18: Chapter 18 Finally?! The former dreadnought has finally entered service!

## I

The day Zhang Zhidong finished manifesting, Li Ling went to welcome him personally.

Although he had long known that Zhang Zhidong was a virtual character manifested by the system, he was still taken aback when he saw the old man wearing a long robe and mandarin jacket, sporting a goatee, and looking very serious.

"Are you Young Master Li?" Zhang Zhidong asked, cupping his hands in a salute.

"Mr. Zhang, you are too polite. Just call me Li Ling," Li Ling replied, hurriedly returning the salute.

The two sat down in the study, and Li Ling briefly introduced his situation.

After listening, Zhang Zhidong was silent for a long time.

"Young Master Li, your ambition is not small," Zhang Zhidong said, "Trying to build an industrial system in the semi-colonial and semi-feudal Qingxia Kingdom is extremely difficult."

"I know," Li Ling nodded, "That's why I need Mr. Zhang's help."

Zhang Zhidong stroked his beard: "What do you want me to do?"

"Build factories," Li Ling said, "Steel mills, arsenals, machinery plants, chemical plants... I need a complete industrial system capable of supporting the equipment and logistics of an Army of 300,000."

Zhang Zhidong pondered for a moment: "Building factories requires money, land, and people. Do you have these?"

"I have the money, the land, and the people," Li Ling said, "The first batch of funds is one million taels of silver, enough to build several large factories. I have already marked out the land; it's on that wasteland outside the city. Workers can be recruited locally, and as for the technical personnel... I have my own ways."

Zhang Zhidong looked at Li Ling, a flash of doubt in his eyes, but he didn't ask further.

"Very well," Zhang Zhidong said, "I will help you."

## II

After seeing Zhang Zhidong off, Li Ling went to the naval port without stopping.

Three Pre-dreadnoughts were already in place, and the training and recruitment of naval officers and soldiers were underway.

Today, he was going to inspect the first warship to complete combat readiness—the "warship".

The captain of the "warship" was named Lin Yongsheng, a virtual character manifested by the Production Base. He was in his thirties, with a sturdy build and dark skin; one look told you he was a man who had spent his life making a living at sea.

"Young Master Li, welcome aboard," Lin Yongsheng gave a military salute, his movements as standard as a textbook.

Li Ling returned the salute, then followed Lin Yongsheng around the ship.

From the bridge to the turrets, from the engine room to the ammunition depot, from the crew quarters to the officer's quarters, every place was clean, tidy, and orderly.

Although this warship was manifested by the system, every detail was impeccable.

"Captain Lin, how is the combat effectiveness of this ship?" Li Ling asked.

"Reporting to Young Master, the warship is equipped with four 305mm main guns, ten 152mm secondary guns, and sixteen 75mm rapid-fire guns," Lin Yongsheng listed them off like family treasures.

"The main guns have a maximum range of 15,000 meters, and the armor-piercing shells can penetrate 300mm of armor at a distance of 5,000 meters. In this era, apart from a few Battleships of the great powers, it has no rivals."

Li Ling nodded with satisfaction.

"What about the crew? How is their training?"

"There are 520 crew members in total, including 120 professional personnel manifested by the Production Base. The remaining 400 were recruited from the Army and among the civilians, and they are stepping up their training," Lin Yongsheng said.

"Currently, basic training has already been completed, and they are undergoing gunnery and navigation training. In another month, they will be capable of combat."

"Good," Li Ling patted Lin Yongsheng on the shoulder, "Thank you for your hard work."

"Serving the Young Master is not hard work."

## III

After inspecting the "warship", Li Ling went to see the "dinghai pre-dreadnought" and the "Pinghai".

The captain of the "dinghai pre-dreadnought" was named Deng Shichang, also a virtual character manifested by the Production Base, in his forties, sharp and capable.

The captain of the "Pinghai" was named Liu Buchan, in his thirties, steady and experienced.

The captains of the three warships were all carefully selected by the system, each with rich sailing and combat experience.

Although their identities were virtual, their abilities and loyalty were real.

"System, you really care about the Navy," Li Ling thought to himself.

"Nonsense," the system said, "Sea power is the core of this era. Without a Navy, you are nothing."

"I know," Li Ling nodded, "That's why I will go all out to develop the Navy."

"It's not just about developing the Navy," the system said, "You must learn how to use the Navy. The Navy isn't just for show; it's for fighting wars."

"Don't worry, I won't let these three warships sit idle," Li Ling smiled, "Doesn't Japan like to provoke? I'll let them taste the power of the main guns."

## IV

The news of the Pre-dreadnoughts entering service soon reached Japan.

The Kwantung Army headquarters in Japan was in an uproar.

"What? Qingxia has three Pre-dreadnoughts?" The commander of the Kwantung Army, General Oyama Iwao, slammed the table, "Impossible! Where did they get the money to buy warships?"

"Intelligence shows that these three warships were not bought; they... they appeared out of thin air," the intelligence officer said cautiously.

"Appeared out of thin air?" General Oyama Iwao sneered, "Do you think this is a fairy tale? Investigate! You must find out clearly!"

The intelligence officer retreated timidly, but he was smiling bitterly inside.

He had sent people to investigate for a long time, but found nothing.

Those three warships seemed to have fallen from the sky; there were no purchase records, no construction records, they just suddenly appeared.

General Oyama Iwao sat in his chair, his face gloomy.

He had originally planned to launch a full-scale offensive against the Li Family Army within six months to completely eliminate this threat.

But now, the appearance of the three Pre-dreadnoughts had disrupted his plans.

"Pass the order down to temporarily stop the offensive plan and re-evaluate the enemy's strength," General Oyama Iwao ordered.

"Yes!"

## V

While Japan was shocked, the great powers also noticed Li Ling's naval strength.

The British Minister to Qingxia sent a secret telegram to London: "Three Pre-dreadnoughts have appeared off the southeast coast of Qingxia, suspected to be supported by a great power. It is recommended to monitor closely and take action if necessary."

The American Minister to Qingxia, Conger, also sent a similar secret telegram to Washington.

Only the German Empire's Minister, Hai Jing, seemed very calm, because the German Empire had already established a military cooperation relationship with Li Ling.

They knew the origin of these three warships—although they also couldn't figure out the specific origin, they at least knew that these warships will not pose a threat to the German Empire.

"System, the great powers are starting to pay attention to me," Li Ling said.

"Normal," the system said, "You suddenly produced three Pre-dreadnoughts; it would be strange if they didn't pay attention."

"Will they intervene?"

"Not for now," the system analyzed, "The conflicts between the great powers are much greater than the conflict with you. Britain and Germany are fighting for hegemony, the United States and Spain just finished a war, Russia is expanding in the Far East... They don't have time to worry about a small fry like you."

"That's good," Li Ling breathed a sigh of relief.

"Don't be happy too soon," the system said, "When you truly threaten their interests, they will unite to deal with you. That is when the real test will come."

Li Ling nodded; he knew the system was right.

But he was not afraid.

He had the system, he had an Army of 300,000, he had three Pre-dreadnoughts, and he had a complete industrial development plan.

As long as he was given time, he could become strong enough—strong enough that the great powers would not dare to provoke him.

## VI

In the evening, Li Ling returned to the mansion, and Empress Su Wanqing was waiting for him in the courtyard.

"Brother Ling, you're back," Empress Su Wanqing came up to him, holding a bowl of lotus seed soup, "Drink quickly, I've been simmering it all afternoon."

Li Ling took the bowl and took a sip; it was sweet but not greasy, and the fragrance was refreshing.

"Empress Su Wanqing, you are becoming more and more virtuous," Li Ling said with a smile.

Empress Su Wanqing blushed: "Brother Ling is teasing me again."

"I'm not teasing you; I'm serious," Li Ling pulled Empress Su Wanqing to sit on a stone bench, "Empress Su Wanqing, when I finish with this busy period, I will take you to the seaside to see the warships."

"Really?" Empress Su Wanqing's eyes lit up.

"Really," Li Ling nodded, "I will personally pilot the warship to take you out to sea."

Empress Su Wanqing was so excited that her face turned red, but she soon lowered her head: "Brother Ling, do you think I... I am too clingy?"

"How could that be?" Li Ling ruffled her hair, "I like you being clingy with me."

Empress Su Wanqing shyly buried her head in Li Ling's arms and whispered: "Brother Ling, I will also be with you forever."

The moonlight spilled over the two of them, as gentle as water.

Li Ling held Empress Su Wanqing, and a warm current surged in his heart.

In this strange era, with the company of the system, the tenderness of Empress Su Wanqing, the trust of his father, and the loyalty of his Army, he was no longer fighting alone.

The road ahead was still long, but he had the confidence to walk it.