Chapter 734 Nicholas Zhao Si, King of Pingxi, Great America

The conference room of the Prime Minister's Office in Tianjin was illuminated by gas lamps. Luo Yaoguo's fingers gently tapped the edge of a North American map spread on the conference table. The secret hall in charge of intelligence Zhang Sanxiang was introducing the situation of the American civil war in his Hunan accent: "The Northern Army currently has 250,000 regular troops and 200,000 southern troops. The "1861 Conscription Case" just passed in the north is to recruit millions of new recruits, while the South plans to use the Eight Banners Act and the Three Feudal Law to recruit 500,000 troops." He shook the intelligence copy, "But the arsenals in the northern industrial centers such as New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Pittsburgh, Chicago have produced more than 50,000 rifles per month, but the arsenals in the south cannot even be collected!"

Xiao Chaogui, who had just returned to the furnace and became the Minister of the Army, knocked out a few sparks on the edge of the table, shook his head and said, "The output of foreign guns is ten times different. How can I fight in the south? It is 45,000 pieces a month, and more than 500,000 pieces a year. I think it's over!"

"The cotton in the south can be exchanged for pounds, and you can buy it if you have pounds!" Feng Yunshan suddenly interrupted, and the goatee of the true sect leader trembled slightly, "The British textile mill cannot do without the cotton in the south. French bankers are also betting on Davis and have borrowed a large sum of money to the southern United States. If the south really can't pay it back, Napoleon III may be the first to sit still, right?"

Luo Yaoguo glanced at Zhu Ba, who replaced Shi Dakai as Chief of General Staff: "What does the General Staff think about the next military operations between the north and the south?"

Zhu Ba's pencil drew two red lines on the map: "The General Staff believes that the south cannot fight a protracted war, and will definitely use the virtual fire that has been bulging up by the Eight Banners Law and the Three Feudal Law to fight a quick attack.

If they want to achieve a decisive victory, they must first take over the Harrisburg Fortress and the Yorktown Fortress. In this way, they can control the dangers of the Blue Mountains-Sasquehanna River, and then they can attack and defend. However, the Northern Army has dangers to rely on, and fortresses to defend, and can also transport supplies through the railway network, and the northern arsenals supply weapons and ammunition. If the Southern Army attacks vigorously, he shook his head, "I'm afraid he will have to fill in 300,000 to 400,000 lives!"

"What do the Navy think?" Luo Yaoguo turned his gaze to Wang Yan again.

Wang Yan's navy blue uniform was marked with the badge of the "Tianjing"-class ironclad ship: "There are more ships in the north than us! Ten 2,000 tons, and ten 3,000 tons." He glanced at Luo Yaoguo's gloomy face and his voice gradually lowered. "Shu Xu estimated that by 1864, the number of Northern Army ironclad ships could exceed fifty!"

Xu Shou helped Western glasses: "The steel production in northern America has exceeded that of France, and the production capacity of steam engines is ten times that of ours. If they drive at full speed," he swallowed, "It can build thirty 'Oriental-class' ironclad ships in a year!"

Thirty ships a year, what about the dumplings? Luo Yaoguo said in his heart: "The United States cannot build so many iron armored ships in 2024, right? It's really hard to deal with the United States in the second half of the 19th century!"

Navy Chief of Staff Ding Ruchang also showed a worry: "We can only build five 'Tianjing' class in three years, so Americans want to go to heaven?"

"Americans have long gone to heaven!" Luo Yaoguo smiled bitterly, "America is the world's second largest industrial country. If nothing unexpected happens, they will become the world's number one in 30 years." He grabbed the tea bowl and took a sip of tea, "and we are the accident!"

Feng Yunshan, the patriarch of the Zhenyou Sect, heard Luo Yaoguo say this, brows frowned: "Ninth brother, if the United States is really that strong, what should we do if we have the bureau of Tianwang City in the three states on the West Coast?"

Luo Yaoguo thought for a while and said, "I see, this great America needs a King of Pingxi!"

"King of Pingxi?" Xiao Chaogui asked, "Ninth brother, who do you want to be the King of Pingxi of America? Hong Daquan?"

"It's not Hong Daquan," Luo Yaoguo waved his hand, "Let Zhao Si go west!"

The fireplace of the newly bought mansion in Xianfeng in Charleston was crackling. Xianfeng was holding a telegram that Chiyoko had just translated from a secret telegram, sitting on a soft sofa, drinking whiskey while watching the snow outside.

Suddenly, a gust of wind and snow blew in from outside, and I saw O'Hara, Sushun, Linshu, Yuanbao, Zengke, Tupolev and others entering one after another. "Nicholas, what's the important thing? We were called in the snowy day?" O'Haraha exhaled his breath, and then picked up a cup of whiskey from the tray that Chiyoko brought to drink a large cup, warmed his body, and then sat down on a large sofa.

Sushun, Linshu, Yuanbao, Zeng Ke, and Tupolev also took a glass of wine, found a seat to sit down, and then looked at Xianfeng.

Xianfeng waved the telegram in his hand: "Tianjing Secret Telegram. We are going west of the Mississippi River!"

"What?" O'Hara was stunned. "Go to the west of the Mississippi River? But why?"

Zeng Ke also asked with his former master: "Biss Zhao, is Tianjing the capital of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom? Why do we listen to Tianjing wherever we go?"

Sushun, Linshu, Yuan Bao and the other three had nothing to ask, just looking at Xianfeng, as if waiting for his will.

Xianfeng's face was solemn, and he shook his head gently and said, "There is no reason. The telegram was not said, but you just need to know who sent the telegram."

Tupolev seemed to have thought of something. After taking a big sip of whiskey, he asked: "Did Bishop Zhao send this telegram from His Highness the Prophet?"

Xianfeng nodded and drank the whiskey in his hand.

It was snowing in Washington City, and O'Hara's carriage had run through the muddy Pennsylvania Street. In the gaps in the curtains, Xianfeng saw a brigade of recruits lined up in an orderly line, carrying various rifles towards the direction of the train station.

"I'll see the president later," O'Har pulled his collar, "Don't mention the telegram from that prophet. There are already many people in the federal government and Congress who dislike you."
Chapter completed!