1890 King of Southeast Asia

Hanyeping Iron and Steel Plant, originally born based on the Qing Empire Railway Plan, is also the first large-scale steel plant on this land, and can be regarded as an important milestone in industrialization.

However, such a milestone steel plant was sold to Nanhua at a low price.

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Lin Pingzhi arrived at the rolling mill under the steel plant today. Today is an important day.

"Director Lin, I am glad to have fulfilled my mission!" Wu Jian, the director of the rolling mill, excitedly grabbed Lin Pingzhi's hand.

Lin Pingzhi smiled and patted his hand without speaking.

Wu Jian, an outstanding graduate of the University of Sheffield, is the first local steel engineer in the Qing Empire.

When he returned to China in 1908, the first phase of the Hanyeping Iron and Steel Plant was in progress. Lin Pingzhi arranged for him to go to various factories for training. After the completion of the first phase of the transformation, he presided over the production work of the rolling mill.

In April 1909, the heavy artillery workshop of the Hanyeping Gun Factory was completed. The heavy artillery production workshop had two 3,000-ton hydraulic presses, which could be used to forge barrel blanks for various artillery below the 203 mm short-barreled howitzer.

Wu Jian was selected as the head of the heavy artillery workshop because of his identity (Chinese) and technology (engineer).

"Let me go and see what our results are?" Lin Pingzhi patted Wu Jian's hand.

Wu Jian realized that he was too excited, and quickly withdrew his hand and tidied his clothes.

"Let's get started!" Wu Jian sorted out his emotions and said to the secretary with high morale.

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The secretary waved to the distance, and the roar of the diesel engine sounded.

The small train pulled a cannon and slowly drove out of the workshop.

The barrel had not been painted yet, and it reflected a dazzling light under the sun.

There is an open space outside the factory. The cannon was lifted by a crane and placed on a fixed gun mount for testing. The direction facing the muzzle is where the slag is dumped.

"According to the production parameters given by the general factory, we have produced this heavy cannon with a caliber of 152 mm, a barrel length of 42 times the caliber, a weight of twelve tons, and a firing capacity of 57 kg heavy shells. The muzzle velocity and range have not yet completed the final test." Wu Jian touched his sparse hair and explained to Lin Pingzhi.

"Twelve tons... plus the launch platform, I'm afraid it will increase by a few tons? Not suitable for field operations..." Lin Pingzhi thought for a while and looked towards the river.

The army rarely has such long-barreled heavy artillery. Even for cannons, most of them are 30 times the caliber, which is inconvenient to march, and the army does not like it.

The navy and coastal artillery have a large number of long-barreled artillery, and they also fire this kind of heavy shells instead of 43 to 47 kg high-explosive shells.

Boom!

Just when Lin Pingzhi was distracted, the cannon had fired the first shot.

The shells accurately hit the target area with a diameter of 30 meters, proving the accuracy of this gun.

It's not over yet, more tests are needed. Lin Pingzhi listened to the artillery fire for an afternoon. After each artillery fire, someone would come forward to check, so it took a long time.

"The barrel fired 110 times in a row. According to the wear condition of the barrel, we think the barrel life is about 300 rounds. For the sake of safety, the scrap cycle is 250 rounds.

After many measurements, the muzzle velocity is 6 meters per second, the maximum range is expected to be 19 kilometers, and the effective range is 11.5 kilometers." In the evening, Wu Jian came to report the final results of those things.

"Very good! This has reached the world's advanced level. This gun is the first gun produced by Hanyeping. It has historical significance and must be well preserved.

By the way, how much does this gun cost?" Lin Pingzhi's mouth curled up, and the plan finally had substantial results.

"The data comes from the main factory. Our R\u0026D cost is very low. The current cost of a single gun is about 16,000 taels of silver, and the gun carriage is about 20,000 taels. But this is an unfamiliar situation. Within three months, I am confident that it can be reduced to 15,000 taels." Wu Jian took out the cost accounting table.

"I will sort these out and send them to the Ministry of Industry, and ask for your credit by the way." Lin Pingzhi nodded. This cost is acceptable.

After all, it is a newly opened factory. The various materials or time waste caused by the unskilled workers have increased the cost.

...

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Hanyeping Iron and Steel Plant does not rely on coal in the front and iron in the back.

Liu Yiming still chose this place as a key construction target, and he valued one point-transportation.

Located in the central part of the Qing Empire, it is a thoroughfare for nine provinces and close to the Yangtze River for convenient water transportation. This is the best supply base when entering Sichuan from the west.

The Pinghan Railway connects to the Yangtze River from here. Controlling this place is equivalent to blocking the blood circulation of the Qing Empire. Together with Jinling, Shanghai, etc., Liu Yiming's plan is slowly becoming a reality.

The barrel weighs 12 tons, and the total weight is close to 18 tons. The heavy cannon is a burden for the field army and a nightmare for logistics.

But this thing only needs to build a few guns on the riverside to radiate the entire three towns. After all, its maximum range reaches 19 kilometers.

As for accuracy, didn't the Qing Empire soldiers surrender when they heard the cannon?

…………

At the end of June, the news that the Hanyeping Iron and Steel Plant tested large-caliber cannons reached Lord Yuan and Zaifeng.

"Have you confirmed the authenticity of the photo?" Lord Yuan drank the best bird's nest and held a black and white photo in his hand.

From this photo, the photographer was not very far from the cannon. Although the muzzle could not be seen due to the angle, the workers who were carrying the shells could be seen, judging the caliber based on the size of the shells.

"I am incompetent and cannot confirm the authenticity of the photo for the time being." Yang Du bowed.

"Oh? Why?" Lord Yuan looked at Yang Du curiously.

After the court session today, he saw Yang Du waiting for him in the lobby. At that time, Yang Du was walking around in the lobby, and his expression was sometimes excited and sometimes entangled.

This made Lord Yuan very curious, after all, he had not seen Yang Du so excited for a long time.

Who knew that just when Lord Yuan was about to greet him, Yang Du took out a photo and told him something that moved him.

"Hanyeping is suspected to be able to manufacture heavy artillery!"

Lord Yuan was moved for a moment, and then suppressed the slight throbbing in his heart.

Hanyeping belongs to Nanhua. Not only can he not afford to offend, but Nanhua is also his biggest supporter. Without Nanhua, what will happen to Beiyang's weapons and equipment and so many loans?

"It was the Japanese envoy, Mr. Ijuin Hikochi. Last night, he hurriedly found me, handed me this photo, and said..." Yang Du kept it a secret, trying to deliberately lure Lord Yuan.

"Japanese? That makes sense." Lord Yuan nodded and fell into his own world.

After a while...

"They said..." Yang Du saw that Lord Yuan was slow to speak, hesitated for a while and finally spoke out, but was interrupted by Lord Yuan.

"Let me suppress this factory, by legal means?"

"Then support me to seize... If they are bolder, they should support the Japanese to finance the Hanyeping project."

"The condition is that they will support me on the issue of factory management, and then cooperate with us to fight against Nanhua together?"

"Or give me money, an amount that cannot be refused and cannot be exchanged?"

"For example, transfer of debts, and interest-free loans to us? Concessions in border frictions?"

Ping-ling-pang-clang~~

Lord Yuan became more and more angry, but his expression remained smiling until he thought of the recent border frictions.

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How many days has the ceasefire just ended? One hundred days? Frictions on the border have arisen again.

Japanese immigrants forcibly drove out the Qing Empire people in the border area, occupied their property, and killed people indiscriminately.

Xu Juren asked Zaixun for money and guns but was rejected——Zaixun was still waiting to arm more "direct" forces. Xu Juren was from the Beiyang faction, so how could Zaixun give them?

(Zaixun was the Minister of the Army, and Xu Juren directly contacted the Army Department when he established a new army.)

The three provinces were excited. The Qing Empire could turn a blind eye, but Xu Juren, who was educated in traditional Confucianism, could not turn a blind eye. He immediately "placed an order" with Mr. Yuan.

The notice of the three provinces to establish a new army had just been posted, and the recruitment office was crowded with men from the three provinces.

"Is he a fool or am I a fool?" After venting, Mr. Yuan suddenly felt something was wrong.

He was very familiar with the Japanese, especially familiar with them. Although he didn't have much vision, he was not stupid to this extent.

He couldn't agree to this matter, otherwise he would offend Nanhua. After losing Nanhua's support, the next time Japan came, Beiyang might not be able to defend it.

"Xizi, who knows that you received this photo? Who knows that you came to me?" Yuan Shikai asked in a cold voice.

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"Except for one of my old servants, no one should know... Zaifeng? No, Zaifeng is cautious now, Zaixun! Army! The 11th Regiment!" Yang Du widened his eyes.

He was used as a gun, and he was used as a gun by the Japanese!

"Jia Shun! Check who has gone out of the yard since Xizi came. No one is allowed to go out from now on!" Lord Yuan had a dark face.

"I hope Zaixun won't be so stupid."

"Sir, now that things have come to this, the Japanese will not leave any loopholes. Zaixun must have a reason to be impulsive. Maybe he has already taken action. Let's notify Nanhua first!" Yang Du also calmed down.

"Yes! And who is the commander of the 21st Mixed Brigade?" Lord Yuan clenched his fists. He knew the temper of the Japanese best. Zaixun must know it before himself.

"The deputy general of the Central Army of the Eighth Regiment, Li Songqing, I know him. He has a bodhisattva temper and is best at keeping himself safe, but he has no problem with national justice." Yang Du breathed a sigh of relief. This is the best way.

"Immediately inform Li Songqing of this matter, and send it urgently. You go and do it yourself. I will go to find Zaifeng to see if I can stop this matter. I hope Zaifeng is not pretending during this period." Lord Yuan got up and walked out, and Yang Du followed him.

"Master, we have found out that it is Liu Jingzhu from my hometown." Jia Shun just walked out.

"Who did he contact?" Lord Yuan paused.

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He knew this man, who was also from Xiangcheng. His father was a soldier under him, who died in Korea, leaving behind orphans and widows.

He specially brought the orphans of these old brothers here, which was considered to be treated with care. Those who were not capable could also work in Yuan Mansion.

"A Han Chinese bondservant in Ning Wang Mansion... This breaks the rules." Jia Shun lowered his head.

"Does he have a child?"

"Yes, he is three years old and is a son."

"Send his son back to Xiangcheng and treat him well." Lord Yuan left without looking back,