Nanyang Storm 1864

Chapter 357 Pacific Route

Early September
In the territory of Tongzhou Prefecture, King Zheng Guohui of Chu held a grand funeral for the old prince. After the coffin was buried, he brought the ancestral tablets south to the mainland of Chu.

It goes without saying that the fleet returned in a grand manner, carrying more than 3,000 Tonghuai men with them.

After returning to Manila, the royal family arranged for the old prince to be buried in Mount Ayat. Although it was just a cenotaph, the royal burial regulations were not inferior at all.

Mount Alter is located more than 50 kilometers south of Manila. It is only more than a thousand meters high, but the peaks are steep and spectacular, rising from the ground. In addition, the vegetation is lush and the scenery is beautiful. It is a rare and beautiful place.

The tomb of King Ren of Chu faces south and overlooks the vast land of China. It has a tall stone archway and more than 800 palace buildings of various types, which are majestic and solemn.

When King Ren of Chu was in poor health, the construction of the mausoleum began. It took more than a year and was not yet fully completed.

The King of Chu personally changed the name of Mount Ayat to "Mount Yongtai", which means to bless the State of Chu with eternal peace and prosperity. It is also the location of the tombs of all future kings of Chu.

After doing all this, it was already mid-August.

It was the late stage of autumn rice harvest, and the whole country was in a frenzy. The fields in the countryside were filled with working people, the roads were filled with horse-drawn carts loaded with rice, and the doors of granaries across the country were filled with horse-drawn carts, mule carts, donkey carts, and human-powered flatbed carts carrying grain taxes. The scene of the harvest was very lively.

Rest for a few days

King Zheng Guohui of Chu is about to start his inspection tour to the south again. After inspecting Cebu and Tongzhou Islands, the final part of his trip will focus on inspecting the reclamation and resettlement situation in the three states of East Malaya, as well as local infrastructure construction and people's livelihood.

Before leaving

In the East Pavilion of Ganquan Palace
The original chief of staff of the royal family was changed to the secretary general of the royal family, and the original staff was renamed as secretaries. Secretaries were divided into five different levels: senior secretary, level 1 secretary, level 2 secretary, level 3 secretary, and trainee secretary.

The current Secretary-General Wu Qingfeng was standing next to the imperial desk, holding several memorials in his hands, reporting to King Zheng Guohui of Chu one by one. These were all important matters that needed to be dealt with urgently.

"Your Majesty

Ministry of Foreign Affairs report

On August 1869, 8, the coalition forces of Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay in South America annihilated a total of 16 Paraguayan rearguard troops commanded by General Caballero in Campo Grande. Many children died in this war.

It is reported that many Paraguayan soldiers are children under the age of 10. The country is doomed and has reached the end of its rope.

However, Paraguayan President Lopez Jr. led the remaining troops into the forest and continued to attack the coalition forces. He rejected any proposal to end the war and stubbornly insisted on continuing the war.

King Zheng Guohui of Chu walked to the wine cabinet, picked up a bottle of red wine and poured two glasses. After covering the bottle, he handed over a glass of red wine.

Wu Qingfeng immediately bowed and took it with both hands, saying gratefully, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward. I am deeply grateful."

King Zheng Guohui of Chu waved his hand nonchalantly, raised his glass of red wine and saluted from a distance, took a sip, and then calmly gave the order;
"Record this. After the trilateral coalition forces of South America are victorious, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will issue a congratulatory telegram in my name. The diplomatic envoys to be sent to these three South American countries can then be selected."

"I obey your command." Wu Qingfeng replied respectfully.

King Zheng Guohui of Chu walked to the sofa with a wine glass in his hand, beckoned Wu Qingfeng to come over and sit down, taste the red wine, and chat about these major political events.

Putting down his wine glass, King Zheng Guohui of Chu said;

"Paraguayan President Lopez Jr. is a man of strong character, but unfortunately, he has great ambitions but little talent, and is brave but lacks strategy. He has ultimately dragged Paraguay into an abyss of no return. What a pity!"

Wu Qingfeng also followed the analysis and said;

"With a national strength of just over 50 people, Paraguay is pitting the weak against the strong in the face of the three South American nations. We should fight quickly and win quickly, and not prolong the battle.

Although the Brazilian Empire was foolish and corrupt, it had a population of tens of millions after all. Argentina also had a population of 150 million. Add to that Uruguayan population of more than , and its population alone was more than times that of Paraguay.

The war has been going on for five years now. All the males in Paraguay have been wiped out. It is said that there are only less than 5 left, and most of them are children.

A country like this has no future. If it clings on, it will only lead to suffering for the sake of prestige."

"Well, population is a major factor. Another key factor is that Paraguay has no foreign aid, and the British are not on their side. How can they not be defeated?" King Zheng Guohui of Chu said regretfully.

It no longer matters who is right or wrong in the Paraguayan War. In this winner-takes-all world, the weak have no say.

After chatting for a few words, Wu Qingfeng picked up another memorial and reported the follow-up of the Hawaii incident.

After the Hawaii incident, the Chu State was mainly concerned about the attitudes of two countries, one was Britain and the other was the United States.

As the global hegemon, the British Empire has its hands full all over the world. Whether it is the remote jungles of West Africa or the mountainous Andes, the British can be seen everywhere.

After the Hawaii incident, King Zheng Guohui of Chu benefited from the diplomatic department and reached an agreement with the British, which is known in history as the Singapore Convention.

Main contents of the Singapore Convention
Britain and Chu authorized each other, and all cargo ships, passenger ships and merchant ships could pass through the island ports, docks and other territories between the two countries equally and without obstacles, and pay taxes and fees as required.

Cargo ships and cruise ships flying the flags of both countries entering and leaving the port for replenishment and loading enjoy the treatment of national ports of registry. Warships need to apply specially and enter the port for berthing and replenishment after permission.

Except for a few sensitive ports designated by the two countries, all ports are open to each other's civilian ships, providing legal treatment to merchants, crew members, passengers and immigrants between the two countries to protect their personal and property safety.

This is a maritime treaty that is extremely beneficial to both parties. For the British, it is a major victory in promoting global free trade, integrating the Chu State more closely into the pound trade circle and improving the shortcomings of the Pacific port group.

For the Chu State

This was the only way for Chu to develop into an industrialized country facing the world, and it was also a shortcut that could make full use of Britain's numerous ports across the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean to develop more foreign trade routes.

This was like giving wings to the Chu State, which was determined to become an industrialized country.

at the same time
It also dispelled the British people's doubts, allowing them to cooperate with the State of Chu with greater confidence, which was more beneficial to Britain.

If you throw out a question;
In the eyes of the British, is it more advantageous for the Hawaiian Islands to be in the hands of the Chu State or the United States?

The answer is clear

If given a choice, Britain would naturally prefer to maintain the status quo and allow the Hawaiian Kingdom to exist. However, given the choice between the two, it is naturally more advantageous for Chu to control the country.

In the eyes of the British, neither Chu nor the United States was a good thing, both inherently rebellious. One was a thorn in the South Pacific, the other in North America, and neither was easy to deal with.

Choose the lesser of two evils. Comparatively speaking, Chu, with its small territory and small population, was more willing to cooperate with Britain on free trade policies, vigorously eliminate trade barriers, open its doors, and fully develop its industrial economy.

This is consistent with the "global trade policy" that the UK is fully promoting. It can relatively easily integrate the State of Chu into the pound sterling trade circle. The advantages are self-evident.

The population of the United States is more than seven times that of Chu, its territory is more than eight times that of Chu, and it implements dangerous democratic policies. It is a scourge that the feudal kingdoms of Europe have to guard against.

The high tariff barriers implemented by the United States made Britain even more resentful, and it regarded the United States as "a thorn among the rebellious sons" and "an incorrigible bastard."

The British are willing to do anything that will cause trouble to the Americans, even if it has no benefit.

For example, during the Civil War, Britain's strong support for the South is the most vivid example.

In order to break through the blockade of the Northern Army, the British Royal Navy fought several fierce battles with the Northern US Navy. Both sides won and lost, and the relationship was once tense.

The US Northern Navy was not to be outdone and seized a large number of British merchant ships transporting supplies to the South, which greatly angered Britain and threatened war.

In the end, the dispute ended with the United States making concessions, and Britain also restrained its large-scale support for the South. These were major events that happened not long ago.

After signing the Singapore Convention, Britain was the first to recognize Chu's sovereignty over Hawaii, saying that "this was a civilized and legal expansion and should be respected."

Soon thereafter, European countries also followed suit and recognized Chu's territorial sovereignty over Hawaii.

"...

In San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Oregon, local newspapers widely publicized the Chu State's illegal occupation of Hawaii, viewing it as a provocation to the United States and inciting local hostility towards the Chinese community.

White American plantation owners are actively recruiting people in the above-mentioned places, including unemployed cowboys, vagrants and drunkards, some sailors and adventurers, trying to form a mercenary armed force to counterattack Hawaii.

From existing channels
As of August 8, about 21 people had gathered, including French foreign officers and retired former Northern and Southern Army personnel, a mixed crowd.

Our people have also infiltrated this team and even served as some officers..."

Listening to Wu Qingfeng's report, King Zheng Guohui of Chu picked up the red wine glass on the coffee table with a comfortable expression, gestured for a toast, and took a big sip himself.

He did not comment at all on this farce directed by the Americans.

These Americans have no sense of confidentiality at all. They are making a lot of noise on the West Coast. You can get a general idea of ​​what's going on by just asking around.

The U.S. government also provided convenience, opening warehouses and using mountains of weapons and equipment to encourage and encourage these North American cowboys who wanted to take risks.

Related situations

The commanders in Hawaii had more detailed information, so the outcome of dealing with this tangled mob was self-evident.

The only difference is whether to completely annihilate the invading enemy or to annihilate most of the enemy.

These North American cowboys are like jumping clowns, they can't cause any waves and are not worth paying attention to at all.

What is worthy of attention from King Zheng Guohui of Chu is

The retired giant ship "Great Eastern" was purchased from the American Atlantic Cable Company for 3.2 pounds and will be used for immigration on the Pacific route in the future.

The Great Eastern is a significant piece in the history of world shipbuilding. It was launched on January 1858, 1, but there was no funding to continue its construction after launching, and it was not completed until more than a year later.

Since it was put into operation, the Great Eastern has been in a state of continuous losses on the Atlantic route.

Because the ship was so huge, the maximum number of passengers it carried at one time was more than 1500, which was less than half of its passenger capacity.

The "Great Eastern" is 211 meters long, 36 meters wide, has a maximum draft of 9.2 meters, a displacement of 2.7 tons, can carry up to 5 tons of coal, and has a speed of 14 knots.

The vessel had three propulsion systems: two side paddle wheels, a stern propeller, and six masts for sails, with a total sail area of ​​6 square yards.

Due to heavy losses on each voyage, the shipowner was forced to stop the Great Eastern from sailing.

The ship was sold to the Atlantic Telegraph Company in 1864 and converted into a cable-laying ship. Since then, it has been active in the Atlantic Ocean, laying submarine cables.

In 1866, the Great Eastern successfully laid the first transatlantic cable. After completion, it was idle until it was purchased by the Chu Pacific Shipping Company for 3.2 pounds.

After the ship was purchased, it was completely modified at the Jinsha Shipyard in Tongzhou Islands. The huge "side paddle wheels" on both sides were removed, and the original four huge steam turbines, whose technical performance had become outdated, were removed and replaced with six much smaller steam engines with more powerful horsepower output.

The output power jumped from more than 9000 horsepower to 13000 horsepower, which can propel the giant ship to cruise at a speed of 17 knots for a long time, about three knots higher than before.

The focus of this modification at the Jinsha Shipyard was to increase the number of cabins, so that the maximum number of passengers on board the "Great Eastern" can reach more than 7600.

The Great Eastern departed from the immigration hub of Batangas and crossed the Pacific Ocean to reach Honolulu, a distance of about 8600 kilometers, which took 13 to 14 days, or two weeks.

After being put into use on this route, the Great Eastern can carry out one round trip every month, transporting more than 9 immigrants and more than 10 tons of cargo to Hawaii every year.

Combined with other large immigration ships, the Chu State's ability to transport immigrants to the Hawaiian Islands will be greatly increased.

In the plan of King Zheng Guohui of Chu
In order to have the ability to transport an average of 30 immigrants to Hawaii each year, the immigrant ships deployed on the Pacific route are basically large sailing ships, including the armored warships "Unyielding" and "Unhumiliating" that were decommissioned from the Chu Navy fleet.

There was no place for these two French warships in the Chu Navy. They were urgently modified with additional armor and used as a lone wolf guerrilla fleet, but it was only a temporary measure.

after the war
These two huge warships were no longer useful, so after removing most of their artillery, they were converted into immigration ships.

The Indomitable was originally a five-masted sailing warship built in 1848 for the French Far East Fleet. It had a displacement of 3600 tons, a standard three-tiered gun deck, and a very large hull.

The "Bu Hun" was originally the "Nemesis" of the French Far East Fleet with a displacement of 2344 tons. It has two gun decks and great potential for modification.

The two warships removed their heavy naval guns and arranged immigration cabins on several gun decks, transforming them into immigration ships.

The former can carry up to 2200 immigrants, and the latter can carry up to 1350 immigrants, totaling more than 3550 immigrants. They also operate on the Pacific immigration route.

With the help of these giant ships, transporting immigrants across the vast Pacific Ocean to Hawaii is no longer a problem, and the annual immigration target of 30 people can be easily achieved.

(End of this chapter)