1850 American Gold Tycoon

Chapter 655 Who is more reliable?

"Yes, cotton." Davis continued on the podium.

“Last year alone, we exported 1.223 billion pounds (approximately 615,000 tons) of raw cotton to the UK. Without the cotton we provided, more than 2,700 cotton spinning mills in the UK would Without operation, 30 million mule machines and 360,000 looms will become useless, and more than 600,000 textile workers will lose their jobs.”

Davis had done some homework. In 1860, more than 73% of the raw cotton in the UK was imported from the southern United States. India, the second largest importer and the jewel of the Queen of the British Empire, only contributed 243,000 to the British Empire. Millions of pounds of raw cotton (approximately 121,500 tons).

As one of the pillar industries of the British Empire, the cotton textile industry directly employs more than 600,000 local workers. If upstream and downstream related industries are included, the cotton textile industry is an industry that provides food and clothing for millions of textile workers in the British Empire. No exaggeration.

Also in 1860, the British Empire exported 318 million yards of cotton and 11,200 tons of twist and yarn. The total value of exports hit a record £36 million.

Whether it is for the sake of maintaining domestic stability or the millions of pounds of customs revenue, the British who regard their wealth as their life have no reason not to focus on their world's largest cotton producer.

Unless the British disregard the lives of hundreds of millions of farmers in British India and let the old farmers in India complete the great task of converting rice into cotton and grow 600,000 tons of cotton for the British Empire in one or two years.

Obviously, this is impossible to do.

This is the confidence of Davis and others. They firmly believe that Europe's trading partners will definitely intervene in the situation in North America.

Having said this, an excited Davis raised the "Anaconda Plan" on the podium and immediately threw it to the ground: "So this bullshit Python Plan of the Yankees is a joke! Even if they illegally detained us The envoys sent to Europe, those Europeans will come to us in a hurry when the cotton stocks are bottomed out!"

Davis's words caused bursts of ridicule from the southern congressmen. The meeting ended happily with the laughter of the southern congressmen mocking Scott for his lack of ambition and Lincoln's lack of wisdom.

"Your Excellency, urgent telegram." The meeting had just ended. Robert E. Lee, who had been waiting outside the Congress door for a long time, hurriedly found Davis, who was still not satisfied. "Liang Yao has arrived in North Platte. They will launch an attack on the Northern Army within a week." military action."

"Oh?" Davis, who was full of suspicion, took the telegram from Robert E. Lee. After reading the telegram carefully, he still looked undecided. "Is he trying to persuade us to fight the Northern Army first?"

Davis knew very well that a war between the North and the South was inevitable. In addition to actively communicating with the European countries on the other side of the Atlantic, Davis was also actively preparing for war.

But Davis still had his little secret in his heart, which was to hope that the Western Army and the Northern Army would start a battle on the Western Front, disperse the military power of the Northern Federation, and create opportunities for them to go north to defeat the Northern Federation.

"The situation in Richmond is deteriorating day by day. Whether Liang Yao is just showing off or really wants to take action against the federal troops in Fortress Kearny and Omaha, we should send troops as soon as possible to eliminate the Northern Army less than 30 miles away from Richmond." Robert E. Lee said to Davis.

“Instead of pinning our hopes on European countries separated by vast oceans, we should echo the American republics on the North American continent, squeeze the strategic space of the Northern Federation from the south and west, and force the North to recognize the fait accompli of our independence as soon as possible. End the war as soon as possible."

Robert E. Lee believed that Davis had too high, even unrealistic, expectations of his so-called European allies. After all, no European country has yet clearly expressed support for the Confederacy.

Compared with European countries separated by vast oceans, Robert E. Lee believed that the American republics on the North American continent were more reliable and worthy of wooing as strategic partners.

Although so far, Sacramento has not clearly expressed its intention to form an alliance with them, so far, the American Republic is still the only country that has steadily provided them with arms. Therefore, Robert Lee believes that it is good to have good relations with the American Republic and to cooperate with them. Combat is the more practical option.

Robert Lee advocated sending troops as soon as possible out of both public and private considerations. He hoped to attack before the first batch of mobilization troops of the Northern Army had completed their preparations, so as to inflict maximum damage on the Northern Army.

Privately, he hoped to move the front north so that his hometown of Virginia would be as unaffected by the war as possible.

Robert Lee had read the military inspection report on the Crimean battlefield submitted to him by McClellan and others, and he also knew how destructive today's guns were. He does not want Virginia to become the next Crimea, and he does not want Richmond to become the next Sevastopol.

"What if this is just the smoke released by Liang Yao, have you considered the consequences?" Davis was quite dissatisfied with Robert E. Lee's advice. Compared with the American republics, which had also just gained independence from the United States, Davis said to his European partners Have higher expectations.

"Since Liang Yao said that military action will be taken against the Yankees within a week, then we will wait and see and wait for him for a week."

Davis was not an ignorant person. On the contrary, before he became president, Davis paid more attention to information about the West. It's just that Davis had only learned about the West through newspapers and magazines, and at most some photos. He had never been to the West in person.

Davis believes that although the West has made great progress in the past twelve years, the development time is still very limited, and its strength cannot compete with the Northern Federation.

Moreover, Davis himself is a military man. The foundation of the West is in the West Coast, and the area where Liang Yao wants to use troops is in the central frontier area, which is thousands of miles apart. It is much more difficult to use troops on a large scale with a rear base thousands of miles away than when the Southern Army crossed mountains and ridges to capture California and Oregon during the Mexican-American War.

Therefore, when he saw Liang Yao's telegram about launching military operations against the Northern Army, Davis was skeptical.

"Sir! One week is enough time for the Yankees to complete the reorganization of several militia regiments!" Seeing Davis' attitude, Robert Lee said anxiously, "The sooner we send troops, the better it will be for us!"

Robert Lee is one of the few generals in the Southern Army who knows the Southern Army, the Northern Army, and the Western Army. He knows very well that there is a huge disparity in national strength between the North and the South. The longer the situation is delayed, the more unfavorable it will be for them. Therefore, Robert Lee hopes to send troops as soon as possible. As for the assistance from European countries, Robert Lee does not have much hope.

Liang Yao is a person who is willing to expand his living space. He has coveted the central frontier area for a long time. Robert Lee tends to believe that Liang Yao really wants to use troops in the central frontier area, otherwise he would not have to go to North Platte in person.

"Okay, Robert, go back and wait for news." Davis said impatiently.