Chapter 282: The Pitfalls Of Sea Power
On March 4th, Xuan Chong’s ship was still “resting” in the Northern port. The special commissioner from Jianye responsible for inspecting the warship’s damage was still on the road. The broadcast outside Xuan Chong’s isolation room was issuing notices at a much higher frequency than usual.
As for Yandu, after the Son of Heaven set the tone, the higher-ups stopped bickering. The Ministry of War had already sent Liu Haoxing’s relevant rewards to Dongtu Island.
The small departments under Yandu and Jianye were at odds over “detention investigation” and “rescuing for merit”; the minor figures in these departments responsible for execution were biting at each other for their own future prospects, while the big shots maintained a fight without breaking.
As the days of detention grew longer, Xuan Chong could feel that the man with the Northern accent was becoming increasingly irritable, trying to provoke him into speaking carelessly.
However, Xuan Chong continued drinking tea and sleeping as usual, occasionally asking, “Which department are you from?” “How much is the department salary?” such chit-chat. And in this chit-chat, Xuan Chong suddenly threw out some words that broke the other side’s defense.
Xuan Chong divine speech 1: “Shouldn’t you get promoted every three years? You’ve been working this long without a promotion; your leader treats you like a rag.” (Jumping ranks every few years is for someone of Xuan Chong’s status)
Xuan Chong divine speech 2: “High blood pressure, huh? Then turn on the heating in winter and keep it at twenty-five degrees; that’s good for elders, don’t be stingy with money.” (In Yandu, heating maintains indoor temperature at twenty-five degrees. Houses within the third ring are not affordable for minor officials)
Right now, Xuan Chong was acting just like Emperor Hui of Jin. He seemed ignorant of worldly affairs, but was actually deliberately provoking.
After such a long interrogation, it would ultimately end with “misunderstanding”; and handling the “misunderstanding” would make these small departments take the blame. (Who told these departments to find no achievement)
Xuan Chong was a fourth-rank military official, of vassal king origin, his butt hadn’t moved from the social stratum position, yet he directly cared about the lower-level cattle and horses minor officials. It was equivalent to a rich person asking a wage worker “Are you happy?”; the wage worker would roll their eyes and, if in a bad temper, say “My surname is x, you xxx”.
Xuan Chong’s “butt” wouldn’t come down from the “high seat”, at least not on the navy side; Xuan Chong really lived on the ordinary living expenses of his classmates. Formal attire was rented, meals were from the canteen, travel was by bicycle bought jointly with classmates. Xuan Chong secretly put out fifty percent of the price first, then had the bicycle merchant sell at half price to himself and his classmates, making the classmates sigh that they got a bargain.
And now Xuan Chong was chit-chatting with this group of accusatory personnel in the interrogation room, asking about salary, which poked the most sensitive nerve of these “burden-bearing” minor bureaucrats, who immediately slammed the table and cursed Xuan Chong: “Watch your attitude!”
In the interrogation room, Xuan Chong: “Alright, alright, I’ll watch my attitude.” Then muttered, “A booger-sized official with such a big attitude.” It was like adding a divine thunder from the Nine Heavens to the three flavors true fire.
However, that evening when the minor bureaucrats were preparing to properly torment Xuan Chong and tamper with his meal, half an hour later, military generals from Jianye came to visit the meritorious official. Xuan Chong’s confinement ended.
So coincidental, because Xuan Chong timed it perfectly to provoke.
After leaving the interrogation room, Xuan Chong specifically thanked those who interrogated him, thanking them for their tireless accompaniment in psychological counseling these days; only before leaving, Xuan Chong looked back with a smile and gave them a gaze of concern for the intellectually disabled.
Yandu couldn’t afford the indecency of “internal strife”, and Jianye didn’t dare put “warlordism” on the table.
Everyone was needling each other within the current allocation system of rights and obligations. Poaching each other, badmouthing each other was one thing, but no one dared flip the table.
…Endure the little ghosts’ entanglement, then the great king will bribe…
Xuan Chong received a letter from home, and a photograph; in the photo, the inner residence of that square six-story building was lit up with lanterns and decorations.
The content of the letter was that Liu Haoxing’s clan brothers were all celebrating “the heir heading south to snag a great merit”.
Xuan Chong then realized: In Xian Han, military merit can correspond to “merit”. For great clans, “merit” is as scarce as “official title”, and can exempt taxes for several people, dozens, or even hundreds.
Of course these days, tax-exempt groups wouldn’t gather in unprofitable trades like “farmland”; they naturally gathered in Xian Han’s “steel” “shipbuilding” such legitimate professions.
What, to make money, why not use the super profits of certain merchant guilds?
Merit and official title tax exemptions are limited to one generation (under thirty years of merit counted as thirty years). In Xian Han, everyone rejects “windfall wealth”; money amassed by exploiting localities for short-term huge profits would ultimately, after “one fall from power”, “leave a clean white expanse”.
Xuan Chong thought for a moment. That is to say, just following this path of establishing merit through military means now could similarly make the most profitable industry on Dongtu Island, petrochemical profit, stay local.
However, Xuan Chong shook his head. Although nominally “military merit tax reduction” was similar to official title, the “military merit” circle was all “roughnecks” who didn’t control national industrial economy production.
In this era of rapid industrial technology development, Dongtu needed “industrialization projects” investment, so he still had to take the official title exam.
Xuan Chong obediently used the letter to report good news to home, but had no excited mood; the Son of Heaven hastily rewarding him didn’t hit the point he wanted. He would remember this “favor”, but Xuan Chong knew in his heart he couldn’t waver left and right on the take a side issue because of this.
Lord Guan Er’s loyalty held firm under Cao Cao’s massive overtures. Lu Bu that idiot sold himself for a little profit.
In the next month, Xuan Chong stayed put, obediently receiving review materials from the Southern Region.
At this moment, the subordinates on the ship had all been bribed by “unknown” forces in the port. And through the first mate and second mate of the Sparrow Eye Mantis Shrimp, they issued an invitation to Xuan Chong; facing such human relations, Xuan Chong used “studying” as an excuse to brush it off.
…Han army in Pengcheng…
In April, the war ended with Eastern Shu ceding territory and paying reparations. Both sides’ cannons withdrew from the Dongzhu war zone under jointly dispatched supervisors. From the coastline to the hills, shell craters narrated the past battles here.
Overall, Eastern Shu fought quite well in this campaign; Xian Han’s 200,000-strong army suffered 50,000 casualties. And they didn’t take Eastern Shu’s heartland.
Xuan Chong: “This is absolutely not the Han army being kind! It’s that Xian Han Southern Region’s navy marine corps fought very poorly.”
Speaking of which, what exactly was the combat effectiveness of Xian Han navy’s landing troops? Xuan Chong now deeply suspected that the navy marine corps Xian Han invested had the combat power of modern mercenaries.
This force was the Southeast Han army, recruiting poor disciples from surrounding vassal states, such as Dongying, Xinluo, Champa, etc.; after giving a certain settlement fee, conducting military training. Just well-equipped, highly obedient, but no belief, lacking subjective initiative for tactics summarize.
On the Dongying side, after careful study, Xuan Chong determined such armies could not oppose traditional land power’s regular corps.
According to the experience summarized from the last transmigration, Xuan Chong determined that land power’s regular corps had “blood reward”. This blood reward wasn’t about how much money, but every soldier had the opportunity for social stratum ascent.
“An army where soldiers don’t want to become generals is not a first-rate army”
Xian Han now was willing to spend money on Southeast navy, but give the navy marine corps a chance to turn over? No way!
After checking Xian Han history, Xuan Chong found this was a flaw that appeared as early as the sea merchant era, no, sea pirate era.
Sea merchants’ trade was extremely profitable, so they were quite willing to pay when recruiting; but the recruited had to risk their lives, those unwilling to could leave and go solo, but if a soldier wanted to become great chieftain, no way.
This was also why the several hundred thousand Southeast sea merchants gathered and howled, ultimately had to accept amnesty.
Because these several hundred thousand on land simply couldn’t fight!
In the early campaigns of Xian Han’s founding. Some sea merchants misjudged the situation, tried to warlord in the Southeast and stand independent, piled up massive cannons and firearms, but collapsed under one cavalry corps charge.
Logically, this “sea merchant recruitment” conscription in the Southeast should have ended there. But because at Xian Han’s founding, large numbers of Southeast sea merchants took a side early. So this “navy marine corps fourth-class citizens” dross was inherited.
And because Xian Han’s use of troops in Southeast Asia was mostly interference, only needing troop source “cheap” and “obedient”.
Xian Han Southeast navy’s strongmen most favored conscripting from Dongying side. These people had the thought imprint of recognizing themselves as “retainers”; as long as allowing naturalization and giving enough money, they were sufficiently mad.
…Worry about the worries of Under Heaven first…
Xuan Chong, who was in Dongying, did not go to “Yoshiwara” to seek pleasure, but instead carefully observed the local customs here, as if he were in a wolf’s den.
To summarize simply, now for the Xian Han Navy, the Dongying people are just like the Gurkhas to the Great British Empire. They are known for being ruthless enough and daring to fight.
But if asked to evaluate the troops, would the Gurkhas really be fierce and good at fighting if they could serve as dogs for others?
Qianlong sent six or seven thousand people who could take “Blood Reward” there, and the so-called ferocity of those ruthless Gurkha rebels was immediately exposed for what it was.
After hearing local colleagues praise the warriors here as excellent warriors, Xuan Chong curled his lip: “I don’t understand sea power confrontation, but I know a bit about Army culture. You all are total noobs!”
Xuan Chong looked at the map and finally understood why in the three wars with Eastern Shu, they could only seize islands but couldn’t strike at the Dian Continent mainland.
Seizing islands can be done with mercenary cannon fodder. But to fight in that huge land power ground area, it must be native good sons. Wanting to pull together a strong army from colonies and semi-colonies? Dream on.
This victory is actually still a sea power victory, that is, even though Xian Han pulled a huge dump in the land battle attacking Dongzhu, Eastern Shu pulled an even bigger dump in the sea battle.
Eastern Shu’s wastefulness in land battle against Xian Han couldn’t match Eastern Shu’s wastefulness in sea battle. The sneak attack failed and resulted in multi-route interception, leading to the fleet’s collapse. This made the “Dongzhu (Giya Island)” campaign no longer important. Originally, taking “Giya Island” was to secure a springboard to attack the elite area of Eastern Shu’s east coast. But now the Eastern Shu Navy fleet has collapsed, and the gateway to Dian Continent’s east coast is wide open.
Therefore, Eastern Shu took the lead in seeking peace. The big shots on the Xian Han side looked at their own land battle mess and also decided to quit while ahead.
…Perspective switches to Eastern Shu…
On Giya Island, Qin Shen received the “peace” news from the rear ministers and remained silent for a long time.
At the evening meeting, under the carbon filament light bulbs, Qin Shen asked the other generals who came to attend.
These generals each expressed their views: some worried this was Xian Han’s delaying tactic, some worried the rear was using the front as a chip in peace negotiations.
Qin Shen nodded to the officers and soldiers, indicating they were all right, but in his heart he felt desolate. Because from the soldiers’ discussions, he knew his subordinates didn’t want to fight anymore, didn’t want to fight desperately for this island hanging overseas.
Although the “Giya” Island was Dian Continent’s last barrier in the North, comparable to the key point of “must guard Huai to guard the Yangtze.”
Any strategist knew it was very important here, but in the execution process downward, they encountered complaints like “after all, this is just an ‘outer island’!”
For Eastern Shu’s officers and soldiers, fighting to the death in the outer island area was like cattle and horses working overtime in the workshop, not as hard as the secretaries who often open doors for leaders at the office door.
The effort of an army, if it cannot be seen by the group occupying the core interests, then no matter how much this army knows the importance of the area it guards, it can’t exert force!
…Perspective cuts back…
Xuan Chong was also doing his task! Why the Xian Han Southern forces could take the island!
Xuan Chong looked at Dian Continent and slowly said: “Because Dian Continent is also a pure sea power force, its operation of the islands in northern Dian Continent differs in attitude from land power’s operation of the border.”
A mature land power nation will naturally win over the border region military group politically.
Because all central dynasties knew that although the border was far away, the Border Army could still rush back!
Border crises made past dynasties give basic respect to Border Army generals. Emperors and court officials always sent trusted aides there or had Regional Governors return. Although this was “distrust,” it absolutely could not be called “disregard.”
But sea power is different; the military group stationed on its outer islands, no matter how good at fighting they are, once the core area masters cut off ship traffic to them, the masters and core area beneficiaries can say to the cries of the island garrison military force: “Out of sight, out of mind.”
This leads to sea power bureaucratic systems being very negligent toward overseas areas that are not “economic regions.”
Due to the neglect of outer island interest groups by the core group under the sea power system, it substantially forms a “second-class citizen area.”
Xuan Chong analyzed: “So for sea power forces, when weak, it’s often impossible for native elite troops to fight to the death for outer island areas!” (Japan’s Pacific defenders were all Army horse dung)
For overseas soldiers, holding the outer island makes them an “indispensable” force on the outer island, but staying on the outer island in the end? Wouldn’t that make them “second-class citizens” of the empire? Others’ efforts lead to progress to the imperial court, but my efforts lead to regression? (Late Tang’s Pang Xun uprising was just like this)
In modern times, land power nations’ spirit of “not yielding an inch of mountains and rivers” at the border is because the center recognizes this merit.
When Regional Governors return to the Capital City, even the most arrogant capital lords must clasp fists and respectfully give way. This sense of responsibility to guard the land is incomparable to the fourth-class citizens recruited by sea power nations.
Xuan Chong’s finger moved across the latitude and longitude lines on the map, confirming: Xian Han currently holds the advantage, and for Eastern Shu in a weak position, prioritizing the capture of its peripheral islands is twice the result with half the effort. But systemic issues make it impossible for Xian Han to gnaw at this hard bone of Dian Continent in the short term.
…Ten thousand miles away…
On Giya Island, Qin Shen held a wine cup and desolately looked at the map. The rear “Peace Faction” sent news that his 100,000 elite could not be lost, or Eastern Shu would be destroyed.
Qin Shen’s heart grew cold. He knew this Peace Faction bunch said on their lips: elites cannot be lost! But actually they feared their assets on Dian Continent’s west coast being destroyed by cannon fire; now this bunch was hurriedly transferring assets to Pengzhou!
If the Parliament really wanted to give Eastern Shu one last breath, they should migrate all west coast factories to the southeast of Dian Continent, use depth to hold against this wave from Xian Han, fight to the end, and show resolve.
But the current peace negotiations, though not immediately destroying the nation, are an important step before national destruction.
Each Xian Han offensive is like a big hammer striking a huge stone, seemingly chipping off only a small piece each time, but cracks have already spread inside Eastern Shu’s giant stone.
Qin Shen already felt that Eastern Shu’s “tributary” ties, achieved using its “cultural sect master” identity with the many splintered small forces, had broken, and inheriting all of it was precisely Xian Han.
Qin Shen drunkenly laughed foolishly: “This is the outcome of building a nation on profit!”
Three hundred years ago, Xian Han had a Great Scholar who wrote in the book “On National Prosperity”: A nation should be built on righteousness, and the system needs to be sustained by expanding profit.
This book was now on Qin Shen’s desk. Speaking of which, Eastern Shu was founded by a group of merchants back then; the founders were accustomed to the huge profits from Nanyang seas; the second generation inheritors were already living in luxury, so how could they abandon their comfortable dwellings, venture into barren wastelands, hack through thorns, and build from scratch with pioneering hardship.
A nation follows this rule: the ruling group can endure hardships in the first generation, but the second generation gets a discount, treating most of the class superiority bought by their fathers’ hardships as a matter of course. Without the “righteousness” constraints left from the founding, they will soon indulge without restraint.
It can be said that when Eastern Shu’s first generation thought relying on Nanyang’s huge profits to build a nation with commerce was feasible; after comfortably settling in Dian Continent, instead of counterattacking Zhen Han, the outcome was doomed.
Its later group’s inheritors inherited the capital earned by predecessors to become sea hegemons, but didn’t cultivate responsibility matching that profit.
Now the problem is, why should the huge sea profits in the Nanyang region be monopolized by Eastern Shu? When the rivers reunified under Xian Han and it expanded its gaze outward, it was inevitable to come and grab.
Xian Han’s “tributary system” is more competitive, so Eastern Shu must enter the trash heap.
…Tributary system…
Xuan Chong watched those Dongying people wiping the floor for him.
He knew very well that these people were “living eavesdroppers” sent by the big shots at the Navy Base here. Of course, even knowing they were traitors, he could still feel their subservience.
Xuan Chong then began asking about their family situations and social conditions.
Its Dongying emperor line still exists, but has been demoted to a Duke. As for the kings, they are served by four Liu Clan members sent by Xian Han. And the daimyos below, over these past few centuries, all those who rebelled have been replaced by Military Generals from Han lands.
Xian Han has a set of historically proven processes for controlling these overseas countries, using the “Cao Amang” process.
First, steal the beams and change the pillars, making the old center abandon its original legitimacy, then inherit the legitimacy it has forged itself. Then, Xian Han sends Regional Governors to the occupied areas, who hold Corps in hand, seek out disloyal local forces, exterminate them, and replace them with its own forces.
Now all four regions of Dongying have completed the upper-level replacements. All centered on Xian Han.
Xuan Chong browsed “Diplomacy” cases and couldn’t help but sigh: first determine the center, then carry out cultural output in the name of the center, and refusing to receive output is “disloyalty,” whereby the Liu Clan in that region can mobilize Power from Xian Han and many other Vassal States for the “punishment of disloyalty.”
It can be said that “tributary” has become the unified Values in that region.
Xuan Chong couldn’t help but compare to his own spacetime: old Europe, because after Rome’s fall, couldn’t decide whether the “center” was “law” or “virtue”; plus a shit-stirrer, filling Europe’s periphery with great power interventions and disputes. As for America? That’s just a parvenu; it can do destructive cultural attacks, but outputting stability? Europe can’t even unify its own internal culture, so on what basis does it output stability externally?
After glancing at the Dongying people, Xuan Chong secretly made a decision: Dongtu’s future must build a cross-sea bridge, or perhaps a Seabed Tunnel, absolutely not to be isolated overseas.
