Chapter 809: Beyond the Pain of the Times

"Reports from India indicate that in the past three years, the Navy Marine Corps in India has sent 20 expeditions across the Red Sea. The main area is in this, Egypt. "The one who is reporting is Han Shan, the captain of the chamberlain, who will retire in half a year, and with him holding the information in his hand is one of the staff officers of the Shadow Overseas Department, thirty-year-old Yuan Lei.

"Yuan Lei, as a member of the shadows, you have been to Egypt, tell me about the situation there." Han Shan handed over the right to speak, and Yuan Lei, who had a dark face, did not look like a cultural person, but he spoke very calmly, and his voice was elegant: "Hello President, as the first batch of expedition members to land in Egypt three years ago, the main requirements of our superiors are to survey the environment in the area. After we landed here, three days later we found the port called Suez. Unfortunately, when we were three kilometers from this place, we encountered the Ottoman cavalry, about a hundred people, when our strength was a marine company, without artillery and machine guns. After the other party found out about us, they did not have the slightest intention of contact, and directly launched a charge, and the result of the battle was that one of our side was killed, one was wounded, and the opponent was completely destroyed. The Arab guide told us that after something like this, it was impossible for us to go there again. ”

"But the report says you entered the harbor and brought back a rough map." Han Shan immediately asked rhetorically, with a strong sense of dissatisfaction. Yuan Lei glanced at Chen Xie, who was leaning back against the office chair and closing his eyes, and explained unhurriedly: "Yes, members of the Shadow Overseas Division, I received an order that the task must be completed, so I put on the robes of the Arabs and entered the port city with the guide. It is worth mentioning that the guide is on the special train in Lushun at the moment, and his name is Abdullah. ”

Chen Xie opened his eyes and glanced at Yuan Lei and said, "Abdullah is the shadow person?" Yuan Lei nodded: "Yes." About 10 years ago, you gave an order to shadow intelligence agents in the Arab region. Chen Xie smiled: "If I'm not mistaken, the order I gave that time should also be to divide the shadow into four independent departments, the Training Department, the Business Intelligence Department, the Military Intelligence Department, and the Overseas Intelligence Department." ”

For Chen Xie's amazing memory, Yuan Lei could only be amazed in his heart. With a serious expression, he said, "That's right, Your Excellency! Chen Xie glanced at him and said lightly: "Ying Niang is a smart person, you are her nephew, I believe in you, go on." ”

"Our intelligence officers followed the expedition and sent back thirteen combat reports. Among the Ottoman army, the main threats to our army were cavalry and birdmen, among which the number of birdboys was relatively small, and they were only encountered once. Equipped with a Rumi gun. According to the summary of reports on several battles, the strength of our army has the absolute upper hand. If you want to occupy Egypt and force it to surrender to the Ottoman capital, you need to commit at least 50,000 troops. Speaking of this, Yuan Lei stopped.

Chen Xie smiled bitterly and said, "This assumption is unrealistic, is that what it means?" Yuan Lei nodded and said, "The biggest enemy is not the Ottoman army, but the desert and arid climate. ”

"You don't talk about it, and the logistics. Our army's operations rely heavily on logistics, and all the logistical supplies of the 50,000-strong army will be by sea. The logistics department is going to go crazy. We still have military operations to go in India, and it would be unwise to start a battle against the Ottoman Empire until India has been completely mastered. So be it, I'll meet that Ottoman envoy in person, how about spending money to buy Egypt? Chen Xie glanced at Yuan Lei as he spoke, and found that this guy was really calm. Slightly hesitant: "You can try!" But until then, it is better to send an army over to occupy a territory somewhere, thwart the Ottoman attack, and then talk about bribery. ”

"Let's talk about it first. Although there is little hope. Han Shan, told the Navy to make a plan to transport an infantry division to Suez and occupy that port. Yuan Lei, you are responsible for cooperating with the Army Staff to formulate a battle plan and hold Suez for one year. Organize Japanese soldiers directly from India, Chang Shiren and they should have formed more than two infantry divisions. ”

Chen Xie sighed somewhat helplessly, in a practical sense, it is meaningless to enter the Middle East at this time, because there are not many benefits that can be bringed. Especially that place in Egypt, there is nothing that used to be except for the desert and agricultural products. However, the geographical location of this country is too important, and if the canal is opened in the future, the strategic position will be even more important.

"According to information from the European side, the Ottoman Empire was in a state of hostility with the Holy Roman Empire." Yuan Lei reminded him, but Chen Xie denied it without hesitation: "There is no need, the geographical location of the Ottoman Empire determines the future of this country." Don't understand? Hehe, institutional problems. Europe's problems are too complex for us to get involved. And now, we also do not have the ability to open the Suez Canal. Okay, Yuan Lei, you can question it in your heart, but you have to execute. ”

"Understood!" Yuan Lei snapped upright, and when he turned to leave, he still couldn't figure it out in his heart, what was good about that place in the Middle East? Why do you want to lay out in that place when you don't see the benefits? There is no precedent for military action that does not see the benefits of this in the wars of aggression launched by Chen Xie in the past.

After sending the two of them, Chen Xie stared at the world map on the wall, if he just looked at the map, this world was really not big. This era is developing in the Middle East, and it is definitely a loss-making business. But Chen Xieyi thought of the fact that under the deserts of several countries in West Asia, he could dig out oil with a few casual hoes, so he couldn't restrain himself from occupying a large area in that desert before he left this era, otherwise how could he be right for future generations.

This is the pain of transcending the times, and no one will agree with Chen Xie's strategic layout in the Middle East. It is not comparable to India and the countries of the South Seas, where there is nothing but sand.

The train departed after the dinner, and Ibrahim, who was leaning on the sofa, looked out the window at the night with a pale face. More than once I fantasized about sitting on the train, but when I really came, my heart was full of fear of this Eastern Empire. Before the dinner, like a clown, if it weren't for the soldier, he wouldn't even be able to take a shower. At the dinner, the Ming Lord Chen looked very polite, but in fact, the arrogance and disdain in his eyes could be felt by everyone.

That kind of condescending gaze, domineering tone, combined with the powerful strength of this empire, you will tremble when you think about it carefully. There was a knock at the door, and Ibrahim glanced at it and said, "Go, open the door." ”

The maid went to open the door, and in came Abdullah, a faithful Arab merchant, who knelt down before him and said, "Master, you don't look good, take care of your rest." ”

"Abdullah, every time I think about the possible outbreak of war between the Ming Empire and the great Ottoman Empire, I can't calm my heart. If you can go back smoothly during this visit to Daming, you must tell His Majesty the Sultan to be vigilant against the threat posed by this Eastern Empire. ”

"Yes, master. The humble servant has a small suggestion, why not reach a friendship or even an alliance with the Ming Empire? If this can be achieved, we can buy their weapons, have those European nobles kneel in front of their masters and lick their toes, and then chop off their heads with Damascus knives as ball kicks. ”

This suggestion did not impress Ibrahim, not that he did not want to, but that he felt unrealistic. A great Eastern empire, suffocating and powerful, they have already extended their tentacles to the Ottoman Empire, and it is not at all possible to agree in a few words. What is certain is that if an alliance is proposed, it will come at a huge cost. Ibrahim did not have this right, and as an envoy, his main task was to understand the strength of the empire, not to sign any covenant. If he did so, he would have to be beheaded by the Sultan when he returned.

"Alright, Abdullah, let's not talk about that. What did that arrogant official at the dinner party do? "Ibrahim quickly changed the subject, knowing that it was impossible, so don't bother your brain." That official's name was Chen Zilong, and as far as I know, he was a close confidant of Chen Xie, the most powerful minister of the Ming Empire. ”

"Chen Xie, I know, you told me that the god of war of the Ming Empire, all the overseas territories of the Ming Empire, were all fought down by him." Ibrahim is not as stupid as he seems, he is actually a very smart guy. During the dinner, Chen Zilong's attitude could be seen that he, an uninvited envoy, was not taken seriously in the Ming Empire at all. Otherwise, it should not be Chen Zilong who came to greet him, but an official from the Ministry of Rites, a full-time diplomatic department of the Ming Empire. Shame on you!

"Chen Zilong once served as an official in the Ming Empire, and later entered Chen Xie's staff. According to the custom of this country, this is a very shameless thing. Because being an official in the imperial court is a very honorable thing. The country passes a national examination that selects those with excellent results as officials, and Chen Zilong is one of the best in this examination. When Abdullah spoke of the imperial examinations, he quickly stabbed Ibrahim in the already bleeding heart.

Before the imperial examination system was completed in modern Europe, it was easy to have a misunderstanding when outsiders only knew a little bit of skin. It's that the country has a well-established selection system, and it's very fair. This was a unique and outstanding system in the eyes of the Ottoman Empire and Europeans.

In fact, in terms of fairness, the imperial examination is definitely the first today. The original purpose of the establishment of this system was to give the disciples of the poor a way to rise. The imperial examination system of the Ming and Qing dynasties was as fair as possible in terms of form and content. However, this fairness is of little use, and in turn it shackles the minds of the readers. Of course, from the point of view of the ruler, the system is good, and the content is not wrong at all. Let's put it this way, any one thing that is viewed from different angles will get completely different results. Selfishness is human nature! It is reflected in different people, how much. (To be continued......)