Chapter 2888
Feng Annan's promise was quickly fulfilled. Early the next morning, Qiu Zhiguo brought a large group of people to help the special operations division build a camp.
At a glance, there were probably five to six hundred people. Among them were engineers drawn from the local garrison, as well as craftsmen specializing in masonry and carpentry. Of course, the largest number are civilian men who have been transferred to serve as laborers. These people brought various tools with them, which saved the special operations division a lot of time.
"Master Qian, we can only recruit so many people in a hurry. I hope we can help. If it's not enough, then we will think of a solution later." After Qiu Zhiguo saw Qian Tiandun, he took the initiative to explain his purpose. .
Qian Tiandun thanked Qiu Zhiguo, and then told Gao Qiaonan: "There are so many new helpers, please arrange the tasks well, and don't waste on their food, drink, and wages."
Gao Qiaonan responded, knowing that Qian Tiandun did not want to owe this favor. In fact, in his opinion, Qiu Zhiguo's approach was indeed a bit snobbish. He had to wait until he spoke before he started taking action.
Gao Qiaonan led the advance team of the Special Warfare Division to Cam Ranh Port for some time. During this period, he also met Qiu Zhiguo twice. The other party's attitude could only be regarded as lukewarm. Qiu Zhiguo still cooperated with the special operations division's requirements for material support, but he never offered to assist the special operations division in building camps.
This was obviously due to Feng Annan's statement yesterday. Qiu Zhiguo and others acted overnight after receiving the order, and were able to gather hundreds of people so quickly.
However, Gao Qiaonan would not be dissatisfied with Qiu Zhiguo because of this. The two sides had no good relationship in the past. As the local civil affairs officer of Cam Ranh Port, he indeed had no obligation to help the special warfare division. In this kind of thing, it's your duty not to help, but it's your duty to help. There's nothing to complain about.
Qian Tiandun didn't have time to stay here to supervise the work. He had to continue discussing with Yan Chujie and others on how to implement his huge plan.
However, the protagonists of today's meeting were not Qian Tiandun, but three young officers, Ha Jianzhong, Mu Zhennan and Wu Chengzhi. Feng Annan specially arranged for them to attend and explain the current situation in the South China Sea to Qian Tiandun.
As early as 1633, Haihan took the lead in forming the South China Sea Trade Alliance. This alliance not only included many countries in the South China Sea region, but also special members such as the Dutch East India Company.
Although this organization is named "Trade Alliance" and sounds like an international business organization, it actually also plays a certain diplomatic role. Countries in the alliance follow the trade rules set by Haihan. When conflicts arise between countries, Haihan will also come forward to preside over negotiations and resolve conflicts.
Of course, sometimes Haihan will use his strong dominance in this region to maintain the delicate balance in the region.
For example, during the war between the Dutch East India Company and the Mataram Kingdom in 1636, both sides came to Haihan to purchase arms due to a shortage of weapons. Haihan took advantage of information asymmetry to support the Mataram Kingdom through arms trade. East India Company.
The war between Annan and Champa also relied on Haihan's mediation. The weaker side of Champa was able to save the country from being destroyed by Annan.
During this period, there were also people who overestimated their capabilities and wanted to challenge Haihan's authority, but the results were predictable. In 1637, Haihan crossed the Luzon Island with heavy troops and captured the city of Manila, which had been run by the Spanish for more than half a century, and completely drove it out of the Luzon region. This old opponent, who has been fighting with Haihan for many years, has been severely weakened since then and can no longer compete with Haihan in the South China Sea. But it is the South China Sea Trade Alliance organized by Haihan that limits its external expansion to a certain extent. Going around, this one is a little brother, that one is a business partner, they are all difficult targets to deal with. At most, like Annan, they could negotiate to establish settlements on its coast, or simply set aside a natural port and let Haihan operate it.
Spain, the only country that dared to compete with Haihan, had long since been driven to the Sulawesi Sea, two thousand miles south of Luzon. As long as the Spaniards didn't take the initiative to provoke them, Haihan wouldn't bother to mobilize troops and send troops to such distant places to attack small colonies with a population of no more than four digits.
Of course, the relatively peaceful situation definitely has more advantages than disadvantages for Haihan. It is precisely thanks to the stability of the situation in the South China Sea that Haihan has established a huge trading system in the South China Sea over the past few years.
This system includes hundreds of commodities from the member states of the South China Sea Trade Alliance. Haihan also used this to promote the currency and financial settlement system issued by his country to all parts of the South China Sea. Its impact may be as far-reaching as launching a siege. total war.
In terms of military affairs, Haihan's main garrison bases are concentrated in Cam Ranh Port, Manila, and Sing Tao.
The Star Island Garrison is the 9th Army Division restructured from the original Nanhai Special Warfare Group under Roger's command, and the Third Detachment of the South China Sea Fleet. Stationed in Manila are the Fourth Army Division and the Fourth Detachment of the South China Sea Fleet.
However, because these places are far apart, these troops rarely have the opportunity to meet, let alone fight together. In recent years, there have been no large-scale wars in the South China Sea, so it is difficult to have a clear criterion for judging the actual combat effectiveness of these forces.
When Qian Tiandun heard this, he interjected and asked: "I remember that Roger's troops were very powerful. They had a good record in the battle against the British and Johor coalition forces at Star Island, and later they were assigned the establishment of an independent battalion in the South China Sea. It stands to reason. He said that his army has an independent organization and does not need to be integrated into the army's organization. Why was it changed to the Lu Ninth Division? "
Yan Chujie responded: "Roger is capable and his troops are not bad. The Ministry of National Defense reorganized his troops and re-assigned them mainly to take into account the unity of the combat command system."
After hearing this, Qian Tiandun did not continue to ask any more questions, but he felt vaguely that the matter was not that simple.
There are only two units in the entire Haihan Army named after "Special Warfare", one was formed by Qian Tiandun, and the other was built by Luo Jie. These two troops, one in the south and one in the north, guard the border areas of Haihan all year round.
Roger's army is also a victorious army in the South China Sea. It has never been defeated since its formation. Logically speaking, it will not be abolished as an independent organization. The possibility that Qian Tiandun can think of is that this unit has had too few combat opportunities in recent years and it is difficult to prove its strength, so it was reorganized by the Ministry of National Defense.
Of course, there may be other inside stories about this matter, but Qian Tiandun doesn't want to make random guesses. Maybe he will know the real reason when he meets Roger in the future.
(End of chapter)