On 14 December, the news of the Pacific Fleet's defeat of the Russian Far East Fleet off the coast of Weihaiwei had spread throughout the government and the public, and major newspapers at home and abroad had published headlines reporting the incident.

Once upon a time, in the face of the strong ships and cannons of the Western powers, the door of China was forcibly blasted open, and tens of thousands of comrades have since become slaves under the semi-colonial and semi-feudal countries. The pain brought by the two Opium Wars to the people is unforgettable, and the 30 years of the Westernization Movement told the people in the Sino-French War that they still did not have the courage to resist in the face of the aggression of the great powers. During the First Sino-Japanese War, he once again told the people that not only the great powers looked down on him, but also his neighbors.

A small country can get rid of the unequal treaties of the great powers and talk to them on an equal footing, while a big country has to grovel and wagging its tail in front of the great powers.

This humiliation was further exacerbated by the Russian military invasion, and there was hope with the successive victories of the Beiyang Army. Because of this, tens of thousands of people know that the Beiyang Army was trained by Wang Chenhao, and the three words of Wang Chenhao are truly well-known. Invisibly, the three words Wang Chenhao have also become synonymous with the rebellion against the great powers in the hearts of tens of thousands of comrades.

Under these circumstances, as the news of Wang Chenhao's Pacific Fleet's defeat of the Russian Far East Fleet reached China, tens of thousands of people were excited, jubilant, and celebrated for a while.

At the same time, international public opinion is also in an uproar.

Newspapers of various countries in China, such as the "Universal Gazette," "Declaration," and "Beijing-Tianjin Times," published editorials and commentators' articles one after another, commenting on the naval battle with front-page headlines. Some of these newspapers are more objective in their evaluations, while others have added subjective weight because of political needs.

Among them, the British "Beijing-Tianjin Times" published an editorial, saying that Britain's firm belief in supporting the Qing Empire had been rewarded, and the friendship of the Qing Empire was worth cultivating. The Qing Empire should not fantasize about getting the friendship of Russia, and should not accommodate the vanity of Russia in order to get the friendship of Russia. The myth about the Russian Far Eastern Fleet as the strongest fleet in Asia has already been completely clarified by this naval battle. The Russian Far Eastern Fleet was as vulnerable as the Russian Far Eastern Army.

Kang Youwei, who had always been concerned about the war, said in a commentary in the 14th issue of the newly established Shiwu Bao in Tianjin: "The reason why China has risen up to invade against Russia is not because it is afraid of Russia's strength, but because it is entirely to show the world that China is a fully mature civilized country and excludes foreign control and seeks to assert its national power in order to preserve the majesty of the country." In other words, it is nothing more than China's arduous efforts in the cause of civilization in the past half century, and now it has been tested for qualification. China has found that there is no other way to do this. Therefore, this conflict with Russia is not so much a war of non-strategy as a war of development. ”

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※ Weihaiwei Naval Office, Hanxuan Pavilion, where only Li Hongzhang could live, has now become the temporary residence where Wang Chenhao stayed.

After climbing five or six poles, Wang Chenhao woke up from a sound sleep. After yesterday's afternoon's battle, Wang Chenhao can be said to have picked up a life from the hands of the king of Hades, and he was extremely tired physically and mentally, and he slept very soundly last night.

There is no snow in Weihaiwei in winter, but it is particularly cold, but at this moment, Wang Chenhao is happy because of the victory in the naval battle yesterday, and he feels hot all over.

"My lord, Tianjin Ruan Zhongshu called, the seventh and eighth towns of the Beiyang Army have departed last night, and they are expected to arrive in Mukden this evening. Mukden Cao Kun sent a telegram and was closely monitoring the movements of the Russian army, and as soon as the seventh and eighth towns arrived, they would immediately launch a counteroffensive. Your Excellency Li Hongzhang has called and asked you to return to Tianjin immediately, and the Russian Minister to China, Cuman, arrived in Tianjin from Yanjing this morning and asked for talks with you. The Military Aircraft Department sent a telegram congratulating the victory in the naval battle of the Eastern Ocean and hoping that your lordship would make persistent efforts to end the war as soon as possible. In addition, congratulatory messages were sent from the embassies of France, the United States and Germany in China. ”

While eating, Wang Chenhao listened to Li Bing, the chief of the guard, read out the contents of the telegram one by one.

Everything is going according to plan, and Wang Chenhao is very satisfied.

After the meal, Ding Ruchang rushed to discuss the matter.

"When will you leave?"

"Set off in a while, Li Bing, you send someone to inform the fleet, ready to set off."

Li Bing asked, "Do you want Lin Jianzhang to send a warship to escort you?" ”

Wang Chenhao waved his hand and said, "No need! After yesterday's First World War, the officers and men worked very hard, those who should recuperate from their wounds should rest and rest, and the ships seized the time to overhaul, after all, the main force of the Russian Far East Fleet was still there. ”

Li Bing was ordered to go down and make arrangements.

Ding Ruchang said: "It's better to be careful, I'll send a warship to escort the adults back to Tianjin, right?" Anyway, the ships of the Beiyang Naval Division are in good condition, and they have not been cruising at sea for a long time, and the soldiers have also gone out to breathe the wind. ”

Wang Chenhao thought about it, so he nodded in agreement.

"That's right! What do you think about the formation of the Combined Fleet, Lord Ding? ”

Ding Ruchang smiled and said, "I personally agree in principle, but it depends on the meaning of the imperial court and the Lord Zhongtang!" ”

Wang Chenhao said: "Lord Ding, don't talk to me!" The court has to look at the attitude of Lord Zhongtang, and Lord Zhongtang will listen to your opinion! ”

Ding Ruchang smiled helplessly, and secretly criticized Wang Chenhao to see it thoroughly.

Seeing Ding Ruchang smiling and silent, Wang Chenhao took the initiative and asked, "Did you see the car in your yard?" What do you think? Do you like it? ”

Ding Ruchang immediately cried and laughed, and when he got up in the morning, he found that there was an extra four-wheeled vehicle in the yard. A large group of foreigners from the Beiyang Navy Division walked around the car, and Ding Ruchang immediately guessed that this four-wheeled vehicle was worth a lot of money, and it was difficult to get it in China. Several foreigners encouraged Ding Ruchang to sit on it, and immediately tried it, and Ding Ruchang praised it as a good thing.

But Ding Ruchang also understands that Wang Chenhao gave him this gift is not light, and he doesn't know how to repay this favor, but now Wang Chenhao immediately asked him to return this favor.

"I really shouldn't have taken that car, it's hard to decide now!"

This time it was Wang Chenhao's turn to smile and say nothing, just waiting for Ding Ruchang to decide.

After a long time, Ding Ruchang smiled helplessly, and said: "I think it's time for me to return to my hometown, this Beiyang Sailor has nothing to do in my hands, if it weren't for Chen Hao's help, I really almost lost every thought of this, I can't help but feel guilty." I believe that the Beiyang Naval Division will shine under the leadership of Chen Hao! ”

Ding Ruchang no longer calls Wang Chenhao an adult, but calls Chen Hao, from the change of title, Wang Chenhao has understood Ding Ruchang's attitude, so he smiled: "Don't worry!" I will only make the Beiyang Naval Division stronger and stronger! ”

Ding Ruchang suddenly felt relieved, and his whole body suddenly felt a lot more relaxed, and said with a smile: "So I'm relieved!" ”

Then, Ding Ruchang suddenly said again: "That's right! I heard some foreigners say that even if this car can afford to be raised by ordinary people, the daily oil is the same as eating money. I'll give it back to you, I'll get your heart! ”

Wang Chenhao smiled: "How can you take back the things you sent out, brother, aren't you scolding me?" Don't worry, there is an oil refinery project in my Beijing-Tianjin-Tang Industrial Base, and when the time comes, build a gas station in your hometown and refuel your car for free, which is interesting enough, right? ”

Ding Ruchang laughed: "Your mouth is like smearing honey, and you always speak so well, then I thank you Chen Hao!" ”

Wang Chenhao smiled: "What's polite? ”

As soon as the words fell, a large group of people suddenly came out from behind the screen.

"What about us?"

Wang Chenhao and Ding Ruchang suddenly turned their heads to look over, only to see Deng Shichang, Liu Buyun, Lin Taizeng and other seven or eight Beiyang Navy Division's ships rushing in, looking at Wang Chenhao expectantly.

"You guys?"

Wang Chenhao looked at them and rolled his eyes helplessly, smiled bitterly and said happily: "We are all brothers, there are those who have no afterlife in this life, of course you are free!" ”

"Yay!!"

"Thanks!!"

Everyone suddenly became excited, and the wind flashed, and soon there was a burst of motor sounds from cars in the yard.

Ding Ruchang glanced at Wang Chenhao, and secretly said in his heart that his choice just now was correct, because it was useless for him to oppose himself, the main generals of the Beiyang Navy Division had obviously fallen to Wang Chenhao's side, if he objected, not only would he not get any benefits, but also offended Wang Chenhao, a figure whose power in the Qing Empire was comparable to Li Hongzhang, obviously he would not be able to get good fruit to eat.

After Wang Chenhao obtained Ding Ruchang's support, he also had a bottom in his heart, as long as Ding Ruchang and the generals of the Beiyang Naval Division supported him, then Li Hongzhang's side had to make concessions even if he was reluctant to accept the Beiyang Naval Division.

Unconsciously, Wang Chenhao's ambition was expanding, that is, after controlling the Beiyang Army, Wang Chenhao also put forward a "sovereignty" claim to the Beiyang Navy Division for the first time. If the Beiyang Navy Division and the Beiyang Army, which were introduced by the imperial court as the backbone of the country, fall under Wang Chenhao's control, they will undoubtedly create a super warlord who supports the army and respects himself.

Is it enough to be a self-respecting warlord? Wang Chenhao himself doesn't know, he only knows that he can protect himself with an army, and if he controls the armed forces of the Qing Empire, he can fight against the imperial court, even if the imperial court can't get used to Wang Chenhao's style, it will be afraid of the army in his hands. In short, everything Wang Chenhao did was not to hand over his fate to others, or that no one could manipulate his fate, he could do whatever he wanted.

Soon, Li Bing came back to report, and everything was ready.

So Wang Chenhao left Weihaiwei, and the fleet went to Tianjin under the escort of the two ships Zhiyuan and Jingyuan.

At four o'clock in the afternoon of ※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※, Wang Chenhao and his fleet arrived at the Shuiguan Wharf in Tianjin.

Ruan Zhongshu led a group of staff members from the small Beiyang staff group to greet him on the wharf, and Li Hongzhang was holding talks with the Russian minister Cuman and sent a representative of Yang Shih-hsiang to greet him.

"Welcome back to China, you have worked hard all the way."

"Don't come unharmed, gentlemen."

After nearly a year, when he heard their voices again, Wang Chenhao felt very kind.

"Ruan Zhongshu, you make arrangements, all the personnel on these ships will be brought to the base for proper placement, Li Bing, you accompany Ruan Zhongshu, some important people should not be neglected."

"Yes, sir!"

Ruan Zhongshu and Li Bing took people to arrange for the scientists, engineers, and technical teams brought back from the United States, while Wang Chenhao and Yang Shixiang returned home in a carriage.

Yang Shixiang looked through the car window at a large number of foreigners who got off the boat, some with luggage, and some with their families.

"How many elites have the adults brought back?"

Wang Chenhao smiled, he didn't want to hide anything from Yang Shixiang, and said directly: "A few technical teams, a few top scientists." ”

Yang Shixiang asked, "What is a technical team?" ”

Wang Chenhao explained: "In foreign countries, every large company or trust group will set up a scientific research department or technical support department to train a group of professionals, specially used to improve the company's operating conditions, improve factory production efficiency, research and development of new products with market competitiveness, etc., this group of talents is called the technical team." ”

Yang Shixiang understood as soon as he heard it, and suddenly said strangely: "Which technical teams did the adults bring back this time?" ”

Wang Chenhao replied: "There are five or six technical teams, but the most important is the technical team of Carnegie Steel, which serves Carnegie Steel, the largest steel company in the United States. ”

Yang Shixiang asked, "How strong is this Carnegie Steel?" ”

Wang Chenhao smiled, and secretly discussed that there were also things that Yang Shixiang didn't understand.

"Do you know that Carnegie Steel's annual steel production is the annual output of the whole country in the United Kingdom, and such a huge steel company relies on this technical team to complete, with this technical team, my Zhili Steel Company can become the world's strongest steel company in a short period of time, do you know what this means?"

Yang Shixiang was surprised: "This means that we will become a big steel producer and a member of the industrial power in a short period of time!" ”

Wang Chenhao nodded and said, "In a sense, your understanding is correct. But a true industrial power needs to be strong in every way. ”

Yang Shixiang understood what Wang Chenhao meant, and said: "It's like the Beijing-Tianjin-Tang Industrial Base that adults are building, right?" It includes all the necessary items for an industrial powerhouse! ”

Wang Chenhao smiled and said, "Yes! However, one Beijing-Tianjin-Tangzhou industrial base can only meet our needs to become an industrial power in Asia, but if we want to keep pace with Britain, France, and Germany, we need to build more than three or four industrial bases, and if we want to keep pace with the United States, we have to build at least seven or eight such industrial bases. ”

Yang Shixiang looked at Wang Chenhao and asked, "The gap between the great powers is so big?" Is the United States so powerful? ”

Wang Chenhao smiled, I am afraid that only Wang Chenhao knows that the United States is the most powerful in this world, because his economy is almost several times that of the powerful Britain, and the war is fought with money, and whoever has money can survive to the end and become the ultimate victor.

"Look! The United States has been in obscurity for a long time, and it won't be long before you see the Americans baring their fangs. ”

Although Wang Chenhao didn't explain much, Yang Shixiang knew that Wang Chenhao would be right in every word, so he believed in Wang Chenhao's words.

"That's right!" Yang Shixiang suddenly asked, "Why didn't you see the second lady?" ”

"Second lady?"

Wang Chenhao suddenly coughed a few times in embarrassment, knowing that Yang Shixiang was asking about Rothier. At the beginning, Wang Chenhao's marriage with the Celingen family was greeted by Li Hongzhang, who has been in politics for many years and knows the necessary and helpless surnames of this kind of political marriage. Li Hongzhang did not object to this, but did ideological work for Li Youyi with the fourth lady Dongmei, and finally after Li Youyi nodded, Li Hongzhang called Wang Chenhao and asked him to be engaged to Rothier with peace of mind.

Wang Chenhao knew that the orthodox idea of men in this era was to have three wives and four concubines, and women were obedient and would accept their husbands as concubines, but except for particularly strong women, such as princesses and the like. Although no one was surprised that Wang Chenhao took a concubine, Wang Chenhao was still a little worried in his heart, so he put Luo Xier in Shanghai first, and came back to explore Li Youyi's tone first.

"Then I asked her to stay in Shanghai first, now that the war is tight, it is not appropriate to take it with me."

Wang Chenhao won't tell Yang Shixiang the truth, but Yang Shixiang is better than a monkey, and he knows what he is thinking from Wang Chenhao's expression.

"Aren't you worried that Madame will be angry?"

"This kind of thing, I think a woman would be angry!"

Wang Chenhao blurted out and immediately felt regretful.

Yang Shixiang smiled and said, "Adults are too worried! Based on my observation and understanding of my wife, my wife is gentle and virtuous, and she is a woman who understands the general situation, and although her wife is not from a family of eunuchs, she is raised by a family of eunuchs, so she is naturally open to this kind of thing. ”

Yang Shixiang didn't say it directly, but Wang Chenhao understood what he meant. It's nothing more than that Li Youyi is just Li Hongzhang's adopted daughter, with no background and no right to speak against it.

Wang Chenhao sighed and said, "Anyway, I don't know how to face her later!" ”

Yang Shixiang smiled and said, "It turns out that the weakness of the adult is the lady?" ”

Wang Chenhao smiled helplessly, Li Youyi is indeed his biggest weakness, because he has very deep feelings for Li Youyi.

"Do you want me to teach you a trick?"

“……”

The carriage stopped outside the palace gate, and Wang Chenhao got out of the car with the help of Yang Shixiang. I saw that Wang Chenhao was wrapped in white gauze on his head, and his arms were wrapped several times, and he was hung on his neck with a bandage, looking like he was not lightly injured.

There were two large rows of housekeepers and maidservants standing at the door, and the housekeeper Li Dehai was stunned for a moment when he saw Wang Chenhao's appearance, and hurriedly greeted him, and at the same time ordered someone to go in to report to his wife.

"Welcome home!"

"Sir, what are you? Didn't you say you weren't hurt? ”

Yang Shixiang suddenly said: "That's because your master is afraid that his wife is worried, isn't it?" ”

Wang Chenhao coughed lightly, his mouth moved but he didn't speak.

Li Dehai believed that it was true, and hurriedly called two maids to step forward to replace Yang Shixiang and help Wang Chenhao up the steps.

"The master has stepped over the brazier to drive away bad luck."

Under the guidance of Li Dehai, Wang Chenhao stepped over the brazier, and then two maids came up and swept Wang Chenhao's head and feet with something like mugwort for a while, and there were words in his mouth, and Wang Chenhao didn't hear what he said, probably a spirit spell or something.

After the exorcism was completed, Wang Chenhao crossed the threshold and entered the mansion.

returned to his home, Wang Chenhao's mood was suddenly extremely comfortable.

"Husband, is that you?"

At this moment, a familiar voice sounded, Wang Chenhao was shaken, and suddenly raised his eyes to see that a person who haunted his dreams appeared in front of him.

"Madame, I'm back."

(To be continued)