Chapter 1499 Show off force
The Haihan Navy is undoubtedly the most powerful maritime armed force in the Far East in this era. Even its Western counterparts, which also use sail warships as standard equipment, have been defeated in several confrontations with the Haihan Navy in the past. In particular, the steam battleship used as the flagship in the naval fleet is a powerful existence that transcends the times.
Although the steam propulsion system of this kind of warship is not that convenient to use, and it relies heavily on logistics supply and technical maintenance, it is necessary to arrange a special logistics support ship to accompany it during wartime, and the funds required for daily operation are far more than ordinary sails. It is a battleship, but its powerful combat effectiveness still makes the navy spend a lot of money to install it as the main force of the fleet.
The Haihan Northern Fleet was originally based at Zhifu Port. After capturing Lushun last winter, it gradually moved the main force of the fleet to Liaodong to coordinate with the army's series of offensives in the Jinzhou Isthmus. After Haihan seized control of the isthmus, the navy's combat missions actually gradually decreased a lot. After all, Houjin's surface armed forces had been almost emptied, and it was difficult to cause trouble for Haihan from the sea. The main task of the navy has also changed from sweeping coastal areas to transporting materials and personnel.
Of course, Wang Tom was not willing to be lonely, so he worked with Qian Tiandun and others to plan a new battlefield behind enemy lines. However, because this plan is quite expensive, it is difficult to get approval from the Executive Committee in a short period of time. Therefore, the Navy proposed a backup plan to Bai Kesi, which is to take the opportunity to show force to North Korea and use military pressure to force it to join the Haihan camp. . Of course, this speed must be grasped well, otherwise North Korea may become a new battlefield accidentally, and that is not the result Haihan really wants.
The North Korean envoy Rod Heon was timid and did not dare to take responsibility. He declined Haihan's persuasion several times. But this is not necessarily a bad thing for Haihan. After all, a weak target is much easier to deal with than a strong-willed person. Moreover, the military's plan was indeed relatively feasible, so while Bai Kesi sent the eloquent Liu Shang to deal with Luo Dexian, he also gave him instructions to try to implement the military's plan, and the navy came forward to frighten the Korean monarchs and ministers.
Liu Shang saw Luo Dexian's face changing constantly, and knew that he was still undecided, so he immediately took another strong dose: "Whether you agree or not, our navy will make this trip. But if you want to To save your country from war, it is best to follow our suggestions so that we can remain partners instead of enemies in the future. ”
Luo Luo Xian sighed and said: "If I don't agree, I will be a sinner who brings war to the country! Is this what Mr. Liu means?"
Liu Shang smiled and said: "Master Luo understands justice well and will definitely make the choice that is most beneficial to the country."
What is now in front of Luo Dexian is how to turn Haihan's dispatch of troops to North Korea from a bad thing into a good thing. If you choose to cooperate with Haihan, then the nature of this troop dispatch is to peacefully demonstrate force to the North Korean monarchs and ministers, promote political exchanges between the two countries, and prepare for the conclusion of an alliance in the future. But if Luo Dexian chooses not to cooperate, then Haihan's troop dispatch may turn into an invasion. Then after several battles, the North Korean side, which cannot resist, can only choose to cease the war and make concessions and sign an alliance under the city. In this way, Luo Dexian may indeed have a great influence on North Korea. Will be responsible for the war.
Luo Luo Xian closed his eyes and said with a painful expression: "If I choose not to cooperate with you, will I be able to give you happiness next time?"
Liu Shang slowly shook his head and said: "Master Luo's identity is important, how can we make you suffer? Even if Master Luo is unwilling to cooperate, we will still take good care of your daily life and protect your personal safety, so that when the Haihan Army invades North Korea When the time comes, you can also return home in fine clothes.”
"What does this mean?" Luo Dexian suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Liu Shang and asked. Although Liu Shang seemed to be speaking calmly, Luo Dexian sensed a hint of danger.
"The Haihan army was able to successfully attack North Korea, which is of course due to Mr. Luo's guidance. After the war is over, we will send you back to North Korea and designate you as the liaison envoy between the two countries. From now on, even the king of North Korea must respect you. Youjia, isn't this good?" Liu Shang said while observing Liu Shang's expression carefully.
As expected, Luo Luo Xian's expression changed drastically. What the Haihan people did was simply more terrifying than executing him directly. If he were to be dealt with this way, he would definitely be regarded as a traitor by the Korean people. As for the liaison envoy between the two countries, Luo Dexian didn't dare to think too much about it. Those who wanted to assassinate him in North Korea would probably have to travel several miles away, and the family, old and young, would probably no longer be able to live well in the country. Luo Luo Xian really had to be afraid of this kind of vicious tactic.
If Luo Luo Xian didn't want to cooperate with Haihan, and he didn't want to bear the charge of treason that was imposed on him, then he probably had no choice but to die immediately to prove his innocence. But he was a person who was afraid of death. How could he die so easily and silently? At that moment, I couldn't help but regret taking this unfortunate job. Now that I wanted to choose a path, the Haihan people didn't even have the chance to choose.
Liu Shang had seen so many scenes. Seeing Luo Luo Xian's face gradually becoming gloomy, he guessed what he was thinking, and immediately gave him a few words: "Master Luo, don't think about dying. I'm not afraid to tell you, even if Even if you are dead, this matter will still go on. And if you want to use a dead person as a shield, don't you think it would be easier to make up a story later, saying that the puppet Luo died of cold? , let’s get this over with. Maybe your king will thank us for not rescuing you in time.”
Luo Dexian could not have imagined that Liu Shang's plan would be so vicious and leave no escape route, and it was indeed the case. If he really died, the Haihan people could say whatever they wanted, and there would be no chance of clearing his name in the future. Speaking of which, you should try your best to survive first, at least give yourself a chance to clear your name.
"Master Luo, your mission is to fight for the interests of North Korea. How to maximize the interests depends on your choice at this time!"
Liu Shang's words were like a wake-up call, suddenly opening up Luo Xian's train of thought. The reason why he has been hesitant is that he feels that Haihan's forced intervention may drag North Korea into the Liaodong War and provoke Houjin's revenge. But Haihan now only offers two options, one is to become its ally, and the other is to become its enemy. It has long been obvious which option is more in line with North Korea's interests.
There is no doubt that Haihan will continue to use military means to attack Hou Jin. Judging from what Luo Xian saw with his own eyes, the intensity of the war between the two sides has long reached a stage where there will be no end, and there is absolutely no way Hou Jin can bear it. The hatred of losing thousands of men and horses at the hands of the Haihan Army. If you want to choose an ally between Haihan and Houjin, of course Haihan, who has stronger military strength, is more reliable. Moreover, Luo Dexian believed that with the shamelessness of the Haihan people's conspiracy, the barbarians of Hou Jin could not catch up even if they were flattering, and Haihan would definitely have the upper hand in the long-term competition in the future. If you don't cooperate with Haihan, it is equivalent to choosing Houjin as an ally, but this ally will never send troops for the safety of North Korea. Even if Hou Jin chose to send troops to attack Haihan, North Korea would definitely have to pay huge expenses before the trip could be made. Moreover, when Hou Jin requisitioned North Korea's food, supplies, and civilians, he had no intention of giving any compensation. This was completely different from Haihan, who prioritized trade.
From Rod Heon's perspective, the greatest benefit he can obtain for North Korea is to form an alliance with Haehan and provide what is needed under the premise of peace. The worse Hai Han beats Hou Jin, the safer North Korea will be, and he can also gain some practical benefits in the process. Luo Dexian, who wanted to understand the cause and effect, finally relaxed.
Liu Shang didn't expect that Luo Dexian would suddenly turn around, and it took much less time than he expected. Liu Shang originally planned to have at least two or three talks with the other party before he could achieve his goal, but this would save time and trouble.
When the news came back to the frontline headquarters, Bai Kesi was also surprised by Liu Shang's efficiency. When he met with Liu Shang yesterday, he did not have much confidence in this matter and just asked Liu Shang to give it a try. But he didn't expect that Liu Shang had made preparations for a long time and a whole night, and he actually got rid of Luo Dexian's stubbornness.
"Record credit! This must be credited!" Bai Kesi was very satisfied with Liu Shang's performance and decided to take credit for him before he came back.
It is not impossible for Haihan to attack North Korea if he really wants to, but opening a new battlefield just to plunder resources is not a cost-effective move for Haihan. If North Korea can be coaxed into joining through diplomatic means, that would of course be the most efficient approach.
Wang Tom was very excited after getting the news. This job must be taken by the navy, and the task is not difficult, so it is perfect for training troops. Wang Tom immediately issued an order, and all personnel of the Northern Fleet immediately returned to their posts and spent two days preparing for departure.
However, the military does not intend to let the foreign military observation group know about this matter. After all, whether North Korea's move will work will have to be seen to judge. Leaking the news too early is not conducive to the long-term layout. Therefore, Luo Dexian has been isolated in isolation for the past few days. When someone asked, Haihan officials only said that he had returned to Shandong.
After Luo Dexian waited uneasily for two more days in solitary confinement, Haihan notified him that he would go to North Korea with the naval fleet tomorrow. The fleet will be personally commanded by Haihan Navy Commander Wang Tom, and Liu Shang, whom he interviewed the day before yesterday, will also accompany the army on the expedition - this is the general Wang Tom personally selected because of Liu Shang's ability in persuasion. Wang Tom believes that this trip to North Korea will inevitably involve dealing with the other party's senior figures. Perhaps Liu Shang's skills can come in handy at critical moments.
During this period, the territory of Joseon was divided into eight administrative regions from north to south: Hamgyeong Province, Pyongan Province, Hwanghae Province, Gangwon Province, Gyeonggi Province, Chungcheong Province, Gyeongsang Province, and Jeolla Province. The capital was Seoul Prefecture located in Gyeonggi Province. .
Seoul is not the traditional capital of North Korea. The capital of the Goguryeo Dynasty was Pyongyang, while the capital of the Goguryeo Dynasty was Kaegyeong. After Li Chenggui established the Joseon Dynasty, he built a new capital north of the Han River in 1392, which later became Seoul. The Haihan Navy went to North Korea to promote force. In order to save time and resources, it chose to fly directly to Seoul in order to achieve the best deterrence effect in the shortest time.
The straight-line voyage from Port Arthur, where the Navy is stationed on the Liaodong Peninsula, to Seoul, North Korea, is nearly three hundred nautical miles. At the normal speed of the Haihan Fleet, the destination can be reached in about three days. And Tom Wang can also take advantage of these few days to learn more about North Korea's defense status on the coast near Seoul from Luo Dexian. By the way, he can also discuss how to arrange operations to achieve the effect Haihan needs without letting North Korea Misunderstanding that this is to start a war.
Luo Dexian was worried before, but after boarding the flagship "Dignity", he decisively gave up the struggle. Wang Tom arranged for him to visit the ship's artillery deck without any scruples, showing him how powerful the firepower was on this warship that brought together Haihan's most advanced shipbuilding technology. Even in his wildest dreams, Luo Dexian never imagined that a ship could be equipped with so many artillery pieces. Moreover, according to the other party's introduction, this warship had fought in the past few years and had sunk at least double digits of sailing warships. Yes, he believed that this number was not a boast of the Haihan people.
There are actually more than ten artillery warships like the "Dignity" in the fleet, but their tonnage is slightly smaller. It was difficult for Luo Dexian to imagine what method he would use to confront such an armed fleet head-on. Tom Wang even specially activated the steam propulsion system on the ship, allowing the "Dignity" to run at the highest speed for more than an hour, and Luo Xian was able to experience the fastest sea voyage in his life.
Of course, what shocked him the most was Wang Tom’s summary: “No matter who our opponent is, when he is under the aim of our guns, it is impossible to escape. Ships faster than mine are now No other country can create it.”
The confidence in these words is overwhelming, but the Haihan Navy does have such capital. After all, it is still more than two hundred years before the first steam warship in history appeared, which is two centuries ahead of its contemporaries. The black technology is enough for Wang Tom to say these words arrogantly.
Not to mention this fleet, just this flagship, Luo Dexian believed that North Korea could not resist it. However, if this thing sailed directly into the Han River, it would probably cause chaos in the entire Seoul city. Therefore, he suggested to Wang Tom that after the fleet arrives at the North Korean coast, not to rush into the Han River, but to report its intention through official channels first, and then take the next step based on the North Korean official's response.
(End of chapter)