Chapter 1425 The Empire is Far Better Than Me (Second Update, Please Subscribe)

Around 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, May 2nd, at the White House in Washington.

On the green lawn, a plane was crowded with people, including President Cleveland.

"…This is a flying machine seized by the military near Hampton Roads. We have never seen this kind of flying machine before, and we can even say that we have never heard of it. According to the testimony of the naval officers and soldiers at the scene, the Ming Empire used this kind of flying machine to attack us!"

When the Secretary of the Navy William Whitney mentioned the word "captured", some people even raised their eyebrows involuntarily. This guy is really worthy of being a politician. He can actually say such words so shamelessly.

Is this the victor's spoils?

It was clearly a crashed flying machine...but, all in all, it could barely be considered "captured."

This can at least break the saying that "the Empire is invincible in the sky".

"How does this aircraft fly?"

President Cleveland asked.

"I don't see where to put the hydrogen, and it's so small, but how can it carry a bomb?"

In response to the president's question, Navy Secretary William Whitney spoke to a middle-aged man who was inspecting the aircraft.

"Professor Todd, please explain it to all of us."

"Yes, Mr. Minister."

Todd then explained,

"Mr. President, unlike airships that rely on hydrogen, which is lighter than air, its weight is greater than air and its structure is somewhat similar to that of a glider. It is a new type of aircraft that relies on its own power and the lift provided by the glider-like wings. It is very fast and has very low requirements for the site..."

Professor Thomas Todd from MIT is not only a mechanical engineering expert, but also a glider expert. Fifteen years ago, he joined the glider club while studying in Ming Dynasty. In this world, not only are there many Americans studying in Germany, but there are also many Americans studying in Ming Dynasty to learn the most cutting-edge science. Professor Todd is one of them.

Although he had thought about combining the engine with the glider after returning to the United States, he had never made a breakthrough. Now, facing this flying machine that was put into actual combat by the Empire, he couldn't help but sigh a little.

"The Empire is truly an Empire. It always leads the world in technology..."

Even though his words sounded harsh, how could the Americans, who were beaten to a pulp by the Empire's aircraft, not admit this?

The Empire is invincible in the sky!

President Cleveland stared at the small plane, and the tragic scene of Hampton Roads once again emerged in his mind. After thinking for a while, he said.

"Professor Todd, can we make it? If we can, we must make it now!"

"Mr. President, with this prototype, we can quickly copy it. But Mr. President, the most important thing now is not that we copy the plane, but the pilot! We need pilots to fly the plane! The Ming Empire surpasses us not only in their advanced combat equipment, but also in their system!"

Because he had studied and lived in Ming Dynasty for seven years, Todd knew very well what made Ming Dynasty so strong. Yes, it was not just an airplane or their industrial technology.

"What are the planes we see? They are just planes, but without people. Planes are just scrap metal. In the Ming Dynasty, almost all cities have glider clubs, and there are glider competitions between universities. They not only have the world's top engineering personnel, but also a large number of glider pilots, perhaps thousands or even tens of thousands. The operation method of this flying machine is not much different from that of a glider. Glider pilots only need simple training to become pilots, but how many glider pilots do we have? Dozens? Or more than a hundred? This is exactly why the Ming Dynasty is ahead, they have been prepared for a long time. We not only need to manufacture aircraft, we also need to establish a complete personnel training system. We even need to establish a corresponding industrial system. Only in this way can we catch up with the Ming Empire, otherwise we are doomed to fail."

After saying this, Todd said.

“May God bless America!”

God bless America...Maybe now we can only pray for God's blessing.

However, no one is willing to hand over the security of the country to a nonexistent God. After visiting the Ming Dynasty's aircraft, President Cleveland and his military advisers were holding another consultation in the Oval Office.

As president, Cleveland is the only president in American history to be elected twice for non-consecutive terms, and the first Democrat to be elected president after the Civil War. In another world, he is called a president with a "tiger start but a weaker end" by historians because of his mediocre political performance.

But in this world, he had to face unprecedented challenges. Two years ago, in response to the Cuban Crisis, he instructed the formation of the Great White Fleet to demonstrate to the Ming Empire by sailing around the world. In fact, as early as his first term, he supported the expansion of maritime power. He once stated in Congress:

"A strong navy is our proper and natural defense. We must make America's sea power a strong deterrent in the future as we have in the past."

Under his encouragement, the U.S. Navy's large-scale shipbuilding plans were passed one after another. During the "Second Cuban Crisis", when Cleveland learned that the Imperial Fleet had entered Havana, he authorized the mobilization of the two ocean fleets and the formation of the "Great White Fleet" to deter the Empire.

“We can drive the Ming Empire back to the negotiation table by showing our strength and determination. If the other side ignores our morality for a while, we can only use warships and guns to defend our freedom and justice, and force them to find their conscience, so as to achieve a fair peace that conforms to the universal morality of mankind.”

However, no one expected that during the grand voyage around the world, Cleveland proudly declared that "our fleet forced them to regain their conscience and maintain world peace."

The Ming Empire actually launched a despicable air attack and destroyed half of the fleet with those newfangled toys!

"…The overseas fleet must withdraw immediately. We must withdraw as many warships as possible. We already have most of our battleships. If we cannot concentrate our forces to protect the East Coast, once our cities on the East Coast, such as New York, are attacked and our cities are destroyed, the entire United States will fall under the iron hoof of the Ming Empire."

When the worried military advisers mentioned all this, they seemed to see the Ming Empire's army about to march into Washington, and the atrocities of the British burning down the White House in 1812 would be staged again.

"Since the Ming Empire has chosen war, they will definitely pay the price for their actions."

Although President Cleveland seemed calm, there was still irresistible anger in his tone. The Ming Empire's attack on the "Great White Fleet" made him look like a fool.

"Mr. President, Cuba has also been attacked. Given the current situation, we must strengthen our liaison with Britain and Germany and launch a counterattack against the enemy through joint cooperation among the Allied Powers."

the Secretary of State stressed.

"In this case, we must stand on the side of the Allies and use the overall strength of the Allies to win the final victory. Our start is so unfavorable that this is destined to be a long war of attrition."

Secretary of the Navy William Whitney sighed,

"We must act immediately to reverse the situation and take back the initiative. No matter what, we will have to go through a dark period. But I believe that when we adapt to the new form of war, we will soon be able to get out of this dark period and usher in light."

"God bless America,"

Cleveland said.

“I hope this darkest hour won’t be any darker than we imagine right now!”

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)