"You're going to attack Lisbon?"

Just when Alfonso was guessing the purpose of the Satalus Knights, the other leader of the Knights, Ranau, came to the Song Empire Concession on the outskirts of Lisbon at this time, met with the consul director of the Concession left by Zhao Hongyu, and explained his intention to him.

The reason why he came here is very obvious, that is, to seek support.

Muskets! Weapons! Armor! Military salary! Grain!

With this support, he can start the offensive against Lisbon.

During this period of time, Lisbon's military strength has been almost consumed by the Knights' mobilization outside. Therefore, the Knights, which had swelled to three thousand people, gave Rano a little ambition.

Since he was going to rebel against the Spaniards, he had to make it clear and pull them out for everyone to see.

Besides, now that Lisbon has a weak military force, it is easy to take it if you attack at this time.

With a city as a foundation, wouldn't the banner of the rebels be able to fight?

Therefore, he came to the concession of the Song Empire and asked for support.

The consular supervisor of the concession did not immediately reply to Rano's request.

He asked Rano: "Do you have any plans for the next step after taking Lisbon?" I have to be clear that you are not a whim, after all, if you play a banner, it will attract a crazy counterattack from the Spaniards. ”

Rano nodded: "Of course there is a follow-up plan, otherwise I wouldn't be so reckless." I also know very well that if I take over the city, things will be very different. The Spaniards would not pay much attention to the bandit gangs, but they would definitely send a large army to strangle the rebels who would affect their rule. ”

"Well, since you know everything, I'd like to hear your plan. So that I can rest assured that I will support your next military operation, please forgive me for being careful, after all, I don't want our supplies either. The most cheap after the Spaniards. ”

The words of the consul of the concession are a bit difficult to accept.

It's not like I'm very optimistic about them.

Could it be that these materials could eventually become the spoils of war for the Spaniards?

Although he felt a little uncomfortable in his heart, after all, he still needed to ask for someone from the Song Empire, so Rano suppressed this unhappiness in his heart.

"After taking Madrid, we will quickly take all the surrounding areas, Amadora, Lloriz, Alkave, Sesimbra, Setúbal, we will control all these places."

Rano told the consul of the concession what he had in mind.

"Then I will consolidate the military strength in a short period of time and gather more soldiers. Want to attack eastward. Take the border city of Badajoz on the east side of Spain! ”

When the consul heard this, he asked curiously, "Do you mean to attack directly to the east and to Madrid?" ”

Rano nodded.

"It's not impossible, but Lisbon is in the middle of Portugal, and there are Spanish troops in the north and south, so if you don't take into account the military strength in these two directions, and go straight to Madrid, it will make your troops very dangerous. In case Lisbon was recaptured by the Spaniards. Your team is in danger. ”

When Rano heard this, he smiled and said, "No, the Spaniards from the north and the south, they don't care about us at all. Because I'm going to mess up both places. Even the whole of Portugal is in turmoil. How can they still have the spirit to take care of us in Lisbon? ”

Rano's face was filled with a strong sense of confidence.

"I have only one enemy, and that is the Spanish army on the east flank. So I'm going to get ahead of them before they react. They directly took their border cities as strongholds to fight against the Spaniards. ”

At this time, a genetic man came to the consul's side. A few words whispered in his ear.

At this time, the consul understood Rano's plan.

It turned out that the genetic man belonged to the intelligence department, and he had just gotten a message here.

This news is a report on the movements of the Order of Saddarus.

It clearly shows why Rano is so confident that the Spanish troops to the north and south of Portugal will not act against him after the occupation of Lisbon.

Because he had already sent two teams to the south and north to begin to implement the policy of 'fighting local tyrants and dividing the land'.

This policy is now near Lisbon and is very popular among the people at the bottom.

It is precisely because of this policy that the Knights of Sadalus have expanded in a short period of time and have the current strength.

Having understood all these reasons, the consul nodded and said to Rano: "Well, since I am willing to provide three thousand tongs, as well as the corresponding gunpowder and buckshot, as well as food. At the same time, you can also provide 300,000 silver pesos as an upfront cost, as for the later material supply, it depends on your performance. As long as your record is better, then the more funding I can provide, so that you will not have to worry about it at all. ”

When Rano saw that the other party was willing to provide funding, his heart suddenly burst into joy.

After happily thanking the consul, he asked about Zhao Hongyu's news.

"Please help me convey my thanks to His Highness the Crown Prince, and I hope that he will inform me of the attitude of the French, and I would like to know if the French are interested in attacking the Spaniards."

As for Zhao Hongyu's intention to want the French to get involved, Rano is clear.

After all, it was very unrealistic to rely on the Satdarus Knights to fight the Spaniards.

Even if Rano restores Portugal's independence, so what?

Portugal is a small country and has a small population.

Compared to Spain, it is completely small.

With a little effort, the Spaniards were able to defeat the Knights of Saddarus.

Therefore, if it were not for Zhao Hongyu's plan to draw the French into this war, the Knights of Sadalus would have no hope of achieving the ultimate victory.

Only by pulling the French in and allowing them to attack from the Western Front will the Spaniards' attention be diverted.

The Knights of Sadalus can begin to restore the country according to the established plan.

France is a country that is powerful and that the Spaniards do not dare to underestimate.

So. In the event that the French entered the war, the Spaniards would not have put all their strength on the side of the Portuguese.

The consul nodded.

"Okay, I will convey your meaning to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. However, I will not be able to give you an answer in the short term, as it will take a little time to get from here to France, please understand. ”

Of course, Rano knows this, so he doesn't demand anything too much.

After talking to the consul about something, Rano took his leave and left.

When Rano left, the consul of the genetic man of the concession called his subordinates and asked about Zhao Hongyu's affairs in France.

Regarding Zhao Hongyu's affairs in France, the concession side did not get a lot of news.

So. Now all they can do is wait for Zhao Hongyu to take the initiative to provide them with news.

Fortunately, Zhao Hongyu considered this issue before leaving Marseille, France.

He sent someone to Lisbon in advance and informed the concession of the news.

Therefore, a few days later, the concession received news from Zhao Hongyu.

Queen Marie of France has agreed to cooperate.

And now conscription has begun.

According to the assessment, it will take about half a year for these newly recruited soldiers to form combat effectiveness and go into combat.

In other words, it will be half a year later at the earliest. in order to begin the offensive from the Western Front.

At the same time, the concession side should immediately provide a batch of food and funds, and send people to France to contact the royal family. At the same time, the location of the material handover was determined, and the material support of the Song Empire was obtained. The French were able to begin to participate in this war against Spain.

After getting the news, the consul did not dare to slack off.

He quickly organized his staff and began to contact Manhattan to let them load the goods to the Lisbon Concession.

As for funding, there is no problem.

Because of the big sales of sugar and other goods. The last thing that is lacking here in the concession is money.

Therefore, the consul immediately sent someone to load dozens of wagons with one and a half million silver coins. Sent overland to France.

At the same time, three hundred elite genetic soldiers were also sent to escort it.

As for the grain, it could only be handed over to the French until the cargo ships from Manhattan arrived here in the concession.

But with 1.5 million silver coins, the French will be more enthusiastic.

And about the news of the French, the consul also informed Rano.

When Rano learned that the French had agreed to cooperate and were going to attack in six months' time, he began to rein in his edge.

The plan to attack and capture Lisbon was temporarily cancelled.

He decided that in this half a year, he would train the current soldiers.

By the time the French began to act, his side began to reinstate.

Everything is ready to go.

Now it's the French who are waiting.

The news that Zhao Hongyu will go to Alexandria was also known to the consul of the concession.

The consul of the genetic man had no feeling that his highness was going to Alexandria.

After all, for him, Zhao Hongyu's identity and status are there.

Moreover, here in Lisbon, there is indeed no need for Zhao Hongyu to sit in person.

So, it's the same here or not.

Because the Knights of Sadalus were temporarily hidden, this made the more nervous Spaniards relax.

In the eyes of the Spaniards, after the Knights of Sadalus plundered a fortune, they must have disbanded and enjoyed happiness.

Therefore, the Spaniards began to live a life of drinking and drinking, and gradually lost their vigilance-

Dividing Line –

After several days of sailing, the Sea King finally arrived in Alexandria, Egypt.

In later generations, Zhao Hongyu never came to Egypt.

Some of the impressions of Egypt in the past were just blockbusters from some rice countries.

The port of Alexandria, made entirely of boulders, was much more imposing than the ports of Europe.

This made Zhao Hongyu sigh that Alexandria deserves to be a famous port city that has existed for a thousand years.

The harbor has dozens of stone steps, which are built directly into the sea.

Merchant ships can sail directly to the front of the stairs and dock.

On the steps, there are many male and female vendors dressed in Arabic robes or decorated with native Egyptian costumes.

When each ship arrived, they would gather around and sell their wares to the sailors on the arriving ships.

Zhao Hongyu glanced at it, but it was just some tropical fruits, as well as snacks such as fruits with local characteristics of Egypt.

At the same time, the people of Alexandria also became interested in the huge sea monster of the Sea King, and they kept pointing fingers.

You must know that the hull of the King of the Sea is the absolute largest in this era.

It also has five poles, four decks and 108 guns.

It is definitely a sea giant of this era.

Therefore, it is not surprising that people are interested in the Sea King.

Because they've never seen a ship of this size.

The five-star red flag fluttered on the bow of the ship, and people speculated about where Zhao Hongyu and the others came from.

Alexandria was already on the border of Arabia.

And most of the people who knew the flag of the Song Empire were European merchants.

Therefore, it is normal for people here in Alexandria not to recognize Zhao Hongyu's identity.

"Wow! This port is bigger than the Port of Manhattan! ”

After Zhao Hongyu and his party came down from the Sea King, Emma curiously looked around the surrounding environment and exclaimed.

"Alexandria is an ancient port that is part of the city of Cairo in Egypt. Its name has been famous since 1,000 years ago, and it connects Europe with the trade of the Arab world, so it took so many years of construction to have this scale. ”

Zhao Hongyu explained Alexander's history to Emma.

The genetic soldiers, while Zhao Hongyu was speaking, landed one after another.

They patted the queue neatly and stood on the stone steps of the pier.

These energetic genetic human soldiers have attracted everyone's attention.

Hey, look, these people are dressed very strangely, are they also soldiers dressed like this?

Where the hell are they?

Which of you know the flag on the ship?

People gathered around and turned their heads to each other.

Of course, there was nothing else in Alexandria, but the sea trade was the most merchant.

Although many people don't know what the flag on Zhao Hongyu's ship represents, there are European merchants who came to Alexandria from the Americas.

"This is the banner of the Song Empire in the Americas, and it seems that this must be the top of the Song Empire. It's just that I don't know what kind of identity he is, but judging from this huge warship, the owner of this ship must have a high status. ”

"America? Song Empire? ”

The Song Empire was famous to Europeans, but it was much worse on Egypt's side.

Because many European merchants, although they sold their goods to Egypt, they were reluctant to tell the Egyptian merchants where their goods came from. (To be continued.) )