Seeing Archer asking so directly, Shi Shibiao and Lin Wei were both slightly stunned, are the Spaniards spying on military intelligence so direct? After a little hesitation, Shi Shibiao said lightly: "The power is slightly secondary." ”

This is pure nonsense, the power of the fourth-class ship is naturally not as good as that of the third-class ship, but Archer didn't care about it at all, and still asked with great interest: "The guns of the third-class ships are all thirty-pound guns, and I think that the guns of the fourth-class ships should be mainly twenty-four-pounders, and the accurate firing range should be between 1,000 yards and 1,200 yards, right?" ”

Shi Shibiao and Lin Wei couldn't help but be speechless for a while, what kind of Archer is this, he is also a fleet commander, how can he be regarded as a second-grade or third-grade officer, why is he so ignorant? However, not to mention, this guy is definitely a talent, just by watching the artillery drills of the third-class ships, he can figure out the artillery power of the fourth-class ships of the Nanyang Fleet, and the fourth-class ships of the Nanyang Fleet are really dominated by twenty-four-pounders.

Shi Shibiu was also interested, and the strength of the South Sea Fleet had nothing to hide, and the Spaniards would know sooner or later, and after a little hesitation, he asked, "Why did Your Excellency speculate so much?" ”

As soon as he heard this, Archer knew that he was right, smiled slightly, and said: "Your navy's artillery hits far, accurately, and quickly, but there are fewer third-class battleships in the fleet, and fourth-class battleships are the main ships. ”

Lin Wei listened to the secret admiration, the artillery configuration of the fourth-class battleship of the Nanyang Fleet was finally finalized after half a year of testing, but I didn't expect this guy to see it at a glance, it is worthy of being an old naval power, it seems that the gap between the Qing Navy and the European Navy is not small.

Shi Shibiao also realized the gap between the Qing navy and the European navy, and he wanted to send some young officers to the Spanish fleet to study, but he was worried that Spain would also make the same request, and the Qing navy was now quite inexperienced, and its only advantage was artillery. He didn't want to divulge the secrets of naval artillery too early, and after a little hesitation, he said directly: "Your Excellency has a deep study of the navy, are you willing to come to my Qing fleet to show your ambitions?" ”

Lin Wei couldn't help but be stunned when he heard it, how could he dig up the corner of the wall as soon as they met, this is too direct, could it be that he learned from the Spaniards?

It's a common occurrence for European countries to dig into each other's corners, and Archer doesn't care about it. With a slight smile, he said: "Your naval fleet is full of vitality, if the war in Spain is over, I will seriously consider this issue." ”

Hearing this, Shi Shibi was so dark that he had a show, and immediately said with a smile: "The Qing Navy welcomes you at any time." ”

"Thank you, Your Excellency, for your hospitality." Archer bowed slightly, and then changed his words, "The tactics of the European navy have not changed much in the past hundred years, especially the formation of large-scale battles between warships has been followed for a hundred years, your navy should have heard of it, right?" ”

Listen to this. Shi Shibiao and Lin Wei couldn't help but glance at each other, what does Archer mean by this? Instigating them to fight Portugal?

The formation of the European naval duel. It is to line up in battle to bombard, except for the British who like to seize the upper hand, other countries like to seize the upper hand, and the tactics of the South Sea Fleet are to give full play to the advantages of artillery, like long-distance flank attacks, once the opponent collapses, then quickly pursue with auxiliary ships. Specializing in the enemy's sails, as long as the sails are knocked out, the enemy ship will be sunk except for surrender. There is no other possibility.

But the problem is that the Portuguese fleet is too large, and it is near his own port, once it finds that the war situation is unfavorable, it can calmly retract the port, and the Nanyang Fleet can only stare dryly, unless it can lead the Portuguese fleet far away, otherwise the war can only be in vain, exposing the tactics and strength of the Nanyang Fleet in vain.

Shi Shibiao glanced at Archer meaningfully, and without going around in circles, he asked directly: "Your Excellency, do you have a way to lead the Portuguese fleet away from the port?" ”

Seeing that the Qing people really had the intention to make a move on the Portuguese fleet, Archer couldn't help but be secretly happy, and immediately said: "Robbing his merchant fleet, the merchant fleet transporting gold from Brazil, this is something that Portugal can't bear, and it will inevitably send a fleet to pursue desperately." ”

"Okay." Shi Shibiao said loudly: "As long as we can lead them to pursue fifty to one hundred nautical miles, we can make them come and go." ”

"Absolutely." Archer smiled slightly, if he could defeat the Portuguese fleet in a war, the Qing fleet would certainly become famous in a war, and Spain would be able to move away from this big stone that was pressed in his heart.

Seeing off Archer and Carlos, Shi Shibiao got up and looked at the map for a while, then turned around, glanced at Lin Wei, and asked, "What do you think about fighting the Portuguese fleet?" ”

"It's just taking advantage of each other." Lin Wei said disapprovingly: "Portugal's naval strength is above Spain, following the "Anglo-Spanish Treaty", Portugal must also reach out to Spain to ask for benefits, the defeat of the Portuguese fleet in a war not only eliminated Spain's immediate concerns, but also relieved his long-term worries, of course he will try his best to agitate, support and cooperate with us." ”

Shi Shibiao nodded and said, "I can see it thoroughly, but can we eat the Portuguese fleet?" ”

"No problem." Lin Wei said without hesitation: "First of all, it is absolutely impossible for the Portuguese fleet to come out, it is estimated that it is fifty to sixty percent of the strength, and secondly, we can ask the Spanish Cadiz fleet to fully cooperate, and they also have seven or eight main warships." Besides, we are prepared to fight unprepared, if we can't win, let's not be embarrassed in Europe, and take the opportunity to return to Nanyang as soon as possible. ”

"Hehe, that's a good point!" Shi Shibi smiled heartily.

"Dashuai, Prince Yong is here." The guards reported softly outside.

Listening to Yinzhen, Shi Shibi waved his hand and said, "Go out to greet them and see what they have gained?" ”

When I went out, I saw Yinzhen and Wu Sidao walking briskly, and as soon as they met, Yinzhen said with a smile: "I can hear your hearty laughter from afar, but you have gained a lot?" ”

"The prince walks briskly and smiles, and the harvest is not small." Shi Shibiao said with a smile, stretched out his hand as he spoke, and said, "Lord Wang, Mr. Wu, please." ”

When the four of them entered the house and sat down, Wu Sidao smiled and said, "There is a specific plan for fighting the Portuguese fleet?" ”

"I can't talk about a specific plan, I already have a preliminary plan." Shi Shibiao said with a smile, paused slightly, and then he asked: "The prince is also in a happy mood, could it be that Spain agreed to cede Tangier?" ”

"It's not a cession, it's a lend-lease." Yin Zhen said proudly: "Lease for twenty years, no rent, on the condition that all Spanish prisoners are released and help Spain recover Gibraltar." ”

"This deal, we are not cost-effective, it is too cheap Spain." Lin Wei didn't think about it, so he blurted out.