I'm a big dick

Chapter 211

At this time, the British businessman James Gilbert, who came to the Ming Dynasty on a merchant ship sent by Li Dan and Yan Siqi to sell goods and buy rice in Nanyang, and then came to the capital to meet, was visiting the missionary Julian.

It has been seven or eight days since he came to the capital, although Yan Siqi sent someone to accompany him, and played to understand the emperor.But the emperor did not respond, but arranged for James to live in the posthouse.

There were also two Dutch merchants who lived with James in the post house. They came from the country of Wa and were introduced by Li Dan's subordinates who stayed in the country of Wa.

Apparently, Emperor Daming had explained to Li and Yan.Otherwise, they would not dare to lure Xiyi merchants to the Daming capital without authorization.

As a rising star, the United Kingdom has been suppressed by the old overlord Netherlands, and has withdrawn from Japan's business and trade.There is even a tendency to be kicked out of Asia. This time, it is also a last-ditch effort to take the Dutchman's boat.

"Our conditions are very simple, we can anchor at the port of Ming Dynasty, buy goods, repair ships, replenish fresh water and food." James said to Ai Julian: "I don't know this request, will the emperor of Ming Kingdom agree? "

Ai Julius thought for a while and said, "Although I don't really understand His Majesty's thoughts, I heard from Jin Nige that His Majesty can speak English with a London accent. This should be a good sign, right?"

"London sound?" James looked happy, and asked with some doubts: "What's going on? Could it be that His Majesty the Emperor has already had contact with the British, and even learned a few English words?"

Ai Julius shook his head and said: "That's not clear. As for the conditions you listed, I think it should be acceptable. His Majesty the Emperor of Ming Dynasty is still very enlightened. You can see the clues by translating Western scripts and lifting the sea ban."

After a pause, he continued: "There is another piece of news, which is also very important. The Ming Dynasty is suppressing two rebellions, and there is an urgent need for weapons and technicians. This is also an important reason why the Portuguese are popular."

James' eyes lit up, and he said, "Mistols, cannons, we have all the Portuguese can give to the Ming Dynasty. Craftsmen and technology are no problem."

"Is it shipped all the way from England?" Ayulio shook his head and said, "I'm afraid it can't compete with the Portuguese in terms of price."

"By the way, the Ming Dynasty still needs western-style sea ships." Ai Julius added: "Similarly, you can't compete with the Portuguese."

James thought about it, but he didn't tell Ai Julian the truth.

It is obviously unrealistic and uneconomical to build a ship in the UK and then sail to the Ming Dynasty, but they can grab it!

Those who rob the Spaniards, the Portuguese, or even the Dutch, as long as they can establish a good relationship with the Ming Empire and maintain the channels of trade and exchange, these are not a problem.

"Thank you, reverend priest." James crossed himself on his chest, looking devout.

"Please also tell the officials of the Ming Dynasty and report to His Majesty the Emperor." James finally promised: "What the Portuguese can do, we will do better, so as to express a more sincere intention."

"Also, we won't be as greedy as the Portuguese and the Dutch. As long as His Majesty's little favor, we will be grateful."

.....................

Almost at the same time, the Dutch merchant Provin was also asking Tang Ruowang for advice on how to trade with the Ming Empire.

"The Ming Empire is powerful and proud." Tang Ruowang didn't have a good impression of the Dutch people, but he still offered his own advice, "I have a very bad impression of you Dutch people, and they call them red-haired barbarians. You are used to looting and occupying land, and it is common for you to go ashore and capture people as slaves."

Provin argued strongly: "If the Ming Empire agreed to trade and trade, naturally such a regrettable thing would not have happened."

Tang Ruowang glanced at Provin with a hint of sneer, and said, "The emperor called a meeting with the missionaries in the capital before, and talked about the mutual trade."

Provin's eyes widened, showing a concentrated expression.

Tang Ruowang said: "His Majesty the Emperor explained the conditions of the Ming Empire's foreign trade and mutual market, which is very fair. You just follow these rules."

Looking at Prowen, Tang Ruowang emphasized emphatically: "His Majesty also mentioned you Dutch people. If he wanted to use force, he would not hesitate to mobilize thousands of ships and [-] soldiers to fight, and cut off the trade routes between you and Japan."

"The Ming Empire has such strength?" Provin narrowed his eyes and said, "I heard that the Ming Empire is suppressing the rebellion."

Tang Ruowang smiled contemptuously, and said, "That's right, the two anti-insurgency wars both involved an army of more than [-] troops. But so what, the Ming Empire has tens of thousands of people, and a million troops can be recruited."

"The power of the sea, if you add all the sea merchants of Guiming, it is not difficult to organize a thousand armed merchant ships. The most important thing is that with your dozen warships and thousands of soldiers, it is simply impossible to conquer the Ming Empire." An idiot talking about a dream."

Provin lowered his eyes, lost in thought.

If he hadn't believed in the vastness and large population of the Ming Empire described in the travel notes before, he had already changed his impression after what he saw and heard on the way to the capital.

He is also quite familiar with the situation of the Chinese businessmen in the country of Wa, and knows that Tang Ruowang's words are true.

The armed fleet owned by Li Dan and Yan Siqi was originally a headache for Western competitors.Especially the Spaniards, who were even more hated by Li Dan, were often robbed.

But due to Li Dan and Yan Siqi's contacts in the mainland, even the Dutch had to rely on them to provide Ming's goods.

Now, what lies ahead is the lure of direct trade.The use of force is short-sighted and has a great risk, that is, being cut off from the sea trade with Japan.

"A dozen ships and thousands of soldiers, did the emperor of the Ming Dynasty say that?" Provin suddenly sensed the problem and asked with a frown.

Tang Ruowang nodded and said: "His Majesty's knowledge of the world is astonishing, and he is quite familiar with the situation of you Dutch people. By the way, with the help of the Portuguese, the army of the Ming Empire has equipped a considerable number of advanced muskets , the navy also has a lot of cannons."

Provin snorted depressingly, "Damn Portuguese."

"Maybe there will be some damn British in the future." Tang Ruowang shrugged his shoulders and said, "Curses and jealousy won't help. I think you should accept the conditions of the Ming Empire honestly and do business well!"

Provin blinked his eyes, put on a smiling face, and said: "That's natural. We came to see His Majesty the Emperor for the purpose of trading. There is no need to doubt our sincerity, and I ask the priest to speak well for us. About us Dutch The bad rumors must be the slander of the Portuguese, who want to monopolize the trade."

Tang Ruowang watched Provin's face change, rolled his eyes helplessly, and said, "The Ming Empire will send people to discuss the trade market. If you want to succeed, show your sincerity!"

Provin had a plan and left.

Tang Ruowang looked at Prowen's back and shook his head, no longer entangled with this hypocritical businessman who was greedy for profit and ungrateful, took out the letter sent by Xu Guangqi, and read it carefully again.

Tang Ruowang did not quite agree with His Majesty's instruction to compile the almanac according to the heliocentric theory, but to change His Majesty's will, there must be definite evidence.

It's a little difficult!Tang Ruowang stood up, ready to find a few more astronomy books to study carefully.

………………………… Divider line…………………………

Because the wars in the West stretched throughout modern times, especially around sea routes and overseas colonies, the speed of change in naval warfare technology was far faster than that in Asia.

Although battle line tactics have appeared, it was not presented to the world in a mature manner until the Anglo-Dutch naval battle, that is, more than 30 years later.

Give full play to the side string firepower of the gunboat, and attack in a column of battleships as much as possible, the more ferocious firepower output can be obtained.

Of course, how to implement it on the battlefield is not Zhu Youxiao's business.

He only puts forward ideas and suggestions, and then the officials below improve and improve, and then achieve proficient use through training.

Now, the person who received this mission, or accepted the emperor's suggestion, was Shen Yourong, the admiral of the East China Sea Navy.

Now the Donghai Navy already has 20 Chinese-style sailboats (junk boats), all of which are the largest models with a length of [-] meters and a width of [-] meters, and can carry six guns;
Six old lock boats, 40 meters long and [-] meters wide, can hold [-] guns;
In addition, there are more than [-] large and medium-sized rush boats, more than [-] such as Wuyi boats, Cangshan boats, and sentry boats, and there are as many as three to four hundred fire boats.

Some of these ships were bought, some were transferred from the Fujian, Zhejiang and Guangdong Navy, and some were donated by Guiming maritime merchants; and [-] officers and soldiers were transferred from the coastal provinces to supplement the Donghai Navy.

Shen Yourong and others were extremely surprised by the frantic establishment and expansion of the East China Sea Navy, as well as the increase of funds and artillery and intensive training for the three provinces of Fujian, Zhejiang and Guangdong.

Of course they don't know that Zhu Youxiao must be prepared to meet the Dutch military attack.Historically, it was this year that the Dutch occupied Penghu again, and after being repelled, they went to Dongfan again.

Don't be afraid of [-], just be afraid of what happens.

Zhu Youxiao wanted to temporarily stabilize the Dutch with trade and exchange, and buy time for the Ming army's navy to grow.

But who knows if it will succeed? The ambition of the Dutch seems to be not only to do business, but also to monopolize trade with China, and even to occupy land and garrison troops to rest their ships.

And this is what Zhu Youxiao can't agree to anyway.Then the next thing is to start a war and speak with your fists.

Therefore, Zhu Youxiao is not only gathering strength to strengthen the East China Sea Navy as soon as possible.He also ordered Nanju Yizeng, the governor of Fujian, to send troops to Dongfan and Penghu, order the navy to strengthen combat readiness, and guard against the comeback of the red-haired barbarians.

Shen Yourong had dealt with the Dutch, seen their huge ships and cannons, and knew that the current strength of the East China Sea Navy was not enough to compete with the Red Maoyi.

And the battle line suggested by the emperor was a little too impatient when the Donghai Navy was only equipped with more than fifty Hongyi cannons.

(End of this chapter)