Chinese martial arts! Grandmaster

Chapter 243 Storm Attack Ship! Do something big

Qingdao, Shandong, the Yellow Sea, and Laoshan waters!

The weather was fine, with a cloudless sky.

Above the sea.

Two modified merchant ships were cutting through the sea and sailing as fast as sharp arrows.

The merchant ship's front and side panels were lightly armored.

This is the Ximentang gunboat, which has just completed its transformation and been launched for sea trials at the Qingdao Shipyard.

This batch of converted merchant ships were the first batch of fast attack ships owned by Simon Hall.

Chen Jie named them - Storm!
Toot—toot—!
The sound of the ship's engine rang out, like a gust of wind, roaring across the sea.

The ironclad ship next to it was crawling like a snail in front of the "fast attack ship".

On the ironclad ship, the craftsmen from the Qingdao Shipyard and the shipyard manager who came from the Tianjin Shipyard could not help but cheer after seeing the scene on the sea.

Zhang Wenbo, Chief of Staff of the Ximen Tang Fleet, was shaking with excitement at this moment.

He put down the telescope in his hand, and tears flashed in his eyes.

"The speed is definitely over 40 knots! Incredible, how can it have such a fast speed?"

"It is fully loaded with 24 ship-borne guns. With the speed and super firepower of the 'Storm', it is definitely the most terrifying weapon on the sea!"

Deng Yonghe, the leader of the Ximen Tang fleet, could hardly hide his excitement at this moment.

He took a deep breath and said, "As expected of a fast attack ship, it is equipped with armor-piercing shells and can attack any ship!"

"Six fast attack ships can siege a fleet of two cruisers!"

"If all twelve ships are deployed, they can even siege a battleship!"

"With this batch of 'fast attack ships', all the bulky ironclad gunboats will be out of service!"

The ironclad gunboat had a full-load speed of only eight knots, making it a sitting duck at sea.

The fastest ships currently available are the British Empire's gunboats, which are powered by steam engines and can reach speeds of twenty-three knots.

The Oriental Fleet purchased a batch of armored cruisers with a speed of over 18 knots from the British Empire, and showed off its power on the sea.

but,

The only flaw of the fast attack ship is that it is too small when fully loaded and cannot sail long distances.

If you want to sail long distances, you have to follow a cruiser or battleship and refuel along the way.

quickly,

The sailor in charge of testing the ship's speed came forward to report:

"Your Excellency, the top speed of the attack ship 'Storm' has reached 42 knots!"

hiss--!
After hearing the report, everyone around couldn't help but gasp.

Section forty-two!

What is this concept?
This is equivalent to a speed of 74 kilometers per hour on the sea, which is more than twice as fast as that of an ordinary ship.

Zhang Wenbo said excitedly: "Forty-two knots! Haha - the fast attack ship uses diesel power!"

"Master said that this is a more advanced 'internal combustion engine technology' than the Western steam engine!"

Deng Yonghe also sighed: "It's a pity that with the current technology of the Ximen Tang Arsenal, it is still impossible to imitate it. It can only be produced in the West!"

"But there is one thing that has always puzzled me. Since the West has the 'internal combustion engine' technology, why don't they use it on ships first?"

Zhang Wenbo laughed and said:
"What's so strange about this? Didn't the Master say that this diesel-powered 'internal combustion engine technology' requires special materials!"

"This material was developed by the team when the young master was studying in the West. It has not yet been announced in the West!"

"So the West has not yet been able to put 'internal combustion engine technology' into use, and it can only remain at the experimental production stage."

He was greatly influenced by Chen Jie's "power of faith" and believed in everything Chen Jie said.

then,

Zhang Wenbo said excitedly: "I wonder if we can install a few more of these diesel-powered 'internal combustion engines' and use them on armored cruisers?"

Deng Yonghe shook his head and said:

"I don't know! Next time the young master comes to Qingdao, I'll ask him and we'll know."

"If an armored cruiser can reach a speed of forty knots, that would be terrifying!"

Zhang Wenbo said with great anticipation:
"Our Daqian Dynasty's Beiyang Fleet was unable to defeat the Japanese fleet, mainly because of the firepower and speed of our naval guns!"

"Now our 'fast attack ship' has a speed far exceeding that of the Eastern Fleet, and even crushes the Western Fleet!"

"I wonder if we can destroy their fleet on the sea?"

After a pause, he seemed to remember something and sighed:
"If we had a group of 'fast attack ships' in the Beiyang Fleet, how could we have lost to the Dongyang Fleet?"

"We have nothing to fear even from the ocean-going battleships of the British Empire!"

"The battleship 'Elizabeth' is still docked at the Huangpu Port. I really want to take them down once!"

"The Western fleet has been showing off its might in the waters of our Daqian Dynasty for too long!"

"It would be great if we could sink the Elizabeth!"

Deng Yonghe laughed and said:

"Don't let your imagination run wild. Young Master has long admired the battleship Elizabeth. How could he allow you to sink it?"

"Not only the battleship 'Elizabeth', but all armored cruisers will become our target!"

"But we should not underestimate the Western Fleet and the Eastern Fleet. They have many ships and large-caliber artillery, which is quite powerful!"

"Especially the battleships of the British Empire, which are very well equipped and have great firepower!"

"Their shipbuilding capabilities are unrivaled in the world, and they have quite a few battleships currently under construction."

"Our Ximentang Fleet will have plenty of opportunities to fight them on the sea in the future!"

"—"

-

Qingzhou, the study of the Governor's Mansion.

Chen Jie looked at the carrier pigeon in front of him with a very calm expression.

The current intelligence system is slightly backward.

It is easy to go wrong if we keep using carrier pigeons to send messages.

Next time, it is time to rebuild the "Submarine Department".

Telegraph!
Next time we will need to move a batch of telegraph machines over.

Just establish an intelligence headquarters in Qingzhou and build an independent "telegraph room".

Then by distributing telegraph machines in various places, we can build Ximen Tang's unique intelligence network.

The efficiency of pigeon carriers is too low, and problems can easily occur along the way, leading to information leaks.

of course,

A small generator set is needed to match the telegraph.

Chen Jie was secretly planning in his mind and read the contents of the pigeon letter.

The launch of the fast attack ship "Storm" during sea trials in Qingdao waters reached a speed of 42 knots, which did not surprise him.

Not surprising!
This is a diesel-powered engine with very high horsepower.

Two diesel-powered units installed on a "fast attack ship" are useless if they can't exceed a speed of 40 knots.

When he moved the twenty-four diesel-powered units over, he already had a detailed plan.

He was confident that he could lift the Japanese naval blockade, relying on this batch of "fast attack ships"!
but,

Unfortunately, this batch of diesel-powered units are all medium-sized power units.

Currently, we can only fight near the coast and cannot sail long distances.

If it is to be installed on a large warship, a more powerful diesel power unit is required.

Currently, large Western warships use steam engines, even battleships, and their current speed is only around 20 knots.

in fact,

The strength of a large warship does not lie in its speed.

It mainly relies on the tonnage of warships, and has extremely strong logistical supply capabilities and the power of heavy naval guns.

Currently, among the twelve merchant ships of Ximen Tang, only four have been renovated.

The other eight ships are still under renovation and their naval guns are being produced at full speed.

Chen Jie divided the merchant ship transformation into two parts.

The Tianjin Shipyard assembled the powertrain and installed the armor, and the Qingdao Shipyard began to install the "naval gun"!
Originally, Chen Jie was going to go in person for the launching and sea trial of the "fast attack ship" this time.

but,

He didn't expect that Yang Yankang of the Cao Gang was so efficient.

In just a few days, he had found 64 fundraising targets in the name of Ximen Hall.

Then,

He brought the heads of these 64 trading companies and families to Qingzhou, Shandong.

Chen Jie held a meeting with everyone and gave a speech about Ximentang’s textile factory, garment factory, glass factory, cement factory, etc.

Made by Simon Hall!
The first round valuation was 10 million silver dollars, or 10,000 silver dollars per share.

Among them, Ximentang holds a 51% stake and has started fundraising for the remaining 49%.

That is, for every share purchased, you can own 0.1% of 'Simon Tang Manufacturing';

Originally, Chen Jie thought that raising 490 million silver dollars would be very stressful.

but,

In the end, he found that he seemed to have underestimated those families and businesses.

The people of the Daqian Dynasty were poor and destitute.

The imperial court was attacked by Westerners and Japanese, forced to cede territory and pay compensation, and purchase various materials from the West, becoming heavily in debt.

but,

The wealth of the aristocratic families that had been passed down for hundreds of years in the Daqian Dynasty was simply unimaginable.

Although Ximen Tang hadn’t paid any money yet, it just displayed a sign – Ximen Tang!

but,

The sixty-four business houses and families invited by Yang Yankang of the Cao Gang were all eager to raise funds, fearing that they would have too small a stake.

Until this moment, Chen Jie finally understood the influence of the three words "Ximen Hall" in the martial arts world and in the Daqian Dynasty. You know,
There was no time for Simon Hall to rise.

The Daqian Dynasty was on the verge of collapse, and many aristocratic families prepared to migrate to western Sichuan, Tibet, and the Western Regions.

Some noble families even planned to migrate to the West.

However, the West is too far away and the people are unfamiliar with the place. Even if a family has a lot of money, it is not uncommon to be killed like pigs after arriving in the West.

Given a choice, no one wants to leave their homeland.

When they heard that the Western coalition forces were going to attack the capital of the Daqian Dynasty, the Japanese occupied the Northeast and increased their troops by one million.

The situation was turbulent and refugees flocked in.

All the noble families and business houses of the Daqian Dynasty were frightened.

Everyone knew that as long as Westerners and Easterners entered the capital of the Daqian Dynasty, the wealth accumulated by the major families over hundreds of years would be looted.

Just when all the noble families were worried.

Simon Hall has risen!

At the Dagukou Fortress in Tianjin, Ximen Tang defeated the Western coalition forces twice in succession, forcing the arrogant Westerners to flee in defeat.

Then,

At the Cangzhou Canal Transport Terminal, Ximen Tang once again took the initiative to attack and annihilated the 10,000-strong Western coalition force.

Ximen Tang was stationed in Shandong, and the leader Chen Jie became the governor of Shandong and also the commander-in-chief of the "righteous group".

What makes all the noble families and businesses excited is...

In the first battle when Ximen Tang was stationed in Shandong, he defeated the Japanese Matsusaka Army and forced it to flee in panic.

What they invest in is not only 'Simon Tang Manufacturing', but more importantly, a stable environment.

For Chen Jie, getting 490 million silver dollars in the first round of financing was a very good result.

A very good start!

After "Ximentang Manufacturing" is officially put into production, sales channels are opened and the scale is expanded.

Then we will carry out the second round of financing.

The first round of evaluation now is 1000 million silver dollars, and by the second round of evaluation, it is likely to exceed 5000 million silver dollars.

It was a win-win result for Ximen Tang and all the businesses and families that participated in the first round of investment.

therefore,

After confirming the investment amount and payment method.

Yang Yankang and other noble families signed various contract documents with Ximen Tang.

After the meeting, everyone went back and started preparing silver dollars and materials to pay for the first round of financing.

Just when Chen Jie finished the meeting and personally saw these merchants off.

Fu Cheng, who led a team to Dongying to survey for oil, sent someone to deliver the news.

He has already surveyed the oil field in Dongying according to the location given by Chen Jie.

It turns out that there was an abandoned coal mine in this place, and it has been built.

Perhaps it was because the Eastern Fleet attacked Weihaiwei, and later the Western Allied Forces docked in Dongying.

The owner of the coal mine was killed by Westerners, and all the miners fled as refugees.

Actually,
The houses built around this coal mine are not yet inhabited. As long as an oil depot is built to store crude oil, mining can begin quickly.

Fu Cheng always does things in a hurry, and he started to act quickly.

Locally, he hired more than a hundred people and started building houses.

Now Chen Jie urgently needs to mobilize the mining equipment and raise some money to develop the oil field.

After seeing this news, Chen Jie was extremely excited.

The location of the oil field was indeed not much different from that of the other world.

The oil field surveyed by Fu Cheng was carefully selected by Chen Jie.

Judging from the oil content in 'Urban World', this oil field is the most famous 'Shengli Oilfield No. 500 Well' in Shandong, with a daily production capacity of more than tons of crude oil, making it a high-yield oil field!
Chen Jie immediately gave an order to send 50,000 silver dollars to Fu Cheng, and asked him to recruit more people to extract the oil as soon as possible.

The oil extraction equipment that was moved here last time will also be sent over.

in addition,

Chen Jie also asked the "War Department" to send a team of 300 people to be stationed next to the oil field to specifically protect the safety of the oil field.

-

After the great battle between Qingdao City and the Oriental Matsusaka Army.

The situation in Shandong began to stabilize, and Ximen Hall's development was booming.

In a short time,

Neither the Japanese nor the Western coalition forces could launch another attack on Shandong.

Although Ximen Hall did not expand its army again, all the newly recruited soldiers entered the intensive training period.

"report!"

Just when Chen Jie was about to finish his work, he went back to the "Urban World" first.

Unexpectedly, the voice of the personal guard was heard outside the study.

Chen Jie was slightly startled and shouted, "What's the matter? Come in."

The door opened, and a guard came in and said:

"Sir, this is the urgent intelligence that the 'Submarine Department' just sent over."

Chen Jie took the wax-sealed letter, opened it and took a look, then he was stunned.

Seymour's fleet is ready to leave Daqian!

This old guy has been in Daqian for so many years, I don’t know how much silver he has made.

Are you leaving now——!?

"Notify Tang Feng and prepare the horses. We are going to Qingdao!"

Chen Jie quickly gave orders to his personal guards.

The coastline of the Daqian Dynasty is still blocked.

Maritime trade was monopolized by the Qing Gang and the Taiping. Any merchant ship that wanted to sail near the coast of the Daqian Dynasty had to pay protection fees to the Western Fleet.

That afternoon.

Chen Jie, with his guards, rode to Qingdao at full speed.

The headquarters of the Ximentang Fleet is located at the dock in Qingdao.

When Chen Jie saw Deng Yonghe, he quickly asked:
“How much diesel do we have left?”

Deng Yonghe didn't understand what Chen Jie meant at once, and asked in confusion:
"There are about 600 tons left, sir, what's wrong?"

Chen Jie calculated secretly.

A diesel-powered unit consumes about 500 kilograms of fuel per hour at full load.

A fast attack ship is equipped with two diesel power units, which consume 1 ton of fuel per hour at full load.
A warship will consume 24 tons of diesel during a day of full-load sailing.

Although Chen Jie has enlarged the fast attack ship's oil tank, due to the structural limitations of the hull, it can only carry a maximum of 80 tons of diesel.

"Fill up the fuel tanks of the six 'fast attack ships' and equip them with all the shells!"

"Everyone, get moving. Our Ximentang fleet will be setting out to sea in an hour. We are going to do something big today!"

"Call Lao Han over here, I have something to ask him!"

The Seymour fleet left Daqian at this time, probably because they had reached an agreement with Duke Waldersee.

He wanted to transport all the silver he had obtained in Daqian over the years back to the British Empire.

Chen Jie had been asking the "Undercover" to keep a close eye on Seymour's fleet, for fear that they would leave.

During this time,

Chen Jie has been asking the two shipyards to speed up the transformation of the "Storm".

In addition to wanting to lift the blockade at sea, the more important goal was to intercept Seymour's fleet from leaving.

Although Deng Yonghe didn't know what the young master wanted to do, he didn't ask any more questions and quickly made arrangements.

From the young master's tone, he could sense that the situation was very serious.

Let’s do something big! ?

Is the Simon Tang fleet going to go out to sea to start a war?
Are they going to attack the Eastern Fleet?

Thinking of this, Deng Yonghe felt like he was injected with chicken blood.

He used to be the captain of the Beiyang Fleet of the Daqian Dynasty. Although he was eventually dismissed from his post, his hatred for the Dongyang Fleet was deeply engraved in his heart.

All his comrades died under the artillery fire of the Oriental Fleet.

He has always dreamed of revenge and sinking the Oriental Fleet.

After a while,
Old Han from the Ximentang fleet came in front of Chen Jie.

Old Han, his name is Han Gensheng!

He was originally an old fisherman who had made a living on the sea for forty years.

Because the sea has been blocked by the Eastern Fleet and Westerners recently.

Therefore,
Old Han was forced to not go out to sea to fish.

He saw in the newspaper that Ximen Tang was recruiting crew members, so he rushed from eastern Zhejiang to Shandong and joined the Ximen Tang fleet.

After entering Ximen Hall, he was quickly given an important position.

Because he was so familiar with the sea, he knew the entire sea area of the Daqian Dynasty like the back of his hand, as if he had a complete map of the sea in his mind.

Chen Jie took out a sea map and asked directly without any further ado:
"Old Han, please help me take a good look!"

"Seymour's fleet left from Huangpu Port at nine o'clock this morning and wanted to return to the British Empire!"

"Calculate the route they took when they left!"

"We will set out from Qingdao Port immediately. Can we catch up with them within two days?"

Old Han looked at the sea map and then thought about it secretly.

"Their maximum speed is 15 knots, they won't go too fast!"

"The Western Fleet's naval blockade has no effect on our ships."

"Sir, at the speed of our 'fast attack ship', we can catch up with them within a day and a half."

(End of this chapter)