Wild North America 1846

Chapter 574
His Royal Highness Tang-Li Xin was very interested in this expedition to Egypt, and he was also very interested in expanding the territory and establishing colonies in Northeast Africa. It is impossible for Laoshi to return after teaching the Egyptians a lesson, but there will be a series of detailed colonization plans.

Now that you have gone, what do you want to get?
in this regard
The Holy Majesty did not give a clear opinion, everything depends on His Royal Highness Tang-Li Xin's own groping.

Fortunately, His Highness Tang-Li Xin was surrounded by talented people, and he was assisted by experienced colonial officials, so he was able to form a capable and capable team.

The leader is Lord Liu Daqing, the chief executive, a group of young and ambitious rising stars.

In a French luxury manor in Oak Bay Town
A dozen people headed by His Highness Tang-Li Xin are having a meeting to study. In front of them is a large sand table including the Arabian Peninsula, Northeast Africa, the Red Sea and Egypt. The geographical structure of the area and the distribution of mountains and seas.

Lord Liu Daqing held a long pole in his hand, pointed on the large sand table and said;

"To establish a colonial area, you must first have a good geographical and natural environment, abundant water and fertile land, a certain number of local population, and a hinterland that can be developed in the long run, in order to truly gain a foothold.

In summary

The natural environment of the Arabian Peninsula and Northeast Africa is relatively harsh, with a dry climate and little rainfall. The terrain is dominated by deserts and Gobi. In the coastal areas of the Red Sea, only the coastal areas of Ethiopia, Yemen and Egypt barely meet the conditions.

Among them, Egypt is the main infiltration area of ​​Britain, France and other countries, and it is also a key area that Europe has repeatedly tried to conquer since the Middle Ages. The regional competition situation is relatively fierce.

The remaining plateau region of the Arabian Peninsula along the Red Sea is a narrow corridor of plains traditionally inhabited by Arab nomads.

There are many tribes, with a population of about 35 to 40.

The rest is the Ethiopian coastal area on the other side of the Red Sea, which is called Eritrea, with a total area of ​​about 13 square kilometers.Because the plateau blocks the humid water vapor from the Red Sea, the precipitation is abundant, there are many rivers, and the temperature is more suitable.

From Djibouti in the southeast to the core town of Alamas in the northwest, the Eritrea region is about 1300 kilometers long along the Red Sea. Semites and Cushites live in tribes, with a total population of between 26 and 30.

This area is an important place to guard the Mandeb Strait. If it can be taken, it will greatly strengthen the empire's voice in the Asia-Europe waterway, and even the United Kingdom cannot take it lightly.

In the plateau region of the Arabian Peninsula and the Eritrea region, one must choose between the two.

Only in this way
Only by truly defending the empire's right to barrier-free passage on the Asia-Europe waterway, without looking at the British and sitting low everywhere.

According to the media of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
Britain has rejected the request of the Imperial Expeditionary Fleet to enter the Mediterranean from Gibraltar and then go on an expedition to Egypt.

Now we have only one route left, which is to enter the Indian Ocean through the Strait of Malacca, and then expedition to Egypt.

It is this reality that further highlights the importance of conquering the coastal areas of the Red Sea, which will allow the empire to have a stable logistics supply base in the area and have the right to speak about the Asia-Europe waterway.

In the event of a turnaround, the empire has the ability to block the Mandeb Strait and cut off Asia-Europe routes, and the so-called Suez Canal is nothing more than an expensive display. "

As soon as the voice fell, it won a round of warm applause.

Everyone started talking, and the atmosphere in the meeting room became more and more heated...

"In this way, the expeditionary fleet will have to bring a certain number of immigrants, as well as sawmill equipment, tractors, reinforced concrete, bricks and stones needed for some brick kilns, and oil-pressing and rice-milling equipment, etc. Will this Too much burden? Too much expense?"

"General Zheng is worrying too much. You can contact the Colonial Department to make overall arrangements for this matter. After all, they have rich colonization experience, and the corresponding colonization appropriation can be formed into a special project and sent to the parliament for voting. Paradise Island has all the manpower and material resources. Ready to go."

"This statement is justified. Starting from Paradise Island saves 2/3 of the voyage, and you can reach the coast of the Red Sea in just over a month. This is the most economical method."

"In view of the large size of the fleet, we should immediately notify the ports along the British coast. At the same time, our personnel will take the lead in preparing sufficient supplies and wait for the fleet to replenish immediately after arrival, so as not to delay the journey."

"Your Highness, how many people do you think is suitable for accompanying immigrants?"

"Hehe... Of course, the more the better, the specific amount depends on the colonization appropriation applied by the Colonial Department. It is estimated that it should be between 1 and 3 people. If you add the [-]rd and [-]th Marine Divisions stationed in the area in the future Teacher, there are already quite a few people."

"Your Highness's words are justified. I think Eritrea should be selected as the first choice for colonization. This area has a large area, deep hinterland, good precipitation and light conditions, and is suitable for the development of agriculture and animal husbandry."

"Hey... don't forget there are black people there."

"This is not a big problem. A large amount of labor is required in the initial stage of colony construction. As long as a railway line of more than 1300 kilometers along the Red Sea can be built, the coastal ports and the entire colony can be firmly controlled. As for the black people, they will eventually disappear. , their existence ... is but a fleeting moment in the Eritrean region."

"How do you ensure that ordinary soldiers and immigrants avoid having sex with black women and giving birth to a lot of troublesome mixed-race posthumous children? Don't say no ... This has happened at the Nicaraguan canal site."

"How about making the Arabian Plateau the primary goal, but it's more difficult to conquer?"

"It's not higher, but much higher. Those Arabs are nomadic tribes in the desert. They come and go like the wind. Even if they are conquered, there is nothing to fish for. Moreover, those fields are more barren. The oasis is not only small in size, but also has less rainfall. Colonization It’s very difficult.”

"My lords, I remember that the Arabs have always had a tradition of human trafficking. They can either conquer by force or pay for the Arab women captured in tribal wars. Wouldn't it be good to meet the needs of soldiers and immigrants?"

"Wonderful, this plan works."

"Seconded."

"This is the best of both worlds, seconded."

As one of the emerging colonial powers in the world today, the Tang Empire is very keen on conquering alien races from top to bottom, and will not be limited by traditional Confucianism, which has become lonely at the level of the imperial government.

Except for the education circles who often advocate the traditional virtues of China and attach importance to inheritance education, other military and economic departments have all abandoned the theory of Confucianism, advocated active colonial expansion, and tried their best to seize the international market.

There is no room for gentleness and courtesy, and there is no room for everyone to do their duty.

If you get the food, your mouth will be full of oil, but if you can't get it, you can only drink the northwest wind.

After a secret meeting of a group of young and energetic elites, various regulations for the expedition were quickly determined, and then submitted through the established channels.

The expedition to Egypt is not a matter of the Royal Navy alone, but involves the close cooperation of various government departments of the empire. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for contacting the ports of the British side for supply matters, and explaining the intention of the empire's expedition to Egypt to European countries to avoid unnecessary incidents read.

The Colonial Department took active actions to fully cooperate with the expedition plan in terms of manpower, materials and funding. This was originally a matter within the scope of the colonial step and was listed as the current top priority.

The Army Staff Headquarters successively handed over some field artillery, cavalry equipment and supplies, and opened several strategic reserve warehouses to the expeditionary fleet, which included Montana bison jerky, canned wild yellow croaker in Seattle, canned salmon, A series of good things such as cowhide tents, emergency diesel engines, heavy machine guns, cowhide armed belts, rainproof cloths, etc., are available to the expedition fleet.

Being able to make the Army Staff Headquarters cooperate so well is not unrelated to His Royal Highness the Eleventh Emperor taking command of the expedition. Who can not care about the royal affairs?

As the date of the expedition on September 9 approaches, coal carriers, cargo ships, and oil and water ships of the Royal Navy gathered by major shipping companies have gathered at the port of Oak Bay. Oil and water ships loaded with lubricating oil, kerosene, diesel or other oils are also ready one after another.

1871 9 Month 28 Day.

Warships gathered, battle flags fluttered.

Oak Bay Naval Port held a grand sacrifice ceremony to heaven. Emperor Li Cha personally came to the ceremony site, awarded the expedition flag to the expedition fleet, and led all the princes and ministers present at the ceremony to the altar, burning incense and praying to heaven.

His Majesty Tang Li Xin, Commander-in-Chief of the Expeditionary Fleet in uniform, Brigadier General Zheng Huaishan, Deputy Commander and Captain of the armored cruiser "Evil Wind", Colonels Pan Shouguo, Colonel Liu Daqing, and a group of senior officers accepted His Majesty's review and solemnly swore an oath.

All the ships in the harbor blew their whistles, and under the leadership of the flagship "Evil Wind" armored cruiser, they sailed out of the harbor one by one and embarked on the long voyage of an expedition of thousands of miles.

standing by the pier

Emperor Richard watched the expedition fleet sail out of the harbor one by one, his face was full of relief, this expedition will be a very representative event.

The children of the royal family finally took up the banner of expanding the territory. The seven princes, the nine princes, the ten princes and so on, some are wise and wise, some are both civil and military, and some are brave and good at fighting. Show talent.

The inheritance of the Tang royal family is worry-free, which is a great thing to celebrate!
The eleventh son of the emperor, Tang Li Xin, knows people well and has a good view of the overall situation. He is the prince that Emperor Li Cha prefers, and he intends to take this opportunity to let him experience it.

The expedition to Egypt is just a long journey, as long as you can reach it smoothly, you will be more than half successful.

The Ottoman Navy is still dominated by old-fashioned sailing warships. Its local sailing fleet on the Red Sea side is old and equipped with poor weapons and equipment, and has no ability to compete with modern ironclad ships.

The most important battle will break out on land.

Although the traditional Mamluk cavalry in Egypt has already set, they can still be called the North African powerhouse.Ismail Pasha has always had a close relationship with European powers such as Britain and France, and his army is also equipped with a large number of advanced Western guns, and his combat effectiveness cannot be underestimated.

These pressures all fell on the shoulders of the 3rd and 4th Divisions of the Royal Marines, and fierce battles would inevitably break out in the capture of Suez.

His Highness Tang-Li Xin is more familiar with land battles. During the South American War, he followed the cavalry for thousands of miles and went through more than a dozen battles. Experience and knowledge are not lacking. What is lacking is the opportunity for practical experience.

Li Cha is quite looking forward to what kind of answer sheet the Eleventh Emperor can hand in?
(End of this chapter)