In the age of wooden sailing ships, the carrying capacity of a single vessel could be astonishing enough to defy intuition.
Take the famed Spanish galleons as an example. Under ordinary circumstances, they could easily accommodate more than a hundred sailors on long ocean voyages, their decks and holds arranged to endure months at sea. When the moment of decisive battle arrived, they could cram in more than five hundred men, transforming the ship into something like a moving fortress of wood and canvas, bristling with bodies, weapons, and cannon fire.
The iron steamships built by Bai Gongzi, however, were a completely different matter.
They simply could not carry that many people. It was not a matter of poor design or lack of ambition. It was genuinely impossible.
The iron hull itself was already crushingly heavy, and on top of that came the enormous steam engines that squatted within the ship's belly like iron beasts. To make a steam engine run over long distances, the vessel also had to carry a staggering amount of coal. This was not light cargo. A single hold filled with coal could weigh more than ten thousand jin, roughly equivalent to the combined weight of a hundred grown men pressed together.
Standing by the plans, Bai Gongzi shook his head slowly, his expression thoughtful. "Their troop transport capability is quite weak."
A Blue Hat official standing beside him nodded and spoke after a moment's consideration. "Bai Gongzi, it seems our steamships cannot all be built to the same design. We will have to divide them into different categories."
"Oh?" Bai Gongzi turned slightly, interest flickering in his eyes. "And how would you categorize them?"
The Blue Hat explained carefully, choosing his words as he laid out the idea. "Ships fitted with more cannons should carry fewer troops and specialize purely in artillery engagements. On the other hand, ships meant to transport a large number of soldiers should not mount cannons at all, focusing instead on speed, landing operations, and close-quarters fighting. Beyond that, we can also design ships dedicated entirely to supply. Such vessels would only require a small crew to operate, abandon cannons and armor altogether to minimize weight, and devote all their carrying capacity to coal. These supply ships could follow behind the fleet, much like the logistics trains that support an army on land, allowing the main warships to carry less coal and reduce their own burden."
Bai Gongzi's eyes brightened. He let out a small laugh and nodded. "Excellent. A very excellent point. It seems we truly must design several types of ships and assemble them into a mixed grand fleet. Unfortunately, I am not well versed in military strategy. As for how this mixed fleet should be composed, what exact roles each ship should play, and how they should cooperate in battle, I will need to consult proper combat professionals before finalizing the designs."
The Blue Hat immediately volunteered, "I will summon Bai Yang and Dao Ke at once. Those two were pirate leaders before their reform in the labor camps, and they have real experience at sea. They should be able to offer useful advice."
"There's no need to rush," Bai Gongzi replied calmly. "Rushing will not make things happen any faster. Building even a single iron ship takes at least half a year, often more. Dao Xuan Tianzun has already said that achieving naval supremacy over the Westerners is a task that will take generations of sustained effort. It is not something that can be accomplished overnight."
As he spoke, another thought surfaced in his mind. He paused and asked, "By the way, how are the preparations for the Naval Industrial Academy coming along?"
Another Blue Hat stepped forward and reported, "It will be ready to open next month and can begin enrolling its first batch of students then."
Bai Gongzi nodded in satisfaction. "Good. We must train a large number of specialized shipbuilding technicians. This is a plan that spans centuries. We cannot continue with the old custom of passing skills only from father to son and never to others. At the same time, ensure that all students undergo strict political background checks. This technology must not fall into Western hands. A long-term technological blockade may be unrealistic, but in the short term, it is entirely achievable."
The Blue Hats exchanged amused looks, and one of them chuckled softly. "Indeed. Dao Xuan Tianzun has also said that it must not fall into Western hands in the short term."
While they were speaking, the group happened to pass by the two brothers from Suzhou.
The brothers exchanged a quick glance, then both lowered their voices instinctively. "Good heavens," one of them whispered, eyes wide with curiosity. "What is this Naval Industrial Academy they're talking about? If we study there, could we become technical workers and wear Blue Hats too? We should definitely go take a look later. We're not Westerners, so they won't block us, right?"
The ninth year of Chongzhen, fifth month. Northeast, Shengjing.
Huang Taiji sat high above, his expression dark as he looked down at Yue Tuo kneeling before him. "The Wushen tribe in the west has stirred up trouble again," he said coldly. "These past few days, they have been attacking several tribes that are aligned with us, throwing everything into complete chaos."
Yue Tuo answered with a strained and embarrassed expression. "The Wushen tribe has the Ming dynasty's great iron vehicles supporting them. At present, we truly have no effective way to counter those machines. The only tactic that has shown any success is to lure them into swamps, marshlands, or shallow rivers, where they cannot advance."
Huang Taiji's brow furrowed deeper. "And what of the spies I sent for the 'Jiang Gan Steals the Letter' operation? Have they still not returned with the blueprints for those great iron vehicles?"
"No, Your Majesty," Yue Tuo replied, his face pale. "We have lost all contact with them. We sent people to search for them three times, but received no response. Not a single one of the agents dispatched afterward has returned."
Huang Taiji's eyes narrowed. "Could it be that…"
Yue Tuo continued quickly, "Stealing an enemy's core technology is an undertaking of extreme danger. It is possible that all of our spies have already perished in the line of duty."
Huang Taiji let out a long sigh. "Then it seems the 'Jiang Gan Steals the Letter' operation has failed. Well, even in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Jiang Gan's attempt to steal the letter was not a successful stratagem. Our failure here is, perhaps, understandable."
Just as he finished speaking, a group of Han Chinese officials and scholars entered the hall.
Among them were Bao Chengxian, Ning Wanwo, Fan Wencheng, Luo Xiu, and several others, all men whom Huang Taiji held in high esteem. This was no coincidence. Most of the Manchu ministers were illiterate, skilled only in warfare and unfamiliar with the intricacies of governance. For matters of institutions, administration, and statecraft, these Han Chinese officials were indispensable.
Bao Chengxian, Ning Wanwo, Fan Wencheng, Luo Xiu, and the others stepped forward one after another to present their memorials. "Your Majesty," they proclaimed in unison, "your grand strategy is unmatched under Heaven. The time has come for you to formally ascend the imperial throne."
"Formally ascend the imperial throne?" Huang Taiji adopted a look of modest hesitation. With a swift motion, he drew a copy of Romance of the Three Kingdoms from his sleeve and flipped through it rapidly. He stopped at a passage and pointed to the text. "Gentlemen, look here. Chen Qun, Sun Quan, and others once urged Cao Cao to proclaim himself emperor. Yet Cao Cao replied, 'I have served the Han for many years. Though I have rendered service to the people, my position as a king is already the highest honor. How could I dare harbor other ambitions? If Heaven's will lies with me, I shall be King Wen of Zhou.'"
He closed the book and looked at the assembled officials with an earnest expression. "Even a villain like Cao Cao restrained himself and refused to claim the imperial title. How could I possibly dare to do so? Would that not make me appear even worse than him?"
Fan Wencheng stepped forward and spoke calmly. "Cao Cao was a treacherous man, and his ways are indeed not worth imitating. But Liu Xuan De was benevolent and virtuous. He is the one you should learn from. The moment Liu Xuan De entered Xichuan, he immediately declared himself emperor. You now command Liaodong, and like Liu Xuan De, you are favored by Heaven. This realm ought to belong to you. For you to ascend the throne is precisely what righteousness demands."
Huang Taiji stroked his beard and murmured, "When you put it that way, it does seem to make sense."
He pondered for a few heartbeats, then suddenly slammed Romance of the Three Kingdoms onto the table with a loud thud. "Very well," he declared. "I have decided. I shall also ascend the imperial throne. We will call this the Xuan De Imperial Proclamation."
The officials immediately cried out in unison, "Your Majesty is brilliant!"
Huang Taiji laughed softly. "The 'Jiang Gan Steals the Letter' operation failed because it was doomed from the start. But the Xuan De Imperial Proclamation must succeed, because Liu Xuan De's proclamation of emperorship was a great success."
Once again, the officials chorused, "Your Majesty is brilliant!"
Thus the matter was settled. Preparations for the Xuan De Imperial Proclamation began at once, with officials busily arranging ceremonial regalia and laying every necessary foundation for Huang Taiji's ascension.
On the eleventh day of the fourth lunar month, the plan came to fruition. Huang Taiji formally ascended the throne, changed the era name to Chongde, and declared that year to be the first year of Chongde. He changed the dynastic title from Later Jin to Great Qing, established Shengjing as the capital, and received from his ministers the honorific title of Benevolent and Sagacious Emperor of Broad Clemency.
No sooner had the coronation ceremony concluded than Huang Taiji once again pulled out Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Pointing at its pages, he declared loudly to his ministers, "After Liu Bei became emperor, he immediately sent troops to campaign against Cao Cao. I shall follow this example. I hereby decree that Dolo Wuying Prince Ajige will lead an army of one hundred thousand to attack the Ming. This operation shall be named the Xishu Campaign Against Cao."
Ajige hesitated and replied, "Your Majesty, we do not actually have an army of one hundred thousand men."
Huang Taiji flew into a rage. "Fool. At the Battle of Red Cliffs, Cao Cao did not truly have a million soldiers, yet he still claimed to have a million. Can you not read Romance of the Three Kingdoms more often and learn a few more military stratagems?"