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Chapter 1589 Mercenaries to the Portuguese

"Our Royal Army has just been established and has not yet formed combat effectiveness. If we go to support Portugal, it will be a heavy burden on our finances, and we will not be able to benefit from it."

"France is at war with Spain. Helping Portugal means that we will be involved in the European continental war, which is contrary to our usual principle of neutrality."

In Parliament, members of Parliament objected to easily intervening in the endless European continental war before the Royal Army and Royal Navy were ready to fight.

Even Spain, the first colonial power, squeezed civilians in various places to decline because of the European war, and winning Spain only helped France gain European hegemony.

"It's time to find a way to get rid of the Portuguese... There is an army stationed in Portsmouth in the east, why don't they send a force to Portugal to help them defend the city." Sophia thought that Portsmouth had an army under the management of Sun Chuanting Indian soldiers.

"It would be a good thing for us if the Eastern Legion could reduce its garrison in England and transfer some of its garrison to Portugal." Many congressmen supported Sophia's idea.

Soon the Portuguese envoys were informed that the Royal Army had not yet formed and could not assist Portugal, but the Eastern Legion stationed in Portsmouth Harbor might be willing to help them.

The Portuguese and the Chinese have some conflicts over colonial issues such as Macau, Malacca, Goa, and Mumbai, but now they have nowhere to turn to other countries for help, so they have to ask the Chinese for help.

Sun Chuanting was quite surprised by the arrival of the Portuguese diplomatic envoys. They had a lot of dealings with this small country. From Macau to Africa, Portugal had colonies. The two sides once had a bad relationship because of the colonial issue.

There are still many Portuguese living in these colonies and paying taxes to the Chinese government, and some Portuguese return to their homeland because their overseas profits have decreased.

"You want us to go to Lisbon to help you resist the Spanish army that may attack at any time, so what benefits can you offer?"

Sun Chuanting has no objection to helping the Portuguese, but it depends on what price the Portuguese can come up with.

"We heard that tens of thousands of you have been stationed in Portsmouth for a long time, and the military expenditure must be huge. Since you have no war in Portsmouth, you might as well station in Lisbon. When the Spaniards don't come, Lisbon can serve you. You provide a garrison fee to maintain your normal expenses. If the Spaniards call, we will give you additional war allowances, and even cede some of the African colonies to you, recognizing your rule over Malacca, Mumbai and other places.” said the Portuguese diplomatic envoy.

Sun Chuanting was quite moved after hearing the words of the Portuguese envoy.

To be honest, the cost of stationing troops overseas is too high, especially in Portsmouth, where there are tens of thousands of troops and a large number of troops, which consume a large amount of military budget every year.

If part of the garrison can be sent to Portugal, it means that Portugal is willing to pay to support the garrison for them...

The cost of the Indian native soldiers is very low. It is entirely possible to ask the Portuguese for a sum of military expenses, and only part of it will be distributed to the Indian soldiers, and the remaining military expenses can be used to feed back the Portsmouth garrison.

"How many mercenaries do you want?" Sun Chuanting asked boldly, thinking of reducing military expenditure.

The garrison in any city in the West is a garrison, and he doesn't mind if it is Portsmouth in England or Lisbon in Portugal.

"We have been exploited a lot by the Spaniards over the years. We may not be able to support too many troops at ordinary times. We need about 2 infantry regiments and 2 cavalry regiments."

"Cavalry...we have almost none, how about 4000 infantry?"

When Sun Chuanting heard that the other party wanted two cavalry regiments, he shook his head.There is no shortage of cavalry on the local prairie, but they came by boat. It is impossible to transport war horses on a large scale. The cost is too high. It is better to buy horses directly in the West.Until now, Sun Chuanting has only purchased horses for transporting food and cannons in wartime, and has not deliberately set up a cavalry unit.

"Only 4000 infantry? What is your infantry's combat effectiveness?" The Portuguese envoys looked at each other, wondering whether only 4000 infantry could help them defend Lisbon.

"You follow me to Portsmouth to check, and you will know whether our troops are capable of fighting. As long as you can afford the price, we can dispatch the fleet to help you deal with the Spanish army if necessary." Sun Chuanting seemed to have become a European army. One of the largest mercenary syndicate leaders.

There are constant wars here, and he has an army in his hand, so he can become a mercenary of various countries. Anyway, the cost of soldiers hired from India is very low, and they can be hired here, and they can also make a profit!
"Then let's go to Portsmouth and then discuss the price?" The Portuguese envoy hesitated for a while, and decided to pay them after seeing the combat effectiveness of the army led by Sun Chuanting.

"No problem." Sun Chuanting was already thinking about how to sell 4000 Indian soldiers at a good price.

A group of them left the city of London in a carriage and arrived at Portsmouth where the infantry and fleet were stationed.

The Portuguese saw the army that Sun Chuanting planned to hire for them, which was a group of dark-skinned Indian soldiers wearing cloth turbans.When Sun Chuanting came to the barracks, they quickly assembled, almost all carrying muskets, and lined up in a queue.

"Are these people... from India?" One of the Portuguese envoys had obviously been to Mumbai, Goa and other places, and he saw the origin of this group of soldiers.

"That's right. We hired a group of soldiers locally and trained them according to our method. They are enough to defeat any Spanish army of comparable size. The defensive side can at least block a Spanish army three times their size." Sun Chuanting commented on this group Indian soldiers are still satisfied.

Trained in ranks and armed with muzzle-loading muskets, they were a match for any European army.

"Are you sure? We used to have 200 Portuguese captains who could easily repel the offensive of tens of thousands of indigenous Indians. They could defeat the most powerful Spanish army in Europe? To be honest, we still want to hire your Chinese soldiers instead Your servants." The Portuguese envoy was still not very interested in the Indian soldiers.

"We in Huaxia only have 2000 infantry here, and we have to protect the safety of the Queen and Crown Prince in England. Unless the Spaniards really attack your Portugal, our main force will be dispatched. You should watch their drills before making a decision."

Sun Chuanting let them watch the drill of the Indian mercenaries, and the Portuguese envoys believed that this mercenary was still quite different from the Indian natives they only knew before.

"In peacetime we can hire this army for £6000 a month."

(End of this chapter)