Master Yuan, start!

Therefore, the communication between the Americans and the Japanese was not smooth at this time. Only some of the equipment that the Japanese considered acceptable was purchased by them, and most of the remaining equipment was still gathering dust in the warehouse.

Chongnai Steel's expansion into East Asia was halfway to failure, and the remaining half depended on Yuan Shikai.

Leng Yuanxiang naturally accepted everyone who came. The production capacity that Americans thought was very backward was extremely suitable for China at that time in his opinion.

5 Don't seek quality, seek quantity first. Relying on the advantages of large population, large mines and abundant resources, first build the framework and increase the crude steel output.

Just as Tsarist Russia could become the gendarmerie of Europe with its inferior industrialization and population of over 100 million, he could also follow suit and become the gendarmerie of the Far East!

After discussing with Tian Bei, Yuan Xiangcheng arranged for Kuang Chunhua to take dozens of teachers and students from the Industrial and Mining School to the United States to prepare for large-scale purchases.

The price was also easy to negotiate, as no one wanted it, so it was extremely affordable. At that time, Americans had already achieved an annual steel production of more than 300 million tons, ranking first in the world.

For a price of more than 100 million taels, they acquired "backward" production equipment with an annual output of approximately 2 tons of steel, 4 tons of pig iron, and 5000 tons of rails. However, this amount of output was just a drop in the bucket in the eyes of Americans.

In the original time and space in 1886, the Qing Dynasty's steel production was negligible, while the Japanese steel production was 2000 tons.

In 1903, Japan's steel production was less than 5 tons, and it only reached 1913 tons in 25.

Therefore, the equipment with a steel production capacity of 2 tons that the Americans sold him was close to the Japanese's annual output in 1901.

The Pyongyang Iron Works that Yuan Xiangcheng had built had an unskilled technology and was too small in scale. Its annual pig iron output was only 2000 tons, and its steel output was only a pitiful few dozen tons, which was not even one-tenth of the Hanyang Iron Works in the original time and space.

Even so, there is still a lot of steel in it, which comes from the abandoned rails left over from the laying of North Korean railways. After remelting and recycling, several furnaces of qualified molten steel were produced.

If we rely entirely on self-smelting, I am afraid we won’t be able to produce even more than a few dozen tons of steel, and at most we can produce some pig iron.

So there was no other way, Yuan Shikai could only keep looking for new sources of steel. In addition to desperately importing finished products, he also had to import equipment to quickly produce it himself.

Steel and coal were the standard equipment for a powerful country in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In today's world, a country that produces 10 tons of steel annually is a regional power; a country that produces 50 tons of steel annually is a continental power; and a country that produces 100 million tons of steel annually is a global power.

9 Yuan Shikai's requirements were not high. He only wanted to achieve an annual output of 1890 tons before 45, which was only 35/20 of that of the United States, 4/ of that of the United Kingdom, / of that of Germany, and / of that of Russia.

With 100,000 steels in hand, the Far East will be full of his followers!

Search group 96)+71025)

In early January 41888, although the temperature was low and the sun rarely appeared, it shone on the somewhat cold sea surface and quickly melted the thin ice that had formed in the early morning.

3 The Hong Kong Squadron of the Far East Fleet of the British Royal Navy, which departed from Hong Kong, arrived at Incheon Port.

Although the number of 31 ironclad ships and 3 cruisers was small, they still created an unimaginable sense of oppression on the Chinese and foreign people present.

After all, the Union Jack flying on the ship is a British symbol that has been traveling around the world for more than a hundred years, and no one wants to offend these British people in the current situation.

Just as the stevedores on the dock were feeling anxious and the Chinese and foreign scholars passing by were thinking that it was another incident of "foreigners invading", they heard a unified slogan coming from the rear.

"One two one, one two one!"

"Everyone, stand still!"

Thousands of Jiashen Right Army soldiers marched slowly into the dock in neat and uniform steps and stopped in front of the British warship Flying Fish, which was docked.

Captain Mai Jie walked down the dock in neat military uniform and saluted Feng Guozhang, who was leading the group.

Feng Guozhang straightened his body, politely returned a standard military salute, and then said in broken English: "The 3000-man Jiashen Right Army Special Detachment Team are all in position. Please give your instructions!"

"OK, very good!" Maggie didn't expect to see such a solemn team in the Far East, and he praised them repeatedly.

"General Feng, I have been commissioned by the British Legation in China to conduct joint combat exercises with your country's Jiashen Right Army. There is no time to lose, so please board the ship."

"Yes, got it!" Feng Guozhang shouted, "March!"

More than 3000 soldiers of the Jiashen Right Army filed in and boarded several troop transport ships that had already docked on the shore. Feng Guozhang also boarded the flagship Feiyu with a group of combat staff and political instructors.

"beep!"

After a few whistles, three British warships and three Chinese troop transport ships sailed south. No one knew where they were going to conduct exercises in this cold winter.

However, the people present did not care about that. After seeing thousands of Jiashen Right Army soldiers boarding the ship with the British, rumors of a joint attack on Russia by the Chinese and British forces spread like wildfire.

It soon spread throughout Korea and reached the ears of ministers and Empress Dowager Cixi in the capital.

Many ministers reported that Yuan Shikai had "provoked a provocation without authorization and angered the Russians, and should be dismissed and sent back to Beijing for investigation!"

On the contrary, the support came mostly from the common people and young scholars. Teahouses and taverns hurriedly compiled a few new sections of the storybooks about the god Yuan, and they were well received after being performed!

Beijing in winter is perhaps the most beautiful time of the year, when the white snow covers the dilapidated red bricks and cracked stone walls.

Classical Chinese buildings are dotted with white spots. Early in the morning, breakfast shops on both sides of the street start to open for business. From time to time, vendors selling buns and soy milk on their shoulder poles pass by to grab business.

Thanks to the heavy snow, there were only snowy paths walked by pedestrians on the road, and the traces of people's defecation and urination on the ground had long disappeared in the snow. If it weren't for the broken carts pulling out hundreds of corpses from the city every day, this scene would be perfect.

Although people froze to death every day, it did not stop Cixi from wearing light clothes and drinking green tea in the warm room. As the days passed, she grew one year older and had a few more wrinkles on her face, but her desire for control over power also became stronger.

She really didn't want to give up the power in her hands, but as the situation in the country escalated, her anxiety continued to grow.

Somehow, the memorial denouncing Taiwan's Tang Jingsong was circulated. Although there was no reaction in the court, the people were in an uproar.

She sent a young eunuch out of the Forbidden City to ask the people about their attitude towards this matter. The closer to the south of the city, the harsher the curses.

What is this "ministers establishing themselves is the way to chaos"?

The words "Although Tang Jingsong was usurping power, the Empress Dowager was also confused" are still considered good.

"This witch is a traitor and is ruining the Qing Dynasty!" These words are rather harsh to hear, but she has experienced them before.

When she fled to Rehe with Emperor Xianfeng, she could endure it even when Sushun called her a nobody on the road.

However, she could not tolerate for a moment some words asking her to delegate power.

"As long as the ruler is not upright, the country will be unstable!"

"Your Majesty is personally in charge of the government and is carrying out reforms to strengthen the country."

Somehow, a trend of reform and self-strengthening suddenly emerged in the country. People thought that strengthening themselves through Westernization was not enough, and they also wanted to reform and strengthen themselves through the Tang Dynasty.

"Change the law, whose law are you changing? Is there any other way to say it except to change the law of an old woman like me?"

It was just another way to let the emperor rule the country, and Cixi saw it clearly. So she had to hold on to the power in her hands more tightly, and let Ronglu lead the Jiashen Central Army to garrison the Nanyuan of the capital day and night, and take immediate action if there was any sign of trouble.

At the same time, he also commended Yuan Xiangcheng, who was far away in Korea, and used his attitude of rewarding Yuan Xiangcheng to calm the people's restless hearts who wanted the emperor to rule the country personally.

Yes, what Yuan Shikai did in Korea was not isolated. This trend of Western learning eventually reached mainland China.

She also knew about the various Western affairs that Yuan Shikai started in the Seoul area after he took office in Korea, but she did not expect that they would have such a great influence among the scholars.

Incheon and Seoul are changing with each passing day. Railways, factories, and docks are no longer new. Rickshaws, civilized operas, and even so-called "phonographs" have appeared, according to Li Lianying.

Nowadays, the favorite thing for scholars who go to Joseon is to rush to the new club built near Gyeongbokgung Square to join some "club"

The so-called "club", according to Li Lianying's understanding, is just a place where everyone gets together to have fun.

Each club is equipped with a so-called "phonograph". After the debate, it will play Yuan Shikai's summary of his evaluation of North Korea and the international situation in the past week.

These young people no longer like to listen to opera. Even the theater opened by the descendant of the head of the Hechun troupe in Seoul has few fans. They all keep going to clubs to hear Yuan Xiangcheng's voice.

Naturally, such changes spread more and more across the country. Any student who was interested in Western knowledge wanted to go to Seoul to experience it.

She was naturally quite pleased that Yuan Xiangcheng was able to create such a situation in Korea.

"Yuan Xiangcheng is a little too impulsive and not mature enough, but this is a common problem among young people."

Li Lianying, who was peeling melon seeds for Cixi, saw that Cixi was in a good mood and joked, "Your Highness, you are joking. Can young people still be called young people if they are not full of youthful vigor?"

"You! You only know how to guess my intentions." Cixi took a handful of melon seeds and placed them in her palm, knocking them against the ground while saying, "I'm not blaming Yuan Shikai, it's just that he was a little too tough with the Russians.

I heard from the minister of the Grand Council that he first cut off trade with the Russians. I don’t understand anything about business, but one of the rules was that Korean rice was not allowed to be exported to the Russians.

I know how to eat. If I don't sell food to the Russians, they will starve to death. The Russians are desperate and will inevitably have evil intentions towards the Northeast."

"Your Majesty, Yuan Shikai was able to defeat the French, proving that the foreigners are not invincible.

After defeating Yakub Beg, the Russians still occupied Ili and refused to retreat. Zuo Gong coordinated the military affairs in Xinjiang and went out of the border in the summer to fight a decisive battle with the Russians. The outcome was still unknown.

After all, Zeng Jize was able to retain most of Ili during the negotiations, so there's no reason Zuo Gong couldn't take all of Ili. If Zuo Gong had won, Xinjiang wouldn't have to be ceded to the Russians. "Li Lianying glanced at Cixi's expression, and finding no change, he boldly continued.

"Let me tell you something, Suo Qun: It's not pleasant to hear, but if Prince Gong hadn't feared the Russians' intimidation and ordered Zuo Gong to return to Beijing, the Ili region might have been fully recovered."

When Cixi heard this, she felt very relieved and even ate a few melon seeds. After all, Li Lianying put the blame for Zuo Zongtang's withdrawal on Prince Gong, the then Minister of Military Affairs.

Li Lianying was talking about the fact that after Zuo Zongtang defeated Yakub Beg, the Russians still occupied the Ili region and were unwilling to return it to China. The Tsarist government had forcibly occupied Ili under the pretext of "protecting the city" for China.

However, after Zuo Zongtang successively recovered Daxingancheng, Turpan, Toksun, and Yakub Beg died of anger, Xinjiang was recovered by Zuo Zongtang in just one year.

At this time, the Tsarist government decisively chose to default on its debt and was unwilling to return the Ili region. On the one hand, it instigated the remnant forces of Yakub Beg to continue to invade Xinjiang. On the other hand, it pretended to negotiate with the Qing court, but continued to intimidate the Qing court in private.

Imperial Commissioner Chonghou was frightened by the Russians and signed the humiliating Treaty of Livadia, which nominally took back a small area east of Ili; but at the same time, he had to pay the Russians "280 million taels" for garrison fees to guard Ili; he also had to make Russian goods duty-free in Mongolia and Xinjiang, and open three more trade routes on the Mongolian-Russian and Xinjiang-Russian borders.

When the news reached the country, it naturally caused an uproar in public opinion. Zuo Zongtang was extremely indignant. On the one hand, he denounced Chonghou's act of treason, and on the other hand, he volunteered to go to Xinjiang to fight against Russia.

Under pressure from public opinion, the Qing court imprisoned Chonghou and sent its ambassador to Britain and France, Zeng Jize, to Russia for negotiations. It also sent additional troops to help Zuo Zongtang enter Xinjiang.

At this time, the Russians had just ended the Russo-Turkish War. Domestic conflicts were intensifying, debts were high, and financial resources were almost dried up. They could not compare with Zuo Zongtang who was fighting on his own soil. Zuo Zongtang might not be able to defeat the Russian army if he entered Xinjiang again this time.

Fortunately, after the Russians transferred the Black Sea Fleet to the Pacific Ocean to intimidate, the Qing court decisively chose to give in and withdrew Zuo Zongtang.

0 The Sino-Russian Ili Treaty was signed. Although some land was recovered and the requirement for Russian goods to enter the interior was abolished, the indemnity was increased from 280 million taels to more than 400 million taels.

Li Lianying brought up this matter at this time naturally to flatter Cixi.

Prince Gong was afraid of the Russians' intimidation, so he ordered Zuo Zongtang to withdraw his troops back to Beijing and gave up a large area of ​​rights and interests in Xinjiang.

Master Liu, you can't let Yuan Xiangcheng do this in Korea now, otherwise you will be scolded to death.

"Lianying, you have been with me for more than ten years. Do you still need to use stories to admonish me? Just say no directly!" Cixi naturally understood the meaning of Li Lianying's words, but she did not get angry. Instead, she agreed with this statement.

Zuo Zongtang was facing the Russians alone at the time, and the British were also eyeing him covetously in southern Xinjiang.

4 I don’t know where Yuan Shikai got the ability from now, but he actually asked the British to join him in fighting against Russia. I heard that they even held some “joint military exercises” recently. It’s really strange.

Third, since he had the support of the British, Yuan Shikai also secretly submitted a memorial saying that this was a method he had figured out of "using barbarians to control barbarians."

Then just wait and see how Yuan Xiangcheng handles it. The British won't cause any big trouble around, so she didn't think of stopping Yuan Xiangcheng.

Because recently, all her energy has been focused on the new gadgets sent by Yuan Xiangcheng.

Yuan Shikai always had new tricks up his sleeve. After going to Korea, in addition to sending some specialty ginseng and sable furs to the palace every season, he also presented some "telephones", "electric lights" and "cameras" as tribute to the palace. It was really strange.

However, she was not very interested in electric lights and telephones. She was not interested in electric lights because using them required starting a small steam engine, which was quite noisy.

She was not interested in the telephone because it required a long wire to communicate, and the sound was noisy and unclear, so she quickly lost interest.

After all, she is the Empress Dowager. If there is anything, she can just tell her subordinates and they will do it without any phone calls.

On the contrary, she has a special liking for cameras. This thing can actually preserve a person's expression and appearance at the moment, which is more exquisite than the paintings of the top painters.