3: Chapter 3 Understanding the World

Early the next morning, Li Ling went to find his father, Retired Emperor Li Zhenshan.

Retired Emperor Li Zhenshan was eating breakfast: a bowl of plain porridge, two steamed buns, and a dish of pickled vegetables. As a high-ranking official holding command over 180,000 troops, his meal was unbelievably simple.

"Father, is this all you're eating?" Li Ling sat opposite him and, without standing on ceremony, picked up a steamed bun and took a bite.

"As long as I'm full, what need is there for so much variety?" Retired Emperor Li Zhenshan glanced at his son. "What brings you to see me so early?"

"I want to talk to you about the current situation."

Retired Emperor Li Zhenshan put down his chopsticks and examined his son carefully.

Since yesterday, he had felt that his son was acting a bit strange. It wasn't the kind of strangeness that comes from a playboy suddenly turning serious, but rather—his eyes were different. The former Li Ling had only cared about eating, drinking, and having fun, occasionally showing a bit of petty cleverness, but never truly concerning himself with military or political affairs.

Yet yesterday, he had brought a blueprint for a Model 1888 Rifle and even uttered words like, "I can make our soldiers stronger."

Today, he wanted to discuss the situation.

"Go ahead." Retired Emperor Li Zhenshan picked up his teacup, prepared to hear what his son had to say.

Li Ling cleared his throat, his memories and the information provided by the system quickly integrating.

"Let's start with the imperial court. The current emperor is young, and Empress Dowager Cixi is ruling from behind the curtain. The court is corrupt beyond measure, with Manchu nobles holding all the power and Han officials being marginalized. Externally, they blindly compromise, ceding territory and paying indemnities, losing sovereign rights and humiliating the nation. Internally, they impose exorbitant taxes and levies, leaving the people in dire straits."

Retired Emperor Li Zhenshan's brow furrowed, but he did not interrupt.

"Now, the powers. Great Britain, France, the German Empire, Meijian Country, and Japan—these five major powers have carved out spheres of influence within Qingxia Kingdom. Great Britain controls the Yangtze River basin, France controls the southwest, the German Empire controls Shandong, Japan controls the northeast and parts of the southeast coast, and Meijian Country infiltrates through economic interests."

"The southern provinces where we are located are nominally under the court's control, but in reality, they have been largely infiltrated by the economic forces of Great Britain and France. The powers have set up concessions, opened banks, and run factories in our ports, filling their pockets with profit. Yet the court not only dares not interfere but even helps the powers exploit the common people."

At this point, Li Ling picked up the teapot on the table, poured himself a cup of water, and took a sip.

"As for Japan," his tone turned cold, "after the First Sino-Japanese War, Japan seized our vassal states and occupied several of our ports. Now they are expanding their military on a massive scale, and their target is not just Korea and the northeast, but the entire Qingxia Kingdom."

After hearing this, Retired Emperor Li Zhenshan remained silent for a long time.

Then he sighed, his voice filled with helplessness: "I know all of what you've said. But what can I do even if I know? The court is incompetent, and the few troops we have under our command are nothing compared to the powers. Last time, Great Britain sent a few warships to our ports to show off their might, and we didn't even dare to make a peep."

"That's because our navy is practically non-existent," Li Ling said pointedly. "The court's Beiyang Fleet has been in name only since the First Sino-Japanese War. The few broken ships of the Nanyang Fleet couldn't even defeat one of Japan's sub-fleets. Without a navy, the warships of the powers come and go as they please, and we can only watch helplessly."

"It's easy for you to say, but how much money does it take to build a navy? Buying a single ironclad warship costs at least several million taels of silver. Where would the court get that kind of money?"

"The court may not have money, but we do."

Retired Emperor Li Zhenshan was stunned: "What do you mean?"

"I don't mean we have money right now; I mean that money can be made." Li Ling put down his teacup. "Father, that foreign friend of mine can not only provide rifle blueprints but can also help us sell goods. We produce tea, silk, and porcelain in the south. If we can trade directly with the foreigners, bypassing those compradors and middlemen, our profits could increase several times over."

"You want to run a foreign trading firm?"

"No, I want to go into the arms business."

Retired Emperor Li Zhenshan almost choked on his tea.

"What did you say?!"

"The arms business." Li Ling repeated. "Father, think about it. The powers are all expanding their militaries now—Great Britain, Germany, France, Meijian, and Woying—which one isn't building new warships and new rifles? Their demand for weapons is staggeringly high. And we have a Production Base, the technology, and a cost advantage. Why shouldn't we take a slice of the pie?"

"You are asking a tiger for its hide!"

"No, this is using force against force." Li Ling said, enunciating each word. "The conflicts between the powers are much deeper than we imagine. Great Britain and France have old grudges, Germany and France have historical feuds, Meijian and Woying are fighting for hegemony in the Pacific Ocean, and Great Britain and Germany are locked in a life-or-death naval arms race. We can exploit their contradictions, play both sides, earn their money first, and then use their own money to arm ourselves."

Retired Emperor Li Zhenshan stared at his son for a long time, his gaze complex.

"How did your brain suddenly become so enlightened?"

"Father, your son was ignorant before, only caring about eating, drinking, and having fun. But during this time, I have thought a lot. Our Li family's foundation cannot be ruined like this. Qingxia Kingdom cannot perish like this either." Li Ling's tone was sincere and firm. "I want to accomplish something, and I need your support."

Retired Emperor Li Zhenshan remained silent for a full minute, then slowly nodded.

"Tell me, what do you want me to do?"

"First, pick 3,000 elite soldiers from your 180,000 troops and hand them over to me for training. I want to forge them into the sharp blade of the Li Family Army."

"Second, send more guards to my estate outside the city and don't let outsiders get close. I've been working on something there with my foreign friend, and I can't let anyone else know about it for the time being."

"Third, give me some startup capital. It doesn't need to be much; 50,000 taels of silver will suffice."

After hearing this, Retired Emperor Li Zhenshan laughed.

"50,000 taels? Do you know how much my annual salary is?"

"Father, stop pretending. You've been a Governor-General for so many years; surely you have some extra income?"

Retired Emperor Li Zhenshan glared at his son but did not deny it.

"Fine, I'll pick the 3,000 men for you, and I'll provide the silver, but you must promise me—don't cause any trouble for me."

"Rest assured, when have I ever caused you trouble?"

"Last time you got into a fight and broke someone's leg, I was the one who cleaned up your mess. The time before that, you got drunk and caused a scene in a brothel, and I had to send people to fish you out. The time before that—"

"Alright, alright, Father, I know. I promise I won't cause trouble." Li Ling hurriedly interrupted, looking a bit embarrassed.

That was done by the original owner of this body, not him.

But he couldn't say that.

Watching his son's awkwardness, Retired Emperor Li Zhenshan smiled rarely.

"Go on, don't let me down."

"I won't."

Li Ling stood up to take his leave. As he walked out of the study, he looked back.

Retired Emperor Li Zhenshan was standing in front of the window, his back to him, looking at the old locust tree in the courtyard.

That back looked a bit hunched.

Li Ling felt a slight ache in his heart.

In the original owner's memories, Retired Emperor Li Zhenshan was both a strict father and a loving one. He provided the best of everything for his son, yet he also indulged the son's playboy lifestyle. In this chaotic world, for the only son of a high-ranking official to have lived safely until now, it was already his father protecting him with all his might.

From today on, it would be his turn to protect his father.

Returning to his own courtyard, Li Ling called out to the system in his mind.

"System, how was my performance just now?"

"The host responded appropriately and successfully gained the father's support. Achievement 'Persuade Strict Father' unlocked. Reward: 200 resource points."

"Only 200?" Li Ling pursed his lips. "Stingy."

"Host, this is a minor achievement, so the reward is naturally small. If you achieve a major achievement, the reward will be tens or even hundreds of times this amount."

"Major achievement, for example?"

"For example, defeating the armies of the powers on the battlefield, building a modernized fleet, or unifying the country."

"Fine, I'll work hard." Li Ling stretched. "Now let's talk business. Help me come up with a detailed training plan for the 3,000 elite soldiers."

"Generated. The training plan is as follows:"

"Phase 1 (Week 1): Basic drill, physical training, and discipline cultivation. The goal is to get the soldiers accustomed to obeying orders and to possess basic physical fitness."

"Phase 2 (Week 2): Shooting training. Loading, aiming, and firing the Model 1888 Rifle, with 50 live rounds fired daily to ensure shot grouping density."

"Phase 3 (Week 3): Tactical coordination. Squad, platoon, and company-level tactics, including four basic tactics: attack, defense, ambush, and retreat."

"Phase 4 (Week 4): Comprehensive drill. Simulating actual combat to test the training results of the first three phases."

After reading it, Li Ling nodded.

This plan was very scientific and more advanced than the training plans of any army in this era. Especially the live-fire shooting—armies of this era couldn't fire many live rounds in a year because ammunition was too expensive. But since Li Ling had a Production Base, the cost of ammunition was pitifully low, allowing them to fire as much as they wanted.

"What about instructors? Do I teach them myself?"

"The host can serve as the chief instructor, but the specific training needs to be executed by lower-level officers. It is recommended that the host select a group of promising officers from the father's army, train them personally, and then have them train the soldiers."

"Good idea. This way, I can also cultivate a group of my own confidants."

The more Li Ling thought about it, the more reliable it seemed.

Although he wasn't a soldier in his previous life, as a military industry expert, he had dealt with the military for decades and was well-versed in modern military training systems. Coupled with the detailed plan provided by the system, teaching a bunch of soldiers from 1898 how to fight was more than enough.

"System, there is one more question."

"Please speak, host."

"My father said the powers have concessions in our ports. Do the foreigners in those concessions look down on us?"

"According to system data, there are approximately 100,000 foreigners currently in Qingxia Kingdom, the vast majority of whom hold a contemptuous attitude toward the people and culture of Qingxia Kingdom. They consider Qingxia Kingdom a 'semi-civilized' backward country and the people of Qingxia Kingdom an 'inferior race'."

Li Ling clenched his fists.

He wasn't the type of person easily provoked in his previous life, but these words still made a surge of anger rise from the bottom of his heart.

Contempt. Inferior race. Semi-civilized.

He had read these terms countless times in history books in his previous life, and every word carried humiliating blood and tears. But when these terms were presented to him through the system's cold data, the sting was ten thousand times stronger than when reading them.

"System, when I have enough power, the first thing I will do is take back all the concessions."

"Host, this requires going to war with the powers."

"Then we go to war." Li Ling's voice was calm, but beneath the calm lay a cold determination. "They used warships and guns to open our national gates, so we will use better warships and stronger guns to drive them out."

The system was silent for a moment.

"Host, there is a saying in the system's database: 'If a country cannot gain respect in peace, it must gain it in war.'"

Li Ling was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

"System, that was quite a profound statement."

"It is a famous quote from the third president of the Interstellar Federation."

"Thank him for me."

"He has been dead for three thousand years."

"…Never mind then."

Li Ling stood up and walked into the courtyard.

The sun was shining just right, illuminating his young face.

1898, Qingxia Kingdom, the South.

A new era was about to begin.