Chapter 272: Before the Expedition

The rumbling cannon rang out one after another, and the 56-meter-long Storm sail battleship was like a fire-breathing monster, looming in the flames and white smoke, firing deadly projectiles one after another......

The sheer cliffs three hundred meters away collapsed with a deafening roar, and large chunks of boulder rock poured on the crashing waves of the reef.

"Hiss......" Sambarwood held up the binoculars and opened his mouth wide, the scene in front of him was beyond his imagination, he never dreamed that the bronze cannon that Lorist said would be so powerful, and he was speechless in shock for a while.

After a while, Sambarwood finally came back to his senses, his face full of ecstasy: "Great, my lord, with such a battleship, I can guarantee that there will be no fleet of Gaintya that will be our family's opponent......"

"Yes. Lorist nodded, his mind still immersed in the two battle reports he had seen yesterday.

Last night, according to the war report sent by Renmerd about the Kingdom of Trimber, Lorist made a strategic guess on the map, and finally he came to a conclusion in surprise, in addition to the unsurprising destruction of the Kingdom of Trimber, those eleven-nation coalition forces that sent reinforcements, in addition to the Duchy of Ulubaha and the Duchy of Delia, which had been annexed by the commercial alliance, there would be at least four or five small countries that would suffer from the fish in the pond......

In other words, after the end of this glass war, the territory of the commercial alliance will expand four or five times, and it will become the third largest power in the Gelinthia continent, which does not refer to influence or commercial power, but the territory on the surface, and the territory under its jurisdiction will replace the former Cliffian Empire, which has been fragmented, and become the third largest country on the continent.

As long as the commercial alliance is given a few more years to digest and integrate these annexed countries, then even if the Second Highness unifies the former Krisson Empire, it will not be able to suppress and intervene in the development of the business alliance with strong military strength like the Krisson Empire a hundred years ago, and perhaps it will be suppressed by the business alliance in turn......

For Lorist, the most surprising thing was that the Chikde Chamber of Commerce had made the Duchy of Ulubaha its own domain, which was good news, and it meant that the Chikde Chamber of Commerce had completely abandoned the decision to seize the island of Shiloas as the domain of the Chamber of Commerce. From the map, Lorist found that this was a very wise choice for the Chikd Chamber of Commerce, with the Duchy of Ulubaha as a territory, the Chikde Chamber of Commerce could more firmly control the golden coastline in the south of Gelintya, without having to consume the strength of the Chamber of Commerce in the war with the Norton family for the island of Hilowas......

"Your Excellency, Your Excellency......" Sambawood called for a long time before Lorist came back to his senses.

"What's wrong?" asked Lorlist.

Sambarwood was a little embarrassed: "My lord, I want to go down and see the firing of these bronze cannons, is it okay?"

Lorist smiled dumbly: "Sambawood, you are now the captain of the Storm, you can do whatever you want, as long as you don't get the ship to the bottom of the sea." Go ahead if you want to see it, get familiar with the performance of this battleship as soon as possible, and understand its characteristics is your duty as a captain, no need to ask me. ”

Thinking that these 24 bronze guns were fired for the first time after being loaded on the Storm, the new battleship was shocked by several large cracks on the spot, and the sea water poured into it, and it was finally insisted on returning to the Ox Horn Bay Shipyard for rework, and it took three days to repair. Now there will be no more leaks like that when firing artillery. When Sambawood is familiar with the nature of the ship, Lorist will also set off for the island of Hilowas.

After two more rounds of artillery firing, Sambarwood returned to the slipway with a look of surprise: "My lord, this is really an unparalleled battleship, excellent maneuverability, flexible and light steering ability, and the speed of the wind can compare with this Storm except for the Flying Fish in the Morning Light." Coupled with the long-range attack power of this thunder-like bronze cannon, this is a truly invincible battleship, and no ship can come close to the Storm......"

The three-masted sail battleship Storm is a new type of ocean-going sail warship designed and manufactured by many shipbuilding technicians of Niujiaowan Shipyard with the Flying Fish of Dawn as a model, absorbing its advantages and working together. The length of the ship is 56 meters, the width of the hull and the ship's circumference is 10 meters and 8 meters, and the height of the ship is 11.7 meters, and it is divided into four floors, with ballast at the bottom, a warehouse on the third floor, and a gun bay on the second floor, with 12 bronze guns on one side, a total of 24 guns. At the top were the decks, cabins, and slipways.

In addition to the twenty-four bronze guns and the twenty-four gun crews of one hundred and twenty men, the full number of sailors on the Storm was one hundred and twenty-eight, and the minimum was only fifty-two. It can also carry two squadrons of two hundred sea stormtroopers, whether it is a melee or a long-range attack, it is enough to deal with it. No wonder in Sambawood's opinion, this is already an invincible battleship.

Lorist laughed: "At the Hornhorn Bay shipyard, there are five more of the same artillery warships under construction. I guess you'll have six Storm by next year. At that time, the artillery fleet formed at that time will be called the real Invincible Armada, which is much more worthy of the name than the Invincible Fleet in the Hidden Golden Bay owned by the Commercial Alliance. ”

Sambarwood scoffed: "My lord, what is the Invincible Armada in the Golden Bay, they just rely on the large number of people to take advantage of the gang in close combat, and those large converted merchant ships are as slow as turtles compared to the Storm." If nothing else, the guns on the Storm alone would be enough to send all the converted merchant ships of the Armada underwater......"

It's true, Sambarwood is right, the ships of the Business Alliance Armada are converted into moving castles, and they look top-heavy. In the calm Zangjin Bay, you can still be majestic, but when you arrive at the sad ocean, it is obvious that you are not accustomed to the water and soil, and you have to always worry that the wind and waves are too strong and the warship will be capsized.

"Just have faith, Sambarwood, and as you familiarize yourself with the nature of the ship, you should also record all the weaknesses that you have found that are not suitable for engagement at sea, and that you can improve on the next five artillery ships in the construction process. When the five ships are built, the shipyard will also build a really big one, a five-masted sail warship that is 120 meters long, and it will be equipped with more than 60 guns...... "Lorist said.

"Ah, there is such a big battleship?" Sambarwood's mouth fell: "My lord, I must work hard, and when that battleship is completed, you must hand it over to my command......"

......

Seven days passed in a blink of an eye, and Lorist was about to board the Storm to the island of Hilowas. Before leaving, he convened a high-level meeting of the family in the camp of the bay.

"Telman, the Rock Castle and the safety of the Hung Yen Plain, the Red River Plain, and the western ranch of the Northland are left to you, understand?"

"Yes, sir. Telman saluted solemnly.

"Vasimma, Tiger Ross irresponsibly threw the two cavalry snatchers to you, so I have to work hard for you. ”

"My lord, it's okay, I'm used to it. Vasima's answer made everyone in the tent laugh.

"Malek, after Dorus comes back this time, you and him will do a good job of handing over the chariot and steel crossbow corps, and then work with Yuri to transport the remaining supplies and men and horses to the island of Hilowas......"

"Yes, sir, rest assured, we will get the job done. Malek and Yuri stood up.

"Pete, the archer battalion you brought is stationed in Woniugang, although the mountain barbarians have not caused us chaos in the past few years, but we should not be careless. ”

"Yes, my lord, I understand. Pete smiled wryly, his immediate boss Joske, like Tiger Ross, was also a guy who liked to follow the lord around, and the matter of the archery camp fell entirely on his deputy.

"Pachko ......"

"My lord, I am at your command. Pachko stood up.

"From today onwards, you will serve as Beruenk's deputy, hand over your deputy to the 2nd Guards Battalion, and assist Bérunek in the boot camp in reorganizing the 3rd Guards Battalion and creating the 4th and 5th Battalions. The 1st Guards Corps was formed, with five battalions under it, with Bérunek as the corps commander and you as his deputy. ”

"Yes, sir. Pachko saluted, he was promoted this time.

Belunik stood up: "My lord, how to arrange the location of the 1st Guards Corps?"

Lorist pointed to the map of the family territory hanging behind him: "The first battalion of the guards, the rock castle, the second battalion, the fortress of Turtle Mountain." The third battalion, after the completion of the reorganization, was deployed in the seaport city. The 4th and 5th Battalions will undergo three months of discipline training after they are formed, and they will first be stationed in the new barracks as a reserve unit and will make a decision when they return from this expedition. “

This year, nearly 60,000 prisoners in forced labor were released, and more than 50,000 had to stay in the family domain, and some had to go back to bring their families back. Although the family has started the development and construction of Hongheyuan, and some of them can be accommodated, there are too many of these young men who meet the conditions for conscription, except for the expansion of the heavy armor corps and the lancer regiment in the first half of the year, and the addition of a single-wheeled steel crossbow corps, and the remaining nearly 10,000 young men who want to be soldiers, all of them have been sent to the sailor training camp, and the rest are simply stuffed into the Guards Corps.

Speer stood up: "My lord, our family's reserves are less than one million gold forts, such a large-scale expansion of the family armament will make our family's funds even more tight, plus the next development and construction projects, I am worried that we will run out of money in May or June next year......"

"It's fine. Lorist waved his hand: "In a few months, our family will have a large amount of income, which will be enough for us to spend." By the way, Mr. Speer, the new products launched by my family this time are all approached by you and the Snow Salt Chamber of Commerce, and the income here is not without a small supplement to the family. ”

"Yes, sir. Chief Speer sat down worriedly.

"Mr. Boris. ”

"Your Excellency, please command. "The former butler of the Earl of Kenmeth, now the head of the Civil Affairs Department, Chief Boris, stood up.

"Knight Schrader is not here, and you are in charge of the current Civil Affairs Department. This year, the tax revenue of Fengle Yuan, as well as the tax collection of Xing'an Yuan, you must pay close attention to these two tasks. ”

"Yes, please rest assured, I will do my best. Chief Boris bowed his head.

"Daddy Balek, the family's industrial and mining workshops are up to you. ”

Papa Barrick got up and replied, "Don't worry, sir, I won't let you down." ”

"Sedekamp, you are the person who came out of my side, and you are fully responsible for the development of Hongheyuan this time, don't embarrass me. ”

"My lord, I understand. "Søderkamp has also been trained in the past few years, and he looks shrewd and capable.

"Governor Kodan, Governor Hansk is going back to Hilovas with me this time, and he still needs to take care of the mess left over there. Therefore, the affairs of the family domain still need to be supervised and inspected by you. ”

"My lord, you can rest assured that I am here. But my lord, I just want our family to go to the kingdom of Haneyabada this time, and we really don't need to ask for the consent of the Second Highness? Chief Codan asked.

Now that all the people in the big tent know Lorlist's plan to go to the kingdom of Haneabada, no one will be surprised, the family territory has been attacked by these slave traders and slave catchers, and the damage is so bad, if Lorist swallows his anger and does not want to take revenge and comes back, it will be in vain to be the head of the Norton family.

However, the concerns of the head of Kodan are also very reasonable, if it is the same aristocratic class, then there is no need to say anything and just start fighting. But the other party is a kingdom, according to the rules, Lorist must at least notify the second highness first, and the second highness will protest and negotiate with the kingdom of Haneabada on behalf of the kingdom of Antinac, and then authorize the Norton family to retaliate against the kingdom of Haneyabada or the kingdom of Andinac to send troops to attack the kingdom of Haneyabada, which is the so-called diplomatic procedure between kingdoms.

Lorist shook his head: "We can't afford to delay our time, and since Second Highness is now in the Kingdom of Redlis, he will probably not pay attention to such a small matter for him." If we have to wait, we don't know when. The soldiers are very fast, just like the Peterson Chamber of Commerce captured the Duchy of Delia, didn't they also fail to inform the business alliance?"

"My lord, the business alliance are undignified nouveau riche, and it's not surprising that they do anything. And we are an aristocratic family that has been inherited for hundreds of years, and we should respect the traditional rules in doing things. It is best to seek the opinion of the superior lord and get a reply before proceeding with such a major conquest of a kingdom. Otherwise, it is easy to be said to be disrespectful and arrogant, and it is related to the reputation of our family, so please think about it. Supervisor Speer also stood up and persuaded.

"Don't say anything," Lorist sank his face, "Your scruples are also for the sake of the family, which is very correct." But have you ever considered the feelings of the knights of the family who fell into the hands of slave owners and slave traders, and for each additional day, they suffered an extra day of torment, and even their lives were in danger. If we want to get the consent of the Second Highness, the back and forth will pass this year, and maybe we won't have any results until the end of next year.

Besides, did the Kingdom of Haneyabada have diplomatic contacts with the Kingdom of Antinac, and when did the Kingdom of Antinac recognize the Kingdom of Haneabada?

Our expedition is not a kingdom, but a pirate lair, a criminal harbor city of slave trade. Remember, there has never been a kingdom of Haneyabada, we are only going to take revenge on the slave traders and slave catchers who invaded the island of Hilovas, and to free our family and people. As for the kingdom of Haneyabada, it was all made up by the enemy, and there was no such kingdom at all.

Remember, those who commit Norton will be punished even if they are far away!

"Yes, my lord, whoever commits Norton will be punished even if he is far away!"

The people in the big tent stood up and shouted in unison.

......

Eight days later, Lorist appeared on the island of Hilovas. Bodfinger led a group of knights from the family to greet him.

"How many ships are there?" was Lorlist's main concern.

"Your Excellency, Greatsword Master Ingerek, Josk and Tiger Ross have collected more than thirty medium-sized sea vessels, plus our original ships, which are enough to transport more than 20,000 people. The Petersen Chamber of Commerce replied that they could lend us fourteen ships, four of which were large ocean-going merchant ships and ten of which were medium-sized sea-going vessels, but that they would not reach Hiloas until the end of August. Boderfinger replied.

"Yes. Loris nodded, so as long as Injerek and the others collected another fifty or sixty medium-sized sea vessels, it would be enough to send more than 30,000 family forces to the Hanea Bada Islands. Then you can go out in September.

"How is the morale of the family forces, and do you have any opinions and comments on this expedition?"

"My lord, everyone was enraged by the tragic situation on the island, and although the second group of soldiers who arrived did not see it, they also felt the same way when they heard the soldiers who cleaned up, and they all swore to teach those slave traders and slave owners a profound lesson. ”

"That's okay, you can take advantage of the time when the fleet goes to the north to transport the remaining troops, and then strengthen combat readiness and training, so as not to become soft-footed crabs by the time. Lorist said.

"Yes, sir. ”

...... (To be continued.) )