plan?

Nelson looked at the Marquis of Wellesley, who was about to take up the post of the new Governor-General of India. He pondered for a moment and said: "I think it is unwise to launch a large-scale naval decisive battle now. Our purpose is to block the Indian market and annihilate the Ming Empire."

It’s just about crowding out businessmen from the Indian Ocean.”

"In other words, there will be no decisive battle at sea?" Richard Wellesley frowned and asked: "Then why bring such a huge fleet?"

"This is just in case." Nelson said, "Wooden sail warships are too fragile under bombardment cannons and rockets, so I believe that if the soldiers of the Ming Empire are smart, they will try their best to avoid so-called

The decisive battle."

"Whether we win or lose, such a decisive battle will cost the lives of precious sailors. We can't afford it, and neither can the Ming Empire!"

Marquis Richard Wellesley nodded.

He knows the current situation of naval equipment.

Although the current British "rocket victory theory" is quite convincing.

From the perspective of firepower density, the bombardment artillery used by the Ming army was not as large as the Congreve rocket, and its range was not as far as the Congreve rocket.

Theoretically, once the Ming army's fast ships are discovered, they will be destroyed by focused fire.

It can also have certain advantages in war.

This young man named Arthur Wellesley was the younger brother of Richard Wellesley, and he already had the rank of colonel on his shoulders.

But this advantage definitely cannot offset the contradiction between the expensive construction cost and usage cost of first-class battleships.

Therefore, the best solution now is to use some light fast ships for offshore operations - that is to say, the current situation is that the ocean fleet that needs to use large ships is not decisive at all when facing the enemy's light hunting ships operating offshore.

advantages.

But in Nelson's opinion.

therefore.

His military rank does not come from military exploits, but from serving as an official.

Continental countries usually face the choice between a continental army and a large navy - and the choice is usually the former.

In the current order of operations of the British Royal Navy, there are only 10 first-class battleships of the same class as HMS Victory in service. In addition, there are 17 similar battleships of the same class that are mothballed and waiting for use.

Under the threat of bombardment cannons and rockets, the Ming Empire could not rely on its national strength to build a large number of large battleships to expand its hegemony on the ocean like the British Empire before it - because such large battleships were likely to face some weaker ones.

The country's light bombardment gunboats do not provide any decisive advantage.

The 73rd Highland Regiment was stationed in India, but due to family connections, Wellesley was not transferred to India, but stayed in the UK.

Although the Ming Empire controlled Nanyang.

Continental countries like France and Austria.

The firepower of a sixth-level light schooner with only more than twenty cannons was enough to sink several Victory ships.

Yes.

As for the Ming army’s landing in India?

Both Nelson and Richard thought so.

Zhu Daohua could not send his precious army to India because this would distract his army's strength.

Nelson said.

When he was studying at the Pinherol Military Academy, he was evaluated as having a "weak constitution and not concentrating on studies", and his evaluation was not high.

The Ming Empire was not a European country.

This possibility has also been discussed by the British Cabinet.

Through plunder, the merchant ships of the Ming Empire were pushed out of the Indian Ocean.

So Arthur was left to fend for himself.

But they also cannot continue to expand into the depths of the ocean in this era.

The British Empire, like the Qing Empire, had officials donated.

Therefore, on the one hand, the Ming Empire did not have the ability to send its army to India.

in Europe.

but.

Fortunately, India's opponents on land are mainly local Indian states.

This way.

Now China is in the midst of a melee between the Ming, Qing, and Taiping Heavenly Kingdoms.

The British Royal Navy didn't dare to get close.

"The next step is to expel the forces of the Ming Empire from the Indian Ocean. In this regard, we can issue privateering licenses, plunder the merchant ships of the Ming Empire, and then attack their warships when the Ming Empire sends warships to escort them, forcing them to compromise and accept

The hegemony of the British Empire in the Indian Ocean!”

Then he used his family connections to make a series of transfers, and finally found a position as an assistant to the Governor of Ireland. As an officer, he had hardly participated in a battle or performed a military mission in these years.

It is almost impossible for a country with a large army to develop a large navy.

The title of the Marquis of Wellesley was inherited by Richard.

So after graduation.

The total strength of the British Army stationed in India reached 13,000 men.

For example, the flagship of the Eastern Intervention Fleet is currently under their feet.

"If the Chinese Majesty was smart, he would not distract his power at this time!"

He didn't get any good positions either.

As long as a fish slips through the fire net, it can cause great damage to the British warships.

Nelson said.

He believes that in this situation, naval warships are seriously "offensively strong and defensively weak".

On the other hand

It seemed a bit unwise to disperse their own army forces to India, a region that was a marginal force for the Ming Empire.

It is in this case.

But now the Ming Empire only needs to use a large number of light warships to protect straits, ports, and coastlines.

And in this era of bombardment artillery, perhaps rockets.

As a first-class battleship, the cost of building this battleship is extremely high.

This also earned Arthur the nickname "Wellesley's Vase".

More of a battle on the ocean.

This is another naval theory after the development of the "rocket victory theory": the theory of offshore invincibility!

The cost of using a large ocean-going fleet to conduct expeditionary operations is too high.

He also obtained the position of commander of the 33rd British Division in India with the rank of colonel, and became the commander-in-chief of a new British division in India.

Fortunately, the Wellesley family had considerable connections in the UK, and his eldest brother Richard helped him join the 73rd Highland Regiment and obtain the position of an artillery lieutenant.

Both Richard, the Governor-General of India, and Nelson, the Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Intervention Fleet, seemed a little too optimistic.

That is, a country that has mastered more strategic nodes and can rely on these strategic nodes to deploy a large number of light bombardment ships can control the ocean!

And at this point.

Richard shrugged: "I wish the Spaniards good luck."

For example, the British Empire's current expedition requires large ships to cross the waves of the ocean.

Richard Wellesley nodded after hearing this.

The young British Army officer, later dubbed "Iron Duke Wellington", frowned.

Even second-class ships and third-class ships are still very expensive to build.

"General, it sounds like we don't need to actually send gunboats to the coastline of that huge country to win the war, but what about our allies?"

"It is impossible for us to use an ocean-going fleet to get close to the offshore waters where the Ming Empire has an advantage. However, our purpose is not to land on the coastline of the Ming Empire, but to drive their trade fleet out of India, so what we have to do now

On the one hand, it is to expand the number of light warships in the coastal waters of India. Anyway, the cost we need to pay in this regard is not high. As long as the coastline of India is closed, it will be difficult for the power of the Ming Empire to penetrate."

After all, their real core interests are in China, in northern China.

It can be said to be a record high - this is entirely due to the impact of the rise of the Ming Dynasty.

The British Empire wins!

Arthur Wellesley.

Generally speaking, there are no too fierce battles.
To be continued...