Chapter 1397 The Empire Doesn’t Love Money (First Update, Please Subscribe)

Who are they and where do they come from?

On April 21, 1995, facing the reality that both the east and west coasts were attacked simultaneously,

Those Americans who are in extreme shock, they keep asking this question.

But when this question is asked, the price has already been paid!

…

Washington, the White House.

After President Cleveland learned from the Secretary of State's call that the Ming Empire had declared war, he was stunned for a long time.

"Why did the Ming Empire declare war? Don't they want to make money?"

The reason why Cleveland had such doubts was because the Ming Empire was used to making money from wars!

No country in the world is better at developing talents than them, whether in the Civil War or the South African War. The Ming Empire used war to make a fortune.

Although they profited from wars, they never directly intervened in them.

But what about now?

The Ming Empire doesn’t want money anymore!

"I do not understand!"

President Cleveland, sitting in the Oval Office, spoke to his chief of staff Mick with some distress.

"As we all know, the Ming Empire is a merchant country. For them, nothing is more important than trade. During the Civil War, they smuggled no less than $100 million worth of weapons to the South, and their high-speed smuggling ships transported hundreds of millions of dollars worth of cotton from the South. The profits they gained from the war exceeded those of any other country."

Is Cleveland exaggerating?

Of course not. There is a saying in the United States: During the Civil War, there must be bullets from the Ming Empire left among the bodies of the Americans who died in the Civil War.

During the Civil War, the "dark history" of the South China Company, the predecessor of the Ming Empire, which made a fortune, had long been made public. Therefore, it was for this reason that Cleveland couldn't understand it!

Who could have imagined that one day businessmen would refuse money and even choose wars that would cost a lot of wealth.

"Yes, Mr. President, it was the blood of the Americans that stimulated the economic development of the Ming Empire, and it was also the blood of the Americans that contributed to the industrial take-off of the Ming Empire!"

As the Chief of Staff finished speaking, President Cleveland spoke again.

"So, I can't understand why the Ming Empire wants to go to war? At this time, shouldn't we remain neutral together and export arms to Europe? We sell arms to the British, Germans, and Italians, and they sell arms to the French, Russians, and Austrians, letting Europeans kill each other and bleed, and then we earn gold in their interest! Why... do they declare war on us?"

At this time, Cleveland was like a wronged young wife. He had planned everything. The United States would make a fortune in this war, the United States would get out of the economic crisis, and when Europe was plunged into war, the United States would truly take off.

To this end, he is even willing to make concessions on many issues. Making money... is not shabby.

It's okay to make some concessions in order to make money.

However, his plan turned into a joke when the Ming Empire declared war.

"Don't they want to make money? Gold... In this world, is there anything more important than gold?"

"Mr. President, we all know that even if the Ming Empire agrees to remain neutral, neutrality will not last long. In the end, they will still join the war, and we are no exception..."

Liv looked at the president and couldn't help but speculate in his heart - the Ming Empire is not stupid. The United States can't remain neutral forever, and they can't ignore the threat of the empire forever. Sooner or later, war will break out.

Under such circumstances, how could the Ming Empire choose to compromise?

"But...we should make money first!"

Cleveland said stubbornly. Then he asked again when the cabinet members would arrive. After learning that the declaration of war had disappeared, he immediately summoned the cabinet members to deal with this sudden declaration of war.

"I never thought that the Ming Empire would choose to go to war..."

At this moment, a White House staff member suddenly pushed open the door of the Oval Office in a panic. He was so panicked that he even forgot basic etiquette.

"Mr. Frank, what's wrong with you?"

Liv asked, looking at his subordinate unhappily.

"Sir, sir,"

Frank, who was scolded, did not make any excuses, but handed over the telegram with a panicked look.

"Mr. President! We just received a telegram from the Navy. The Great White Fleet in Hampton Roads... was attacked by air... The Great White Fleet was completely... completely destroyed!"

"What! What did you say? How is this possible? An air raid? Was it a Ming Dynasty airship?"

When Liv received the telegram, he was stunned for a moment - the telegram was indeed sent by the navy.

"What the hell is going on? What happened to my fleet?"

When Cleveland received the telegram from Leaf's hand, his expression instantly became dull. With dull eyes, there was only one thought in his mind - his fleet was completely finished!

Yes!

That was his fleet, the Great White Fleet that he ordered to be formed. That dream-like fleet once shocked the whole world. They set out from Hampton and sailed around the world, allowing the world to see the powerful maritime power of the United States. Of course, what the world witnessed was not only the maritime power, but also the amazing national strength of the United States - it was the strong economy that provided the necessary expenses for the large fleet, and it was the strong industrial power that created that large fleet.

But what about now?

It's all over!

The mighty "Great White Fleet" that symbolized the power and glory of the United States disappeared! It was destroyed by the Ming people in one morning!

How is this possible?

"Oh my God, how is this possible? How could our fleet just be gone? Oh my God, what happened there?"

As he muttered to himself, the telegram slipped from his hands, and God can testify that at that moment, Cleveland's tears flowed.

For his fleet.

Of course, it could also be due to some kind of fear, because a large fleet just disappeared like that…

"Mr. President, Mr. President..."

Just then a man broke into the Oval Office. It was Secretary of State Grisham, who had already arrived at the White House. As soon as he entered the office, he spoke loudly.

"Is it true? The Ming attacked Hampton Roads and destroyed our fleet? Is this true?"

Walking up to the president, Gresham said again.

"This is definitely fake news. I learned about this on my way to the White House. We must tell the whole United States immediately that this is fake. It is impossible. God can testify. Who is fabricating this fake news? It must be those guys who took the Ming silver dollars. They must be deliberately spreading rumors and creating chaos there."

Just as he finished speaking, Secretary of the Navy William Whitney walked in and spoke to him.

"This is true, Mr. Secretary of State! Our fleet was attacked from the air. The Ming people did not send out an airship, but a new type of flying machine."

When saying this, Whitney's tone was a little sad, but more angry.

"They attacked us by surprise, on Sunday morning, using aircraft. They destroyed our fleet. It was a despicable attack."

"They've declared war on us, before 7 o'clock."

Secretary of State Gresham asked again after informing the other side that war had been declared.

"Flying machines? What kind of flying machines? Where did they come from? From Mexico?"

Almost subconsciously, Gresham saw Mexico, after all, Mexico was also an ally of the Ming Empire. If it was a plane sent by the Ming Empire, it was very likely to have taken off from Mexico.

"But now the Mexican Empire has not declared war on us. If the Ming Empire's aircraft took off from there, then we must declare war on the Mexican Empire."

Declare war on Mexico!

It seems to be a good choice. After all, compared with the Ming Empire, the Mexican Empire is a vulnerable country.

After declaring war, we must also consider the Ming Empire's help to Mexico. After all, there are Ming Empire troops stationed in Mexico.

"It is not known where their aircraft took off from, but they were very small. Navy intelligence personnel believe that those aircraft could not have flown to Hampton from Mexico or any other country. They were most likely launched from warships."

As Whitney continued to explain, President Cleveland, who had remained silent, asked in a low voice.

"Whitney, how many warships did our fleet lose?"

Now, it is not important where the Ming Empire's aircraft took off from. The most important thing is to confirm the loss of the fleet.

"Is it really true that the whole army was wiped out?"

After asking this question, Cleveland looked at Whitney eagerly, as if he wanted to get good news from him, at least to hear him say... our losses were not that heavy.

But Cleveland was bound to be disappointed. Looking at the president, Whitney was even reluctant to break his fantasy by telling him the bad news.

But bad news always has to come out. Whitney nodded and said.

"During the attack, the Ming Empire's aircraft used torpedoes and bombs to attack our fleet in the early morning. At that time, the fleet was completely unprepared. After all, we had not received any news about the declaration of war, so at that time, for us, it was a complete sneak attack! Moreover... we had no idea how to defend against that kind of aircraft..."

When saying this, Whitney once again emphasized the word "sneak attack". In his opinion, even if war was declared, it would still be a sneak attack.

"We lost almost all of our dreadnoughts..."

In an instant, the circular office became quiet, and everyone fell silent at the bad news.

This is true.

The Great White Fleet was truly annihilated...

The old group is down, so I created a new book club group: 739209015. Everyone is welcome to join and discuss and deduce the plot together.

(End of this chapter)