After the signing of the Treaty of Batavia, after receiving the compensation to which it was entitled, the Beiyang Fleet left the Dutch East Indies after a short revision. However, Xu Jie and Zhang Peilun did not return to Guangzhou with the fleet, but took Peng Haifeng's ship to Singapore to meet Mr. Zhang Zhenxun, a leading Chinese businessman in Nanyang.

Standing at the door of Zhang Zhenxun's villa, Xu Jie had mixed feelings, he could finally meet with the leaders of the Chinese businessmen in Nanyang. After more than half a year of hard work, whether it is to provide arms for the Nanyang Chinese or to personally handle the Beiyang Fleet this time. Beiyang and the one he did finally paid off. And the alliance between the Nanyang Chinese and the Beiyang will be Xu Jie's biggest reliance to win the Sino-Japanese War!! Without the support of overseas Chinese, relying on Beiyang's own money and resources, it would be a fool's dream to fight against one country with one place. At this moment, Peng Haifeng secretly stabbed Xu Jie and signaled that the main owner was coming.

To Xu Jie's expectations, in addition to Zhang Zhenxun, the man surnamed Li, who had come to visit him with Peng Haifeng, also came out.

"The next surname is Chen, who is a distant relative of Mr. Zhang, and is in charge of shipping." Seeing Xu Jie's somewhat puzzled expression, Chen Ming said slightly apologetically.

"I'm glad I will." Xu Jie arched his hand as an answer.

"Mr. Xu's righteous advocacy for my Nanyang Chinese led to the Beiyang Naval Division's inspection of Nanyang. Here, Zhang thanked Mr. Xu on behalf of his Nanyang compatriots. After speaking, Zhang Zhenxun bowed.

"Mr. Zhang has won the award, Xu is just a middleman, if it weren't for Li Zhongtang's approval, I'm afraid the matter of inspecting Nanyang would still not be possible." Xu Jie hurriedly said.

Then Xu Jie, Zhang Peilun, and Peng Haifeng followed Zhang Zhenxun and Chen Ming into the villa, and after retiring outsiders, the five began to discuss business.

"I heard Mr. Peng say that Mr. Xu will leave Beiyang in the near future to supervise the construction of warships in Italy, I don't know if there is such a thing?" Zheng Zhenxun said with some concern.

"That's true, the newly ordered battleship in Beiyang was designed by me, and it is only fitting for me to supervise the construction." Xu Jie replied.

"Once Mr. Xu leaves the Qing Dynasty, how will I, the overseas Chinese in Nanyang, contact the Beiyang side? It's hard for this Qing official to speak. Zhang Zhenxun said.

"In terms of business, Mr. Zhang can contact Lord Sheng Xuanhuai, and in officialdom, Mr. Zhang can contact you with the same surname." Speaking of this, Xu Jie looked at Zhang Peilun and said. "Brother Youqiao can completely convey the demands of Mr. Zhang and the Chinese businessmen in Zhili to Li Zhongtang."

"Zhang Youqiao is willing to serve." Zhang Peilun said with a smile.

"Since Mr. Xu has already made arrangements, then I am relieved." Zhang Zhenxun let out a sigh of relief.

"In addition to Zhili, Nanyang Chinese businessmen can also open mines and set up factories in Liangguang and Taiwan. The governor of Liangguang, Li Hanzhang, was Li Zhongtang's brother, and the governor of Taiwan, Liu Mingchuan, was Li Zhongtang's general. Naturally, you can take care of the Chinese businessmen in Nanyang. "Xu Jie has good things and doesn't forget about Liangguang and Taiwan, after all, Zhili has a limited place, and under the nose of the center of the Qing Dynasty, there are some things that can't be done, but in Liangguang and Taiwan, where Emperor Shangao is far away, he can let go of his hands and feet." If you have financial difficulties, we will set up a bank in Beiyang, hoping to solve your urgent needs. ”

"Mr. Xu is so thoughtful, Zhang is ashamed of himself. I wonder if Mr. Xu has any other requirements? Since Xu Jie has given Nanyang Chinese policy and economic support, it is naturally not in vain. Zhang Zhenxun knows very well in his heart that it is time for Beiyang to make an offer!

"First, the Beiyang side hopes that the Nanyang Chinese can invest their capital and manpower in shipping, chemical, steel, food, textile and other industries. Needless to say, the first three points are naturally related to our Beiyang armament, and the food industry, such as canned food, will also indirectly support our Beiyang war in the future. As for textiles? I hope that the Nanyang Chinese will completely crush Japanese textiles. Xu Jie said fiercely. …,

"Mr. Xu, is this going to fight an economic war?" Zhang Zhenxun couldn't help but feel a shock in his heart. You must know that 9% of Japan's foreign exchange is earned by the textile industry. If the textile industry is hit hard, Japan's expansion plans will certainly slow down.

"War is won or lost not only on the battlefield. Regarding chemical industry and steel, as long as the quality is no problem, I Beiyang will naturally give everyone a fair price, and food in addition to the supply of military, in the civil sector also has a great future for development, and the textile industry is conducive to the livelihood of the people, on the other hand, it is this economic war. Xu Jie said sternly.

"That's acceptable. But steel, chemical and other industries need technical support. I don't know if Mr. Xu has a good strategy? Chen Ming interjected.

"In this regard, I will recruit some foreign technicians in Europe, and I can purchase some technical equipment for the majority of Chinese businessmen, and there will be no problems in technology." Xu Jie said confidently.

"In addition, Xu has a reluctant request." Xu Jie thought about it again and again, and finally decided to say it.

"Mr. Xu said that as long as I Nanyang Chinese can do it, I will naturally do it." Zhang Zhenxun frowned and said.

"I wonder if the Nanyang Chinese can organize a strong force to help me Beiyang when the Qing and Japanese wars begin?" Speaking of this, Xu Jie himself can't wait to find a crack to get into, after all, this is not the same as borrowing money from others, this is to make people desperate. If Beiyang's own army is more numerous, Su zhì is higher, Xu Jie will not be, but judging from the appearance of the army in the First Sino-Japanese War, those Huai army who are for the purpose of mixing up food, lack basic knowledge, and are sometimes inferior to the militia are really unreliable.

"That's a big problem." Zhang Zhenxun said noncommittally, although he is an overseas Chinese leader in Nanyang, but he really can't agree to this lightly, after all, war is not a child's play! Once this enters the war, I don't know how many Chinese will die on the battlefield.

"My Peng family is not talented, but if Beiyang fights with the Japanese people, my Peng family is willing to organize a righteous army to help." Just when both sides of the talks were silent, Peng Haifeng broke the calm with a word.

"Then I would like to thank Mr. Peng on behalf of Beiyang." Xu Jie and Zhang Peilun stood up and saluted.

"Everyone is connected by blood, and it is right to help each other." Peng Haifeng replied with a smile, and in the subsequent talks, Zheng Zhenxun still did not nod, but his attitude towards this opinion was somewhat loose. After Xu Jie, Zhang Peilun and others left, Zhang Zhenxun left Peng Haifeng alone.

"Boss Peng, this is going to be desperate." Zhang Zhenxun said expressionlessly.

"Fighting a war is inherently desperate, and in essence it is no different from us dealing with the natives and the Dutch." Peng Haifeng said with a smile.

"But this is to fight for the Beiyang and shed the blood of our Nanyang Chinese. Our cooperation with them does not include this, we can provide funds, talent. But we can't afford human life. Zhang Zhenxun said a little impatiently.

"If it is only cooperation in the economic field, is the southward movement of the Beiyang Fleet a matter other than cooperation?" Peng Haifeng still asked with a smile.

"We gave the money." Chen Ming interjected.

"How much is a human life? Or how much money do you pay to find another fleet to protect the interests of the Chinese in Nanyang? A sneering smile appeared on Peng Haifeng's face. Guns are different from other commodities, even if you have money, you can't buy them!! Back then, when Peng was mixed with a balemon knife, he couldn't buy a single-shot breech gun with 100 Spanish silver dollars! No matter how rich you are, if you are not armed, you are not a fish on the chopping board, and people will cut you whenever they want? ”

"But can you be sure that Beiyang will be able to support me Nanyang Chinese all the time after this crisis?" Chen Ming continued to ask. …,

"Of course, the enemy of Beiyang is not only Japan, Japan has been defeated, and the behemoth that has invaded more than 1.5 million square kilometers of land in the north of the Qing Dynasty should be played." Peng Haifeng said. "If Beiyang loses, or if the people in Beiyang who sympathize with us and support us step down, what will be the solution? We will still be back to the way we were, even facing reprisals from the local Dutch government and the indigenous people. At that time, without foreign aid, the unarmed Chinese will shed more blood. It's the same bloodshed and sacrifice, why don't we fight for a better ending? In fact, Peng Haifeng still has a layer of meaning that he didn't say, if this Chinese armed force can be retained after the war, it will have a great impact on the political situation of Beiyang and even the Qing Dynasty, after all, the two precedents of the Hunan and Huai systems are there.

"Boss Peng said politely. But I still have to think about it. Zhang Zhenxun said that the appeal as an overseas Chinese leader is enough to make a large number of Chinese join the army, but it is precisely because of the strong appeal that Zhang Zhenxun has to act cautiously.

"Mr. Zhang thought about it slowly, since I, Peng Haifeng, have already promised others, I naturally must do it." Peng Haifeng arched his hand and said. Then he turned and left the house.

"Why is this Boss Peng so supportive of Beiyang?" After Peng Haifeng left, Chen Ming still couldn't understand why Peng Haifeng didn't care about helping Beiyang.

"Why is Boss Peng Boss Peng? Have you thought about this question? Zhang Zhenxun asked with a smile.

"This? The juniors don't know. For this kind of high-level Chinese matter, Chen Ming doesn't want to get too involved.

"Boss Peng has become the real boss of Chinese society in the last six months, and the fundamental reason is that he has obtained a large number of cheap and high-quality weapons, he is right, there is no gun and no army, and my Nanyang Chinese will always live in the shadow of the butcher's knife." Zhang Zhenxun let out a long sigh and said helplessly.