Chongzhen and I became partners

Chapter 947
First of all, the entire Middle East is occupied by the Ming Dynasty. Unlike the French company, this is the territory of the Ottoman Empire, and political factors have a great influence.

Secondly, Ming used the power of the state to dig the canal, while the French company was just a company, and the manpower and material resources that the two sides could mobilize could not be compared in the same breath.

Furthermore, when the French company excavated the canal, how to dig, where to dig, etc., all these factors had to be considered by themselves. When Daming excavated, all of these were provided by the imperial court of Liu Weichao’s plane, which was of great importance to the excavation of the canal. very big help.

Also, Daming has captives to use, and the captives are all young and strong, and they can be restrained with discipline.In terms of food, it can be mobilized from places such as the South Asian subcontinent, and there is no problem of asking them to work hungry.

As for sanitation, in this world, Daming is the most advanced. There is no such thing as rampant plague and affecting the progress of the project.

Finally, Daming also has a racial talent, that is farming, which includes digging canals.

Under such various factors, it only took two years to dig more than half of the Suez Canal.According to Li Yan's inspection of the progress of the project, he estimates that the canal will be dug in a year at most.

In other words, one year later, Ming's navy will be able to travel directly from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and to visit various European countries!
At that time, the equipment of the expeditionary army will be updated again, and the combat power will be upgraded to a higher level. As far as the specific warfare is concerned, there is no need for any command, just fight directly.

Just when he was happy, the governor of Portugal, Du Zun, suddenly came to the governor's office to ask for an urgent interview.

The Portuguese have been fighting with the navy. Although it is not very useful, it is hard work anyway.Among all the western barbarians, Daming had the best impression of the Portuguese, or Frangji.

Hearing that the personal guard said that he had an urgent matter to ask for an interview, Li Yan met him immediately.

To his surprise, Du Zun didn't ask for an interview alone, but also brought a Xiyi over.Looking at this Xiyi, he looks a little embarrassed and haggard!

"Lord Zhongcheng, this is our King Joao IV of Portugal!" As soon as Du Zhen saw Li Yan, he quickly introduced, "Because of our closeness to Ming Dynasty, our country was destroyed by Spain and France, and our King is alone. Escape, come to ask for reinforcements to restore the country, and ask Lord Zhongcheng to send troops to help!"

At this time, Du Zhen was already fluent in Ming Mandarin and did not need an interpreter.However, King Joao IV couldn't understand, but he could guess the general meaning of what Du Zhen said, so he nodded over and over again.

When Li Yan heard this, he was a little surprised, but not too surprised.

Surprisingly, he did not expect that the King of Portugal would appear in front of him at this moment.

Not surprisingly, the Portuguese have been following the court officers and soldiers, chasing after the Dutch, and it would be strange not to be retaliated by them.

Thinking of this, he first asked someone to bestow the seat on King Joao IV, and then asked: "Didn't you transport three ships of Ming Dynasty arms to your country before? It should be able to resist their attack?"

When Du Zhen heard this, he gave a wry smile and immediately replied, "Your Excellency Zhongcheng doesn't know that the fleet going back will have to go around the whole of Africa. The journey is very long. If the weather is bad, it will take longer." .When the Spanish coalition forces attacked our country, that fleet hadn't reached Lisbon. I don't know what will happen to the three ships in the end?"

Li Yan frowned when he heard this, and then asked: "You mean, those three ships are likely to fall into the hands of the enemy?"

Du Zhen nodded, and then replied: "Those three ships are full of ammunition, and they run slowly. Once they are surrounded by the enemy's sailing warships, they may not be able to escape!"

"Can't escape?" Li Yan was still a little puzzled when he heard it, "The result is that he was captured. Is there no other possibility?"

For example, throwing all the munitions into the sea, or simply blowing up the munitions.

Li Yan didn't ask about these possibilities in detail, but Du Zhen could hear it, and said with a wry smile: "Our concept is different from that of Daming. Their biggest possibility is to use the munitions on board to negotiate with the enemy and seek One of the greatest benefits!"

In fact, those who can travel thousands of miles to the east are not good people, let alone loyal people.They're just colonists, the money-hungry kind.It is absolutely impossible to expect them to be righteous!
After Du Wei explained cryptically, he hurriedly said to Li Yan: "Master Zhongcheng, if the three ships of ammunition are obtained by the enemy, their combat power will be greatly strengthened. If it is too late, they will be able to imitate them." More, therefore, it is necessary to attack them as soon as possible, and please Lord Zhongcheng send troops immediately!"

After hearing this, Li Yan didn't answer right away.

He remembered that the three ships of munitions sold to the Portuguese were actually rifled flintlock guns replaced by the court officers and soldiers when he led his troops to the seaside, and some of the supporting paper shell bullets.

These arms are indeed the most advanced for Xiyi.But now, on the court's side, it is already two generations behind.

On the side of the imperial court and the army, most of them are in the era of rear-loading guns.A small part has been replaced with breech-loading guns with metal bullets, and is also equipped with heavy machine guns, high-explosive artillery and so on.

After thinking about this clearly, Li Yan's brows relaxed, and he just shook his head and said: "The center of gravity of the court now is to dig this canal. After this canal is dug, the Ming Navy will be able to directly enter the Mediterranean Sea. It will be a breeze to help you restore the country again!"

Anyone whose country is destroyed is of course very anxious.

Therefore, after hearing this, Du Huan hurriedly said to Li Yan: "Lord Zhongcheng, if we restore Portugal, we will be able to contain the forces of the anti-Ming allied forces over there, and will not let them concentrate their forces to attack the Ming army. This is of great benefit!"

He knew that only from the perspective of Ming country's interests could he persuade this senior Ming official.

However, when Li Yan heard this, he just smiled lightly and said, "Number advantage is useless in front of me, Da Ming. To tell you the truth, our Da Ming wishes to wipe out the military power of all hostile countries in one battle. That's it. , it will save a lot of effort for our Daming!"

They were talking here, Joao IV who was sitting next to him couldn't understand, and could only watch the two of them communicate in a language he didn't understand.But he could probably guess a little bit from the expressions of Li Yan and Du Zhen.

Knowing that the Ming Kingdom didn't seem to want to send troops, he immediately became anxious, and quickly said: "When Daming was a vassal state, it was agreed that if the vassal state was attacked, the suzerain state would send troops to protect it!"

Li Yan couldn't understand what he said, but after Du Zhen heard it, he translated it for him.

Li Yan frowned slightly after hearing this, and then replied: "You haven't gone through the process of being a vassal state. Besides, our Ming Dynasty didn't say that we won't send troops. It's just that we are sending troops now to bypass the whole of Africa. It won't take long. , What about logistical supplies? Have you ever thought about this problem?"

Hearing this, Du Zhen couldn't help but fell silent.

Li Yan's words are divided into two points. Whether it is considered from a political or military perspective, there are indeed problems.However, he looked at the anxious Joao IV, and he still thought about what to say.

At this moment, I heard Li Yan say to King Joao IV: "I can understand His Highness's mood, how about this, I will call the cabinet to report, what does the court mean?"

When Du Zhen heard this, he couldn't help but be very happy. This is the best.So, he quickly translated these words to King Joao IV.

When King Joao IV heard this, he immediately didn't understand, what kind of phone call, how long would it take to report to the Ming cabinet?

In the face of Ming's powerful military power, various new weapons, and civilian inventions were basically covered up.And the phone is basically still in the military stage, and people outside know even less.

Just as King Joao IV was puzzled, Li Yan picked up a red telephone on the table in front of him, shook the handle and said, "I am Li Yan, answering the domestic cabinet call."

King Joao IV was puzzled, but Du Zhen knew it. After all, he had been fighting with the Ming army for a long time, so he explained in a low voice: "This is a telephone, which can directly communicate with the local yamen of the Ming Dynasty."

"What?" Joao IV was dumbfounded when he heard it.

How can this be?

Totally unimaginable!
When he came back to his senses, he saw that the Ming official had put down the things in his hand and was talking to Du Zhe there.

So King Joao IV immediately looked at Du Zhen and listened to what he had to say.

Soon, Du Zhen turned his head to look at him, and said to him: "The meaning of the Ming Dynasty court is to let His Highness go to Daming on Daming's supply ship to complete the canonization. Afterwards, Daming will promise to return you an even more than the original one." Big country!"

Joao IV couldn't help feeling a little disappointed when he heard this, which was different from his expectations.

When he was about to speak, he was persuaded by Du Zhen: "I think it would be good for Your Highness to go to the mainland of Ming Dynasty. Go see it and open your eyes. I believe it will be of great help to Your Highness!"

King Joao IV was a little disapproving when he heard this. What is an eye-opener, and how much can it open?Make yourself as clueless as a redneck?

He was thinking about it, when he heard Du Zhen add to him: "This is the decision of the Ming court, it is the intention of the Emperor of Ming, and there is no need to change it. Your Highness, just think about it. Daming has already agreed, and I will give it to Your Highness later." A bigger country might be able to ask for it and annex Spain!"

Upon hearing this, King Joao IV's eyes lit up immediately!
(End of this chapter)