable for our ironclad ships. We will continue to study along this line of thought in the future!"

Zhang Bao pointed at the turret layout and said with a smile: "Four twin 120mm Krupp guns, with a backpack-mounted firing range of 300 degrees and a firing rate of one round per minute. This firing rate is really high..."

"One shot per minute is not fast!" Luo Yaoguo shook his head. "Once the barrel-recoil artillery with hydraulic pneumatic recoil device is developed, the firing rate can be increased several times!"

He paused, and said with anticipation: "Ten years from now, I want five twin 300mm turrets, all with recoil guns! I also want a triple expansion steam engine that can output tens of thousands of horsepower and a huge ironclad ship with a displacement of 20,000 tons - but that's a story for later. For now, the Luoyang ship must be launched next year and put into service in the 20th year of the Tianli calendar!"

Everyone was silent.

Can this 20,000-ton giant ship really be built?
The sudden rain hit the glazed tiles outside the window. Luo Yaoguo suddenly turned around and asked Weng Tonghe: "How is the preliminary research of the 10,000-ton ship of Taiping University?"

"The boiler pressure has been tested to 15 kilograms, but the steel is not tough enough. Minister Xu's composite armor..."

"If there is anything that cannot be solved technically, please tell the Intelligence Department," Luo Yaoguo said, "We have given so much funding to the International Workingmen's Association, so it shouldn't be a problem to ask them for some technology, right?"

The International Workingmen's Association has branches not only in France, but also in the United States, Britain, Germany, and Russia! Germany and Russia can still manage it, but Britain has not yet banned it! In the United States, Lincoln's Northern Government also received support from the International Workingmen's Association, so the American Workingmen's Association has a great influence.
Luo Yaoguo continued, "In addition, the design institutes of the University Hall and Jiangnan Factory are divided into two groups, one group is rushing to Luoyang, and the other group is drawing the design drawings of the 10,000-ton ship. Time is running out!" He paused, "If Yang Xiuqing knew his own weight, our conflict with NATO might be postponed for a few years. Otherwise."

As soon as the arms meeting ended, Luo Yaoguo summoned the kings to discuss the matter.

Southern King Feng Yunshan, Western King Xiao Chaogui, Northern King Wei Changhui, Wing King Shi Dakai, National People's Congress Chairman Hong Xuanjiao, and True Yue Faction Deputy Leader Maria gathered in the main hall of the Wu Palace.

Luo Yaoguo slammed the telegram on the table: "The Japanese Emperor Tongren died suddenly!"

Feng Yunshan frowned and asked, "Any news from Prince Yang Dong?"

"No." Luo Yaoguo sneered, "But don't we know what he is going to do?"

Xiao Chaogui slammed his fist on the table: "Everyone knows what the Eastern King is thinking. I'm afraid he's going to take down Japan this time!"

Wei Changhui narrowed his eyes: "What does Ninth Brother mean?"

"I will personally go to Japan." Luo Yaoguo looked around at everyone, "In the name of attending the funeral of Emperor Tōhito, I will lead ten ironclad ships and two marine brigades to enter the Chinese Concession in Osaka!"

Hong Xuanjiao raised her eyebrows: "Ninth brother, are you going to force Fourth Brother Yang to express his support for us?"

Luo Yaoguo nodded: "I have asked the Ministry of Rites to prepare a copy of the Huaxia Alliance Treaty. The Korean Heavenly Kingdom and the Japanese Heavenly Kingdom both originated from our Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, so they should sign the contract and join the alliance!"

Feng Yunshan frowned and said, "Ninth brother, this may not be easy, right? The fourth brother has received a lot of benefits from the fifth sister (referring to Victoria) in the past ten years. I guess he is still trying to sway back and forth."

"Sway?" Luo Yaoguo raised his lips and sneered, "Then I'll let him see who the Japanese True Contract Sect, who he relies on as his right-hand man, listens to."

Shi Dakai pondered and said, "But the King of the East has been doing business in Japan for many years."

Maria reminded him softly, "Most of the Japanese True Covenant followers, such as Nanmu Michiko, are die-hard fans of the East Palace..." Luo Yaoguo shook his head and said word by word, "They are not loyal to the East Palace, but to the True Covenant! But why are they so loyal to the True Covenant?"

These words made the "gods" feel a little guilty!

Because except for Luo Yaoguo, all the "gods" present here are "incapable of performing miracles". They can neither predict nor contact the Heavenly Father or Heavenly Brother.
Feng Yunshan nodded and said, "Ninth brother, you need to be more careful when you go there. You must be on guard against others."

"Of course." Luo Yaoguo said, "Ten ironclad ships, two marine brigades, plus the support of the True Treaty faction - if Yang Xiuqing had been sensible, he would have signed the Huaxia Alliance Treaty. Otherwise..."

He glanced at everyone and said word by word:
"I want to see how powerful this fourth son of the Heavenly Father is."

Seven days later, Shanghai Wusong Naval Port.

Ten ironclad ships, including the "Xi'an", "Fuzhou" and "Guangzhou", were lined up on the river, and two Marine brigades were ready to go.

Luo Yaoguo stood on the bridge of the "Xi'an", looking towards the East China Sea, with a slight smile on his face: I'm a professional at shamanism!

"Send a message to the entire army..." He turned to Ding Ruchang, the commander of the Pacific Fleet beside him and said, "Move out! Target: Osaka!"

On the top floor of the Osaka Castle Tower, Yang Xiuqing turned his back to the door, staring at the increasingly heavy rain outside the window. Kusunoki Inako knelt quietly on the tatami, the tea in her hand had already gone cold. Her daughter Takako nervously fiddled with the cuffs of her kimono, occasionally stealing a glance at the wall clock.

"Ten ironclad warships," Yang Xiuqing suddenly said, his voice terribly hoarse, "Luo Yaoguo is trying to force the emperor to abdicate."

Daozi gently put down the teacup: "The chief priests of the Shinto Palace expressed at the regular meeting this morning that they are all willing to die for the East King."

Gao Zi suddenly raised his head, his eyes gleaming with a strange light: "Mother, I heard that His Royal Highness the King of Wu is a man sent from heaven, with magic skills, and can predict the future. The followers of the True Covenant sect call him the Great Angel God."

"Shut up!" Yang Xiuqing turned around abruptly, and the hem of his robe knocked over the tea set on the low table. The sound of the porcelain breaking was particularly harsh in the silent room.

This is what he fears most!

The reason why he could control Japan so easily was not because of his strong military force, but because Luo Yaoguo predicted the Edo earthquake thirteen years ago - this proved that there were real gods in the True Prophet Sect! This opened up the situation in Japan, where the True Prophet Sect had a very strong religious atmosphere, and believers came in droves.

Yang Xiuqing's power in Japan was actually given to him by Luo Yaoguo! If Luo Yaoguo could give, he could take it back!

He walked quickly to the military map and poked his finger at the location of Osaka Bay: "Where is the Combined Fleet now?"

"Reporting to the King of the East." The guard knelt outside the door and replied, "Three of the six battleships are under maintenance in Nagasaki, and the remaining three are in Korea. It will take at least three days for them to arrive."

Yang Xiuqing's face turned livid. He grabbed the secret letter on the table - it was sent by the spy lurking in Tianjing this morning, which recorded in detail the firepower configuration of the Taiping Fleet. When he saw "ten 5,000-ton ironclad ships" and "two elite marine brigades", his fingers trembled unconsciously.

Daozi frowned when she saw Yang Xiuqing's expression, then quietly moved to his side and said, "Do you want to agree to their conditions first? Wait for the fleet."

"Stupid!" Yang Xiuqing pushed her away. "After signing the Treaty of Huaxia Alliance, the Korean-Japanese Heavenly Kingdom will always be a vassal of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom!" He suddenly lowered his voice. "And I'm afraid he won't allow the Korean-Japanese union!"

Gao Zi stood up suddenly upon hearing this, his clogs making a clear sound on the floor: "Your Highness, if he doesn't allow us to unite, can't we? Is he the leader of the Kingdom of the Morning Sun?"

Yang Xiuqing glanced at Gao Zi with a sinister look: "Don't you know that he has a mirror that can communicate with the sky?"

Nanmu Takako looked at the man who was almost like a god in front of her. She suddenly had doubts in her heart - Luo Yaoguo was a real god, but was he a real god? Had he ever performed any miracles? It seemed that he had never done so!
A flash of lightning struck outside the window, instantly illuminating the pale faces of the three people. Raindrops slammed against the window frantically, as if foreshadowing that a bigger storm was coming.

Yang Xiuqing suddenly discovered that the foundation of the supreme power he had built in Japan over the years was actually the prophecy of Luo Yaoguo, the "Angel Great God"!

(End of this chapter)