Wind Rises in North America 1625

Chapter 547 The Rear (Part 8)

On October 1, 1642, the morning sun shone through the large glass windows of the State Council building, casting bright spots of light on the terrazzo floor.

An expanded meeting of the decision-making committee is about to be held in the conference hall on the third floor.

The meeting room was decorated in a solemn yet simple manner. Long, dark red tables were arranged in a horseshoe shape, covered with dark green woolen tablecloths. In front of each committee member was a thick stack of agenda reports and a simple charcoal pencil.

Hanging on the wall is a huge map of Xinhua's entire territory (under actual control) and a somewhat rough nautical chart of the Pacific region, densely marked with shipping routes, ports and military deployments.

At 9:00 a.m. sharp, the meeting officially began, with more than 30 committee members and heads of various departments seated in the room.

In the corner of the room, two clerks had already prepared paper and pens, ready to record the meeting's content.

"Gentlemen, let's begin." Meng Shengxin, Chairman of the Decision-Making Committee, looked around and, in a steady voice, got straight to the point, "Let's first have Premier Li Liang talk about the recent economic situation."

Li Liang stood up and opened the report in front of him: "Overall, my country's economic development is progressing well. Although some industrial enterprises lost the Spanish American market due to the war and are experiencing underutilization of capacity, all other industries have achieved rapid growth."

"...Compared with the same period last year, the military industry grew by 65%, basic building materials by 42%, and food processing by 38%..."

"...By the end of August, both Guangfeng and Fenzhou steel plants had achieved leapfrog growth, with pig iron production reaching 6,400 tons and steel production reaching 850 tons. It is highly likely that the total steel production will approach 8,000 tons by the end of the year."

"...Following the capacity expansion in the first half of the year, the Qiming Island Shipyard and Xuanhan Shipyard have also entered a stage of rapid growth. In the first eight months, a total of four special immigration ships, two transport ships, one whaling ship, two naval 'Haiyan-class' cruisers, one supply ship, one new-type hospital ship, and eleven fishing boats of more than fifty tons were delivered."

"..."

Following this, Agriculture Minister Kao Wen-jui (Commissioner of the Jinchuan River Colonization Area) gave a supplementary report on grain production: "This year's summer grain harvest was bountiful, with a yield of over 164,000 tons. The autumn grain harvest is also nearing its end. Although the Jinchuan (now Vancouver) region may experience a significant reduction in production in some colonization areas far from irrigation projects due to reduced rainfall, the total national grain output is expected to increase by more than 25% compared to last year. This should be more than enough to meet the needs of the more than 300,000 citizens and to support the food supply for the thousands of troops and tens of thousands of laborers on the front lines."

He paused, then added, "With the abundant fishery resources and the continuously developing livestock industry in Xinhua Bay, even with tens of thousands of new immigrants this year, food security is basically guaranteed."

"How much will the drought in Jinchuan affect the harvest?" Meng Shengxin frowned slightly. "A large number of new settlements have been opened there, and more than 20% of the immigrants have been resettled for less than three years. Their ability to withstand risks should still be relatively weak. We must not allow a famine to occur."

“According to the data reported by the local authorities…” Gao Wenrui flipped through the documents, “the expected reduction in yield is between 15% and 20%. This is mainly concentrated in grain crops such as oats and barley, where water shortage during the grain-filling stage has resulted in significantly insufficient grain plumpness.”

"We have instructed local authorities to prioritize the use of grain reserves to ensure that there is no food shortage. In the long run, we also need to further expand the irrigation network along the Jinsha River, but this requires the support of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Industry, as well as more funding from the Ministry of Finance."

Upon hearing this, Deng Zhichen, the head of the Ministry of Finance, shook his head and smiled wryly, then made a few notes in his notebook.

"Regarding the situation of sugarcane and cotton cultivation..." Gao Wenrui continued, "Following the successful trial planting of the first batch of sugarcane on Anlan Island (now Saipan) three years ago (1639), Tanhua Island (now Oahu, Hawaii) also harvested its first batch of sugarcane last year, enabling Xinhua to initially possess sugarcane production capacity. In the next three to five years, we will be able to gradually get rid of the situation of importing sugarcane on a large scale from the Ming Dynasty and Spanish America."

"...The cotton planting base will be located in Chang'an and Taiyuan within the Yongning Bay reclamation area. Initially, 800 mu will be planted on a trial basis. If the results are good, the planting area will be expanded. The climate conditions there are very suitable..."

Subsequently, Zhou Bochao, head of the Immigration and Colonization Department, reported on the recently concluded immigration work: "...This year, the total number of immigrants was over 42,600, an increase of only 1,200 compared to last year. This was mainly due to the impact of the war, which diverted a significant number of ships to transport combat personnel and supplies."

"...Currently, various regions are implementing the resettlement of migrants, and it is expected that all migrants will be resettled according to the planned schedule before winter arrives. Among them, 6,500 people will be resettled on Qiming Island, 9,600 people in Jinchuan area, 11,000 people in Xinhua Bay area, and 11,000 people in Ziwu River area..."

"Speaking of population..." Tan Hongzhi, head of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, showed a hint of excitement on his face, and his voice became much lighter. "With the arrival of more than 40,000 new immigrants this year, plus the number of newborns in the country, and the indigenous people who have obtained citizenship, our country's total population will exceed 400,000 by the end of the year!"

His words eased the atmosphere in the room considerably.

Next, the heads of each cabinet department spoke in turn.

The Ministry of Science, Technology and Industry's report was the most impressive, as the production of artillery, muskets, ammunition, clothing, and food more than doubled year-on-year, thanks to war orders.

However, not all industries are experiencing such prosperity.

Li Jingming, the head of the Trade Department, spoke with a hint of worry: "...Due to the impact of the war, our traditional trade routes with Spanish America have been almost completely disrupted. Some light industrial sectors that rely on exports, such as high-end leather products, finely processed timber, some hardware tools, woolen fabrics, and cotton cloth, have experienced market shortages, resulting in temporary underutilization of production capacity and product stockpiling."

"Although we are actively exploring new markets in Southeast Asia and the Far East, this is not a quick fix. How to absorb this excess capacity and reassure the workers of the relevant companies are issues that need to be considered as soon as possible."

His remarks hit a nerve regarding a delicate pain point in the current economy, as market expansion and relocation still require time.

Following this, Deng Zhichen from the Ministry of Finance spoke, listing in detail the various fiscal revenue and expenditure data, and concluded: "Military spending is huge, but spoils of war and expected war reparations can cover most of it. Investment in people's livelihood and infrastructure has not decreased, and the overall fiscal situation is healthy."

"However, the localized structural imbalances in industries mentioned by the Ministry of Trade need to be taken seriously. The more developed the commodity economy, the more direct the impact of internal and external fluctuations on the domestic economy. This is a new challenge we are facing."

He surveyed the room, emphasizing his point: "This war has only been going on for six months, and it has already caused numerous problems for our economy. Therefore, it's foreseeable that next year may be difficult for us, and everyone should be prepared."

The meeting room fell silent, with only the scratching of pens on paper.

This issue touches on a sensitive point in the current economy—the country's development increasingly depends on internal and external cycles, and war has disrupted one of those external cycles.

As he listened to the reports from various departments, Meng Shengxin's fingers unconsciously tapped lightly on the table.

Like many other committee members present, he was not an expert in economics or administration.

Seventeen years ago, they were just a group of naval officers and naval cadets who accidentally stumbled into this era. With their vision ahead of their time and a pioneering spirit, they managed to develop a small outpost of just over fifty people into a nation with a population of 400,000, nearly a hundred companies, and thousands of soldiers.

In the early stages of development, the scale was small and the problems were simple. They could barely manage by simply copying some of the operations and experiences from later generations.

But now, the state apparatus has become large and complex, and every decision can have far-reaching consequences.

He deeply felt that the old methods of "copying blindly" and "crossing the river by feeling the stones" were becoming increasingly ineffective.

The country's rules and regulations are still rather crude, and the need for more refined and scientific management is more urgent than ever before.

These "prophets" are facing bottlenecks in their knowledge reserves and management methods. They must strengthen their learning and exploration, and promote the reform of their own and the country's systems in order to keep pace with the times.

He glanced at the "comrades" sitting there; some had furrowed brows, some were taking notes diligently, and some were deep in thought.

These individuals were not born politicians or economists; they all learned through trial and error in practice. Fortunately, everyone shared a willingness to learn and a pragmatic spirit. With collective wisdom and effort, this small sailboat named "Xinhua" is still able to sail steadily through turbulent waves.

“Alright…” Meng Shengxin broke the silence, his voice exceptionally clear in the quiet conference room, “Difficulties have always existed, but we have overcome them. After each department goes down to their posts, they should come up with more detailed solutions to the problems in their respective fields. In particular, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Trade should cooperate closely to solve the problems of the market and domestic demand. Now, let’s discuss the progress of the war.”

Upon hearing this, everyone's spirits immediately lifted.

Compared to complex economic and livelihood issues, the progress of military operations is more direct and more likely to affect people's emotions.

Liu Guoqiang, head of the General Staff of the Navy, spoke first: "On the naval side, the blockade of the Pacific coast of Spanish Mexico remains stable. Since the start of the war, we have sunk or captured sixteen Spanish ships of various sizes."

"Currently, the Spanish have no combat-capable naval force on the Pacific coast of Mexico, and not a single sail dares to leave port. In view of this, Navy Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Expeditionary Force, Wei Yingbin, has planned to launch a military strike against the coastal ports and towns of the Viceroyalty of Peru, with the aim of cutting off the Spanish treasure ship transport and finding an opportunity to annihilate the Peruvian fleet, thereby completely controlling the strategic advantage of the Pacific Ocean."

His report drew approving glances from everyone.

The navy is the foundation upon which the Transcendence rose to prominence, and its performance has never disappointed.

Next was Zhang Lifeng, head of the Army Operations Planning Department. He stood up, walked to the Pacific Ocean map on the wall, and picked up the pointer.

"On the army front..." He gestured lightly with his baton towards Mexico, "The first phase of the operation has been exceeded. With the support of the navy, we have not only captured key coastal ports such as Banderas Valley, Mazatlán, and Manzanillo, but have also penetrated deep inland and seized Guadalajara, the capital of New Galicia province."

The pointer moved across the map, outlining a clear route of advance.

"In the Battle of Guacheng, our army defeated more than 6,000 colonial troops, killing, wounding and capturing more than 3,000, and seized a large amount of supplies, including gold, silver, minerals, furs and livestock."

"Currently, our army plans to withdraw from Guaçu and return to the coast for a period of rest. After that, we will launch a surprise attack on the port of Acapulco and, depending on the situation, invade the heart of Mexico again to seize the Tasco silver mine and threaten Mexico City. This will serve to intimidate the Spanish to the greatest extent possible and make them truly feel the pressure on the battlefield."

A soft murmur arose in the conference room, and the atmosphere became noticeably more lively.

"It seems the Spanish really are no match for us," one committee member said with a smile.

Zhang Lifeng shook his head: "Although the military operation is going smoothly so far, we cannot underestimate our opponent. The Spanish have ruled the Americas for over a century and have deep roots. Our series of victories in the early stages were due to thorough military preparations, the suddenness of our attacks, and the strong support of our navy."

"The next phase of the war will be the real test for us. The further we advance inland, the longer the supply lines will be, and the more complex the terrain will be, the greater the difficulties we will face. This is because the Spanish will inevitably carry out a full mobilization in their American territories, recruiting a large number of militia and Indian servants. At that time, our army may face a military counterattack from the other side."

“Li Feng is right!” Meng Shengxin agreed. “We need to be wary of the mentality that pride comes before a fall. After all, the Kingdom of Spain is an old and powerful empire. The losses it is suffering now are only in its distant colonies, not yet crippling. To get those nobles in Madrid to recognize reality and sit down at the negotiating table, we need to apply even more pressure.”

"How long will this war last?" someone asked.

"Judging from the current situation, it is too early to expect to force the Spanish to submit with a short war." Zhang Lifeng and Liu Guoqiang exchanged glances, then cleared their throats and said in a deep voice, "For the Spanish, the American territories are nothing more than colonies for them to plunder gold and silver and maintain their financial lifeline. In terms of importance, they are not even as important as Italy and the Southern Netherlands."

"The coastal port towns such as Banderas Valley and Manzanillo that we captured in the early stages, as well as the important inland city of Guadalajara, were just the fringes of the vast American colonial territory. They could not shake the Spanish people's confidence in fighting, much less make them feel a chill to the bone."

"Therefore, the next phase of the operation plan is to strike at the silver mines and treasure shipping lines that the Spanish cherish, so that their domestic finances will be unable to be replenished, and they will truly feel the military deterrent power of Xinhua, thus bringing them to our negotiating table."

Li Liang continued, "Precisely because the Kingdom of Spain is a vast empire, for the court in Madrid and Philip IV, the war currently taking place on the far west coast of America is more like a 'border friction' and a 'colonial security incident' than a war that threatens the survival of the homeland."

He looked around the room and continued, "Losing some ports, or even the capital of an inland province, is certainly painful for them, but it is probably not enough to touch their core interests, or to make them feel the real 'pain points'."

His words immediately drew agreement from the military personnel, who nodded in agreement frequently.

Li Liang paused, then continued his analysis, his voice clear and calm: "Spain's wealth currently relies more on Atlantic shipping routes, especially silver and goods from Mexico and Peru. Our actions in the Pacific have not yet dealt a fatal blow to its Atlantic trade system."

"Furthermore, the empire's inherent arrogance and massive bureaucracy mean that their response will be very slow. It takes time for messages to be transmitted, time to debate countermeasures, and even more time to mobilize resources. It is unrealistic to expect them to immediately concede defeat and seek peace because of these few defeats."

"Therefore, this war is unlikely to end in the short term, and we need to prepare for a long-term conflict."

"The Premier's analysis is very insightful." Meng Shengxin nodded, affirming Li Liang's judgment. "This war will inevitably be a protracted one, possibly lasting two, three, or even four years. The Kingdom of Spain is a large and powerful nation. Even though internal problems have arisen, a centipede will not die easily. They will not bow down to us because of this 'minor setback'."

His gaze swept across the room, and his tone became resolute: "Therefore, our decision is clear: the war must continue, and it must be expanded! We must keep bleeding the Spanish until they feel the pain, until the day they sit at the negotiating table!"

He looked at several military commanders: "In addition to further strengthening the blockade of the Mexican coast, the navy must also look for opportunities to seize key targets along the Peruvian coast, such as Guayaquil, Callao, and even Panama! We must bring the war to where they are most vulnerable!"

"The army must continue to exert pressure on the wealthy inland regions of Mexico, or advance on Mexico City, threatening their core territory. We must let the Spanish know that the scope and intensity of this war will be determined by Xinhua!"

"Yes, sir!" the army and navy generals responded in unison, their eyes gleaming with excitement. "We will transmit the decision-making committee's instructions to the front lines immediately and intensify the next phase of the military offensive to seize even more important military objectives!"

"Logistical support is crucial." Meng Shengxin looked at the heads of the industrial and agricultural departments. "We will produce whatever the military needs and prioritize its needs. Domestic economic and social stability is our vital rear area, and we must not allow it to fall into disarray."

“Of course…” he said, his tone softening slightly, “the immigration work cannot stop, much less slow down. We must take advantage of the Ming Dynasty’s remaining strength to bring in as many immigrants as possible. Next, all departments must work closely together, plan meticulously, and earnestly complete the development plan and five-year plan formulated by the committee at the beginning of the year.”

"We've made it through the past seventeen years with all the ups and downs, and we absolutely cannot falter this time!"

The meeting lasted a full day. When Meng Shengxin announced the adjournment, night had fallen, and twinkling lights appeared outside the window.

The committee members and ministers stood up one after another, chatting in hushed tones as they gathered their documents and left the meeting room.

Meng Shengxin was the last to leave. He stood in front of the huge map, gazing for a long time at the vast western coast of the new continent, which was gradually being ignited by the flames of war.

He knew that the real test might have only just begun.

Managing an increasingly complex country while waging a war with an uncertain future presents an unprecedented challenge for this group of "newcomers to the profession".

But he firmly believes that they will do better and achieve their vision.

"Sometimes, being radical can be a strategy for rapid development!"
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(End of this chapter)