New Shun 1730

At first, Kang Budai thought that Liu Yu was going to raise the children of the dead soldiers, a total of about 300. Almost exhausted all of Liu Yu's free time.

Now, it is almost time to harvest.

Except for the group sent to Paris, the old revolutionary area, to experience the Enlightenment era and come back to be the leader of the rebellion, he has basically arranged the fate of the rest.

One third will be teachers, continue to sow and harvest.

One third will be thrown into various emerging industries in the future to become pillar talents, or to follow as apprentices for a few years to accumulate practical experience.

The best ones will be sent to Euler to learn mathematics. For the rest of the basic knowledge such as physics, chemistry, and biology, Liugong Island is already the world's top, after all, the top at this time is not high. Only mathematics Liu Yu himself knows that he can't compare with Euler, Lagrange and other people.

Among the best and slightly lower ones, he will select some of his most trusted people to teach them organizational skills and some dragon-slaying outlines.

This group of people who were selected to follow those craftsmen as apprentices and participate in the improvement of steam engines throughout the process are not very talented in mathematics.

However, the most classic inventors at this time were not mathematicians, and hands-on ability was the most important.

Facing Liu Yu's hope, these children knew how much hope they had, but they were still confident.

"Teacher, don't worry. We often hear you say that science is science and technology is technology, and we can tell the difference. There must be a teacher among three people. It is also said in "On Teachers" that witch doctors, musicians, and craftsmen can all be teachers, and we are not scholars."

They have a clear positioning of themselves. Liu Yu smiled and said, "Yes, you are not scholars. You can neither take the imperial examination nor become an official. But why do you become an official? Either you seek wealth, power, fame, or benefit the people of the world."

"Don't even think about seeking power. I, the earl, have already taken care of too many things. For the remaining three, you can ask for whatever you like."

Several people laughed, feeling a little embarrassed; some were stunned and just said that they really wanted to do something that would benefit the people.

Liu Yu didn't care and encouraged: "Don't ask about the heart, just look at the traces. I just want a steam locomotive. Go, learn from them. I'll wait for your good news."

I shook hands with these young children in an unusual way. This is the etiquette among the orphans on Liugong Island. The children knew that this handshake meant that they had grown up in Liu Yu's heart and were no longer children in the school.

Everyone shook hands with a solemn expression. Finally, he bowed to Liu Yu, called him teacher, and then went to various groups according to the previous assignment to work with the craftsmen on the improvement of the steam engine.

A few days later, accompanied by the majestic and slightly out-of-tune athletes' march, a commendation meeting for Weihai craftsmen was held.

The Celestial Empire has its own music system, but Liu Yu can't use it casually because he is below the level, and folk tunes are not suitable. He can only use this "weird" music that is not included in the hierarchy. The tune he hummed, those who play instruments re-arranged it into a song. There are many places that are out of tune, but they can still hear the familiar rhythm.

In the auditorium, a prince, an earl, and a group of craftsmen were awarded medals. This was already a high enough standard in Dashun, second only to the awarding of medals by the emperor after reviewing the army.

Li Xi accepted Liu Yu's advice and used vernacular instead of classical Chinese. Although it was still inappropriate, the status and rank were there, and with the shining gold, silver and bronze medals, these craftsmen were greatly satisfied spiritually.

Li Xi could feel that the atmosphere in Weihai was a bit strange, but he couldn't tell where it was strange. If it was the Celestial Empire, it was indeed; if it was not, many differences could be found.

It was not until the new students of the Jinghai Palace Official School started school in March that Li Xi slowly integrated into it. However, after more than a month, he was gradually assimilated by the atmosphere here in Weihai.

At the end of March, the first batch of troops from the Beijing Camp assembled in Tianjin. Liu Yu sent ships to transport them to Weihai. With the help of the barracks of the Qingzhou Army and the granaries that had long existed, the reformed army of the Dashun Army began to slowly gather towards Weihai.

In the same month, Lian Huaiguan from Batavia arrived in Weihai from the capital. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs controlled by Duke Qi received a sum of money from the emperor's treasury as a cover for Lian Huaiguan to buy a sugarcane plantation in Batavia.

More than 20 child soldiers around the emperor and 100 marines from Weihai returned to Batavia with Lian Huaiguan, carrying some artillery and muskets.

In early April, the capital began to follow the procedures.

Someone in the court suddenly mentioned the fact that the Ryukyu Kingdom paid tribute to both sides. The emperor was "shocked" and furious. He ordered the Ryukyu students of the Imperial Academy and the Imperial Hospital to be summoned to question them. Within a few days, it was known that Satsuma Fan had established a "Zai Fan Fengxing" in the Ryukyu Kingdom to monitor the trade of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

The court was "shocked" and the emperor was furious. He ordered Ying Sao Bo Liu Yu as the chief envoy and Li Government Doctor Zhao Baiquan as the deputy envoy to patrol the Ryukyu Kingdom and question the Ryukyu King why he did not report to the Celestial Empire and deceived the emperor.

At this time, Liu Yu was already on the ship to Songjiang. He had to coordinate the personnel and financial resources of the trade company to make logistical preparations for this expedition to Japan.

In the middle of the month, in the name of changing guard, an artillery unit, an engineering unit, and a newly trained lancer unit in the capital gathered at Dagukou and sailed to Weihai.

At the end of April, Liu Yu returned from Songjiang and discussed the military funding and trade monopoly rights with the executive committee members of the trade company.

The trade company decided to increase shares in July and continue to raise funds.

By the beginning of May, Weihai had assembled 12,000 new troops after the military reform, with complete guns and artillery, and the old engineers of the Qingzhou Army were also assembled here.

Liu Yu, the leading general, was not very familiar with him. He was also a noble, but he did not interact much with the Yiguo family.

The two families were not in the same batch of nobility. Although they were both nobles, their circles were not quite the same.

The main general was not very familiar, but there were still many acquaintances outside the main general.

Wu Fangrui, who had served as the chief of staff of the Qingzhou Army during the expedition to the Western Regions, was the front-line chief of staff this time. Many of the staff officers in the staff department were taught by Liu Yu.

Shi Shiyong, who knew Japan very well, was also sent by the emperor to follow Liu Yu to do things and protect Liu Yu closely.

Zhao Baiquan, the deputy envoy to Ryukyu, who was eloquent and knew etiquette, also arrived in Weihai in early May. The court went through the procedures to find Ryukyu in April, and the deputy envoy arrived in Weihai in early May. The court was extremely efficient this time, which shows that the people in Tianyou Hall who knew the situation had already selected the candidate.

After Liu Yu met him, he asked a little and could judge that he should not be a pedantic guy.

His official attitude towards Liu Yu might be because he was selected from the imperial examination, while Liu Yu was from the Wude Palace. They would mix in different circles in the future, so there was no need to get too close.

However, since the emperor asked Liu Yu to be the chief envoy and Zhao Baiquan to be the deputy envoy, Liu Yu was responsible for all matters. The real interrogation edict to be read had been drafted by Tianyou Hall, and Zhao Baiquan followed to Ryukyu to talk nonsense.

Since he was official, Liu Yu asked him to lead the ship as the envoy to worship the sea god and heaven and earth and pray for a smooth journey.

He stayed in Liugong Island to deal with the last few things within the navy.

More than a thousand elite soldiers who were called marines but actually belonged to the navy began to board the ship. They were going to Vladivostok, where they would rest and then go to Hokkaido.

Three cruisers also went to Vladivostok together. Du Feng, who was familiar with the climate of the northeast, served as the military chief there and cooperated with a group of soldiers mobilized from Songhua River to prepare for the capture of Hokkaido.

Du Feng was excited. He listened to Liu Yu and joined the navy. He had been in Weihai for nearly ten years without fighting.

Although he was one of the first to be promoted from an intern captain, he could not be promoted without fighting.

He knew the level of the Japanese navy and estimated that there would be no military exploits in the naval battle.

Going to Hokkaido, at least he could fight a good battle, and many of the soldiers mobilized were his old acquaintances.

Although he switched to the navy, his fame from the battle of Ergun River was still there, and he was considered a legendary figure in the circle of the imperial soldiers.

There were not many people in Hokkaido in total. The artillery level of these navy called marines was better than that of the Beijing Army after the military reform, and the engineers and other arms were even better.

Liu Yu gave him the task of crossing the sea to Hokkaido as soon as August arrived, joining the team that stayed there and captured Matsumae Fukuyama Castle.

Block the Qingjin Strait, and send some more people to a series of islands near Kamchatka to remove all the crosses erected by the Russians.

This was a free credit. The salary of Matsumae Domain was only 10,000 stones. According to the intelligence sent back from the local area, the total force was only 600 to 700 people, and they were matchlock guns.

Matsumae Fukuyama Castle was not that difficult to attack. Vladivostok had already stockpiled enough food and grass. Du Feng was Liu Yu's confidant and had learned a lot. He also understood that his task was to defend it after it was captured.

If you have the ability, you can also try to cross the Qingjin Strait for fun. Of course, it depends on your own ability. On the premise of completing the given tasks, attacking and fighting are all extra credits.

Liu Yu felt that there was nothing worth reminding, and after thinking for a while, he said: "There is only one thing. When you go to the islands in the north to pull crosses, be careful. If you encounter fur traders, just detain them, don't kill them. Don't conflict with the Russians for the time being."

Du Feng smiled and said: "Don't worry, sir, I know the importance. There are many of our acquaintances in Heilongjiang, and there are also acquaintances on Sakhalin who swore an oath together. I guess they can understand the language of the Ainu people. How did you deal with the matter at the mouth of the Heilongjiang River back then, I will deal with the Ainu matter in the same way. They and the Japanese also have hatred, I know it in my heart."

Seeing that Du Feng's thinking was very clear, Liu Yu nodded and said: "Then I feel relieved. Start in August, not too early or too late. It's too late, with heavy snow and freezing weather, it's not easy to act."

"Whether the court encounters an accident or not, or whether the war begins, you don't have to worry about it. Just go and fight on time."

"You can do more meritorious deeds, but don't let anything happen. We had a fight with Japanese pirates back then. You can do your job and make some trouble in the north of Japan and draw maps. You don't have to cross the strait to fight."

Du Feng responded, "Don't worry, sir. I've been promoted from an intern captain to a regular captain. Don't you know the importance of mapping? I've also followed you to attack Stepanov Castle and the Ergun River Fortress. Although I've switched to the navy, I haven't given up my land warfare skills."

"If you want Ezo, I'll take it for you."

After drinking a bowl of wine and sending him on board, Liu Yu counted the days as they set sail. He thought it was time to go to Ryukyu.

"Order, the entire navy will rest for three days, and two months' salary will be paid in advance. Pickets will patrol day and night, and fighting in front of brothels is prohibited. They will be stationed directly in brothels to inspect order."

"The First Battalion of the Marine Corps will assemble, collect ammunition, and prepare luggage."

"Captains of all ships will come to my place for a meeting."

After the order was passed, Weihai suddenly became lively. The sailors who had received their salaries knew what was going to happen. Two months' salary was spent in three days, and the place was in a mess.