Chapter 164: Speculation

Beining.
Inside the Qing army camp, groups of soldiers in uniform walked around jokingly. These camps no longer had much defensive value.
The officers and soldiers lacked enthusiasm; they were more concerned with how to improve their lives back home. The two defense forces had been out of the pass for a long time and had now married and settled in Northern Vietnam, almost becoming locals there.
As for the defenses, they had all become lax. Only Huang Guilan, considered an expert in camp construction, had built some Western-style fortifications for defense. But since he wasn’t favored, he indulged in wine and women day and night.
Dozens of soldiers from the infantry camps simply lay in the sun, waiting for war to break out so they could fire volleys of guns.
“One quick shot can earn thirty eagle dollars, not to mention the cost of bullets…”
“Is that really such a good deal? But we’ve worked so hard to become soldiers—we can’t disappoint our officers.”
“Nonsense! We can’t even make ends meet; we’re three months behind on our pay from last year. How can my wife survive like this? Besides, if we sell the guns to the Black Flag Army, they’ll still be used against foreigners.”
It wasn’t just them who wanted to sell guns—there was also a prominent figure: “Commander Huang, you’re overreacting…”
Tang Jingsong’s enthusiasm was completely doused, but unexpectedly, Huang Guilan proposed such an attractive deal: “If you don’t buy these artillery pieces, is Shanxi really in danger?”
Huang Guilan indulged in wine and women day and night, with dozens of young Vietnamese women around him at all times. Yet he had high aspirations: “I’m an experienced soldier. These four field guns are just borrowed to your Black Flag Army. Add the foreign guns sold as well, and ten thousand taels of silver should suffice for me.”
With a few words, he “borrowed” the four Krupp field guns and a large number of foreign guns to the Black Flag Army, then planned to get ten thousand taels of silver for himself: “I really need this money urgently.”
Since he couldn’t achieve the same feats as Zeng Wenzheng, Huang Guilan settled for less—enjoying life to the fullest first, then leaving enough wealth for his family: “If you don’t have cash, banknotes will do.”
Tang Jingsong had originally planned to lead troops to offer aid, but his troops were blocked. Huang Guilan, however, proposed such a sensational exchange deal: “If you don’t have artillery pieces, I wouldn’t dare lend them to you. Since you’ve obtained artillery from the French, everything is negotiable. By the way, the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company says they want to discuss matters with you regarding military supplies.”
China Merchants Steam Navigation Company? Tang Jingsong’s eyes widened.
This company was the number one monopoly enterprise in the Qing Dynasty, starting with shipping and expanding into various businesses—almost covering everything with unlimited prospects. Even in another timeline, it continued to thrive as a top-tier supergroup.
In this timeline, the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company tried constantly to expand overseas to break imperialist monopolies. Vietnam was their earliest overseas base, but all their efforts and investments were ruined by this war.
In Tang Jingsong’s memory, the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company had nothing to do with Vietnam anymore. How could they reach out to him through Huang Guilan?
…
“Tang Tinggeng?”

Liu Yu never expected that this important figure, unlike Xu Yanxu, was a true expert on Vietnam and could genuinely represent the interests of China Merchants Steam Navigation Company. In his memory, Tang Tinggeng and his brother had already been ousted from the company by Sheng Xuanhuai that year. But in this timeline, history had taken a slight turn—his brother Tang Tingshu and Xu Run still hadn’t been expelled from China Merchants Steam Navigation Company, and Tang Tingshu, representing this government-supervised monopoly organization, was now eager to make political investments. Tang Tinggeng wasn’t like an ordinary comprador; he resembled more of a bureaucrat. Dressed in Qing-style official robes, he paid Liu Yu a grand salute and said, “Had it not been for Commander Liu’s victory over the French forces, our company and my brothers would have faced disaster. Therefore, I am willing to donate a certain amount of military provisions…” In history, China Merchants Steam Navigation Company had made such donations to the Qing troops in Beining, and they had been delivered the previous year. But in this timeline, Tang Tinggeng chose to invest politically in the Black Flag Army. At this moment, their merchant nature was fully evident: “All of China Merchants Steam Navigation Company’s facilities in Vietnam were destroyed by the French forces, which is truly regrettable. Many people at sea have expressed blame, but my brother and Mr. Xu Run were spared thanks to your army’s victory in Shanxi.” “I have come to Vietnam today with a request. If negotiations for peace with the French are possible, I ask that you compensate our company for losses amounting to 20 million francs.” In history, the Sino-French War led to an unprecedented economic crisis in modern Chinese history, and the famous Hu Xueyan collapsed during that time—Liu Yu’s victory couldn’t change this; neither he nor Hu Xueyan could defy objective economic laws. Yet China Merchants Steam Navigation Company still had a glimmer of hope thanks to their victory over the Black Flag Army. Especially Xu Run, who had been severely weakened by the Sino-French War in this timeline, but Tang Tingshu and Xu Run still controlled the company. These powerful compradors possessed remarkable political sensitivity; they could seize every opportunity, and in their eyes, Liu Yu was an excellent target for investment. Tang Tinggeng came to offer timely help, or rather, to add even more to what already existed: “Having heard that your army is short of weapons, my brothers and Mr. Xu have already purchased 3,000 rifles in Hong Kong. All arrangements have been made, and they will be delivered soon. Additionally, hundreds of tons of picric acid needed by your army can also be sent.” As a monopolistic business organization, although discriminated against by the government, China Merchants Steam Navigation Company still possessed remarkable capabilities, including its operations in Kaiping coal mines and other industries. Over the past few years, Liu Yu had failed to establish a land route from Hong Kong to Shanxi, but Tang Tinggeng, on behalf of the company, made a promise: “These weapons represent our contribution as China Merchants Steam Navigation Company.” Liu Yu wasn’t expecting Tang Tinggeng to bring such a generous gift: “Thank you very much… But I’ve been trying hard to purchase weapons from Hong Kong. Could your company assist?” “As long as the commander agrees to include those 20 million francs in the plan, everything can be arranged,” Tang Tinggeng said boldly. “I can handle all the necessary arrangements on our end.”

He wasn’t just talking nonsense. People like these big compradors, though not as high-ranking as governors, had long been in official circles—after all, who doesn’t have their own connections?
“If your firm is short of funds, our bureau can also help raise them.”
Tang Tinggeng offered this condition through gritted teeth. Due to the war, the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company had suffered unprecedented blows; his elder brother and Xu Run were in extremely difficult situations, barely holding on.
Liu Yu was well aware of this. He merely glanced at Tang Tinggeng, who appeared calm and cheerful, before turning to Jiang Ningxue and saying, “Your firm has had a hard time these past years…um.”
“I’ll give your firm a deposit of 20,000 taels of silver. If you can bring military supplies from Hong Kong, I’ll cover all costs and also give you a bonus for the procurement.”
After some thought, he added, “Given the dangerous journey ahead for Brother Tang, I’ll settle this deposit in gold.”
“Hiding gold in Shunhua?” Tang Tinggeng blurted out. “Great! Then we won’t be polite about it.”
Liu Yu gave a figure. Although this deal wouldn’t result in a loss, the profits wouldn’t be huge either. Considering the huge risks, it seemed the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company would suffer losses—after all, this was political speculation.
Liu Yu looked at the 3,000 foreign rifles. The company had indeed put in effort; though the firearms were varied, they were all of high quality. But whether they could continue to purchase large quantities of military supplies from Hong Kong after this order… “I’m not short of silver—I’m short of military supplies. If you can arrange this for me, you’d be like Hu Xueyan, who once helped General Zuo raise funds in the northwest.”
“Poor Hu Guangyong… he’s already…” Thinking of Hu Xueyan’s fate, Tang Tinggeng couldn’t help feeling sorrowful. “But back then, he made a fortune helping General Zuo raise funds to quell rebellions.”
He quickly changed the subject: “Our China Merchants Steam Navigation Company is ten times stronger than Hu Guangyong’s, so we naturally won’t face such risks.”
Liu Yu simply smiled indifferently. “If you can get all the military supplies for me, I’ll pay you a deposit of 150,000 taels of silver.”
The Tang brothers were also extremely wealthy, but 150,000 taels in cash was something they rarely encountered in their lives. “I wonder what kind of military supplies Commander Liu needs?”
“Rifles, cannons… and materials for armaments.”
“I’ll definitely arrange them for you.”
Though 150,000 taels wasn’t an especially large sum in previous years, at this critical moment, it was like a life-saving rain for the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company.
When Hu Xueyan went bankrupt, many banks collapsed as well. His bank was said to have a scale of 20 million taels, but its actual capital was only in the hundreds of thousands of taels. His elder brother and Xu Run usually borrowed money from each other instead of using funds from the company, and now they were already in a desperate situation.
If they could get 150,000 taels in cash, they could sit back and relax without worrying anymore.
He simply asked, “Is that all?”
“That’s it,” Liu Yu replied firmly. “Our Black Flag Army only needs these.”

Tang Tinggeng had witnessed Liu Yu’s magnanimity. After some thought, he asked, “Our China Merchants Group still has some military raw materials in Hong Kong that can be temporarily lent to your army. Before coming here, my elder brother mentioned something and asked me to inquire with you, the commander.”
“Please speak,” Liu Yu said. Seeing Tang Tinggeng’s serious expression, he knew it must be a very important matter, so he immediately replied, “I’m ready to listen attentively.”
Tang Tinggeng then gave Jiang Ningxue a solemn look. Liu Yu asked her to step outside and keep watch. Only then did Tang Tinggeng utter those words: “Between the position of Emperor of China and the position of President of China, which would you prefer, commander?”