The big discussion about Japan lasted from about eleven o'clock after the gun-giving ceremony to four o'clock in the afternoon. Lunch during the period was simply settled in the conference room. However, in the five-hour meeting, no consensus was reached in the end. .
Japan must intervene because Japan's strategic position is so important. Although 90% of the top generals of the New Army are soldiers from the mainland, during an expedition that spanned half the world last year, they all realized How important is the ocean?
The Chinese have always been a wise nation, but sometimes they are swayed by the force of habit and become distracted.
Regarding the ocean, China's elite are just a continental national policy that has lasted for thousands of years and are unwilling to change it. In other words, they do not bother to go abroad to understand the outside world.
But once they go out, the thick shell of habits that surrounds the Chinese people will shatter. The Chinese people are extremely smart. You don’t need to explain many truths. As long as they take a look with their own eyes, they will understand it immediately. of Dao Dao.
Xiao Letian no longer needs to repeat how important maritime interests are every day. Every officer who has been to Europe or has been stationed in Ryukyu has already figured it out.
Look at the endless fleets on the ocean, look at the massive amounts of goods and commodities across the entire earth, look at the European warships protecting their country's commercial interests all over the world, look at the tidal throughput of funds... every Chinese Everyone was shocked.
We have also had such glory. The Chinese took the lion's share of the benefits of the Silk Road in the prosperous Han and Tang Dynasties. During the Song and Ming dynasties, Chinese merchant ships once traveled across the world. After that, commercial interests on the earth will also have to wait for the Chinese first. Come and get the bulk.
It's just that everything is in the past. Now the interests on the sea have been firmly controlled by the Westerners. The navy of the Empire on which the sun never sets is now following the famous dual-power strategy in history.
What is the dual-power strategy? That is, the British navy must not only be the number one in the world, but also exceed the combined navies of the second and third largest powers.
Being able to formulate such a maritime strategy shows how dependent Britain is on maritime interests.
Xiao Letian will not challenge the British maritime interests now. He does not have the strength, but he can still compete for control of China's offshore. What he relies on now is not a big naval strategy, but the so-called island chain strategy.
The Japanese archipelago must ultimately be controlled by his own hands. From the Japanese archipelago south to the Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan Island, and the northern Philippines Islands, these are all areas that Xiao Letian has complete control over.
The first island chain that used to block China has now become the first bridgehead to protect China.
Not only that, Xiao Letian also set his sights on the second island chain in the Pacific Ocean, Guam, Hawaii, Iwo Jima, the Mariana Islands, and even some ports in New Zealand and Australia. These strategic locations have not yet highlighted their strategy. Value, if we can grab it before the United States takes action, there will no longer be an enemy stronghold in the Western Pacific.
The ideal is grand, but it is not impossible to realize it. Hawaii will not be annexed by the United States until 1898. There will be a gap of more than thirty years. The United States, which has just experienced a civil war, does not have the extra naval power to annex this place.
Xiao Letian's negotiation with the French to purchase Tahiti in the South Pacific was actually just an attempt of his strategy. He first left a flying object outside the second island chain, regardless of whether he could hold it or not. Of course, Xiao Letian Lotte does not expect to be able to deploy troops now, but now that the legal principles are sufficient, it will definitely be beneficial to future rule.
The ideal of global domination is very fulfilling, but the reality is very skinny. When even East Asia is not well managed, it is too ambitious to think about unrealistic things. This is not Xiao Letian's style.
Facts have proved that there are still many smart people in this world. Since Xiao Letian thinks of going to the South Pacific to launch a missile, France can also drive a wedge into the first island chain.
The corrupt Confucians in the Qing Dynasty cannot understand the strategic focus of your Xiao Letian, but that does not mean that the French cannot understand. Where did the batches of arms in the hands of the four feudal lords come from? This cannot be hidden from the eyes of the French.
France is willing to do anything that gives Xiao Letian a headache. The hatred between the French Emperor and Xiao Letian has long been irreconcilable.
During the long meeting, these smart brains gathered together to think hard, analyzing everything from Japan's domestic situation to the situation in East Asia, from Japan's strategic protective role to China, and also mentioned the illusion of the first island chain blockade.
This was a brainstorm destined to go down in history, until finally everyone present reached some consensus and two disagreements.
The consensus is very simple, that is, we must intervene in the situation in Japan. Xiao Letian's forces must control the situation in Japan and make Japan a controllable bridgehead in Asia, thereby becoming a strategic buffer in northern China.
The two differences mainly focus on what means to use to intervene in Japan. The hard-liners represented by Luo Huo hope to send troops immediately, and they will station troops in Japan for a long time after victory. Controlling Japan by force is their goal.
Xiao Hexin and others are representatives of the moderate faction. They are unwilling to force Japan too much, but hope to use soft power such as economy and diplomacy to influence Japan. Unless the four vassals are overthrown and ask the prime minister for help, the new army will just wait and see.
These two views were quarreling in the conference room until the sun went down. In the end, Xiao Letian came to the conclusion of the meeting and announced that the meeting was adjourned.
"It's only February now, and the French's assistance to the shogunate has just begun. Soldiers and weapons and equipment still have a long running-in period. The French also pay great attention to the training of new soldiers, so three months of queue training is indispensable. …”
"Then there is the running-in of people and equipment, which will take another two or three months. In addition, domestic deployment of troops and preparation of supplies means that the minimum time for a conflict to occur is January. It is the golden autumn season, and we still have plenty of time. , the more than 10,000 new troops we have recruited during this period will soon become an army..."
"So, let's not mess up ourselves first and work hard to accumulate our armaments. In the final analysis, everything depends on strength... Go ahead and remember that starting from tomorrow, every day is a war preparation day. Give me a good training."
"Yes." Everyone in the conference room stood up and saluted the Prime Minister.
Xiao Letian walked out of the smoky conference room, and several waiters trotted in and started cleaning up. Ten large ashtrays were emptied, and all the windows were opened and cold air blew in.
"This group of guys will learn to be bad if they don't learn from the good ones. When the time comes, each of them will become addicted to smoking. They will have to quit smoking forcibly..."
Just as he was complaining, an old and thin figure came over. It was Xiao Letian's father-in-law Fan Jian, and he saw him running over happily.
"Lots of joy, great news. The first batch of submarine cables shipped from the United States has entered the port. The engineers said that after three days of rest, we can lay the first cable..."
"Really, father, this is the first good news I've heard in these days. Let's go and take Mr. Nobile with us..."
After Xiao Letian and his party arrived at Naha Port, three black clipper ships were bundled with roll after roll of black cables, which were as thick as copper coins.
The submarine cables of this era were much simpler than those of later generations. The submarine cables of later generations not only contained copper wires for communication but also a considerable amount of optical fibers. In addition, copper tubes, lead weights, and heavy weights were added to the cables. The protective layer prevents damage from deep-sea sharks and other animals.
The diameter of a truly modern submarine cable must reach 30 to 40 centimeters in thickness, and the cost is of course so high that Xiao Letian cannot imagine it.
But the most primitive cable is not that complicated. It is actually an insulating layer wrapping a copper wire. It is enough to ensure telegraph transmission.
Historically, the Atlantic Cable Company was established in 1856. In 1857, the company began to be responsible for the cable laying project. Although the laying was successful, it ultimately failed because the cable was manufactured substandard and the insulation layer was corroded.
In 1856, the second submarine cable was broken while sinking into the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and fell into an abyss of 360 meters. In 1866, the Atlantic Cable Company built a third cable, and the famous electrician Thomson presided over the sinking. , finally succeeded.
Scientist Thomson was awarded the title of Lord Kelvin for his contribution to the development of the Atlantic submarine cable.
Since there is already a mature technology, Xiao Letian of course uses it directly. However, in order to improve safety, Xiao Letian specifically requires a circle of heavy lead wire to be added to the rubber protective layer of the cable. This increases the risk by 15%. cost, but the reliability of the cable increases by 25%.
In the light of the lantern, Xiao Letian spread out a strange map. "Mr. Nobile, look at it. This is the seabed topographic map from the Ryukyu Islands to Kyushu Island. Our hydrographer spent two years on it." It was roughly drawn..."
"Ryukyu Main Island, Wadoshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Amami Oshima... This series of islands proves that there is actually a continuous mountain range under the water directly leading to Japan. Since there are a large number of islands in this section of the sea that can be transferred, the laying of optical cables must be certain. It will go very smoothly..."
"Including the cable lines from Ryukyu to Tanggu and Shanghai, they will not be as responsible as the Atlantic Cable Project, because China's coastline is a continental shelf structure and there are no direct large cliffs. Most of the cables can be hidden deep under the sea. In the mud, the safety is much stronger than the rough Atlantic Ocean..."
It was such a sense of accomplishment to be able to show off my knowledge in front of a scientific giant like Nobel. Anyway, Nobel didn't understand cable technology, let alone ocean currents, and he didn't let Xiao Letian fool him.
But the American engineers who laid the cables were all experts. When they heard Xiao Letian’s reliable jargon, their eyes lit up. “Oh God, what the church pastors said is true. Mr. Prime Minister is really the first awakened person in Asia.” Sir, your profound knowledge has impressed us..."
It’s hard not to accept it. It was such a forward-looking vision to start seafloor hydrographic exploration two years ago. It is impossible to make such a decision without absolute confidence in new technology.
"Yes, the Prime Minister is right. The cables we have brought are enough to lay from Ryukyu to Kagoshima. Since there are many islands to rely on, we believe that within three or four months, you can send the first one to Japan. Telegraphed..." This book was first published from, get the authentic content first!
