On the red coal stove, the kettle constantly spewed out a trace of white mist, making the whole office look warm and moist, and even the windows were crawling with water droplets.

Although the construction has only been started for less than three months, the engineers of the equipment department have built a simple small steam power plant in Port Arthur because of their humble simplicity, and the construction department has quickly set up wires for the main departments, which finally makes everyone not have to smell the pungent smell of kerosene.

Duan Fei stretched his waist and gently wiped the mist from the glass window, there was already a heavy snow outside, except for those days in Canada at the beginning, he had never seen such a beautiful snow scene in the past few years.

The plain white scenery can't help but remind him of his hometown, the winter in the northwest is also as cold and enchanting as in front of him, with the Qing army fully withdrawing from Guannei, in fact, the entire Liaodong has become the world of the Pacific Army, but I don't know how long it will take to return to the hometown of the northwest that haunts the soul.

From fighting alone with a bloody spirit, to being hunted down and hiding in coolies to Canada, to standing out as a nighthawk and finally being photographed to become a member of the intelligence department in charge of huge power and power, he still feels as if he is in a dream.

Today's intelligence department, driven by strong funds, has become a behemoth, and more and more people are joining this mysterious team in the eyes of outsiders, which has also made the intelligence work more and more detailed, not only the various teams divided according to the country, but also the field departments that carry out secret missions abroad.

But the bigger this institution is, the more apprehensive it is, especially after his sister has become the young master's woman, he knows that he needs to be more diligent than others, and he needs to be more strict with himself and be cautious, because he doesn't want to be thought by others that he is relying on nepotism.

Many times, even his sister said that he had changed a lot, and people had become a lot more silent, but in fact, only he knew that he had to speak as little as possible, because he knew better than anyone that the young master's mind and strength would be lost, so he was afraid that if he said too much, he would lose it, so he chose to be silent as much as possible.

It's not easy to wear a mask and be vigilant at all times, and it's only when he's alone with the young master's sister that he shows his true colors, and this style gradually changes the rest of the intelligence department, making Kerkob more and more mysterious in the eyes of everyone.

This kind of mystery is what Duan Fei is willing to see, what he has to do is to weave a ubiquitous net for the young master, but this net still seems to be a little immature now, and it is full of loopholes, especially the second batch of Russian reinforcements last time, if it weren't for the fact that the field team happened to see the Russian ship in the Mediterranean, I was afraid that it would not be discovered until the fleet arrived in the Far East.

Although the young master didn't blame himself, he still couldn't forgive himself, so he deliberately strengthened the intelligence spying and collection in Europe and the United States, but Europe and the United States were just better, but this made him a little helpless.

Although the appearance of the skin color can make it easy for the field team to enter and exit the Saimoto without being detected, it has encountered obstacles to the bribery of the top management of the Saimoto, which is full of fanatical militarism and regards the emperor as supreme, and the hostility of the Pacific Army has developed to the point of perversion, and in order to prevent intelligence leakage, a large number of Chinese have even been expelled, which makes it more difficult to collect information.

During this time, the Ministry of Intelligence found through the bribery of some low-level officers that with the Pacific Army's decisive interception of sea shipping from Russia to North Korea, the inaction of the Navy has caused dissatisfaction among a large number of low-level army young officers.

Protecting ships and avoiding war has become the only strategy of the navy in recent years, but it is this strategy that makes the contradiction between the army and the navy more and more intense, but the army also knows that it cannot win this war without the navy, so this volcano is still forcibly pressed, but if the navy loses again, then the division of the army will be inevitable!

But recently North Korea has made him a little helpless, it turns out that there are North Korean rebels, plus the field service team, and I don't think it is very difficult to get the information of the army stationed in North Korea, this recent period of this situation has suddenly changed, every time the field service team goes to pursue a piece of news, it will encounter the interception of the person himself, and several intelligence officers have been lost in just a few days!

Obviously, there is a master in the army stationed in North Korea, who deliberately and constantly spreads false news, and the news from every channel is inconsistent, so that it is easy to find out the bribed officer through the direction of Kkob's spying and plug the loopholes.

This kind of method is not new in Kekob, but it is precisely because he also uses this method that Duan Feiyue feels a headache, and it is obvious that that person is covering up something through these recent actions!

What exactly is it covering?

Could it be that I am secretly deploying troops, preparing to take advantage of the frozen season on the river and preparing to take the initiative to attack?!

Probably not! Duan Fei shook his head, if there was no navy and no supplies and reinforcements could be obtained, the army stationed in Korea would indeed have the possibility of fighting to the death. But at this moment, there are already ordered warships returning to China, and the four capital ships ordered by the United States have crossed the Strait of Magellan and are heading north under the protection of the American [***] ships.

If not to fight to the death, then what is it? Exterminate the Korean rebels under the leadership of Nighthawk?!

"Brother."

Duan Fei frowned, his hand just touched the North Korean document next to him, and suddenly a coquettish voice interrupted his train of thought, and the corners of his mouth immediately hooked up a smile.

"Yue'er, why are you here?" Duan Fei raised his head and saw that Duan Yue'er had already walked in with a food box, and said with a smile: "Don't accompany the young master?" ”

"Brother, people are kind enough to send you dumplings, and they know to make fun of me." Duan Yue'er stomped her feet coquettishly, put the food box on the messy table, and slammed it on: "I won't come to see you again in the future!" ”

"Dumplings! Great, I'm hungry. Duan Fei was a little frightened of this sister, and quickly changed the topic, only to find that the dumplings were still hot when he opened the lid of the box, and couldn't help but be curious: "It's snowing so hard, how did you get here?" ”

"Drive." Miss Duan was triumphant, and her eyes were white, Duan Fei: "It's been a few months since people learned to drive, and you only know it, and you don't know how to be a brother!" ”

"Oh, no wonder it's still hot." Duan Fei hurriedly picked up a dumpling, and was about to taste the love sent by Miss Yue'er, and was about to praise her a few words to coax her after eating, but he didn't expect that when it was delivered to his mouth just now, the office door was slammed open.

"Report, the reconnaissance company of the fourth division has just sent a message, and they have found that the number of troops stationed in Yiju has doubled! The General Staff Headquarters has issued a vigilant order, urging everyone to be prepared for an attack by the Japanese army across the river. ”

The report of his subordinates made Duan Fei's hands freeze in the air suddenly, but before he could digest the sudden news, his subordinates couldn't care about Duan Yue'er beside him, took out a file bag and suddenly poured two deformed bullets on the desk.

"This is a bullet test report sent from Changchun." The subordinate swallowed his saliva violently: "The technical department has checked it, this is my own!" ”

"My bullet! The horse bandit is said that he is pretending to be himself? ”

"Could it be that I really want to fight to the death?!"

Duan Fei slowly put down his chopsticks, but the idea that had just risen in his mind was a little confused, did the army stationed in Korea think that the horse bandits would be able to cross the Yalu River by transferring the Fourth Division and the Second Regiment stationed in Fengcheng and Fengtian? You must know that there are two regiments along the Yalu River in Anton, the 1st Division and the 2nd Division, they have no reason not to know!

Wrong!

Judging from the actions of the master of the Korean army during this time, it is impossible for him to cover up so much just to fight to the death, and it is obvious that there are other things hidden in it.

What is it?

"Brother, is there another war? Li Mo is still in Haicheng. ”

"Young Master in Haicheng?!" Duan Yue'er's words were like a sharp needle, piercing through the fog in front of Duan Fei, ignoring the surprise of his subordinates and Yue'er, and quickly rushed to the front of the map.

"Haicheng is where that troop is stationed?"

"Haicheng belongs to the defense area of the Second Regiment of the Fourth Division stationed in Mukden, but yesterday the main force of the Second Regiment has been dispatched to Mukden to suppress bandits, and the Marine Corps, which was supposed to set off to replace it today, has now been diverted to Andong, where is now only one company of the Second Regiment."

"Not good!"

Listening to the words of his subordinates, Duan Fei seemed to feel that Haicheng's position was suddenly torn apart, and his heart suddenly twitched, and he didn't care about explaining, while rushing to the table and pulling out his pistol, he shouted: "Quick, immediately contact the General Staff and ask them to contact all the troops near Haicheng who can be contacted." ”

"Tell them that the young master is in danger!"

"Li Mo is in danger!" Hearing this, Duan Yue'er, who was watching Duan Fei's strange behavior in shock, covered her mouth suddenly, and her beautiful eyes suddenly turned red.

"Brother!"

Duan Yue'er exclaimed, causing Duan Fei, who was rushing out of the gate, to stop, looked back at his sister who was already staring at her, and gritted her teeth and reassured.

"Go home and wait! Brother won't let the young master have an accident! ”

"Absolutely not!" ――

Due to the thorough operation of the most critical waterway in Lushun Port, and the East Port and Dalian were crowded with freighters, the cruise ship could only slowly dock at the temporary Yingkou Wharf in a large circle along the Liaodong Peninsula, but as the weather became colder and colder, Yingkou Port will soon enter the port closure period.

As soon as the ship docked, Tang Shaoyi looked excited and walked down the gangway quickly, and after a big circle in the United States, he finally returned to Liaodong.

A few years ago, he set out from here and followed Yuan Shikai into North Korea, but in just a few years, it has changed owners, and he has also become the foreign minister of Honolulu from a small official, and this is still a temporary title, I believe it will be replaced in a short time.

Standing on the dock, he remembered what Li Hongzhang said before, a great change that has not been seen in a thousand years, and now this change has quietly opened the curtain, and he has finally caught the tide of the times.

There is nothing more than this in the case of things and people.

Liang Dunyan was temporarily arranged to stay in Honolulu, so he was the only one who came back this time, looking at this Tang Shaoyi who had shaved his hair, wore a wide-brimmed hat, and wore a black wool coat that was more popular in Europe and the United States, as if he had changed into a person, Li Mo, who came to greet him, couldn't help but admire in his heart, in the end, he was the only one who studied in the United States and served as the prime minister in later generations.

This time with Tang Shaoyi came back with Lin Zhaonian and Huang Xing led by Hawaiian businessmen, the two Chinese families in Hawaii in the past, now they have become the most loyal supporters of Master Li, of course, their efforts are not without returns, just a monopoly on the entire Hawaiian sugar resources, and also has huge plantations in Cuba and Luzon, it is enough to make them laugh from ear to ear.

More importantly, Lin Jiye and Huang Zichen have entered the core class of Honolulu, according to the latest personnel adjustment order, the two entered the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Equipment respectively, and officially embarked on the road of official careers, and even the status of the two families has risen.

In addition to the two of them, a group of businessmen also emerged in Honolulu, they were scattered in Honolulu, Ryukyu and all over the world, some of them came out of Canada with Master Li, and some of them joined later, including five or six hundred people, including Li Xiufeng, the son of Fu Boyi, who came here to receive Li Mo's invitation to invest in the Northeast.

This is also one of the Northeast Development Plans, according to Li Mo's plan, it is the task of the Government Council and him to spend money and slow down heavy industry, but light industry should be based on private businessmen, and only by supporting a group of businessmen belonging to the Pacific Army itself and constantly strengthening them, then it will not be in the dilemma of the Soviet Union relying only on heavy industry on one leg in history.

The three places in the northeast are rich in resources, coal, timber, fur, etc., as well as vast black soil, so these people have not yet arrived, and they have basically found their own development direction, such as Lin Zhaonian chose to enter the textile industry, preparing to build a large textile factory in Jinzhou, in addition to preparing to build factories in Weihai and Qingdao.

Huang Xing, with the help of his son, is ready to engage in zero cars and all kinds of mechanical spare parts, and even in several factories in Fengtian and Changchun, while Li Xiufeng, under the hint of the young master, chose animal husbandry, and is also ready to introduce high-quality livestock breeding from abroad.

Even Uncle Fuhai's son Fugen, who made a fortune after digging guano for a few years, is also ready to build a big farm, saying that he wants to plant sorghum to make wine, and the angry Uncle Fuhai thought that he didn't do his job properly and only knew how to drink, but fortunately, Li Mo thought it was a good business, so he let him toss.

Yingkou is listed as a material transfer port, the distance is only more than 100 miles away from Haicheng suddenly lively, plus Haicheng is the only place to pass through Lushun to Fengtian Railway trunk line, so it has been listed as the first batch of development areas by the Government Council.

Even after the heavy snowfall, the cement road was not repaired, and Master Li's favorite car could not be used, so he had to use the carriage.

"Shaochuan, do you feel in the United States this time?"

"It's too much to feel!"

Tang Shaoyi sighed: "When I was studying there more than ten years ago, the American industry was just flourishing, but this time I went with Liang Dunyan to find that their industrial capacity has surpassed that of the United Kingdom, and the total national economic value has also exceeded a lot, and they have become the real number one in the world." ”

"So how long does Shaochuan think it will take us to catch up with the United States?" Li Mo smiled, turned his head and suddenly asked.

"Catching up with the United States?" Tang Shaoyi bowed slightly, although he was happy that Li Mo had such a lofty goal, he still said honestly: "Young Master said with a smile, if the entire Great Qing Kingdom is under your control, maybe it won't take twenty years to be enough, but if it's just the three places in the northeast, it's not that Shaochuan is depressed, it's still a little worse." ”

"Oh? Why does Shaochuan have this idea? Don't you think Honolulu is not strong in industrial capacity? Li Mo was a little curious, not knowing how Tang Shaoyi came to this conclusion, and asked.

Tang Shaoyi tilted his head and said with a smile: "The heavy industries of Honolulu and the Ryukyus have already entered the house, but the strength of the United States, in addition to industrial capacity, is still the most important private economy. In the United States, there are at least nearly a million small factory owners, and these people are not surprising if they are seen individually, and they are not even comparable to some of our businessmen, but if they are concentrated, then this force is very terrifying! ”

"Although you are also working hard to cultivate private businessmen, the total number is not comparable with the United States, and the United States has superior geographical conditions, there is no threat from foreign enemies around, the size of the army has been reduced to a minimum, and we are wholeheartedly developing the economy, and we have a Russia behind us, which is big."

Tang Shaoyi shook his head and didn't continue, but Li Mo also knew what he meant.

Indeed, compared with the United States, he faces a lot more opponents, as time goes by, the gap between himself and the United States will become bigger and bigger, although now there are three provinces in the northeast, there are abundant resources, but after all, the northeast is too thin, the huge local population is less than 10 million, less than the south of the Yangtze River, the landlords and gentry still rely on the land to eat, industry is almost equal to zero, if according to the traditional pace to establish such a place, it is impossible in less than ten years.

But Li Mo can't afford to wait, from now to the First World War, the calculation time is only more than ten years, so he must use some unconventional means to continuously strengthen himself, but these can't be said to others, after all, at this moment, even if he says that a war will break out in more than ten years and sweep the world, few people can believe it.

"It's okay if we can't catch up, we just need to do our own thing and try to catch up."

Li Mo's free and easy words also made Tang Shaoyi smile: "What the young master said is good, and I also think that having the United States in front can promote our efforts." Speaking of this, he changed his tone and said, "But young master, I think you should go out for a walk." ”

"Oh? Why? Li Mo leaned forward a little, not understanding why Tang Shaoyi went to the United States, so he suddenly made this suggestion.

"Does the young master know about Li Hongzhang's going abroad?"

Following Tang Shaoyi's words, Li Mo nodded, he had known about Li Hongzhang's global visit for a long time, and the old man, who was still unwilling to give up, finally set off from Tianjin on a French ship with a few henchmen as described in the history books.

But he couldn't figure it out, what does Li Hongzhang's global visit have to do with him?

Tang Shaoyi seemed to see Li Mo's incomprehension, and immediately smiled: "Young Master, although Li Hongzhang has been removed from all his powers now, he has been received at a very high standard on his visit this time, and all countries regard him as a guest and a representative of our Chinese!" ”

"So I think you should also make a round-the-world visit, not to suppress Li Hongzhang, but to let the world know you, know the Pacific Army you lead, and tell the whole world."

"The Chinese have started to stop wearing braids!"

Listening to these words, Li Mo suddenly found that he still underestimated the people of this era and Tang Shaoyi in front of him, but he didn't expect that when Li Enfu and others were immersed in power and construction, he had already penetrated the tradition, and thought of engaging in image diplomacy like later generations, and completely cleaning the impression that Chinese men wear pigtails and women wrap their little feet in the eyes of Europe and the United States.

is worthy of being a figure who has served as the prime minister of Beiyang in history, and unlike Li Enfu who broke away from the chaotic and complicated political circle of the Qing Dynasty, Tang Shaoyi has been struggling in the political circle since returning to China, so in these aspects, his sense of smell is more acute than the former, and only through Li Hongzhang's foreign visit, he thought of suggesting that he also go out.

Introduce yourself, introduce the Pacific Army, and tell the world that a new regime like them is being born in the Chinese world without braids and without wrapping small feet!

He's right, it's time for him to go out for a walk!

However, there is a question here, in what capacity should I visit? If the Duke of Hawaii or the Prince of the Ryukyus visit, then he still can't represent the Chinese, or is Tang Shaoyi hinting that it's time to put up a big banner and pull the fart curtain to establish his own regime?

"Shaochuan, is this what you mean? Still is. ”

Li Mo's flashing eyes made Tang Shaoyi suddenly laugh, the young master really understood people, and immediately smiled: "Young master, this is not what I meant, but everyone's meaning, it's time, you must have your own name as soon as possible!" ”

"My name!" Li Mo took a deep breath and nodded slightly.

"It's time to establish a new regime, at least let the foreign girls know what Young Master Li looks like and how much money he has! But wouldn't that be too ostentatious? Will they cry and shout to marry me?! ”

The carriage was slow, and the hooves were ticking.

The not so wide carriage suddenly fell silent, and Young Master Li leaned his back against the bulkhead, thinking about what image he should show people, and at the same time thinking about the scene when he was on a visit.

Tang Shaoyi looked at Haicheng not far away, and his afterglow still stopped at this young man who was not talking and had established such a foundation, and saw that the arc of the corners of his mouth was getting more and more curved, and his heart was finally relieved.

Suddenly, the carriage seemed to have tripped over something, interrupting Young Master Li's sweet dream, but a strange feeling made his hair stand up all over his body suddenly, and before he could understand why this was so, a snowy knife pierced the thin bulkhead of the carriage, and at the same time, Du Dazhuang's voice exploded in his ears.

"Young Master, be careful!"

(To be continued)