Chapter 218 Trip to Vietnam (1)
As the actual leader of the Time Travel Group, Tao Donglai has never left Victory Port even once since he came to this time and space, and he has never even been to Yazhou, which is not far away. Whether it was going to the Gulf of Tonkin or going north to Guangzhou, he had no part in it. This time he would personally lead the team to negotiate in North Vietnam, which also showed that the Executive Committee attached great importance to Vietnam.
Since we have gone so far, it is reasonable to inspect the construction status of Black Earth Port on behalf of the Supreme Executive Committee. We can also arrange time to visit Yazhou and Fushuizhou Island that we will pass through on the way. The connection between these foreign strongholds and the base camp almost relies on radio to transmit news. People in the base camp can only rely on imagination about the actual situation. This time, Tao Donglai went on a personal inspection tour to confirm whether the various reports the executive committee had received before were true and whether the conditions of the local personnel stationed there were good.
The military police, shipping and other relevant departments calculated that the trip would take at least ten days, so Tao Donglai had to hand over the work at hand first. To this end, the executive committee had to hold an emergency small-scale meeting A meeting was devoted to this matter.
In addition to his position on the executive committee, Tao Donglai also holds leadership positions in the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Military and Police, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other departments. He is definitely one of the people with the most part-time jobs in the Cross-Travel Group. . There are many concurrent positions and there are many things on hand, so a coordination meeting must be held to hand over the work, and at the same time, the people taking over can have a good relationship with each other. The Ministry of Industry will be in charge of Bai Kesi, the Department of Construction will be in charge of Liu Shanxia, who has recovered from health, the Department of Internal Affairs will be in charge of Ning Qi, and the Ministry of Military and Police will be in charge of Yan Chujie who stayed at the base camp.
Yan Chujie personally really wanted to travel with Tao Donglai. As the head of the military and police department, he only visited Yazhou after traveling. At other times, he was either training militiamen in the barracks or supervising workers to build port defenses. Fortifications, this was indeed quite different from his dream of conquering all corners of the world and becoming a famous commander throughout the ages. But now the civilian military training plan of the Military and Police Department has just been submitted, and it is time to work hard for it. Yan Chujie also knows that he will not be able to escape in the short term, so he can only temporarily put down the idea of traveling.
The four cargo ships returning to Victory Port this time transported a total of 180 tons of coal, 100 tons of coke, and the first batch of asphalt produced. Although only three tons of asphalt were transported back, this marked the start of production and operation of the coal supporting industry in Black Earth Port. Next, this batch of asphalt will be transported to Tiandu Industrial Zone and used as waterproof coating for new factory buildings.
The waterproofing technology of this era was still relatively primitive. Most of them used tiles for roofs, plaster for wall columns, and stone for wall bases. Houses were built on elevated platform foundations. Basically, they could only rely on dust-based building materials. Ingenious design and meticulous construction are used to achieve better waterproofing effects. The emergence of asphalt has undoubtedly brought waterproofing technology to a new level. However, because coal tar asphalt contains toxic substances such as anthracene, phenanthrene, and pyrene that are difficult to volatilize, the chemical industry department recommends that this asphalt should not be used as a building material for paving in a hurry. When oil is available in the future, it should be used with less toxic substances. Petroleum asphalt paving is more suitable.
Since we are going to discuss arms sales, we must prepare a batch of arms. After Li Nai ordered the batch of arms last time, the Executive Committee immediately passed a resolution to expand arms production capacity and split the military industry department, which had no original functions, into artillery, muskets, ammunition, cold weapons, and other military supplies. and six departments of weapons design to improve the efficiency of existing weapons production.
As for the idea of eliminating the existing shortcomings of division of labor and establishing a military-industrial complex, the Executive Committee is actually already considering it. However, the establishment of a military-industrial complex involves the re-division of jurisdictions and functions of multiple units, which poses many practical difficulties. It is unlikely to be achieved in one step directly through administrative orders, so the Executive Committee intends to lengthen the process slightly. Some are divided into several stages.
The first is to specialize the production department. These separated departments will exist as specialized military production units in the future, instead of making farm tools when they are idle and muskets and artillery when they are busy, as before. Since the current production efficiency is still very low, the weapons produced cannot even keep up with the equipment of its own militia, so there is no need to worry that these units will be idle after being separated. Moreover, after doing so, the responsibilities and powers of each production unit will be clearer, and the management of the higher-level units will not be as difficult as before, which will effectively improve the operating efficiency of the entire military industry department.
The second is to achieve separate accounting of the military industry sector’s revenue and expenditure. From the current point of view, the military industry sector has begun to make profits, and it is very likely to become the main profit maker of the Cross Group in the future. Therefore, implementing independent accounting and starting to pay part of the profits to the financial department are the next measures that must be improved in the system. .
After these objective conditions matured, the Executive Committee passed an administrative order to establish a new competent unit and bring all these military-industrial departments under the management of the new military-industrial complex. In the future, the development, manufacturing, sales, and maintenance of armaments , will be handed over to the military-industrial complex. Of course, specific weapons research and development must still be carried out in accordance with the requirements put forward by the Military and Police Department, and most of the profits made by the military-industrial complex from selling arms to external parties must be handed over to the financial department in proportion.
In terms of weapons production, currently each unit mainly produces export versions, accounting for about three-quarters of production, while the production of self-use versions is relatively small. On the one hand, this is because the current military production is mainly aimed at exporting, and it will focus on it when production capacity is limited. On the other hand, it is because the scale of the militia is small and there are not many weapons to be equipped. . The local militia combat troops that need to be equipped with firearms are actually less than 300 people. Currently, they are all equipped with Type 27 matchlock guns. After the Type 27 flintlock guns are finalized and produced, the equipment is currently being gradually replaced, and the replaced ones Most of the matchlocks have been sold to "Furuifeng" and shipped to Fujian.
According to the view of the Executive Committee, although the matchlock weapon is very primitive, it is still an advanced individual weapon in this era. Although the matchlock gun has many disadvantages, such as slow firing speed, limited range, strong dependence on ammunition, easy to be affected by weather, etc., no one can question its lethality on the battlefield. The most important thing is that the training of musketeers is very simple. It only takes a few days for ordinary people to learn the complete operation steps and then go to the battlefield. However, the training time required for archers, which are also long-range attacks, is calculated in years. Moreover, no matter how strong one's personal strength is, he will not have any advantage when facing the musketeers. A battle-hardened general may have just entered the range of the musketeers. Then his life would be taken away by a new recruit using a weapon that ignored his personal strength.
Firearms are rarely used in the current Vietnamese civil war. Firstly, they have not really tasted the benefits of using firearms in actual combat. Secondly, no one has provided them with such weapons. Even if they want to buy them, there is nowhere to buy them. But when the Cross-Travel Group opens this door to them, these weapons with far more lethality than cold weapons will soon be used on the battlefield. When they realize the power of such weapons, the market will naturally move toward the Cross-Travel Group. Open arms.
With an order from the Executive Committee, all the more than 300 matchlock guns in stock were packed into boxes. In addition, there were 20 foreign trade version 6-pound guns, 10 12-pound guns, as well as supporting ammunition and various equipment. In order to be able to conduct weapons demonstrations in front of customers, the Military and Police Department also prepared a company for this trip, consisting of selected musketeers and a limited number of naturalized civilian artillerymen. In addition, the Military and Police Department also specially dispatched several capable personnel to accompany them, including Wang Tom, who was more familiar with the situation in the coastal areas of Vietnam.
On September 27, the "Speed" and four cargo ships carrying a small amount of cargo departed from Victory Port and headed for northern Vietnam. Although there were not a lot of supplies loaded on the cargo ships when they set out, these ships would not run empty. After arriving on the coast of Vietnam, they could load some people on board and send them to Black Earth Port for colonization.
The fleet currently traveling between Black Earth Port and Victory Port is divided into two batches, with four ships in each batch. Each time there will be a few people passing through to escort the ships. The person in charge of the fleet command this time is Xie Chun. Since being assigned to Black Earth Port two months ago, Xie Chun, who always complained a lot in the past, seems to have matured a lot. Seeing him standing on the deck with a walkie-talkie and calmly commanding the fleet, Tao Donglai said happily: "Young people must receive such training!"
Tom Wang next to him smiled and responded: "Don't think this guy has become honest. I heard that he is not doing his regular job now and is focusing on soaking in the sea, all in order to join the navy in the future."
Xie Chun's official job at Heitu Port is "Port and Maritime Management". Now he doesn't stay at Heitu Port properly. Instead, he goes out to sea with coal ships. This is indeed suspected of not doing his job properly. Moreover, many people know that Xie Chun is a military enthusiast. He applied to join the military and police department very early, but in the end he was rejected because he had no military or police experience. However, it seems that he has not given up on his career. General's dream.
Tao Donglai said disapprovingly: "It's not a bad thing to want to join the navy! We have relatively few talents in navigation. It is estimated that most of the future navy captains will be naturalized citizens. It is also a good thing to have one more person as a commander. . Besides, these expatriates do not limit their future positions in this way. Whoever can do it will get it. The current head of the foreign department may become a county magistrate, mayor, or senior official in a few years."
The fleet did not stop when passing near Yazhou. According to the itinerary, Tao Donglai's inspection would be on the return journey, so the fleet sailed directly outside the entrance of the Ningyuan River and headed all the way to Yingge Sea. That night the fleet docked in Yingge Harbor, and Tao Donglai also took the time before sunset to land ashore to check out the nearby topography. "What a great place!" Tao Donglai sighed after returning to the temporary camp: "It would be great if we had enough manpower to develop this place! I think the salt output from this place is enough to supply the entire South China Sea area. .”
"The key is that this place is undefeable, and we don't have enough troops to be stationed here." Xie Chun, who had just got off the ship, immediately joined the discussion: "I heard that the executive committee plans to abandon this place and put the new The salt field is located in Tieliang Port, there must be defensive considerations, right?”
"That's right." Tao Donglai nodded and admitted Xie Chun's guess: "This place is too far from the base camp, and there are too many loopholes from a defense perspective."
"Is there any solution now?" Xie Chun asked.
"Yes, yes, but the effect will be slower." Wang Tom finished his words and said: "The Military and Police Department plans to start large-scale militia training. In the future, all people of appropriate age must participate in this training. When the people's basic military qualities are obtained, After the improvement, secondary militia groups can be organized according to the prescribed establishment, and then there will be less risk in developing such relatively remote places.”
Xie Chun is also a shrewd person. After hearing this, he rolled his eyes and figured out the connection: "The next step is to convert the militiamen into regular full-time soldiers, right?"
At present, the militia forces under the control of the Chuan Chuan Group are still under the banner of militia groups, and their establishment is also a dual-track system. On the one hand, these people are militiamen registered with the Military and Police Department, and on the other hand, they are commune members registered with the Civil Affairs Department - some Many people signed up to join the militia for this valuable membership qualification.
This kind of part-time job is not like part-time job, and full-time job is not like full-time job, which has always made the Military and Police Department dissatisfied. The officers do not want to go out to fight with an amateur army in the future. Moreover, these militiamen receive military pay from the Military and Police Department, spend the limited budget of the Military and Police Department, and support the staff of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. This statement is really counterintuitive and prone to management problems. The most terrible thing is that if the soldiers are not sure of their military status, how can they ensure the combat effectiveness of this team?
This time, taking advantage of the proposal to expand military strength, the Military and Police Department concealed this purpose in a very subtle way. Most people believe that the purpose of the Military and Police Department is only to expand the audience for militia training, and are completely unaware of the changing nature of the military. Even among the executive committee, few people noticed this hidden move by the Military and Police Department. It is possible that they simply did not realize the difference between the current militia and the professional army. However, Xie Chun, an amateur military enthusiast, knew what it meant when he heard the song and immediately smelled it.
Of course, even if the system is silently changed, the existing operating conditions of the militia will not change for a while, but when the Military and Police Ministry proposes the military budget for the next year at the end of the year, this matter will be revealed Let’s put it on the table – now that there is a real militia, it is time for these previously trained naturalized soldiers to be converted into regular troops.
Tao Donglai responded seriously: "It is imperative to establish a regular army. We just need a suitable opportunity. Our journey is across the stars and the sea, and we cannot conquer the world with just a bunch of militiamen."
"I'm afraid that someone will interfere with it again!" Xie Chun said with a worried look on his face. Although he is a civilian employee, his butt is completely sitting on the side of the Military and Police Department. Regarding the various "unfair treatments" suffered by the Military and Police Department, Xie Chun's resentment is probably no less than that of the people in the Military and Police Department.
"So we have to find ways to use military means to make more money." Tao Donglai said confidently: "The interests will make all opponents shut up."
"It seems that Mr. Tao already has a comprehensive plan?" Xie Chun seemed to hear the implication of Tao Donglai.
"Whether it will work or not, we have to talk to the Vietnamese before we know." Tao Donglai raised his hand and looked at the time and said: "When the time comes, we will contact the base camp. Let's take out the radio and send a signal!"
After a night's rest, the fleet set sail as soon as it got dark, preparing to cross the Gulf of Tonkin and head directly to the coast of Vietnam. Although this distance is only 1,780 nautical miles, taking into account ocean currents, wind directions and other reasons, the actual voyage is more than 200 nautical miles. According to the average speed of a cargo ship of five to seven knots, this journey will be completed without sleep. It also takes at least forty hours. Considering that the sailing speed slows down at night, the actual time required will be around two days. Fortunately, there is the pilot ship "Speed" in the fleet. Although there is no GPS navigation system available on the ship, this route was drawn up by Wang Tom himself, so there is no need to get lost or take the wrong path on the way.
After nearly two days of sailing, the fleet successfully crossed the Gulf of Tonkin and arrived in the offshore waters of Vietnam. The first destination of the fleet is still Thanh Hoa. Black Earth Port had previously used this place as its main target during the colonial period, and the organization took away thousands of war refugees. After a month-long rush for transportation, most of the refugees fleeing from the war zone to the north learned that they could leave by boat on the coast near Thanh Hoa. Although the destination of the fleet was not very clear, they only knew that it was somewhere overseas. place, but people forced by the pressure of the war still flocked here, waiting for the mysterious fleet to come again.
The Black Tu Port once thought that after the wave of refugees, it would be difficult to organize immigrants near Thanh Hoa, but they never thought that that place would become a place of hope for the refugees, and some of them had even fled further north. People in the area went south again and returned to the Thanh Hoa coast, hoping to find a glimmer of hope here.
That morning, when the fleet arrived at the mouth of the Qinghua River, we saw a lot of people gathering on the shore. Some of them shouted loudly: "It's a divine ship. Yes, that white one is a divine ship." Boat!”
The so-called divine ship naturally refers to the "Speed" catamaran sailed by Wang Tom. When the colonial fleet heading to Black Earth Port shipped immigrants here for the first time, the first ship to dock was the very eye-catching "Speed". Since then, there have been various strange rumors among the refugees. One of them is that the "Speed" is regarded as the divine ship sent by God to save them, and the fleet led by the divine ship will The place I went to was naturally a paradise that was not shrouded in war.
(End of chapter)