King of Beiyang

The Kiel Naval Academy's winter break begins two days before Christmas.

The entire winter holiday lasts for two weeks.

After that comes the spring semester, which lasts from January to June.

July to September is the summer vacation period.

However, the students at the academy are usually arranged to do internships on ships, etc.

This means that Li Jingyuan and others only attended classes for less than twenty days before they were given a holiday.

In the Western world, Christmas is considered the most important holiday.

Most of the students will go home and spend time with their families.

Those who remained were all international students.

Meanwhile, the college also specially arranged staff to organize Christmas activities.

After Christmas, Li Jingyuan invited the elites of the Beiyang Army to travel to Bolin. However, without exception, they all declined.

Unlike Li Jingyuan, who had already laid down his arms, the other Beiyang elites were thinking of taking advantage of the holiday to catch up on all the courses they had missed in the previous semester.

Seeing this, Li Jingyuan stopped trying to persuade everyone.

These elites are all future captains and even fleet commanders of the Beiyang Fleet. Their enthusiasm for learning is a good thing. This will further narrow the gap between the Beiyang Fleet and the Western naval powers.

However, Li Jingyuan's situation was different. He had to go to the Qing Dynasty's legation in Berlin to oversee the patent application. At the same time, he also had to prepare for his next plan.

In addition, there was a group of Beiyang elites studying at the Prussian War College, and he needed to go and check on them. If there were any difficulties, he also needed to resolve them as soon as possible.

In Li Jingyuan's plan, if the Beiyang Army were to form a new army, these people would be the backbone of the new Beiyang Army!

The German Empire had a dense railway network, making it very convenient to travel by train from Kiel to Berlin.

Li Jingyuan arrived in Bailin on December 28th of the fourteenth year of the Guangxu Emperor's reign.

The embassy had already given prior notice.

Although the embassy counselor, Kim Kai-ri, did not go to the station in person, he still arranged for someone to pick him up.

After arriving at the embassy by horse-drawn carriage from the train station, Kim Kai-ri was already waiting.

"Third Young Master, are you getting used to life here in Germany?" Jin Kaili asked.

"Thank you for your concern, Counselor. Everything is going quite well!" Li Jingyuan said with a smile.

Jin Kaili nodded, not dwelling on the matter further.

He also received news that Li Jingyuan was lying down at the Naval Academy.

  

This made Kim Gae-ri increasingly believe that Lee Kyung-won was just there to gain experience and prestige.

As long as he serves this man well, he will have made a contribution when Li Jingyuan returns to China in a few years. At that time, whether he stays in his current position or is transferred to another lucrative post, it shouldn't be a problem.

"By the way, Third Young Master. The patent you requested last time has been almost finalized in the German Empire. However, it's still being processed in the Gallic Empire, the British Empire, the Russian Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Kingdom of Italy."

In addition, I will send someone to the United States to apply for patents there.

Kim Kai-ri proactively reported on the progress.

Li Jingyuan nodded repeatedly: "Very good, I'll leave everything to the counselor. Once these patents are approved, I plan to establish a pharmaceutical factory in the German Empire."

Currently, I'm inclined to acquire a small pharmaceutical factory. Once the first batch of new drugs is produced, we can then further expand the market. We might even sell the patents to other countries.

"This is a brilliant idea. This new drug, which can treat bacterial infections, fills a market gap and should be very profitable."

However, Third Prince, it would be best to find a strong partner on the German Empire's mainland.

Otherwise, the entire project will definitely encounter many problems during its progress.

Jin Kaili reminded him.

Li Jingyuan nodded; he understood what Jin Kaili meant.

Even though these Western countries tout the rule of law, in reality, all sorts of unspoken rules are everywhere.

Especially since Li Jingyuan is a foreigner, without the protection of local powerful figures, he might be swallowed up without a trace.

"Thank you for the reminder, Counselor. I already have a suitable partner in mind," Li Jingyuan said.

"That would be perfect."

Third Young Master, if you need anything, I will do my best to provide assistance.

Kim Kai-ri said.

Jin Kaili was very shrewd and knew that once Li Jingyuan's pharmaceutical factory was established, it would surely make a fortune.

If possible, he could definitely join in.

After all, Li Jingyuan will definitely return to China after finishing his studies abroad, and he will need someone to help him manage his company in the German Empire.

At that time, he can recommend himself.

Li Jingyuan also realized this.

At present, the Qing Empire does not have a full-time minister to the German Empire.

Once a full-time minister is appointed, it's uncertain whether Kim Gae-ri, the counselor, will be able to continue in his position.

Perhaps by then, it will be just the right time to give him a position.

"This way, Your Excellency. You can help me register a pharmaceutical company. We can name it Dongfang (Eastern), Dongfang Pharmaceutical Factory, or Dongfang Pharmaceutical Company, either is fine."

Also, while I'm rushing to apply for patents, could you help me find a suitable small pharmaceutical company to acquire?

Li Jingyuan made the request.

"Of course, it would be my pleasure to serve you!" Kim Gae-ri's face was full of smiles.

He knew that Li Jingyuan had understood what he meant.

Therefore, he will put in even more effort in this matter going forward.

Li Jingyuan spent a few days in Bolin, where he not only visited the city's famous historical sites, but also hosted a banquet for a group of Beiyang elites who were studying at the Prussian War College. The group took the opportunity to get together and strengthen their bonds.

Afterwards, Li Jingyuan left Berlin and took a train to Hamburg.

The embassy informed him that his elder brother, Li Jingfang, who was also Li Hongzhang's adopted son, wanted to meet with him before returning to China.

Li Jingfang previously served as the counselor at the Qing Dynasty's embassy in the Japanese Empire.

This trip back to China is for the purpose of taking the imperial examination.

In another timeline, Li Jingfang failed the imperial examination.

However, the following year, under Li Hongzhang's arrangement, he was appointed as the Qing Empire's Minister to the Japanese Empire, which, in layman's terms, meant the Qing Empire's envoy to the Japanese.

With only a few years left until the First Sino-Japanese War, Li Jingyuan felt an even greater sense of urgency.

If Li Jingfang were to be appointed as the minister to the Japanese in Japan, it would be a good opportunity to learn about the situation there through his connections.

They could even use this opportunity to send more intelligence agents into Japanese territory to gather relevant intelligence.

In this way, when Li Jingyuan persuaded Li Hongzhang before the outbreak of war, he would have a reliable source of intelligence to prove that he was not talking nonsense or making subjective assumptions.