Back to Ming Dynasty with Industrial Revolution System

Chapter 1366

Charles I's celebration banquet for the United Fleet was held in Whitehall, and it was another luxurious banquet costing thousands of pounds.The ambassadors of Spain, France, the Netherlands, and Denmark to Britain were also invited by Charles I to attend the celebration banquet. After all, in Charles I’s view, the royal fleet he built at a cost of 80 pounds should have at least Contribute half of it.This time is also a good opportunity to declare Britain's national strength to European countries.

These foreign ambassadors participated in the banquet with mixed feelings.

"As early as a few years ago, I thought that the orientals appeared in the city of London. Their purpose was definitely not as simple as buying and selling. If they can operate in the Mediterranean this time, then their fleet can appear anywhere in Europe. "

"It's really a worrying thing. The Cardinal Richelieu of France declared war to compete for hegemony with us in Spain. If he knows that the British and the Chinese are colluding, I really don't know how he will react. We Is it necessary for Spain and France to continue fighting?"

"Shall we ask the ambassador of France what they say?"

Several Spanish ambassadors saw the triumphant Charles I and the increasingly haughty British aristocrats, and then looked at the French ambassador to London.

The French ambassador was also looking at them.

The relationship between the two countries fighting for hegemony in continental Europe has undergone subtle changes because of this incident.

"The Crown Prince was pierced by the ramming angle of two enemy main ships in the Tunisian sea battle. The densely packed Turkish soldiers tried to jump on the deck of the Crown Prince and fought us with their best hand-to-board battle. In the past, the Spanish Armada also Trying to beat us with this type of warfare."

"At this moment, the King of the Seas bravely knocked one of the enemy ships away, and our officers and soldiers bravely jumped from the King of the Seas onto the enemy's deck, and fought them before they could react. , Prince Rupert used one against two, and at the critical moment when his cheek was cut by the enemy's knife, he killed the enemy with his long sword..."

Sir Pennington vividly described the scene of the naval battle for everyone, which greatly boosted the confidence of the nobles, gentry, and knights.

The victory of the naval battle made many British nobles who were on the sidelines turn to support Charles I's plan to establish a standing navy. It seems that it is also a good thing to levy ship taxes to strengthen fleet construction.

"Earl Stratford, how much wealth did you bring me back this time?" Charles I asked his most loyal subordinate, Earl Stratford, while clinking glasses with them among the nobles.

The Earl of Stratford served as the overseer he sent, and he was also in charge of the spoils obtained.

"The booty we got from Algiers exceeded 20 taels of silver. The Barbary pirates still owe us 10 taels of silver. There are also more gold and silver and booty from Tunisia, Tripoli, Egypt, and Levant. The total is in pounds..." The Earl of Stratford looked around and whispered to Charles I.

When Charles I heard the number of spoils reported to him by the Earl of Stratford, his eyes lit up: "It seems that the funds for the establishment of the Royal Army are available, and at least several Royal Infantry regiments can be formed. This expedition is similar to Queen Elizabeth's investment in Germany. Like Captain Lake's ocean voyages, if only a few more."

Charles I had a taste for food and taste, and was attracted by the huge profits brought about by war and plunder, so he wished to have several more similar expeditions.

The Captain Drake he mentioned was a navigator and great pirate in the last century. He obtained more than 2 pounds of gold and silver when he robbed a Spanish treasure ship.Later, he attacked Spain's overseas colonies on a global voyage and obtained tons of gold and silver treasures.

"Your Majesty, our victory in this expedition is mainly due to surprise. After being blackmailed by us, the Barbary pirates and the Egyptian province were also seriously injured. It is difficult for us to reproduce the results of this expedition. By the way, We have also signed treaties with the Barbary pirates in Algiers, Tunisia, and Tripoli. They will no longer invade our coast and Ireland, and we only need to guard against pirates in Morocco.” The Earl of Stratford brought another Good news.

"If I announce this news to my subjects, I will gain the support of Ireland and the counties along the southwestern coast." Charles I was even more excited.

These places were infested by Barbary pirates before the rise of the Royal Navy, and removing the Barbary infestation from the coast would boost his popularity in these places.

After all, as the king of a non-eastern centralized kingdom, the only place where he can directly exert influence is the royal family's land, and he has to work hard to win the support of the royal family from all counties.

"It's such an extravagant banquet. The celebration party of our Admiralty will definitely not be so extravagant." Sun Xu, Sun Chuanting, Zheng Zhibao and other officers from Huaxia were the protagonists of the expedition, and of course they also participated in the celebration banquet.

For them to wear oriental dresses to attend the banquet, because more and more Chinese people are coming to London, the British nobles have become accustomed to orientals wearing Hanfu, and there is no intention of disobedience.

"It's time for us to arrange a squadron to escort our merchant ships back to the mainland. Although we have won a lot of spoils in this expedition, the normal return of Western companies' merchant ships has not been delayed without our protection. We need to dispatch warships as soon as possible to complete our mission. routine tasks." Sun Xu said to Zheng Zhibao.

The Fourth Fleet was stationed at Portsmouth, and its regular mission was to protect merchant ships, especially the largest Western companies.

"Do you need me to lead the team back to the mainland?" Zheng Zhibao asked.

"The situation in Western Ocean is a bit tense. The ironclad ship remains in Western Ocean, maybe it will be effective. It is only necessary to send Ruan Youjin's Soochow and three frigates to protect the fleet and return. Doesn't the Western Company still have a few armed merchant ships?" Sun Xu didn't want to let the ironclad ship go back yet.

When the members of the Fourth Fleet discussed protecting the return of the merchant ship, Charles I came over with a glass of wine: "Friends from the East, I heard that you have powerful firearms. I plan to establish a Royal Infantry Regiment to protect the city of London. We are in need of a batch of muskets and cannons. I wonder if you can sell us a batch of your muskets and iron cannons? I am willing to use the wealth gained from this expedition to buy from you."

Sun Xu, Sun Chuanting and the others looked at each other: "Our fleet is only here to protect our merchant ships, and we don't have extra firearms. If His Majesty the King wants to buy muskets and cannons, he needs to go to the east to negotiate with our military headquarters. "

(End of this chapter)