Wild North America 1846

Chapter 374 The Territory Area of ​​the Tang Empire

The royal train speeding eastward is traveling on the vast central plains of North America, leaving towns behind it.

On this endless black land, there are countless Chinese farms, manors and pastures. It is now a large granary rich in agricultural products in the Tang Empire, and its real production potential is being tapped little by little.

It can be seen from the statistical reports of the Imperial Ministry of Agriculture;

The total volume of various agricultural and animal husbandry products has shown a straight-line surge, including cattle, sheep, mules, horses, pigs, chickens, ducks and poultry, meat, egg and milk products, wheat, rice, oats, soybeans, rape, potatoes, corn, etc.

The total output of various agricultural products has skyrocketed, and some have increased by as much as 3 to 5 times.

The Great Plains in central North America is a super-large granary with an area of ​​over one million square kilometers. Its production potential is only 10% to 20%, which is enough to supply abundant agricultural and animal husbandry products to the Tang Empire's 32 million people, and it has strong export capabilities.

.

This is the world's top agricultural and animal husbandry production base. It was the trump card for the United States to dominate the world's agricultural market in history. It is enough to meet the needs of a population of 500 to 600 million. Now it has fallen into the hands of the Tang Empire. What else can it not be satisfied with?

Woolen cloth?

Richard's eyes that had been staring for a long time were withdrawn from the car window. On the elegant and luxurious royal train, reports from various places were placed high on the desk.

At this critical moment when the overall situation in North America is initially determined, there are many important things that require personal decision-making by His Majesty the Emperor.

The North American War reorganized the situation on the entire North American continent. After the defeat of the United States of America (North), its territory was ruthlessly divided and became the smallest country.

According to the harsh post-war territorial division conditions of the North American Peace Treaty, the United States of America (North) was completely dismembered, losing 92% of its agricultural production capacity, 77.4% of its industrial production capacity, 87% of its mineral resources, and its total population size was only that of before the war.

39.6%, the country’s status has plummeted.

After the war, its total area was about 575,000 square kilometers, including 12 states, the largest of which was New York State with an area of ​​122,000 square kilometers, followed by Pennsylvania with an area of ​​116,000 square kilometers, and Ohio with a total area of ​​100,600 square kilometers.

The other nine states are all very small in area. Among the four states with the lowest area, New Jersey is 19,000 square kilometers, Connecticut is 12,500 square kilometers, Delaware is 5,060 square kilometers, and Rhode Island is only 2,706 square kilometers.

On the other hand, after defeating the enemy Confederate States of America, after acquiring Kentucky and West Virginia, a total of 16 states were included, including Texas, the largest state in North America. The area of ​​one state was as high as 678,000 square kilometers. Its strength

grow further.

The total area of ​​the 16 states in the Confederate of America is as high as 2.526 million square kilometers. This is because the southern states are generally larger in area. There are 14 states with an area of ​​more than 100,000 square kilometers. For example, South Dakota covers an area of ​​196,540 square kilometers and North Dakota covers an area of ​​178,647 square kilometers.

, Oklahoma covers an area of ​​177,847 square kilometers, and the areas of these states are not small.

The biggest gain was naturally the Tang Empire, which dominated the entire North American war. During the war, it successively acquired the land of Kyushu. In addition to the Monterey and Tijuana states that originally belonged to Mexico, a total of 267,000 square kilometers of land, it also cut it from the United States of America.

eight central states.

They are Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Mississippi, Iowa, Indiana and Kansas, with a total area of ​​1.262 million square kilometers.

If the 267,000 square kilometers of Monterey and Tijuana are added to the total, the North American War expanded the ten-state territory to a total of 1.53 million square kilometers.

At this point, the total territory of the Tang Empire expanded from 8.606 million square kilometers to 10.136 million square kilometers, exceeding the 8.51 million square kilometers of Brazil in South America, becoming the largest country in the Americas and reaching the heyday of the empire.

Looking back at history

During the U.S.-Tang War that ended in 1849, the Tang Kingdom ceded six states in the northwest United States through treaties, with a total area of ​​1.477 million square kilometers. In addition to the previous 3.01 million square kilometers of the Tang Kingdom's land, the entire Tang Kingdom

With an area of ​​4.49 million square kilometers, the United States is the third largest country in the Americas (including North, South and Central America) after Brazil.

In September 1851, after the signing of the "Mexican Treaty", the Tang Kingdom annexed eight southern states of Mexico, and the total area increased from 4.49 million square kilometers to 5.593 million square kilometers (note, the increase included 17,500 square kilometers of Hawaii Province, Panama

Province 75,500 square kilometers).

Later, by purchasing from the Tsarist Russian Empire, another 1.717 million square kilometers of Alaska were acquired, bringing the territory of the Tang Kingdom to 7.31 million square kilometers, reaching a new milestone.

After this

The Tang Empire successively acquired 780,000 square kilometers of Paradise Island (New Guinea Island), colonized Costa Rica and gained 51,000 square kilometers of territory, and successively obtained the annexation of Mexico and the Aztec Republic, adding a total of 459,000 square kilometers of land.

, expanding the empire’s territory to 8.606 million square kilometers.

After the North American War

As the victor, the Tang Empire ceded the ten states of the United States of America, with a total area of ​​1.53 million square kilometers, and expanded its territory to 10.136 million square kilometers, becoming the second largest territory after the British Empire, the French Dynasty, and the Tsarist Empire.

The fifth largest empire in the world after the Qing Dynasty.

Taking a deep breath, Richard leaned back in his chair with satisfaction, lit up a fragrant top-grade Cuban cigar and enjoyed it.

In his hand was a warm personal congratulatory letter from Pedro II, Emperor of Brazil of the Braganza Dynasty.

The congratulatory letter said;

I would like to extend my most sincere greetings to His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty with the highest royal etiquette, and congratulate His Majesty the world-famous legendary emperor Richard on another glorious war victory, which will surely have a profound impact on North America and even the entire America.

Pedro II appropriately expressed his envy for the great military power of the Tang Empire, because the Brazilian Empire also had a war over the Uruguay issue. Unfortunately, after the defeat, Uruguay became independent, spending 120 million cruzados in vain, and the army sacrificed 8,000 people.

Remaining people.

Compared with Emperor Richard of the Tang Dynasty, who fought in both the South and the North, and achieved hundreds of victories, the Emperor of Brazil, who fought in South America, was very envious and regarded him as his idol.

Say one more thing

South America is also experiencing frequent regional disputes. Uruguay, Paraguay, and neighboring Chile, which are sandwiched between the two major countries of Brazil and Argentina, are not fuel-efficient lamps and have extremely deep conflicts with each other.

It's not nice to say something nice

If a war involving several countries broke out in South America tomorrow, it would not be surprising at all. The enemy might be Paraguay, Chile, or Uruguay. The chaotic situation in South America is so evil.

Although Brazil is a large empire with a population of tens of millions, its governance is corrupt and its military is weak. Paraguay, which has a population of only more than 300,000 next door, does not take the Brazilian Empire seriously and makes war cries from time to time. This makes the Brazilian Emperor Pede

Luo II felt very shameless.

The reason why Richard pays attention to the situation in South America is inseparable from the second phase of the colonial expansion strategy of the Tang Empire.

Because the focus of the empire's next phase of expansion is the Kingdom of Patagonia in southern Argentina, which is a kingdom established mainly by the Mapuche Indian nomads and occupies about 1.9 million square kilometers of land in the southernmost part of South America.

The current total population of Argentina is about 1.5 million, mainly concentrated around the Federal Republic of the Provinces with the province of Buenos Aires as its core. Its territory is less than one-third as large as that of later generations.

more than ten years later

Argentines would organize desert expeditions, use advanced Western rifles to conquer the regime established by the Mapuche people, and expand their territory to the southernmost part of South America. Now they do not have that ability.

Because the Argentines are also facing the challenge of Paraguay, which is a legacy of history. However, due to the different positions of the parties and different perspectives on the problem, irreconcilable disputes naturally arise.

For example, Argentina, as the core of the former Viceroyalty of La Plata in Spain, has been trying to inherit Spanish rule in the region after independence and incorporate countries such as Paraguay into its own territory.

Therefore, even though it has been 50 years since Paraguay became independent, Argentina refuses to recognize it at all and only considers Paraguay to be its own territory.

Brazil, its neighbor to the north, has a smaller appetite. They only set their sights on the Mato Grosso region in northern Paraguay.

But that doesn't work either

This is because the Mato Grosso region is rich in yerba mate, which is loved by Europeans and has always been the lifeblood of Paraguay. How can we allow others to covet the money bag of foreign trade exports to Europe?

Therefore, the two neighbors, one in the north and the other in the south, have always harbored ill intentions toward itself. As a small landlocked country, Paraguay naturally remains highly wary. The relationship between them is quite bad and is almost always on the verge of war.

Paraguay declared its independence in May 1811, officially ending nearly three hundred years of Spanish rule.

After independence, although Paraguay was in charge of its own affairs, life was actually not easy because its geographical environment was so bad.

Paraguay is deeply inland and has no outlet to the sea. The La Plata region where it is located is still a powder keg.

The La Plata area is a large plain with abundant rainfall, fertile land and abundant products. It is almost as easy to make money as the Great Plains in the central part of North America. How can the two neighbors to the south and one to the north not be greedy?

For a long time, the La Plata area has been a battleground for military strategists.

As early as the colonial era, this was the place where the two colonial empires of Portugal and Spain secretly competed. After South America became independent, it became the gaming ground for the two South American giants, Brazil and Argentina.

Paraguay is caught between the two countries, and life is miserable!

It should be pointed out in particular that

In addition to facing threats from its two major neighbors, Argentina and Brazil, Paraguay also has to deal with calculations from the United Kingdom.

To be honest, Paraguay is a victim of the North American war pattern.

mid 19th century

Britain was in the golden period of expansion during the Victorian era, establishing colonies all over the world. After seeing Spain and Portugal withdraw from Latin America, the local colonial power was in a relative vacuum. Naturally, Britain would not let go of such a good opportunity.

Especially after the outbreak of the American Civil War, the British cotton trade suffered a huge impact. International cotton prices skyrocketed, and the price of raw cotton even more than quadrupled, which made British textile factory owners miserable.

The Tang Dynasty had great military strength and was not easy to mess with, so the British turned to Paraguay, which was rich in cotton, to make up for the shortfall.

Paraguay, which had just become independent, had just emerged from the tiger's mouth, and naturally it was unwilling to enter the wolf's den again.

Paraguay adopts a relatively conservative attitude toward outsiders like the British who have ill intentions, a bit like they can't afford to offend and can hide away.

Paraguay is like a charming little lady. Brazil in the north is planning to take over, Argentina in the south is also considered as its own, and the British Empire, a strong and powerful foreign country, is trying to intervene and try to break through all the methods to force her to marry her home.

Many situations were added together, and there was simply no way out.

The international environment in the 1860s was so bad. If a weak country did not want to become a vassal of a powerful country, it was basically impossible for a weak country to survive on its own in regional competition. It would either be invaded by foreign enemies, the regime would be destroyed, or it would be dismembered and cannibalized. Basically, there would be no good results.

Seeing that Paraguay was not cooperating, the British had a crooked idea.

Since Paraguay is a landlocked country, it is not practical to use force directly, so the British turned to support Brazil and Argentina, hoping to achieve the purpose of controlling Paraguay through their hands.

Paraguay originally had a very difficult time dealing with its two powerful neighbors. Now that the United Kingdom is such a troublemaker, the geopolitical situation around it has undoubtedly become more dangerous.

Generally speaking

In a situation like Paraguay's, where there is almost no life left, most countries can only become mere wallflowers, swaying between the big powers, trying to maintain the balance of power between regions, and ensuring their own security through the involvement of the big powers.

Safety.

For example, Thailand, Myanmar, Iran, Fuso, Greece, Bulgaria, and even the Kingdom of Sardinia before the unification war of the Apennine Peninsula was completed, all adopted this vassal policy in order to gain temporary respite.

However, Paraguayans did not follow common sense and chose to compromise with power. Instead, under the leadership of the third president Lopez, they embarked on a very tough path of armed resistance.

After all, because he is young and energetic, the current President of Paraguay, Lopez, is an out-and-out thorn in the side. He most admires Emperor Richard of the Tang Dynasty and Emperor Napoleon III of France, both of whom are representative figures in the expansion of world power.

Needless to say, Richard, after succeeding to the throne, French Emperor Napoleon III instigated and single-handedly led the Crimean War in 1854, united Britain to declare war on Russia, and ultimately won the war.

In 1857, he joined forces with Britain to launch the Second Opium War, and in 1860, he used force to force the Manchus to bow their heads and signed a series of treaties that were humiliating and degrading to the country.

In 1859, France and the Kingdom of Sardinia declared war on the Austro-Hungarian Empire, successfully forcing Emperor Joseph of the Habsburg Empire to sign the defeat treaty and seizing two important areas at the northern end of the Apennine Peninsula.

The victory in a series of colonial expansion wars increased the reputation of French Emperor Napoleon III and made him a representative figure of powerful European monarchs. The other one was King William I of Prussia.

Lopez Sr., the father of the current President of Paraguay, was Paraguay's second president after independence. He served for 22 years and was committed to economic development, laying a very solid foundation for governance.

During the reign of Lopez Sr.

Paraguay has changed from the past isolation of the country, actively made friends with foreigners, introduced foreign investment technology, hired a large number of engineering and technical personnel from Europe, vigorously developed infrastructure and industry, built transportation and communication facilities, built railways, built steel plants, etc., for

Paraguay has established a very good economic foundation.

Under the influence of his father, the current President Lopez has also been fully exposed to the European and American world. He can speak English, French, and some Chinese.

In 1853, Lopez, who was only 26 years old, personally led a delegation to visit North America and Europe, visiting the Tang Dynasty, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and other European and American countries.

During this period, Lopez not only witnessed the power of Europe's advanced military technology, but also witnessed the invincible grace of the Tang Dynasty's armored cavalry. He also received a meeting from the legendary King Richard, who was encouraged by Wen Yan.

This made the young Lopez full of enthusiasm, and he always dreamed of becoming the "Devil King Richard" of South America, which frightened the Americans.

He longs to recreate the invincible style of "King Richard", complete the unparalleled feat of hammering down the Yankees and stepping on Mexico, and become a great leader admired and praised by the people.

Of course, South America does not have the United States and Mexico, but Paraguay has never lacked powerful enemies, including Argentina and Brazil. In the eyes of President Lopez, this is regarded as a weakened version of the United States and Mexico in South America.

What the Tang Dynasty could do, Paraguay could also do.

Therefore, President Lopez vigorously developed armaments during his term in office, establishing an elite army with a total of about 30,000 people, all equipped with advanced King-style bolt-action rifles and 3-pound, 6-pound, and 12-pound Colt breech-loading artillery.

They also hired officers from the Tang Empire for training, established an elite cavalry team with a total of about 4,500 people, and established South America's first cuirass heavy cavalry regiment with a total of more than a thousand people. It can be said that no effort was spared.

Fortunately, Paraguay is landlocked and does not have a navy. Otherwise, President Lopez would definitely purchase an advanced "Akiyue" class ironclad destroyer. This is certain.

Nowadays, the Royal Navy of the Tang Empire has been regarded as the world's leading advanced naval force. After the retirement of several old-fashioned sailing warships (gifted from the United Kingdom), the royal fleet fully implemented steam-iron armor.

This especially irritated the British Royal Navy, and their eyes were red with envy.

all in all

Paraguayan President Lopez, just like in the original history, was successfully led astray. Soon he would declare war on Brazil and then Argentina, trying to repeat the glorious success of his idol in North America.

Whenever he thinks of this, a faint smirk will appear on Richard's face. He feels so accomplished.

The royal train has been running all the way to the east. It has been running day and night for eleven days since its departure from Chang'an, and it is still within the vast territory of the Tang Empire.

The Tang Empire ran from north to south, from the northernmost Alaska along the west coast of North America to Panama in Central America, a total distance of more than 12,200 kilometers, and from the westernmost paradise island of Xinxi'an to the easternmost Detroit, a distance of 23,400 kilometers.

, it takes two months by boat and train.

How can such a vast territory not be intoxicating?

(End of chapter)