The day after Deng Zixuan returned to Guangzhou, Pei Ge said nervously in the office of the military government: "Commander-in-chief, a few days ago, there was a rumbling cannon sound in Dongguan, I am really worried about your safety, and you can't go again with such an adventure in the future." Deng Zixuan smiled: "Am I not safe and sound." However, I really found a problem when I went to Dongguan this time. ”

"What's the problem?" Pei Gejin asked in surprise. "I found that the British warships were being renewed, especially the ironclad ones. Presumably, the British will also feel this artillery battle. Sail-made wooden battleships will soon be phased out, and with them will be ironclad ships of greater tonnage, and thicker and more powerful naval guns. Therefore, our fortress artillery must also be developed, and the next step is to develop a 300-mm fortress cannon. Deng Zixuan said decisively.

"I'm afraid it's not a day's work!" Pei Ge said solemnly. Deng Zixuan said with a smile: "The principle is no different from the Jishu problem, the key is to overcome the problem of cannon steel, and the 300mm cannon has very high requirements for steel." In addition, we have developed a 300 mm fortress cannon, which means that in the future, our ironclad battleships have the conditions to be manufactured, and the fortress cannon and the battleship cannon are universal. "I really hope that day will come sooner and see our own warships galloping across the oceans!" Pei Ge was delighted.

Deng Zixuan said with great ambition: "Brother Pei, I promise that in ten years, you will definitely be able to see our giant ships and cannons, I will build a blue navy that is unparalleled in the world, and I will let Chinese warships gallop on seven continents and five oceans." "I'm sure you can do it!" "The immediate priority is to prepare for the construction of torpedo boats, which are simple to manufacture, and the jishu of torpedoes is basically formed. We must do coastal defense, and we must not allow foreigners to show off their military might in our coastal waters, and we must ensure that coastal transportation is the key in the future. ”

Deng Zixuan continued: "I have informed Chen Jintang that two of my disciples who specialize in ship design in England will come to Guangzhou, and I will immediately prepare for the construction of a torpedo boat factory. In addition, I have not been idle in the past few days of the storm, and the protection of the Dongguan Fort made me anxious, so I carefully wrote a jihua book on the manufacture of cement. This task is entrusted to you, the foreigners in the concession have talents in this area, and you have to force them to serve us. ”

One of his subordinates came in and reported: "Report to the commander-in-chief, the French troops escorted from Annam have arrived, please instruct!" Deng Zixuan said with a smile: "Brother Pei, our guests have arrived, I want to meet them in person." Pei Gejin was surprised and said: "You want to see the French prisoners, I don't understand that Weishenme sent the French army down and escorted it to Guangzhou?" Deng Zixuan continued: "I can't feed so many people in vain, they must have enough food and clothing by themselves, and I am ready to pull them to the railway line to build the railway." Preferential treatment of captives does not mean offering them up. ”

"Aren't you ready to exchange French prisoners for money? weishenme let them build the railroad that? Pei Gejin asked confusedly. Deng Zixuan explained: "It seems that it will be difficult for us to turn hostility with Western countries in a few years, so let them exert their residual heat." The French don't care about their compatriots, so why should we be hypocritical. I am going to hand over these French prisoners of war to Zhang Zhidong, because he is short of manpower to build the railway. "It's a shame that you can figure it out!" Pei Gejin shook his head and left in a hurry.

A Western carriage drove down the street, covered by guards on horseback in front of and behind. "What are you taking me for?" Zhang Zhidong, who was traveling with him, asked in surprise. "Let me ask you how many steam locomotives and wagons there are in Guangzhou at the moment?" Deng Zixuan's question is not answered. Zhang Zhidong said without thinking: "At the end of last year, I used the sea to buy 6 cars and 40 carriages from the Mawei Steam Locomotive Factory. ”

Deng Zixuan said with a smile: "The roadbed from Guangzhou to Shaoguan has been basically completed, and the next step is to lay steel rails." Your predecessor was so anxious to build the road that he had prepared a large number of steel rails in advance, so I intended to make the Shaoguan-Canton railway line open to traffic first. "The war in Guangzhou has begun, and the workers who built the road have all run away, and there is no labor at the moment. Besides, it's hard to get money everywhere! Zhang Zhidong was embarrassed.

Deng Zixuan smiled and continued: "I will solve this problem for you, nearly 5,000 high-class laborers, you just need to take care of the food without paying a penny." "Commander-in-Chief! It's not a joke! "Seeing is believing, and you'll know in a moment!" The carriage stopped in front of a bungalow. The guards saw Deng Zixuan, who was dressed in military uniform, raised his hand and saluted, and then saluted Zhang Zhidong, who was dressed in a "Zhongshan" suit. Zhang Zhidong, who was dressed in a "Zhongshan" suit and wore a polite one, looked at least ten years younger.

Walk into a meeting room where dozens of French generals are seated. Seeing Deng Zixuan walk in, all the French stood up, only to see that their beards were unshaven, their hair was cold, their military uniforms were covered with gray cars and greasy, and everyone was tanned, obviously these people had come after a long journey. “haha！ General Riverley, we're seeing each other again, how are we doing these days? Deng Zixuan greeted him with a smile, as if he had seen an old friend.

"May I ask General Deng, is detaining us in Guangzhou to judge us?" Riverley said coldly. Deng Zixuan said with a smile: "It seems that General Revelli does not understand Chinese history, the Chinese have always been honest, I said that I will treat prisoners preferentially, and I will never backtrack." Frankly, I have sent someone to contact your government to discuss the release of prisoners of war. It is a great pity, however, that your Government has not heard back at all. We are currently in hostility with your Government, but I can pledge to continue to pursue a preferential treatment of prisoners of war. ”

"In that case, why did General Deng escort us to Guangzhou?" Riverley was unmoved. Deng Zixuan put away his smile and said: "Since your government has abandoned you, you can only wait until the end of the war to release you back to China, I promise that there is no problem in releasing you after the end of the war, but the premise must be in accordance with the rules and accept the reform." At present, the junta does not support idlers, you have to feed yourselves. ”

Rivery was surprised: "General Deng asked us to do coolies? "Yes! I'm not consulting with you but giving orders, and you can interpret it as coercion, because you are prisoners of war. General Rivery I want you to be aware of current affairs, and the prisoners of war will be handed over to you to manage. In fact, it doesn't matter if you agree or not, if we directly manage the power, you should know it. ”

"Well, I promise you, I want to know what to do coolies!" Rivery asked after a moment's thought. "Build a railway!" Deng Zixuan didn't think twice. Riverley groaned and continued, "General Deng, I ask my soldiers to have a full stomach?" "There is no problem with this, and I promise that the food is better than in the POW camps." In addition, you and the generals can enjoy special care as administrators. In peacetime, generals can wear uniforms, and officers below the rank of general, including soldiers, wear uniforms. Your uniforms can be kept, and we respect the honor of the servicemen. ”

"General Deng is very thoughtful, I have nothing to say, and I promise that there will be no resistance!" Riverley's attitude became very religiotic. Deng Zixuan seemed to think of something and said: "If your soldier is an engineer or a technician, as long as he has a skill, we will give special treatment." Deng Zixuan then introduced Zhang Zhidong to Riverley, meaning that he would accept his management in the future. In the face of foreigners, Zhang Zhidong felt a little weak in his heart, there was no way, this was the original thinking that was doing trouble.

After coming out, Zhang Zhidong sighed: "I never dreamed that foreigners would stand in front of me respectfully." haha！ Nearly 5000 prisoners of war, it is simply unimaginable. "Brother Zhang, in the future, you have to get used to the respect of foreigners, maybe one day, the scene of all nations worshipping will definitely appear." As soon as Deng Zixuan's words fell, a silver bell-like shout suddenly came from the side: "Daddy! Daddy! Deng Zixuan hurriedly reined in the horse and took a look, it turned out that there was a small sedan chair on the side of the road, the curtain of the small sedan chair was lifted, and a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl was shouting.

"Why are you going?" Zhang Zhidong asked in surprise. "Daddy! I heard that there were thousands of foreigners outside the city, and everyone rushed to watch, so I went to take a look. "Nonsense! What do foreigners have to see! You are a woman, you should guard the woman's way and go home immediately! "Daddy!" The girl pursed her lips. Zhang Zhidong wanted to say something, Deng Zixuan smiled and said: "Brother Zhang, it's okay to let your daughter have a long experience, why do you want to imprison that?" In the future, we will let women go out of the house and read and see the world. ”

"Uncle Xiexie Deng!" The girl hurriedly got into the sedan chair. The sedan chair man looked at Zhang Zhidong worriedly, and Zhang Zhidong waved his hand. "The little girl is spoiled, and it makes you laugh." "Your daughter is very clever and very cute! Looks like your daughter knows me. "Yes, the little girl in the house has secretly peeped at you, and the lady often chatters, hoping to let you come to the house as a guest!" Zhang Zhidong took the opportunity to invite.

Deng Zixuan felt negligent and apologized: "When I was in Wuhan back then, I was taken care of by my sister-in-law, and I should visit the house in person." I'm going to the house tonight to bother you, but I'm bringing a guest with me. "It's an honor and welcome to the Commander-in-Chief!" Zhang Zhidong was overjoyed when he heard this. After the establishment of the Guangzhou Military Government, Zhang Zhidong took the initiative to move out of the Governor's Mansion and lived in the mansion of the former Guangzhou general, while the Guangzhou general Changshan led his family to move to the countryside house.

Deng Qiang hurried from Dongguan, and the two got into a carriage and went to Zhang's mansion. Deng Qiang was wearing a military uniform, tall, handsome and chic. "Sir! What are we going to do! Deng Qiang was confused. Deng Zixuan said with a smile: "Let's go to Zhang's Mansion as a guest." Your wife is not here, and your wedding cigarette will naturally fall on my shoulders. Zhang Zhidong has a little girl twenty-eight years old, who is clear and jade, smart and cute, I want to be a matchmaker for you, are you willing? "It's all up to the gentleman!" Deng Qiang was overjoyed when he heard this.