Chapter 211 The First Step of Revenge (Second update, please subscribe)
Completely solve Chile!
What is a complete solution?
Just occupy him!
Just destroy that country!
Even though two years have passed, Zhu Xianhai still can't forget the simulation two years ago.
In that simulation, every minute and every second of that long period of time, hundreds of thousands of South Chinese people were writing sacrifice with their lives!
In the past two years, Zhu Xianhai has done more than just to stop it!
But for revenge!
In the past two years, every minute and every second of his life was depicted in two words - revenge!
Yes, revenge is necessary!
Two years!
In the past two years, he has been waiting, waiting for the opportunity for revenge, and now... the opportunity has finally come!
The outbreak of the Paraguayan War freed up Zhu Xianhai's hands. The most important thing was that after more than two years of preparation, the time was almost ripe.
Of course, the timing was just a little off.
"We just need a fire!"
After thinking for a while, Zhu Xianhai took out a document, opened it, and then talked to himself.
"Comrade Jingwei, since you're a dog, you should tie the leash tightly first. If you don't tie it tightly, the dog's legs will break free..."
Then this dog has no value in existence.
The "dog" that Zhu Xianhai mentioned is of course the "Chilean President" Pedro León Gallo, whom he supported. That guy has been trying to be completely independent since he formed a government in Chillán. Zhu Xianhai did not stop his attempt. After all, after that long simulation, the plan of "supporting a puppet" has changed - to completely solve the problem of Chile.
In other words, occupy Chile!
But before that, they could use Pedro and others to consume Chile's power. After all, the more people died in the war between them, the more conducive it would be for future invasions, oh no, it was a special military operation aimed at restoring peace and allowing the local people to live and work in peace again.
"Um……"
After thinking about it, Zhu Xianhai said to himself.
"It seems that it is time for the fleet to conduct long-distance sailing training, just in time to give Pedro and his men courage."
Nanhua now has a fairly large fleet - a fleet of twelve warships. Among these twelve warships, in addition to several sailing training ships and steam gunboats converted from merchant ships, there are only two "Flying Dragon" class ironclad ships that can be used.
The "Flying Dragon" class ironclad ship was secretly ordered by the Confederate States of America from the British Laird Shipyard in 1862, and was later confiscated by the British official. It was sold to South China in the name of "merchant ship" in August last year. After the two unarmed warships returned to South China at the beginning of the year, two front and rear turrets were installed. Unlike the four 9-inch Armstrong muzzle-loading rifled guns installed by the British on the two turrets in history, South China equipped it with two self-produced 210mm breech-loading rifled guns. The caliber is slightly inferior, but the power of the two is definitely a world of difference. With the improvement of the chemical industry, the production of new explosives was included in the plan as early as last year.
The new explosive is not Nobel's "explosive glue", but picric acid, or trinitrophenol. The reason why it was chosen instead of the safer TNT - which was synthesized by Prussian chemist TJ Wilberland last year - is because its technology is more mature and cheaper. After all, trinitrophenol is a "dye" that has been used for decades and can be used in the military with just a little improvement.
However, because picric acid reacts with iron, a thick layer of wax needs to be applied inside the shell. This is not difficult. Compared with silica explosives made of nitroglycerin + diatomaceous earth, it is more suitable for artillery shells and can withstand the impact of artillery shooting without the risk of bomb martyrdom and explosion.
In the early morning of late May 1864, the two ironclad ships "Feilong" and "Qinglong" and the sail training ship "Sihai" left Nanhua Bay one after another. Afterwards, the three warships sailed south along the route that Magellan and other celebrities had taken. On June 1, it crossed the winter solstice line and turned its bow to the Strait of Magellan, which was the only choice for ships to travel between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. There was also the Drake Passage, but the winds in the Drake Passage were high and the waves were fierce. Generally speaking, ships were willing to go to the Pacific Ocean from the Strait of Magellan. The correct length of the strait was only 700 kilometers, and there was deep water everywhere. Even a giant ship like the Great Eastern could sail normally, and there were bays everywhere along the way for ships to anchor.
After the fleet entered the strait, Li Xuelin, captain of the Feilong, pointed at the strait and said.
“Patagonia is not complete without the Strait of Magellan…”
The reason why he was so emotional was that as early as twenty years ago, Chile had declared sovereignty over the strait and sent immigrants to occupy it, but this is the southernmost land in Patagonia.
"Don't worry, I think one day you will take back this land,"
Major Douglas said, holding his pipe in his hand and looking at the coast.
"This world has always been one where the strong are respected. Now, even though your fleet only has two ironclad ships, the Chileans don't have a single one. As long as you have sufficient funds, your fleet will soon surpass them and defeat them on the battlefield. That will be the most natural thing."
"It's hard to say yet."
Li Xuelin shook his head.
"Why? Your gunnery skills have improved rapidly, and your navigation skills are also very proficient."
"I doubt it, for we have only just begun our journey to the sea, and our officers and sailors have no experience."
"Oh, that's the question, my friend. You should know that even the Royal Navy was a rookie in the steam age and the iron armor age! It's all your imagination, right? What's the biggest problem of the Industrial Revolution?"
Holding his pipe, Major Douglas, the fleet advisor, shrugged his shoulders and smiled.
"Everyone is almost standing at the starting line again. The so-called historical accumulation may just be the decadent past."
Major Douglas, who had served in the Royal Navy for more than 20 years, had his own views on the navy. After coming to South China, he also had different ideas about this fleet.
"Hey! Just like facing new technology, the Royal Navy has once again chosen muzzle-loading guns. On the surface, it's because of technology, but what's the truth? Because many officials in the Admiralty prefer muzzle-loading guns, but what about you? You chose the more advanced breech-loading guns in this era."
He seemed to think for a moment, then he said,
"The one who wins the future naval battles may not necessarily be a fleet with a long history, but it will definitely be a fleet that is aggressive and technologically ahead of other countries! Technology will win everything!"
“Indeed, technology is indeed very important!”
Li Xuelin nodded and said.
"But it's not just about the technology of warships and artillery. War also tests the quality of officers and the training of soldiers. It should be said that advanced ship technology and unparalleled courage plus hard training can build a fleet that can win a naval battle!"
The first mate Zhao Ming said on the side.
"You have repeatedly told us that a fleet that cannot 'fight the enemy as soon as it sees them' cannot win a naval battle. Courage is the first step to winning a naval battle!"
Whether it was Li Xuelin or Zhao Ming, they were all officers who came from merchant ships. Three years ago, they had never been to sea. It was only last year that they began to study at the Naval Cadet School. However, as the first generation of officers in the South China Navy, they had already begun to command warships to the sea. Well, at least, the training on merchant ships and whaling ships meant that they didn't need to hold a piece of paper to give orders.
"Of course, I will always insist on this, but technology! Believe me, in war, in the face of technological advantages, courage alone is not enough..."
Douglas replied.
"If you want to beat the Chileans, the easiest way is to... surpass them in technology and crush them!"
I have set up a book club: 335260551. Everyone is welcome to join and discuss and deduce the plot together.
(End of this chapter)
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