Chapter 99

The problem of the cotton source has finally been preliminarily resolved. The Pasquale family members will remain in Eastern Harbor for a while, then set off for Colonia and Buenos Aires for a tour, and finally return to Haiti Island. By that time, the Republic of the Eastern Shore will also send several representatives from the Trade Department to accompany them back to Haiti Island for an inspection. After all, seeing is believing. Of course, if there is an opportunity, they also plan to take the Pasquale family's ship to Bordeaux for an inspection and to explore the market. France, with a population of over 18 million at the time, is a huge market that cannot be ignored.

Matilde of the Pasquale family purchased a piece of land in the northern part of the city, intending to build a high-end residence for her future residence. At the same time, she registered a trading company with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. On one hand, the company will sell cotton from Haiti Island, and on the other hand, it will purchase products from Eastern Harbor to sell back to Haiti and even Bordeaux. According to insider information from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the shareholders of this company, besides Miss Matilde herself, include Lieutenant Julien de Éboué of the Republic of the Eastern Shore.

After completing these matters, Matilde and her brother Julien set off on their family ship, the "Butterfly," to visit and tour Colonia and Buenos Aires, while also inspecting the market.

The recent confrontation with British cloth merchants in Colonia has been brought to the attention of the Executive Committee. After discussion, the committee believes that while the British reaction to this incident should not be overestimated, it also cannot be ignored. This life-or-death industrial competition leaves no room for retreat. The market in La Plata is relatively small, and initially, the British may not be too concerned. However, as the Republic of the Eastern Shore gradually swallows up the markets of Brazil, Chile, Upper Peru, and New Granada, the British will eventually be unable to tolerate it and will take more aggressive measures, such as resorting to force, against the Republic of the Eastern Shore. This is almost inevitable, as the textile industry is one of the two major pillars of the British economy (the other being re-export trade).

To this end, the Executive Committee decided to accelerate the funding for the "August 10th" battleship under construction at the Big Fish River naval shipyard, increasing the monthly allocation from 2,500 yuan to 5,000 yuan to expedite its completion. The Navy also proposed building a second "August 10th"-class battleship, the "Common Market," but this plan was shelved due to the enormous financial pressure and the lack of skilled craftsmen.

Recently, Navy Minister Wang Qian has been having a tough time. The deception regarding the ship's cost could no longer be concealed. The Executive Committee is not foolish; by comparing the allocation amount with the ship's construction progress, they deduced that the cost of the warship was likely to be close to 100,000 yuan, not the 50,000 yuan claimed by Wang Qian. This infuriated the committee, as the already tight budget now had to cover an additional several ten thousand yuan to make up for the shortfall. This was not a joke.

As a result, Wang Qian not only lost his position as Chief of the General Staff of the National Armed Forces but also saw his reputation plummet in the eyes of the Ministry of Finance, becoming the culprit who dragged the ministry into the abyss of bankruptcy. Peng Zhicheng of the Army took the opportunity to pile on, arguing that this year's combined military budget for the Navy and Army was only 30,000 yuan. Every additional yuan for the Navy meant one less yuan for the Army. The completion of the Navy's "August 10th" battleship would require a massive amount of funds for personnel and equipment, which would further reduce the already limited Army budget. Therefore, under such direct competition, Peng Zhicheng began to lobby the Executive Committee to ban the Navy from building any new warships for two years and to demand that the Navy cover the excess construction costs without encroaching on the valuable funds for industrial development. This gained considerable support from many uninformed穿越者, increasing the pressure on the Navy.

To reverse the unfavorable situation, improve the Navy's image, and save the precarious finances, Wang Qian and a group of staff officers under pressure jointly drafted a combat plan and submitted it to the Executive Committee. In this plan, the Navy would dispatch its only two frigates, the "Eagle of the Eastern Shore" and the "Red Trout," to the wealthy Caribbean region. They would raid passing ships or attack weakly defended towns of various countries (mainly Spanish) without revealing their identity. Half of the wealth obtained would be submitted to the national treasury, and the other half would be used for naval shipbuilding and talent cultivation, with some distributed as bonuses.

When this plan was submitted to the Executive Committee, it left all members speechless, followed by intense debate.

In fact, the committee members were not morally or psychologically opposed to piracy. They were mainly concerned that the "August 10th" battleship was not yet completed, and the two small warships might not gain any advantage. They also feared retaliation from other countries (mainly Spain), especially since a peace treaty had been signed less than half a year ago. If the Spanish were provoked, the war could restart, and all the plans the committee had made, such as the Southern Common Market, would be in vain.

On the other hand, the profits from piracy were enormous, an irresistible temptation for the current穿越者. If they could plunder a large sum of money, the current financially strained budget would receive a significant boost, allowing many projects to proceed, and the development of the穿越者's cause would accelerate.

The穿越者had many expenses this year. According to the five-year development plan being prepared by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce: an iron smelting blast furnace, a steelmaking open hearth, a new armory, a machinery factory, a brick kiln, and a beehive coal factory were to be built near Peace Castle; two artillery platforms and a new shipyard were to be constructed at Sea Defense Castle; research and development of steam engines, the start of the chemical industry, and the introduction of various technical talents would also require significant funding; the dredging of Duck Lake's waterway and the widening and dredging of the Saint Gonzalos waterway connecting Milin Lake and Duck Lake were also to begin, with plans to dig canals connecting Milin Lake to Eastern Harbor and to the planned iron mines to the southwest; and the initial 250,000 yuan budget for immigration seemed too conservative. In short, there were many expenses, and the funds needed were substantial, making the fiscal budget report prepared by the Ministry of Finance at the beginning of the year seem laughable.

In summary, this was a very perplexing plan. On one hand, they feared insufficient strength or being discovered, while on the other hand, they were tempted by the wealth. It was truly a dilemma.

Currently, it is estimated that there are one to two thousand pirates gathered in the Caribbean and the Bahamas. They come from various countries, including the British, Dutch, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and even some Africans. These pirates often form groups to attack merchant ships and smugglers, and sometimes even raid Spanish towns. Famous pirates like Drake and Morgan have repeatedly attacked and burned Spanish towns, even destroying some well-fortified cities, causing the Spanish Kingdom to lose millions of pounds in property. If the穿越者sent two ships and a few hundred people to join them, they could blend in and carry out a few raids without standing out, as long as they didn't leave witnesses or fail in their attacks.

In a sense, the large number of pirates gathered here is also a resource. These pirates are wanted criminals in their home countries, as they even rob their own ships. Unable to return home, they either spend their money recklessly in pirate strongholds, eventually dying in poverty and illness, or wait for a slim chance of a royal pardon to return home with their wealth and start a new life.

If given a formal identity, some of these pirates, who have earned substantial wealth, might come to settle in the Eastern Shore. They would be valuable naval talent and bring significant wealth to the Republic of the Eastern Shore, so the穿越者have no reason to ignore them.

The benefits and drawbacks are clear, and the committee members found it difficult to decide, so they resorted to a vote. In the end, the desire for urgently needed funds for national construction prevailed. Out of 11 committee members, 6 voted in favor, 3 against, and 2 abstained, and the proposal was officially approved.

After the proposal was approved, the Navy immediately began intensive preparations. They first focused on the transformation of the "Red Trout." When this ship was captured from the Spanish, it carried 16 bronze cannons, which were only average in firepower. Since last August, the Navy had only added two 12-pound steel cannons to the bow and stern, without increasing other cannons, and the bronze cannons had not been replaced. This time, the Navy planned to replace all the outdated bronze cannons with steel cannons. It is expected that each side of the ship will be equipped with 4 24-pound cannons, 4 18-pound cannons, and 4 12-pound cannons. After the replacement, this 400-ton warship will have 28 powerful cannons, making it formidable in most naval engagements.