living in 16th century england

Chapter 20
Matthew never lost sight of his goal: to use the royal family as a talisman, and then borrow money and never pay it back.

As for the queen, it was his principle to stay away from the harem, so he didn't bother.However, the latter two are not something ordinary people can say, and they don't seem to fit the "personal design".

Matthew chose the first option.Say whatever you want.

Henry immediately said: "In that case, Cohen, help me give it to the queen." After speaking, he knocked on the box containing the sailboat and artillery models.

Matthew couldn't help but looked up at Henry VIII immediately.When the two met their eyes, they both felt the surprise in each other's eyes.

Then the two looked at Cohen at the same time.Can this guy detect what Henry VIII (me) is up to?

Cohen's scalp was numb, what happened to the eyes of the former boss and the current boss?Finally he remembered the box.He is very familiar with these boxes and often carries them.

"What's on the pack horse?"

"It's a gift to the king. Their safety...is very important."

Cohen suddenly understood, he picked up the box and left.

Matthew took a look and saw that most people were still playing and judging the Swift Sword, and it seemed that they didn't pay attention.A few people looked at Cohen, but only with jealousy.

Matthew doesn't know how to build a ship, but he knows what the sailing battleship will look like in the future.The details were added by the shipwrights.This model, took them a winter's time.

According to the design, the new battleship is 120 feet long and 30 feet wide.The aspect ratio is four to one.In this era, there were not many aspect ratios of three to one, and sailing ships were even called "round ships".

In this era, there is no such thing as a meter, only feet.Oaks of this length were not uncommon in this day and age.

If a boat is 35 meters long, its keel is usually less than 30 meters.What is extra is the bow and stern rudder.Just a bow mast will go out several meters.

Therefore, in the early days of the Great Navigation Era, the length of wood suitable for making keels determined the length of ships.If you see outrageous records, hey, there is a high probability that they are forged.I didn't say 100% because there are always some wonderful little trees with extraordinary talents, and there are always some people who will spare no expense.

Whether it is Columbus Magellan or other navigators, their ships are only tens of tons to more than 100 tons.This was the most common tonnage at the time.

With the advancement of shipbuilding technology, there will be bigger sailboats with longer keels.

The shipbuilder was in favor of this ratio, because it coincided with his father's design ideas.His long-distance fishing boats have a higher aspect ratio, close to five to one. 90 feet long and only 20 feet wide.

Double-deck, with gun portholes, three masts, with bow and stern sails, no forecastle, and the helmsman has an excellent view.The poop is also lowered considerably.There are tentatively 60 artillery pieces, with equal weight.The distance between the load-bearing beams of the artillery can be redesigned and adjusted.Matthew really doesn't know how far apart the artillery is in this era.Battleships should be more dense.If it is only used for ocean-going trade, all the artillery on the lower layer can be canceled, the portholes of the muzzles will not be opened, and only the deck weapons will be kept. Of course, the beams can be sparser.

The bottom of the ship is streamlined, and there are firmly fixed ballast lead blocks on the bottom layer. If you want to be cheaper, stones are also fine, just reduce the volume.The heavy artillery is all on the lower floor, which is conducive to the stability of the center of gravity.The upper layer is all light Francophones.The shipbuilder estimated the displacement to be at least 500 tons.

Load and cabin volume are not the same thing, can gold and cotton be compared?A full boatload of cotton might weigh less than a few cubic meters of gold.So the ship will draw a waterline, and the ship will sink if it is loaded with too much.Even if it is unsinkable, the safety performance of the navigation capability will be greatly reduced.This is the displacement.

From a mathematical point of view, Matthew put a lot of redundancy, which is a common design idea for modern engineers to ensure safety.From the perspective of construction, the shipbuilder improves the internal structure to make it stronger.

This is actually a bit like the later Galen sailing ship, but much more stable than Galen.In order to prevent boarding battles, Matthew even designed a circle of protective nets above the deck and on the side of the ship.Those who jumped and crawled could only wait on the top to be speared, and it was creepy to think about it.That's right, the spear is the standard weapon of this battleship.

However, such ships were later generally overloaded, especially the models with the lower artillery deck sealed.As a result, it has become a popular topic among the captain and owner groups, causing people to challenge the loading limit until the tragedy happened.

In Henry VIII's view, there were too many firsts on this model.For example, the porthole of the muzzle, this has actually been proposed, but no one has actually used it in practice.For example, the protective net, he understood the purpose at a glance.With this, what are you afraid of galleys?For example, the "slender" hull, who said that?As long as it looks good, it's definitely not too bad.

Especially the densely packed cannons gave him goosebumps.

After the meeting, Henry VIII warmly invited Matthew to dinner.

Contrary to Matthew's expectations, the queen is also there.There are several maids around, and two cooks who specialize in roasting meat.

There was nothing on the table but meat.

A pile of grilled meat, grilled fish, grilled birds, grilled game, pepper, cinnamon and the like are like free money, wine and even spirits.

The young king toasted frequently, obviously a good drinker.Accompanying them were two young noblemen, and that bishop named Wolsey.It didn't take long for Matthew to feel overwhelmed. He doesn't really like drinking.After recognizing that a certain roasted poultry is actually a rare animal from the future, the appetite is even less.

Looking at the various meats on the long table, Matthew was distracted.He thought of those anecdotal portraits of Henry VIII: a huge fat man with a middle-aged bald head.

Do you want to change history?Just changing Henry VIII's eating habits could add years to the father of the English navy.

The queen is obviously a beauty, but Matthew remembers the records: within a few years, she became as fat as a pig, and the ruthless king wanted to divorce her. This woman tried every means to lose weight.

Want to change her fate?

Matthew answered himself in his heart: None of your business?
Bishop Wolsey suddenly asked, "Mr. Hawkins, what do you think of Spain?"

Matthew didn't even hit it in a daze: "I heard that they shipped a lot of good things back from the New World."

After speaking, he took out the cigarette rod and shook it, and said with a smile: "For example, tobacco, I smoke several times a day."

Henry VIII was silent.The queen smiled and said, "Mr. Hawkins, your... tools... are very unique."

Matthew smiled: "Dear queen, I call it a smoke pot. If you smoke, you can try this tool, it is very convenient."

Bishop Wolsey said with a smile: "This is a treasure that Spain has brought to Europeans. Come, let us raise a glass to Spain."

Henry VIII also picked up the wine glass, and the queen said, "Henry...you drink less."

Some people drank it all in one gulp, some laughed, and seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Matthew was a little annoyed, what a fart, I don't stay in London for a long time.He lit the cigarette pot and took a slow puff.

Bishop Wolsey: "And France?"

Matthew was a little surprised. I'm just a businessman. Why do you ask me?
Henry VIII obviously didn't want to get involved in Spain's war against France too quickly.That's not his plan.He has just ascended the throne for half a year, and the internal relationship has not been straightened out. How could he suddenly take the initiative to attack France?

Thinking of this, Matthew glanced at the queen again.

At this table, except for two young noble children who don't understand anything.The queen is undoubtedly representing the interests of Spain. Bishop Wolsey is obviously a Catholic. It is estimated that the Holy See and Spain have reached an agreement.

Instigate a small country to attack France with a population of more than 1000 million?Set France's backyard on fire?Acting as cannon fodder for the Holy See?Henry VIII was no fool.

However, the command of the sea in the English Channel is now in the hands of Spain, which is in full swing, and Catholicism has a huge influence in England.Once turned, Henry VIII will have nothing to do.

Matthew said with a smile: "The French robbed the land that belongs to us in England, they are not good people."

This humorous statement made everyone startled for a moment, and they couldn't help laughing.

The Queen and Bishop Wolsey looked at Henry VIII at the same time.

Matthew sighed in his heart, no wonder you will be so unlucky in the future.Instead of helping her husband wholeheartedly, she also made things difficult for him.

After the meal, Henry VIII finally had a chance to talk with Matthew alone.

This room was very luxurious, but Matthew didn't think it was very good, but he had never seen many furnishings.There are many paintings on the wall, but Matthew only feels that the paintings are a mess.The desk is quite big.Strangely, there are many musical instruments, and even a harp, which is probably the Queen's.

"Matthew Hawkins, you must know one thing... I have received several models of sailing ships. But your model is the most satisfactory to me. So, you have to tell me first, how likely is it to become a reality?"

Matthew laughed in his heart, as long as you want it.

"My king, as long as you invest [-] pounds, I am sure to build ten ships within two years."

This is really not fooling around, there are calculations and plans, even the venue is taken into consideration.

Henry VIII raised his eyelids and glanced at Matthew, then put down the model in his hand.

"Your quotation is a bit high. There is one called Baker, which is equipped with as much artillery as yours, and the cost of each ship is only 2500 pounds."

Matthew laughed. After all, the king was too young to say all this.

"My king, this is not an offer, but an investment. And investment will pay off."

Henry VIII blinked: "Investment?"

Matthew nodded: "Yes, you are the shareholder, and I will manage it. At least one-third of the profit will be shared. I have already thought of the name, it is called the British Empire Plymouth Royal Dockyard."

Henry VIII was startled: "British Empire?...Royal?"

Matthew was at a loss for words, thinking that he doesn't care about profit?But are you making a fuss about this title?
"...I think it's a good match."

Henry VIII said angrily: "What did you just say? The profit is only one-third?"

Matthew: "..."

Well, the king's brain circuit just isn't the same.

Matthew smiled and said: "That's right, your investment of [-] pounds will continuously bring you more gold coins. It will be a golden chicken that can lay eggs... um... a hen that can lay golden eggs."

Henry VIII thought for a while, then suddenly hehe said: "One-third is not enough, I guess no matter how much money you have, it is impossible to exceed 10000 pounds, so I want half of the profit."

"However, I doubt your business talent. My pound may be lost. You may not even build a boat."

Matthew suddenly said seriously: "My king, can you guess what I was doing when I was eight years old?"

After all, Henry VIII was a young man, so he was quite good: "...read and write?"

Matthew said: "No, I was helping my father with the farm work...he was just a yeoman at that time."

Henry wondered, "Yeoman?"

Matthew ignored him: "When I was nine years old, I was concentrating on herding sheep, and there were only five sheep."

Henry VIII: "..."

Matthew said with a smile: "When I was 13 years old, I encouraged my father to borrow some money from relatives. It was only a dozen gold coins. He took me to buy wool in the nearby area."

"At 15, I advised him to buy a bigger piece of land and then have more sheep."

"At 17, we had a farm with over a thousand sheep. Over 1000 acres of land."

"Now, I am 19 years old, right in front of you."

Henry VIII was surprised, sighed, and cunning: "...your father is really a genius."

Damn, Matthew suddenly wanted to beat this guy up.

(End of this chapter)