Peng Yulin is actually a relatively radical scholar. We can see the clues from some of his past.
Although he had been a minister of the Qing Dynasty throughout history, he resigned seven or eight times. Moreover, he always put the interests of the country and the nation first. However, due to the general environment during the Westernization Movement, the reformists took absolute dominance.
He did not have the ability to fight against the Qing Dynasty, because he knew that if he did so, it would only make the country fall deeper into the abyss like the Taiping Army.
Now that he met Dong Shuheng, a rebel, and a powerful rebel, he naturally strengthened his determination.
"President, Xueqin should stay with you first to get to know our Huaihai Navy. As for what you said about commanding the fleet, we can discuss it later. Now Navy Master Liu may be more suitable to command the fleet than me."
"That's okay. Our Huai Navy's organizational command is completely different from that of the Qing Army. You can learn more about it recently."
"President, we just talked about the Taiping Army. You don't want to suppress it now, but the Taiping Army has been blocking Jiangning, but it has also blocked the Huaihai Navy's expansion space."
Dong Shuheng was very pleased that Peng Yulin could enter the role so quickly and began to consider Huai Haijun.
"Xueqin, what do you think?"
"I thought the president wanted to consolidate Jiangbei first. After all, it only took a few months for the president to rise. It is impossible to monolithically manage Jiangbei."
"Yes, you can rely on the army to occupy territory, but if you want to use it, you need talented people to manage it."
"If Xue Qin guessed correctly, Lord Wei's academy is to solve the shortcoming of talents."
"I see that the president's soldiers all use foreign guns. Although the training speed is faster, the soldiers must spend a lot of money. How does the president solve the funding problem?"
"Searching, doing business, trading." Six words came out of Dong Shuheng's mouth.
Peng Yulin's eyes lit up. This president is really direct, but it is indeed a profession that can make money quickly. People who can train soldiers must first know how to make money!
"Xueqin, I will ask Cunxun to give you a piece of information later, so that you can have a deeper understanding of the power we have."
"Yes, President."
"Xueqin, the first step is to stabilize Jiangbei. Now, what do you think the second step should be?"
Peng Yulin thought for a while and replied: "Uh... in this second part, I think the president wants to expel the Taiping Army, one in two directions, one to the west and one to the north."
"Well, the expulsion is well said. It's actually very difficult to decide the right proportions in this battle. We can fight him so hard that he can run away, but we can't weaken him so much that he can't be defeated. But why can't we go south?"
"I can guess what the president wants. Now that the bandits have gone south, the pressure on the Qing government will be reduced. By then, we in Jiangbei will not have such great freedom to develop. After the long-term Qing government is eliminated, the next step must be
'Eliminate Fan'."
"Well, Xueqin really hit the nail on the head."
"Sir, I have actually studied the character of this Hong Xiuquan. He is ambitious but not perseverant, and has a high vision but is too short-sighted. As long as you put enough pressure on him, he will definitely run away. Now your Excellency controls the east, north and south sides.
There is the Jiangnan Camp in Hechun, and now the Taiping Army has occupied important towns such as Anqing in southern Anhui Province, so this direction is the best choice for the Taiping Army."
"Where's the back?"
"Of course we will chase the Taiping Army into Anhui later. Anhui is also under the jurisdiction of the Liangjiang Governor's Mansion. President, since ancient times, Huaixi has been a good source of troops. It is in our hands. So relying on Jiangsu's rich resources
With the financial resources and the industrialization carried out by you, President, we can be invincible. The provinces south of the Yangtze River have no troops available, but a strong force is enough to pacify them. When the elite troops move north to quickly capture Beijing, and the army marches from Anhui to the Central Plains, great things can be accomplished.
"
"Haha, Xueqin, I didn't expect you to be a strategist. It seems I really can't put you in the fleet."
Originally, Dong Shuheng had the first idea. Historically, Peng Yulin was the founder of China's modern navy. It was because he later joined the Hunan Army and accumulated experience running the Hunan Army Navy. Now he is still a novice about the navy and fleet. But other
Man's innate strategic talent has been revealed. What Dong Shuheng didn't know was that Peng Yulin was still an outstanding strategist in history. Otherwise, how could he have the title of a perfect man in the late Qing Dynasty?
"Uh... you have over-praised that president. Compared to the president who has done so much at such a young age, Xueqin is not worth mentioning." Peng Yulin was embarrassed by the praise.
…
The two of them talked about future strategic issues until very late, and they felt as if they had met at a late date.
Dong Shuheng slept together in the lounge on the ship for a night. The ship sailed up the river from Haimen, less than 300 kilometers of waterway, and arrived at Jingjiang in exactly one night. When he was about to arrive at Jingjiang, Li Cunxun woke up Dong Shuheng. Dong Shuheng simply
After washing up, I came to the bow of the boat and felt the cool river breeze blowing in, which made me feel refreshed.
Peng Yulin had already arrived at the bow of the ship.
"Good morning, President!"
"Did Xueqin sleep well? Can she still adapt to the boat ride?"
"Fortunately, I often ride river boats, so I'm quite used to it. This boat should be more stable."
Near Jingjiang, the Yangtze River turns a bend here. To the south is Jiangyin and to the north is Jingjiang. Near Jingjiang's dock, a fortress is rising from the ground.
At this time, the morning fog dispersed, and the situation on the case was clearly visible.
"President, if you read it correctly, it should be a newly built fort! It's really wonderful to put it here."
"To be more precise, it is a fortress. The turrets above are all made of reinforced concrete, and steel plates are added in the middle. They can withstand heavy artillery attacks."
"President, with this fortress, the Yangtze River can be protected without worries."
"Yes, but China still has a long coastline, and we cannot build forts everywhere. The real fortress is the fleet on the sea. They are the mobile fortresses on the sea and the real force in maintaining maritime borders. Building a fortress here is also
There is no other way to do it. If we get to that point, at least we can keep the Yangtze River coast, resist the foreign powers from going deep into the interior, and organize effective resistance. However, the developed areas on the southeast coast may suffer erosion, and many people may be displaced."
"The president is really concerned about the country and the people. I believe that our fleet will be able to be built before that day."
…
In the British Concession in Shanghai, today the British Minister Wenhan received a report from a merchant ship that the Qing government was suspected of building several fortresses along the Yangtze River at the same time.
"These Qing people, if they have money and don't fight the rebels, why are they building fortresses in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River? Who are they trying to protect against?"
"Tom, go and draft a note to the Governor of Liangjiang, saying that this has seriously affected the safety of British merchant ships. In addition, notify the American and French ministers to jointly put pressure on the Qing court."
…
In the Yangxin Hall of Bauhinia City in Beijing, the military minister on duty today is Shao Can.
"Shao Aiqing, have the new governors of Jiangsu, Anhui, and Shandong taken office?"
"Your Majesty, we have all taken office. Jiangsu Governor Yang Wending has been arrested and returned to Beijing, and the trial is under way in Dali Temple."
"Leave him alive, he will be sent to Xinjiang by grace."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"Any news for the newly appointed governor?"
"Uh... Mr. Gui, the new governor of Shandong, wrote a letter saying that Green Camp in Shandong has been abandoned for a long time. Bandits are everywhere and thieves are rampant. He is asking to build a new army to quell the bandits and stabilize the place."
"Well, Guizhong Bank is a willing person. Tell him that he is allowed to raise funds from Shandong taxes to form a new army, but he must completely quell the banditry in Shandong before the middle of next year."
"Anhui Governor Jiang Zhongyuan was stationed in Luzhou to resist the bandits. He only wrote a letter saying that the army's military expenses were becoming increasingly tight, and the Chu soldiers who had been recruited were increasingly homesick and urgently needed salary and appeasement."
"Most of Anhui's taxes come from the south. Now that side is occupied by bandits, and the north is disrupted by nian bandits." Xianfeng sighed, "First, broadcast 50,000 taels from the inner treasury to Jiang Zhongyuan. In addition, Wei Yuan was ordered to send Jiangbei regiment training to support.
"
"Your Majesty, Jiangbei is still preparing to regain Jiangning. I'm afraid we won't be able to send anyone at this time."
"Let Qishan figure it out on his own. I have approved the officials he recommended this time. He should share the worries of the imperial court."
"By the way, Your Majesty, Wei Xunfu has also written a letter saying that he is ready to send troops to consolidate the defense in the south of the Yangtze River, rebuild the camp in Changzhou, and wait for an opportunity to regain Zhenjiang."
"Well, this plan is sound. If you want to regain Jiangning, you must first cut off its wings and allow it to recruit troops and pay on its own."
…
The dock in Jingjiang has been simply decorated, with banners fluttering and colorful flags fluttering.
Dong Shuheng and a group of senior naval officers of the Huai Navy stood on the pier, with eight new gunboats lined up.
This time Dong Shuheng was lazy and named the eight new boats "Yangtze River No. 1" to "Yangtze River No. 8".
Amidst the sound of music, each captain stepped forward in turn and received the appointment certificate and flag from Dong Shuheng.
"Lao Ma, why are you trying to steal the captain of the Yangtze River No. 7? Didn't you become the commander of the Taihu Navy?"
"Haha, there is no rule in the presidential army that the commander cannot also be the captain of the boat. Anyway, the Yangtze River No. 7 is my flagship, and I will live on it from now on." This person is Ma Huzi. Now Dong Shuheng is the admiral of Jiangsu, and Ma
Beard was officially assigned to his command.
After the new boats were put into the line, Dong Shuheng divided the Huaihai Navy into three. Three gunboats were assigned to the Canal Navy, responsible for water safety along the canal, mainly serving as escort. Five gunboats were assigned to the Yangtze River Navy.
Activities in the Yangtze River Basin are currently mainly in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Two gunboats have also been rowed under Ma Huzi's command to establish the Taihu Navy to eliminate Taihu water bandits and maintain security along the Taihu Lake.
In fact, it mainly focuses on Suzhou and Huzhou. Li Cunxun's brother Li Cunwen used to be the general magistrate of Huzhou and has now been promoted to the prefect of Huzhou. Previously, with the support of Li Cunwen, the Yangtze River Group opened a large number of silk reeling factories in Huzhou. The coast of Taihu Lake is currently the most
It is an important silk-producing area and has important economic interests for the Huaihai Navy.
So Dong Shuheng decided to put an armed force here.
Another important thing today is the announcement of the establishment of the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps is the ground force that follows the Navy in landing operations.
Dong Shuheng decided to establish three groups first, namely
401 regiment, leader Ding Li.
402 regiment, leader Zhong Jingang.
403 regiment, leader Lin Bin.
These three are all newly promoted regiment-level officers. Among them, Ding Li was promoted the fastest. Before the Battle of Yangzhou, he was still a platoon leader, but he got the first place in the military academy assessment. You must know that before joining the army, he was still a platoon leader.
An illiterate person, what Dong Shuheng valued most was his learning ability.
These three regiments will be under the unified command of the Naval Command. In the future, the Navy Commander will be concurrently served by Dong Shuheng himself, Peng Yulin will serve as the Chief of Naval Staff, Liu Dahai will serve as the Deputy Commander of the Navy and Commander of the Yangtze River Navy. Zhang Qiang will serve as the Commander of the Canal Navy. Ma Liankui will serve as