Back to Ming Dynasty with Industrial Revolution System

Chapter 1481 The Attitude of the Navy
Portsmouth Port, where the Fourth Fleet and some Royal Fleet ships are moored, almost the entire port is for military services.There were barracks for soldiers on shore, and shipyards employing thousands of workers.But as a fleet base, this place relies on serving ships for a living.

After the outbreak of the British Civil War, this place existed aloofly. Neither the king's army nor the parliamentary army dared to capture the heavily guarded port.

The Royal Navy's standing is very important.Whoever the King and Parliament can get the Royal Navy to support them will be able to get a lot of aid from overseas.On the contrary, it will be controlled by people.

Originally, in order to revive the navy, Charles I collected ship taxes from the counties, raised 80 pounds to invest in the construction of the navy, and built a costly three-deck battleship such as the King of the Seas for the navy.

However, after the outbreak of the civil war, the behavior of the Royal Fleet was very unclear, and it seemed that it did not want to side with the king.

The Royal Fleet's hesitation made the Fourth Fleet, which had joined hands with the Royal Fleet in the Mediterranean, somewhat dissatisfied.

The Fourth Fleet is obviously on the king's side, but it doesn't want to intervene in the internal struggles of Britain to avoid being hated by ordinary people and making it difficult to carry out work in the future.So the Fourth Fleet wanted to put the Royal Fleet on the King's side.

"Sun Chuanting claimed in the letter that the King's Army is facing the greatest crisis. After the spring of next year, the Scottish Covenant Army will join the civil war in England. Therefore, he wants to ask us for 1000 muskets and 2 cannons to help the King's Army train a A new army." Sun Xu, the commander of the Fourth Fleet, summoned the main officials of the Fourth Fleet and discussed with them how to help the king.

"1000 muskets and 2 cannons may not be able to help the king win the victory, right? Although the militias in Britain are not strong, they are still much stronger than those of the aboriginal kingdoms in Southeast Asia. They have many factories that can produce cannons, but few have them. It's just the experience of participating in the war." Ruan Youjin said.

"He intends to train an elite infantry of 7000 and an elite cavalry of 5000. The firearms we assist the King's Army are for the infantry of the Chinese Army, in order to strengthen the firepower during frontal volleys." Sun Xu said.

"We can't participate in the battle in person, so we can only provide weapons for the king's army. We do have a batch of spare muskets and artillery in our supply ship. It was originally used to supply our soldiers with equipment in case of emergency, but if If we can't participate in the battle in person, then it's useless to keep it, but we can help the king's army. After the war is over, the return of the aid should be quite amazing." Zheng Zhibao stretched.

The battle on British land was in full swing, and the Fourth Fleet could only stand by and watch, which inevitably made them feel like they had nothing to do.

Countries on the European continent are also busy fighting, and no kingdom has the power to intervene in Britain's internal battles. That is to say, the Fourth Fleet is currently in an embarrassing situation where there is no threat, but it can only stand by.

"It's not that we won't participate in the war, but we have to wait for an appropriate time to intervene in their internal wars in a righteous capacity." Sun Xu emphasized.

"Commander, when will we be able to go to battle in person? Together, our Fourth Fleet and the Far West Expeditionary Force can send 3000 people ashore to fight. They should be able to defeat the parliamentary army." Ruan Youjin, Zheng Zhibao and other militant naval officers asked. road.

"I don't know, there may be a suitable opportunity, or there may not be... If Sun Chuanting can use the army currently at hand to defeat the parliament, it is undoubtedly the best result. Help the king defeat the parliament, the king will owe us a lot of favors, We don't need to offend ordinary people in England and Scotland." Sun Xu was also a little confused.

"Ruan Youjin, you lead 300 marines to transport the firearms requested by Sun Chuanting to Oxford to support the king, and come back after it is safely delivered to Oxford. Unless you are attacked by the parliamentary army, you must not conflict with the parliamentary army. By the way, remember to sign The blue dragon flag of our navy department, if the people of the parliamentary army see our flag, they will weigh the consequences of conflict with us."

"As ordered!"

"Sir, the Royal Fleet seems to be a little closer to the Parliament. We must pay close attention to their movements. If they unite with the Parliament, it may cause difficulties for the King's Army to obtain supplies from the sea."

"The Royal Navy... I will have a good talk with Admiral Pennington later. Even if they are unwilling to help the king, they cannot be allowed to stand on the side of the parliament." Sun Xu said.

The British Royal Navy has several ports, and Sir Pennington, who happened to be in charge of the Royal Navy, stopped in Portsmouth.Hearing that Sun Xu, the commander of the Fourth Fleet, was coming to visit, Sir Pennington hurriedly let the officer from the East come in.

"Admiral Pennington, you and I have worked together to defeat the Barbary pirates and the Ottoman navy in the Mediterranean Sea. You should know that I have always been straight to the point. Our people have noticed that your navy is very close to the parliament, and it seems to help the parliament. The intention of blocking the king's army on the sea." Sun Xu found a chair and sat down.

After cooperating with Sir Pennington in the Mediterranean Sea, he was stationed in Portsmouth. The commanders of the two fleets looked up and looked down. They were usually familiar and very rude.

"I am also helpless...please drink tea." Sir Pennington sighed, "The civil war broke out suddenly, and many counties supported the council. They assembled more than 5000 cavalry and 25000 infantry. Essex The army led by the earl to deal with the king is only part of it. In some counties, militias control important ports and trade routes. Our ships in Plymouth port are controlled by the parliament. Not to mention that many naval officers themselves are members of the parliament or their relatives are in the parliament Member of Parliament in..."

"Recently, the parliament has extended an olive branch to us, agreeing to set up a special naval agency after the war to increase the salaries and treatment of all naval officers. Therefore, many low-level sailors and soldiers have a higher voice for supporting the parliament. I myself It is inclined to support the king. After all, the king raised 80 pounds to improve our fleet. However, it is undoubtedly difficult to curb the voices of some officers and soldiers to support the parliament. Because after the war began, the king Our Navy cannot be paid, whereas Parliament has legislative powers and can legitimately levy taxes to pay our Navy."

Sir Pennington spoke of his difficulty.

When Sun Xu heard this, he probably understood how the Parliament bought the Royal Navy from Charles I. It was a big stick and a carrot in one hand, trying to get the Royal Navy to stand on the side of the Parliament.

(End of this chapter)