After the Sino-Japanese War, the Beiyang Naval Division was captured by the Japanese, and the strongest fleet in the Far East instantly became a thing of the past. At this time, the entire northern gateway was opened, and Gyeonggi was directly exposed to the threat of strong ships and artillery.

In the gap before the return of warships ordered from the European powers, the entire northern gateway of the Qing Kingdom could only be guarded by the torpedo gunboat Flying Eagle with a displacement of 810 tons and a speed of 20 knots.

Of course, Li Hongzhang naturally didn't know this, but although he was dissatisfied with the German detention of two Erin-class heavy cruisers at that time, he considered that these two ships might be cheaper for the Japanese after the defeat in Beiyang. Moreover, after these two ships returned to China, they immediately prevented the Beiyang Naval Division from becoming an empty shell and shouldered the great task of coastal defense in the Gyeonggi region.

In the whole war, whether it was the excellent Dingzhen 2nd ship, or the brave battle of Zhiyuan and Laiyuan, or the Hequan that caused the greatest damage to the Beiyang Naval Division, they were all German-built ships. This also made Li Hongzhang naturally regard Germany as the first choice for purchasing ships.

However, in the face of the enthusiastic German shipyards that have sent the German Admiralty to recommend those warships, Li Hongzhang feels unreliable, look at what the Germans recommend, the Brandenburg-class long bow version, the reduced displacement to 10,000 tons of shrinkage version, and even the German Navy's new ironclad ship The Germans also said that they could build two more by themselves, and the first two completed could be delivered to Qingguo first.

And the Germans' rhetoric is basically to talk about the two ironclad ships that Japan ordered from Britain, as if they only need to buy two super ironclads from Germany to return to the top of the Far East Navy.

However, Li Hongzhang himself is still self-aware, and unlike those Qingliu ministers who did not understand the navy and only instructed the insiders because of the defeat of the First Sino-Japanese War, Li Hongzhang knew that these people were just three minutes hot.

Now the first day of the day is defeated. The dignified Heavenly Empire was defeated by the Japanese and humiliated the country, and these clear streams naturally jumped out and shouted that the country was rich and the army was strong. After a year or two has passed, it is natural that they will make it difficult again on the grounds that it is expensive to build a navy.

Li Hongzhang's idea is not wrong at all, since 1895, the Qing government set off a second naval boom. It first purchased two 4,300-ton Armstrong-type protective cruisers, Haiqi and Hehaitian, from Britain, and then ordered three smaller 2,700-ton protective cruisers, Haichen, Hairong, and Haichip, from Germany.

Although it is an outdated protective cruiser, these 5 warships make the Qing Navy still have some façade support, although it is vulnerable to the Japanese Navy, which has become a behemoth, but it is enough to scare an opponent like Mexico who does not even have a navy. Of course, the faults of the modified Armstrong cruisers, such as the Yoshino, such as the Haitian. We laughed and didn't say anything about their ending.

In short, with these 5 cruisers, the Qing State began to be reluctant to forge ahead again, and then the order of Zhaohe and Yingrui was already in 1909, and the situation of more than ten years of stagnation in naval construction was repeated.

Therefore, Li Hongzhang knew very well that instead of buying one big ship and spending all the funds, and then he could not afford to buy other ships, and then he would face the difficulties of the Minister of Qingliu. It's better to spend a little money to do big things and buy a few more warships to go back, so that you can once again give the dilapidated Qing Kingdom a paste-pasted façade.

As Li Hongzhang himself said: "I have done things all my life. The training of the troops and the navy are all papier-mâché tigers, how can they really let it go, but they are barely embellished, and they have no appearance. If it is not exposed, it can still be perfunctory for a while. For example, a dilapidated house, which is patched by a pasteur, has become a quiet room, although it is known that it is pasted with pieces of paper. However, it is not certain what kind of material is inside. ”

I'm just a paste-mounter, but as a clever paste-mounter, this paste-mounted must also be glamorous. A single big ship can't hold up the façade, and the Qing Kingdom still needs a fleet.

Therefore, all the big and inappropriate things recommended by the Germans are not to Li Hongzhang's heart. Therefore, in the face of the invitation of the German crown prince this time, Li Hongzhang still very much wanted to hear the opinion of the crown prince.

Before coming to Germany, Li Hongzhang had investigated that the young crown prince was a top student of the Kiel Naval Academy in Germany, and he held such a substantive position as chief of staff of the German Admiralty, and was a real naval elite. What's more, the crown prince seems to have a good impression of his Qing Dynasty, which is good news for him.

On the evening of this day, Li Hongzhang went to the appointment on time, and Yoheng greeted him at the door of the palace.

Seeing that the German crown prince greeted him in person, Li Hongzhang hurriedly stepped forward to salute: "His Royal Highness Lao personally greeted him, and the old man is really flattered." ”

Before the interpreter could speak, Jochen said, "It's a pleasure to have friends from afar." Your Excellency has come from afar, and I will naturally welcome you. ”

Looking at Li Hongzhang's somewhat stunned appearance, Yoheng laughed: "A few days ago, because His Excellency the Prime Minister was also there, it was more appropriate to communicate in German, and now it is naturally more convenient for us to communicate in a language that we can understand each other." ”

Li Hongzhang immediately adjusted his expression and complimented: "I have heard that His Highness is proficient in our culture, and when I saw him a few days ago, I was already extremely surprised, and I didn't expect His Highness to surprise me even more today." Your Highness is indeed as rumored, erudite and talented. ”

"Your Excellency the Governor has overdone it, please come inside."

"Your Highness, please first."

The two walked into the house, and Li Hongzhang thanked him again: "Your Highness invited me this time, and the old man was grateful." ”

"Your Excellency does not have to be like this, Your Excellency has a good cooperative relationship and deep friendship with all walks of life in our country, and we should naturally be more close. Moreover, I have heard that your Excellency has recently been hesitant to make a decision on the purchase of ships, and that your navy has a deep and long-standing relationship with our navy, and as chief of staff of the navy, I naturally hope to help you relieve your troubles. ”

"The old man also came here this time for the purpose of asking His Highness for advice." Li Hongzhang said immediately.

"Your Excellency, don't worry, we can talk slowly." Yoheng stopped Li Hongzhang's words: "I must know everything, and I have endless words." ”

"Then the old man will thank His Highness here first."

"Oh, by the way, how is Admiral Lin Tai Zenglin of your navy lately? There is also General Deng Shichang Deng, who died bravely on the battlefield, and I am very sad to hear this news. Unlike the previous politeness, Jochen's words were heartfelt.

"Kaishi is now the pipe band of the cruiser Hairong purchased from your country. Oh. Kaishi is the word of Lin Taizeng. Li Hongzhang was afraid that Yoheng would not know to explain: "Kaishi once said that when he was defeated, he had the idea of suicide, but because he remembered His Royal Highness's words, he finally saved his body and survived in the world. I would like to thank Your Highness here, if it were not for Your Highness. There is no talent like Kaishi in Beiyang. And Zhengqing's death on the battlefield is an irreparable loss for me in Beiyang. Speaking of this, Li Hongzhang sighed.

"The deceased is gone, and your Excellency must not grieve."

"It's the old man, isn't it, it's disturbing His Highness's Yaxing."

"Your Excellency's words, a soldier like General Deng is admired by every naval officer. People cannot be resurrected after death, and those who are alive still have to look forward. We are also very willing to help your country rebuild its navy. Therefore, as the helmsman of your navy, you still have to take care of your health. Let's not talk about these heavy things, Your Excellency, please take a seat, and we will talk while eating. ”

"What Your Highness said is, Your Highness, please."

After tasting the appetizer and drinking some aperitif, Jochen first cut to the point: "For your country's purchase of ships, although the major shipyards want to sell the best ships to your navy. From my personal point of view, of course, I would like to be able to complete a big deal with your country. However, judging from Your Lord's indecisive reaction now, it should be that none of these ships are needed by your country now, right? ”

See Jochen speak. Li Hongzhang replied respectfully: "What Your Highness said is very true, although the warships recommended to me by your shipyard are all strong and powerful, but they are expensive and difficult for our country to bear. Moreover, the main task of my Beiyang Naval Division now is to defend the Beijing Division and protect the Yellow Sea generation. Therefore, these ships are not suitable for this task either. ”

For this point, Yoheng had already guessed that the Beiyang Naval Division was originally the first fleet in Asia, although its main mission was to protect the north of the decaying Far Eastern Empire, but it could still show off its might in various seas of East Asia.

But now the Beiyang Naval Division was destroyed, and the Japanese Navy, which had grown in strength, was just blocking the doorstep of the Beiyang Naval Division. Therefore, the Beiyang Naval Division can only shrink into the Yellow Sea and become an honest coastal navy.

Therefore, large battleships that could conduct ocean-going decisive battles did not suit the Manchus, they would not use them and could not afford them. Don't expect the Qing government to help during the Russo-Japanese War. In the face of the fight between the gods, the Manchu Qing estimated that the only hope was not to harm themselves as a mortal.

Even if there are outstanding talents like Lin Taizeng in the Qing Navy, as long as the government does not nod, even if you are a dragon, you have to coil for me, and if you are a tiger, you have to lie down for me. So even if you give them a Yamato, they can give you the effect of Monit.

Therefore, the plastered fleet is the only role of the Qing navy's ships, ah, of course, you can also bully opponents like Cuba and Mexico. The only successful naval artillery diplomacy in China's history should be highlighted.

Or let them stay in the harbor during the Russo-Japanese War, brush up on the sense of storage, and make the Japanese a little jealous, and it is best to divide a little force to guard against it, which can be regarded as helping the Russians.

Therefore, Joheng also replied to Li Hongzhang bluntly: "I probably understand what Your Excellency means, the main task of your navy is coastal defense now, so the requirements for speed and range are not high, but the ship must be strong and the guns are sharp." And the tonnage should not be too large, so that it can better cooperate with your country's maintenance facilities. At the same time, it can also have a certain number to form a fleet and use it in formation. ”

"What His Highness said is very true, as His Highness said, we think it is best to have the same iron armor and giant cannon as the Dingzhen Second Ship, but the tonnage should be smaller, so that our country can order two more ships."

For such a request, in fact, it was a shore defense battleship, for which the Germans had exactly a ready-made design at hand.

That's right, the design of the Sovereign-class pre-dreadnoughts that year was transferred from Austria-Hungary to the German Navy. (To be continued......)