"The Kinkiwei secret agent lurking in Edo Castle. After Nijo Castle was bombed, Tokugawa Iemitsu's junior name, Matsudaira Nobutsuna, took over as senior officer. He went to Nagasaki on the day Nijo Castle was bombed.
I went to guild halls in the Netherlands and Spain three times in total, each time lasting more than two hours, and each time I went alone in disguise, and the specific conversation has not yet been discovered.
After the third time, a fleet of about thirty merchant ships came from Kumamoto. Two guilds boarded the ship and left along the coastline of Kyushu Island.
Judging from the draft of the ship, it is suspected that it carried a large amount of heavy objects and was escorted by the Fuso warship! "
After hearing this information, everyone frowned.
The intelligence seemed to say little of substance, but it said a lot.
"Your Majesty, I analyze that Fuso is doing this because he either wants to lure the Netherlands and Spain into trouble, or he wants to purchase a large number of firearms from the two countries, or both!"
"Mr. Yuan Ge, it's unlikely!"
Li Ruolian retorted in a low voice after hearing this, then took out a piece of paper from the desk and handed it over: "According to Yagyu Munenuri's confession, the Netherlands and Spain were waiting for Western countries to preach in Fuso, so that the believers rioted. ,
Although the Tokugawa shogunate did not issue an edict to strictly prohibit preaching, it still cracked down on it privately. If an agreement was reached, wouldn't this cause unrest in Fuso itself? "
"Commander Li Du, preaching requires time. This cannot be completed in a month and a half.
But the crisis of national subjugation is right in front of us. Block our attack first. When the crisis is resolved, the missionary matter will be easier to solve.
The two powers harm each other, whichever is less. After all, the navies of the Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal are still very strong. "
Yuan Keli explained, then pondered for a moment, seeming to be recalling something.
After a few breaths, Yuan Keli continued: "After the imperial court decided to establish the South China Sea Navy, I talked with Zheng Zhilong about the situation of the navy in the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and other countries.
According to Zheng Zhilong's account, the three main warships are the Karak warship, the Galen ship, the three-masted warship, etc. The Galen ship is between 40 and 60 meters long, and its full load can reach 6,000 stone, far exceeding ours. Lucky ship!
The Dutch Navy stationed in Taiwan has at least hundreds of warships, including at least thirty such large ships! The three jointly estimate that there are at least a hundred large ships of this kind, and there are also thousands of small and medium-sized warships.
In the seventh year of the Apocalypse, Zheng Zhilong defeated the Dutch army stationed in Taiwan. First, the Dutch army was not ready to completely turn against the Ming Dynasty.
The second is that they are not familiar with the Ming Dynasty's naval and fireship warfare methods. This does not mean that the Dutch navy is weak.
Judging from the intelligence sent back by Zheng Zhilong and Fusang and the invasion of Pingtan, Fujian, Fusang must have reached some kind of agreement with the three parties!
Being able to occupy a place in Ming Dynasty is a dream for Holland and others.
Whether buying firearms or forming an allied front is tough news for us! "
Everyone in the lobby looked solemn.
It doesn't matter if you buy a matchlock gun or something, even if you buy tens of thousands of them, the range and firing speed are much lower than that of a flintlock gun.
But what if we buy Folan cannons and Hongyi cannons in large quantities?
After a moment, Li Guopu stood up and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, there are two ways to disintegrate their alliance. The Netherlands and Spain have been running rampant along the coast of the Ming Dynasty for so many years. They just want to gain enough benefits in the Ming Dynasty.
If we open a few coastal cities, allow sea trade, and use the Ming Dynasty's vast land and abundant resources, Spain may give up Fuso. "
"Yuanji, your method is feasible to a certain extent, but it is inappropriate!"
Yuan Keli shook his head: "Although His Majesty intends to open up sea trade, when to open, to what extent, and where to open, these are all decided by the imperial court, so where is their turn to pick and choose?
With the wolfish ambitions of these three countries, they think we are afraid of opening up at this time. In the future, our caravans will be bullied to death by them outside?
Even if we want to drive, we have to scare them and keep them honest, and follow our rules.
Only in this way can we ensure the safety of our caravan and demonstrate the dignity of our heavenly kingdom! "
"Yuan Aiqing is right, and it is in my opinion."
Chongzhen nodded, very satisfied with Yuan Keli's words.
Then he looked at Li Guopu: "Li Aiqing, the rules must be played out!"
Facing the emperor's words, Li Guopu said solemnly: "Your Majesty, I naturally know this truth, but I just settled the account.
When we purchased the Hongyi cannon, the price was 2,300 taels per gun. If Fuso wanted to buy it, the Netherlands and Spain would be very open-minded. They would agree even if it was 10,000 taels per gun, as long as it could be delivered to Fuso within three months;
It will take three months to replenish our thunder cannons, and they will be in place at once, otherwise it will become a tug-of-war, which is extremely detrimental to us.
Three months later it will be October. Marching in freezing weather and traveling across seas and foreign lands is a taboo for military strategists.
As a result, we have to wait until March or April next year. The intervening seven or eight months will be enough for the Netherlands and Spain to manufacture and transport two hundred red cannons.
Assuming that two hundred red cannons are purchased, plus the firearms workshop on Awaji Road and the current fifty cannons, Fuso will have at least three hundred red cannons in seven or eight months. This number is already extremely astonishing!
Even if we have flying thunder cannons and movable red barbarian cannons, and we don’t know yet whether Spain’s red barbarian cannons have improved,
Once a war breaks out, whether it is a siege or a field battle, we will suffer heavy casualties.
I thought it would be easier to relax first and let them reduce the number of Hongyi cannons delivered and delay the delivery time, so as to give us additional time for firearms research and development and flying thunder cannons. "
This analysis is quite reasonable. With more firearms, the problem of large numbers of casualties cannot be avoided. This is something Chongzhen did not want to see.
Before he could think about it, Cao Wenzhao spoke up: "Your Majesty, the Hongyi cannon is quite capable when attacking from a distance, but once it reaches a safe distance, due to issues such as the elevation angle, it is considered safe.
As long as the mine artillery runs fast enough and spreads out enough, casualties will be reduced.
If we were to attack the city, we would just dig trenches and advance forward, and the Hongyi artillery would lose 80% of its lethality.
If it is a field battle, we will lay mine formations, fire bull formations, and even form traps to trap Chen Shi with palm mines and sky-shaking mines to destroy their firearms camps. "
Listening to Cao Wenzhao's words, Chongzhen was slightly surprised that he had forgotten this kind of tactics. He immediately looked at everyone: "What do you think?"
"Your Majesty, please judge!"
At this moment, everyone also understood the emperor's determination and responded in unison.
Seeing everyone like this, Chongzhen's face became serious and he looked at Li Ruolian: "Since Holland and the others want an explanation from Daming, then I will give them an explanation!"
