Beiyang Dream

Chapter 33 Deceiving the Emperor? Can the affairs of the Beiyang government be called deceiving the

Chapter 33 Deceiving the Emperor? Can the affairs of the Beiyang government be called deceiving the emperor?

October 5, 1889, Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

Chang Desheng crawled out of a worn-out horse-drawn carriage. His feet had barely touched the ground when he felt a sharp pain in his back and a wave of drowsiness – he was exhausted! The coursework at the War Academy was truly demanding. Not only were there tons of courses on strategy, campaigns, tactics, and military history, but there were also specialized courses, physical education classes, and from time to time, he had to listen to lectures on philosophy and European history from professors at the University of Berlin… and at night, he had to be a translator! Translating textbooks… Even preparing for the college entrance exam in high school wasn't this tiring!

He'd finally made it to the weekend, but there was no time to relax. He had a bulging canvas backpack slung over his shoulder, stuffed full of textbooks, assignments, and a dozen pages of a manuscript he'd only just begun translating, titled "Mao Zedong on the Organization of the General Staff." The backpack straps were digging painfully into his thin shoulders; he yawned repeatedly, his eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep.

Being a commissioner for the Beiyang Army's inspection team is a damn tough job!

He was feeling sleepy when he stepped across the threshold. Before he could even see who was in the yard, someone grabbed his arm.

"Zhenbang! You're finally back!"

It was Guo Shigui. The chubby man was wearing a brand-new indigo satin jacket today, with a smile on his face. Without saying a word, he took the schoolbag from Chang Desheng's shoulder and pulled him inside.

"Brother Jichuan, what's the rush?" Chang Desheng stumbled as he was pulled. "I'm still sleepy here..."

Guo Shigui leaned close to his ear: "The Grand Secretary has replied."

Chang Desheng's drowsiness vanished in an instant, and he stared at Guo Shigui: "Where are you?"

"It's on me." Guo Shigui grabbed his arm and pulled him inside. "Come on, let's talk inside."

......

Chang Desheng had a small single room of about ten square meters in the embassy. Once the door was closed, it was a private world for the two of them, known only to heaven, earth, you, and me.

The windows in the room were small, and the lighting inside wasn't very good. Guo Shigui first lit an oil lamp, then took out a telegram and spread it out under the lamplight.

Chang Desheng didn't sit down; he just stood there, leaning over and staring at the paper. The telegram was a coded translation, and the handwriting was Guo Shigui's:

"Zhenbang's request is fully approved. You will be appointed as a fourth-rank candidate for the position of Commissioner of the Korean Garrison, and will be guaranteed your position upon successful completion. However, the purchase of the warship is urgent, and you and Shigui are instructed to do your utmost to negotiate and ensure its completion within the year. The necessary funds can be applied for from Shigui, and will be reimbursed based on actual expenses. There is only one condition: Minister Hong Wenqing's memorial must arrive in Beijing within the year. The Beiyang Fleet is determined to acquire this warship and cannot afford to lose it..."

The fourth-rank candidate for the position of Director of the Korean Military Affairs Office has been appointed; the pie in the sky looks delicious.

The task of getting Hong Jun to submit a memorial within the year is urgent and challenging!

In the end, what Chang Desheng saw was the consequence of failing to accomplish the task—"Beiyang is determined to win, and cannot afford to lose it"... What if it is lost?

He straightened up and looked at Guo Shigui.

"Brother Jichuan, what His Excellency means is... if it's accomplished, there will naturally be a generous reward! If it's not accomplished..."

Guo Shigui swallowed hard, responding quickly as if he had been prepared: "It's alright if it doesn't work out. The Grand Secretary is reasonable... Brother Zhenbang, you should study hard in Berlin. After you finish your studies, you can become an attaché at the embassy, ​​just like me. That's fine too. You'll still get your monthly salary, and the job is easy..."

"What a load of rubbish!" Chang Desheng cursed inwardly. "I went through all that trouble to get into the War College, to outwit and outmaneuver Moltke and Schlieffen's gang, just to be a leisurely entourage member in Berlin?"

"Brother Jichuan," he looked up, forcing a bitter smile, "this task... is not easy to handle."

Guo Shigui took half a step forward and lowered his voice: "Zhenbang, do you have a plan?"

Chang Desheng didn't answer immediately, but instead started thinking about it in his mind.

Of course, there are ways.

But the key to this plan doesn't lie with Hong Jun. That old scholar is easy to fool. As long as the "Emperor De's birthday celebration" act is done properly, he has no reason to ruin the whole thing.

The key lies with Wilhelm II, with the General Staff, and with the German Navy.

We need to convince those Germans that the Qing Dynasty's Beiyang Army is a force to be reckoned with through cooperation, that cooperation can lead to a win-win situation, and a huge, extraordinary, and massive win!

Only in this way would Wilhelm II, who feared nothing more than a peaceful world and his own inability to win, be willing to cooperate in this "birthday celebration" act.

But Chang Desheng couldn't handle this alone! Moreover, he couldn't bear the risk of "deceiving the emperor" all by himself!

We need to find an accomplice... so we can all deceive the emperor together!

If we "deceive the emperor" together now, we'll be inseparable comrades, and we can fight against the Qing Dynasty together in the future!

Moreover, this person must be qualified to handle all the negotiations for purchasing the "birthday ship"!

This is a big deal; there are many things that can be done, and we can't let others control it.

And this person... is right in front of you!

He looked at Guo Shigui and said, "Brother Jichuan, this matter... I can't handle it alone."

Guo Shigui frowned.

Chang Desheng took a step forward and pointed to the line on the telegram that read "You and Shi Gui should do your best to mediate": "You see, the Grand Secretary's meaning is very clear... This matter needs to be handled by both of us."

Guo Shigui's lips twitched, and alarm bells rang in his mind. He wasn't invited to good things, but he was dragged into this "deceiving the emperor"!

He shrank back slightly, chuckled dryly, and said, "Brother Zhenbang, you're too kind. I... how can I be of any help? I'm just a messenger..."

"You can be a great help," Chang Desheng interrupted him, his tone incredibly sincere. "First of all, you need to take the lead in these negotiations to buy the ironclad warships. You've been the counselor at the embassy for over ten years in Berlin, and you're familiar with the German Foreign Ministry and the National Naval Office. His Excellency needs to formally authorize you to lead the negotiations, and I'll be your deputy."

Guo Shigui's face turned pale: "I...I'm leading? Zhenbang, this is no joke! This is bullying..."

"This is mediation!" Chang Desheng interrupted him. "Brother Jichuan, we're not deceiving the court; we're doing important things for the Beiyang government and for the Grand Secretary. Can this matter concerning the Beiyang government be considered deceiving the Emperor?"

Guo Shigui opened his mouth, but didn't say anything, nor did he agree.

Can the Beiyang government's actions be considered deceiving the emperor?

Perhaps not?

But he was only a fourth-rank official, not the Minister of Beiyang, so why should he take this risk?

"Brother Jichuan!" Chang Desheng stepped forward, grabbed his arm, and spoke slowly and deliberately, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth:

"You must believe me. A war between Qing and Japan is inevitable. This war will determine the survival of the Beiyang Army, the achievements of Your Excellency, and the future wealth and glory of you and me!"

Guo Shigui shook his head vigorously, trying to shake off his hand: "I won't listen! I won't do it! Zhenbang, let go..."

Chang Desheng didn't let go. He grabbed Guo Shigui's other arm with his other hand, his voice suddenly becoming deep, as if he were reading out a death sentence:

"Brother Jichuan, you have to do this whether you like it or not! The Grand Secretary's telegram is here—'You are instructed to do your utmost to mediate with Shigui!' I'll draft a telegram as soon as I get back and report to the Grand Secretary, saying that this matter cannot be handled without Counselor Guo's involvement, and requesting the Grand Secretary's formal authorization! If you really don't want to do it, fine! You can draft a telegram yourself and tell the Grand Secretary that you, Guo Jichuan, lack the ability and courage to shoulder this heavy responsibility, and request that the Grand Secretary appoint someone more capable!"

He paused, looking at Guo Shigui's face which had turned deathly pale, and added the last sentence, his voice icy:

"What do you think the Grand Secretary will think when he receives such a telegram? Brother Jichuan, do you know... a little too much?"

Guo Shigui stopped struggling. He plopped down in a chair, panting heavily, his forehead covered in cold sweat. He was already on a "pirate ship"—no, not now, he'd been on the Beiyang warlords' ship for ten years! Want to back out now? Not so easy! If he ruined the Grand Secretary's important plans…it could cost lives!

After a full half minute, he finally managed to squeeze out a sentence through gritted teeth, his voice hoarse:

"Zhenbang...you...you've ruined me!"

Chang Desheng released his grip, took a step back, and straightened his wrinkled cuffs. He looked at Guo Shigui's distraught appearance and sighed softly in his heart.

I'm sorry, Brother Jichuan. But this "birthday ship" is my ticket to Korea. I absolutely must get on this ship.

Besides, I think you're a talented person, so why don't you come aboard with me!

......

It was almost nine o'clock the next morning.

In the study of the rear residence of the Qing Dynasty legation in Berlin, Hong Jun, dressed in a casual silk shirt, held a cup of tea and slowly blew on it to warm it. Opposite him, Guo Shigui and Chang Desheng sat upright, their expressions so sincere they seemed to drip with fervor.

"Jichuan," Hong Jun took a sip of tea, "you just said that the Beiyang Fleet is going to buy more ships?"

"Yes, sir." Guo Shigui leaned forward, his voice a little hoarse. "This is a long story."

Chang Desheng sat to the side, listening intently.

He and Guo Shigui had already discussed it last night—although the key to the "birthday ship" project lay with the German Emperor, they still needed to convince Hong Zhuangyuan. Without his approval, it would be difficult for the project to proceed smoothly.

But if you want Scholar Hong to agree, you can't tell the truth.

You can't just say you want to buy a behemoth worth over two million taels of silver right from the start. This top scholar served as the ambassador to Germany for three years. He might not know much about other things, but he knows a thing or two about money. He has a rough idea of ​​how much wealth the Beiyang government has.

When asked about spending over two million to buy a boat, his first thought was, "Where will the money come from?"

Then the idea of ​​donating to the Navy will come to mind!

The navy's donation was for the Empress Dowager's garden renovation; it was earmarked for that purpose, so who would dare touch it?

If we really start working on it, the Summer Palace will be left unfinished, and if the Empress Dowager blames us, who can bear the consequences?

So we need to rephrase it.

"My lord," Guo Shigui began, "it's like this. This year, the Beiyang Fleet has rearranged its coastal defense plans for Weihai, Lushun, and Tianjin. Do you remember?"

Hong Jun nodded: "I've heard of it."

Guo Shigui continued, "According to this new plan, the number of shore guns on the three fronts has been reduced by half, while the defense of the rear has been greatly strengthened. This combination of advancing and retreating has saved 1.08 million taels of silver."

"One million eight thousand taels?" Hong Jun repeated.

"Yes, one million eight hundred thousand taels." Guo Shigui said with absolute certainty, as if he had counted the money himself. "His Excellency's idea is that this money was originally intended for the navy's expenses. Now that the navy is short of ships, why not use the money saved to order a small ironclad ship of four to five thousand tons from Germany, specifically for coastal defense?"

He paused, then added:

"The Grand Secretary explained that this 1.08 million taels was 'savings money' and had nothing to do with the naval donation. The naval donation was for the Empress Dowager's garden construction, and not a single penny of it was touched. We were using Beiyang's own money and doing Beiyang's own business."

Hong Jun finally smiled this time.

Chang Desheng chuckled inwardly: This Scholar Hong is also a loyal subject of the Empress Dowager! That makes things much easier. Once the name of the birthday celebration ship is announced, Your Majesty will surely join in the praise!

Hong Jun didn't ask for details. After a moment's thought, he said, "What Your Excellency means is..."

"The Grand Secretary's telegram arrived early this morning." Guo Shigui took out an envelope from his pocket and handed it over with both hands. "Please take a look, sir."

Hong Jun took it, pulled out the telegram, and began to read it carefully.

This telegram was actually discussed and decided by Chang Desheng and Guo Shigui yesterday afternoon. It was sent to Tianjin through the telegraph office and then sent back from Tianjin this morning, with the titles of Governor-General of Zhili and Minister of Beiyang added.

The telegraph line worked all night, back and forth, just for this thin piece of paper.

Hong Jun observed very carefully.

The telegram was short:

Your Excellency's opinion: The Beiyang Fleet's reorganization of the defenses of the three ports has been quite effective, saving a total of 1.08 million taels of silver. It is proposed to order one small ironclad warship from a German shipyard, with a displacement of approximately 4,000 to 5,000 tons, specifically for coastal defense. Jichuan is instructed to oversee the project, with Zhenbang assisting, and to contact the German side as appropriate. Hongzhang.

There was no mention of "birthday greetings".

The tonnage is unclear – “around four or five thousand”.

They didn't even mention the price.

However, the authorization is clear: Guo Shigui is in charge, and Chang Desheng is the co-organizer.

Hong Jun read the telegram twice, put it back on the table, picked up his teacup, and took another sip.

"Since it is His Excellency's will," he said slowly, "then let's proceed. Shigui, draft an official document and send it to the German Naval Office, stating that the Beiyang Fleet is interested in purchasing ships and asking them to recommend a few shipyards and provide a quote."

That's it!

Chang Desheng glanced at Guo Shigui. This man's face was not very good today, a bit darker than usual. He was probably angry because he had been falsely accused of "deceiving the emperor."

Despite his anger, he was still quite capable in getting things done.

"Your Excellency is truly wise." Guo Shigui cupped his hands in greeting. "Then I will go and draft it now, and bring it back to Your Excellency for your seal."

"Go ahead," Hong Jun waved his hand, then added, "...handle this matter carefully."

"Understood."