In the past, most Europeans had the impression that the Qing Empire was just synonymous with fine porcelain and silk, but since last year, Britain, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and other European maritime powers have begun to pay more and more attention to the ancient empire of the Qing Dynasty, of course, no longer focusing on trade, but on the rapid rise of the Qing navy.

However, in just five years, the navy of the Qing State has grown up at an astonishing speed, not only began to expand to the Americas, but also dared to send fleets to Europe, in the face of such a sudden rise of the navy, the European maritime powers could not help but pay high attention, and what was more terrifying was the huge Qing Empire, rich and large population.

What reason did France and Spain have to refuse an olive branch from a vast empire with a territory and population comparable to the sum of Europe combined, and a navy with an astonishing combat power? It's impossible to refuse! As long as the conditions offered by the Qing people were not particularly harsh, Louis XIV and Philip V would never refuse.

Thinking of this, Archer couldn't help but smile slightly, with the joining of the Qing Kingdom, the situation in the whole of Europe will change, and I really look forward to seeing with my own eyes whether the Qing artillery.

A junior officer walked briskly, saluted, and then reported: "Your Excellency, Commander, I have just received news that the Qing envoys have arrived at the port of Santa Maria, and in another hour, they will dock in Cádiz. ”

Upon hearing this, Archer couldn't help but ask eagerly: "Who else is with you?" ”

The junior officer didn't expect Archer to be so urgent, and paused slightly before continuing: "Accompanied by our Foreign Minister Reinaldo and French Chancellor of Finance Demaret. ”

"Oh, this is the best news I've heard this year." Archer couldn't help but smile slightly, the Chancellor of the Exchequer is the most sensitive and important position in France, and the fact that France sent Demaret to come is enough to show the importance it attaches to the Qing Kingdom.

Archer's smile was still on his face, and another officer hurriedly walked over, after saluting. Then he hurriedly said: "Your Excellency, a fleet of unknown flags is heading towards Cádiz, the size of the fleet is about seventy, and there are many merchant ships. ”

"What do you mean by the unknown flag?" Archer couldn't help but be stunned.

The officer hurriedly explained: "The flag of the fleet is not European, but the warship is ours. ”

Archer couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, could it be the fleet of the Qing Kingdom? After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "Is the flag red?" A yellow four-legged snake on it? ”

"Sort of." The officer said uncertainly.

Golden Dragon Banner on Red Background! It was the Qing fleet's arrival, Archer couldn't help but be excited, it seemed that it was the Qing fleet's fleet that couldn't wait, and took the initiative to come to test the situation, and he groaned slightly, he was still cautious: "Order the battery to be on guard, the fleet to assemble, and prepare for battle." ”

The flagship of the Nanyang Fleet, the battleship 'Zhenxi', a second class. Yinzhen, Shi Shibiu, Fu Anding, and Wu Sidao all stood at the bow of the ship to observe the movement of the port of Cádiz, and saw the Spanish fleet coming out. And he also put on a formation to meet the enemy, and Shi Shibiao ordered in a deep voice: "Lower half a sail and slow down." ”

As the flag waved, the speed of the entire fleet immediately slowed down, and when it was six nautical miles away from the Spanish fleet, the South Sea Fleet lowered its sails and stopped. Only two merchant ships broke away from the fleet and continued to sail halfway.

Archer had been observing the South Sea Fleet with a telescope from the battleship, and saw them stop six nautical miles away. He was already sure that this was the fleet of the Qing Kingdom, and he couldn't help but be very excited in his heart, the Qing fleet was in a neat formation and had strict orders, which was not at all like the newly created navy, it seemed that not only was the artillery powerful, but I didn't know what the level of their commanders was? He took a closer look at the two merchant ships that were moving forward with half sails, and saw that there were no traces of gun doors on the sides of the ships, so he put down his binoculars and wondered in his heart the intentions of the two merchant ships.

After a short time, the two merchant ships lowered their full sails and stopped, seeing the situation, Archer couldn't help but wonder, what does the Qing people mean by this? Didn't these two merchant ships come here to spread the word? What is the intention of stopping there, is it possible that you are afraid? He was hesitating whether to order the de-readiness, but the adjutant was surprised: "They are transferring the personnel on board." ”

Archer raised the telescope to see, sure enough, a merchant ship had begun to raise its sails, and the merchant ships who had not raised their sails were transferring, and he immediately understood that the merchant ship that had not raised its sails was a target ship, and he immediately said in a deep voice: "Immediately measure the distance between that merchant ship and the opponent's fleet." ”

Soon, the adjutant stepped forward and reported: "Your Excellency, the distance is about 1,500 yards. ”

Fifteen hundred yards! Archer couldn't help but wonder for a while, can the warships of the Qing Kingdom accurately shell at a distance of 1,500 yards? Carlos is only talking about eight hundred yards, could it be that in this year, the artillery of the Qing Kingdom has made great progress? He couldn't help but be stunned, Europe is still shooting at close range, and the British Navy's combat regulations are to fire within four hundred yards, what will be the result when they meet the Qing fleet?

Just as he was stunned, the adjutant beside him reminded again: "The warship of the Qing Kingdom has moved. ”

Archer hurriedly raised the binoculars, only to see that the Qing fleet had five battleships with full sails, slowly sailed out of the queue, a turn, and the first to connect, he couldn't help but secretly praise, just from the change of these five battleships, it can be seen that the Qing fleet is indeed well-trained.

Soon, the five battleships turned back after half a circle, and the sound of "boom" guns immediately rang out, Archer stared closely at the target ship, and the target ship landed with sawdust, and the muffled sound of "bang" was intertwined with the sound of the rising water column around him, and after a rough estimate, the cannonball that hit the hull was almost the same as the rising water column, and he couldn't help but secretly shout Okay, 1,500 yards, can have a fifty percent hit rate, which is simply unimaginable.

He was secretly sighing, the sound of "boom" shelling sounded again, he couldn't help but be happy, Carlos was right, the guns of the Qing warships were indeed far, accurate and fast, no wonder the Far Eastern Fleet had no choice but to surrender.

After two rounds of shelling, the target ship had been beaten to pieces and slowly sank, and the Spanish naval officers and men of the Cadiz fleet were all stunned when they saw this incredible scene, and everyone's hearts were cold. The effective range of their own artillery is 500 yards, and the other artillery is 1,500 yards, so doesn't this even have a chance to fight back? If you really want to fight, your own warships are moving target ships.

Archer pondered for a moment, and then ordered without hesitation: "Send a flag, warmly welcome the Qing fleet's visit, and order the fleet to close the gun door and return to the port." ”