Chapter 703: America's Preparations (3rd update, please subscribe)
Mahan's three questions were so direct that even Grant was a little confused.
Because the problem with his question is obvious. It's not a problem at all.
"Lieutenant Colonel, whether a war will break out between us and the Ming Empire depends on them, not us!"
Once again, Grant answered with high-sounding words. In the past few years, the American public opinion and observers have been talking about a topic - when will the war between the United States and the Ming Empire break out?
For the United States, which had experienced the "Shame of Los Angeles", the Ming Empire was even to some extent a far greater threat to the United States than the British, especially the Ming Empire threatened the sparsely populated northwestern region of the United States.
Because of this, in the eyes of most Americans, Ming Dynasty is the most direct imaginary enemy of the United States. Of course, this is also true, and in the past few years, the United States has also been preparing for this war.
As a naval lieutenant commander, Mahan was of course well aware of this, but Grant did not give a direct answer.
"But when any country goes to war, their ultimate goal is to win the war. Am I right, Lieutenant Colonel?"
Of course, now he was interested in what Ma Han was going to say next and no longer needed to consider the issue of time.
"Yes, Mr. Minister, the only question now is, how do we win this war?"
Facing Grant, Mahan said.
"We must see a realistic problem, that is, in the past few years, the power gap between the United States and the Ming Dynasty has not widened, but has been continuously narrowed. A few years ago, the biggest advantage for the United States was our population advantage, but what about now? The Ming Empire already has a population of 20 million. In the next few years, their population will continue to increase exponentially. Almost every day, tens of thousands of Chinese immigrants arrive in the Ming Dynasty on immigration ships. In the past year of 1874 alone, more than 1.2 million immigrants arrived in the Ming Dynasty, of which more than 150,000 arrived in Vancouver, which is what they call the North Sea Governor's District. Your Excellency, Minister,"
Grant was well aware of the numbers Mahan mentioned, and in fact, anyone who cared about the future of the United States would take note of them.
"These people are young and fertile. We are facing an exponential population growth. Soon their population will exceed ours, and then our only advantage will be lost."
Looking at the frowning Secretary of War, Mahan continued.
"Of course, what ultimately determines the outcome of a war? The battlefield! We will face an opponent on the battlefield that we have never been familiar with and that is far ahead of us in technology. Facing such an opponent, how can we defeat them and win the war?"
Then asked Ma Han again.
"The Governor's District of the North Sea! Almost everyone has placed their hopes for victory there. It seems that as long as we can occupy it, we can eliminate the threat from the Ming Dynasty, because of coal! Without coal, the Ming Dynasty's factories cannot operate, and without coal, the Ming Dynasty's steel mills cannot produce steel. Without steel, they cannot build warships and manufacture weapons. In the end, we will win this war."
All this was not a secret at all. In fact, such discussions often appeared in American newspapers, discussing how to occupy the North Sea Governorate and cut off Ming's coal supply.
"Almost everyone has noticed where the Ming Dynasty's weak spot is. There are neither enough coal mines nor enough iron mines in its homeland. Without the coal from the North Sea Governor's District and the iron mines in Guinea, their industrial production cannot continue. In the past few years, their dependence on external mineral resources has not decreased, but has continued to increase. Therefore, everyone thinks so, which is of course correct. The question is... Can we occupy the North Sea Governor's District and capture their fortresses at the beginning of the war? Defeat their army? You know, what we can see, they also see. Otherwise, why would they build fortresses on the border? If we want to occupy those fortresses, we must pay the price of blood. General, it's more about time."
The Ming Dynasty certainly knew where its weaknesses were, and was also very aware that once a war broke out, the United States would definitely attack the North Sea Governorate, so after the "Los Angeles Incident", it immediately built several fortresses along the border.
"Time is on their side. It takes time to capture the fortress. It may even be a long process, one or even two years. General, during this process, their defense in the north will only become stronger and stronger, and the army will only increase. And we also have to consider the threat from Mexico. Their strength is very weak, but when our forces are trapped in the North Sea Governorate, who can guarantee that they will not be involved?"
Faced with Mahan's analysis, General Grant nodded.
"We are all very clear about this, so we will continue to increase our investment in the navy in the past and in the future. Once a war breaks out, our fleet will prevent the Ming Empire from sending reinforcements to the north. This is exactly the role of the navy in the future war."
"General, the most important task for the navy in the future is to defeat the Ming fleet. Only by defeating their main force can we gain control of the sea and prevent them from supporting the northern territories from their homeland. This is of course our plan, but it is not enough."
Ma Han shook his head and said bluntly.
"If we want to win, we must do two things. You have to make their fleet travel thousands of miles north to fight a naval battle with us near our waters. What we need is to fight this fleet that has traveled a long way to fight at our doorstep."
This is not a new theory. In the plan formulated by the US Navy, this point was emphasized many times, that is, to use the distance advantage to defeat the expeditionary Ming Navy. Grant nodded slightly to show his agreement, and then he asked.
"And the second one?"
"Secondly, we must build a chain around the North Sea Governor's District, just like the chain we built in the south, tightly locking the North Sea Governor's District. Even if a Ming fishing boat goes out to sea to fish, it must obtain our permission. Under our blockade, not even a coal ship can sail to the south, to the Ming Dynasty. Then the initiative of the war will be in our hands."
Mahan took a deep breath and met Grant's gaze.
"But now we are not prepared at all. We are only preparing for a naval battle with the Ming Empire, but have not considered how we can win this war. We think we can defeat them through a naval battle and then win the war, but what is the reality? This is nothing but wishful thinking."
As a naval master, Mahan's judgment was very accurate. When it came to dealing with the Ming Dynasty, the United States seemed to be making preparations, but in fact it was not prepared at all.
"Given our current state of preparation, not only is it impossible for us to win this war, but we may even lose it if it breaks out."
As the saying goes, the truth hurts, Mahan's words made Grant frown, and he said somewhat unhappily.
"So what do you think we should do now? Since you've said so much, there must be a corresponding solution now."
"Yes, General!"
Ma Han said confidently.
“That’s why I came here today.”
(End of this chapter)
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