Beiyang Dream

Chapter 263 Hold firm and I'll be your "watchdog"!

July 19, 1894 (Gregorian calendar), on the Yellow Sea.

The large protected cruiser USS Hawke, with a standard displacement of over 7300 tons, is sailing northeast at a speed of 12 knots.

The British cruiser and the German frigate Corinthian formed a two-ship formation, sailing one after the other on the surface of the Yellow Sea.

Chang Desheng was standing on the foredeck of the "Hawk" with his hands on the railing.

Standing next to him were the British Consul General in Korea, Lord Gatom, and the German Consul General in Korea, Lord Bülow. These two had come to Weihaiwei together to "recover" from Nanpu, Shenghui Town, Changde.

The three of them were now standing on the foredeck of the USS Hawke, looking at the distant horizon.

There was a warship there flying the Rising Sun flag; it looked like the Japanese ironclad warship "Fusō".

The Fusō was originally there to blockade Weihaiwei, but it ran into the HMS Hawke and HMS Corinna who were there to "rescue" Changdesheng. The captain of the Fusō must have felt like jumping into the sea when he saw what was happening.

It's one thing for the Germans to support Chang Desheng... but what does "British daddy" mean? Ah, seeing that Chang Desheng is capable, does that mean they're abandoning Japan? Is their "dog luck" about to run out?

However, Chang Desheng knew that the Japanese still had "dogs" to use... Would the British ever complain about having too many "watchdogs" to keep an eye on Russia? This was never a choice, it's just that the Qing Dynasty and the Beiyang Army were both too incompetent in history.

The British brought the HMS Hawke here not to scare the Japanese, but to show Chang Desheng.

The meaning is clear: Look, our Great British Empire has plenty of good ships. This 7300-ton protected cruiser alone is comparable in standard displacement to your Beiyang Fleet's "Zhenyuan" and "Dingyuan". Your "Changyuan" is nothing special in our eyes.

This ship has two 9.2-inch semi-rapid-fire guns and ten 6-inch rapid-fire guns. Its firepower is only slightly less than your "Changyuan" ship, but it has a speed of 20 knots!

Moreover, it was just a cruiser, not a battleship.

If our Great British Empire really wanted to help the Japanese win, it would be a piece of cake.

But now, this excellent ship wasn't sold to the Japanese; instead, it was sent to pick you up, Chang Desheng.

What does this tell us?

This means that you, Chang Desheng, are now qualified to be a "watchdog" for the British Empire.

You should be grateful!

Although it was a bit frustrating to think about, Chang Desheng knew that the current international situation was just that cruel. As a general from a weak country, if you wanted to survive in this world, you had to recognize your own position.

This position, the "watchdog" specifically for watching over the Russians, is something many people would love but can't get.

After all, being a dog is better than being dog food!

How much have the Japanese suffered over the years to be this dog? The whole nation has tightened its belts to develop military equipment! Even the Emperor has to hypocritically donate hundreds of thousands of yen from the Imperial Household Department.

Now that the British have handed him a "watchdog interview invitation," shouldn't he thank them?

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Chang Desheng turned around, cupped his hands in greeting to Gyaltsen and Bilo, and said with a smile, "Thank you both for your help. If it weren't for your assistance, I'm afraid I would have had to call the 'Changyuan' and 'Zhiyuan' from Shanghai to leave Weihaiwei. That would have taken up a lot of time."

Jattomar waved his hand, a reserved smile typical of the British on his face: "General Chang, there's no need to be so polite. However, this is just an exception and does not mean that the British Empire has changed its neutral stance."

Chang Desheng understood perfectly well what Jia Tuoma was saying. He was being told that Chang was only qualified to compete for the "watchdog" position, not actually qualified. The British hadn't decided whether to use him yet, so don't be too happy!

Count Bülow, standing nearby, was quite pleased with himself. He stroked his beard and said, "That's right, the German Empire is currently neutral. However, we in Germany very much hope to engage in extensive cooperation with you after the war."

Chang Desheng thought to himself, "It seems the Germans are convinced that I can hold Lushun and Dalian and successfully become the British's 'watchdog'."

These Germans are pretty good at betting!

He glanced at Gyaltsen, who immediately understood and gestured for them to enter the officers' lounge.

The officers' lounge wasn't large, but it was luxuriously and exquisitely decorated—truly befitting a cruiser of the British Empire!

The three men sat down separately, and an Indian man who had worked on a British warship brought them coffee.

Chang Desheng was holding the coffee the Indian man had brought him, about to take a sip, when Count Bülow, the German Consul General in Korea, cleared his throat and began to speak.

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Because the British Consul General was present, he spoke in English.

"General Chang, the German government recently inquired with Russia about Germany's lease of a naval port in Dalian," Bello said, his smile fading. "The Russian side's attitude is very firm... they are firmly opposed!"

Chang Desheng frowned.

He had actually anticipated this. The Russians had long considered Lushun and Dalian as their own, how could they possibly let the Germans get their hands on them? Not to mention the Germans, even if the British wanted them, the Russians would be furious.

I wonder if Wilhelm II dares to offend the Tsar?

Bilo continued, "His Majesty the Emperor, taking into account the relationship between Germany and Russia, has decided to look for a suitable bay south of the Liaodong Peninsula to establish a naval base. Our first choice is Jiaozhou Bay."

Emperor Wilhelm was indeed somewhat "Russian-phobic"!

Oh well, Qingdao it is. Anyway, that's how it's always been, and it hasn't gotten any worse.

Let the Germans build it up. When I become president, I'll just send troops to take it back.

But you can't say that out loud.

Chang Desheng looked troubled and said, "Your Excellency, I can't make that decision. In the foreseeable future, my influence is limited to the Liaodong Peninsula and the Guandong Railway line. As for the Jiaozhou Bay issue, you'll have to discuss it with the Zongli Yamen (Foreign Ministry)."

Bello shrugged, seemingly unconcerned: "Let's not talk about that now. Although Germany can't acquire naval ports in Lushun and Dalian, nor can it easily obtain concessions, commercial investment is still not a problem. We are very optimistic about the coal and iron mines in Northeast China, as well as the development prospects of Dalian as a commercial port. The large dock in Lushun will surely be expanded into a shipyard after the war, right? And the steel plant in Benxi Lake, I heard it uses Krupp technology. Krupp is very optimistic about this project and hopes to get a stake in it."

Chang Desheng nodded repeatedly, looking like he was saying, "It's no problem."

He was calculating in his mind: the Germans wanted to invest in the Benxi Steel Plant, and that was something worth discussing. After all, the Benxi Steel Plant was bound to expand rapidly; after all, steel was the backbone of industry!

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If the Benxi Iron and Steel Plant could produce 100 million tons of crude steel before 1914, it might have a chance to be served on the table!

Bilo paused, glanced at Jiatoma again, and continued, "Furthermore, we in Germany also hope that General Chang can maintain long-term control over the Liaodong Peninsula, including Lushun and Dalian. We are willing to provide assistance to the best of our ability."

Upon hearing this, Chang Desheng's heart stirred once again.

He knew that this was actually the Russian position as well.

Historically, the Russians, together with Germany and France, orchestrated the Triple Intervention, forcing Japan to relinquish the Liaodong Peninsula, which it had previously seized.

From the Russians' perspective, Liaodong was still easily taken over by the Qing Dynasty. If it fell into Japanese hands, things would be much more complicated.

But Bilo actually said these words in front of Gyaltsen.

What does this Englishman mean?

Chang Desheng looked at Jiatuo Ma.

Jia Tuoma put down his coffee cup, looked at him, and said, "General Chang, the British Empire remains neutral! As far as I know, the Japanese army will soon land on the Liaodong Peninsula and then launch an attack on Lushun and Dalian. If you can maintain control of Lushun and Dalian after this 'victory,' then... the British Empire looks forward to cooperating with you."

He paused, then added, "That means Whitehall Street."

Chang Desheng understood everything now.

The British meant that as long as they held Lushun and Dalian, they would act as their "watchdogs" to prevent the Russians from advancing south.

The fact that Changji New Beiyang became the "watchdog of the Far East" meant that Japan's status had declined; at least Japan was no longer the "only watchdog" of the British Empire in the Far East.

In order to hold onto this unique "dog position," the Japanese will definitely fight tooth and nail to attack Port Arthur.

The battle in which the Japanese desperately attacked Lushun was another "test" for Chang Ji's new Beiyang Fleet!

If you hold the line, you've passed!

The British Empire took Chang Ji and the new Beiyang Army as dogs!

If you can't hold out... then I'm sorry, if you can't even hold off the Japanese attack, how will you defend against the Russians in the future?

He can no longer be a watchdog.

It seems a tough battle is inevitable.

Chang Desheng cursed inwardly: Damn it, why is it so hard to be a dog of the British Empire?

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July 21, 1894, Tokyo, Japan, General Staff Headquarters Building, Imperial General Headquarters.

Several people were sitting around the conference table.

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The meeting was attended by Chief of the General Staff Prince Arisugawa Taruhito, Vice Chief of the General Staff Vice Admiral Kawakami Soroku, Chief of the Naval General Staff Kabayama Sukenori, Minister of the Navy and Minister of the Army Saigo Tsugumichi, and Ito Hirobumi and Mutsu Munemitsu, who were also present as observers.

Colonel Yamamoto Gonnohyōe, the Vice Minister of the Navy, stood in front of a nautical chart, holding a copy of a telegram in his hand, and spoke first.

"Gentlemen, this is a telegram forwarded from Incheon last night. It was sent back by the captain of the 'Fusō'."

He paused, then began to read the telegram:

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