Opening game, American Tycoon

Chapter 1397 The Empire Doesn't Love Money (First update, please subscribe)
who are they?Where do you come from?
On April 21, [-], on this day, facing the reality that the east and west coasts were attacked at the same time

Americans who are in total shock, they ask that question all the time.

But in asking this question, the price has already been paid!

……

Washington, the White House.

After President Cleveland learned of the Ming Empire's declaration of war from the Secretary of State's phone call, he was stunned for quite a while.

"Why did the Ming Empire declare war? Don't they want to make money?"

The reason why Cleveland has such doubts is because the Ming Empire is used to making money from wars!

No country in the world was better at developing men, whether in the Civil War or in Southern Africa.The Ming Empire used war to make a fortune.

Although they used the war to make war money, they never directly participated in the war.

But now?
The Ming Empire doesn't want money anymore!

"I don't know!"

Sitting in the Oval Office, President Cleveland said to his chief of staff, Mick, with some distress.

"As we all know, the Ming Empire is a merchant country. For them, nothing is more important than trade. During the Civil War, they smuggled weapons worth no less than [-] million dollars to the south, and their high-speed smuggling ships transported weapons from the south. Cotton worth hundreds of millions of dollars was taken away. They benefited more from the war than any other country."

Is Cleveland exaggerating?
Of course not, there is a saying in the United States - in the Civil War, the bodies of Americans who died in battle must have bullets from the Ming Empire.

During the Civil War, the "black history" of the Nanhua Company, the predecessor of the Ming Empire, which made a fortune, has long been made public. Therefore, it is precisely because of this that Cleveland can't figure it out!

Who can imagine that one day the businessman actually rejected the money.Even refusing money while choosing wars that cost a lot of wealth.

"Yes, Mr. President, it was the blood of the Americans that stimulated the economic development of the Ming Empire, and it was the blood of the Americans that contributed to the industrial take-off of the Ming Empire!"

When the chief of staff finished speaking, President Cleveland spoke again.

"So, I can't figure it out, why did the Ming Empire go to war? At this time, shouldn't we all remain neutral and export arms to Europe? We sell arms to the British, Germans, Italians, and they sell arms to The French, the Russians and the Austrians, let the Europeans kill each other, let the Europeans bleed, and then it is in their interest for us to earn gold! Why do they ... declare war on us?"

At this time, Cleveland is like a wronged little daughter-in-law. He has planned everything. The United States will make a fortune in this war, and the United States will come out of the economic crisis. When Europe falls into war, America will really take off.

To this end, he is even willing to make concessions on many issues.Making money...not shabby.

It’s okay to make some compromises in order to make money.

But his plan turned into a joke with the declaration of war by the Ming Empire.

"Don't they want to make money? Gold... In this world, what is more important than gold?"

"Mr. President, we all know that even if the Ming Empire agrees to remain neutral, neutrality will not last long. In the end, they will still join the war, and we are no exception..."

Leaf looked at the president, and couldn't help but secretly speculate in his heart—the Ming Empire isn't stupid either.The United States cannot remain neutral forever, nor can they ignore the threat of empire forever.Sooner or later there is going to be a war.

Under such circumstances, how could the Ming Empire choose to compromise?
"But... we should make money first!"

Cleveland said somewhat stubbornly.Then he asked again when the cabinet members could arrive.After learning of the disappearance of the declaration of war, he immediately summoned the cabinet members to deal with the sudden declaration of war.

"I never thought that the Ming Empire would choose to go to war..."

At this moment, a staff member of the White House suddenly pushed open the door of the Oval Office in a panic. He was so panic-stricken that he even forgot the basic etiquette.

"Mr. Frank, what's the matter with you?"

Liv looked at his subordinate in displeasure and asked.

"Sir, sir,"

Frank, who was reprimanded, did not make any excuses, but handed over the telegram with a panicked expression.

"Mr. President! We just received a telegram from the Navy that Hampton... the Great White Fleet at Hampton anchorage was attacked by air... the Great White Fleet was... completely annihilated... gone!"

"What! What did you say? How is this possible? An air strike? Is it an airship from the Ming people?"

Liv, who received the telegram, was stunned for a moment—the telegram was indeed sent by the Navy.

"What the hell is going on? What happened to my fleet?"

When he received the telegram from Liv, Cleveland's expression instantly became dull. With his dull eyes, he only had one thought in his mind——his fleet is completely over!
Yes!

That was his fleet, the Great White Fleet he ordered to form. That fantastic fleet once shocked the whole world. They sailed around the world from Hampton, allowing the world to see the powerful sea power of the United States. Of course, what the whole world has witnessed is not only sea power, but also the astonishing national strength of the United States-it is a strong economy that provides the necessary expenses for the large fleet, and it is strong industrial power that creates the large fleet.

But now?
It's all over!
The mighty "Great White Fleet" that symbolizes the power and glory of the United States has disappeared!It was wiped out by the Ming people in one morning!

How is this possible?
"My God, how is this possible? How is it possible that our fleet is just gone? My God, what the hell happened there?"

While muttering to himself, the telegram slipped from his hand, God can testify, at this moment, Cleveland burst into tears.

for his fleet.

Of course, it may also be because of some kind of fear, because the big fleet just disappeared...

"Mr. President, Mr. President..."

Just then a man broke into the Oval Office. It was Secretary of State Gresham. He had already arrived at the White House. As soon as he entered the office, he said loudly.

"Is it true? The Ming people attacked the Hampton anchorage, and they destroyed our fleet? Is this true?"

Walking in front of the president, Gresham said again.

"This must be fake news. I heard this news on the way to the White House. We must immediately tell the whole of the United States that this is fake. This is impossible. God can testify. Who is fabricating this fake news? ? It must be those guys who took the Daming silver dollars, they must be deliberately spreading rumors and creating chaos there."

Just as he finished speaking, Secretary of the Navy William Whitney walked in and said to him.

"It's true, Mr. Secretary of State! Our fleet was attacked from the air. What the Ming people dispatched was not an airship, but a new type of flying machine."

When saying this, Whitney's tone was a little sad, but more angry.

"They sneaked up on us, on this Sunday morning, with aircraft. Destroyed our fleet. It was a despicable sneak attack."

"They have declared war on us, before 7 o'clock."

Secretary of State Gresham asked after telling the other party that war had been declared.

"Flying machines? What kind of flying machines? Where did they come from? From Mexico?"

Almost subconsciously, Gresham saw Mexico. After all, Mexico was also an ally of the Ming Empire.If it was the week sent by the Ming Empire, it would most likely have taken off from Mexico.

"But the Mexican Empire has not declared war on us now. If the aircraft of the Ming Empire departed from there, then we must declare war on the Mexican Empire."

Declare war on Mexico!

It seems to be a good choice. After all, compared to the Ming Empire, the Mexican Empire is a vulnerable country.

After declaring war, the Ming Empire's help to Mexico must also be considered. After all, there are troops from the Ming Empire stationed in Mexico.

"It's not known where their aircraft came from, but they were very small. Navy intelligence personnel don't think the aircraft could have flown to the Hamptons from Mexico or any other country. They probably came from It took off from a warship."

While Whitney continued to explain, President Cleveland, who had been silent all along, asked in a deep voice.

"Whitney, how many warships has our fleet lost?"

Now, where the Ming Empire's aircraft took off is not the most important thing, the most important thing is to confirm the loss of the fleet.

"Is it really annihilated?"

After asking this question, Cleveland looked at Whitney eagerly, as if he wanted to get good news from him. At least he heard the other party say... Our loss is not that heavy.

But then Cleveland must be disappointed.Looking at Mr. President, Whitney was not even willing to tell him the bad news, to break his illusion.

But bad news always comes out.Whitney nodded and said.

"During the attack, the aircraft of the Ming Empire used torpedoes and bombs to attack our fleet in the early morning. At that time, the fleet had no defense at all. After all, we did not receive any news about the declaration of war, so at that time, for us Say, it was a sneak attack! And... we don't know how to defend against that kind of aircraft..."

When he said these words, Whitney once again emphasized the word "sneak attack". It seems to him that even if war is declared, it is also a sneak attack.

"We lost nearly all of our dreadnoughts..."

In an instant, the circular office became quiet, and everyone fell silent about the bad news.

This is true.

The Great White Fleet was really wiped out...

　The old group is dead, and a new book friend group: 739209015 is welcome to join, discuss the plot together, and deduce the plot.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)