"Although Lord Zhongtang's letter mentions that the Taiwan side may need to help in the later stage, it will definitely not be just a request, but for the sake of the people under my Beiyang rule and the people of Taiwan to ensure the safety of the party and seek some benefits." Seeing that the fire had arrived, Zhang Peilun immediately got up and said.

"Let's talk about it, since you want me to help from Taiwan, it's not okay not to give some benefits." Liu Mingchuan relaxed.

"This 100,000 taels of silver is the funds provided by Beiyang to support Taiwan's government-run industries and private factories. It's less, but it should still be helpful at critical moments. After Zhang Peilun finished speaking, he handed over a check.

"There are also this batch of munitions, 100 1889-style rifles, 50 self-defense pistols and 50 combat pistols, not a tribute, let's use it to replace the equipment under Lord Liu's subordinates." Xu Jie sent a list of weapons to Liu Mingchuan. "If the Taiwan side orders ordnance from our Beiyang in the future, our Beiyang will definitely sell it at a parity price, and it will definitely not be a penny higher than the price of the Beiyang Army Division." Xu Jie added.

"What does Taiwan need to do?" Liu Mingchuan looked at the gift list, and his eyebrows couldn't help jumping.

"There are only two things: enriching the people and strengthening the army." Xu Jie said: "What you have done now is already enriching the people and strengthening the army, but we now need to be more detailed, Taiwan Province is quite far from the center, and it has been operated by Lord Liu for many years." We can sell the steps a little bigger. For example, the introduction of overseas Chinese capital to build new steel plants, machinery institutes, chemical and supporting industries. Industries are all the same, in peacetime it is possible to manufacture civilian goods, once in wartime. You can switch to guns. ”

"This introduction of Chinese capital has already been done, but you said that this factory produces armaments, but the imperial court tracked it down, how is it good?" Lao Liu asked a little uneasily.

"Well, that's easy to do." I saw Xu Jie take out an 1889-style self-defense pistol from his pocket and disassemble it. Picking up a barrel of a gun, he asked, "Who can say it's a weapon?" ”

"Miaozai, prepare the accessories first, and then assemble them when the situation is tense, so that the imperial court can't say anything, as for this explosive, it is necessary to build roads and mines, and it's okay to build more." If you really can't do it, you can let the mine prepare more. "Lao Liu is such a smart person, he quickly learned to draw inferences.

"I'm afraid it's not enough to have weapons alone, but also people. This indigenous person in Taiwan Province is brave and good at fighting, and if he can, he may be able to use it in future wars by organizing it into a regimental training. And the Huai army under Lord Liu may have trained according to the Western style. All equipped with new weapons, while strengthening logistics and supplies, and establishing a staff system similar to that of Germany. Xu Jie said solemnly.

"This indigenous militia and the Huai army, I, Liu Mingchuan, can naturally call the shots, but there is still a Hunan army in Taiwan." Liu Mingchuan couldn't help frowning and said.

"What Li Zhongtang did this time is definitely a comprehensive consideration. Not long ago, Li Zhongtang had borrowed a sum of money for the construction of a steel plant in Nanyang, and had also ordered a batch of arms from the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau, so it was time to make up for the gap between the Hunan and Huai departments. In this environment, Taiwan's Hunan army should not be looking for any trouble, and if there are really people who are not long-sighted, they are not afraid that they will not be interested in it. Zhang Peilun got up and said.

"Please also pay attention to the development of the shipping industry, Taiwan's geographical location is superior, and lonely overseas, this internal and external transportation can all rely on sea ships, and this sea is more convenient than land, once there is something, it is also convenient for Beiyang and Taiwan, and the two Guangxi to help each other." Xu Jie continued.

"Even the Governor of Liangguang, Lord Li Hanzhang, wants to contact?" Liu Mingchuan said in surprise.

"And the Governor of Sichuan. This time, to deal with Japan's allocating troops, our Huai Department had no choice but to do so. Zhang Peilun bowed and saluted.

"That's a lot of money. Except for the Huai army's extermination of the Long Hair and the Twist Army back then, I have never seen the Huai people so united to do one thing. Joyfully!! Recalling his heroic appearance when Jin Ge Iron Horse galloped across the field, Liu Mingchuan was also quite excited.

"In addition, don't you want to build a patrol fleet for Taiwan? The younger generation has designed a warship with a small tonnage but good firepower and speed for the future Taiwanese sailors. Xu Jie turned around and took out someone's blueprint from his bag.

"It's too small." Liu Mingchuan said a little unhappily after seeing it.

"If you want a big ship in the future, you have to wait until you have money. This ship will cost about 300,000 taels of silver if it has all the weapons and ammunition parts. Xu Jie whispered. …,

"Uh, too." Liu Mingchuan said embarrassedly. "Even for this fleet, I, Liu Mingchuan, have to fight hard." If there is any official in the Qing Dynasty who has the most affection for Taiwan, Liu Mingchuan must be the first, he put his last glory in Taiwan, from defending Taiwan to later being the governor of Taiwan, Liu Mingchuan can be said to have done his best for the protection and development of Taiwan. Like a father to his son, he has devoted all his efforts to Taiwan's development, so he will go back and support anything that is beneficial to Taiwan, even if he does not hesitate to take some risks.

"Finally, I implore my lord to promise me one thing for the people of Beiyang and Taiwan." Xu Jie finally said solemnly.

"What?" Liu Mingchuan asked a little strangely.

"In any case, Lord Liu must also sit firmly in the position of governor of Taiwan for the people of Taiwan. Once the governor of Taiwan is replaced, whether it is the plan you and I are talking about, or the fate of the Taiwan people, they will fall into the bottomless abyss. Speaking of this, Xu Jie solemnly bowed and said. Recalling that Liu Mingchuan was forced to return to his hometown in 1891 due to internal and external attacks, Xu Jie's eyes turned a little red.

"Jishi just rest assured, after the end of the Qing-Japanese War, I, Liu Mingchuan, will never leave Taiwan even if I die." Liu Mingchuan was also quite moved, and hurriedly hugged Xu Jie with both hands.

The overall situation has been decided, and the rest is the chat time, and it is not too early to see the time, the three of them are ready to leave, and Liu Mingchuan got up to send each other. Just when Xu Jie and the others were about to walk out of the hall door. Liu Mingchuan shouted: "Does Jishi still make a bet with Lao Tzu?" ”

"Hit, why don't you fight? I didn't plan to take the money with me. Xu Jie didn't say a word, left the check and respectfully delivered it to Liu Mingchuan. Then he asked narrowly: "Why did Liu Gong make a bet with Xu someone now?" ”

"Nonsense, no one can't get along with money! I'm still waiting to use the money to buy your clipper. Liu Mingchuan scolded with a smile.

"When Lord Liu buys a ship one day, every time Taiwan buys a warship of this type, I Xu will send a 4.7-inch rapid-fire gun." Xu Jie said solemnly.

"The third province has thanked Brother Ji Shi on behalf of the people of Taiwan here." Liu Mingchuan arched his hand.

"If he buys a battleship every day, Brother Ji Shi really sends an artillery?" Return to the post house. Deng Shichang asked.

"Of course, the big husband speaks word by word." Xu Jie said.

"Then I don't know if Brother Xu can help me with the matter of adding artillery." Deng Shichang said with a guilty face, the Fujian Party in Beiyang is dominant, and his Guangdong nationality is naturally not welcomed. If the funds are insufficient, I'm afraid that Zhiyuan's cannon can't be replaced, right?? In any case, one more cannon has one more chance of winning in a naval battle, whether it is to win the naval battle or for his own brother, although it is not good to ask his friends for so much money, but he Deng Shichang has no other choice!!

"Lord Deng, haven't you thought about changing the battleship?" Xu Jie looked at the moonlight outside the window and said.

"This, what does Lord Xu mean?" Deng Shichang asked in shock.

"I designed the boat and I have a lot of friends in Italy, so it was definitely me who picked up the ship and supervised it. I am also the deputy chief teacher of Tianjin Sailor School, and Li Zhongtang plans to reuse the official students of Tianjin Sailor Academy, and the officers and students need a person who is well versed in maritime affairs to lead. Xu Jie said quite vaguely.

"However, if the adults can, I still ask for the replacement of the cannon for Zhiyuan." Deng Shichang was stunned for a moment, and then continued: "No matter what, it's all my Beiyang brothers. All of them are the warships of my Beiyang Naval Division. ”

"Do your best." In the face of such a person who has no selfishness, what else does Xu Jie have to say?

And Zhang Peilun, who was next door, heard the conversation between the two people, and added another sentence to his telegram: "Provincial three, help the world, Zhengqing is a true gentleman." Their dealings are also focused on state affairs. For my luck in Beiyang, the luck of the Qing Dynasty. ”