In mid-December, Ito Cabinet, which obtained the second loan from Russia, announced a new naval shipbuilding plan. In seven years, a huge sum of 18 million yen was built. Among them, the first phase of the shipbuilding plan included two 10,000-ton armored combat ships, one armored cruiser, and one notification ship. Subsequently, Emperor Mutsuhito once again issued an order to save the inner court funds, and planned to allocate 300,000 yuan in shipbuilding funds every year in six years. He also ordered all civil and military officials to pay one-tenth of their salary as shipbuilding expenses during this period, except for special circumstances.

However, Japan's shipbuilding plan encountered resistance from the British. The British said that they would not accept Japanese warship orders. In desperation, the Japanese could only place the orders to Russia. The Novanov family got the first reward they wanted.

With the announcement of the Japanese shipbuilding plan, the Qing government immediately responded. The Navy Office then announced a new shipbuilding plan. In the next seven years, in addition to continuing to build the "War General" class light frigates and destroyers that have been equipped with troops, four "War General" class armored cruisers and four higher-level armored battleships will be further built. It was also announced that the construction of the first armored cruiser, Wei Qing, has started.

In fact, the ship had been built at the San Francisco United Steel Shipyard. In order to get the goods as soon as possible, the Qing Dynasty chose a ship keel with the same tonnage originally planned to provide to the US Navy, so that the ship had been launched in August 1892, but there was no public information before. The displacement of the "Weiqing" reached more than 8,500 tons, 125 meters long, 19 meters wide, and a draft of 6.7 meters. It was planned to be put into service in October 1893.

The ship's power of up to 16,000 horsepower can allow the giant ship to travel at a high speed of more than twenty-one knots in a short period of time. The hull protection uses new armor, with a waterline armor of seven inches, and the armor of the turret and main command tower reaching ten inches, and the dome armor is two and a half to three inches thick. Under such protection, there is currently no warship's artillery in East Asia that can penetrate its armor. The four 45-diameter eight-inch cannons and ten six-inch cannons on the ship, and the four 45-diameter 4.7-inch cannons give the ship the first attack power in East Asia. In addition, the warship is also equipped with ten twelve-pound cannons, ten six-pound cannons and three eighteen-inch torpedo tubes (1 on water 2 underwater).

In addition, the first 4,000-ton dome cruiser built by the British, which is known to the world, is scheduled to be delivered in March 1893. Two other ranks of the same ship, Wang Jian and Meng Tian, ​​were also started construction at the Armstrong Shipyard and the British shipyard in Shanghai, respectively, and will be delivered to the Navy at the end of 1893 and April of the following year. The last planned 4,000-ton dome cruiser, Zhang Han, will not be delivered until 1895. Because the Fujian Shipyard, which planned to build the ship, needs to complete the transformation of the two ironclad ships of Dingyuan and Zhenyuan before this.

However, the Qing government has not yet announced the data of its planned "Railblade" armored battleship, but it can be expected that these four battleships will definitely be in the class of more than 10,000 tons. This has allowed Britain, Germany and the United States to start a new round of diplomatic strategies in order to win this huge order.

The most exciting one is the British. The Qing government's grand shipbuilding plan not only allowed their shipyards to obtain a large amount of orders and wealth, but the growing Chinese navy could also better restrain and hinder the Russian Far East Fleet. This made Gladstone more certain of the correctness of his support for China's strategy.

Another exciting country is the United States. After the Civil War, due to the lack of external pressure, the development of the US navy was extremely slow. Many shipyards were on the verge of bankruptcy because they could not get new orders. The Chinese shipbuilding plan could bring them back to life. For the Americans, it was best to obtain the construction orders of the main battleship, but it didn't matter if they couldn't. After all, they had already obtained orders for two armored cruisers, and it was impossible for the Chinese to build auxiliary ships at different times, right? Just like the Japanese, the Qing navy not only needed combat ships, but also many auxiliary warships such as transportation, traction, and communication. The construction of these warships was the Americans' strength.

Just as China and Japan began to upgrade the level of the arms race, Liu Shaoqing hurriedly ended his new army training in Shandong and rushed back to Beijing.

When he saw Liu Shaoqing who was rushing back, Guangxu's first words were to ask about the situation in Shandong.

"Return to the Emperor. The reorganization of the Zhangwu Army and the recruitment of the new army in Shandong have been basically completed. After adjustment, the 12th Battalion of the Zhangwu Army has been retained. About ten battalions have been retained. The newly recruited recruits are becoming one division together, and the division commander is temporarily held by Jia Qisheng."

Guangxu was stunned, "Why isn't it Huang Chengyong?" Guangxu thought that Huang Chengyong, who came out of the Black Flag Army and served in the Guards for seven years, was more likely to take over the Shandong division, whether it was from the closeness or the use of new weapons and the use of new tactics.

"When I returned to the emperor, Jia Qisheng was in the army, and there was no problem with the control ability and military literacy of the troops. Moreover, after more than a year of study and training in Tianjin, his use of new weapons and tactics can fully meet the requirements of a division commander. In addition, our army itself is equipped with a large number of staff officers to assist him in tactical deduction and battlefield analysis, so I think Jia Qisheng can independently assume the responsibility of an infantry division. As for Huang Chengyong, our plan is to form a Marine Corps in Weihaiwei, which is the establishment of an independent brigade, and he will serve as the brigade commander."

Marine Corps? Guangxu almost didn't ask, "Did you come here through time?"

Seeing the emperor's surprised gaze, Liu Shaoqing thought it was because the emperor didn't understand, so he further explained: "That's right, when joining the navy, the soldiers of the Guards quickly learned naval knowledge, and at the same time, they were also considering how to better play their role. The biggest advantage of the soldiers of the Guards is land operations, and if our army wants to conduct foreign military operations, there will inevitably be landing operations. Instead of transporting the army that is not familiar with water during landing operations, it is better to use these guards who are already familiar with sea life to complete it directly. So, this is the reason why we formed the Marine Corps. Oh, the reason for this is because this unit belongs to the navy, but is mainly for landing operations."

Guangxu moaned in his heart, "Okay, I underestimated the wisdom of the people. But now all the great powers in the world have such a system, so it is not surprising that they can think of this. Maybe there are still opinions from the British in it."

In fact, Guangxu really guessed that Huang Chengyong's idea was inspired by a foreigner, but not a British man, but an American Ferienn Norton Magifen.

Guangxu did not ask about the "Marine Corps" matters, but he could understand them after reading the memorandum. This time he urgently asked Liu Shaoqing to come back not to ask about the military affairs, but to have other important things. Therefore, Guangxu just asked a few simple questions and brought the topic to the main topic.

"Okay, let's not talk about this. Do you know why you are coming back this time? "

As if he had thought of something, Liu Shaoqing's face suddenly turned red.

"Hmm?" Guangxu said with a hilarious look: "Why is your face red?"

Liu Shaoqing immediately realized his incompetence, so he quickly raised his chest and found a casual concealment: "Refresh!"

Guangxu was stunned and subconsciously said, "Why is it yellow again?"

Liu Shaoqing was also stunned for a moment, then touched his face with his hand: "Is that true?"

Only then did Guangxu realize that he had been involved in the stage again. He was angry and walked up to Liu Shaoqing with a slight neck: "Don't talk nonsense in the future!"

Liu Shaoqing was inexplicably taken and looked innocent: "What did I say?" But the other party was both the emperor and the eldest brother-in-law, so he naturally couldn't have any trouble. He could only think in his heart - maybe even if he drew circles.

"Okay, I've been brought away by you again. This time I asked you back because of your marriage with Jianning. You two are also very old, especially Jianning, who is almost twenty years old and has not yet married, so the old prince is always worried. I was negligent before, just thinking that after you were granted a title of marquis and prime minister, I could give Jianning a glorious and decent wedding. But now the old prince is getting worse day by day, and I hope to watch his daughter get married. So, I can only do this, but I feel wronged. "

After the winter began, Yihuan's body deteriorated day by day. Whether it was Western medicine or Chinese medicine, various treatments and medicines were used, but it was still impossible to make the old prince get better. Now it can only do its best and leave it to fate. So Guangxu wanted to get the marriage between Liu Shaoqing and Jianning as soon as possible. On the one hand, he cheered the old prince, and maybe a miracle happened; on the other hand, even if it was not possible, he finally fulfilled Yihuan's wish.

Liu Shaoqing naturally knew that. Although others were in Shandong, their correspondence with Jianning had never stopped. At this time, after hearing Guangxu's words, he lowered his head and said, "It's useless. I've made the princess wronged."

Guangxu waved his hand and said lonely: "You have done a good job. In fact, I am useless. I am the king of a country and rich in all over the world, but I cannot continue myself..." Guangxu paused at this point, "but I cannot continue my father's life!"

When he said this, Guangxu really felt lonely, lost, helpless and even resentful.

Over the past decade, I have been living every day with care, walking on thin ice. Before, it was because of the two queen mothers, and then dealing with the French, Russian, and Japanese. Every day, I had to work hard and never enjoyed any childhood, family happiness, or even the joy of couples. I also occasionally did it.

However, when he suddenly realized that no matter what he did, he could not save his father's life, he suddenly had a thought: Is it useless to work like this? If he could not even save his life for a person, could he save the survival of a country?

Suddenly he felt that everything he had done before seemed useless.

I don’t know if the Russians will further carry out military operations against Xinjiang, and may even attack the Qing Dynasty from Mongolia or from the Northeast. If the Russians really launch a war against the Qing Dynasty, then it is almost certain that the Japanese will take advantage of this opportunity.

Perhaps on the other hand, when Japan finally couldn't help but take action, the Russians would rush over as if they smelled the fishy smell of brown bears. And the Qing Dynasty almost certainly could not fight this country at the same time.

Now he can only place his hope on the British. Only when the British restrain themselves in Central Asia and clearly support the Qing Dynasty can they curb the Russians' desires and let Guangxu solve the jackal in the East first. Otherwise, what is waiting for China will be dismembered.

Once the war with Japan and Russia fails - this is almost certain, the British will definitely occupy Yun, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Tibetan without mercy, while the French will pounce on Sangui. What about the Germans? They should occupy Shandong like in history.

However, what is the purpose of doing so many things to build education, business, and new army? Isn’t it just to make China stronger, not rely on others to rest, and to speak internationally? But what is the result? It still depends on the alms of others to survive!

When Zaitian realized that everything he did was not only unable to achieve his goal, but might even make his motherland die faster. He really wanted to give up.

Maybe it’s okay to be a fool. At least I can spend more time with my family.
Chapter completed!