Beiyang Dream

Chapter 94 The Hubei New Army, the Foundation of the Qing Dynasty

On the third day of the fourth month of the seventeenth year of the Guangxu Emperor's reign, at 7:45 AM, Chang Desheng knelt inside the Hall of Joyful Longevity. His knees ached terribly from kneeling, and he even began to admire the knees of the lackeys in the Grand Council of the Qing Dynasty. Had they been trained? Kneeling every day, could they endure it?

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the hall, along with a familiar scent of perfume... It was foreign perfume, so strong that the fragrance could travel a mile against the wind.

The first to step across the threshold was a sixth-rank interpreter from the Zongli Yamen (Foreign Ministry), in his early thirties, wearing a dark blue official robe, with regular features, and holding a notebook in his hand. Chang Desheng had met this man yesterday; he was introduced by Yuan Shikai. He was a Manchu named Bai Siwen, a graduate of the Tongwen Guan (School of Combined Learning), and his German was passable. He was in charge of negotiations with Germany.

Following behind the interpreter was Natalie. But she didn't enter alone; she was flanked by two ladies in Manchu attire. The one on the left, around forty years old, had a long, donkey-like face, wore a gaudy robe, and sported a large, elaborate headdress adorned with numerous colorful ornaments—she looked quite imposing. It was unclear which noblewoman she was.

The one on the right is slightly younger, with a round face, and dressed similarly to the donkey-faced one. He's probably someone of status.

What surprised Chang Desheng the most was the man following half a step behind Natalie. He was about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, dressed plainly, and not very well-built—a large, overweight man. Upon closer inspection, he had a straight nose, slightly deep-set eyes, and ivory-white skin. Although he wore a Manchu-style headdress and a Manchu-style dress, one could still discern some features of a Caucasian in his facial features.

Right, this must be someone from a "Russian Zuo Ling" (a military rank). Chang Desheng had heard about this online in his previous life: when Hong Kangxi captured Yaksa, he took many Cossacks and made them all Manchus, establishing a Zuo Ling, which became known as the "Russian Zuo Ling." Why would the old lady arrange for a plump woman from a Russian Zuo Ling to accompany Natalie, this foreign woman? Is she trying to maintain balance?

Natalie's skirt paused beside him for a moment, and then he heard a very soft chuckle.

It was Natalie. This German woman, seeing him kneeling, actually... laughed!

So outrageous!

"Your subject, Nathalie von Bülow, has come to pay her respects on the orders of His Majesty the Emperor of Germany..."

What a beautiful Tianjin accent! The pronunciation is perfect.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Then, Chang Desheng heard Empress Dowager Cixi's voice from above, tinged with a hint of novelty: "Oh, you foreign old woman, where did you learn that accent?" Natalie bowed slightly: "To tell you the truth, I learned it from that German military advisor from the Beiyang Army, Captain Reiner. He said his Chinese was incredibly fluent!"

Empress Dowager Cixi chuckled: "It's authentic, much better than those southern barbarians' accents." She paused, then added, "If you can understand it, there's no need for a translator."

But what she was really thinking was: This German is too familiar with the Beiyang clique; he even speaks with a Tianjin accent.

The interpreter standing by the door was also busy, holding a notebook in one hand and a brush in the other, kneeling there taking notes.

"You flatter me," Natalie said, curtsying again.

"Did you bring the map of the Great Flood Control?" Empress Dowager Cixi asked.

"I brought them." Natalie pulled two rolls of blueprints from the leather tube she carried with her and handed them to Li Lianying.

Li Lianying and another eunuch each held one end of the drawing and unfolded the engineering design.

Good heavens, what a huge sheet! Dense lines, labels, and dimensions, all in German. Sections, plans, detailed drawings—it has everything. In the lower right corner is a red seal of the "Sanssouci Royal Institute of Design," a seal Chang Desheng had made at Natalie's house in Tianjin. Empress Dowager Cixi squinted at it, then waved her hand: "Put it away, put it away. It looks like scribbles."

Li Lianying quickly changed to the second one.

This one is much more pleasing to the eye. It's a watercolor rendering, featuring a three-tiered white marble fountain with twelve bronze animal heads spouting water at designated points, colorful lights below, and Chinese-style pavilions nearby. It's a blend of East and West, a combination of traditional and modern styles.

Empress Dowager Cixi nodded: "This is good. It's not quite as good as the one in the Old Summer Palace... but it's acceptable."

She said "it'll do," and the corners of her mouth were already turned up.

In fact, she really liked the Grand Fountain of the Old Summer Palace. Back then, she used to be there with her lame Emperor Xianfeng, whispering sweet nothings to each other... She originally wanted to have one built in the Summer Palace, but the problem was that the craftsmen from the Lei family of the Imperial Workshops didn't know how!

The blueprints are long gone, so all I can do is shrug and admit I can't do it!

At this point, Empress Dowager Cixi ordered Li Lianying to give the design drawing that she couldn't understand to Chang Desheng so that he could translate it.

Chang Desheng knelt there translating. What was he translating? Of course, he was translating the construction plan, plus his own "suggestions." He had originally created the plan, so his suggestions were, of course, exceptionally insightful.

For example: the white marble for this base can't be from the Alps, it has to be from Fangshan, which can save a lot of money; the bronze head can be cast in Beijing; the cast iron water pipes can only be imported from Germany right now, which is very expensive; the pressure pump is even more expensive, one pump is equivalent to a courtyard house.

As for the construction period, it will take at least a year, and German engineers will be needed to provide on-site guidance.

The total budget will probably be at least 200,000 silver dollars.

Finally, pointing to the signature at the end of the drawing, he said to the Empress Dowager Cixi, "This is Dr. Speer's design. He was Emperor Wilhelm's personal architect, specializing in building palaces in Germany... He was very famous!"

After listening to the translation, Empress Dowager Cixi said slowly, "Emperor William is very thoughtful."

Natalie was waiting for this. She cleared her throat and continued in her fluent Tianjin-accented Mandarin:

"Our Emperor Wilhelm II has the utmost respect for your self-strengthening efforts! Germany was a latecomer in European industry, and we know all too well how difficult it is for a backward country to catch up with the advanced!"

She paused, glanced at Empress Dowager Cixi's expression, and noticed that the old lady was listening very attentively.

"So we thought we could use technology, machines, and engineers to help the Qing Dynasty to properly develop its practical learning, industry, and national defense."

"Look at Turkey. With Germany's help, they built a railway in three years and upgraded their guns in five. With the resources and manpower of the Qing Dynasty, if we had German technology, we would definitely be ten times stronger than Turkey!"

The Empress Dowager Cixi suddenly spoke, her voice still gentle, but her question went straight to the heart of the matter:

"What projects between Beiyang and Germany... have been signed and sealed off yet?"

The key point is "signed"!

But she didn't specify who signed it, did she? The "letter of intent" signed by the Beiyang Army Inspection Committee should also count, right?

Natalie had already prepared her lies. With a straight face, she pulled a leather-bound memo from her handbag, opened it, and began to recount the expenses in German:

"Currently signed projects include..."

"1. Employment contracts for the Beiyang Fleet Advisory Group, five-year term, annual salary of 2,000 taels per person, totaling twelve people. The first year's deposit of 24,000 taels has been paid." "2. Krupp Company sold 60 75mm field guns to the Beiyang Fleet. A deposit of 30,000 taels has been paid, for a total price of 680,000 taels. The contract stipulates delivery before June of the 19th year of the Guangxu Emperor's reign."

"Third, the Beiyang Fleet and the German Vulcan shipyard will cooperate over the next ten years to develop three classes of ironclad warships, with the Germans building all three ships..." As she reported each item, Chang Desheng translated it, and Cixi's fist clenched tighter.

When Empress Dowager Cixi heard that the Beiyang Fleet was cooperating with German shipyards to design and build ironclad warships and to purchase Krupp cannons, the smile on her face completely disappeared. The court was preparing to issue an edict to stop purchasing foreign ships and cannons, but the Beiyang Fleet still went its own way!

But Empress Dowager Cixi did not react; she simply picked up her teacup and took a sip.

He put down his teacup, looked at Chang Desheng kneeling, and his voice remained calm:

"Chang Desheng, tell me. Three ironclad warships, the Kaiping coal mine, the Tangshan ironworks, the railway outside the Great Wall... how much would all of these cost? Where did the Beiyang government get so much silver?"

Chang Desheng immediately tensed up. He knew that the crucial moment had arrived.

He knelt upright, speaking as calmly as possible:

"Your Majesty, these projects are all 'government-supervised and merchant-operated.' Overseas Chinese merchants from Southeast Asia contributed silver shares, Beiyang merchants contributed land and mining shares, and German merchants contributed technology shares. For example, in the Luanzhou Tangshan Ironworks, wealthy Southeast Asian merchants such as the Zhang family from Penang, the Luo family from Pontianak, and the Huang family from Java contributed commercial shares worth over two million taels of silver. Beiyang merchants contributed the Sijiaying Iron Mine and land in Luanzhou, also valued at over two million taels. Krupp from Germany contributed technology and equipment as shares, with the specific share yet to be determined. The Tangshan Ironworks may also purchase its technology and equipment."

He paused, then added a poignant remark:

"Furthermore, steel and coal are the foundation of industry. With these two, we can build powerful ships and cannons, and our Great Qing can become self-reliant." This time, Empress Dowager Cixi understood. Once the coal and iron industries in Luanzhou were developed, Beiyang's industry would have a solid foundation, enabling them to build their own powerful ships and cannons, and become self-reliant... ...they could become strong on their own and no longer need the imperial court!

She remained silent for a long while. The hall was so quiet that the clanging and banging of the construction site outside the window could be heard.

Then, Empress Dowager Cixi laughed: "Good, good indeed, 'government-supervised, merchant-operated,' good indeed, 'self-reliance and continuous improvement.' The Beiyang government has put in the effort. Li Hongzhang, you really know how to get things done!"

She changed the subject, looking at Natalie, her tone casual:

"However...our Great Qing Dynasty is vast and rich in resources, and the Beiyang Army is not the only one capable of handling Western affairs."

Upon hearing this, Chang Desheng immediately perked up his ears.

Empress Dowager Cixi counted slowly on her fingers:

"Zhang Zhidong has been running an ironworks in Hubei for over a year now, and I've heard it's been quite successful."

"Liu Kunyi has been overseeing the Jiangnan Shipyard in Nanjing for many years, but the wooden-hulled ships he builds are still slower than the ironclad warships of the Westerners. Could you teach them German shipbuilding techniques?"

"The Fujian Shipbuilding Bureau, the brainchild of Zuo Zongtang, is not doing well now... Could the Germans help revitalize it?" Chang Desheng thought to himself: We also need the Hubei New Army, the Hubei New Army... How can we balance the Beiyang Army by just running factories?

The old lady seemed to have heard Chang Desheng's appeal, and continued, "Furthermore, Hubei and Hunan, and the Liangjiang region could also train some new troops. Your German military advisors could be of help, right?"

"Great! Great!" Chang Desheng thought to himself, already applauding.

The old lady continued her game of checks and balances, smiling as she said, "I know of Emperor Wilhelm's good intentions. Cooperation between the Qing Dynasty and Germany must be considered holistically; we cannot favor one over the other. The Zongli Yamen (Foreign Ministry) will draft a plan, ensuring that all necessary cooperation is carried out in Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Fujian, and Zhejiang." Natalie's mind raced. She understood that the Empress Dowager wanted Germany to find more partners within the Qing Dynasty... She was going to exceed expectations this time! She would have to thank Chang Desheng properly later!

Before she could figure out how to respond, Empress Dowager Cixi had already picked up the photograph of Wilhelm II on the low table and was examining it closely.

In the photograph, Wilhelm II, dressed in Prussian military uniform, rode a tall horse, his chin held high, exuding an air of "I am the greatest under heaven." Empress Dowager Cixi looked at it for a while, then suddenly asked, "Madame Bilo, tell me... is the emperor in military uniform more imposing, or the emperor in dragon robe more majestic?" Natalie was taken aback.

Empress Dowager Cixi asked herself and answered, "In my opinion, they are both imposing. It's just that the ways they are imposing are different."

She said to Li Lianying, "Go and fetch the Emperor's painting 'Hunting in Nanyuan.' Tell the Ruyi Pavilion to paint another painting of the Emperor riding a horse and shooting arrows, in the same style. Be quick, and have Yinchang take it to Germany to congratulate Emperor Wilhelm on his birthday."

Natalie was overjoyed; this was yet another major achievement for her!

She quickly bowed and said, "Thank you, Empress Dowager! His Majesty the Emperor will surely be very pleased!"

Empress Dowager Cixi hummed in acknowledgment, then suddenly looked at Chang Desheng, as if she had just remembered that he was still kneeling:

"Changde wins."

"Your subject is here."

"There seem to be mines in Korea... right? We could start some industrial projects there, and cooperate with Germany," Empress Dowager Cixi said casually. "You all shouldn't just focus on that little corner of Beiyang. The world is vast; go ahead and do it! This is my will!"

Chang Desheng understood that the old lady wanted to create another small faction within the Beiyang government by giving him and Yuan Shikai more power.

Empress Dowager Cixi probably still doesn't realize that her small territory in Korea is on the verge of collapse; she still thinks it's a lucrative asset held by the Beiyang government! If Yuan Shikai and Chang Desheng could have made some progress in the modernization of Korea and gained some power, they might have wanted to break away from Li Hongzhang and go it alone. This unusual summons today might just be for that one phrase, "the Empress Dowager's golden words, her imperial decree!"

That must be it!

She couldn't say this directly to Li Hongzhang; he would surely find a reason to retort, so it would be pointless to say it.

Chang Desheng dared not refuse the Empress Dowager's "good intentions" and hurriedly prostrated himself, saying, "Your subject...accepts the decree."

Chang Desheng and Natalie have already left the courtyard outside Leshou Hall.

Empress Dowager Cixi remained seated on the rosewood daybed, motionless, as if lost in thought.

She was still clutching the photo of Wilhelm II in her hand. The German emperor in the photo was riding a horse, looking arrogant and domineering, like... someone who wouldn't be swayed even by the King of Heaven.

Empress Dowager Cixi looked at it for a long time, her eyes dimming slightly.

She suddenly whispered something, so softly that only she could hear it:

"If His Majesty were still alive... he would probably be this energetic, wouldn't he?"

The "Emperor" she referred to was the Tongzhi Emperor, her short-lived son who died at nineteen. If he were alive today, he would be thirty-five or thirty-six, in the prime of his life. Would he, like Wilhelm II, be wearing a crisp military uniform, riding a tall horse, reviewing the Qing army's elite troops at the Mulan Hunting Grounds?

I don't know!

All she knew was that her own son was gone without a word...

But sometimes, she couldn't help but wonder: if the emperor were still alive, would the Qing Dynasty be a different place?

At least, she wouldn't have to sit here every day, scheming and plotting with a bunch of Han officials, Manchus, and foreign devils. Cixi sighed softly and put the photograph back on the table.

"Li Lianying".

"Your servant is here."

"Go, summon the Emperor." Cixi paused, "and tell him... I have something to discuss with him."

"Well."

discuss.

What could Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu possibly discuss? It was simply a matter of Cixi giving the order and Guangxu obeying.

This emperor... he's not real!

Emperor Guangxu arrived quickly. As soon as he entered, he greeted Empress Dowager Cixi, saying, "Greetings, dear father."

Her voice sounded a little nervous.

Empress Dowager Cixi raised her hand and said, "Please sit down."

Emperor Guangxu sat on the embroidered stool beside him, half his back hunched, his eyes fixed on the ground. He looked guilty, as if the throne beneath him had been stolen, which made Empress Dowager Cixi sigh inwardly.

This emperor... he's so much like his father, Yihuan, as if he's just born lacking that... the gravitas a supreme ruler should have. He can't compare to her own son. Although her son is mischievous and doesn't like studying, he's truly fearless. If you scold him a bit, he'll just grin and laugh; if you yell at him too hard, he'll run off to the "east" (to Cixi's place).

Just a few days after assuming personal rule, he clashed with Prince Gong over the reconstruction of the Old Summer Palace. He even wrote an imperial edict, demoting Prince Gong from a princely rank to a duke, and dismissing a number of important officials, including Prince Dun Yizong, Prince Chun Yihuan, Grand Councilor Jingshou, Grand Councilors Wenxiang, Baoli, and Li Hongzao.

Although it was a bit ridiculous, that was a real emperor! Unlike this guy, who looks like a coward, easy to bully, and afraid of no one.

"Your Majesty," Cixi spoke, "do you still have the draft edict from the Grand Council a few days ago 'suspending the purchase of warships and cannons for the Beiyang Fleet'?" Guangxu was taken aback, then looked up: "Yes...it's with Master Weng. What does Father mean?"

"Suppress it," Empress Dowager Cixi said irritably. "Don't issue it for now."