Chapter 884: Big Event

An improved version of the Montigny machine gun, a bit like Gatling, the conscience of the top craftsmen of the Ming Dynasty. It was still a hand-crank handle, still operated in pairs, but instead of firing bullets with metal shells, and the bulky strands were eliminated in favor of a revolver-like feed pattern. If you don't need to worry about the overheating of the barrel, you can fire about 500 bullets a minute, and a new killing weapon is born. In fact, according to the design, the rate of fire can be a little faster, taking into account the problems such as jamming, in order to ensure the smooth shooting, the rate of fire was deliberately reduced. There is another problem that cannot be ignored, that is, the problem of bullet consumption, the new bullet is easy to use, but the consumption is also large. This new machine gun, from the day it was born, was positioned as a special weapon for ships. The biggest reaction of the infantry after the test was to eat too many bullets, which increased the difficulty of logistics. This reason is almost synonymous with absurdity in the face of the big industry in modern society, but in the Ming Dynasty of this era, the army has to consider this problem.

With the current productive forces of Liaodong Heavy Industry, it will take more than five years for the entire army to change its equipment. The problem is that the Ministry of Finance has been staring at military spending, and the Congress is also staring at it, so after the birth of new weapons and the full rearmament, how can they have to fight a few years of lip service. Chen Xie can't make a decision on this matter, but he thinks that it doesn't hurt for everyone to quarrel, the current Ming army is enough in terms of equipment, and the old equipment is enough to sweep the world. Therefore, the army that replaced the new equipment was noisy every day, and the commanders of the War Department pretended to be dumb, just waiting for Boss Chen to speak.

Standing in front of the new machine gun, Chen Xie suddenly asked: "Is the name called?" Tang Renming on the side immediately took over and said: "Because of the use of metal shells, the meaning of the research institute is called the Ming A machine gun." Or called Ming 1680-1 type. ”

This name is also exquisite, because it is the product of collective research, the original plan with the name of the craftsman was changed, and I had to consider the feelings of Chen Xiangye, who advocated the common era.

Ye Hai had been very quiet, silently watching the old man walking around in the crowd. This is the way he is most accustomed to it. Waiting, silently waiting for that attentive look. If he didn't know the reason why he was able to rise so quickly in the navy, Ye Hai wouldn't be worthy of standing in this place.

Chen Xie finally stopped, looked at Ye Hai's calm face, and said lightly: "You are good, I am very satisfied." Remember, the navy is the guarantee of a strong future of the Ming Dynasty. ”

A simple sentence of affirmation and hope set off a churning in my heart like a stormy wave. Ye Hai tried his best to stay calm, stood up and saluted, and his voice was hoarse: "Salute!" The officers and men of the whole ship stood up and saluted, Chen Xie silently looked at the neatly lined up soldiers, standing on the deck with a sassy and heroic posture, and said with emotion: "All along, the Ming Dynasty has been a continental empire, and I want to tell you here." The guarantee of a strong empire. It's the Navy! Great work, everyone! The oceans of this world are waiting for you to conquer. ”

Battleship ignition. Sail out of the harbor and head to distant Europe. The Suez and the Kanayama set out in formation, and no one knows what the purpose of the two most powerful maritime warships of this era was incorporated into the European fleet. But there is one goal that is clear, the Ming is following Chen Xie's guidance to build a powerful empire.

The great inertia of history continues in Britain. In 1685, James II appointed Catholics to the army, in defiance of widespread opposition at home and abroad, and in violation of the "oath ordinance" established by the previous government, which had prohibited Catholics from holding public office. Since then, more Catholics have been appointed to important positions in government departments, churches, and universities. In April 1687 and April 1688, two "Proclamations of Toleration" were issued, granting freedom of religious belief to all non-Anglicans, including Catholics, and ordering the bishops of the Church of England to read them from the altars of the dioceses. aroused widespread opposition from the bishops of the Anglican Church. At the same time, James II brutally persecuted the Puritans. It also moved closer to France, the main competitor of British industry and commerce, and seriously jeopardized the interests of the bourgeoisie and the new aristocracy.

During this period, after France defeated the Holy Roman Empire on land, Louis XIV took the initiative to raise the issue and established France's status as a great power, and his attention once again turned to Europe. France, which accelerated its colonization of Africa, concluded a secret contract with the Ottoman Turkish Empire. This is something that has never happened in history. The main thrust of the treaty was that in the event of an attack on a French colony in North Africa, the two countries were to resist the attack.

The excavation of the Suez Canal did not go well, and it was very difficult to carry out such a project in this era. Although the Ming government used all the forces at its disposal and recruited 100,000 migrant workers in Egypt, the progress of the project was only average. If nothing happens, it is expected that the canal will be built within 20 years.

Although the garrison of the Ming Empire in Africa appeared to be quite restrained, it avoided causing unnecessary trouble to the project. But the development of affairs is often not subject to human will. Aware of the crisis that followed the opening of the canal, Louis XIV of France was the first to react by sending his ministers to speed up contacts with England. At the same time, it continued to strengthen its military power in North Africa, and helped the Ottoman Turkish Empire in the production of steel and military industry, and transferred the technology of flintlock pistols free of charge.

In the country, Louis XIV repeatedly increased taxes on Ming goods, with a focus on cotton cloth, in order to protect domestic industry and commerce. Zhang Guangde sent people to Europe many times to negotiate without success, the French side did not give an inch, and other European countries followed suit, resulting in the gradual shrinkage of the cotton cloth produced by Daming in the European market. Cotton cloth is only a beginning, since the cotton cloth, European countries targeted the Ming Empire to increase taxes on the sale of industrial products, in addition to the three products of tea, silk and porcelain that cannot be produced in Europe, the other products have increased huge taxes.

The Ming government sent Zhang Guangde as a special envoy to Europe to consult with various countries, but none of them made any concessions. In Spain, Zhang Guangde received a severe cold reception. Because of the commercial actions of European countries, the light industrial production of the Ming Empire experienced a large-scale decline. Many enterprises led by textiles have laid off employees and reduced output.

In response to this phenomenon, newspapers in China have repeatedly reported on it. It is hoped that the government will be able to solve this problem. The first reaction of the cabinet in the midst of the uproar among the people was to publicize to the whole country through the media that this was a European conspiracy against the Ming Dynasty. The means of diverting contradictions worked well, and the attitude of the people towards European countries changed dramatically. Secondly, the move towards European countries. The cabinet of the Ming Empire announced an increase of 10 million yuan in the naval budget for the manufacture of more new warships. Finally, it was announced that the pace of migration to the Americas would be accelerated. Objectively speaking, due to the actions of European countries, the number of private voluntary immigrants in the Ming Dynasty has surged.

Between the beginning of 1685 and the end of 1687, the number of immigrants in North America reached a staggering 3 million, and the number of people in the Americas with Ming household registration exceeded 10 million. This figure exceeds the total population of some countries in Europe.

In the spring of 1688, the Ming cabinet announced again. Due to the constant attacks on the canal project by unknown militants, which led to the stalling of construction, it was decided to send additional troops to Egypt, the number of which reached six infantry divisions. As for the soldiers of these six infantry divisions, four infantry divisions were recruited in the Ming Dynasty, one division in Korea Province and one division in Dongying Province.

In the spring of the same year, the number of new warships started at the same time in various shipyards of the Ming Dynasty reached sixteen. Previously, the Navy built an average of only two new warships a year, but this time it has increased eightfold. is undoubtedly telling the whole country that the Ming Dynasty is ready to fight. Who is the opponent? Of course, it's those bastards in Europe, if it weren't for them, Daming's economy would not have had a big decline.

At the end of February, the General Staff announced the creation of three new infantry divisions of the Americas. Establishment of the Operational Command of the Americas. The total strength of the Ming Empire in the Americas increased to six infantry divisions. In North America during this period, the number of governors reached six. Railroads in North America were built all the way to North Platte, and a network of railroads was formed to connect the provinces of North America. By rail. The spearhead of the Ming Empire to the east approached the Great Lakes region. In addition, Chen Pu, president of North American Railroad, once again announced that after the completion of the construction of the railway network, the pace of eastward expansion will be accelerated. The Governor of Denver was asked to cooperate with the actions of the railroad.

Asking an official to cooperate as a private capitalist is something that only happens in North America. There is no question of respect or disrespect, and all governments at the county level in North America have shares in the railroad companies. Through the railway, everyone's interests are tied together. As the largest capitalist in North America, Chen Pu's original choice paid off. Now Chen Pu is not only the president of a railway company, but also the owner of the largest steel mill in North America, the owner of the largest coal mine, and the whole enterprise is a giant trust. Not counting the regular bureau, the number of road guards under him is as high as 30,000, and there are many wealthy in the two infantry divisions. At the sound of an order, the railway company alone could form two light infantry divisions.

In 1688, the Glorious Revolution took place in England, and on November 1 William landed 15,000 men in Thorbay. When the news reached London, James II fled Germany, where he was intercepted and sent back to London. Later, with William's consent, James II fled to France. In December 1688, William's soldiers entered London without blood. At a plenary session of Parliament in London in January 1689, it was announced that James II would abdicate and William and Mary would jointly rule England, known as William III and Mary II. At the same time, Parliament presented William with a Declaration of Rights. The declaration condemned James II's violation of the law; Pointing out that the King could not cease any legal effect without the consent of Parliament; No tax can be levied without the consent of Parliament; Catholics cannot be kings, kings cannot marry Catholics, etc. William accepted the demands set out in the declaration. The Declaration was officially approved into law by Parliament in October of that year, known as the Bill of Rights. After history returned to the same path, the European landscape changed again.

Because of the English Revolution, Louis XIV's diplomatic attitude towards England changed, and at the critical moment when the two rivals were once again opposed, a major event occurred that shocked Europe and forced the two countries to ease relations.

In March 1689, a fleet from the Ming Dynasty made a long journey around the Cape of Good Hope to the Strait of Gibraltar with the aim of transporting a batch of construction machinery to Alexandria. When the fleet arrived at the mouth of the Strait of Gibraltar, it was a calm morning, but no one expected that a major event was about to happen that shocked the world, which triggered the direction of the world pattern.

The sailing fleet was escorted by five old sailboats belonging to the Indian fleet. In fact, the strength of the Indian fleet has always been the weakest, with a total of only five warships of 1,000 tons and 500 tons. This time, the supplies transported were more important, and there were as many as twelve ships, so the Indian fleet poured out of the nest to escort this fleet.

The commander of the fleet, Shi Guorui, as usual, stood in his command position, watching the dangerous fortress of Gibraltar. The relationship between the Ming and Spain was very bad, and it did not prevent the Ming navy from passing here. For the Ming Navy, there is no place in the world where they can't go. What happened to the fortress of the Spaniards, it passed when it was not time to pass, and I haven't seen any big moves from the Spaniards for so many years.

Today, as usual, the fleet passed through the Channel as normal, preparing to complete the voyage towards Alexandria. Just when Shi Guorui felt that there would not be much change, the merchant ship in front suddenly hung up the signal flag, and found that a large number of warships were approaching, and the flags were all the flags of pirate ships. The question is, this is the Mediterranean, where is there such a large scale of pirates?

Shi Guorui's flagship was in the strait, and at this time, only one battleship was at the front, just sailing out of the strait. Just as Shi Guorui ordered all ships to prepare for battle, a flag was issued on the fortress of Gibraltar, asking the follow-up fleet to stop advancing, and they were going to fight pirates. At this time, the fleet could not advance or retreat, and the normal situation was to rush forward, or enter the port to escape.

However, the message from the Spaniards was clear that the fleet had to stop its advance and stop its ships in the strait. There was no doubt that this was a ridiculous thing, and Shi Guorui ordered it to be ignored, and the fleet rushed out of the strait at full speed to meet the pirates.

The scale of the "pirates" blocking the entrance of the strait is amazingly large, more than 40 warships gather here, although they are all sail warships, but at this time the advantage of the Ming fleet can not be played, the opponent has approached, the top in front of the Dangtu rushed forward at full speed, and at the same time fired at a distance of less than a kilometer.

The merchant ships of the Ming Dynasty themselves were also equipped with cannons, and when one of the merchant ships that rushed out of the strait also opened fire, the sound of earth-shattering cannons suddenly sounded in the direction of the fortress of Gibraltar. The artillery of the fortress opened fire, and the flotilla and battleships that were passing through the straits were caught off guard. (To be continued......)