Chapter 3500
Chapter 3500
Chapter 3500
The solution proposed by Zheng Zao was indeed quite radical and immediately caused an uproar among the guests on the scene.
According to Zheng Zao's plan, it is certainly possible to solve the problem that some small countries with insufficient strength find it difficult to establish their own maritime armed forces, but the navy obtained in this way seems to be seriously lacking in independence.
This armed force nominally belongs to the country, and the manpower and military expenditure are also borne by the country, but the wartime command is in the hands of Hai Han. Doesn't this mean that one is spending money to help Hai Han maintain its army?
Some quick-thinking people in the audience were already thinking that it would be better to just invite Hai Han to station troops in their country. At least the corresponding expenses would be less.
Some people immediately questioned Zheng Zao's plan, believing that it did not fully take the interests of the countries involved into full consideration and that it would not be possible to promote it without any practical benefits.
Zheng Zao responded to these doubts calmly. Taking Annan as an example, he listed the many benefits of forming a military alliance with Hai Han.
The cost of establishing a navy using the full Hai Han model would certainly not be low, as equipment procurement, personnel training, and daily operations would all require a large amount of military expenditure. However, the combat effectiveness of a navy established on this basis is far beyond the reach of its peers of this era.
Before forming an alliance with Hai Han, the strength of the Annan Navy was probably limited to operating within a hundred miles of its own coastline. As for naval combat, it could only stay close to enemy ships and launch fire attacks or engage in boarding and hand-to-hand combat, and its attack power was extremely limited.
After more than 20 years of continuous investment, the Annan naval fleet now has more than 200 warships of various sizes, almost all of which are manufactured by Hai Han’s shipyards or built in batches according to the drawings and processes provided by Hai Han. The ships are also equipped with various weapons manufactured by Hai Han.
During this period, the Annan Navy also participated in many military operations organized by the Hai Han organization, and its scope of activities gradually expanded from its own coastline to foreign lands thousands of miles away overseas.
Zheng Zao openly claimed that if it were a one-on-one battle, the current Annan navy could defeat all the countries present except Hai Han. Moreover, such military strength not only brought security to Annan, but also considerable economic benefits.
Wherever the Annan Navy followed Hai Han’s lead, they almost always followed Hai Han’s practice and set up trading posts and diplomatic offices there. They then opened trade routes and even colonized the local area if necessary.
Although these places do not belong to Annan, as long as the shipping routes are established, it basically means profitability.
Moreover, this kind of exploration of the unknown world only requires relatively low costs, because everything is led by the omniscient and omnipotent Hai Han, and there is no need to try to explore the unknown world by oneself.
The destinations chosen by Hai Han for sending troops overseas either have natural harbors, or have high-value products, or are the throats of important waterways. In short, they will never choose the wrong place.
If you don't have enough strength, you will be driven away by other strong men even if you occupy a good place like this. But with Hai Han's help, you don't have to worry about this happening. As a younger brother, you just need to follow the older brother closely and you can easily make a fortune.
As for the security of the mainland, that was the easiest part to worry about. Since the alliance with Hai Han, the Annan coastline had never been invaded by foreign enemies.
"Everyone, please imagine boldly. If your country could have the same trade routes as Hai Han, would the cost of building a naval force be worth it?"
After telling the history of the rise of the Annan Navy, Zheng Zao raised another question, and this time fewer people immediately expressed doubts than before. Many people were thinking in their hearts whether it was really possible to recover the investment in building the navy through subsequent maritime trade operations as Zheng Zao said. But not everyone was happy to hear Zheng Zao's speech. Li Yi, who had just stepped down to rest, was a little dissatisfied.
It doesn’t matter that Zheng Zao boasted about the strength of the Annan Navy, but he claimed that he could defeat all countries except Hai Han, which of course included North Korea. This bragging made Li Yi feel a little uncomfortable.
Although Korea formed an alliance with Hai Han later than Annan, Li Yi believed that the military aid and support it received was not only not inferior to Annan, but was very likely even better than Annan.
The reason is very simple. Hai Han needs Korea to balance the situation in Northeast Asia and contain the Qing Dynasty and Japan, two countries that like to fight and bully. Naturally, it cannot allow Korea's military strength to be inferior to these two powerful neighbors.
Therefore, when developing the Taedong River coast in the early years, Hai Han planned the local coal-iron composite industry, military industry and shipbuilding industry to assist North Korea in forming a new army.
Li Li believes that the current scale of North Korea’s armed forces should be larger than that of Annan.
In terms of the navy alone, North Korea has two naval fleets, one in the south and one in the north. The number of ships in the southern navy controlled by Li Li is not much less than that of Annan. He believes that the cross-sea delivery capability and amphibious landing combat experience are even better than Annan.
In many joint military exercises and competitions held in Hai Han, the performance of the North Korean Navy has never been inferior to that of its Annan counterparts.
But Zheng Zao's boast had already been made, and Li Li had no way to clarify it immediately on such an occasion. As a result, outsiders would inevitably have the impression that "Annan was stronger than Joseon", and Li Li could only try to redeem himself from other places.
However, the Hai Han high-level officials present at the meeting spoke highly of Zheng Zao's performance. As the head of a country, his unremitting efforts to promote the military alliance system built by Hai Han would surely be much more effective than Hai Han's own promotion.
Yan Chujie, who came on stage later, made some additional explanations on Zheng Zao’s speech.
The military alliance built by Hai Han actually includes more than just Annan and Korea, but also Portugal, Champa, Cambodia, etc. However, the alliances signed between each country and Hai Han are slightly different, so the standards implemented by each country will also be different.
For example, Portugal, which is also a military ally, will not rely on Hai Han for personnel, ships, equipment, etc., nor will it acquiesce in Hai Han's stationing of troops in areas controlled by Portugal.
However, after entering the wartime state, both sides have the obligation to assist each other and cooperate in the war. For example, the two armies once joined forces to attack the Luzon region controlled by the Spanish, which is one of the most classic examples of the war.
What Yan Chujie wanted to express was that the manner and degree of concluding a military alliance with Hai Han were very flexible and did not necessarily have to copy the Annan model. Each country could choose its own plan that suited its national conditions, or it could conduct separate negotiations with Hai Han during the forum.
Of course, Yan Chujie couldn’t help but emphasize again in the end that an alliance with Hai Han was not a compulsory measure, and all countries had the freedom to choose yes or no.