King of Beiyang

Humans are driven by desires.

The same was true for these elites of the Beiyang government.

They wanted higher status, greater power, and more wealth.

All of this is understandable and only natural.

To achieve these goals, it is understandable to try every possible means, even unscrupulous ones.

Fortunately, these elites are not old enough to be cunning and calculating like they will be decades later, and they certainly won't resort to any means necessary.

The next day, when Li Jingyuan returned to the small conference room, he discovered that he was no longer the only bald man.

Several elites from the Beiyang period also chose to shave their heads.

This includes Xie Baozhang, Zheng Rucheng, Cao Kun, Feng Guozhang, and Li Yuanhong, among others.

Li Jingyuan smiled, neither confirming nor denying it.

You have to understand that in this era, choosing to cut off your queue was a risky move.

Regardless of their motives, they made this choice, which greatly pleased Li Jingyuan.

This also means that everyone's relationship has taken another step closer.

In the following two days, other Beiyang elites, perhaps influenced by this, also cut off their queues and sported shaved heads.

For a moment, the entire conference room was filled with bald heads.

If you didn't know better, you'd think you'd wandered into a temple!

Time flies, especially when you're studying hard.

  

The elites of Beiyang Army greatly improved their German proficiency through a period of intensive study.

By the time the cruise ship arrives in the German Empire, basic conversations should be no problem.

Once you begin your studies abroad, the use of German in your studies and daily life will inevitably make your German proficiency more fluent.

This also proves that Li Jingyuan is a very competent teacher.

After a brief stop in Hong Kong, the cruise ship sailed into the vast South China Sea.

Someone suggested getting off the ship to take a look, but Li Jingyuan refused.

Although Hong Kong is currently under the control of the British Empire, the Qing Dynasty also has personnel there.

It would be too conspicuous for a bunch of bald heads to disembark.

The cruise ship also docked in Singapore for a day.

As the capital of the Straits Settlements, the former British Empire, Singapore was a very prosperous city.

Ninety percent of the residents here are overseas Chinese.

Furthermore, most of the residents here today are devoted to their motherland, unlike in later generations when people have forgotten their identity and where their ancestors came from.

As the days passed, the cruise ship, having passed through the Suez Canal and entered the Mediterranean Sea, was nearing its destination.

On this day, Li Jingyuan and several students from the naval academy were enjoying the breeze on the deck.

"This journey has truly shown me the power of the British Royal Navy! No wonder it's a world superpower. As we traveled westward, almost every maritime choke point along the way was under the control of the British Royal Navy. Royal Navy warships were everywhere!" Xie Baozhang exclaimed.

"The British Empire's Royal Navy has dominated the world's oceans for centuries. It has a deep foundation and possesses the world's most powerful naval fleet. It's simply impossible for other countries to challenge them!" Zheng Rucheng echoed.

Li Jingyuan nodded. The British Empire was indeed at its zenith.

The British Empire possesses the world's most powerful navy and controls the world's most extensive and wealthy colonies.

In contrast, the Qing Dynasty was already on the verge of falling into an abyss.

"If only the Qing navy could be this powerful one day!" Li Yuanhong said.

Several naval cadets couldn't help but laugh; they all felt that this was completely wishful thinking.

"Compared to the Royal Navy of the British Empire, the gap between us is too great. There is simply no possibility of catching up in the short term. In my opinion, we should focus our attention on the enemy that is right in front of us!" Li Jingyuan said.

"Brother Jingyuan, are you talking about the Japanese? Their few ships are no match for ours!" Wang Shaolian said, frowning.

"Yes! Two years ago, the navy visited Nagasaki, and a conflict broke out between the two sides. When our ironclad warships aimed their main guns at Nagasaki city, the Japanese immediately backed down," Xie Baozhang said.

A hint of pride flashed in the eyes of the other naval cadets.

Regardless of who was right or wrong, the Beiyang Fleet did subdue the Japanese in that conflict, which is undoubtedly something to celebrate and be proud of.

"Indeed, the Beiyang Fleet crushed the Japanese at that time. But the Japanese also hated us to the core. They practically tightened their belts to develop their navy. I heard that in order to raise enough money to buy ships, their naval commanders only ate one meal a day."

Furthermore, a large number of Japanese women were sent overseas to earn money by selling their bodies to fund the purchase of warships by their navies.

Although we may despise this approach.

But the Japanese determination is enough to raise our vigilance.

Li Jingyuan reminded him.

"If that's the case, wouldn't the Japanese be united in their efforts to develop their navy? Even the ancient King Goujian of Yue endured hardship and humiliation to achieve his goal!" Li Yuanhong exclaimed.

"If the Japanese are really so determined to retaliate against us, then they are indeed a major threat to us!" Xie Baozhang said with a serious expression.

"From the current perspective, our advantage is still quite obvious. The Japanese are simply no match for us in terms of capital warships. However, in a few years, things may be completely different," Li Jingyuan said.

The naval cadets all understood what Li Jingyuan meant.

The current Beiyang Fleet's main warships included the ironclad warships *Dingyuan* and *Zhenyuan*, the armored cruisers *Jingyuan* and *Laiyuan*, the three protected cruisers *Zhiyuan*, *Jingyuan*, and *Jiyuan*, and the ram cruisers *Chaoyong* and *Yangwei*. The coastal defense ironclad *Pingyuan*, built by the Fujian Provincial Shipyard, had just been launched and would not be commissioned until next year.

In addition, the Beiyang Fleet also had some gunboats and torpedo boats, etc.

In contrast, the current Combined Fleet only has three early ironclad warships—the Fusō, Kongō, and Hiei—and the protected cruisers Naniwa, Takachiho, and Tsukushi.

It can be said that, given the current strength of both sides, the Beiyang Fleet has an absolute advantage.

If war breaks out between the two sides, the Beiyang Fleet could completely overwhelm the Combined Fleet with its absolute power.

But the Japanese devils aren't stupid; they wouldn't start a war before they're fully prepared.

The construction of the three warships they ordered from the Gauls—the Matsushima, Itsukushima, and Hashidate—has already begun.

The protected cruiser "Yoshino" will also be several years away from entering service.

Once these warships enter service, the Japanese navy's strength will increase significantly.

In contrast, the Beiyang Fleet was severely underfunded. Furthermore, the funds intended for purchasing ships were diverted by Empress Dowager Cixi to build her garden.

With this shift in balance of power, the balance of power between the two sides is about to be reversed.

In addition, the Japanese warships were equipped with a large number of small and medium caliber rapid-fire guns.

It was inevitable that the Beiyang Fleet would be surpassed by the Japanese!