Beiyang Dream

Chapter 87 Beiyang, Laozi Zhang is here!

Haruko Okura was wearing a light blue kimono today, her hair was loosely tied up, and she had a gauze on her forehead. She looked delicate and pitiful.

I must say, this Japanese female spy's acting skills are top-notch!

"Zhenbang," Luo Jingrou said with a smile, pointing to the bird's nest on the table, "this bird's nest was personally stewed by Qingzi to nourish your body." Chang Desheng immediately became wary!

Bird's nest? For health? What's this Japanese woman up to? Did she poison it? A super-rich woman... ...Did your men keep a close eye on her? Despite his inner thoughts, he forced a smile: "Oh dear, how could I? Miss Haruko's injuries haven't fully healed yet, and I'm troubling you."

As he spoke, he glanced at Luo Jingrou. Luo Jingrou was also looking at him, and their eyes met, understanding each other without a word.

The bird's nest is definitely safe! This show... has to keep going.

"You're too kind, Mr. Chang." Qingzi bowed slightly, her voice as soft as cotton, sounding almost deliberate. "These past few days, I've been so grateful for your and Sister Jingrou's care. This is just a small token of my appreciation."

Chang Desheng quickly extended his hand in a gesture of acknowledgment: "Sit, sit. Let me pour you both some tea."

He turned to get the teapot, and with his back to the two of them, he twitched the corner of his mouth.

Keep pretending! I'd be a fool to believe you!

Hiring Japanese spies with queues as assassins, trying to smear Chinese gangs? Although there have always been conflicts between the Hakka, Teochew, and Hokkien people in Southeast Asia, what does that have to do with Chang Desheng and Duan Qirui? Besides, those assassins were all suicide agents. If all Chinese gangs in Southeast Asia were this fierce, would the Chinese have been bullied by white people and natives for so many years?

So... through this test, Haruko Okura has been completely exposed! However, after discussing it, Chang Desheng and Luo Jingrou felt that it would be more advantageous to keep Haruko alive.

Chang Desheng returned with the teapot and poured tea for the two of them. Luo Jingrou took it and sipped. Qingzi held the teacup with both hands, sipping it slowly, looking just like a naive young lady from a wealthy family.

His acting skills are excellent, and his mental fortitude is top-notch.

Chang Desheng cursed inwardly again. The thought sent chills down his spine—how many spies of Qingzi's caliber did the Japanese have? And what about the Beiyang government? It seemed they didn't even have a proper intelligence agency. The Sticky Rod Office was long gone, and even if it hadn't, it was still the Manchus controlling their own people. They relied entirely on the fragmented information from the customs and embassies for information about the outside world.

No, this needs to be done as soon as possible.

Chang Desheng pondered that once he returned to Tianjin, he would need to figure out how to establish a "Beiyang Investigation Bureau." It didn't need to be large; just about ten of his own people would suffice, specifically to monitor the movements of the Japanese and foreign ministers. As for money… he glanced at Luo Jingrou. Hmm, his wife had it.

"Chang Jun," Qingzi put down her teacup, looked up, her eyes sparkling, "I heard from Sister Jingrou that you're going back to Tianjin in a few days?" "Yes," Chang Desheng nodded, "We'll take the Guangjia to Singapore, and then transfer to a China Merchants Steam Navigation Company ship to go north."

This time, Chang Desheng had no intention of giving the Japanese even the slightest chance to attack him.

So he traveled to Singapore on a warship, then transferred to one of the Beiyang Fleet's own ships, escorted northwards by the Guangjia. If the Japanese still wanted to attack him, they would have to send their fleet into battle.

"Well..." Qingzi bit her lower lip, looking hesitant, "Is Jingrou and Changjun's wedding going to be in Tianjin?" Luo Jingrou answered, "Yes. Zhenbang said it'll be held as soon as we get back to Tianjin." She took Qingzi's hand, smiling brightly, "Qingzi, I want you to be my bridesmaid, okay?"

The room fell silent for a moment.

Chang Desheng's hand, which was holding a teacup, froze in mid-air as he looked at Qingzi.

Haruko was stunned. Then she noticed Chang Desheng staring at her, and her fair face flushed crimson, from her cheeks to her ears, even her neck turning pink. She lowered her head, her fingers clutching the hem of her clothes, and whispered, "I...can I?"

Keep pretending.

Chang Desheng sneered inwardly. He knew what Qingzi was thinking.

This woman isn't stupid. She must have reviewed the entire operation. The assassination attempt outside Yoshiwara Street failed utterly; all dozen or so Genyosha assassins were wiped out, not a single one survived. And she, she'll probably have to take responsibility for this failure!

Given the nature of the Japanese devils these days, if a mission fails and causes significant losses, the person in charge will have to commit seppuku, right?

Haruko is now the unlucky one who has to "take responsibility." Because of her mistake, Genyosha's Nanyang network has suffered a heavy blow. If she goes back to Japan like this, she'll probably have to commit seppuku... Even if she doesn't get diarrhea because she's a woman, she'll still have to slit her throat. In short, things won't be any better.

She wanted to live, and there was only one way: prove she hadn't failed, hadn't been exposed, and still had value. The Genyosha's failure in Pontianak was due to other reasons... perhaps someone within the Genyosha had betrayed them!

How to prove it? Follow Chang Desheng north, get close to him, and appear to become Chang Desheng's friend. Isn't that proof enough?

Luo Jingrou's invitation to be a "bridesmaid" was like a pillow being handed to someone who was sleepy.

Chang Desheng put down his teacup, leaned back, and looked sharply at Haruko. Suddenly, he smiled and said, "Miss Haruko, is this convenient? Aren't you going back to Japan?"

"That's convenient, very convenient." Haruko looked up, her eyes full of affection for Chang Desheng, her voice tinged with shyness. "I can go to Tianjin first to attend Jingrou's wedding, and then go back to Japan. It's on the way."

On the way? The route from Tianjin back to Japan is actually quite far from the route from Singapore back to Japan.

Chang Desheng stared at her for three seconds. Qingzi felt embarrassed by his gaze and lowered her head, her ears turning bright red.

His mental fortitude is absolutely top-notch.

Chang Desheng mentally praised her again. If this were in his previous life, she would definitely be an award-winning actress... perhaps even an AV award-winning actress.

"Okay." Chang Desheng nodded. "Then it's settled. Miss Qingzi, get some rest. We'll set off together tomorrow."

Qingzi said "Hi," stood up, bowed again, and then followed Luo Jingrou outside.

As she reached the door, she turned back and gave Chang Desheng a gentle smile: "Chang Jun, you should get some rest too."

The door closed.

Chang Desheng leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh.

A Japanese female spy who knows she's been exposed and is under surveillance by her adversaries... if she doesn't choose to end her life somewhere secluded, but instead wants to live a respectable life as Haruko Okura, she'll have to demonstrate a certain "craftsmanship" in deceiving the organization. This means that Chang Desheng and Luo Jingrou have leverage over Haruko, while Haruko's superiors still believe she has successfully infiltrated their inner circle.

This is something worth doing.

March 14th, 1888, morning.

Bohai Sea, 20 li outside Dagu Port.

The 2,000-ton passenger ship "SF Express," recently launched by China Merchants Group, is cutting through the yellowish seawater and heading towards the gray coastline to the west.

The top deck, near the bow.

Chang Desheng held Luo Jingrou's slender waist, leaning against the railing. The sea breeze was quite strong, making his braid whip wildly behind his head. Luo Jingrou was wrapped in a cashmere shawl, her hair also disheveled by the wind, a few strands clinging to her snow-white cheeks.

Beside her stood Haruko. Dressed in a bright green kimono, she stood quietly, gazing at the sea. The sea breeze made her wide sleeves and hem flutter, creating a scene reminiscent of a "beautiful woman in Japan gazing from a railing."

Chang Desheng glanced at her briefly, thinking to himself: "I must say, this Japanese woman is quite attractive. Too bad... she's a rose with thorns." He turned his head back to look ahead.

The outline of Dagu Port in Tianjin was already emerging where the sea met the sky. Gray walls, gray tiles, densely packed rooftops, and the faint shadows of cannons in the distance.

Beiyang, I'm back!

Chang Desheng was filled with excitement. Two years ago, when he left this place, he had 1,500 taels of silver that his family had arranged for him, which was only about 300 pounds sterling. Although he was full of talent and ambition, he didn't have the capital to accomplish anything significant.

What now?

The money is here.

The "construction payment" of seventy-five silver dollars (equivalent to five hundred thousand taels) for the Pontianak project has been received, and the draft is being kept by Luo Jingrou. The Luo family's dowry—a tin mine in Perak, shops and land in Singapore and Hong Kong, an annual income of over twenty thousand, and one hundred and fifty thousand taels of cash in their stash—is enough for him to do whatever he wants.

He also has a wife. Luo Jingrou, an extremely wealthy woman, a virtuous and capable wife, beautiful and intelligent. Most importantly, she's incredibly rich.

The official hat is in hand. A fourth-rank candidate for the position of Circuit Intendant, and an assistant in the Korean Military Affairs Office. After this trip back to see Li Hongzhang, the official hat and letter of appointment will be in my hands. The gun barrel... is also in the works.

Chang Desheng turned his head and glanced at Wolfgang, who was smoking not far away, and the four German sergeants beside him. In addition, there were the dozen or so young Lanfang youths that Luo Xinglan had brought, who were mixed in with the passengers. They all wore fake queues and coarse cloth clothes, looking like servants.

There were about twenty people in total.

There weren't many people. There was no other way; the Chinese in Pontianak didn't wear queues, so he couldn't openly recruit people from the autonomous army. He had to wait for their hair to grow back. These twenty or so were the seeds.

Chang Desheng had already planned everything. Once in Tianjin, these five German "old men" and a dozen or so Chinese "servants" would be housed in the villas of the British Concession. The wife of the German consul in Tianjin, Nathalie von Bülow, would help arrange things, claiming they were "employees and servants of her friends." With foreigners protecting them, they would be absolutely safe. The guns might be small, but the opportunity to grow and become powerful was right before their eyes.

Li Hongzhang's telegram said that Yuan Shikai was struggling in Korea and that he should return to China to prepare for a trip to Korea as soon as possible to serve as an liaison officer. Korea… Chang Desheng's heart warmed. That place was currently a huge mess, but also a huge opportunity. Queen Min, the Daewongun, the Japanese, the Russians—it was all in chaos. Since Yuan Shikai was struggling alone, it would be perfect for him to lend a hand.

Once in Korea, use these twenty or so German-trained core members as instructors, and also recruit Cao Kun and Wang Zhanyuan, who had already gone there. See if you can also recruit Wu Dingyuan and Kong Qingtang... at least one of them; both of them studied at the Berlin Military Academy and are truly capable. Now you have instructors, veterans, money (Luo Jingrou's dowry), and authority (in charge of the battalion affairs office).

Is there a problem with raising a thousand or so "Chang Family Army" that obeys your every command?

no problem!

Chang Desheng's mind grew increasingly pleased with himself, a smile involuntarily creeping onto his lips. Even the salty, briny flavors of the Northwest sea off Tianjin tasted sweet to him. His future... was incredibly bright!

"Zhenbang! Wenchi! Look..."

Wu Dingyuan's loud voice suddenly exploded, like a firecracker.

Chang Desheng turned his head and saw Wu Dingyuan scrambling over from the cabin, pointing excitedly towards the dock: "Feng Huafu! Feng Huafu has brought people to pick us up!"

Chang Desheng looked in the direction he was pointing.

It turned out that the "Shunfeng" ship had already entered Dagu Port and slowed down. There were quite a few people standing on the dock ahead. The first few, wearing the uniforms of the Beiyang Huai Army, were waving vigorously in this direction.

The one at the very front, with a "Feng Gong face," was of medium height and also wearing a prison uniform, but he stood ramrod straight, his face beaming with a wide smile that obscured his eyes.

It was Feng Guozhang and Feng Huafu, now instructors at the military academy.

Behind him, besides the soldiers of the Huai Army, were several respectable men in long gowns and melon-shaped hats, clearly of high status and position. One of them, short and stout, staggered up to Feng Guozhang. "Feng Er" (the second son of the direct line) showed him considerable respect, even bowing to him with clasped hands.

Who is this person?

Several horse-drawn carriages and even a Western-style four-wheeled carriage were parked by the dock.

This is quite a large-scale operation.

Chang Desheng was overjoyed. He released his arms from Luo Jingrou, straightened his nearly new silk robe, and tossed his braid down to his chest, smoothing it out.

Then, he took a deep breath of the salty air of the Bohai Sea, straightened his back, and revealed the most radiant and triumphant smile he had shown in the past two years. Beiyang, I'm back!

It's my turn to play this game.