Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 420 Ottoman's Trip ([-])

Gaumo got seasick again, this time in the Black Sea.Even a large bath basin with calm seas made Gao Mo, a "lander" through and through, miserable.Fortunately, the Turkish military officer Hassan took great care of his old friend along the way. The fleet docked many times to rest, which made Gao Mo feel better and made the whole journey extremely long.

Today is mid-July in 1644, and the Rumili region of the Ottoman Empire is in its hottest season of the year.On the pier by Lake Burgas, several tall and slender warships were mooring quietly.Gaumo hurriedly looked around and saw that these ships were all gunboats, fast cruisers and other ships built by the people on the east coast for the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans parked them in the calm Black Sea instead of letting them join the deep front line The Egyptian fleet or the Aegean fleet, the reason for this is very puzzling.

Maybe they wanted to surprise the Venetians at some point?Hehe, let them go.Gao Mo smiled in his heart. The harder the two countries fight, the better. It is best to involve most of their energy.In this way, the Venetians would have no time to mess with the people on the east coast in the textile market, and the Ottoman Empire's demand for warships on the east coast would also increase.The galley warships that the Venetians and the Ottomans fought in the Eastern Mediterranean were small in tonnage, loose in hull structure, and lacking in firepower, but they were superior in mobility and flexibility, and they could still mix in the big tub of the Mediterranean Sea.However, when they encounter the escort gunships equipped with 24 various types of artillery built by the people on the east coast, their loose hull structure and outdated fighting tactics of jumping gangs will be destroyed by long-distance artillery salvos disaster.

And this, the Ottomans have already seen.Last year, the Venetians and the Ottomans launched a small naval battle near the island of Crete. As a result, two Venetian galleys were sunk, one was captured, and the rest were injured and fled. The loss is not light.The Ottomans, who had tasted the sweetness, loved this new era of warships to a higher level, and they began to turn to the people on the east coast to inquire about the more powerful battleships.Their ambitious Navy Pasha intends to reorganize the Ottoman Navy fleet that has been further and further away from the West since the Battle of Lepanto, in order to regain the hegemony of the entire Mediterranean Sea-although this is difficult and unrealistic, Ottoman People never lack ambition.

"The Chinese government is still evaluating the construction of the 'Bayezid' battleship. As you know, it contains huge political risks. Spain and France in the Western Christendom have already reported to the Chinese government several times before The warships sold by your country have been questioned, and they said that this move has disrupted the balance of maritime power in the Mediterranean Sea, and they demand that our country immediately stop exporting warships to your country." Enduring the discomfort caused by seasickness, Gao Mo whispered to Hassan.

They are located in the Port of Burgas in the Rumili region of the Ottoman Empire. Recently, the Zaporozhye Cossacks on the other side of the Black Sea have become more and more restless. They often take small warships to the Crimean Khanate, Vara Guinea, Moldavia and even the Ottomans launched attacks, burned, killed and looted everywhere, causing extremely bad effects in the Ottomans.Therefore, the Pasha of the Ottoman Empire Navy ordered the transfer of these most advanced warships to the port of Burgas to patrol the Black Sea on a regular basis, and at the same time asked its vassal state, the Crimean Khanate, to step up its attack on the Cossacks in order to stabilize the area. situation.

The pier is full of Bulgarians in large turbans and loose robes, and Moldavians who have come from the north to make a living.They looked poor and insensitive, working as laborers on the docks, and begging if they couldn't find work.Some of the prostitutes passing by kept their distance cautiously, and only some vulgar fellows would spit on them.Of these, apparently the Moldavians were more insulted, as the local Bulgarian police called them "sheep without horns".

The leaders of the Ottoman Empire are proud at this time. Their country stands on the three continents of Asia, Africa and Europe, with a vast territory and a population of more than 100 million, and they still maintain military coercion against the Christian world in Europe.And culturally they did pretty well - well, at least [-] years ago - they produced a large number of philosophers, artists, architects, etc., and their level of civilization is admired by the whole of Europe .Of course, it is no longer possible now. The self-styled and extremely arrogant Ottomans live in their own world. Their cultural development has gradually stagnated, technology has not advanced at all, and the system is also becoming increasingly old in the face of the development of the times. entered a recession.

Even if there are still occasional booms in the future, the overall decline trend is already very obvious.Even though some enlightened people in Ottomans have realized the widening gap with Western countries in various aspects, as a whole, their national consciousness is still stagnant.They were conservative and unwilling to accept new ideas. Even the tolerance policy towards pagans several centuries ago began to gradually go out of tune. The unnecessary insult and persecution of Christians caused continuous turmoil in the Ottoman Empire.The turmoil further exacerbated the rise of domestic conservatism and extremism, and the once-secular Ottoman Empire turned back in history.The imperial elites in the big cities are keen to send their children to religious schools. What they talk about is all kinds of teachings, not all kinds of work related to the national economy and people's livelihood.

However, the Hassan in front of him was obviously not the kind of confused guy. He was a leader among the younger generation of officers, with a sharp mind, a clear mind, and a certain understanding of the outside world.At the same time, he is also a very fancy figure for the navy pasha, and his family background is not bad. He is a rising star in the Ottoman army.

"Gao, what else can you evaluate? This is a profitable thing for both of us. We have raised the price to 20 ducats, which is more than 40 yuan in your currency. What else do you want?" Satisfied? What else needs to be evaluated? We have no plans to equip the Red Sea Fleet with such warships, we have no competition with you, and our two countries can join hands to deal with those damned Christians." Hassan spoke earnestly through a personal interpreter.

Gao Mo just smiled, did not speak, and then changed the subject: "Hassan, why did you bring us to Burgas? Where is Lord Navy Pasha? I think maybe we can talk to him face to face?"

"Master Pasha is in Algiers and is planning a major event. I don't think he has time to discuss anything with you. Of course, don't think too much about it. It's just a normal strike against Spanish and Sicilian pirates." Hassan Said, "As for bringing you to Burgas, it is mainly because there are the goods you need: black wool, white wool, copper, sulfur, mercury, graphite, livestock and most importantly, female slaves."

Gao Mo nodded, and then asked: "Can you show me the goods we need? If it's inconvenient, forget it." The Rumili area is the essence of the Ottoman Empire at this time, roughly including Bulgaria and Greece in later generations All, Romania and parts of the former Yugoslavia.Residents in these areas still have many people claiming to be Romans, and their beliefs are mainly Orthodox, especially Greece and Bulgaria, which have been relatively wealthy during the centuries-long conquest and management of the Ottoman Empire.However, Serbia, Bosnia, Macedonia, Montenegro and other places are relatively poor. According to historical records, there are "towering dense forests" everywhere, the population density is low, and "there are more pigs than people."It was not until the 19th century that the Ottoman Empire did a population census of the territory. Therefore, the population of the Rumili area at this time is unknown, but it is not a problem to estimate that there are 1500-2000 million.

"Of course no problem." Hassan said, "You are a distinguished guest, Gao, it's nothing to take you to see the Bulgarian countryside. But maybe not today, your physical condition does not look very ideal, maybe you can wait for you to get ready When it’s over, we’ll start again.”

Gao Mo nodded and thanked Hassan.

On July 7, after resting for a few days, Gao Mo took Zheng Yong and more than ten people, accompanied by Hassan, to experience the Bulgarian countryside on horseback.To be honest, although Bulgaria is now a "richer" area, in Gao Mo's view, it is still poor and desolate.

But it didn't matter to Hassan. "A few years ago a British writer traveled to our country. He wrote that the Ottoman Empire was 'the largest and most impenetrable empire under the sun. It stood at the center of the world, and like a heroic fighter challenged all his frontier inhabitants, and Controls the richest countries in Europe, Asia and Africa.' Our two metropolises, Istanbul and Cairo, are the largest cities in the world, and London, Paris, Amsterdam and Rome pale in comparison. Their magnificence Let the neighboring Christian countries be eclipsed, more and more Christians abandon the backward and ignorant old world, join us and become devout Christians." Hassan said in a slightly exaggerated and proud tone.

Gao Mo gave him a strange look, but said nothing.This Hassan was well-informed, and even spoke some basic French and Spanish. He was obviously not the kind of ignorant country fanatic, and what he said could only make people feel that he was talking in disregard of the facts.However, considering that this is the core area of ​​the Ottoman Empire, it is obviously not incomprehensible for Hassan, as the master, to say some compliments to his country.

Gao Mo turned his head slightly, and decided to see the customs and social life of the Ottoman Empire with his own eyes, so that he could write a detailed report when he returned to China.

(End of this chapter)