At the mouth of the La Plata River, several warships with thick smoke and piercing whistles sailed on the water.
Surrounding the warship are various types of ships of different sizes, including small inland river steamers with a tonnage of thirty to fifty, ocean transport ships with a total tonnage of more than three thousand tons, wooden fishing boats powered by sails, and steam-powered boats.
Powered large ocean-going trawler.
Several large and formidable-looking ironclad warships sailed into the middle of the fleet, causing some disruption to the ships in the surrounding waters. However, when the sailors on board saw the rows of red dragon flags hanging high on the warships, they felt in their hearts
Immediately, there was some understanding. At first, there was some chaos caused by the warships breaking into the fleet, but soon under the control of each sailor, normal order was restored.
The Paraná River basin area includes the three countries of Han and Paraguay. The ships sailing at the entrances of La Plata are not only Han, but also warships from Paraguay, the Republic of Brazil and even the British can often be seen.
In order to resolve war disputes, after the Second Argentine War in 1879, China, Paraguay, and the Republic of Brazil signed the "Free Navigation Agreement on the Southern Paraná River" with the United Kingdom.
The right to freely navigate and do business in the Lana River basin. Correspondingly, Han merchant ships also gained the right to enter Paraguay and the waters controlled by the Republic of Brazil. However, due to the insistence of the Han government, the right to free navigation in the Paraná River was
It is limited to civilian merchant ships, and warships from other countries have no right to enter the Paraná River Basin unless they obtain the consent of the Han government.
The Han government's persistence won the understanding of the British side. From mid-1879 to the end of 1888, for about ten years, not a single British warship passed through Han waters without authorization and sailed into the inland basin of the Paraná River.
However, at the end of May 1889, the situation changed dramatically. King Lopez Jr. of Paraguay died unexpectedly, and the domestic situation in Paraguay was out of control.
As a result of this collapse, ordinary Paraguayan people, businessmen, and even foreign expatriates were attacked and detained by local armed personnel.
In order to protect its expatriates, the British government issued a note to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on June 3, 1889, requesting that warships be sent through the estuary of the Rio de la Plata and into the inland waters of the Paraná River to protect lives and property from major threats.
of national expatriates.
The British government's request was reasonable, but considering the importance of the Parana River waterway, the Han government politely rejected the British request.
On June 10, 1889, after seven days of emergency consultations, the British government made a certain compromise and agreed that the Chinese navy would come forward to pick up and evacuate British expatriates stranded in Paraguay, and British warships were allowed to sail from the entrance to La Plata to the sea.
It anchored 20 nautical miles east to receive the evacuated foreigners.
After the Chinese and British parties reached a consensus on the issue of evacuation of expatriates stranded in Paraguay, the originally busy Paraná River waterway became even more lively. From day to night every day, there were not only a large number of ships carrying expatriates and businessmen from Western countries, but also
Under the escort of the Chinese navy, they sailed out of the waters of the Paraná River, and a larger number of Paraguayan businessmen and dignitaries carrying all their wealth fled the Paraguayan-controlled areas on transport ships from the Han, British and other countries.
Paraguay had a total population of 520,000 before the war. Except for a small number of upper-class people who defected to the Han Dynasty, a higher proportion of Paraguayan businessmen, landowners, and nobles all chose to leave the chaotic Paraguay and took the property accumulated in Paraguay with them.
Start a new life in Canada, Mexico, the United States and even Europe.
The increasing number of evacuated people increased the transportation pressure in the Paraná River Basin. In the nearly one month after June 1889, the number of navigation accidents in the Paraná River Basin increased 10 times compared with usual times because the waterways were congested and the ships
The number of sailor confrontations, fights and other incidents caused by collisions and other reasons exceeded 40 for the first time.
Water security in the Paraná River waters has been affected by the Paraguayan Civil War. The Han River Guard Fleet has deployed additional gunboats of various types to strengthen the security and management of domestic waterways. Sailors and ordinary fishermen who make a living in the shipping industry have learned about the recent
After the situation changed, I spent a little more time thinking and paid more attention to the safety of water navigation.
The Paraná River is the most important water transportation artery in the Han Kingdom. As far as the Han Kingdom is concerned, its strategic significance is more important than the Yangtze River's strategic significance to the Jiangnan region.
The Parana-La Plata River is the second largest river in South America, with a total length of 4,100 kilometers starting from its source, the Parana Iba River. Its tributaries include Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and China, with a drainage area of more than 400 square kilometers.
Thousands of square kilometers.
The Paraná-La Plata River is in South America. Its basin length is second only to the Amazon River, and it is the thirteenth longest river in the world. The scenery along the coast is pleasant, starting from the source of the Grande River and the Paranaiba River.
At the intersection, it flows southwest through central and southern Brazil to Guaira, then passes between Brazil and Paraguay, passes through Corrientes and enters the Pampas Plains, first flows southwest and then southeast with
When the Uruguay River joins, it is called the Rio de la Plata, and finally empties into the Atlantic Ocean.
The Paraná River includes hundreds of tributaries, large and small, and the more than 4 million square kilometers of watershed it flows through are the most fertile areas in South America. Crops are abundant along the coast, with corn, soybeans, sorghum, wheat, waterways and other crops growing luxuriantly.
Cattle, horses, sheep, alpacas, and Wannan black pigs, white-haired domestic pigs, and wild boars introduced and raised by Han residents from the mainland (according to different climates in the local area, the types of domestic pigs and wild boars introduced are also different, including South China wild boars, North China wild boars
Wild boar, Mongolian wild boar, Yunnan dwarf black pig, etc.) and other livestock are countless.
It can be said that the existence of the Paraná River is like paving a railway with a total mileage of more than 100,000 kilometers for the Han Kingdom, creating the most favorable conditions for economic connections and communication between various parts of the Han Kingdom.
Moreover, because of the large width of the Paraná River (the widest point is 290 kilometers and the narrowest point of 20 kilometers) and its vast area (the Yangtze River basin covers an area of 1.8 million square kilometers), ocean-going ships of 10,000 tons can be allowed to sail to inland waters.
600 kilometers away, and for the local area, the general tonnage of ships is only a few hundred tons, and for civilian ships of one or two thousand tons, sailing in the wide inland waters of the Paraná River is like sailing on the sea.
Encounter less difficult to pass situations.
The various direct and potential strategic functions of the Paraná River are far more important than the 100,000 kilometers of railways. Due to the Paraguayan Civil War, the conditions for the passage of the Paraná River waters have been hindered to some extent. Those who make a living from the shipping industry
The local people still insist on going to sea for transportation and fishing.
And Li Mingyuan, who holds a high position and controls the overall development of the local area, is even less likely to remain indifferent to the current water security situation in the Paraná River.
"Your Majesty, this is the ship navigation management record of the Paraná River estuary in the past month. Please take a look."
In the cabin of the 3,500-ton armored cruiser Pioneer, Mei Ruiying, director-general of the Ministry of Railways and Transportation Development, handed over a thick record book and said respectfully.
"I will read the contents of the record book later when I have time. Now you can give us a brief introduction to the public security management situation in the Paraná River Basin."
Li Mingyuan put the record book aside and said.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Mei Ruiying lowered his head and glanced at the several people standing in the cabin, and explained: "In June 1889, there were a total of 127 security incidents of various types in the Paraná River Basin, of which 81 were local civil security management incidents and 46 were foreign-related incidents.
Public security management incidents.
Among the 46 foreign-related security management incidents, 23 involved Paraguay, 6 involved British expatriates, 7 water security incidents involved foreign nationals from other countries, and 10 security incidents involved American fishermen.
Among the 127 water security incidents that occurred in June, the water security incidents that occurred between local private citizens were less harmful, while the foreign-related water security incidents were relatively more harmful. Among them, the illegal fishing by American fishing boats in the offshore waters of southern China
This behavior is the most harmful and has the greatest negative impact on water security in local inland rivers and offshore waters."
"The illegal fishing activities of Americans on the Atlantic coast of their homeland have not been effectively controlled?"
Li Mingyuan frowned and said dissatisfied.
"Cracking down on illegal fishing by foreign fishing boats in local coastal waters has always been the responsibility of the inland river and offshore security fleets. In 1885, through the mutual cooperation of local fishermen and offshore security fleets, the phenomenon of illegal fishing by foreign fishing boats began to be effectively curbed. However, in 1889
Since the beginning of this year, according to the central government's combat readiness order, the main ships of the inland river and offshore security fleets have been transferred to inland waters to carry out weapons, ammunition and material transportation tasks. The La Plata River estuary basin and the central and southern coastal waters have insufficient security forces. At the same time,
Coupled with the Paraguayan Civil War, there was a window of water security management in the Paraná River Basin when foreign boats increased, so the problem of illegal fishing by foreign fishing boats, which had been basically solved earlier, reappeared."
"Didn't your Transportation Management Department and the Coast Guard Fleet think of a way to deal with it?"
"Your Majesty, the Offshore Guard Fleet has reported the problem of illegal fishing by U.S. fishing vessels to the Department of the Navy. However, after the Department of the Navy discussed and proposed several response plans, it still did not have a good curbing effect."
The Offshore Guard Fleet is part of the Navy, and it is within the Navy's purview to combat illegal fishing by foreign fishing boats in the domestic offshore waters. Therefore, after Li Mingyuan asked, Chief of the Navy Chen Sen first explained: "American fishing boats have experienced law enforcement in 1885.
After the crackdown, lessons were learned. According to the illegal fishing incidents reported by the offshore guard fleet, since February 1889, American fishing boats active in Mar del Plata, Blanca Blanca and the offshore waters of Patagonia in the southernmost part of the mainland.
, are all medium and large ocean-going trawlers equipped with light self-defense weapons. The tonnage of fishing boats is generally more than 2,000 tons, and they are generally equipped with old-fashioned breech-loading guns. Some fishing boats of more than 3,000 tons are even equipped with Gatling hand-cranked machine guns.
The maritime security force in the central and southern coastal waters of the mainland is temporarily empty. Offshore security tasks are mainly undertaken by armed fishing boats that go out to sea for fishing activities. However, the tonnage of local offshore trawlers is generally less than 1,000 tons, and the weapons they are equipped with are old-fashioned muzzle-loading guns that have been eliminated in the early days.
In the armed confrontation with American fishing boats, local fishing boats were not only at a disadvantage in terms of tonnage, sailing speed, etc., but they were also inferior to American fishing boats in terms of weapons and equipment (more than 80% of local fishing boats are old-fashioned wooden boats that have been eliminated
sailing ships, and to a lesser extent steamships built in the last ten years).”
"The mainland and the United States have basically cut off all economic and trade exchanges. The US government has always been unkind to the local government. This time the US fishing boats returned to the offshore waters in the central and southern part of the mainland, it was not without the connivance and encouragement of the US government.
"
The young fishermen and sailors who engage in fishing and hunting activities in the local coastal waters basically belong to the navy reserve militia. They also have the right to carry some old-fashioned guns for self-defense every time they drive a fishing boat out to sea. However, due to different national conditions, local young fishermen every
There are limits on the number of guns and ammunition that can be carried on a trip to sea. Unlike American ocean-going fishing vessels controlled by large shipping companies, they can be equipped with some advanced models of muskets, and even hand-cranked machine guns and artillery.
In terms of fishing boat weapons and equipment, American fishing boats that engage in illegal fishing activities have more advantages than local fishing boats. Regarding this point, after listening to Chen Sen’s explanation, Li Mingyuan quickly understood the difficulties faced by the navy and local fishermen.
"It is indeed difficult to completely curb the illegal fishing activities of American fishing boats when fishing boats do not have advantages in terms of tonnage, speed, weapons and equipment."
Li Mingyuan slowed down his tone and partially agreed with Chen Sen's point of view: "However, even if there are objective difficulties, U.S. fishing boats cannot be allowed to roam freely in the mainland's offshore waters. The hydrology, geography and other conditions of the mainland's offshore waters are national strategic secrets.
If the Americans use the action of fishing for marine fish to measure the hydrological conditions of the mainland's offshore waters, it will cause major damage to the mainland's maritime security.
This situation is not impossible to happen,
In South America, the Americans are second only to the British in their hostility to the native land. Now the Americans are busy arguing with the British for dominance in South America, and they cannot take care of the native land for the time being. However, once the Americans are freed up, they can focus on
On the mainland, when the time comes, the local government will face far more pressure than ever before.
Therefore, for the sake of domestic maritime security, decisive measures must be taken to solve the problem of illegal fishing by U.S. fishing vessels."
After Li Mingyuan finished speaking, he turned his attention to Navy Chief Chen Sendao: "When we were discussing the purchase of a new armored cruiser some time ago, didn't the Navy reflect on the insufficient ocean combat performance of the 1,350-ton Yongxing-class light cruiser? Now American fishing boats are operating in offshore waters
The activities are rampant. The six Yongxing-class light cruisers remaining in the naval fleet do not have to wait for the Orlando-class armored cruiser to return and withdraw from active service. From now on, the six Yongxing-class light cruisers will be transferred out of the navy's main fleet to
Carry out security patrols in offshore waters to combat illegal fishing by foreign fishing boats.”
"All six Yongxing-class light cruisers were transferred from the main fleet?"
"Yes, all six Yongxing-class light cruisers under the First Fleet will be transferred away from the first-line fleet. The other six Yongxing-class light cruisers distributed in other sea areas will still be placed under the name of the Navy's first-line fleet."
Li Mingyuan nodded and said seriously: "Not all of the six Yongxing-class light cruisers transferred out will be assigned to the offshore guard fleet. In view of the increasing pressure on water security in the mainland's inland rivers and offshore waters, I plan to learn from the experience of European countries and establish a maritime fleet.
The police force is responsible for maritime inspection and security tasks,
The Maritime Police Force is coordinated and commanded by the Police Department (established in 1888) and the Naval Reserve Armed Command.
After the six Yongxing-class light cruisers were transferred out to combat illegal fishing activities by foreign fishing boats, two were selected and delivered to the command of the newly established maritime police force, and the remaining four were delivered to the offshore security fleet.
The purpose of establishing the water security force is to share the task pressure faced by the offshore security fleet. After the establishment of the water security force, the water security force will be responsible for issues involving water security management, inspections, smuggling investigations and other aspects of inland rivers and offshore waters, and the offshore security fleet will
The main focus will be on offshore defense operations and cultivating qualified reserve personnel for the navy."
The Police Department was established last year, and the water security responsibilities related to the Police Department were transferred to the Water Police Force. This was within Chen Sen's expectation. Therefore, after hearing Li Mingyuan's decision, Chen Sen promptly expressed his support: "The Navy
The first priority is to guard the safety of domestic maritime waters. It is not a long-term solution for the offshore security fleet to perform water security duties. Transferring water security responsibilities to the water police force will have great benefits for the formal development of the offshore security fleet.
The Navy agrees with the plan to split water security responsibilities."
"The offshore waters of the southwest Atlantic and the waters of Patagonia in the southern part of the mainland are rich in fishery resources. Last year, the number of tuna, cod, sailfish, sharks, whales, king crabs and other marine fishery products caught in the mainland exceeded 46,000 tons.
The sale and export of fishery products brought nearly 6 million Han yuan in fiscal revenue to the central government (equivalent to 3.2 million taels of Kuping silver, accounting for about 6% of the Han Dynasty's fiscal revenue in 1888.). Chen believes that in order to protect the local offshore
To ensure that the fishery resources in the sea, especially in the Patagonian fishing grounds, are not infringed upon by illegal fishing by foreign fishing boats, part of the funds from fiscal taxes on marine fishery products should be used to order special police vessels and vessels from several large local shipyards.
Large offshore fishing vessels.”
Mui Ruiying, Director-General of the Ministry of Railways and Transport Development, followed up Chen Sen’s words and suggested.
"The establishment of a maritime police force is urgent, and the fishery resources in the offshore waters of central and southern China also urgently need to be protected."
Li Mingyuan paused for a moment and continued: "Xinghe Shipyard's first 5,000-ton ocean-going ship has experienced two ocean voyages, and all technical indicators have met the requirements for ocean transportation tasks. When we arrive at Xinghe Shipyard, we will personally inspect the local first
After building a self-built 5,000-ton ship, we then proposed to Xinghe Shipyard to customize a maritime police ship suitable for local offshore security, as well as a large trawler suitable for fishing in Patagonian waters.”…