Beiyang Dream

Chapter 6 The Gang of Six from the Beiyang Army

On the 18th day of the fourth month of the 15th year of the Guangxu reign, at the hour of Shen (3

Chang Desheng walked slowly towards the Beiyang Military Academy.

The little calculation in her mind started rattling off again:

The Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895... could it really have been wiped out by me?

The more he thought about it, the more guilty he felt. It wasn't that he felt sorry for the Qing Dynasty—the Manchus' empire was gone, so what? It was none of his business. What he felt sorry for was his own future.

If the Sino-Japanese War had ended, how would I activate my "golden touch"? Without a golden touch, where would I get my military achievements? Without military achievements, how would I get promoted? Without promotion, how would I build my army? Without an army, what kind of president am I?

But then I thought again, it didn't seem that bad.

Li Hongzhang, that old fox, seems to have figured it out, but will he really do it?

"Strike first to gain the upper hand"—does he really dare? While creating friction might be a way to shirk responsibility, the problem is, do all the foreigners and those cunning foxes in the court not see through this? If he really does it, everyone, from top to bottom, inside and out, will see him as the villain!

"Training a new army"—five million taels of silver, where will that come from? Those bastards in the Ministry of Revenue are as stingy as can be.

"Buy a large warship"... that's the most likely explanation; Old Li is genuinely tempted. Moreover, he has a source of funds—originally, Old Li planned to spend a fortune repairing those useless fortifications—the cannons were all pointed at the sea, just waiting for the warships of his small family to arrive! Now that he's seen through it, it's clear that those Krupp cannons are just for show; whether there are three hundred or one hundred and fifty, it's all the same.

The money saved, besides fortifying the area behind the fortifications, plus a little more, would be enough to buy a large warship...

Chang Desheng touched the letter in his pocket. The envelope was made of kraft paper, stiff and pressed against his chest.

That was a letter from Yin Chang to Wilhelm II.

Nominally, it's to congratulate him on his ascension to the throne, but in reality... it's probably just a test to see what he'll say before buying a ship.

If he actually manages to buy it, with the Dingyuan and Zhenyuan battleships plus another 10,000-ton warship, their paper strength would overwhelm Japan. Would Japan still dare to fight? Probably not.

If the First Sino-Japanese War had to be postponed, it wouldn't be called the First Sino-Japanese War anymore...

Chang Desheng sighed.

This calculation... it just doesn't make sense no matter how you look at it!

As he was lost in thought, he suddenly heard a loud voice:

"Zhenbang is back!"

Chang Desheng looked up.

Five people stood at the main gate of the military academy. They were all dressed in indigo uniforms, with braids hanging down their backs, but they stood awkwardly, like the pair of stone lions squatting at the gate.

Cao Kun was at the very front, his round face beaming with joy, waving his hand like a beckoning cat.

Feng Guozhang stood beside him, smiling with his eyes narrowed, looking exactly like Maitreya Buddha.

Wang Shizhen stood ramrod straight, his face expressionless.

Shang Dequan was adjusting his glasses and looking this way.

There was another one I wasn't very familiar with... Chang Desheng squinted for a couple of seconds, then remembered.

Wang Zhanyuan.

The man from Shandong was tall and dark-skinned; he stood there like half an iron tower.

Okay.

Chang Desheng suddenly stopped keeping track of the score in his mind.

Cao Kun – the future president.

Feng Guozhang – the second son of the Zhili clique, acting president.

Wang Shizhen – the Dragon of Beiyang, Chief of the Army.

Shang Dequan – a core technology expert and a future leader in the defense industry.

Wang Zhanyuan – Inspector General of Hubei and Hunan, a ruthless figure among the military governors.

If you hang out with this group, it'll be hard not to rise to prominence!

His mood immediately improved, and he quickly took two steps forward to greet her, clasping his hands in a respectful greeting:

"Brother Zhongshan, Brother Huafu, Brother Pinqing, Brother Dequan, Brother Zichun—why are you all here today? Aren't you in class?"

Feng Guozhang replied with a smile, "The major exams are all over, why would we still have classes? Brother Zhenbang is now the top student among the Beiyang Military Academy students. We're all very happy for you and have already booked a feast at Tianyifang to celebrate your achievement!"

Chang Desheng clicked his tongue inwardly.

That Feng Guozhang, he really knows how to get things done.

While I was still figuring out how to gather all the brothers from the Beiyang clique, he had already started making arrangements.

Yeah.

It saves me the trouble.

He waved his hand dismissively, putting on an air of magnanimity:

"Alright! It's my treat today!"

As soon as I said it, my heart ached.

I just received twenty taels of silver, and before I could even enjoy it, I had to spend it.

There's nothing we can do.

To be a direct subordinate leader, you can't be too stingy. What do your underlings want from following you? Isn't it just for a future and a living? If you can't even afford to treat them to a meal, who's going to follow you?

Chang Desheng gritted his teeth and added:

"Let's go! Tianyifang! All you can eat!"

......

North Gate Outer Street, next to Beidaguan, Tianyifang.

The dishes had already been served in the private room.

Feng Guozhang was shrewd; he didn't order the "Four Big Dishes and Eight Big Bowls"—that was too much for six people and would be a waste of Chang Desheng's money. Instead, he ordered the Three Big Dishes and Four Big Bowls: braised pork knuckle, braised chicken, braised duck, braised pork belly, fried meatballs, four-happiness pork, and braised pork.

All of them were hearty dishes.

It was shiny and had a wonderful aroma.

The quantity was ample, and with the wine, it came to a total of one tael of silver.

These days, silver is quite valuable. One tael of silver is enough for an average family of five to live on for a month.

Chang Desheng looked at the dishes on the table and did some mental calculations.

Twenty taels, one tael was used for this meal. Nineteen taels remain.

Going to Germany, the ship ticket is handled by someone, but will nineteen taels be enough for pocket money along the way and to settle in Berlin?

If we're careful with our spending, it should be enough.

If you want to build a social network, you need some income.

"Brother Zhenbang, what are you daydreaming about? Pick up your chopsticks!"

Cao Kun had already picked up a piece of braised pork knuckle, his mouth greasy with oil.

Chang Desheng snapped out of his daze and picked up his wine glass:

"Come on, guys, let's have a drink!"

The six wine glasses clinked together.

"Dry!"

A cup of strong liquor burned from my throat all the way down to my stomach.

Chang Desheng put down his wine glass and glanced at the five people at the table.

Cao Kun buried his head in his food and ate like a starving ghost reincarnated.

Feng Guozhang sipped his wine, his eyes narrowed, seemingly lost in thought.

Wang Shizhen sat upright and ate with refined manners.

Shang Dequan stared at the bowl of Four Happiness Meatballs, as if studying its structure.

Wang Zhanyuan didn't say anything, just kept eating with his head down.

Seeing that everyone had almost finished eating, Chang Desheng cleared his throat.

"I need to talk to you guys about something."

Five pairs of eyes looked over.

He lowered his voice, speaking mysteriously:

"North Korea...has a chance! In the next few years...we'll go to war!"

There was a moment of silence.

Then, with a "buzz," the table exploded.

"Really?" Cao Kun's eyes widened. "Zhenbang, where did you hear that from?"

Chang Desheng waved his hand: "Don't ask, it's just my guess."

He paused, then added:

Believe it or not.

The more they said this, the more these people believed it.

The news that Chang Desheng had been left alone by Li Hongzhang today had already spread far and wide. Who was Li Hongzhang? The head of the Beiyang Army, the Governor-General of Zhili, and the Minister of Beiyang! The Huai Army was his private army!

Chang Desheng caught his eye, and having studied in Germany with the best results in Beiyang military equipment, he was certain to join the shogunate upon his return.

If he says North Korea is going to war, then it's probably true.

Cao Kun rubbed his hands together, his face flushed with excitement: "War is good! If we soldiers don't fight, how can we get ahead?"

Feng Guozhang squinted: "Brother Zhenbang, regarding this matter... has the Grand Secretary given any word?"

"I have no answer," Chang Desheng shook his head again. "It's just my guess. But..."

He paused, looking at the five people at the table:

"Hey guys, are you all settled down yet?"

Feng Guozhang spoke first: "I will stay at the school as an instructor."

Chang Desheng nodded inwardly.

Staying at school is a good idea.

The military academy was the cradle of Beiyang officers. With Feng Guozhang as an instructor there, he could mentor younger generations and train personnel for the Zhili clique. When he returned from Germany, he could bring back new technologies—barbed wire, machine guns, and artillery aiming techniques—which could then be promoted at the academy through Feng Guozhang.

This is a hidden storyline.

"Brother Huafu, it's good that you stay at the school," Chang Desheng said. "The situation in Korea should remain stable for a few more years. If you stay at the school for now and train some officers proficient in Western methods for our Beiyang Army, that would be a great contribution."

He looked at Wang Shizhen: "Where is Brother Pinqing?"

Wang Shizhen put down his chopsticks: "I will go and serve under General Ye."

Feng Guozhang explained from the side: "Brother Pinqing was recommended by General Ye to come to Beiyang Military Command."

Ye Zhichao.

The name flashed through Chang Desheng's mind.

During the Battle of Pyongyang in 1894, Ye Zhichao ran faster than a rabbit, leading to a major defeat for the Qing army.

Wang Shizhen is his man...that's fine too.

Once Ye Zhichao is "defeated," Wang Shizhen might be able to pull some of his remaining troops over and add them to the Zhili clique.

"Brother Pinqing, you'll surely be able to make great strides under Commander Ye's command." Chang Desheng raised his glass. "I'll toast you."

The two of them did it.

Chang Desheng then looked at Cao Kun and Wang Zhanyuan:

"Brother Zhongshan, Brother Zichun, what about you two? Have you found someone yet?"

Both of them shook their heads.

Cao Kun said with a bitter face, "I don't have any connections, and I don't know where to go."

Wang Zhanyuan said in a muffled voice, "I'll listen to Brother Zhenbang."

Chang Desheng understood the situation.

Both of them came from humble backgrounds, with no connections or influence. Unlike Feng Guozhang, who was adept at networking, and unlike Shang De, who was a complete academic achiever.

Since he's the head of the direct clique, he has to find a way for them. And this way has to be conducive to the rise of the direct clique, and preferably allow them to make some money themselves.

Then the destination is undoubtedly North Korea!

Even if Li Hongzhang acted impulsively and ruined the First Sino-Japanese War, there would still be some conflict in Korea!

Moreover, if the Japanese navy is wiped out by Li Hongzhang, the Beiyang Fleet will be a sure win in the land battles of Korea. Cao Kun and Wang Zhanyuan will also benefit from this, won't they?

He looked at Feng Guozhang:

"Brother Huafu, what do you think... could we come up with a plan to send Zhongshan and Zichun to work under Lord Yuan in Korea? First, they can familiarize themselves with the customs and culture of Korea, and it would be best if they could learn the Korean language; second, Lord Yuan is very generous and treats his subordinates very well. Working under him, they're guaranteed to live a life of luxury!"

Upon hearing that they could enjoy a life of luxury, Cao Kun and Wang Zhanyuan became interested.

Feng Guozhang squinted and thought for a moment.

"Lord Yuan does indeed need military experts. He's still training troops for Korea and is short of officers."

He paused for a moment, then said, "As long as someone recommends it, it should be fine."

Chang Desheng asked, "Who should I ask for a recommendation?"

Feng Guozhang held up two fingers:

"Two paths. One, go to Lord Yin. Lord Yin is a Manchu and studied in Germany, so he has influence with Lord Yuan. I'll go and talk to him; it should work."

"Second, seek out Hannah. Instructor Hannah is German, and Lord Yuan, who wants to train a new army, has great respect for German instructors. If Hannah is willing to recommend him, Lord Yuan will certainly give him face."

He looked at Chang Desheng:

"Brother Zhenbang, it seems Lord Han quite admires you... Why don't you go and talk to him about it?"

Feng Guozhang was well-informed and probably knew that Hannagan had given Chang Desheng two perfect scores and even recommended him as the top candidate!

But Chang Desheng wasn't sure what to expect.

Hannagan appreciated him, but that appreciation was for his drafting skills. Asking someone to recommend someone for a job in North Korea—what kind of nonsense is that?

There's nothing we can do.

It's only natural for the boss to help his underlings get promoted.

He gritted his teeth:

"Alright, I'll go find Lord Han."

......

By the time we got back to the military academy, it was already dark.

Chang Desheng stood at the door of Hannah's office and took a deep breath.

Before knocking, he suddenly remembered—Hannagan was German.

When talking to Germans, you have to use German, right? At the very least, you have to greet them.

German... I studied it as a second foreign language in my past life, and I even took the German exam for graduate school, so I still remember a few phrases.

"Captain, I am Chang Desheng."

How do you say this in German?

He rummaged through his mind and organized his thoughts.

Then he raised his hand and knocked on the door.

Knock knock knock.

There was no movement inside.

He knocked three more times.

Still nothing.

Chang Desheng wondered to himself: Is he not here?

Okay, I'll try shouting it out first.

He cleared his throat and, facing the closed wooden door, forced himself to speak in his broken German, which he remembered only half-baked.

"Hale Hauptmann."

He paused for a moment.

"Ishi...bin...Chang Desheng."

(Captain, this is Chang Desheng.)

The sound wasn't loud, but you should be able to hear it through the door.

I waited for a while.

The door opened.

Hannagan stood inside the door, wearing a dark blue military uniform and holding a piece of paper covered in German.

The expression on his face was one of shock.

A Chinese student knocked on his door in German in Tianjin in the fifteenth year of the Guangxu Emperor's reign.

Although the Beiyang Military Academy taught some German, the teaching was poor and the students didn't study hard, so basically no one knew it.

Hannagan stared at Chang Desheng for a full three seconds.

Then he turned to the side and said something in German.

Chang Desheng only understood two words—"Hare" and "Bit." It meant...please come in.