Chapter 50: Release

  The sun was shining brightly, the wind was gentle and the Bund of Yangpu District was bustling with activity. A large British Commonwealth cargo ship was docked at the pier, where workers were busily loading cargo, clearly preparing for a long voyage. Through Mr. Charlie, the manager of the EWO Shipping Company, Deng Zixuan had finalized arrangements for 10 children from the Deng family to study in Britain. The children from the Deng family were already proficient in English and had no problem with their basic knowledge.

  To cultivate scientific and technological talents, they must be sent to the Western world for further study, receive in-depth education, and experience the industrial civilization of various Western countries. They should receive systematic education in natural science, mechanical manufacturing, chemical engineering, and medicine within 6 years. During this period, they will conduct in-depth research and internships in scientific research institutions and factories. Deng Zixuan not only wanted to rebel but also to reserve at least some scientific and technological talents for the future Republic, which was his original intention in creating the Deng family class.

  Wan'er's eyes were slightly red and swollen as she helped the children who were about to leave on a long journey tidy up their clothes, repeatedly reminding them of things. Having spent time together morning and night, Wan'er had developed feelings for the children and almost treated them like her own. The children also cried bitterly, reluctant to part with her. "Deng Yun! You're the oldest, take care of them when you get there, write letters often, don't make us worry." After finishing speaking, Wan'er's tears flowed out.

  "Master's wife, don't worry! I will take good care of the younger brothers. Master's wife! We are reluctant to leave you." After finishing speaking, Deng Yun's child choked with sobs. The children who were about to set out on a journey spontaneously knelt down and Deng Yun said: "Sir! As we are about to part ways, do you have any further instructions?" Deng Zixuan's face was firm and resolute: "I've told you everything that needs to be said. One sentence: study hard, strive upwards, and serve the country in the future. Remember your mission."

  "Don't worry, sir! We will not disappoint your hopes. We will remember your teachings and follow you forever!" The children chorused in unison. As the whistle blew, the children bowed and Wanyu began to sob again. At this moment, the children who came to see them off rushed forward to hug each other, reluctant to part with tears streaming down their faces. When the cargo ship sailed away from the dock, Deng Zixuan waved his arm, his eyes slightly moist.

  "Mr. Deng has great vision, after these kids return in the future, your business empire will take off and any competitors will be left in the dust!" said Charlie sincerely as he came to see them off. "Taking precautions before it rains is a necessary move. Chinese people have always had a sense of crisis. If you want to develop further, you can't do otherwise!" Deng Zixuan couldn't help but laugh awkwardly, he couldn't let Charlie guess his true intentions.

  Back in the government office, Deng Zixuan sat in the living room, with his wife Wanyi sitting beside him. The remaining 10 children stood quietly on one side, ranging from 16 to 15 years old. They all grew up to be half-grown young men, each with a bright and handsome appearance. "Deng Xiang!" "Yes! What are your orders, sir?" A slightly thin but tall young man stepped forward. "Deng Xiang, your English is the best, I plan to let you serve as an interpreter for Shipbuilding Minister Shen Baozhen!"

  "Master! I don't want to leave you!" Deng hesitated. "Nonsense! Now it's time for you to do things for me, have you forgotten how I trained you?" "The student is foolish, please enlighten me, Master." "You going to Shen's side is not just about being an interpreter, I want you to report every move of Shen's to me at all times, I want to grasp the movements of the Qing Navy at all times, do you understand?" "Understood, Master, I'm going as a mole!"

  "You can understand it that way. Right now, Mr. Shen is busy in Taiwan and with Xiao Ri this week. Tomorrow morning there's a cargo ship heading to Taiwan, you'll go with the ship. I've already discussed it with Mr. Shen, he urged me to send someone over."

  "Sir, I won't disappoint your expectations!" Deng Xiang nodded.

  "Deng Yu!"

  "Yes! Please give your orders, sir!"

  A tall and fair-skinned young man stepped forward.

  "Your English is also very good, from today on you'll accompany me. After a while, I'll send someone else to replace you."

  "Yes, sir, student obeys!"

  "Deng Ba, Deng Hua!" "Yes! Please instruct us, sir!" Two sturdy young men stepped forward. "You two have a talent for chemistry, starting tomorrow you will go to the Yihe Match Factory's acid production workshop, where there is a laboratory. Your task is to produce nitric acid for me. I've told you that nitric acid is a raw material for manufacturing new-style gunpowder, its power must surpass that of black gunpowder. Don't rush, first start by studying the acid production process and report back to me every day after returning." "Yes, sir! We will do our best not to disappoint your expectations."

  "Deng Qiang, Deng Shan, Deng Bing, Deng Wu, Deng Jun, Deng Min!" "Yes! Please instruct us, sir?" Deng Qiang's height had already surpassed that of Deng Zixuan, but he looked a bit thin. "Deng Qiang, you are in charge. From today on, all of you will focus on researching new firearms and artillery with all your might. You several have a talent for mechanical manufacturing, so continue to practice at the machine factory. I require that you master the operation of machine tools and understand the principles of machine tools and steel properties. In my mansion, I have prepared rifles and a cannon for you. Every day after returning, you must carefully study the principles of firearms and artillery. Additionally, we will also start researching bullets and shells. In the future, we not only want to manufacture advanced guns and cannons but also powerful ammunition, do you understand?" "Yes, sir! We will definitely work hard!" Deng Qiang replied on behalf of the others, who were all excited.

  The defense industry is a comprehensive system, and it's unrealistic to expect results in the short term. One must understand that there is a huge gap between ideas and reality, and progress can only be made through gradual accumulation. Deng Zixuan knows what standards to aim for, but the children don't know the standards yet. However, they can follow the path guided by Deng Zixuan and do it with meticulous care, which is especially important. Moreover, the children have a solid theoretical foundation, which is their greatest advantage.

  A few days later, at the Yu Ren Academy, Deng Zixuan's figure appeared in the academy. "How is it going? Is the personnel selection complete?" Deng Zixuan asked as soon as they met. Chen Jintang said: "With Fan Tao, the captain of the 9th small team, as the leader, we have selected 50 excellent team members who are ready to depart at any time." Deng Zixuan nodded and said: "Have them gather in the cafeteria!" The few people then headed towards the cafeteria.

  In no time, 50 students knelt down in front of Deng Zixuan, and Fan Tao shouted loudly: "Pay respects to the master, please instruct us!" Deng Zixuan smiled and said: "Everyone, please get up. The other day, Shiping Shen Baozhen established the first Qing Navy School in Fuzhou. To defend our maritime borders, I have decided to let you 50 people take the exam for the Navy School to make a name for yourselves." "Thank you, master, for your kindness!" The students chorused in unison.

  "I've already greeted Lord Shen, you will be going to the naval academy for the necessary exams, with your level and quality, there's no problem with being admitted. I believe you won't disappoint my expectations, soon driving warships across the vast ocean, guarding the broad coastline, I hope to see your heroic appearance soon."

  "Lord, we definitely won't disappoint!" Fan Tao replied on behalf of everyone.

  "You may have joined the Qing Navy, but you are still my students, from now on each one of you will receive 1-2 silver coins as a reward every month. If you are promoted to officers, the reward will be doubled."

  "The lord's kindness, never forgotten for life!" The crowd echoed in unison again. In three years' time, this group of young people had completely acquired the momentum of soldiers. Chen Jintang sternly said: "You must remember the lord's teachings, from now on, no matter where you are, once the lord summons you, immediately return and understand?" "Understood! The lord summons, unconditionally obedient!" This group of young people was thoroughly brainwashed, and in their hearts, Deng Zixuan had become a sacred master. Three years of teaching and harsh military training had instilled in them the habit of absolute obedience.

  On the same day, 50 people were sent to Songjiang Pier and boarded a steam cargo ship bound for Fuzhou. That night, Deng Zixuan and his brothers discussed: "Everyone, our military martial arts have formed a foundation, next step is that the first batch of students will go to Jinhu Island for a year of more brutal training. In addition, we will establish an artillery unit on Jinhu Island, cultivate our own gunners and artillery commanders, and Cold Yifei will be in charge of the training on Jinhu Island."

  "Obey orders!" Leng Yifei stood up to receive the order. "Bai Sheng!" "Yes!" Bai Sheng stood up. "You will lead 10 instructors to Guangzhou. Currently, Pei Gejian has already set up a school on Huangpu Island in Guangzhou City, named Huangpu Academy. The academy has recruited 200 students. This year, the 300 people recruited by Yuren Academy will all be taken to Guangzhou." "Yes! Obey orders!"

  Deng Zixuan is infatuated with Huangpu Island, mainly due to the influence of the Huangpu Military Academy on later generations. Deng Zixuan wants to borrow the spirit of Huangpu Island to build a standardized military academy. In the future, he wants to make Huangpu and Shanghai "military academies" form a north-south pattern, flying together in tandem.

  In the following days, new students began to go to Guangzhou in batches, and the first batch of students also started to move to Jinhu Island. Deng Zixuan and Chen Jintang discussed: "Brother Chen, I may be running around in the future and rarely return to the villa. You will take charge of the school's affairs outside, and other matters in the villa will be handed over to you for management." Chen Jintang nodded: "Mr. Deng, it has developed so rapidly in just a few years, it is really gratifying. Don't worry! The villa here will be left to me." "I heard that there is a talented military strategist in Baitu Village, why don't you invite him to come and practice?"

  "You're talking about Song, no wonder this kid is familiar with Sun Tzu's Art of War, he can deploy troops and arrange formations in a coherent manner, he's got potential." Chen Jintang said with a smile. "That's just empty talk on paper, it's useless without any practical application. He must undergo training, learn modern military theory and receive military training, only then can we assess his abilities and see if he's suitable for the task." "Alright! I'll send someone to bring him over."

  The next day, another farewell scene was staged at the Songjiang dock. "Miss! This time we really parted ways, I don't know when we'll meet again." Biying held Wan'er's hand and cried, a maid holding her child also in sorrow, apparently Biying had become a mother. Danxia's eyes were also red with reluctance to part. "Biying, follow your husband! There is no banquet that doesn't disperse. Your man is going to do great things, you should take care of the family matters well, don't let him be distracted."

  "Biyin, we've never been apart before, I'll miss you!" said Danxia, who was pregnant with a big belly at this time. "I will also miss you." Wanyi held back her sadness and continued to comfort Biyin. Meanwhile, Deng Zixuan bid farewell to the 10 instructors one by one and distributed the teaching materials he had written to them. These 10 instructors were all older in age and had been specially selected by Deng Zixuan, and they had temporarily played the role of instructors in the school, undergone assessment, and now they were fully capable of taking on the responsibilities of an instructor.

  They are about to board the ship, Deng Zixuan pulled Bai Sheng's hand and said: "Bai brother, your task is very heavy, you have to build Huangpu Academy within two years and make it a scale. Two years later I will give you an even more arduous task, remember that the south is where we will make great achievements in the future. When we meet again, it will be when we raise our great flag." "Sir! May that day come soon," Bai Sheng said with a solemn expression, kneeling on one knee to bid farewell.

  "Brother! Wish you a smooth journey!" Chen Jintang stepped forward and hugged Bai Sheng. As he saw the cargo ship depart, Deng Zixuan's bright eyes turned to Chen Jintang. With age, Deng Zixuan had even more of an air of royalty about him. Due to his daily physical training, Deng Zixuan's physique had become much stronger, with a hint of majesty added to it. "Mr. Deng! I'm going back now, do you have any instructions?" Chen Jintang asked.

  "That's all, in two days I'll go to Jinhu Island for a while and try to get our artillery up. I've purchased two large cannons and shells through Charlie, which have already been transported to the island." Deng Zixuan said, his eyes gazing out at the departing cargo ship, a surge of heroic passion rising in his heart.