America 1881: Legend of the West

"As I just explained to you, whether it is Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands or the United Kingdom, their rise is basically based on controlling sea power."

The bald Professor Mahan arranged the manuscripts on the table.

However, he did not read the manuscript, but continued to speak freely:

"During their heyday, they all had an invincible navy, and their downfall was also accompanied by the failure of naval battles."

"For example, the British defeated the Dutch three times from 1652 to 1673, and in 1588, the British also sank the once-invincible Spanish Armada to the bottom of the sea."

"Fortunately, our government is gradually paying attention to the development of the navy. Our battleships and cruisers have been developing one by one in the past few years. Everyone here is witnessing the growth of the U.S. Navy."

Professor Mahan smiled and said to the naval officers in the audience.

Regarding Mahan's "The Influence of Sea Power on History 1660-1783", Chen Jianqiu had the opportunity to read it before traveling through time.

The main idea is that sea power determines whether a great country can rise.

Sea power here refers not only to military power, but also to capital and trade.

Only when a country has strong maritime power that can expand and protect the country's economic interests can the country be strong and remain prosperous.

Control of the ocean means significant influence in the world and is a major factor in national security and prosperity.

Regarding the development of the U.S. Navy over the years, Chen Jianqiu and Roosevelt also had many exchanges.

After the Civil War, the U.S. Navy did languish for a period of time, and was even forced to retreat by the ironclad ships of the Chilean Navy.

Seven years ago, the U.S. Navy had only 6 cruisers and no battleships. Today, seven years later, the U.S. Navy has 6 battleships parked in various ports, and as many as 16 cruisers.

Most of these ships were designed by Armstrong Shipyard in the United Kingdom and produced by shipyards on the East Coast of the United States. Chen Jianqiu also helped in the process.

However, Roosevelt had not yet taken power in the Navy Department at that time, and most of the shipyards were owned by the U.S. government, so Chen Jianqiu only obtained some shares in a smaller shipyard in Philadelphia.

Today's U.S. Navy is indeed different from what it used to be.

"Teddy, I heard from Philadelphia that the Navy Department is in a rush period again. They told me that they don't have enough manpower. I told them that if some Chinese workers are transferred there, it shouldn't be a big problem."

Chen Jianqiu suddenly remembered something, turned his head and said to Roosevelt beside him.

Roosevelt nodded.

But it was clear that his attention was still on Mahan.

A young officer from the Admiralty suddenly raised his hand:

"But professor, those sea powers you listed earlier have been on this road for hundreds of years, and we don't have any advantage at all."

Another officer with a mustache also said:

"Yes, as you said before, the world has been almost divided up by them, but we haven't even fought a modern naval battle, so we don't have any chance."

"Especially the Empire on the other side of the ocean. Their navy is too powerful. Compared with them, we are just like a bunch of beggars."

Others followed suit and whispered among themselves.

Roosevelt held his pipe in one hand and his chin in the other, frowning.

"Do any of the rest of you hold the same view?" Mahan looked around.

The expressions on most of the officers' faces showed that they agreed with this view.

But unexpectedly, an imperceptible sneer came from the last row of seats.

Mahan cast his gaze over.

He found that the person who sneered was a Chinese.

This Chinese man was sitting next to Vice Minister Roosevelt, and he didn’t know when he came in.

The professor became interested.

He waved to Chen Jianqiu:

"Mr. in the last row, what do you think of this matter?"

The officers in front turned their heads.

They were surprised to find an extra Chinese in the back row.

Some of these officers knew him and knew that he was a friend of Roosevelt, but this did not affect the fact that most of the officers had no good impression of Chen Jianqiu.

They thought that the Chinese just got lucky and made some money, looking like a nouveau riche.

These people simply didn't think he had any original insights.

Because on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, this man's homeland had just experienced a disastrous defeat in a naval battle three years ago.

When Chen Jianqiu saw everyone looking at him, he pointed at himself:

"me?"

Mahan nodded:

"I saw you smiled just now, so I want to hear your opinion."

Mahan's words caused dissatisfaction among some officers.

What right do you, a Chinese who is listening in, have the right to laugh?

"What are you laughing at?" A bearded officer asked Chen Jianqiu in a rough voice, "Do you have the right to laugh here?"

This man is relatively senior in the Navy, and he doesn't even buy Roosevelt's account, let alone this Chinese who usually doesn't even take a second look when walking on the road.

Chen Jianqiu stood up calmly.

"When I was in school, I met such a classmate."

"They never preview in class, but they insist on their own 'skeptical' attitude towards the courses taught by the teacher. They are known as independent thinkers, right, Professor Mahan."

The bearded man's face turned green, but Roosevelt was present and could not immediately come to fight, so he could only stare at Chen Jianqiu fiercely.

Mahan's interest intensified.

He picked up a glass of water on the table and looked like he was listening.

Chen Jianqiu bowed slightly to Ma Han:

"In your works, it is clearly pointed out that there are six major factors that affect sea power."

"They are, geographical location, natural structure, national characteristics, government characteristics and policies, territorial scope, and population."

"Today's overlord, the 'empire on which the sun never sets' as my friend with the mustache just said, has no problems with the first four elements."

Chen Jianqiu pointed to the mustache who spoke just now.

"Surrounded by the sea, with many excellent deep-water ports, the industrial revolution, and the ambitions of various emperors such as Elizabeth I, they also became a generational hegemon."

He paused and changed the subject:

"But they have never been able to solve a problem, that is, their country's land and population have never been able to compare with the real big countries. This has forced them to follow the old path of land power and use the dividends brought by expansion to support their huge naval power and pursue their goals. further development."

"This is a fragile balance with huge hidden dangers. Its cost is too high. The strength is still good, but once there is a decline and the leaders are unwilling to carry out strategic contraction, the balance is broken and they are exhausted and exhausted. Inadequacy will become the norm, and weakness will become inevitable.”

"That's different in America."