Chapter 78: The Key Points of East-West Confrontation
As a general of the Marine Corps, Ding Li was naturally very excited to be able to lead the team to Australia to perform a mission this time.
This is also an opportunity for the Marine Corps to perform.
The Marine Corps now has a total of six brigades, with a strength of about 30,000.
All of them have undergone rigorous training.
Dong Shuheng's requirement for them is to be ready to be delivered to any place on the earth at any time.
And you can jump directly into the battle when you arrive at the place.
One of the essential skills of the Marine Corps is the ability to travel long distances by boat.
Because now we can only rely on transport ships and warships to project troops overseas.
Taking a boat also requires exercise. Today's ships are not the hundreds of thousands of tons of cruise ships in later generations.
A ship of several thousand tons is bumpy when traveling on the sea.
Normally, after arriving at the destination, half of many people's lives are gone, let alone landing for combat.
Marines undergo special training and can live a normal life on a sea ship just like sailors.
They have also specially learned the tactics of landing operations, and their equipment is also tailor-made for assault operations.
This tactic requires the army to be able to produce explosive output in a short period of time.
"Commander Ding, look at the sea here. It's really different from the sea here. It's so damn clear. It seems like you can see the bottom of the sea."
"There are so many birds on those small islands. If we mine guano, we should be able to mine it for a long time."
Xiong Jiansheng, the captain of the "Singapore", walked to Ding Li's side. Although the Marine Corps has its own headquarters, in fact they still belong to the navy.
Ding Li's military rank is much higher than that of Xiong Jiansheng, the newly promoted captain.
"Yes, this place is like a pure land that no one has visited."
Ding Li can also feel the native wildness of nature here.
Over the years, he had been stationed in Fuso and had taken marines and ships out to sea for training. This was the first time he had seen such a pristine sea.
"I always feel that this place should be protected and leave a place for future generations to look forward to and hang out in," Ding Li said.
"Well, Commander Ding didn't say much. The entire Pacific Ocean belongs to us. With just a word from the president, we can blockade any place." Xiong Jiansheng said.
The navy has regarded the entire Pacific as its own inland sea and its own territory.
"Captain Xiong, there should be a coastal fort in Sydney. We still need your support when we attack."
"Of course, Commander Ding, please rest assured. Although these sailing battleships have fallen behind in naval warfare, their firepower is indeed very strong. It is perfect for dealing with those forts on the coast. Let's just talk about our ship.
The battleship has a total of three decks and more than a hundred artillery pieces. A single salvo can fire fifty or sixty shells."
"Our entire fleet has thousands of artillery pieces. Sydney is just a small colonial port. It is impossible to stop us. When the time comes, our fleet will clean up the enemies on the seashore. Commander Ding, just take your people to take over the city."
"In New South Wales, the only two decent strongholds for the Chinese are Sydney and Melbourne."
"Just leave the rest to the security guards of West Pacific Company. Anyway, this place will be taken care of by West Pacific Company in the future."
"Haha, Captain Xiong, you have done a lot of homework. This time we are actually going to help West Pacific Company fight this battle. The president is not going to run this place personally. After all, it is too remote. But we still have to fight this battle well.
."
"This Westpac Company's bid is very high. Once this battle is won, our Marine Corps can expand by two brigades, and your First Fleet can order two more armored cruisers."
"Actually, this is just a remote colony of the Korean people. For us to attack here, I feel like we are killing a chicken with a knife. I even think that the president is using this place to train our troops, so winning this battle is Of course, the key is how to play well." Ding Li said.
Most of the landing operations in Ding Li's mind still existed in some actual combat exercises.
The Renaissance Army has not really encountered many landing operations in recent years.
In other words, in this era, landing operations have not yet become mainstream.
The Renaissance Army was not in a hurry on the road this time and stopped at many ports along the way.
This trip was not hard at all for the Marine Corps.
On the contrary, it is like taking a trip to the southern hemisphere.
The news of the new capital and the battle of Mumbai in the subcontinent came back immediately.
"President, good news, Bombay has been captured, the governor of the Republic of China committed suicide, and the commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force surrendered." Jiang Yuqin walked into Dong Shuheng's office and said as he walked before he got close.
He was very excited, after all, this war had been dragging on for a long time.
If something like a war does not produce results within a day, there may be variables.
Now that the Battle of Bombay is over, the entire subcontinental war has come to an end.
"Oh, is it finally over?" Even though Dong Shuheng was already quite deep in the city, there was still unconcealable excitement on his face.
"Yes, President, Commander Peng sent the news back via telegram as soon as possible. Moreover, the Korean fleet in Mumbai port surrendered first, and the warships were completely preserved."
"The fleet left behind by the Second Fleet has now taken over the surrendered Korean fleet, with a total of two destroyers and four frigates. In this way, the entire Great White Fleet of the Korean people has become a gift to us this time." Jiang Yuqin said excitedly said.
"Let Bao Youzhi make a fortune this time. The Second Fleet will be the fleet facing the greatest threat under our command in the future. They will have hard work ahead." Dong Shuheng said.
In a short period of time, the resources of the Renaissance Navy will be tilted towards the Second Fleet or the Second Combined Fleet.
Because the area where the Second Fleet is stationed is the Indian Ocean, this area has always been the main channel for Europa's eastern trade.
Even if the Great Fleet is defeated now, this confrontation will continue.
The Koreans are now shrinking their defense line. Whether it is in Cape Town or the opening of the Suez Canal in the future, the front line of the Baath Army Navy's overseas confrontation with Europa will be in the Indian Ocean.
As for southern Amelia, it is not a suitable sea passage due to the harsh environment.
Moreover, the Strait of Magellan is in the hands of the Donghua Navy, so the fleet from Europe will not enter the Pacific through here to fight the Renaissance Army.
In the future, Europa is the only place where Ba'ath enemies may appear.
Now the Ottoman Empire in Africa and West Asia, eastern Tsarist Russia, and even some of the remaining white countries in Amelia are buffer zones between the Baath Army and Europa.
Dong Shuheng knew very well that after defeating the Yu people, the relationship between the Renaissance Army and other European countries could not remain the same.
In the past, they felt that the domineering Great Empire was their biggest enemy.
Because the Chinese have been suppressing countries on the European continent.
But with the development of the Renaissance Army, the Greater China Circle expanded.
Sooner or later these Europeans will realize that there is less and less space for them to plunder.
After all, the whole of Europa is just that big. If they didn't rely on plundering the natives of other continents, would they be able to develop?
Regardless of whether Europa will be the most developed place in the world in the future, is it because the people there are more hard-working and smarter than others?
Not necessarily.
It should be said that they are more cruel and barbaric because their culture encourages them to plunder and kill.
It was their banditry against other continents that made them the most developed continent.
If a person makes a fortune by being a robber, is this worthy of everyone's recognition?
Now the European countries are still busy carving up Africa.
In terms of carving up Africa, the Great Empire was undoubtedly their biggest enemy.
Because of the powerful navy of the Great Empire and the sphere of influence established by the Great Empire in Africa, it is the biggest threat to the European countries to carve up Africa.
But after the Great Empire fell and these people carved up Africa, they would always find that Africa could not meet their needs.
Because there is no decent market in Africa at all.
After they plundered the raw materials here and expanded the internal market, they found that the most important markets were now occupied by the Renaissance Army.
As the Greater China Circle continues to develop and improve, this market ecology will have less and less external demand.
At that time, European countries, especially those that rely on industrial exports, will gradually experience inflation.
Economic problems will eventually manifest themselves politically and militarily.
"Wenxuan, what do you think the next step of our work should be after we have ceased war with the Japanese?" Dong Shuheng asked in an academic tone.
"This should be in Africa, right?" Jiang Yuqin said it without thinking.
After all, the most important colony of the Koreans now is the Cape Town Colony.
The Chinese have always controlled the route from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean through the Cape Colony.
This can also be regarded as a key development area for the Chinese people.
In addition, the Chinese also have a strong influence in Egypt.
The two most important areas at the northern and southern ends of Africa were both controlled by the Chinese.
The Renaissance Army now controls the Indian Ocean region, bordering the east coast of Africa.
This is an area where the influence of the Chinese people is profound.
"Africa, do you really think it's Africa?"
Dong Shuheng smiled.
Jiang Yuqin's understanding is a common understanding among most people.
But Dong Shuheng doesn't think so.
He felt that Africa would only be a secondary place in the competition between East and West.
The core of this earth is still the Eurasian continent.
Except for this connected supercontinent, other continents can only play supporting roles on this earth.
The most critical place in the future competition on the Eurasian continent is the Ottoman Empire.
Some people think that Tsarist Russia should be more important.
Dong Shuheng doesn't think so, because Tsarist Russia is bound to fall to Europa, so the conflict between the Renaissance Army and Tsarist Russia is basically certain and irreconcilable.
But the Ottoman patriotism was different. Although they considered themselves a European country.
But there are religious and historical conflicts between them and Europa.
The Balkans are a powder keg.
Since the Ottoman Empire destroyed the Eastern Roman Empire, the conflicts here have never subsided.
Therefore, the Ottoman Empire was the key to the struggle for land power between the East and the West.
Some people in the Ottoman Empire seemed to realize this, and they advocated maintaining good relations with the European countries and the Greater China Circle at the same time.
When the European countries turn to support Tsarist Russia, they can choose to turn to the Greater China Circle in exchange for the support of the Renaissance Army.
Because the Renaissance Army contained at least half of Tsarist Russia's energy in Central Asia.
In recent years, Tsarist Russia has conducted no further military operations against the Persian Empire and the Ottoman Empire.
This rarely happened before.
The reason is actually the containment of the Renaissance Army.
Because once Tsarist Russia uses force against the south, the Renaissance Army will openly support these countries against Tsarist Russia.
Just like their previous military aid to the Persian Empire.
Dong Shuheng suddenly became interested and told Jiang Yuqin the difference between land-power countries and sea-power countries.
The most stable hegemony is land hegemony.
No one can dominate the sea forever.
Everyone is insignificant in front of the sea.
"President, I think this theory should be discussed at the joint meeting." Jiang Yuqin suggested.
Because he felt that Dong Shuheng's theory of sea and land power should serve as the guiding ideology for the future development of the Renaissance Army.
The joint meeting he refers to refers to an enlarged joint meeting attended by officials above the cabinet and military ministry committee members.
This is the highest-level meeting of the Renaissance Army. Dong Shuheng will discuss some major and long-term decisions at this meeting.
"Well, what you said makes sense. Since you think so, I think this represents what most people think."
"Africa is a special place. People there are difficult to assimilate, but outsiders are easily assimilated by the locals. I remember a teacher from Huaihai Academy who has published relevant papers before and is now leading a team to conduct inspections in Africa.
, go back and check who it is." Dong Shuheng ordered.
But when it comes to the Ottoman Empire, Dong Shuheng feels a headache again.
At this time, this country was on par with the Manchus and Qing Dynasty. It was also very difficult to deal with.
Conservative, closed, arrogant, arrogant, and even a little ignorant.
Just now, Abdul Meguid I passed away at the age of 39.
This was a pro-Western sultan. During his reign, he tried to resolve the ethnic conflicts within the Ottoman Empire and develop relations with the Ottoman Empire.
At the Paris Conference after the Crimean War in 1856, the Ottoman Empire was recognized as a European country.
He himself was also awarded the Order of the Garter and became the 717th knight.
His greatest achievement was to implement Tanzimat reforms and promote the modernization of the Ottoman Empire.
This Sudan is easy to deal with, but it is a pity that he is a pro-Western Sudan.
In previous interactions with the Renaissance Army, the Sultan was very polite.
But he always maintained a state of aloofness.
He once agreed to the Chinese going to the Ottoman Empire to build factories, and the Renaissance Army to build a channel to Europe through the Ottoman Empire. He even paid to buy ironclads from the Renaissance Army to enrich his Black Sea Fleet.
But since the war between the Fuxing Army and the Yin Army began, his attitude has obviously changed.
He cut off the road connection between the Renaissance Army and Europa on the grounds of maintaining neutrality.