The Indian Ocean is still as hot as ever, like a big steamer, making people in it indescribably boring and hot.

More irritating than the heat of the weather is the human heart.

Leaving Nanyang and the people I know best, my heart is always a little empty, especially unsteady.

I don't know what the road ahead is, and my heart is always full of apprehension.

Always tell yourself that everything will be okay and everything will go in the direction you imagined.

But what about the facts? What the truth will be, no one knows.

It's like a dream with a dream, every time you wake up from a dream, you will tell yourself that this is already the worst possibility, but when you wake up again in the next dream, you will find that the bottom line is far from being reached.

But no matter how painful and depressed it is, many things must be faced by yourself. There are some things that cannot be avoided, only by moving forward, only by persevering, can we see the light and the future.

The fleet approached Kalihet and encountered a familiar fleet, the third fleet under the Woodin banner. I don't remember exactly what the Admiral of the fleet was called Abdullah, but his trademark laugh stuck in my mind.

"Mr. Sun, you're here!" The first thing Abdullah said when he saw me was this: "The leader of Woodin has had a headache recently, and when you come, things will take a turn for the better!" ”

I couldn't help frowning, what happened to Woodin? Hasn't this kid monopolized seventy percent of the Indian Ocean's trade since we joined forces to defeat the Kaplan Chamber of Commerce? Isn't this satisfying, and you have to swallow it alone? Plus, he also has the highest recognition from the City Federation, so what's not to be satisfied with?

So I asked, "What's the situation?" You say I listen. ”

Abdullah bowed to me, leaned in and whispered, "Recently, the people of Kaplan seem to be colluding with the Spaniards again, and they want to make a comeback. Many small chambers of commerce heard the rumors and were a little ready to move. In the past month or so, three small chambers of commerce have fallen to the Kaplan Chamber of Commerce, and if this momentum is not curbed, I am afraid that it will become more and more intense in the future! You say, can the head of Woodin not have a headache? ”

Spaniard? It doesn't seem to be as simple as I thought. A bold idea popped into my mind!

I don't know if Abdullah's news is accurate, in Pence Jr.'s intelligence, the Spaniards have already taken an offensive posture in the West and North America, and if they do take the same offensive posture in the Indian Ocean, even if Britain and Spain are suspected of collusion, other countries will definitely not sit idly by and watch Spain sit big again!

After all, the lesson was too painful, and once the Spaniards were in power, they would have to oppress and coerce other countries – although Britain was similar, but still slightly better than the Spaniards.

Therefore, in such a situation, Spain's excessively aggressive policy may be the starting gun for its complete decline!

In that case, should I "help" him and let him accelerate his decline?

Little Alfred behind him suddenly stood up, walked up to me and whispered to me, "Sun, I have something I want to tell you. Privately. ”

I glanced back at him, one deeper. Little Alfred had sincerity in his eyes, so I nodded, motioned for the fleet to move on, and sailed with Abdullah's fleet to the port of Aden, where Woodin was, but I followed Little Alfred into the captain's quarters and closed the hatch behind me.

"What do you want to say?" I asked softly.

"I want to tell you that we are not all the way to attack the Indian Ocean and the new continent." Little Alfred had a calm expression, which was quite serious.

"What do you mean? Isn't it the Spaniards who are attacking the Indian Ocean and the new continent? Who's that? I asked, confused, a little skeptical of little Alfred's words.

"It's Spaniards, but it's not in our camp." Alfred Jr. replied, "You should know that my father and de Guzmán have been at loggerheads, right?" ”

I nodded, and although the two turned enemies into friends after de Guzmán's retirement, they still couldn't resolve their lifelong love and hatred.

"So what? Are you trying to say that the people who attacked the Indian Ocean and the new continent were descendants of de Guzmán? "I'm starting to take his word for it.

Little Alfred nodded, but shook his head again: "No, that's not accurate. ”

As he spoke, he picked up a pen and tapped it lightly on the nautical chart hanging on the wall: "They are from here!" ”

I looked up at Madrid, where he was tapping, and pondered what he meant.

"You mean they belong to Emperor Philip II of Spain?" I suddenly had a realization: "So you also control this power in the house, is that what you mean?" ”

Little Alfred smiled very happily: "It's a pleasure to talk to you!" That's exactly what I'm trying to say. Philip II was not worried about my father and de Guzmán before they checked each other, but now that de Guzmán is lonely, our family is thriving at home. As a ruler, Philip II came up with such a solution. ”

I somewhat understood what he meant: "So, you mean that your family was actually ostracized by Philip II, and that is why they were sent to take back control of the South Seas. And his new support of these old subordinates of de Guzmán is in the limelight, and has become your strong competitors and replacements, is that what does that mean? ”

Little Alfred smiled bitterly and nodded: "Although what you said is too straightforward, but in the final analysis, this is what it means. But according to my father's guess and I, Philip II is not trying to replace us, but a counterbalance, and what he needs is a new balance! So these people were carried out, and that's all. ”

I said "um", and suddenly looked at little Alfred and smiled: "Being able to make the emperor try his best to check and balance shows that your family is still in his plan, if one day he starts to praise you and coax you, I am afraid that your family will not be far from extinction!" ”

Little Alfred listened to my words, and was stunned for a long time without speaking, and only after a while did he shake his head and sigh: "Imperial Mental Technique, Imperial Mental Technique!" ”

I patted him on the shoulder and smiled, "I'm more concerned than who those guys are, do you have any good ways to contain them, or how can we better help your family fight political enemies?" ”

Little Alfred looked down in thought, as if he was weighing the pros and cons. I don't rush him, I just wait for him to think.

After a few moments, little Alfred looked up and suddenly said to me, "Why don't you ask me why Africa is not being attacked?" ”

I couldn't help laughing: "What's there to ask, Africa is a place where Portugal, Britain and our forces are intertwined, Spain is not as powerful as before, in addition to finding ways to open up new revenue growth points, how to reduce friction with traditional enemies is also important." Dare to make a move on Africa? I'm afraid that Spain is not far from being besieged. ”

Little Alfred smiled happily: "You are really ...... As you said last time, what is this called according to your Oriental language? ”

"What's it called? Strategizing and winning thousands of miles away? I replied with a smile.

"Yes, yes, yes! That's it! I think that's what you mean right now. The grasp of the big picture is even clearer than those of us who have been here for a long time. "Little Alfred must have brought a tall hat.

I waved my hand: "Don't interrupt, what do you mean by this?" I'm asking for a solution to an existing problem. ”

Little Alfred suddenly smiled gloomily: "If you want to completely solve this problem, you can't do it by force. After all, our strength in Nanyang was quite weak at the beginning, so we could only engage in sneak attacks and conspiracies, but these guys from the Navy were strong and had to use some means. ”

"Getting to the point!" I urged.

"Hehe, don't worry, Qilan." Little Alfred replied with a smile: "What I just said is not without purpose, think about it, why did Philip II dare to attack left and right so arrogantly?" In the final analysis, he and Britain reached some level of agreement to jointly deal with the rise of the Netherlands, which could not be contained! ”

I nodded, didn't speak, and motioned for him to continue.

Little Alfred stared into my eyes and said very seriously: "Actually, I shouldn't teach you this method, you are the best!" I mean – sow discord, isn't that your specialty? ”

Listening to his words, my eyes rolled, and I seemed to understand what he meant.

Strictly speaking, what Alfred Jr. said was not without reason. The Spaniards suddenly jumped again, and ninety percent made peace with the British.

Therefore, I want to completely and fundamentally attack the arrogance of the Spaniards, and destroy their relations with the British.

As for the methods, they are simply too varied to be considered here. But my main concern was another question, so I squinted at little Alfred and said, "You are right, but I believe that with you and your father's people, it must be unprofitable, so please tell me, what good is it to you that you are trying so hard to provoke me to sow discord between your country and England?" ”

Without waiting for him to speak, I asked, "What motivates you to give up your allegiance to your country in favor of other interests that I still don't understand?" ”

Alfred Jr. replied quite calmly: "The reason is very simple, it is the descendants of de Guzmán who attack the Indian Ocean and the new continent, and the new henchmen of Philip II. If something goes huge wrong in their direction, it affects the diplomatic foundations of the overall strategy...... Qilan, think about it, who will benefit the most? ”

Really! I pointed at little Alfred with my finger: "Sure enough, it's a weasel who is giving a New Year's greeting to the chicken, and he is not happy!" I knew that you wouldn't come out to tell me what was going on for no reason, and sure enough, for the sake of your family, you want to use me as a gunman! ”

Little Alfred immediately replied, "No! Qilan, you're not right! I'm not using you as a gunman, but I'm also instructing, you have strength, and we are mutually beneficial! ”

"Humph!" I sneered at little Alfred: "You have such intelligence in exchange for my fleet to fight with the Spaniards?" You're thinking too well. Besides, you still owe me yet! Let's think about how to redeem yourself first! ”

"Ugh!" Little Alfred was stunned for a moment, it turns out that the old account has not passed?

I shook my head and smiled, looking at the coastline in the distance. It seems that I want to be pure, but in the final analysis, I still can't avoid this battle!