Chapter 911 (Third update, please subscribe)
"War is a matter of great importance to a country. It is a matter of life and death, a matter of survival and destruction!"
After learning that the navy had formulated an ambitious "third phase naval expansion plan", Emperor Zhu simply said this casually.
“Scale is important, but quality is more important!”
After thinking about it, Emperor Zhu signed a word on the navy expansion plan.
"It is important to start building new warships, but we should try to adopt the latest naval technology at the time."
In fact, when making this decision, advanced technologies such as steam turbines and carburized armor steel had already emerged in Emperor Zhu's mind. With these advanced technologies, the Ming Dynasty could even launch its own dreadnought.
However, the technology of dreadnoughts is not mature enough at present, from armor to boilers to artillery, well, it is not even on the eve of development. The "Youzhou" under construction is a real pre-dreadnought.
"We still have to wait, but we can use a few years to push it forward..."
While talking to himself, Emperor Zhu approved the navy's plan. Then he thought for a while and gave instructions to his secretary Jin Bingguo.
"Send a copy of the document to the Executive Yuan and to the Prime Minister."
"It seems that His Majesty has made up his mind!"
In the Prime Minister's Office of the Imperial Executive Council, Zuo Zongtang looked at this ambitious naval plan that had the potential to surpass France and catch up with Britain, and said to Fang Zhanbo in a serious tone,
"World war is inevitable. As subjects, we just need to do our job well!"
Fang Zhanbo's answer made Zuo Zongtang nod in agreement.
"Then according to Minister Fang, how should we prepare?"
"Reporting to the Prime Minister,"
Fang Zhanbo said,
"I think our preparations should be divided into two aspects. First, all aspects, including the military, should be well prepared... But the most important thing is not to hope for a quick victory, but to prepare for a war that will last for ten years!"
ten years!
This was a conclusion Fang Zhanbo came to after his inspection trip to Europe and the United States two years ago. As a first-generation immigrant, Fang Zhanbo has always been trusted by His Majesty and naturally knew His Majesty's plan to "kill the eagle and dominate." While inspecting Europe, he had been thinking about one question - how to defeat Britain and its allies!
"ten years!"
Zuo Zongtang frowned and nodded.
"You and I have the same opinion on this point. I think it may be longer, maybe even up to fifteen years. After all, the Napoleonic Wars lasted for twelve years. If we want to fight a war with Britain on a global scale, from the Pacific to North America, from North America to South America, to the Atlantic, to Africa, to the Indian Ocean, this may even be the largest war in history. It will truly involve the whole world, and this war will definitely be protracted!"
Of course, what Zuo Zongtang didn't know was that in another timeline, World War I lasted only a little over four years before the Allies had to surrender because they had exhausted their war resources. But the resources the Allies had were completely incomparable to those of Britain, the world's number one empire.
Moreover, the homelands of Britain and Ming were far apart from each other. Unless a decisive victory was achieved on overseas battlefields, the homelands would hardly be directly attacked by the opponents. Therefore, the rear areas were relatively stable, making it even less likely that they would easily admit defeat.
Fang Zhanbo's current prediction of "ten years" can be considered a rather optimistic one. Even Zuo Zongtang's prediction of fifteen years is just an average value.
If Britain persists, a war of twenty or even thirty years is possible!
This is a war of several generations!
How terrible would a war lasting ten years or even longer be?
As for now, no one knows, and Fang Zhanbo continued:
"The second preparation we need to make is what Your Majesty is doing now, which is to weaken Britain as much as possible and strengthen our side. In Your Majesty's words, it is the tactic of "weakening Britain and exhausting Britain"... Now in Turkey and Brazil, it is the same. In the future, in order to fight against us, Britain will definitely support the South American countries with all its strength, which will further consume its national strength. With our success in Turkey and Brazil, Britain will definitely lose its prestige; but..."
After thinking about it, Fang Zhanbo said.
"According to my estimation, we probably won't launch an attack on Britain's homeland until the end of this war. The key to victory or defeat will still be in the naval battle. We should seize their most valuable colonies and make them exhaust their war resources - such as North America, Australia, India, and Cape Town. Once they lose these colonies, Britain... will just be an island country! I think this has been your majesty's plan all along!"
Your Majesty's plan!
Suddenly, Zuo Zongtang seemed to have figured something out. He took out a map from the drawer and started drawing circles on it.
"Africa, this is what your majesty is determined to obtain. Cape Town is just south of here."
Zuo Zongtang said as he drew a circle.
"To the east is the Persian Gulf, which is close to India. Could it be that Your Majesty is interested in India?"
Fang Zhanbo simply shook his head and said.
"As for India, Your Majesty should be more inclined to give it to France and Russia."
"So, the Chenggong Islands are intended to attack Australia and New Zealand..."
Pointing to Nanyang on the map, Fang Zhanbo said.
"It should also include Nanyang. I heard that in China, the people are changing their minds. It is said that officials in the capital accused Li Xuzhou of being disloyal because of his relief work for the disaster victims, and even impeached him. Although that woman rejected it, Li Xuzhou is still a little worried now."
Zuo Zongtang nodded slightly and said.
"Shaoquan will rebel sooner or later. Your Majesty will not give away the warships for nothing..."
Looking at Fang Zhanbo, Zuo Zongtang raised his head and said.
"It seems that your majesty is planning to divide up Nanyang with Li Shaoquan!"
"That depends on whether he has the ability!"
After circling several times to the east, the two men, who were trying to guess his majesty's thoughts, finally turned their gaze to America. They looked at America on the map for a while and spoke in unison.
"It seems that the most crucial land battle is still here!"
"Yes, one is North America and the United States, and the other is South America, between Peru and the old Gran Colombia!"
Finally, they drew a circle on the map and spoke in a rather sighing tone.
“The key is still in North America!”
Staring at the United States on the map, they all realized that the most important battle would still be in the United States.
“America… is too far away!”
Zuo Zongtang lowered his gaze.
"For now, let's deal with Brazil first. Once we deal with Brazil, the area east of the Andes Mountains will be our Ming Dynasty's!"
(End of this chapter)
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