Originally, Liang Pengfei felt that there was no need to rebuild the fort here for the time being, because he trusted his subordinates and his own navy, but he was strongly opposed by everyone except the navy, and agreed that if the capital was to be built at the mouth of the Yangtze River, then, in addition to a strong navy, land-based protection work was also necessary and necessary, because many people still clearly remembered the fleet brought by the British envoys, although they had a closed door at the mouth of the Pearl River in Guangdong. However, it also caused heavy losses to the Fujian sailors, and then they were rampant in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, teasing the Manchu political axe, and finally had to be forced to sign the treaty. [Full text reading]

In the end of the dispute, the navy had to agree with the opinions of most of the people, so the Wusongkou Fort Group became the primary problem to be solved in the construction of Jiading in the shortest possible time.

After many studies and discussions, coupled with Liang Pengfei's requirements, coupled with the construction team of the old Liang family has built countless new towns in Nanyang, and has gained a lot of rich experience, therefore, for the construction of Jiading New City in the case of retaining the ancient Chinese architectural style, a large number of modern concrete casting technology is used, which can not only save costs, but also shorten the construction period, and importantly, it can also be fireproof.

At present, the number of laborers involved in the construction of Jiading Xindu has reached an unprecedented 150,000, and various surface and underground facilities are in full swing.

In addition, the news that the cable telegraph has been successful has reached Liang Pengfei's ears in the shortest possible time, and Liang Pengfei immediately issued an order to put the construction of the cable telegraph on the agenda, with this kind of communication tool that far exceeds the level of communication in this era, then, Liang Pengfei no longer needs to worry about this emerging empire like those ancient dynasties, it will take a month or even two or three months for a decree to reach a remote area, and the movement and command of the army will also become faster.

Nowadays, the territory of the empire has far exceeded the Han and Tang Dynasties, the Indochina Peninsula is almost all in it, and even farther even to India, if there is a cable telegraph, India, Xinjiang Province, the East, or more distant places If something big happens, Liang Pengfei can know in Jiading at the first time, which is not only conducive to the rule and unity of the country, but more importantly, the transmission and issuance of the decrees of the entire empire will be able to achieve unprecedented progress.

As soon as he thought that what happened in the New World could be known in Jiading at the same time, Liang Pengfei felt that those research institutes on King Crab Island had made great contributions.

Of course, the study of radio telegraphy will also be put on the agenda, but Liang Pengfei does not know much about that thing, although he has repaired that kind of thing in later generations, but after all, he is engaged in arms trading, not a mobile communications businessman, so at most he knows what it is, and he can only put forward an idea of electromagnetic waves and the use of electromagnetic waves for communication to the personnel of those research institutes.

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"The concrete shore artillery complex will be built here first, and as for the artillery, it has been decided to use the most advanced breech-loading gun equipped with a re-entry mechanism in accordance with your orders, but the breech-loading gun can only cast sixty-four pounds of artillery at present, and there is no way to cast a larger caliber for the time being." Next to him, Ni Ming admired the hot construction site on the one hand, and told Liang Pengfei about the relevant situation of Wusongkou Fort.

"However, the firing range of our breech-loading sixty-four-pounder guns is more than ten miles, and if the Wusongkou battery group, Baoshan Island Battery, and Chongming Island Battery are equipped with this kind of heavy artillery, then it can be said that it will be easy to block the entire Yangtze River estuary." Speaking of this, Ni Ming couldn't help but feel a little proud, and looked at Liang Pengfei with even more admiration, others may not know, but Ni Ming knew very well that this kind of artillery was exactly what Liang Pengfei asked for and designed, in the battle of Yanjing City, although this kind of artillery could only fire sixteen-pound shells at that time.

However, their high-frequency rate of fire, as well as the range far above the mortar, let everyone understand that although the mortar is still an irreplaceable infantry gun, if this kind of artillery named rapid-fire gun is used in the hands of the army and navy, although it is inferior to mortars, it far exceeds the rate of fire of breech guns, as well as its ultra-long range, more accurate hit rate, and greater destructive power than mortars, will make it a nightmare in the hearts of all enemies, and it is the gospel of Chinese soldiers.

"By the way, two months ago, all breech guns were minted, right?" Liang Pengfei took one last look at Wu Songkou, who was gradually moving away from his sight, and turned his head to ask the people around him.

"Yes, the Führer, two months ago, the casting of breech guns was stopped, in addition to the King Crab Island Gun Factory, Hong Kong, Annam, the two rapid-fire gun factories that were built last year have been completed, at present, a large number of skilled craftsmen have been transferred from the King Crab Island Gun Factory into these two factories to guide production, I believe that within two to three years, our country's artillery will all be able to be replaced with rapid-fire guns."

"The first batch of twenty rapid-fire guns, ten machine guns and a large amount of ammunition produced by the King of Crabs Island Gun Factory have all been shipped, and now that the time is calculated, it should have arrived in Hawaii. In another month at the latest, you will be able to reach the New World. After Wang Jing reported, someone next to him raised new questions to Liang Pengfei. Führer, we have all seen the power of machine guns, and now, those crises in the New World, we should increase their strength, and the rapid-fire guns have been handed over to them twenty, why are there only ten machine guns? ”

"You think I don't want to? But ammunition, do you know how terrible the bullets consumed by the machine gun thing? "As soon as I mentioned this stubble, Liang Pengfei felt troubled, the machine gun against the war without tanks and without flying is even more terrible than the artillery, its spitting tongue of fire is simply the sickle of death, the battle of Yanjing, the machine gun showed its martial arts, not only made those Manchu officers and soldiers frightened, but also shocked all the people on the scene.

But the problem is that this thing is really too damn bullets, just that battle, ten machine guns consumed nearly 40,000 rounds of ammunition in just ten minutes or so, and Liang Pengfei was so distressed that Liang Pengfei scolded his mother again and again.

And now, although the New World has also established a weapons factory, there are many things that Liang Pengfei does not want to be exposed to people's field of vision. As a result, the weapons factories in the New World still produced flintlock pistols and breech guns.

The ammunition for machine guns can only be supplied by long-distance transoceanic transportation, so ten machine guns, in Liang Pengfei's view, have at least met the current needs, after all, the biggest enemy of the United States is still the British in their northern Canada. It is unlikely that they will be able to draw troops on a large scale across the entire New World to the West Coast to find trouble, but small and medium-sized disturbances and frictions are inevitable, and ten machine guns are more than enough for such a scene, and if they were given more, the machine guns would be even less effective than a bayonet gun when they ran out of bullets.

While a few people were bragging, the ship had already arrived at the pier on Changxing Island, where Liang Pengfei would meet with the Western colonial envoys who had come to congratulate Liang Pengfei on overthrowing the Manchu government and becoming the supreme ruler of the Chinese Empire.

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"Dear Villa, it is a pleasure to see you again, my friend, not expecting that we would meet again in this land after only a few months apart. And you, Your Excellency Governor Marcello, how are you doing in India? The beaches there are famous. Liang Pengfei got off the boat and walked straight to the Western envoys who had come to greet him, greeting him lightly.

Here, it includes the envoys of almost all European countries, and the father of the little Staunton, now the British envoy Staunton, is also impressively listed.

After greeting these Western diplomats one by one, under the guidance of Liang Pengfei, they came to a viewing platform on Changxing Island near the Yangtze River and sat down.

While admiring this beautiful scenery, the sycophants of those Western envoys slapped Liang Pengfei vigorously as if they didn't want money, Liang Pengfei smiled secretly in his heart, but on the surface he enjoyed such a scene very much.

Soon, a banquet to entertain these Western colonists has begun, just when these Westerners who covet Oriental food are trying to suppress their appetite and try to maintain a gentlemanly demeanor to eat, Liang Pengfei took a glass of wine: "I am very happy that you can come, may our friendship last forever, come, toast." ”

"It's an honor for all of us here to be your friend." Van Persie, chief staff to the Dutch governor, stood up and saluted Liang Pengfei respectfully.

"That's right, the East will become more powerful under your leadership." Another envoy stood up and gestured to Liang Pengfei for a cup.

After taking a sip of the wine in the cup, Liang Pengfei's eyes fell on Edmund, a member of the British East India Company Supervisory Committee. Viscount Burke, beside him, sat the British diplomat Lord Macartney, who had remained in the East for two years, and the British envoy Staunton, who had completed his diplomatic mission and returned to the East with the decisions of the King and Parliament of England.

Eventually, his gaze fell on the oily Viscount Edmund, who seemed to be smiling at all times. "Dear Viscount Edmund, congratulations on becoming the new Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of the British East India Company."

"Also, I have a question, Mr. Honorable Chairman, about what is happening in India right now, oh no, and Burma, or Siam, well, of course, there may be many countries or regions that I don't know, please forgive me, my intelligence department has compiled a lot of information about this, and a lot of evidence points to one country......" Liang Pengfei picked up a napkin and wiped his mouth, showing a gentle and reserved smile to the Viscount Edmund.

(To be continued)