Back to Ming Dynasty with Industrial Revolution System

Cap 1785 Freedom of Navigation Regulations
The representative of the Barbary pirates from North Africa stood up: "We in Morocco, Algiers, Tunisia, Tripoli and other places protested against the "Freedom of Navigation Act", which cut off our financial resources. As we all know, our group is based in the Mediterranean Sea. To make a living, the Freedom of Navigation Act bluntly says to fight against pirates. Is this trying to drive us to death? We have promised in the First Mediterranean War that we will not rob Chinese and English ships in the future, why should we specifically deal with us? ?”

The envoys of France, Spain, Genoa, the Knights Hospitaller, the Papal States, and Venice on the Mediterranean coast looked at the group of pirate chiefs who were flying in trouble, and they all sympathized with the group of Barbary pirates, and some gloated.

Seeing that the Barbary pirates were sweating profusely, Chu Yun knew that the "Freedom of Navigation Regulations" he announced had seriously damaged the interests of the Barbary pirates.

In the First Mediterranean War, the Fourth Fleet and the Royal Fleet taught the Barbary pirates a lesson, causing the Barbary pirates to be frightened when they saw Chinese ships.

However, the "Freedom of Navigation Regulations" is not mainly aimed at them, but to prevent merchant ships from being attacked when the two sides have not declared war.

It is not only the attack on the Chinese merchant ships that is China's loss. In the future, the whole world will provide resources for the mainland. If the resource country provides resources or ships that transport gold and silver payments are robbed by pirates or privateers, it will also bring disasters to the mainland. indirect loss.

Pirates, as predators rather than producers, not only failed to create value, but hindered the formation of the global shipping market.Chu Yun didn't need a group of pirates with no discipline, backward equipment, and different cultures to expand the Mediterranean fleet. The Barbary pirates were of little value to Chu Yun, so the Barbary pirates could only become victims.

"Then what do you want?" Chu Yun asked.

Hearing Chu Yun's bad tone, the pirate representatives didn't dare to answer for a while.

If Chu Yun is offended here, maybe their barbary pirates' lair will be baptized by steam ironclad ships again!

One of the pirate leaders hesitated again and again, and still stated their demands: "It is best to remove the anti-piracy content in the Free Navigation Act, we also need to survive. If merchant ships trading in the Mediterranean can pay us protection fees, then we will Forbid your pirates to plunder the country's goods. This way we will not starve to death, and the merchant ships of all countries will be safe."

Paying protection fees to pirates for the safety of merchant ships?It's really fortunate that the Barbary pirates can think of such a way to get money.Isn't this the same trick that Chu Yun let the East India Company rule the Indian maharajas in the Indian peninsula?The only difference is that the East India Company can also station troops on the territory of Indian maharajas who pay protection fees.

"We want our Kingdom of France to pay protection fees to pirates? This is an insult to us. Our Kingdom of France has a Mediterranean fleet and is not afraid of you at all."

"We in Genoa would rather join the "Freedom of Navigation Act" than pay protection fees to you Barbary pirates."

The kingdoms around the Mediterranean had a deep distaste for the Barbary pirates, and it was at this juncture that they spoke with cynicism.

Castella of the Knights Hospitaller was also present at the meeting. The relationship between the Knights Hospitaller and the Barbary pirates was even worse, and he sarcastically said: "The Barbary pirates should also disappear."

"Damn heretics, it would be best for your hospital knights to disappear!" the Barbary pirate slapped the table and shouted.

"Everyone be quiet."

When Chu Yun spoke, all the people present cooled down quickly. They didn't want to interrupt the most powerful person in front of him from speaking.

Chu Yun continued: "The Free Navigation Act is such a regulation. Not only in North Africa, but also in the Caribbean Sea and the Persian Gulf. Trade. The free navigation regulations emphasize the freedom of navigation and trade, and even whether they choose to join the navigation regulations is the freedom of all countries. But countries that join the regulations must abide by the terms and actively cooperate to clean up pirates and privateers."

He turned to look at the representative of the Barbary pirates again: "Pirates are not a serious business. Even without the navigation regulations we promulgated, the number of warships in all countries is increasing, and your end will come soon. When the navigation regulations are implemented Before, you can still find ways to make a living in other businesses. Unless you want to provoke the third Mediterranean war and be completely wiped out by our navy."

The Barbary pirates turned pale with fright at Chu Yun's threat.

They didn't expect that their invitation to participate in the World Expo would be the end of the history of Barbary pirates.

Soon pirates and privateers will become history in the face of the increasing number of warships in various countries.

In addition to Huaxia's ability to manufacture steam ironclad ships, the large number of sailed battleships built by other kingdoms is also enough to make pirate ships and privateers suffer.

"A country that has chosen to join the Free Navigation Regulations only needs to send a representative to sign and seal the treaty, then we consider that the country has accepted all the provisions of the Navigation Regulations. If there is a violation, we Huaxia will lead other member states to deal with it Ports and fleets attack to maintain freedom of navigation. We can’t control countries that have not joined the free navigation regulations.” Chu Yun ignored the Barbary pirates who did not pose much threat, and negotiated for all countries to join the free navigation regulations. Declare that the use of privateers when not in war is illegal.

The ambassadors of various countries heard that, isn't this going to force them to forcibly join the Free Navigation Act?

"To be honest, we in the Netherlands are very interested in this regulation. We need to send a telegram to the Dutch Parliament for instructions." The Netherlands, who was a coachman at sea, unexpectedly supported the navigation regulations.

The Netherlands has thousands of large and small merchant ships, and they are often attacked by privateers, so they actively participate in the construction of maritime order.

"We, England, have joined the Navigation Act and agreed that privateering of ships is illegal during non-war periods. All captains who attack merchant ships of treaty member states without authorization will be wanted as pirates." Sophia stood up to support Chu Yun at this time.

"Our Kingdom of Denmark has also joined the free navigation regulations, and we are not suitable for privateer tactics."

"The Kingdom of Portugal joins."

"Venice joins."

"The Knights Hospitaller joins."

All the younger brothers that Chu Yun received in Europe also stood by his side and waved their flags.

For countries that don't use privateer tactics very much, there is not much harm in joining the Free Navigation Act, and they even sold Chu Yun a favor.

After they joined, more than a dozen kingdoms and principalities successively joined the navigation regulations in the next period of time, and began to clean up pirates and declare privateers illegal, completely removing obstacles to world shipping.

(End of this chapter)