Listening to Wu Sidao's words, several people present couldn't help but look at Shi Shibiu, although the envoy to Europe is mainly based on Yinzhen, but the few people present know in their hearts that Yinzhen can't intervene in naval affairs at all, whether to fight or not, whether to fight or retreat, it is Shi Shibiao who has the final say.

In order to turn the tide, the Nanyang Fleet must face the combined fleets of Britain, the Netherlands, and Portugal alone, and dare not say that it will win a big victory, but at least it must be a small victory, so as to inspire the confidence of France and Spain to continue fighting, and to get supplies from the two countries, especially ammunition and food supplies.

Of course, in this case, it is better to retreat and go to Lisbon, form an alliance with Portugal, or simply return to the ship, which is beyond reproach, war or retreat? These two choices, the former is taken in reverse, and the latter is to follow the trend, one is difficult and one is easy, there is a huge difference, everyone is looking at Shi Shibiao with mixed feelings, waiting for his decision.

Seeing that several people were staring at him, Shi Shibiao couldn't help but smile and said: "This expedition to Europe can be said to be unprecedented, not only the scale of the fleet is unprecedented, but also the scale of the envoy is unprecedented, and there is a group of many Mengtongs who came to Europe to study, which is of great significance, so I don't need to say more, everyone has their own thoughts, Lin Wei, you say it first." ”

Seeing that Shi Shibi pointed directly at his head, Lin Wei did not twist, and after a little groaning, he said: "Disrupting Europe, plunging Europe into war, having no time to take care of anything else, and gaining time for the overseas expansion of the Qing Dynasty is the primary task of this expedition to Europe."

I strongly advocate a war, at present, our fleet is well supplied, even if it is a large-scale naval battle, it is enough to support three times, secondly, the naval strength of Britain, the Netherlands, and Portugal after more than ten years of conquest, the loss should be quite large, it can be said that it is the weakest time, which may be a rare opportunity for the Qing Navy. If we can weaken or keep them in the midst of war, the Qing Navy can hopefully become the strongest navy, and we cannot miss this opportunity.

In addition, the emperor has also mentioned many times that the navies of European countries are the main opponents of the Qing navy, and the Nanyang Fleet is the elite of the Qing navy and the backbone of the navy in the future. An expedition of 40,000 miles to Europe, without fighting a single battle, and without seeing the combat strength of Europe's first-class navy, is not conducive to the growth of naval officers and the development of the navy.

Therefore, the last general believes that even if it is difficult, we should let go of the war, and since the establishment of the Qing Imperial Navy, there has never been a precedent of cowardice before a fight. ”

"No, I don't agree." Fu Anding immediately retorted: "It is precisely because the Nanyang Fleet concentrates most of the elite of the navy. It is necessary to be more cautious if the loss is too large. The development of the Navy was inevitably affected. What is even more worrying is that once the war is defeated, it is very likely that Britain, the Netherlands, and Portugal will point the spearhead directly at our Qing Dynasty.

After ten years of chaos in Europe, people's livelihood has withered, and if we want to recover as soon as possible, the only way to plunder overseas trade is to develop overseas trade. Looking at the world, only China is the richest in the Qing Dynasty, and Portugal is extremely familiar with the situation of our Qing Dynasty. Once the Nanyang Fleet suffers a heavy loss, the Three Kingdoms will inevitably take advantage of the situation to invade the east, so won't we become the sinners of the Qing Dynasty through the ages? ”

"That's a big fallacy." Lin Wei immediately retorted: "The range, rate of fire, and hit rate of our navy's artillery are far superior to those of European navies, as long as they are not besieged by the other side, how can they lose too much?" The horizon of the sea is broad, but it is not easy to be surrounded on all sides compared to the land. ”

Fu Anding replied uncompromisingly: "Although our artillery has a great advantage, it is a long-distance operation, and our understanding of geography, ocean currents, and wind direction is not as good as that of the European Navy, and besides, whether it is actual combat experience or the manipulation of warships, it is not impossible to be dumpling, even if it is just tightly bitten by the other party, the loss is unbearable." ”

Seeing that the two were arguing, Yin Zhen was not in a hurry to speak, he was inclined to take a risk of a war, the purpose of the old fourteen sending him to Europe was to disrupt Europe, if Europe stopped fighting and making peace, he would not have the value of staying in Europe, so he would return to the capital, how would the old fourteen treat him?

It's not like a trap, but it's inevitable to be idle and hidden, and from time to time it's inevitable to find trouble, punishment, demotion, and cut-off are definitely inevitable, and he really doesn't want to go back to Beijing to live that kind of life.

Shi Shibiao stretched out his hand and pressed it to stop the debate between Lin Wei and Fu Anding, and then looked at Yinzhen and said, "Dare to ask Prince Yong what he thinks about this?" ”

Yin Zhen groaned slightly, and then said in a deep voice: "The emperor has already made it clear that the expedition to Europe is a century-old strategy of the Qing Dynasty, and this king thinks that the battle for hegemony at sea is only one aspect, and the hegemony of the Americas is the main purpose, the Americas are rich and vast, and rich in gold and silver.

The Americas are close to Europe, far away from our Great Qing Dynasty, European countries have already begun to enclose territory in the Americas, but the division of the Americas in the Qing Dynasty has just begun, judging from the treaties signed by Britain and France, Britain has begun to turn its attention to Europe, it is certain that once the war in Europe ends, European countries will inevitably vigorously expand their territories in the Americas.

This king thinks that for the sake of the Qing Dynasty for a hundred years, the Nanyang Fleet must be based on fighting, if it does not fight, there is no chance at all, and if it is fought, there is at least a glimmer of hope. ”

"What the prince said is very true." Wu Sidao took it in one bite, "If you don't fight, Europe will inevitably end the war within this year, and then recuperate internally, expand and plunder externally, and within 20 years, it will be able to recover.

Based on fighting, it is not that there is little hope, European countries have been fighting for more than ten years, and now the war has basically ended, it can be said that peace is in sight, and the morale of Britain, the Netherlands, and Portugal has been discharged, but our side is like a rainbow of morale, which is a benefit.

Second, we still have 1,500 Spanish prisoners in our hands, and most of the warships are captured Spanish warships, which can be used to great extent, and as long as the war starts, whether Spain wants it or not, it will be involved.

Third, we have the help of Spain, and the time and place are five or five with the British, Dutch, and Portugal, and there is no loss, on the contrary, our artillery is sharp, and we have taken advantage of it. In this way, we can win at least more than 50%, and we can give it a go. ”

"That's a good point." Shi Shibiao chuckled: "Don't say fifty percent, thirty percent of the winning side is enough for us to fight." After a slight pause, he restrained the smile on his face, glanced at the four people present one by one, and then said in a deep voice: "Now that the war situation in Europe is clear, we don't need to wait in the port of Agadir, I intend to leave tomorrow and go to the port of Cádiz, Spain."

On this trip, one is to raise one's prestige and strengthen the confidence of the Spanish team in forming an alliance, and the other is to confirm whether what the Portuguese said is true, and by the way, ask about the news of the envoy led by Lin Haitao. The three released rumors that we would use the Spanish prisoners as the vanguard to attack the Portuguese port of Lisbon and annihilate the Portuguese fleet. What do you think? ”

"Wonderful!" Lin Wei was very excited when he heard this, and said loudly: "In this way, Spain can be regarded as being forced to Liangshan, if it can annihilate the Portuguese fleet in one battle, it is tantamount to cutting off a large reinforcement from Britain and the Netherlands, which is really killing two birds with one stone." ”

Seeing that Shi Shibiao had already made a decision, Fu Anding stopped saying anything at the moment, he actually longed for war in his heart, if he could successfully disrupt the situation in Europe, his marines would be useful, and after a few battles, he should also be promoted to deputy general, and even the general soldier may be.

Yin Zhen was also secretly happy in his heart, but he never smiled, just nodded slightly, but did not say a word, Wu Sidao said with a smile: "The marching formation is not Sidao's strength, but it is not easy to annihilate the Portuguese fleet, if Portugal learns of the coming of the Nanyang Fleet, it will inevitably take strict precautions, General Shi has to find the Spaniards to learn more about the situation in Lisbon, if it can annihilate its main force in a battle, the Nanyang Fleet will be invincible." ”

Shi Shibiao bowed his head slightly, and said: "Order, order all ships to prepare and set sail early tomorrow morning, the target, the port of Cádiz." ”

Port of Cádiz.

The port of Cadiz is located in the southeast side of the Gulf of Cadiz on the southwest coast of Spain, is one of the most important seaports in southern Spain, facing the Atlantic Ocean, at the top of the narrow peninsula, more than ten kilometers on three sides are surrounded by the ocean, only one side is connected with the land, it is not only one of the shipbuilding centers of Spain, but also the largest trading port in southern Spain, more than seventy percent of the trade between Spain and the Americas is carried out through the port of Cádiz, at the same time, the port of Cadiz is also an important military port in southern Spain, the British Navy has repeatedly blockaded and captured the port of Cádiz.

Since the signing of the Anglo-Spanish Treaty with Britain last summer and the cession of Gibraltar, the port of Cadiz has begun to strengthen its defense forces, not only building many batteries, but also stationing more than 30 ships in the port.

The climate in Cadiz in early summer is pleasant, and the fleet commander Archer is accustomed to coming to the balcony to watch the warship training on the sea after breakfast, the glory of the Spanish Armada is already yesterday's yellow flower, and now Spain is not as good as a year, although the Cadiz fleet has 34 warships, but there are only eight battleships with more than 50 guns, and the Royal Spanish Navy has completely declined, which makes him extremely frustrated.

The signing of the Anglo-Spanish Treaty with Britain last summer to cede Gibraltar made him feel even more humiliated, and as a Spanish soldier, he could not guarantee the integrity of Spanish territory, which was a great humiliation.

However, the arrival of the Qing envoys last month gave him hope, and he really couldn't figure out why the Qing people would come from tens of thousands of miles to support Spain and France. However, after a night of detailed discussions with Carlos, the deputy commander of the Far East Fleet, he keenly felt that the war might not end there, and that Spain might still have a chance to turn the tables, and he firmly believed that the Qing people would not deceive them, so he deliberately increased the training of the navy.

During this time, he had been anxiously awaiting news from the Qing navy and the missions, and he believed that neither Louis XIV nor Philip V could refuse the olive branch offered by the Qing people.