Back to Ming Dynasty with Industrial Revolution System

Chapter 1712 Annexation of the Knights

"Boys, an order has been issued from above. We will return to the capital after the end of winter and end our voyage around the world."

Zheng Zhihu came to inspect the ships in winter. When he came to the station of the Zheng He, he saw a group of "veteran students" from the Navy Lecture Hall. Official Admiralty officer.

"Is the war in Europe over?"

The Zheng He crew had an unreal feeling when they learned that their campaign in Europe was drawing to a close.

In a short period of time, they participated in the battle of the capture of Constantinople in the Mediterranean, the decisive battle between Dunkirk and the European fleet, and later participated in the Battle of Jutland, and made many achievements as naval interns. Battle exploits.

"The war in Europe is not over yet, we have not conquered them yet, but a large-scale war will not break out, and it has nothing to do with you. If you are assigned to the Fourth Fleet back in the capital, then you may still have the opportunity to participate in the next battle." Zheng Zhihu said.

The Fourth Fleet is the main fleet stationed in Portsmouth, England, and naval cadets may be assigned to the four main fleets, the armed fleet of the East India Company, and the coastal defense sampan unit.Except for the Fourth Fleet that often fights here, the other troops don't have many opportunities to fight, just because they don't have any opponents, or the opponents are their own people.

"You did a good job this time. Your father and I will be proud of you." Zheng Zhihu privately held a beer glass and drank with Zheng Chenggong.

The three members of the Zheng family have all served the Ministry of the Navy for more than ten years, and they also hope that Zheng Chenggong, a junior, can serve for the Ministry of the Navy instead of the Ministry of War.

The Ministry of the Army and the Ministry of the Navy are independent from the six ministries and have a lot of power. Military positions are no worse than civilian positions, and the treatment of the Ministry of the Navy is still very good.

"I will try my best to catch up with your backs." Zheng Chenggong said.

"There is still a matter of marriage that needs to be resolved as soon as possible. The boss is not young, especially after deciding which fleet to serve in. It is best to serve in your father's Beiyang Fleet or the Zhili Fleet of your direct line. The Zhili Fleet is located in Weihaiwei and Lushun. It is also more convenient to take care of the family in the waters near Weiwei; the Beiyang Fleet's range of activities is in Dongying and Korea, which is not too far away." Zheng Zhihu was a little worried about his nephew getting married and starting a business.

20 years old is not too young in this era.

Due to the advancement of agricultural technology and the occupation of a large number of new territories, there is not much population pressure in China at present, and there is no need to tighten the population policy at all.

Zheng Chenggong just smiled helplessly and didn't answer.

In winter, everyone is preparing to return to their homeland.The Zhili Fleet and the Imperial Guards Brigade will protect Chu Yun back, while the Fourth Fleet and the Far West Expeditionary Force will continue to stay in Portsmouth.

As Zheng Zhihu said, the war is not over yet. Spain and the Netherlands have a large number of commercial interests in the sea. They cannot lose control of the sea, otherwise the domestic economy may collapse, especially the "sea carriage" of the Netherlands. husband".If there is no sea for the sea coachman, it is bound to be reduced to a small country.

In fact, in the original history, the Netherlands, that is, the Netherlands, lost several naval battles with England, and was later invaded by France on land, gradually declining.

When all the countries were having their own troubles, Castella, the head of the Knights Hospitaller in the Mediterranean, found the city of London and met Chu Yun.

Chu Yun helped the Knights of the Hospital restore the Rhodes Island resident, and naturally respected Chu Yun, and Chu Yun mentioned to him the idea of ​​​​establishing a shared port before leaving Malta Island.

But Castella did not directly agree with the possible annexation.Big fish eat small fish, and small countries survive in the cracks. It is easy to be swallowed up by a big country with a huge population, let alone an autonomous organization like the Knights Hospitaller, which is not even a principality.However, after Chu Yun left, he heard that Chu Yun's army defeated the French Army and the Swedish Army in Europe. He was still a little uneasy. After discussing with the core members of the Knights of the Hospital, he still had the cheek to chase after him. .

"We can open the islands of Malta, Rhodes, and Chios to your Chinese merchant ships and warships, and give your ships special discounts. Members of our knights and residents under our rule accept employment outside the island At that time, they will give priority to accepting Huaxia's employment request. In return for our contribution, I hope that we can also receive preferential treatment in Athens or other places you occupy, and our hired people can also accept the treatment of free citizens." Stella made a special trip to London to confirm a treaty with Chu Yun.

"No problem. If the two sides cooperate, I will send people to establish a hospital and a nursing school on the island of Malta to provide medical services for our officers, soldiers, businessmen, and travelers in the Mediterranean."

Chu Yun thought to himself, aren't you called the Knights of the Hospital?Then he will return to his job and become a real hospital knight order to save lives and heal the wounded, and provide medical personnel for his future Mediterranean fleet and Athens and other places.

The Knights Hospitallers were turned into logisticians allowing them to provide local services in the Mediterranean while rendering them military incapacitated.

"Are we going to sign some treaty to clarify each other's rights and obligations?" Castella asked cautiously.

"That's a matter of course. The Knights of the Hospitaller is not a kingdom or a principality, so I can't let you enter the Holy Alliance, but confirm this relationship in the form of a permanent oath. With our economic size, you can completely rely on us Can survive, not other kingdoms." Chu Yun wants to turn the Hospitallers into a vassal in the Mediterranean, and does not want the Hospitallers to enter the Holy Alliance as a country, and then they will not be able to annex the Hospitallers justifiably group.

As long as the economy of the Knights is completely dependent on China, then annexation and assimilation will happen sooner or later.

Assimilating a big country like France is very difficult, but the core members of the Knights Hospitaller are estimated to be less than a thousand, so it is not difficult to annex them.

Before Chu Yun left the city of London, he did not expect to be able to win over the Knights of the Hospital. After signing the oath of cooperation with the head of the hospital, Castella, he said: "We have a great project in progress, and we have already arrived in Egypt. It will soon enter the Mediterranean Sea. We plan to set up a transit station on the island of Malta, and then transfer to the city of London. I hope you can cooperate and give us a piece of land, and we will pay the rent every year."

"What project?"

"Laying of Asia-Europe submarine cables."

"Cable? What's that?" Castella was at a loss.

(End of this chapter)