Chapter 923: Starting from the Sea

The Prince's study.

After the morning court session, Zhao Xu called Chang Wei and Yang Feng over.

This time, the British Admiral Wesley has openly declared war on Great Song.

Without a doubt, he will next command the Coalition, indigenous armies, and the Northern Di to encircle Great Song from all directions.

The war will erupt at any point along the C-shaped Encirclement surrounding Great Song.

At the same time, they have likely already taken action at sea, preparing to annihilate the Great Song Navy.

However, he had already sent orders to Zhou Yi previously.

The Great Song Navy entered a state of war even before the declaration.

During this time, they have been conducting reconnaissance at sea, one task being to find the ports where the Sam Country's warships are docked.

Another is to map out the distribution of the Coalition navy in the Southern Region.

As for why he called Chang Wei and Yang Feng over, it was not out of nervousness, but to inquire about the preparations for war.

After all, even if Wesley had not declared war on him, this battle was going to be fought regardless.

Wesley's declaration of war, however, provided him with a pretext.

"How are the uniforms, muskets, and Artillery for the Vermilion Bird Army and Azure Dragon Army coming along?" Zhao Xu asked Yang Feng.

"When Your Highness announced the establishment of the two armies, I ordered the Workshop to begin production. Currently, all uniforms have been delivered, and a portion of the muskets and Rear-loading Cannons have been sent to satisfy their training needs. Before they finish their three months of training, everything can be fully delivered," Yang Feng said.

Zhao Xu nodded, "How is the replacement of Rear-loading Cannons in the other armies going?"

"According to the plan, they have all been replaced by about sixty percent, and the remaining forty percent are being rushed into production," Yang Feng added, "Although the Ministry of War had stockpiled quite a bit previously, the volume required for the replacement is too large."

"Hmm, sixty percent is barely enough," Zhao Xu asked again, "What is the situation with the Cavalry Rifles?"

"Forty thousand have been delivered, and another twenty thousand can be delivered within half a month," Yang Feng answered briskly.

Now that he is the Minister of War, although he is essentially a civil official and does not fight in battles, he still maintains the rigorous and decisive style from the battlefield.

Regarding logistical matters, he keeps every detail in his heart, not daring to be careless.

Zhao Xu was very satisfied with Yang Feng's answer, and he then looked toward Chang Wei, "Minister Yang has solved the logistical problems for you; you can go to fight the war with peace of mind."

After a pause, he said: "I suspect the British will definitely try to make a move from both the northern and southern battle lines. You can focus on defense for the northern line and offense for the southern line."

Although he believes the Great Song army can conduct two wars simultaneously.

But if both battle lines were to launch expeditions outside the borders at the same time, the pressure on logistics would inevitably be immense.

That would then violate his plan to fight a war of abundance.

Therefore, the northern line must be held, because fighting out at this time, not to mention the consumption of grain and fodder, would yield no profit even if they penetrated deep into the Grassland.

The south is different; the Southeast Region controlled by the Frank is in the tropics, which is favorable for plant production and rich in resources.

In the contemporary era, the Champa Rice of Vietnam is world-famous and belongs to the high-yield rice category.

During the Song Dynasty, it was once introduced and promoted for large-scale cultivation.

Moreover, their rice can be harvested three times a year.

Besides this, the Southeast Region is also widely covered with cash crops, such as bananas, coconuts, pineapples, and so on.

Historically, tropical civilizations were often inferior to those in temperate zones.

The reason lies in the fact that they obtained food too easily.

Without the need to labor, one could just go for a walk when hungry and find something to eat, which resulted in people becoming very lazy and lacking the drive to improve.

While people in cold-temperate zones, due to the scarcity of resources, had to become diligent and adept at thinking.

Therefore, by invading the Southeast Region, the soldiers will not go hungry; they can completely fight wherever they go and eat whatever they find there.

"Yes, Your Highness." Chang Wei acknowledged, for the Yan Wang thought the same as he did.

After discussing this matter, Zhao Xu let the two return.

For this war, he left the peripheral corners to Zhou Yi and Chang Wei; he would not participate.

He would use the saved time to continue participating in the domestic industrial upgrade.

Once they reach Tianzhu and have the decisive battle with the Coalition, he will then go to steady the front.

The following few days.

More news regarding Tianzhu arrived one after another; Xu Ke's eyes and ears in Tianzhu confirmed the fact that Wesley had declared war on Great Song.

At the same time, they also sent back an important piece of intelligence.

A portion of the Coalition's naval warships had disappeared from the ports.

Clearly, the war had begun from the moment the declaration was sent.

"Zhou Yi, this is the time to test your navy." Clutching the intelligence from the Four Courts, Zhao Xu looked at the sea area on the map.

Immediately, he ordered this intelligence to be sent to Yizhou.

After he gave the order to Zhou Yi, Zhou Yi had already left Jinghai to take command in Yizhou.

Five days later, Zhou Yi received Zhao Xu's intelligence.

At this time, Zhou Yi was in the office in Wanghai City, analyzing the maritime intelligence collected by the warships to determine the location of the Coalition navy.

This Wanghai City was the former Malka City.

Now, it had become a fortress for Great Song in Yizhou.

"The Coalition fleet has disappeared?" After reading the intelligence from the Four Courts, Zhou Yi's brows immediately furrowed.

Ever since Babur sent the declaration of war, he had ordered the warships to penetrate deep into the East Land Southern Region ocean for patrols.

But his warships had not discovered anything unusual, only occasionally encountering the reconnaissance warships of the Western Lands Allied Forces.

However, the other side did not directly engage their warships in battle either.

After encountering them, they would leave.

Now, with the Four Courts suddenly sending this intelligence, he had to treat it seriously and go find the suddenly vanished warships.

Or perhaps turn passive into active?