Since modern naval was still a brand new thing for the Qing Dynasty, not only did it take to learn from the West, but even those who drove the warships needed to be trained from scratch.

During the late Qing Dynasty, because most powerful people invaded China from the sea, the Qing government had to begin to consider strengthening coastal defense. Since the modern navy is still a brand new thing for Qing Dynasty , not only how to make warship requires learning from the West, but even those who drive warships need to be trained from scratch.

So in 1866, Zuo Zongtang asked the court to establish Naval School to cultivate naval talents. Later, under the leadership of Ship Secretary Shen Baozhen, China's first modern naval school, Fuzhou Ship Secretary School, was established in Fuzhou. Fuzhou Naval Academy has front and rear schools, and has multiple majors such as shipbuilding and navigation, which has cultivated many talents for China's modern navigation.

fuzhou naval school

However, due to the weak foundation, the teaching level of Fuzhou naval school is still far from that of traditional European naval powers. In order to better learn the advanced Western technology and experience, in 1873, Shen Baozhen suggested to the Qing court that those with excellent grades should choose from students in the Naval Academy to study in Europe. Shen Baozhen's suggestion was supported by Li Hongzhang and Zuo Zongtang. Under their promotion, the study abroad matter was officially implemented in 1877.

The first batch of students went to Europe to study in a total of 30, of which four were 14 students and four were crafted students to France to learn warship manufacturing technology, while 12 students went to Britain to learn to drive warships. The study time was limited to three years. Among them, those who went to the UK were Liu Buchan , Lin Taizeng , Jiang Chaoying, Huang Jianxun , Lin Yingqi, Jiang Maozhi, Yan Fu , Fang Boqian , He Xinchuan, Lin Yongsheng , Ye Zugui , Sa Zhenbing and other twelve people selected from the first and second graduates of Fujian Shipbuilding School.

. These twelve people finally passed the exam and were successfully admitted to the Royal Naval Academy of Greennitz, the first Qing Dynasty ambassador to the UK, and Guo Songtao, the diary of the Qing Dynasty, mentioned that there were only six people, Yan Fu, Fang Boqian, He Xinchuan, Ye Zugui, Lin Yongsheng, and Sa Zhenbing. Others include Liu Buchan and Lin Taizeng, the two highest-ranking ship management graduates in the Beiyang Navy , who went directly to the British Navy for internship and did not study in the Royal Naval Academy of Greennitz.

practice Beiyang Navy non-commissioned officers and Zhengyong

Britain was the world's first naval power at that time. The Royal Naval Academy of Greennitz was one of the best naval academies in the UK at that time. It trained a large number of junior and intermediate officers for the British Navy, and the requirements for the cadets were very strict. Therefore, many people on the Internet now doubt the true level of Liu Buchan and Lin Taizeng, and why they are not as good as Fang Boqian and others. Later, they were able to advance step by step. Is there anything wrong with them? But speaking of this, it really wrongly accuses Liu Buchan and Lin Taizeng.

Among the twelve sailing graduates, some of them failed the exam and failed to enter the Royal Naval Academy of Greennitz. In the end, they could only coordinate with Guo Songtao to intern in the British Navy. However, Liu Buchan and Lin Taizeng did not take the exam at all, because they had clearly required to go on the ship to intern directly before going abroad.

Liu Buchan

In the "Records of Students Going Overseas Studying in Fujian Factory" submitted by Li Hongzhang and others on November 29, 2018 (January 13, 1877), the various matters of going abroad were recorded in detail. It was mentioned that Liu Buchan and Lin Tai had "formerly went abroad to study, and this time they went to Britain, they could be sent to the military ship to drop out." It means that the two of them have already gone abroad to study, so this time they can go to the UK to do an internship directly.

The study abroad mentioned by Li Hongzhang here refers to the fact that when the Frenchman Japanese and Italian were supervising the return of Europe in 1875, Shen Baozhen ordered Liu Buchan, Lin Taizeng, Wei Han, Chen Zhaoao, and Chen Jitong to follow him to Europe and study in Britain, France and other countries.

Lin Taizeng

From the current perspective, Liu Buchan, Lin Taizeng and others' trip to Europe in 1875 was strictly not studying abroad, but just visiting and inspecting. It is definitely not as good as studying in the regular Naval Academy. However, although Li Hongzhang and Shen Baozhen were already people who knew better about , Westernization at that time, they might not be able to understand the difference, so they finally made this decision. The decision of

is not accurate, but for Liu Buchan and Lin Taizeng, since the above arrangements have been made, of course it is impossible to disobey. Guo Songtao had already contacted the British Navy's Mediterranean Fleet for them. Therefore, after arriving in the UK, Liu Buchan and Lin Tai went for an internship without taking the exam, and missed the Royal Naval Academy of Greennitz.