Chapter 74

The issue with the firearms was temporarily resolved, and Lin Yuan immediately went to inspect the new fleet. After much discussion, everyone agreed to name this fleet the "Ryukyu First Fleet." To maintain its cover, the Beijing warship did not announce its existence, and the area where it was moored was protected, with no outsiders allowed to enter.

As soon as Deng Shichang arrived in Ryukyu, he began training the crew. During the time before Deng Shichang arrived, the officers and crew of the Beijing warship had already started training the observation and engine room personnel. These crew members were recruited from high school and even university students in Ryukyu, who were highly patriotic and enthusiastic, and had a good foundation in mathematics and physics, so they quickly mastered the relevant skills.

Deng Shichang brought a lot of information about artillery. The artillery used by the Beiyang Fleet and the Japanese Combined Fleet were from the same lineage, designed, produced, and manufactured by the German Krupp company, so the training was not difficult.

Lin Yuan arrived at the new fleet's base and saw the new recruits training with the artillery system. Deng Shichang sat to one side, frowning, wearing Qing dynasty official attire, with a long braid that stood out. Lin Yuan smiled and said, "Mr. Deng, is there something troubling you?"

Deng Shichang forced a smile and said, "Nothing."

Lin Yuan smiled and said, "Mr. Deng, are you still troubled by that issue?"

Deng Shichang sighed and said, "Yes, I am indeed troubled by that issue." The issue, of course, referred to "the future of the Qing Dynasty."

Lin Yuan smiled and said, "Let me take you to see the Japanese warship we captured."

Deng Shichang nodded and said, "Okay." On the way, Deng Shichang couldn't help but ask, "How did you capture the Japanese warship? I've heard all sorts of rumors, including that you had the help of a divine being, and that you can use magic to destroy the Emperor's palace."

Lin Yuan laughed and said, "Well, you could say it was divine help. Advanced technology, when not understood, can seem like the magic of the gods."

Deng Shichang, only half understanding, asked again, "Why did you bring me to teach them artillery skills? Haven't you used artillery before?"

Lin Yuan, a former carrier-based aircraft pilot, indeed had not used artillery. He nodded, and Deng Shichang was surprised, exclaiming, "Aren't you also a ship captain? How can a ship captain not understand artillery! Artillery is the decisive weapon in naval battles!"

Lin Yuan thought about saying, "Actually, future naval battles won't need artillery," but considering the 19th-century people's capacity to understand, he didn't say it.

Lin Yuan took Deng Shichang aboard a Japanese warship. They entered the coal bunker, and Deng Shichang saw the coal inside gleaming with a metallic luster, knowing it was of the highest quality. Thinking of the inferior coal on the Zhiyuan, he couldn't help but sigh.

In the ammunition storage, the rows of high-explosive shells made him even more reflective. The Beiyang Fleet had not replenished its ammunition for a long time, which was why they suffered losses in the Jiaozhou Bay and the Yellow Sea battles.

Lin Yuan led him to a cabin where two disassembled shells were placed. Deng Shichang looked at the yellow powder and asked, "Is this a new type of gunpowder?"

Lin Yuan smiled and said, "Yes, according to our analysis, this gunpowder is far more powerful than the black powder used by the Beiyang Fleet. Moreover, it contains magnesium, making it extremely flammable."

Deng Shichang couldn't help but think, "Why does the small country of Japan use better coal, shells, and gunpowder than our great Qing? Their Emperor is willing to spend money, unlike us, where the censors come out whenever we want to buy weapons!"

Lin Yuan smiled and said, "These shells and gunpowder weren't bought by the Japanese; they were made by the Japanese."

Deng Shichang said, "We have the Jiangnan Arsenal and the Fuzhou Shipyard. Li Hongzhang and Zuo Zongtang dedicated their lives to these projects. Why can't we develop these things?"

Lin Yuan, knowing that Li Hongzhang and Zuo Zongtang were important leaders of the Self-Strengthening Movement, said meaningfully, "Mr. Deng, imagine two houses. One looks enormous, but the beams inside are rotten. The other looks small, but the beams are made of the best steel, making it incredibly strong. Which house do you think is better?"

Deng Shichang thought for a moment and said, "Are you saying the large house is referring to our great Qing?"

Lin Yuan smiled and said, "Mr. Deng, the beams of the great Qing are already rotten. Li Hongzhang and Zuo Zongtang, no matter how skilled, are like craftsmen who keep painting the house with the freshest, most beautiful paint but dare not replace the beams. How long do you think this house can last?"

Deng Shichang said, "Are you saying that our great Qing will ultimately fall like the previous dynasties?"

Lin Yuan said, "Who the master of a country is, the sage Mencius has already said: the people are the most important, the state comes second, and the ruler is the least important. This vast land and sea of millions of square kilometers do not belong to the Aisin Gioro family alone."

To Lin Yuan's surprise, Deng Shichang did not argue. He nodded and said, "Forget it, let's not talk about these things. Let's discuss this fleet."

Lin Yuan knew his words had deeply touched Deng Shichang, so he didn't want to continue. He said, "Alright, Mr. Deng, please speak."

Deng Shichang said, "I wonder who our fleet will face in battle?"

Lin Yuan thought for a moment and said, "Japan is one, but given the current international situation, I think it's highly likely we will face Britain, France, Germany, and Russia."

Deng Shichang said, "I see that these nine captured Japanese warships, the largest being the Hashidate, have a displacement of less than 5,000 tons and a main gun caliber of only 305 millimeters. Britain has the world's most powerful fleet. Take the Majestic-class battleships, for example, with a displacement of nearly 15,000 tons and four 343-millimeter guns! How can we possibly defeat them!"

Lin Yuan smiled and said, "As long as our tactics are appropriate, we can certainly defeat them."

Deng Shichang frowned and said, "With such a significant gap in our weapons, what tactics can we use?"

Lin Yuan said, "If we can detect them first, won't we have the upper hand in the naval battle?"

Deng Shichang said, "How can we detect them first?"

Lin Yuan pointed to the sky and said, "If we can fly in the sky, won't we be able to see them in advance?"

Deng Shichang said, "How can we fly in the sky?"

Lin Yuan continued, "Our artillery is inaccurate largely because our distance measurements are not precise enough. If we can measure the distance accurately, won't we be able to shoot more accurately? The smoke from the artillery after firing greatly affects subsequent observations. If we can observe the impact points of the shells from above the battlefield, won't we be able to correct our shooting better?"

Deng Shichang shook his head and said, "How is any of this possible?"

(Another update will be posted before 12:00 PM today. Stay tuned: Japan colludes with Western powers to attack China. See how the Beijing warship responds!)

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