The news that the British Empress is going to "drive in" to North America came, and Zhu Jishi was already on his way to North America. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

On the night of July 30, local time in the United Kingdom, the British government issued an announcement announcing that Queen Victoria would take Prince Albert to Toronto, North America, and would sit in North America until the war was won. Edward, the Crown Prince of Great Britain, will assume royal authority during the Queen's departure from England. In addition, the House of Commons of the British Parliament also passed a resolution on the morning of the 31st to implement conscription, which will conscript 1 million people into the army by the end of this year. ”

This news was told to Zhu Jishi by Zhu Jishi's fifth son, Lieutenant Commander Zhu Guoguang, who resigned from the king of Beihua. Speaking of this Zhu Guoguang, he is actually a son who looks most like Zhu Jishi. Whether it is size, skin, or appearance, it is almost exactly the same as when Zhu Jishi was young, as if it was carved out of a mold. However, his interests are very different from Zhu Jishi, not above science and business, and not much interest in politics, but a relatively pure soldier. This may have been inherited from his mother, Feng Yuniang (Su Yu Niang). This is also the main reason why he will resign from the throne.

And as a naval officer, he is undoubtedly very good. The Royal Navy Military Academy is one of the most difficult universities and junior colleges in Daming to get into! Because a naval officer needs not only knowledge and wisdom, but also a strong physique. Therefore, the admission score of the Royal Navy Military Academy in the joint entrance examination is almost the same as that of Jeshi University, and at the same time, there is also a very strict (one) (book) (reading) novel ybdu... Physical Education Assessment. And Zhu Guoguang was the first place in his entrance exam this period, and later he was the first place in the graduation exam! Later, he was admitted to the Naval University with the results of the top three and graduated early because of the world war. Now temporarily serves as Emperor Zhu's ship. The first mate of the Daming cruiser (actually a 10,000-ton steam sailing ship that took a back seat).

In the Ming naval officialdom with equal emphasis on exam results and hard work. Zhu Guoguang is undoubtedly the brightest star. If nothing else, the future commander of the naval fleet and the chief of staff of the Navy are in his pocket, and the military rank is either general or marshal, and it is not impossible to have a duke in the title, that is, the prince of the county and the prince.

And after retiring from the navy, he will certainly not be idle, a retired imperial marshal is of course the target of political parties such as the Jishi Youth Party and the Donglin Party, and the parliamentarian monk is not a problem, if he is lucky, he can also be a left minister. Furthermore. He can also use his influence in the navy to create a naval family, such a naval family and political family are not uncommon in any imperialist country......

When Zhu Guoguang told Zhu Jishi the news that the Daming radio station had just received, Zhu Jishi smiled and asked his son: "Guang'er, tell me your opinion." ”

"It is clear that Britain will have a major increase in troops into North America via the Atlantic route, and the Tehuantepec Canal will be the key to our early victory in the war. If the Daming is able to enter the Caribbean and the Atlantic through the Tehuantepec Canal, it will be able to contain an entire fleet. ”

Zhu Jishi nodded, noncommittal. Zhu Guoguang only analyzes from the perspective of a naval soldier, which is naturally his duty. He's probably already working on a similar problem at the Naval University.

This is also where Kuniguang is not as good as Juan! Zhu Jishi thought to himself. Juan must have guessed Victoria and Albert's true intentions in going to Toronto—a crucial step in Britain's shift of imperial gravity to North America! The value of North America was recognized by Britain as early as when Viscount Palmerston was Prime Minister. The British Empire only had access to the industrial resources, fertile land, and more than 40 million white people of eastern North America. Even if it's something about India and Australia. There will be a time for revival. If North America is lost, how much industrial scale can be supported by the resources of the United Kingdom? Not to mention that compared with the Ming Dynasty, it will not be long before Germany and France can surpass Britain. At that time, Britain will be a second-rate power in the world! And how could a second-rate power hold on to India's big fat meat?

"It is impossible to let the 'Daming' pass through the Tehuantepec Canal." Zhu Jishi was silent for a while, and discussed the battle situation with his son, "Malaya. Clementina and Mathilde discussed the issue, and Mathilde did not agree to allow our navy to pass through the canal, and likewise she would not let the British navy pass. ”

Allowing the Ming navy to pass through the Tehuantepec Canal was tantamount to declaring war on the British. If Mathilde and Eugenie really had this determination, they would have just started fighting. Why bother to be neutral? But then again, the armies of France and the Roman Empire could certainly not defeat Germany and HRE on the side of Britain (these two countries did not currently follow Britain in declaring war on the Ming Dynasty, and Russia did not declare war on Britain), even if Russia could contain part of the Germans' military forces. And the French navy could not defeat the British home fleet. So once France enters the war, the most likely outcome is that the face of the paper tiger is completely exposed. It is better to be neutral like now, which is more beneficial to the Ming Dynasty.

"Father, will our negotiations with New Japan have a result?"

"Isayuki has already handed over the fleet to us, but he does not agree with us using the ports of New Japan. The new Japan is having a better time now, and we don't want to get into trouble, and we don't have much to offer them. ”

"So...... Can the Black African Empire come down? Father, you and Zeng Ke. O'Hara I is a relative, right? ”

"Still talking, that Black Emperor is also a fox." Zhu Jishi paused and looked at his son, "What?" Desperate to make a difference? ”

Zhu Guoguang nodded, "Not only the ministers, but also the entire navy, who is not looking forward to making meritorious contributions?" ”

In the tone, it is obvious that he is dissatisfied with the policy of "protecting ships and avoiding war". The salaries, benefits, and even food of the officers and men of the Ming Navy are higher than those of the army, but there are not many opportunities to make meritorious contributions. In the army, counts and marquis are not unusual. And in the navy, a single viscount is very rare. Zhu Guoguang's marquis is almost the highest title among naval officers.

"The Navy expects a decisive battle?"

Zhu Guoguang shook his head slightly, and said: "You can't fight an uncertain decisive battle at sea, but small-scale firefights should be carried out frequently to test the enemy's strength." ”

This is the unanimous view of the young Zhuang officers in the navy at present. Armageddon is a showdown gamble, and of course you can't just go on it. If you wipe out the Ming Dynasty's 100 fleet. The North American battlefield will not be able to continue! The British can also cut off Donghua's support with steam sailing ships! However, small-scale battles should be played frequently, on the one hand, to find out the opponent's hole cards, and on the other hand, to experiment with tactics. After all, the current Ming Navy is a product of closed doors, and no one is sure whether the road is right or not.

"How to tempt?" Zhu Jishi came with some interest. He also has nothing to do at sea, except for playing with a few accompanying women such as Nanmoto Gaozi and Zhou Xiulan, he is talking to Zhu Guoguang, a son who can't speak a few words on weekdays - this is also the reason why Zhu Guoguang will be arranged to be the first mate of the Daming.

"It can be tested by the method of mine warfare." Zhu Guoguang took out a chart from the cabinet in the cabin, spread it out on the desk, and then sketched it with red and blue pencils. "Father, this is the Strait of Malacca, this is the Sunda Strait. The British fleet wanted to enter the waters of the South China Sea from the Indian Ocean in search of a decisive battle, and these two were shortcuts. Once blocked by mines, it will be necessary to detour thousands of kilometers. And the lack of large ports along the way to provide supplies and repair of damaged ships is very disadvantageous. ”

"But in that case, won't it be difficult for us to get through?"

"We can't cross the Strait of Malacca without occupying the Singapore fortress, and if we want to attack the fortress, it will inevitably cause a decisive battle for the fleet." Zhu Guoguang explained, "It is very beneficial for our side to carry out a decisive battle in the minefield laid by our side. Because we know what is going on with mines, and the enemy doesn't know about it. Therefore, the operation of laying mines at the exit of the Strait of Malacca and the exit of the Sunda Strait must have caused several, if not dozens, of skirmishes. It is enough for the Navy to find out the reality of the opponent. ”

As he spoke, Zhu Guoguang suddenly looked at his father with burning eyes: "Father, my son hopes to get a newly launched Tianjin-class ship to participate in the mine-laying operations in the area around the exit of the Malacca Strait and the Sunda Strait!" (To be continued......)