Wild North America 1846

Chapter 572 The storm is coming

Author: Portuguese toothless

Chapter 572 The storm is coming

Emperor Richard issued a secret edict, arranging the General Security Bureau to cooperate with relevant departments to implement a profit transfer plan, aiming to strengthen the strength of the main war minister Zuo Zongtang, and ultimately spend money in the right place.

It is so easy to make money from selling and buying the kerosene franchise. Instead of letting corrupt officials share the profits, we should actually support the officials who are the pillars of the country.

With a gentle push, hope it can slightly change the original historical appearance, right?

After making such an arrangement, Emperor Richard felt much better.

At this moment

Liang Bojun, deputy director of the Royal Secretariat, walked into the hall with a solemn look, bowed deeply and reported: "Your Majesty, I have my own memorial."

"What's the matter?" Richard asked.

Liang Bojun reported; "

Start playing to Your Majesty;

According to a report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, some merchant ships of the empire were deliberately obstructed in the Suez Canal and were stranded at the Suez port on the Red Sea side. The longest merchant ship has been for more than three months. The number of merchant ships and cruise ships stranded in the city of Suez in the northern part of the Red Sea has reached as many as

There are as many as 17 ships, and the problem has not yet been solved.

It is reported that the Egyptian Ismail Pasha, in accordance with the orders conveyed by the Ottoman Empire, levied high additional transit taxes on our merchant ships, as well as various taxes, with the amount of each ship being as high as tens of thousands of Tang Yuan, and some

That's not all.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs tried to contact Istanbul, but due to the corruption and inefficiency of the Ottoman Empire, the blame was passed between them.

So far, we have not been able to get an authoritative and clear answer, so the matter has been delayed.

But if the matter is not resolved for one day, the Suez Canal channel will be cut off.

The supply of many oils, water and vegetables to the ships stranded in the Port of Suez has been cut off, and they can only rely on mutual aid to survive, which may...may not last long."

"Is there no supplies at Suez Port?" A trace of anger appeared on Richard's face, which was obviously aimed at the Tang Empire.

Under the sudden increase in imperial pressure, Liang Bojun bent deeper and respectfully replied; "The representatives assigned to the Suez Canal Committee have been communicating with the Egyptian Ismail Pasha and the Port of Suez, but the other party's intention of passing the buck has been

Obviously, there has been no significant progress and communication is ongoing."

"What about the British?"

"The British said they are helpless and will try to help communicate, but it is best not to have too much hope."

"Hmph, this is already obvious." Richard's face was covered with a layer of frost, and he ordered after only a brief thought;

"Isn't it just over 10,000 Tang Yuan? Just give it to them...how much money can you get from 17 ships? It's only around 200,000 at best. If you want it, give it to them. Let's get the ship through the canal first.

All subsequent ships passing through the Suez Canal will be suspended until the situation changes.

In addition, I have summoned my Admiral of the Navy to the palace. The Imperial Royal Navy has been idle for a long time and it is time to make some moves."

"The humble minister obeys the decree."

Liang Bojun could feel the emperor's suppressed thunderous anger. After answering softly, he took a few steps back and turned away, immediately going to implement the emperor's will.

Emperor Richard sat on the throne, tapping the armrests of the throne made of rosewood with his fingers, slowly sorting out the situation in Egypt and even the entire Middle East in his mind.

Today's Egypt is an independent province of the Ottoman Empire. The highest official is Pasha Ismail, the governor of Egypt in the Ottoman Empire. This is a very ambitious frontier official.

Since he became the governor of Egypt, he has been actively approaching Europe, developing national industry and commerce, and hiring European military instructors to train the army. He has almost managed Egypt into an independent kingdom that cannot be penetrated by pins or water, and only nominally obeys the orders of the Ottoman Empire.

call.

Why did such a local warlord want to provoke the Tang Empire?

Has Ismail Pasha lost his mind?

Who is behind this?

British or French?

Could it be that the British were trying to monopolize the Suez Canal and using some underhanded tactics to force the Tang Empire to give up its shares in the canal?

Or are the French using their traditional influence in the Middle East to create obstacles for the empire because the large-scale trend in the Port of Saint-Malo has harmed their interests?

His slender fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, and a series of questions formed in Emperor Richard's mind. He didn't need any definite evidence, just suspicion was enough.

Taking into account the situation in Europe

Negotiations on equity in the Suez Canal took many years. The tripartite agreement between Britain, France and Tang was reached in early 1869, and all parties made compromises.

The French, the initiators and builders of the Suez Canal project, hold 52% of the absolute controlling stake. London acquired 26% of the French shares in the Suez Canal at a cost of 5.2 million pounds. The Tang Empire also transferred it under the same conditions.

22% of the shares, or half of the shares, were sold for 4.4 million pounds.

In this way, the ownership of the Suez Canal became 48% owned by the United Kingdom, 26% owned by France, 22% owned by the Tang Empire, and the remaining 4% belonged to public shareholders.

After the Franco-Prussian War broke out

The British took advantage of the fact that the French were being beaten up, exerted pressure through various channels, and finally obtained another 14% stake from the French government. Its shareholding jumped from 48% to 62%, becoming the absolute controlling shareholder.

.

The Tang Empire ranked second with 22%, France ranked third with only 12%, and the remaining 4% belonged to public shareholders.

The biggest loser here is France. The Suez Canal Century Project, which was finally completed after decades of hard planning, was plundered and reaped the fruits by the British, but it was reduced to an insignificant role.

After the opening of the canal, its strategic value became increasingly apparent. The most obvious example is that Britain has been setting restrictions on the French to prevent them from investing more colonial power in Indochina, but France has nothing to do.

The Suez Canal, a convenient passage that took countless manpower to build, cannot be used by warships and troop carriers. Is it necessary to continue to take the old route around half the world?

This frustration is enough to make a wise man in France die of depression.

Fortunately, France gritted its teeth and stuck to its bottom line, retaining 12% of its equity in the Suez Canal no matter how much pressure the UK exerted, leaving a glimmer of possibility for the future to fight for legal passage rights.

With the British's always selfish and domineering nature, is it impossible that after scheming against France, they would start scheming against the Tang Dynasty?

But this is just suspicion and there is no evidence to prove it.

Looking back at the French, this is not a good thing either.

The French have been operating in the Middle East, Near East, and North Africa for more than 200 years. They have traditional and profound influence. The fact that they were able to persuade Said Pasha to open the Suez Canal, a century-old project, is enough to illustrate their ability to influence the Egyptian government.

Because of all kinds of grievances, what's so strange about stumbling upon Datang?

It makes sense that the traditional world powers such as Britain and France would take advantage of themselves and suffer huge losses suddenly. They would try every possible means to regain their position.

Let's look back at the Egyptian ruler Ismail Pasha. From his father Ali Pasha to ruling Egypt to Said Pasha and then to Ismail Pasha, it has been passed down for more than 60 years. He is an out-and-out leader.

A local overlord who ignores even the superiors from Istanbul.

On the one hand, this illustrates the extreme decline of the Ottoman Empire's dominance, and on the other hand, it shows the toughness of Ismail Pasha, who is a standard strongman.

When the Tang Empire took advantage of Egypt's extremely difficult financial situation, it bought 44% of Egypt's equity at a bargain price of 4 million pounds. Is there any guarantee that it wouldn't leave a knot in Egypt's heart and find an opportunity to deliberately create difficulties?

In today's world where information is extremely limited, there are many old-fashioned warlord-like figures who think they are the boss of the sky and the second boss of the earth. If someone else provokes them, it will be natural for them to act irrationally.

in this world

There are always a majority of people who cannot correctly understand their own strength. What can we do except beating them into obedience?

Knocking out teeth and swallowing blood is not the style of the Tang Empire. These local bullies who dare to challenge the majesty of the empire must be made aware of their power, otherwise some clowns will jump out from time to time. Although they are not harmful, they are very annoying!

Think of this

Richard couldn't sit still anymore. He stood up and strode to the side hall. He stood in front of a hand-drawn world map as tall as a person and studied it carefully.

The closest imperial territory to the Suez Canal is of course Paradise Island. Today, Paradise Island already has strong logistics supply capabilities and can be used as a departure base for expeditionary fleets.

From here, it goes west through the strait south of Borneo, then passes through the Strait of Malacca in the British Straits Settlements and enters the Indian Ocean. After replenishing supplies in Chennai, the expedition fleet sails all the way west to the Red Sea. It can reach the city of Suez along the Red Sea for more than 2,000 kilometers northwest.

The total distance of this trip is about 11,000 kilometers.

Along the way, we must pass through at least four supply ports.

They are Singapore or Hong Kong, Chennai, Sana'a in Yemen and the city of Suez in Egypt. Three and a half supply ports are under British control.

This half of the supply port is the Egyptian city of Suez, the entrance port to the northeast of the canal.

If the British are unwilling to provide fleet supplies, then it is clear that the British are behind it. But if you think about it carefully, I am afraid that the British will not do it so unskilled.

Kill one thousand enemies and suffer eight hundred losses.

As traditional close allies, Datang and the United Kingdom provide each other with support for port facilities around the world. This is a matter stipulated in the express treaty and cannot be violated easily.

Violation of this article will greatly harm Britain's global interests.

If the Tang Empire takes retaliatory actions and does not provide supplies to British ships, then almost all of America will have no place for British merchant ships. This includes North America, Central America, and South America. It is impossible for British ships to enter the Pacific from the Atlantic Ocean

, let alone traveling across the seven seas?

This is the strength of the Tang Empire and its bargaining capital.

If the expedition fleet's supplies go smoothly, then the suspicion of the British will be greatly reduced, and the shadow of the French will be highlighted.

Among the three suspects, the Egyptian Pasha Ismail is the least suspicious. Because he has no direct conflict with the Tang Empire and has no major connections, he cannot offend a world power for no reason.

Even if it is only a second-rate power, it is still a world power.

Emperor Richard stood in front of the world map. For the first time, he felt that it was beyond his reach. The city of Suez was really too far away.

The central Pacific immigration route is nearly 20,000 kilometers from east to west. The imperial expedition fleet departs from the imperial capital Chang'an and has a voyage of about 5,800 kilometers south of Panama. The total distance is just over 30,000 kilometers.

Take a look at the colonial layout of the British Empire on the map. It enters the North Atlantic from Gibraltar, goes south along the African coastline to Johannesburg, South Africa, goes around the Cape of Good Hope and enters the Indian Ocean, goes all the way north to the Arabian Sea, passes through the Arabian Peninsula to the Indian subcontinent, and reaches the Strait of Indochina.

There are complete colonial port layouts along the way from the Governor's Mansion to Hong Kong in southern China.

We have to marvel at the profound accumulation of hundreds of years of empire on which the sun never sets, which is beyond the reach of latecomers. The Eurasian continent that almost surrounds the world is full of colonies.

Just like the French who are being made things difficult for them everywhere now, it would be even more difficult to colonize Indochina without Britain's permission. First of all, the delivery of troops and materials is a big problem.

It can be seen that

The importance of guarding the world's strategic waterways, the Suez Canal is one, the Strait of Gibraltar is another, the Bosporus is another, the Strait of Malacca is another, and the Nicaragua Canal under construction will definitely be one too

Strategic location.

(Note: At this time, oil had not been discovered in the Persian Gulf, so no one cared about the Strait of Hormus.)

Could it be that...the British are eyeing the Nicaragua Canal under construction?

Think of this

Richard was shocked and seriously considered this possibility...

There is no shortage of money, people, or technology. The Nicaragua Canal, which is currently under construction, is progressing smoothly. Various project nodes have been completed earlier than expected. It is expected that the entire line will be open to navigation in another 5 to 6 years of construction.

This international waterway established in the southern provinces of the empire will save North American cities on the Atlantic coast 14,000 kilometers from traveling to Australia or East Asia, which is of great strategic significance.

The Tang Empire had 100% control over the Nicaragua Canal Company, of which 32% was held by funds under the Imperial Household Office, 51% by the Imperial Government Development Fund, 12% by the Central Plains Province, and the other 5% was released to the imperial society.

It is held by the public and cannot be accessed by outsiders.

Although this guess is absurd, it is probably close to reality.

But this has touched the bottom line of the Tang Empire. Under no circumstances will the empire sell any of its shares in the Nicaragua Canal Company. This is unquestionable.

If you still can’t control the international strategic waterways on your own territory, then just stop playing.

France is so weak that the fruit trees it planted had its peaches picked by others, which has greatly reduced France's reputation and is no longer regarded as a top power that can be on an equal footing with Britain.

The cruel and cold rules of competition in today's world do not tolerate any compromise on core interests.

Thinking that the Royal Navy of the British Empire wanted to control the world's oceans, the Nicaragua Canal was an obstacle that could not be overcome, and Richard's expression became more solemn.

The canal has not yet been built, but it is already full of storms.

"Your Majesty, the First Class Grand Duke, Marshal Pan Hengchen, has summoned you to see your Majesty. He is already waiting outside the palace, begging for your Majesty's permission."

"Hmm... summoned to the palace."

"The humble minister obeys the decree."

(End of chapter)