The arrogance started from Chinatown

Chapter 804 Galveston Explosion

"The Americans fought fiercely in the early stages of the war"

The Times used this headline to illustrate the situation inside the United States today.

The United States' sudden declaration of war shocked all countries, but what was even more shocking was that the United States caused such a big mess after the war.

The highest commander of the airborne front, a man who had nothing to do with the navy and did not even hold any position in the US government.

As a result, before the war with the Spaniards even breaks out, a war is already breaking out within the United States.

You have to know that the navy is a highly professional branch of the military. In the eyes of many people, this is a political appointment, and it is natural for the US Navy to rebel.

When the Spaniards received this news, they were both amused and confused.

A small banquet was held in the Prime Minister's Office and people began to celebrate in advance.

"I have been a politician for so many years, and my experience is to let professionals do professional things!" Sagasta raised his glass and smiled at everyone.

After the war broke out, the United States quickly replaced its top commander on the front line, causing a serious political crisis.

This makes the Spaniards laugh almost in their sleep.

Even if the naval strength of both sides is equal, this situation will lead to failure.

Not to mention that the US Navy is much weaker than the Spanish Navy.

……

In the United States, after the news of the appointment came out, many naval officers began lobbying familiar congressmen, hoping to cancel the appointment through Congress.

"This is ridiculous! This is an insult to the professionalism of the Navy!"

However, after Xu Yan went to Washington, those congressmen began to lobby familiar naval officers in turn.

In a cafe, a well-dressed gentleman was cutting a steak while speaking to a naval officer sitting opposite him.

"This is not a bad thing. After all, China Chen has proven himself in the war. If he fails, it just proves that they are wrong and proves the importance of naval professionalism... For example, you are irreplaceable!"

"At the same time, we can also replace a batch of new ships. To be honest, the current navy's warships really need to be phased out."

“So I say, this isn’t such a bad thing!”

"What do you think?"

The naval officer's expression was angry at first, then became thoughtful, and then gradually calmed down.

The naval officers were convinced first.

After the naval officers began to cease their activities, the criticism and accusations in the newspapers continued, but the real impact was not great.

In New York, William Rockefeller put down the newspaper with an expressionless face.

He wanted to take advantage of this war to do something, but the news he got from the top naval officials made him withdraw his action. He just quietly took control of some small banks in the West through other people.

Although he didn't know the specific situation, the information leaked by the top naval officials told him two things.

Spain is doomed to fail.

This war will be over soon.

……

"Remember to write down all those newspapers that say bad things about me, and then go find them one by one! And check if there is anyone behind this."

Chen Zhengwei stood at the window of the Continental Hotel Houston, looking at the city outside, and said without turning his head.

The recent turmoil has spread to Houston.

Of course, the Houston newspapers did not comment on this.

Because Chen Zhengwei is really in Houston.

"Is Galveston ready?"

"Brother Wei, everything is ready..." said the henchman behind Chen Zhengwei.

"Let's do it tonight!" Chen Zhengwei raised his hand to signal his henchmen to go and notify them. "Do it quickly and don't let any rumors spread."

He owns a large amount of land and port operating rights in Houston, but Galveston is the trading port of Texas, with better port conditions and geographical location than Houston.

Although he didn't know why Houston became one of the most famous ports in the United States in later generations, he didn't know what happened in Galveston...

But he didn't need to know that.

He has his own way to accelerate Houston's development.

At the beginning of the war, the port of Galveston was bombed.

Then push it to the Spanish.

Once the news comes out, it will definitely arouse the anger of the American people.

It would also affect investor confidence in Galveston because the port was too vulnerable to enemy attack.

Then he came out to clean up the situation and sank the Spanish fleet in a short time.

"A perfect plan!" Chen Zhengwei was very satisfied with his plan.

In the evening, Chen Zhengwei also held a banquet in a mainland hotel.

"Mr. Chen!" The gentlemen attending the banquet bowed to Chen Zhengwei one after another, but their expressions were somewhat strange.

On the one hand, it was because Chen Zhengwei was parachuted in to become the naval commander, and on the other hand, Chen Zhengwei held banquets every few days after arriving in Houston.

It doesn't look like they are here to fight at all.

"I heard someone called me the Banquet General recently!" Chen Zhengwei's eyes swept across everyone's faces. Everyone's heart skipped a beat when they heard this, and they looked at other people's faces out of the corner of their eyes, cursing in their hearts, which bastard said that?
They were afraid of being killed by Chen Zhengwei and were afraid that Chen Zhengwei would find an excuse to kill another group of people.

"Why are you all so nervous? Did you really say it?" Chen Zhengwei was a little surprised. He just said it casually.

"No, Mr. Chen, I definitely didn't say that!" Everyone shook their heads.

"It doesn't matter what you said... I was attending parties during the civil war, and I was attending parties in Cuba..."

"Compared with these wars, Spain is just a remnant of the old era. It doesn't make me nervous at all!" Chen Zhengwei said with a smile.

"I can't imagine how we could lose this battle."

Chen Zhengwei's words made many people wonder. Recently, many newspapers have published a comparison of the military strength of the two sides. The strength of the Spanish navy is far greater than that of the United States... and the only thing the United States can show off is the Warrior that Chen Zhengwei bought from the British.

They felt that Chen Zhengwei overestimated the Warrior.

But no one would refute him, and everyone agreed with him.

At one o'clock in the morning of the next day, there was a loud explosion at the port of Galveston, 72 kilometers away from Houston, followed by a series of explosions.

Everyone in Galveston was awakened and looked toward the port in panic, but saw nothing.

After a moment, I could faintly see a red light coming from that side.

Galveston Police Chief Edwin N. Kechen covered his chest, jumped out of bed with a pale face, put on his clothes, hurried downstairs to take people to the port, and then stood there in a daze.

I saw that a large number of wooden facilities in the port were destroyed and many places were burning.

Even several ships were affected by the explosion and slowly sank.

"It's over..." Edwin Kechen almost had a heart attack because of the explosion, and his face was pale now.

Afterwards, a large number of businessmen who stayed in the local area and workers working at the docks came to the dock. Seeing the devastation here and the destruction of a large number of facilities, their eyes were filled with pain.

After all, their lives depend on it.

"Mr. Ketchen, what happened here? The mayor asked me to inquire." The mayor's secretary came to the port and found Edwin Ketchen sitting aside.

"As you can see, the port exploded..." Edwin Kechen's eyes were a little dazed.

"What's the reason?" the other party continued to ask.

"I... don't know... when we got here... it was already too late. We didn't find any suspicious people, and we didn't even know why this happened..."

"It's wartime!" the mayor's secretary warned. "Maybe it was the Spanish!"

Edwin Kechen seemed to remember something after hearing this, and he recovered from his previous trance. He finally grabbed a life-saving straw.

"Yes, it might have been the Spanish!"

"Mr. Director, what you need most now is to restore order here, put out the fire, and try to save the port facilities. Then catch the Spaniards who sneaked in here. I will report to the mayor first!" The mayor's secretary got the answer he wanted and nodded with satisfaction.

The explosion not only awakened the entire Galveston, but also awakened and angered the entire United States.

The next morning, the cries of newsboys could be heard on the streets of major cities across the United States.

"The latest news: the Galveston explosion!"

"Spain bombed Galveston, much of the port was destroyed, and many ships were blown up in the harbor!"

At this time, major American newspapers had already pinned the blame on the Spanish.

Many Americans finally woke up from their dreams and realized that war was coming.

Washington also held several meetings on the explosion and then severely condemned the Spanish for attacking a civilian port.

Galveston is not a military port.

In the morning, Chen Zhengwei just got up from bed and went downstairs to eat breakfast when Ma Zai came over and said:

"Brother Wei, there was an explosion in Galveston last night. The casualties are not clear yet, but most of the port facilities were destroyed."

"The Spaniards are so brutal! But this is war!" Chen Zhengwei sighed.

After being shocked, Cicely nodded vigorously in agreement, her little face full of seriousness.

The Spanish are so cruel!

"We'll set off for Galveston soon!" Chen Zhengwei ordered his men.

According to the plan, he will also go to Galveston today to meet up with the US Navy.

Although the port was bombed and ships may not be able to dock and resupply, small boats should have no problem entering and exiting.

After dinner, Chen Zhengwei led his men to Galveston.

"Mr. Chen..." After receiving the news, Galveston Mayor George Finnegan hurried over to pick up Chen Zhengwei.

"How's the situation at the port?" The first thing Chen Zhengwei was concerned about after they met was the port.

"A large number of facilities have been destroyed, especially some ships have sunk in the port. Now it is impossible to enter and exit the port normally. It will take at least a month to clean up the port..." George Fingeni's face was full of indignation.

"I see. Has the navy arrived yet?"

"They just arrived, but due to the situation at the port, the warship did not enter the port... they just sent someone to notify us."

"Go and inform them to ask the highest commander of the navy to come to the hotel to find me!" Chen Zhengwei nodded slightly and instructed the henchman beside him.

　I really didn't think much about it, and I just glossed over many places.

　　I have already done my best……

　　
　
(End of this chapter)