Chapter 2807 Disaster Is Imminent

On the east coast of the New World, almost all the prosperous cities with large populations have good deep-water ports.

In peacetime, port cities rely on convenient sea traffic and have the huge advantage of developing transoceanic trade, enjoying the trade dividends; however, when war comes, the security risks of coastal port cities are also exposed.

For a port city like Leiden City, the biggest threat does not come from the land, but from the sea.

In the colonial era, the trade routes of Leiden City were mainly protected by the naval fleet of the suzerain country.

Since the Holy Ashan Empire sold off the colonies in the New World, Port Leiden was sold by the "mother" to the "stepmother" of the Kingdom of Fizen, and then involved in the independence revolution, the situation has become more and more difficult.

The Continental Army has not established a worthy fleet so far, unable to provide protection for the various port cities on the east coast, and the coastal defense turrets built in the ports are good enough to deal with pirates, but they are far from enough to fight against the "empire on which the sun never sets" The invincible Royal Navy, under the double coercion of Fizen's army and naval guns, Midgard City, Freeport and Prince's Harbor fell one after another.

The geographic location of Leiden City is almost exactly the same as that of the above three port cities, and the current threats it faces are exactly the same as before the fall of the former. So have the military, civilians and leadership of Leiden City fully absorbed the influence of Midgard City, Leiden City? Based on the experience and lessons of Hong Kong and Prince Port, formulate a plan to protect yourself from the enemy?

The sad answer: no.

In fact, the current defensive measures of Leiden City are not even as perfect as those of Midgard City, Freeport and Prince's Port, and the organization is even more chaotic, which can only be described as "unsightly"!

With the Feizhen Corps marching southward and Port of Princes already falling, the leaders of the military and political circles in Leiden Port have not yet awakened and are not actively preparing for the war. Who should bear the responsibility?

First of all, the Yalfheim military does not take the blame.

As early as April, the garrison of Port Leiden went north to support Port Prince, but never returned, and was buried in Port Prince together with Gates' corps.

Now the regular army in the city of Leiden can't even gather 2,000 people. How can they resist the Feizhen invaders whose strength is twenty times their own? This is not counted as the difference in the quality of individual soldiers between the two sides. Can you not despair?

In addition to the regular army, there are also semi-military militias in the towns and towns around Leiden Port. If someone can stand up and call out, call on the militias from all over the city to support, distribute rifles and train them, in fact, it is possible to organize a large-scale army. A force to match the enemy army.

It is a pity that this idealized hero did not come in response to the expectations of the people.

The reality is just the opposite. The characters who appear on the stage in this troubled world are mostly chilling clowns!

The most powerful and powerful political figure in the Alfheim Colony, and at the same time the most popular political figure, is none other than the former Governor, Sir John Norfolk.

However, as early as last year, Sir Norfolk resigned from the post of governor and devoted himself to the diplomatic field. He was sent by the Continental Congress to serve as the minister of the former suzerain, the Holy Ashean Empire.

Today, the wartime affairs of Port Leiden are directed by Alexander Jefferson, chairman of the city council and drafter of the Declaration of Independence.

Mr. Jefferson has a great reputation and high prestige, but it is a pity that he has never been a soldier in his life, and he has no idea how to prepare an army for war.

The bookish chairman of Congress, who might have been an excellent statesman in peacetime, failed to stand the savage test of war, was useless in wartime, and had neither the courage nor the ability to lead his fellow Southerners in defense of their homeland.

If you can't handle it yourself, you should ask someone who can handle it to take the lead.

Mr. Jefferson did indeed do this, and promoted a general named Adam Maflin to replace the traitor Isaac Hooker as the commander-in-chief of the Alfheim National Guard, who was solely responsible for the defense of Leiden Port.

This General Ma Fulin was born in a famous family in Yalfheim. He is over fifty years old, highly respected, rich in military experience, flexible in his actions, and quite resourceful. It stands to reason that he is the best candidate for the position.

When Jefferson nominated him as commander-in-chief in Congress, the only "fault" that opponents could pick out was that General Ma Fulin was too popular, and there were many royalists in his circle of friends. The friendship is also quite deep.

However, among the people sitting in the parliament hall, who is not proud of having a wide range of contacts and connections, and who doesn't have a few old friends with different political opinions?

Accusing General Adam Mafulin of being unreliable based on this is a suspicion of "picking bones in the egg".

Mr. Jefferson insisted on recommending General Ma Fulin as the commander-in-chief of the Southern Theater, which won the support of most of the Continental Congress representatives.

Little did he know that after the appointment was successfully passed, it caused him a big trouble that he could never regret.

General Ma Fulin looked old and strong at the beginning of his tenure, running around, actively preparing for war, and contacted an arms dealer through an old friend, claiming that he could buy at least 5,000 rifles at a very low price!

In fact, there is no shortage of militias in Leiden Port, what is lacking is training and weapons.

If this deal can be made, the current shortage of weapons on our side can be greatly alleviated, and the combat effectiveness of the militia can also be upgraded to a higher level. It can be said that everyone is happy!

Such a good thing, Mr. Jefferson has no reason to object, with a swipe of the pen, he authorized the respectable General Ma Fulin to be responsible for purchasing arms, and acted cheaply.

However, not long after, the three investigative reporters of the "Leighton Post", Xiao Miao, A Zhi and Benny, used the intelligence network of the "Sons of Liberty" to find out the so-called "arms tycoon" who had dealt with General Ma Fulin. ", is actually the agent of Earl Winthrop and the traitor Hooker.

This so-called arms deal is actually asking the Continental Congress to pay a large sum of money to buy back the 5,000 rifles that the Continental Army turned in after the surrender in Port-Prince!

Once the scandal was exposed, General Adam Mafflin was immediately overwhelmed by the angry spit of the people in the city.

Your Excellency the General defended himself at the parliamentary hearing. He first said that he did not know the real identity of the transaction partner. He did not admit that he knew the identity of the seller until faced with irrefutable evidence. It was only because the military situation was urgent and in order to get the arms as soon as possible. This is not the best course of action.

General Ma Fulin even claimed that as long as the munitions purchased are of high quality and cheap, so what if the target of the transaction is the enemy?

If this business is completed, it is equivalent to taking advantage of the real Filipino. Rawls Winthrop and Isaac Hooker are the "enemies". General Ma Fulin felt that he had done nothing wrong. If you have meritorious service, why should you be accused by a few reporters who are not doing enough to make things worse, and who are afraid that the world will not be chaotic?