No matter how tricky a person's vision and intelligence are, he can't change it and can't get rid of the shackles of the times. It's like standing on a platform and looking at the world, no matter how tall you are, there is a limit, but the platform is infinite!

Elizabeth I was a little annoyed by my request for another such fleet, but after I uttered those not very respectful words, she calmed down and offered to listen to my "rules".

As for me, I just want to use various methods to strive for more strength reserves and lay the foundation for my trip to the New World.

So I stretched out two hands, palms of my hands, slightly bent arms in front of my chest, and said, "Look, these two hands, one represents your dedication, and the other represents your gain."

Isabella said, "Are you saying that your claim is basically the same as the queen's income?" No! It's not like that! You've got equipment that surpasses the average local fleet, and you can't get any better! ”

Before I could speak, Elizabeth I raised his hand to stop Isabella's speech: "No, I would still like to listen to the rules of the viscount. ”

I bowed slightly, and I was not polite: "For input and output, many people only see each other's high and low, but do not see the relationship between other dimensions. As I said this, my eyes turned to Isabella. Her face turned pale suddenly, as the most eminent woman in England since Queen Elizabeth I—at least that's what the palace said—she couldn't tolerate my face-to-face attacks, but for the sake of the Queen's face, she couldn't attack, and could only tremble with anger.

But I didn't continue to irritate her, just to shut her up, not to set up an enemy for myself. So I continued: "In my hometown, it's all about mutual benefit, so we have come up with a lot of business solutions that are happy for both parties, such as the next one – public-private partnerships! Public-Private Partnership！ Of course, you can also call it PPP in short. ”

Elizabeth I's eyes lit up, and she loved new things, whether it was thinking, serving, gems, or men, so she was more interested and willing to listen to me continue to wrestle.

I took two steps to the left, turned myself to her side, spread my hands apart, and said in a colorful voice: "Everyone wants the wealth of the world to be their own wealth is endless, but no one can do it, including me, and you, the Queen!" ”

Elizabeth I smiled: "Of course, otherwise I would have bought the world directly!"

I smiled and said, "Exactly!" But the reality is cruel, after arranging civil, military, commercial and trade and all kinds of expenditures, the financial situation of Britain no longer allows the queen to invest more in the New World, otherwise it should be the Royal Fleet that will go to the New World to save Sir Walter Raleigh this time, not my ......"

I pointed at myself and laughed teasingly, "An outsider!"

Elizabeth I could not answer, and neither could Isabella. Because I'm telling the truth, the bloody truth.

"Therefore, I am willing to be a private investor in PPP. I will fund the ship this time, including the funds for the Virginia Raiders, and I will present it to you in its entirety after taking control of Virginia once and for all! ”

The corners of Elizabeth I's mouth rose slightly, and she asked with some pleasure: "Then what do you want?" My Excellency, I don't think you're doing this for free! ”

I stretched out my right index finger and shook my head at the same time, "No, no, no! Your Majesty, PPP is not a loan, let alone charity, but an act of mutual benefit based on trust and reciprocity. I don't want much—thirty percent of the Virginia region's income for the next thirty years. That's fair, right? ”

Elizabeth I's body trembled slightly, undetectable, but it couldn't escape my wolf-like observation. Suppressing her excitement and excitement, she said, "No, no, no! Viscount, you want too much! Thirty percent! That's impossible! ”

Isabella said on the side: "It's too much! At that time, the Spanish royal family hired the Italian Columbus, and only allowed him 10% of the income in terms of exploring the new continent, how can you ask for 30%? ”

I shook my head and smiled, "No, no, no!" Ms. Isabella, you are not right! When Columbus arrived in the New World, he was confronted only by a group of natives wielding clubs and stone tools, and among his enemies were hundreds of Spanish warships? ”

Isabella was speechless and silent.

I pressed on: "He had a lot of money from the Spanish crown, and he had invested and committed anything other than finding that land, which he mistook for the East Indies, of course, which he mistook for the East Indies?" ”

No matter how reluctant Isabella was, she had to reply: "No, he didn't offer anything else." ”

I nodded and smiled, "That's right!" I made it clear that the Public-Private Partnership is not only a kind of financing, but also a change in the system and mechanism! It's a swap between my capital, service and the Queen's offer of a franchise! We have to share interests, share risks, and work together all the way, and the foundation of my investment is based on full trust in Her Majesty The Queen and the British royal family. ”

As I spoke, I took a step forward, raised a hand, and said, "What I offer is yellow gold, white silver, wisdom, courage, and all kinds of hardships - it is said that mosquitoes in Virginia are the size of fists, and you will not like them—and all Her Majesty needs to do is to sign an agreement with me, and then take possession of Virginia, and only need to set aside thirty percent of that unstable and certain income, which is a sure deal, Your Majesty!" ”

Elizabeth I was already tempted, and although she was well disguised, I could see that my proposal was precious to her at a time when England was wrestling with Spain on all fronts, and she was now thinking not about what could be done or what could not be done, but about the sharing of interests.

"Your Excellency, as you say, the cost of this matter, including the construction of warships and local raids, requires a considerable amount of money, and how can you believe that thirty percent of Virginia's income will be worth your investment? Where did you come out of all at once with so much cash? If you fail, what do you do? ”

I laughed a few times before I replied with Elizabeth I's forced smile: "To answer your last question first—if I fail, for example, if my fleet is wiped out in the Caribbean, or if Virginia does not belong to the queen in the end, then our agreement on revenue sharing will be null and void, because I have no life and no ability to complete this agreement, but for the queen, there is basically nothing to lose." ”

Elizabeth I was silent, and as I said, it was an adventure! I continued: "There is a saying in my hometown that is called 'seeking wealth in danger', and there is also a saying that 'people are not rich without windfall, and horses are not fertile without night grass'. Viscount, Earl, these false names don't matter to me, I need more strength to fulfill my wishes. ”

"What do you want?" Elizabeth I asked.

"Free!" I replied loudly, and Elizabeth's face tightened. Although I am an outsider, for an honorary viscount of the royal family, loyalty is always a higher option than freedom, at least everyone says so.

Before she asked, I didn't give her this opportunity, paced two steps, and chanted aloud: "Life is precious, love is more valuable!" ”

The Queen's attention was immediately drawn to me, and I continued to recite the next sentence tragically and resolutely: "If it is for the sake of freedom, you can throw both!" ”

When the last word "throw" was spit out with internal energy, there was silence in the whole hall at first, and then there was a slight applause in front of him! I saw the queen and Isabella applauding softly with misty eyes, which is a praise for this poem, and it is also an affirmation and praise for my literary attainments in my previous life!

"It's so beautiful! It's so moving! Elizabeth I was a man of grace, and naturally admired such a high-spirited and sentimental verse: "Did you write this? Your Excellency the Viscount! ”

I tilted my head slightly, looking high, but I said quite modestly: "It's just clumsy, not enough to worry about!" But it's just a matter of mind! "In my heart, I secretly said Mr. Pei Duofei, you won't come to me to claim copyright in two hundred years! I can't care so much, let's pretend to be B first!

Elizabeth I and Isabella are still immersed in the verses they just had, which was a common problem of the British royal family and nobility in the early Renaissance.

After waiting for a while, Elizabeth I suddenly raised her hand and said with high spirits: "Thirty percent!" Just do as you say! Upfront capital ...... If you don't have enough liquidity, the British royal family is willing to vouch for you, and you can borrow up to 30,000 gold coins for military expenses. May all the best! God bless you! Mr. Viscount! ”

Isabella seemed to want to say something, but she couldn't resist the queen's words, not to mention that she herself was impressed by my "talent and bearing", so the matter was decided.

The process of signing the contract was very fast, and at the cabinet meeting, I took out the PPP contract that I had drafted, and the queen looked at it and signed it directly, causing the chancellor of the exchequer, the minister of military affairs and other loyal ministers on the side to smack their tongues. When I hand over the contract in duplicate to the Queen and Hua Mei, our agreement will be completed. And I got an additional reward - the Honorary Earl of the British Royal Family! Titled Percival - one of the knights of the Round Table, this has to be said to be very honorable!

The Queen's letter to the Dutch leader was quickly completed, and with these heavy objects in hand, I left Buckingham Palace with everyone without looking back, and went towards my goal of "freedom"!

In the UK in July, it is not very hot, but it is also humid and hot. In the evening, when there was a rare cool breeze, Elizabeth I walked to the window, opened it, and stared at the sails in the distant pier.

There was a sound of soft footsteps behind him, and he walked to the side and stopped. The queen asked in a low voice without looking back, "Do you think he can succeed?" ”

Isabella's voice came: "Yes! ”

The corners of Elizabeth I's mouth raised, and she asked again: "Why?" You've always been so cautious, why are you so sure this time? ”

Isabella's voice came again: "For I believe that God will bless those who believe in freedom and souls!" ”

Hearing this, Elizabeth I's face calmed down, she slowly raised her hands, crossed her fingers in front of her chest, closed her eyes, changed her head and began to pray silently. After a long time, she raised her right hand and gently touched her forehead, chest, left and right shoulder fossa with her middle finger, and whispered: "Amen! ”

There was also a soft shout from behind him: "Amen"! But Isabella was also finishing her prayers.

The queen looked up, and an albatross was vibrating its wings vigorously and speeding over Buckingham Palace!