"Housheng, you are really bold in this way." Li Hongzhang took a look at the rectification plan written by Xu Jie just for the Tianjin Machinery Bureau and said.

"Lord Zhongtang built foreign affairs to strengthen my Qing Dynasty and enrich my Qing Dynasty. And the key is the word efficiency. Xu Jie paused for a moment and continued: "But at the moment, the price of the products made by the Tianjin Machinery Bureau, which is the pillar stone of Beiyang Armament, is high, and the quality of the products is really poor. The fuse of the shell does not explode, the processing of the shell body is a problem, and there is even a matter of filling sand into the shell. It's nothing short of a crime. Xu Jie said angrily.

"It's really a matter of pulling the whole body. Do you know how deep the roots of these officials are? Li Hongzhang said gloomily.

"The current shape is death if it is not changed, small changes are death, and there may be a way to live if the big changes are made." Xu Jie refused to back down.

"Are you forcing the old man?" Li Hongzhang's eyes shot a fine light.

"Students don't dare." Xu Jie said in a low voice.

"Don't dare? I'm afraid there's nothing in this world that you don't dare, right? Li Hongzhang snorted coldly. How did you do what I asked you to do? ”

"The model of the warships of the Qing and Japanese warships at the time of this meeting has almost been prepared, and the rhetoric has already been thought out." Xu Jie replied cautiously.

"I'm asking if there are any available talents in this Tianjin Water Master Academy." Li Hongzhang said impatiently.

"This talent is there, but if he is the commander of a ship, I am afraid that he will not be able to do it." Xu Jie replied, in fact, there are a few good seedlings in the Tianjin Sailor Academy, but they are far from a qualified captain in terms of knowledge and experience. "But if you can have someone who is proficient in maritime affairs and receive professional training in Italy, you should still be competent."

"Who do you want to go with you to Italy to oversee the construction of battleships and personnel drills?" Li Hongzhang asked.

"Zhiyuan ship pipe belt, Deng Shichang and Lord Deng." Xu Jie said this, and his heart couldn't help but tighten. Do your best, and hope that your arrangement will change the trajectory of this hero's life. If nothing else, at least survive the Sino-Japanese War. "Lord Deng is strict in governing the army, deeply loved by his subordinates, and strict with himself. Unlike some people, as a navy, they buy houses and concubines everywhere. Speaking of which, Xu Jie was full of anger at the guy who escaped twice in the naval battle.

"You mean Fang Boqian, right?" Li Hongzhang smiled dumbly. "You really can't tolerate sand in your eyes, you first quarreled with General Liu about training, and now you accuse Fang Boqian of living a rotten life." Speaking of this, a hint of appreciation flashed in Li Hongzhang's eyes.

"If you do something, you're going to be very good. But you have to know that you have to deal with all kinds of people, which is not comparable to the environment you had when you were in the Italian Design Bureau. There are some people you hate him, but you have to use him and lift him up, and there are some people you admire him, but you must not put your heart into it. This Deng Shichang is indeed a talent, as early as when he was studying in England, he has already emerged. However, if you want him to convince you, I'm afraid it will take some effort. As for Fang Boqian, do you know that the old man used him to contain Zixiang's Min Party? As a Min man who can take the initiative to approach Admiral Ding, this alone requires him to be promoted. Li Hongzhang said.

"This person must not be of great use, how can I use the pipe belt of the Beiyang capital ship to drill into the camp and covet pleasures?" Xu Jie still refused to back down. Just for the 1,200 Beiyang Army in the Battle of Toshima. He must pull Fang Boqian down!!

"Don't you understand what the old man said?" Li Hongzhang said impatiently.

"Students can only do things, and those who are not good for the overall situation cannot stay. Otherwise, all the Beiyang ships and pipe belts will learn from Fang Boqian's words, will this Beiyang Navy Division still be able to fight? Xu Jie gritted his teeth and insisted.

"If the person you are looking for can be unique in Beiyang, Fang Boqian will be of little use. When the time comes, you can naturally find a reason to drive him off the boat. As for this Deng pipe belt. He'll go to Italy to pick up the ship. Li Hongzhang said. In this case, Fang Boqian is needed to fight against Liu Buyun's Fujian lineage, but once Xu Jie becomes his own faction, this Fang Boqian will naturally lose its use value, I'm afraid that when the time comes, Fang Boqian's only use is to be a victim of rectifying military discipline, right?

"And this Lu Shi, do you really plan to regroup? This is not a trivial matter. Li Hongzhang said. …,

"At present, the first battalion of the Beiyang Army has more than 800 and less than 400, which is really unusable, and there are no logistics troops, so once you go abroad to fight, the logistics will be poor. When the time comes, if you don't have to fight with the Japanese army, you will be in chaos first. Xu Jie explained. In addition, our Beiyang Army Division was not enough, and all the troops together were only more than 50,000 people, and only half of them were mobile troops, with only 50,000 people fighting against more than 150,000 troops of the Japanese Army. There is basically no chance of victory, even if the navy wins, if this army is still defeated, I am afraid that it will still be dangerous. ”

"But this private expansion of the imperial court will never be allowed." Li Hongzhang didn't wait for Xu Jie to finish speaking, and then vetoed.

"There are some units that are not armies but can go to war, such as the militia at the time of American independence. In fact, we can also learn from Europa countries to train a police force, or prepare some militia in the name of protecting the road and patrolling the harbor, which is free from the establishment. Xu Jie said carefully, after all, every word that came out could kill his head.

"Is there any other way?" Li Hongzhang did not say yes or no.

"There is a way, but I don't know what the odds are." Xu Jie said.

"Tell me about it. When did you become more cautious in what you said? Li Hongzhang said a little unhappily.

"The Governor of Liangguang is the elder brother of Lord Zhongtang, and the Governor of Sichuan and the Governor of Taiwan are subordinates of Lord Zhongtang," Xu Jie said. "Once something happens, if these three parties can be reinforced, the situation in my Beiyang will definitely be greatly improved."

"After the events in the capital are over. You and Zhang Youqiao went to Taiwan for a trip. Li Hongzhang replied.

"Students must live up to their mission!" As soon as he thought of meeting the national hero Liu Mingchuan, Xu Jie was a little excited.

"The third province has a bit of a big temper, you have to hold back." Li Hongzhang reminded.

"The students obeyed." Xu Jie bowed and saluted. "In addition, I hope that Lord Nakado will strengthen the monitoring of the Japanese in China, and if possible, send some additional studies to Japan. At the same time, contact Minister Xue and pay attention to the actions of the Japanese in Britain. ”

"That's a bit too much, isn't it?" Li Hongzhang said disappreciatively.

"I'm not afraid of 10,000, I'm just afraid of what happens, my Beiyang changes are imminent, and it's not too careful. Under the cover of businessmen, scholars, etc., these Japanese personnel in China continuously transmitted back to Japan news about the military, economic, and political affairs of the Qing Dynasty. Xu Jie said.

With a snap, the teacup in Li Hongzhang's hand fell to the ground. "When the affairs of the capital are over, you will do this well after you go back, and contact the generals of the Second Beiyang Marine and Land Division more, since you want to do it, it is natural to come to a thorough one."