The Tianjin base has now developed into a fully functional Binhai New Area, and construction in all aspects is booming: shipbuilding industry, shipping industry, fishery, salt industry and other related industries have been successively improved, and ports, freight yards, warehouses, trains have been expanded.

Infrastructure such as stations, power plants, water plants, hospitals, post offices, commercial areas, residential areas, schools, hotels, administrative agencies and military camps have been built. New farms, reservoirs, etc. are being gradually formed in the vast inland area west of the new area in the southeast of the base.

A self-sufficient local economy.

The rapid increase in trade volume has attracted people of different skin colors from home and abroad to flock here. The foreign population has increased sharply. Different ethnic cultures, unique enterprises and various exotic customs have been integrated into it, which is in harmony with everything here.

The combination formed a colorful and harmonious picture, which enabled the Tianjin base's commercial and service industries to develop rapidly, becoming the largest and most prosperous trading port in the Far East.

Several high-yield oil wells have been drilled in the wilderness to the southwest of the base, and a new industrial base integrating oil mining, refining and chemical industry is rapidly taking shape. As Kang Fan said to Donovan, the underground here

It is really a large structure rich in oil and natural gas!

"Kang Fan, from now on you are my God." After Donovan saw Kang Fan, he pulled off the pure gold cross that had been hanging around his neck for more than ten years and handed it to Kang Fan, "This is for you.

"

Kang Fan accepted it with a smile, "Okay, I'll keep it for now. I'll pay you back when one day you want to go back to your old job."

Donovan shook his head like a rattle, "I said, from now on you are my God!"

With the support of the Shanxi industrial community, the Tianjin Shipyard produced a new type of sail fishing boat with a 450-horsepower diesel engine as the main propulsion method and a sail made of new synthetic fibers as the auxiliary propulsion method. After being widely adopted by Tianjin Fishery Company, it was immediately launched as

Novel operating methods have appeared in China's coastal fisheries and fisheries further afield on the high seas, shocking colleagues. This new type of fishing boat can choose to use sails and diesel engines for propulsion according to sea conditions. It is both fuel-efficient and safe, and has excellent wind and wave resistance.

Its fast sailing ability and performance are far beyond those of contemporary fishing boats from various countries.

After the successful development of another new type of marine diesel engine with a water-cooled in-line dual-row 12-cylinder arrangement and a total power of 2,200 horsepower, Tianjin Shipyard used this engine as the main engine to design and build a new 1,000-ton displacement diesel engine.

The fast passenger and freighter with an all-steel structure and a speed of more than 20 knots was named "Freewheel". After being mass-produced and supplied to Tianjin Shipping Company, it completely replaced the original old wooden sailboats and coal-fired steam-powered passenger ships.

Cargo ships are used in various domestic coastal routes, and the transportation efficiency is doubled.

After the above-mentioned series of ship development and production processes, Tianjin Shipyard combined the experience accumulated from domestic and foreign ship repairs and ship dismantling, and trained a group of highly qualified workers and technicians to prepare for the next step of building larger and more advanced civilian ships.

Ships and military vessels have laid a solid foundation.

After Tianjin's fishing fleet and passenger and cargo fleet have been fully updated, they can meet the current domestic demand. However, Captain Li's ocean transport fleet can no longer meet the needs of the sharp increase in import and export trade volume. Since the country is still unable to build large-scale

Ocean freighters were funded by Shanxi, and two 5,000-ton ocean freighters were ordered from shipyards in the United Kingdom and the United States respectively, and were presented to Captain Li to enrich his fleet as a reward for the robbery last time in England.

reward for action.

Captain Li smiled and asked: "Why don't you build your own ocean-going fleet? Are you afraid of ruining my job?"

Kang Fan waved his hand and said: "Not yet. Our navy is still very weak and has not yet developed the ability to protect its maritime trade routes. In the current unsafe maritime environment, it is better not to establish an ocean-going fleet.

You are an American, and the powerful U.S. Navy can protect your fleet very well, and it is safe to use your fleet."

Captain Li suddenly realized.

"Be prepared to serve me for a long time, Mr. Captain!" Kang Fan said with a smile.

Captain Li nodded and said: "Mr. Kang, you are the best business partner I have ever met. I am happy to do this."

"How are your arrangements for Judy's family?" Kang Fan asked him.

Captain Li smiled and said, "Following your instructions, I sent a ship to South Africa last year to bring my cousin's family back to the United States."

Kanfan was relieved, "The Second Boer War is not over yet. It is best for Judy and her family to live in the United States. Even if the war ends, the Boers, who are descendants of Dutch, Portuguese, and French colonists, will not compete with them."

The hatred of the Anglo-Saxons who had occupied their homes and harmed their compatriots and lived in harmony will forever be buried in the hearts of these Boers."

"Yes. You are right: hatred will continue from generation to generation." Captain Li said sadly.

Later, Kang Fan went to visit Luo Rongguang, the commander-in-chief of Tianjin Town, and accompanied by Luo Rongguang, inspected the Dagukou Fort.

Tianjin is the gateway to defend the capital, and the Tianjin Dagukou Fort guards the estuary of the Haihe River. It is a coastal defense fortress that defends Tianjin. Its importance is self-evident. Guard Luo Rongguang admired Kang Fan's courage and has been actively involved in Tianjin's coastal defense construction.

Worked closely with Kang Fan. Kang Fan personally funded Luo Rongguang's military expenditures many times to support his renovation of the Dagukou Fort.

Beginning in 1898, engineers from the Standing Army of the Jin Army and later the Internal Guard Corps successively participated in the construction of the fort reconstruction project, investing heavily in using new technologies, new materials, and new equipment to completely, scientifically, and rationally transform the Dagukou Fort.

: The old building materials such as bricks, wood, bluestone and mortar originally used in the fort were replaced with new building materials such as concrete and steel. The structure of the fort was also changed to a semi-underground fully enclosed structure, with soil layer applied outside and flowers, plants and trees planted to facilitate shelter;

Modern life support facilities such as power supply, water supply, heating, ventilation, sewage, etc. provide a clean and comfortable internal garrison environment for all defense facilities; a large number of permanent machine gun fire points are built around each fort and are connected with an underground transportation system.

Connected to the ground road network, it stationed infantry, protected the fort, and formed a close support situation with the Jin army infantry stationed on the Tianjin coast, which greatly enhanced the fort's anti-strike capability and defensive firepower.

In order to improve the fort's sea strike firepower, the old artillery originally equipped in the fort was dismantled, and a total of 36 new 130mm fortress guns were installed in 6 forts on both sides of the strait. This gun was improved from the Jin army's 130 cannon, and was

The original towed type was changed to a fixed gun mount. The artillery uses an electric hoist to automatically feed ammunition and electronically control pitch and rotation. The rate of fire is increased to 20 rounds/min, and the maximum range is also increased to 30 kilometers. In addition to being able to launch ordinary anti-personnel grenades

In addition, it can also launch the latest 130mm copper-type cone-shaped charge armor-piercing projectiles equipped with piezoelectric fuzes specially developed and produced specifically for dealing with contemporary armored warships. Such performance is unimaginable by Western powers.

A 130mm fortress cannon is dozens of times more powerful than the old artillery originally equipped for the fort!

Kang Fan and Luo Rongguang boarded an artillery firing control tower in the middle of the fort. Looking around, they had a clear view of the Haihe River estuary, the port, Tianjin city, the Bohai Sea and the coast, etc. The observation range was huge.

Each fort in Dagukou is equipped with such a command tower. The appearance is very modern and beautiful. Each tower has a net height of 36 meters. It is made of reinforced concrete and is quite strong. There is a spacious artillery firing chamber on the top of the tower.

The command post is equipped with a sophisticated large-scale optical rangefinder, searchlight, telescope and wired telephone, which can implement centralized command and control of the artillery of each fort. In addition, a channel indicator light is also installed, which is usually used as a lighthouse for entering and exiting the Haihe River and

Navigation services are provided to passing ships in the Bohai Sea.

After the expansion of the jurisdiction of the Tianjin base, it covers the entire Haihe estuary and the surrounding Bohai Sea coast, including of course the Dagukou Fort. Because Luo Rongguang is about to be transferred to the admiral of Kashgar, Xinjiang, the Empress Dowager Cixi intends to let Kang Fan's Jin army take over Daguk.

Therefore, the main force of the fort defenders has now been taken over by the Jin army, and the original Qing army fort defenders have taken a back seat. The reason for this arrangement is that the original Qing army defenders are unable to skillfully operate the Jin army's new weapons and equipment.

; The second is to enhance the defensive strength of the fort. However, for the time being, the command of the fort is still dominated by Luo Rongguang, with Kang Fan as the assistant.

"The power of Shanxi can be seen from the fort. Governor Kang is truly the pillar of the country!" Luo Rongguang said.

Kang Fan bowed his head and bowed: "Lord Luo spent his whole life in the army and contributed a lot to the stability of the Qing Dynasty. How can I be so virtuous as a junior to receive such praise from you? I am extremely ashamed."

Luo Rongguang said sternly: "Nowadays, the contradiction between the Boxer Rebellion people and the foreigners in China has reached the point of becoming tense. If this continues, the foreigners will definitely take the opportunity to send troops to suppress it. In this way, Tianjin will be the place where the foreigners must pass through from the sea to the land. If a war breaks out,

, Governor Wangkang and his officials unite sincerely and fight side by side. People are here in Dagu, and the earth sheds its blood in sacrifice to the sky!"

Kang Fan solemnly nodded and high-fived Luo Rongguang and swore an oath: "When we are in Daku, the earth will bleed in sacrifice to the sky!"

Luo Rongguang guessed right. The historical Eight-Nation Allied Forces' invasion of China broke out in Tianjin in 1900. But Kang Fan did not want to passively defend, but planned to take the initiative to fight a war that could shock Japan and the Western powers.

In order to gain strong international influence, establish China's prestige, and strive to postpone the upcoming war of aggression against China by the Eight-Nation Allied Forces for a few years, in order to gain valuable time so that they can fully prepare for the war. Currently, Shanxi Heai

Hui and Hui are in a critical period of development. As long as time is precious and enough time, the two places, the whole of China and even the whole world may be changed!

Before Kang Fan came to Tianjin, he presented a memorial to the Empress Dowager Cixi. The main purpose was to persuade the Empress Dowager Cixi to disband the Boxer Rebellion. This was because the Boxer Rebellion's hostile actions against Western missionaries and believers in the country created conditions for the Western powers to jointly launch a war of aggression against China.

With this excuse, disbanding the Boxers would temporarily ease the conflict between the Qing government and the Western powers and create favorable conditions for Kang Fan's next actions.

The Empress Dowager Cixi accepted Kang Fan's petition and issued an order to restrain the hostility of domestic Boxers against Western personnel in China. This alleviated the deepening conflicts to a certain extent and helped Kang Fan.

But Kang Fan’s original intention was to disband the Boxer Rebellion: The Boxer Rebellion was originally a purely civil group that adopted violent resistance methods due to dissatisfaction with the barbaric behavior of Western missionaries in China, but later it became a group that was exploited by conservative forces in the Qing government.

The political armed forces with religious overtones used to realize political ambitions have lost their original character.

Religious belief should be free. It is the people's right to believe in which religion they believe. There is no right or wrong. However, because Western missionaries also established modern medicine in addition to preaching; they advocated that contemporary Chinese people get rid of feudal bad habits, such as women's foot binding.

Men taking concubines, etc.; spreading new ideas, such as Western constitutionalism, democracy, etc., as well as the reform movement advocated by Guangxu, inevitably aroused the hatred of the conservative forces in the Qing government. And because the Qing government gave Western missionaries and churches superiority over the Qing Dynasty

The extraterritoriality above the law has further encouraged the arrogance of some lawless believers and priests to oppress the people, as well as conflicts caused by differences in economy, culture, customs, etc. Therefore, once the people are incited, they are unstoppable and directly lead to the chaos of the domestic situation.

The serious consequences of joint armed invasion and intervention with Western powers.

Therefore, the Boxers must be dismissed and these passionate young people should be allowed to do what they are supposed to do, instead of blindly being instructed to cause chaos in China. But the Empress Dowager Cixi compromised in the execution, which made Kang Fan very angry. Even so.
Chapter completed!