Li Hongzhang cleared his throat vigorously, and after spitting a mouthful of thick phlegm into the spittoon beside him, he said with a smile: "Zhong Wei is reasonable, Yu Guo is in Beiyang, this foreign strategy is really good. Just what to buy, how to buy, do you have a plan in mind? ”

"Lord Zhongtang, what ironclad ship to buy..., I remember Hurd said a few days ago, no matter what ironclad ship I buy in the Qing Dynasty, as long as there is a giant cannon, Hurd also said that there is no warship in the world today that cannot be sunk by a giant cannon, so the lower official thinks that the first priority in buying an ironclad ship is to have a giant cannon." Shen Baojing hesitated for a moment, and said, "As for how to buy it, it's better for Lord Zhongtang to send someone to let out the wind to the foreigners in Tianjin, and then wait for the arms brokers to come to the door, is it okay?" The subordinates remember that the gunboat that Lord Zhongtang bought from the British earlier was not handled in this way? ”

Li Hongzhang shook his head, "In the thirteenth year of Tongzhi and the fourth year of Guangxu, I twice booked a ship from Armstrong Shipyard through a broker, but I was scolded half to death by the clear streams in the capital, especially that Zhang Zhidong, who almost directly pointed at my nose and scolded me for being a silverfish who was greedy for the silver of the Mo Imperial Court, I can't help it!" ”

Ying Baoshi twisted his beard, and said in his heart, "Dealing with foreigners, familiar with the process of foreigners, after all, you are still in charge of foreign affairs." The purchase of ships is now a major event in the hearts of the adults in the middle hall, and we must take it over in charge of diplomacy! After thinking about it, he arched his hand and said, "Lord Zhongtang, the lower official has a suggestion. ”

"Oh, Minzhai, you tell me about it!"

"Lord Nakado, why don't you follow the Japanese process of purchasing ships, you can first send people to Europe to investigate, negotiate with the foreigners to determine the details, and then finally sign the contract for the purchase of ships. As for the candidates for the examination. If Lord Zhongtang thinks it is feasible, the lower officials recommend Zeng Jize and Li Fengbao, these two adults have lived in Europe for a long time, are proficient in Western languages, and are familiar with the situation of European countries, and will definitely be able to take on the important task of going to Europe for investigation. Ying Baoshi said.

"Lord Zhongtang, this is a way, first, there is a specialization in the art industry, Zeng and Li are familiar with both foreign affairs and diplomacy with foreigners, and they can be described as superior candidates; Second, the people below will come forward, in case something goes wrong a day later, the adults can also take care of Beiyang. Zhou Fu nodded to Li Hongzhang and said.

Shen Bingcheng was anxious when he heard this, and said in his heart, "Buying a ship is a matter of foreign affairs, and now the person in charge of diplomacy also wants to intervene, and you should have too many people!" Then Shen Bingcheng got up and said, "Lord Zhongtang, in addition to Zeng Jize and Li Fengbao, Xu Jianyin, the general office of the Shandong Machinery Bureau, went to Europe for inspection. Lord Zhongtang, Mr. Xu is the son of Mr. Xu Shou, smart since childhood, at the age of 17 with his father built the Yellow Bird steamship, at present, I am the only Qing Dynasty Mr. Xu is familiar with Western shipbuilding, this time to Europe to inspect the ironclad, Xu is the best choice! Shen Bingcheng got up and said.

"Lord Zhongtang, General Manager Xu is a rare foreign talent in shipbuilding in my Qing Dynasty, and the lower officials (subordinates) reconsider," Gong Zhaoyu, Liu Hanfang, and Shen Baojing said one after another.

"Good! When I make a decision, I ask the imperial court to allow Beiyang to send people to the West to investigate the ironclad ship, and the inspection personnel will be Zeng Jize and Li Fengbao. Xu Jianyin. Li Hongzhang said to Zhou Fu, "Yushan, help me draw up an excerpt and promote Xu Jianyin as the counselor of the fourth-rank embassy in Germany for me." Let him and Zeng Li go to Europe for investigation together. I also sent a letter to Shen Youdan, telling him that I plan to buy an ironclad ship, and ask him to help talk about one or two items in the court. ”

"Didn't the Japanese buy one ironclad ship, then we will buy two, not only more than the Japanese, but also bigger than theirs!" Li Hongzhang is loud!

Charlottenburg Palace East Wing, Whitehall.

Guided by Prince Alexander, Joey walked through this famous hall and met the helmsman and navigator of the Second German Reich, Wilhelm I and Chancellor Bismarck.

"My little Joey, let Grandpa hug you!" When William I saw Joey, he leaned over happily to pick up his grandson.

"I'm a qualified Prussian now, you can't hold me anymore, Grandpa Emperor!" Little Joey smiled and dodged away. Joey thought to herself, "What are you kidding, you're in your eighties, and you still have to hold me, a half-grown boy, your old body can afford it." ”

"Qualified Prussia?!" Only then did Wilhelm I notice that his grandson was wearing a Prussian military uniform, wearing the Order of the Black Eagle with an eight-pointed star, instead of the usual British attire.

Joey stood upright, saluted Wilhelm I with a serious face, "Long live the German Emperor!" ”

This title made Bismarck's eyelids jump when he stood by, and then the old prime minister saw Joey turn to himself and salute, "Hello, noble Prince Bismarck." ”

"Hello, Prince Waldemar," Bismarck replied with a smile.

"Joey, did your mother approve of you wearing this?" The old emperor asked suspiciously.

"Yes, Grandpa Emperor, my mother said that I was going to study in the middle school of the Empire, and said that only this dress is suitable for me!" Joey replied with his head held high. In fact, this dress is also Joey's suggestion to his mother, since his mother has agreed to go to middle school according to the emperor's wishes, why don't you do things properly? So Joey was able to wear a Prussian military outfit and a medal to the emperor.

As it turned out, Joey's clothes and the news that he was going to study in the Empire's middle school made the old emperor even happier.

Bismarck looked at the pair of grandchildren coldly, but he had other thoughts about Joey's performance, "Agreeing to let my son wear a Prussian military uniform is not in line with the character of the crown princess." For a long time, pleasing the emperor was not her choice, why is this today? ”

"Grandpa Emperor, can you see any difference in my costume?" Joey asked.

Wilhelm I was stunned by the question, and looked carefully at Joey, who was dressed in a Prussian military uniform. Joey's face is different from his two older brothers, the eldest brother and the second brother have a face that is more like his mother, and Joey is more like his father.

The sunlight that came in obliquely in the morning was a little dazzling, and in the eyes of the old emperor, a vague figure of a child was vaguely seen, slowly overlapping with Joey, and the shadow of a tall man was also faintly standing beside Joey. The tall man, with his thick and beautiful blonde hair and delicate horned beard on his lips, and a neat Prussian blue marshal's suit, looked at Wilhelm I with a smile on his face.

"Albrecht, is that you?" The old emperor's eyes were hazy with tears for a while.

Charlottenburg Palace, New Palace.

A maid hurried into Princess Elizabeth Alexandra-Louise Alice's room. "Your Royal Highness Princess, Your Highness, I saw His Highness Valdemar in the Old Palace just now!"

Elizabeth blushed, and then asked, "Is my cousin's body all right?" ”

"It's all right, but..."

"What's wrong?"

"His Royal Highness the Prince is a little different from before, what does Her Royal Highness the Princess say, the appearance of Her Royal Highness the Prince... Well, it's like the first time I walked into the castle of the Grand Duke of Hesse, and my eyes lit up at what I saw. The maid bit her fingers and tilted her head.

"Dorothy, are you amusing me again? Charlottenburg Palace, my cousin doesn't know how many times he's been here! Elizabeth said unhappily.

"Your Highness, it's true! The attendants in the palace know that every time His Royal Highness comes to the palace, he likes to take the initiative to greet the attendants who are familiar with him. Although I came from the Duchy of Hesse, I know it, and I am familiar with His Royal Highness the Prince... But this time, His Royal Highness's eyes were all on the frescoes, decorations and furniture in the palace rooms.... I followed His Royal Highness the Prince to several rooms, and His Royal Highness the Prince didn't look at me. The maid Dorothy muttered as she wrung her fingers.

"Oh, Dorothy, I'm sorry, I really didn't know it was so." Elizabeth gently hugged her maid.

"Your Royal Highness Princess, Dorothy is also sorry for you, I have been following for a long time, and I don't know if His Royal Highness Waldemar has brought a letter from His Royal Highness William." The maid Dorothy whispered.

"It's okay, Dorothy, I don't think there will be faith." Elizabeth gently pinched Dorothy's cheek, "My cousin should have recovered, and I... My cousin still lives in Berlin. Elizabeth burst into tears, hugged Dorothy tightly and cried bitterly, "Dorothy, I heard you say that my cousin, I miss my mother and sister Mary. ”