1627 Rise of the South China Sea

Chapter 218 Trip to Vietnam ([-])

Tao Donglai, as the actual leader of the time-traveling group, has never left Shengli Port once after coming to this time and space, not even to Yazhou, which is not far away.Whether it is going to Beibu Gulf or going north to Guangzhou, he does not have his share, and this time he will personally lead the team to North Vietnam for negotiations, which also shows that the Executive Committee attaches great importance to Vietnam.

Since we have traveled so far, it is reasonable to inspect the construction of Heitu Port on behalf of the Supreme Executive Committee. We can also arrange time to visit the Yazhou and Fushuizhou Islands that we will pass through on the way.The connection between these overseas strongholds and the base camp is almost all through the radio to transmit news. What is the actual situation, the people in the base camp can only rely on imagination.This time, Tao Donglai went to inspect in person, which can also confirm whether the various reports obtained by the executive committee before are true and whether the conditions of the local personnel are in good condition.

Several relevant departments such as the military, police, and shipping calculated that the trip would take at least ten days, so Tao Donglai had to hand over the work at hand. meeting devoted to this matter.

In addition to his position on the Executive Committee, Tao Donglai also holds leadership positions in the Ministry of Industry, Construction, Military and Police, and Internal Affairs. He is definitely one of the people with the most part-time jobs in the Time Traveling Group. .There are too many concurrent positions, and there are too many things at hand, so it is necessary to hold a coordination meeting to hand over the work, and at the same time, let the people who take over be able to connect with each other.The Ministry of Industry will be in charge of Beks, the Ministry of Construction will be in charge of Liu Shanxia who has recovered, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will be in charge of Ning Qi, and the Ministry of Military and Police will be in charge of Yan Chujie who stayed at the base camp.

Yan Chujie personally wanted to travel with Tao Donglai very much. As the head of the military and police department, he only ran through Yazhou after crossing. Other times he was either training the militia in the barracks or urging the laborers to build port defenses. Fortifications, this is indeed a big gap with his dream of conquering all directions and becoming a famous commander through the ages.But now that the Military and Police Department's civilian military training plan has just been submitted, and it is time to make a big effort for it, Yan Chujie also knows that he will definitely not be able to escape in the short term, so he can only temporarily put down the idea of ​​traveling.

The four cargo ships returning to Shengli Port this time brought back a total of 180 tons of coal, [-] tons of coke, and the first batch of bitumen produced.Although only three tons of asphalt was brought back, this marked the start of production and operation of the coal supporting industry in Heitu Port.Next, this batch of asphalt will be transported to Tiandu Industrial Zone to be used as a waterproof coating for the new factory building.

The waterproof technology in this era is still relatively primitive. Most of them use tiles for roofs, plaster for wall columns, and stone for wall roots. Houses are built on elevated foundations. With ingenious design and fine construction to achieve better waterproof effect.And the emergence of asphalt undoubtedly brought waterproofing technology to a new level.However, because coal tar pitch contains toxic substances such as anthracene, phenanthrene, and pyrene, which are difficult to volatilize, the chemical industry department recommends that this kind of pitch should not be used as a building material for road paving. Petroleum asphalt paving is more suitable.

Since they are going to discuss arms sales, a batch of arms must be prepared.After Li Nai ordered the batch of munitions last time, the executive committee immediately passed a resolution to expand the munitions production capacity, splitting the military industry department whose functions were not subdivided into artillery, muskets, ammunition, cold weapons, and other military supplies. As well as six divisions of weapons design to improve the efficiency of existing weapons production.

As for the idea of ​​setting up a military-industrial complex to get rid of the existing disadvantages of the division of labor, the Executive Committee has already considered it.However, the establishment of a military-industrial complex involves the redistribution of the jurisdiction and functions of multiple units, and there are many practical difficulties. It is impossible to achieve it in one step directly through administrative orders, so the Executive Committee intends to lengthen the process a little. Some, divided into several stages to proceed.

The first is to specialize the production department. These split departments will exist as specialized military production units in the future, instead of making farm tools when they are free, and guns and artillery when they are busy.Since the current production efficiency is still very low, the weapons produced can't even keep up with equipping their own militia, so there is no need to worry that these units will be idle after they are split.Moreover, after doing so, the responsibilities and rights of each production unit will be clearer, and the management of the higher-level units will not be like before. It will effectively improve the operational efficiency of the entire military industry department.

The second is to achieve separate accounting of the military sector's revenue and expenditure.From the current point of view, the military industry department has already started to make profits, and it is very likely that it will be the main profit maker of the Transit Group in the future. Therefore, implementing independent accounting and starting to pay part of the profits to the financial department is the next measure that must be improved in the system up.

After these objective conditions matured, the Executive Committee passed an administrative order to establish a new competent unit, bringing all these military industry departments under the management of the new military-industrial complex. , will be handed over to the military-industrial complex to be responsible.Of course, the specific weapons research and development still have to be carried out according to the requirements put forward by the Ministry of Military and Police, and most of the profits obtained by the military-industrial complex from selling arms to the outside world have to be handed over to the financial department in proportion.

In terms of weapons production, all units currently focus on export versions, accounting for about three-quarters of the production, while the production of self-use versions is relatively small.On the one hand, this is because the main goal of military production at this stage is exporting, and there will be a focus when production capacity is limited; on the other hand, it is because the size of the militia is small and there are not many weapons that need to be equipped. .There are actually less than 300 local militia combat units that need to be equipped with firearms. At present, all of them are equipped with [-]-style matchlock guns. After the [-]-style flintlock guns are finalized and produced, they are gradually replacing their equipment. Most of the guns have been sold to "Fu Ruifeng" and shipped to Fujian.

According to the Executive Committee, although the arquebus is very primitive, it is still an advanced individual weapon in this era.Although the matchlock gun has many disadvantages, such as slow firing speed, limited range, strong dependence on ammunition, and easy to be affected by the weather, etc., its lethality on the battlefield is beyond doubt.The most important thing is that the training of Musketeers is very simple. Ordinary people only need a few days to learn the complete operation steps and then go to the battlefield. However, the training time required for Archers who also belong to long-range attacks is calculated in years.Moreover, even a person with strong personal force will not have any advantage when facing musketeers, and a battle-tested general may have just entered the range of musketeers.He would be killed by a recruit who used such a weapon that ignored personal strength.

Firearms are rarely used in the current Vietnamese civil war. First, they have not really tasted the sweetness of using firearms in actual combat. Second, no one has provided them with such weapons, and even if they want to buy them, there is nowhere to buy them.But when the time-traveling group opened this hole to them, these weapons with a lethality far exceeding cold weapons will soon be used on the battlefield. After they realize the power of this weapon, the market will naturally turn to the time-traveling group. With open arms.

At the order of the executive committee, all the more than 300 matchlock guns in stock were packed in boxes, and there were also 6 foreign trade version 20-pound guns, 12 10-pound guns, as well as supporting ammunition and various utensils.In order to be able to demonstrate weapons in front of customers, the military and police department also prepared a company for this trip, consisting of selected musketeers and a limited number of naturalized civilian artillery.In addition, the military and police department also specially dispatched several capable personnel to accompany them, including Wang Tom, who is more familiar with the situation in the coastal areas of Vietnam.

On September 27, the "Flying Speed" and four cargo ships loaded with a small amount of cargo set off from Victory Port to northern Vietnam.Although there were not many materials loaded on the cargo ship when they set off, these ships would not run empty. After arriving on the coast of Vietnam, they could more or less load some people on board and send them to the black soil port for reclamation.

At present, the fleet traveling between Heitu Port and Shengli Port is divided into two batches, with four ships in each batch, and each time there will be a small number of crossing ships to escort them.And this time the person in charge of the fleet command is Xie Chun. Since he was assigned to Heitu Port two months ago, Xie Chun, who used to complain a lot, seems to have matured a lot.Seeing him standing on the deck with a walkie-talkie and commanding the fleet calmly, Tao Donglai said with great relief, "Young people have to accept this kind of training!"

Wang Tom, who was beside him, responded with a smile: "Don't think that this guy has become honest. I heard that he is not doing his job now, and he is only in the sea, so that he can join the navy in the future."

Xie Chun's main job in Heitu Port is "Port Affairs and Shipping Management". Now instead of staying in Heitu Port, he goes out to sea with a coal ship.Moreover, many people know that Xie Chun is a military enthusiast. He applied to join the military and police department a long time ago, but was rejected in the end because he had no experience in the army or the police. However, it seems that he has not given up on himself. General dream.

Tao Donglai said disapprovingly: "It's not a bad thing to want to join the navy! We have relatively few talents in navigation, and most of the future navy captains are naturalized citizens. It is also a good thing to have one more of our own as a commander." .Besides, these expatriates are not limited to their future positions in this way, whoever is able to do so will be employed, and the current head of the foreign department may be the county magistrate, mayor, or high-ranking official in a few years."

The fleet did not stop when it passed near Yazhou. According to the itinerary, Tao Donglai's inspection would be on the return journey, so the fleet sailed directly from the mouth of the Ningyuan River and headed for Yinggehai.That night, the fleet docked in Yingge Harbor, and Tao Donglai also seized the time before sunset to check the nearby topography and landforms.

"What a great place!" Tao Donglai exclaimed after returning to the temporary camp, "It would be great if we had enough people to develop this place! As far as the salt output from this place is concerned, I think it is enough to supply the entire South China Sea region." .”

"The key is that there is no danger to defend this place, and we don't have enough troops to garrison here." Xie Chun, who had just got off the boat, immediately joined the discussion: "I heard that the executive committee plans to abandon this place and send the new The salt field is located in Iron Furnace Port, so there should be defensive considerations, right?"

"That's right." Tao Donglai nodded and admitted Xie Chun's guess: "This place is too far away from the base camp, and there are too many loopholes from the perspective of defense."

"Then is there any solution now?" Xie Chun asked.

"Yes, but the effect will be slower." Tom Wang concluded the conversation and said: "The Military and Police Department plans to start large-scale militia training. In the future, all people of the right age must participate in this training. After the improvement, the second-level militia can be organized according to the prescribed establishment, and there will be no such big risk in developing such a remote place."

Xie Chun is also considered a shrewd person. After listening to it, he rolled his eyes and figured out the joints: "The next step is to turn the militia into regular full-time soldiers, right?"

At present, the militia forces under the control of the Crossing Group are still under the banner of the militia, and the establishment is also a dual-track system. On the one hand, these people are militiamen registered with the military and police department, and on the other hand, they are commune members registered with the civil affairs department—some Many people signed up to join the militia because of this precious membership.

This kind of part-time job is not like a part-time job, and the full-time job is not like a full-time job, which has always made the military and police department dissatisfied. The officers don't want to take an amateur army out to fight in the future.Moreover, these militiamen took the military salary issued by the Ministry of Military and Police and spent the limited budget of the Ministry of Military and Police, but they had the establishment of the Ministry of Civil Affairs on their heads.The most terrible thing is that if soldiers are not sure of their military status, how can they guarantee the combat effectiveness of this team?
This time, taking advantage of the proposal to expand the military force, the Military and Police Department concealed this purpose in a very subtle way.Most people think that the purpose of the Military and Police Department is to expand the proportion of the audience for militia training, and they don't realize the effect of this matter on changing the nature of the army.Even the executive committee, few people noticed this dark move by the military and police department, or they may not realize the difference between the current militia and the professional army at all.On the contrary, Xie Chun, an amateur military enthusiast, knew it when he heard the string song, and immediately smelled it.

Of course, even if the system is changed silently, the current operating conditions of the militia will not change for a while, but when the military and police department proposes the military budget for the next year at the end of the year, this matter will be taken into account. On the surface, it’s time to talk—now that there are real militias, it’s time for these naturalized militiamen trained before to become regular troops.

Tao Donglai replied solemnly: "It is imperative to establish a regular army. We just need a suitable time. Our journey is a sea of ​​stars, and we can't conquer the world with only a group of militiamen."

"I'm afraid that someone will interfere with it at that time!" Xie Chun said with a worried face.Although he is a civil servant, his butt is completely on the side of the military and police department. Regarding the various "unfair treatment" suffered by the military and police department, Xie Chun's heart is probably no less resentful than the people in the military and police department.

"So we have to find a way to use military means to earn more money." Tao Donglai said confidently: "Profits will make all opponents shut up obediently."

"It seems that Mr. Tao has a comprehensive plan?" Xie Chun seemed to hear Tao Donglai's implication.

"Whether it will work or not will not be known until we talk to the Vietnamese." Tao Donglai raised his hand to check the time and said, "We will contact the base camp at that time, take out the radio and send a signal!"

After a night of rest, when the sky was just getting brighter, the fleet set sail, preparing to cross the Beibu Gulf and head directly to the coast of Vietnam.Although the distance is only [-] to [-] nautical miles, considering the ocean currents, wind direction and other reasons, the actual voyage is more than [-] nautical miles. According to the average speed of the cargo ship at five to seven knots, this voyage was completed without sleep. It also takes at least forty hours. Considering that the speed of sailing at night slows down, the actual time required will be around two days.Fortunately, there is the pilot ship "Flying Speed" in the fleet. Although there is no GPS navigation system available on board, Tom Wang personally planned this route, so there is no fear of getting lost or going wrong on the way.

After nearly two days of sailing, the fleet successfully crossed the Beibu Gulf and arrived in the coastal waters of Vietnam.The first destination of the fleet is still Thanh Hoa. Heitu Port used this place as the main target during the colonization stage before, and the organization took away thousands of war refugees.After a month-long scramble for transportation, most of the refugees who fled north from the war zone knew that they could leave by boat on the coast near Tsing Hoa. However, people under the pressure of the war still flock here one after another, waiting for the mysterious fleet to come again.

Heitu Port once thought that after the wave of refugees, it would be difficult to organize immigrants near Qinghua, but they never thought that this place would become the hope of refugees, and some even fled to the north. People in the area went south again and returned to the coast of Qinghua, hoping to find a glimmer of life from here.

This morning, when the fleet sailed to the estuary of the Tsinghua River, they saw that there were still many people gathered on the shore, and some of them shouted loudly: "It's a divine ship, that's right, that white ship is a divine ship." Boat!"

The so-called divine ship naturally refers to the catamaran "Flying Speed" driven by Wang Tom.When the colonization fleet headed to Heitu Port to ship immigrants here for the first time, the very eye-catching "Flying Speed" was the first to dock.Since then, there have been various strange rumors among the refugees, one of which is that the "Speed" was recognized as a divine ship sent by the heavens to save them, and the fleet led by the divine ship will be The place to go is naturally a paradise that has not been shrouded by war.

(End of this chapter)