After staying in Letown for two days, Hu Chuyuan also went to the Letown gold mine, and the output was not enough, and he could produce thousands of taels of gold every year.

The scope of this mine is very vast, and it is actually a very good copper mine, but unfortunately, Liu Guigui and they have no refining ability, but they only dig the sand and wash it in the water, and use the soil method to pan for gold.

If it is directly mined and smelted copper ore and gold associated ore is refined simultaneously, the gold production can continue to increase a lot.

Hu Chuyuan estimated that if the place of Letun can be developed well, it can roughly be equivalent to six counties, which is different from West Borneo.

There are almost no swamps, it is all land, and it is an ancient alluvial plain, or a sedimentary plain, with fertile soil, abundant rainfall, close to the equator, and can grow three crops of rice a year.

This kind of place seems to be of particular concern only to the Chinese, because the Chinese are the pinnacle of agricultural civilization and want to farm wherever they go.

Hu Chuyuan has another algorithm, and if you have land, you can support a sufficient population.

With people, he can do anything.

Two days later, Hu Chuyuan set off for Singapore, almost encountered a typhoon during the journey, and had to dock in the river harbor of Shankou Yang Town for two more days.

After a trip of five days, the Taichang returned to Singapore.

These days, Ye Fu and Liu Buyun are very busy, holding different political goals and different directions of effectiveness, constantly lobbying Lin Taizeng, Ye Zuqi, and Lin Yongsheng.

Before Liu Ye and Erlin set off from Europe, Li Hongzhang had already contacted the four through Li Fengbao and asked them to serve the country in the Beiyang Naval Division.

Liu Buyun is a really shrewd person, and when he realized that this was a rare opportunity, he took the initiative to talk to Li Fengbao about China's naval defense issues.

As for this talk, Li Fengbao also realized that this person was not simple, so he wrote to Li Hongzhang to recommend Liu Buchan.

Coincidentally, Li Hongzhang and Liu Buyun's thoughts on building the Qing Navy coincide.

The meaning of the two is very simple, the other sailors are not built, and the money of the whole country is concentrated to run the Beiyang Naval Division alone, and if there is a foreign enemy, the Beiyang Fleet will fight to the death with the enemy country in the deep sea.

It's all wonderful!!

Hu Chuyuan was actually thinking about these people in his heart, and when he returned to Changchun Garden, he wanted to invite Lin Taizeng and others over to inquire, but as soon as he sat down, Liu Buyun came to him alone.

As soon as he sat down, Liu Buyun said to Hu Chuyuan very unceremoniously: "Lord Tiao, I heard that you are a long-term person with a ...... talent!" ”

Without waiting for him to finish speaking, Hu Chuyuan said: "Don't dare to be, Liu Guandao, if you have something to say, just say it!" ”

At this time, three o'clock in the afternoon had arrived.

Hu Chuyuan couldn't move to use afternoon tea, and two maids brought from Hangzhou came up with exquisite silver plates, one was juice with almond tarts, the other was a local fresh fruit plate in Singapore, plus a cup of oolong tea, and it was slightly steaming.

Hu Chuyuan has a taboo...... Do not drink cold tea.

He chose oolong tea with a fruit plate, and the other one also stayed, which was regarded as inviting Liu Buchan to have afternoon tea together.

In other words, Liu Buyun is becoming more and more unaccustomed to Hu Chuyuan...... When he went on a business trip to Europe, he actually rented a large merchant ship by himself, brought more than a dozen maids and servants, and nearly 20 staff members and technical teams.

Liu Buyun was too lazy to glance at the juice tart in front of him, and asked Hu Chuyuan directly: "My lord, I don't know how you think I should settle the matter of the coastal defense of the Qing Dynasty?" ”

Hu Chuyuan was quite cold, to be honest, he had no interest in Liu Buyun anymore, but he just sat with Liu Buyun politely.

Taking a sip of warm oolong tea, he said, "What do you have a good idea?" ”

Liu Buyun said: "Of course, as long as I can gather the strength of the whole country to build a division, although I can't compete with foreign enemies, I can also defend the key places, so that foreigners don't dare to go straight into the Bohai Sea to threaten the Beijing Division." If the Beijing division is stable, the world will be safe, and no matter how many foreigners the fleet is, it should also send a land division to land, at that time, as long as the two armies of Hunan and Huai gather elites, they will be annihilated. ”

Hu Chuyuan smiled and said, "The idea is very good, but there is a problem, that is, our army may not be able to beat others." The two armies of Xianghuai joined forces, so don't think about it, they haven't joined forces, isn't the twisting army an example? It is better to send only one army, but the problem is that only one army cannot be defeated. If the foreigners only attack Fuzhou, Guangzhou and Shanghai, the Beiyang Navy Division will not dare to come down at all, the imperial court will not agree, and Li Zhongtang will not agree. In case it is to fight Fuzhou, hehe, I don't know how you are embarrassed by this Fuzhou person? ”

Liu Buyun was silent for a moment, and suddenly said: "It's better than destroying the Jingshi and repeating the incident of the Old Summer Palace, okay?" ”

Hu Chuyuan said: "Then you might as well concentrate the strength of the whole country to set up the Fujian Naval Division, if they enter Mawei to fight with the Fujian Naval Division, the Fujian Naval Division will at least have forts on both sides of the strait to rely on." Wouldn't it be better if they didn't defeat the Fujian Naval Division, and the Fujian Naval Division choked the Taiwan Strait Road again, they either couldn't go up, or they could go up and couldn't get down, wouldn't it be better? ”

Liu Buyun said: "You are a crooked reason, the imperial court garrison, of course, must first pay attention to the safety of the Beijing Division, in case the foreign fleet skips the Fujian Naval Division and directly attacks the Beijing Division, what should I do?" ”

Hu Chuyuan said with a smile: "You are not a foreigner, how do you know that they dare to skip by, tens of thousands of miles of sailing over, standing alone in the Far East, who dares to take it lightly." ”

Liu Buyun aggressively asked: "If Tsarist Russia is directly moving south from the Far East, what should we do?" ”

Hu Chuyuan sighed, not knowing what to say.

He had to admit that Liu Buyun was a talent, and he thought a lot.

Liu Buyun's truth is actually a very hard truth, Shen Baozhen can't even say half a "no", not to mention Hu Chuyuan, Hu Chuyuan can't say - the French are coming, they want to fight the Fujian sailors.

After thinking about it, Hu Chuyuan decided not to argue with Liu Buyun, and only said: "This matter is not something that you and I can decide, if you want to go to the Beiyang Naval Division, I will definitely support it." As for these five gunboats, you send them to Mawei first. I have already told Wu Zhengbing and them that they should study these gunboats carefully and strive to succeed in copying them as soon as possible. You can personally go directly to the Beiyang Naval Division, if you want to bring a group of sailors, including some naval generals, it is easy to discuss. ”

Liu Buyun said: "Since it is to be imitated, then as long as one is not on the line, Lang Weili's one is left to the Fujian Navy, and the others will go to the Beiyang Naval Division with me first, at least we must wait for the Zhongtang Lord to inspect before making a conclusion, this matter is the Zhongtang Lord's Ming Xun Iron Order, we can't afford to offend the Zhongtang Lord." ”

Hu Chuyuan wanted to give him a punch, but it was estimated that he couldn't beat him, and others were also generals.

He didn't want to bother to say more, so he said: "Liu Guandai, let's talk about this matter here, I'm just passing on a message for Zuo Zhongtang and Lord He, the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, I hope you will dock at Mawei Port first, and the rest of the matter has nothing to do with you." Even if Li Zhongtang is furious, he can't blame you. But if you don't dock at Mawei Harbor...... You are responsible for the consequences, I don't care, and I don't ask. ”

In fact, Hu Chuyuan knew very well in his heart that the reason why Liu Buyun came to him to reason with him was because he couldn't persuade Lin Taizeng, Ye Zuqi and Lin Yongsheng to go north with him.

Avoiding Mawei Port and sailing directly to Beiyang, that is to really offend Zuo Zongtang, a scholar of Tirenge University, Liangjiang Governor and Minister of Nanyang Trade of the Imperial Court, and He Jing, the Governor of Fujian and Zhejiang and the Governor of Fujian, the General of Fuzhou, and the Minister of Fuzhou Shipping!

Lin Taizeng and they are not stupid!

Seeing Hu Chuyuan's official tone, Liu Buyun was angry and snorted viciously: "Your Excellency really wants to ignore the safety of the society and only care about your own selfish interests? ”

"Self-interest?"

Hu Chuyuan sneered and asked, "Could it be that the Fujian Navy Division is my private fleet, what is self-interest?" Liu Guandai, since you have made up your mind, I won't say more. I will not force others to do what they are not willing to do, and when you pass through the port of Guangzhou, you will stop in the name of repairing ships and stay in the Nanyang Naval Division. If anyone else does the same, I wouldn't have any objection. Although the Fuzhou Shipyard Yamen is anxious to imitate the gunboat, they do not dare to coerce you. You can also rest assured that if Lord Zhongtang and Lord Governor blame him, this official will take full responsibility and has nothing to do with you. Okay, please go, I don't want to see you again! ”

Although Hu Chuyuan's words were ugly, Liu Buyun felt very uncomfortable, but after all, he achieved his goal, and he did not stop, and immediately left with his sleeves brushed up.

Hu Chuyuan sighed silently, the twisted melon is not sweet, since others want to serve the Beiyang Naval Division, which must be the most powerful and the most reused by the imperial court, why should he stop it!!

He called Ye Fu over and talked a few words, so that he and Lin Taizeng and others also made it clear that if they wanted to stay, they would stay, and if they didn't want to stay, they would temporarily stay in Guangzhou Nanyang Naval Division in the name of ship maintenance, and wait for Li Hongzhang to come to their aid.

At that time, even Zuo Zongtang and He Jing couldn't blame them.

As for Hu Chuyuan, he didn't bother to bother talking, so he went to take a hot bath after explaining this matter, and put this matter behind him for the time being.

When he slept until the night and relieved the fatigue of the journey, Ye Zuqi also came to find him accompanied by Ye Fu.

The relationship between Ye Zuqi and Ye Fu is not bad, the two of them talked a lot in private, and the truth of the matter basically came out It turned out that Li Hongzhang had already informed them through Li Fengbao's invitation, saying that he would invite them to play with the imperial court and transfer them to the Beiyang Naval Division to serve the country.

The imperial court has not approved it yet, but Liu Buyun is determined to go, Lin Taizeng is also very tempted, Ye Zuqi and Lin Yongsheng are not tempted, after all, it is the Beiyang naval division that the imperial court relies on the most, and there are three million taels of silver every year, and even four million taels of silver are spent on the military.

With such a foundation, it will be easier to seek some military merits in the future, and it is conceivable to seal a wife and a son.

Hu Chuyuan pondered for a moment, knowing what Ye Zuqi meant, but he still wanted to keep one or two.

He said to Ye Zuqi: "I have already told you how to deal with it, if you go to the Beiyang Naval Division, this matter is that the raw rice is cooked into cooked rice, and you have to approve it if you don't approve it." If you just go to Mawei Port in such a daze, there will naturally be other people who will come forward. ”

Ye Fu sighed and said, "Raise your lordship...... Liu Buyun is definitely going to go, and when he sees Li Zhongtang, he knocks on the side twice, who can stand it? ”

Hu Chuyuan smiled bitterly, thinking to himself, these people are enough to create evil, and they will offend a Zhongtang wherever they go.

Ye Zuqi sighed, but seemed to have made up his mind, and resolutely said to Hu Chuyuan: "My lord, if any side is not satisfied, after all, it will be a few of us who have suffered from the pipes, it is better to compromise, since the imperial court has not issued a clear order, Zhong Qing and I will directly drive the gunboat into the horsetail." Lang Weili followed us, and the two brothers, Lin Taizeng and Liu Buyun, suspended the port of Guangzhou in the name of maintaining the ship, and asked the lord to take care of it, and not to tell the governor the intention directly. ”

Hu Chuyuan knew that he could only agree with him, nodded slightly, and said, "Okay, I promise you." ”

Ye Zuqi hugged his fists and said: "Then I will ask for more attention to our two brothers!" ”

Hu Chuyuan also arched his hand and said: "Take care of each other, I also want to thank the two brothers for their righteous deeds, so as not to make me too embarrassed and difficult to deal with." ”

Ye Zuqi said again: "As an official in the same dynasty, it should be so!" Raise the tune, then I won't disturb your rest too much! ”

Hu Chuyuan nodded, got up and saw him off.

Although Ye Zuqi and Lin Yongsheng are not as famous as Liu Buyun and Lin Taizeng, they have also trained in the UK for several years, and they will definitely be able to beat ordinary sailor generals.

After the end of the Sino-Japanese War, Ye Zuqi became the only remaining well-known general in the Qing Dynasty navy, and became a temporary pillar to support the construction of the naval division at the end of the Qing Dynasty, while Lin Yongsheng died a miserable death.

Lin Yongsheng is a relatively weak person, few words, he has seen Hu Chuyuan several times and has not spoken, but he is very brave, after the Dingyuan ship caught fire, he commanded the Jingyuan ship to step forward, shared the firepower of the Dingyuan ship for the Dingyuan ship, and wanted to take advantage of the situation to sink a lone ship, but was hit by his own shell, and died of a split brain...... It is said that even the brains have exploded.

After Ye Zuqi left, Hu Chuyuan was thinking about the whole thing in his heart, he felt that Ye Zuqi and Lin Yongsheng were more suitable for Fujian sailors, and they should be easier to use.

As for Lang Weili, Hu Chuyuan never thought too much about it.

Considering that Liu Buyun was going to the Beiyang Naval Division, Hu Chuyuan also wanted to let Lang Weili go over and let the two of them toss slowly, but when he thought about it again, Liu Buyun would not change, his surname was too prickly, and he was very self-assured.

Therefore, a strong British instructor will not be able to stay in the Beiyang Naval Division, and a non-strong instructor will not be able to play a role at all.

After thinking about it, Hu Chuyuan sneered in his heart again.

He vowed that he must build the Fujian Naval Division into the truly strongest fleet in Asia, far surpassing the Beiyang Naval Division, and that Liu Buyun and Lin Taizeng would regret it.

No!!!

He thought that it was not to make Liu Buyun and Lin Taizeng regret it, but to make Ye Zuqi, Lin Yongsheng, Ye Fu, and Deng Shichang ...... These people are proud, proud of the choices they have made, even if there is some reluctance and helplessness at the time.

(To be continued)