Most people in the Liberation Army Military Commission did not believe that planting alfalfa in Sudan was Vézé's real purpose, which made Vézé feel very regretful. In Vézé's way of thinking, planting alfalfa was his goal. In order to achieve this goal, Vézé would use all kinds of military and non-military means. It was just that this way of thinking seemed to be incompatible with the mainstream thinking of this era. The Liberation Army Military Commission believed that diplomacy needed to be considered in the war to be faced in the future.
Standing on the opposite side of China, the British had a similar way of thinking. When they learned of the agreement that China was going to plant alfalfa in Sudan, their first thought was, "The Turks have led the wolf into the house. The Chinese are finally going to intervene in African affairs!" However, the British were British after all. Their first choice was not to immediately send a fleet to the Indian Ocean to stop the Chinese fleet from entering the Red Sea. This would only immediately intensify the conflict. The British Fleet would intercept the Chinese fleet, so the Chinese fleet would enter the Indian Ocean to confront the British Fleet. Then the two sides would threaten each other. If there was a misfire, it would be a naval war. Then the war would escalate, with China and Britain fighting in all kinds of places where they could fight.
The outcome of the war was hard to predict, but once the war started, the British Straits Settlements would definitely be taken away by China. This was completely predictable. The British Admiralty thought that they could wait and determine China's next move. The Red Sea was not Malacca. China had the geographical advantage in Malacca. When facing the Chinese Navy in the Red Sea, it was the British who had the home advantage, not the Chinese who had crossed the Indian Ocean.
The design discussion of the Monarch-class battleship was far longer than expected. According to the current level of debate, the Monarch-class battleship design would probably be finalized in 1877. After the first warship was built and officially incorporated into the Royal Navy's battle order, it was estimated that it would take 188 years. At this time, as long as China did not go too far, many things could actually be discussed.
The United Kingdom was waiting for a new warship, and so was China. Vézé had already set the steps. He wanted to complete the manufacture of the 10,000-ton hydraulic press, achieve a breakthrough in material science, and continue to make progress in the research of the steam turbine, which was already used in the electric motor. The structure of the steam turbine was much simpler than that of the triple-expansion steam engine. At the moment, he only needed to make a breakthrough in the materials of the load-bearing components and accumulate experience through practice. The steam turbines of this era did not even need to reach the thirty to forty thousand horsepower of the later generations. Just over fifteen thousand horsepower was enough to deal with the British warships.
England's problem was that they were unable to make a breakthrough in their design, while China's technological accumulation was too weak. Both sides agreed that their new warships would be officially incorporated into their respective navies in 188. Before the next round of the battle, neither side was willing to let the situation completely go out of control.
In the face of China's action of planting alfalfa in Sudan, Britain prayed that the Chinese fleet would encounter mechanical failure at sea or encounter extremely bad weather. China, on the other hand, tried its best to prevent the fleet from malfunctioning at sea and from encountering extremely bad weather. In the end, the British were disappointed. The Chinese fleet arrived in Sudan safely. They also set up an anchorage in a place.
This was Port Sudan in the future. Historically, Port Sudan was built in the year 196199. Now it was just a wasteland with a tropical desert climate. The average annual temperature here was about 29 degrees Celsius, and the highest was 40 to 50 degrees Celsius. Rather than a port, it was better to call it a hot sand hell.
Port Sudan was surrounded by rocky mountains and had a commanding position, which was very suitable for the establishment of a battery. However, the first building was not a battery, nor was it a sturdy barracks. The troops set up tents as living quarters. The first to be built were more than twenty seawater desaliners. The black heat absorption pipe was inserted from the interface under the large ceramic steamer, and seawater was poured into the steamer through the water injection port. The heat of the sun made the seawater evaporate, and the steam entered the condenser that was blocked by the sun through the collection pipe fastened to it.
It was the end of August, and the sun was very fierce. Just by using the heat absorption pipe, the water in the steamer began to boil. It didn't take long for distilled water to flow out of the condenser. Seeing that the problem of freshwater had been solved, the troops who were sweating profusely under the sun cheered thunderously. The Liberation Army was not worried about food in the desert. The ships were loaded with a large number of canned food, instant noodles. The only thing they needed to worry about was freshwater. This time, more than 200 sets of seawater desaliners were shipped, as well as a large number of accessories. China was going to fight a tough battle here.
According to the agreement with the Osman Empire, China had the right to build a railway to the alfalfa planting area at its own expense to transport the alfalfa there to the port by the sea. The Osman Empire would lease the area where these ports and railways were located to China for 30 years. The coast of the Red Sea, especially the coast on the African side, was an endless stretch of red and yellow rock walls. There was almost no grass growing on the desolate rock walls. China felt that the Osman Empire thought that it was impossible for China to build a railway to the Nile River here, which was why they agreed so readily.
China was going to use the desolate "Port Sudan" as a starting point to build a railway to the alfalfa planting area of the Nile River, and turn Port Sudan into China's fulcrum in the Red Sea. In this world, perhaps only the Chinese dared to make such a decision in the face of such a harsh environment and put it into practice.
Two British warships had been tailing the China fleet. When they saw the China fleet unload thousands of people and a large number of supplies in this desolate place, these thousands of people did not go to the African side. Instead, they began to use explosives to blow up rocks and build slopes, as if they were going to take root here. The captain of the British warship held up his binoculars for a long time. The two captains could not believe their eyes. The Chinese actually stopped in such a place. Were they going to survive by drinking seawater?
At this time, the British Fleet had received an order to follow the China fleet. Looking at the four Chinese cruisers, the British captain finally decided to retreat first. They had seen enough shocking news. In order to pass the information to the British as soon as possible, they did not retreat to India, but went straight to the Suez Canal. From there, they could pass the information to the British mainland at the fastest speed.
The Osman Empire, which was in the midst of a fierce internal conflict, was very surprised to receive the weapons sent by China. This batch of weapons included cannons, Gatling guns, and a large number of bullets, cartridges, and warheads. The Osman Empire had the ability to produce black powder and mercury fulminate fire caps. The large-scale production of stamped brass cartridges and lead core copper warheads showed the industrial ability of the Osman Empire. The Osman Empire was really happy that the Chinese sent these weapons and ammunition just by signing a treaty.
After a few days of happiness, the Osman Empire received the news that the Chinese had established their own stronghold on the coast of the Red Sea. The Chinese ambassador also took the initiative to negotiate with the Osman Empire with the China's confirmed foothold. The Osman Empire thought that China had to find a way to enter the Mediterranean Sea and go through the Nile River. What railway, it was just an excuse. When it came to building a railway, the British had no more opportunities than China, but the British did not have the intention to build a railway until now. Why did they let the Chinese from thousands of miles away?
Although the railway did not pose any threat to the Osman Empire, even if there was a threat, it should be the British who felt threatened. But when they recalled the plan proposed by the Chinese to build a railway from Basra to the Bosporus Strait, the upper echelons of the Osman Empire could not help but waver. If China really had the ability to build a railway from the Red Sea to the Nile River, it meant that China had the ability to complete the railway network connecting the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Persian Gulf.
A big country with a long history, when it came to the time to really care, was unwilling to say it. The Foreign Affairs Minister of the Osman Empire just calmly said, "We know. As for the construction of the railway by China, the Osman Empire will abide by the treaty signed with China."
Time passed day by day. The Osman Empire continued to carry out their own internal strife. Within a year, two sultans were forced to abdicate. The Osman Empire also promulgated a constitution and became a constitutional monarchy. But the constitution did not resolve the internal conflicts of the Osman Empire. Instead, it led to the uprisings in Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Bulgaria, which soon spread to Serbia and Montenegro, the two vassal states of Turkey.
Trust Minister Ahmet? Midhat Pasha immediately carried out a merciless suppression of these rebellious areas. With the weapons from China, the suppression was extremely efficient. In a very short period of time, the local rebels were slaughtered until rivers of blood flowed.
After Russia received 100 tons of gold, its financial difficulties were greatly alleviated. After the Crimean War, Russia began to reform its military. At this time, the Russian army had finished training. The upper echelons of Russia believed that they should take this opportunity to launch a military attack on Turkey in an attempt to restore everything lost after the Crimean War.
Under the banner of "saving the Christians oppressed by the Osman Empire" and "protecting the Slavic brothers," the Tsarist government first exerted pressure on the Osman Empire through diplomatic channels, but the effect was not significant. Its proposal to collectively protect the Slavs was opposed by the United Kingdom, which was supported by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Then it proposed to implement autonomy in Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Bulgaria, but was also rejected by the Osman Empire.
Not only did Russia carry out military reform, but the Osman Empire also carried out military reform. The Osman army tried to completely defeat the rebels on the battlefield. When the Ottoman army adopted tactics such as flanking the insurgents, and used the Gatling guns to fire wildly at the insurgents' formation, the stubborn insurgents were utterly defeated. When the situation on the battlefield was clearly in favor of the Osman Empire, the Tsar officially declared war on Turkey on Valentine's Day, February 14, 1877. The Tenth Russo-Turkish War broke out.
On the second day of the Tenth Russo-Turkish War, February 15, 1877, the railway built by China from Port Sudan to the alfalfa plantation was finally completed. This 70-kilometer railway was probably at the level of a temporary railway. However, on both sides of the Blue Nile River, large tracts of alfalfa fields were already green. The local Arabs and a small number of black people followed the Chinese army to farm here, and some followed the Chinese army to build a stronghold. With the stronghold as the center, small towns were formed.
The shepherds took care of the cattle and sheep, and the Chinese vegetable farmers worked hard to grow local vegetables. Black smoke rose from the chimneys of several towns near the river, a sign that the boilers were providing power for the steam engines.
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
