Gordon smiled awkwardly, "It's not that exaggerated. How big is the hole that can drive a warship? You underestimate the Royal Navy's reconnaissance capabilities!"
"I think the biggest role of this kind of shipyard in the mountain is to strengthen the defense. After all, no matter how powerful the artillery is, it can't fight against the mountain. The concealment function you mentioned is really a bit...fantasy!"
Deng Shichang didn't want to argue with Gordon. He didn't know what was behind the curtain. Anyway, he could vaguely feel the mystery and danger.
Arrogant British people like Gordon will eventually suffer big losses because of their underestimation of the enemy. He will never guess the secret behind this project!
While the two were talking, there were chaotic footsteps on the pier. The captain of the Cold Wind and the commander of the military base had already rushed over with a group of people. The merchant ship captain hurried to greet them.
A group of people were having a tense meeting on the pier. Deng Shichang and the other international students subconsciously prepared to get off the boat to have a look, but Gordon held him back.
"You can't go! You absolutely can't get off the ship. It will be different if you get off the ship! Since ancient times, warships have been the floating territory of a country. In fact, the same goes for ships flying the national flag!"
"Now that you are on a British ship, you can get British diplomatic protection! They don't dare to force the ship to rob people!"
"But if you go down and step on Chinese territory, then no matter how they deal with you, we will have nothing to do, not even diplomatic negotiations!"
"Just wait and see what happens. Trust me, there won't be any problems...because the Chinese will never dare to turn against our British Empire!"
Everyone was watching from a high position at the deck railing. They could only faintly hear some arguments. At first, the British captain was arrogant and had a temper. As a result, the more he negotiated, the more he became sweaty. He didn't know what the Chinese were doing. What a threat.
Twenty minutes later, the British captain could only bow his head. He began to sign and fingerprint the Chinese folder. It took ten minutes to sign the thick pile.
By the time the captain returned to the deck and gave the order to set sail, it was already bright!
Gordon asked, "What happened? Did the Chinese agree to release him?"
"Oh God! These Chinese are threatening me and actually want to prosecute me for smuggling... Of course I'm not afraid, but the threats they have later make me don't know how to deal with it..."
"I don't know how they did it. They actually knew our true purpose. He knew that I was carrying military orders from the government... If there is a delay, military law will be engaged!"
"If I don't sign, they will detain our ship for a long time, making it impossible for these goods, including you and the international students, to reach their destination..."
"Oh God! If I fail to complete my mission, the military will shoot me and I will go to court-martial!"
"So you just signed? Damn it, you let these Chinese people deceive you. They are used to providing these written evidences... He just wants you to voluntarily admit to the crime of smuggling arms. If you sign and admit it, it will be proof in the future!"
"You are too cowardly. You are making our empire very passive!"
The captain didn't dare to say anything. He secretly thought to himself that you are a lord and don't be afraid. I am just an ordinary captain. I took this mission because of the military's high salary. If I can't complete it, how can I withstand the military's status? Fang’s suppression?
After being reprimanded, the captain finally ordered the crew to sail the ship, but Deng Shichang and others in the cabin were all dumbfounded at this moment, as if struck by lightning.
There are only 18 people in total returning to China this time. It is impossible for all the more than 100 naval students sent by the Qing Dynasty to come back at once. Deng Shichang and others were the first batch to go, and now their studies have almost been completed.
When they return to China, they can help Li Hongzhang with some preparatory work!
The remaining trainees will return to China in batches, and the last few batches will come back with the warships ordered by Britain. It will take three years for the Qing Dynasty's navy to become an army.
But no matter what, these first batch of returnees will be the most valued by Li Hongzhang, because they are the first veterans to build the structure and the mainstay of the future navy.
It was this group of high-quality elites who were gathered in the cabin at the moment and locked the door. They were all dumbfounded!
"This...how did these things come in?" Sa Zhenbing pointed at a pile of pamphlets on the table, his fingers trembling!
This is a batch of very sinful brochures in the eyes of the Manchus. This is an open olive branch from the Chinese stormtroopers!
'Expelling the Tartars and restoring China is the unswerving goal of the Chinese people. The stormtroopers are the sharpest bayonets of this strategy and complete the most arduous task! '
'Join the stormtroopers, join the embrace of the Chinese, you are all sons of the Han family, why should you be loyal to the Tartars? '
'The deep blue ocean strategy always belongs to the head of state and the Chinese nation... The Manchu and Qing Tatars have no idea how to implement a century-old naval strategy! '
'Under the command of the Tartars, your talents will never be reused, and what awaits you is destined to be failure again and again! '
'Why do you want to work with those Tartars who have a blood feud with my Han family? Have you forgotten the massacre in Yangzhou on the third day of Jiading? Have you forgotten the order to shave your head? '
'Do you really want your descendants to have a pig's tail dragging on their backs? '
'wake! wake! Join the Chinese, join the stormtroopers! Let's work together to restore a bright future to the land of China! '
The words on this pamphlet were shocking, but the ink printed on them was as dazzling as if it had been stained with blood. Deng Shichang and others felt as if their hearts were on fire.
'Gentlemen! Looking at the world today, where is the slavery system? The Eight Banners system of the Tartars is the worst variant of human slavery. It needs to be changed! It must be overthrown! '
"What should we do? What should we do! When we were in London, many people came to lobby us. Now that we have returned to China, these people come directly to our door!"
"Haha... what should we do? What else can we do? No matter what we think in our hearts, our parents and relatives are all in our hometown after all. Do we really want to rebel against the court?"
"How can we protect the lives of our loved ones then? Will the imperial court take them as hostages? Besides, if we really defect to the Chinese people, will the Confucian scholars in the world be so sharp?"
In fact, everyone knows that what is written in this booklet is true, but what is the use of truth?
His relatives were the hostages of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and he was raised by Confucianists who were loyal to the emperor and served the country. It was really difficult for him to rebel immediately.
There is even a subtle emotion in my heart. This Chinese family has now grown up and has deep roots. I can't become a senior official by joining them.
If he stayed in the Manchu Qing Dynasty, he would still be the number one man in the navy and a veteran!
I would rather have a chicken head than a phoenix tail! Who doesn’t want to be the boss?
