open sea

Chapter 559 Make Way
Wanli three years, April [-]th.

Chen Mu, who is an important minister of Beiyang, led the crowd to leave Beijing and set off for Tianjin on a cruise ship.

The patrol boat is the boat used by the imperial envoys and the officers and soldiers on the canal. In fact, Chen Mu can take the boat, but it is just in time for the busy water transportation in spring. Although Chen Mu and his party don’t have much luggage, they have a few horses, so they simply take the official boat. slow boat,

The boat was not too big, except for them and the boatman, it was a post sent by the Water Transport Yamen to escort the officers and soldiers, and they were divided into two subsequent patrol boats to perform their duties on the canal and send Chen Mu to Tianjin Wei safely.

There were [-] water transport ships at the orthodox time. In the past, wood was picked from the southwest and transported to Linqing, Shandong, and Qingjiang, Huai’an for repairs. Responsibilities are clarified, and each has its own brand name. The Weisuo is the military brand, the Tiju Division is the Yun brand, and the folks are the civilian brand.

For example, Chen Mu's ship is a military patrol ship built in Tianjin Wei.

"Chang Ji, do you know that there are servants setting fire to construct the official road along the coast every once in a while, what do they do?"

It was still early when we set off from Beijing, and it was already dark in a blink of an eye. Chen Mu put away his python robe and changed into the general's breastplate he usually wears when he left Beijing. He leaned on the side of the boat and pointed to the shore to ask Zhao Shizhen.

Not long after the beginning of spring, Yuanwailang Zhao Shizhen took out a folding fan and wrapped it up. Fortunately, his head was not damaged, but he didn't really fan the wind when he held it in his hand.

Hearing Chen Mu's question, Zhao Shizhen, who was painting at his desk in the cabin, poked his head out, smiled and shook his head at Chen Mu and said, "I don't know."

"That's an electric wire. Mr. Ge has issued corvée. The people around the canal have to set up electric poles. The electric poles are designed by me, and they are prepared for the delivery of telegrams in the future." Chen Mu said easily, and he put most of his thoughts The development trend of electricity is compiled into books, regardless of whether you know it or not, it is left to the people of this era to make and develop. Anyway, he does not expect this thing to help him make money. He spread his hands and smiled: "Now I I don’t know how far it has progressed.”

"However, I heard that although the suitable motor has not yet been completed, Mr. Zhang Ge has asked Qi Shuai to make a set of ciphertext for future telegrams."

"This line will also be repaired to Tianjin. Maybe when we return from America, we will be able to use the telegraph."

Zhao Shizhen didn't expect much from the telegram. He was more interested in what they were going to do in Tianjin. Having such a boring Chen Mu bothering him would not allow him to continue painting canal scenes at ease. Lazy, he asked Chen Mu: "Handsome, why am I going to Dagu instead of Tianjin Wei? Isn't Tianjin Sanwei already under the control of the Beiyang Army?"

Chen Mu glanced at Zhao Shizhen, and said, "Tianjin Wei is busy with affairs, so it's not good to train troops there."

"This is an important place to transport silver and grain by sea to the capital. From Haikou to Weihe River is sea transportation, and guarding the Grand Canal there is water transportation. It has been secret since ancient times. From top to bottom, Jinyiwei South Town Fusi Yamen, Tianjin Bingbei Road The yamen, the Yamen of the Salt Transportation Capital, the Salt Patrol Department, the Tianjin Branch Office of the Household Department, and the Qing Army Yamen in charge of military affairs and military discipline, the chief soldier of the sea transport and the chief soldier of the water transport.”

"In terms of various reasons, many of their yamen's duties overlap, and now they overlap with the newly established Beiyang Yamen's duties. It is better to jump out and give orders directly to the city instead of making trouble for the bustling Tianjin city."

Tianjin is a good place. The name comes from Ming Chengzu Jingnan who led the army to cross here. When he came back, he named it Tianjin, which means the ferry that the emperor passed. Most of the people immigrated from Nanzhi with the army. Southern Zhili is similar, the commander of Tianjin Wei is Ni Jiayin, the eighth commander of the Ni family, Zhao Kezhong, the ninth commander of the Zhao family of Tianjin Zuowei, and Meishi, the eighth commander of the Mei family of Tianjin Youwei. The three guards are hereditary from Yongle The court has never been broken.

Zhao Shizhen sighed, and said: "Students still think it's good to be in Tianjin City, but going to the wilderness to build a city will cost another three to forty thousand taels of silver."

"Where is three or forty thousand taels enough?" Chen Mu smiled, looked around, and then said softly to Zhao Shizhen: "Before leaving Beijing, I have sent a messenger to Nanyang to send the needed goods to Beijing, but I don't know if I can make it in time." If the transportation to Beijing is not in time, we will have to wait for one or two months to send additional warships and gold and silver goods, worth 4 taels."

"20 taels!"

Zhao Shizhen was stunned, and he asked in a low voice: "How long will Chen Shuai stay in Tianjin? Didn't we come here to organize supplies and allocate troops, and set off for America as soon as the warships arrive?"

Chen Mu shook his head with a smile, but he didn't see that the little staff was so excited about crossing the ocean: "I can't go, the route has not been explored, how can we send the army directly, and now we only have the route given to you by the Spaniards. That route is I haven’t tested whether it’s true or not, but if you send a large army and get lost in the past, you will not be responsible for the crime, and if the army is gone, you will not be able to come back.”

"In addition, I also have a plan in my heart to make in Beizhili. The Beiyang military government and government stalls need to be set up. Many functions under the military government have not been sorted out. Tianjin coastal defense also needs to be built. Besides, I want to train a team. Cavalry—wait until the fleet that sailed east with the Spaniards returns, and we have a clear chart before we can go."

Zhao Shizhen pursed his lips, and said with a little disappointment on his face: "Then let's say it will take a year and a half. If something happens to Haitu, we won't go to America?"

"Don't panic, there are few officials in the military government right now, so you won't be idle. If something happens to Haitu, it's okay, we have another way in our hands." Chen Mu almost laughed out loud when he thought of Ma Gui's news , said: "Ma Gui and Ma Jin are not dead, and the imperial court issued orders for several months before they sent people to contact the soldiers and horses left behind in Wangxia Prefecture in the north. I couldn't find it again, so I left Le Shi and went south."

"At this time next year, if the fleet going to Madrid does not come back, we will go through the northern route. Now the imperial court knows when the north will be frozen and when it will thaw, and Magui has also discovered a black water Mohe Islands, which leads directly to North Asia. Merriga, the first thing we need to do is to send people to find Magui's whereabouts after the freeze is over, and deliver him luggage...they will definitely have a hard time this winter."

"What can students do, I'm not afraid of too many things!" Zhao Shizhen asked Chen Mu with glowing eyes: "As long as the commander doesn't let me write paperwork, I can do everything well!"

"Don't worry, the communication with the officials of the Ministry of Industry in the past will be left to you, the official of the Ministry of Rites. The Yamen of the Beiyang Military Mansion requires you to supervise the construction. First, build the warehouse, and don't worry about other things for the time being."

Chen Mu looked at the Grand Canal at night, the darkness reflected the light of the cruise ship lanterns, "After the settlement is complete, first call Li Dan back to ask about the situation. The fight has not finished for almost two years... If you want to go to the Great Eastern Ocean, first settle down in the Little Eastern Ocean, In today's world where you fight over each other, Daming can't give way to anyone!"

(End of this chapter)