At the end of 1874, the Great Qing Ocean Railway and the Beijing-Hankou Railway were listed on the stock market. By the end of 1875, the preparation plan for the Great Clear Navy was also forced to be brought to the court for everyone to discuss!
Just the idea of establishing a navy was actually delayed for a whole year! In this year, the keels of the warships ordered by Li Hongzhang at the British shipyard were laid!
After receiving the emperor's telegram, Li Hongzhang did not dare to neglect, and rushed to the capital with Sheng Xuanhuai and several close confidants!
"I heard that the railway from the capital to Baoding has begun operation?" Li Hongzhang said loudly on the horse, "Go straight to Baoding, let's take the train to the capital!"
"Commander...Now not only the railway from Beijing to Baoding has been opened, but the railway from Xinzheng to Zhengzhou has also begun to open to traffic..."
"The train from Hankou to Xiaogan has also begun to pull goods... This is a really good way to build the railway in sections, and the efficiency is very high!"
"Can it be lower? Your Majesty is competing with the head of state. He insists on building the Beijing-Hankow Railway within four years, and strives to connect it with the railway network along the river built by the Chinese in four years..."
"Four years have passed, and one year has passed... It must be opened to traffic in 1878. This is His Majesty's death order. Who dares to neglect it?"
Sheng Xuanhuai moved his worn thigh slightly and struggled to continue riding. "Commander...is there any shadow about the Yangtze River Railway Bridge?"
"Yes...these Chinese engineers are really clever. They chose a site between Guishan Mountain and Snake Mountain...the shortest distance between the river and water here is more than 1,100 meters, which is a suitable place for building a bridge!"
"Ouch... Do you really want to cultivate it?" Sheng Xuanhuai and others were all shocked. This news is still top secret in the imperial court, and no civil and military officials know about it. Only officials of Li Hongzhang's level can know the details!
Sheng Xuanhuai clicked his tongue and exclaimed, "How is this possible? How is this possible..."
"What's impossible? Xiao Letian worked hard to build this iron bridge! The bridge piers are hidden deep under the water, making it difficult to repair. They plan to use caissons to build dams!"
"It is to use caissons and cement to sink piece by piece into the Yangtze River to form a circular dam...and then pump away the river water in the middle..."
"The Chinese are currently bidding to purchase quick-setting cement in Germany, the United States, and the United Kingdom, which is specially used to drain water and repair leaks!"
"As long as the caisson dam is repaired and it stops leaking, isn't it easy to lay the foundation and repair the bridge piers?"
"Foreigners are so clever! You have to admit... The United States and Germany have developed light steel materials, and Xiao Letian is also preparing to import them in large quantities this time!"
"Light steel? What is this..." People asked in confusion.
"Light steel...well...it's simple to say, it is to reduce the weight while maintaining the same strength! Do you think it is magical or not?"
"If one kilogram of steel plate can carry the weight, if it is replaced by light steel, there will be no problem... It will directly reduce the weight of the bridge and improve the safety..."
When Sheng Xuanhuai heard the details of the bridge repair, he forgot that his thighs were worn out and he didn't even know the pain. He kept thinking in his mind, "Tsk, tsk... So calculated, 60-70% of the materials for building the bridge will have to be imported! How much does it cost?" silver?"
"Then what can we do? Who allows the foreign devils to have more new materials, and who prevents us from producing them? But I know Xiao Letian, he will not do business at a loss!"
"In the future, there will definitely be tolls on the Yangtze River Iron Bridge. Anyone who crosses the bridge will have to pay... The wool comes from the sheep, and they are very thieves!"
Sheng Xuanhuai was stunned, "Huh? Let the head of state collect money? So... Long live the Lord is not going to build the bridge?"
"It's not that Long Live Master has stopped cultivating, but that Long Live Master has also backed down..." Li Hongzhang sighed, "The risk is too great. Long Live Master has no confidence in this matter. Once the cultivation fails, you will lose face!"
Now everyone understands that in this era, building a bridge on the Yellow River is already a very science fiction dream, but building a bridge on the Yangtze River, 99% of people think it is an impossible task!
After all, the level of science and technology in the world today is here, and the imagination of the people of the Qing Dynasty has also been constrained. They simply cannot believe that there is such a miracle!
Emperor Tongzhi dared to shoulder the responsibility of building an iron bridge on the Yellow River because engineers from the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, and the Chinese had given him assurances.
The sedimentation of the Yellow River has formed a very hard sedimentary layer along the Zhengzhou line. The foundation is very solid, and the Yellow River water will almost dry up during the dry season. It is very difficult to build the bridge!
It is precisely because of the guarantee of engineers from many countries that Zaichun dares to take this risk and bear this responsibility!
But the Yangtze River is different. The amount of water in the Yangtze River during the dry season is unimaginable in the Yellow River during the wet season. The geological conditions below the river are also unknown, and the deep and rapid water is very dangerous!
After inspections, European and American engineers all said that it was difficult, not that it couldn't be built but that the risks were too high!
This time Chun Chun flinched. After all, he was still an emperor with weak shoulders. Of course he was willing to take command and take responsibility in a battle that must be won.
But what if the Yangtze River Bridge is messed up in my own hands? There are countless people in the court who oppose him. Those conservatives are looking for trouble for him. Once the bridge is not completed and a few people die in the middle, it will be besieged by the ministers!
After much deliberation, I decided to let the master take the blame. The first person responsible for building the Yangtze River Bridge fell on Xiao Letian, while Zai Chun just secretly participated in it and spent some money!
Sheng Xuanhuai felt uncomfortable in his heart. He thought to himself, "The greater the risk, the greater the reward... Building a bridge over the Yangtze River, once successful, will be very inspiring to the people's morale!"
"How can we give it to the Chinese? If Xiao Letian succeeds... the image of the Chinese in the hearts of the people will be greatly improved!"
"To create an image that is invincible in military affairs and omnipotent in domestic affairs... Oh my God, will the Qing Dynasty still need it in the future?"
Li Hongzhang seemed to have guessed his men's thoughts and glanced at Sheng Xuanhuai, "He, Xiao Letian, is also arrogant! Once the Yangtze River bridge construction fails, he will be embarrassed in front of all the people!"
"Okay... let's not worry about their life and death, hurry up and go to Beijing. The Great Qing Navy will be available this year, hahaha!"
Angry as a dragon, the group of people ran straight towards Baoding Mansion!
Xiaoxing stayed overnight, and Li Hongzhang arrived in Baoding from Shandong Kuaima in five days. By this time, the train station in the western suburbs of Baoding City had been opened to traffic, and a private market had spontaneously formed around the busy station!
Zuo Zongtang knew the news of Li Hongzhang's arrival in advance and greeted his old friend outside the city early. The two met politely, and Zuo Zongtang invited him to the city.
Li Hongzhang shook his head, "You and I, please don't do this nonsense! We have been friends for half a lifetime, and we have had good times and good fights, and no one knows who is who!"
"I'll take the next train and go directly to the capital... I'll see you and just ask you a question!"
"Are you willing to let me use those talents who have studied abroad?"
