African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 578: Chapter 256 Naval Cooperation

”In the next two weeks, the navy needs to adapt to this climate environment, quickly restore combat power, and this might be the first actual combat the East African Navy has faced since its inception, so everyone needs to be serious and treat this seriously.”

The East African naval fleet docked at the Zhuhai Trade Region began its adaptive training here. Although the East African maritime area is vast, going to the Far East and executing combat missions like this is a first.

Training near Zhuhai, the East African Navy was actually quite unaccustomed, and of course, as the host, the Far Eastern Empire was also unaccustomed. However, given the Guangdong Navy’s poor capability in the region, they could only turn a blind eye.

The Far East naval lineup includes the Beiyang, Nanyang, Fujian, and Guangdong four great navies, with Beiyang being the most famous, and rightly so, since it is the Far Eastern Empire’s favored one. This is understandable as the Beiyang Navy is responsible for the entire northern maritime defense, with the Far Eastern Empire’s political center, the capital area by the Bohai, naturally ensuring the Beiyang Navy receives the greatest support given the Qing Government’s wariness toward the south.

The Nanyang Navy is somewhat misrepresentative. Of course, this misrepresentation is only literal; although the name includes Nanyang, the base is actually on the Jiangsu and Zhejiang Coast, whereas during this era, Ernst viewed the Nanyang domain as Southeast Asia and the East Indian Archipelago waters.

The Nanyang Navy’s primary equipment is made by the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau and Fujian Shipyard, with a small number purchased from Britain and Germany. In terms of tonnage, equipment, personnel, or strength, the Nanyang Navy falls massively behind the Beiyang Navy, but it is still second in strength.

Before the year 1894, the first two navies had been the top two in strength among Far East Navies, but historically, the Fujian Navy has the earliest and highest domestic production, controlled by the Fujian Shipyard.

As for the last-ranked Guangdong Navy, it is the weakest in strength and smallest in size, and like the Nanyang Navy, it is not very well-known. At this time, the Guangdong Navy has a dozen vessels, with a total displacement of several thousand tons, not even reaching ten thousand tons, while a single top-tier East African ironclad ship already weighs over seven thousand tons, revealing the naval gap between the two countries.

The East African Navy’s flagship ”Zhegu” in this expedition does not have a particularly high displacement, but it also reaches over 6800 tons, while two other ironclad ships are also above 5000 tons, with just three ironclad ships surpassing the sum of all Guangdong Navy’s main ships.

In front of the East African expedition fleet, the Guangdong Navy seemed somewhat like a small fry, and their most advanced main ships were still sail warships, which even the gunboats brought by East Africa this time could cause to fail miserably.

The Guangdong Navy may not see development until after 1882, and their latest main ships were still products from before 1868.

”Captain Luo hopes that after you return this time, you can maintain good communication with your naval department. During this joint naval exercise, we hope for your convenience as our main objective is centered around the South Ryukyu Islands and not conducting dirty acts like those of the Portuguese taking someone’s place.”

The East African Navy rested and trained within the Far Eastern Empire’s maritime area and certainly could not act indiscriminately, as this was their territorial waters. Hence, East Africa came up with an excuse, advancing to the Far East under the guise of a joint naval exercise to combat piracy.

This was unavoidable; according to East Africa’s plan, once the South Ryukyu Islands’ harbor is renovated, East Africa’s future Pacific fleet base can be placed on the South Ryukyu Islands. Currently, the South Ryukyu Islands still lack this capability; its harbor facilities are still ancient and require extensive renovation, whereas East Africa has not yet completed even the land facilities on the South Ryukyu Islands.

”General Gleiss, those words are too polite. We still trust your country’s reputation. However, I must let you know our requirement is not high, which is hoping your conflict with Japan does not involve our country.”

”Rest assured on this point; regarding conflicts with Japan, East Africa takes full responsibility. Even if mishaps occur, your country will not be blamed. Now that you’re facilitating our temporary rest and docking here, East Africa is indebted to you, and we certainly are not ingrateful scoundrels.” Gleiss assured Luo Yijun.

”Haha, then I wish you success in this operation.”

Although he said this, Luo Yijun was not thinking the same. In his view, Japan was no good, and East Africa was no saint either. Yet in these times of treacherous mischief, ironically, East Africa seemed less despicable.

It would be best if East Africa and Japan ended up injuring each other! Alternatively, East Africa should cripple the Japanese Navy; this was Luo Yijun’s true intention.

The threat from Japan as a troublesome neighbor evidently far exceeds that of East Africa. After all, East Africa is far from the Far East, closer only to Western countries.

It’s easy to see this from a globe; if you face the Pacific side, you cannot see the Far East and Mainland USA, whereas facing the Indian Ocean, you can include most Far East and East African regions, while on land, Europe is closer to the Far East than East Africa, but at sea, East Africa fares much better.

”Captain Luo shouldn’t think my words are empty; this time you’ve helped our country, next time concerning the navy, we can reciprocate; for instance, in personnel training, ships, and weapon procurement, our country can assist, at least we have good relations with Austria-Hungary and the German Navy.”

”Alright, if given the chance, I hope both sides can cooperate again.” This time Luo Yijun did not refuse.

In fact, this opportunity will rapidly present itself. Historically from 1880 onwards, besides the Far Eastern Empire and Germany, the navies of countries like the United States and Japan will experience significant growth.

However, Ernst isn’t certain if Japan can keep pace because East Africa’s emergence has altered many nation’s fates, such as Japan, whose most valuable industry currently is the silk industry, although it’s thriving well, it surely cannot compare to the original history.

Due to East African and German merchant investments in the Far East, the Far Eastern Empire’s development in the textile industry field is much stronger than in the original history, especially with major commercial groups like the Jin Merchants and Huishi participating.

The Far Eastern Empire government primarily develops heavy industry and military industry; relatively, light industry, especially textiles, is developed by the private sector, and at this time, the role of the Huaihai Economic Zone and Zhuhai Trade Region begins to surface, which means fewer troublesome affairs, many Far Eastern merchants follow to invest in these two economic regions, and they borrow from Heixinggen Bank, creating a win-win scenario.

On the losing end are Japan, East African competitors in the Far East, from which East Africa has taken almost ten million immigrants over the years, with these excess population alleviated, allowing the Far East more energy to develop its industry.

For instance, land; with fewer people, naturally, more land can be used for industrial investment, and the Far East’s textile industry inevitably forms competition with countries like Japan that also have cheap labor, but with advantages, East Africa can provide the Far East with part of the raw materials and machinery, as well as capital, even supplying part of the market.

Japan can certainly borrow money from Britain for development, but Britain cannot change Japan’s natural disadvantage of narrow territory. If Australia or Canada were given to Japan, with Japan’s diligence and humble learning during this era, it might indeed cause a reversal; however, such fanciful ideas can only remain as thoughts.