King of Beiyang

"Study in Germany? And study the navy?" Li Hongzhang was surprised by Li Jingyuan's request.

Although studying abroad is no longer a novelty these days.

Indeed, the Beiyang government was sending people abroad to study.

But going to Europe is ultimately too far.

"Yes, Father. Although the Beiyang Army has established naval academies and military academies, the gap with the West is still too great," Li Jingyuan replied.

"Then why not go to the Royal Naval College in Greenwich, the British Empire? Isn't the British Royal Navy the most powerful navy right now?" Li Hongzhang asked.

Li Jingyuan nodded: "Yes, Father. The Royal Naval College, Greenwich, is indeed very strong. The British Royal Navy is also the most powerful navy in the world."

But Father, there are already quite a few people in the Beiyang Fleet who studied in the British Empire. Almost all the captains of the main warships graduated from the Fujian Naval Academy and then went to study in the British Empire.

I believe that the Beiyang Fleet should have more talented individuals who have studied abroad, rather than being comprised of only one faction!

Li Hongzhang agreed with this.

If all the high-ranking officers of the Beiyang Fleet were students who had studied in the British Empire, then this would undoubtedly have formed a faction.

If things go wrong, it might slip out of his control.

"Although the German Empire is not yet comparable to the British Empire, its development has been very rapid since its unification."

Especially after Wilhelm II ascended to the throne, he further increased investment in the navy.

Furthermore, the Beiyang Fleet also purchased a large number of warships from the German Empire. Strengthening ties with the German Empire will not harm us!

Li Jingyuan explained.

"Alright, let's go to the German Empire then! The Beiyang government should indeed send more people abroad to study and broaden their horizons; it won't hurt!" Li Hongzhang finally nodded.

Another reason is that he has already approved of Li Jingyuan's decision to abandon his studies and join the army.

Therefore, arranging for more Beiyang elites to study abroad with Li Jingyuan was undoubtedly a way to cultivate a team for Li Jingyuan.

  

When Li Jingyuan and others return after completing their studies, they will soon be able to take command of the Beiyang Fleet and the Beiyang Army Training Corps.

The Li family's control over the Beiyang Army will reach an unprecedented level.

"Father, I'll leave the matter of studying in Germany to you. I will select a group of people from the military academy and the naval academy to go to the German Empire together," Li Jingyuan said.

Li Hongzhang nodded. As the Governor-General of Zhili and Minister of Beiyang, he should have no problem handling this matter.

Two days later, Li Hongzhang went to Beijing on official business and took the opportunity to meet with the German envoy to the Qing Empire, Barland.

Barland has served as the German Empire's ambassador to the Qing Empire for more than ten years.

Furthermore, he also served concurrently as the Austro-Hungarian envoy to the Qing Empire for a long period of time.

Ambassador Barland was extremely knowledgeable about the situation in the Qing Empire and was also very aware of the immense power Li Hongzhang wielded in the country.

Although the German Empire experienced rapid development after unification.

But they were too late.

By the time they completed unification, the whole world had already been almost completely divided up.

As a result, the German Empire only managed to gain a small amount of profit.

Although the Qing Empire was corrupt and backward, it was the most populous country in the world. It was also a huge market.

With its advanced industry, the German Empire naturally hoped to access the markets of the Qing Empire.

This will greatly promote the industrial development and even the national strength of the German Empire.

At the same time, the Qing Empire, especially the Beiyang Fleet, had a considerable demand for arms, particularly warships.

The German Empire has taken a lot of business from the British Empire.

The two largest ironclad warships in the Beiyang Fleet, namely the Dingyuan and Zhenyuan, were purchased from the German Empire.

In addition, when the Beiyang Fleet purchased the "Zhiyuan" and "Jingyuan" from the British Empire last year, it also purchased the "Jingyuan" and "Laiyuan" from the German Empire.

Li Hongzhang proposed that the Beiyang government send a group of students to study in the German Empire. This included his third son.

Ambassador Barland readily agreed.

In his view, this was undoubtedly a good opportunity to win over Li Hongzhang and expand the influence of the German Empire in the Qing Empire, and of course, he could not miss it.

Ambassador Barland immediately stated that he would call home to finalize the matter and assured them that he would do everything possible to get these students into the Kiel Naval Academy and the Berlin Prussian War Academy.

These two academies can be considered the highest academies of the German Empire's navy and army.

It's not easy for the average person to get into these two military academies.

However, given Li Hongzhang's influence in the Qing Empire and the relationship between the two sides, this should not be a problem.

These were not issues in order to win over Li Hongzhang and further enhance the influence of the German Empire in the Qing Empire.

On the other side, Li Jingyuan was also selecting a list of students to study in the German Empire.

Li Jingyuan himself was preparing to go to the Kiel Naval Academy.

His classmates were elites who had graduated from or were studying at the Naval Academy, including Xie Baozhang, Zheng Rucheng, Wang Shaolian, Wu Guangjian, Chen Duheng, Zheng Lun, Zeng Zhaolin, Rao Huaiwen, Jiang Cheng, and Li Yuanhong.

That's right, the first president was also a graduate of the Beiyang Naval Academy.

Many of these trainees have already graduated. But in another timeline, these people will all become renowned figures in the navy.

The military academy had even more elites, including Duan Qirui, Feng Guozhang, Wang Shizhen, Liang Huadian, Cao Kun, Wu Dingyuan, Shang Dequan, Kong Qingtang, Teng Yuzao, Wang Zhanyuan, Zu Shengwu, Zhang Xingzu, and Wang Chengchuan.

Among them, the first four were known as the Four Heroes of Beiyang.

The reason why only the "Three Heroes of Beiyang" are mentioned in later generations is because Liang Huadian drowned during a military exercise. Otherwise, the "Three Heroes of Beiyang" would have been the "Four Heroes of Beiyang."

In this time and space, everything changed because of Li Jingyuan's appearance.

Looking at the list in his hand, Li Jingyuan was greatly encouraged.

If he were to bring all these elites of the Beiyang Army under his command, then the entire Beiyang Group, including both the navy and the army, would be under his control.

By then, the Beiyang Army will inevitably be able to transform into the most powerful military group in the Qing Empire.

Even the Qing Dynasty court couldn't do anything to them.

After all, since ancient times, whoever has guns is king!

More importantly, the outcome of the Sino-Japanese War might be changed!