The Rise of the European Emperor

Now, Marin has a total of 15 500-ton warships and 33 250-class armed merchant ships. However, Columbus went to look for Ming and took away 1 battleship and 2 250-class armed merchant ships. The bald Aben searched for Panama, and also took two 250-class armed merchant ships. So, Marin now has only 14 warships and 29 armed merchant ships.

Of course, as long as there is enough gunpowder, this fleet is enough to defeat the English fleet. What's more, in Marin's hands, there are still about 30 200-ton Clark sailboats purchased from Spain that can be installed with bronze guns behind small Frans. As for the Kirk sailboats that cannot install artillery, there are many more.

Although England is now a maritime power, the number of warships is only over one hundred. Moreover, it is a Kirk sailboat without artillery that was collected from the public. Even if all the merchant ships were recruited, it would be enough to gather 200 Kirk sailboats of one or two hundred tons. Such strength may be enough to beat France, whose navy is even more frustrated. But facing Marin's 14 warships, 29 250-class armed merchant ships and 30 200-ton Clark sailing ships, it is absolutely not enough to see. Of course, if Marin's fleet lacked gunpowder, its combat effectiveness would drop to a level that might not be able to beat the British Navy. After all, Marin's fleet is not very good at the traditional naval battle of jumping boats and gangs...

Of course, what is said here is that England has more than 100 warships, at most more than 200. It does not mean that the English navy has such a number of ships. This refers to large ships of more than 100 tons, and does not include which small ships. If you really want to engage in a naval battle, you can't just order ships like this. A seafaring country like England can have hundreds of ships. However, for "big ships" with a displacement of more than 100 tons, there are at most one or two hundred ships. The rest are small boats with a displacement of less than 100 tons. These small boats can only play the role of troop transport in naval battles. If they were facing Marin's warship, that kind of small boat was basically just one shot at a time. However, if you fight with them, the sailors on these small boats are also very fierce...

It's not that France can't build boats, but it doesn't have as many fierce sailors as England. Once, France dispatched hundreds of large ships to besiege the coast of England, trying to destroy the English navy. But England drew 57 merchant ships from the Five-Port Alliance and defeated the huge French fleet... After all, it was the French who lacked excellent sailors. Don't look at France's ability to build a big ship, but in a real fight, it can't beat the British navy.

If you have to make an analogy, France is like Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period. Although the national strength is strong, most of them are landlubbers and are not accustomed to water warfare. The United Kingdom, on the other hand, is like the Soochow during the Three Kingdoms period. Although the army is not good, the navy is strong. The French navy, a little like Cao Cao's navy, all let the ground duck infantry go on board as sailors. It looks menacing, but in fact it can't beat the British navy.

As a matter of fact, Marin's navy could not beat the British if they fought the traditional jumping ship gang-to-slash naval battle. After all, the Frisian fishermen recruited by Marin were familiar with life at sea and the handling of sailboats. But when it comes to fighting on the swaying sailboats, the British are still stronger.

so,

Marin made up for this weakness with artillery. No matter how good your balance is on the boat, let you jump as agile as a monkey on the boat, if I shoot at it, your boat will be penetrated into the water, and all of you pirates will sink into the sea to feed the fish!

Especially those small boats under 100 tons, even if they are loaded with fierce sea bandits full of ships? The thick-caliber Karen naval guns can injure those small boats or even sink them with a single shot. As long as the distance is drawn, those small boats are scum. Even large ships are hard to escape under the platoon of artillery.

Of course, the only downside is that the cost of gunpowder is staggering. After a naval battle, the consumption of gunpowder is calculated in tons. After a sea battle, the consumption of gunpowder is calculated in hundreds of tons. If it weren't for the opening of the Indian trade route, Marin would not be able to fight a platoon naval battle...

The French do have guns, but most of the French guns are the rear-mounted bronze Fran cannons that are currently popular in Europe, and the caliber is also two or three pounds. It's okay to beat people on land, but to smash boats, it's a little weak. As for changing to large-caliber naval guns? Also broadside salvo? Not to mention that an early run requires a huge amount of copper, just saltpeter, the huge France can't get it together... Otherwise, why did France retain a colonial point like Pondicherry in India in later generations. It is worth setting up a point for the purchase of saltpeter alone...

For now, France does not have so many powerful warships for the time being, nor does it have so many powerful naval crews. Therefore, we can only rely on Marin's fleet to deal with the United Kingdom.

According to the plan of King Louis XII of France, it was first to use Marin's fleet to attract the attention of British naval ships such as the Five Harbors Alliance, so that Edward's army and the French army could have the ability to land on the island of England. In addition, the combat effectiveness of Marin's army is also very powerful.

As long as the army goes to the British Isles, the French army can play well...

In this negotiation, the bottom line of King Louis XII of France is to ask Edward to agree in writing that once he gives birth to a prince, he will marry Edward's only daughter Margaret to his son. And this period is 10 years... That is to say, within ten years, as long as he gives birth to a son, then Edward's only daughter Margaret will marry his son, even if his son is 10 years younger than Margaret. age……

Of course, this is ideal. Louis XII could not guarantee that he would be able to give birth to a son. So, this time, Louis XII decided to ask Edward for a county in England as a reward after supporting Edward to become the king of England. This county is best on the shores of the English Channel. In addition, the Channel Islands on the French side of the English Channel should also be assigned to France...

The reason for this was that Louis XII was afraid that he would not have a son. At that time, the only way to win England is to rely on violence. At that time, the county where Edward was asked to come will become the foothold of France in England, which will facilitate the French to gather the army and violently occupy the whole of England...

The French were not afraid to fight England on land, but only that the army could not reach the British Isles. If there is a coastal county as a foothold, the French army can easily land on the island of England and complete the invasion of England...

Marin also guessed what the French were thinking, so he decided to discuss it with Edward in advance...

In Nantes, Marin's every move must be monitored by the French, and it is not convenient to discuss things. Therefore, Marin personally led the fleet and went to the mouth of the Shannon River in the southwest of Ireland to pick up Edward on the boat. Then, set aside Edward's servants, and in the secret room on the ship, began to discuss with Edward in advance, how to divide up the benefits... and how to join forces to deal with the French's possible lion opening...