"Ladies and gentlemen, I don't know what the ministers think about my 'Grand Cross Railway Project'. You must know that the funds and personnel required for such a large project are extremely large. We don't have this technology in the Qing Dynasty, so we can only turn to other countries for help. At the same time, I also believe that such a huge project cannot be completed by one country. Therefore, I hope that it can be done by the four countries. ”

Guangxu's fluent American English immediately surprised the ministers of the four countries, none of whom could have imagined that the Qing Dynasty always referred to itself as the superior kingdom of the Celestial Empire, and was extremely repulsive to all kinds of advanced science and technology and civilization in the West. I didn't expect their emperor to speak English so fluently, albeit American.

"Your Majesty, I didn't expect you to be so fluent in English. I believe that in the future, we will have no language barrier. U.S. Minister Tian Bei was quite pleased that Guangxu could speak American Chinese. Guangxu did not speak British English, which means that Guangxu identified with the United States to a certain extent.

"But Your Majesty, don't you think that the English language of the British Empire is the most authentic?" Ogne was a little dissatisfied with why Guangxu didn't speak authentic English, didn't Guangxu know that the language of the United States was taught by the British Empire.

"I guess let's turn the conversation back to the railroad." Guangxu said with a smile. Guangxu really can't think of which language to speak.

Eugene had no choice but to go back to the railway: "Your Majesty, please believe that all four of us are capable of completing your "Grand Cross Railway Plan" on our own, but this will take a long time, and I believe it is not acceptable to Your Majesty. It is true that such a pampered project will be completed in three or five years, but I don't know how His Majesty plans it? ”

"Ministers, please come and look at the map. I would like to thank Minister Ogne for gifting me this map. ”

"You're welcome, for the sake of the friendship between the British Empire and the Qing Kingdom."

To hell with your friendships. Guangxu scolded in his heart.

"Ministers, I mean to divide this railway into four parts, to extend the existing railways, and finally to connect the parts that have been built by the various countries." Guangxu pointed to the map: "I want the United States to build the northeast section from the capital of the Qing Dynasty to Harbin, the Russian to build the western section from Xi'an to Ili, the German to repair the middle part of the capital, Xi'an, Jiaozhou to Xuzhou, and the British to the south of Xuzhou." The ministers of the various countries did give their own plans. Of course, the cross on this map is only my imagination, and I really don't understand how to build it, how the railway will go, and where it will pass. But there are people in the Qing Dynasty who understand this. Pass it on. Of course, these last two words are in Chinese, and there are really only a handful of people in the palace who can understand English.

"Spread Tang Shaoyi and Zhan Tianyou to meet ——"

"This Mr. Zhan Tianyou, perhaps none of the ministers have heard of his name. But I want to believe in his technical skills for the railway. I will appoint him as the Chief Engineer of the Grand Cross Railway. Tang Shaoyi is the assistant and is responsible for the negotiation of various affairs. The ministers may consult directly with the two of you on specific matters. ”

Prior to this, Guangxu had already discussed the "Grand Cross Railway Plan" with Zhan Tianyou, and when Guangxu finished speaking, Zhan Tianyou began his speech. Tell him about his understanding and thoughts on this plan. Ministers of various countries also put forward their own ideas for railways. The ministers of the various countries finally replied that because the funds and other related matters required for the huge project could not be determined until they were reported to the country, they turned around one after another.

"Minister Barland, please wait, I still have something to discuss."

Barand turned around in surprise, because the authentic German he heard this time was still with a Munich accent.

"I really can't imagine that His Majesty the Emperor of the Qing Kingdom would speak so many languages. Did you know? This is the only authentic German pronunciation I have heard from Chinese since I became minister to China. ”

"Thank you for the compliment, I've always missed the beer in Munich." Guangxu sighed in his heart, his German was taught by his master in his previous life, a native of Munich, Germany. Because his master saw that he was doing a good job, and hoped that he could work in Germany. If it weren't for the fact that he wanted to work in Germany, then he wouldn't have spent more than three months learning German or that he didn't want to tell his girlfriend when things were decided; Then he has time to spend with his girlfriend; Then his girlfriend won't leave him; Then he wouldn't have gone drinking alone that night; Then wouldn't have come to this damn place; Then he will not be awakened by the sound of cannons in the Yellow Sea every night. I really want to get a good night's sleep.

"Your Majesty, if possible, I will grant your wish as soon as possible. I wonder what else is going on with Your Majesty? "If a few cases of beer can be exchanged for the favor of the Qing Emperor, it will be of great help to Germany's Far East policy.

"I believe that Minister Barand should know all the German firearms used by the new army that I have established the Qing Dynasty. Therefore, I would like to have an ammunition production line imported from your country, and I would like to ask your country's artillery engineers to assist us in improving our existing artillery. I don't know if it's possible? ”

"I can't make a decision on that, I'll report it back to China. I believe it should be possible. ”

"That's a lot of work. In addition, I have always believed that your army is the most powerful in the world. Of course, this is not for the French to hear. ”

When Guangxu said this, Barland smiled proudly: "Your Majesty, thank you for your compliment. Indeed, the combat effectiveness of the German [***] team cannot be ignored. I really don't understand why it is said that the French army is the first army in Europe. ”

"Almost a hundred years have passed since the Napoleonic era. The French still sleep in that era. The German Army was known for its obedience to discipline and strict commands. Moreover, your country's staff system is also the most complete command system at present. I would like to introduce this system in the new army first, so I will hire some moral officers, preferably those who have actual combat experience, and of course if they can also be active officers in your country's general staff. ”

For the German army, Guangxu has always been highly praised. In the First World War, none of Germany's allies could take a shot. Italy's repetition, Austria-Hungary could not even take over the small country of Serbia. If you are not afraid of enemies like wolves, you are afraid of teammates like pigs. That's a brilliant statement. The same is true of World War II. It can be said that in the two world wars, it was Germany that fought against the whole of Europe with the strength of one country and achieved the advantage. If it weren't for Germany's poor geographical location, it was caught in a two-front war on both occasions, and the United States participated in the European war with huge manpower and resources. Germany won't lose both times.

"Your Majesty, if you have to be an active officer, I'm afraid it's a little difficult, and I don't think there's any problem with a retired officer. I'll ask my friends back home to keep an eye on it. I wonder what else Your Majesty wants? ”

"Minister Barland, you see that my new army is going to be carried out on a large scale in the future. So I guess this first batch of officers should be at least the rank of colonel. Guangxu asked in a tentative tone.

"Colonel?" Barand really didn't understand why he was asking for such a high price. You must know that Germany is expanding its army, and it is impossible to send many officers.

"If it really doesn't work, the major general will do it." Guangxu said.

"What? Is the emperor of the Qing Kingdom crazy? Why didn't he just move the German army to the Qing Kingdom? When Barland's adjutant heard the news, he couldn't believe it.

"I think the emperor of the Qing dynasty understood that the German army was the most powerful." Barland patted his chest. Of course, he was not nervous, but put a silver ticket of 5,000 taels in his chest pocket that was given by the emperor's close attendant Kou Liancai before he left the palace. According to Kou Liancai's words, it was the tea money that asked him for help: "I think we should try our best to meet the requirements of the Qing Emperor, don't you think this is a good opportunity for Germany to exert greater influence on the Qing State?" ”

"Of course, but can a major who is on active duty and works in the staff department be arranged in China to clear the country?"

"It's up to us to report it back home, so it's going to take our efforts. I think it's time for us to write a report back home. Is it my lieutenant sir? ”

Not only Germany, but also the United States, Britain, and Russia also sent telegrams back to their respective countries, reporting what had happened in their Qing country. They mentioned one thing at the same time. The Qing emperor demanded that each country must first determine the detailed plan for laying the railway, as well as the amount of money and personnel required. And to reduce the cost as much as possible, this will be the final decision made by Zhan Tianyou, the newly appointed chief engineer of the Qing Dynasty. The Qing emperor did not accept an assessment report with similar estimates. At the same time, the countries also emphasized in their reports to the country that the Qing emperor put forward a non-negotiable demand: the materials used in the Qing "Grand Cross Railway Project" must all come from the factories in the Qing country, and all countries, units and individuals found to use imported materials will be disqualified from construction, and the Qing state will unconditionally confiscate the completed work and the Qing state will not give any compensation. This will be included in the final construction contract. Countries, units and individuals who do not agree will not be considered by the Qing State.

For a time, the political axes of various countries were plunged into heated discussions. Each country has its own calculations, but they are all quick to respond. In the reply to the embassy in China, there was the same request: to arrange for on-site exploration immediately.

There is a detailed plan for the laying of the railway, which requires the arrangement of technical personnel to carry out advanced field surveys. How can there be fewer exploration personnel required for such a large project, and for a time, all countries on the land of China are recruiting experienced personnel and a large number of apprentices. But China did not have so many available people at this time, so countries raised each other's salaries, and various recruitment methods were also emerging. But they later found out that most of these people, as long as they had some experience, were pulled away by the new army of the Qing Dynasty. At this time, Guangxu had already gone to Beiyang, so they could only find Tang Shaoyi who stayed behind.

When asked, I learned that the New Army was paid 5 taels of silver per month, and that Tang Shaoyi thought that these people were not skilled enough and that they could only be seconded to various countries after passing the examination after training in three to five months; at the same time, Tang Shaoyi proposed to hire engineers and technicians from various countries to serve as instructors in the New Army Military Academy, and offered a high salary ranging from 200 to 300 taels. It is the season of employing people, how can it be possible to let the new army recruit. After intensive consultations and many discussions, the countries could only offer to borrow personnel from the Forces nouvelles at a price of 5 taels of silver per month and promised to conduct on-the-spot training for these personnel in the course of field exploration, but Tang Shaoyi could only "reluctantly" agree under diplomatic pressure.

Inside the Yanjing Cining Palace

Sun Yuwen knelt in front of Cixi and was stating the current dissatisfaction and complaints about the countries that had taken place in the Qing Dynasty because of the construction of the railway. and the attitude of the governors on this matter.

"The Queen Mother, this is the excerpt of the governors everywhere. Most of them support Daqing Bank, but they still disagree with some of its provisions. Regarding the railway, Liu Kun, the governor of Liangjiang, hoped that the imperial court would build a railway from the capital to Shanghai. In addition, all countries are now complaining that the price of the new army of the Qing Dynasty on loan to personnel from various countries is too high. This matter also asks the Queen Mother to call the shots, if it causes dissatisfaction among all countries and starts up again, how can it be good. ”

Cixi leisurely picked up the teacup and took a sip of fragrant tea: "The emperor has already explained this matter to the mourning family. If the foreigners are really dissatisfied, how can they be seconded to the new army for 5 taels of silver? This is called using foreigners' money to raise soldiers for the Qing Dynasty. Laishan doesn't have to worry too much. As for the terms of the Daqing Bank, they can be discussed again. That Lin Qizhao's family has seen it, and he has some insight. Let him get it. It seems that the emperor has played a good role. ”

Perform? In Sun Yuwen's view, this word has a different meaning: "Lafayette, the emperor's so-called "Grand Cross Railway Plan" has not yet begun, and this foreigner is going to set up factories in various places. In the past, it was not possible to open treaty ports. But now the emperor has taken the initiative to let foreigners in, and it is fundamentally against the system of the country, and he must not agree easily. The Queen Mother Lafayette is in charge. ”

"This matter has been made clear to the emperor before, and more consideration must be given. I don't want the emperor to be too surnamed. Let's think about it. ”

"The servant respectfully asks the Queen Mother to discipline the government." I am the secretary of the Ministry of War, and the matter of secondment from various countries did not go through him. How much silver does this one get in and one out?

Cixi just waved her hand: "Kneel down." ”

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