Wind Rises in North America 1625

Chapter 157 Linhai Fort (Part )
"Your long-term development plan for Hokkaido is quite ambitious!" After listening to Wei Zhonglong and Qi Yongze's description of their plans for Hokkaido's future development, Wei Yingbin remained silent for a long time. Then he took a deep breath and said with a smile, "If we implement your plan, in a very short time, the forward base you have built in Hokkaido will definitely occupy an overweight proportion in our overall layout, even surpassing the strength of Qiming Island."

"Instructor Wei, is this saying that if we do this, we'll be seen as forming our own faction?" Qi Yongze asked bluntly, "Is it because of Hokkaido's strategic location?"

Hokkaido is located in the northernmost part of the Japanese archipelago. It faces Sakhalin Island to the north across the Soya Strait and is adjacent to Honshu Island to the south across the Tsugaru Strait. It is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and the Sea of ​​Japan, and is known as the "Key to Northern Japan".

In addition, Hokkaido's geographical features also increase its strategic value.

Hokkaido's terrain is high in the middle and low around it. There are mountains and mountain ranges in the middle and vast plains around it.

This terrain not only provides favorable conditions for military defense - by swooping down from the central highlands, the enemy landing on the plains can be easily driven into the sea - but also gives Hokkaido an important military position.

More importantly, the island is adjacent to Japan, Korea and the Ming Dynasty, and it can obtain sufficient population resources with the greatest convenience from any place.

Moreover, there is no shortage of coal and iron mines here, and there are potential advantages for agricultural development, and even scattered gold mines.

If the time travelers had not already considered America as their future development base and invested huge manpower and material resources in its construction and development, it can be said that Hokkaido would be an excellent "entrepreneurship base"!
Now, two time travelers have come up with a development plan outline for Hokkaido, saying that they want to build it into an important strategic frontier support point in the shortest possible time. This is a serious deviation from the original positioning of the decision-making committee.

What is primary and what is secondary? !

"Do you have any idea of ​​setting up your own faction?" Wei Yingbin looked at the two of them with a smile.

"How could we possibly have such an idea?" Qi Yongze and Wei Zhonglong exchanged glances, then shook their heads vigorously. "Our current strength is already very weak. We must unite as one, think and work together, and resolutely oppose any form of liberalism and factionalism. Besides, just the two of us can't manage such a large island, let alone build such a crucial strategic point."

"However, we still believe that increasing investment in Hokkaido will greatly promote both our immigration and commercial interests. The fur resources of the North American west coast, including Keimyō Island, are also found in Hokkaido, Sakhalin Island, and Outer Tohoku. Moreover, these areas are closer to the Ming market. Furthermore, the region also has abundant forest resources that can be utilized and traded to Ming for profit."

"Once Hokkaido is established as a major immigration transit center, we can divide the long and massive immigration project into two phases. First, we will transport a large number of immigrants to Hokkaido, and then allow them to develop and build the island while recuperating, so that they can board the immigration ship in good health. At that time, the mainland can send a professional immigration fleet directly to Hokkaido, eliminating the need to take the extra time to detour along the coast of Ming Dynasty, thus saving time during the immigration process."

"Think about it, the immigration operation we're carrying out now is to gather all available ships and sail them to Guangzhou, then go through Taiwan and Japan, and arrive at our Linhai Fort for a short rest."

"Such a journey would take anywhere from twenty days to a month, leaving many migrants physically and mentally exhausted before even crossing the Pacific. Furthermore, in the waters off Fujian and Guangdong, they faced the possibility of extortion from Zheng Zhilong's increasingly powerful fleet, posing a considerable risk."

"In that case, we might as well try a different plan and reorganize the immigration process. We won't be limited to the south; we can also recruit immigrants from the north, then use traditional Ming Dynasty ships we purchase or hire to transport them and their supplies to Hokkaido. We can then complete the rest of the journey using our own ocean-going vessels." "In the process, we can also utilize the large number of immigrants stranded in Hokkaido to develop and build, gradually turning it into a strategic support point for our mainland operations. From then on, whether we're heading south to conquer Japan and Korea, heading north to occupy Sakhalin and Kamchatka, or west to Outer Manchuria, or even intervening in future Ming-Qing wars, we'll have a solid rear base."

"Well, I think their development plan is very forward-looking and worth our efforts." Han Jian immediately agreed. "Also, we have to consider the Spanish. If they discover the existence of Qiming Island, and if they are stupid and insist on fighting us to the death, mobilizing all the manpower and material resources in Spanish America, and fighting endlessly, it is very likely that we will be unable to immigrate for a long time."

"At this time, we might as well open a branch base in Hokkaido and store a large number of immigrants here first. Once the situation in America has calmed down, we can concentrate all our transportation resources to slowly transport them back. Moreover, transporting immigrants from Hokkaido in the future can save at least a month and save the many immigrants on the ship from suffering."

"I agree with this plan." Chen Rui thought for a moment and then spoke up. "Hokkaido is large enough and has abundant resources. With a little development, it can accommodate more people. Well, there's another important reason. This land can't be left to the Japanese! ... We have to occupy it in advance!"

After hearing this, Wei Yingbin couldn't help but laugh.

During this period, the people of the Ming Dynasty may not have had any feelings towards Japan. At most, they were annoyed by the rampant Japanese pirates during the Jiajing period, but it could not be said that they had too much hatred.

Even when recalling the war to aid Korea and fight against Japan during the Wanli period, there is still a strong sense of superiority.

Your tiny country is not worth mentioning!
However, these time travelers are full of "different" emotions towards Japan. Deep in their hearts, they always have the thought that "a vengeance of a hundred generations can be avenged, why not three generations?", which cannot be expressed in any words.

If there is a chance to teach Japan a lesson, everyone will definitely be excited as if they were injected with chicken blood.

"I agree in principle with this Hokkaido colonization plan," Wei Yingbin said solemnly. "However, this matter needs to be brought to the decision-making committee for review, discussion, and a vote. But I think it shouldn't be a big problem and will most likely be passed."

"I have to admit, after several years of hard work, each of you has grown far beyond expectations. In a remarkably short period of time, you've become capable of independent work, effectively promoting the continued growth and development of our group. With all of us working together, we can surely accomplish something magnificent in this world!"

"To show my support, I'm increasing the number of immigrants I'm going to leave for you from 200 to 250, thereby strengthening your Linhai Fort to a certain extent. ...Don't complain about the small number of people. The immigration fleet led by She Zhiliang is even larger. After hiring five Portuguese merchant ships, the number of immigrants carried may exceed 2,000."

"When they arrive at your Linhai Fort for a brief rest, they will undoubtedly leave some of the sick or disabled behind, further bolstering your population. Therefore, after we leave, you must hurry and build some simple shelters to provide adequate service for the incoming immigrant fleet."

"Yes, Instructor Wei!" Qi Yongze and Wei Zhonglong responded loudly with joy.

With sufficient manpower, the large-scale development of Hokkaido will also start!
(End of this chapter)