Chapter 486 Li Zhongtang Gives Gifts
Chapter 486 Li Zhongtang Gives Gifts
June 1879, 6, Zhanjiang.
Four Sovereign-class ironclad battleships were launched.
The Sovereign class used a new triple expansion steam engine. This thing was originally used in textile machinery. During the European War, Britain had no time to engage in textile production, and textile factories in Daxia were everywhere.
Then this thing was discovered by the designers of the Daxia Navy, and it was easily enlarged and moved to the ship. Its performance far exceeded the Payne two-stroke dry steam engine used in the original warships.
It's easy to enlarge power equipment, but hard to shrink it...
Just like three years ago, the launching ceremony is not important, the meeting of naval chiefs afterwards is the main course.
After three years, the Navy leaders gathered together again. This time, they had gained a lot of experience and put forward higher requirements.
First, Commander-in-Chief Liao Rong spoke, "Daxia now has the highest national income in the world, and this is the Marshal's credit. Now, we need the world's best navy to match our international status."
Everybody is so excited. We have money and production capacity, so we can work hard to meet any demand.
Deng Shichang was the first to stand up. He was the acting admiral of the Daxia Navy. He only had four modified Saxon-class ships and one Haiqi cruiser, which were backward steam-sailed ships. This was completely inconsistent with Daxia's image as a great power.
"We need to have at least the same large fleet as the UK. We need to build 16 10,000-ton battleships, plus a torpedo fleet of at least six frigates to prevent enemy submarine attacks."
"The corresponding auxiliary ships, including supply ships, repair ships, supply ships, and hospital ships, all need new pure steam warships driven by triple expansion engines, and the old sailing models will be replaced."
"The accompanying transport ships must be 10,000-ton ships. Don't go to the trouble of building many 1,000-ton transport ships, which would be inconvenient for escort."
"We only have four newly launched Sovereign-class ships now. We still need to build a total of 52 new warships of various types, including 12 10,000-ton battleships."
"In addition, we also need a submarine force of at least 80 submarines to deter potential enemies. We need the newly developed diesel submarines from Huludao."
Good fellow, Deng Shichang asked for tens of millions of silver coins as soon as he opened his mouth. Once this fleet is built, the combat effectiveness of Daxia's main fleet will definitely surpass that of Britain and become the best in the world.
Although Britain now has a far greater number of warships, most of them are outdated models and cannot be replaced.
Deng Shichang was in charge of the main fleet of Daxia. He asked for more, and no one envied him. Only the admiral of the Beiyang Fleet, Ding Ruchang, said sourly, "Daxia has no rivals in the Far East. Why do you build so many fleets? Isn't this a waste of national resources?"
Deng Shichang stiffened his neck and said, "After completion, the main fleet of Daxia will change its anchorage from Zhanjiang to Cyprus. Our satellite countries all need our protection, and we must exert our influence in Europe."
Liu Buchan and Lin Taizeng looked at each other, and finally Liu Buchan stood up. "The responsibility of fighting potential enemies lies with the main fleet. Our fleet has to rely on Spain and Lucia to support it, and they can't afford a fleet that is too large."
"Our Spanish fleet and Lucia are stationed in Cadiz and Istanbul to protect the merchant ships of the two countries and to serve as a raiding fleet to attack enemy transport ships during war."
"So, we no longer need 10,000-ton battleships, but we need a large number of 3,000-ton cruisers for raiding, and a large number of 1,000-ton frigates to form a torpedo fleet for anti-submarine warfare."
"Our fleet is still the old one ordered in 1864. It is all steam-powered sailing warships, which are out of date. Therefore, we require the replacement of cruisers and frigates with new power. We hope that the Marshal will arrange for their production."
Shao Quanzhong did not say anything. He was there to attend the meeting. The final arrangements needed to be decided by Liao Rong, the chief of the navy. He was in charge of paying the money and ordered Wang Yongxian, who came with him, to arrange the production.
Liao Rong nodded. "The British shipbuilding plan has suffered a major setback and they have no money left to build ships."
"The blueprints of their latest 3,000-ton cruiser design were bought by the Americans, and they have already built a 3,000-ton state-of-the-art cruiser, the Charlestown, with a displacement of 3,730 tons. It was built by the San Francisco Union Steel Company shipyard."
"This level of cruiser has a speed of 18.9 knots, can carry 758 tons of coal, and has a range of 3000 nautical miles, which can just meet the needs of the Spanish and Lucia fleets. If we buy the blueprints from the British again, we will definitely get a discount price."
Well, the British will definitely sell it, after all, they have sold it once.
During the European War, in order to offset the civilian supplies and arms imported from Daxia, all the shares of the railways built by Britain in Daxia were returned to Daxia, and the previous loans were written off.
The European war suddenly made Britain impoverished and short of money.
Originally, they wanted to use telegraph wires, but Shao Quanzhong decided not to do so. Now Daxia Telecom is negotiating with the UK to purchase the original telegraph copper wire network at a low price to use as telephone lines.
The needs of the two fleets stationed in Europe were met, and Admiral Wu Changqing of the South China Sea Fleet stood up. "Our main mission is to protect merchant ships and arrest pirates. We don't need big ships. A thousand-ton frigate is enough as the main force."
"But we currently only have three thousand-ton sailing steam ships produced in Zhenhai, and the rest are wooden hulled ships manufactured by Fujian Mawei Shipyard and Guangzhou Huangpu Shipyard. They are really too backward."
"We need three new steam-powered frigates and a large number of 300 to 500-ton steam-powered privateers. The more the better."
Admiral Li Chengmou of the Pacific Fleet said, "We don't need too much force, but the area we need to patrol is too wide. Our base in Hawaii is far enough, and sometimes we need to patrol to Chile—"
"So we need a faster cruiser as the flagship, and a large number of frigates with long range and high speed. We can sacrifice armor and firepower for this."
Well, after buying the British drawings, they need to be specially customized for the Pacific Fleet, reducing the armor and the caliber of the main artillery, adding rapid-fire guns, and increasing the coal carrying capacity... Liao Rong wrote them down one by one.
Ding Ruchang pretended to look sad and said, "Our Beiyang Fleet is now stationed at the Sasebo military port, so we basically don't need any fighting fleet."
"But the Qing Dynasty now controls British Columbia and Alaska, which are adjacent to the American barbarians. They put too much pressure on us."
"We want to build a North Pacific Fleet, but the Qing Dynasty has no money, so - can we sell the four modified Saxon-class ships that you don't need to the Qing Dynasty at a discount?"
"That thing is 7,000 tons, neither big nor small, it can't beat a battleship, and it can't outrun a cruiser. You have no use for it, but we can use it as a coastal defense ship."
"In addition, we plan to buy more unarmored special ships to be used as minelayers. We cannot defeat the Americans in naval battles. If we really clash with them, we can only learn from Turkey and lay a large number of mines in the harbor."
As soon as the first day arrived, everyone participated in the ribbon-cutting and launching ceremony. In the afternoon, there was a meeting where everyone expressed their opinions and put forward their own demands. Soon it was dark.
Liao Rong sorted out the requirements of each fleet and prepared to discuss with Wang Yongxian to rationally utilize production capacity. He would announce a new shipbuilding plan tomorrow and strive to satisfy the leaders of each fleet.
Shao Quanzhong, who was listening in, did not say a word during the entire process. He was there to make the final decision.
Now that Daxia has the ability to build ships that surpass big brother Britain, when the various fleets come out, I guess I won’t have to call Britain big brother anymore...
After returning to his temporary residence, Shao Quanzhong wanted to see Ma Han, whom he had not seen for a long time. Daxia no longer sent students to study in Britain, but he had been working diligently at the Zhanjiang Naval Academy to train new naval talents for Daxia.
"Report to the Marshal, Ding Ruchang wants to see you."
Eh? Didn't we have a meeting together during the day? Is there something you can't talk about on the spot? Why did you come to me through the back door?
Lao Ding, you've got the wrong person. I don't know anything about the navy. If you want to take advantage, you have to find Liao Rong.
Ding Ruchang is a minister of the Qing Dynasty, and he still has a braid. When he saw Shao Quanzhong, he flicked his sleeves left and right, bowed on one leg, and said, "Greetings, Prince Rui."
Uh, no one has talked to me like this in a long time. I miss the Qing Dynasty.
The Qing Dynasty pays me, a prince, an annual salary of 10,000 taels of silver. My wife, my concubine's wife, and my concubine all receive salaries from the Qing Dynasty. Even the heir, Jiming, has money, 6,000 taels a year.
"Prince, you have always been the prince of the Qing Dynasty. The two Empress Dowagers and the four concubines in the harem are all waiting for you to visit Osaka and serve you."
Well, I have to go to Osaka when I have time. They keep paying me, so I have to do something, right?
"Old Ding, don't beat around the bush. If you have any requests, I will definitely help you solve them if I can."
Ding Ruchang smiled mysteriously, "The request was made by Li Zhongtang, so there is no need to rush. I must first complete Li Zhongtang's commission and deliver his gift to the Marshal."
Li Hongzhang wants to give me a gift? Is it lacquerware from South Japan or gold nuggets from Alaska? Or is it the pearls and gadflies from Jilin General District?
Ding Ruchang turned around and said, "Come up!"
Shao Quanzhong suddenly smelled a fragrant breeze, which seemed to be some strong floral scent.
Then the door couplet was lifted, and a little girl of about sixteen or seventeen came in gracefully, holding a folding fan in her left hand and a white handkerchief in her right hand.
(End of this chapter)