Chongzhen and I became partners

Chapter 949 Exchange
On the eve of the Chinese New Year in the 28th year of Chongzhen, King João IV of Portugal took his children from Dongwu Daguang to the Dajinsha River, upstream and into Yunnan.

When he first came to Dongwu Province, although King Joao IV saw the busy scene on the Dajinsha River, especially the fact that most of these ships were steam paddle steamer transport ships, he was still very surprised.

However, if you want to say how surprised you are, it may not be so.

Because at this time, various European countries have also begun to use steam paddle steamers, which is not a rare thing.

King Joao IV felt that Du Zun's words were a little too exaggerated.What are the things in the Ming Empire unprecedented? The lives of the people are turned upside down, like heaven!
However, when he entered Yunnan, he was dumbfounded.

In Yunnan, there are trains, highways, and trucks, all of which are vehicles he has never seen before.

Europe is still in a state of war at this time. Spain and France, the two countries closest to Portugal, are at war. It is impossible to build railways, and the technical content of railways is not low. Only the laying of railway tracks is very particular.It is impossible for the Europeans to successfully build a railway in one go just by relying on a design drawing of a steam engine.

Therefore, it was the first time for Joao IV's family to take a train, and it was also the first time to take a big truck.

There are smooth concrete roads everywhere, and the people on the road are all rich. In Europe, at least the living conditions of a local lord.

There was no trace of color on the faces of men and women.This made Joao IV begin to realize that Du Zhen might not be exaggerating.

However, when he entered Huguang Province, crossed the Yangtze River, and took the train all the way to the capital, he was once again shocked by the prosperity of Daming.

There is also the Daming Bridge, along the rivers and rivers, there are bridges of all sizes, large and small bridges can be used to cross large trucks and railways, which surprised him very much.

If he had to think for himself, he felt that the Ming Empire must have mastered divine power to build bridges across these rivers!

Especially when crossing the Yellow River, he even found a big bridge.Although it is the dry season at this time, the river is not wide.But he can see the traces on both sides of the river. This river is definitely a very big river, and a bridge has been built!
On this road, that is, the original river called the Yangtze River, we still need to cross the river.

The Ming Empire is really too powerful!

When he arrived at home in the capital, he was shocked again.

The capital of the Ming Dynasty originally had a population of more than 100 million. With the advent of the peaceful era, the capital, as the population gathering place and the political, economic and cultural center of the Ming Dynasty, has more and more people concentrated in the capital. Outside, houses are expanded every year. When King Joao IV came over, the capital at this time was already a super city with a population of about 500 million.

European countries don't even have cities with a population of one million, let alone a super city with a population of five million.

Joao IV saw such a big city for the first time, it would be strange if he was not shocked!

Looking at the prosperity of the capital, seeing the crowds of people on the street, and seeing the dazzling array of goods on the street, Joao IV's family was completely paralyzed. If it feels like Daming is not a paradise, it is probably not far from the legendary paradise.

Just when he arrived in the capital, it was almost the Chinese New Year.

The festive atmosphere of the Chinese New Year also infected Joao IV's family, especially his son and daughter, who immediately fell in love with this New Year's festival of Ming Dynasty, clamoring to set off firecrackers too.

After Joao IV waited for three days, Emperor Chongzhen summoned him years ago, formally canonized him as the king of the Portuguese vassal state, and promised that, as the suzerain state, Ming Dynasty would definitely send troops to help him restore the country.

In addition, the cabinet came forward to negotiate with João IV, and finally reached an agreement. Portugal's colonies in South America belonged to Ming. In exchange, the Ming Empire would help him destroy Spain and become part of Portugal's territory.

Although the colonial area of ​​South America is much larger than that of Spain, for John IV, the colonies of South America are just planting crops, which is far less important to him than Spain.Therefore, he very much welcomes this exchange.

As far as Ming was concerned, Emperor Chongzhen knew the value of South America. For the barren Spain, of course he was more willing to have South America.In addition, the Spaniards massacred the people of Ming Dynasty several times in Luzon. As revenge, they said that they would destroy them, not just the colonists in Luzon.

This can be regarded as the promise of "Those who commit crimes against the Great Ming will be punished no matter how far away they are"!

Of course, since Daming proposed this deal, King Joao IV has no choice but to agree to it.

But he didn't think too much, and there was less quarrel, hello, hello, hello everyone!

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Meanwhile, here in the West.

Based on the fact that the canal on the Mediterranean side will soon be dug through, and the prerequisite for the Allied forces is that the Ming army cannot be allowed to dig through the canal to prevent the powerful Ming fleet from entering the Mediterranean Sea. Therefore, the time for the Allied forces to attack cannot be delayed any longer.

In mid-January of the 29th year of Chongzhen, the North-South Allied Forces finally decided to launch an attack on the Ming Dynasty.

There is another advantage to launching an attack at this point in time.That is, the granary of the Ming army on the northern line is the Volga River Basin, and it is mainly on its east bank.However, there are many rivers in the Volga River Basin. If it is changed to other times, the actions of the army will inevitably be restricted by these rivers.

However, from November of that year to March of the following year, the rivers in the Volga River Basin were gradually frozen from north to south. At this time in January, basically all rivers were frozen.

Therefore, during this period of time, the coalition army can directly cross the river to launch an attack, and for the defender, there is one less natural defense point.

On the side of the Northern Allied Forces, a total of 25 troops have been assembled, including 15 cavalry and [-] infantry, composed of the most elite soldiers drawn from various countries.In the north, mainly the Russian Empire and Denmark launched an attack on the Ukrainian region.

In the due west direction, mainly the Holy Roman Empire, Sweden, and the Polish and Lithuanian Commonwealth formed an attack on the Ukrainian region.

In the southern direction, the Ottoman Empire army was the main force, and his vassal states and other small countries in Eastern Europe were assisted, and they also launched an attack on the Ming army in Ukraine.

The three attacking directions communicate with each other by cavalry, and they are not too far away. They are mighty and mighty.

After the Ming army in Ukraine discovered this situation, they did not choose to resist, but retreated eastward all the way to the Volga River Basin.

On the northern front, it took only half a month for the Allied forces to recover the Crimean Khanate and the Ukrainian region. All of a sudden, the morale of the Allied forces rose.

The news of the success spread to the rear, which aroused the excitement of the European nobles and the upper echelons of the Ottoman Empire, and the whole country celebrated together.Banquets and stuff, everywhere.

Many people even think that the Ming army is said to be so scary, but in fact it is just that!If you really want to say it, I am afraid it is not as good as the Mongol Empire back then!

However, the Northern Allied Forces Command is not so optimistic.As front-line generals, they naturally saw that the Ming army was taking the initiative to retreat. The coalition forces did not cause large-scale damage to the Ming army, and the territories they occupied were all deserted. Those who originally lived here, Not at all.

It can be said that the Ming country originally only regarded these places as outposts for early warning.The farmland they reclaimed, the water conservancy they built, etc., are all on the east bank of the Volga River.All those people who became the common people of Ming Dynasty also migrated there.

According to spies, the east side of the Volga River is now a big city without walls, with a large population gathered, many houses built, and farmland stretching as far as the eye can see.

It can be said that the Ming Expeditionary Army has been operating that area in the past few years since it arrived in Eastern Europe.

These generals of the Northern Allied Army came to the conclusion that the east bank of the Volga River was the place that the Ming army must defend, and the battle that started when the army arrived there was the real decisive battle.

But no matter what, they will not explain these details to the rear.For them, regaining lost ground and boosting their morale is the right choice in itself.

However, the retreat of the Ming army stretched the Allied front and increased the logistical pressure.

However, since the good news has been sent back, even if the logistical pressure increases, they should be able to grit their teeth and support it!

Just like that, the three groups of allied forces of the Northern Front converged into one, marching eastward in a mighty, north-south width of more than ten miles.And the cavalry guarded the two wings, preventing the Ming cavalry from harassing the rear.

When the coalition forces reached the Volga River, it was a decisive battle of life and death.

At this time, the morale of the coalition forces also became higher because of the retreat of the Ming army.Many people even began to imagine that after defeating the Ming army here, so many houses built by the Ming army and so many fertile fields cultivated by the Ming army would be their spoils of war!
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At the same time, Britain, France, the Netherlands, Spain, and European countries along the Mediterranean Sea, plus some Ottoman armies, also began to launch the Middle East War.

In the Mediterranean, an unprecedented scene took place.

The mighty troop fleet almost covered the eastern sea of ​​the Mediterranean.The large number of this fleet has greatly improved the morale of the Allied soldiers invisibly.

With so many troops, is it possible that they can't defeat the Ming army?

According to the information obtained by the High Command, the Ming army on the other side of the canal is only about 20.And the total strength of the coalition army has reached [-], which is equivalent to four people fighting a Ming army!
Not to mention, because of the support of the northern allied forces, the firearms of the southern army have also been greatly strengthened!
(End of this chapter)