Chapter Thirty-two: Treasure Island Maze

  Inside the private mansion of Taiwan Governor Liu Mingchuan, today is heavily guarded, and the patrolling troops are all elite soldiers from the Mingzi Camp, which is an elite branch of the Huai Army and a direct descendant of Liu Mingchuan.

  Hu Xueyan thought: After dealing with the lifelong affairs of his daughter and Zhou Yu, he arranged everything at home and came to Taiwan with a sense of satisfaction. Here, Liu Mingchuan met him.

  Hu Xueyan and Liu Mingchuan had contact in Shanghai 15 years ago, but at that time the two people did not have a deep relationship due to factional reasons.

  Liu Mingchuan was at odds with Zuo Zongtang because he exposed the untrue parts of the Xiang Army's report to the throne. Since Hu Xueyan had a close relationship with Zuo, Liu Mingchuan and Hu Xueyan also became estranged.

  Zuo Zongtang had just passed away, and Hu Xueyan came to see him secretly, saying that he had important business to discuss. Liu Mingchuan could not help but take it seriously, so they had this secret private meeting.

  "It's been years since we parted ways in Shanghai, and Brother Xueyan is still as elegant as ever! I wonder what brings Brother Xueyan to my humble abode?"

  "How impressive, Brother Liu! Your demeanor is even more outstanding than it was back then! Hehe... I've come to disturb you today, Brother Liu, and I do have some important matters to discuss with you. May I have the pleasure of your undivided attention?"

  "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. Brother Xueyan, please speak your mind. We all serve the same dynasty, so there's no need for excessive courtesy."

  "Alright, since Brother Liu is being so polite, I'll be bold and speak directly."

  "Nowadays in the Qing government, officials are mutually exclusive, mutually destructive, and deceitful to each other. The phenomenon of pulling down others is really nothing new, even famous ministers like Zuo Zongtang, Weng Tonghe, and Li Hongzhang cannot avoid it."

  "Nowadays, the Empress Dowager is in power, the military is not rising, science and technology are declining, the national situation is turbulent, and the countries of East and West are eyeing our China covetously. During the 13 years that Brother Liu was at home without a post, he paid attention to foreign affairs and got to know many progressive intellectuals and knowledgeable scholars. In Brother Liu's opinion, can the great Qing dynasty be saved?"

  Liu Ming's cheek muscles twitched violently, and his fingers also trembled slightly. He thought to himself: I have no connection with this person, he is a Xiang Army man, while I am a Huai Army general. Why would he speak like this? Is it possible that he is trying to probe me?

  Hu Xueyan seemed to know Liu Mingchuan's mind: "Brother Liu need not doubt my sincerity, I also risk being beheaded to interact with Brother Liu. If not, Brother Liu can deal with me according to the law! So what should Brother Xueyan do?"

  "Little brother is also very perplexed, can Brother Xueyan enlighten little brother a bit?"

  Hu Xueyan did not answer him directly, but instead asked: "Brother Liu, in your opinion, what is the military strength of Liu Yongfu's Zhongyuehui Army in Vietnam? And how are the politics, economy and technology in northern Vietnam?"

  Liu Mingchuan's face turned solemn and his expression became serious as he replied to Hu Xueyan: "The scourge of the tiger and wolf, the pride of the Chinese people, and a great threat to the imperial court."

  "So, Brother Liu, how much more do you know about the Zhongyong family of Huaxia and their intelligence?"

  "According to our intelligence, the Huaxia Zhongyong Army has a strong military force of tens of thousands, countless giant warships and cannons, a thriving economy and technology, with the people in its jurisdiction living in prosperity and peace, and the hearts of the people are inclined towards it."

  "Brother Liu, do you know who the true leader of the Hua Xia Zhongyong Army is? Do you know how many bases the Hua Xia Zhongyong Army has? Do you know if there are any Hua Xia Zhongyong Army in Taiwan? Do you know just how large the warships and cannons of the Zhongyong Army are? Do you know if the Zhongyong Army has ever been disloyal to the imperial court?"

  "I long to hear more about it!"

  "Alright, since it's come to this, I'll sincerely tell you, Brother Liu, so that you can understand the three flavors within!"

  The true leader of the Zhongyong Army is Mr. Zhou Yuzhou, and the Zhongyong Army has five large-scale military bases scattered around the world, one of which is in Taiwan. There are dozens of medium-sized military bases distributed within the Qing Empire and in places like Arabia. Their largest warship under construction is called the "Invincible Battleship", with a full load displacement of over 15,000 tons, making it the most advanced warship in the world.

  "I'll explain again the question you just raised, currently the Zhongyong Army has nearly 200,000 fully armed regular troops, all citizens are soldiers and braves, most of whom have undergone military training. In case of war, it can immediately arm more than ten million troops."

  "The Zhongyong Army has Ye Fu, Lü Han, Deng Shichang and other high-level naval military talents of our China, including two pre-dreadnought battleships under construction, with a total of more than 20 warships, countless world-class mines and factories, and mobile funds exceeding ￡100 million."

  "So I'd like to ask Brother Liu, if they were to overthrow the imperial court, would it be very difficult?"

  Hu Xueyan said one item, Liu Mingchuan's eyebrows would frown a few more times, until later Liu Mingchuan had already become numb to it and didn't have any reaction.

  "How did you know all this about the Zhongyong Army, Brother Hu? You just said they have a large base in Taiwan, is that true? What brought them here?" Unconsciously, Liu Mingchuan used an honorific term to address Hu Xueyan, and he himself didn't even realize it. In fact, deep down inside, he was filled with tension and fear.

  "Hu Xueyan burst out laughing: 'Brother Liu wants to know more detailed information, why not take a trip with me to a certain place in Taiwan?'"

  Liu Mingchuan hesitated a bit, he really didn't dare to face such a thing!

  Hu Xueyan smiled slightly: "Brother Liu wouldn't be afraid that I'm plotting against you, would he?"

  "It's nothing, it's nothing! Brother Hu is joking! If so, then please, Brother Hu!"

  Hu Xueyan's provocative words stirred up Liu Mingchuan's fearless and ferocious aura, Liu Mingchuan was originally extremely fierce and fearless on the battlefield, what is there to fear now that he is in his own territory?

  Liu Mingchuan immediately led a team of loyal guards, and Hu Xueyan secretly arrived at the base of the Zhongyong Army's Keelung Shipyard in Taiwan. Liu Mingchuan was shocked by the scene inside. The shipyard base, which covers an area of over 100 acres, is filled with factories and warehouses everywhere. Along the way, they saw the patrol troops of the Zhongyong Army, all of whom were fully armed soldiers, dressed neatly and equipped with advanced weapons. There are also countless huge security facilities and giant cannons in the base.

  What's even more absurd is that the dock's fully developed waters are exaggeratedly vast, and inside, two giant ironclad warships over a hundred meters in length are anchored, which I have never seen before. Standing on the dock, you can feel their majestic and suffocating enormity, making humans seem so tiny in comparison.

  On the water's surface, there were also a dozen or so other types of medium to large ironclad warships, most of which had already surpassed the Qing dynasty's standard specifications. Liu Mingchuan was prepared when Hu Xueyan told him about it, but when he actually faced them, the feeling he got was even more direct and shocking than what he had been told. He felt that the Qing dynasty was already far away, a brand new China was coming, and he had a deep sense of powerlessness.

  At first, he also thought about reporting the Zhongyong Army, but now he doesn't have any such thoughts. Jokingly, just the ironclad warships in the base can overthrow the Qing dynasty, let alone other troops.

  Zhou Yu then met with Liu Mingchuan.

  "General Liu, I know you have a heart that worries about the country and its people. However, the imperial court is incompetent, repeatedly invaded by other countries, and we have no way to serve the Chinese nation. The Chinese are discriminated against in the world, making us soldiers feel even more disheartened."

  "So, we have decided to overthrow the Qing dynasty and restore our Han dynasty, establish a great empire that will make our Huaxia strong for ten thousand years, let our Huaxia people live in peace and prosperity, enjoy eternal peace, and truly be the masters of their own homes."

  However, we also deeply feel the pain of our own kind killing each other. So today, I rashly invited you, General, to come and discuss national policy together, to achieve a peaceful transformation, so that we will not end up with our own people killing each other, harming our country's body, and letting other countries take advantage of us!

  "So, Mr. Zhou, how will you establish a country, how will you govern it, what will you do with our great Qing, how will you treat the people of our great Qing, and how will you deal with the officials of our great Qing?"

  "Good! General Liu asked a good question! The general has such doubts, it can be seen that the general has a true heart for the country and the people! We are also celebrating!"

  "We will carry out extensive and bold reforms in the fields of national defense, administration, finance, production, transportation, education, military affairs, economy, culture and other areas, comprehensively promoting the modernization process of our Chinese nation."

  "Implement a system of workers' old-age pensions, health and medical insurance, or social insurance."

  "We will implement universal compulsory free education, improve the cultural quality of all Chinese people, not implement policies that deceive the people, adopt a constitutional monarchy system, and make the emperor a spiritual symbol of the state. When the common people understand their rights and obligations, we will gradually promote a democratic election system for all citizens, allowing them to truly be masters of their own homes."

  Next, Zhou Yu and Liu Mingchuan discussed his overall concept of the Great Xia Empire. Liu Mingchuan was also fascinated by the prospects of the empire described by Zhou Yu and agreed to lead the crowd to join the ranks of the Hua Xia Zhongyong Army.

  However, he also made a condition, that is, he asked Zhou Yu to point the muzzle of the Zhongyong Army away from the Chinese people when overthrowing the Qing dynasty, and also asked Zhou Yu to treat his benefactor Li Hongzhang with kindness. Zhou Yu readily agreed to this. These things Liu Mingchuan did not ask Zhou Yu to do, Zhou Yu was already prepared to do so, let alone now doing a favor for him.

  Immediately following, Taiwan began large-scale reforms, first in the military, with the construction of a large number of defensive facilities at various ports and landing points throughout Taiwan, integrating Taiwanese troops to make them consistent with the armed forces of the Zhongyong Army, killing some imperial spies, Japanese spies and foreign agents, including the imperial eunuch sent by the imperial court. Liu Neng, the head of the Taiwan Military Defense Circuit, also swore allegiance to the Zhongyong Army.

  Zhou Yu dispatched a large number of various professional personnel to carry out basic construction and regularized training for troops, and carried out a series of reforms in Taiwan's defense, administration, finance, production, transportation, education, military and other fields.

  For some officials and gentry who were notorious for their evil deeds, a large-scale purge was carried out against them and the rascals. Taiwan also entered the era of martial law at the same time, with strict military control over each port, allowing only entry but not exit. A large number of Vietnamese loyalist troops began to be deployed to Taiwan, and a huge amount of weapons, equipment, precision instruments, and materials were transported there. Today's Taiwan is basically isolated from the world.

  In Taiwan, a super-large military dock has started to be built in Tamsui, and a large number of shipyards and munitions factories are being constructed. The whole of Taiwan is one huge construction site, with bustling scenes of prosperity everywhere.

  Liu Mingzhuan and other patriotic martyrs are now in a pleasant mood, with smiles on their faces! But some local privileged gentry are a bit downcast, everyone is equal, what privileges can be spoken of?

  Hu Xueyan originally thought he knew a lot about the Zhou Yu Group, but it wasn't until this visit to the Taiwan shipyard base that he realized how little he actually understood. He was also deeply impressed by the strength and unity of the Zhongyong Army, which made him even more blindly worshipful of Zhou Yu. At the same time, he couldn't help but secretly feel that his choice had been incredibly wise.

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