"Yes, Venice is chartered." Ding Yi smiled and said to the envoy, his smile was gentle, and his tone was calm, "Didn't the envoy sent to Venice last time explain this problem?" I have not seen a million taels of silver in twenty days, so you don't have to follow any more rules, sir. ”

Then Ding Yi didn't give the messenger a chance to speak again, Cao Jixiang got Ding Yi's eyes, and immediately ordered the guards to drag the messenger out. Ding Yi said to Jeddah, "Let's start." Have the Signal Keeper on the observing balloon send a signal. "The signal was sent to the six destroyers that had left the port in formation after receiving the report from the reconnaissance ship.

The warships of the Mediterranean Fleet had not yet rushed over to assemble, and Ding Yi did not intend to give in because of this.

So the six destroyers, which had seized the T-shaped position, began to bombard outside the range of the opponent, and even if the waves were undulating, even if the wind and waves were rough, the three salvos of seventy-two rifled guns, still more than a third, hit the target, that is, at least seventy or so shells, and smashed on the Venetian battleship.

Although these battleships were also equipped with gunwales, it was a pity that the six destroyers of the Ximing fleet had not yet entered the firing range for them. Sixty galleons with gunships in front of them, and two dozen or so in the forward were devastated by the deafening sound of artillery fire.

More than seventy shells were distributed among more than two dozen ships, that is, about three each.

And the attacks of the Aegean fleet are aimed near the waterline, and the armor-piercing shells against such wooden galleons are really a bit overkill, because often one shell hits, that is, two holes. this period. The technology of the watertight chamber has not yet been invented, and it will take another two or three hundred years. Western Europe only got the technology of watertight cabins. And this is not like a gunwalstick, you can learn it by looking at it.

So soon the sea water poured into the cabins of ships without watertight technology. Quickly pull these bombed ships to the bottom of the sea, leaving a whirlpool one by one. But this was not the most unfortunate, the most unfortunate, among them were some Venetian battleships that had not yet crossed, and after the bow was shot, the armor-piercing warhead flew in the cabin, destroying the keel structure of the personnel and the hull, and before the sea water poured in, the ship fell apart.

The Aegean Fleet looked at the results. The flagship immediately raised the flag: "Change to high-explosive shells." ”

Because of the menacing momentum of the Venetians, the Admiral of the Aegean Fleet was very worried about what they would do, so he used armor-piercing shells at the beginning to ensure that the opponent would be dealt heavy damage in the first round. The Admiral didn't want to make any more bad impressions on Ding Yi. But seeing the results of the first wave, he confirmed that there was no need to do so.

So the second wave of three salvos began, and the high-explosive shells were much more splendid than the armor-piercing shells, in the fierce firelight, scattered ship planks, collapsed masts. The screams of the sailors, the slowly sinking battleship, at this noon, after Ding Yi put down the binoculars. smiled and said: "I don't want to be a marquis, but I hope the sea is peaceful!" ”

Liu Ji greeted him on the side: "Sir, what a hero! Not for a rich reputation, but for the peace of the world. Running for more than ten years, alas. Throughout the ages, there have been those who have asked for the lives of the people. There are those who destroy their homes for the country, sincerely, and those who run for the world, who is Mr. She! ”

Ding reprimanded as soon as he heard this: "Nonsense, I'm just joking, you can shoot this?" ”、

"Sir!" Liu Ji burst into tears, and said, "Ancient sages, Ande and Mr. side by side?" When a disciple is taught, no matter what position he is in, he must examine himself three times a day, guard against arrogance and rashness......"

"Shameless!" Yao Kui couldn't help but squirt on the side, "Liu Youzhi, you really have no villain!" I'm ashamed to be with you! It's really Sven sweeping the floor! "Because it's, it's not ordinary. Ding Yidu was called the emperor, he said that the marquis was not my will, it was a joke in itself, Liu Ji could shoot the horse and shoot this, Yao Kui really couldn't stand it.

Ding Yi had no choice but to open his mouth to make a round: "Dazhang, they are all their own people, Yuzhi is used to it, don't care." Well, the war is urgent, don't talk about this bit of verbal strife. ”

In fact, it was not a battle that was in full swing, because at this time the Venetian fleet began to break up.

What are you doing if you don't break up? Of the sixty gungun warships they thought they had relied on, only four or five remained on the surface of the water under six volleys. The others went straight to rest in the Mediterranean! Why should they fight with the Aegean Fleet? Fight people? If you want to go to the broadside battle, without artillery support, it will only be in the middle of approaching, and you will be named by the Aegean Fleet one by one!

Venice was also considered a maritime power during this period, and the commander still had some insight in this area.

So the order to retreat was given immediately, and of course if the Aegean Fleet followed suit, the Venetians probably wouldn't mind going back and have a return rifle for the broadside battle. Because it's a gunwald, you can't open the battle line if you keep up.

Therefore, the Aegean Fleet can only be divided into two and go around from both sides, so it will take more time, and the distance will naturally get bigger and bigger, but those Venetians still think they can run away.

"Let's take a trip." Ding Yi said to Cao Jixiang, "Go to Venice and sue them, four million taels of silver, if not, then use something of the same value to pay off the debt." Otherwise, once the battalion is ashore, Venice can really ignore a single law. Our mines need too many people, both in Guinea and in the Americas. You can talk about the rest of the matter. ”

At this time, Yao Kui couldn't help it again: "Your Majesty! Venice still has more than 100 galleons, and he still has the strength to fight again! What's more, the state is a major matter of national importance, how can the Chinese envoy decide it with one word? It makes sense to send the minister to negotiate. Think twice! ”

He thinks that Cao Jixiang is a eunuch, a lieutenant envoy, and an inner court official. Send him, it's not appropriate. In fact, the deeper reason is that Yao Kui was born as a scholar after all, but he did not want to be eunuch. Otherwise, if it becomes a precedent in the future, once the eunuch party sits large, it will be very troublesome.

"Yao's erection! Do you want to deceive you? Cao Jixiang jumped up like a dog whose tail had been stepped on, and shouted at Yao Kui, "Are we the envoys?" Our family is dignified and the director of the transportation department of the Metropolitan Governor's Mansion of the Ming Dynasty! Senior Military Staff Officer of the Royal Guard Regiment of the Western Ming Empire! Why did our family get into it? ”

Ding Yi frowned when he heard this, why did he bite it again? Does every country have to have both pros and cons? At this time, he was taught to think of that person's words unintentionally, "There is a party outside the party, and there are factions within the party, which has always been like this", which seems to be really reasonable!

But at this moment, he had to speak, because Yao Kui was not good at stubble, and he had already begun to quote scriptures; Cao Jixiang is also angry, he hates others to mention that he is a eunuch, and he usually asks others to call him Cao Chuzao, this is not Yao Kui's opponent when quoting scriptures, he knows a lot of foreign languages, slang from various countries, and scolds will come out together, regardless of whether Yao Kui understands it or not.

"Shut up." Ding Yi's words were not loud.

But Cao Jixiang immediately stopped, knelt down with a "plop", kowtowed, and said, "The old slave is dead!" Ten thousand deaths! ”

Yao Kui couldn't stop talking for a while, but Dante's smiling eyes swept over, and he couldn't help but feel a thrill in his heart, because this look was too familiar! Back then, Ding Yi was in the Fengtian Palace, and he commanded the Jinyi Guard to behead Ma Shun with a sword, isn't that such a look? This is Ding Yi is really angry.

"Weichen Junqian lost his manners, please punish His Majesty!" Yao Kui lifted his robe and knelt down, honestly not daring to make any more trouble.

Ding Yi shook his head and said, "Get up, don't do this in the future, do you know?" ”

"The old slave commands!" "Command! ”

"Lao Cao and Chu Jiu go together, Chu Jiu is the envoy, Lao Cao, you have been with me for too long, Da Zhang said that the envoy is not right, but it is true that you are a person next to me, it is not good to simply send you there, so I will wronged you to give Chu Jiu a hand."

"Being able to give the Ninth Young Master a hand, that's the blessing of the old slave!"

Ding Yi waved his hand: "Go." ”

Cao Jixiang took the order to find Qian Chujiu, and led the guards to follow on a supply ship without mentioning it.

But said that Yao Kui finally couldn't help it: "Your Majesty, this Venetian still has the strength to fight again!" ”

"No, they don't." Ding Yi said with a smile.

The four battleships and four cruisers of the Mediterranean Fleet had already gone around and were waiting on the coast close to the Mediterranean, and once the sentinel ships discovered the movement of the Mediterranean Fleet's return, it would be impossible for the Mediterranean Fleet, each with a battleship with hundreds of guns and a cruiser with seventy or eighty guns, to return to Venice.

The Doge of Venice, who did not wait for the fleet to return or send back the news, was extremely irritated, but waited for the envoy of the Western Ming Empire to come ashore. He didn't plan to see it, he tore his face with Ding Yi, what kind of messenger did he see? It's not too late to talk about it when you wait to get out.

But seeing his subordinates in astonishment presenting the battle flag of the flagship of the expedition fleet, the governor of Venice sat down in his chair for a moment, and then had to use the most solemn etiquette to welcome Qian Chujiu and Cao Jixiang.

"What? Eight million taels of silver? "The Doge of Venice almost fell down.

Cao Jixiang gasped when he heard this, this Ninth Young Master is really ruthless, and he doubled when he opened his mouth.

"Otherwise, I'm tired today, so let's not talk about it for now." Qian Chujiu said to the Governor of Venice with a smile. "You need a little time to think about it too, right?"

Of course, the Doge of Venice greatly welcomed this statement, eight million taels, where could he get it for a while? Of course, it would be better to give him a little time to discuss it with the officials and generals below.

Cao Jixiang panicked when he heard this, and pulled Qian Chujiu's sleeve a few times, but Qian Chujiu didn't care, and said to the governor of Venice, "I heard that you have a daughter, young and beautiful?" Why don't you ask your daughter to be a tour guide and let me see what this Venice on the water is like? (To be continued......)