The arrogance started from Chinatown

Chapter 795 Battleship Killer

Americans during this period did not know much about sea power.

They know the importance of commercial routes, the value of naval bases, and are equally concerned about technological development.

But that's it.

As for the specific elements of global vision, strategic level and maritime power, there is little knowledge about them.

Even in the United States, export trade only accounts for 15% of the country's economic income, while the domestic economy accounts for 85%. Many people think that it is enough to just develop domestically.

Therefore, the United States has always pursued isolationism, and even did not pay much attention to the navy and did not invest much.

The purpose of the US Navy is to prevent others from blocking its ports and to protect its merchant ships from being robbed.

So Chen Zhengwei needs to correct some of their ideas.

"The UK accounts for 25% of the world's global trade, with exports totaling $30 billion per year!"

"The total annual exports of the United States are only $7 million. In the past, they were mainly agricultural products, but in recent years, industrial products and textiles have gradually increased."

"With the development of technology, the market for global trade has been expanding, growing by 7% every year."

"And the U.S. domestic economic growth is 6% per year."

Chen Zhengwei, holding a cigar in his mouth, walked to the wine cabinet and took out a bottle of whiskey and a few glasses.

"What can you tell from these data?"

"The British accumulate wealth faster!" James Garfield said thank you after taking the cup.

"Yes, they make money faster and are willing to invest in their fleets, so their fleet technology is developing faster and we are left far behind!"

“More importantly, international trade is the future!”

"Just look at San Francisco. The reason why San Francisco has developed so fast is because of international trade!"

"If we could capture the same share of international trade as the British, $30 billion a year, that would be half the value of the U.S. economy today."

"Our economy went from $50 billion to $75 billion! You all know what that means!"

"More finance, more infrastructure, more military spending... We can even give civil servants a pay raise... Why are civil servants so corrupt now? Because they want money! If the government gives enough money, there will naturally be fewer corrupt people."

Chen Zhengwei knew that James Garfield was an idealistic man and he had never been fond of corruption.

Although he collected his Panama Canal Company stock...

But he has never liked other people being corrupt.

Talking about money with people who like money, talking about promotion with people who like power, and talking about ideals with people who have ideals, this has always been Chen Zhengwei's style.

"And international trade has another value, which is to consume our excess productivity!"

"Like from 1873 to 1879, when industrial overcapacity led to a six-year long depression! Our unemployment rate reached 14%, and millions of families were starving."

"James, do you want that to happen again?"

"If there are enough dumping markets, the excess products can be dumped there, so that factories will not shut down and workers will not lose their jobs."

"So now all countries are constantly scrambling to grab land and expand their overseas markets. Africans are almost going crazy because they have realized this!"

“So I found a way to get the Panama Canal in my hands!”

Chen Zhengwei talked directly about the economy rather than the military, because the economy is the easiest to convince Americans.

"Is it for this reason that you want to seize Spain's colonies?" James Garfield knew Chen Zhengwei's real purpose.

Although what Chen Zhengwei said made sense, it was impossible to make him change his mind so quickly.

"Mr. Chen, war is no trivial matter! We may not be a match for the Spanish!" The Minister of the Navy finally spoke at this time.

He hopes Chen Zhengwei can persuade Congress to increase funding for the navy and accelerate its development.

From this point of view, he likes Chen Zhengwei's point of view very much.

But it is clear that the US Navy does not have the strength to go to war with Spain now.

"No, we can sink their fleet in a short time! Otherwise, why would I ask you to come here? Do you think I have nothing to do?" Chen Zhengwei said, lying on the sofa with his legs crossed.

Upon hearing this, the Navy Minister's expression froze.

"Mr. Chen, can I ask how you do this?"

"Of course, I wanted to show it to you! I'll take you to see it tomorrow!"

"Tonight, I will talk to you about the issue of sea power, so that our President can understand why we should fight and why the United States should go out!"

"James, you are the president! A country and a government cannot only focus on the present, let alone live in the present. If that's the case, what's the use of you? You should lead your people and the development of this country, and you should be responsible for the people of this country!"

"Think about it, which one do you prefer, the 21st President James Garfield, who was complacent and missed the opportunity for American development, or the 21st President James Garfield, who led the United States to become a world power and created the future?"

"You are such a devil!" James Garfield couldn't help but speak.

"As everyone knows, I am a devout believer!" Chen Zhengwei stretched out his hand and grabbed his neck...Where is my cross?

It seems like I threw it somewhere... Never mind, if it’s gone, it’s gone.

The three of them then talked until ten o'clock in the evening, when James Garfield and William Chandler left.

James Garfield was not in a hurry to make a decision, and he couldn't make a decision on this matter.

"What do you think?" James Garfield asked the Secretary of the Navy on the way back.

"I think he is right!" William Chandler sat up straight.

He didn't understand anything else, he only knew one thing:

If we follow what Chen Zhengwei said, we need to increase the military expenditure for the navy, order new warships, expand the navy, and his warships can be deployed all over the world. So no matter what, Chen Zhengwei is right.

Even if he did not go to war with Spain, he was prepared to publicize what Chen Zhengwei said to enhance the importance of the navy.

The next morning, Chen Zhengwei had someone pick up the president, the secretary of the navy, and their team and took them to the San Francisco dock to board the ship.

When they saw that they were about to board the ship, the President and the Secretary of the Navy guessed what they were going to see today and immediately felt very excited.

An hour after leaving San Francisco, the ship arrived at an area in the north where a modified target ship and ten torpedo launchers had been placed.

"This target ship has been modified and has 24-inch thick armor! It can withstand the best artillery available today!" Guan Qianbo introduced.

Upon hearing this, Navy Secretary William Chandler's expression changed.

Because now only Britain has armored ships with 24-inch armor.

As far as he knew, the armored ships that Spain had just launched had only 17 inches of armor.

Moreover, British battleships used composite armor, while Spanish battleships used iron armor.

"I'm really looking forward to what I can see today!" William Chandler said to Chen Zhengwei with a smile, his eyes full of anticipation.

Everyone else was looking at the torpedo launchers. They looked like small gunboats, but they were obviously not. There were no cannons on the decks, but other equipment. Many people guessed that they were torpedoes.

After all, torpedoes are not a secret, and all countries are researching them.

The performance of the torpedo is the secret.

Chen Zhengwei nodded to Guan Qianbo, who immediately went to inform the flag bearer, and then the torpedo launchers in the distance dispersed and spread directly five kilometers away.

"What is the speed of these ships?" William Chandler took the opportunity to inquire.

In fact, Chen Zhengwei had known for a long time that his boat was fast, and he had also seen these small boats in the information for a long time.

At this moment, he immediately noticed the speed and flexibility of these ships, and immediately asked for data.

"24 sections!" Chen Zhengwei had already taken it out and had no intention of hiding it.

"What if it's a large battleship?" William Chandler was shocked when he heard the speed. The speed was too amazing.

"Section 22!"

Someone from the navy came up to William Chandler and said, "The cruiser we ordered from them a few months ago only has a speed of 16 knots."

"You didn't say you wanted 22 knots! And 16 knots is already the top standard in all countries now!" Chen Zhengwei turned his head and scared the navy man.

"My ears are very good, so don't say bad things about me when you go back, I will hear it!" Chen Zhengwei pointed to his ears.

At this time, after the torpedo launchers in the distance dispersed, six of them arrived at a position of 3,000 meters and stopped.

After a while, everyone used binoculars to see that something seemed to have gone into the water from several ships, and several white lines appeared on the sea!
"It's a torpedo! So far?" The navy men finally confirmed it, and then were shocked by the range.

"3000 meters, that's as far as a cannon can reach!"

The maximum range of today's torpedoes is only a few hundred meters, which is simply not enough to reach such a long range. Moreover, the larger the amount of ammunition, the shorter the range.

Then everyone watched as white lines passed around the target ship...

"3000 meters... Even the cannons depend on luck, and the same goes for the torpedoes!" Chen Zhengwei glanced at Guan Qianbo, then said with a smile.

Although it was a bit imperfect that we didn't hit the target, the main purpose was to demonstrate the range of the torpedo.

The six launch ships then approached to a distance of 2000 meters and launched again.

boom! boom!
Two huge waves suddenly appeared on the side of the target ship in the distance.

A torpedo ship has two sets of torpedo tubes, each set consisting of two tubes.

But it is divided into two directions.

That is to say, only two torpedoes could be launched on one side at a time, and 12 of the 2 torpedoes hit the target, which made Chen Zhengwei look much better.

Moreover, through the telescope, it can be seen that although the target ship has not sunk yet, its armor has begun to deform and cracks have appeared.

The torpedo launcher then moved closer to 1500 meters and fired again.

Boom boom boom!

It was visible to the naked eye that the target ship began to tilt and then slowly sank.

"A range of 3000 meters, capable of sinking an armored ship..." The navy men's eyes widened, and they kept whispering and communicating quickly.

Plus the speed and agility of those small boats.

This is simply a battleship killer!
"Mr. Chen, the navy needs this!" William Chandler's eyes were full of light.

"I think you want everything, and you have everything in your dreams!" Chen Zhengwei said with a smile.

It's not that the torpedo can't be sold, but he doesn't plan to sell it now.

The most critical thing is the steam propulsion system of these torpedoes, which will take other countries several years to develop.

Half an hour later, the target ship disappeared into the sea.

At this time, the minds of the navy were all on the torpedoes, and they couldn't wait to fly over and grab a few of them.

　A lot of people said I was making excuses before… No, if I wanted to take a day off I would have taken it.

　　I was really addicted to reading the book. I wanted to write a chapter in the middle of the night, but I ended up reading until noon the next day.

　　Most authors love reading. For example, the reason I started writing books was… because I couldn’t find any books to read.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)