Who would have thought that the explosion was too powerful, and the top of the cave collapsed in an instant. A large depression appeared on the ground, and the entrance was blocked by stones, and all the people inside were gone.

"Let them save themselves first, just give them one day. If you can dig it out, it will be lucky, but if you can't dig it out, it will be unlucky. Take all the nobles on the boat, and I have nothing to say to them. Let them assign the senders home to report the letter, and send the ransom to the bank of Genoa." Hong Tao put the responsibility of more than 2,000 people being buried alive on the heads of the Duke and Earl. If they hadn't surrendered, this tragedy wouldn't have happened.

There were not only musketeers below, but also more than a thousand nearby people. They all came to the castle to hide from the war, but they were all stewed in one pot. However, they didn’t have many people in their hands, and the soldiers had to take care of more than two thousand prisoners. Compared with their own safety, others could only put it second, let them communicate with God whether they were alive or dead.

After the soldiers searched the castle completely and confirmed that there were no hidden holes, Hong Tao rode into the city. It was so miserable that the places that were ravaged by fire and explosion were very miserable, especially those civilians, whose casualties were no less than those of the soldiers. But whether they were Han, Southeast Asian, Indian Peninsula, Arabs, Africans, Indians or Europeans, they basically had the same attitude when facing war, that is, confusion, numbness, and indifference.

They neither know why they were going to fight, nor who could win, nor what would happen next moment. Faced with the death of their relatives, neighbors, and friends, they just silently watched the murderer. Just like a wildebeest on the African prairie, when facing a lion, they instinctively chose to escape, and they could not even raise the slightest bit of resistance, even if their number was hundreds of times that of the lion.

"First send these people to the ship in batches, and load as much as you can, and you can reach the Liberty Islands. By the way, identify them from them and pick out those with skills. You go and Earl Carl are responsible for this matter. I will allocate you three armed cargo ships and one hundred and fifty army soldiers, plus these usable ships in the port, and the fleet will evacuate tomorrow morning."

Hong Tao did not enter the castle, and he didn't look at it much in the yard. Win was winning, but the work was not over yet. These people, except for craftsmen, had to be transported to the canal construction site to be slaves. Luo Youde must have a shortage of people. Men, women, young and old, would take them away together. They would first concentrate at the supply station in the Lieward Islands, and then let Carl's oil fleet send to Sun City. At this time, Carl will be able to show up. These people will stay in America forever, not many of them can come back, or not many who can live. In addition to the necessary craftsmen, it is estimated that 80% of them will die on the canal construction site.

After arranging these tasks, Hong Tao kept bringing fifty troops back to the warships. He had other things to do, such as moving the ammunition and supplies from the armed cargo ships to the warships, and then having a good sleep. The battle here was over, but the Flanders Hanseatics had not been completely resolved. They also had a large shipyard and foundry at the entrance of the Travo River, from which 70% of the warships and all the cannons were made.

Hongtao has never been to this place. It is at the western end of the Baltic Sea, only more than ten kilometers away from Lübeck, and less than sixty kilometers away from the Free City of Hamburg. What is the situation of the local river and what is the situation of the Baltic Sea? Hongtao has to ask more of the prisoners, but they cannot be nobles. They are too sensible and difficult to deceive. However, there is good news that Flanders Hanseatics almost went all out this time, and most of the naval forces moved south, but they were very empty in their hometown in the Baltic Sea.

This approach seems a bit extreme, but it is easy to understand under the current circumstances. Before meeting Hong Tao's fleet, no one would think that the main force going south would be defeated. From the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean, there was no maritime force that could compete with the Flanders Hansea Navy. The same is true in the Mediterranean. If Carl fails, Frederick II fails, the Venetians fail, and the Arabs won't.

If it weren't for the Flanders Hanseatic members being too complicated and the distribution of interests was too difficult to balance, I guess I could have swept across the Mediterranean two years ago. I wouldn't have been waiting for Hong Tao to discover it, and I wouldn't have given Hong Tao the opportunity to build new warships and new cannons.

But now that Hong Tao knows, he will definitely not give them a chance to make a comeback. The Baltic Sea is beyond its reach and cannot expand its sphere of influence in a short period of time, but it is still possible to use a fleet to raid it. Burning down their shipyards, foundries and corresponding facilities, and then taking away all their craftsmen and workers will basically curb their momentum to develop into the sea.

They had been operating these things for seven or eight years before they had collected them. The Nordic land is still very poor. If you want to find another one, let’s not talk about where the technicians come from. After losing the convenience of maritime trade monopoly, all kinds of supplies will be enough for them to save for a few more years. Even if they have all the money, there is no chance. After this incident, Jiang Zhuyi and Carl will focus more on the north, and Cixi’s swallows will fly over. As long as they find signs, the fleet of the Spring Alliance will be patronized. At worst, they can burn it again.

"What a miracle, my life is so great... it's hard to say. I don't know what fate is waiting for them." At around 4 o'clock in the afternoon, a war horse suddenly ran towards the castle, bringing Hong Tao a message. The prisoners of war actually dug the entrance of the underground cave by relying on their shoulders and hands, and there were many living people inside.

It is said that these poor people were saved, Hong Tao should be happy, but he was not happy, and even a little worried. If these people died like this, it would be considered happy, because if they were alive, they would be transported to the Americas to dig canals. Such a large project was carried out in the tropical areas, and there was no perfect logistics and medical system, the consequences could be imagined. But no matter how future generations evaluate themselves, this canal had to be dug, and these people had to go. Even if they were scolded by people all over Europe and the world for 10,000 years, Hong Tao would not change his mind.

"You still have to go north? Are you familiar with that?" The next morning, Carl came to Hong Tao's flagship. He had just rushed back from Carl Fort and the sailors. After meeting, he did not ask Hong Tao how he captured the castle. This question was no longer a problem in his opinion. What he was concerned about at this time was that Hong Tao had to take seven Virginia-class and one salmon-class to continue to go north to Lubeck. No one has ever been to the sea there, and the unknown is danger.

"Don't worry, I'm the sea god, there's no sea area I haven't been to. Actually, I'm more worried about your affairs. When the prisoners are sent to the leeing islands, you can go and pretend to be good. In your name, you will take those nobles to Carl Fort to sign a guarantee letter according to the rules of your nobles, give them the treatment they deserve, and then wait for their family to pay the ransom. No matter what they think in their hearts and what they say, you must insist that you didn't participate in this war, it was entirely my own act of revenge. And it was not a dispute between the Eastern Kingdoms and the Christian Kingdoms, it was just a commercial conflict, to fight for the right to trade at sea. I suggest you discuss with William and Jiang Zhuyi and ask them to help you deal with this matter. Anyway, this matter was caused by the two of you. It's very reasonable to wipe your butts clean by yourself."

Hong Tao was not worried about war. Although he had never been to the Baltic Sea, he knew a little, at least not less than those on the Baltic Sea coast. This was enough. But how to deal with the post-war problems was a big problem. Flanders Hanseatic was defeated by himself, which was equivalent to cutting off several kings, several dukes, and more than ten counts' families. In addition, a more annoying church would have to be added. If the aftermath issue is not handled well, then the war could really spread into a war and would not end in a short period of time. Maybe the canal was dug and he could not leave it alone. He had to face the single choice question of conquering Europe or saving the Song Dynasty.

Although he can support Frederick II to fulfill his wish to completely drive away the church's forces and confront the entire Europe, that is not the best choice. In recent years, the countries of the League have fully developed and rapidly formed in the Spring. If most of the resources are invested in this war, it will inevitably affect the development speed of America.

Don't forget that there is a powerful maritime power, Jinhe Empire, on the west coast of the Pacific. If those little boys are stopped by themselves and cannot go north to control the Song Dynasty, they will definitely turn their attention to the south, west and east. Once they discover the uninhabited land of America, the Spring Alliance will have to fight on both sides.

The naval strength of the Golden River Empire is incomparable to the Flanders Hanseatics. Once they enter war mode with all their strength, the construction speed of the warships will be as fast as dumplings, and the landing troops will have to use tens of thousands as units. If they want to defeat the Mongolian Empire and the Flanders Hanseatics, Hong Tao believes that he does not have this strength yet. He still has the advantage of weapons, but it is not omnipotent. He has to determine who the opponent is. He really can't stop them, and he doesn't want to stop them, but he doesn't want them to get involved in North America and Central America too early.

In order to avoid this dilemma, the post-war negotiations are still very important. Carl and Jiang Zhuyi have to be responsible, and Frederick II cannot stay out of it. He must do his best to scare and coax this possible war, even if it can be delayed for a few more years, it will be a good result.
Chapter completed!