"I wonder what your Majesty's definition of a first-class country is?"
Since the special term "first-class country" was mentioned, Ruyter thought it was necessary to take this opportunity to understand it and weigh it when he went back.
"In terms of economy, it ranks among the top five in the world. It has no financial debt or is fully capable of paying off debts. It has reached preliminary industrialization. The trade volume is close to financial income. In terms of geography, it has transcontinental overseas territories, and the area of the mainland and territory reaches 100 Ten thousand
more than square kilometers. In terms of military affairs, it has an army of more than 300,000 people and its naval fleet ranks among the top five in the world in terms of tonnage. In terms of population, I won't talk about it. If there are only two to three million people, it will be difficult to feed so many soldiers. "
The last sentence of a certain new emperor was an allusion to the Netherlands, which has less than five million people and can support two to three hundred thousand navy and army. This is already close to its financial limit. If there are more, it will go bankrupt.
"I wonder how your majesty explains that the Ming Empire is above the first class?"
According to the other party's standards, it is difficult for the Netherlands to reach the level of a first-class country. However, the Netherlands has inherent flaws that cannot be changed in a short time.
Ruit still wanted to find out more about how amazing the future strength of the empire he was in would expand to.
"The annual financial income is more than 100 million silver coins, accounting for more than 40% of the global economic total, which is equivalent to the second to fifth combined. The domestic and overseas territory covers an area of more than five million square kilometers, and the natural resources are sufficient to support industrial development. The population has reached one billion people,
Food can be self-sufficient and provide enough non-staple food for the people. It has an army of more than 500,000 people, and its naval fleet ranks first in the world in terms of tonnage, and there is a generational gap between it and the warships of the navies of first-class countries, such as the gap between ironclad ships and wooden warships. Ming dynasty
An air force has been formed, and not only airships will fly in, but also airplanes, which are aircraft that can fly much faster than airships. I think it will take about twenty years to achieve this goal. Now Ming Dynasty is making steady progress towards this goal. "
As long as the mixed-breed war horses raised on Jeju Island can successfully reach adulthood, the Ming Dynasty's combined forces can begin a large-scale attack on the mountainous areas.
Huangtaiji can't do anything if he just wants to stay in the mountains, and when he doesn't have an advantage in firepower and military strength, he won't win like the Battle of Sarhu.
Once the braided army is defeated, the two gold mines in Monan can be mined on a large scale without any scruples, and the income of the Beiting Household Department will rise rapidly.
The whole process should take less than ten years, mainly because braiding hair is too expensive. Without this project, the Ministry of Household Affairs can save a lot of money.
"Your Majesty, the military gap between the Ming Empire and first-class countries does not seem to be too big!"
Ruyter expressed doubts about this. Perhaps as long as several first-class countries behind the Ming Empire unite, they can defeat the Ming Empire.
"I just mentioned the gap in quantity, not the gap in quality. The Marquis of Turenne is fully aware of the gap in equipment between our army and other armies in Europe. I can act responsibly. Said that because tanks and mortars
With the advent of artillery, European phalanx infantry has become obsolete. If you continue to use this tactic, you will become a living target for the opponent. The French army is already at the forefront in this regard, and I believe armies in other countries will also learn lessons from it. As for the general
Mr.'s professional project, naval field. If a country's navy does not even have ironclad ships, it will definitely lose in future naval battles. The era of anti-ship missiles has long since arrived, and any wooden ship will be reduced to a bonfire floating on the sea.
already. This premise is military modernization, behind which is the advancement of science and technology. Only by using the economy as fuel and constantly burning money can a virtuous cycle be achieved. It is a pity that your country is following in the footsteps of Spain. Reinvest the money you earn, but invest
Not military or industrial, but commercial. Commerce can enrich a country, but it cannot strengthen it. The only industry that can strengthen a country is industry, and military industry is a branch of industry. Judging from the current situation, it seems that France and the United Kingdom are doing better in this regard.
some. "
The maritime superiority that the Netherlands relied on for survival has now been plundered by the British. There is very little left, just as miserable as Spain back then.
But they don't deserve the slightest pity or sympathy, because they asked for it.
A country with tens of thousands of ocean-going merchant ships only has a mini-naval fleet.
Even when the fate of the country is at stake, they can only organize a fleet of one hundred battleships.
It can be said that Dutch businessmen do not care so much about the fate of the Netherlands!
If the Netherlands is done with, the fate of these businessmen is foreseeable.
However, the immediate interests are above all else. At the moment of destruction, you must eat and drink enough, and then lie down and wait to be slaughtered by the enemy!
"Your Majesty, if our country wants to introduce ironclad ship and steam tank technology, what conditions need to be met?"
These two super weapons of the Ming Empire are not a secret. Many people know about them, but because they cannot find out the manufacturing technology, they can only live with their eyes.
You can imitate it once you buy it, but how easy is it to imitate?
France, which was the first to introduce ironclad ships, may not even have a clue to imitate them now.
As long as one ironclad ship is dismantled, it means that millions of silver coins will disappear...
Despite his limited abilities, Ruit still hopes to get answers, even just to hear a quote.
"Take your country as an example. You can get all the construction technology of these two weapons by paying 500 million silver coins! I think the price is not high, because this is technology that is fifty years ahead of your country. You can get it with 500 million silver coins. Isn’t it a very cost-effective thing?
Of course, many people will think that the price is too expensive, and I can understand what these people think. They are willing to make money for the British or the French. Anyway, a large part of the money earned by Dutch businessmen will eventually fall into the hands of those two countries.
middle! Due to the defeat in this naval battle, the Netherlands' hope of becoming a first-class country could only drop. But it is clear that most people in your country are not prepared to seize this opportunity. Then your country is already a second-rate country. If it fails again, it will undoubtedly become a third-rate country.
. "
"Your Majesty, I wonder what you mean by the slightest chance?"
"Move to North America! This is the only hope for your country to make a comeback. Apart from this, all the efforts made by Mr. General and your colleagues are just to help the Netherlands delay its decline."
"Your Majesty, if the Netherlands moves to North America, it will definitely become a first-class country?"
"I can tell you, even if it is certain, wouldn't you move? Your members do not love their country, and your businessmen do not care about the outcome of the naval battle. Otherwise, how could the British win? Even if the Dutch Navy recruits a Thousands of ships
Loading merchant ships, you can easily win with your numerical advantage! No matter how capable that guy Blake is, he can't withstand the Dutch Navy's 'ship-to-sea tactics'! Your Excellency, before your navy obtains ironclad ships, perhaps this tactic is the only one that can defeat the British.
National Navy. "
Even if a certain new emperor did not let Zheng Zhilong lead a fleet to Europe to deal with the British, he did not want the British to defeat the Dutch so easily.
The British are expanding too fast, which is not a good thing for European countries and the Ming Dynasty. At this time, someone must stand up and stop the ambitious Cromwell.
"Your Majesty, with all due respect, based on what I know and the experience I have accumulated over the years, it is difficult for a thousand warships, even if they are armed merchant ships, to form an effective command!"
Ruit believes that the emperor may be an expert in economics, technology or land warfare, but in the field of naval warfare, if nothing else, he should be an amateur.
"Mr. General, let's make an assumption. You are Black now, with a hundred battleships in hand. I am Tromp, with a thousand armed merchant ships in hand. So how should you defend against the siege launched by our fleet? Woolen cloth?"
"Retreat first, then look for weaknesses and defeat them one by one!"
"According to the tactics you adopted, first of all, you will not be able to let the British fleet block the strait. Secondly, you have to retreat to avoid a decisive battle with the main force of our army. Finally, you must ensure that every attack will be a complete victory. To avoid a lose-lose outcome, do not
Is it? "
"That's okay!"
"With these three prerequisites, wouldn't it be easy for our army to ensure the smooth flow of the strait route? Regardless of whether there is a war or not, our army is already in an invincible position. Your fleet can either become a raiding fleet and specialize in plundering and entering the strait. Dutch merchant ship. Either change
The existing fleet was hidden in a certain port in the UK to avoid unnecessary losses. The Netherlands has a large number of merchant ships. If one thousand ships are lost, another thousand ships will be mobilized. In this way, victory will be within easy reach, but it is a pity that your country's parliament is not like this
think. Without losses, how can there be victory? Do we expect the British to surrender voluntarily? The Dutch Navy could have dispatched a thousand ships, but they only dispatched a hundred ships at a time, against the same number of warships in the British Navy. This is not a war, this is a bet
Bet, and it is easy to lose the chips in your hand! I don’t know, the owners of many armed merchant ships in your country would rather be robbed by British warships than join their own navy to fight. What are they thinking? "
In Ming Dynasty, this would be a real Shanxi merchant!
In the eyes of a certain new emperor, either the Dutch navy is incapable of winning, or it is looking for subjective and objective conditions and actively does not want itself to win.
"Your Majesty may not understand this aspect. Our country's merchant ships are completely owned by the shipowners. Even the parliament has no right to forcibly requisition them and can only raise them according to personal wishes."
Ruyter knew this very well, but what could he do?
Merchant ships are private individuals and are not the property of Parliament or the Navy.
Ruyter basically understood the method adopted by the emperor, and after a brief thought, he felt that it was feasible.
It’s just that your prerequisite is not established, and many subsequent assumptions do not exist...
"There are many solutions. The Parliament can issue a new order. All merchant ships participating in the fleet battle can be compensated at three or even five times the ship price in the event of loss. Or they can enjoy the right to participate in trade on a certain route, or simply
Receive compensation for certain provisions signed after the British victory in the war, and so on. If it doesn't work, it only means that your country's parliament is inactive and is a bunch of people who are just eating nothing. They do not want their navy to win;
Hope Britain wins! "
This is the same principle as merchants doing business. It doesn’t matter if the capital is not much, we can get it on credit!
It doesn't matter if the other party doesn't agree to the credit, the interest we offer is high, so I'm not afraid you won't take the bait!
"I will seriously consider many of His Majesty's suggestions and submit them to the Parliament for review!"
Ruyter followed the translation and carefully recorded all the previous contents, and also hoped to take this opportunity to help his country's navy expand its strength and defeat that guy Black.
"By the way, your New Amsterdam is a great place and will develop into a metropolis with a population of tens of millions in the future!"
"Oh really?"
"The east coast of North America is the most fertile place. As long as you stay here, there will be no shortage of food in the future. With your country's financial resources, you can realize the development idea of combining commerce and agriculture. If you introduce some industrial products from me and technology,
Then we can establish a country in North America. As for the mainland of your country, you can sell it to the French and get a fund for relocation. "
It is almost impossible to expect Zhang Xianzhong to contain the British who are about to encroach on the east coast. Now we have to make a move for the Dutch to see if they are willing to do so.
According to a certain new emperor's plan, North America should occupy at least one-third of the world. No matter how bad Zhang Dazongzi's troops were, they could still grab one-quarter to one-sixth of the territory.
As long as the Spanish advance northward and the British landing on the east coast are controlled, North America can achieve a model of checks and balances among all parties in the future.
If the Dutch don't go, the British will be able to capture at least one-third of North America in the future.
If this temporary partner cannot be counted on, a certain new emperor will have to find a way to bring in the French...
"Your Majesty, regarding this matter, I can only do my best!"
Ruyter is a soldier. Regarding the affairs of Yimin North America, I am afraid that he will not contribute much and the effect will not be very good.
"It doesn't matter, I am not your Prince Maurice, let alone a Dutchman. If the Netherlands is defeated, it actually has nothing to do with the Ming Dynasty or me. Your trade with the Ming Dynasty will be supplemented by the French, Ottomans, and Romans in the future. Up. Wait.
Once the canal is opened to navigation, the route between Ming Dynasty and Europe will be shortened by about one-fifth, and materials can be transferred to the hinterland of Europe once they reach the Apennine Peninsula. I can tell you two that Rome is already negotiating to build a railway.
Something happened. There are two options, one long and one short. As for the investors, you two must have guessed that they are the richest people in the Apennine Peninsula! "
This move will quickly promote the many small countries in the Apennine Peninsula to eventually become one country. The birth of Italy will form a special force in southern Europe that will simultaneously contain France, Germany, Austria, and the Ottomans.
Since this plan would pay a large amount of tolls to the Ottoman Empire, the sultan not only did not reject it, but was very interested in it and agreed to allow Western merchant ships to pass through the canal.
The relationship between the two countries has always been good, and the merchant ships of the Ming Empire can travel unimpeded. Warships can also enter the Mediterranean with advance notification.
It is obvious that the Dutch have been half a step too late in this regard. Although they are aware of the threat of the canal, they do not seem to be aware of the deeper intentions of a certain new emperor...
