Travel through the Qing Dynasty and become emperor

Chapter 863 The Road to Europa

Zhang Zuolin continued: "First, Turkey has unique strategic geographical conditions. Your Majesty, please see that Turkey is located at the junction of Europe, Asia and Africa, straddling the two continents of Europe and Asia, with a land area of ​​78 square kilometers and a population of more than 6000 million. Most of the residents are *** is an independent country. The main part of Turkey’s land is located in the Asia Minor Peninsula of Asia, accounting for about 97% of its total area, and the European part is located in the southeast of the Balkan Peninsula, accounting for only 3.1%. Turkey is divided into two by the famous Bosphorus Strait, Dardanelles and Marmara Sea. Turkey borders Iran in the east, Georgia and Armenia in the northeast, Syria and Iraq in the southeast, Bulgaria in the northwest and Bulgaria in the west. It borders Greece. It borders the Black Sea to the north, the Aegean Sea to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the southwest. It faces Cyprus and Africa across the sea, and is only 40 kilometers away from Cyprus."

"Talking about Turkey from the perspective of maritime strategic geography, the first thing that comes to mind is the two important straits in its domain: the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles. The Bosporus Strait, which Turkey calls the Strait of Istanbul, is about 30 meters long. km, 750 to 3700 meters wide, 33 to 80 meters deep, connected to the Black Sea in the north, and Marmara Sea in the south; the Dardanelle Strait, called the Canakkale Strait in Turkey, is about 120 kilometers long and 1300 to 18500 meters wide. It is 53 to 106 meters deep, connecting the Marmara Sea in the north and the Aegean Sea in the south. The Marmara Sea between the two straits is about 280 kilometers long, 80 kilometers wide, more than 1300 meters deep, and covers an area of ​​more than 11000 square kilometers. These three narrow and long Its waters are connected from northeast to southwest, passing through the Aegean Sea and then into the Mediterranean Sea, forming a sea traffic artery more than 400 kilometers long. For Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia and other Black Sea coastal countries, this is their only access to the sea. For The Soviet Union is its throat to the Mediterranean in the south, and it is the southward estuary it has been trying to open for many years."

"Turkey is located at the northeastern end of the Mediterranean Sea, with a total coastline of nearly 4000 kilometers. The northern coast is relatively straight, about 300 kilometers away from the Crimean Peninsula of Ukraine; the western part is about 100 kilometers away from the Greek coast, and the coastline is more complex, or cliffs. , or lowlands, or towns, with many harbors, several large ports in Turkey, Istanbul, Gallipoli, Ismit, Canakkale and the military port of Izmir are distributed in this area; the southern coast is more tortuous, with many harbors The anchorage is about 350 nautical miles away from the mouth of the Suez Canal and the coast of Africa, and about 250 nautical miles away from the Eurasian strategic route on the Mediterranean. It occupies a relatively superior position in the regional and even world strategic geography and has relatively important strategic value. However, the superior natural Geographical conditions are a rare strategic capital for a country that is going strong, but for a country that is declining, it is the fat meat coveted by other countries and the reason for being divided."

Guan Xuqing nodded and said: "It seems that Yuting has done a full investigation before, well said, what is the second point?"

"Second, Turkey has been a battleground for military strategists since ancient times. Turkey has always been a place where wars frequently occurred in history. In ancient times, Persian expeditionary forces stepped on this land many times to attack Greece. The Peloponnesian War took place in Ireland. around the Qin Sea, while the tragic war between Christians and Christian fighters swept across the Asia Minor peninsula like a hurricane. In modern times, there have been many wars between Russia and the Ottoman Empire, and the fleets of both sides are like You come and go in this sea area like a see-saw. In modern times, the famous Battle of Dardanelles in World War I took place here, and the mighty navy and army of the British Empire suffered serious setbacks here.”

"In the history of mankind, it is rare to see frequent wars and continuous wars like the Asia Minor Peninsula. From ancient times to the present, all major transportation routes, especially strategic hubs, must be contested by military strategists; all important political forces The junction of the war must be the place where wars frequently occur. And both of these conditions are met in the Asia Minor peninsula, so it is inevitable to be repeatedly baptized by the flames of war."

"In terms of physical geography, because it is located at the junction of the three continents of Europe, Asia and Africa, the waters near Turkey have always been the link connecting the three continents, and Turkey itself is the transportation hub between the three continents. Greece to the west of Turkey has had an extremely glorious history. The period from the 8th century BC to the 15th century AD has been very prosperous, and it is the birthplace of Western civilization. The east of Turkey is the fertile soil for cultivating Islamic culture, and it is the place where the Islamic power is most concentrated. Jerusalem and its vicinity in the south of Turkey The region is the birthplace of Christianity, Christianity and Judaism. Turkey is not only the intersection of Eastern and Western cultures, but also the collision point of Eastern and Western cultures. The main residents on the Asia Minor Peninsula are Turks, and Latins live in the west , but the Slavs live in the north, the Persians in the east, and the Arabs in the south. How can these nations that have prospered and had their own glory in history not meet and compete on the Asia Minor peninsula?"

"Due to the superior natural and geographical conditions, Turkey is indeed a good place to use troops. The Asia Minor peninsula is about 1000 kilometers long from east to west, and 400 to 600 kilometers wide from north to south. The land is moderate and convenient for strategic control; the climate is suitable and the products are rich, which is conducive to strategic support; Both sea and land transportation conditions are convenient for strategic maneuvering. Starting from Turkey, you can attack West Asia to the east, control the center of the world island, the Middle East and the oil fields in the Caspian Sea; Straight to the heart of Europe, occupying the world's most economically and technologically developed region; to the north can threaten Ukraine and the European granary. Deploying a strategic force here really has the effect of occupying one place and shaking all directions. Such a unique place , how can it not lead to disputes?"

"In addition, Turkey is also an important place in maritime military geography. Its importance lies first in its control over the Black Sea. For this reason, before World War I, relevant countries signed an agreement on the use of the Black Sea Strait in Montreux, Switzerland, stipulating that Merchant ships can freely pass through the strait; if the warships of the countries along the Black Sea do not engage in war with Turkey, they can pass freely in peacetime and wartime, but they must notify Turkey in advance and abide by the regulations on the passage and number of large-tonnage warships. In addition, there are also restrictions on submarines. Corresponding procedures; the warships of non-Black Sea coastal countries go to the Black Sea through the strait, and there are certain restrictions on their displacement, ship type, and residence time in the Black Sea. Mediterranean operations also have an important impact on the smooth flow of world strategic shipping. Third, Turkey is a treasure land for using troops from sea to land, especially for world sea power. If you can gain a firm foothold in Turkey and invest in strategic military forces , enough to have an impact that shocked the world.

"Turkey is in Asia, but it is actively moving closer to Europe. Even so, as an independent country, Turkey is still the only outlier among European countries and is always viewed differently. But Turkey has important value to European and American countries. First of all, in the military In fact, Turkey is an important strategic southern flank of Europe, and plays an indispensable role in maintaining the stability of the Mediterranean Sea and the smooth flow of Eurasian maritime strategic routes. Turkey guards the Dardanelles and the Bosporus Strait, and is a feud with the Soviet Union. After World War II, it had a decisive impact on restricting the actions of the Soviet Black Sea Fleet, and it will still play an important role in the future strategic deployment of the Empire to contain the Soviet Union."

"Turkey is located in the junction of Europe, Asia and Africa in the Middle East, and borders Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Syria and other countries. It can play an irreplaceable role as a springboard, exerting influence on the Middle East and even West Asia. An important base for military intervention. Politically, Turkey is A nation, democracy, separation of church and state, and a country that implements the rule of law, opposes pan-democracy, and strictly prohibits religion from intervening in political life. In the West's efforts to curb the expansion of fundamentalist forces in the West, especially in the Middle East adjacent to Europe, Turkey is a European gatekeeper."

"Finally, India and Turkey are just at the east and west ends of the heart of the "world island", and almost all of them are distributed among the countries. On this vast land, oil is the most obvious strategic factor; Europe, Asia, Africa The junction of the three continents is its most obvious strategic geographical value, and its uniform color is its most prominent color. India has been included in the territory of the empire. With its huge and almost unrivaled maritime military power, the empire can completely Send troops from the sea to exert influence on the land. We must not ignore Turkey. Once the empire can effectively control these two points, it can not only effectively influence Southeast Europe and restrain the Soviet Union, but also launch a huge attack on Central Asia. We will firmly weed into this region, thereby further establishing the leading position in Asia and the world."

After finishing this long speech, Zhang Zuolin let out a long breath. Feng Xianghua and Xu Shichang looked at each other, and couldn't help applauding Zhang Zuolin's wonderful grand speech. Guan Xuqing listened quietly, nodding at most, and didn't say anything. view.

"I resolutely oppose!" A loud voice came out, and everyone followed the reputation, and it was Wu Peifu, Minister of Armaments, who was speaking. He shook his head and said: "What the deputy chief of staff said is very reasonable, but don't forget The British and French have already opened up the passage to Turkey, and they can reinforce Turkey at any time; in Europe, there are millions of British, French and Italian troops who may launch a large-scale offensive at any time, and there is a vast Saudi Arabia in southern Iraq, It is also the largest oil-producing country in the world today, and if we have not gained a firm foothold in the Middle East, if we rush northward, we will inevitably be hindered."

"Ziyu, are you going to hand over the Dardanelles to the British or the French?" Zhang Zuolin retorted: "The Turkish Strait is the only channel connecting the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, including the Bosporus and Dardanelles." The Dardanelle Strait, especially the Dardanelle Strait, has always been a battleground for military strategists. Its strategic position is very important and it is one of the most important maritime throats in the world. We must not give up here, so no matter how difficult the battle situation is, we will also We must send a powerful army to the Dardanelles, conquer there, control the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus, occupy the Turkish capital Constantinople, and force Turkey to surrender to China!"

(End of this chapter)