Chapter 29: The Mischievous Girl

  It's not Zhou Xunzhang's fault, it's all Mianyi's own doing. She was living a comfortable life in the palace, but she had to come to the Tianjin Military Academy, where everyone is rough and tumble. As a delicate and refined princess, how could she possibly fit in?

  It turned out that Min Xiu relied on the old lady's support, and her courage grew bigger and bigger. At first, she just played with small things like bicycles and cameras, but later on, she played bigger and bigger, and when she got bored with small things, she actually started playing with cruisers!

  In the tenth year of Guangxu, the Qing-French War ended. Although the Qing Empire won a land victory, it suffered a great defeat at sea. The Mawei naval port was destroyed by the French Navy, and the maritime gate was wide open.

  Prince Gong Yixin deeply felt that the external troubles of the Qing Dynasty came from the sea. If there was no strong and modernized navy, the Qing Dynasty would inevitably be controlled by others. Therefore, Prince Gong Yixin submitted a memorial to the imperial court, suggesting the establishment of a naval force.

  In the second year, Guangxu 11th year September, the Qing court began to set up a naval yamen, appointing Prince Chun as the governor of the coastal fleet, with Prince Jing, Grand Secretary and Governor Li Hongzhang, General Sunqing, and Minister Zeng Jize as his assistants. It was decided to start training the navy from the Beiyang Fleet, with Li Hongzhang in charge of this matter.

  Li Hongzhang built a dock in Lushun, constructed artillery forts and established the Beiyang Fleet. Yi Xuan was in charge of the Navy Ministry and gave Li Hongzhang great support, providing him with whatever he needed, whether it be money or men. The Beiyang Fleet gradually expanded from its initial 5 gunboats to become Asia's largest fleet, possessing the largest armored cruiser in Asia and becoming the world's fourth-largest fleet.

  So, the Beiyang Fleet seems to be Li Hongzhang's credit, but in fact, the real founder should be Prince Chun.

  Li Hongzhang was very clear about the causal relationship of the Beiyang Fleet. Without Prince Chun, there would be no Beiyang Fleet today. Therefore, although he was the Minister of the Northern Ocean and fully responsible for the Beiyang Fleet, he showed great respect to Prince Chun and did not dare to slack off in the slightest.

  Given the industrial status of the Qing dynasty, it is impossible to build ironclad warships. The ironclad warships of the Beiyang Fleet were almost all imported from Germany, Britain and France, these Western industrial powers.

  In the late 19th century, warships were high-tech, navies were high-tech troops, and a large cruiser was a comprehensive high-tech product.

  Yi Zongli is in charge of naval affairs, dealing with Western ironclad warships all day long. At home, there are photos and blueprints of advanced cruisers from various countries on display. Min Hui can't help but feel a pang of jealousy.

  The Qing government attached great importance to Western technology, and cruisers were a concentrated embodiment of Western technology.

  Cameras, bicycles, and even trains and ships are nothing compared to a cruiser.

  Xiang Lingyun spent the whole day persuading Yifu to go to the Beiyang Fleet to see the cruiser.

  A girl going on a cruiser is an unthinkable thing, whether in the Qing Empire or in the Western powers' navies.

  If Mian Yuai just wanted to visit the ship, that would be fine, but what Mian Yuai demanded was to follow the cruiser out to sea!

  So, Yi Xun disagreed, and Wan Zhen was even more opposed.

  The needlework was done with a bad temper, and the whole day was spent making trouble in the Wang Fu. In the end, it even reached the Empress Dowager's place.

  Cixi's first reaction was that she would not allow it under any circumstances, this is going too far!

  However, after a few clever words from Min Xiu, Lao Foye's heart was moved.

  Min Hui told the old Buddha, that Beiyang Navy is a powerful force, but the officers of the Beiyang Navy, from the admiral to the lieutenant, are almost all Han people. If these Han people have any evil intentions, it would be very inappropriate. Therefore, Min Hui volunteered to go and investigate the movements of the Beiyang Navy's officers and soldiers, and report back to the old Buddha immediately if there is any wind or grass movement.

  This remark hit Empress Dowager Cixi's weak spot and also hit Prince Gong's weak spot.

  Cixi and Prince Gong did not suspect Li Hongzhang, but they were worried about the officers of the Beiyang Fleet. Those officers were not only all Han people, but also all returned from studying in the West. The Western democratic system was incompatible with the national system of the Qing Dynasty. If these officers who had studied abroad were contaminated with the Western spirit and secretly carried out democratic reforms within the army, wouldn't the imperial court be lifting a rock to drop it on its own feet?

  Moreover, Cixi also had her own private intentions. In order to guard against the Han people in charge of the Beiyang Fleet, the court also left a hand, and inserted people from the court into the Beiyang Fleet. However, these people held very low positions and could not reach the emperor's ears directly; their intelligence reports had to be submitted layer by layer before they could finally reach Cixi, but often became distorted in the process. If Ronglu went to the Beiyang Fleet, he would be able to report first-hand information directly to Cixi.

  With the support of Empress Dowager Cixi, Zhenfei brought her two personal maidservants, disguised as men, to meet Li Hongzhang.

  Li Hongzhang handed over Min Hua to Beiyang Admiral Ding Ruchang, and Ding Ruchang then handed her over to Liu Buzhen.

  Like this, Min Hui boarded Dingyuan warship as a probationary sailor under Liu Buchan for a 15-day trial period.

  The entire Beiyang Fleet knew Ding Ruchang's true identity, only three people: Li Hongzhang, Minister of the Northern Ocean, Ding Ruchang, Admiral of the Northern Ocean Fleet, and Liu Buchan, captain of the Dingyuan warship.

  He Shuo Ge Ge Min Xiu arrived at the Dingyuan warship in a grand manner, giving Liu Buchan a headache.

  The barracks of the Qing Dynasty have never had women since ancient times. Now, although this rule has relaxed a lot, many officers keep women on Liu Gong Island, but until now, there has never been a woman on a warship! Not to mention a princess like you!

  Gege has always been one level higher than the officials, and with Shuo Gege Minxiu, she is even more notorious for being a reckless and unruly girl. Even her father can't control her, let alone Liu Buxian dare to touch Minxiu's whiskers!

  Moreover, the sea is windy and wavy, and a cruiser is a dangerous place. If something happens to Gege, Liu Buxian would not be able to bear it even if he had ten heads.

  So, since Min Hua arrived at the Beiyang Navy, Liu Buxian was being extremely cautious and kept Min Hua by his side at all times, afraid that she would cause some kind of trouble.

  Fortunately, Min Wei is also considered to be aware of the situation, and after boarding the Dingyuan, she also knows that this is not a place to fool around. Her temper has been restrained a lot, and overall, she is still quite obedient, except for being extremely curious and liking to ask questions, but hasn't caused any major trouble yet.

  Fifteen days passed in the blink of an eye, and the trial period for Min Hui was about to end. Liu Buquan let out a long sigh, just as he was about to send Min Hui down from the ship and hand her over to Admiral Ding Ruchang, but then Ding Ruchang sent word that he refused to accept Princess Min Hui.

  Ding Ruchang also had a headache about Min Hui, he knew that Min Hui was restless and would easily get into trouble if not careful, so it's better to keep a distance.

  So, Ding Ruchang told Liu Buzhen that Li Hongzhang would inspect the Tianjin Military Academy tomorrow, and asked Liu to take Min Hui there to accompany Li Hongzhang, and also hand over Min Hui to Li. Min Hui was given by Li to the Beiyang Navy, now it's returning to its rightful owner.

  Liu Buzhen did not dare to disobey the order, so he had to bring Min Yu with him and arrive at Tianjin Wu Bei Academy a day in advance, staying in the reception house to wait for Li Hongzhang.

  As long as he saw Li Zhongtang, handed over the intact He Shou and Ge Ge to Li Zhongtang, Liu Buqu's mission would be accomplished, and this half-month of nervous days would come to an end.

  Just as he was about to hand over to Li Zhongtang, Min Hua Gege had an accident again!

  He Shuo's clothes were intact, but her body was exposed!