Wu Haoxuan is very satisfied with Jiang Baili, who has studied in Japan and Germany, and his understanding of the world pattern is far deeper than that of other generals in China. Naturally, the horizons are much broader. This is exactly what the generals of the empire lacked.

The Imperial Army defeated the Japanese Army and the Russian Army one after another, and even in the world, it can be regarded as the strongest army second to none. However, this is largely based on the fact that the armament is much stronger than that of the enemy. If the Imperial Army wants to continue to develop and become the most powerful army in the world, it is necessary to improve the quality of its commanders.

Jiang Baili is a good candidate for chief of staff. Not yet, of course. His seniority in the army is not high, and if he is hastily promoted to a high position, he will not be convinced at all. In the Empire* army, there are also people who care a lot about seniority. Even if Wu Haoxuan was very disgusted by this, he couldn't completely stop this.

In the next few days, Wu Haoxuan and Jiang Baili exchanged other views one after another, and the conversation between the two was still very satisfactory to Wu Haoxuan. Such a scene fell into the eyes of others, and everyone looked at Jiang Baili's gaze, and couldn't help but feel a little more envious. As long as you are not a fool, you know that Jiang Baili has been appreciated by His Royal Highness the Imperial Prince, and he will definitely soar in the future.

The fleet soon entered the Red Sea, and Wu Haoxuan and Jiang Baili stood on the deck of the battleship, looking at the coast in the distance.

"Baili, you know what? In the future, this desert will be the strategic center of gravity of the empire. Wu Haoxuan suddenly said without a head.

Jiang Baili was stunned, a little unclear. He knew that the place Wu Haoxuan was talking about was the Arabian Peninsula. However, there is nothing else in this place except for the yellow sand in the sky. How could this be the center of gravity of the Empire?

Wu Haoxuan knew that Jiang Baili didn't know much about this, so he explained: "Under this desert, most of the world's oil resources are buried. Who controls here. Whoever controls the future of the world! ”

Jiang Baili's eyes suddenly lit up, and the importance of oil resources had already been highlighted. Although, in the current world energy pattern, coal still occupies the vast majority. However, the use of oil is also becoming more and more extensive. Especially in the military field. Even more so. All warships of the Imperial Navy were oil-fired boilers. This gave the Imperial Navy's warships an advantage in speed over those that used coal-fired boilers. The empire is also promoting the use of trucks as an alternative to mules and horses. Although, at present, it is only being promoted among the Praetorian Guard, which has just begun to be formed. But one day, it will definitely be extended to the whole army. In this case, the empire's demand for oil will also surge.

In addition, the automobile industry around the world is developing rapidly, and the consumption of oil will also increase. It is foreseeable that in the future, oil will replace coal. Becoming the world's leading energy source is just around the corner. When the time comes, whoever controls the oil resources will control the whole world.

Now, the main oil-producing areas are in the southern United States and the Gulf Coast. The Dutch-controlled Dutch East Indies colony, Baku, which was controlled by the Russians, also produced oil. The British also began to look for oil in the Persian kingdom.

The oil that the empire needs now is imported from the United States. At a time when China and the United States are on their honeymoon. Importing oil from the United States is not a problem at all. Not to mention the Xihua Group controlled by Wu Haoxuan. It has a stake in some of the largest oil fields in the United States and Mexico. However, as Sino-US relations continue to deteriorate, the two sides eventually even move towards confrontation and war. In this case, if China wants to import oil from the United States, it will be impossible. So, before such a problem arises. The empire has to think of a countermeasure.

On the one hand, domestic geologists are exploring for oil in the country. It is impossible for such a large country to be without oil. Wu Haoxuan also plans to guide experts to search for oil in this part of Anda County. You know, this is the largest oil field in China. Tens of billions of tons of oil can be extracted from this field alone. Enough for the empire to grow for a long time. On the other hand, the empire is also looking for oil resources. For example, the Dutch East Indies colony, controlled by the Dutch, was undoubtedly a place rich in oil resources. Coupled with the fact that the Kingdom of the Netherlands is now weakened, the Empire can take the opportunity to take its place and swallow the Dutch East Indies colony in one gulp. In this case, there are Anda County oil fields in China and East Indies oil fields abroad, which will be enough for the consumption of the empire.

Of course, the seizure of the East Indies was not so easy. However, the Chinese Empire was not without a chance. After all, the historical Lanfang Kingdom did not fall for a long time. Most Nanyang Chinese have this country in their minds. The Dutch destroyed the Lanfang Kingdom at the beginning, and now the Chinese Empire can go to war against the Dutch under the banner of recovering the Lanfang Kingdom. The premise, of course, is that the Reich must be able to get the British and the Germans to do it. In this way, the Empire's actions against the East Indies could be victorious.

In addition to this, the empire had to seek a foothold in the Persian Gulf. In this way, the belt will enable the empire to occupy enough interests in this treasure land, and in the future, it will find a way to expand its sphere of influence to the entire Persian Gulf step by step.

"Your Highness, if this is the case, then the empire must be laid out early. In the Middle East, the Ottoman Turkish Empire had weakened, and the Arabian Peninsula was under the control of the Kingdom of Najd. The British have a lot of influence here, and if we want to get involved, the British will probably not agree. Jiang Baili said.

"I know. However, there will always be a chance for the Empire. Wu Haoxuan's tone revealed a hint of firmness. In a future world war, the British will pay a heavy price. Their strength will be greatly diminished as a result, and the Empire will be able to take advantage of the opportunity to enter the Persian Gulf region.

The fleet soon passed through the Red Sea and entered the Suez Canal. Since its opening, the canal has become a major transportation route between the East and the West. However, the canal was always in the hands of the British. Even the Kingdom of Egypt was pro-British.

At Port Said, north of the Suez Canal, the fleet was once again restocked. Only half a day later, the fleet set sail again.

Situated between the European and African continents, the Mediterranean Sea has been a strategic location since ancient times. The British also attached great importance to their control of the Mediterranean. The British Royal Navy's Mediterranean Fleet has always been a powerful fleet second only to the Home Fleet. Of course, the current Mediterranean Fleet does not have many warships. In the face of the aggressive development of the Germans, the British Navy also shrank its strength on a global scale. Most of the main warships of the Mediterranean Fleet were transferred back to China. But even so, the British control of the Mediterranean is still absolute. The Suez Canal and the Strait of Gibraltar were under the control of the British. After controlling the head and tail, any country that wants to enter and exit the Mediterranean naturally has to let the British nod first.

It was the strength of the British navy and the control of the British in those important strategic points. Almost all shipping lanes were under British control. Together with the British colonies around the world, it undoubtedly constitutes a huge British colonial system. With the support of the world's vast colonies, the British Empire's world hegemony is unshakable.

Of course, the First World War, which would soon break out, would have cost Britain dearly. The huge military expenditure during the war has almost wiped out the wealth accumulated by Britain over the centuries. This, coupled with the huge casualties of human beings, cost Britain dearly. Although, in the future, the British, with the support of the Americans, were able to win the world war. But even this would make Britain extremely debilitating. Such a Britain is no longer enough to maintain its world colonial system. When World War II broke out, the British world colonial system would collapse. This would lead to a complete collapse of Britain and a complete fall from the position of world hegemon. The United States, on the other side of the ocean, will take its place and become the future world hegemon.

It's just that this is a normal trajectory of death. The wheel of history has changed. No one knows for sure what the future holds. The Chinese Empire led by Wu Haoxuan will also reap the benefits of its rise in this war. In the future, it remains to be seen whether the world will be ruled by Americans or by Chinese.

On June 12, 4609 (11) of the Yellow Emperor Era, the imperial crown prince Wu Haoxuan rode the battlecruiser 'Longyao', which crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Atlantic Ocean. The British Navy's battlecruiser HMS Invincible, which had been waiting here for a long time, came up to meet it.

Even if the Chinese Empire and the British Empire are not at odds now, this is the first time that a Chinese prince has visited Europe. As a sign of courtesy, the British sent a fleet to meet them. The Chinese Navy sent the battlecruiser 'Longyao', while the British Navy undoubtedly sent the battlecruiser 'Invincible'. It's just that compared with the Imperial Navy's 'Longyao' battlecruiser, the British's 'Invincible' battlecruiser is a step behind in terms of displacement, firepower, and speed. Not to mention the British Navy's battlecruisers, which have always been criticized for their defensive capabilities. If the Imperial Navy's 'Long Yao' battlecruiser and the British Navy's 'Invincible' battlecruiser were one-to-one, the probability of the 'Long Yao' battlecruiser winning was as high as 90%.

On the morning of June 20, the Imperial Crown Prince Wu Haoxuan arrived at the Portsmouth Military Port of the British Navy. (To be continued.) )

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