Chapter 229: Entering Fengtian

Roar, beg for red tickets, collection, otherwise let the old monk come out to disrupt the situation every day.

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In the Northeast, it is unknown when it began to spread that the Rakshasa ghost was plotting to invade the Northeast, and was everywhere, surveying mineral resources everywhere, oppressing and killing many civilians. There were many horrible rumors, such as Russian churches stealing children, digging organs, and trafficking women.

In short, the entire Northeast was in a panic. In later generations, a piece of news about salt shortage could cause a rush to buy salt in many provinces, not to mention this backward and ignorant era. Moreover, the Russians were originally active in the Northeast, and the cruel Russians did not do less bad things.

The rumors were like a prairie fire, and began to burn fiercely, and aroused the vigilance of governments in various parts of the Northeast.

In Haicheng, Dagushan area, several Chinese miners were investigating here nervously and expectantly.

Various small machines drilled in and pulled out again.

One of the miners carefully picked up the excavated soil and carefully analyzed the composition. Several miners around him gathered together, waiting for the conclusion.

"It is certain that there must be iron ore underneath, and the reserves are very rich." Not long after, the miner shouted in surprise and said with certainty.

These days, these miners have surveyed many places in Haicheng, Gaiping, and Xiuyan, and finally determined that these places contain rich iron ore reserves, which are even better than the iron ore surveyed in Daye, Hubei.

Where does this place belong? It belongs to the border between Haicheng County and Liaoyang Prefecture. In later generations, this place became a new city, that is, Anshan City. Beyond it, there is Benxi Iron Mine. The iron ore reserves of these two places rank first in the country.

"No wonder those Orientals and Westerners are always wandering around here. It seems that they have also set their sights on this place." Another miner said with some sighs.

The Chinese people's own resources are often first found by foreigners.

"Don't say so much, hurry back and report the situation to General Wei."

These people were dispatched from Hanyang Iron and Steel Plant by Wei Jichen on behalf of Zhang Zhidong.

Fengtian is rich in resources, and the iron mines in Liaodong are second to none, and they are also under his jurisdiction. Since Wei Jichen wants to report to the court to set up factories and mines, of course he must make full preparations and come up with sufficient information.

As for coal mines, there is no need to worry. Fushun's coal mines have rich reserves and a long history of mining. However, before the Opium War, the Qing court was afraid of damaging the dragon veins and strictly prohibited the mining of coal fields. After the Opium War, the Qing government's finances were extremely tight and the national strength was declining. Under the situation of internal and external difficulties, it had to cancel the ban on the development of Fushun coal fields.

Wei Jichen wanted to carry out industrial layout, connect Fushun, Anshan and Benxi with railways, and become the heavy industrial capital of Northeast China. Although there are many things to do, as long as you do it, it will be realized sooner or later.

The first step was to make the court believe that foreigners were beginning to spy on these places, so they had to raise funds for mining on their own. After having iron and coal, the second step was to set up an ordnance manufacturing bureau to make guns and cannons by themselves, and to be able to produce rails and build railways by themselves.

According to the current model of government-supervised and business-run mines, Wei Jichen could be both an official and a businessman in secret, making it not far from controlling these mines and ironworks.

At this time, Wei Jichen was on his way to Fengtian, the provincial capital.

The former Shengjing general Yu Lu still couldn't withstand the strong public opinion offensive within the court and was demoted to Fuzhou general, while the former Heilongjiang general Yiktang'a was transferred to Shengjing general because of his good performance in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895.

So Wei Jichen took more than a dozen personal soldiers to Fengtian to congratulate him on his appointment.

Although Yiktang'a was a Manchu, he still made outstanding contributions in the struggle against Japan, aggression, and safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity. He was known as the overseas emperor of the three northeastern provinces and was hailed as the tiger general.

When he was in Heilongjiang, he worked with the censor Wu Dacheng and others to survey the Sino-Russian border, strive to return to the Tuzi boundary marker and Heidingzi area, and reaffirm China's navigation rights on the Tumen River. Wu Dacheng admired his wisdom and courage, and wrote the two words "dragon and tiger" on the Heidingzi granite and engraved it on the stone to commemorate it.

During the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, Yiktang'a resolutely submitted a memorial to lead the army to Fengtian and go to Seoul to fight the Japanese army. Compared with Yu Lu, there was a world of difference.

Later, he cooperated with Nie Shicheng and Wei Jichen to achieve a great victory in Caohekou in the Dagaoling area. Unfortunately, Wei Jichen did not meet Yiktang'a that time.

The reason why Wei Jichen went to see him was that he knew that Yiktang'a was highly wary of the Russians, and later when he was the general of Shengjing, he had submitted a memorial to request six things, including training troops, building artillery forts, building railways, making guns and cannons, opening minerals, and managing militia. The Qing court attached great importance to mining policy and ordered it to be properly prepared and opened. This shows that he had extraordinary vision, but unfortunately he died early in 1901.

Shengjing City was the capital of the Qing court. There were many Eight Banner officers and soldiers in the city. Due to the defects of the system, most of these Eight Banner officers and soldiers lived like parasites. They had long lost the toughness of their ancestors, and there were not a few who were down and out.

After Wei Jichen entered the city, he found that since the Japanese army withdrew from Liaodong, these people began to live a life of drunkenness and dreaming. The streets were full of idle banner soldiers strolling in groups of three or five, and people playing with birds and walking dogs could be seen everywhere. In short, most people were doing their job for a day.

Wei Jichen led his personal soldiers straight to the Shengjing Yamen. Before he entered, he saw a lot of traffic and people coming and going at the Yamen gate. He saw that they were all here to pay a visit to Yiktang'a. With the new boss in office, officials from all over the country dared not to pay a visit?

There was a red lantern outside the gate of the government office, and two stone lions squatted in front of the gate.

When he arrived at the gate, Wei Jichen turned over and dismounted, handed over the visiting card, and soon, a clerk respectfully invited him in.

As soon as he reached the door of the hall, the clerk shouted: "General Wei is here!"

Then, a veteran led the accompanying officials to greet him.

This person should be Yiktang'a. Wei Jichen saw that his hair was completely white, and his face was carved with years of vicissitudes, but his body was still strong.

Yiktang'a hurriedly but steadily came over, and without waiting for Wei Jichen to speak, he took his hands and said enthusiastically and sincerely: "Our Fengtian's great savior is here, and I am unfortunate and honored."

The officials were enthusiastic and a little jealous, and they came forward to greet him.

"General, such praise, Zijie is ashamed." Wei Jichen replied with trepidation.

Yiktang'a did not let go of Wei Jichen's hand, but held his hand and walked into the hall, smiling and saying: "Without Zijie's counterattack, my Fengtian Province will lose most of its territory. Moreover, Zijie is now training new troops and stationed in Liaodong, which is the shield of Fengtian. The stability of the province depends on Zijie alone. Zijie deserves the title of Liaodong General."

The court did not have the position of Liaodong General. Yiktang'a's words were obviously a compliment.