Iron Dynasty Chapter 1079
Previously on Iron Dynasty...
Minister Tang Wenjie cast a proud gaze over Singapore City. This land, once claimed by Britain, had now been successfully brought under the Empire’s dominion. Within Southeast Asia, the Philippines and Indonesia were already recognized as parts of the Empire’s territory. It was anticipated that the Southwest Army’s southward advance would soon commence, at which point French Indochina and Burma would also be integrated into the Empire’s expansive reach.
“Minister Tang, I understand you’ve brought His Majesty’s directives this time as well?” Lei Ming inquired, accompanied by Yue Yun and Liu Chen. Just half a month prior, Lei Ming had orchestrated a brilliant ambush, successfully intercepting the remnants of the Dutch forces attempting to flee from Bula City. The Dutch army, caught completely off guard, found themselves outmaneuvered within the city walls. The governor of Jakarta and Stephen met their demise, and a substantial quantity of gold was confiscated from the Dutch soldiers, partially offsetting their operational expenditures.
“Indeed. As I was passing through, His Majesty personally entrusted me with delivering this order to you,” Minister Tang Wenjie confirmed. He then produced a sealed letter from his coat pocket and presented it to Lei Ming.
“His Majesty has decreed that we are not to launch a full-scale invasion of India at this juncture. Instead, we are to implement a six-month blockade against India. Concurrently, the navy has been ordered to enhance its surveillance and control over the vital shipping lanes,” Lei Ming relayed the letter’s contents to Yue Yun.
Upon hearing this, Liu Chen’s spirits lifted. “His Majesty’s wisdom is ever apparent. His assessment of the current conflict is remarkably precise. This six-month period will afford us the opportunity to intensify our training regimen and, furthermore, to stockpile crucial ammunition and weaponry here in Singapore. Once hostilities commence, we shall have an ample supply, alleviating concerns about shortages.”
Lei Ming exhaled in relief. He had been diligently studying maps during this period, and it was clear that Singapore presented the most advantageous location for a military headquarters among the territories currently under the Empire's sway.Across the entirety of Southeast Asia, Singapore’s strategic position placed it nearly at the center, commanding the crucial maritime passage. Its geographical significance was undeniable.
It was precisely this strategic importance that led the Empire to designate Singapore as an overseas military base, initiating the construction of formidable defensive fortifications throughout the area.
The establishment of reinforced concrete coastal defense artillery systems was a given, complemented by numerous bunkers along the coastline. These structures were interconnected via a network of subterranean tunnels.
Simultaneously, vast quantities of munitions were being stored within these bunkers. The strategic placement of machine guns atop these fortifications would create an impenetrable defense, capable of repelling even a force of three to four hundred thousand British soldiers.
With such robust defenses in place, both Lei Ming and Yue Yun expressed profound confidence in Singapore’s security, recognizing it as an ideal transit point for both the navy and the army.
“Beyond matters of warfare, His Majesty also requires the navy to provide escort for a delegation traveling to the Ottoman Empire and the Persian Empire. Our mission holds considerable importance, and we would greatly appreciate your assistance, General Yue and Commander Lei,” Minister Tang Wenjie stated.
This journey marked Tang Wenjie’s first venture to such distant lands, and he harbored a sense of unease. To guarantee the delegation's safety, military escorts were deemed essential to prevent any harm befalling them before they could even reach the capitals of these empires.
“That is certainly expected. When does Minister Tang intend for the departure?” Yue Yun responded with enthusiasm. “We can commence preparations immediately.” He was already privy to the purpose of Tang Wenjie’s diplomatic mission and had been informed about the revolutionary internal combustion engine.
Securing a substantial supply of affordable, high-quality petroleum from Persia or the Ottoman Empire would represent a monumental boon for the Empire, potentially catalyzing another leap forward in its industrial development.
“Given the urgency of this matter, we shall rest here for one night and commence our journey to Persia, our initial destination, on the morrow,” Minister Tang Wenjie remarked with a smile.
Liu Chen grumbled upon hearing this, “What a tedious endeavor. In my view, there’s no need for negotiations. We should simply seize any territory that possesses an oil field.”
Liu Chen’s candid remark elicited a helpless smile from Tang Wenjie. “When I departed, His Majesty had just commended your recent progress. However, these words seem to have once again revealed your true inclinations.”
He continued after a brief pause, “The Ottoman and Persian Empires differ significantly from the nations of Southeast Asia. The latter are not fully consolidated entities, often existing under tribal governance. However, these two powerful Central Asian nations possess established national structures and formidable military capabilities. Engaging them in warfare would only serve to push them towards alignment with the West, a most unwise outcome.”
“Minister Tang’s grasp of global human geography is indeed far more refined. Our own understanding is merely superficial,” Yue Yun stated, casting a chiding glance at Liu Chen before responding with a laugh.
Tang Wenjie let out a sigh, his heart filled with contemplation. “It’s unavoidable. Given my current duties, I must thoroughly examine every nation. Despite the thousand-year-old animosity between the Ottoman Empire and Europe, European nobility has frequently arranged marriages with Ottoman royalty. The connections are exceptionally intricate. Furthermore, the Ottoman Empire likely possesses minimal knowledge of our nation. This presents a significant challenge for this expedition.”
He paused at this juncture and then, with a lighthearted chuckle, declared, “Let us cease this discussion for now. We shall focus on getting a good rest today, and commence our journey tomorrow morning.”
Following his words, he guided the delegation members to the guesthouse situated in Singapore.
The subsequent day dawned, and Tang Wenjie awoke early. After a swift and simple breakfast, he boarded the warship bound for Persia.
To ensure the safety of Tang Wenjie’s entourage, Yue Yun had assigned six warships to accompany them, thus mitigating any potential risks. Although their combined fleet had triumphed, the seas still teemed with active European merchant vessels, privateers, and pirates.
These maritime forces persistently endangered the security of the shipping lanes. It appeared they were operating under a coordinated directive, as all such vessels now displayed profound animosity towards the imperial warships.
Frequently, the patrolling warships found themselves subjected to harassment, with their aggressors employing any conceivable tactic to attempt the capture of their vessels.
Confessions extracted from captured prisoners revealed that Europe had implemented a substantial bounty: one million pounds Sterling would be awarded to anyone who successfully captured an ironclad warship.
Such an immense reward was more than sufficient to incite avarice among the armed merchant ships, privateers, and pirates. A sum of one million pounds promised a life of opulent leisure, akin to that of nobility.
As he stood on the deck, observing the receding port of Singapore, a surge of national pride welled up within Tang Wenjie. In the present global landscape, only the Empire commanded such formidable power.
He then convened the members of the delegation. For the purpose of this crucial visit, the delegates chosen by the Empire were all exceptionally skilled in the languages of the target regions and possessed a deep familiarity with both nations.
“Contrasting with the Ottoman Empire, I believe we stand a greater chance of achieving significant outcomes in Persia,” remarked a young delegate. His name was Fang Ziheng, a distinguished graduate of the diplomatic program at Qingzhou University’s esteemed Political Academy.
Tang Wenjie offered a nod of agreement. “The Emperor’s strategy of hedging our bets on both fronts is precisely designed to leverage the age-old animosity between the Ottoman Empire and Persia. Our collected intelligence indicates that these two nations have been engaged in a perpetual conflict for two centuries, vying for regional supremacy, a struggle that persists even now. Therefore, we must skillfully exploit this dynamic during our upcoming negotiations.”
Fang Ziheng added, “That alone may not suffice. We must also impress upon them the Empire’s capacity to decisively alter the balance of their ongoing war. Only then will they truly grasp the gravity of their situation.”
Tang Wenjie had consistently held Fang Ziheng in high esteem, recognizing his exceptional aptitude for agile negotiation tactics. While exploiting the historical feud between the two powers could indeed yield advantages, it also carried substantial peril. Mishandling such delicate diplomacy could very well lead to life-threatening consequences.