The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 582 Rough Assassination
"In view of the barbaric behavior of the Russians, I have decided to take back the concession that the Russians forcibly occupied in Tianjin a few years ago. What do you think?"

"it is good!"

"The handsome and wise man!"

"We support the Marshal in taking back all the concessions!"

The cheering passengers did not get on the train until Teng Yuzhao, protected by the soldiers and guards, got on a row of cars that gleamed black under the lights and had arrived on the platform outside the crowd at some point. Only then did they, urged by the equally indignant station staff, reluctantly and excitedly get on the train while talking animatedly to each other.

The passengers who had just got off the train also began to rush out of the station. They were eager to rush back to their homes to report to their families the good news that Teng Yuzhao decided to take back the Russian concession.

The car that Teng Yuzao was riding in was a Mercedes-Benz sedan produced by the Jinde Automobile Company, a joint venture between Teng Yuzao and the Germans located in the eastern suburbs of the new city.

This joint venture between the Aurora Industrial Development Company and the Germans is now producing the same cars that Mercedes-Benz produces in Germany.

Under the guidance of German engineers and technicians, the joint venture is now able to produce a variety of high-quality German Mercedes-Benz cars, including the recently launched trucks.

Although most of the engines and all the shock-absorbing spring steel here still need to be imported from Germany, the engine factory of "Aurora Machinery Company", which is also a joint venture between "Aurora Industrial Development Company" and Germany's Diesel Machinery Company, is already producing various types of oil engines.

Not only can we now imitate all the engines imported from Germany, we are even cooperating with the Germans to develop and produce high-power gasoline and diesel engines with more than ten horsepower.

Moreover, under the guidance of Teng Yuzao, the world's first four-cylinder engine was developed, which was three months earlier than the time when Cadillac in the United States developed the four-cylinder engine in history.

Although the technology of this four-cylinder diesel generator was still immature, it was already a remarkable miracle, because at that time, the output power of the engines of the great powers did not exceed the six-horsepower two-cylinder engine.

Even at the request of the Germans, this technology had to be kept secret for the time being, and even the patent was only applied for in Germany.

According to the Germans, this engine would first be used in military applications, such as torpedo boats and submarines.

Of course, military trucks that can carry more supplies are also necessary, but this type of truck
Because of the engine, the load capacity of the trucks currently produced is only four tons, but even so, Teng Yuzhao is still excited.

This would allow him to have a transport force that did not require packhorses, which was of great significance for long-distance operations without railway support.

Teng Yuzhao's car changed to the third car when leaving the station, and the convoy then sped along the wide and straight road towards the northwest.

Although the speed of the convoy was less than 30 kilometers per hour, this speed was already the fastest speed that the world's fastest cars could run at that time.

Looking at Liu Bingyi who was sitting in the front passenger seat and carefully directing the convoy to move quickly, Teng Yuzao couldn't help but smile bitterly.

"Why don't you just drive back to the Governor's Mansion? Haven't the militants been arrested? Is it necessary to be so cautious?"

"Besides, there's no need for a town commander like you to come pick me up in person, right? Isn't this a bit too scary?"

Liu Bingyi said seriously, "Marshal, although the group of Russians have been captured, who knows if there are others. When I came here, not only did I send troops to surround the Russian concession as requested by the chief of staff, but the chief of staff also asked me not to take the normal route back to the Governor's Mansion."

Liu Bingyi added carefully, "General Manager Li even called me and asked me to come in person to protect the Marshal."

The General Manager Li that Liu Bingyi mentioned was naturally Li Yulin.

Liu Bingyi and Li Yulin were both from Teng Yuzao's camp, and they had always had a good relationship with each other.

Teng Yuzhao knew that this was Liu Bingyi's implicit way of expressing that Li Yulin was still very loyal to him.

Teng Yuzao took a deep breath and asked, "Is General Manager Li still at the shipyard of the Ordnance Department?"

Liu Bingyi answered while staring nervously at both sides of the bright road illuminated by the street lights outside the car window.

"General Manager Li said that he will be back soon for the meeting."

Seeing that Teng Yuzhao didn't say anything, Liu Bingyi spoke again without turning his head.

"Marshal, you have been traveling a long way these days and probably haven't had a good sleep. You can take a nap in the car first. I guess General Manager Li and his men are already waiting in the war room meeting room. I'm afraid you won't have time to sleep after you get off the car."

Although Teng Yuzhao rushed back from the capital this time, he had previously inspected the Zhili Army troops in Shandong, Anhui, Liangjiang, Fujian and other places. He also went to visit Zhan Tianyou, who had completed the construction of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway and the Lu-Han Railway on schedule and was currently working on the construction site, directing the construction of the Jinpu Railway day and night.

According to Zhan Tianyou, since there are abundant manpower and funds now, he estimates that the Jinpu Railway can be completed as early as the 32nd year of the Guangxu period.

After giving great encouragement to Zhan Tianyou, Teng Yuzao went all the way south, visited the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai, and then rushed to Nanjing to inspect the troops of the Second Town.

Then, Teng Yuzao did not rush to Suzhou and Hangzhou for sightseeing, but drove directly to Quanzhou and rushed to Pan Jinshan.

After finishing the inspection of the Sixth Town in Fujian, he rode north all the way to Wuchang.

In Wuchang, Teng Yuzhao was warmly received by Zhang Zhidong. After staying with Zhang Zhidong for three days, Teng Yuzhao took the Lu-Han Railway train which had just been completed a few months ago and hurried to Baoding. He inspected the Beiyang Arsenal, a joint venture with Germans in Baoding, before rushing to the capital.

However, Teng Yuzhao did not enter the city from outside the capital. Instead, he took a train directly along the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway, which had just been completed, to inspect the situation of Wu Peifu's Fifth Regiment, Li Jinyu's Eighth Regiment and the Cavalry Regiment.

Five days ago, Teng Yuzhao, who was maintaining rapid combat readiness in Duolun, suddenly received a telegram from the Grand Council, asking him to return to the capital immediately.

Teng Yuzhao, who had already sensed what had happened, immediately rushed back to Zhangjiakou without stopping, and then took another train back to Beijing overnight.

After staying in the capital for only one day, Teng Yuzhao rushed back to Tianjin overnight.

It took Teng Yuzhao more than two months to complete this inspection, and he was indeed very tired.

Teng Yuzhao really wanted to have a good sleep for a few days, but he definitely wouldn't have the time today. Even from today on, he wouldn't have the time to sleep peacefully for quite a long time.

In the darkness, Teng Yuzao in the back seat let out a long sigh, nodded and said, "Okay, I'll take a nap and rest for a while."

When Teng Yuzao walked with powerful steps into the smoke-filled conference room of the Governor's Office's Operations Room, more than 20 people inside stood up immediately and greeted Teng Yuzao.

Among these people, the military leaders included Chief of Staff Wei Jinghai, Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Artillery Liu Changfa, Deputy Chief of Staff Sun Shijun, Director of the Ordnance Department Li Yulin, Commander of the Fourth Regiment Liu Shijiu, Commander of the First Regiment Li Xianze, Commander of the Seventh Regiment Cao Futian, Minister of the Navy Ye Zugui, Commander of the Beiyang Fleet Sa Zhenbing, as well as the new Operations Director Zuo Baotian and Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Security Li Yaoting. The Commander of the First Regiment was Li Xianze, and there was no mistake.

Because, half a year ago, Teng Yuzao, at the suggestion of Yang Shiqi, had already exchanged some generals with their troops.

Among them, Liu Yuzhi and Li Xiangze exchanged positions, and Hu Dianjia and Pan Jinshan exchanged positions.

As for Liu Shijiu, Wu Peifu, Li Jinyu, Cao Futian, and Liu Bingyi, Teng Yuzao announced that they would not be transferred for the time being, on the grounds that they were troops defending the Russian army outside the Great Wall and might be involved in combat at any time, and would be adjusted after the situation stabilized.

The reason for this was that Li Yaoting reported that Tie Liang had had close contact with Hu Dianjia in Anqing on the pretext of inspecting various provinces to disband the old army and establish a new army.

In addition, Yuan Shikai, who had known Hu Dianjia for a long time, also maintained correspondence with Hu Dianjia.

As for the exchange of Li Xiance and Liu Yuzhi, it was mainly because Hu Dianjia was not allowed to be transferred, which seemed too abrupt.

Teng Yuzhao had to be on guard against many things.

Teng Yuzao also did not forget to consider the feelings of Li Yaoting, who had always worked diligently. Because of his position, Li Yaoting had always found it difficult to be promoted legitimately, which was always inappropriate, so he also gave Li Yaoting the title of deputy chief of staff.

As for the civil servants, there are people who came.

The acting governor-general of the three northeastern provinces and in charge of the general affairs of the three northeastern provinces were Xu Shichang, the governor of Zhili and concurrently the governor of Shandong were Yang Shixiang, the general manager of the Beiyang Communications Administration were Yang Shiqi, the assistant director of the Zhishan Governor-General's Foreign Affairs Office were Tang Shaoyi, the Zhili governor were Liang Dunyan, the general manager of the Beiyang Patrol were Cao Jiaxiang, the general manager of the Beiyang Steamship Company were Zhou Shoushen, the general manager of the Beiyang Foreign Affairs Administration were Zhou Xuexi, the general manager of the Aurora Bank were Xi Ligong, and the general manager of the Trade Bureau were Ning Xingpu.

Xu Shichang's appointment as acting governor-general of the three northeastern provinces was also recommended by Teng Yuzhao, and it was at Teng Yuzhao's insistence that Cixi appointed him with great reluctance.

Originally, Tsarist Russia had agreed to completely withdraw its troops from the three northeastern provinces within a year and a half.

But the Tsarist Russia suddenly stopped after completing the first round of withdrawal in October last year.

Moreover, not only did they withdraw their troops from the Northeast and not return to the European part of their territory, but they also remained in Vladivostok.

Even according to the British, Tsarist Russia was secretly concentrating munitions, food and other military supplies near Lake Baikal via the Trans-Siberian Railway, which had not yet been fully built.

Even the military strength there has been greatly increased. Currently, the Russian military strength near Lake Baikal has reached an alarming number of about 500,000.

Including the more than 120,000 Tsarist Russian troops stranded in the Northeast, the Tsarist Russian military strength in the Far East has reached nearly 800,000. It is obvious that they are prepared to stay in the Northeast at all costs.

Under such circumstances, the imperial court arranged several candidates for governor of the three northeastern provinces, including Yuan Shikai, but they were all declined for various reasons.

Even Yuan Shikai ignored the temptation of the Governor of the Three Northeastern Provinces and refused on the grounds that the Henan Army was reorganizing and he had no time to get away.

The governor of the three northeastern provinces seems to be in a glorious position, but these people all understand that the Russians will not easily withdraw from the three northeastern provinces. As the governor, I not only have to deal with the Russians in a humble manner, but also have to be on guard against the Russians suddenly turning against me one day and starting another war.

If things go wrong, the governor will become a scapegoat. Not only will he be unable to stay in the Northeast, but his position as governor will also be lost.

With no other choice, the court accepted Zhang Zhidong's suggestion and appointed Teng Yuzhao as the Governor-General of Zhishan, temporarily serving as the Governor-General of the Three Northeastern Provinces.

Unexpectedly, Teng Yuzhao also declined the position on the grounds that as the Beiyang Minister and Governor-General of Zhishan Provinces, he had too many things to manage and was too busy to take care of both.

Moreover, he took the opportunity to recommend Xu Shichang, who had been doing nothing in the preparatory office of the Ministry of the Army, as the governor-general of the three northeastern provinces.

In the end, the court had no choice but to agree to Teng Yuzhao's recommendation.

The only change was that the word "acting" was added before Xu Shichang's title of Governor.

After all, Xu Shichang's qualifications were still somewhat shallow, and he was promoted too quickly, almost to an appalling degree.

Teng Yuzao recommended Xu Shichang not only because Xu Shichang had served as the governor-general of the three northeastern provinces in history, but also because Xu Shichang was a relatively moderate person and handled things more tactfully, so many people in the court could accept him.

If Teng Yuzhao recommended someone else, the court would probably find it difficult to agree.

Yang Shixiang, who had been recommended by Teng Yuzhao as the governor of Zhili a year ago, was urgently transferred by the court to Liangjiang to serve as the acting governor-general of Liangjiang and minister of Nanyang because Liu Kunyi died in office in September of the 30th year of the Guangxu period.

As a result, the post of Governor of Shandong became vacant, and Teng Yuzhao recommended Yang Shixiang to serve concurrently as Governor of Shandong.

In less than two years, Yang Shiqi was in charge of the railway affairs. He not only completed the Lu-Han Railway abandoned by the Belgians, but also built the extremely difficult Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway.

Moreover, due to an agreement with the imperial court, the Lu-Han Railway is now under the management of the Beiyang government. The railway line managed by Yang Shiqi has extended to Hubei, and the radiation area is very large.

Therefore, Teng Yuzhao also took the opportunity to suggest the establishment of the Beiyang Communications Administration and recommended Yang Shiqi as the second-rank general manager, who would not only manage railway transportation but also be responsible for managing Beiyang shipping affairs.

As for Tang Shaoyi, assistant to the Governor-General of Zhishan in foreign affairs, Liang Dunyan, the governor of Zhili, and Zhou Shoushen, the general manager of the Beiyang Steamship Company, they were all recommended to their current positions by Teng Yuzhao after completing the negotiations with the foreigners on naval vessels.

Also, because now, through railways and shipping, Beiyang not only has close trade relations with various provinces in China, but has also opened up ocean routes with Southeast Asia, the United States, Germany, and Chile. Teng Yuzhao also took the opportunity to suggest the establishment of the Beiyang Trade Bureau and recommended Ning Xingpu as the third-rank general manager.

The positions of Zhou Xuexi, general manager of the Beiyang Foreign Affairs Administration, Xi Ligong, general manager of the Aurora Bank, and Cao Jiaxiang, general manager of the Beiyang Patrol, have not changed for the time being.

"Marshal, the Russians are too abominable. Not only do they refuse to leave the border, they even dare to plot to assassinate you. We must not let them off easily this time."

Before Teng Yuzhao sat down, Liu Shijiu shouted anxiously.

Yang Shiqi also smiled and said, "Your Excellency has been traveling all the way and has worked hard, but this matter is indeed very bad. Why not take this opportunity to drive the Russians out of Zhili completely!"

"I suggest that we take back the Russian concession this time."

Yang Shixiang shook his head and said, "Marshal, we should be more cautious about this matter. The Russians are still staying outside the Great Wall. If we take back the concession now, I'm afraid they will find an excuse and will not leave. The court will probably be dissatisfied with you."

Teng Yuzhao looked at Xu Shichang, and seeing that Xu Shichang had no intention of speaking, he looked at Wei Jinghai and his generals.

(End of this chapter)