August 19, 1885, the tenth day of the seventh month of the old calendar. Wang Yongni, counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Germany, sent a letter to Premier Yamen Zhangjing Yuan Chang criticizing the quality problems in the orders of the "Zhenyuan" and "Jiyuan" warships by Li Fengbao, minister in Germany.
Li Fengbao, Minister to Germany
Li Fengbao was a legendary diplomat in the late Qing Dynasty, who successively served as a minister to Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, France and other five countries, and zeng Guofan, a famous minister at the end of the Qing Dynasty, once commented on this former subordinate, calling it "a genius and a great ability, and there is no difference in the contemporary era."
But Li Fengbao, who was born as a literati and engaged in diplomacy, can be described as interlaced like a mountain for the purchase of modern and new warships. The reason why the quality problems of the "Zhenyuan" and "Jiyuan" ships have been criticized by people is that the more important feature of the "Jiyuan" ships lies in its protective measures.
Jiyuan ship
The Jiyuan was equipped with a dome deck about 4 inches (10.16 cm) thick, made of the latest steel composite armor of the time. However, unlike the new dome cruisers, the Jiyuan still follows the design of the early British dome cruisers, and the dome only covers the upper part of the cabin, not extends to the entire ship.
Moreover, the position of the dome is installed 4 feet (about 1.2 meters) underwater, which is contrary to the design idea of "the dome boundary is leaking". It can be seen that the "Jiyuan" ship is a dome cruiser that has not learned home.
As soon as the ship was completed, some people criticized the flawed design and the excessive cost, which led to the dismissal of Li Fengbao, the minister in Germany who ordered the ship. Although the commander tower of the Jiyuan ship is protected by armor, it is only 1.5 inches (3.81 cm) thick and is placed high above the flybridge, exposing a large area and laying a safety hazard.
Li
August 19, 1886, July 20 of the Old Calendar. Li Hongzhang called Ding Ruchang, saying that the two ships "Jiyuan" and "Weiyuan" were going to Incheon, and Yuan Shikai dispatched Wu Ankang's four ships to Incheon on the 21st.
On the same day, Cai Xuan, a member of the Chinese Governor in Nagasaki, and the governor of Nagasaki County held their first meeting at the prefectural government, and the chief instructor of the Beiyang Marine Division, the Englishman Lang Weili and assistant Harris attended the talks.
On the same day, Xu Chengzu, Chinese minister in Japan, telephoned Li Hongzhang, saying that he had sent counselor Yang Shu to Nagasaki to investigate the case, and asked ding Ruchang to consult with the British Langke to find Western witnesses or hire a lawyer.
Langwilli
August 19, 1887, the first day of the seventh month of the old calendar. Zhang Zhidong, the governor of Liangguang, sent a telegram to Li Hongzhang with the completion of the "Guangjia" warship, and planned to transfer the Beiyang Naval Division Li Rui and Liu Enrong to Guangdong to take charge of the driving, and said that if the two were incompetent or did not leave, they would ask for two or three brave Beiyang Marine Division generals. The next day, Li Hongzhang sent a telegram to Zhang Zhidong, saying that Li Rui and Liu Enrong were inappropriate. The owner of the Western ship specializes in knowledge and experience, while the Chinese are only bold and arrogant, and they are afraid of destroying a ship.
Zhang Zhidong, the governor of Liangguang
August 19, 1894, July 19 of the Old Calendar. Jindenggan called the General Tax Division, Hurd, saying that the mine-catching boats to be purchased by Qiandian had been detained by British customs and that exports were prohibited, and that Brazil and other South American countries might be able to buy warships.
On the same day, Ding Ruchang led the fleet to Dagu again, escorting the "Tunan" steamship to load arms, and the "Siping" ship loaded with coal to Lushun.