Wild North America 1846

As an emerging country of immigrants, the Tang Kingdom had no historical burden and was able to travel lightly. Its urbanization process is second only to the United Kingdom and ahead of the United States, with an urbanization rate of more than 60%.

This is because most of the population of the Tang Kingdom came from Chinese immigrants. After landing in North America, they were gradually absorbed into the coastal cities as workers, shop clerks, sailors or waiters in hotels and restaurants. They were deeply attracted by the prosperity and job opportunities of the city.

attracted and settled down to become local urban residents.

Only some people who have received targeted immigration loans from inland provinces and farmers who are eager for land will go deep into the inland provinces to develop and run their own farms and plantations.

In the coastal provinces, immigrants cannot obtain free land. This preferential measure is only implemented in the inland northern and southern provinces.

Therefore, the vast majority of Chinese immigrants enter factories and cities to find jobs, which is also the main reason for the rapid expansion of cities and the explosion of population.

The United States is different, due to factors such as lagging behind the Tang Dynasty in its industrialization process and heavy historical baggage.

At the end of the second quarter of 1856, the urbanization rate in the United States reached 30%. The urbanization rate in the north was much higher, while the south was completely a large rural area with very few cities with a population of more than 100,000.

The urban development momentum of the Tang Kingdom was rapid, showing the characteristics of coastal and railway lines. Convenient transportation promoted the rapid development of the city, and it feels more intuitive when viewed on a map.

Many originally unknown cities developed rapidly because they were located along the coast and along important railway routes, where people and materials gathered.

New York is the largest city in North America, with a population of about 1.31 million at the end of June 1856, only a few tens of thousands more than Chang'an (San Francisco).

These two super metropolises on the North American continent, one in the east and one in the west, have many similarities. For example, they are both located on the seaside, have world-class excellent harbors, are the national economic centers, and are also the metropolises where immigrants gather and are most desirable.

in the original history

From 1820 to 1910, about 35 million European immigrants landed in North America, more than 70% of which landed in New York, and then moved to other cities and the interior of the United States to settle down on this fertile continent.

Both China and the United States are emerging immigrant countries and have many similarities in their development trajectories.

The United States is more market-guided, while the Tang Dynasty shows more traces of policy guidance. Its development is more purposeful and efficient, and its effects are more obvious and outstanding.

Early June 1856

Richard took a boat from San Francisco Harbor to Hawaii for a month-long inspection trip.

Due to time constraints, the inspection targets only the Hawaiian Islands and does not include Midway Island.

Against the backdrop of blue sky and white clouds, the beautiful scenery of blue sea and white sand here is like a fairyland.

Today, there are frequent ship exchanges between the main island of Hawaii and Oahu, and it is a designated transshipment port on the North Pacific route.

A large number of Chinese chose to settle on the islands, bringing the population settled in the Hawaiian Islands to more than 500,000. Most of the island's population is engaged in sugar plantations and grazing cattle and sheep, and the shipbuilding and service industries are developed.

The climate of the Hawaiian Islands is very suitable for the development of the cane sugar industry. Especially on the most populous island of Oahu, there are five large-scale sugar factories. Each island in the province has hundreds of thousands of cattle and has developed a fruit planting industry.

Canned Hawaiian fruits became famous in Europe.

Richard and his party stayed at the Hawaii Island Palace, surrounded by coconut trees. From here, they could overlook the beautiful scenery of Hawaii Harbor and the town, with an unobstructed view.

It's early summer

Wearing only a cool short-sleeved thin shirt, Richard stood in the shade of the terrace, pointing at the picturesque scenery in front of him, and said;

“Hawaii is a beautiful archipelago, and the blue sea and silver sand here are precious gifts from God. We must cherish and protect them and pass them on to future generations.

Coconut groves, beaches with tropical characteristics, and native mountains and rocks in coastal areas, including nearby coastal resources, must be included in the protection scope. Fishing activities and private construction are strictly prohibited, which will destroy the overall beautiful appearance.

All areas within 10 kilometers of the coast must be included in the no-fishing zone.

Just like the Yellowstone area in the Rocky Mountains, in the future, as the economy develops and conditions permit, it will be open to everyone as a scenic tourist resort.

The formulation of national policies must be close to reality and consistent with the laws of long-term development."

"Your Majesty has a far-sighted vision, and a humble minister can't match it." The Prime Minister Gu Yan, who was following the visit, lost no time in flattering him.

Now that His Majesty has spoken, everything he said will be regarded as a golden rule and will be implemented without compromise.

In a monarchy and autocratic country, there is nothing inappropriate about this situation.

Richard stood with his hands behind his back, without any intention of explaining what he was doing. If you understand, you must execute, and if you don't understand, you must execute.

Not far away, several huge bald eagles folded their wings and landed. They looked over with sharp eyes. When they saw Richard's tall figure, they chirped a few times as if to please them.

Richard smiled slightly and turned to take the golden basin presented by the waiter's hands. The basin was filled with slices of fresh and tender beef, which immediately aroused the excitement of several bald eagles.

With a raise of his hand, the strip of meat flew out into the air, and was quickly caught by the bald eagle in its mouth like lightning, and swallowed into its belly in one or two strokes.

"The Navy hopes to build Pearl Harbor as a base for exporting to the Pacific. This wish is good. But Pearl Harbor is too big. The Navy should come up with a long-term development plan of no less than 20 years and persevere in long-term construction.

It’s not something that happens overnight.”

Richard slowly fed several bald eagles, but did not stop talking, as if he was explaining something, and his expression became even more leisurely.

“The purpose of operating Paradise Island is to have a reliable springboard and logistical supply base in the Western Pacific region, which will play an excellent role in assisting the Kingdom’s next expansion in South Asia.

long term

There are currently no maritime opponents worthy of attention in the Pacific Rim, so the Kingdom's navy's weak long-sea combat capability has not yet been revealed.

As an emerging kingdom on the Pacific coast, the Tang Kingdom's foundation was still weak, its national strength was not strong enough, and it was not suitable for large-scale development of maritime power.

Therefore, from the perspective of short-term and medium-term goals, the main focus is still on the North American hegemony pattern.

The kingdom's military, financial and resources will all be focused on the army and accumulated over a long period of time to wait for the situation to change, thus establishing a new pattern in North America in one fell swoop.

After this

Only then can we have enough energy to take into account the development of the navy. This is the only way for the Tang Dynasty to become a world power. It is also the strategic need to establish the dominance of the Tang Dynasty in the Pacific Rim region, and it is the path of expansion that it must embark on.

In the short term, this cannot be taken into consideration.

However, the navy can do some work first, such as collecting intelligence and historical and cultural information on the Luzon Islands and the Dutch East Indies, drawing up military maps, developing pro-Tang Chinese forces, paying attention to the movements of local European colonists, and infiltrating

Influence, etc.

If you know yourself and the enemy, you can fight a hundred battles without danger!

The demand for building docks and warehouses at the naval base does not necessarily require funding from the Royal Government. It can be actively combined with local civilian facilities and can also play a very good logistical support role in wartime.

You need to use your brain more and think of more ways. Don't just ask for money and fight for budget all day long. Even a pig in the position of Chief of Naval Staff can do it if he has the money. Who can't spend money?

How to develop the navy step by step within a limited budget, build naval bases step by step, and move closer to the goal of an ocean-going navy step by step, this is a topic worthy of in-depth study."

After feeding the beef strips in the basin, Richard handed the golden basin to the waiter, then washed his hands in another golden basin filled with warm tea water, and wiped it with a snow-white towel.

Then he turned around and looked at Rear Admiral Pan Hengchen, the chief of naval staff, whose face was red. His sharp eyes seemed to be piercing his heart. This made Rear Admiral Pan Hengchen feel that his legs were a little weak and his back was wet with sweat.

Major General Pan Hengchen replied with a trembling voice.

“Start your majesty;

The weak minister is stupid. In the past, he was always focused on getting more budget to develop the navy, without taking into account the country's overall development strategy. He really deserves death.

Now that I have been enlightened by the Holy One, it is like turning away the clouds to see the sun, and now I can understand the distinction between priority and priority, the way of superiority and inferiority, which is truly embarrassing.

I pray that your Majesty will punish the sin and set the course of the dynasty right."

"Don't just punish crimes. We are far from that step yet. What you should be thinking about now is to appropriately mobilize private funds to participate in the construction of ports and bases within the limited budget of the navy, and step closer to the direction of an ocean-going navy. Ministers

Now that everyone has been punished, who will work for the kingdom?" Richard scolded him coldly.

Major General Pan Hengchen was reprimanded by His Majesty. He felt that the pressure on his shoulders was lightened. The word "comfortable" was reflected all over his body. He bowed humbly and replied, "As long as Your Majesty does not dislike it, I am willing to work hard and do my best. I will definitely follow Your Majesty's instructions."

He was ordered to use his brains and exert all his energy to develop the navy."

"Okay, let's go back and think about it carefully. There are only two or three cats in the navy. If you want to develop, you have to work hard on your internal skills. You must not slack off."

"We must obey the order and must not slack off." Major General Pan Hengchen wiped his sweat and retreated.

In Richard's overall strategy, the navy is indeed a small player and is temporarily in a subordinate position.

The first batch of six "Hanfeng" class ironclad frigates, which began to be developed in 1853, were completed and entered into service with the Royal Navy within three years.

Calculated this way, almost two ships are commissioned every year.

Mainly because it takes a long time for naval academies to train professional officers. The first batch of graduates only graduated in 1855. After passing the one-year internship, they were awarded the rank of second lieutenant.

Starting from 1855, 120 naval academy graduates will enter the military service every year after a complete education. Their majors are divided into navigation department, command department, torpedo artillery department, engine department, chart surveying department, etc., and gradually become officers.

modern education system.

The navy is an out-and-out high-tech arm, and it is also an aristocratic arm. In the old naval powers such as Britain and France, it has always been a place where aristocratic children gather. High-quality naval talent education is the basis for ensuring combat effectiveness.

According to the terms of priority for continued construction, the Navy was very satisfied with the use of the 1,550-ton "Cold Wind" class ironclad frigates. It was approved in early 1856. The contract for the continued construction of six ships has been signed, and production is being organized intensively at the shipyard.

The six additional ships are improved models. In view of the shortcomings in the use of the first batch of "Hanfeng" class ironclads, the Navy attaches great importance to them and comprehensively improved the second batch of steam ironclad frigates. The displacement has also increased by more than 320 meters.

tons, reaching more than 1880 tons.

The improved "Hanfeng" class steam ironclad ship is larger, sails more steadily, has a longer range, and has a maximum speed of 14.5 knots. It has initially possessed the superior capabilities of a modern ironclad warship, especially its simple and elegant ship surface design, which is comparable to that of European ships.

The messy ship layout is very different.

The most distinctive feature of the "Hanfeng" class II ironclads are the two large chimneys. When sailing at high speed, thick smoke billows, and the waves are cut along the way, which is truly spectacular.

Due to comprehensive considerations of cost and range, this class of ships does not blindly pursue high speed, but compromises on speed and range indicators to further enhance seaworthiness.

Therefore, although the tonnage of the "Hanfeng" class II ironclad ship has increased by more than 300 tons, the firepower configuration remains the same. The hull has been lengthened appropriately. The accommodation and engine room for naval officers and soldiers have been improved. The coal tank has been enlarged.

The larger bow float enhances the wave-pressing effect.

After improvements

The range of the "Hanfeng" class II ironclad ship has been increased to 3,800 nautical miles. As long as it passes through a Pacific island for resupply, it can reach Paradise Island.

Stimulated by the Tang Kingdom's development of steam-armored frigates, the 9,137-ton steam-armored battleship "Warrior" under construction in the UK will be launched at the end of the year. This is the most powerful battleship in the world today.

at the same time

The British Royal Navy deeply realized the advantages of steam ironclad battleships and made a strategic change to develop an all-ironclad fleet, which can be described as a unique vision.

From now on, the British Royal Fleet will no longer build sail battleships, but will instead vigorously develop steam ironclad battleships.

Different from the Tang Kingdom's cautious testing of waters, the British Royal Navy launched four 10,000-ton "Warrior" class armored battleships. The designs of subsequent classes of super-10,000-ton battleships have successively entered the design drawing review stage, and their development momentum is extremely strong.

fierce.

Lord Gill, the British Minister of the Navy, once threatened: "The Royal Navy needs iron-clad giant ships that can roam freely in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, not gadgets that can only play on the beach..."

Gan!

Richard could only say that this force was tricked by the British. In the early stages of the development of such a giant iron-clad ship, everything was moving forward through trial and error. All technologies were immature and needed time to be repeatedly verified. To start such a big project,

The scale can only be said to be terrible because of money. What other explanation can there be?

The reason why the Tang Kingdom did not develop a steam-armored naval fleet on a large scale was also due to this consideration. Ship power matching, multi-sealed cabin anti-sinking design, protective armor, naval guns and ship type selection, etc., are all a lot of issues.

Improvements need to be repeatedly verified in practice.

From "Hanfeng" to "Hanfeng Type 2" is a clear technological evolution path. In the future, there will be "Hanfeng 3", "Hanfeng 4"...

Step by step is the way to go. Spending millions of pounds all at once to build a giant ship on a large scale can only be done by the wealthy British. Even the French cannot follow suit with this kind of arrogance of spending huge sums of money.