On August 27, 1727, on the wide Jingqili River (i.e., the Jieya River in Russia), a river gunboat armed with six small cannons spewed black smoke and roared upstream.

Hailan Pao, in the local Daur population, means "elm home", just to guard the confluence of the two rivers, if a few heavy artillery pieces are erected on the shore, and then echo with the Aihui Fort on the south bank of the Heilongjiang River (now Aihui District, Heihe City), it is enough to block the shipping of the two rivers and threaten several counties and towns in Jiangdong Prefecture of the Bohai State.

“…… A walled city of this size is estimated to garrison between 100 and 150 soldiers. The soldiers on the head of the city are equipped with mixed weapons, firearms and cold weapons. The artillery at the head of the city has one ......, oh no, there should be two, and the model should be a light gun with a caliber of 55 mm. ”

“…… There was a watchtower in the northeast corner of the walled city, on which soldiers were supposed to be stationed. If several musketeers are placed on it, a large area near the northeastern wall can be blocked. ”

“…… There was a simple wharf on the north side of the walled city, which was supposed to be the main ferry port for the Qin army to travel between the two banks. …… No forts were found nearby, so it should be that the Qin army had not yet had time to build them. ”

"There are suspected signs of reclamation on the northwest side of the walled city......"

“…… Note that several of the Qin cavalry rushed out of the city, presumably to warn us not to spy on their defenses. …… Inform the engineer to move slightly away from the west bank towards the center of the river. ”

“……”

Several officers of the Bohai State were holding binoculars and observing the situation of Hailan Bubble with the slow movement of the gunboat, and at the same time, they kept repeating the information they had detected, so that the intelligence staff officers could quickly record it.

In the command cabin of the gunboat, two officers dressed in the uniforms of the Qi navy, probably to avoid irritating the Qin troops on the shore, hid inside, sat in chairs for a long time, drank tea, and watched the Bohai people on both sides of the ship detect Hailan Bao's behavior.

Although everyone knows that the high-end gadgets of inland river gunboats are only available to Qi people-—— of course, as the hardcore brother of Qi State, Beiming also has a number of steam-powered ships, but they are all extremely cherished as treasures, and they are usually deployed in the waters near Yunzhou and Zhenzhou, at most along the mouth of the Heilongjiang River, Shangshuo to the area of Boli, the capital of Dongdan, for fear of a mistake - but as long as the bow of the ship does not hang the flag of Qi State, and the officers and men of the navy do not stand on the bow of the ship, will the Qin army insist on "framing" The Qi people threatened them with force on the river?

"What is that little prince pondering? You don't think about firing a few shots at the shore with artillery, do you? Beixue No. 6 Deputy Captain and Lieutenant (Lieutenant) Ren Yong Su Zujie pouted, and his eyes motioned for his companion to look at the gun emplacement in front of the gunboat.

"Probably not." Geng Shunyu, the military staff officer of the Qi State Army stationed in the Bohai State and the captain (captain) of the Imperial Martial Forces, glanced at it, shook his head with a smile and said: "Most of them are thinking about the combat performance of this gunboat, and maybe they are also thinking about whether they can buy a few ships from us to enhance the defense capability of their Bohai State." Decades ago, under the protection of our Qi State, coupled with the fact that the Qin State did not have much military strength deployed in the Heilongjiang River Valley, they did not feel the threat from the outside, and there was no need to equip the inland river gunboats, which were sharp weapons of war on the rivers. Now, the Qin State suddenly built a fortress at the confluence of these two rivers, and relocated the Han people in the interior, strengthening its actual control over the region, which created a sense of crisis up and down the Bohai Sea. Maybe we will have to smash the pot and sell iron, and buy more weapons and equipment from our Qi country. ”

The inland river steam gunboat equipped with six small cannons of the Qi State is absolutely invincible in the rivers of Heilongjiang, Jingqili River, and even the Lingbei region.

The gunboat, with a full load displacement of only about 100 tons, is equipped with four 55 mm guns and two 75 mm light guns, and is fully driven by steam engines. Coupled with its ferocious firepower, a dozen or so armed galleys were no match for it.

This is not too strong for the Far East and Lingbei regions, which are full of rivers, and the demand for such inland river gunboats is simply not too strong!

The Dutch, who had a very close relationship with the Qi State, had noticed this kind of inland river shallow water boat of the Qi people more than ten years ago, and tried to obtain a number of them, so that they could have a certain water mobility advantage on the Rhine River, the Maas River, and the IJsselmeer Lake in the northwest coastal area, whether it was to transport goods in peacetime, or to block the river during war, to prevent the invasion of the French, it could play an unexpected effect.

However, in order to maintain the technical advantage, Qi Guo politely refused the request of the Dutch, and only exported to them some equipment such as steam pumping machines and steam lifts with low technological level, low power and not too advanced technology, in addition, there are some steam power equipment used in the woolen textile industry - it is reported that England already has similar equipment, so that their woolen industry has a relative cost advantage and scale advantage in the European market, in order to add to the blockage of the English people, hit their steam engine research and manufacturing capabilities, At the same time, in order to support the traditional woolen industry in the Netherlands, Qi opened its cotton textile production equipment to a limited extent.

The most famous shipyard in the United Provinces was the Bitham shipyard, which was able to build a river or offshore vessel with a shallower draft and a faster speed, but the power part was never solved. In other words, even if they could build small fast boats, they would install sails for them, rather than using steam engines as power like the Qi people.

In this way, in fact, it does not make much sense, because inland river ships sail in complex rivers, and the mobility of the ship is a very important indicator, which is the main reason why the Qi people install small horsepower steam engines on this boat.

Due to the lack of materials, processing accuracy and design, not only the Dutch, who had advanced shipbuilding technology, were temporarily unable to produce "high-end gadgets" such as river gunboats, but even the English, who had a certain industrial base, were also excited and could only focus on the research and development of steam engines for large seagoing ships.

However, with the update and iteration of Qi steam engine technology, some outdated or slightly backward steam engine equipment and machinery have also begun to spread outward, and the Nanyang territories around Hanzhou, close vassal states, and important regional allies, from mine pumps, to sail-steam hybrid ships, from ordinary civilian steam drive equipment, to machine tools called military weapons, and even steam locomotives, are also being sold to these countries and regions in complete sets.

After all, some domestic industrial and mining enterprises also have the need for technological upgrading and upgrading, right?

This is true in the civilian industry, but there is also an iterative need in the military field. As the actual combat performance of ironclad ships was verified in the Qiying War, many relatively backward pure sail warships under the navy will also face the situation of gradual reduction.

In the past few years, Qi has finalized a series of warship trading contracts with Shunguo, Weiguo, Luzon, and Beiming, and successively sold 18 sail warships that have been in service for more than eight years to these countries at a price of 2-3 discounts.

At the same time, the Qi Navy has also upgraded more than 20 battleships of more than 1,000 tons, such as replacing the steam engine with more powerful power, and installing thicker protective armor in key parts, which will improve the speed and maneuverability of the warship while enhancing its resistance to attack to a certain extent.

With a dotted naval base, a huge and powerful fleet, and many vassal states and strategic allies, it can be said that Qi has firmly controlled the Eastern Sea World, and has taken it for granted that the region has been included in its sphere of influence.

Although Qin had a large population and vast territory, it was in the same Chinese vein as Qi, and decades ago, the founding emperors of the two countries even reached a so-called century-old covenant to build the Chinese world in the East.

However, with the rapid expansion of Qi's strength, ambition naturally grew slowly, trying to act as the leader and leader of the entire Eastern civilization.

You Qin State, just be our little brother of Qi State honestly!

Your huge population will become a source of labor for our Qi country, your vast territory will become a market for the dumping of our Qi country's goods, and your powerful land military strength will become our Qi country's balance hand on the Eurasian continent.

Therefore, the State of Qi does not care about the continuous expansion of the State of Qin in Mobei and the Western Regions, as well as Qinghai and Wusizang, as long as the State of Qin does not look at the sea, does not look at the South Sea, does not touch the core interests of the State of Qi, and does not break the many chess pieces placed by the State of Qi around the State of Qin, you can toss as much as you want.

Well, my Qi State can even provide you with financial support, help you build railways, guide and train your army, and your Qin State can only spend its abundant energy in the border areas such as Mobei and the Western Regions, which is the best.

In the eyes of the Qi State, whether it is Mobei or the Western Regions, the difficulties in long-distance supply, coupled with the strong mobility of the grassland forces, the war between Qin Zhun may last for a long time. Even if, with its advanced firearms and huge population resources, the Qin State could defeat the Dzungars countless times, but after all, it could not help this steppe empire.

After the death of Batur Huntaiji and his son Sangge, who founded the foundation of Dzungar, Galdan was born again, not only reuniting the Oirat tribes, but also condensing this loose alliance of tribes into a powerful Dzungar Khanate, completing the transition from tribal alliance to state power. After Galdan "gacked", he plotted to rise up again, and while continuing to invade Khalkha Mongolia in the east, and fighting with Qin in Mobei, he was also able to free up his hands to conquer the Kazakh Khanate, and simply smashed this former Central Asian steppe empire into several pieces, and became a rear base for Dzungaria to take what they wanted and plunder.

Looking at the past dynasties, there is hardly any Central Plains Dynasty that can completely solve the northern border troubles, even if your Qin State destroys Dzungaria, maybe it will continue to jump out of another grassland force, endlessly, and it will always consume all the vitality of your Qin State.

Of course, since we are all of the same origin and ancestry of the Chinese civilization, our Qi State will not let your Qin State fall easily, and while giving a large amount of economic assistance, we can control your politics and military affairs by the way, which is also the proper meaning.

However, last year, the Qi State learned an astonishing news through various channels, the Qin State actually secretly sent an envoy to visit the Russian Empire in the west, preparing to establish some kind of military alliance with the other side, squeeze the strategic space of the Dzungar Khanate from the east and west, and finally swallow up this steppe power.

Qin State actually has such a sense of the overall situation!?

In the face of two powerful empires that far surpassed their own, the defeat of the Dzungar Khanate was probably only a matter of time.

It is foreseeable that with the continuous advancement of Qin and Russia from the east and west, and with the blessing of firearms and fortresses, there will be no steppe forces that will have enough space to move around in the future.

When the news of the Qin army's victory at Ili spread, it not only frightened several surrounding countries and forces such as Manchuria, Bohai, Dongdan and Beiming, but also felt a real threat, and began to fight vertically and horizontally, connecting with each other, and actively responding to Qin's aggressiveness, even Qi was also shocked, and considered whether to give Qin some stumbling blocks and some eye medicine to stop Qin's northwest military operations.

Therefore, when the Bohai State heard that the Qin State had suddenly established forts in Hailanpao and Yaxa, relocated the Han people in the hinterland, and prepared to strengthen the actual control over the Heilongjiang area, it proposed to carry out armed reconnaissance of the above two places, and the Qi State immediately provided the two river gunboats stationed in the Heilongjiang River valley for the use of the Bohai State.

If there is an armed confrontation or conflict between Qin and Bohai in the north, can they divert their attention from the northwest region, and then delay the continuous attack of the Qin army on the Dzungar Khanate, so that the Mongols can take a breath, reintegrate the grassland forces, and continue to fight with the Qin state.

"Thinking about the past, Emperor Taizu of Great Qi did a lot of kind to the Qin State, and when I think about it, it still makes people think about it."

The defenders of Hailan Pao knew that they could not do anything with this inland river gunboat of the Qi people, so they could only be on guard and stand by to prevent the other party from suddenly attacking. The two small boats at the ferry were also towed to shore lest they were sunk by the gunboat. When the Qin officers and soldiers stood at the head of the city, they couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when they watched the gunboats sail from the Jingqili River into the Heilongjiang River, and then puff out black smoke and sail downstream.

After all, this fortress has just been established, and the foundation is unstable, if the Bohai State raises troops to attack, and this kind of gunboats across the rivers to help the war, only a hundred or so garrison soldiers and hundreds of immigrants will definitely not be able to hold it.

Geng Shunyu withdrew his gaze from the direction of Hailan Pao, shook his head and said: "At that time, our Qi State not only dispatched the navy to blockade the coast of the mainland and cut off the Yangtze River, but also sent the army deep into the hinterland of the Qin State to fight against the living forces of the puppet Qing Dynasty, so as to effectively cooperate with the Qin army to unify the whole country. When supporting the three local forces of the Northern Ming, Dongdan and Bohai, they were also forbidden to invade the Han land in Liaodong and divide the northeast. So much so that now, the Qin state has a very favorable situation, and through continuous immigration to the real border, they eventually extended their tentacles to the Heilongjiang Valley. If, decades ago, the Bohai State took advantage of the fierce war between the Qin State and the puppet Qing Dynasty to move the border line south to the Songhua River and the Nenjiang River, then it would have more or less greater strategic depth and could also obtain more population resources. ”

"After all, Emperor Taizu and the first generation of pioneers were all born in the ancestral land, and they may have some feelings for the Shenzhou Continent, and they can't bear the disasters on the mainland, let alone the division of the Han land, so they have a lot of care and support for the Qin State." Su Zujie said: "Who would have thought that after decades of development, the times have changed, and the momentum of the Qin State has been irrepressible. If it is not contained, it will definitely threaten the security of our Daqi in the future. ”

"You say, one day in the future, will our Qi State break out into a war with the Qin State?"

"Perhaps." Su Zujie thought for a while and said hesitantly: "But, think about it carefully, if this is really going to fight, how can there be a feeling of being in the same room!" ”

"You're thinking too much. The monarchs and ministers of the Qin State, as well as the people in their country, may not regard our Qi country as a family. ”

"But our Qi and Qin economic ties are close, people-to-people exchanges are becoming more and more frequent, and every year, as many as hundreds of thousands of Qin people immigrate to Hanzhou and overseas territories, which can be said to be a blend of water and milk, emotional connection, even if there are some disputes, but the war may not be fought."

“…… Not necessarily. If the Qin State fights the Bohai Sea and Dongdan, or has a fierce conflict with the Northern Ming, how will our Qi State choose? Also, if Qin supports Anbei to swallow up the country or attack Guangnan in the south, and then unify Annan, how can we Qi sit idly by? Once they touch the core interests of our country, how can they take into account the friendship between the two countries and the feelings of the people in the face of the raging feelings, and they will fight hard. ”

"But no matter what, I hope that our Qi State will not have a war with the Qin State. I still remember when I was young, before my grandparents passed away, they were haunted by their hometown in China all the time, and they wanted to return to their hometown where they were born and raised. …… After all, the mainland is the ancestral land of all our Qi people! ”

(End of chapter)