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Chapter 1133 Reach London City

After a long voyage, Li Jinde's fleet crossed half of the world. When they arrived at the Thames River, it was already winter and there was heavy snow.

The British city of London was empty of thousands of people, and the arrival of the fleet from the mysterious east caused a huge sensation in this cold winter. The docks on the Thames River could not even accommodate the sudden arrival of more than 60 large sailing ships.

All the good people in London gathered at the docks to stop and look around. Two or three years ago, a merchant ship of a Chinese merchant came to Britain by mistake, but this time it was a fleet of more than fifty galleons!Dragon flags are fluttering over the Thames!
"Is this Britain? It's really a big city." The merchants who followed Li Jinde put on their coats and looked curiously at the Western buildings with different styles. The city of London seemed so strange to them for the first time.

"I didn't expect to visit again one day." Li Jinde found that although the city of London cannot be compared with the capital, it is undoubtedly a big city with a population of several 10.

He had no concept of the Western Ocean before, he just hired a few British sailors and came to the legendary Western Ocean with enthusiasm. At that time, he couldn't distinguish the Western countries such as Britain, Portugal, Spain, etc., thinking that this was the Western Ocean. .He is already familiar with the road when he comes for the second time, and he is no stranger to the city of London.

Since the two sides had already agreed on the tariff issue in the trade treaty, the customs declaration for the Western company's fleet to arrive in London was completed very quickly.

Sun Xu, Ruan Youjin, Ruan Youyi and other ships of the Fourth Fleet sailed directly into the Thames River, which did not cause panic among the local people and the royal family.The people were informed by King Charles I and the royal party that this was an ally's ship, and Charles I and the nobles of the royal party deeply understood that this fleet would not be so stupid as to attack the city of London...

The Fourth Fleet only had more than a dozen sailing warships built locally, and Charles I believed that the temporary summoning of the Royal Navy could still defeat the Fourth Fleet.Moreover, this is Britain, which is tens of thousands of miles away from China, and the technological level of this era cannot achieve a great expedition of tens of thousands of miles.The confrontation of the main fleets of various countries is usually carried out in the English Channel or the Mediterranean Sea, and organizing a crusade against the West Indies can be regarded as an expedition.Conflicts further afield are generally struggles between armed merchant ships, privateers, and treasure ships of various countries.

"London City!" The naval officers of the Fourth Fleet also arrived in London City for the first time, and really began to come into contact with Western civilization.

Ruan Youjin elbowed Ruan Youyi: "I didn't expect that the Westerners who were active in our Annan country at that time came from these places."

The [-]th Fleet's naval squad wearing navy uniforms lined up neatly and stood by after landing, which attracted a lot of attention. Any country is eager to have a uniform and orderly army.

"Earl Compton, has the matter entrusted to you by His Majesty the King been completed?" A British nobleman in a fur coat came with several ministers and found Earl Compton first.

"Fortunately, my life was not disgraceful," said Earl Compton, "I don't know where His Majesty the King is?"

"His Majesty the King just knew you were coming, so he asked me to come to greet you. It seems that the Eastern Fleet you brought this time seems to be a bit too large." Earl Strafford looked past Compton and looked at the Thames. The fleet of the Western Company on the riverside couldn't help being a little shocked.

When Li Jinde came here last time, it was just his private merchant ship, but this time he brought more than 50 ships, which seems a bit exaggerated.

"It is estimated that only the merchant ships of the Dutch can match them. The Dutch can send hundreds of merchant ships into the Pacific Ocean at a time." Earl Compton said.

"The Dutch have become a new threat, and now there is one more powerful navy than ours. His Majesty the King can't wait to reorganize the Royal Navy immediately. When you leave Britain, he ordered a ship tax to obtain the funds for the navy. Aroused quite a lot of conflicts... Let’s not mention this matter for the time being, let’s go to receive the incoming Chinese businessmen, and their arrival may provide the king with funds to revive the navy.” Earl Strafford took a few A minister went to entertain Li Jinde and others.

"I am the captain of the Fourth Fleet of the Kyushu Army Admiralty. I was ordered to lead the Fourth Fleet to station in Britain to assist your British Navy in dealing with threats from the Spaniards and the Netherlands. I can even help you deal with the Scottish Navy." Sun Xu introduced to Earl Strafant.

"Your Grace Stratford, the most loyal servant of His Majesty the King, welcomes you. You may move to the port of Portsmouth to expand the influence of our allies in the English Channel. Now the Spaniards and the Netherlands are in the English Channel Unscrupulous, their ships can easily enter and exit the English Channel to the Atlantic Ocean, completely ignoring us." Earl Stratford said.

"Thank you for providing the port. We will pay for the maintenance and replenishment of our ships in the port." Sun Xu said.

An important item in the trade treaty between the two parties is to provide military ports and trading ports for the Kyushu Army and Chinese merchants. The cost of the garrison will be borne by the Kyushu Army Navy Department itself. As the price for providing the military port, when Britain has a military conflict with other European countries At that time, warships stationed in Britain were obliged to act in concert with the British Royal Navy in a combined fleet.

"Earl Stratford, we meet again. This time I will stay in London for a long time, please take care of me." Li Jinde greeted Earl Stratford, "I am now in charge of the Western Trading Company. people."

"It turned out to be you! It seems that you have been reused by your eastern rulers because of your arrival in our city of London." The Earl of Stratford saw Li Jinde again, and at this time Li Jinde was no longer a private businessman, but a similar As the governor of the East India Company, he came to the City of London to handle affairs.

The arrival of the western trading company led by Li Jinde will also contribute a large sum of customs duties to the royal family every year.

"It's a long story at this time, and I will talk to you in detail when I have time." Li Jinde said to Earl Stratford.

"Okay, His Majesty the King is preparing a grand banquet to entertain you, and we will prepare temporary accommodation for you. The number of crew members you have come may be a bit too much, which exceeds our expectations. Please give us a little time to prepare." Stella said Earl Fowler.

"The king's banquet!?" The accompanying Chinese merchants and naval officers of the Fourth Fleet heard that Charles I actually hosted a banquet for them, and couldn't help but look forward to what the banquet attended by the nobles from the West would look like.

(End of this chapter)