Stand-in eunuch: I pamper the harem for the emperor

Chapter 574 Second Fleet
As the largest port in the east of the empire, Crescent Harbor guards the mouth of the Qianyuan River. You can go north to the Far Eastern Prairie, go south around the Stormrage Islands, and pass through the Stormrage Sea to reach the easternmost part of the Sui Empire. Thunder Sea.

From the Thunder Sea, you can land in Silver Moon City, the northern important town of the Sui Empire, and invade the Thunder Plain, the richest land in the Sui Empire.

In the north of the Thunder Plain, there is the Thunder Mountain Range with an average altitude of more than 5000 meters. It stretches for thousands of kilometers, extending to the Yunmeng Mountains in the west and directly to the Raging Sea in the east, forming a natural barrier between the two empires.

Therefore, there is basically no friction between the two empires in the east. After all, no one wants to climb a mountain of more than 5000 meters, and no one wants to pass through the stormy sea.

Especially in the Stormrage Islands, there are countless shoals and reefs. If you are not careful, your boat will be destroyed and people will die.

The most terrifying thing is the giant typhoon formed by the huge ocean convection in the east, which is the most deadly.

General Cheng Meng of Crescent Harbor is 63 years old this year and can be considered a veteran of the empire.

Since there are basically no big enemies in the east, the Empire's East China Sea Fleet is superficial and no one pays attention to it. Its biggest task is to go out to sea to suppress bandits.

In the past, General Xue Yue guarded Liaoyang City, and the Empire's East China Sea Fleet could provide some maritime support. Now that the Far Eastern Prairie has been included in the Empire's territory, the East China Sea Fleet has nothing to do.

Originally, there was the East China Sea Shipyard, the largest shipyard in the empire, which could also produce five-story ships. However, due to lack of funds, it is now in a semi-shelved state.

Since the establishment of the First Fleet of the Imperial Navy, General Cheng Meng estimated that the Empire would establish the Second Fleet of the Imperial Navy. However, after waiting for two months, there was still no movement.

It's not that Lu Hao is unwilling to reorganize the East China Sea Fleet, but that these fleets need to be equipped with marines. Hengyang City is currently training these new recruits, and they do not yet have combat effectiveness.

Therefore, the matter has been delayed.

However, Lu Hao came here this time to rectify the East China Sea Fleet, hoping to form combat effectiveness as soon as possible, and shoulder the important task of going south to attack the Sui Empire by sea and land.

When Lu Hao appeared at the Crescent Port, General Cheng Meng and other generals immediately knelt down.

"The last general, Cheng Meng, leads all the generals of the East China Sea Fleet to welcome the Holy Emperor!"

General Cheng Meng and others knelt on one knee, cupped their fists and bowed in salute.

Lu Hao slowly disembarked from the boat and walked up to General Cheng Meng. He waved his hand gently and said with a smile: "General Cheng is old! No courtesy! No courtesy for all officers!"

"Your Majesty, long live long live long live!"

The soldiers shouted in unison.

"Your Majesty, this is the dog Cheng Li, the deputy generals Fang Lin, Zhang Kai, Wang Dong..."

General Cheng Meng introduced.

Lu Hao met them one by one, and after some greetings, they walked towards the City Lord's Mansion together.

Crescent Port, like Qiongzhou Port, adopts a management model integrating military and government.

Although this model has no problems during wartime, once it enters peacetime, it will lay many hidden dangers.

This time, Lu Hao was not ready to change this situation. After all, the integration of military and political affairs was suitable for the current situation.

Because sooner or later there will be a battle with the Sui Empire, the empire's East China Sea Fleet will also play a vital role.

In the city lord's palace, Lu Hao sat high in the middle seat, his sharp eyes sweeping over the faces of the generals of the East China Sea Fleet.

"General Cheng, how much wealth does the East China Sea Fleet have now?"

Lu Hao asked loudly.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the East China Sea Fleet currently has eighteen five-story ships, three Mengchong battleships, 110 warships of various types, and a total of 580 naval officers..."

General Cheng Meng reported loudly.

"I announce that starting from today, the Empire's East China Sea Fleet will be reorganized into the Imperial Navy's Second Fleet, with Crescent Port as the base, expanding the deep-water port and safe haven to accommodate at least [-] warships..."

Lu Hao announced loudly. "The Emperor is wise! The Emperor is mighty!"

All the soldiers were very excited.

"The empire will invest an additional [-] million taels of silver to upgrade the Donghai Shipyard and prepare to build the empire's armored ships. I have brought the drawings..."

Lu Hao said, taking out a stack of drawings from his arms.

These are all blueprints for building an ironclad ship. They are actually welding steel plates together and then installing a steam engine or diesel engine.

According to Lu Hao's idea, steam engines are only a transitional product, and large diesel engines will eventually be used as power for ironclad ships.

As for future railway transportation, steam engines or diesel locomotives can be used.

When all the soldiers heard that there was an increase of [-] million taels of silver, their palms were sweating with excitement.

Historically, this was the empire's largest investment in Crescent Port. In the past, it was basically a few million taels, allowing them to make ends meet.

"Your Majesty, I heard that Qiongzhou Port has begun to build this type of armored ship. Can you lead the shipbuilding craftsmen there to learn from it?"

General Cheng Meng asked loudly.

"Of course. The technology for building ironclad ships can be shared. However, this technology cannot be leaked and must be kept confidential."

Lu Hao readily agreed.

"General Cheng must maintain the existing warships and repair them immediately if they need to be repaired. In addition, the Imperial Navy's Second Fleet will be reorganized according to the establishment of the Imperial Army, and the salaries of the Imperial officers will be doubled!"

Lu Hao continued to add.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness!"

All the soldiers knelt down and worshiped in unison, extremely excited.

"In addition, the empire will add an additional [-] million taels of silver to renovate the old facilities in Crescent Port and expand the deep-water port and safe haven..."

Lu Hao spent another [-] million taels of silver with a stroke of his pen.

All the soldiers were so excited that they were speechless. Even the old and calm General Cheng was extremely excited and his eyes were moist.

Pfft!
General Cheng Meng knelt on the ground and kowtowed heavily to Lu Hao.

"Your Majesty, for so many years, I have wanted to build the Imperial Navy into a steel division, but I have been suffering from lack of funds. Now it's okay. Your Majesty is far-sighted and loves us so much. I have nothing to repay in this life. I must do it for the glory of the Imperial Navy. I will devote myself to death and die!"

General Cheng Meng burst into tears and was impassioned.

"Your Majesty is wise! Your Majesty is mighty! The last general and others will definitely follow the old general and die with all their might!"

All the soldiers were also extremely excited and swore in unison.

"Old general, please stand up! All officers and men, please stand up!"

Lu Hao was also greatly moved.

"In addition, this is the empire's inland waterway shipping blueprint. I would like to ask the old general to copy it and distribute it to all civilian ships to avoid the tragedy of shipwreck and loss of life."

Lu Hao took out another drawing.

This was a drawing that he spent two days and two nights on the ship to draw, and it played a key role in the empire's inland shipping and trade.

It was precisely because of the widespread dissemination of this drawing that the inland shipping industry and trade in the Qianyuan River began to develop.

(End of this chapter)