Governor Goya handed the letter to Commander Almeida and looked at Almeida anxiously.
Almeida read the letter, frowned slightly, and then laughed.
"Hahaha, interesting, interesting." Almeida threw the letter on the table and laughed.
"Man, do you still think it's interesting? According to what this letter says, the new port of our occupied city has probably been captured by the Ming Empire's navy. Matthews made it very clear that the Ming Empire's navy has tall warships, and its firearms are no less than
We and their ship cannons can hit the castle in Newport in the bay. What kind of overbearing firearms are they? My dear Commander, we are afraid that we have met our opponent." Goya frowned.
Almeida smiled, took out a small snuff bottle inlaid with gold wire from her arms, put it to her nose and sniffed it, squinted her eyes and said with a smile: "Rival? This is a good thing. I haven't met an opponent in many years.
Now. It’s all a bit boring. I have basically encountered all the countries with powerful navies in the world. Only the Ming Empire has always been a source of fear for us. This time, maybe it’s our chance to confront them head-on.”
Goya frowned and said: "My dear Mr. Commander, don't blame me for not reminding you. According to Matthews' letter, this is no ordinary opponent. This is a huge fleet of the Ming Empire. Their firearms may not be
They are inferior to us. Their ships have never been weaker than ours. Do you really think you are sure to deal with them?"
Almeida said in a deep voice: "Mr. Governor, you know me well. I love challenges most in my life. The stronger my opponent is, the happier I am. Besides, my warship has been replaced with one developed by the Imperial Academy.
The range of the cannon has been greatly enhanced. We suffer from no actual combat opponents. The navy of the Ming Empire is our best opponent. I know, everyone
We all think that the Ming Empire is not something to be trifled with. There are stories everywhere about the glorious deeds of their treasure ships that came here. Therefore, we maintain a cautious attitude towards them. However, can we still remain indifferent if others rob our territory? In that case
, what dignity does our country of Franji still have? Hasn’t my Almeida’s great reputation also become a laughing stock?”
Governor Goya frowned and thought for a while and said: "I understand what you mean, and I really cannot condone it. Anyone who is an enemy of me, Fo Langji, should be dealt with by thunder. Otherwise, other people will also follow suit. What I mean is
Yes, you should pay attention to what Matthews said."
Almeida nodded and smiled: "Don't worry, I never underestimate any opponent. Although they always disappoint me. Mr. Governor, I will be prepared for this matter, so you don't have to worry."
Goya nodded and said: "Of course, I only do what I am responsible for. I think I need to report this matter to the country and inform His Majesty. In any case, going to war with the Ming Empire requires His Majesty's permission."
Almeida said: "Governor Goya, my old friend, you don't need to be so cautious. There is no need to tell the country about this matter. You know my situation. In the past two years, someone has said in the ear of His Majesty the King
They said a lot of bad things about me. Once they know what happened in Xingang, someone will definitely take advantage of it to cause trouble. You know, those gentlemen in China have been biting me."
Goya said in a deep voice: "Dear Commander, although you and I have been friends for many years, I can't help you this time. I have to do my best. I hope you don't blame me. I can't help you with some of the holidays you have with Prince William.
It's your fault. All I can do is do my own thing well."
Almeida sighed and said: "That's all, just do what you have to do, I won't blame you. Come, have a drink before leaving. My little girl Helena brought wine from my hometown, Lisbon, and I
Buy you a drink."
Governor Goya laughed and said: "Then I will have a drink. The wine Helena brought must be mellow and charming."
Almeida laughed and called to Helena who was standing by the wine cabinet in the corner of the large living room: "Helena, why don't you bring some wine? Your uncle Goya wants to drink a glass of the wine you brought."
Helena responded with a sweet voice, reached for a bottle of wine, and walked over with two tall silver cups between her slender fingers. She placed the wine glasses on the table and poured two glasses of wine with a smile.
"Uncle Woya, please."
Goya smiled and picked up the wine glass, put it next to his nose and sniffed, showing an intoxicated look and said: "Well, it really smells like home. I can also smell the fragrance of lavender."
Helena smiled sweetly and said: "Uncle Goya has a really good nose. This is indeed wine made from grapes grown in vineyards planted with lavender. You can smell it. It's really amazing."
Almeida chuckled and said, "Your Uncle Goya's nose is sharper than that of a hunting dog."
Goya laughed, took a sip of wine, and praised: "Good wine. Good wine. Thank you Helena. I will invite you to my manor another day. My daughter Catherine will make a cocktail and let you try it too."
Helena smiled and said: "Uncle Goya, let me ask you a question. Which one is more beautiful, Catherine or me?"
Governor Goya was stunned for a moment, then laughed and said: "Helena, you and Catherine are both great beauties. They are equally good and bad."
Almeida laughed and said: "Helena, don't embarrass your Uncle Goya. He knows that you are the most beautiful, but he refuses to admit it. He can only say that there is no difference. In fact, you already understand the answer."
Goya smiled and pointed at Almeida's face, clicking with his fingers. Helena also laughed.
Goya raised his glass and said to Almeida: "My old friend, here's a toast to you. I wish you will return victoriously from the next battle and all your troubles will disappear."
Almeida smiled and raised her glass: "With your good words, God will bless me."
Goya drank all the wine, got up and left. Almeida walked him to the door, turned around, and saw Helena reading the letter sent from Newport.
"Helena, this is a military secret, you can't read it." Almeida smiled.
"I'm just curious. Is the fleet of the Ming Empire really that powerful? Does it dare to challenge our country of Franco? Captain Matthews wrote this letter with despair. Could it be that the navy of the Ming Empire is really that powerful? Father
, do you want to go to war with them?" Helena Pu asked, fanning her big blue eyes.
Almeida smiled and said: "Helena, your father has been fighting all his life, fighting against various enemies. The Ming Empire is just one of the enemies. We didn't want to provoke them so early because we were not sure yet.
But now they are here. For the benefit of the kingdom and for my eternal reputation, I can only accept the challenge. Do I have to be a coward?"
Helena frowned and said: "I don't like fighting. Although I admire my father's great achievements in conquering the world, I think that our country of Franco is fighting everywhere and bringing disaster to other people."
Almeida frowned and said: "Helena, what are you talking about? What do you know? A strong empire depends on conquest by force. This is the rule of this world. If our Franji country is weak, others will
If you come to conquer us, we will become slaves and live a miserable life. So in order not to become the slaves of others, we must conquer others first."
Helena pursed her red lips and said, "I don't think so. Others live well where they are. It's us who have disturbed other people's lives. They didn't provoke us."
Almeida shouted: "Helena, what did you learn at the Royal Academy? Those teachers who taught you taught you this? In vain, I also donated a large amount of gold coins to the Royal Academy. Next time I return to China, I will find them
Let’s have a good chat.”
Helena said hurriedly: "Father, this is all what I thought. They didn't teach me this. Why are you angry?"
Almeida waved her hand and said: "That's all, I don't want to cause trouble with you. You can go and have a rest. I need to study how to fight the Ming Dynasty's navy. They attacked Xingang, and they will come here next. By the way.
, Helena, didn’t you say you were very interested in the Ming Empire? Aren’t there scholars from the East in your school?”
Helena said: "Yes. There is a Mr. Xu who teaches Eastern culture and language in our school. I learned the language of the Ming Dynasty from him. Their culture is broad and profound, and they are a mysterious and great nation."
Almeida smiled and said: "That's good. If you understand what they are saying, when I defeat them and capture them, you can help me interrogate them and find out their truth. I think, since we have taken action this time, our
The port can take the opportunity to extend to the coast of the Ming Empire. This is my last ambition, to conquer that mysterious country."
Helena frowned and looked at her father, opening her mouth to say something. Seeing Almeida studying the letter seriously, she took out a quill and started transcribing the situation of the warship's firearms described in the letter. After a while,
I started looking through the charts again to check the location. I was very busy.
Helena had no choice but to sigh softly, turned around and walked away lightly shaking her blond hair.
…
Thousands of miles away in Da Nang Bay, after nearly half a month of negotiations and mediation, Zhang Yanling successfully "persuaded" the Later Le Dynasty and the Champa Kingdom to sign the instrument of reconciliation between the two countries.
The process of persuasion was naturally to use reason, emotion, and threats of force. Zhang Yanling arranged a practical exercise in the bay and invited princes and generals from both sides to observe. When he saw the armored warship launch
The shells exploded and shattered the target ship. When I saw the blunderbuss hitting the target two hundred steps away, it was shattered. When I saw the dead fish rolling out of the water when the golden melon exploded, the two sides who were originally in tit-for-tat immediately chose to compromise.
Such a Ming Dynasty army is enough to destroy their country. The consequences of not giving face to others to persuade them to make peace are terrible. Moreover, the prospects of trade described by Zhang Yanling are broad and profitable. He is still a person who understands current affairs.
For the good of Junjie.
After this matter is settled, Zhang Yanling and his party will continue their voyage.
After replenishing water and food at the port, Zhang Yanling left a hundred soldiers and a general here to make some follow-up preparations for the port trade. With Bu Guliang's assistance, things here should not be too difficult.
On the fifth day of November, after lingering for nearly a month, the Ming Dynasty's invincible fleet set sail and left the port.