167: Chapter 77 The Study Abroad Wave

Although winter in the German Empire was cold, the atmosphere in Berlin was more fervent than ever.

"The Prussian Royal Shipyard has just launched its third Dreadnought! His Majesty the Emperor personally attended the launching ceremony!"

"I heard that warship used special steel imported from the Qingxia Kingdom, and its performance is even better than what we build ourselves!"

"The Qingxia Kingdom? That country in the Far East? What kind of good things could they possibly have?"

"Don't disbelieve it! My cousin is a technician at the Krupp factory, and he says the large-caliber artillery the Qingxia Kingdom sold us has a range nearly thirty percent longer than our older models! His Majesty the Emperor is now treating Li Ling of the Qingxia Kingdom like a treasure!"

Similar discussions rose and fell throughout the streets, cafes, and barracks of Berlin. Meanwhile, in an elegant three-story villa in the heart of Berlin, a letter sealed with gold-stamped wax had just been sent out. The recipient's address clearly read: "To be opened personally by Li Ling, Jinling City, Qingxia Kingdom."

The person who wrote the letter was Princess Victoria Louise of the German Empire.

At this moment, she was sitting at the desk by the window, holding that exquisite quill pen in her hand. Outside the window, the plane trees were bare, with a thin layer of snow accumulated on their branches. A few sparrows were hopping about, occasionally shaking off small flakes of snow that swirled and drifted through the air. Her maid, Marie, stood to the side holding a cup of hot chocolate that had already gone cold, a mischievous smile on her face, her eyes curved like crescent moons.

"Your Highness, you have revised this letter five times already. If you keep changing it, the stationery will be soaked through with your ink. Look at the corners of this paper; they are almost creased from your fingertips."

Princess Victoria Louise put down her pen and pursed her lips in embarrassment: "I'm worried that Li Ling will think I'm too wordy. His last reply was only three pages long, while I have written eight. Will it make me seem..."

"Seem what? That you care about him?" Marie smiled and took over the conversation, placing the hot chocolate on the edge of the table. "Your Highness, if you truly care, you should let him know. Men from the Qingxia Kingdom are different from our German men; they are more reserved. Sometimes, if you don't speak plainly, they will never guess your intentions. Just as my father often says: 'If a woman doesn't speak up, a man will spend a year guessing.'"

Princess Victoria Louise's face flushed slightly, but her gaze remained firm, her fingers unconsciously fiddling with the tail feathers of the quill. "I wrote about serious matters. My father has already approved the plan for Qingxia Kingdom students to study in our country, and I personally contacted the three best universities and two technical colleges for them. I also attached a detailed list of recommendations in the letter, clearly stating which school excels in which major and which professor is the most authoritative in their field. Since Li Ling wants to send people to study, I will ensure that the people he sends learn the best things—not the second best, not something just to make do, but the best."

Marie walked to the window and looked at the snow-covered street outside. The icicles hanging from the eaves reflected colorful light in the sun. "Your Highness, do you think Li Ling will accept your kindness?"

"He will." Princess Victoria Louise's voice was very soft, yet carried an unquestionable certainty. "Because he is a smart man. Smart men do not refuse opportunities delivered to their doorstep. And..." She paused, her voice becoming even softer, as if talking to herself, "I hope he understands that what I've done is not just for diplomatic relations between the two countries. I hope he understands... that I am waiting for him to come."

Marie said nothing more, just quietly watching the Princess's back. The snowlight from outside the window shone on her golden hair tips, casting a soft halo over her entire figure. The halo flowed slowly in the tranquility of the winter afternoon, like an oil painting frozen in time.

After more than half a month of tossing on the sea, crossing the frozen North Sea and the turbulent Atlantic, and rounding the Cape of Good Hope into the Indian Ocean, the letter was finally delivered to Li Ling's desk on a bitterly cold winter night.

Li Ling had just finished a six-hour military meeting. He rubbed his stiff neck and massaged his aching temples. When he opened the envelope and pulled out the thick stack of stationery, he was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh. The paper was slightly larger than standard size, smooth and delicate, with a faint scent of jasmine—that was the stationery the Princess usually used, said to be custom-made in Paris, with only a few hundred produced each year.

"Goodness, this is almost the weight of a memorial to the throne." He muttered, sitting down by the candlestick and reading carefully by the flickering candlelight.

The content of the letter was beyond his expectations—Princess Victoria Louise not only expressed full support for the Qingxia Kingdom's plan to send students abroad but also attached a dozen-page "Study Abroad Guide." In this guide, she not only detailed the characteristics and advantages of various universities in the German Empire but also listed several key professional fields to focus on—from naval engineering to chemical metallurgy, from artillery design to medical anatomy, from geological exploration to mechanical manufacturing, covering everything.

Li Ling flipped through the pages one by one, feeling more and more that the value of this guide far exceeded that of an ordinary diplomatic letter. Behind each major, the Princess had noted the reasons for the recommendation, reference books, and even specifically which professor was the most accomplished in that field. This was no longer something a princess should have to do—it was more like a strategic plan meticulously prepared by a partner for their ally.

Most crucially, the letter mentioned that she had personally written to the presidents of Leipzig University, the Berlin University of Technology, and the Technical University of Munich, securing "special quotas" for the upcoming Qingxia Kingdom students. This meant that Qingxia Kingdom students would not need to go through the regular entrance examinations—which were often based on German language and European history, and were nearly impossible for Qingxia Kingdom students—as long as they passed the basic language requirements, they could directly enter these top universities to study.

"System, did you see that? This is even smoother than I expected." Li Ling said in his mind, his fingers tapping lightly on the edge of the letter, making a faint sound. He noticed a small, almost imperceptible smudge on the bottom right corner of the letter—a mark where the ink had been smeared by a finger and then gently wiped away, clearly left by the writer while she was hesitant.

[Yes, Host. The German Empire has provided super-standard treatment, clearly regarding the Qingxia Kingdom as an important strategic ally. This also shows that your previous arms trade and political marriage strategies were very successful. Princess Victoria Louise's level of involvement in this matter goes beyond the scope of simple diplomatic etiquette—she must have a considerable degree of affection and trust for you, the Host, to use her private network to open these channels. The system suggests that you give an appropriate response in your reply letter; you don't need to be too direct, but you should let the Princess feel your sincerity and gratitude. This is an important part of consolidating the alliance.]

"I know." Li Ling nodded, his gaze lingering for a moment at the end of the letter, where the Princess's handwritten signature was written— "Victoria Louise von Hohenzollern." The handwriting was elegant and forceful, with a small curled arc at the end, as if implying something.

He picked up his pen and began to write his reply.

"Respected Princess Victoria Louise:

I have received your letter and the attached 'Study Abroad Guide,' and I am deeply gratified. The arrangements you have made for the Qingxia Kingdom students—special quotas, university recommendations, and professor connections—I have read through one by one, and every detail shows your care and sincerity.

I promise you this: the students from the Qingxia Kingdom will be young people possessed of both virtue and knowledge. Once they arrive in the German Empire, they will not bring shame upon your recommendation.

Furthermore, I have a presumptuous request—if the war situation allows next spring, I hope to personally travel to Berlin to thank you in person. At that time, I would like to ask you to be my guide and show me the sights of Berlin."

Writing to this point, Li Ling paused his pen. He thought for a moment, then added a line of small text at the end: "Especially that park which is said to have a Swan Lake; I would like to see it."

He put down his pen and silently read the letter from beginning to end. The wording was appropriate, neither losing courtesy nor lacking a fitting sense of closeness. The tone of that small line was more like a joke between friends than formal official correspondence—this was exactly the effect he wanted. He wanted to let the Princess feel his sincerity without appearing too eager or frivolous.

"Host, the tone of this letter is very well controlled. It expresses gratitude, implies a willingness to meet, and even carries a touch of personal color—that small note about Swan Lake Park should make the Princess smile knowingly. The system expects this letter to reach Berlin within three weeks, if the sea voyage goes smoothly. Additionally, the system suggests that after the letter is sent, you should simultaneously initiate the final selection process for the overseas students, so as to avoid a scheduling mismatch when the letter arrives and the candidates haven't been finalized."

At the same time the letter was sent, Li Ling signed an imperial decree: to establish the "Qingxia Kingdom Office of Overseas Study Affairs," with Zhang Boling and Zhao Yuanren jointly in charge, to openly select the first batch of overseas students nationwide.

Once the news of the selection was announced, the young intellectuals of the entire Qingxia Kingdom were in an uproar.

Applicants came in an endless stream; in just half a month, over a thousand people submitted applications. Among them were scholars who had come out of old-style private schools, graduates from mission schools in coastal cities, clerks working in trading firms, and even a few coolies carrying bags at the docks—as long as they could speak a few simple foreign phrases and recognize a few foreign letters, they all applied with the hope of trying their luck. Long queues formed at the registration point outside Jinling City, stretching from dawn until dusk. In the cold wind, some people stomped their feet to keep warm, but no one was willing to leave.

But the screening standards of Zhang Boling and Zhao Yuanren were extremely strict. The first round of written examinations eliminated nearly two-thirds of the people—those who could only shake their heads and recite the Four Books and Five Classics but couldn't understand even the simplest foreign language were eliminated directly; those who had no knowledge of Western technology and simply wanted to go abroad were also eliminated directly; those who didn't even have basic geographical knowledge and thought the German Empire was in Africa were crossed off without mercy. The second round of interviews was even harsher. Zhao Yuanren personally asked questions in English, German, and French in turn; those who could answer stayed, and those who couldn't left. In the end, only exactly one hundred and twenty people remained—the elite screened from thousands, each one a survivor tempered by fire.

"Your Majesty, this is the final list." Zhang Boling placed a list in front of Li Ling, the paper unfolding on the desk with a faint rustling sound. His fingers trembled slightly from staying up late, but his eyes remained clear. "One hundred and twenty people, with an average age of twenty-two. Fifty of them will go to the German Empire to study engineering and technology, thirty will go to Meijian Country to study medicine and education, twenty will go to the UK to study law and economics, and the remaining twenty will serve as alternates, with their destinations adjusted according to actual circumstances."

Li Ling picked up the list and looked it over carefully. He noticed that several names had been specially marked—some had "Extremely high mathematical talent" written next to them, some had "Superb language ability," and one name had a note behind it: "Strong interest in warship design, has already drawn several sketches on his own." He pointed to that note and asked, "This Lin Mo, is he the son of that fisherman?"

Zhang Boling nodded: "Exactly. His performance in physics and mathematics is extremely outstanding, especially his understanding of mechanics and fluid dynamics, which is far beyond his peers. After Mr. Zhao Yuanren chatted with him once, he said that he was 'born to be an engineer.' Although the warship sketches he drew himself are rough, the ideas are clear, the layout is reasonable, and he even considered stability issues that few people pay attention to in current warship design."

Li Ling looked at the name, then read it again: "Lin Mo... the son of a fisherman, self-taught. Interesting."

He put down the list, his gaze sweeping over the one hundred and twenty names. Behind every name was a living person, a tortuous story, and a heavy weight of hope. Some came from wealthy merchant families, some from poor farming households, and some from scholarly families, but at this moment, they stood on the same starting line—heading to distant places for the future of this country.

"Tell these young people that once they go to a foreign land, they represent not themselves, but the entire Qingxia Kingdom." Li Ling's voice was low and powerful, every word nailing into the table like a nail. "Everything they learn must be brought back to the country in the future. I do not wish to see anyone so happy in their new home that they forget their homeland—if anyone there seeks comfort and forgets their roots, I will personally send someone to 'invite' them back. But if anyone returns after completing their studies, I guarantee—they will receive the best job opportunities, the highest salaries and benefits, and the most sincere respect from this country. I mean what I say."

On the day of their departure, a light snow fell on Jinling City.

At the port terminal, the one hundred and twenty overseas students, dressed in uniform deep blue outfits and carrying their luggage, stood in formation by the ship's rail. Their families stood on the dock, some wiping away tears, some waving, and some whispering instructions. The sea breeze, wrapped in fine snow, blew against their faces, feeling cool, like a final kiss before parting.

Li Ling personally came to the dock to see them off. He wore a dark gray military overcoat and did not use an umbrella, letting the snowflakes fall on his shoulders, leaving spots of white on his dark clothing. He walked to the front of the queue, his gaze sweeping over each young face—those faces were filled with nervousness, anticipation, excitement, and a trace of unease, like travelers standing at the crossroads of life, about to embark on an unknown journey.

"I will only say three things." Li Ling's voice was not loud, but it pierced through the sea breeze and waves, clearly reaching everyone's ears. "First, once you go out, you must make something of yourselves; don't let foreigners look down on the people of Qingxia. Second, everything you learn, I am waiting for you to return and use it in the country. Third—" He paused, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile that seemed exceptionally warm in the wind and snow, "I am waiting for you here, to return and build this country together. Are you ready?"

"We are ready!" the one hundred and twenty young people shouted in unison, their voices carrying far into the sea breeze, startling a few seagulls foraging on the dock. Those white figures flapped their wings and rose into the sky, circling a few times in the gray canopy, as if seeing them off.

Li Ling waved his hand: "Board the ship!"

The gangway was retracted, the mooring lines were cast off, and the ship's whistle blew long and loud—that long, drawn-out whistle echoed over the sea for a long time, like a heavy sigh from time itself. The passenger ship flying the flag of the Qingxia Kingdom slowly pulled away from the dock, churning up white spray at the stern and drawing an increasingly wide wake on the surface of the sea. Li Ling stood on the dock, watching it gradually move away, finally turning into a tiny black dot on the horizon. The black dot grew smaller and smaller, fainter and fainter, and finally merged into the gray junction of sea and sky, like a drop of ink falling into water, disappearing without a trace.

He did not leave immediately. He stood there, quietly looking at the empty sea, letting the snowflakes fall on his shoulders, the brim of his hat, and his eyelashes. After a long time, he turned around and walked steadily toward the carriage waiting not far away.

[Host, the first batch of overseas students has departed. According to the sea voyage schedule, they will arrive at Hamburg Port in about a month. Princess Victoria Louise has already arranged reception personnel, and there will be people to guide them to their respective assigned cities and schools. The system will continuously track their learning progress and report to the host in a timely manner if there are any abnormalities. Additionally, the system noticed that the young man named Lin Mo stood on the deck for a long time before boarding, looking toward the direction of Jinling City. He must have been memorizing the appearance of this land—people like this often burst out with the strongest learning motivation in a foreign land because they have a clear goal in their hearts: to return.]

"I am waiting for their good news." Li Ling's voice was very soft and was scattered by the sea breeze, but the system captured every word clearly. He swung onto his horse, and the moment his boots stepped into the stirrups, his gaze had already become sharp and firm. "However, before I set off for the German Empire to see the Princess, there is one more important thing to do—the reorganization of the Army. The Northern Expedition is imminent, and the guns must be polished. Let me go and see how those five Heavy Combined Arms Brigades are training."

He spurred his horse toward the military camp, the hem of his military overcoat flapping in the wind like a flowing black flag. Horse hooves trod on the accumulated snow, making a dull, rhythmic sound that echoed on the streets in the early morning. Behind him, the sea breeze at the port was still blowing, and the passenger ship had long since disappeared beyond the horizon, but the one hundred and twenty young people it carried away would, in a distant foreign land, exchange their youth and sweat for a brand-new future for this ancient country.

Their journey had just begun.

And Li Ling's journey had never stopped.