After the storm in the previous stage, the rain in the sky seemed to be cleared all at once, and it was difficult to see some rain and the scorching sun overhead.

Sailing out of the English Channel, I ordered the fleet to make a twenty-nautical detour to the west, rounding the Iberian Peninsula in a roundabout way.

It's not that I'm afraid of the Spaniards, it's that I'm in a hurry to get back to Daming, and I don't want to make more extraneous complications.

It is said that all the remaining Spanish ships have returned to the ports on the west coast, and the Spaniards are working around the clock to repair the scarred ships.

Some of them really can't be repaired and restored, so they are disassembled as parts and assembled on other ships.

It is said that although the Spaniards were once the most powerful navy, their own people were not good at shipbuilding—or they disdained the rough work of shipbuilding.

You have money! Italians, Portuguese, Dutch, or Germans can be hired to build ships, and you can be a party member in your own comfort.

Therefore, during this period, ships from the Iberian Peninsula came and went very frequently, and ships from all over the world gathered here, and the original wounded soldiers were full of camps and mourning, but at this time they showed a very strange prosperity.

Today it was a westerly wind, and we turned around and headed south, and the sail operators adjusted the angle of the sails, and we started to head south at full speed, expecting to pass through the danger zone in about a day, and reach the waters near North Africa in about three or four days.

The first day was very peaceful, and we made it clear that we didn't want to cause trouble. So even if there is a fleet that is just as far away as us, they will be jealous when they see the size of our fleet, and they will pass each other safely outside the range.

But accidents always come unexpectedly, and at dawn the next day, I was exercising on deck when I suddenly heard the lookout above me shouting, "A fleet is approaching us!" They're fast and they're coming at full speed! Distance, four nautical miles! ”

The crowd on board immediately became nervous - not fear, but a skillful coping strategy.

In just five minutes, the gunners were all in place, and as long as they lowered the shielding partition, they could start firing at any time!

Is this a fuss? According to the lookouts, only these two ships were approaching, and none of the other ships were on the same course as the miniature fleet, but there was no guarantee that they would not turn their bows or change course.

After all, we were only half an hour's sea distance apart, and as long as there were teammates in front of us to stop us a little, the reinforcements behind would soon arrive.

So today's emergency plan, we have deduced and practiced it more than 100 times before! All sailors, wherever they are, whatever they are doing, will immediately maneuver to their assigned position as soon as they receive an order.

Until the gun is ready and the ramming angle is in place, the total time will definitely not exceed five minutes!

This is the best guarantee of the safety and combat effectiveness of our fleet, just like today, after receiving a warning of the approach of the ships, the combat readiness was completed in five minutes, no, four and a half minutes.

Boarding the command room on the bridge, I held a telescope and stared fixedly at the approaching two ships. Those were two medium-sized Italian clippers, and the draft was too shallow for people to use as ocean-going vessels. However, the surprisingly good seakeeping is not bad, and the price is relatively cheap, so some fleets with less budgets will also use it against long voyages.

Looking at their trajectory, it was obvious that the target was us, and I couldn't help but wonder in my heart, what do they want to do? What can they do?

So I said to the Nine Ghosts: "Let them not come within two nautical miles of us, otherwise we will carry out artillery bombardment!"

The nine ghosts and filial piety went quickly, and naturally there were trumpeters who sent my meaning to the other party in the common flag language. Unexpectedly, the other party quickly responded to us, saying that they had no malicious intentions, but just wanted to meet me and have something important to discuss.

I looked at the telescope again in confusion, the two ships did not have flags, I don't know which country's ships, but even if there is a flag, I don't worry about it - the flag thing, whoever says it will be hung, anyway, who cares about this matter on the vast sea?

This is also the usual method of pirates - change to the flag of the same nationality as the target fleet, and approach the target fleet while they are too late, and then another endgame will happen!

Of course, it is basically impossible for these two "small boats" behind us to pose any threat to us, unless - the Spaniards will return the favor to the other, these small boats are small in size, big fists, and filled with explosives, which in turn will make a fireboat to destroy the enemy with one hand!

If that's the case, and I didn't watch out for it, then I really hunted geese all day long, but I was pecked by geese! Naturally, I would not make this mistake, so when two unidentified ships approached us to about three nautical miles, I ordered the sailors to reload their shells and get ready to shoot!

Probably seeing that we lowered the artillery partition and were really ready to move, the two ships were probably also a little panicked, and immediately began to twist from side to side.

I couldn't help but smile slightly, just like this, I also learned to chase people at sea? Let's go back and practice for a few years as soon as possible.

But soon I frowned slightly, afraid to be afraid, and the two ships still rushed up without hesitation! Looks like they really have a very important purpose!

I thought about it for a while, and said in a deep voice: "Zhengxiao, order them to stop the boat!" Raise the flag, otherwise open fire directly, no mercy! ”

The nine ghosts went immediately, and after the signal was issued, the other side continued to chase after him as if he hadn't seen it!

Two nautical miles! This is already our early warning red line, and immediately three benchmark guns on the bow, belly, and stern of the ship opened fire on it!

Such fire is a deterrent on the one hand, and a calibration of fire on the other.

In the telescope, three shells landed two hundred meters in front of the unidentified ship in front of them, and the boatswain immediately ordered the adjustment of Zhu Yuan, and when they fired again, it was the end of this strange fleet!

Seeing that we really opened fire, both ships felt great fear! The ship in the back even turned around and ran away! And the one in front of it, which was closer to the point of impact, was impressive, turned around the sea, and continued to sail towards us!

I couldn't help but be amused when I saw this scene - who the hell is this? So persistent! Since you are bent on death, then I will fulfill you.

Without looking back, I said to the Nine Ghost Zhengxiao: "Give one last warning, stop the ship, raise the flag, otherwise sink it!"

The Nine Ghosts Masataka conveyed my orders in full form, and I heard the shouting and reloading of the guns below deck in the captain's room.

Bye! Strange people! I thought to myself.

Just as the shells were loaded and ready to fire a salvo, the flag suddenly rose on the only remaining ship on the opposite side!

Two flags!

One is the flag of Italy, and the other is actually the flag of the Catholic Church!

What the hell is this?

I couldn't help but secretly say in my heart, I don't have any good friendship with Catholicism, and helping Britain defeat Spain before was a great blow to the power of Catholicism!

What are they looking for me for? Declare war? Sue for peace? Still is...... What other purpose?

But when I saw them raise these two flags, I was not very worried—although the flags representing nationality might be mixed, almost no one dared to raise the flag.

The reason is simple, people who walk on the sea all year round are more or less particular - the orthodox Catholics are self-explanatory.

Everyone is afraid that their disrespect will anger the gods, and the wind will not go in the right direction, in case of a storm...... Then it's too late to regret everything!

Just like the fiasco of the Spanish Navy, many popes have attributed it to the royal family's disrespectful punishment of the Church, so while the Spanish crown has suffered a certain degree of blow, the Church has increased the tax rate on the basis of the previous "tithe".

The name is beautiful: atonement.

Therefore, even pirates did not dare to do this kind of trickery - they would usually go to the church to collect a small amount of money before going to sea, praying for a smooth journey and a good opening; After coming back, one more filial piety will be regarded as a vow.

Of course, if you can't come back, you won't mention everything, there's nothing to say.

So I immediately stopped the artillery ready to shoot and asked the trumpeter to send a message - stop the boat, come in a lifeboat, and I will see you.

As soon as this message came out, there was a corresponding action on the other side - they simply stopped the boat and hurriedly put down the lifeboat, and about seven or eight people got on the lifeboat and rowed towards us.

I walked up to the deck, and the Nine Ghosts Masataka came up behind me and whispered, "Sir, they are very cooperative, and it is unlikely that they will make trouble."

I nodded, walked to the side of the boat with the boy, and said lightly, "Let them come up and talk."

The boat was not rowed very fast, and it was evident that the sailors were not very skilled, and it took nearly ten minutes to row a mere nautical mile, which made me pout.

These parasites, I don't know what the hell is going on with me. Forget it, whatever they want to do, just listen to it first.

Can they still captivate me and make me a complete atheist who bows down to their Lord? That's really a ridiculous joke! Isn't it?

Thirteen minutes later, the boat finally rowed under the side of our ship, and the sailors lowered the rope ladder, leaving two people in the boat to guard the boat, while the rest slowly climbed up the rope ladder.

First of all, two young missionaries dressed as priests, immediately leaned down and pulled in a missionary in his forties and fifties, dressed in high-ranking monks' robes.

The high-ranking missionary was bearded, clean-looking, and his eyes gleamed with an indistinguishable light of holiness or wisdom.

He glanced around as he got aboard, and quickly decided that I was the head of the place—his target—and he smiled and walked toward me.

When I walked three steps away, the middle-aged missionary gave me a salute, an understanding I was not familiar with, but watching the movements should be the way of saluting as equals in traditional etiquette.

"God forbid! I've finally caught up with you. Your Excellency, I am an Italian missionary - Matteo Ricci, and of course, in your homeland, people generally call me Matteo Ricci. It's an honor to meet you! May God bless you! ”