Weddell's trip to China was a novel one, especially after seeing the Tiance Navy.

Britain is a maritime country, and as a naval captain, the image of the huge and mighty warships of the Tiance Navy completely subverts Weddell's cognition.

After returning to England, Weddell and the rest of the crew gave heartfelt praise and detailed descriptions of the Tiance Navy warship, and Weddell even wrote a detailed report and submitted it to the British Admiralty.

Unfortunately, due to the gap in understanding, Britain in the seventeenth century had not yet opened its industry, and it was unbelievable for Weddell and others to exaggerate the description of the Tiance Navy warships, and most people thought it was a beautiful fairy tale, especially the naval department put his report on the shelf, because no one believed that such a huge generation difference in the navy could appear on this planet.

Summoned by the Minister of the Navy today, Weddell finally found the person to confide in, he believes that he has an obligation to make his own navy realize this gap, and he feels that he should do something to improve the level of his own navy, so as soon as the box is opened, it is a little unbearable.

"Captain Weddell!" Philip interrupted Weddell, who was gushing, and said, "I didn't want to hear your story when I met you today, but to learn about the situation in that distant eastern country, especially Wang Yue. I believe that Wang Yue's Tiance army and navy are a powerful army, otherwise they would not have been able to drive out the Dutch and Spaniards, but I want a true description, not an exaggerated description. Remember, you're a military man! ”

"Mr. Philip, what I say is true, how can you believe me?" Weddell felt that he was more wronged than Dou E, and said loudly: "You can ask all our crew, they can testify for me." ”

Philip frowned and said patiently: "Okay, then let me ask you, you said that their largest battleship has a displacement of 20,000 tons, and it is completely made of steel, such a heavy battleship, without a single sail on the deck, but the speed is faster than your 'colonist', so what is the power of this battleship?" ”

"This...!" Weddell was dumbfounded, "I don't understand it either. ”

"Okay, I'll ask you again." Philip said: "You said that their naval guns had a range of more than three miles (one mile is equal to 1.61 kilometers), and within a minute, the 'Sun' suffered thousands of shells, and instantly disintegrated and sank, is this possible?" And the fastest three-pounder gun of our naval guns, how many rounds a minute? It's eight shots, it's only eight fucking shots, and the range is only 300 meters. ”

Speaking of this, Philip's voice couldn't help but rise, and he said to Weddell slowly, "Captain, can you explain the reason for me?" If there is a reasonable reason, I can choose to believe what you say. ”

"Mr. Philip, I can't give a reasonable explanation, but that's what it is." Weddell said helplessly.

Philip waved his hand and said, "Alright, Captain, I'll talk about something useful." I now need to know some of the situation in the Ming Dynasty, why this ancient Eastern Empire suddenly intervened in the affairs of the East Indies, as well as the real combat strength of their navy in the East Indies region, how many warships and troops, and what are the strategic locations? ”

"Mr. Philip, I don't know much, I only know that a large-scale rebellion is taking place in the Ming Dynasty, and the Ming government has been encircling and suppressing the rebels for more than ten years, and the rebellion has not subsided so far. The sudden intervention of the Ming in the affairs of the East Indies seems to me to have been caused by the provocation of the Dutch and the Spaniards, and this point of conflict is Taiwan. ”

Weddell continued: "I don't know the specific number of warships of the Ming Tiance Army Navy in the East Indies, but it is roughly estimated that there are about ten, with more than 5,000 troops. ”

At this point, Weddell's eyes widened and he asked, "Mr. Philip, why are you asking this?" Could it be that the British Empire was ready to go to war with the Ming Dynasty? ”

"Oh no!" Philip shook his head and said: "Although civil strife is taking place in the Ming Dynasty, it is still a huge empire, and my British Empire is not yet capable of conquering this ancient country across thousands of miles. ”

Weddell couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when he heard this, but Philip said, "Our interests are in the East Indies. ”

"East Indies?" Weddell asked, surprised.

"Yes, Captain." Philip nodded: "The East Indies used to be the sphere of influence of the Spaniards, and the Dutch came first, but my British Empire has never been able to intervene?" But now the opportunity has come. ”

Philip smiled and continued: "At the invitation of the Dutch, the British Empire will form a joint fleet with other European countries to expedition to the East Indies and regain the interests that belong to the Europeans. ”

Britain and the Ming Dynasty are thousands of miles apart, and Philip doesn't have to worry about leaking military planes.

The Netherlands was a mercantile country, and because the population was too small to occupy a large colony, commerce was the foundation of the country. The spice trade in the South Seas is an important source of income for the country, accounting for more than 40% of the country's national income. The loss of Nanyang was a heavy blow to the Dutch economy and intolerable.

The annihilation of the Indian Ocean Fleet in the South Seas under the command of Kuichi made the Dutch authorities know that their retaliation could be costly, and that if they failed again, the Netherlands might soon decline. Therefore, the Netherlands had no choice but to use the interests of the South Seas as a bargaining chip to unite with other European countries to jointly divide the interests of the South Seas.

In the second half of 1640, Dutch diplomatic envoys frequently visited European countries, using the interests of the South Seas as a bargaining chip, and launched a diplomatic strategy of combining vertical and horizontal.

Although the Thirty Years' War was going on in Europe, the allure of the interests of the South Seas was enormous, so Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden and other countries responded positively, and Britain was one of them.

"Oh no!" Weddell yelled, "Who agreed to the invitation of the Dutch? This man should be sent to the gallows, a decision that will bring ruin to our British Empire. ”

"Be careful with what you say and do, Captain." Philip exclaimed, "If you don't know how to be cautious in your words and deeds, you may be the one who sent you to the gallows." ”

The decision was made by King Charles I himself, and the bourgeois revolution in England intensified, and the friction between the king and parliament continued to burst into flames.

In order to deflect domestic contradictions, resolve the endless demands of the bourgeoisie, and solve the economic difficulties of the country, Charles I did not hesitate to accede to the invitation of the Dutch.

Weddell still exclaimed, "It's a stupid decision, and we're all going to pay a terrible price for it." ”

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