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Chapter 773 Commander and Captain

Why do this? Two words, no choice. Talking about Africa with a bunch of ministers who don't even know where the Indian Peninsula is will only make them more confused, and will not allow the emperor to take risks. But it is necessary to lead the fleet to the Cape of Good Hope for the first time. Between two evils, the lesser of two evils can only be chosen, and the only option is to lie and deceive.

As for the possible consequences, there are only two. First, he encountered an accident at sea, the ship was destroyed and everyone died. If everyone was dead, there would be no consequences. Whatever the Ming Dynasty wanted to do, it was none of his business.

Second, there was no accident, but someone in the court was causing trouble, and Yuan Keli and Wang An were still unable to deal with it. In fact, this possibility was very low. Yuan Keli controlled the navy and the army, and Wang An led the Jinyiwei and the East Factory. As long as the brain was not too stupid, it was easy to ensure that there would be no major changes in the political situation.

Of course, there are always unexpected things. If the two of them really do something stupid and hold the military power but are reluctant to use it, and let others destroy their lair, it would not be the end of the world.

As long as Guangdong, Fujian, Luzon and Annan, the provinces that implemented the new policy most thoroughly, do not surrender immediately and provide themselves with a place to stay when they return, no one will be able to turn the tables.

In the final analysis, it is better to take the risk of instability of the throne and take the Cape of Good Hope. If the throne is unstable, you can kill more people. It is not a pity to kill as many bureaucrats and gentry as possible who are stubborn, treat the country as private property, and treat the people as livestock.

But it would be difficult to give European countries some time to recover and then to snatch such an important place from them and build castles and ports all at once.

At that time, the Ming navy could only fight along the coastline to the supply points one by one, not only to deal with the colonists of European countries, but also to fight with the indigenous peoples of various places. Even if the navy was fully used, it might not be enough even if it took four or five years, and the cost would be astronomical.

"Boom boom boom... Boom boom boom..." The transport boat was getting closer and closer to the anchored Han 001 battleship. When the officers and soldiers lined up neatly on the side of the ship could be seen with the naked eye, several puffs of gray-white smoke suddenly emerged from both sides, followed by deafening explosions.

"There is an assassin! Protect the emperor..." Hong Tao was just about to stand up and wave to the officers and soldiers on the warship when suddenly a strong force came from behind him, followed by Wang Chengen's heart-wrenching howl.

"Let go...let go! Shut up right there... Damn it, my new clothes, look at what they've become!"

Hong Tao was quite skilled. He grabbed Wang Chengen's arm with his left arm at the moment of falling, and turned his body around with his waist and legs, pressing on him. But even so, the brand new marshal's uniform was still half wet by the seawater in the cabin.

"Your servant... they fired..." Wang Chengen was even more embarrassed than the emperor, because he was pressed down, and the back and pants of his brand new navy uniform were soaked. But he still pointed at the warship not far away and stammered as he tried to explain.

"…That's a salute, a courtesy to welcome the Grand Marshal aboard! When you get on board, don't point fingers like you do in the palace. Ask me first if you don't understand something. Okay, continue rowing, and don't let anyone know. If anyone tells anyone, I'll make him take three buckets of seawater a day!"

As the saying goes, ignorance is not a crime. Although Wang Chengen had been on a warship, there was no military reform at that time, and all etiquette followed the previous routine. Fortunately, he did not draw his gun and shoot, which was a blessing in disguise. But there must not be such mistakes again, and the other four Gecko members must be reminded again.

Amid the sound of nine cannon salutes, the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty and the Grand Marshal of the Navy successfully boarded the flagship. Wearing their uniforms that were obviously half wet, they walked from port to starboard, looked at the various equipment and ropes on the deck, and at the binding of the sails overhead. They were basically satisfied.

"Are you Huang Nanping?" He turned his head and glanced at the officer who had been following behind him, and immediately got the accurate information from his epaulettes and armbands.

"Your Majesty, I am Huang Nanping, the commander-in-chief of the South China Sea Fleet. I am here to meet you!" Huang Nanping had never seen the emperor so closely before. Upon hearing the voice, he quickly knelt on one leg and put his right hand on his chest to salute.

"Well, I've heard about you. You've done a great job." "Student South China Sea Fleet Chief of Staff Wang Yuanjing, greetings to His Majesty!" At this time, the officers next to Huang Nanping also knelt on one leg and saluted with their right hands on their chests.

"Which class are you from?" Only graduates from Haihu Division could call themselves students in front of the emperor. Unfortunately, Hong Tao really couldn't recognize them.

"The student ranked 70th, and Jingyang joined the navy in the seventh year."

"Well, who is the captain?" Hong Tao didn't want to alarm so many senior naval officers. They usually didn't command ships in person, so it would be meaningless for them to go along. But it was unreasonable not to let them go along when the emperor was traveling.

"Miao Buzhun, the captain of the student South China Sea Fleet Han 001, greets His Majesty! He is the th ranked captain and joined the navy in the fourth year of Jingyang."

After asking this question, a young man stood up from the second row. Look, this is the bureaucratic style, a bunch of irrelevant senior officials gathered on the deck, but pushed the captain to the back.

"Well... I have something to announce: from now on, I am the commander of the fleet and also the captain of Han 001. Huang Nanping is the deputy commander, Wang Yuanjing is the chief of staff of the fleet, Miao Buzhun... You will be my deputy captain... Hey, come here! Colonel, do you still remember me?"

Still calling others bureaucratic, Hong Tao's first order after boarding the ship was to take over the command of the expeditionary fleet as the Grand Marshal, and then used the power in his hands to appoint himself as the captain. Just as he was about to announce the preparations for sailing, his expression froze, and he pointed at an officer lined up on the starboard side and shouted loudly.

"Your Majesty, your Majesty, is greeted by your Majesty!" The officer strode over, also bowing before introducing himself. However, his accent was a bit heavy, and the louder he spoke, the heavier it became.

"Rodri? Hey, that's a good name. How about it, how do you feel about being in my navy?"

Not only does he have a heavy accent, his appearance is also very different from that of a Chinese. He is the Spanish colonel on the Montanes. I didn't expect to meet him again on this ship after so many years.

"I'm fine...it would be even better if I could take the test in Latin or French."

"Hahaha... Chinese language and Chinese characters are a bit difficult. Just learn them slowly and don't rush. Are you used to them in your life?"

Hong Tao could only smile at this answer, and he really couldn't help. Language is also a talent, and Silva, the black fat man, learned it very quickly, and could even come up with a few idioms and allusions from time to time.

"Habit, I married a wife in Manila Port and have a son..."

"Oh, you're doing well. You have a wife and children!" Hong Tao originally thought that Rodri was the type who had difficulty adapting to unfamiliar environments, but it seems that he made a wrong judgment.

(End of this chapter)