Chapter 2, to destroy a nation, one must first undermine its history

Lin Haijiang is acutely aware that the era he inhabits marks the intersection of sailing warships powered by sails and ironclad steam warships, which is also referred to by later generations as the dividing point of the age of sailing warships

The nobles are concerned with how to enjoy each day after sunrise! Their hunting rifles are even more advanced than the standard weapons equipped by the army

Lin Haijiang has yet to realize that although Howard and Drake commanded the British fleet to defeat the Spanish Armada, they are hardly regarded as significant figures within Britain. They are merely marginal figures in high society, and for various reasons, most of their descendants remain obscure. This is the greatest taboo of the upper class.

The gaze of the young Royal Navy major lingered on the silver First Class Sergeant's honor badge on Lin Haijiang's chest. Subsequently, the young Royal Navy major gently brushed his chest with his gloved hand and then spoke: "I am Lord Edward Aiven of the Fifth Squadron, Second Fleet of the Royal Navy, my First Class Sergeant."

However, the situation is different for the "Deck Class" that Lin Haijiang is attending. Most of the students in this program come from affluent backgrounds. After completing their so-called studies at the Dartmouth Naval School, they will automatically transition to become Royal Navy officer candidates after a year or two. This is also an essential pathway for them to enter high society

In Lin Haijiang's memory, according to the research of world-renowned academic institutions, the period from 1846 to 1865 was an era of significant transformation in naval technology. During this time, many shipyards around the world possessed the strength and capability to design and construct ironclad warships, yet they were plagued by a lack of orders, ultimately leading to an inconclusive outcome

The ability of a warship to maintain standard combat effectiveness is a critical factor determining its fate in naval battles. In single-ship engagements, the captain is responsible for tactical command, while the deck officers, sail officers, and gun captains are the key determinants of combat power. It is particularly unfortunate that all these individuals are concentrated on the same deck. Once they encounter the enemy's grape shot barrage, as in the case of the Phoenix, which was supposed to be equipped with seventy-five 12-pound to 24-pound cannons but actually carried only thirty-six 12-pound cannons, the lack of crew and artillery renders the Phoenix's actual combat effectiveness inferior to that of a privateer.

The truly usable shipboard recoil-reducing device was not developed until 1897, when the Frenchman Odelin manufactured a 75 mm field gun equipped with a recoil mechanism (hydraulic gas-operated recoil system), which was subsequently emulated by various countries. When the elastic carriage artillery is fired, the force acting on the carriage is significantly reduced due to the buffering effect of the recoil mechanism, allowing for a reduction in the weight of the artillery. This prevents the artillery from shifting during firing and increases the firing speed

Robert stood in the flower corridor not far from Lin Haijiang, gazing at this student from the East. It could be said that Lin Haijiang's unique politeness and cultured demeanor, characteristic of the Qing people, as well as his tireless spirit of learning, deeply moved him. Especially notable was Lin Haijiang's authentic English. Unfortunately, a significant portion of the Royal Navy still harbored considerable prejudice against Easterners; otherwise, he believed Lin Haijiang would become an outstanding officer in the Royal Navy and serve the British Empire.

However, Edward Irwin had a great fondness for this fair-skinned Qing person who spoke pure English without any nasal accent. He pointed to the ship Phoenix and said, "Tomorrow I will become the first mate of this vessel, embarking on my glorious maiden voyage. To protect the jewels of the Queen's crown, I will spare no effort! My first petty officer, I believe you will be my capable assistant."

In 1859, France constructed the world's first ironclad warship, the "La Glorie." It featured an iron armor approximately 11 centimeters thick on the outside, supported internally by wooden ribs, with a displacement of over 5,600 tons and armed with 36 heavy cannons

After class, Lin Haijiang stood by the window in the corridor, under the gaze of many unfriendly eyes, gazing alone at the training ship Phoenix docked in the harbor

Individuals like Edward Irwin, regardless of whether in their past or present life, have been encountered too frequently by Lin Haijiang. Young, passionate, radical, adventurous, and eager for battle! However, such a commander does not represent good news for ordinary sailor subordinates who earn merely half a pound, three shillings, and four pence each month

Robert was surprised to find that Lin Haijiang was holding a book on Japanese history by the Dutchman Wichmann. Curiously, he asked, "How come you are interested in Japanese history? That is a very annoying country"

At this time, the shipborne recoil mechanism connects the gun barrel to the gun mount through a pivot pin, and this type of gun mount is referred to as a 'rigid gun mount.' The rigid gun mount experiences significant stress during firing, making the artillery cumbersome and reducing its mobility. This adversely affects aiming during firing, results in slower firing rates, and limits the increase in firepower. In naval battles, victory is often determined by the formation of the fleet and the number and caliber of the shipborne artillery.

Lin Haijiang is well aware that what is referred to as cleaning is more accurately described as an alternative form of willpower training for sailors and junior officers, as well as a means of overall coordination. Only through repeated cooperation can a sailing warship achieve and maintain its standard combat effectiveness.

The honor of the first class of cadets almost signifies that after completing all the courses, the first class cadets have a very high chance of having a red stripe interwoven with gold thread on their collars and trousers, undoubtedly becoming a distinguished candidate officer of the Royal Navy of the British Empire. This is the dream of most young people of this era, and it also represents a great opportunity for them to escape their humble origins and poverty

Although Lin Haijiang spoke very lightly, Robert felt an unusual heaviness as he listened, and he even sensed a nonexistent smell of blood

The primary reason is that the high cost of ironclad warships deterred many countries, and the early ironclad ships did not possess a significant absolute advantage in firepower over sailing warships. Sailing warships could still offset the advantages of ironclads by relying on the number of cannons, the number of ships, and the experience of skilled sailors

After Robert announced the results of the high school entrance examination, amidst the discontent of the white students, Lin Haijiang received the short sword and the rank of First Sergeant, along with the Honorary Academic Medal from Principal Mr. George. This medal, a silver badge approximately six to seven centimeters in diameter, features the Royal Navy's ensign, crossed swords, and an anchor. Additionally, a fine yellow line was added to the cuffs of the new uniform. This represents the highest honor and rank that Dartmouth Naval College can bestow upon foreign students in the second-year deck and boat handling program.

Although he thought this in his heart, Lin Haijiang did not dare to say it out loud. He smiled slightly and said: "Respected sir, even the eagle soaring in the blue sky has moments when its wings are not yet fully developed. Where there are oceans and the sun shining, there will be the fleets of the British Empire. Your future is limitless! You are destined to become a general like Howard and Drake."

After bidding farewell to Robert, Lin Haijiang strolled towards the training ship Phoenix docked at the pier. The crew on the dock was humming in unison the tune of 'Beautiful Skirt'. A very young Royal Navy major, dressed in a splendid uniform, stood on the dock, eagerly watching the sailors as they diligently polished the oak deck and the red pearwood handrails, which had already been smoothed to the point of being almost impossible to stand on.

Not far away, Anna seemed to be gazing this way. Lin Haijiang understood the hopeful look in Anna's eyes; that foreign girl might have developed feelings for him, repeating the mistakes of history. No matter how good England is, it is not his home! His home is across the ocean.

At this moment, Lin Haijiang also noticed a first sergeant honor medal on Edward Aiven's chest that was identical to his own. This young major, apart from having a royal surname, seemed to possess no other medals to boast about, which suggests that this Mr. Edward is likely a novice just starting out in his career

Lin Haijiang raised the book in his hand and smiled slightly, saying: "In China, we have an old saying, 'To destroy a nation, one must first erase its history'"

However, Lin Haijiang was very clear that even a training ship like the Phoenix would still cost around 500,000 pounds, not to mention those ironclad ships worth over a million pounds and the 24-pound rapid-fire guns installed on them

Edward Ivan raised his eyebrows slightly at the last sentence of Lin Haijiang's praise

In his memory, perhaps in a few days he will board this training ship to embark on his first voyage

When the young Royal Navy major discovered Lin Haijiang, Lin Haijiang quickly took a few steps forward, saluted sharply, and then removed his hat and nodded slightly in greeting

The specialized fields of naval artillery, lower deck operations, rigging, main and auxiliary sails, and machinery maintenance are prepared for the underprivileged, and most of these programs consist of short training lasting from three weeks to six months

Because he discovered in Lin Haijiang a spirit of unwavering determination, relentless perseverance, and tireless dedication, which is precisely the driving force behind the continuous development and expansion of the Royal Navy

Lin Haijiang gazed at the Phoenix docked in the harbor, where a group of busy sailors was cleaning the deck, securing the mooring lines, and folding the sails. This is the most fundamental training subject for sailors. In naval combat, the ability of a warship to maneuver flexibly and consistently occupy the side T position, aligning its broadside line against the bow or stern of the enemy ship, tests the sailors' sail control skills and the overall coordination of the fleet. This is the most fundamental training subject for sailors. In naval combat, the ability of a warship to maneuver flexibly and consistently occupy the side T position, aligning its broadside line against the bow or stern of the enemy ship, tests the sailors' sail control skills and the overall coordination of the fleet.

As long as a material exists in reality, there exists the possibility of its destruction. Before experiencing profound pain, even the mighty British Empire, at the height of its power, could not achieve a large-scale transformation of ironclad warships.

In 1846, Lieutenant Colonel G. Cavalli of Italy developed the rifled cannon, which fired elongated explosive shells with conical heads. The rifling caused the projectiles to spin, ensuring stable flight, enhancing the power and accuracy of the artillery, and increasing its range. Concurrently with the introduction of rifled cannons, improvements were made to the breech mechanism, allowing for breech-loading artillery, which significantly increased the rate of fire. The research outcomes of Lieutenant Colonel G. Cavalli transformed naval warfare; the ability to fire further with more powerful fixed explosive shells could easily tear through the wooden armor of battleships, posing a lethal threat to the massive wooden warships.

Thank you, esteemed sir, as you wish! Lin Haijiang smiled faintly

After the routine roll call in class, Robert looked at Lin Haijiang with an almost affectionate gaze, a look that made Lin Haijiang, who was already feeling somewhat guilty, blush deeply

In Robert's view, the empire's colonies have been expanding increasingly, and the revenue generated from the East has been rising year by year. In contrast, the empire's military strength has been persistently stretched thin and unable to cope, which poses an extremely dangerous situation for a colonial empire that relies heavily on its globally distributed colonies for its main source of income. Unfortunately, neither the Parliament nor the Queen has been able to recognize this issue.

The Eastern people are led by the Eastern people, serving the British Empire with local power. Britain needs reliable friends. Whenever Robert thinks of this, he always feels a bit despondent; his title as the Earl of Benway Castle can only be used during banquets.