Chapter 4: 04

In December 1887, after absorbing the construction experience of the vanguard class (3500-ton armored cruiser), the three shipyards of the Royal Shipyard, Xinjing Shipyard, and Xinghe Shipyard joined forces to begin the preparation of the construction of two 2500-ton cruisers. jobs.
In April 1888, based on the consideration of strengthening the offshore defense of overseas territories, the Admiralty made a decision to expand the 1350-ton light cruiser, and ordered the construction of two Yongxing light cruisers to Xinjing Shipyard and Royal Shipyard, respectively.
On November 11, 1888, three shipyards completed the construction of two 2500-ton cruisers and four 1350-ton light cruisers.
On December 17, four Yongxing-class light cruisers completed the final sea trial and were officially delivered to the Navy. Two light cruisers were assigned to the Pacific Fleet and the other two light cruisers were assigned to the Congolese colony. The main battleship of the fleet is responsible for safeguarding the national interests of Han in the suburbs of the west coast of Africa and the Congo River Basin.
With the acquisition of two main battleships capable of traveling in the inland basin of the Congo, the overall strength of the Congo dispatched fleet has been significantly improved.
Two 1350-ton light cruisers, two 760-ton gunboats, five 200-ton gunboats, and six 120-ton torpedo ships,
A total of fifteen small warships, plus various auxiliary ships, the number of large and small ships is more than thirty. South America ’s water power in the Congo offshore and inland rivers of the Congo, even after resting on the west coast of Africa, is second only to Britain and France. two countries.
The strength of the Congo dispatched sub-fleet is good, so Li Mingyuan did not send new ship support there. However, as the number of Chinese people who settled in the Congo colony increased year by year, the number of local Chinese armed forces and the proportion of government officials became local. What the government has to do.
"The total number of Chinese in the Congolese colonies is 186,000, of which more than 40% are age-appropriate men aged 16 to 45. The number of these people is about 80,000. From the 80,000, more than 10,000 people are selected to form the Congolese Police Force and The militia forces should not be difficult. "
Li Mingyuan focused his eyes on Huang Naishang and said, "I have already solved the problem of the Congolese defence forces. How do you plan to solve the problems in the colonial government?"
"The minister hopes to dispatch another 160 government officials from home to assist the Governor's House in handling colonial affairs."
"The number of 160 people is not small. I will let the assessment department of the Ministry of Officials release the news first, and see how many people volunteer to serve in the Congo. If there are not enough people, I will select transfers from the newly recruited officials."
The Congo colony has a hot, humid, and mosquito-rich population. Although the popularity of anti-tropical drugs such as cinchona cream and vanishing oil has reduced the mortality rate of immigrants in the Congo colony to less than three percent, it has adapted to the appropriate living environment in the country. The new generation of native-born young officials mostly chose to serve in the country instead of travelling to the wildly deserted regions of Africa.
The central government has no good solution to this situation. It can only adopt a two-pronged approach. On the one hand, young local officials are encouraged to contribute to the country and take the initiative to join the Congolese colonies. On the other hand, they have established various levels in the Congolese colonies. School, dedicated to educating Chinese children there.
The two measures complement each other and can basically be regarded as a solution to the lack of personnel in the Congolese colonial government. However, it can be said that the Congolese colonies still have a lot of deficiencies in many aspects.
"His Majesty, the minister has volunteered to serve in the Congolese colony, and his Majesty's approval is expected."
Li Mingyuan's words fell for less than ten seconds, and a young voice came out of many officials.
Looking at the sound, Li Mingyuan saw He Ziyuan stepped to the right and laughed: "Lin Shu knows the geographical environment and climate of the Congo colony?"
"His Majesty, before attending the Dachao meeting, the minister consulted Governor Huang and Vice Minister Tang of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the Congolese colony."
"Tell me how much you know about the Congolese colony."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
He Ziyuan stood upright outside the crowd and said: "The Congolese colony covers an area of ​​more than 2.2 million square kilometers and the number of indigenous people is roughly estimated at more than 5 million.
The local climatic conditions are very hot, rainy and mosquito-ridden, and the disease is rampant. The mortality rate of early Chinese immigrants remains high. Now with the spread of local tropical diseases and local Chinese immigrants cutting large forests and removing weeds, the immigration mortality rate has been greatly reduced.
And with more than ten years of development and construction, the Congolese Colonial Government House has more than forty Chinese immigrant settlements. In addition to the local Chinese immigrants living in a slightly worse environment than the local, in terms of land ownership, living standards, and The local gap is small. "
He Ziyuan briefly described what he learned, and then continued: "I believe that the key to governing the Congolese colony is the degree of control and management of the indigenous tribes in the Congolese Government.
The Congo colony area is close to two-thirds of the native area and the population is more than 5 million. According to the assumptions of the local government and Governor Huang, if local resources such as minerals and manpower are to be fully utilized, cheap and abundant local industrialization can be provided. Raw materials are not enough just by the current population of more than 100,000 Chinese people and two or three or three million people. "
"Lin Shu wants to increase immigration progress and increase the number of Chinese in the Congo colony?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, during the journey by boat from the Far East to the South American mainland, I found that there are a steady stream of immigrant transport ships bound for the South and South America. The poor people who want to emigrate overseas are often lined up in miles. Team.
However, due to the limitation of their own conditions, they screened the immigrants from the Far East and the people who met all the conditions could get the opportunity to move to South America.
The natural disasters and man-made disasters in the Far East continue, and the number of poor people who want to go to sea every year is more than two million. The annual number of immigrants from the local government and the civilians adds up to only five or six hundred thousand. More than 60% of the poor people cannot get it. The opportunity to move to South America can only choose to move to the countries of the South Ocean, or continue to stay hungry in the Far East.
The Chinese in the Far East and South America are all Chinese. Although the South American mainland is temporarily unable to accept more Chinese immigrants, the Congolese colonies are fertile and suitable for crop growth. If the migration of migrants can be strengthened, some of the poor people stranded in the coastal areas of the Far East will be resettled. Going to the Congolese colony can not only strengthen the local government's control of the Congolese colony, but also give those poor people a way of life. "
Speaking of what he heard on the boat, He Ziyuan's emotions couldn't help but get excited, and his young face was full of anger, guilt, and sympathy for the tragic situation.
"The minister was excited for a while, and there were many shortcomings in his speech. He also hoped that His Majesty would forgive me and the adults."
Perceiving that he was overly emotional again, He Ziyuan bowed his hands and apologized to Li Mingyuan and other officials.
"Huaxia Chizi, seeing the sadness of the people, it is inevitable that she will be emotional, and Lin Shu need not worry too much."
Feng Huazhengmao is full of ideals and ambitions. Although sometimes he does not know how to be smooth and tolerant, such people can only be assured when using them. Li Mingyuan is also willing to leave some things to such people.
"In the past ten years, the local government has implemented a policy of contraction of power and has carried out local industrialization construction. With regard to the plight of the people in the Far East, it can only do things within its capabilities, but it cannot cover all the people."
"His Majesty's love for the people is well known to the world. It is precisely because of hearing the great achievements that His Majesty established in South America! The minister suddenly realized that, with the help of Vice President Tang, he was fortunate to come to South America and see His Majesty.
In front of Li Mingyuan, He Ziyuan was like a lost lamb seeing a spiritual idol, his face filled with excitement and reverence.
"His Majesty ’s achievements are far beyond the scope of South America. In Nanyang, Songka and Lanfang ’s ruling nations have accepted more than 3 million Chinese. Songkafu City and Lanfang ’s capital, Pontianak, were originally a small, backward place. After sending local Defence Forces instructors and government officials to the two places, the Chinese residents of Songkhla and Pontianak have exceeded 200,000 in just over ten years.
With good ordnance and a renewed spirit of the local Chinese ~ EbookFREE.me ~ Although they are surrounded by the great powers, the English and Dutch countries dare not offend their troops. The two countries can have such a situation, thanks to the gift of His Majesty!
Although the minister can be humble, as a surviving Chinese man, he is willing to be a small before his dismissal and to serve as the foundation of the Han Empire. "
"Hahaha! What Lin Shu said today is a great confluence! In the years of glory and prosperity, we should not be afraid of danger, overcome difficulties, and work hard for the rise of the country!"
Li Mingyuan was in a good mood. He patted his right hand firmly on the chair and happily said, "The construction of all aspects of the Congolese colony has been initially completed. It is high time to increase the number of immigrants!
Lin Shu, for the time being, you will be appointed as the Congolese Colonial Civil Affairs Officer, with overall responsibility for the transportation, resettlement, and management of indigenous tribal affairs of the Congolese colonies!
Don't waste your blood! "
"Thank you for your grace! Chen Ding will make every effort to cooperate with Governor Huang to build the Congolese colony into the most solid overseas base!" ............