The sun never sets in America

Chapter 385 Postwar Influence and World Situation

(Xijing Daily: 500,000 US troops surrendered. After two months of hard fighting, our army finally achieved results.)
(Hanzhou Times: General Li Zihao said in an interview that the war will end as we expected.)
(Korean newspaper: His Majesty ordered that all soldiers participating in the war be awarded medals of bravery and double bonuses!!)
(Jinshan Daily: Our army is only one step away from complete victory. The future of America belongs to the Han Dynasty.)
Newspapers are full of "fantasy stories" about the victory of the Montana War, the annihilation of 100,000 American troops, the capture of 400,000, and the total elimination of 500,000.

Of course, in these stories, the news about "special bombs" was covered up, and the final scenes of the war were even described as vague "artillery battles."

Although a discerning person can see the loopholes at a glance, for ordinary people, it is a good thing and a huge good thing that the big man has won and defeated half a million American troops.

At least they no longer have to worry about the so-called shocking news of "American invaders entering Beijing."

For the Han State, the victory in the Montana War was like opening the door to victory. The country and the army were full of confidence.

For the US military and the United States, this is simply a "nightmare."

Since the war started, the United States has lost more than 800,000 army troops. Even though they clamored over and over again for the so-called "three million" army or even the so-called "two million reserve troops", what still cannot be concealed is that, The huge failure on the Montana battlefield has seriously affected the domestic situation.

Lincoln's so-called "homeland defense" has basically become a joke now. Lincoln, who originally had a huge reputation because of the war, has already seen his support rate drop significantly due to his defeat in the war.

Within the United States, Montana's disastrous defeat also made it possible for some conflicts that had been concealed to explode collectively.

Napoleon III "illegally" concurrently served as the King of Italy, and was preparing to move in Egypt, intending to drive the British army into the sea and dominate the entire Suez Canal.

In this war, agricultural areas like the south will definitely lose money, but industrial areas like the north will definitely make money.

Because it is difficult for the South's own industry to support such a large-scale military consumption, and if you want to support it, you have to purchase weapons from the North. Although the US military's weapons are all purchased uniformly.

Among other things, in the agricultural era, any large-scale war was actually a consumption of "inventory". The conscription of soldiers was actually a consumption of the country's "labor".

If it weren't for Lincoln's control of millions of American troops as wartime president, the suppression of the South by northern industry, and the South's demand for the North during the war, there might be two Americas now.

War in the industrial age is so "terrible". It may not hurt others, but it may not hurt ourselves either.

In the industrial age, wars often present two situations. One is that there are both people and industry. Just like the United States, millions of troops are mobilized. The industrial areas of the Great Lakes and the East are still overcrowded, and the front lines are producing day and night. Everything needed.

But you must know that there is an essential difference between the north and the south, and that is industry.

In the agricultural era, wars were mainly concentrated in the so-called "rich" places because there was food there.

But there is an essence to any conflict. The longer it is suppressed, the greater the power of suppression, and the more violent it will be when it breaks out in the future.

"Kidd, tell me, are the Han people very proud now?"

"Of course, they have just won a crucial war, and everyone will be proud!!"

In Downing Street, Russell exhaled smoke and the Cuban cigar in his hand kept beating.

“You said, when will we in Europe achieve such a victory??”

But in the industrial age, such a situation is basically impossible, because it is impossible for countries with small populations to gather the population needed for industry and the population that can be sent to fight without war.

In the recent war, the Russian Bear defeated the 200,000 Ottoman army in Crimea and regained the initiative in the Black Sea.

In this war, it seems that the North has suffered the most losses, having lost 70% of its troops, while the South has suffered the least losses. So far, it has only lost one and a half agricultural states.

.............................................

In the words of a southern governor, "Everything in the South is flowing to the North through legal means, and this legal way is war!!"

The Balkans are basically a small war in three days and a big war in ten days. The Ottomans are no longer able to control the region. Some people in the country even have the idea of ​​selling the Ottoman region in the Balkans in exchange for war funds. .

People are not important, but they are important! !

This is also the reason why Napoleon III ordered a halt to overseas immigration in recent years, just to have enough manpower to deal with such a cruel Europe when necessary.

But because of the war, they had long been divided into two factions, the North and the South.

As for those so-called neutral countries, they are not neutral at all. According to British intelligence, it is very likely that Spain will shift to France's status. It seems that Napoleon III's "Greater Europe" plan is probably really coming.

The current situation in Europe has made the British increasingly powerless.

Wash away the shame of the past! !
The Prussians were also pampered in the border areas, ready to swallow up the surrounding German states and become a new empire when Austria was overwhelmed.

In the industrial age, war does not necessarily lose money. This is fundamentally different from the agricultural age.

The current situation in Europe can be described in one word: "bastard".

The second situation is that there is industry, but there are not enough people. This is a problem of the early Han Dynasty. One person can't wait to become two people.

(The so-called Greater Europe is an early concept of Napoleon III. The original intention was to build a super railway from Paris to Siberia, connecting all European countries in the middle, and completely integrating the European market)

In the House of Commons, the "cry" of war has reached its peak.

Instead, war has become a propeller for industry and a boost valve for the economy.

For agricultural areas like the South, the war is simply a loss-making operation, and can even be said to be an out-and-out "cutting off the flesh."

Russell was talking to himself.

Even the so-called national debt is nothing more than a left-hand to right-hand game.

The two factions are like "comrades who never meet". You can see them helping each other, but you can't see them joining forces.

If we talk about the agricultural era, what kind of nomads with a population of hundreds of thousands can defeat agricultural countries with a population of tens of millions or even tens of millions.

Russell's question was not only a question to Kidd, but also to himself.

War is fought on people, and industry also uses people. Without people, it is difficult to move even an inch! !

In the industrial era, the importance of population is being valued by more and more countries.

Because the essence of union is the submission of the South to the North.

Although Russell tried to appease those war factions over and over again, he also knew that it was a certainty that the British Empire, a giant ship, would join the battlefield. The only difference was when and how it would participate, and what the price would be.

"Kidd, do you think it's possible for us to have a fight between the Russians and those damn Frenchies??"

"If they fight, it will be much easier for the British Empire!!"

Russell's words were like "talking in sleep", which made Kidd a little speechless, but he had to admit that this was indeed the best solution at the moment.

"Mr. Prime Minister, according to our intelligence, there may be some kind of agreement between Russia and France, or even an alliance."

"If you want them to fall out, unless the interests are so great that the two sides have to fight."

"But do we have it? Even if we do, will the British Empire be willing to give it to us??"

Although Kidd's words are "cold", this is the current reality.

The order that the British tried desperately to maintain was crumbling.

The glory of the British Empire may be as some people say privately. If you decide to win this war, the British Empire will continue its glory for another hundred years. If you let go, Europe will be completely lost, even if Britain still has more than 100 years of glory. Europe's larger overseas colonies.

But just like a product, you can't think that it is a good product just because it is heavier. Maybe it is a "defective product."

Russell was silent for a long time, and finally said: "Since war is inevitable, do you think, should we start with Russia or France first?"

Kidd glanced at Russell and already had the answer in his mind, and then replied:
"Russia, it can only be Russia!!"

"Oh why not France, don't you think they are too close??"

There was a hint of "surprise at being understood" in Russell's tone.

"Because France is too strong!!"

Kidd answered with a smile, but from this smile, couldn't it be that the British Empire was "helpless" at the moment? ?
Russell's expression was complicated and he didn't say anything for a long time.

On the opposite side, Kidd continued to speak:
"I think defeating Russia will have a huge advancement effect on this war."

"The Russian army currently has one million people fighting the Ottomans in the Black Sea. With Russia's industry, mobilizing another million people is their limit. Even from the perspective of national strength, the Russians can maintain the current one million army. , has reached its peak." "Russia is touching its ceiling!!"

Kidd's words are in line with the British logic of looking at the world, which is to kill the weak one first and then surround and suppress the strong one.

Russell spoke:
"So, how will we enter the Black Sea again?"

Kidd was silent for a while, then replied:

"Volunteers, or international mercenaries!!"

Russell followed up and asked:

"Why don't you declare war directly instead of hiding like this??"

"Because we need to ensure flexibility in our strategy at any time, Mr. Prime Minister, the British Empire cannot rely entirely on war, but it cannot be without war!!"

Russell pondered for a long time and finally spoke:
"The Ottomans seem to be very important. They control Egypt and the most important part of the Mediterranean. This damn pagan country seems to be unable to die, at least not until the British Empire has taken care of France and Russia!! "

In Russell's eyes, Osman is a tool that can be used but does not want to be used.

Usually you don't think of it for good things, but once something goes wrong, you have to use it to solve the problem.

…………

In the Palace of Versailles, although it is winter outside, the people inside are living in summer.

The stove was burning red, and the heat filled the palace. Most people only wore summer clothes.

Napoleon III sat behind his desk, looking at the battle report in his hand, his expression changed slightly, and finally he said: "These Han countries are indeed very capable of fighting, and the Yankees did not lose unjustly!!"

Opposite him, the French commander-in-chief Coffman said very calmly:

"Your Majesty, if it were our French army, we could also achieve such a result. If you want to blame it, blame those Americans for being too stupid!!"

"It was so easy for the Han people to break through to the rear and be surrounded."

"If it were our army, the Han people wouldn't even have a chance to break through!!"

Looking at this "overconfident" Kuffman, Napoleon III said nothing, but just nodded lightly in recognition.

As for whether this person is sincere or not, no one knows.

“How long do you think Americans can hold on??”

“One year, or two years??”

Napoleon III asked a question that was difficult to predict.

But Koffman answered "two years" honestly.

"Why two years? According to the current situation, one year is also very possible!!"

Napoleon III had even greater confidence in the Han army than the French army. This was something that he himself was not aware of.

"Because I predict that the US military will go on the defensive in the future. It is basically impossible for the Han army to attack so easily!!"

Koffman is a veteran, and he knows very well what choices a country should make in unfavorable situations.

Defense is the most cost-effective and most useful method.

Napoleon III was silent for a long time before saying:

"What about the Russian side? Will they win like the Han Dynasty did??"

"No, they already had a decent victory in Crimea!!"

Napoleon III's tone towards Russia was obviously not as good as that of Han.

"Your Majesty, it is better to count on the Russians than on ourselves!!"

Koffman's words made Napoleon III's heart sink in his hope that Russia would open up the situation.

After all, Russians are notoriously unreliable.

But soon Napoleon III realized another problem, and that was Britain.

"Britain, why haven't the British started a war yet? According to our original plan, they should have started a war after the Italian war ended. Why have they been delayed until now??"

The only thing that made Napoleon III unsure was the British attitude. After all, according to his impression of the British, it would be suspicious if the war has reached this level and it has not ended yet.

Koffman on the opposite side also had the same idea and said:

"Your Majesty, I think the British should still be prepared to play their so-called siege game."

“Didn’t I hear recently that Prussia and Britain are very close??”

Napoleon III's expression quickly darkened, and then he said:

"The Prussians, like the British, like to hide behind and wait for opportunities like hounds, but I want to tell them who has the final say in Europe now!!"

Napoleon III has "certainty" on his face, which is a kind of self-confidence, a kind of self-confidence derived from the fact that France's current strength is "the highest in Europe".

"Tell the Austrians that I can agree to their conditions and even provide them with a copy of the last used weapon for free!!"

Koffman was a little "shocked" by Napoleon III's words, but he soon understood.

In the warm Palace of Versailles, Napoleon III was like an absolute monarch, enjoying everything that imperial rights brought to him! !

…………

Wow! !

Inside the embassy, ​​Zhao Heng looked at the heavy rain covering the entire city of Paris. He said nothing and just kept smoking.

Behind him was a group of staff checking documents. Just yesterday, the country had just passed a document regarding the export of machine guns to France.

This document does not involve the manufacture of machine guns, just the machine guns themselves. In other words, this is a normal arms deal.

If it were in peacetime, such a transaction would not cause any fluctuations at all, or even attract much attention.

But at this time when the whole world is plunged into war and is in turmoil, a murderous weapon that has proven itself on the American battlefield and is extremely terrifying enters Europe. Even the stupidest intelligence officers know that France is going to make big moves next. .

In principle, Zhao Heng agreed to this deal, because it would make Europe more chaotic and make European wars more cruel.

But from the perspective of interests, allowing the French to come into contact with large-scale killers such as machine guns prematurely is likely to accelerate France's unification of Europe.

This is definitely not a good thing for Han, which has always wanted to achieve a trilateral balance between Russia, France and Britain.

It's even possible that it's a bad thing.

But Zhao Heng had no way to object, because the real decision-maker of this agreement was the "Emperor Longwu", the "Holy King" who led the Han Kingdom to glory for more than 20 years.

Almost no one dared to disobey Liu Peng's orders in the entire Han Dynasty. Even those who were dissatisfied would look back at what Emperor Long Wu did and say "heavenly man".

Although Zhao Heng did not understand the intention of the holy king, he understood his mission as the minister in France.

That is to unite France as much as possible to check and balance Britain, so that the strength of the British Empire remains stuck in Europe and cannot move.

Although Britain has never really participated in the war, it can even be said that it still retains the final strategic initiative.

But this does not mean that Britain will not enter the war. In fact, according to Han's estimation, the British should join the war after the Italian War ended a month ago, or when the French Naval Battle failed midway.

I haven't joined now, it's just one thing, that is, "taking into account".

It’s self-evident what to consider! !
(End of this chapter)