Warships with more than a thousand tons are not very suitable for distant sea operations. But the distant sea that Dong Shuheng mentioned is not the distant ocean.
The current combat area of the First Fleet is mainly in the Western Pacific. According to the plan, the furthest they can go is the Southeast Asia.
Relying on the Western Pacific port chain built by Dong Shuheng, the First Fleet can rush to the next port before its coal runs out and obtain supplies smoothly.
This way there won't be so much reliance on supply ships.
Moreover, the supply ship cannot provide unlimited supplies, and the number of supplies carried on it is also limited. It can only serve an emergency purpose.
In addition, ports with coastal defense fortresses are also shelters for the First Fleet. When the enemy is too strong, the First Fleet can hide in the port nearby to resist.
Only when pursuit operations are required and there is no way to dock, supply ships need to be used.
When Dong Shuheng built the port chain in the Western Pacific, a very important reason was to serve the First Fleet.
Even if there are warships with larger tonnage in the future, military ports will still be very important.
Even a hundred years later, the military port will still be an important strategic location and an important factor in military strength.
When the tonnage of ships increases in the future, these military ports and airports with complete defense facilities can also be used as transfer sites for fighter jets.
Now with these military ports, the First Fleet can travel from Alaska in the north, along the Aleutian Islands, Sakhalin Island, Japanese Islands, Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan Island, Hainan Island, and even to the Nanyang Islands, such a long and narrow route
Keep fighting.
If the foreign fleet wants to break through to China's coastal areas, it will face the danger of being cut off.
This port chain is a Great Wall on the sea.
This plan is a long-term plan.
There is also another meaning, which is to use this port chain to firmly tie Japan.
Let the shogunate be China's most loyal hunting dog forever.
Japan's role is still very important in Dong Shuheng's plan. The population there can also make up for the lack of Chinese overseas immigrants.
These Japanese people living under the rule of daimyo do not even have a sense of nationality.
If they are emigrated among the Chinese people, within a generation or two, they will completely forget their origins.
At that time, they would at most think that they were Chinese from Japan.
I believe that by then, none of them will be willing to admit that they are not Chinese.
In the new capital, Dong Shuheng, who returned to the summer palace, received two important messages.
One message came from the newly established Southwest Military Region of Mekong Province.
This incident did not cause much disturbance in Dong Shuheng's heart.
The Lancang Navy fought a battle with the Siam Navy in Chenla. Whether the news was good or bad, Dong Shuheng regarded it as a trivial matter. He just taught his younger brother a lesson.
Another piece of news came from Luzon. The news was not good. A Chinese plantation was attacked by local indigenous people, and more than a thousand Chinese in the plantation were killed.
In the past two years, the Chinese in Southeast Asia have built up their own armed forces in large numbers. Among the plantations with more than 1,000 people, there are at least 500 armed forces.
How could they be wiped out by the natives? No one had even escaped. Suddenly, the Chinese plantation in Luzon was in a state of turmoil. Someone reported this matter to the local envoy of the Renaissance Army.
At this time, the Spanish colonial authorities suddenly announced that martial law would be imposed on the Luzon coast.
It was not easy for this news to get out.
Let’s review this first message first.
As mentioned before, the Lancang River Navy led by Zhang Qiang sailed all the way along the lower reaches of the Lancang River towards Chenla.
The guide on the boat introduced to him that there was a Siamese naval force guarding Chenla downstream. The general of this Siamese navy, Pula, was now regarded as a warlord of Siam.
He relied on the advanced gunboats in his hands to collude with the people of the East India Company.
Opium was purchased from the East India Company and smuggled into Siam.
Although King Rama IV of Siam is a relatively liberal king, Siam also bans smoking in the country.
He was good at discerning current affairs. However, Rama IV, like many kings of Siam, followed a compromise line in politics.
For a warlord like Pula, as long as the other party does not return to Siam to develop his power, Rama IV will allow him to exist.
At least this general Pula was still nominally a subject of Siam. Through Pula, Siam still enjoyed significant interests in Chenla.
Many nobles established manors in Chenla. Siam even resold some of the Chenla land it occupied to Chinese merchants, earning a large amount of income.
Although Rama IV also had some Chinese ancestry, he did not completely trust Chinese merchants.
The Chinese merchants in the past were very obedient. They had business intelligence and a hard-working style.
With their presence, the Kingdom of Siam seems to be able to become more prosperous.
But in the past two days, these Chinese businessmen have suddenly changed for some reason.
Their appetite is getting bigger and bigger. They are accumulating weapons in their plantations, and the suzerain country in the north has also changed its temper and begun to openly support these merchants.
The appetite of these people is growing. In the past, Siam contracted a lot of tax revenue to Chinese businessmen.
Now these Chinese businessmen are using these taxes to threaten the Kingdom of Siam.
They even established a Siamese bank and deposited all Siamese taxes in the bank.
Let Siamese officials go to the bank to receive their salaries, and local expenses must also be drawn from this bank.
King Rama IV naturally knew the tricks involved.
In this case, all Siam's finances would be controlled by Chinese businessmen.
But Rama IV has no choice now. In the past, he could still use force, but now, not only do these people have their own armed forces, but the suzerain country behind them is something that Siam cannot afford to offend.
The Ruan Dynasty in the east was severely slapped in the face by the sovereign state this time.
This gave the King of Siam a new understanding of his northern suzerainty.
In the past, Nanzhang was the place where Siam and the Nguyen Dynasty took turns fighting for each other.
Now, the suzerain country in the north took it back as soon as it said it would take it back.
The new government of this suzerain country is obviously much more difficult to deal with than the previous Qing court.
If he fails to serve him well then, he might be deposed and replaced with a new king, or Siam might be taken back directly.
Now the other side of the Mekong River is the province of the sovereign state. The army of the sovereign state is stationed on the opposite side of the Mekong River and may come over at any time.
Across the river is the essence of Siam.
Facing the big Western countries, Rama IV had many ways to deal with them.
Those countries are not of the same mind. All they pursue is interests and money. As long as they transfer certain interests, it is easy to survive in their cracks.
Moreover, those great powers were far away across the ocean. Apart from gaining profits, they had no ability to annex Siam.
As the king of Siam, preserving the legacy of the royal family is more important than making the country strong.
"Prince Prime Minister, is that Pula still unwilling to return?" In the splendid palace, Rama IV asked the Prime Minister standing on the side with a worried look.
"Yes, Your Majesty, this Pula may feel that with the Spanish and French supporting him, he can sit back and relax and do whatever he wants." said the king.
"Do you think Pula is the rival of the suzerain country?" Pula has gained a lot of profits through opium smuggling and setting up checkpoints on the Mekong River in recent years. All of them were used to buy guns and guns from foreigners.
The gunboats in his hands are equipped with foreign artillery.
Therefore, Rama IV felt that Pula might be able to fight against the sovereign state.
If the suzerain country loses, it may take the initiative to retreat and stop extending its tentacles there.
Rama IV was familiar with the history of the suzerain country and knew that not most people in the suzerain country supported expansion. Once expansion required paying a large price, their domestic opposition forces would jump out.
At that time, those people will object to sending troops abroad on the grounds that it is a waste of people's power.
Therefore, relying on such a powerful suzerainty, these countries in the south have been able to maintain their independence for thousands of years.
However, the Prime Minister of Siam obviously knew the Renaissance Army better because he had a good relationship with Chinese businessmen. He immediately poured cold water on Rama IV.
"Your Majesty, although Pula's power in the south is very strong, even the Nanqi army of the Nguyen Dynasty is no match for him, but facing the army of the suzerain country, he is definitely no match. Even if he occupied some areas at the beginning
Advantage. But the main army will soon come down the river."
In the past, there was no suitable road from the northern suzerain country to the south, and their army could not march long distances in the rain forest.
But now, they have opened up the waterway of the Mekong River. Along this developed water system, they no longer need to worry about marching and logistical supplies.
Therefore, the Prime Minister knew very well that there was no need to deal with the suzerain countries on both sides of the Mekong River.
As for foreign guns? What a joke? People can make them themselves. The foreign guns in the hands of Chinese businessmen were bought from the sovereign country.
How can you fight with thousands of guns bought by Pula alone? People can make them themselves or even sell them.
So how much do you want?
"Prince Prime Minister, if Pula loses, then the suzerain council will not anger me, Siam. After all, Pula is still nominally the general of Siam." Rama IV asked worriedly.
"Your Majesty, I don't know yet. I haven't figured out the nature of this suzerain country yet, but I can be sure that the one in the north is like those wise kings in Chinese history. Their dignity is not allowed to be violated."
There seems to be a saying in the history of China that goes: "Anyone who offends a strong man will be punished no matter how far away he is."
"Then what should we do?" Rama IV panicked.
"Your Majesty, for this plan, before the news has spread, announce to the outside world that Pula is a rebel, sever ties with Pula, and arrest Pula's party members. Then report this matter to the superiors
The ambassador of the country." The Prime Minister came up with the idea of cutting off the tail to survive. At this time, Pula could only be sacrificed.
Although this will affect the royal family's reputation in the army.
Because other armies knew that Pula was abandoned because of the confrontation with the overlord country.
If there is a war with the sovereign country in the future, which army will be willing to go to war?
"Prime Minister, is there no other way?" Rama IV knew the power of this, so he was still a little melancholy.
Besides, Pula still has hope of victory. If Pula wins, what if he can fight over with the support of foreigners and replace himself?
Although the foreigners cannot conquer the huge Siam by themselves, they can still support an agent of their own.
Big warlords like Pula are good candidates for support.
"Your Majesty, you should continue to cut off, otherwise you will suffer chaos." I also ask for your Majesty's Holy Judgment.
"Your Majesty, when there are two giants beside us, then we can only choose one to seek refuge. If Your Majesty cannot decide which one to choose, then it is better to choose the one closer to us."
King Rama IV breathed a long sigh of relief and said: "Prime Minister, I would like to announce to the public that I will go to the Great Buddha Temple to worship Buddha recently. The affairs of the country will be handled by the Prime Minister for the time being. I leave it to the Prime Minister."
When the Prime Minister heard this, his heart tightened. The king was about to come to Buddha escape again. He obviously wanted to take the blame himself.
But so what? In this way, you can rely on the suzerain as a backer, and you can also gain support from domestic Chinese businessmen.
Who can shake his position then?
With the support of Chinese businessmen, one can gain more financial power.
At that time, he can support the generals close to him, purchase weapons from the suzerain country, and make the generals close to him strong. With military and financial power, his family can grow in Siam.
He is also expected to become a powerful prime minister in the history of Siam.
Stung Treng City is built along the Mekong River. This place is an important turning point. It is especially suitable for fortification along the river.
It was originally an important place for Chenla to defend Siam.
Now, it has become the base camp of Siam's garrison in Chenla.
It is also the most important base for opium smuggling in Pula.
Pula was stationed here all year round, and he rarely went to Phnom Penh, the original royal capital of Chenla.
Pula is still very afraid of death. In Stung Treng there is not only his navy, but also the five thousand army he built privately.
The navy consisted of thirty wooden gunboats and three steamships.
Each wooden gunboat was equipped with six cannons, some of which were purchased from the French and some of which were given to him by the East India Company.
Ten artillery pieces were installed on the three ships.
In addition, on the shore, he also established a shore defense artillery position.
It can be said that no one can cross this section of the river without his pula's nod.
This is his main business in Pula. As for the Phnom Penh area downstream, there is no such thing. Even if Pula does not station any soldiers there, those people have to pay taxes to Pula obediently.
With this navy under his command, Pula could almost walk sideways on the Mekong River.
Even the Siamese officials upstream did not dare to interfere. It was precisely because of this that he was able to sell opium to Siam and Nanzhang upstream.
On this river, even the king's decrees had no effect on him.
Just a few days ago, the King of Siam ordered Pula to withdraw from the Mekong River and bring the navy back to the port on the Gulf of Siam.
The reason is that the navy of the sovereign country wants to patrol the Mekong River.
Siam's control of Chenla was not recognized by the suzerain state.
This is legally unjustifiable.
Although, historically, the suzerain country would not care about these things at all, but now it is completely different from before.
The king was obviously worried that the suzerain country would make trouble with this matter, so he asked Pula to temporarily withdraw. At that time, he would only need to introduce a puppet King Chenla to deal with the suzerain country.
When the army of the suzerain country retreats, the Siamese army can come back.
Originally, Pula thought this was nothing.
But the arrival of a person changed Pula's plan. This person was Adam, the representative of the East India Company.
This Adam has been the East India Company's representative sent to contact Pula.
The two of them are very familiar with each other, and there is a certain foundation of trust between them.
After all, the two parties have been cooperating for a long time. Pula believed in Adam's words.
Adam told Pula that he hoped Pula could destroy the Renaissance navy in Stung Treng.
At that time, the East India Company was willing to give him ten armed gunboats.
When he heard this number, Platon was stunned. He knew that with only three modified steamships, he was almost invincible on the Mekong River.
What would happen if there were ten ships and they were well armed?
At this time, Adam gave Pula another reason that he couldn't refuse.
Adam told Pula that as long as he could stop the advance of the Renaissance Army, they would lobby Britain, France, Spain and other countries to unanimously support him as the king of South Indochina.
Pula knew what Adam meant by South Indochina, which was a vast area including Chenla and Nguyen Chao Nam Chi.
Pula was naturally an ambitious man. He imagined that if he could rule such an area, he might not be able to destroy Siam and the Nguyen Dynasty. At that time, he would drive the Renaissance Army away from Nanzhang and establish his own kingdom in the south.
A big empire.
Ambition is the easiest thing to get lost in.
Immediately, Pula began intense preparations for the battle.
Adam didn't just talk. This time he also brought two thousand of the latest rifled guns and twenty field six-pound cannons to help Pula strengthen the defenses along the river.
A war is about to break out in the Stung Treng area.