Jiexuan led his troops to leave southern Spain in early March, and the fleet arrived in Calais, France in the middle of March.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Navy and Commander of the Atlantic Fleet, Sodi, also arrived because he wanted to accompany this distant ally and distinguished guest to Paris to meet King Louis XIV.
At this time, the Palace of Versailles is still in the intense construction stage, and it is expected that it will be completed and occupied in another ten years.
Even so, it was the result of reducing the scale. According to the original plan, it would not be put into use until after 1680.
Before that, Louis XIV still lived and worked in the Louvre Museum in Paris.
Although it is not as luxurious as the Palace of Versailles, the main reason is that there are not many gardens.
However, after installing telephones and other specialties of the Ming Empire, a new swimming pool was also built, which basically satisfied His Majesty the King.
Everyone has the desire to compare, especially after learning that the emperor of the Ming Empire built a new style of palace.
Louis XIV had the idea of changing himself and his nobles to a more spacious place of enjoyment, and construction of the Palace of Versailles began in 1660.
If it were not for saving money to continuously purchase ironclad ships for the navy, the Palace of Versailles would be larger and more luxurious...
After Jiexuan entered Paris, he also saw telephone poles lined up on both sides of the street.
However, the first power plant in France was built not long ago, and the only people using electricity in the city were the royal family, nobles, generals and wealthy businessmen.
It will take another ten years for ordinary people to be able to use this kind of high technology. For now, oil lamps are enough and cheap.
The main means of transportation is horse-drawn carriages. There are almost no steam locomotives, but there are quite a few rickshaws. After all, there is no shortage of coolies anywhere.
The road is also paved with asphalt. After repeated rolling with stone mills, it has become extremely smooth. It is much better than the original stone road. Women wearing high heels do not have to worry about sprained feet.
The only thing that can surpass Beidu is that there are so many high-rise buildings on both sides of the street, basically starting from three floors.
Jiexuan was not an inexperienced person, so he would not raise his neck to look up, otherwise he would easily make Sodi laugh.
But I didn’t miss the scenery on the street, because unlike the Ming Dynasty, many men on the streets of Paris wore stockings and high heels!
After entering March, the outdoor temperature in Paris becomes warmer. In normal years, there is no need to wear winter clothes at this time.
Ladies who love beauty have begun to show off their good figures, and under the leadership of His Majesty the King, men are no exception.
Stockings and high heels were standard accessories for Louis XIV. Later, in order to avoid hunching over, he also wore a chest brace...
After equipping this three-piece suit, adding long hair and gorgeous high-end clothing, you will look charming.
The nobles serving His Majesty the King in the Louvre naturally followed suit, and soon this fashionable wind spread throughout France.
It would be immodest for a man not to wear high heels and stockings. Especially after knowing that doctors have proven that stockings are miraculous in treating varicose veins, anyone who can afford them will naturally have many pairs.
If your feet don’t stink, you can even switch clothes with your wife!
On a sunny afternoon, walking on the street with a small cigarette in your mouth, wearing unique high heels, holding a scepter in your hand, and stroking your newly permed hair, you are not a gentleman...
In a nutshell, this is very French!
Men who don’t perm their hair, don’t smoke, and don’t wear stockings and high heels are very outdated, vulgar, and country bumpkin!
In front of the Louvre, out of courtesy to the distinguished guests, Sodi also accompanied Jiexuan to review the French Empire's guard of honor.
Due to His Majesty's hobby, the honor guard is composed entirely of handsome soldiers with outstanding height.
Of course, in addition to brand-new military uniforms and exquisite muskets, stockings and high heels are indispensable embellishments.
If Jiexuan had not been reminded by Emperor Haojing before setting off, he would have thought that he was in the wrong place.
The exposed stockings of the honor guard reached to the middle of the thigh, and above were silk bloomers... shorts!
The upper body is no different from the honor guard of the Ming Dynasty Guards Battalion, both of which are similar to neat uniforms.
It's just that the French army's jacket is made of blue fabric, red buttons and collar badges, with gold embroidery, and a certain gray big-brimmed hat with a big feather on it, which makes it very eye-catching.
Even though you are dressed like this, the people reviewing you cannot laugh. After all, this is the noble dress of France. Showing it to you means respecting you. If you are not of a certain level, you are not even qualified to see it.
"Dear Commander, it's so great to see you. I have been looking forward to this moment for a long time!"
Louis XIV welcomed Jie Xuan at the entrance of the Louvre, accompanied by Fang Yizhi
"I am truly blessed to be able to meet His Majesty!"
The other party spoke so enthusiastically, so Jiexuan naturally had to be polite.
"I have long heard that there is a general in the east who has won many battles. Today I finally see your honor!"
Louis XIV was looking forward to the Ming Empire's fleet, because as long as the allies arrived, they could launch a general attack on their old enemy Britain.
"Your Majesty is ridiculous. I just have a little better luck and the hard work of your soldiers. Your Majesty also has many famous generals who have defeated powerful enemies. I have met many of them. Under your Majesty's command, I will definitely be able to defeat them again." Create brilliant achievements.”
Jiexuan also complimented the opponent's generals. When fighting the British, his Marines were auxiliary, and the main force was the French army.
After arriving at the reception room, after some exchanges of greetings, the two parties got down to the main topic, which was landing in the UK.
Sodi had already introduced the current situation to Jiexuan on the way here, and he would say it again in front of His Majesty the King at the Louvre.
At the moment, the French and Dutch fleets are not fighting together. Because the Allies are equipped with a large number of ironclad ships, the British fleet simply does not dare to come out for a decisive battle with itself.
Since there were not enough warships, the blockade of the British Isles was not completed, and many British ships slipped out of the blockade from time to time.
With the arrival of the Ming Empire fleet, this situation will be greatly reversed. The quasi-blockade will become a complete blockade, and one can be sunk if one is discovered.
Blocking the UK is the first step, landing in the UK is the second step, and what we want to talk about now is the second step.
The original plan was to land at Dover in southern England, facing Calais, and slowly advance northward.
However, Jiexuan believed that our side had brought a large number of steam tanks this time, and since the enemy's capital could be reached directly, there was no need to make detours.
Just let the fleet go up the Thames River and start from the suburbs of London.
The problem is that Britain seems to be aware of the possible threat and has built a large number of cannon moss on both sides of the Thames.
This was mainly during the Anglo-Dutch War. Tromp also used this trick, but he mainly pursued the British fleet and did not attack urban London.
Now that the British have taken precautions, Sodi's concern lies in this.
If all gun moss is not destroyed, Army soldiers will be exposed to enemy fire and may suffer heavy casualties.
If you attack the gun moss first, then you will be attacking the enemy every step forward.
Rather than doing this, it would be better to land somewhere in southern England, where at least the defensive force would be weaker.
Regarding the British defense situation, the French spies also sent back the information they found, and after summarizing it, they drew a defense map around London.
The most important thing is that there are even photos, which makes analysis more intuitive and easy.
"Our informants have calculated that there are 105 cannon mosses on the south bank of the Thames and 112 on the north bank. Each cannon mosaic is equipped with at least four artillery pieces, basically all of which are over 15 pounds. Artillery can pose a threat to our wooden warships. In addition, the British have also placed a large number of ships in the main channel of the Thames. Once they find that the size of our fleet is too large and they cannot stop it, they will use these ships To block the waterway. Our people also heard that the British have prepared a lot of smoke-generating items that will be lit during war to use a lot of smoke to reduce the shooting accuracy of our naval guns!"
Sodi believed that it would be difficult for the three-nation joint fleet to rush into the river section of London. At most, they would have to unload soldiers on the river on the outskirts of the city and prepare for land battles.
And then let the army slowly eat the opponent's solid quasi-bastion gun moss?
Isn't this tactic a bit stupid?
"The marshal's introduction is very good. I basically understand the British tactics. If the coalition forces land from the south of England, the fleet will actually still be unable to exert force. Rather than that, it is better to penetrate directly into the heart of the opponent from the Thames Estuary. If the three-nation armies advance slowly , at least there is fleet cover behind them, and it is not difficult to supply, so there is no need to worry about protecting the supply lines. As for the cannon moss, I have the next solution. This time I brought a lot of missiles, which can be used to destroy the British cannon moss. If circumstances permit, the coalition forces can also bypass the British defense line along the river and besiege London in a roundabout way! Your army can be responsible for one side, and our army and the Dutch army are responsible for the other side. I wonder what your Majesty and the marshal want?"
Jiexuan believed that the defense line along the river could be fought hard or not. This did not mean that there was only one way into London.
The French army has not been designated to be responsible for which side. Since the one who can make the decision is around, give the other side a chance to choose.
Judging from the existing maps, the urban area of London north of the Thames River is larger, which means it has a larger population and is more cost-effective to conquer.
Boudes hopes to lead the French army to capture this place. Louis XIV trusts him very much, and he will eat more meat, so he will naturally not object.
Jiexuan didn't mind, he came here not to scrape territory, but to take revenge.
In the past, in southern Spain, the soldiers had already made enough money, and if they stayed any longer, they would suffer from kidney failure...
Subsequently, the head coach of the Dutch army and also the deacon William II came to Paris.
This time William II decided to personally conquer Britain, the purpose was to avenge the Anglo-Dutch War.
As Britain intensified its efforts, the Netherlands faced increasing difficulties in maritime trade.
William II wanted to let it go, but the British became more and more wanton and wanted to take over the Dutch maritime business.
The same tactics used against Spanish merchant ships were now used against the Netherlands.
If this continues, as long as the Netherlands does not give up business, the Anglo-Dutch war will break out every five years until the Netherlands surrenders and admits defeat.
Now that he had two powerful allies, the Ming Empire and France, William II had no reason to admit defeat to Britain.
Not only must we fight to the end, but we must also recover the previous losses.
Especially after hearing that the Empire wanted to completely eliminate Britain, William II published relevant content in Parliament and received full support.
This is something that the Netherlands had never dared to imagine before, but now its long-cherished wish is about to come true, with only the last step left.
It is impossible for the Netherlands to eliminate the British alone, but with the help of the Ming Empire and the French team, it seems very possible.
Since the Jiangnan area was plundered by the British fleet, so far the British have not apologized and admitted their mistakes, and it is even more impossible to pay compensation. Therefore, the Ming Empire's hatred of Britain is not much less than that of the Netherlands.
Destroy an enemy country in a fit of rage?
It’s not that this kind of thing has never happened, it just depends on the strength of the victim!
Nowadays, the Ming Empire has become the global military hegemon, with as many as one hundred ironclad ships.
Although not all of them were sent to European waters, the eighteen ironclad ships in the Jiexuan Fleet alone were enough to destroy hundreds of British battleships.
The Ming Empire's army is said to be equipped with tens of thousands of steam tanks and hundreds of airships. I'm afraid it can travel around the world without encountering an enemy.
Tens of thousands of steam tanks alone can scare the enemy to death.
Although the knowledge delivered to Europe is only a small part, only a few hundred vehicles, the British are not afraid of death and can give it a try.
Ruyter had already reported the relevant situation to Wilhelm II after returning home after getting the ironclad, so the latter would conduct the expedition in person this time because he felt that he had a chance to win.
However, after hearing that Jiexuan's troops only had 20,000 troops, William II began to feel a little less sure.
What can 20,000 people do?
Within a year, one million British women can become pregnant!
Just asking you if you accept it?
If you are not convinced, you can add more pregnant women!
Did you think I was kidding you?
These are the original words of Emperor Haojing, and they are very logical.
As long as British women gradually become pregnant, the country's food consumption will accelerate!
With overseas trade basically reduced to zero, Britain will soon find it difficult to be self-sufficient.
It used to be possible, but that was in semi-primitive conditions.
Now that the three countries have joined forces to lock down the country, the possibility of the UK rapidly developing its economy and technology is zero.
All major ports will be destroyed, and building large ships is a luxury.
Launch one ship, sink one, and leave none behind!
Jiexuan's fleet can be based in Ireland and watch many ports in western Britain every day.
The south side belongs to France and the east side belongs to the Netherlands. It will be supervised for a few years.
From now on, the largest warships in the British Empire will be fishing boats!
This tactic can be used if London is not attacked quickly.
This is the method with the lowest casualties, but Britain cannot be destroyed in the short term.
The French and Dutch commanders could accept a slow attack, but they didn't like it in their hearts and preferred to attack quickly.
The Netherlands promised to increase its troops to 40,000, and France to increase its troops to 100,000. The prerequisite was to provide 100 steam tanks to both sides free of charge.
Considering the relationship between the alliance and the difficulties he was about to face, Jiexuan believed that this request was not excessive, so he agreed.
After all, for the flesh and blood sacrificed by others, one can compensate for it with steel weapons, which is considered fair and reasonable.
These heavy weapons will not be shipped back after being beaten, but will be sold to allies at a discount.
It would be great to use it to its maximum effect now...
