Chapter 446 Lonely Mahan

@@@@@@In a farm on the outskirts of Washington, old Toryfer carefully packed up the scattered books, maps and warship materials in the living room. Although he couldn't understand these, they were all his treasures, so he was particularly careful.

The winter in the northern United States is difficult, especially for an old man in his sixties. Looking at the old man with gray hair, wearing glasses and sleeping on the sofa, old Tolivor suddenly felt a little sad. He thought of Mr. Alfred Sayer Mahan, who used to be famous and full of people at the door, no Unconsciously, he was so old that he couldn't help sighing and quietly brought a blanket to cover him before continuing to clean up.

The old Toliver quickly cleaned up the living room, but the smell of coke all over the room made him frown and quickly walked to the window to open the room for ventilation.

As soon as he opened the window, the roaring north wind suddenly poured into the room, and the air suddenly dropped several degrees. Under the excitement, he hurriedly prepared to close it, so as not to affect Mr. Mahan's rest. Unexpectedly, a tired voice came from behind him: "Since it's turned on, you don't have to close it again."

"Mr. Ma Han, damn it. It's all my fault."

"Ha ha, it's okay." Ma Han took off his reading glasses, looked at the sky outside the window, waved his hand and was about to get up when he found that he was wrapped in a thick blanket on his body. He said gratefully, "Toliver, thank you."

"Mr. Ma Han, you're too kind. This is what I should do." Old Toliver smiled and was about to retreat to make coffee. Ma Han had already asked, "Toliver, where is the manuscript here just now?"

"Here, sir, I've put it away." Toliver immediately took a thick pile of manuscripts from the cabinet and touched his efforts for several years, and Ma Han couldn't help sighing.

Originally, the book could have been completed a few years ago, but the death of his good friends Roosevelt and William McKinley gave him a big blow. As a person who had the most thorough understanding of his theory of sea power and was able to influence the United States and make decisions, their death made their theory lose the best executor.

This shocked him a blow.

Yes, there are still many of his followers in the world, and he is also known as the best theorists in the era of sea power. William II, Nicholas I, and that Li Mo are undeniably influenced by the theory of sea power. Although there are successes and failures, their motherland has lost their pursuers like them. .

Although President Fairbanks has always claimed to adhere to the domestic and external policies of his predecessor William McKinley, just one trust bill has made him anxious. Although he instigated the division of Panama a year ago, there was an accident in it, that is, the French shipping company was funded as early as ten years ago. Jin Nian sold 40% of the shares to Thomas Mining Company, which led to the Panama Canal Company, which was formed by the American political axe, to have to recover that part of the shares if it wanted to continue to build the canal. Otherwise, even if it was built, it would lose 40% of its management rights in vain.

Ma Han sighed and probably felt that he was thinking too much. He rubbed his swollen temples and was mentally tired. But when his eyes returned to the manuscript, he seemed to have returned to the old dragon spirit and tiger fierceness, and wrote the title of the book with a brush.

After writing "The Influence of Sea Power and the War of 1812", I was very satisfied and handed it to the old Toliver next to me: "Toliver, help me send the manuscript to the Admiralty Department later, they." Speaking of this, Ma Han hesitated for a moment. He didn't know whether the manuscript would be valued by the current naval department. After thinking about it, he still hesitated. He chose the newspaper to publish his book and said, "No, you send it directly to Mr. Edward. He promised me to publish this book."

"Yes." Old Toliver's pious result manuscript was about to continue his work when suddenly there was a knock on the door. Ma Han looked at the snow outside the window and didn't understand who would come to him in this kind of ghostly weather.

The door opened and a familiar figure appeared. The United States won the greatest contributor to Panama, Philip. Buno. Waria.

"Dear Philip, how did you come back?" Mahan warmly gave a hug to the former director and engineer of the French shipping company, now the Panamanian minister to the United States, and the general manager of the Panama Canal Company in the United States.

While the two were greeting each other, old Toliver immediately put down the manuscript and brought coffee, and then went out with the manuscript. Soon there were only two people left in the room.

"Philip, you come to me in this weather. What's the matter?"

Valia nodded, and her cheeks, which were still smiling just now, suddenly tightened. Looking at the old man in front of him, who was known as opening the curtain of the era of sea power, the company did not talk about it.

"Is it about the canal?" Ma Han seemed to have guessed something and asked.

Valia nodded. For the Panama Canal, he began to plan as early as he entered the French Canal Company, but he didn't expect the accident to happen. At that time, he had not yet entered the senior management. He didn't know that the original French shipping company had sold more than 40 percent of the equity. Now Panama has read it. The shares of French Canal Company were also obtained, but George, vice president of Thomas Mining Company, refused himself on the grounds that the price was too low.

So he had no choice but to hope that the American political axe would pressure Thomas Mining, but President Fairbanks hesitated, believing that Thomas Mining Company was a normal business practice. If the political axe intervened, it would inevitably lead to more difficult the trust bill currently being implemented.

"This idiot!"

A modest scholar like Mahan couldn't help swearing at Fairbanks, the President of the United States, from the bottom of his heart. Whether it was the fact that it took almost half a year for the battleship Massachusetts to bypass South America to participate in the Cuban War, or the fact that Russia was recently forced to take a detour from Africa to Xinhua, it all showed a note. How important the Grand Canal is.

The Xinhua Empire has gained an advantage in the Pacific Ocean. Although the United States is constantly expanding its naval strength in the Pacific Ocean and stationing five battleships at the San Diego Naval Base, they are just a bunch of targets compared with the huge Xinhua Imperial Navy.

The establishment of two oceans, the capture of Panama and Malacca, and even the Suez Canal and the Strait of Gibraltar, has always been Mahan's greatest ideal. Among these four important sea areas that can affect the world, two are completely in the hands of the British. Although the other is in the hands of the British, he believes that Li Mo will never let Ma Liu go. A, this strategic point is controlled by others.

For the United States, in addition to economic factors, the Panama Canal is also the most important and critical step in strengthening control over South America and opening the era of competition for sea power!

But it has been held back by Thomas Mining Company, and the current American political axe knows the importance of this canal, but still wants to solve it by commercial means, which is undoubtedly a joke.

At this moment, Ma Han really misses his old friends Roosevelt and William McKinley. If they were here, they would definitely solve it directly by political axe. At most, they would return the principal to Thomas Mining to pay some interest, instead of being so scared as they are now!

"How much do they want?"

"At least 80 million dollars!" Warria raised a straight finger.

"These mercenary Jewish businessmen! Damn it!" This number made Ma Han furious and slapped the table fiercely.

Valia was also a little dumbfounded. As far as he knew, the French Canal Company was eager to raise funds. Although it offered 10 million yuan, in order to get cash, the final deal was only 7.5 million US dollars. In just ten years, it has soared more than ten times. It can only be said that Mr. Thomas is too discerning.

As the world's naval mentor in front of him said, the most tricky thing is that Thomas is a top Jewish businessman and a super businessman who can influence American political axe decisions. He is now known as the three richest people in the United States with Morgan and Rockefeller, but many people privately think that he doesn't like to engage in the raw material industry. Mr. Thomas, who only loves mining like a ground mouse, and then sells it all over the world, and loves to operate with a large amount of capital after enclosure, has actually surpassed the other two after starting the Bank of America, known as the largest shareholder of the Federal Gold Reserve.

Perhaps this is the most worrying place for President Fairbanks, because Mr. Thomas has become the banner of the Jews. If he is coerced, perhaps the huge Jewish interest groups will immediately remove the president!

"Philip, is there no other way?" Ma Han's eyes flashed coldly: "Like President William McKinley?"

Valia's heart shivered. He didn't expect Mahan to have such a proposal. He quickly waved his hand and said, "Mr. Alfred, Thomas is now the flag of a Jewish businessman. If the news is leaked, it will cause financial turmoil in our country."

"And his whereabouts are very uncertain. He spends most of his time abroad, and there are many people around him to protect him. It is said that he has invited many masters of kung fu from China to protect him, and he has hired dozens of Russian veterans as bodyguards."

"Chinese kung fu?!"

Ma Han has never disdained this fancy trick. Any resistance in front of the naval gun is an ant, but these words can't help but remind him that Thomas Mining seems to have used a lot of Chinese workers in Australia. Will he have some connection with Li Mo?

Varia had a similar speculation, but he quickly rejected it and said, "Mr. Alfred, I don't think it's possible. Li Mo is an extremely selfish person. He still doesn't allow the funds of Jewish businessmen to enter the Chinese market, and I also heard that the Chinese seem to be seeking to master Thomas's hands. It is said that they have quoted 50 million US dollars for some shares.

"Philip, are you telling the truth? The Chinese have also intervened!"

Ma Han is really anxious. The Xinhua Empire has basically mastered the hegemony of the Pacific Ocean. If they control the Panama Canal again, I'm afraid that the United States can only be bound to the North American continent for a lifetime.

"Yes." Valia nodded heavily and said, "The Xinhua ambassador visited Thomas a few days ago, and the two discussed the equity transfer. I learned from his secretary for 500 dollars. I'm very sure."

Seeing Mahan's face getting more and more solemn, Valiaso said, "There is another bad thing. According to a friend of one of my Colombian parliamentarians, the Chinese asked about the excavation of the Grand Canal in Nicaragua a few years ago, but there was no follow-up because they wanted to deal with the Russians, but I don't know recently. Why, suddenly the old story was mentioned again, and a survey team was sent, and the Colombian political axe was also very interested in it. They wanted to attack the Panamanians with the new canal and paralyzed their canal. It is said that the two sides have even consulted the price.

When Valia spoke, her face gradually became solemn. From the perspective of geographical environment, although the length of Nicaragua's isthmus is longer than that of Panama's isthmus and the amount of excavation is larger, it has the advantage of natural lakes. Once opened, it is bound to be wider than the Panama Canal, and the annual tonnage is much higher than that of Panama. If the Chinese really want to dig Canal, with their manpower advantage, is not a problem at all.

This means that for the sake of selfishness, he fooled the U.S. Congress with small stamps, which made them make a canal decision that was not suitable for Nicaragua to dig. Not only did he lose his reputation, but all the efforts of the United States for a hundred years would be turned into fans.

"No, I must see the president immediately. Regardless of the cost, I must recover the shares of the Panama Canal, and I must prevent the excavation of the Nicaragua Canal!" Ma Han finally couldn't help standing up excitedly and was about to walk out.

Suddenly, the door was pushed open, and old Toliver came in with snowflakes. When he saw Ma Han in his coat, he asked in surprise, "Sir, do you want to go out?"

"Yes." Ma Han nodded: "Toliver, go and prepare the carriage. I'm going to see the president immediately."

Old Toliver nodded, but as soon as he turned around, he suddenly twisted back and spread out his hand: "Mr. Mahan, I'm afraid you won't see the president today."

"Why? Isn't it Monday today?"

"Yes." Old Tolever explained: "Just now, when I went to the publishing house, I heard that the Chinese naval fleet arrived in Ecuador and asked Ecuador to hand over their president, because that guy provided two battleships to Russia, resulting in the death of hundreds of sailors in Xinhua."

"The Chinese say that if they can't bring the unlucky guy back to China for trial, they will declare war on Erguardo!"

"So His Excellency the President has summoned the Ambassador of Xinhua and is negotiating urgently!"

"What!"

The news brought back by old Toliver made Mahan and Waria's eyes straight, reminding of the news that Xinhua was making a fuss about revenge on Ecuador a few months ago.

But they don't care about the life or death of Ecuador. It doesn't matter whether the unlucky president will be taken back to Xinhua for trial. After being arrested, he will be tried in a foreign country and humiliated.

The reason why they are nervous, worried and surprised! It is because South America is the backyard of the United States, which has always been regarded as a ban by the United States!

When you spend countless efforts to get a lover but are flirted by others, who can stand it!

"Oh, that's right." Old Toliver didn't seem to see the sudden change in the faces of the two, and finally muttered, "I heard that the Chinese have sent the latest warships."

"Six ships!"

"There are only five old-fashioned battleships in San Diego, USA!"

"No, I have to see His Excellency the President today!" The continuous bad news made Ma Han's body tremble twice, but he still gritted his teeth, like a lonely old knight. He still put on his coat and got into the wind and snow that even young people were afraid of.

(to be continued)