Portsmouth is a historic port. In 1191, Charles I, the famous crusader in English history, Charles I, began to build a town on Portsea Island, and Portsmouth began to exist on the administrative map of England. Of course, the reason why future generations have a very high level of familiarity with this city is not because of its long cultural history, but because Portsmouth Harbour has always been the most important home port base of the British Royal Navy.

In 1496, the English government set up a naval shipyard in this charming military port, and Portsmouth has witnessed the birth of a series of famous English ships. The most typical examples, such as Nelson's flagship and the symbol of the British Royal Navy, the "Victory", were built and launched here. During the Second World War, the most advanced battleship of the British Navy, the Prince of Wales, was also born here.

Since 1540, Portsmouth has been a strategic military base for the Royal Navy. Located one hundred and one kilometres from London, Portsmouth Harbour is a military town that holds the English Channel. Britain was able to survive several large-scale melee battles in Europe, thanks to the main fleet of the British Royal Navy stationed there. During the Napoleonic Wars, because of this strategic barrier, any attempt by the French army to land in Britain ended in failure.

During World War II, the remnants of British and French troops retreated from Dunkirk, retaining valuable anti-fascist forces for the Allies. Similarly, it was here that Allied forces set out during Operation Normandy, the largest amphibious landing operation in the history of World War II. Portsmouth, the name has been deeply reflected in the history of Britain for nearly a thousand years, it is the most direct epitome of British seafaring spirit. It is precisely this spirit that has brought England, a small border country in Europe, to the throne of the empire on which the sun never sets.

Before leaving, Lin Zihan visited Viscount Bernard who had helped him a lot, and personally expressed his gratitude to him. After that, he rode William's carriage all the way to Portsmouth Harbour. Because Portsmouth is not too far from London, the two arrived at their destination after three days in Hampshire.

One of Portsmouth's most iconic buildings is the giant lighthouse on the Isle of Wight, a granite white lighthouse that provides a route for Royal Navy ships returning from a long voyage, even in foggy weather. There were about five or six batteries on the hills on either side of the harbour, forming a complete crossfire, and the fierce heavy artillery was like a signal of danger to the enemy navy who dared to invade Portsmouth Harbour. However, Lin Zihan, who knows a little about military affairs, knows that this is only a defensive force on the surface, but in the lush mountain woods, there are definitely several reserve fire points.

The straight stone trestle was filled with large and small sail warships, and the scene of the mast like a forest shocked every visitor from the heart, Britain was indeed the new maritime power that defeated the Spanish Armada and the Netherlands, the sea coachman. Lin Zihan did not stop too much in the city, but found a local who was familiar with the place, and took William's carriage to the Royal Navy barracks in the dock area.

The offices and barracks of the Royal Navy, located on the left side of the port, are a group of buildings made of red masonry, which is somewhat similar to the minimalist style of the thirteen colonies of North America, contrary to the Baroque style that is currently in vogue at the moment. Lin Zihan looked at the heavily guarded barracks, turned his head and said to William: "William, after getting along for so long, I know that you are a trustworthy, diligent young man with no bad habits. So, now, as a friend, I'm asking you to do me a favor. ”

William Edward, who had thought that he had met a good patron and could serve this generous gentleman in peace, did not expect that this gentleman would join the navy, which frustrated his plans. Originally, he was still a little unhappy in his heart, but at this time, Wickham spoke to him in a consultative tone, and the little unhappiness in William's heart also disappeared: "Sir, if there is anything you say directly, I will do my best."

Lin Zihan took out a cashier's check of one hundred and fifty pounds from his clothes and said, "William, although a friend of mine at St Margaret's College promised me to take care of Alice, I still don't feel at ease. There are a hundred and fifty pounds here, fifty of which is the salary I pay you for two years, and the other hundred pounds for Alice's contingency purposes. Alice, please. ”

William hurriedly waved his hand and excused himself: "Sir, I can't ask for that fifty pounds, it's too much for me!" I knew I wasn't worth such a high salary, so I asked my husband to take it back. But don't worry, sir, I'll take care of Miss Alice Schmidt. William sighed in his heart Alice's good life, after being adopted as a sister by her husband, she was no longer a wild girl without a mother, but a real young lady.

Lin Zihan shook his head and insisted on giving the money to William: "William, you must accept it!" It's just a friend's request, and besides, isn't that what you deserve? If you don't accept this money, you still have to work as a coachman, so how can you take care of Alice with peace of mind? When William heard this, he silently accepted the large sum of money that he had never seen in his life, and was moved by Lin Zihan's trust: "Don't worry, sir, I will take care of Miss Alice Schmidt until you come back from the sea!"

Lin Zihan patted William's shoulder and said with a smile: "That's it, William." You find a hotel to stay in, and there may be something that will trouble you in the days leading up to my departure. "For the voyage at sea in this era, Lin Zihan's only little knowledge is only from the two movies Pirates of the Caribbean and the Battle of the Angry Seas, and William used to be a sailor on the merchant ships of the British East India Company, so he can just ask some precautions for navigation.

After showing the warrant to the guards, the guards saluted respectfully and then took Lin Zihan to the office of Captain William Aldrich, the captain of the Lion and the commander of the fleet.

Lin Zihan had already asked the guards about some British military etiquette before entering the door, so he did not appear to be flustered after entering the office, but saluted Aldrich William decently: "Dear Colonel Aldrich, Royal Navy Lieutenant Officer George Wickham reports to you." In his previous life, Lin Zihan's family conditions were not good, so he joined the reserve for some training subsidies during college, and he would organize training every month. So when facing Mr. Colonel in military uniform, Lin Zihan unconsciously stood upright.

Aldrich put down the quill in his hand, raised his head and looked at Lin Zihan, who was standing straight, and couldn't help but praise in his heart, what a tough young man, he is a soldier. "Lieutenant Wickham, please show me your letter of appointment. You know, it's routine. Colonel Aldrich's tone was quite polite.

Lin Zihan hurriedly handed over the letter of appointment and the handwritten letter written by Viscount Bernard: "Colonel Aldrich, this is my letter of appointment, and the handwritten letter that Viscount Berner asked me to pass on to you." This handwritten letter was handed over to him by Viscount Bernard personally when Lin Zihan visited Viscount Bernard, and said that the captain of the Lion was his old subordinate, and he should take care of Lin Zihan for the sake of his face.

William Aldrich examined the letter of appointment, found nothing wrong, and pulled out the letter and read it. "Relational Households"? After Aldrich read the letter, this idea involuntarily popped up in his heart, and his sense of Lin Zihan was not as good as just now. He would indeed take care of the young man in front of him for the sake of the old chief's face, but this did not prevent him from hating the family in front of him. Because Aldrich's background is not prominent, the reason why he can achieve this position today is due to his own efforts, which makes him have no good impression of those noble children who have obtained military appointments by virtue of their family background. Obviously, Colonel Aldrich classified Lin Zihan into the ranks of aristocratic disciples who relied on his father's generation for food.

Lin Zihan was a little confused, the middle-aged officer in front of him was still kind and pleasant just now, how could he read Viscount Bernard's letter, his face was so black that he could drip water, could it be that Viscount Bernard's face was not good? Colonel Aldrich put the letter in the drawer of his desk and said angrily: "Lieutenant Wickham, I have read the letter from Viscount Bernard. Now can you tell me what you're good at, so that it will make it easier for me to assign you a position? ”

Lin Zihan scratched his head a little embarrassedly and said, "Colonel Aldrich, I graduated from Cambridge University with a degree in classics, I don't know if this counts?" In fact, Lin Zihan is still a little proud of Wickham's education, and the Oxbridge department is definitely the elite of the elite in the UK.

Aldrich's face became even more ugly, and he said unceremoniously: "Lieutenant Wickham! I don't think my Lion lacks a clerk, I mean, have you ever studied seamanship at the Royal Naval Academy before, or are you skilled with a cannon and know how to command it? ”

Lin Zihan's face was a little unbearable, if he insisted on any sailing experience, Lin Zihan had only taken a ferry ship when he and Gao Yuanyuan went to Hainan in his previous life...... Ahem...... But this has nothing to do with sailing: "Mr. Colonel, I ...... I haven't been out to sea yet. The shotgun is quite skilled, but the cannon has never been wielded. "The predecessor of Wickham had good hunting skills, but it didn't work in the Navy, right?

Colonel Aldrich was so angry that he was about to vomit blood, thinking to himself what was going on with his old boss, Viscount Bernard, and this kind of person would dare to stuff into the Royal Navy? It's a nautical beginner. Lin Zihan looked at the distrustful eyes of his boss, and his heart was also depressed, this antique sailboat in the eighteenth century in the twenty-first century, except for sports and some rich people who pretend to be painful, who will use it? Although he muttered a little in his heart, Lin Zihan pretended to give humble advice on his appearance: "Mr. Colonel, I think the most important quality of a person is not what he knows, but what he is willing to learn, what do you say?" ”

Colonel Aldridge laughed angrily in his heart: "Young man, we will set sail in twenty days, and I think even if you are willing to learn, you will not be able to do this job in a short time!" "Now Mr. Colonel's head is a little big, and he can't use such a newcomer, and he can't use it. You say give him a position on the Lion, he won't know anything. You don't need him, the old boss can't explain it, it's really nerve-wracking!

Colonel Aldrich, who was a little distraught, accidentally caught a glimpse of an order issued by the Admiralty, and his eyes lit up, and his heart quickly had a plan. It turned out that the situation on the European continent had become increasingly tense recently, and the Parliament and the King had no intention of sending any of the relevant land combat forces to the Far East with the fleet, including, of course, the only three Royal Marine Regiments. However, this mission to the Qing Kingdom could not do without a decent guard, so the Admiralty issued an order entrusting Colonel Aldrich, the commander of the Qing mission's fleet, to form a company of marines on the spot to meet the needs of this mission.

Aldridge couldn't help but feel proud of his quick wit, so he said to Lin Zihan: "Lieutenant Wickham, I don't think you are suitable for working in the Royal Navy. Hearing this, Lin Zihan opened his mouth wide, he couldn't believe his ears, this guy really didn't give Viscount Berner face! This made Lin Zihan feel both angry and a little disappointed. Colonel Aldrich was angry at his denial of his abilities, and disappointed that he could not return to China.

Aldrich looked at Lin Zihan's face that was a little distorted because of anger, and quickly explained: "Lieutenant Wickham, I will not deny the appointment of the Admiralty, but I think you are more suitable to be in charge of the Marine Corps that operates with the fleet this time."

Lin Zihan's face turned cloudy, in fact, he didn't care if he could serve in the Royal Navy, as long as he could go to Qingguo, whether it was in the Navy or the Marine Corps, he had no opinion.

Lin Zihan let go of his clenched fists and asked, "Then Mr. Colonel, I want to know where the company I will be responsible for is?" I don't have a lot of time, so I have to get acquainted with the company I am responsible for in a short period of time, so that the task can be completed smoothly. ”

Colonel Aldrich's face was a little embarrassed, and he touched his beard unnaturally: "Lieutenant Wickham, except for a few officers, this company only exists on the archives of the Admiralty. ”