The arrogance started from Chinatown

Chapter 796 The outcome was determined from the beginning

"China has a lot of good stuff. His warships are much faster than ours, and he has more advanced steam engines than the British."

"There are torpedoes. Various countries are now researching them. We are also making them. However, our torpedoes can only reach a maximum of 700 meters. In order to reach this distance, the amount of gunpowder filling will be very small... Our navy needs this."

After William Chandler returned, he began to lobby James Garfield.

He felt that if anyone could convince Chen Zhengwei, it would be Mr. President, and as everyone knew, Mr. President had a good relationship with China's Chen.

"Why can't we figure it out? Is it because of smokeless gunpowder? Now we have it too!" asked James Garfield.

He knew that smokeless gunpowder was very powerful, so he had this guess in his mind.

William Chandler looked at another person, Brigadier General Sicard, the Director of the Ordnance Department.

The Ordnance Bureau is responsible for the research, development and equipment of shipborne artillery, various types of ammunition, fire control systems and torpedoes.

"No, torpedoes are different from shells. They are not launched through primers..." Commodore Sicard explained immediately.

"Their torpedo propulsion system must have used brand new technology to achieve this."

James Garfield thought for a moment and asked back: "Why does he always have advanced technology in his hands? From gunpowder to medicine, to cars and torpedoes..."

"There is also a steam engine!" William Chandler reminded.

"Well, there's also the steam engine. There are so many companies and so many laboratories in the United States, why are all these new things here?"

No one could answer James Garfield's question, and they wanted to know why.

"By the way, I just saw a huge telescope on their ship, and someone was observing the target ship through that device... I suspect it is a more advanced observation device!" Brigadier General Sicard said again.

There was a two-meter-long extended telescope fixed on the torpedo launcher, which was very conspicuous and they also noticed it.

Then the room fell silent, and James Garfield asked, "Can we win?"

"The Spaniards are completely defenseless against torpedoes. We will definitely win!" William Chandler said immediately.

James Garfield then asked William Chandler to leave and sent a telegram to Washington.

Going to war with a country is a very serious matter... He has to consider the public opinion within the US government and the public opinion among the people.

And he needs to convince a lot of people.

Today is the Gilded Age in the United States. Chen Zhengwei's words are very moving, but the United States' own economic development is also very rapid.

He also prefers to prioritize his own development...

And isolationist thinking cannot be changed immediately.

But it was also difficult for him to refuse Chen Zhengwei. Even though he had a good relationship with Chen Zhengwei now, if he really refused Chen Zhengwei, who knows what the other party might do.

This is also the most troublesome point... the mad dog-like deterrent that Chen Zhengwei has always brought to people.

Everyone should think about the consequences before rejecting him.

After exchanging dozens of telegrams with Washington, James Garfield and William Chandler met Chen Zhengwei again.

"Have you decided?" Chen Zhengwei asked with a smile.

"I need you to convince me!" James Garfield said with a smile. "You know, I need to convince a lot of people about this matter, and I also need to consider international public opinion."

"There is no international public opinion. Countries now have no energy to pay attention to what is happening here. The British are busy ruling Egypt, the French are busy with Tunisia, and the Germans are paying attention to Europe's internal affairs..." Chen Zhengwei waved his hand and repeated what he had said to Lin Changning that day.

"As long as we sink their fleet as quickly as possible, the Spaniards can at most cry in front of the international community... They cry every day and every night, can they make me cry to death?" Chen Zhengwei said sarcastically.

"So what should we do?" asked James Garfield.

"You should express your concern for the plight of the Cuban people!" Chen Zhengwei said immediately.

"The United States was once a British colony, so the American people sympathize with the plight of the Cuban people... The Spanish should soon freeze my assets in Cuba. Then let the newspapers publish more stories about the tragic plight of the Cuban people to make them more sympathetic! Then express your concern and sympathy!"

Chen Zhengwei threw a box of cigars to the other party and took out one and put it in his mouth.

This is the public opinion war that Chen Zhengwei is best at.

"On the one hand, this will make the following events logical... and it will also be a signal to the Spanish. What do you think they will think?"

"Then we will mobilize the navy to assemble in the southeast direction. At the same time, I will mobilize the Warrior and Palmer frigates and some torpedo launchers to depart from San Francisco and round Cape Horn..."

"The Spanish will think we are going to start a war!" James Garfield said immediately.

The intention is too obvious.

"That's right! Cuba is Spain's most important colony today. They will mobilize the navy from their homeland to provide support..." Chen Zhengwei said with a smile.

"The only things Spain can offer right now are those 11 steel warships, seven of which are in Spain, two in Cuba, one in Puerto Rico, and one in the Philippines... They will mobilize three or four more main battleships and lead some wooden steam warships from the last century to Cuba..."

When Chen Zhengwei said this, William Chandler's face looked a little strange, and then he agreed with it deeply.

Because the US Navy also has a large number of such wooden steam warships that should have been eliminated long ago.

"When they were about to arrive in Cuba, the naval bases in Havana and Santiago were suddenly bombed by the Free Army... They couldn't get any supplies, and then we attacked at this time, blocking them in the port... Sink them!"

"Meanwhile my ships will attack the Spanish fleet in Manila."

"More than 70% of the Spanish main battleships have been destroyed. They will surrender in just one day!"

"Without the main fleet, and without the colonies... Spanish ships won't even be able to leave the Mediterranean!"

When Chen Zhengwei was halfway through his speech, James Garfield sat up straight and looked at William Chandler. The Secretary of the Navy nodded seriously.

Chen Zhengwei's words gave him a chill down his spine... If he followed Chen Zhengwei's thinking, he couldn't imagine any chance Spain would have for a comeback.

This plan doesn't sound complicated, but it is highly feasible.

He finally understood how the army felt at that time.

This guy is a war genius!
The outcome of the war was decided before it even began.

Unless the Spaniards were really blessed by God and Chen Zhengwei's ship encountered a natural disaster on the way to the east coast... otherwise the Spaniards were doomed!

While James was thinking about something else, the Cuban Freedom Army was indeed related to Chen Zhengwei.

And Free Panama, and before that the Black Panthers in Louisiana… it was exactly the same tactics.

This guy is really stirring up trouble everywhere and is a big troublemaker.

Although Britain was also a well-known troublemaker, he had never seen anyone so keen on fanning the flames and provoking a war.

Fortunately, after I talked to him at the beginning of the year, the situation in the United States is now much calmer.

"It sounds like you're ready!" James Garfield sighed.

"In fact, I will win even without you! Then you will be more passive! And I have worked hard for the development of the United States, but I don't have the power of the president!" Chen Zhengwei curled his lips.

He just doesn't want to break the current honeymoon period with the US government, and he always remembers his goal: he is an American and the United States belongs to him.

Of course, we cannot fight a war like this ourselves, but have to let the United States do it.

If James really rejected him, then he would have a different look.

"You have more power than the president!" James Garfield told the truth.

"Okay, you've convinced me! I'll help you with this!"

"It's not to help me, it's to help America, it's for America's future!" Chen Zhengwei corrected: "Mr. Chandler, the wine cabinet is over there, we should raise a toast to celebrate!"

The Navy Minister could only get up and go to the cabinet to get some wine and glasses.

"Let's toast to the future of America!" Chen Zhengwei raised his glass and clinked it with the two men.

"By the way, what do you think should be done with Cuba?" asked James Garfield.

"We are different from Spain. We are a country that advocates freedom... Let them establish an independent country, and then control Cuba by controlling the economy and politicians. This is more in line with our values ​​and interests!" Chen Zhengwei shook the wine in the glass and drank it down with his head tilted back.

"Also, the Navy needs to update some equipment!" James Garfield said, "Don't forget, you are also an American."

"Except torpedoes!" said Chen Zhengwei.

"I thought you needed nickel steel warships and cannons? They are stronger and more corrosion-resistant!"

"I'll have someone send you the relevant information later. The production of this kind of steel is very complicated and the output is not high. I don't even have enough for myself, but I can sell some to you."

"Steam engines are also possible! You can place an order with me to build warships with more than 20 knots!"

"Besides, you will definitely need submachine guns and machine guns!"

"And a bulletproof helmet. You will definitely need that too."

Chen Zhengwei was preparing to have the US government place a large order to sell them more of those less important things, not only to the navy but also to the army.

Moreover, we can design some new warships in the future and let the navy pay for them... and then build them for ourselves after verifying that there are no problems.

"We observed that the ship where you launched the torpedo that day had a large telescope-like device..." said William Chandler.

"That won't work either!" Chen Zhengwei refused decisively.

Hearing this, William Chandler was certain that it must be advanced optical observation equipment, otherwise Chen Zhengwei would not have refused so quickly.

Although he failed to buy torpedoes and optical observation equipment, he was able to buy faster warships and perhaps new cannons.

The Minister of the Navy was very interested in the nickel steel that Chen Zhengwei mentioned.

It turns out that Chen Zhengwei does have a lot of good things in his hands.

After the three of them reached an agreement, they relaxed and continued to talk about Cuba while sitting in the office. Then there was a knock on the office door.

The scholar walked in from outside and bowed slightly to the President and the Secretary of the Navy.

Then he said in English: "Boss, the Spanish army in Cuba has taken control of some of our plantations and announced that it was you who ordered the attack on the Spanish ambassador to the United States, so we are freezing our assets in Cuba..."

Chen Zhengwei grinned, revealing a row of white teeth with a sinister look... a murderous aura emanated from his body.

"We can first protest through diplomatic negotiations!" said James Garfield.

Even if it's just for show.

"You know, I never protest! I always take revenge immediately if I have a grudge!" Chen Zhengwei directly rejected it.

When has Mr. Chen ever protested to anyone?

It was others who protested to him.

The navy is a country’s business card, and revenge is its business card!
(End of this chapter)