It was raining in Portsmouth in February. Despite the continuous light rain for months, this most important port of the Royal Navy was still busy with traffic.
In the morning, the harbor is hazy with fog, and only the light on the lighthouse gives the ships direction.
"Old Smith, it's time to change the guard!"
Suddenly, there was a sound under the lighthouse, which startled the fifty-year-old Smith. He stood up and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the light made of whale blubber was still bright and had not been extinguished.
After rubbing his sleepy eyes, wiping away a few eye drops, and yawning, Smith took off his coat and left it for the next person.
Holding the lantern, he slowly climbed down from the lighthouse: "What's the hurry, Jon!"
Due to his weak legs and feet, he walked up the twenty or so stairs for almost ten minutes.
Although the lighthouse is related to the direction of the ship, the monthly salary is only ten shillings, so there is really no need to risk one's life.
Lifting down the extinguished lamp, Smith sighed:
"Damn it, when will this war end?"
Jon held up the lamp and showed his unshaven face. He yawned and said, "Who knows?"
"But we won last time, and it should be the same this time."
"Just because of the war, there are fewer ships coming and going in the port. Even the French want to come and take advantage. Do they have a navy?"
Last month, France sided with the Netherlands and declared war on Britain.
Cromwell, who emerged from the civil war, changed the Stuart principle of emphasizing sea and land, and established a powerful standing army, numbering 30,000.
At the same time, with the development of maritime trade, the navy also jumped from one warship to one hundred and twenty, becoming a heavy force on the sea.
In this way, from 1652 to 1654, England won.
And now, it is the second Anglo-Dutch War.
Britain signed more stringent navigation laws and directly occupied the Dutch New Amsterdam (today's New York) in North America. It also went further and occupied the Dutch Gold Coast in West Africa in an attempt to dominate the gold and ivory trade.
Therefore, on February 22, 1665, the eighteenth year of Shaowu's reign, the Netherlands officially declared war on Britain, and the Second Anglo-Dutch War broke out.
"Hahaha, the French can only win by relying on women. In my opinion, their Sun King is nothing."
After spurning France, Jon climbed up to the lighthouse and hung up his lamp.
Immediately, the entire lighthouse lit up.
It was only five or six o'clock at this time. If it were in other countries, the lighthouse would have been unnecessary. But on rainy and foggy days like England, the lighthouse even needs to be set up until eight or nine o'clock.
Just when he was about to lie down and catch up on his sleep, a huge ship suddenly appeared in front of him.
He can still distinguish between merchant ships and warships.
There are no such merchant ships.
In an instant, he rang the bell.
Several nearby echoing lighthouses reacted immediately and began to ring continuously.
The entire Portsmouth Harbor fell into panic instantly.
At this time, the supreme commander of the navy, the brother of Charles II, James, Duke of York, also got up from the woman's arms. He quickly dropped the huge pair in his arms and couldn't wait to put on his coat.
"what happened?"
James opened the door, and the guard hurriedly put on his clothes: "It's the news that spread from the lighthouse, saying that there is an enemy invasion."
"The Dutch are not that stupid." James was angry at first, then shook his head: "Portsmouth Port has hundreds of shore guns, and the navy will only die if it comes."
"Maybe it's a misunderstanding."
"Yes, I have already sent someone over." The attendant said hurriedly.
"Let's go!" James was no longer sleepy at this time. He put on high heels, tight pants, and a wig: "I want to see who the visitor is."
By the time he arrived at the pier of Port Lin, the navy was already ready to go and was waiting for the Duke's order.
Although the Navy has not replaced its ships for many years due to the foreign debt of two million pounds (taxes are about one million pounds per year), which makes them look a bit old, the quality of the sailors is still guaranteed.
Even though they are all composed of thieves, bankrupt farmers, and gangsters, they have been wandering on the water all year round, and their quality is already among the best in the world.
"Your Excellency the Duke——"
The naval admiral hurriedly saluted: "According to the people at the lighthouse, it is a ship different from Europe. There are at least thirty cannons on board. The purpose of its arrival is unknown."
"Wait for the news!"
James shook his head.
Near the sea, I saw a speedboat running past quickly and shouted to the big ship: "Who are you? This is the Kingdom of England."
I was afraid that they wouldn't understand, so I asked again in Dutch and French.
"What were they shouting?"
Dong Ren turned around and asked.
"Minister, they asked us who we were."
The interpreter listened for a while and said softly: "This is England already."
"Arrived in England?"
Dong Ren suddenly realized: "It seems that Spain and England are very close!"
This 3,000-ton ship was the envoys appointed and dismissed by the emperor. They set out from the Ming Dynasty, crossed the Cape of Good Hope, arrived in Portugal, Spain, and now finally arrived in England.
According to the emperor's order, the mission will be stationed in the Netherlands to take charge of European affairs, and then wait for the opportunity to send personnel to various countries when the time is right.
Who made the Netherlands today a sea coachman, possessing the most powerful navy in Europe and a major trade power?
But Dong Ren learned in Portugal that the Dutch and British navies are now the first in Europe, Spain and Portugal are second, and France is third.
Therefore, England must go to England to meet with its king and establish a good relationship first.
"Tell them that we are the Ming Dynasty's envoy, coming to visit the British King."
Dong Ren said in a deep voice.
The interpreter on the side relayed the story.
Hearing this, the people in the boat were confused, but they quickly went back to report.
As long as they are not enemies, that's fine.
"Mingren?" James suddenly realized: "Aren't they guests in Spain? They arrived in England so quickly."
"It seems that war cannot stop them."
"Your Excellency, I don't know how long this war will last, and Mingren cannot afford to delay it."
"Too."
"Alert is lifted." James shrugged: "These are guests."
"You are really messing around. You are stupider than a donkey in the countryside."
Soon, guided by the boat, the delegation arrived at the pier.
Dong Ren took his counselor Fan Zheng and military attache Han Mi, one in front and two behind, to pay homage to the imperial younger brother.
Regarding England, Dong Ren also made some inquiries in Spain. The current king, Charles II, had only been restored a few years ago and was old and had no heirs.
In this case, the Duke of York is the royal younger brother and the iron-clad heir.
After all, brothers are like brothers!
When Dong Ren saw this Duke in a wig, full of energy and pride on his face, he somehow remembered Tianqi and Chongzhen in the pre-Ming Dynasty.
Both of them are brothers.
And this Duke is only known as arrogant and stubborn in the UK.
"Your Majesty, the Special Envoy of the Ming Emperor, and the Minister for European Affairs, Dong Ren, pays homage to His Highness——"
Dong Ren bowed and saluted politely.
"Your Majesty had a great time in Spain."
James smiled and said: "But please don't worry, England will not let you down."
"Foreign ministers will wait and see."
Dong Ren said modestly.
The two of them didn't exchange much. Dong Ren recounted what he had seen and heard on the journey. One talked and the other listened, but the atmosphere was harmonious.
"What a pity for the Gold Coast." James sighed: "This place can contribute hundreds of thousands of pounds a year, but it was still taken back by the Dutch."
When Dong Ren thought of the Gold Coast, the only things that impressed him were the crazy slave-catching gangs and the hard-working and poor black people.
This group of Western barbarians only know how to plunder such a good place but do not know how to manage it. This is a real pity.
He meant to say that catching people as slaves was harmful to the peace of the world, but Europeans only cared about money, so even if he said so, it would only attract ridicule.
That’s all.
At the end, Dong Ren said he was going to London to meet Charles II.
Duke James shook his head: "The Black Death is now prevalent throughout London, with hundreds of people dying every month. His Majesty the King is no longer in London."
"You need to go to Windsor Castle in Berkshire."
"Thank you for your advice." Dong Ren said politely.
"The minister needs to remember to stay away from London."
James said with lingering fear.
The Black Death was so rampant that it makes people shudder just thinking about it.
Dong Ren agreed immediately.
Portsmouth is only two hundred miles away from London, and only 120 miles away from Windsor Castle. The journey only takes two days.
Meanwhile, to avoid attack, the ships docked in Portsmouth and the mission traveled overland.
Along the way, the customs of England made these Ming people quite curious.
In Spain and Portugal, the countryside was basically ruled by aristocrats, and the king only collected taxes in his own direct territories to govern the country.
But in England, due to large-scale fighting during the War of the Roses, the nobles were killed and injured.
Until the time of Elizabeth II, there were only fifty noble families in the country, ranging from dukes to barons.
After the Stuart dynasty took over England, although they brought some Scottish nobles, in fact the nobles were still scarce.
As a result, England's centralization of power was extremely high.
In the countryside, the squires formed various committees to assist the county governor in managing the affairs of the county, while the circuit courts represented the king's will and presided over judicial activities.
Compared with other European countries, it has jumped to the forefront.
During the French Sun King period, the nobles were gathered in the Palace of Versailles to indirectly centralize power.
Therefore, when a group of people saw it, they did not see the starry castles and checkpoints in Spain, but various spacious thatched houses and windmills.
"Although people in England are still poor, at least they are not like Spain, where they are full of homeless people and have no clothes on."
Fan Zheng sighed.
"The British king is a little better at governing the country."
Han Mi also had to agree: "It looks like the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty, while Spain looks like the Western Zhou Dynasty."
Dong Ren chuckled and said: "Everything puts agriculture first. Look at those windmills, where the mills are."
"The more mills there are, the more prosperous agriculture will be."
"While England was using windmills, Spain was still using horses and donkeys. It was clear at a glance which one was stronger and which one was weaker."
The three of them stared at the countryside for a long time before stopping.
"However, although England is good, it is not as good as our country."
Dong Ren closed the coffin and concluded: "Now that our emperor Ming Dynasty is in a prosperous age, the people have no worries about food and clothing, and the world is at peace, I am afraid that ten Englands together will not be able to defeat us."
In the end, he was still modest: "As for the navy, half a pound is equal to eight ounces. If we really want to win, we still need to add some warships."
Fan Zheng and Han Mi agreed.
The carriage traveled very fast, and in the evening, the group finally arrived at Windsor Castle in Berkshire.
Since the Restoration, Charles II has never stayed at Tudor Hampton Court Palace.
While wandering in France, Charles II was shocked by the Louvre. After returning to London, he expanded Windsor Castle to resemble the Louvre.
Therefore, when Dong Ren and his party arrived at Windsor Castle, its area had exceeded Hampton Palace, reaching seven hectares.
It can be said that it is completely comparable to the Louvre in France.
But the Sun King did not compare, and directly built the more prosperous Palace of Versailles, becoming the first palace in Europe and attracting the envy of kings from all over the world.
"Your Majesty, the envoys from the East have arrived outside the palace." The maid said softly.
At this time, the naked Charles II was having sex with his mistress, and he didn't mind the maid's unhesitating interruption.
While panting, he said: "Okay, I'll go there after I clean up."
When the two met, the king was already well-dressed.
Naturally, the content of the meeting was nothing to mention, it was nothing more than business matters.
After all, the Ming Dynasty was tens of thousands of miles away from England, and it would take more than half a year to get there. There was no need for war or peace.
However, the British have always been enthusiastic about colonization. Even though they have not really left Europe, they are already considering a foothold in Asia.
For example, India.
"India belongs to the Portuguese."
Dong Ren thought about it and said: "Although the Dutch occupy the east coast of India, the trade in India is still controlled by the Portuguese."
"If your country wants to find a place to stay, you can ask the Portuguese."
Charles II said confidently: "If so, that's for sure."
As the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Britain and Spain once fought fiercely. Portugal, as an old enemy of Spain, naturally had good relations with Britain.
Dong Ren pointed to the world map: "Burma, Siam, Khmer, Qin, Qi, Brunei, Korea, Japan and other countries here are all vassal states of our Ming Dynasty."
"If your country wants to communicate with it, it must be approved by our country and cannot be done rashly."
"this--"
Looking at such a large area on the map, Charles II was stunned.
Boy, that's pretty much the entire Far East.
"How many navy does your country have?"
Charles II suddenly asked.
"About fifty thousand people."
"Okay!" Charles II said decisively: "Our country will definitely not go beyond this."
…
The snow in Russia has melted in February. At this time, large coastal areas such as St. Petersburg are still in Swedish hands. At this time, Moscow is like an isolated island to Europe.
"What?" Tsar Alexek heard that the Ming Dynasty was going to deal with the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and he was immediately angry: