1627 Rise of the South China Sea

Chapter 466 Battleship and Strategy

Although Luo Shengdong had a successful career as a private salt dealer and had already left his profession, he was a soldier after all, and he was still very interested in weapons and equipment.Being rejected by the military with such stern words, Luo Shengdong was somewhat disappointed. After all, when he built the "Exploration Class" and "Expedition Class" warships, he was granted permission to visit the dock.At that time, people from the military and the shipyard even asked him for advice on some details. It can be said that Luo Shengdong also contributed to the smooth launch of the "Exploration-class" and "Exploration-class" warships. .But it was obvious that the Haihan people did not intend to let him participate in the construction of the new ship, and even all the technical details were kept secret from him. This gap in treatment made Luo Shengdong very dissatisfied.

"What's so great, isn't it just a big ship!" Seeing that there was no one around, Luo Shengdong spat hard in the direction of the dock, and then left resentfully.

But what Luo Shengdong didn't know was that there were some great new improvements on this ship.In addition to the larger hull and more gun positions on the ship, the most important change is that this type of new ship will no longer rely solely on wind power as the power for sea navigation, but will start to use more advanced guns. propulsion system.

The Ministry of Industry has built multiple batches of steam engines of different models in the past two years. Although the operation of the early models was not stable, with the increase in manufacturing experience, the trouble-free operation time has become longer and longer. Can meet the requirements of the military.The Military Commission has long planned to build steam warships, but the tonnage of the two classes of warships built before is relatively small. If steam engines are insisted on boarding the ship, then part of the gun positions on the ship must be sacrificed to make room for the tonnage. The power system and coal combustion must face the situation of reduced firepower while increasing the speed. After repeated calculations, the military gave up this plan and decided to install the steam-powered propulsion system in the next generation of main combat vehicles with larger tonnage and stronger loading capacity. on board.After more than two years of actual operation, the personnel, technology and site of the shipyard are not a problem now, just wait for the steam engine from the Ministry of Industry to be in place.

On October 10, a large flatbed cart pulled by twelve oxen appeared outside the Victory Harbor Shipyard.There are many wheels under the body of this flatbed truck, but the goods loaded on it are tightly covered by black oilcloth.Six drivers worked together to ensure that the speed and direction of the car remained stable. Some people carried sand and walked in front, and quickly filled in the uneven places on the road to prevent the car from bumping.And there is a full row of armed militiamen on the periphery to guard the cart, preventing irrelevant personnel from approaching the cart.

"Slow down when turning! Pay attention to safety!" Bex held a tin horn in his hand, and loudly urged several drivers who were in charge of operating the ox cart.The thing on the car is a treasure that took the Ministry of Industry three months to build, and it can't be sloppy at all.In order to transport it to the Shengli Port Shipyard in good condition, the carpenter workshop specially built a large flatbed truck without even considering the vibrating train, and it took two days to transport it from Tiandu's workshop. to Port Victory.

The manufacturing process of this marine steam engine basically concentrated the strongest technical force of the Ministry of Industry. As the backbone, Beks, Roger, and Shi Diwen spent a lot of effort to complete the design and construction of the steam power system.If the marine steam engine can prove the reliability of its performance in the next few years, Haihan's sea power will usher in a wave of explosive growth in the next few years.

Of course, the cost of using a steam warship is much higher than that of the original sail warship. Apart from this well-built steam engine, the coal and fresh water consumed in daily use is a troublesome matter.The shipyard specially designed a supply ship for this purpose. Its appearance is consistent with that of the "Explorer" warship. The second deck and gun positions on the ship were canceled and replaced with sealed water tanks and cargo compartments. When going out to sea, it followed the steam warship. maintain its sea life.

According to the design of the Military Commission, the main battleship of the militia navy will be this kind of steam warship using both wind power and steam power for a period of time in the future, and it will be assisted by "exploration-class" warships. As for the "exploration-class" with the smallest tonnage Warships will gradually withdraw from the combat ranks, and will only be used as supply ships in the fleet and training ships for naval bases in the future.

The impact of the emergence of large combat ships is not limited to the industrial and military fields. Even the ports of Annan and Hong Kong Island, which are still in the planning stage, must be designed and built according to the standards that can accommodate large ships up.

The sailors and crew responsible for operating the ship have also entered the selection stage.Compared with the previous selection of crew members, the degree of consideration of political attitudes and backgrounds in this selection has increased a lot. Of course, this is mainly due to the need for security and confidentiality.All crew members must be selected from the active navy, and those who have meritorious service awards before this will be given priority.In addition, the commander-in-chief of the navy, Wang Tom, has already booked the captain position of this ship in advance. In his words, this ship is the first real warship built after crossing.

While the navy is quietly expanding its strength, the army is not idle.It has been a while since the Executive Committee approved the "Army Expansion Plan" proposed by the military. The newly recruited [-] young men are undergoing recruit training at the military base on the east bank of Victory Port.After the training of these recruits is over, the Military Commission will adjust the original organization of the militia, establish a regiment-level headquarters, and increase the organization of the third battalion directly under the base camp. From now on, the name of the Haihan militia finally lives up to its name up.

On October 10th, in a mountain depression north of Fort Victory.

Tao Donglai and Yan Chujie came here together after receiving Hao Wanqing's notice.It wasn't the first time they had come to the Ministry of Security, but they never took the initiative to visit—perhaps because of the functions of the department, this place always gave people a gloomy feeling.

Hao Wanqing, who works here every day, doesn't seem to have such a view. He greeted the two of them to sit in the office, then asked his subordinates to serve hot tea, and finally handed a document to the tea table in front of them: "Our people never Batavia sent back the first report, which is the content after sorting out."

It has been several months since the Ministry of Security sent an advance team to Batavia, and Zhan Gui, a sea merchant who cooperated with the Ministry of Security during the operation, has already returned.But Zhan Gui is not a professional spy, and the information he can provide is very limited, especially not much valuable military information.Therefore, the Ministry of Security can only patiently wait for the personnel who accompanied Zhan Gui to Batavia to send back information after they have established roots there.

Although this process took a long time, there is no doubt that the people from the Ministry of Security have successfully settled in the local area in the name of opening a store, and according to the deployment of the Ministry of Security, they began to collect information from the Executive Committee and the military locally. various information required.

"From the information we have learned so far, the Dutch have noticed our existence. There are also many industrial and agricultural products produced in Sanya for sale in the local market in Batavia, most of which come from Daming Maritime." Hao Wanqing took advantage of the two people watching the report and explained the situation to them: "But it seems that they have no plans to contact us directly."

"It is not surprising to know our existence. The Dutch have established a stronghold on Taiwan Island. The key area of ​​trade with Ming Dynasty is in Fujian. Xu Xinsu's main customers are also Dutch. It is reasonable for them to buy our products from Fujian." Things in the middle." Tao Donglai expressed his opinion on the situation introduced by Hao Wanqing.

"It's better not to contact each other. Sooner or later we will have a fight with the Dutchman. It's better to wait until we are convinced." Yan Chujie's tone was very unfriendly.

For Haihan, among the major western countries that have entered the Far East and established strongholds, the Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal, the Portuguese have already reached a trading partnership with Haihan, and now they are taking advantage of the 30-year war in Europe. Opportunities to make a fortune by throwing arms and making a fortune.Spain's stronghold is far away in Manila, and the entire South China Sea is separated from Sanya, so it has no substantial influence.The biggest conflict of interest with Haihan, and the most likely target of a large-scale armed conflict is the Dutch.

The basis of Haihan's founding is the control of the sea, and the control of the main throat channel from the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea has long been in the plan of the Executive Committee.At present, the Managa area is still under the control of the Portuguese, and the relationship between the two sides is getting along fairly well. If there are no major changes, it is unlikely that the face will be torn apart.Another important throat channel, the Sunda Strait, is just next to Batavia, which is a good place for the Executive Committee to seize and quickly.

In addition, the Dutch set up a stronghold on Taiwan Island, and relied on Taiwan Island to control the waterway of the Taiwan Strait, and then control the trade between Ming Dynasty, Ryukyu, and Japan. For Haihan, who will definitely extend its tentacles to the north in the future, It is simply a big stumbling block on the way forward.Even excluding the trade with Japan, Haihan will land and establish strongholds in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, North China, and even the coastal areas of Northeast China in the future, and will never allow other forces to threaten its long sea supply line.When Haihan's sphere of influence extends to the Taiwan Strait, there will inevitably be a battle with the Dutch to determine the maritime supremacy of the Far East.

Of course, by that time, the Haihan militia may have to deal with not only the Dutch family, but also the "Eighteen Zhi" pirate gang, a maritime armed force that cannot be ignored.And the purpose of the military's eagerness to build large steam-powered warships is also to prepare early for the inevitable war that will break out in the future.According to Wang Tom's estimation, if you can have about ten steam warships at the start of the war, plus five to six times the number of "expedition-level" warships to assist, then it should be easy to kill these two powerful enemies entrenched in the Taiwan Strait. There is a relatively large grasp.

However, Wang Tom's plan did not get much support from the executive committee. The reason is simple. To build such a large-scale fleet, whether it is the cost of shipbuilding or the daily maintenance consumption, will be a terrible astronomical figure.Considering the current military budget level of the Haihan Militia, even if the navy and the army's budget are all transferred there, it is still impossible to realize Wang Tom's almost crazy idea of ​​forming an army in a short period of time.

Naturally, Tom Wang will not give up on this, and he is constantly lobbying all parties in private, especially the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Shipping who are not so firm and share common interests with the military.These departments all have voting rights in the Executive Committee. As long as they vote in favor, plus the votes from the military itself and Tao Donglai, the bill can basically be passed.Wang Tom is very confident about this, because in the several large-scale military operations against Annan, these departments finally occupied the main battle side, and after that, they did share part of the benefits brought by the war. Really tasted the sweetness.

The biggest problem at present is not the position of these departments, but the channels through which the astronomical military budget can be resolved.Although Yan Chujie spoke very forcefully, it is still unknown whether he will be able to drag out a powerful fleet to confront the opponent head-on.

"Judging from the report, the Dutch are working very hard in Batavia! There are forts, there are forts, there are warships, and there are troops stationed there, a standard colonial stronghold!" After reading the report, Tao Donglai said with emotion: "There are more than twenty warships, no wonder they dare to intercept the Spaniards in the South China Sea."

Tao Donglai’s cutting off Hu means that the Dutch intercepted merchant ships bound for Manila on the southeast coast, and in this way cut off the trade channel between Spain and Ming Dynasty.Although the Spanish also responded to this to a certain extent, it is clear that the Dutch did not intend to stop this kind of hostilities. People don't have much fear.

"Because our people have just settled down in the local area, the military information we can obtain is also very limited, and some specific information may take time to collect slowly." Hao Wanqing also knew that there were not many dry goods in the report, so he took the initiative to make explained.

"Don't worry about this. We still need to strive for safety and stability in intelligence work." Tao Donglai waved his hand and said that it is no problem: "How many people has the Ministry of Security deployed locally?"

Hao Wanqing replied: "A total of seven people were sent there, four of them were in the name of Zhan Gui's subordinates to open local shops, and the other three were undercover agents who followed other sea merchants, Zhan Gui didn't know about it. "

(End of this chapter)