In the impression of ordinary people, since 1840, China has lagged far behind foreign countries in science and technology, especially in weapons technology, which is also the reason why it has been "repeatedly defeated" in foreign wars. In fact, although the Qing Dynasty was backward in technology at that time, its weapon technology was not necessarily completely behind the world. You know, Zuo also dug up the artillery of the Ming Dynasty, which was as powerful as the British at that time.
In the Qing Dynasty, beiyang fleet was called "the ninth in the world" and "the first in Asia". Many people may think that this may be a consistent "bragging" in the Qing Dynasty, but it is not. At that time, beiyang fleet in the Qing Dynasty was indeed the first in Asia. Because in 1886, the Qing dynasty also "bullied" Japan by "building a strong ship and gaining guns". At that time, the Japanese couldn't beat the Qing Dynasty, so they had to bite their teeth and swallow them. This is the Nagasaki incident.
Probably the process was that Japan invited beiyang fleet to Japan to buy daily necessities, but beiyang fleet's "soldiers" made trouble in Japan and the Japanese police stopped them. The Qing sailors were furious and sent 400 people to the police station without permission. At the same time, they started the cannon on the warship and aimed at Nagasaki. At this time, Japan panicked and directly apologized to the Qing Dynasty and compensated the Qing Dynasty for 52,500 yuan. And Li Hongzhang said to Japan afterwards:
"... it's not difficult to start a war. Our warships are anchored in your country, and their hulls and guns are indestructible and ready to fight at any time. "
Therefore, beiyang fleet's ranking first in Asia was not boasted at that time. Then, why did the Qing dynasty, which had advanced weapons, suffer a crushing defeat in the Sino-Japanese War, and was finally ravaged by the great powers? This is not a question of weapons, but a question of the Qing Dynasty itself-Cixi took all the military expenses for her birthday party, so what did the Beiyang Army take to fight the Japanese? In fact, most powerful people at that time attached great importance to the upgrading of weapons.
For example, during the period of Beiyang Warlords, various warlords successively purchased western advanced weapons, and there was not much difference with foreign countries in military weapons. Zhang is one of them. The reason why Zhang wants to buy an "aircraft carrier" is that he is "scared" by his navy. At that time, Zhang and Wu failed to fight and fled back to the customs, but Wu ordered his warships to shoot at Zhang, which made Zhang flustered.
Therefore, after returning to the northeast, Zhang made up his mind to improve his "scientific and technological strength." At that time, the strongest weapon in the maritime war was of course the aircraft carrier, but foreigners would not sell the aircraft carrier to China. Because China's art of war is so strong, I'm embarrassed to get a fire bull array. If we give China another aircraft carrier, something big will happen one day. However, this can't beat Zhang, who has a flexible mind.
In order to enhance combat effectiveness, he borrowed money everywhere-at that time, the powers were very willing to be borrowed by China people because of high profits. After borrowing money, of course, he can't buy a finished aircraft carrier, but he can buy something else-such as an oversized merchant ship. At that time, the Germans happened to have such an abandoned merchant ship with a displacement of 2708 tons. Although it is a little far from the aircraft carrier of the real powers, it is enough for warlords to scuffle.
Then he summoned craftsmen from China to transform the merchant ship into a warship, named "Li Xiang". After Zhang's transformation, this warship can carry two seaplanes at the same time, so it can build a mobile battle fortress. Although these planes could only carry two small bombs, they were very "advanced" weapons for China at that time.
Later, with such an aircraft carrier, Zhang almost became the strongest navy among warlords at that time. Even the Kuomintang government in Guangdong was persecuted by this warship, but the Kuomintang government in Guangdong could only complain helplessly: "It is regrettable that the Northeast Fleet went deep into the hinterland and wiped out our elite." It can be seen that this "aircraft carrier" was very beautiful at that time. However, the ending of this "aircraft carrier" is not good.
Although Zhang is willing to buy weapons, he does not actively govern local areas, nor does he recruit talents, nor does he develop his own talent system and scientific and technological system. Finally, he was killed by the Japanese in the Huanggutun incident on June 4, 1928/KLOC-0. And his navy finally defected to the national government under the temptation of the national government. 1On September 25th, 937, the battle between Songhu and Shanghai was fierce, but the Kuomintang government sank the warship to prevent the Japanese navy from entering the Yangtze River.
It can be seen from the history of Zhenhai that it is not weapons that play a decisive role in the strength of a country, but the spirit, will, wisdom and morality possessed by the nation itself. Only by awakening these things can we truly be invincible. Imagine the defeat of the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, when beiyang fleet of the Qing government gave it to the National Government: If the tanks and cannons of the National Government were given to the Eighth Route Army, how could the Japanese go deep into the hinterland of China?
Therefore, everything, talent is the first. At the same time, Zhenhai also broke a fallacy: building is better than buying, and buying is better than renting. If Zhang has the ability to build his own aircraft carrier, how can he be a mere Japanese?