On 20 January, 20 kilometres northwest of the Portuguese Azores, a short chase had just ended. The Third Detachment of the Qi Expeditionary Fleet successfully captured a merchant ship sailing off the west coast of England, and after moving the ship's gold, silver, currency, and some valuable supplies to its own warship, it was scuttled.

The Third Squadron has been operating in the southeastern waters of the North Atlantic for more than four months, during which time it has intercepted 26 merchant ships of all sizes belonging to England and Portugal, sunk five English cruisers and three Portuguese warships.

A little more than a month earlier, the detachment had also spotted a convoy of seven sailing ships, believing it to be one of several English fleets searching for them. According to the reconnaissance clipper report, the enemy was at an absolute disadvantage, so the fleet formed a battle formation and launched a pursuit. However, the fleet managed to escape during the night and disappeared into the depths of the ocean, leaving the fleet in vain.

With the frequent presence of the Third Squadron in this area, it has violated the security of the Portuguese Azores and posed a mortal threat to merchant ships traveling between Europe and the Americas. As a result, the Portuguese organized a fleet to come on the mainland, preparing to expel the Qi people and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the Kingdom of Portugal.

As a result, the dilapidated Portuguese navy was crushed under the blows of the new warships of the Qi State, three battleships were sunk, two were captured, and the remaining seven warships were damaged and fled back to Portugal in disarray.

If it weren't for the fact that the Portuguese on the Azov Islands were not weak in defense, and the Qi people did not carry a landing force, they might have taken advantage of the situation to take away this territory that had belonged to Portugal for more than 200 years.

"When the second support fleet arrives, I think we can consider taking the Azores." Ran Tongshan, deputy commander of the expeditionary fleet and commander of the third fleet, and general (vice admiral) Zhenguo, looked at a nautical chart on the table, his right hand on his cheek, and his eyes burned, "This archipelago is located in the middle of the North Atlantic, and it is a sea relay station between Europe, the Americas and Africa, which can be described as a strategic location. Once we establish a solid naval base here, it will have a positive effect on the control of the North Atlantic waters. ”

"What the commander said is extremely true!" Captain Ling Lu (Lieutenant Colonel) Qi Deyi, the captain of the flagship of the Third Fleet "Danshan", nodded and said: "In addition to seizing the Azores, the Portuguese Madeira Islands should also be captured. So. From north to south, we extended to the Pishan Islands (present-day Canary Islands), and then to Morocco, West Africa, and even Qianzhou (present-day South Africa), forming a defensive island chain against European countries and forming the initial strategic superiority of our Qi navy. ”

"If you want to take the Azores and Madeira from Portugal, you will have to work a little more on the Brazilian side. Otherwise, the Portuguese would not have been willing to accept these two territories from us. Ran Tongshan said with a smile: "Unless, Brazil, which they rely on as a source of wealth, is pinched by us and forces the Portuguese to comply." Otherwise, we'll be tugging with us all the time. ”

"A few days ago, news came from Taihua Island (present-day Tenerife in the Canary Islands) that Qingguo's attack on Brazil from the overland direction seemed to have suffered a setback, and a lot of people and materials were lost. King Qing asked our Qi State to send the main fleet to the coast of Brazil to cooperate with them in launching an attack on the southeastern ports of Brazil. ”

"Doesn't Qingguo have more than ten warships? Can't they deal with the Portuguese navy? ”

Fearing that the Spaniards had stolen their home, Kyungkook deployed more than half of his warships in the waters near the mouth of the Río de la Plata for defense. As for the five or six ships that were sent to the coast of Brazil, they did not dare to attack the well-defended Brazilian ports, so they patronized and robbed the Portuguese transports! Qi Deyi said with a smile: "However, I think that if Qingguo wants us to send a fleet to support, he should also have the intention of preserving his strength, and he is not willing to consume too many of his own warships." After all, after the war, our Qi country shook off and left, and they still had to face the hostile Spaniards and Portuguese alone. Oh yes, and England to add that. ”

"Also, before the discovery of the gold mines in Qianzhou (present-day South Africa), Brazil was the world's largest gold producer. And according to the rules of the Kingdom of Portugal, all gold mined in Brazil, even if it was only found sporadically by gold prospectors, was to be handed over to the crown 20% of the gold produced. This golden ship shipped to the Portuguese mainland every year is comparable to the Spanish treasure ship of that year, and it must have dazzled the eyes of the people of Qingguo. However, it is not realistic to expect Qingguo's own power to defeat Brazil, but it would be somewhat painful for the Portuguese to attack their treasure ships and attack their wealth import routes. Hmph, I don't know, why did the weak Portuguese not recognize the situation so clearly and follow England all the way to the dark? ”

In addition to the traditional covenant between the two countries, it is estimated that if they do not obey England, they will be retaliated against by the other side afterwards. After all, Portugal was not too far from England, and it had bad relations with Spain, so it had to follow England in the hope of gaining their asylum. ”

"Then, this war will inevitably cause the Portuguese to suffer heavy losses and fall victim to the great power game." Ran Tongshan said with disdain: "Not to mention that Portugal's overseas territories in India, Mozambique, Angola, Guinea, Cape Verde and other overseas territories will be captured by us, and even Brazil, which they value the most, will also be attacked, so Portugal is afraid that it will not be able to climb up in the future." ”

"Portugal is a small and weak country, and short-sighted, and easily involved in the disputes of major powers, and it is already a fluke not to be crushed into powder, how can it have a chance to recover?" Qi Deyi echoed: "However, General, how much do we want to weaken England through this war?" ”

"With England, with the strategy of the Cabinet and the General Staff, that is, not to weaken the English too much, lest the situation in Europe lose its due balance." Ran Tongshan took a cup of hot tea from the adjutant's hand, took a sip lightly, and then continued: "Our strategic positioning of Qi in Europe is to maintain the balance of power among the European continent countries as much as possible, support Prussia and Sweden, befriend Spain, and hold France hostage to dominate the continent; Knock England so that they will retract their gaze to the sea and focus more on the European continent; By supporting the independence of Ireland, he threatened and constrained England. Such a layout will ensure that our country can exert more far-reaching influence in Europe and the North Atlantic waters, and ultimately achieve our global maritime hegemony. ”

"Report to the General!" While the two were talking, a naval captain officer hurried to the side to report on the interrogation of the captured English captain, "We have two important pieces of information from the captured English captain. ”

"What information?"

"Spain has officially declared war on England, and in response to the Spanish attack, England is mobilizing troops to Gibraltar to strengthen the region's defenses."

"What's the other message?"

"England has assembled a large expeditionary fleet to unite with the Venetians and prepare for a surprise attack on Egypt."

"Oh? Unexpectedly, the English have really found the strategic core point of our Qi country, and are ready to strike a fatal blow to us. ”

"General, will our Third Squadron enter the Mediterranean Sea to block the military operations of the English Navy?" Qi Deyi asked solemnly.

"No, we're going to Gibraltar." Ran Tongshan said: "We will cut off their back route, and when the support fleet arrives, we will catch turtles in this urn of the English expeditionary fleet." ”

——

19 February, Malta.

In 1530, on the orders of Pope Clement VII and Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, the Knights Hospitaller came to the island of Malta and established the Knights of Malta on the island by paying a symbolic rent of 1 Maltese eagle coin per year to the Kingdom of Sicily.

The Ottomans were clearly uneasy about the resurgence of the Order, and in 1565, Suleiman I sent a large army to attack Malta. The battle began very similarly to the last one in Rhodes: the Knights struggled to hold on, most of the cities were destroyed, and half of the Knights were killed. Just when the Knights saw that they could no longer hold on, a reinforcement army came from Spain, and the situation on the battlefield was suddenly reversed, and the Ottoman army retreated in panic, with losses of more than 30,000 men. This victory gave the Knights of Malta a rare period of peace.

In 1571, the Ottoman Empire again raised an army to completely wipe out the Order. This time, however, they suffered an even worse defeat, as the fleet had not yet reached Malta, when it encountered the Holy Alliance's fleet of the Invincible Armada of the Kingdom of Spain, and a naval battle ensued in the waters of Lepanto, in which the Ottoman fleet was almost entirely sunk or captured.

After that, the Knights of Malta entered its heyday, and ships with Maltese octagonal crosses on their sails roamed the Mediterranean. With a reputation for resisting the Ottomans, the Knights Hospitaller also acquired countless properties in various European countries, and the proceeds of these movable or immovable properties were also transferred to Malta, making it a shining pearl in the Mediterranean.

However, with the decline of the Ottoman Empire and the rise of continental states, the secular powers that had long since ignored Rome could hardly tolerate the blood-sucking survival of the Knights Hospitaller, and the French especially looked down on the Knights of Malta.

Many people of insight believe that the Knights Hospitaller are simply the remnants of ancient feudalism, religious madness, incompatible with modern society, or like other long-extinct knights, it is best to live a good life.

The outside world is changing with each passing day, and the Knights Hospitaller, who are the kings of the mountains on the island, are not immune. Faced with an existential crisis, they tried in every possible way to find a way out, trying to get rid of the church and become an independent elite secular regime.

In view of the lack of room for development in Malta, Grand Master Lascaris planned for a rainy day as early as 1651, sending knights across the sea to the Americas, buying several Caribbean islands from France in an attempt to run a colony. Unfortunately, in 1665, eight years after Lascaris' death, the Order sold the island to France, ending its short-lived colonization program.

In the past few decades, the Knights Hospitaller's property in various countries has been either destroyed or confiscated by the insane monarchs, causing the Order's income to plummet and its debts to rise.

Lack of money aside, the Knights' occupation of the island of Malta is a crime. The major powers, including the Ottoman Empire, coveted this important transportation route, and they were also wary of other countries taking the first step.

The Knights Hospitaller were careful to maintain as much neutrality as possible and maintain a delicate balance, otherwise the slightest mistake would lead to disaster.

However, in the evening of the previous day, a huge English fleet of more than thirty warships and forty transports had arrived in the waters off Valletta, Malta. Early the next morning, the English fleet made a request to allow the entire fleet to enter the port to replenish fresh water.

The then Grand Minister, Antonio Manuel de Vichner, told the English that, in accordance with the principle of neutrality, only a maximum of 4 English ships could be allowed to enter the port at one time.

It's not that Wehener deliberately embarrassed the English, it's that he didn't have the guts. The English fleet is menacing, and its intentions are unknown, and if the entire fleet is allowed to enter the port, it will be equivalent to surrendering the city of Valletta to the city, and it is simply surrendering without a fight, giving up this territory on which the Knights depend.

At 9 a.m., Admiral Nicholas Haddock, commander of the English fleet, issued an ultimatum to Vichner, demanding that the English fleet be allowed to enter the harbor by 10.30 a.m. to replenish fresh water and other supplies, or else to forcibly occupy Malta.

If only a few ships enter the port at a time to replenish supplies, God knows how long it will be delayed, and if the Qi people get the news in advance, the strategic suddenness of the English fleet's expedition to Egypt will be gone. Moreover, using this as an excuse to obtain the best military port and supply base in the Mediterranean, he will also have the advantage in the battle with the Qi navy in the future.

At this time, Malta's military strength consisted of 245 knights and about 400 soldiers, in addition to about 2,000 militia call-ups. What's more, the fort is not as strong as it used to be, and the reserves are abundant, so if you insist on holding on, it should not be a problem to support it for 3-5 months.

However, Vechner and other leaders of the Knights, in the face of the threat of force from the English, were directly instigated.

On the one hand, both sides were civilized people of Christendom—of course, the English were Protestant, while the Knights were devout Catholics, and had been supported by the English in the previous resistance to the Ottoman invasions, so they were in the same camp; On the other hand, England and the Qi kingdom in the east are at war, and they should not make a fuss about it, occupy Malta, and establish a new enemy—well, albeit a very weak one.

In addition, most of the local residents were obviously unwilling to fight against the powerful kingdom of England for the benefit of the Knights, even if they changed masters, as long as their belongings were safe, not to mention that they did not like the rule of the Knights in the first place, and were tired of the harsh religious atmosphere.

As soon as the English fleet sailed into the port of Valletta, more than 2,000 heavily armed British soldiers swarmed into several forts near the port, quickly took control of the dock batteries and armory, and then entered Valletta and disarmed all the knights and soldiers.

The English fleet also divided its forces and occupied the nearby island of Gozo.

In less than two days, the Regimental State of Malta, which had remained independent for nearly two hundred years, was completely occupied by England and became one of their most critical maritime strongholds in the Mediterranean. The British captured more than 500 artillery pieces, more than 8,000 muskets, 100,000 pounds of gunpowder, and six armed merchant ships. In addition, the countless riches and relics belonging to the Knights were also in the pockets of the British army.

"General, that must have been set on fire in the city by the soldiers of the Scottish Highlands Regiment." When an English naval officer saw Admiral Haddock turn his head to look at the billowing smoke rising over the city of Valletta, he whispered: "They may also be robbing the belongings of the local population, and it is not ruled out that some terrible atrocities will occur." ”

Admiral Hadolph shook his head and did not give an order to ban it on the matter.

Since its union with England in 1707, Scotland have been complaining that the English had pursued extreme policies of oppression against them, plundering them of the wealth of their Scots. In the Scottish Highlands, where the mountains were high and the roads were dangerous, and the sky was high and the emperor was far away, the subjects generally had a sympathetic and supportive attitude towards the Stuarts and the Jacobites.

The Scots have lived in the mountains for generations, like the natives, and their long-standing desire to raid villages and towns is still undiminished, and the merger of the two kingdoms has not lifted them out of poverty.

Some gentlemen sarcastically commented on the barbarism and ignorance of the Scots, "The coarse Scots would often kidnap boys or men and sell them to plantations in the Americas as a way to increase their meagre income." Generations of laziness and predatory life have created the savage vices of the Scottish Highlanders. If they don't agree, they will be able to fight and see each other in blood. Clan-to-clan, clan-to-clan rivalry has been passed down from generation to generation, and the stones piled up where every Scottish Highlander fell have kept them from their feud for generations to come. For a long time, they have been savage, brutal, and have always sent shivers down the spine of their neighbors. ”

However, it was the Scots' aggressive character that was perfectly exploited by the royal government as a sharp long knife. They were drafted in large numbers by the military to become part of the kingdom's army and fight for the good of England.

A large-scale armed rebellion broke out in Ireland, and the royal government recruited more than 3,500 soldiers from Scotland to Ireland to suppress local resistance.

In this expedition to Egypt, the royal government recruited another 4,000 soldiers from Scotland, plus 3,000 English soldiers, and will accompany the expeditionary fleet to seize several Egyptian ports indirectly controlled by the Qi people, so as to attack their Mediterranean trade, and at the same time cut off the Qi expeditionary fleet's access to supplies.

"This expedition may be an extremely blind military adventure." Admiral Haddock looked out at the sea in the distance and muttered.

Yes, he was opposed to the plans for this expedition drawn up by the Cabinet of Ministers and the Naval Council. But Lord Walpole, the cabinet leader who has been attacked by political opponents and opponents, is a staunch supporter of the plan, trying to salvage his declining reputation and status by gaining a stellar record on the battlefield.

However, the Qi people had been in Egypt for decades, and almost controlled the Ottoman province economically and tradely, although the Qi people did not maintain military power in the area due to the Ottoman Empire, but the local garrison was probably already bought and infiltrated by them, and became vassals of the Qi people, plus the armed escorts hired by their merchants were enough to ensure their safety in Egypt.

With an expeditionary fleet of less than 10,000 people, if an army force wants to capture the Egyptian ports controlled by the Qi people, it is very likely that they will be hit by bloodshed and eventually return in vain.

However, as a conscientious admiral, Hadolph had no choice but to do his best to achieve the above goals.

Five days later, Haddock left less than 1,500 British troops in Malta and then sailed with his fleet to Egypt.

(End of chapter)