The Spanish and Italian alliance to intercept the British fleet and forcibly salvage the shipwreck caused an uproar throughout Europe.

Queen Elizabeth I, who had long been accustomed to condescending England, was furious, and after sending someone to contact Drake and not getting an accurate answer, she quickly sent a note to Spain and Italy, demanding that they thoroughly investigate the matter and pay compensation.

But how can this matter be clarified? It wasn't the fleets of the two countries that did it in the first place, and the shipwreck was even more unnecessary, if it was clear, then it would be a hell!

As a result, several countries fell into an inexplicable atmosphere, and no one knew what the truth was, so rumors spread more and more, and various versions were in the dust.

Although there are also a small number of voices that think that it is the British old cloth maze, both cheap and out of the way, the directors and actors are British, but the vast majority of people firmly believe that this time Elizabeth was slapped in the face by the two countries, which is really being taken away by Spain and Italy!

In the past, this was normal, after all, Spain was the king of the sea, and Italy had the most advanced seafaring technology. If these two countries do join forces, then Britain will really have to retreat.

But at this time and that time, the current Britain has completely seized the hegemony of the sea and has become a new generation of maritime hegemon, how can it be possible to rub this grain of sand in its eyes?

What's more, someone came out at this time to rub salt on Elizabeth's wound!

First of all, France and the French Maritime Academy held a large-scale maritime exercise, and the template of the exercise was to deduce the offensive and defensive patterns of the British fleet after it was attacked by Spain and Italy.

Of course, as an incident, the caring French people also specially practiced the process of salvaging the sunken ship.

Since this exercise was carried out offshore, the number of people watching it was simply a naked slap in the face of Elizabeth.

Then there was the Netherlands, and the Dutch East India Company issued a national warning, downgraded the credit rating for commercial trade with Great Britain, and slightly raised Spain and Italy!

The rationale is that "Britain is weakening its grip on the seas and should be more sober when it comes to investment and trade." ”

The reason is simply impeccable, as the heart of European trust and trade, Amsterdam's voice is enough to influence many people, and this is Elizabeth's biggest headache.

But what could she say? It's a fact that his own fleet was attacked at sea, and it's also a fact that Drake didn't get those shipwreck treasures after repeated inspections - although his private fleet later lost its whereabouts, it is estimated that those three small ships have no ability to salvage large sunken ships, so they are almost negligible!

But how could the empire that he had worked so hard to run be cut open for no reason?

So Elizabeth I was furious and ordered: "Investigate the matter thoroughly at all costs!" ”

Under such a general premise, friction on the sea from the North Sea in the north to the Mediterranean Sea in the south continued to appear, and many British fleets carried out "in-depth inspections" of the merchant fleets between Spain and Italy under the banner of "inspection."

How will the British, accustomed to barbarism, verify? That's something you can think of with your toes - they have started a new round of plundering, only the target has become the merchant fleets of the two Mediterranean countries, which have been relatively peaceful!

Such an act instantly ignited the anger of the two countries, and Spain had been declining over the years, wanting to turn a blind eye and prevaricate the matter.

Unexpectedly, Britain was unforgiving, and its own merchant fleet was frequently attacked, and basically lost all its money, which completely ignited the anger of the Spanish people and business associations!

Countless merchants and seafarers gathered in Madrid to demand that King Philip II "do something to solve the problem of aggression at sea".

Philip II didn't take this too seriously at first, still wanting to appease the past. But after a rather famous Spanish merchant ship, the "Maguiata", belonging to the courtesan Countess Karina of Madrid, was plundered by the British at sea, and the countess herself was attacked to a considerable extent, the matter was completely ignited!

"Even the nobility can't guarantee their own rights and interests, so why doesn't the state protect us?"

"Has Spain fallen? Everywhere you go, you're bullied! ”

"We tax the state, but we don't get the protection of the state! Then give us back our money and we protect ourselves! ”

......

After all, in the hearts of the vast majority of Spaniards, it is still deeply engraved with the might of the sea.

Now that the phoenix has fallen, it has become a role that can be bullied, and such a gap is unacceptable to a hundred Spaniards!

Philip II was in the royal palace in Madrid, and he almost jumped in fright when he received the report from his men!

Such a shadowless thing, was actually turned upside down by these people?

Enraged, Philip II decided to defend his dignity by force, and he ordered the palace guards to open fire on these mobs who dared to surround the palace!

This order frightened the ministers in power, and they desperately blocked Philip II's actions.

Annoyed, Philip II threw his glass, and after a final thought, summoned Alfred Jr., the new commander-in-chief of the Armada, to discuss what should happen to the matter.

Little Alfred already knew what was happening. After receiving the order to summon Philip II, he smiled and immediately got up and hurried to the royal palace in Madrid.

"Alfred! Tell me, what the hell is going on? Who took the money? Philip II slapped the table angrily, his face flushed.

"Your Majesty!" Little Alfred looked sad: "The minister has sent someone to investigate, and most of our fleet was in the sequence of organized operations at the time of the incident, including the Third Fleet, which exchanged fire with the British. But ......"

In the middle of speaking, little Alfred suddenly groaned, as if there was something unspeakable.

Philip II was still angry at this time, and roared angrily: "But what but! You make it clear to me! ”

Little Alfred bowed deeply to Philip II and whispered, "Your Majesty is angry! I heard that the Third Fleet seems to have been secretly storing ships and concealing firearms without authorization all these years, and that this hidden fleet was nowhere to be found while our fleet exchanged fire with the British......"

The Third Fleet, where the late de Guzmán began, is intricately home to many of de Guzmán's siblings and his son Charznan.

Although the old Alfred has been reorganized several times, he still can't completely eliminate these "remnants"!

Therefore, after learning about this plan to hide from the world, little Alfred immediately made up his mind and prepared to make full use of this opportunity to clean up all the remnants of his old opponent in one fell swoop!

And the development of things is indeed as he expected, under the joint promotion of internal and external forces, the opportunity for complete purging is still coming!

"What? There are people who are guarding and stealing! Philip II's anger almost burned him: "Where are these people now?" Arrest them and see me right away! ”

Little Alfred groaned, but did not speak. Philip II suddenly noticed that he had not accepted his orders as usual, and suddenly asked strangely, "What's the matter?" You can't do it? ”

Little Alfred hurriedly saluted and replied in a low voice, "Not really, Your Majesty, it's just ...... It's just that the Third Fleet has always been called an independent fleet, and it is not safe to be controlled by vassals, and you have always acquiesced in this matter before......"

Philip II was stunned for a moment, and then his heart suddenly sank.

The Third Fleet has always been the private land of the de Guzmán family, and he took de Guzmán from his position, although he was relieved for a while, but when he remembered it later, he regretted it in his heart.

After all, although de Guzmán was responsible for the defeat to the British at that time, objectively speaking, it was not his problem alone, but the result of the final action of various aspects and multiple angles.

Moreover, de Guzmán has always been very strict in governing the army, and the morale and combat effectiveness of the fleet have always been quite good, because this matter is indeed not very proper.

Therefore, behind de Guzmán, he gave the Third Fleet relatively free to act, in fact, he wanted to moderately mitigate the consequences of his mistakes back then.

Especially after Charznan was executed, he regarded the Third Fleet as a memory and past of the people and events of the past from the bottom of his heart, and he was indeed arrogant to them.

And he also knew about the fact that the high-ranking officials of the Third Fleet had privately reserved the fleet. Originally, Philip II thought that these nobles privately reserved some small private armies just to prevent accidents, but unexpectedly, they actually did such a thing?

Looking at the silent little Alfred in front of him, Philip II didn't know what to say.

After all, it was you who indulged the Third Fleet all these years, and now it is you who wants to run the Third Fleet?

"The news...... Is the accuracy high? Philip II still couldn't make up his mind, and asked again.

"The minister also heard about this from multiple channels, but there is no specific evidence." Little Alfred replied: "If Your Majesty really can't make up your mind, then the minister will not mention it again, and find another way to solve it!" ”

Philip II's discomfort in his heart was simply unspeakable, and at first he wondered if little Alfred wanted to declare a personal vendetta, but seeing him look so indifferent, his heart beat a drum again!

Is it the memory that is important, or is the country important? This question doesn't seem to be difficult to choose......

After thinking for a long time, Philip II suddenly gritted his teeth, slapped the table hard, and shouted in a low voice, almost from the depths of his throat: "Relieve the autonomy of the Third Fleet!" You give me a thorough investigation of this! In this matter, you have to see people in life, and you have to see corpses in death! Anyway, I want a final answer! ”

"Yes! Your Majesty! Little Alfred took the shot. Bow deeply, turn to your highness!