Helena hurriedly translated the questions word for word.
Almeida sneered and said: "How to explain? You used a trick to destroy my warship before the battle. During the battle, you set off a smoke screen to attack the close combat. I was caught off guard. Furthermore, your warship's armor was strong and you used it to attack my flagship.
This is a rogue's desperate method. Our fleet's formation was disrupted, so we had to retreat. If we fight again, I will definitely defeat you."
After hearing this, Zhang Yanling burst into laughter and said, "May I ask Lord Almeida, can a dead person be resurrected?"
Almeida frowned and said: "Of course not. Why are you talking about this?"
Zhang Yanling said: "People cannot be resurrected, just like time cannot be turned back. What's the use of saying now that you will definitely defeat me in another fight? If you lose, you will lose, so what else can you say? What did you say I used?"
It's a trick. But let me tell you, our Ming Empire has an art of war saying that soldiers use deceitful methods.
It means that fighting requires being cunning and changeable, planning strategies, and taking surprises. Don't you Franjis always use a posture to fight with you and me with one shot? That's too stupid. Mr. Almeida
After so many years on the sea, I don’t believe you haven’t used any battle strategies.”
Almeida was speechless. Of course he had used tricks. When he led the Eastern Fleet to the east for adventure, the warships were not strong and the fleet had very few troops. All the soldiers under his command were prisoners and adventurers.
The desperadoes were extremely weak in terms of combat effectiveness and discipline. Therefore, in every battle at the beginning, Almeida racked her brains and tried every means.
He has done sneak attacks, ambushes, outflanks, bribes, and instigators of rebellion. He has done everything that is beneficial to the victory of the battle. It is indeed ridiculous to use these words to accuse Zhang Yanling now.
"Now that the matter has come to this, it is useless to talk about it. After I return to China, I will naturally report my mistakes truthfully and take responsibility for the failure. I, Almeida, am not someone who shirks responsibility."
"Hahahaha. This is too funny. Sir Almeida, do you want to report it truthfully? Then you'd better not go back. Otherwise, you will die and Helena will be hurt." Zhang Yanling laughed, his eyes full of ridicule.
Almeida frowned and said angrily: "Can't I shirk responsibility? The fact is that I was defeated by you. Shouldn't I tell His Majesty the King the truth?"
Zhang Yanling said: "Although the truth is the truth, it is foolish to take the responsibility at this time. If you admit the responsibility for the failure, then you cannot explain why you are unwilling to hand over the post of commander-in-chief. Because you should take the blame and resign.
Yes. So, you also bear the responsibility of disobedience. Because you refused to give up your position, civil strife broke out, resulting in internal fighting and death.
Shaken the morale of the army, and then lost the Malacca Strait and the port. So the crime of losing Malacca is also yours. Along the way, you will irrefutably become the biggest sinner. If I were your king of Franji,
Unless I hang you on the gallows, I can't get rid of the hatred in my heart. You can't explain or get rid of this series of crimes. Then why are you going back? Are you looking for death?"
Almeida stared at Zhang Yanling in astonishment. After carefully considering Zhang Yanling's words, he had to admit that what he said was right. Although his words were full of ridicule, the situation would indeed develop as he said.
"So, the first step is that the result of the war between you and me is of course your defeat, but you cannot admit the responsibility for the defeat. Well... you absolutely cannot admit it." Zhang Yanling took a sip of red wine and said slowly.
"You want me to shirk responsibility? I am the commander-in-chief of the Eastern Fleet. How can I shirk the responsibility for this defeat? But who can I shirk it to?" Almeida said.
"I don't care who you blame, in short, there must be a scapegoat. Of course you are responsible, but you cannot bear the main responsibility. I mean, there must be someone to take the blame for you. For example...Governor Woya." Zhang Yanling slowly
Slowly.
"What?" Helena screamed and looked at Zhang Yanling with big eyes.
"What did he say?" Almeida said.
Helena told the truth. Almeida also screamed in surprise.
"Governor Goya is the best candidate. He is the governor of Manlajia and knows everything beforehand. You can tell your Majesty the King that Governor Goya is a collaborator with the enemy and secretly colluded with the Ming Dynasty. He arranged spies in advance to destroy the fleet and warships.
disrupted the port. Later, you leaked military secrets, letting us know your lies. I can write two forged letters and give them to you, and you will say that they were found in the secret room of Governor Goya.
The letter. The content of the letter... is naturally the transaction between me and him. I spent a large amount of money to bribe him through merchants or someone, and he provided convenience for me and worked for me. This can also be related to his betrayal of you later.
The things corroborate each other. In this way, the responsibility for your defeat can be attributed to him. Anyway, he is dead, and there is no evidence to prove his death. He betrayed you, so it is right for you to take the blame." Zhang Yanling said in a deep voice, thinking to herself.
"No! Absolutely not. My God, if I do this, Catherine will hate me to death. I can't do this to her. We can't pass the responsibility to her father. He is already dead and has paid the price.
We can't do this." Helena shouted.
Zhang Yanling looked at Helena and felt quite emotional in her heart. This foreign girl was very kind, and she had not misjudged her.
Almeida didn't know why and kept asking. Helena told him what Zhang Yanling said. Almeida's eyes changed when she looked at Zhang Yanling.
"You Orientals are indeed very cunning. You are really... really... despicable..." Almeida said.
Zhang Yanling didn't answer and kept drinking. Almeida frowned, drank a glass of wine in her hand, and suddenly muttered something. Helena looked at her father in surprise and said something loudly. Father and daughter
The two of you kept talking to each other, almost as if they were quarreling.
Helena was so excited that tears were about to flow out, and her face turned red.
Zhang Yanling asked: "Helena, did your father agree with my suggestion?"
Helena stared at Zhang Yanling, tears welling up in her eyes, and gritted her teeth: "How can you do this? Why are you so cruel? What should Catherine do? I will never allow this. Your Excellency, you can't do this. My father actually agreed.
, saying that this is the forgiveness Governor Goya should give him. Why are you all such people?"
Zhang Yanling looked at Helena, sighed and said: "Well, since you don't agree to do this, let's drop this matter. For your sake, I give up this suggestion."
Helena was so surprised that if her father had not been present, she would have rushed over immediately. She kept saying: "Your Majesty, you are so kind. You are so kind. I thank you, and I also thank you on behalf of Catherine."
Zhang Yanling waved her hands and frowned in thought.
Helena conveyed Zhang Yanling's words, Almeida frowned and asked: "Then, who is still the best candidate?"
Zhang Yanling was secretly amused. Almeida quickly accepted such a method. Fortunately, he had called himself despicable before. Now all he could think about was the person to blame.
"In this case, we might as well get it right in one step. Just replace this person with Alfonso." Zhang Yanling said solemnly.
"Alfonso? He only came after the battle. When we fought, he was not in the port of Malacca at all. This doesn't make sense." Almeida said.
Zhang Yanling said with a smile: "There is nothing unreasonable. Collusion with foreign enemies does not require the presence of people. Just have evidence. But you have to find a loyal subordinate who can accuse Alfonso of promising high-ranking officials large sums of money to leak military information.
Collaborating with the enemy and betraying the country. I don’t know if you can find such a person.”
Almeida was stunned and said in a deep voice: "What's the point of doing this? This is a plan full of loopholes. Why did Alfonso cooperate with the enemy? You captured the Malacca seaport from him. If he
What benefits can be gained by collaborating with the enemy?"
Zhang Yanling sneered: "He cooperates with the enemy just to defeat you. Once you are defeated, they will have reason to take your place and seize the military power of the Eastern Fleet. Isn't this a benefit? As for us attacking the Manglajia seaport, of course it can
It is said to be part of the deal. He originally wanted to use the Manlajia seaport in exchange for our Ming army not to attack. This is his bargaining chip. Our Ming armada has received such benefits, so it will naturally cooperate with his actions."
Almeida frowned and shook her head: "This... this is still unbelievable. His Majesty the King and the nobles in the country are not stupid, they will not believe this."
Zhang Yanling said solemnly: "But if you add a conspiracy to rebel and seize the throne, your Majesty the King will believe it no matter how clumsy the plan is. Why did Prince William and Alfonso collaborate with the enemy? To seize the command of the powerful Eastern Fleet.
Why do you want to seize the command of the Eastern Fleet? It is to prepare for seizing the throne. Once this fleet
Driving back to the country, that was Prince William's biggest move to seize the throne. They would control the capital of Lisbon within a day, and hundreds of artillery fire would force everyone to surrender. This is their ultimate goal. At this point, I even
You are not making up lies. According to what you said, if they have the ambition to usurp the throne, then this must be their plan."
Almeida's chest heaved and he gasped violently. This was probably the purpose of Prince William and Alfonso to seize the military power of the Eastern Fleet. This was what he thought in his heart, and the Duke of the Ming Dynasty actually thought so too. Then
It's basically certain.
"Of course, if you want your Majesty to believe their plot, you must give him more credible evidence. But fortunately, these evidences are not difficult. I have two letters here, from the Governor of Goya.
The letter was found in the study. I looked for the captured prisoner and read it.
Yes, that is a letter written by Prince William to the Governor of Goya. The content is that the Governor of Goya is required to be loyal to him, cooperate with Alfonso's actions, and force you to hand over the power of the commander-in-chief. The letter also requires him to record your words and deeds.
, so that they can find loopholes and bring you down. Just take a look."
Zhang Yanling took out two letters from his arms and handed them over. Almeida looked excited, angry and sad after reading the letters. She was obviously very sad.
"So it turns out that it's Prince William and they have been targeting him for a long time. Yata... He has a weak character and it's not easy to get to his current position. Of course he doesn't dare to disobey them. With these two letters,
This is enough to prove the fact that Prince William and Alfonso deliberately suppressed me and seized military power." Almeida said tremblingly.
Zhang Yanling nodded slightly. Helena suddenly asked: "Why are these letters in your hands? Did you search this place?"
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "On the day we occupied this place, I ordered people to search several official offices. Naturally, the Governor's Palace of Governor Goya was searched. You should be lucky that I found these two letters."
Helena breathed a sigh of relief and said: "You are really scary, you are so careful in doing things. I don't know anything about it. Catherine thought the locals rushed in and took some things. She also said that those people actually took away books, papers and letters.
, it’s really weird. No wonder.”
Zhang Yanling smiled and did not want to get entangled in this matter. He continued: "These two letters alone are not enough. They must also prove their conspiracy and ambition. I am sorry that Governor Goya has nothing to do with this matter.
, we must also use his identity. These two letters confirm
It is clear that he has taken refuge with Prince William and Alfonso, then his confession is very important. We only need to get his confession and let him tell Prince William and Alfonso that they have a plan to seize the throne, then your Majesty the King
Then you will almost certainly believe Prince William’s ambition.”
"Governor Goya's confession? But he is dead." Both Almeida and her daughter said in shock.
"Dead people can also give confessions." Zhang Yanling said with a smile.