Chapter 218 [The Fleet is Assembled and Ready to Go]

After the agreement between the Netherlands and the Ming Dynasty, the best route was chosen. Take the South China Sea, through Malaysia and the Philippines, through the Strait of Malacca, through India to the Red Sea, through the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean Sea to Europe. If it goes well, it will take you four months to reach Europe, which is already the fastest route.

The first batch of Ming troops to Europe had 20,000 people and a total of 100 ships, and the Ming Naval Division fully demonstrated to the world what it means to have a large number of people. Spain attacked Britain with more than a hundred ships that year, calling itself the "Invincible Armada". The Ming Dynasty organized shipbuilding in various coastal areas, and in less than two years, a hundred large ships were built. Although the artillery equipment cannot be compared with Spain, and it is also lacking in technological innovation, the Han people's take-it-or-leave-it doctrine and copycat technology are undoubtedly the peak.

The Portuguese technicians who participated in the establishment of the Sailor were amazed at the horror of the Ming Dynasty's numbers.

The imperial court only issued a notice in the coastal cities for a period of time, saying that to hire shipwrights and navies, there was no need to pass exams, and there was no need to be able to read and write, as long as they were healthy and able to work. Because of the high salary, nearly a million people immediately responded to the call to work, and finally the most capable group was selected. The ships built by shipyards from all over the country sailed to the Fuzhou Naval Division Base to gather.

Ao Bai took his two wives and Li Yan to take a boat to Fuzhou in Weihai.

When the sailors of Weihai saw Ao Bai taking his wife to sea, they felt a little embarrassed, and it was a taboo in the army to bring their families in battle, which affected their morale very much. However, they soon learned that the two ladies of Ao Bai were not ordinary people. Their martial arts are ridiculously high, and the famous masters in the army are not the opponents of the phoenix than their fists and feet, and they will be overturned in a few clicks. Although Phoenix has practiced less over the years, it has a very thick foundation.

Su Meng'er's position of Jinyi Wei Suzaku has not been removed, and the waist card is still there. When Tian Ergeng rebelled, Suzaku played a great role, and this matter has long been widely circulated as a story, and few people know that Suzaku is a woman. As soon as they heard the name, everyone was in awe.

Li Yan maintained a consistent low profile, he did not dress like a military general, but more like a literati. Ao Bai didn't introduce him, others directly regarded him as a military advisor, and no one thought that he was the most powerful in the team.

Looking at the big ships anchored at sea, Ao Bai felt extremely heroic, and a lot of wealth seemed to be within reach.

The phoenix sighed: "Husband, these ships are too spectacular, Da Ming is really powerful. ”

Ao Bai smiled: "This is just a shipyard, and the sailor base in Fuzhou is really spectacular." I don't know what the navy of Europe is like, compared to naval battles, our position may not be an opponent. ”

"The naval battle was almost there, but the landing was more than a land battle and an assassination, and the Europeans would have been taken aback." Li Yan clicked his fingers and said with a smile: "I can't wait to see those countries, I don't know if their food is good or not." ”

"I think you will be disappointed, their food can't be compared with Daming, and there is no foreigner who does not admire our food. We've recruited chefs though. ”

The phoenix looked at the sea and said, "I really hope to set sail soon, it must be very comfortable to sit on this kind of boat." ”

The next day.

Phoenix found that it was not comfortable to take the boat at all, she went to sea for the first time, she vomited so much, she didn't even eat much lunch, she couldn't come out of the cabin, and Su Meng'er compensated her in the cabin to chat.

Ao Bai stood alone on the deck blowing the wind.

Li Yan also walked out and sighed: "The scenery is good. ”

"Where's Hongyan? How did you get out? ”

Li Yan said with a smile: "She slept, and the first time she took a boat, she was also very dizzy." ”

Ao Bai said: "Spit and spit and get used to it, once we meet and go to Europe with the fleet, we will sail for more than four months." There are plenty of places to rest along the way, and you can also visit the Dutch East India Company. ”

Li Yan said with a smile: "I think that the Central Plains can communicate so well with foreigners, except for Old Man Xu (Xu Guangqi), only you." Why do you know their personalities so well? The Dutch, having already guessed that we were attacking Geranza and encouraging pirates to rob merchant ships, were willing to form an alliance with us. ”

"The premise is that they can get enough benefits." As long as Spain and Britain are eliminated, the Netherlands will become one of the hegemons in Europe, they are too small to see the bright future of the Ming Dynasty. As long as we are willing to help them occupy a part of Japan and establish a stronghold, it is nothing if Taiwan is lost. Originally, they only had more than 1,000 troops stationed in Taiwan, and they did not attach much importance to it, and the Spaniards attacked Taiwan and gave us an excuse to participate in the religious wars. When the Spanish are defeated, history will be changed, and the surprise attack on the Spaniards will not be blamed. ”

Li Yan said: "I found that you especially like to change history. ”

"Do you believe in history? History books always praise the victorious side as incomparably strong, and some battles say that tens of thousands of people defeated hundreds of thousands of troops, do you believe it? For example, Xiang Yu defeated the battle of the Qin army in the battle of Julu, from the analysis of the art of war, I can see more than a dozen flaws, did no one know tactics at that time? I have never believed in history, preferring to analyze problems from the level of development and wealth of a country, and let the facts speak. For example, Li Shimin, although he killed his brother to ascend to the throne, but he governed the country very well, he is a good emperor. If an emperor makes the common people ignorant and like a demon, the ministers attack each other, the mode of production and distribution almost returns to the primitive society, and many people starve to death...... Such an emperor, no matter how loud the slogan is shouted, the ignorant people tout him as a god, and he is also a rotten person. When this group of ruling classes steps down, one day the truth will be revealed, and future generations will evaluate everything and settle accounts after the autumn. And as long as I can make the country strong, people will not care what method I use. ”

Li Yan smiled: "You guy, do you even calculate what happens after death?" What do you think I'll get in the future? ”

Ao Bai patted him on the shoulder and said, "As long as the historian is controlled by us, you can have whatever you want." ”

After sailing for a few days, after the Weihai fleet arrived in Fuzhou, Zheng Zhilong and the technicians reported the latest equipment of the Ming army to Aobai.

The guns of the warships were configured according to European weapons. In this era, the main body of the ship was wood, and the resistance of wooden ships was limited. A solid cannonball hits it, it can deal damage, and as long as the ship is sunk, the battle is won. The Ming army tried again and again, not seeking the power of the cannon, but seeking a long range and a fast rate of fire.

In order to compete for maritime supremacy, Spain and Britain fought a fierce and spectacular naval battle in the English Channel at the end of the last century. In this naval battle, the Spanish had many warships and more than 30,000 troops, and was known as the Invincible Armada. At that time, the British army was not large, and the entire fleet had only 9,000 combat personnel. Compared with the two armies, there was a huge disparity in numbers, and Spain clearly had an absolute advantage. However, unexpectedly, the naval battle ended in a devastating defeat for Spain, with the Armada almost completely annihilated. Since then, Spain has declined sharply, and its position as a maritime hegemon has been lost.

In addition to the poor command, another important reason for the Spanish fiasco was the range of the artillery. Most of the western ships were equipped with short-range, high-power cannons, while the British ships used long-range and low-powered long and heavy guns, so the British ships could always maintain a safe distance when attacking.

Since that battle, Spain has set out to improve the range of its cannons, and the guns are still more powerful.

The Portuguese leaked Spanish military secrets and developed methods of restraint. The warships of the Ming army were generally equipped with six to eight heavy Hongyi cannons, and forty improved Franc machine guns. This short cannon is less powerful, but it has a significant advantage in rate of fire and a good range.

The new Francophone artillery is generally equipped with five - nine rounds of guns, and the rate of fire of six rounds a minute is very ordinary, while the powerful Spanish artillery is two rounds per minute, and the two armies bombard, both sides first fire one shell at the opponent, and then wait for the Spaniards to load the shells to take at least four shells, the Ming army has many ships, as long as there are two rounds within the firing range, the Spanish warships will suffer.

After listening to this report, Ao Bai has more confidence.

Before the expedition, there was a mobilization meeting. Ao Bai said to the soldiers who were about to go on an expedition: "As the commander-in-chief, I want to tell you a few things clearly. First, don't think of yourself as a navy or a pirate, we're in business, and for a better business, we're going to do a little favor to the European countries, get rid of those who get in our way, just help, you know? ”

The soldiers all had smiles on their faces.

"Second, there is a boring religious war going on in Europe, where they have different beliefs, so they have to kill each other. It's so chaotic there, and the gods of the people on both sides may be fighting. We are there to persuade, and we are righteous. After listening to their situation, I really can't stand it, how can they let the people of Europe live in misery for their own selfish desires? So, I am the Buddha and compassionate, and we have to represent justice to transcend those wicked people. If, after doing these things, the European countries are willing to give us any benefit, they will accept it, and it is obvious that it is what we deserve."

"Good," some of the soldiers shouted.

Ao Bai Zhengse said: "Third, you must completely obey the command, because we are here to make money, of course, we can't work too hard. I have taken you there, and I am obligated to bring you back. Unless you feel more comfortable there, you don't want to come back. What I want to say is that life is more important than anything else, follow the command, don't be strong. You have to show the team spirit when you play football, you can't give up tactics, you can't give up cooperation. Although the people of the European countries of France, the Netherlands, and Portugal are different nationalities from us, they are now our comrades-in-arms, and we are on the same field, in the same team, as long as we cooperate properly, we can easily break through the opponent's city."

When you go to the battlefield, what you are most afraid of is the commander who will only make people rush forward regardless of the life or death of the soldiers, and Ao Bai is certainly not that kind of person. The soldiers of the Ming Dynasty knew that their morale had been boosted...

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