On the platform of the Chang'an (Cordoba) section of the Central Railway, a train with billowing smoke entered the station.
The first nine carriages of the train carried soldiers from the 2nd Regiment of the 3rd Mixed Brigade of the National Defense Force. They returned from the Buenos Aires front line to the rear for repairs and were equipped with new Hanhua 1878 rifles.
The Hanhua 1878 rifle is a new imitation rifle named by Li Mingyuan himself and modified based on the Mauser M1871 single-shot rifle.
In March 1872, the Han government introduced this single-shot rifle production line from Germany and conducted small-scale experimental production in 1877. In 1877, the Han Iron and Steel United Group produced the first batch of imitation m71 rifle production lines. After verification,
In February 1878, it was delivered to the firearms factory affiliated to the group for large-scale production of new rifles. In April 1878, the first batch of 1,500 Hanhua 1878 rifles was delivered to the Guards Brigade of the National Defense Force for use.
After the war in Argentina ended, the main force of the National Defense Forces remained at about 160,000 people, and among the 160,000 troops, about 70,000 troops still used imitation Dresser needle-fire rifles.
After the Franco-Prussian War ended in 1872, the old needle-fired rifles were quickly eliminated by the times. The more than 60,000 Dresser rifles copied by the Han National Defense Force became products that lagged behind the times in the following five or six years. In order to catch up with European countries,
On the one hand, Li Mingyuan increased his efforts to hire military technicians from powerful European countries such as Germany, France, and Austria-Hungary. The local steel conglomerate was responsible for imitating and manufacturing the M71 rifle production line. On the other hand, he purchased new single-shot rifles from Europe.
, to replace the outdated imitation Dresser needle gun.
Through outsourcing and localized production, 90,000 regular troops of the National Defense Forces have completed the pre-war re-equipment. At the same time, as the rifle production lines manufactured by the United Steel Group are delivered in batches to the firearms factories under its jurisdiction, the gap in the standard rifles of the main force of the National Defense Forces is rapidly being filled.
Fill.
Of the eliminated imitation Dresser rifles, 30,000 were delivered to the garrison and reserve militia for use, while the remaining 40,000 rifles would be sold in the name of the government at low prices to civilians who immigrated to the Patagonian wilderness.
The Patagonian wilderness has flat land and green grass everywhere. Due to the frequent strong winds and the lack of tall plants, it is not suitable as a food production base and the development of agriculture. On the contrary, the local population is sparse and the grassland area is vast, making it suitable for development.
Animal husbandry.
The western part of the Patagonian wilderness is the Andes Mountains on the border with Chile. There are abundant rivers flowing from the melted snow mountains, which can provide the grasslands and the water resources needed for the lives of the Chinese immigrants there.
The Han Dynasty's presence in Patagonia can only be maintained by a few thousand men under Ye Chenglin for the time being. Therefore, after the relocation operation is over, the weapons eliminated by the troops can be sold at low prices to the Chinese who have immigrated there, which can provide training for the troops.
Qualified reserve troops can also serve as the vanguard of the Han Dynasty in developing Patagonia, suppressing Indians who disobey management and responding to Chilean counterattack attempts.
The piercing whistle sounded, and the train slowly slowed down before approaching the station.
The train stopped firmly, and groups of soldiers wearing dark gray military uniforms and blue wide-brimmed hats stepped out of the carriages, and then assembled as a group under the command of officers from each department.
More than a thousand soldiers of the National Defense Forces lined up and sorted themselves out. On the platform in the middle of the station, several officers of the National Defense Forces accompanied three blond and blue-eyed foreigners as they walked out of the carriage.
"It's hard to believe that the Argentines were defeated so quickly.
According to the advisory group’s deductions, it will take the National Defense Force at least a year to defeat the combined forces of Argentina, Britain, and Brazil. I didn’t expect that you did it in only half a year.”
Count Gottlieb, head of the German advisory group, sighed.
"Your Excellency, Earl, you must understand that the Han Kingdom is not the Central Plains region under the rule of the Manchu Qing Dynasty. There are many possibilities in this newly born Chinese country. It is not impossible to war against Argentina in half a year."
After the Argentine War, the military rank on his shoulders was replaced by a small golden bean, which means major general, and the title was successfully promoted to a hereditary earl. Wu Fengdian was at the proud moment of his life. His face was full of confidence and he said, "His Royal Highness the Han Dynasty has only been in power for eleven years. Initially, I and Ye
When the general and others defected to His Highness, the National Defense Forces were only equipped with old Dresser rifles that had been phased out by your country's army. Now, the 160,000 National Defense Forces have been fully equipped with locally produced Hanhua 1878 rifles, machine guns, mortars, and light and heavy artillery.
Equipped to every regiment-level combat unit.
Under His Highness's strategizing, the Han Kingdom and the National Defense Force are changing every day. I believe that if Your Excellency the Count stays in Han Kingdom for a few more years, he will slowly adapt to the speed of development here."
"General, the officers of the advisory group and I all believe that the National Defense Forces are a combat-effective force. It's just a pity that we were not able to follow the National Defense Forces to the front line and witness the process of this war."
"Your Excellency, I hope you can understand that neither your emperor nor His Royal Highness the King of Han want the German officer corps to appear on the frontline battlefield. That may not be good for both Germany and Han."
"The United Kingdom and Italy are very dissatisfied with your country's occupation of Argentina, and public opinion in Germany is also very unfavorable to your country. This time His Majesty William I appointed me to meet with His Majesty the King of your country, precisely to coordinate the relationship between your country and Europe.
General Wu, although the war is dominated by soldiers, the decision-making power of the war is not in the hands of the soldiers. I also hope that the general and His Majesty the King of your country can understand Germany's position."
Han occupied Argentina, and anti-China sentiment in European countries intensified. Several European countries, led by the United Kingdom and Italy, were very dissatisfied with Germany's close economic and military ties with Han. Several governments successively exerted diplomatic pressure on Germany and forced Germany to cut off ties with China.
The exchanges between Han Dynasty and Han Dynasty joined the ranks of blocking Han Dynasty.
Britain and Italy could make a decisive decision to sever relations with Han and impose a naval blockade on Han, but it was difficult for Germany to make this determination.
There is a surplus of German industrial capital, and many domestic economic and industrial fields in Han have German investment. In return for Germany selling industrial technology and sending skilled workers to work in Han, Han exports grain, meat and other products to Germany.
The price of processed food is on average 20% lower than that exported to other European countries.
Germany lacked overseas colonies that could import food, and local food imports were in the hands of Tsarist Russia, a potential enemy. Based on the likes and dislikes of the British alone, it was really not worth the gain to sever Germany's ties with Han. Therefore, the German Emperor Wilhelm I authorized Gore to
Count Tribe hoped to use the influence of the German officer corps on the Wehrmacht to persuade Li Mingyuan to compromise and take the initiative to coordinate with Britain to resolve the Argentine dispute.
"No one in the National Defense Force wants to be an enemy of the British, but the conflict between Han and Argentina must be resolved through war.
Just like the war between Germany and France, only by defeating one country can the other country rise."
Wu Fengdian was noncommittal about Gottlieb's explanation. He was only responsible for escorting them to Chang'an (Cordoba), and the rest of the matter had nothing to do with him...
"Your Highness, the second phase of the Xing'an County Industrial Base construction plan has been initially completed. The Sansanli Heavy Industry Plant Area from Xing'an County to the Guayba River has been completed, including a smelter, a forging plant, a pig iron plant, and a Besse Ma Steel Plant.
Shi steel factory, pressed steel factory, rail factory, iron goods factory, wrought iron factory, machine factory, iron foundry, blacksmithing factory, nail factory, Yangzhou arsenal, gunpowder factory, needle and nail factory, the first gun factory, artillery shell factory,
There are a total of eighteen large-scale steel and military industrial plants, as well as hundreds of related supporting factories.
Hanhua 1878 rifle, ammunition, and rifle production lines realize localized production.
The improvement of the production lines of 55mm mortars, Gatling guns, 65mm small mountain guns, 75mm field guns and other weapons is in progress, and it is expected that it will take two years to reach the average level of Western countries..."
In the conference hall, an official in charge of heavy industry and weapons production reported.
"Using the production line manufactured by the United Steel Group to produce 55mm mortars", how much more does the cost of weapons such as Gatling guns cost than that of European powers?
"The cost is 30% higher than the UK, 25% higher than France, and 20% higher than Germany."
"Temporarily reduce the number of weapons production lines purchased from the United Steel Group. The machine guns, artillery and other heavy weapons that the National Defense Force needs to replace will be in a ratio of 7:3. After the British maritime blockade is lifted, 70% of the heavy weapons will be purchased from Germany and France, and 30% will be purchased from Germany and France.
Use local imitation weapons production lines and original weapons production lines for production."
"Master Hu came back from his last mission to Europe and told me that the merchants of the Austrian Empire are also willing to do business with the Han Dynasty. Their weapons and some production technologies can be sold to us."
"The Austro-Hungarian Empire," Li Mingyuan thought for a while, then continued, "There are many Austro-Hungarian businessmen in the new capital. They sent people to contact them and said that Han was willing to do business with them until South America recovered.
After peace, the Han government will send representatives to the Austro-Hungarian Empire for inspection first, and they will discuss cooperation and transactions after the inspection."
"Yes, Your Highness, I will go back and make arrangements right away."
After dealing with matters related to the construction of the United Steel Group, his eyes turned to a stack of official memorials on the desk. Just from looking at the cover of the memorials, Li Mingyuan knew that most of the contents were about the British maritime blockade, local agriculture, and animal husbandry.
Light industry and other industries suffered losses.
There was no way. At this time, Britain was the well-deserved world hegemon. It affected the British interests in Argentina, and Han could only bear the losses caused by it. However, the negative impact of the British naval blockade became more and more serious. Li Mingyuan
It is also time to lead Han State out of the blockade as soon as possible and find a proper solution.