Chapter 1348: Spain's Territory

"Qingyang Xiansheng, I recently went to survey the area and discovered that there is simply no Method to excavate the Canal."

Qin Zhangfeng sighed; the order to excavate the Canal was issued by Liu Zheng.

He was not questioning Liu Zheng's strategic vision; indeed, once a passage was opened here, it could greatly shorten the shipping distance from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean.

It played a crucial role in the struggle for America.

However, after his survey, he discovered that the land there was at least ten-plus meters above sea level, and in the planned areas, even over twenty meters.

He took out the planning map for this Canal, and after spreading it out, Qingyang Shuo examined it carefully.

"This area is called the Panama Isthmus by the locals. According to the Chief Councilor's plan, our river must cut through here, but look, Qingyang Daren."

Qingyang Shuo frowned slightly, looking at the place where Qin Zhangfeng's finger pointed, his brow furrowing tighter and tighter.

Through the map, it could be seen that this place was still mostly forest and mountain rock.

If it were to be excavated, the forest was not the main issue; the main issue was the mountain rock, which was hard in texture and difficult to excavate.

Added to what Qin Zhangfeng said, the land there was nearly twenty meters above sea level; if they followed the excavation Method of the Suez Canal.

These twenty meters of mountain rock would all have to be dug away to reach the same level as the sea; for a Canal, the water depth would also need to be at least twenty meters.

So, speaking of it this way, they would have to dig at least forty meters deep into this rock.

"I didn't expect the terrain here to be so complex."

Qingyang Shuo had not personally surveyed the Panama Isthmus; Longyan had already excavated several Canals and was rich in experience.

But he had not expected the difficulty of excavating this Canal to be several times that of the previous ones.

Qingyang Shuo had originally thought that such a Canal could be cut through very quickly, but now it seemed he had thought too much.

"Qingyang Xiansheng, if it were only this kind of problem, I wouldn't have come to find you. The most important thing is that most of the areas where our Canal must pass are Spanish colonies."

Spain?

Qingyang Shuo was stunned; he had not expected that the former world hegemon, the first nation to colonize, would now be skulking in the southern part of America.

"Have you exchanged opinions with them?"

Qin Zhangfeng's expression froze as he recalled the Spanish people he saw when he was excavating the Canal.

Although he didn't understand what these people were saying, judging from their body language and the middle fingers they raised, they were definitely cursing them.

And they were holding weapons, wanting to have a go with Qin Zhangfeng.

Qin Zhangfeng had simply exchanged opinions intensely with that group of Spanish people.

The result was that on the Spanish side, there were three dead and two seriously injured, while the Longyan side had no major losses; they ran away in a panic, and while running, they were still shouting something.

"Uh, I suppose we exchanged opinions." Qin Zhangfeng said with a bit of a guilty conscience.

The order Qingyang Shuo gave him was not to make too much noise, so as not to let the French and the British know.

The Longyan presence and influence in America were too small and still needed a period of development.

Qingyang Shuo glanced at Qin Zhangfeng and shook his head; things had reached this point, and blaming him was useless. He looked at the map of Panama and fell into deep thought.

Seeing that Qingyang Shuo had no intention of blaming him, Qin Zhangfeng breathed a sigh of relief.

"General Qin, what is your current opinion of Spain?" Qingyang Shuo said indifferently, still looking at the map.

Qin Zhangfeng was stunned, thought for a moment, and continued: "The local natives are still Indians, but they are very afraid of us. However, ever since I led a group of Indians to build a city..."

"Perhaps they discovered the difference between us and the Spanish, and they are actually willing to help us build the city. Especially after we defeated a group of Spanish people a few days ago, some Indians have even moved to live nearby."

Qingyang Shuo nodded: "Crows are black all over the world."

"How about this, General Qin, put the matter of the Canal excavation aside for now. You have two things to do when you go back this time."

"First, train troops and arm these Indians."

Qin Zhangfeng nodded; they, the Longyan, had no troops in America, and if they wanted to rapidly strengthen the Longyan army, they had to rely on these Indians.

"Second, build factories. The Canal matter cannot be rushed, but the French and the British might not give us so much time, so it is time to start the industrial age here."

Hearing this, Qin Zhangfeng's body shook, and he looked at Qingyang Shuo in astonishment: "Xiansheng, would it be too risky to build factories now? After all, our influence is weak. If the French and British make trouble after we build the factories..."

"By that time, the technology in our factories will fall into their hands."

Qingyang Shuo pointed at the map and said indifferently: "They don't have the time right now."

Qin Zhangfeng looked at the place Qingyang Shuo pointed to; it was exactly the mining area that Chief Wang and the others had revealed earlier.

"Is there really a mine there?"

Qingyang Shuo remained silent, only nodding.

Regarding that mining area, it was indeed discovered by the Longyan first, and surveys showed it was rich in gold. However, after Qingyang Shuo received this news, he did not let the Longyan go to excavate it.

Given the Longyan's influence in America, they simply did not have the ability to hold onto a mine rich in gold.

Therefore, Qingyang Shuo hid the news at the first opportunity; he hadn't even told Qin Zhangfeng a single word about it.

"That place will be a battlefield for the British and the French. You just focus on building factories in Panama; for now, your only threat is Spain."

Qin Zhangfeng looked solemn; this strategy of replacing the beams with rotten timber was truly excellent.

Qin Zhangfeng cupped his hands in a salute: "Xiansheng, then I will organize the refugees to leave here now."

After Qin Zhangfeng left, Qingyang Shuo picked up a brush and reported the situation in America.

The envelope was quickly delivered by the intelligence organization established by Liu Zheng to Liu Zheng and Xie Chan, who were far away in Europe.

Seeing that the envelope contained a piece of Longyan writing, which carried a sense of homesickness, Xie Chan immediately took out the envelope full of anticipation; she had been in Europe for some time now.

She wondered how her family in Longyan was doing, Liu Zheng's parents—no, how my parents were doing now.

She also didn't know if they had found the letter she and Liu Zheng left behind about their travel wedding, and she didn't know if the two elders were too worried.

She opened the envelope, frowned, and tossed it aside.

"Liu Zheng, a letter written to you by Qingyang Xiansheng."

Liu Zheng said "Oh."

Looking at the content of the letter, it turned out to be about the Panama Canal; Liu Zheng wondered what big deal it was.

However, looking at how Qingyang Xiansheng handled it in the letter, it is indeed feasible; in his memory, the Panama Canal took ten years to build.

That was even with the benefit of several Industrial Revolutions; judging by the current level of technology, I fear there is no Method to achieve it in a short time.

Moreover, the standard required for excavating the Panama Canal is too high; Liu Zheng thought for a moment and drew a diagram on the reply letter.

Liu Zheng only knew the principle.

Just as he was about to send this letter out, the door to his room was suddenly knocked upon.

Liu Zheng was taken aback; ever since the news of his duel with Franz spread, very few people had come to visit him.

After all, in the eyes of the people of Austria, he was now like a disaster; whoever got involved with him would be unlucky!

"Who is it?"

Liu Zheng instinctively shouted in the Longyan Language, but the words spoken by the person outside the door made his body tremble.