Chapter 353 Returning

On October 17, 1895, the weather was clear and the wind was calm in the Western Pacific. There were only a few clouds floating in the sky, reflecting the already blue sky becoming more and more clear and transparent. In such weather, on the endless sea, a fleet of ships were lined up in three columns to cut the waves and heading forward. The ships were painted white all over, and countless majestic gun barrels were extended on the deck... Warships! All are warships!

The newly formed Great White Fleet of the United States of America is on its global journey.

This is a huge fleet of 14 battleships, 4 battleships, 2 ordinary cruisers and 7 destroyers. Its global trip is just telling the world that the United States of America has become a maritime power.

...

"I said, do you still remember the little Japanese?" The entire fleet was lined up in three columns, with loud momentum. The team on the left was planting the star-striped flags, and the battleships led by it were still hung with several bright red flags. At present, there are few red flags in the world that use red flags as their own flags, but not without them. The most famous red flag comes from the northwest of the United States... Cheng Degui accidentally looked up at his own flag and felt proud. Once upon a time, he was just a inferior man who worked as a small worker in Denver? Now, he is a general of the American Pacific Fleet, and he is not an ordinary general.

"Hmph, why didn't you see it? That face of Kizi Huashan was pale." The first mate Deng Youfa sneered behind him.

Although the global trip of the Great White Fleet meant to announce the rise of the US Navy to the world, another big reason is Japan's threat to the US Far East interest line. Of course, this also includes the interests of Tangzhou. Five years ago, when Japan experienced an economic crisis, Guo Jinzhang took the opportunity to lead it to Mindanao, the Philippines. After paying a huge price, the Japanese finally gained a foothold on the island and immigrated hundreds of thousands for development. Although the Japanese were hard-working and reclaimed a large amount of land in Mindanao, and did business, mining, and factory operations, the local natives still caused great trouble to them. Especially the Japanese like to be raped

The natives did free labor for themselves, but they suppressed and killed them when they resisted, which further stimulated the conflict between the two sides. Therefore, for five years, Japan's energy was restrained. What about the United States? They did not take the little interests of Mindanao to heart, and they just wanted to use the other side to eliminate the local indigenous rebels, but they did not expect that the Japanese's determination was so great. Within five years, a large area of ​​land was developed in Mindanao, which also created a large amount of wealth, even more slander than Luzon, which they controlled. Therefore, the Americans couldn't help it. The authorities in the Philippines began to increase taxes on Mindanao... The conflict between the two sides began to intensify.

Because Japan wants to protect its people, it has stationed many troops in Mindanao. Over the past few years, Japan's political forces have tightened its belt and developed its navy. It has several more advanced warships, which have surpassed the US military in the Western Pacific. Therefore, after discovering that the US authorities stationed in the Philippines have bad intentions, they protested to the US political forces, and on the other hand, they began to send warships to visit Manila and Mindanao frequently.

Of course Americans are not happy.

At this time, Cleveland, who was still very happy with Guo Jinzhang, had stepped down, and Benjamin Harrison finally regained the White House for the Republican Party. However, the strategy of developing the naval formulated by Cleveland during his tenure did not change because of the change of the ruling. After several years of expansion, the US Navy had 18 battleships, plus other battlecruisers, cruisers, destroyers and other warships. In terms of tonnage alone, it is only second

In the UK, the deputy secretary of the Navy, Theodore Roosevelt, who was resigned as deputy governor of Tangzhou, immediately shouted to give the Japanese a little color. Roosevelt gave speeches to Congress many times, and he believed that the United States had become a great country. This fact prompted the American politics to do when interacting with other countries in the world, and what they did must be commensurate with the great nation of America... That is, the Lord asked, the dignity of a great power cannot be challenged!

So, with the efforts of Deputy Secretary Roosevelt, the Great White Fleet appeared, and last year, on December 16, 1894, set off from Hamilton Military Port in Virginia, heading south along the Atlantic Ocean, and embarked on a global journey.

In nearly a year, this huge fleet visited Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines, and not long ago arrived at the most important stop of this trip: Yokohama, Japan.

The Japanese attached great importance to the visit of the Dabai Fleet and sent a welcome team led by Navy Minister Kitsushi Karayama. However, although they were mentally prepared, when they saw the huge lineup of more than tens of thousands of tons battleships, the Japanese still looked very bad.

...

"That guy Roosevelt is so proud again." Cheng Degui flicked the Major General's epaulette on his neck and said again.

"Of course I am proud. This time I deterred Japan and showed strength to the whole world. It is estimated that the next Navy Minister will be his." Deng Youfa said.

"That's hard to say." Cheng Degui shook his head, "I heard from Jin Zhang that this kid is the reason for being the president. He will not tie himself to the army... He will sooner or later in politics!"

"In politics? Just him?" Deng Youfa recalled, but found that the former deputy governor of Tangzhou who was particularly concerned about the Tangzhou fleet was just a guy who liked to play boxing, joking with children, and talking loudly, basically close to a reckless man. Such a person would be president?

"I don't think it's possible, but since Jin Zhang said it, I don't think it's much worse. And then again, that guy is indeed quite popular among the people." Cheng Degui said.

"Isn't this nonsense? I also like Jin Zhang. Who told him to let us stand upright in front of those white people and be respected? If it weren't for him, I would be a bachelor's life in my life, let alone become a naval colonel." Deng You laughed.

"Shad flattery, right? Jin Zhang is not here now." Cheng Degui gave him a blank look.

"Hehe, isn't it just that the military rank is lower? Zhao Dachang is the first level higher than you. It is estimated that it will be difficult for him to be promoted in the future. You have more opportunities than him." Deng Youfa seemed to know what Cheng Degui was thinking and laughed at him.

"There's a big opportunity. Who dares to provoke the United States easily after Roosevelt did this? I'm a navy, and I have to stay on the boat and wait for rust all day long. I can't help but make trouble for those turtle eggs in Zhao Dachang? I've shown off my experiences in front of me all day long... I've been slapping. When he was fighting, did I just watch it? I'll make a lieutenant general, what's the thing?"

"Just. He didn't think about it. If Jin Zhang hadn't arranged for you to study the navy, what would happen to him? When fighting Canada, our buddies would have taken action. And lightning, they would just follow our brothers to eat the dust." Deng You laughed.

"Go to you, I can't help but say what you said." Cheng Degui sighed, and looked at the red flag floating on the deck sadly: "You think why are you so unlucky? With so many opportunities, it's fine if you can't rob Zhao Dachang, but M's was actually caught up by Zhou Xiaoding and Zhu Chuliu..."

"He's the Army, so there's a lot of business." Deng Youfa laughed, "Or why don't you go and give a report to the Army?"

"Well, then you boy will become the commander of our squadron, and your military rank will be promoted to another level, and you will become a major general?" Cheng Degui looked at him and gritted his teeth.

"How could it be?" Deng Youwei smiled and shook his head repeatedly, "The Colonel goes up and is just a brigade general, and he is still one level away from you."

"I'll give you a higher level first!" Cheng Degui raised his leg and was about to kick it, but Deng Youfa responded faster, and he hid aside: "Hehe, I didn't kick it... I won't complain with you, bye you.

"What are you doing?" Cheng Degui was not angry and just asked.

"I heard that who... brought good wine. When Li Hongzhang came to our Tangzhou, he gave it to him for decades of aging. I'll go stealing the wine..." Deng Youfa said.

"Steal?... Well, that one, take it over if you steal it. If you dare to take it alone, don't blame me for being rude!"

"Know."

...

On October 19, 1895, after another two days of voyage, the Great White Fleet headed by the USS Washington, finally docked in Shandong Province, China.

Weihai Weijun Port.

The Beiyang Navy Admiral Liu Buchan stood at the port with a clean face, staring at the huge warship slowly entering the port with all his attention. The displacement of 17,564 tons is an incomparable giant in the Far East. Unfortunately, this battleship is not from China, nor is it even a close relative of China, a member of the Tangzhou fleet, which is the largest warship in the United States of America.

"After this journey, even the British Empire would probably be shocked by the powerful Americans' power at sea."

"The French claim to be the number one on land and second on sea, but if they see this Great White fleet, they may be horrified."

"These are all fearless battleships. According to the analysis of the British Empire's naval department, how can it be a minor mistake to have combat power three times that of ordinary battleships?"

Behind Liu Buchan were various officers of the Beiyang Fleet, such as Lin Taichang, Fang Boqian and others. Many of them had studied at the Royal Naval Academy in the UK and served in the Royal Navy. It was not that they had never seen the world, but when they looked at the powerful fleet slowly coming, they were all shocked.

"Although the US military is strong, the Qing Dynasty is not inferior. Everyone brings out their energy and don't lose the face of our Beiyang Navy." Liu Buchan was very dissatisfied with the words of the generals behind him. The more he faced the strong, the less he should lose the confidence to fight with him. He studied in Britain and admired the training rules of the Royal Navy. A warrior should be like that. No matter what kind of enemy he faces, no matter how powerful the enemy is, as long as he meets them, rush up and defeat them... The White Fleet is not an enemy, so you should not be afraid or worried. Otherwise, what should the Americans view themselves? And what will the people on the warships with red flags view themselves?

"Liu Junmen, from this Dabai Fleet, we can see the strength of America... You think, when will our Qing Dynasty catch up?" Liu Buchan had a high prestige in Beiyang. As soon as he spoke, the generals of the Beiyang Navy, who were originally talking, immediately shut up. However, the official standing beside him who was a little fat and wearing a second-grade lion uniform did not care much, but asked.

"Mr. Governor, with the power of the Qing Dynasty, it is only a matter of time before becoming a great power. Although it is a little inferior at this time, although America is strong, it is separated from me by an ocean, that is, it shows its might. What can I do to me?" Liu Buchan glanced at the man and said. As a first-rank official of the Beiyang Admiral and a first-rank official, he has always been arrogant. However, the Shandong Governor in front of him is not the object of his pride at will. Because this person's name is Yuan Shikai! A few years ago, one of the four generals who led the Qing army to expedition to Cuba, and a few years later, this person was born.

He was also appointed as the Fengtian Inspection Commissioner, formed a strong army in the Northeast and developed industry and commerce... In a few years, the entire Northeast has almost been transformed. Not to mention, the population alone has grown from more than 5 million to nearly 10 million today. And for this reason, after hearing that Yuan Shikai was transferred to the governor of Shandong, Liu Tongfu, a representative of Tangzhou, almost sent someone to intercept his Taoist... Because the Northeast's attraction to the poor people greatly delayed the immigration affairs of Tangzhou, making it more and more difficult for Lord Liu to get involved in the Tangzhou political fu.

"Hehe, America is vast and sparsely populated, of course it would not be in a hurry to come to our Qing Dynasty to show its might. What I worry about is our Qing Dynasty......We have been doing the Westernization and Westernization for twenty or thirty years, but it is far from the results of Tangzhou for more than ten years. What is going on?" Yuan Shikai sighed helplessly. The more he did more things and went to more places, the more he realized that the Qing Dynasty was in a downturn. When Ren Fengtian inspected the envoy, he thought that he would soon develop the Northeast. But even with the strong assistance from Tangzhou, he still did not

He was able to fulfill his expectations. Although the Northeast had developed to a certain extent and his population almost doubled, it was still far from his expected level. At least, the living standards of the residents of Tangzhou were several times worse than those of the residents. Unfortunately, because his strength in the Northeast was increasing day by day, the Qing court was worried that he would become the second Li Hongzhang, and with a transfer order, he threw him from Fengtian to Bohai and Shandong. Although he became a governor at a young age, he was in charge of military affairs and a rank of a chief official, he still felt that he had suffered a great loss.

"Hey, it's hard to do Western affairs. The governor knows much more about this than Liu. Why ask me?" After hearing Yuan Shikai's words, Liu Buchan couldn't help but sigh. The development of the Beiyang Navy was also very difficult. Over the years, it has only added a few new cruisers. But in this era when the world is building or transforming its own warships and creating larger battleships, Beiyang still has only two old iron-clad ships, "Dingyuan" and "Zhenyuan". For this, he wrote to the court more than once, but every time he wrote to ask for the addition of new ships and old ships, the court's reply was just two words: No money!

Don't have money? Who can you make this? Who doesn't know that Tangzhou spent a huge amount of money to immigrate? I heard that there are tens of millions of dollars. Even if this money is used in many places, it is not much left to the navy. Even if only two or three million US dollars are allocated, it can add one or two battleships to Beiyang. Although it is just light, it is better than nothing. But the court just didn't let go. In the end, Li Hongyi tried every means to squeeze out some funds and barely got a few cruisers for them. But in this case, the two of the cruisers were transformed by the freighters sent by Tangzhou.

"The greedy and despicable people are in power, but they will only sigh." Yuan Shikai couldn't help but smile bitterly. Lushun Port is also an important port of the Beiyang Navy. How could he not know the difficulties of Beiyang?

"Military Gate, Lord Zhongtang has arrived."

"Um?"

The more they talked, the more annoyed they became. Yuan Shikai and Liu Buchan lost interest in speaking, and simply stopped talking, just watched the "Washington" slowly docking and then began to lower the gangway. The two were about to meet them, but the messenger suddenly ran over to report to Liu Buchan.

"Zhongtang?" Only Li Hongzhang can come to Beiyang. But this old man has been in Beijing for the past two years. The last time, the Dabai fleet headed north from the Philippines and visited Shanghai halfway through the old man had already run away. He didn't plan to come again this time. Why did he suddenly arrive again? Is there something wrong? Yuan Shikai and Liu Buchan were both surprised, "When did they arrive?"

"Just arrived! I've arrived." The messenger replied.

"Lin Taichang!"

"have."

"You are here to welcome the US military generals, Fang Boqian, Deng Shichang, Lin Yongsheng, Qiu Baoren, followed me to welcome the Lord of the Central Hall."

"No need to welcome me. I've arrived."

Liu Buchan was about to arrange people to greet him separately, but he saw four sedan chairmen carrying two sedan chairs and coming quickly towards this side. The curtain of the sedan chair in front had been opened, revealing the old man inside. Isn’t it Li Hongzhang, their chief leader of Beiyang, Li Hefei?

"See Lord Zhongtang!"

There were no outsiders here. Even Yuan Shikai was nominally promoted by Li Hongzhang, so when he saw the old man appear, everyone immediately shook their sleeves and knelt down.

"It's all for free. I'm here to welcome an old friend today, so there's no need to be polite." Li Hongzhang walked out of the sedan chair with the help of the servant, waved to everyone, and signaled everyone to stand up. At this time, the person on the sedan chair behind also walked down by himself. Seeing this person, Yuan Shikai couldn't help but be surprised:

"Mr. Liu, why are you here too?"

"M, if I hadn't had many brothers in Seattle who had informed me, I would have been attacked by the bastard... Unfortunately, since I knew, I haven't seen each other for so many years, I wouldn't have come. Otherwise, if that guy knew, I wouldn't have any good results." Mr. Liu was naturally Liu Tongfu. He had had a lot of dealings with Yuan Shikai in the past few years and replied after hearing this.

"What are you talking about... General Cheng Degui, General Cheng?" There were Tangzhou people in the Dabai fleet, and there were several battleships. The commander was named Cheng Degui, an important general of the former Red Corps. I heard that his status was not under the Zhao Dachang who became famous in the battle. Yuan Shikai knew very well.

"Cheng Degui? What is he considered an old man? In terms of identity, he has to go to Beijing to visit me..." Liu Tongfu waved his hand disdainfully.

"Who is that?" Yuan Shikai asked.

"You can see it yourself, he's coming down!" Liu Tongfu pointed behind everyone and said.

"Who is that?" Hearing Liu Tongfu's words, Liu Buchan and others hurriedly turned their heads and saw a group of people walking down the gangway of the "Washington". But what Liu Buchan and others didn't expect was that the person who walked in front was not Major General Thomas, the commander of the Great White Fleet, who I saw last time in Shanghai, but another person in casual clothes. Moreover, judging by Thomas and others' performance, he was extremely respectful to this person, and no one even dared to go side by side with him. However, it was not what surprised them the most. What they expected most was that this person was actually a Chinese! However, just when they wanted to ask, Yuan Shikai's exclamation had already solved their questions:

"Guo Jinzhang!?"

...


Chapter completed!