The Ming Dynasty strategically despised French usurious imperialism, but in terms of tactics and mobilization, it gave the highest importance to the French, especially the French Army.

Although in 3 years, the halo of the so-called world's first army will be crushed by the emerging Prussian Army, there is no doubt that the next war in Mexico will be the most important test for the Ming Royal Army.

In this battle, the Ming Royal Naval Division will not be able to provide much help to the army.

It would be extremely unwise to bypass the southernmost tip of the South American continent and go to the Gulf of Mexico to fight the main fleet of the French.

At this time, the French Atlantic Fleet anchored in Bordeaux, the French Mediterranean Fleet in the port of Toulon, and the French colonial fleet in West Africa were able to quickly reach the Gulf of Mexico.

According to the intelligence that Zhu Fugui has and the information of later generations, these three fleets have at least 10 new ironclad warships of more than 6,000 tons and 40 new warships of more than 2,000 tons, making them the second largest fleet in the world.

In contrast, the warships used by the Daming Navy Division were mainly second-tier goods bought from Britain and the United States or prostituted for nothing.

The warships of Jiading, Yangzhou, Dingliao, Sanwan, Liaohai, Tieling, Shenyang, Dongning, and Haizhou were all small gunboats of less than 1,000 tons, and more than half of them remained in the Far East to claim hegemony after the Ping-Wa War.

The main battleship produced by Daming: the "Infinite Loyalty" class light cruiser with a full load displacement of less than 3,000 tons, only 3 have been produced so far.

This is because in the Pingwei War, the performance of the "Infinite Loyalty" was not satisfactory, and the young and inexperienced Ming shipbuilding industry still had a lot of lessons to make up.

According to the report submitted by the sailor, the "Infinite Loyalty" has an excellent power system, whether it is the maximum speed, full speed, cruising speed, economic speed, minimum speed and other indicators are excellent, and there is no suspense to surpass the British "Liaodong".

After all, whether it is a large gas turbine or a water-pipe turbine steam engine, these shipborne power equipment that is at least 20 years ahead of the times has undergone a lot of running-in and testing on the previous "Fuqiang-class" transport ships, and is quite reliable.

The real shortcoming of the "Infinite Loyalty" class battleship lies in the weak fire system, or the [Eagle 004] rapid-fire gun grafted onto the battleship encounters many technical bottlenecks, which is manifested in low reliability of shooting performance and high failure rate.

After repeated research by the relevant technical personnel of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Industry, the final ...... was given It was the Soviet scheme.

The Soviets were keen on small ships with large guns, did not pursue the rate of fire, and pinned their hopes on the first round of overload strikes.

On the one hand, this is for the pursuit of firepower, and on the other hand, it is also because once the size of the same equipment is large, the piston re-entry rate is slow, and many of the original problems can be solved.

This is the so-called one strength and ten meetings, a great solution to a thousand sorrows.

Fortunately, Daming has the most advanced power system, not to mention the gas turbine, even the water-pipe turbine steam engine is theoretically enough to support a giant ship of 40,000 or 50,000 tons.

The Ming Dynasty did not need to be forced to pull a cart like Soviet Russia, but could sacrifice some performance in terms of speed, rate of fire and hull bomb area, and use the method of increasing the size of the ship and increasing the number of guns to match the bulky artillery.

Therefore, in the first royal shipyard in Caofeidian in the new Ming Dynasty, the real first giant ship of this era is being built, a national heavy weapon weighing more than 20,000 tons.

And he was equipped with 22 bulky [Yin 003] guns, which were originally used for coastal defense.

It is a powerful 72-pounder (254mm caliber) heavy gun with a maximum range of 6,400 meters, and of course, an impressive rate of fire of only 3 rounds per minute.

At this time, the rate of fire of mainstream artillery has generally reached 6-10 rounds per minute, and the rate of fire of the [Yin 004] rapid-fire gun, which was specially developed for the "Infinite Loyalty", has reached 14 rounds per minute.

To tell the truth, this unnamed steel behemoth completely deviated from Zhu Fugui's original idea.

As a Chinese, Zhu Fugui also has a strong plot of the First Sino-Japanese War, and always keeps in mind that the rate of fire and speed of navigation are the kings of naval warfare.

However, with the existing technical strength reserves of the Ming Dynasty, he could only embark on a road contrary to Zhu Fugui's vision.

However, there is also an added benefit to this, that is, the armor of the new warship of the Ming Dynasty is also terrifying.

220~300 mm steel plate, and it is high-quality industrial steel purchased from later generations with cultural value, Zhu Fugui is very doubtful that the mainstream 159~178 mm naval guns of the navies of the great powers today can cause damage to the iron bumps of the Ming Dynasty.

I'm afraid that only the 229-mm main guns of the "Minotaur" class giant ships with a displacement of more than 10,000 tons can inflict heavy damage on it, right?

I wanted to play as an assassin, but I was forced to become a heavily armed warrior.

Zhu Fugui can only say that all encounters are just tricks of fate.

Unfortunately, the construction of this Wonder-class giant ship is difficult, and even half of it is still not completed.

However, even if it was completed, Zhu Fugui did not dare to send it to the Atlantic.

It's not out of the question of a bump into the French Navy.

Although the French navy seems to be strong today, based on their performance in the Franco-Prussian War three years later, it can basically be judged that it is an army that has no will to fight and lacks effective training.

Before the war began in 1870, the French navy was sent to blockade the northern Prussian coastline and control Prussia's poor small navy.

However, this time, what appeared to be a very simple operation was shocking, showing the chaotic and disorderly organization.

Later, with the Army's crotch pulling, the Navy retreated to the English Channel without any further performance.

Half a year later, Wilhelm I proclaimed the German Empire in the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles, and he himself became the first German emperor.

The Parisians generously bought the national debt, causing the French government to pay 5 billion francs, equivalent to 250 million pounds, and a sky-high price of 1.5 billion taels of silver, which made the Germans take off in Wuhu.

If it is against such a French navy, the victory rate of the Daming Navy V French Navy may be slightly lower than that of the Daming Army VS the French Army, but Zhu Fugui also dares to fight for a game.

But the problem is that once the Ming Dynasty reveals a 20,000-ton ironclad ship, it means that the Ming Dynasty has declared war on Britain.

This has nothing to do with Ming's political stance or will to fight.

With a 20,000-ton ironclad ship in his arms, even if he wanted to surrender to the British, he couldn't get it.

Not only the British, but also the Spaniards who controlled Cuba would also fan the flames and join the siege of the Daming Marines.

In this way, the Daming Sailor is afraid that he will be bitten to death by many ants and turned into sand in the Atlantic.

Therefore, in any case, the Ming Dynasty's aid to Mexico and the French can only be dominated by the army.

The main task of the Daming naval division warships was to assist the coastal batteries, defend the important ports of the Ming Dynasty on the west coast of North America, and go out of the port to protect the trade routes of the Ming Dynasty if necessary.

Some transport ships can be involved in the transportation of supplies and soldiers in the Baja California Peninsula region of Mexico in small quantities.

Generally speaking, coastal defense is the mainstay, supplemented by a small amount of support.

·

Veracruz, on the banks of the Quaquarkos River.

300 years ago, it was from here that the Aztec sorcerers looked out to sea in anticipation of the arrival of Quetzalcoatl.

But when the arrival of the unusually tall Quetzalcoatl, who was covered in steel and walked on four legs, it brought destruction.

Antonio was an Aztec.

At least that's what he thinks himself.

Before the age of 23, Antonio never thought about who he really was.

He was baptized by a priest from birth and, like his father and mother, was a devout Christian.

Antonio has also been accustomed to being discriminated against because of his appearance since he was a child.

He speaks Spanish and his name is typically Spanish.

Everything is so natural.

It wasn't until the day of Antonio's 23rd birthday that he received a special birthday present from his uncle.

A hand-cranked rechargeable radio.

It is said that his uncle said that it was a very precious gift for his most beloved nephew.

But Antonio's cousin pierced him mercilessly.

This so-called magic music box was actually bought by his father with five pounds of coffee beans from the merchants of the Ming Kingdom.

Although it was only a very cheap thing, Antonio was happy to accept it.

This small decision changed the trajectory of Antonio's life dramatically.

From that little box, Antonio learned a lot of knowledge that lower-middle-class kids like him couldn't reach.

For example, why he looks so different, why the ground under his feet has become what it is.

I don't know when it started, Antonio suddenly had a question in his heart.

Who am I?

Are they God's people?

But why can't I feel the warmth of the Lord?

Every time I prayed in church, I told the priest that I felt the presence of the Lord.

But the only thing I could feel was the disgusting smell of the priest.

Or, I'm just me.

Is it the way I was supposed to be?

What exactly was the Aztecs like?

What did they leave in my body?

Or am I them?

Antonio fell seriously ill, and after a week of fever, he miraculously recovered.

After that, he said goodbye to his mother and embarked on a journey north.

Today, Antonio has a new identity.

"Leader Antonio, do you think the big ship of the Europeans will really come?" A younger young man asked, somewhat absent-mindedly.

They are now part of the Hound Organization under the Daming Jinyi Guard.

Unlike the White Hounds, these Latin American Hounds have a more complex composition and are more difficult to control.

Therefore, as early as April, Yin Weasel personally came to Xinsui on the border of Ming and Mexico, which is the former city of San Diego, to participate in the selection and training of Latin American hounds.

Antonio stands out in such a complex situation and becomes the leader of this force.

"Mexico is the land of our Aztecs, of course, not the barbaric and decadent Aztecs of the past, but the progressive Aztecs who learned the advanced ideas of His Majesty Zhu Fugui and realized the Easternization reform!"

That's what Antonio thinks about today.

Of course, Antonio's Latin-flavored name may one day be abandoned, but Antonio will live forever until the idea is realized.

Even if he dies, someone will inherit his ideals.

Without looking back, Antonio said to his companions behind him: "There has never been any prophetic saint, nor does it rely on the gods and gods, all I believe is the teachings of His Majesty Zhu Fugui!" ”

Snuffing out the cigarette in his hand, Antonio remembered everything he had seen in Daming.

He followed the officials of the Ming Dynasty and followed the coastal railway all the way north.

It's not just the roaring machines and the majestic army, in the Yin Shang Civilization Hall of the Royal Museum, he has finally found his roots, and he knows why he is fighting.

"Will war really come?" The companion's voice trembled a little.

He had heard of the war 20 years earlier, in which hundreds of thousands of Mexicans had died and caused great social upheaval.

"War is coming, and it will be fiercer than ever!"

Antonio affirmed.

Suddenly, he stood up suddenly, raised his high-powered telescope and looked into the distance, "Here they are, here they are!" ”

·

Two months after Daming completed the strategic deployment, that is, in September of the fourth year of Dewu, on a crisp autumn morning, Zhu Fugui and Yin Susu were holding Messi to find a pleasant workplace for her in the planned Royal Zoo.

Nirvana Palace does not raise idlers, even pets.

Barkley can grind, Wangcai can pick up ducks, only Messi only eats cat food and meat and bones, and does not work at all.

So Zhu Fugui helped her find a part-time job at the zoo.

When Yin Susu went to the artillery academy, Messi could be fostered in the zoo, eat and drink, and earn extra money.

It was just perfect.

After a long time, Messi finally chose a good place with mountains and rivers, and Zhu Fugui took out a small notebook to record it.

At this moment, the correspondent trotted all the way.

Yin Susu pressed down Messi, who was about to pounce, although this big cat has no bad intentions and likes to give hugs to strangers, but this hug is not liked by everyone.

Zhu Fugui took the telegram, and his brows finally relaxed.

The French, British, and Spanish allied forces arrived as scheduled.

Of course, Britain and Spain only came to fight the autumn wind, the British sent one 3,000-ton wingman, and the Spaniards simply sent only two sail battleships...... Well, they didn't have a couple of ironclads either.

In short, they blockaded the Gulf of Mexico with warships, threatened the Mexican government with force, and issued ultimatums to cities along the coast.

The old sailing ships of the Mexican Navy shrank in the harbor and shivered, and they had no intention of going out of the port to fight.

The only sail battleship that could be used, the Maria, had been locked by the French gunboats, and the sailors on board were scattered.

Campeche, a city on the west coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, surrendered without a fight, and Mayor Matthews personally welcomed the French with a French military salute and a French flag.

A part of the coalition forces came ashore here and received good supplies.

However, the gateway to Mexico City, Ciudad Veracruz, the main direction of attack of the Triple Alliance, is reinforcing its fortifications and seems to be preparing to fight for President Bettoni Juárez.

These are not far from the historical process.

What has changed slightly is that on the Yucatan Peninsula, the guerrillas fostered by the Ming are active.

Cause chaos for the coalition forces.

In addition, to Zhu Fugui's surprise, there seemed to be a lot more French ships than in history.

Historically, the main strategy of the French invasion of Mexico was to occupy the bonanza in northwestern Mexico as compensation for loan shark arrears.

Later, the French installed members of the Austrian House of Habsburg to become the puppet emperors of Mexico.

It can be said that the first strategic objective of the French was quite successful and overwhelming.

In the end, it is only the second goal that goes bankrupt.

The French landing was also divided into two phases, and the number of French troops in the first phase was not large, estimated to be less than 30,000.

Only as a threat of force and a tentative offensive.

But now, judging from the number of ships and the news from the guerrillas of the Yucatan Peninsula, the number of French troops dispatched this time may exceed 50,000.

And there is still a steady stream of troop carriers that are adding troops.

This was significantly more than what was needed to target the Mexican army.

Zhu Fugui felt that this time the French chicken danced its wings, which was intended for Zhu Gong.

In the plan, the strategy of sitting on the mountain and watching the tiger fight, and letting France and Mexico consume each other first, is afraid that it will not work, and Daming may have to cross the Colorado River in advance to support the Mexicans.

However, just as Zhu Fugui was about to issue an assembly order, the second telegram quickly slapped him in the face, making him dumbfounded.

[Urgent! France defeated Puebla in a crushing manner, losing more than 10,000 people in one day, and the French commander cried bitterly in the face of the barbed wire, calling the American method of war not martial arts, and shameless! 】