Chapter 143 Building a warship

"Mr. Yan, I have informed Honolulu that the council will bring your message back to Tianjin as soon as possible and take your wife and children to Honolulu."

"All right, that's good." Yan Fu, who stood on the deck worried about his wife and children, was finally relieved. Although he still didn't understand why Li Mo was in the ocean and could send all kinds of messages frequently, he also knew that it was not appropriate to ask these questions at this time, so he quickly thanked him and said, "Thank you, Brother Dazhuang."

"Mr. Yan is too polite. The young master said that you are a distinguished guest." Du Dazhuang scratched his head and smiled. He was naive.

After getting along with each other for a few days, Yan Fu gradually learned something. He knew that the simple and strong man in front of him broke out with Li Mo in those years. He treated him like a brother and a brother, but he did not dare to neglect him. He nodded with a smile and asked, "Brother Da Zhuang, where is Master Li now?"

"Don't, Mr. Yan, you'd better call me Da Zhuang." Du Dazhuang quickly waved his hand and pointed to the center of the boat: "The young master is in the rest cabin. If you have something to do, I'll take you there."

"That's good." Yan Fu is not a hesitant person. Since he chose this road, he also wanted to know the situation in Honolulu as soon as possible, so he followed Du Dazhuang to the rest cabin.

Due to the increasing control area, the State Council also felt that it was necessary to arrange special ships for personnel exchange, so it ordered this new passenger ship. Judging from the displacement, the passenger [***] is only about 2,000 tons, but because it is usually mainly used for the transportation of political axe personnel, whether it is decoration or surname energy, It's better than ordinary ships.

After bypassing the long passage, Yan Fu finally came to the rest area, but did not rush in, but asked Du Dazhuang to report first.

The rest cabin is located in the middle of the hull, which is specially opened for people to breathe during the trip. It is about the size of a room, which is much more spacious than the narrow living cabin. Because this time it is a special trip to pick up the young master, except for a few people who happened to go back in Taiwan, only Li Mo and him are left on the passenger ship. The guards, so the rest cabin looks empty at this moment.

At this time, there was a huge map on the central table of the rest cabin. Li Mo stood in front of the table and looked back at Duan Fei, who was accompanying him. He moved the corners of his mouth but wanted to say anything. In a blink of an eye, he moved to the sea on the map as if it were full of broken gems, and frowned tightly.

Nanyang, or Southeast Asia!

Vietnam, Siam, Luzon, Borneo, Singapore, Brunei, etc., or countries that have changed their names or are still using their ancient names, gathered in this sea like chess pieces, and the major forces are scattered and intertwined.

But the more the great powers dominate, the more important the name of this sea area. Even if you put aside the throat of the southwest Pacific Ocean to the Strait of Malacca, there are too many important waterways in this sea area.

As a person of later generations, Li Mo knows the important surname of Nanyang better than people in this year. Iron ore, gold, rubber, oil, etc. are almost everywhere strategic resources. Coupled with the natural geographical location, it can be said that as long as it is controlled here, the whole North Pacific will be embraced!

Whether from the perspective of resources or important surnames, this is an area that you must control, but it is easy to say and difficult to do. Nowadays, there are many powers there, such as the British Far East Fleet, the French Far East Fleet, the Spanish Far East Fleet, the Dutch East India Company, etc. There are almost everywhere. The garrison, it's said that it's a hornet's nest! If you really want to fish in troubled waters, you should really think about it carefully.

In fact, he did not think about sending troops to enter the Southern Ocean in the name of suppressing bandits to lay the foundation for occupying the island, but he couldn't help but think of the consequences! Historically, after the invasion and occupation of Liaodong, he was immediately intervened by the Three Kingdoms and spit out the fat meat to his mouth. If he went to Nanyang by himself, it might not be a verbal intervention. Moreover, the fleet has just passed a big war and is still digesting the results of the last war, and the supplies and ammunition are not ready for another war.

But obviously it doesn't work if you don't go. There is no need to say more about the important surname of Nanyang. Malacca alone is enough to make him salivate! Britain is indeed an old maritime country, such as the Strait of Gibraltar, the Suez Canal, the Strait of Malacca, etc., almost all the maritime strategy. In fact, it depends on whether a country is a sea power or not, as long as it depends on how many important sea important places he controls.

After World War I, Britain was defeated on all fronts. The Americans took over the sea power stick in control of these places. Now that they have come back, they must change these and let the descendants of Yanhuang get out of the shackles of the yellow land and become a real sea power country!

But this road is too difficult to walk. For example, although the loss of this pirate attack was not big, it gave him a reminder. Originally, he was going to wait until the United States and Spain went to war and seize the United States to control Luzon, but now it seems that this move will not work. Because since he defeated Japan, history has been separated and shifted to a direction that no one knows. The most proof is that just received the news from the French that Russia suddenly sent several warships to the Far East, which has never been recorded in history!

So Nanyang must do it early, but it is still confused about how to start and where to start. Historically, the United States seized Luzon. In addition to being isolated by Spain in Europe at that time, it also had a great relationship with the international situation at that time. At that time, the British were disgraced by the Bur quagmire, and the French were ready to deal with Germany. Russia asked for credit and forced Liaoning to seize the northeast and have no energy to manage the South China. Austria-Hungary was trapped in internal affairs and was eager to digest Taiwan and so on, so on, so they picked up peaches for the Americans, but it was also based on the United States and the West declaring war on each other in Cuba. On the basis.

In the end, it was almost taken the lead by Germany! Fortunately, George Dewey was decisive and didn't let the covetous Germans succeed!

What about now? Let yourself declare war on Spain immediately? What a joke! Although Spain is weak, if it starts a war by itself, without Cuban containment, they can immediately buy seven or eight battleships to blow up the young master**!

The problem in front of us now is like an equation. If you want to fight Spain, you must first make Cuba, but Cuba will force the United States to be involved in the war, and this must also divert Britain's attention, and finally take advantage of everyone's reaction!

It's too difficult!

If there are seven or eight dreadnoughts now, they can also do it recklessly. The problem is that its shipyard has not yet built the ability to build battleships, and all the resources need to be transported by sea. It can't afford to fight a war in which a third party may intervene.

Especially the previous performance of the British [***] ship, it shows that they are already wary of themselves and don't want Honolulu to continue to expand. These damn Britons!

At the thought of this, Master Li hated it so much that he really thought he was a soft persimmon! Grandma, also let you know how many eyes the young master, Prince Ma has!

"Duan Fei." Li Mo suddenly turned his head and looked at Duan Fei: "Do you remember the list I gave you a few years ago?"

"Remember." Duan Fei nodded.

The list given to him by the young master in San Francisco a few years ago, and after some additions over the years, the list has already become a roster. Some of the above people have been cheated by themselves, and some of them have been lured into the Ministry of Science and Technology of Honolulu. Some have been protected by other countries' attention. As for the rest, they have been under the sight of the Kkob.

He didn't understand that the young master was obviously looking at the Nanyang map, and he was also thinking about escorting. How could he suddenly care about the list? What's more, the Russian big Maozi has also come to the Far East. These are more important than the list, right?

"Let's do it! Name in order, what you can catch, what you can grab, get all to Honolulu, as for the others. Li Mo's eyes suddenly twitched: "Kill, don't leave one!"

Hearing Li Mo's last words, even Duan Fei couldn't help shivering. He was no longer a young man who had just got the list and didn't know anything. He knew very well who was on the list.

But Li Mo seemed to have made up his mind. Without waiting for Duan Fei to speak, he continued, "Give you half a year. Remember, don't let people suspect us." After listening to the young master's solemnity, moreover, many people on the list have become figures of national attention, so Duan Fei also understood the difficult surname of this task. After a while, he suddenly gritted his teeth and said, "Don't worry, young master, I will be careful."

Li Mo already knows his brother-in-law very well and knows that he will never promise anything easily, but if he agrees, he will definitely do it well.

After solving the list, Li Mo only felt that something was sinking in his heart. He finally came to this point. He didn't know whether it was right or wrong. He took a deep breath before continuing, "In addition, inform Mr. Li immediately and ask him to send someone to Cuba to contact Marseille and invite him to visit Hawaii."

Duan Fei answered and was about to go out to send a telegram. At this time, Du Dazhuang suddenly rushed in to report to Yan Fu. Li Mo quickly got up to meet him.

"So it's the gentleman who came. The boat is simple. Are you still used to it?"

"The young master is polite. Why do you have to pay attention to it when you go out?" After Yan Fu came in and exchanged a few words with Li Mo, he was immediately attracted by the big map spread out on the table and went to the side and looked at it carefully.

Li Mo waved his hand and motioned Duan Fei and Du Dazhuang to go out first. Then he slowly walked to the map and said with a smile, "Mr. Yan, you are a top student at the Greenwich Naval Academy in the United Kingdom. What do you think of my chart?"

Yan Fu looked up at Li Mo, smiled and said nothing. He picked up the pen next to him and outlined it on the chart. With his movements, a thin line was centered on Honolulu. After connecting to Ryukyu, it was connected to Taiwan, and finally extended to Luzon, but when he got there, he did not continue to draw lines. Instead, he made a circle on Luzon's seat.

Looking at the line in one go, Li Mo nodded and smiled, "Sir, it's really a roundworm in my belly. I know what I'm worried about."

"Hehe." Yan Fu dropped his pen, took off his glasses and wiped them with the corners of his clothes and put them on again. Then he pointed to the circle and said, "In the island country, the lifeline is all above the ocean, and the smooth navigation is a must!"

This Nanyang bandit attack on the fleet must be planned by someone behind the scenes, but no matter who it is, it doesn't matter. The important thing is that you must ensure the safety of the route anyway. There are many Nanyang islands with complex forces, but abundant resources. Since ancient times, it has been a must-have place for soldiers. Since you have the intention to promote my Chinese sea power, you must take it here!"

Li Mo nodded in agreement, did not hide his salivation for Nanyang, and said bluntly, "I'm also thinking about this matter, but you should know that now it is almost full of the great powers, and there is no place to settle down. If you want to send a fleet to suppress the bandits, you need a base. I want to intervene and I can't get in? "

"The Pacific Army was first founded, and after another war, you said a few days ago that the British and American powers did not want you to continue to expand. Since the fleet can't go straight to the South China Sea for the time being, why don't you change the method?"

"An alternative? What do you mean, sir? Li Mo's eyes lit up and asked hurriedly.

"If you want to enter the Southern Ocean, the best is two places, one is Borneo, and the other is Luzon." Yan Fu also drew the position of Borneo on the map with a pen, and then continued to say, "Borcono is located on the edge of the Strait of Malacca. The forest is deep and there are many cannibals. If you want to intervene, you must first fight hard, but there are also benefits. First of all, it is close to the Strait, with several good ports, and there are many resources. It is a good place for the navy to garrison. But the previous Lanfang tragedy almost killed all my Chinese. Now there are less than 10,000 Chinese living there, which is very difficult in terms of connections. Moreover, it is now the territory of the Dutch, and the British are also on the side, so it is more difficult to intervene.

"Lu Song is not bad. Spain has been weak for a long time and has long lost its original power, and it is also the largest gathering place for Chinese people in the Southern Ocean. The young master might as well start from here!"

Master Li finally knows what heroes see in the same way. If it hadn't been for the weakness of the Qing Dynasty, the internal affairs would have been chaotic and people would have been different. With these awesome people, they might have become the world's largest country.

It's a pity that there are so many excellent Chinese children! Looking at the signing of the traitor's treaties, it's really a waste. The young master must get all these people. What a wealth it is!

"What do you think I should do?"

"In Yan Fu's view, this attack by the fleet is not an opportunity. Although the main force of the large ship is temporarily difficult to travel, you can completely transfer some small ships in the name of escorting and suppressing bandits, open the way to test the truth first, and you can also contact the local Chinese to prepare for the future."

Before Li Mo could speak, Yan Fu continued: "A few years ago, I went to Luzon. Now, although it is controlled by Spain, Spain has gradually declined in recent years. The local people have hidden signs of riots, and revolutionary parties have appeared everywhere. If the young master wants Luzon, he might as well make up his mind on these people."

Hearing this, Li Mo's eyes suddenly lit up. He had always been imprisoned by the thinking of his previous life. He always wanted to start from the outside, but Luzon, the Philippines, did break out a large-scale national reading movement in the late 19th century and the early 20th century. If he could borrow this power, he would consume the West. Isn't the strength of Ban Ya and Lu Song much easier in the future?

It seems that he can see Li Mo's thoughts. Yan Fu narrowed his eyes, walked to the window and looked at the sea and said softly, "In every troubled times, there will be some national elites. Now Luzon is also at this time. Once those people grow up, if you want to force them, I'm afraid it will be very expensive. Many! Since you want to stand in Nanyang, you'd better do it early.

Listening to Yan Fu's words as if talking to himself, Li Mo's body was slightly shocked and understood what he meant. He was preparing to completely burn the fire between Luzon Spain and the locals!

Cunish, a man, a literate who has studied is even more terrible!

However, it is too difficult to find a person who is familiar with the local situation in Luzon and can be at will! Master Li racked his brains and couldn't think of a suitable candidate, so he shook his head: "It seems that after returning to Hawaii this time, my husband still wants to accompany me to Luzon once."

"Ha ha, Yan Fu should accompany you." Yan Fu smiled and asked, "But why don't you go directly from Taiwan to Luzon?" Why don't you go back to Honolulu first?

Li Mo's mouth was cold: "Sir, I don't know anything. We got the news a few days ago. The Russians sent several warships to the Far East."

"Oh? Are the Russians coming? Hearing the news for the first time, Yan Fu couldn't help but be stunned for a moment. He immediately walked to the map and meditated half of the pay before suddenly looking up: "North Korea!"

Li Mo nodded. Although Russia had already coveted the northeast, Nicholas II had just come to power at this time. The first thing he had to do was to stabilize his internal affairs. Although he was arrogant, he was not a fool, and he would not easily fight against the huge Qing Dynasty without preparation, so this time he sent a warship, except for the obvious In addition to showing the ambition of existence, I saw that I was disabled by myself and wanted to take advantage of North Korea!

"It seems that you beat me too badly. Even the Russians use their brains, and I don't know how they are going to talk." Yan Fu smiled bitterly and seemed to see the Russians landing in North Korea. Seeing the picture of this creature that was originally a territory of the Qing Dynasty, he couldn't help sighing: "The court had just made peace with Japan, and the Russians sent a warship. I don't know that Li Zhongtang will not regret it at this time."

Li Mo shook his head. He didn't want to comment on Mr. Li, but sighed, "Mr. Yan's words are not good. I think even if Lord Li Zhongtang wants to fight, I'm afraid it won't be so easy."

Yan Fu nodded. Li Hongzhang was a figure, but the court was involved too much. Even if he had three heads and six arms, he would have to give in. What's more, the master of the Qing Dynasty was the one in the harem.

But do you just watch North Korea being carved up? Yan Fu suddenly looked up, looked at Li Mo, and asked, "When the Russians come, I'm afraid it will be chaotic again in the Far East. What are you going to do, young master?"

Hearing this question, Li Mo suddenly smiled cunningly.

"I'm ready to build a warship!"

(to be continued)