Chapter 110 Doubts

"I can't see it!"

Under the dark night, a pair of binoculars stared at the Jiangnan dock on the opposite bank through the curtains. The dock is a closed dock. Except for the brick walls and roof of the dock, you can see the guards standing on duty under the lights by the wall.

"What is being built here?"

With the voice of self-talk, there was a little doubt in his eyes.

"Is it really a warship?"

The doubts in my eyes became thicker and thicker with my self-verbs.

In fact, in Shanghai, more than staring at the Jiangnan dock, I don't know how many people look at it with different minds. In the past six and a half months, it has attracted the attention of too many people.

The only regret is that the safety and confidentiality of the dock is beyond their imagination. The workers' living area in the new area of Jiangnan Naval Shipyard is readable, which is completely invested by the shipyard. The whole living area is readable in the urban area, and there are readable markets, shops, and even libraries and community hospitals in the living area. In primary and secondary schools, not only the workers of the shipyard live there, but also the workers, technicians and even technicians recruited from abroad live in the same community.

It is the community that accommodates tens of thousands of people that has turned Jiangnan Shipyard into a "city" of reading power outside Shanghai. It is also this kind of "reading power" that makes it easy for the navy to implement strict confidentiality of the shipyards. At least when the ship is in the dock, it is impossible for outsiders to know that the closed shipyard is being built. What.

"Arthur, are you sure you want to ask the Chinese Admiralty?"

Arks looks like Arthur has changed into a military uniform? Fred asked him with some uncertain questions.

This guy is really presumptuous. Now the whole world knows what the Chinese people are making in the shipyard, maybe the capital ship. From the equipment they purchase in various countries, they can get some information, but when they are unwilling to tell the outside world, such a rash visit may cause some diplomatic disputes.

"Of course!"

Arthur nodded and looked at his friend in a military hat.

"Well, Alex, would you like to come with us?"

Seeing that Arkes was a little puzzled, he smiled.

"Alx, you know, this may be the last time we have a chance to see Chinese shipbuilding!"

"Huh? Do you mean Sandu Australia?

Arcs thought of what the naval attaché in the Russian embassy said. At the latest two years, two years later, Sandu-Macao will not only become the largest military port for the Chinese people, but also their most important naval shipbuilding base, with the largest shipyard and shipyard in Asia, and even... Well, the navy. Arsenal. . It will not only be a naval fortress, but also a naval industrial city.

"Although the Chinese have repeatedly said that at least for now they have no intention of building a huge navy, do you think what they say is credible? If we must know something, then I think we should know what they are going to do before everyone knows!"

Dozens of minutes later, Arthur, who left the British Embassy, took the carriage of the embassy with Arkes and arrived at the Imperial Navy Department on the bank of the Yangtze River from the embassy. After the carriage stopped in the parking lot, he looked at the building with a strong British style in front of them. Their eyes were full of surprise.

"The front of the naval department building is 697 meters long and 383 meters on the side. Such a huge building was not fully completed until the Chinese naval department moved here, and until now..."

Arthur pointed to the scaffolding that was still visible outside the naval building.

"It's not finished yet, and there are less than 800 rooms available!"

This naval building was designed by a British designer by the Chinese navy last year. It was even just capped. When the interior decoration was not fully completed, the generals of the Chinese Admirals moved from the old house of the Admiralty. This building, which was still carrying scaffolding for internal and external decoration, just It has become the headquarters of the Chinese Navy.

"But this speed is also a miracle. At that time, it seemed that in order to build the naval department, in addition to mobilizing five engineering regiments, nearly 10,000 migrant workers were used, but even so, they still failed to complete it as scheduled!"

When Arcs spoke, his words were full of unthinkable colors.

"But it seems that they have taken more engineers and workers to build the Imperial Consultative House! However, building this building in such a short time is a miracle in itself.

While Arkes was admiring, Arthur shook his head.

"Since I came to China, I saw this building!"

As the two talked, they walked forward. When the ancient Chinese sailboat sculpture in the square in front of the building was sculpture, Arthur took a special look at the ancient sailboat. According to the Chinese explanation, it was a treasure ship when Zheng He went to the West.

"What I think of is..."

"How many people can be loaded here? From the size of the Admiralty, the size of its navy can be inferred..."

Arks immediately made Arthur's assertion two months ago. But once the naval building is completed and put into use, it will become a small city, and all the people are working as orderly as the small parts on a huge military head machine.

And what size will the Chinese navy be at that time?

"Don't forget, they even refused the request to sell battleships to them at Armstrong. It will be huge here, but..."

Arcs, who has been in China for several years, has already formed a fixed oriental view.

"This will become a huge bureaucratic machine, devouring the precious military expenses of the Chinese navy!"

When the two talked, they walked into the entrance of the naval institution, which may be the "largest building" in the world. Although it was not the first time to enter here, Arthur still felt a sense of shock brought by a powerful state machine. At the gate stood a marine guard with live ammunition, strict security. The inspection measures were full of lieutenant-level officers everywhere. Arthur looked at his poor rank of major. Without the military uniform of the British Royal Navy, he was so inconspicuous here.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Major, do you have permission to enter?"

The guard in front of the security gate made a military salute to Arthur.

"I'm Arthur from the Military Officer's Office of the British Royal Navy in China? Major Fred! ! I have an appointment with Colonel Li Ping'an of the consultation office!"

Arthur said to the guard in not fluent Chinese and took out his ID card at the same time. While the guard checked his ID card, another guard was looking at the appointment form.

"Arthur? Major Fred, right? Your appointment is at 9:35, and it's now at 9:20. Please wait!"

Will it be the world's largest naval bureaucracy or the world's largest naval combat command in the future?

In the unquestionable tone of the guard, Arthur felt that he seemed to have got some answers.

"Damn it, they are so rude!"

Compared with Arthur's calmness, Arkes obviously couldn't accept this kind of neglect, so that he scolded a few words on his lips and scolded, but he could only wait like this.

When the hour hand pointed to 9:35, a colonel appeared behind the security door and waved at Arthur.

Arthur and Arcs then walked towards the security door, and the guard opened the security door directly.

"I'm very sorry, Major Arthur, it's just a routine. As you know, in the army, although many regulations are a little unsatisfactory, they are always useful!"

The two Arthurs led Colonel Li Ping'an into the building as he walked and apologized to Arthur.

"Of course, this is the inevitability of the army!"

After Arthur replied, although it was not the first time to enter here, when he walked to the Admiralty Department on the third floor of Li Ping'an, he could still see that if there was no one to lead him, it was like a spider's web inside. In this building with many offices, anyone could get lost. After that, one line The three of them finally entered the office of the consultation office.

The Naval Consulting Office is actually an external liaison agency, responsible for publishing news, news and so on, while Li Ping'an is the head of the consulting office. In other words, he is the mouth of the navy.

"... Although it's big here, in fact, there are not many people working here. If this place is filled up, I'm afraid that China will have no navy on the ship!"

Li Ping'an asked the two to sit down with a smile, and the "huge naval department" has always been of great concern to the outside world. After pouring a cup of tea for Arthur and Arcs, Li Ping'an sat down on the chair with a helpless smile on his face.

"As you know, Nanjing, as the imperial capital, has inherent shortcomings. The palace does not have the style of a palace. The only building that can be mentioned is the Imperial Consultative House. In terms of architecture, Nanjing, as Yanjing, can't even be compared with Pudong, but Yanjing always needs some conspicuous and large-scale buildings as Yanjing. The landmark is like this naval department on the bank of the river!"

Li Ping'an pointed to the Yangtze River outside the window, and the exclusive pier of the Admiralty by the river is still under construction. "The British Royal Navy has always been the goal of learning and imitating by the Chinese Royal Guards Navy, but for various reasons, it is impossible for us to build a huge fleet. We don't have enough officers. Second, there are not enough sailors. Of course, the most important thing is that we don't have the corresponding funding and the corresponding shipbuilding plan. As for this building! Ha ha, of course, we also chose the British architectural style, although we were quite criticized!"

A sip of tea Arthur did not take the other party's explanation that "the navy building is just for face" as true. For this Lianhuang Yanjing, it is not necessary to be a "style" palace country. Is it possible for them to build such a useless building for face? Of course, it is not necessary to expose the other party.

"Of course, many things need to be compromised to politics, but Colonel Li, as far as I know..."

After a pause, Arthur turned his eyes to Li Ping'an.

"The Chinese navy should have corresponding funding and shipbuilding plans, just like the battleships you built in Shanghai!"

The slight change in the other party's expression made Arthur understand that his guess was correct.

"That's right!"

Li Ping'an was silent for a while and affirmed it.

"We are indeed building warships, but... it's not a battleship, it's just an armored cruiser, and it will be launched soon!"

Noticing that the lieutenant colonel in front of him seemed to be a little unbelievable, Li Ping'an shrugged his shoulders.

"I think the British naval attachy office in China will definitely receive an invitation when it is in the water!"

(to be continued)