Chapter 3031

While Roger was dealing with the envoys from the other three countries, Qian Tiandun was studying the nautical charts in another tent not far from the venue.

Qian Tiandun did not attend the meeting with the special envoys of the three countries with Roger because he was not familiar with the international situation in this region and could not help much if he went there. It was better for Roger to come and negotiate.

And he could just use this rest time to study the next action plan.

Thanks to the careful planning in advance, Haihan's army captured three islands without any blood, and the operation was very smooth. However, Qian Tiandun did not relax because of this. In his view, this was only the first time that Haihan broke through the South China Sea and expanded westward.

step.

So far, this operation has successfully extended Haihan's sphere of influence through the Strait of Malacca. However, the northern end of the strait is an inverted bell mouth, and the distance between Phuket and Banda Aceh is more than 800 miles, which is the southern end of the Strait.

It is eight times the width of the strait near the island.

With such a wide sea area, Qian Tiandun believed that it would be difficult to fully control the trade routes here with just a few small islands adjacent to the coast of the Malay Peninsula to the east.

Moreover, Haihan will enter the Myanmar Sea to the north and the vast Bay of Bengal to the west in the future, and it will still need more ports as a springboard.

As for the target area, there are actually not many options. In this vast sea area of ​​millions of square kilometers, there are not many islands that can be used, mainly concentrated in the Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands.

In fact, these two islands are more appropriately called the Andaman-Nicobar Island Chain. This arc-shaped island chain spanning two thousand miles from north to south is the natural dividing line between the Sea of ​​Myanmar and the Bay of Bengal. If you want to connect the Strait of Malacca and India

If a transit supply port is built between the east coast of the peninsula, then only this island chain can provide an alternative location.

"If we want to choose a place on this island chain to build a port, what do you think are the pros and cons?"

Qian Tiandun did not make a decision directly, but wanted to test the officers standing around him.

Takahashi Nan remained silent because he knew that this question was not thrown to him. If Qian Tiandun needed to answer by himself, he would directly name him instead of referring to him as "you". This is the relationship between the two of them that has been formed over many years.

A kind of tacit understanding.

For officers with some overseas combat experience, this question is not difficult, and soon everyone gave the answer in a variety of ways.

The benefits are obvious. The geographical environment determines the importance of these islands. Ships passing through these waters will not have many choices if they want to obtain supplies.

Moreover, these islands are almost all unclaimed land. It is said that except for some indigenous people who have settled on the islands, no country has built a port on this island chain so far. This greatly reduces the possibility of Haihan entering the island chain.

Trouble encountered.

But when it comes to the disadvantages, everyone's opinions are not unanimous.

Some people think that these islands are far away from the land and do not have enough population to implement various infrastructure projects. Even if you want to increase the population of the islands through immigration, because the local area lacks other natural resources with development value, such an environment will be difficult to attract outsiders.

Settled on the island.

Others believe that the local area lacks a natural port. Even if Haihan invests resources in development, the port after completion will not be able to carry trade functions. At most, it will exist as a fishing port or a shelter and supply port, and will not have the profitability that Haihan expects.

Qian Tiandun saw Li Yuande standing beside him looking a little eager to try, so he called him by name and said, "Yuande, what do you think?"

Li Yuande responded quickly: "I think it is not a good idea to build a port on this island chain. In addition to the reasons mentioned by the adults just now, I would like to add one more point."

Qian Tiandun nodded and said, "But it doesn't matter."

Li Yuande continued: "As we all know, Westerners entered this sea area much earlier than us. If there is really a place suitable for building a trading port on this island chain, I think they would have already started and would not leave it to us.

Come develop it.”

Someone retorted: "Is there a possibility that the investment in building a port is too high and Westerners cannot afford such expenses, so they gave up occupying this island chain."

Li Yuande said: "Of course this possibility exists, but there are many merchant ships plying this area, and there are no naturally formed settlements in this island chain. I think this is also a clear signal. As for the real

For the reason, I think I should consult someone who knows those islands."

Qian Tiandun did not comment on Li Yuande's opinion, but looked at Gao Qiaonan.

Takahashi Minami knew that he had to express his opinion, so he immediately took over the conversation: "As far as I know, there is a team of Star Island Mercenary Group that has been operating in the sea area where this island chain is located for a period of time. Maybe

You can get more accurate information from them."

The troops Takahashi Minami was talking about were naturally the 1st Battalion of the mercenary regiment that played pirates in this area some time ago. However, because the mission was too sensitive, the 1st Battalion did not join them. After evacuating Phuket Island, the 1st Battalion is currently

Still operating in the Myanmar Sea.

As for the current specific location, probably only Roger knew.

"General, Lord Roger is here."

When Cao Cao arrived, Roger entered the tent and was not surprised to see so many people gathered in front of the chart. He nodded to Qian Tiandun and said, "Are you in a meeting?"

Qian Tiandun said: "You came just in time. We are discussing whether this island chain in the Burmese Sea is worth developing. I heard that your mercenaries are familiar with the situation here. Can you please come over and answer our questions?

Confused?"

Roger smiled and said: "You have asked the right person about this. No need to call anyone else, I can answer your questions. If this island chain is so easy to develop, then why should I waste time and effort to occupy these three islands?"

To act in this play?”

Obviously, in Roger's view, he would rather take the risk of occupying several islands belonging to other countries than develop the island chain that belongs to the Borderlands.

As for the reason for making this choice, Roger did not hide it and spoke it out quickly.

First, the island chain is far away from the mainland and is difficult to develop. The only bay that has the conditions to build a large port is on Middle Andaman Island, which is 1,500 miles away from the nearest big city, Banda Aceh. It is separated from Siam in the east and Siam in the north.

Myanmar is also more than a thousand miles away.

An island like this isolated overseas will face very high costs whether it is transporting supplies or immigrating immigrants.

Secondly, the indigenous people living in this island chain were very hostile to outsiders because they were captured by slave traders in the early years. They would definitely kill anyone they met. They were completely unable to coexist with immigrants, let alone immigrants.

Use it as labor to develop the island.

Third, the land on the island is extremely barren and it is difficult to grow crops. The indigenous people make a living by hunting, fishing, and picking wild fruits and vegetables. This basically eliminates the possibility of immigrants being self-sufficient through cultivating farmland, making it difficult to maintain large-scale immigrant settlement.

point.

So although the geographical location of this island chain is very important, it has been in a primitive state for thousands of years.
Chapter completed!