The Port of Seville is located in the valley of the lower reaches of the Guadalquivir River in the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula, about 100 kilometers south of the Bay of Cadiz, with a population of about hundreds of thousands.
The Guadalkivir River flows through the city, and the buildings in the city still retain the appearance of the Moorish rule. The land here is open and low, with an altitude of less than one hundred meters on average. The land is mostly fertile alluvial plains, which is very conducive to agricultural planting.
However, the Spaniards do not want to develop the planting industry here!
Because, compared with the lucrative marine trade, the returns of the planting industry are really too low...
Therefore, this only coastal city with an inland port and located at the Mediterranean estuary and close to the Strait of Gibraltar is naturally used to take advantage of its terrain to develop shipbuilding, transportation, logistics, trade and trade, etc. that is related to Spain's national strength and economic pillars.
Especially after Columbus discovered the New World, the ‘Indies (i.e., the New World of America) trading house was established here, which monopolized the overseas trade of Spain and almost the entire Europe (mainly the American part), allowing the city of Seville to develop into the most prosperous economic port and city in the entire Europe.
European countries are obviously very jealous of this.
But there is no way. The Kingdom of Spain is now the most powerful maritime country in Europe. They have an invincible fleet and can fight European powers such as the Netherlands, Austria, Britain and the Ottoman Empire on land and on the sea without being at a disadvantage.
This is the era of the Spanish Invincible Armada. Although other countries are jealous, such as Britain or France, they can only make small moves in private and want to constantly eat up Spain's overseas colonies. They are not afraid to flirt with the Spanish tiger beards directly.
Of course, other European countries dare not, but it does not mean that the Li family fleet from the Ming Empire in the East dares not!
Isn't this?
In the stunned silence of all countries and forces in Europe, Piedro de Barudis, commander-in-chief of the Spanish Invincible Fleet and admiral of the Spanish Kingdom Navy, announced in a high-profile manner that the war against the Li family fleet of the Ming Dynasty. A week later, a fleet of such a huge fleet with more than 100 warships began to slowly move south after completing formation on the sea outside the port of Seville.
That's right, there are more than one hundred ships.
Moreover, they are all special warships, and the sailors are all Spanish navy soldiers. There is not even a single armed merchant ship or transport ship in the formation!
After driving for a long time and seeing everything going well, Piedro de Barudis, the commander-in-chief of the Spanish Invincible Fleet and the admiral of the Spanish Kingdom Navy, finally stroked the railings of the bow with satisfaction, and looked at the huge Spanish Invincible Fleet under his command with pride.
This is where Spain's confidence lies in dominating Europe or even the whole world.
And now, they are about to give the oriental who came here from a distant country and began to provoke their majestic Spanish ones!
"Admiral!"
At this time, a young officer in military uniform came behind the fleet commander-in-chief Barudis.
“Hmm?”
"Is it Arenso?"
"Speak if you have something to do, don't hesitate."
Barudis looked at the other person, and when he saw the other person's expression seemed a little hesitant, he chuckled and said directly.
"yes!"
“Admiral…”
"I also asked the captain of the merchant, Gianlonimo de Espinosha. They all said that it was difficult to deal with the Li family fleet."
"Those Orientals have more than twice the range of their naval guns, and can maintain a high hit rate within a distance of 800 to 1,000 yards. Their power is also terrifying. In addition, they are also fast and have large ships. The naval guns on the side of each side are at least more than one hundred, and their firepower is extremely terrifying!"
"In this way, we don't seem to have any good ways to deal with them."
The young officer, Arenso, said something he was worried about. In his opinion, it was definitely not easy for them to find a small fleet with only five ships but faster speed and longer range.
Especially the other side was not like European countries. The Ming people from the Far East did not have their own land and ports in Europe, nor did they have to defend somewhere and prevent their invincible fleet from attacking. Therefore, he was not very optimistic about this action.
Anyway, if he was the admiral of the Li family fleet, he could leave. No matter how powerful the Invincible Fleet is, what can he do to him?
Of course, if he was the admiral of those five ships, he might have done something even more terrible, and the crazy behavior that could make him cold from his feet to his forehead by just thinking, was something he dared to think about but not say.
"Oh!"
"Yes, of course I know what you said!"
"but……"
"Didn't we order the fleet of Ras Palmas to head north?"
"What we have to do is not to wipe out them all. We just need to capture or sink one of their ships, and obtain relevant data on their naval guns and ships."
"Once one acquires those things, no one can shake the hegemony of our Spanish Kingdom!"
Thinking about the Protestants, and the Dutch, Austrians, the increasingly unfair British, and the Ottoman navy, and the elusive pirate king Hailudin, who was arrogant and domineering in the New World, who did not take Spanish warnings and threats to the eyes of the Dutch, Austrians, the increasingly unhonest British, the Ottoman navy, and the elusive pirate king Hailudin, Piedro de Barudis smiled coldly and subconsciously touched the admiral sword on his waist that was personally awarded to him by the Spanish king.
As long as he obtains the data on the artillery and ships of the Li family fleet from the distant East and the declining Ming Empire, and then studies and imitates it, he believes that by then, no one in Europe and the New World will be the opponent of the Spanish Kingdom!
At that time, after the Spanish Kingdom dominated Europe and the New World, it would go south to Africa and completely drive away the Li family forces from Africa. I believe it would not be difficult.
Moreover, he heard that the Dutch were organizing expeditionary ships, seemingly preparing to regain the interests of the Indian Ocean and the spicy islands of Guawa?
At that time, Spain can wait for them to fight and lose their strength first, and then follow them, take down India and Guawa in one fell swoop, and then seize the Dutch and Portuguese money bags!
Especially the Portuguese...
Barudis knows that the Portuguese, whether it is Abokruk or the big and small chambers of commerce, have made a lot of small moves at all!
Unfortunately, they are not lucky and Portugal is almost out of reach. In addition, they are hit by the Ming people one after another, and I don’t know if they can recover?
However, it would be best if it could not slow down and continue to decline, because in that way, they would be able to annex Portugal in a grand manner.
"By the way!"
"How long will we get to the waters near Madeira?"
After thinking for a while, Barudis suddenly asked.
Now he doesn't want to care about the life or death of the Portuguese, nor does he care about the conspiracy of the British or the Dutch. Now he just wants to arrive in Madeira quickly and take down the Li family fleet, and get the things he hopes to get!
“Report to the Admiral!”
"The fleet is too big, and I'm afraid it won't be fast. In addition, I'm taking advantage of the side wind, so my subordinates estimate that they will not arrive in Madeira at least seven to eight days."
“…”
"A week?"
"snort!"
"I hope those orientals from the Ming Empire don't run away!"
"run?"
"Probably not?"
"Why can't it? If I were them, I would probably run away too!"
"But……"
"Admiral!"
"Didn't we have given orders to the fleet commander of Ras Palmas, who will try to go to Madeira first and drag the Ming people there?"
"Oh!"
"Can they hold it?"
"this……"
"If you don't seek to fight and annihilate the enemy, and just make the enemy afraid and maintain existence, your subordinates think it should be fine."
"After all, the Li family fleet only has five giant warships, and they also have to guard and suppress Madeira at the same time. I am afraid that the Ming people will not be too relaxed and cannot distribute the warships to deal with the fleet of Raspalmas."
"besides!"
"The Portuguese are very tenacious. They will certainly not easily allow a group of people from the far east to occupy their ports and cities. Don't worry!"
The young officer Arenso answered loudly and comforted the admiral of their invincible fleet as much as possible, and at the same time comforted himself.
"Well, I hope..."
Nodded, Piedro de Barudis, commander-in-chief of Spain's Invincible Fleet and admiral of the Kingdom Navy, said nothing more. He just turned around silently and looked at the fleet consisting of dozens of large Spanish square sailboats (Galen ships) and dozens of medium-sized brigs and three-mass sailing ships.
This time, after reporting to His Majesty the King, he dispatched a total of 150 large and medium-sized warships, carrying more than 3,000 cannons and tens of thousands of soldiers. As long as the enemy does not run away, he will definitely be able to leave the Li family fleet with only five ships in Madeira.
Of course, he also heard that Gianlonimo de Espinosa talk about the Battle of Comoros at that time, and knew that the Li family fleet was strong and powerful. However, this time, unlike the armed sailing ships of those merchants, they were all warships. After the arrangement was made, they rushed directly towards Madeira from all directions. Even if the Li family fleet's ship was powerful and caused certain losses to his fleet, he was confident enough to defeat those enemies from the distant east!
Because, no matter how much losses there are, he is not afraid!
The invincible Spanish fleet and the courageous Spanish navy soldiers will definitely not be like those cowardly merchants and pirates, and they will rush to the enemy in front of the fire and launch close-up artillery or jump-to-raid wars on the enemy, even if they lose one-third or more warships!
In fact, Barudis is not worried about losses at all!
After all, the Spanish Invincible Fleet has a terrifying fleet of more than a thousand large and small ships (parts are small and medium-sized armed merchant ships or transport ships). Even if the fleet he brought out this time was lost more than half, as long as he got the data on the naval guns and ships of the Eastern Ming people, it would be worth it.
However...
When the commander-in-chief of the Spanish Invincible Fleet, the admiral of the Spanish Kingdom Navy, Piedro de Barudis and his officers were thinking and looking forward to it, what they did not know was:
Not long after they drove out of the Port of Seville, their squadron from the port of Las Palmas, and more than twenty large and small ships had successfully captured the port of Madeira.
"Report!"
"Captain, the Li family fleet is not here!"
"The workers on the dock said that their men had quietly retreated last night, and none of them were left behind, and there was no one here, nor their boat!"
A team of soldiers ordered to investigate in the city and the docks hurriedly ran back and reported to the squadron commander who were carrying soldiers on the docks, enjoying the Portuguese's fingers and surprise eyes.
“!!”
"Do you know where they went?"
The squadron commander of the Invincible Fleet was actually prepared. Otherwise, how could they have so easily attacked the port of Madeira without firing one shot or another?
"Sir!"
"A merchant ship captain who entered the port in the morning said that at night, he saw five black giant ships heading north."
“??”
"North?"
"Yes."
“!!”
"not good!"
"Quick! Arrange two fast ships to set out north immediately and report the situation to Governor Barudis!"
The squadron commander's face darkened, and then turned around and issued an order to a commissar.
"yes!"
"Abide by the order!"
The messenger ran straight to the berth of the dock.
Soon, two three-masted square sail armed fast ships sailed out of the port, and then under the south wind, they quickly bulged the sails and adjusted the direction, and began to accelerate toward the northwest.
...
At this time, above the sea, the five giant ships of the Li family fleet were continuing to drive quickly towards the northeastern direction.
At this time, the speed of the five ships reached more than twelve knots under the wind, which made the sailors and captains on the ships that occasionally saw coming and going in the busy Mediterranean estuary were stunned.
They obviously have never seen a ship that can run so fast, flexible and not fall apart when it is built so huge?
Of course, as for what those people were thinking, Anne didn't care, because at this time, she was swaying and napping comfortably on the tied fishing net hammock at the bow of the boat, and enjoying the cool sea breeze.
“…”
∠(?”∠)＿
“??”
(???.???)??????
"Hey! Why are you shaking around? If you have nothing to do, go fishing?"
?(?﹏?,)?
Annie didn't know how many times she saw that guy Song Yifeng swaying in front of her and wanted to speak, so she finally couldn't help but ask.
"Anne..."
"Are we really going to fight those Spanish invincible fleets?"
"I heard they have thousands of warships!"
"That's not the kind of small sampan of Japanese pirates. Are you sure you still want to go?"
That's right, Song Yifeng was worried about this, because Annie only said that she had asked the fleet to head north towards Spain and the Mediterranean. She said she wanted to do anything? Of course, she thought the other party must have been asking for trouble for those invincible fleets.
"Of course not!"
ヾ(^▽^*)))
"ah?"
"Then we are..."
Song Yifeng was stunned, and then there were more questions in her mind.
"You are so stupid!"
(????-)
"We have so few ships, why should we fight against them?"
?(ψ｀▽′)o
"Actually, we are going to sneak attack their lair now!"
?(?ˉ?? ˉ?)?
"Let's take advantage of their large fleet's opportunity to leave the port and bomb their ports and military ports, and they're so angry!"
?(ˊ?ˋ*)??
"ah?"
Song Yifeng was shocked, but she didn't expect Annie's plan to be like this.
"Didn't the Portuguese say it?"
|???ω??)??
"If we go to war with the Spaniards, they are willing to rent Madeira to us for the time being and will not even pursue the affairs of the Malay Governor, so let's just go and fight Spain!"
(?￣? ￣?)Hehe!
"But……"
"They must be using us, right?"
Those Portuguese were uneasy and Song Yifeng knew that it was easy to think about it, so she didn't want to really fight with the Spaniards and the other side's invincible fleet.
"yes!"
o(*ˉ︶ˉ*)o
"But it doesn't matter. If someone is willing to take the initiative to secretly supply us with shells and gunpowder, then things will be much easier!"
?(ψ｀▽′)o
"Anyway, let's turn the Mediterranean here upside down!"
?*.?(?'′▽′)???*.
In Anne's opinion, it is definitely impossible to occupy various large cities and ports in the Mediterranean!
Because it requires a lot of troops and needs to fight dozens or even millions of enemies to defend those places that were captured. Moreover, unless she is willing to create a person again, she will directly have a musketeer of more than 100,000 or 200,000 musketeers, but that is too troublesome after all, and Anne obviously doesn't want to do that.
Therefore, if you use these five ships in your hands to directly engage in a raid in the Mediterranean like pirates, sinking enemy ships, merchant ships, bombarding enemy ports, cities or military ports, and then running away and smashing the Mediterranean directly, there will definitely be no big problem.
She wanted the invincible fleet to know what kind of terrible consequences she would have to go to war directly against her!
Moreover, they are different from pirates. They do not steal things, nor do they kill and set fire easily. They just destroy each other's military and commercial facilities, and paralyzing ports and ships is basically enough.
"ah?"
"But, it sounds like it's dangerous..."
When Song Yifeng heard that Annie was going to rush into the Mediterranean to fight with only five ships, she always felt a sense of fear.
It was as terrible as when she was dreaming at night, she was always caught by a terrible monster and stripped naked, and then threw it into her mouth to chew and eat it!
"It doesn't matter!"
(?￣? ￣?)Hehe!
"We can just run away if we can't beat it!"
??(???*)
It doesn't matter. When Anne thought, at most, all Mediterranean countries would be enemies with her, and then organize hundreds or thousands of ships, or even more terrorist fleets to encircle them?
But she was not afraid because their boats ran fast and the sea was very large, so she would definitely not worry about being caught by the enemy.
Besides, I've been too bored recently and have been chased by a lot of ships...
She is just a fun thing to think about now and exciting, so she will definitely not miss it anyway.
(???)
(…)
(●￣?￣●)
——————————
?(?)??(?)?
Chapter completed!