Opening game, American Tycoon

Chapter 909 The Vast Ocean Is a Casino (First update, please subscribe)
During war, many incredible things will always happen. Some people may get rich overnight, and some people may lose everything overnight.

In fact, this is the charm of war.

Of course, for most people, war is just war. They will neither become rich nor poor because of war. They are just participants in war.

As a navy engineer, Zhao Yujiang came here by boat on the third day after the military conquered Montevideo. Not only him, but also more than a dozen engineers, they set foot on the They found a sunken Brazilian warship in the port, and surveyed the bombing effect on the spot. After all, this is an extremely rare actual combat experience, and analyzed the damage of the aerial bomb through the damage of the warship.

However, while other people were concentrating on evaluating the damage effect of the bomb, Zhao Yujiang's heart was more focused on the warship.

"The loss of the hull is not big!"

"It's really not big, mainly because of the damage to the superstructure and the boiler room. Overall, the damage is relatively limited."

The colleague's answer made Zhao Yujiang turn his attention to the other three ironclad ships. They were all "Riachuelo" class battleships, and without exception, they all had ten-inch armor and ten-inch main guns.

As battleships, they are only second-class battleships, but second-class battleships are also battleships!

Walking to the position of the turret amidships, looking at the turret that was blown away, Zhao Yujiang said to himself.

"Maybe we can salvage them,"

"what?"

Qiu Shiwei, the lieutenant commander who passed by him, said curiously.

"What did you say? Mr. Zhao? Salvage them?"

"Yes, salvage them, so that not only can we have a clearer grasp of their damage, but also..."

After a pause, Zhao Yujiang expressed his thoughts.

"If it can be repaired, we can repair it. If only the superstructure and the boiler are damaged, it will take at most half a year to repair it. By then we will have four more battleships, although it is only ten inches Naval guns, but after all, they are also battleships!"

It has to be said that Zhao Yujiang's suggestion immediately aroused Qiu Shiwei's interest. He looked around at the few warships that were half exposed in the sea and seemed to be extremely damaged, and said to himself.

"This seems to be a way!"

The solution is of course a good solution!

It is a well-known fact that if a warship that is not seriously damaged is only repaired, it will definitely be faster and cheaper than rebuilding it.

How fast and easy to save, go there to find it.

"Can it be salvaged?"

"Salvage should be no problem."

Zhao Yujiang said with certainty.

"However, after being salvaged, it needs to be dragged to the dock for inspection. If it is confirmed that it can be repaired or is worth repairing, it can be repaired first, and then dragged to Yingtian's shipyard for repair. Judging from the current basic survey situation, I think , there is still hope for repairing them, and at about half the cost of building new."

"Mr. Zhao, you guys should study it and make a plan first, and then I will report it to the Ministry of the Navy."

Qiu Shiwei said bluntly, as a naval officer, he believed that as long as these four warships could be repaired, then the navy would definitely be willing. After all, there is not a single capital ship in Ming Dynasty at home—all capital ships are in the Mediterranean Sea.

Even in the navy club, they all told a joke, saying that now Daming's sea area only needs to be protected by airships, even if a few high-level officials know the killer weapon of Daming's coastal defense-submarines are in the mainland, and there is no need to worry about foreign invasion at all. But without a capital ship, I can't sleep well!

"So, these warships have a chance to be repaired!"

The newly appointed Naval Minister Li Nanlin, the Earl of Yingchuan of the Ming Dynasty, was also the earliest naval commander of the Ming Dynasty. After receiving the report from his subordinates, he gave the immediate approval and came to the palace to report in person.

"Yes, Your Majesty, the Ship Administration Department estimates that the repair costs will be between 160 million and 200 million. If it is not replaced, or only the damaged main gun is replaced, then the expenditure can be reduced by at least 30%, which means more than 100 million. The Navy can have four combat ships."

Li Nanlin's answer made Emperor Zhu nodded slightly.

"That said, it's a good deal!"

It is indeed very cost-effective. It costs more than 100 million to own four battleships. Such a good thing can be found everywhere, but it is usually not found. This is completely a spoil of war!

"It's really cost-effective. In terms of tonnage, a capital ship of the same level needs at least 140-150 million yuan. Now we only need to spend the money of one ship to own four ships. It only takes two or three months to complete the repair, which not only saves money, but most importantly, keeps the local fleet from losing even one capital ship."

While speaking, Li Nanlin looked at His Majesty with complicated eyes, that is, His Majesty sent all the capital ships of the navy to the Mediterranean Sea to fill the field for the Four Nations Alliance.

"Hey, in the final analysis, our naval strength is too weak! On the one hand, we have to confront Britain in other regions, and on the other hand, we also have to consider the maritime security of the mainland, um, the two oceans."

Emperor Zhu said casually.

"After the "Youzhou class" enters service, the problem will almost be alleviated. However, it doesn't seem to be working. Has the United States passed the budget for the new fiscal year? Are they planning to build four combat ships and four armored ships next year? Cruiser and six cruisers? Is there any plan for the Navy to respond?"

Faced with challenges from abroad, Emperor Zhu's response was always direct.The vast ocean is a casino. If you want to play on the gambling table, you must at least make your own capital stronger first.

"Your Majesty, what the Navy is worried about now is not the expansion of the U.S. Navy, but the threat posed to us by the British and American sea power after the Anglo-American alliance!"

Although in the past few years, Li Nanlin, who has been recuperating, has faded out of the navy due to physical reasons, it does not mean that he does not care about the construction of the navy or external threats.

"Before this, the U.S. Navy was not a big threat to us, and our sea power far surpassed that of the United States. However, with the further expansion of the U.S. Navy, especially the "U.S.-British Alliance" that is currently being discussed in Congress, if they If the navies of the two countries operate jointly, how should we fight against them? Your Majesty, I believe that in order to counter the British-American alliance and the threats they pose to us in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, we must formulate a new round of naval expansion plans. Respond to their challenge with a powerful expansion of sea power!"

(End of this chapter)