North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 235 can no longer be hidden.
In the "Manual of Drill" jointly drafted by Azu, Robert E. Lee, Edgar Allan Poe, and others, the infantry tactics of this era were completely abandoned.

The previously seemingly foolish line infantry tactics were based on the premise that rifles had short range, poor accuracy, and slow rate of fire.

Once the Huamei Company was able to produce modern rifles and machine guns, line infantry tactics became obsolete and were swept into the dustbin of history.

The Manual of Combat, modeled after the later "three-three system," formulated a completely new skirmish tactic.

In the "three-three system" infantry tactics, each ten-man infantry squad is divided into three combat groups, with the squad leader in the center commanding the troops.

During the attack, the three combat teams formed a triangular formation, supporting, covering and assisting each other.

Even the three infantrymen in a combat team formed a triangular formation to support, assist, and cover each other.

Within a platoon of three infantry squads, an even larger triangular offensive formation was formed.

Often, a platoon of thirty soldiers is enough to cover an 800-meter-wide battle line.

In subsequent wars, whether in offense or defense, the "three-thirds system" has demonstrated tremendous power and vitality.

Therefore, Azu basically copied the successful experience of the "three-thirds system" in later generations, determined to make the California troops far ahead of the times in terms of strategy, tactics, training support, and equipment firepower.

……

Many people present were uneasy about Azu's arrangement for all officers to enter the military academy in stages, but no one objected, and no one dared to question the order.

In fact, through this war, most mid- to high-ranking officers have realized their own shortcomings and that they do indeed need systematic learning and further education.

However, the order that anyone who failed to obtain a military academy diploma would be stripped of their entire rank put immense pressure on many.

Especially Feng Zicai and Shi Dakai, these two are born generals, but unfortunately they don't have much formal education. It's unknown how much hard work they will have to put in to get their diplomas from military academies.

Ignoring the unease of the crowd, Azu continued, "Because the National Guard's 1st and 2nd Brigades and the Independent Artillery Regiment each left a battalion to be stationed long-term on the Isthmus of Panama."

"Therefore, the staffing needs to be readjusted."

"I order that the two infantry battalions and one artillery battalion already in the Isthmus of Panama be expanded to form an independent Panama garrison brigade."

"This brigade consists of three infantry battalions, two fortress artillery battalions, and two engineer battalions."

Azu continued, "This independent garrison brigade is not only fully responsible for the security of the Isthmus of Panama, but also for defending against all threats on land and sea."

"Moreover, this garrison brigade will also assist in the exploration, planning and construction of the Panama Canal in the future."

"As for the choice of brigade commander for this garrison... Harley...!"

Hearing his boss call his name, Harley was overjoyed and immediately stood up with his head held high: "Boss, I'm here!"

"You will temporarily act as the brigade commander!"

Azu looked at Harley and said, "However, you must graduate from the military academy before you can be exempted from the term 'agent'!"

"Furthermore, I require you to major in military engineering at a military academy so that you can play the greatest role in the construction of the Panama Canal in the future."

"do you understand?"

"Reporting to the boss, mission accomplished!"

Harley, beaming with joy, snapped to attention and gave Azu a military salute.

Azu nodded and continued, "The National Guard's 1st and 2nd Brigades, as well as the Independent Artillery Regiment, will be temporarily replenished to full strength and will continue to maintain their current size."

"The time will come when all of you graduate from military academy next year, and that will be the time for us to continue expanding the military."

"Otherwise, even if we expand our army, without a standardized, professional, and modernized command system, it will only become a drag and a burden."

……

After arranging matters concerning the army, he turned to Uncle Nine and asked, "Uncle Nine, how is the production situation at our Huamei Armory?"

Uncle Nine replied, "Currently, we are working at full capacity to fulfill arms orders from the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia."

"The firearms and ammunition ordered by these two countries, including 100,000 HM49 rifles, 1,000 low-spec hand-cranked water-cooled machine guns, a large quantity of matching ammunition, and 500,000 hand grenades, totaling an order of ten million US dollars, are expected to be completed and delivered by the end of this year."

"In addition, we have also expanded to two production lines to produce those special Minié guns. Because they are easy to produce and inexpensive, our current monthly production capacity can reach about five thousand units."

Uncle Nine continued, "Boss, after the war with New Grenada ended and they witnessed the powerful firepower of our California equipment, the U.S. Army is in talks with us to order a large amount of weapons and equipment."

"More than a month ago, representatives from the U.S. Army Logistics Department came to San Francisco and have been coming to talk to us every day. It's quite annoying!"

Azu nodded slightly: "I know about this, but I've been putting it off without agreeing."

"There's no other reason than that the United States Army's appetite is simply too big!"

"They want not only our HM49 rifles, but also our HM51 machine guns and mortars." "Even our heavy artillery of various calibers, the U.S. Army really wants."

"After this war, we can no longer hide our advanced weapons."

At this point, Azu couldn't help but smile: "This can't go on forever!"

“Uncle Jiu, have the people from the U.S. Army Logistics Department come directly to me. I want to talk to them personally.”

“Okay, boss!” Uncle Nine agreed.

Azu continued, "Our arsenal's production capacity has now reached the limit of California's resources, and it is impossible to expand it any further in the short term."

"Because California simply doesn't have any large, high-quality iron ore or coal mines. The existing small iron ore and coal mines have already been developed to their limits."

"In fact, we need to purchase a large amount of high-quality steel from abroad, which is costly and makes us vulnerable to external control."

Azu added, "Several months ago, I sent people to Wyoming and Brazil to explore and purchase land."

In later generations, the Pink River Basin in Wyoming produced more than 40 percent of the coal in the United States, and the mining conditions were excellent, with many open-pit mines having coal seams tens of meters thick.

More than 40 percent of Wyoming's landmass is covered by rich coal resources, with total reserves exceeding 900 billion tons.

However, Wyoming's coal resources were not gradually developed and utilized until the late 19th century, several decades later.

As for Vale's iron ore mines in Brazil, there's no need to say more.

Vale is not a single iron ore mine, but a collective term for high-quality iron ore mines distributed throughout Brazil.

The highest quality of these is the Carajás iron ore. This ore is characterized by its high grade, low alumina content, few harmful impurities, and good sintering properties, making it one of the world's finest iron ore resources.

However, the development of the Carajás mining area did not begin until the early 20th century, sixty years later.

No one knows yet that such a treasure is hidden in the vast Amazon rainforest.

Azu continued, "However, according to the feedback, both places encountered different obstacles."

“In the Pink River Basin of Wyoming, our people found high-quality open-pit coal mines with ease.”

"However, that large area of ​​the Pink River Basin is still under the control of the Cheyenne Indians."

"Even after repeated communication and promises from our people and the Blackfoot tribesmen who were with us, the Cheyenne people did not agree to our request to mine coal in the Powder River Basin."

“The Cheyennes…!” Robert E. Lee frowned. “The Cheyennes are a more powerful and valiant Native American tribe than the Blackfoot!”

"The Cheyenne people are divided into two branches, one in the north and one in the south!"

"The main territory of the Cheyenne people in the north is Wyoming and Montana, with a population of about four or five thousand!"

Robert E. Lee continued, "The Cheyenne, Sioux, Arapaho, and other ethnic groups are all close allies."

"The Cheyenne people were involved in many previous conflicts with the U.S. Army."

"If the governor intends to acquire land and coal resources in Wyoming, it will inevitably lead to conflict with the Cheyenne people."

After listening, Azu nodded slightly: "Colonel Robert, inviting you to join our California was absolutely the wisest decision!"

"You not only possess profound military expertise, but you also have an excellent understanding of the situation both inside and outside the United States...!"

Robert Lee smiled modestly: "In any case, I have to live up to the governor's extremely generous salary!"

Azu laughed too: "Colonel Robert, what's your plan to acquire land and coal in Wyoming while minimizing conflict?"

Robert E. Lee pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "The Cheyenne people, like the Sioux, are one of the major Native American tribes that stubbornly resist the white settlers. Dealing with them is extremely difficult!"

"Moreover, even if we acquire the land and coal resources of Wyoming, it would be extremely difficult to transport them across Utah and Nevada to California."

“Unless a railroad can be built…!” Azu added with a laugh, “If a railroad connects Wyoming and California, all the problems should be solved!”

Robert E. Lee was still shaking his head: "It would be far too difficult to build a railway like this!"

"It's all about human effort!" Azu continued, "Things that seem difficult or even impossible now might not be so difficult in a year or two!"

Azu's current plan is to get all the Native Americans in the West to rise up against the white colonists as soon as possible.

Once this mess is stirred up, he can then intervene in the affairs of the entire West.

At that point, taking over Wyoming's coal reserves might be a piece of cake.

But I certainly can't say that in front of Robert E. Lee right now!

(End of this chapter)