The Ming Dynasty did not revolutionize

Chapter 73 The Siege of Gibraltar

The situation in Spain is different from that in France.

Spain's colonies in the Americas were the world's largest silver producers at that time.

Spain is a relatively wealthy country in Europe.

Especially after Spain no longer maintained a navy of the same level as Britain, the country's financial situation became relatively abundant.

By reducing the trade in luxury goods with the Ming Dynasty, Spain still had the spare capacity to continue the war.

An important purpose of Spain's participation in the war was to retake Gibraltar, but it was never successful.

After receiving the news from the British, Spain did not respond to them immediately, but instead prepared to intensify its attack on Gibraltar.

Spain was ready to change from containment to a violent attack, preparing to make a final attempt before its allies truly withdrew.

The envoys arranged by the King of France came to the Spanish court and explained and reminded King Carlos III of the current situation:
“Your Majesty, the main force of the British Navy has never gone to North America, which shows that Britain has completely given up its interests in North America.

"Correspondingly, Britain will keep all its strength in Europe to defend its own interests in Europe, so it will be difficult to defeat it.

"Gibraltar is easy to defend but difficult to attack. If the British defend it with all their might, it will be difficult for us to take it by force."

Carlos III understood the logic, but he was still unwilling to accept it, and said directly to the French envoy:

“Spain has cooperated with France in launching an attack on the British mainland and Jersey, and France should also cooperate with Spain’s actions.

"We the Bourbon dynasty stand together and make one last attempt to take back Gibraltar!"

Carlos III insisted, and the French envoy went back to report helplessly. Louis XVI also decided to accompany his uncle in another charge.

Louis XVI asked Necker, the Chancellor of the Treasury, to continue to find ways to raise funds and resources.

At the same time, the army and navy were mobilized south to cooperate with the navy and army of the Kingdom of Spain in preparing to launch the final assault on Gibraltar.

The British did not receive a positive response from Spain, but instead obtained news from other channels that Spain and France were mobilizing troops to the south, and thus understood the Spanish mentality and purpose.

King George III of England said to the Prime Minister:

"The Spaniards are still unwilling to give up. We have to defend Gibraltar again. We must defend Gibraltar!"

The new Prime Minister, the Marquis of Rockingham, also agreed very seriously:

“Yes, Your Majesty, if Gibraltar is recaptured by Spain, Spain and France might jointly attack Jersey again.

"Only by forcibly defending Gibraltar here can Spain and France be forced to accept reality."

More than two months later, France and Spain mobilized more than 40 warships and more transport ships, and also built more than 100 naval artillery batteries.

More than 40,000 naval sailors and nearly 50,000 army soldiers were organized to launch the final attack on Gibraltar.

The largest amphibious offensive and defensive battle at sea in this era broke out.

The British Navy, which had more practical experience, broke through the Spanish Navy's blockade many times and provided sufficient supplies to the Gibraltar defenders.

The residents of Gibraltar were relocated directly to the British mainland, leaving only professional soldiers from the UK in Gibraltar.

Reduce the consumption of guard troops, avoid the impact of civilian factors on morale, and let the guards be more focused.

The large-scale amphibious operation lasted for more than half a month.

France and Spain were never able to break into the Gibraltar fortress, and eventually had to suspend their offensive due to heavy losses of warships and naval artillery.

The final result can be regarded as a tragic victory for Britain, which defended Gibraltar at a huge cost.

After this disastrous defeat, the French finally had no money left and had to stop cooperating with the Spaniards.

The Spaniards still did not want to give up. Although they were unable to launch another large-scale attack, they continued to maintain the siege of Gibraltar.

By this time, large-scale fighting in Europe was largely over.

France and Britain watched each other on both sides of the English Channel, and Spain and Britain continued the low-intensity battle of blockade and counter-blockade. News from America also continued to arrive during this process.

The Ming Navy supported the Ming-French coalition forces in capturing Savannah, Pensacola, the Bahamas, and even eventually Jamaica.

By June 1780, news of the surrender of the British Caribbean Governor reached Europe.

Britain's influence in Central America has been wiped out by the Ming Dynasty.

Louis XVI took a report and asked the chief minister, Count Maurepas:
"Jamaica has been conquered by the Ming Dynasty, and the British Governor of the Caribbean has surrendered. Is this good news or bad news for France?"

Count Maurepas said, smiling:
"Of course it's good news..."

Louis XVI specifically reminded:

“But according to our navy’s report, the Ming expeditionary force brought North American militia with them and actually controlled all the islands they occupied, including the islands we listed as targets before the war.

“And our ground forces don’t actually control any islands. Can this be considered good news?”

Compared with the Canadian region in North America, Louis XVI was more concerned about the Caribbean islands, where cash crops such as sugarcane, coffee, and tobacco could be grown.

Count Maurepas went on to explain:

“Don’t worry too much, Your Majesty.

“Although Ming basically occupied these islands alone, it was also because France and Spain held back Britain in Europe that Ming was able to easily achieve such a great gain.

“So after the war, Ming will eventually share the spoils with us and Spain.

“Especially those colonies that originally belonged to us and Spain and were occupied by Britain during the last war should be returned to us and Spain.

"The Ming spoils of war should include all the ancient cities that were once British colonies.

"Otherwise, the international reputation of the Ming Dynasty will definitely plummet, and no country may be willing to form an alliance with the Ming Dynasty to cooperate in war in the future."

After hearing this, Louis XVI's originally tangled mentality calmed down:
"That's right. For the sake of their international reputation, the Ming people can't monopolize all these spoils and ignore our contributions."

Count Maurepas agreed without thinking:

"Is such that."

Then I immediately added in my mind:
"It's impossible for us to make a lot of money..."

For Britain, the news of the surrender of the Governor of the Caribbean was of course absolutely bad news.

However, the responsibility for these wars has been taken by the former prime minister who resigned, and the current cabinet does not need to be held responsible for it.

Even for the current cabinet, Britain has actually received some good news.

For example, the towns of Montreal and Quebec have not yet fallen.

Because the Ming Dynasty temporarily abandoned these two towns and turned to occupy the vast wasteland around the Great Lakes.

At the same time, the Ming Dynasty's North American fleet and expeditionary force also responded to Britain's intention to negotiate.

Qin Nanxing and Li Anbang stated that as soldiers, they were only responsible for the war in North America and not any diplomatic affairs.

If Britain is really prepared to negotiate with the Ming Dynasty, it can send people directly to Yingtian Prefecture for negotiations.

At the same time, they will not stop their military operations in North America until they receive orders from His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

The mood of the new British cabinet, led by Prime Minister Lord Rockingham, was mixed.

The good news is that it has been confirmed that the North American colonies may not have all fallen, and the Ming Dynasty's North American fleet should not interfere in the fighting in Europe for the time being.

What is worrying is that they will not stop their actions in North America, and there is still a possibility that all the North American colonies will fall.

(End of this chapter)