When Du Ji entered the room again, Dong Shuheng was sitting there with his eyebrows in deep thought.
There was a cup of undrinkable tea in front of him, which seemed to have gone cold.
Ji Mingshan has left the room, and there are several messages that he needs to arrange to send out as soon as possible. These are Dong Shuheng's responses to the news.
The first military order was to urgently recruit the First Fleet to join the Second Fleet at Cam Ranh Bay.
Currently, these two fleets are the only ones Dong Shuheng can mobilize in the south.
Just eight small ironclad ships are not necessarily an opponent of the British and French navies in a sea encounter.
The British and French navies are not the old battleships of the Spanish Navy.
Their warships are all equipped with steam-assisted power. In addition, Britain and France have made great breakthroughs in the research of new artillery in the past two years.
According to the information Dong Shuheng received, many of their ships have been replaced with new breech-loading guns.
Otherwise, do you think the French are fools? Do they know that the Spanish fleet has just been destroyed in Manila, but they still send their own warships to die?
Since they have decided to send the fleet here, they have made an assessment of the strength of both sides.
The destruction of the Spanish fleet was somewhat accidental.
As a naval power, France reviewed the Battle of Manila after the war.
First, they realized why the Renaissance Army wanted to find ways to concentrate the Spanish navy in Manila Port.
In other words, the Renaissance Army's armored ships have certain restrictions when operating.
Their mobile mines are limited in their ability to attack moving targets. If a battleship can spot them launching mines, it should be able to avoid them by turning, slowing down or accelerating.
Therefore, the French navy only needs to strengthen its vigilance outside the port to avoid being blocked by the opponent in the port.
They even thought of setting up barbed wire fences in the harbor to block the other side's mines.
Through deduction, they concluded that the power of this mine to move in the water would not be too strong.
In addition, they have always kept a distance from each other since they attacked the Manila Fort.
The French came to the conclusion that the protective power of this small ironclad was not as strong as imagined, and it might not even be as good as the "Glorious" ironclad built by the French.
Because the opponent's tonnage is only a little over a thousand tons. Such a tonnage simply cannot bear the thick iron armor.
The 68-pound gun currently equipped on the French Navy's battleships can fire a 30-kilogram explosive projectile.
They believed that they would not be at a disadvantage in a close-range melee.
There is also the upper turret structure adopted by the opponent, which limits the number of their artillery. This is also the opponent's disadvantage.
The flagship of the Eastern Fleet sent by the French this time was the steam-powered double-decker plywood battleship "Napoleon".
The outstanding French naval engineer Dupuy de Lorme can be called the lucky star of the French Navy.
It was under his auspices that French built the first steam-powered double-deck battleship "Napoleon" in 1850, thus achieving a leap-forward development in battleship power.
Lome later decided to improve the ship by laying iron armor plates on its sides, so that the hull could withstand the bombardment of 25 kilograms (55 pounds) explosive shells fired by the latest front-loading guns.
This time, neither Britain nor France has sent the latest ironclad warships to the East, but there are many warships modified like this.
The French believed that they could withstand the long-range attacks of the Renaissance warships, and when they got close, they used broadside guns to counterattack.
In order to prevent the Renaissance Army's warships from using their speed to enter the fleet's blind spot.
The French also worked overtime to install additional bow and stern guns on the upper deck of the battleship.
These modifications to the fleet were all recently carried out and were not mentioned in Dong Shuheng's information.
Therefore, Dong Shuheng did not mobilize the high-speed torpedo boats. He did not want to use this killer weapon until the most critical moment.
After all, the most threatening thing is when the fist is withdrawn.
His second order was for the military department to coordinate the mobilization of military supplies to the southwest region, and then to stockpile them along the waterways along the Lancang River.
We now have enough troops, but combat supplies still have to be transported from the rear.
The troops and horses have not moved, but the food and grass have to go first. The southwest region lacks necessary military industries, and military supplies mainly have to be transferred from Jiangning and other places.
Of course, there is no need to transport food supplies all the way, you just need to buy a batch from Siam.
As a vassal state, Siam had the obligation to provide military assistance to the suzerain state.
Of course, if the demand for military rations was too great, Dong Shuheng would not let Siam provide it in vain.
If you blindly pursue plunder, you will be pushing your vassal state towards the enemy.
Vassal states like Siam have a very broad horizon. They began to interact with Europa when they first arrived in Asia in the 16th century.
Therefore, Dong Shuheng can use force to suppress others, and he can also use interests to fetter others, but he cannot treat others as fools.
The third item is to telegraph the Northwest Military Region and ask Wang Congzhi to do a good job in defense against the Tsarist Russians. Since there is a war in the south, a war in the northwest must be avoided.
Fighting on two fronts is a taboo for military strategists.
Dong Shuheng has ordered people from the Military Intelligence Bureau to start investigating the motives of Tsarist Russia.
Zheng Jian spent more than half a year in Central Asia and took advantage of the civil strife in Tsarist Russia to infiltrate some of his own people into Tsarist Russia.
As long as you have money to clear the way, you won't have to worry about getting information.
Also, as explained before, even if Tsarist Russia launches a large-scale attack, Dong Shuheng believes that the heavy troops he deployed in the northwest region can resist it.
The fourth option is to plan another large-scale combat operation in the Indian region to try to hold back the British. The best they can do is to send the navy to help the French.
The large number of armies in the British and Indian colonies must not be allowed to withdraw.
Of course, even if the Great Empire wanted to send its army to fight at this time, the French would not dare to accept it.
Why?
Because the Great Empire was still fighting the plague in the British and Indian colonies.
During the hot rainy season, this disease spreads very quickly. It has already begun to spread to some cities on the southeastern coast of the British Indian colony.
This is due to the combination of the huge local population and the lack of necessary epidemic prevention measures for the vast majority of colonial aborigines.
Plagues even show signs of evolution.
The rebel armies in the north, the Northern Alliance, the Holy Army, and the Burmese Army are no longer at war with the British and Indian troops.
Chen Yucheng even set up a tight blockade at the military demarcation line between the two sides, and even a group of rats from the south came running over.
Even the Baath Army has closed some ports and does not allow ships passing through India to dock directly.
Moreover, the ports on the two outlying islands of Jilong and Qiongzhoufu have been designated as special ports of call for these ships. After these ships dock, foreign crew members cannot go ashore directly.
Not only that, even the Chinese on board the FNA's own ships had to be observed at the port for a period of time and disinfection measures were taken when they came ashore.
The French colonies on the east coast of India have also been affected. The French army has suffered enough from the plague in Crimea, so they will not now cooperate with the army of the British and Indian colonies of the Great Empire.
That's like finding yourself a Sangmen star as your partner.
The fifth order is to ask Yang Bingchun of the Southern Military Region to lead troops to Jiaozhou to do preventive work.
Jiaozhou Province was the original Beiqi region.
This area has always been associated with the Central Plains dynasty. The local Chinese culture is deeply rooted.
Therefore, after the Renaissance Army took it back, it quickly stabilized. The social and demographic structure here is actually somewhat similar to that in western Guangdong.
Now that the French want to use force against Annan, Jiaozhou, which is next to Annan, is the first place to be affected.
Even if France has no intention of going north, Dong Shuheng must make preparations for the coastal areas.
The Renaissance Army originally adopted an external defense strategy in coastal areas.
The first island chain beyond the coastline is the focus of the Renaissance Army's defense.
Of course, it has been such a long time, and Britain and France also know about the island defense line of the Renaissance Army.
After all, their warships and merchant ships are all over the world.
The Renaissance Army still has several ports open to the outside world.
In fact, these settings cannot be hidden from the eyes of interested people.
Especially like the Great Empire, there are Lawrences all over the world.
Therefore, Dong Shuheng estimated that the French would not dare to enter the southeast coast. If they dared to enter, Dong Shuheng would dare to close the door and beat the dogs.
However, there are always surprises in war.
Never fight an unprepared battle, this is Dong Shuheng's creed.
The sixth item is to put various maritime security areas on the southeast coast and the first island chain into alert status. It serves as the Great Wall of Maritime Defense built by Dong Shuheng.
This line is densely covered with more than a dozen ports with complete defense facilities. The construction of these port defense facilities cost the Renaissance Army a lot of financial and material resources.
As the country's architect, Dong Shuheng's original plan was not just to use defense to make up for the lack of naval numbers.
He also has other thoughts, which is to solidify these occupied areas.
If Dong Shuheng had not established a base in Fusang at the beginning, then it would not be that easy for Qi Bin to lead his troops to control Fusang.
Of course, this kind of deployment is also to prevent the French from jumping over the wall and leading their troops north after the war breaks out.
Article 7: Let Hans of the General Staff lead a capable staff team to quickly go south to Phnom Penh Province to join Dong Shuheng.
Why let Hans lead this team?
Not only in the General Staff, Hans was more professional than many other halfway monks.
Or because he had abundant opportunities to fight against the French army.
The Prussian and French armies were old enemies.
Since the French's goal was Nanqi, Dong Shuheng placed his base camp in Phnom Penh Province.
At that time, troops and supplies can be transported to the front line through the Lancang River waterway.
In this way, the Renaissance Army is in the upstream area and has more initiative.
There is no way the French can conjure up a river mariner.
The Lancang River Navy is now an inland water division focused on building by the Renaissance Army.
The military functions of the Yangtze River Navy and the Black Dragon Navy have gradually weakened. Their role is more to maintain local security.
One of the Lancang River Navy and the Nu River Navy faced the Southern Ocean, and also monitored the vassal states Siam and Annam along the route. The other faced the Indian Ocean, the sphere of influence of the Great Ling Empire.
These are places where war is most likely to break out.
Therefore, the Renaissance Army has focused on its construction in the past two years.
Basically all of their latest gunboats are allocated to them.
For example, the Lancang Navy has 18 gunboats, including 5 gunboats over 500 tons.
The people currently responsible for escorting Dong Shuheng all the way south are actually only a small part of this navy.
The main force of the Lancang Navy has been in Phnom Penh Province, cooperating with the army to suppress the rioters here.
"Did Minister Ji bring you another disturbing news?" Seeing Dong Shuheng so anxious, Du Ji wanted to comfort him, but she didn't dare to ask any more questions.
She is just a life secretary, and according to the rules, she cannot interfere with political affairs. Unless Dong Shuheng tells her himself.
"We may be in big trouble this time, but it's just trouble. It hasn't bothered me yet. What worries me is what happens in the future." Dong Shuheng pinched the bridge of his nose and said, this matter is unnecessary.
Hidden from Atsushi.
What will happen in the future refers to the issue of how to end the fight if it happens.
Seeing this, Du Ji didn't ask any more questions. She walked behind Dong Shuheng, stretched out her small hand and pressed gently on Dong Shuheng's temple.
Dong Shuheng closed his eyes, leaned on the back of the chair, and raised his head.
He took his thoughts back to his body and felt the touch from Duji's fingertips.
The whole person's spirit felt empty for a while.
The brows also relaxed a bit.
…
…
On the Atlantic Ocean, the Donghua Fleet continues to move south, and they want to return to their strange new home.
Although I was unable to return to my homeland, I thought that I would open up new territories for the survival of the Chinese people.
A lofty sense of value arises spontaneously in everyone's heart.
Soldiers are born for honor, and the sense of honor is the soul of an army.
It is the driving force for them to move forward.
Now, no one can stop the Donghua Navy from returning home.
But there are blind people who want to stand up and take charge.
At this time, a combined fleet consisting of nearly twenty warships of various types was waiting for the arrival of the Donghua Fleet in the waters east of Buenos and at the mouth of the Rio de la Plata.
They didn't know yet that this fleet of only two warships had just defeated Busi's navy, which was known as the best in South Amelia.
They only knew that the other side only had two warships, and they were prepared to use more to bully the smaller ones.
Twenty to two, no matter who thinks it is a winnable naval battle.
But they ignore that no matter how many alpacas there are, they can't defeat a lone mountain lion.
Encadala, as the commander-in-chief of the Chili Navy, now serves as the commander-in-chief of the combined fleet.
He now leads almost all the maritime forces of the Republic of Chile and Buenos.
This was a battle to the death, and he told the soldiers that the battle they were about to fight was related to whether the white race could continue to survive in the New World.
What they do is to continue the great work done by San Martin and Bolivar.
After listening to his speech, the naval officers and soldiers of the United Fleet had high fighting morale.
Enkadala is also full of confidence in this battle. He is also a person with political ambitions.
Victory in this battle will pave the way for him to advance to the throne of President Chili.
Moreover, Enkadala also saw an opportunity in the siege of Donghua by the South Amelia countries.
This time the union of the South Amelia countries is very likely to produce a hero like Bolivar again.
There is a chance that such a hero can unify the entire South Amelia.
As an early participant in South Amelia's independence movement, Enkadara certainly had such a heroic dream.
"Your Excellency, Commander, two warships from the Donghua Navy have arrived. They seem to have experienced a battle. Our sentry ship saw traces of war on both warships." A staff officer reported the news he had just received to Enka.
Darla.
"Okay, great, it's time for us to beat up the drowned dog. Inform the combined fleet to set off eastward, and we'll stop them!"
Following Enqadala's order, the huge combined fleet headed east.
ps: It’s the first day of March, so I’m asking for a few monthly tickets to support the table. I’ve written the outline and the first three chapters of the new book in the past few days, and I’m going to show it to the editor. Don’t worry about this old book, wait until I have free time.
Maybe we will continue to update the 10,000-word double update. Just like when someone gives birth to a second child, you won’t treat the eldest son badly, right? The eldest son and the second child are both his own children, so why do you like the new and dislike the old!