Chapter 174: Navy, Enemy

On the 2nd of the month, Wang Yuze and his party rushed to the beach. Originally, Guangxi had no coastline, but now western Sichuan has forcibly occupied Lianzhou and Leizhou, which originally belonged to Guangdong, and divided them into Guangxi. Preliminary plans include four new large ports in these areas, Fangchenggang, Qinzhou, Beihai and Zhanjiang. These four ports are all rare natural deep-water ports in South China, and they are all excellent ports as both military ports and civilian ports. According to the planning of the Ministry of Communications and the Ministry of the Navy, Fangcheng Port and Qinzhou Port will be used as the passage of materials to the sea in western Sichuan. Beihai Port and Zhanjiang Port are the military ports of the Western Sichuan Naval Fleet, and cargo transportation is secondary.

Accompanied by officials from the Admiralty, Wang Yuze stood on the shore of Beihai Harbor and overlooked the endless blue sea. On the seaside, thousands of sappers from western Sichuan are already working intensively. They will first build the dock and then build the shipyard and wait for the shipyard equipment to be imported from Germany.

"Young Marshal, Beihai Port is a rare good port, and we plan to build dozens of berths here, of which more than 10 berths of more than 10,000 tons are located. The same is true of Zhanjiang Port, which is enough to meet the docking of our fleet. The construction of the shipyard is also under intense construction and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The shipyard plans to build a dock of more than 30,000 tons and a number of docks of more than 1,000 tons. When we have enough technology, we will be able to build our own battleships. Wei Han, director of the shipyard of the Admiralty, excitedly introduced to Wang Yuze. They arrived a while earlier than Wang Yuze, and now they have begun to fully direct the construction. The arrival of the army's engineer battalion, coupled with the large number of hired local people, made the progress of the shipyard very fast. This made these naval talents who have been waiting for many years very excited. Everyone basically eats and lives by the sea, and I am excited to see the military ports and shipyards in western Sichuan being built one by one.

Wang Yuze nodded, and then said, "That's good." However, the number of docks is still less. Beihai Shipyard will become our first shipyard in western Sichuan and the largest shipyard. In the future, our main warships will mainly be built from here. The number of docks of more than 10,000 tons should be expanded to five, and in addition, it is best to build docks of more than 20,000 tons. If you can, you can build 30,000 tons! ”

"Ahh Young marshal. Docks of more than 30,000 tons? Isn't that a waste? Wei Han said with some shock. At present, the most powerful capital ships in the West, that is, the British "Sovereign-class" battleships under construction and the German "Brandenburg-class" class battleships, even if they are more powerful warships designed later, are only more than 10,000 tons. Isn't it a waste to build a 30,000-ton dock? This young marshal, although he is good at fighting, is obviously a layman in the navy.

"Director Wei, listen to me. Just because you can't use it now doesn't mean you won't need it in the future. The main battleships of the Navy will only get bigger. Now it's 10,000 tons, but in ten years, I'm afraid it will be 20,000 tons or even 30,000 tons! Wang Yuze said. The powerful capital ships in World War I, especially the dreadnoughts, were almost all more than 20,000 tons. Or the Yamato class of Xiaoriben, it is a behemoth of 60,000 tons. The shipyards in western Sichuan have built large-tonnage docks in advance, so it is also prepared for the need to build large ships when the time comes, but there is no dock, which is not good.

"Yes, young marshal! The shipyard will revise the plan! When Wei Han heard it, he felt that what Wang Yuze said was also reasonable, so he adopted it. However, the current technical reserves of shipyards in western Sichuan are only capable of building cruisers of two or three thousand tons at most, and to build 10,000-ton warships, I am afraid that we will have to wait until a few years later!

"Young marshal. It's not enough to have a shipyard in the North Sea. Fangcheng Port, Qinzhou Port and Zhanjiang Port also have to be talented. The plan of the Admiralty is that the shipyards in Fangcheng Port and Qinzhou Port will mainly build civilian ships. The shipyards of Beihai Port and Zhanjiang Port mainly build warships. In the case of insufficient orders for warships, then accept the construction of civilian ships! Wu Dezhang, director of the equipment department, said.

"I will let Chengdu contact the German side and ask them to order three more sets of various equipment required by the shipyard!" Wang Yuze said. Once the access to the sea in western Sichuan is unblocked, it is foreseeable that there will be a large number of maritime transport. At present, the ships in western Sichuan are mainly anchored under the banner of the West-China Group in the United States. When the time comes, coupled with the influx of private capital, the demand for ships in western Sichuan may show an explosive growth. It is absolutely necessary to build a few more shipyards.

"Young marshal. For the construction of warships, our accumulation of technology appears to be somewhat weak. Is it possible for zhèngfu to come forward and hire some experts in this area from abroad? Our people can give them a hand first, learn from them, and then develop our own ship design! Wu Dezhang said. In terms of shipbuilding design, China and the Western powers have indeed lagged behind a lot, and it is estimated that it will be difficult to catch up on their own. At this time, it is very important to introduce foreign technology.

"Hmmm! When we fall behind, we have to learn from other people's advanced technology and experience, and we are not ashamed to ask questions, which is very good. I will contact the German side and ask them to support our shipbuilding talents. In addition, Kawanishi's foreign institutions will do their best to recruit foreign ship designers. However, foreigners are not as useful as our own. When these foreign experts come, everyone must do their best to learn their skills. Then the blue is better than the blue! I also count on our shipyards to build real battleships for Kawanishi, battleships designed and built by our Chinese ourselves! Wang Yuze said. The shipbuilding industry is the most important industry in the industrial society, and it is also an important industry that reflects the scientific and technological level of a country. If China wants to enter the ranks of the great powers, it must be able to build its own capital ships that are not inferior to those of the West, and this is very necessary. To achieve this goal, it is very important to introduce advanced technology and experience from abroad. The British shipbuilding industry is undoubtedly the most developed, but the German ones are not bad, and the German warships, especially focusing on survivability and protection, are no worse than the British ships that pay attention to speed and firepower, and even have more advantages in a certain range. With the current relationship between Kawanishi and Germany, it is not difficult to purchase so much equipment from them and support a few shipbuilding specialists.

"Young marshal! Our shipyard already has a plan. The design office is designing a 3,000-ton cruiser, and the experience of the shipyard is being explored. After success, we will build bigger and stronger warships step by step. We are confident that in a few years, China's own main warship will be built! Wei Han said excitedly. He and Wu Dezhang, when they were in the Fujian Navy, were engaged in shipbuilding. Now, Kawanishi has undoubtedly given them a bigger platform, which makes them feel that their value has been realized.

"Good! When the time comes, I will definitely come to watch the ceremony in person! Wang Yuze assured everyone. The first battleship of the shipyard in western Sichuan was launched, and he could not be absent.

After visiting the port and shipyard that were under construction, Wang Yuze went to the county seat of Beihai. Now, the Admiralty office is temporarily located here. After the fleet returns home, it will become the office of the Kawanishi Fleet. And the main person in charge of the Admiralty still returned to Chengdu.

"Guys, guys of the Navy, I'll leave it to you!" Wang Yuze said to everyone.

At present, western Sichuan has not yet overthrown the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and the main energy has to be placed on the army. The Navy will be created in a grass-roots way, and Kawanishi will give enough support, but in other aspects, I am afraid that these first leaders of the Navy Department will have to work harder.

"Don't worry, young marshal, we will not let the young marshal down!" Minister of the Navy Zhang Cheng said. Although, as the head of the Admiralty, he estimated that he would not have the opportunity to command the fleet in the future. This made him a little disappointed when he was born in the warship pipe belt, but what was he not satisfied with being able to become the first Minister of the Navy in western Sichuan?

"When the fleet returns home, the Admiralty has to train hard. The situation in the Far East is not peaceful, and our navy must be formed early. I tell you the truth, in two years at most, our navy will need to fight. When the time comes, I hope the Navy will be able to surprise me! Wang Yuze said solemnly.

Zhang Cheng's and the others' faces were a little strict. The fleet will be able to return home next year, and fight in two years, which means that there is only one year of training. In just one year, it is not very difficult to make the navy initially combat-capable. However, if you want to compete with other naval powers, it will not be easy.

"Young marshal, who is our opponent? Beiyang Fleet? Zhang Cheng asked. If it was the Beiyang Fleet, Zhang Cheng was still somewhat sure. The Manchus were already decaying, and the Beiyang Fleet was no better. At that time, the western Sichuan fleet can rely on the superiority of warships to defeat them lightly.

Wang Yuze shook his head, and then said: "No, the Beiyang Fleet is not our main enemy, our main enemy will be the Riben Navy!" ”

"Riben?" Everyone was shocked again. Everyone thinks that the young marshal is not too tall, those dwarfs in the eastern island country! Although the navy of RIBEN is developing rapidly, they are still a long way from the Beiyang Fleet, and it is even more impossible to compare with Kawanishi, which is equipped with the world's most advanced warships.

As soon as Wang Yuze saw everyone's expressions, he knew that everyone didn't take RI Ben in their eyes at all. In fact, before Riben defeated the Manchus, there was really no one in the world who took Riben seriously. It was not until Riben defeated the Manchus and then Russia ten years later that he became a world power.

ps: Four more is completed, ask for subscription, monthly pass! To be continued.